Ask Ping!
Friday, November 9, 2012 | 8:00 AM
ODI dates back to the 1980’s as the leader in grip manufacturing. Focusing primarily on the bmx and mountain bike industries through the 90’s and early 2000’s, ODI re-entered the motocross scene when they developed the patented lock-on grip system that eliminates wire and glue. Continuing to advance the way riders hold on to their bikes, ODI has worked closely with the teams they support such as Troy Lee Designs to create the product that is now being used by some of the top teams in the industry.
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PrintI read Josh Hill's interview on Racer X online and he said he went out after his first tryout with RCH Racing and bought a bike to practice on for his next tryout the following week. That made me wonder if most riders in the off-season that are not signed to a team have a personal bike to ride or train on. To me it sounds kind of crazy for a rider to not invest in himself. I mean if I am a ditch digger and was not resigned by my previous employer, it most likely means I can improve on my ditch digging skills. So I would surely go out and buy a shovel and be practicing my skills so I will be as prepared as possible for my next job opportunity. I understand a shovel is only $40 and a bike is around $8000, but it is relative because a ditch digger is going to make $9 an hour while a contract for a racer can easily be six figures. Also, once a rider signs a new contract he can always sell the bike. Throw a couple autographed jerseys in and I am sure someone will pay $5000 for a bike that is only a few months old. All said a rider might invest $3000 to potentially make six figures, sounds like a no-brainer investment to me.
Thanks,
Bill
Ditch digging.
The guys who are serious about their careers go out and get a bike. But you would be surprised at how many stubborn riders simply refuse to make that investment. They would rather give up a couple months of riding than swallow their pride and go to a dealership and put down some cash. The flipside to that is that not all of these guys are making six figures. Take Chris Blose for example. Chris is a great rider and a nice guy who regularly makes the 450 class main events and yet he can’t find a good ride right now. Forget six figures… Chris would be stoked if he had someone paying his expenses and bills so he can focus on racing. In the meantime he went out and bought himself a Honda [2007 vintage] to ride until he can line something up. In Hill's case, he went out and bought the Suzuki to get used to that specific bike--he might still have one of his old Kawasakis or Yamahas around, but that's not going to help when trying to adapt to a Suzuki in a weekend. I applaud Hill and Blose for their commitment to their jobs.
PING
Ping,
We're living in a great time in human history. We have such advances in technology that transcends in to all aspects of our lives, including motocross. As a consumer in this industry, I'm always excited to see the advances each manufacturer will bring as new models arrive each year. As far as bikes go, we (us non-pro's) really can't go wrong with any model currently available out there. Where am I going with this? Well, I recently received a new tablet (just one non-moto example of these advances) and downloaded what is one of my favorite movies that you've more than likely seen - On Any Sunday. Man, watching those poor souls ride through whoops with their rear ends swapping back and forth is almost comical. Remember the gear these guys were wearing? Football facemasks on motorcycle helmets? Really? We all know that necessity is the mother of invention and I can't help but send all of these creative souls a sincere thanks for what I ride and protect myself with today. These guys were studs! Malcolm lapping everyone at the Elsinore Grand Prix three times on that prehistoric bike was awesome. Anyhoo, to anyone that hasn't seen the movie recently, or at all, do yourself a favor and enjoy it, again, if necessary. While watching this movie, I kept hitting rewind so many times just to confirm what these guys were trying to do...masking tape to hold ONE tear-off to the face shield on an open face helmet? Amazing! This video is a must-see for anyone that enjoys two-wheels. The evolution of suspension gets my vote for best dirt bike advancement over the years. What's yours? I really enjoy your column and it’s the first thing I read on the crapper on Fridays.
Thanks
Still Dizzy_19
Respect.
A great time in human history? Hmmm. Maybe I’m still suffering from some post-election day hangover but I’m not sure I agree with you on that. Sure, our technology is powering forward so I can send emails from the toilet on my phone and buy a car that will literally park itself. That is fantastic innovation, especially if you eat a lot of Thai food or you have a wife who crashes into things like Lindsay Lohan on a coke bender. But socially I’d rather go back to the days when On Any Sunday was filmed. Common sense and common decency have become obsolete, people are smoking dope on the streets of Denver and my taxes just went way, way up… again. I’d get in my truck and go for a drive to calm myself down but gas is $4.00 per gallon. I really hope I’m just overreacting to the direction this country is heading and the speed it’s moving.
As far as bikes go there is no question we’ve come a long, long way. I’ve raced a couple of vintage events and wrestled with the obese monstrosities that were considered the best bikes made back in the sixties and seventies. I came away with a newfound appreciation for the riders from those eras. Respect. Suspension evolution is incredible but I would put brakes and durability right there with it in terms of biggest improvements. Oh, and On Any Sunday is still the best moto movie ever made and if you haven’t seen it you can’t consider yourself a true motocross fan.
