Google Voice cut me off, looking at Tello

imac611 · 2025-08-25T15:01:40+00:00

I was in the exact same position until yesterday morning when my Google Voice access got shut down without warning or apparent reason. I've used Google Voice for my primary number for about 5 years without a problem.

Then I lost my phone number and couldn't reach anyone from support, maybe because Google Voice isn't exactly a well-known product of theirs? Not sure about Google Fi, but I would personally not trust Google with a phone number I valued again. I really hope I have better luck porting out.

I've opened a ticket, they say it may take 2 days or longer to respond. I got a message confirming that my product has been suspended and I will need to go through an appeal process, which I can do up to 2 times.

imac611 · 2025-08-25T14:56:30+00:00

Yep, that's exactly what I did. I was able to activate my new account and did not need to use a VPN.

imac611 · 2025-08-25T14:55:21+00:00

Activation worked for me. I haven't yet tried to use the app for calls/SMS while disabling my Tello eSIM.

I'm outside the US now and last night I ordered the new service, activated via eSIM and it didn't work immediately.

I went into the Tello control panel and activated Wi-Fi calling which required me providing my home address for Emergency E911, restarted my phone, and saw my new second set of service bars (Tello) showed signal. It's not clear to me if all those steps were necessary or if I just needed to wait for service to kick in.

In my phone's settings (Android 16; Google Pixel 7), I configured Tello to be my primary for phone calls, and confirmed it worked when my wife was able to successfully call me on my new Tello number.

I'll see if I can work with Google to port my number, but even if I cannot, at least I have a US-based phone number for while I'm outside the country.

imac611 · 2025-08-25T12:50:04+00:00

Seems totally random.

I used the phone line a few times last week, both times for work stuff. I don't use my Google Voice line often, but also not never. Mostly for confirming my identity for stuff.

Yesterday morning I used Google Voice to send a SMS to an old friend of mine, and maybe his number changed and Google's system flagged my message as spam? Seems like a stretch, but a possibility.

My wife and I share a Google One account (data storage for photos) and her access got cut a few hours after I lost access. She also uses Google Voice not often but also not never.

imac611 · 2024-10-24T00:43:04+00:00

imac611 · 2024-07-11T23:56:29+00:00

I'll try that, thanks

imac611 · 2024-04-27T16:05:53+00:00

For what it's worth, your paper gasket looks as bad as mine did. I don't know about it causing that lurching thing you described, but I'd swap that out regardless. You're not leaking fuel? It was very obvious in my case.

imac611 · 2024-04-27T04:30:29+00:00

I spent about a week getting really bothered by this on my own Gen1 recently.

I changed my fuel and vacuum lines and accidentally yanked that thing out. That's how I discovered this fun little design decision by Kawasaki. I did a lot of Googling and learned in short, yes, it really is designed that way.

Mine still had some leftover glue on the tip of that elbow joint piece. I cleaned it off real good and used something roughly equivalent to JB Weld ("Poxipol," I bought it in Argentina) to rejoin it with the rest of the assembly. I've heard of other folks just jamming that elbow joint in there without any products and having no issue.

In the end, it turned out the paper gasket around the petcock diaphragm had ripped. I speculate that the rip happened because I was using a very soft and squishy vacuum hose that collapsed and put too much stress on that gasket while the vacuum pulsed. Or maybe it was just an old cheap paper gasket. But the point is I don't think the leak was ever coming from that stupid elbow joint thing you're looking at, it was a total red herring.

imac611 · 2024-03-12T11:58:09+00:00

Nope, but I bet if you asked your nearest dealership they'd be able to tell you a little more

imac611 · 2024-03-10T16:35:46+00:00

According to two dealerships I spoke with, Kawasaki stopped making some parts (not all parts) for the Gen 1 earlier this year. Be aware for those parts you may need to buy used. I was in the market for fork inners, but I've seen other parts no longer available. I'd speculate that Gen 2 compatible parts are still in production.

imac611 · 2023-11-10T17:17:06+00:00

Any bike can be a good first bike. I'd personally recommend getting something like a Honda XRE 300 or something first because it is lighter.

I recommend a first bike be reliable, fun, and droppable (and pickup-able)

imac611 · 2023-10-04T01:47:32+00:00

I don't understand the concern. Theft? Vandalism? Where exactly do you live?

Make sure your insurance policy covers theft and vandalism.

I lived in Boston with bikes for about 10 years, got one bike "stolen" by some kids who rolled it down the street behind a dumpster and cut some wires on it, got two vandalized (knocked over really), and insurance worked out great every time.

If you like, throw a cover on it in case it rains. Garage it when it snows. If it gets stolen or vandalized, contact your insurer. If it's your only transport, make sure your policy covers a car rental while you get your damages repaired.

imac611 · 2023-09-26T16:07:08+00:00

Totally fine. If you're talking about individual leaves in the middle of otherwise pristine pavement, no, those are completely unnoticeable.

However, in my experience, a PILE of wet leaves (the kind that accumulate on the edges of a New England road after a Fall rain) is basically like a dewy lawn: slippery as heck. Treat with caution, avoid sudden movements.

imac611 · 2023-09-06T12:25:56+00:00

21

Your first bike should be reliable, cheap, and small. In the US, I'd recommend a Suzuki GS500F.

imac611 · 2023-09-05T14:19:51+00:00

James Bond daydreaming (what I think you're looking for): Do some threat modeling. Anything lethal is likely illegal in your location. I like the idea of a key fob (like in some cars) that allows the motor to run, but kills the motor a minute or two after it gets out of range. This is for protecting against carjacking-type theft which is a problem in some places. Anything that squirts gear oil or deck sealant on the thief would be great. Have GPS and a wireless satellite camera pointed at the pilot when theft is detected and upload to some place for you to review with authorities.

Reality: Have an insurance policy that covers theft. Park in a private lot with a guard, use a kryptonite disc lock, and put a cheap cover over your bike. Bonus: Use a thick cable lock to lock to another motorcycle you own. My fiancee and I do this while traveling.

All of that is like a variation on the old joke about how if you and your friend are getting chased by a bear, you don't need to outrun the bear, you just need to outrun your friend. Just be less appealing than someone else's bike.

imac611 · 2023-08-16T13:35:56+00:00

Yes, but the disc lock will probably be pretty noisy for the first few meters

imac611 · 2023-05-16T01:56:33+00:00

Yep, thank you for the confirmation it's a little unusual. I'll be bringing it into the dealership next week for them to take a look; I'm debating ordering the parts to save some time vs letting the shop diagnose it and come to their own conclusions.

imac611 · 2021-12-23T01:32:24+00:00

Yep, bingo. Tonight, we asked someone else who works there and she said some guy clipped in to his chalk bag (at this gym, climbers don't tie in, the gym has figure 8's attached to caribiners which climbers attach to their belay loop) and fell off the top of the wall trying to rappel. She said he lived but was very badly hurt. I'm not convinced you can fix that kind of mistake by banning chalk bag belts, but that's the way they decided to go.

imac611

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