The other day I saw this article about building makerspaces in schools and the photo showed what seemed to me to be a nice workshop, similar to what schools had when I grew up. Of course, now these spaces have things like 3D printers, not a tool we had years back, but the saws and drill presses are pretty standard fare. It made me wonder if there was any real purpose for using … [Read more...]
A New Direction for The Kneeslider
It's been a while since I posted and I thought it was time to say a few words about what's going on. Briefly, it's a change of direction. I've spent so much time on my computer over the last 14 years with The Kneeslider and so little time in the garage that the need to make a change became overpowering. The last post I wrote, about fixing things, was a tiny hint of where I'm … [Read more...]
The Existential Pleasures of Fixing Things
Recently, our power went out. About ten seconds later the lights came back on when our standby generator fired up, so I went about my business working on The Kneeslider. Then a couple of minutes later, the lights went out again, but this time, they stayed out. That got my attention, because it meant the generator wasn’t running. Hoping mice hadn't gotten inside and chewed … [Read more...]
Motorcycling is Affordable if You Want it to Be – It’s Up to You
Is motorcycling expensive or affordable? Yes. Wait, ... what? The simple fact is that you can spend as much or as little as you want to and enjoy it either way. The latest and greatest factory machinery is often beautiful to look at with all of the performance the pros demand, but if you want to ride on the street with a bit of the competition look, have fun and still have … [Read more...]
Wrench, Ride or Race?
A recent post here touched on the idea that riding time was fast disappearing, as work, for many of us, encroaches on formerly free time with smart phones a constant reminder of what we do all day. Long periods free of interruptions are harder to come by and what you do then is a choice between many competing priorities. The choice, though, isn't always a matter of what we can … [Read more...]
A Meticulous Restoration Sparks Thoughts of the Big Project
Browsing the motorcycles for sale listings I spotted this 1968 Suzuki T500 Cobra, a nice vintage 2 stroke, but the condition of the bike is far beyond what you would have found in any dealer showroom back in the 60s. I just can't see any flaws, so I thought I would check out the fellow who did the work, Jeff Weier. I've never heard of him, but if you head over to his website, … [Read more...]