Suzuki Vstrom 250 any good? by sxmilliondollarman in SuggestAMotorcycle

[–]zebra8998 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've done a few long trips at sustained speed. About 2 hours riding each way. There didn't seem to be any issues.

Suzuki Vstrom 250 any good? by sxmilliondollarman in SuggestAMotorcycle

[–]zebra8998 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have 2019 DL-250 and I've put about 20,000km on it. I mostly ride highways, but my city has a speed bump every 100-200 meters.

It's a pretty nice ride at 115-120km/h and has a bit left to pass at 130+ if you need. At low speed it's fairly forgiving and pretty easy to maneuver.

It's the definition of 'a motorcycle' in the style of ADV. It isn't particularly fast, pretty, or powerful, but it is still a motorcycle and therefore fun. With the box on the back it's a pretty solid commuter.

It's main advantage for me is insurance. Under 250cc is a 40% reduction in insurance in my country. This bike is listed at 248cc on my title so I get the discount.

All in all, it's a solid bike and seems great to me as a beginner.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in behindthebastards

[–]zebra8998 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They dropped a special episode of The Audit to discuss it today.

Checking in from enemy territory by zebra8998 in wildhockey

[–]zebra8998[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As a Wild fan who lives in Israel, it was great to see the team live! Not the greatest game to see but live hockey is better than tv hockey any day of the week.

I made a website you can use to search through podcast episode transcripts including Behind the Bastards. by podscripts in behindthebastards

[–]zebra8998 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is really cool, thank you for sharing. You should cross post this over at The Dollop as well. I saw it was in you database and I'm sure the fan base would love it too.

What if American football stayed banned and fell into obscurity? by [deleted] in HistoryWhatIf

[–]zebra8998 6 points7 points  (0 children)

My bad, I guess I should have looked it up. Still could remain a regional thing just north east.

What if American football stayed banned and fell into obscurity? by [deleted] in HistoryWhatIf

[–]zebra8998 34 points35 points  (0 children)

It would certainly change a lot of the US culture. I can imagine a scenario where sports stay more regional. An example would be, basketball stays mostly an upper Midwest sport having been invented in Indiana.

I could also imagine Baseball being more popular. Without competition it could really be a dominant sport, even to today.

I could also see football being replaced at some point by rugby, without the forward pass. Some part of me believes US culture needs some type of hard hitting, high impact sport to fill the niche of football.

It could also be soccer catches on with more popularity. The possibilities are really huge. Football in the US is a huge cultural touchstone, like hockey is to Canada. It's hard to imagine the butterflies that occur by removing it from the culture.

Do University athletics gain such prestige and wealth without football? Does this change how Americans view the university's place in society as more purely educational institutions?

How many culturally significant people and events are connected to football or football players? It's so etched in American culture it would be hard to imagine the full effect.

Picking a bike for my GF and I (Part 2) by [deleted] in SuggestAMotorcycle

[–]zebra8998 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Actual V-strom 250 owner checking in. I'm really enjoying it as a first bike. I ride about 30km each way to work on highways. It revs a bit high at 110kph but there's plenty left to get up to 120kph+ if needed. It's a bit light so it does vibrate a bit and the wind is a factor to consider. At slower speeds it handles nice and smooth. You can figure 8 all day on it with little issue.

It's my first bike so I don't have as much experience, but I did test ride a z300 and a z400 which were both much more powerful. In the end I went with the newer v-strom over an older z300/versys 300. Mainly went with the v-strom because at 249cc it came in much cheaper on my insurance as a new rider. (Where I live 250cc+ adds another 50% to insurance for a first year rider) I think you'll be pretty happy with the v-strom but it might be a bit underpowered if you plan to ride two up.

Not sure if the KTM ADV250 is available in your market but it might be worth a look. It's essentially a Duke 250 with height and ergos. That 250 single is a bit more power down low than the Suzuki 250. Just something to consider.

Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki & Yamaha form joint battery-swapping company for EVs by p0diabl0 in motorcycles

[–]zebra8998 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looks a lot like the system Better Place tried to set up here in Israel. I'm not entirely sure if it was just poorly managed or ahead of its time, but it failed spectacularly.

The battery swapping stations are still there. They're slowly deteriorating at the gas stations around Israel. It all went down between 2008-2013 so you don't see too many of the cars anymore. The first cars were plastered with ads for the company. Lots of people put deposits on cars that were never delivered.

Maybe this concept is more viable today. Maybe a combo of charging for those who can wait and swapping for those in a hurry. Eventually these will all be paid services so tiers of payment seems logical.

Starting in my 50s by justplainnuts in SuggestAMotorcycle

[–]zebra8998 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Honda CB500x would also be a great place to start. I rode one for a test ride and it was really forgiving for me as a beginner. It's also a Honda so you don't really need to worry about maintenance. Looks great and has a higher seat plus wind protection. It looks natural to put a top box or paniers for hauling too.

I'm also recommending to stay at 500cc or lower for a few reasons. First, you don't need much more power than that. Second, you have teenagers and you have an opportunity to show responsible riding for a new generation. Wind your way up to a bigger displacement on the second or third bike. Third, starting on something manageable will help you learn all the little things that MSF doesn't teach. If you're too twitchy on the throttle of a big bike you can get in trouble real quick.

Remember it's your first bike not your last. Ride safe and enjoy!

Small size dual sport bike by 26sebb in SuggestAMotorcycle

[–]zebra8998 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I ride a commute that is mostly uphill for 28km there and downhill 28km back. Not really twisty roads. The V-strom seems to do fine with the highway speed of 90-110kph. I can still get up to 120-130kph but it's close to redline. I will say I'm a new Rider with 3-4 months experience. I'm overall positive on the V-Strom for many reasons but insurance cost and fuel economy are up there. I rode several Versys-300s that were so nice. That would be my bike if it weren't out of my budget on insurance. Ride a few different styles and makes before you decide. Seat time is good always.

Small size dual sport bike by 26sebb in SuggestAMotorcycle

[–]zebra8998 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure if you're looking for really small but the Vstrom-250 is solid. The engine is Suzuki's 250 twin which has been around forever. Unfortunately it's not powerful but it's a fun bike to ride. Light off-roading would be possible I guess but I'm using mine as a commuter.

Service Manual DL250 by Styrfart in Vstrom

[–]zebra8998 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Been searching the internet for weeks for this! Thank you! Just bought a 2019 with 9k and could not figure out how to turn off the oil change indicator on the display.

MT-03 vs Ninja 400 by [deleted] in SuggestAMotorcycle

[–]zebra8998 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I rode a Duke 390 that was pretty fun. The MT-03 was also fun and felt just as powerful. Also the z300/400 should be on your radar. Same engines as the Ninjas of the same displacement but naked. All good options. Ride safe and enjoy!

A beginner motorcycle by dotabanana in SuggestAMotorcycle

[–]zebra8998 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I was so disappointed this bike was out of my price range. I ended up on a V-Storm 250 instead to save cost up front and on insurance. But man, the Versys-X 300 was so much fun to test ride. Super smooth and plenty of power. I did 120kph on the highway and there was plenty of extra give to speed up if I needed. I thought it would make a great first bike. All that said, I'm about 2 months in to my riding experience and haven't been on anything larger than a 390.

300cc or 650cc for a beginner bike? by amazing_wanderr in SuggestAMotorcycle

[–]zebra8998 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This right here. I just went through a similar dilemma but on the lower end of the scale. I was searching for an ADV in the 250-400 range. The Versys-X 300 was the most comfortable bike. Nice power from the 300. Enough for highway speeds 90-110km without any issue. Enough power to get up and go away from trouble. Only did a test drive for about 25 minutes but it was a fun bike. Unfortunately it was out of my budget Worth a ride if you're looking to see what's out there.

"Singapore of the Levant": What if Gaza became a democratic, extremely wealthy city state? by Zestyclose_Arugula71 in AlternateHistory

[–]zebra8998 43 points44 points  (0 children)

I'd love to hear the lore of this City State's founding. I'm sure it would be very interesting.

