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Ndiaz

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  1. Ndiaz
    I bought a set of Conti Tours, TK16 and TK17. The rear is bias-belted, and they handle very well. Price not bad either. I have an 88 VR. I got them from American Motorcycle Tire, at http://www.americanmototire.com/ . Fast shipping, good price. Nick Diaz Middletown, MD
  2. Ndiaz
    Two weeks ago I didn't extend the sidestand all the way, it folded, and the bike fell onto the table in the garage, breaking the left-hand mirror. I learned my lesson! Went to Bike Bandit, saw that a new mirror is $206 -- no way, Jose! I can do better than that. Went to eBay and bid on one, and won the bid for, let's say, considerably less than $206. The bidding was contested, though not too badly. I now have a less-than-perfect mirror, but in good enough shape to do the job. One must be patient when bidding on such items, though. Auctions must take their course. Nick Diaz Middletown, MD
  3. Ndiaz
    I'll get back to you, Pilot, on a date, time, and place. Perhaps we can let other characters in as well. We should both ride our Ventures, and compare 1st/2nd generation Ventures.
  4. Ndiaz
    Let's do just that, Pilot. I'm back at work now (I'm told I must continue teaching math. Oh, well...), so my schedule isn't as flexible as it was in summer. I'll suggest a date and time, and maybe we can meet on the MD Eastern Shore. Nick Diaz Middletown, MD
  5. Ndiaz
    After a summer break, I'm resuming my biweekly column for http://www.thetentacle.com , a local (central MD) commentary site, which is not motorcycle related. My topics are either motorcycling or math education. Go to http://www.thetentacle.com/author.cfm?MyAuthor=52 and click on "The Joy of Selling." For background on this piece, click on "Christmas in the Summertime." Nick Diaz Middletown, MD
  6. Ndiaz
    Yes, on a Venture. All first-gen Ventures had centerstands. My 88 VR is sitting in my garage right now, on its centerstand. Second-generations don't?
  7. Ndiaz
    I bought Ronnie's (Dragin Tail's) "headlight surround" earlier this week, and it arrived yesterday. Thank you, Ronnie, for the prompt delivery; the item was exactly as you described. I've installed it already, and the black trim around the headlight contrasts beautifully with the white fairing on my 88 VR. Nick Diaz
  8. Ndiaz
    I bought a set of Continental Conti Tours, front and rear, from American Motorcycle Tire: http://www.americanmototire.com/ . They were quick and efficient, and arrived three days after my order, with no problems. The tires were TK16 front, TK17 rear, meant for cruisers and tourers. So far so good with them. The rear is belted, just as the Dunlop Elite II and the Metzeler 880, an advantage in longevity. Just my $0.02. I have an 88 Venture Royale.
  9. Ndiaz
    On my 1988 Venture Royale, one of the two screw holes is broken. I'd be interested in replacing that piece. Let me know your price, condition of part, etc. PM me if you'd like. Nick Diaz Middletown, MD
  10. Ndiaz