PING
Ping,
You are quite funny at times and I enjoy reading your take on the motorcycle industry as a whole. I grew up riding and racing motorcycles since age 4 and retired at 15. Figured I should go to college instead of breaking the rest of my bones and end up wearing a straight bill hat with my ears tucked under at age 42. I raced in the old NMA national series and what was the biggest event back then, Ponca City, every year from age 6 on. There were no four strokes at the time and my last bike I raced was a Honda CR 125 at the Mammoth Motocross in 1989 I believe. Pretty much the last time I put a leg over a bike.
My question is, how can Dungey at the MEC race competitively stuck in 2nd gear the entire race. That tells me these machines are so vastly different than having to shift and use a clutch constantly as we did on two strokes. If you came into a corner, out of a corner, hit whoops, didn’t shift up or in the wrong gear on a straight, twenty people passed you. To me, there was a lot of skill required to ride a two stroke fast, but these four strokes seem to almost ride themselves. No one had said one word about this, but maybe if I can ride my factory Italjet with one gear around the track, perhaps I should get back out there.
Kevin M. Heisser
It's like this guy versus Lance Armstrong on PEDs.
I’m trying to come up with an analogy to help you understand how much things have changed since 1989. An ’89 CR 125 compared to a modern bike is like a horse and plow compared to a combine. No, too agricultural. Its like you were sending a message by carrier pigeon and now you have email. Nah, too techy. Okay, remember when you used to sit in your room listening to a cassette of Run DMC while playing Super Mario Bros on Nintendo? Well, now you own your own house, rap is called hip hop and its about drugs, drinking and fornicating and you play Halo 4 with people from all around the world on a massive flat screen television.
Here’s what I’m trying to say: Over the years since you left the sport has changed exponentially. The tracks and the sponsors and the formats have all undergone adjustments but the bikes have to be the single biggest change. Even the advancement in two-stroke technology since ’89 was huge. If you jumped on a new KTM or Yamaha 125 you would think you were riding a works bike. And if you threw a leg over a new 450 you would need a change of shorts. The power is manageable and strong and it starts at a crazy low RPM and revs to the moon. They turn better, handle better and last longer than anything you are used to and the fact that Dungey could even clear all the jumps at the MEC in second gear should tell you something. Sounds like its time for you to find your testicles and get back into the sport. You do make a lot of money now, right?
PING
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Liberals are such scum. I hope anyone that voted Obama loses their job in the next 4yrs and then starves to death.
Welfare Rats and Baby Killers unite!
@pizzacorner I can hear your hick accent from here.
@ pizzacorner I hope anyone that thinks like you dies simultaneously so this world can be a better place.
Pizzacorner, I can't believe I'm doing this but... I know what you mean. USA is gonna learn the hard way, if at all.
Forgive me if I sound like a red neck, unintelligent jack ass.. But did anyone notice that Obama received 96% of the black vote across the entire country? Now, not being one to draw conclusions, I will have to say that if that's not a prejudice, racist vote.. I've never heard of one. If 96% of whites voted for Romney we would never hear the end of it!! It's OBVIOUS they voted skin color, and nothing else. Oh well, maybe in 4 years we can fix it.
Take a gander at this:
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=1729d357d18ae67afbe3a6085&id=78670b9720&e=a3f5e2d325
pizzacorner, this is not the place for politics. but i have to agree with you. liberals are killing our sport and our country. i will keep my head up and work ever harder.
god help us all.
I was relieved to hear Pings response to still dizzy 19s' statement that "we are living in a great time in human history".....as you would only see things that way if you were maybe like....a Communist.....or someone who hates America etc
@pizzacorner.....I suddenly like you....it is good to see you are not one of the "useful idiots" (that is a term used by communists to describe the American public.....they have begun using it again recently).
and, before any of you useful idiots start attacking me....just thought I would say that NO, I am not a Republican....recently became an independent.....you can't be a Democrat anymore, as there are no more real Democrats, they are now like the Socialist party...with a bunch of Marxists, Communists, etc in there.
@ rickamatuzio. I know this will sound extremely difficult to do (considering 96% is such a large number), but do me a favor and don't assume every black person you see or meet is a part of that 96%. I'm black and I voted for Romney. I believe in God, family, freedom, and getting out of the bed early every morning and putting in a hard day's work. I would rather pay for my healthcare out of pocket than get put on some government insurance plan, and would rather "dig ditches" than collect a government check. And I'll teach my son the same....soon as he figures out this PW50 thing. Y'all have a good one.