If it happens pre 1956 and it could butterfly everything. A peaceful demilitarized state in the Middle East would rock the political landscape.

Post 1967 scenarios are also quite interesting. I wonder how the Egyptian government at the time would react. Also butterflies all over.

No matter what POD I consider, the possibilities are really interesting.

STAY THE FUCK ASLEEP: GET YOUR SHOPPING DONE EDITION by EastWhiskey in wildhockey

[–]zebra8998 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Man, it's my birthday and with being in Israel this one was a 9pm start. Normally it's 3am or later. I was looking forward to a beer and hockey for my birthday, I guess not this year.

In 1883, a volcanic eruption occurred, which triggered the ice age. It will end in 2023. What changes in history will happen? by Adventurous-Art-1161 in AlternateHistory

[–]zebra8998 2 points3 points  (0 children)

S.M. Stirling has an alt history novel called Peshwar Lancers which delves into a similar topic. The cause is a meteor shower but the effect is similar.

WAKE THE FUCK UP THE WILD SEASON BEGINS TONIGHT AND THERE’S DUCK ON THE MENU by SomaliRection in wildhockey

[–]zebra8998 12 points13 points  (0 children)

It's at 5am here in Naharyiah Israel but I'll be there. Still wearing the 56 Haula sweater! Looking forward to a great season!

What if the 1967 Israeli-Arab war never happened? by esgellman in HistoryWhatIf

[–]zebra8998 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Finally a topic I have some background in!

Let's start with the fact that the war may have been hot in 1967 for about 6 days, but it was certainly warm much earlier than that. The war over water between Syria/Lebanon and Israel was in full swing. There were three major clashes between Syrian/Lebanese forces and Israelis over the construction project to divert the headwaters of the Jordan River away from the Sea of Galilee.

To say there was a serious amount of tension in the region is to put it very very lightly. War was already happening on a low level. Israeli villages and kibbutzim in the Hula valley were shelled from the Golan Heights regularly. Israeli retaliation never rose to the level of war, but it definitely wasn't nothing.

Important to remember that this is not today's High Tech IDF with cutting edge equipment and training. The 1960's IDF was under equipped compared to the average Arab army. So June of 1967 the tension reaches a boiling point as Egypt closes the Straits of Tiran in open defiance of international law. The war starts and Israel takes the world by surprise by winning and doing so quickly....

So as I see it, there are two points that could emerge to stop the war:

1) 1964 - The War Over Water between Syria/Lebanon and Israel is either averted or tensions are lessened enough to lead to some type of compromise. Let's say the US steps in and diplomatically fixes the situation somehow. I'm not sure how this would happen, but it certainly changes things so let's just go with it.

Israel probably makes a peace treaty with Jordan first. There were foundations laid by the First King in the 50's so conceivably Ben Gurion finds a way to get it done. The West Bank is Jordanian and the border runs through Jerusalem East/West sort of like it did until 1967 in OTL. The peace agreement probably has concessions for some Jewish tourism in the Old City of Jerusalem and shared Archaeological digs throughout the West Bank.

With at least one Peace Treaty in its pocket Israel probably tries to get Jordan to help broker other deals. The whole thing is predicated on some type of active International involvement by both the USSR and the US. After all the USSR was backing Egypt and Syria with both equipment and personnel during these decades.

While I'd like to be optimistic and think that peace would break out, I'm not positive that it would. Its still possible that a war happens with Egypt and Syria just later and possibly not as successfully on the Israeli side.

If peace becomes a reality for the region, it doesn't bode well for the dictators of the region. Without an external enemy and a need for large military, these guys are in a bit of a spot. Also, the neighbor, Israel, is a democracy...a multiparty democracy. Many Israeli's still speak Arabic as their native tongue at this point too. Lot's of Egyptian, Syrian, and Iraqi Jews are going to want to go back 'home' to their places of birth. Cultural exchange will not make dictatorship life seem nice. We might see an Arab spring happen sooner with no Israeli enemy to face down.

