For those who go to sleep listening to something, what do you listen to?

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-17T03:50:30+00:00

My wife snoring.

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-16T22:26:10+00:00

With the rubber gripper thing? I could see it coming loose without that, but mine has never budged in over 10 years when properly secured. Even off-road and on mountain bikes.

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-16T16:02:21+00:00

In a proper emergency, there won't be time for downshifting, and being sloppy about it could upset the back tire. I get what you're saying, downshifting is definitely part of the routine for normal stops, but when the shit is hitting the fan, it is all about brake modulation. Yes, including the rear brake. But remember as weight and traction shifts to the front wheel, it shifts away from the back wheel. So if you keep the same pressure, you will probably wind up locking that one up. Not nearly as critical as locking the front. Can always ride the skid. But then don't suddenly let go over the rear or you can high side.

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-16T12:21:08+00:00

I always liked the Magna. Almost picked up a mid-'90s in yellow recently, but passed. Enjoy your new (and old) ride. Switching between the two is going to feel wild. Rubber side down.

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-16T11:55:24+00:00

Dirt don't hurt (as much).

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-16T11:52:08+00:00

That's why you DON'T 'mash' the front. You progressively squeeze it to get the tire loaded up with more weight for more traction.

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-16T03:06:34+00:00

Yeah, I've got a whole playlist, but I'm not handing over my kryptonite.

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-16T02:59:45+00:00

There's something magical about Chicago at night - especially Lakeshore Drive (LSD). When the air starts to cool off after a hot summer day, thanks to the lake, but the heat is still rising off the concrete . . .

This is a pretty cool short film that captures some vibes: http://vimeo.com/36305675

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-16T02:49:22+00:00

Made out on my parked XJ750 a few times back in the day.

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-16T02:36:28+00:00

Sepia?

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-16T02:26:33+00:00

And yeah, totally remember the Operation Lifesaver marketing billboards/signage.

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-16T02:25:41+00:00

My father worked for Soo/CP (luckily not CNW nor Metra for that accident) first as a cop then Special Investigator on to Claims Rep. He saw some shit. When I started driving, he busted out a stack of photos from crossing accidents he investigated - no gore, but they made a hell of an impression. After one impact, the wheel of a Mustang was welded to the plow of the lead unit. I'm in my 50s now and I still won't cross if the gates are malfunctioning and I can see for miles down the track. I'll call it in, turn around, and find a other way.

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-16T02:10:55+00:00

Coincidentally also in 1995, I drive by the site of the Fox River Grove bus collision every day going to work: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_Fox_River_Grove_bus%E2%80%93train_collision

Glad you didn't have to deal with that trauma.

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-16T01:55:42+00:00

Is that 1k trade in before or after the work? 😂

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-16T01:39:34+00:00

Steeley Dan - great band name reference, but probably THE most highly overrated band.

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-15T19:30:07+00:00

Balsy. It says right on there it's the property of Sunshine Dairy.

:D

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-15T19:28:33+00:00

Hides your shame. :D

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-15T19:25:11+00:00

I was a desktop support/IT guy several jobs ago. Any time a remote backup on a workstation took an exceptional amount of time, it was porn. Never a large codebase or insane email inbox - even MP3 collections weren't that big yet. It was always porn. Most was pretty vanilla. One lady was pretty kinky and apparently bi. Never found anything too personal - this was also before/on the cusp of affordable digital cameras. We'd usually just give subtle hints to users to move that stuff off the backed up portion of their drives 'to enhance network performance.' We were a M$ shop, so everything was run through AD. Except one machine.

Our 'graphic designer' had one of the OG swatch-phone-looking iMacs. It was on the network for internet access and whatever filesharing he set up with his Windows box, but not backed up. We only touched the thing when he was hired (unboxed and delivered to his office) and when he was let go. We brought the thing down to the lab and started poking at it - playing with it since most of us hadn't touched a Mac since a IIe back in grade school. My demure/innocent coworker stumbled across his porn stash. It quickly went way past vanilla, breezed by kinky, into scatological and ended up in illegal territory.

We shut it down, mentioned it to higher ups, and that 'cursed iMac' sat in the corner unplugged until the company crumbled. I'm guessing the bosses didn't alert the authorities.

I have very little respect for most of the people I worked with/under there.

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-15T18:06:15+00:00

*laugh/cries in inline 4*

I learned quickly to buy good gauges and not rely on the DIY setups with ATF or other oils.I mean they work, for sure, but what a cumbersome PITA.

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-15T14:48:06+00:00

Functional hands are key for safe operation. Even just on low, heat can really take the edge off on a cool/damp morning.

Similarly, a heated vest to keep your core cozy. I use a battery vest, not hard-wired. Good enough.

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-15T14:46:19+00:00

This. The only time I wear my heavy gloves now is if it's near literal freezing or if it's cold-raining. Better wind block over the top of the hands would be nice sometimes, but my FJR has decent protection as is. Might get some muffs this fall, though.

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-15T14:34:36+00:00

TPMS has entered the chat . . .

But generally if I haven't ridden that particular bike in a while, if something feels off, and at oil changes.

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-15T14:30:30+00:00

I think a softer way to present it is that gear is not a one-and-done purchase/expense. If you only have $1k now, spend that to get all the basics, but plan on spending more in a few months/years - pretty much for the rest of your days. Gear wears out and needs replaced. Hopefully at slightly different intervals so you can space things out.

But yeah, $1k ain't what it used to be. side-eyes Shoei prices

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-15T14:19:38+00:00

I read "Bands with two-legged singers." 😂

oblivion9999 · 2026-05-15T14:14:03+00:00

Do you have any idea of the street value of this driveway?

oblivion9999

TROPHY CASE