It's true that bikes are competely advanced technologically, but heck look at the prices today. Everyone knows the price of the sport has a ceiling, and will get smaller and smaller. But, even third world countries have motocross, and they're broker than we are, so there is somewhat of a hope for the US.
@ rocdaco
Thanks,
I needed that.
ron paul was the best thing candidate in america..white,black,yellow, blue
I love my country.
Guys, on the subject new versus old, I am a subscriber of the old. While these are close to the same bikes I rode new (70's), they bring back memories. Not to say I don't have some new stuff like a 79 RM 125 or 81 490 Maico.
Last weekend I raced a 77 Husky 125 (No Mitch Peyton special (yet!)) and a Ducati RT 450. Raced might be a stretch though.
I also loaned out a CZ 250 and a Rickman Matchless 500 to a friend.
It was casual racing, no injuries and a lot of fun.
I was disappointed that neither Husqvarna or Ducati contacted me this week with a big contract for 2013.
Guess I will go buy me a bike to practice on..........Maybe an ESO or Lito
misoheye? me so high? your so clever.. smoke your weed and get your handouts! no wonder you didnt vote for romney! nobody calls ping uptight! you jackalope
@Misoheye, Bashing Mormons?? you are really simple minded. Not voting for Romney because of his religion?? a muslim is in office, I dont remember a extreme group of mormons attacking us by flying planes into buildings..... do you?? Nice write up PING!!!!!
I gotta tell ya... it became pretty easy to know who to vote for when i heard these 2 points....
A. - Stopping government support of programs like PBS. (Which statisticly has educated 90% of all american children ages 1-5 for over 40 years)
And this...
B. - Mitt Romney managed to NOT pay taxes for what... what was it? 10.. or was that 12 years? Sorry to all you Repubs out there.. but if you think its ok for a rich man to not pay his country for working and living in it like the rest of us then you really need a reality check.
rocdaco, Dude why were you not president then we would be getting somewhere. Im white and hate racism I wish our government could figure out how to actually do what they say and make their budjets balance instead of constantly lokking for more ways to tax us
No other movie captures the magic of riding quite like On Any Sunday. It always rekindles the spirit and entertains like no other.
Ping didn't slam Obama. He's disgusted about economic conditions and impending fiscal policy changes - rightly so. Regardless of party affiliation, any objective and factually informed mind would have to agree this country is in big financial trouble and it will get much worse before it gets better.
Thanks for the laughs and information Ping! There are certainly elements of the "good old days" I long for as well.
@bigtireguy
Are you one of these morons that thinks that a Muslim is a "race" ? And Muslims didn't fly into our buildings..... GW BUSH/Dick Chaney paid Terrorist did.... get your facts\ straight. Its funny how Haloburton oil managed to suck up ALL of the contracts in iraq and said company is partially owned by Chaney and possibly Bush aswell. 9/11 was all about money and oil.
When I hear my students tell me their parents voted for Obama so they could continue to collect food stamps I lost all faith in this country.
I'm also getting sick of Democrats calling Republicans hicks. We are the ones getting out of bed in the morning going to work while Democrats walk to the mailbox and collect my hard earn money.
I race vet class and I say all the time 4 strokes have leveled the field. People who do good would never do so on a two stroke. On a 450 there is no such thing as "I was in the wrong gear and he passed me".
ManiacsXtrem if you believe that Bush caused 9/11 then you should also believe that Ben Laden is still alive and we didn't actually go to the moon. How can you believe Bush caused 9/11 but turn a blind eye to what Muslims truly think about America?
Ok, I know that this isn't a politcal forum, but reading some of the idiotic foolish remarks on here, I just have to chime in.
Anyone who voted for Obama is really really out of touch with where this country is today. The Democrats, and especially your "Dear Leader" are going to bankrupt this country. You can't keep printing money, and borrowing from China, and throwing money away on BS programs that are glorified handouts without dire consequences down the road. Romney was far from perfect, and I don't necessarily agree with all of his social platforms, but he understands business and money and would have had a far better effect on the country than Obama.
What has Obama done in 4 years other than run up the national debt? If you voted for Obama you are either young and dumb (wait until you have a mortgage and a family to provide for and see how much money you are left with after taxes), or looking for a handout (give me my Obama phone and an EBT card), or a single woman (that thinks abortion is a form of birth control), or here illegally (and probably voted twice under a couple of different names), or black (and voted for the black guy... ie- anyone but the white rich guy).
This country is f'd and I am ashamed to be an American at the moment. The rest of the world is laughing at us. How do you reward bad behavior? The guy does an aweful job, and still gets re-elected.