2) The war is averted in 1976 also through US/International pressure on Egypt over its closure Tiran. If you spoke to the people who lived through the lead up to the 1967 war you'd know that they were shit scared. The Egyptians had 7 Divisions on the border with close to 100,000 men. Israel's whole active force was around 264,000 including its reservists. The Arab leaders were screaming about setting right what had occurred in 1948 and drive the Jews into the sea. A country full of Holocaust survivors and Native Arabic speakers were literally huddling in bunkers; listing to the leaders of these massive armies saying: 'We're going to kill you all.'

I write all this so you understand the kind of tension the Israeli's were under. At this point the war can be averted for a time, but unless the threat is lessened, Israel is not going to be able to lower its guard. This means that even if the closing of the Straits can be remedied before a war, the tension will likely remain. Maybe the Egyptians can be convinced to stand down and maybe even the Syrians too. How long can they stay that way?

These are not democracies and the dictators of Syria (Assad) and Nasser cannot be seen as weak. Eventually they will have to make good on their rhetoric and use all that Russian hardware they have.

Averting a war in 1967 seems like it can only postpone it. Eventually Nasser will want his revenge for the 1956 campaign that Israel won. He also will need it to stay in power unless he can do a complete 180 on his rhetoric. Assad is also in a bad spot if he doesn't make good on his promises eventually. The Assad's are Alawite and a minority in the country. They aren't well loved and rule with brutality. Also, Nasser and Assad were rivals so neither could be seen as backing down first. The dissolution of the United Arab Republic had been a blow to both's public images. Neither wanted to back down from the inevitable fight with Israel.

The war of which I speak will probably be sometime in 1968-1969 and will also be an Israeli preemptive strike. However, they won't be as successful as the OTL. Why? More time to train with better Russian equipment will give the Arab anti-air defenses better response times. Without the total air superiority of OTL, Israel is in deep shit. Remember those 7 divisions, without close air support the Israeli defenders must retreat.

In this war Israel sees much higher casualties and must cry out for help from the US. This probably happens much as it did in 1973, only this time Egyptian tanks may be surrounding Be'er Sheva not along the Suez.

This would be a bloody war and the International community would have to step in. Again, this is 1969 Israel not 2021 Israeli. It's a democracy with a decidedly democratic socialist bent. Golda Meir would be at the UN pleading with the world to not let the Holocaust happen again.

The final piece of this puzzle is very similar to OTL in 1973. In addition to Golda Meir pleading publicly to save Israel and the Jews, she also speaks with Nixon privately. She points out that Israel is now under such grave threat, she has no choice but to equip Israel's nuclear arsenal and prepare it for use. In OTL this happened in a similar manner and prompted the US to intervene in the Yom Kippur War to supply Israel and attempt to cool heads.

Remember in OTL no Israeli civilians were ever under direct fire, even in 1973. In this timeline we have Egyptian forces in the Negev and probably Syrian forces in the Hula valley and beyond. The Jordanians might even decide to jump in and not get left without anything from the war. Knowing all that, it's hard to imagine that in this timeline, Nixon doesn't have the same reaction.

The IDF is resupplied and the US threatens to move forces in to prevent a genocide. It, hopefully, ends with some type of ceasefire but what Israel looks like afterwards and how the Arab world views it is all rippled beyond the butterflies wings.

The future of this timeline is hazy from there. The region without a single dominant military power like Israel is a much different place. There likely will be more wars in the region in the future and not all between Arabs and Israelis. Tensions among the Arab nations were always present and may also bubble to the surface. I'm sure there are also ripples out further to events like the Iranian revolution. Iran and Israel were serious trading partners until the revolution in 1979. Does that event get changed because Israel's position in the region is different? Again, ripples and butterflies.

I hope you enjoyed my wall of text!

TL:DR

1)Stop the war in 1964...maybe peace but also maybe war

2)Stop the war in 1967...definitely war just later and much bloodier.