    Tony Snow

    Ndiaz posted a topic in In Memory Of

    :Sad_0241:Lamenting the death of Tony Snow today. Tony was not only a nationally known TV and radio commentator and former WH press secretary; not only was he a family man, well liked and respected by anyone and everyone. He was only 53. He was also one helluva musician! He could play a terrific alto sax, flute, and guitar. I saw him and heard him play with an 80's band in recent years. He was gracious enough to let my wife take a picture of me and him during a band break. He'll be missed. I know the band, "Beats Workin", will miss him.
  11. Ndiaz
    The 1988 Venture Royale I just bought has one, which says 1200.
  12. Ndiaz
    Whatever...
  13. Ndiaz
    I'm a "new" Venture Royale owner, a white 1988. I've been following this thread and learning a whole bunch from you guys. I want you to know how much I appreciate your "conversation" on this topic. Nick Diaz Middletown, MD
  14. Ndiaz
    Bubber, you're a gentleman. I believe Mr. tx2sturgis has made my point for me. Nick
  15. Ndiaz
    I'm already home, Mr. tx2sturgis, thank you. Do have a nice day. Nick
  16. Ndiaz
    One disagreement you and I have, tx2sturgis, is about my anger. I have none of that. Strong opinions on a given subject does not automatically signify "hate" or anger. Read my reply to Bubber and you'll see where I come from. www.thetentacle.com welcomes opposing viewpoints. Go to it and contact the editor for "equal time", and he'll be glad to have you express your views of disagreement with me. In the meantime, read my other articles, with which you'll have a difficult time disagreeing. And please don't call me "Mr. Diaz". On this site, among motorcycle friends, I'd rather be Nick. Nick Diaz Middletown, MD
  17. Ndiaz
    MamaMo, questions #11 thru 15 will come out in the next few months. I'm going to quote from my own "Part III", of the 10 Dumb Questions. At the end of that article, I wrote the following: "Women, being the more sensible gender, are far more receptive than the "bikerbro" type to this safety-minded line of thought. Which brings us to question Number 11, about women riding. Oops, sorry, my 10 questions are up, for now. I guess #11 will have to wait…" I venture to say you've surmised by now what the 11th question will be about!
  18. Ndiaz
    Bubber, I wrote two, not just one, articles in which I take a rather "contrarian" view of HD. This view is one that many people out there, I'm convinced, hold on to, but it's not a politically correct one. Read them both again, and tell me where I'm wrong, specifically, and we can debate the points, one by one. These are not 'hang-ups" of mine, as you say, but carefully thought-out statements. "New and improved" does not automatically, ipso facto, mean crotch rockets. "New and improved" means Gold Wing, ST1300, FJR1300, Ducati, your Venture -- you should get the idea by now. You're taking a leap that was not intended. It shows you that you don't read my articles very closely. If you go to the website, http://www.thetentacle.com/author.cfm?MyAuthor=52 , and click on my article "Enjoying What Life Brings on Two Wheels," then you'll see how I put down the sports bike radicals as well. Once again, my point was not to "bash" HD, but to bring out points that go contrary to popular and conventional thinking about HD, and to prompt folks to think about them. I'm afraid, Bubber, that you've missed the point, which is, among others, that some folks don't think about the ramifications about HD before they plunk their money down. Of course, just as I have the right to express my opinions and draw my conclusions about HD, you also have the right to disagree with me. If you wish, refute my points, one by one, on this forum or in private, and we can thus engage in a friendly discussion or debate. I have no intention to go into a biker bar, or any bar, simply because I don't drink -- particularly when out on my motorcycle. Bubber, have a great day yourself, and indeed it's great to be an American. Nick Diaz Middletown, MD
  19. Ndiaz
    For my latest ruminations, with which Venture riders will identify, click on the following: http://www.thetentacle.com/author.cfm?MyAuthor=52 . Then click on "Christmas in the Summertime." As I've mentioned before, my columns for http://www.thetentacle.com are published every other Tuesday, and today is such a Tuesday. This site is not a motorcycle site, but I have the privilege of being allowed to write about motorcycling and math education (and today I managed to combine the two). Nick Diaz Middletown, MD
  20. Ndiaz
    It's exactly what I expected. I've been riding a 1984 Suzuki GS1100GK for the last 9 years. Before that, I rode four GS850G Suzukis from 1986 to 1999. I like old bikes that run well. The Venture is like these old UJM Suzukis. They work! I'm old and cheap, just like my bikes! I always liked the Venture styling and the way they work. Frankly, I don't like the Harleyesque styling of the 2nd generation, but to each his own. Spent most of the morning replacing front brake pads, adjusting handlebars and foot control height, and figuring out how the CLASS system works, etc. It does work, by the way...
  21. Ndiaz
    Just got back from Maine, where I picked up my "new" 1988 Venture Royale. It was a two-day, 700-mile trip, mostly uneventful, with some rain and road construction (not much fun when rain and road construction delays go on at the same time!) Anyway, the Venture behaved the way I expected it to. Very fine machine. Glad to be home. Nick Diaz Middletown, MD
  22. Ndiaz
    You're correct, Yammer Dan. I did write, "1998". It is, of course, 1988. Thanks for noticing that typo. Nick Diaz Middletown, MD
  23. Ndiaz
    Thank you, Eck, for the warm welcome. Glad you enjoyed my "10 Dumb Questions", a three-part article. I particularly like these. My favorite piece is "The Passion of a Lifetime." Tomorrow morning I'll be on Amtrak to Portland, ME, where I'll be buying a 1988 Venture Royale from a private citizen. I'll ride the VR back home to Maryland, taking my time on "invisible roads." My column comes out every other Tuesday, and this is one of them. By the way, all contributing columnists for this Tentacle website get no compensation (damm!) Nick Diaz Middletown, MD
  24. Ndiaz
    Good morning, all. My name is Nick Diaz, and I'm new to this board, as I'm buying a 1998 Venture Royale this week. I've enjoyed this site in the past week or so, in anticipation of Venture ownership. I'm 60 years old and have been riding for 38 years now, and look forward to many more on my beautiful white VR. For 35 years my bride and I have been living in Frederick County, MD, where good roads abound. I'm a middle-school mathematics teacher (I know, I know, "How can you stand those middle-school brats?") Answer: Someone has to do it... One of the things I do for fun is write a biweekly column for a local news and commentary webstie known as The Tentacle -- www.thetentacle.com . My topics are either math education or motorcycling; considering this site is not a "motorcycle" website, it's neat how I get a chance to "educate" the nonmotorcycling public, with a "contrarian" point of view. Somehow I find it difficult to write about education at this time of year -- I wonder why... My latest contribution just came out this morning. Go to the following: http://www.thetentacle.com/author.cfm?MyAuthor=52 , then click on "Enjoying What Life Brings on Two Wheels." (While you're at it, click on my brief bio at the top.) Nick Diaz Middletown, MD
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