The takers outnumber the makers. All you young kids on here that think that Obama and the Democrats are great and going to fix the world. Tell me how you feel when you are 40 with a family and you are paying 60 grand a year in taxes. I bet you don't even MAKE half of that... if you even work. Move out of Mommy and Daddy's house and start paying into the system that robs you blind to support lazy sketchy people and then tell me how awesome Mr. Hope and Change is!
@still_ride_2_strokes
+1,000 times your 100% right.
I ride 4 strokes though....lol
Still Ride
110% correct.and for the nut that said Romney didn't pay taxes for 10 or 11 years. You need a case of red bull to wake up your sleeping dumb ass brain
Maybe I can ruffle some feathers... I don't believe Romney would be able fix our economy either. Yeah, Romney has better business sense than Obama does, but neither of them can avoid the cliff we're about to fall off of. I don't think democrats or republicans get it right now. I'm not a libertarian, but Ron Paul would have been the only candidate that could have done anything about our economy. Too bad he was off in left field about so many issues. The only hope I had in Romney was Paul Ryan. He at least submitted a budget that got us back on track. The sad thing is that we are so far off economically that fixing it will cause major hardship for everyone. We need to cut entitlements, but doing so is going to put a lot of people out of work which is going to hurt the economy. We're between a rock and a hard place. Downsizing government will save money, but the jobs it will lose certainly won't help the economy. I just don't see any way out of this. We're too far gone. The changes we would need to make to become a solvent country again may destroy our country. I guess I don't have a very good outlook right now.
Oh lord.. I can't read anymore once the Bush bashing starts.
Bush will be just like Truman, the world won't see his presidency as being successful for another 20 years, but people WILL look back and see good things. Any president dealt with 9/11 couldn't do better.. Ignoring the problem would make it worse.
People forget the Middle East problems began in the late 70s, so piss off about Halibourghton and Iraq. That nut job had to go..
Maybe you could blame Bush for hurricane sandy. Remember, the people blamed Katrina on Bush.. He had the CIA steer that baby right into New Orleans. Yes sir.
And SUVs drive themselves in attempt to kill people.. Bla bla bla!
Windmills kill birds and contribute to global warming by stirring air currents.
Obama can pave highways white to reflect heat and save the earth.
Speaking of Motocross...
or Supercross...
anyone?
Knock it off with the politics, guys.
It's over (take that anyway you want it).
Call/write/e.mail your state Congressmen and Senators...
Tell them what you think they need to do to fix things and to keep your vote the next time they come up for election. But please, for God's sakes, leave it off of here. All of this bickering is what has trickled in to Washington and caused it to be the worst congress/least to get anything done (legislate... pass laws, etc.) since before WW II.
If you want things to improve yo have to stop thinking and talking this way. You're not realing that politicians DO hear the people... and this kind of talk for the last 4 years has been part of why we are where we are. In-fighting... that's what the rest of the world is really laughing at.
Unless you're 100% American Indian, everybody who lives and breathes the freedoms we established in the USA came from Parents or Grand Parents that were IMMIGRANTS from some other part of the world! Some of you are choosing the "This sucks, I quit" attitude. Take the high road, gentlemen... It's what built this country.
Great late 70's picture of... Billy Grossi, Danny Laporte, Steve Stackable, Tony DiStefano? Can anyone I.D. the rider? Trans-AMA race... circa 1976-77? Some style points for that guy (remember when there was the cross-up? It's all over the place in ON ANY SUNDAY). Looks like the rider is on the verge of discovering the 'whip'.
Mtman76 you are DEAD RIGHT ON.
Best post yet.. Sacrifice is our only way to bring America back.
We have 3 states that made pot legal, gay marriage is now legal in minnesota, if parents spank their kids they go to jail, and we are quickly declining in education standards in relation to the world even though we spend more money on it than ever.
Kids today suck, and they are boring.. A party consists of 11 children on a couch playing with their smart phone not even talking to each other. Text text text, no communication skills or talking anymore.
We're fuc$$d!!!
I know that people are entitled to their own opinions but you are not entitled to your own facts. Obama is not a muslim, communist, nazi or socialist. Obama's adminstration saved the us auto industry. He has been agressively going after al kaeda with success. the economy has been slowly improving, which means it is getting better not worse. Ping said his tax bill went way up. i can't believe he got a tax bill a couple of days after the election. I won't know what my taxes will be until april 15th 2013. How does he know this? Obama is not coming for your guns or your dirt bike or your freedom. He needs our help not our hate. As far as racism is concerned, please look up the definition of racism, it is the oppression of a race, please explain to me how the white race is oppressed in this great country of ours.
Well said markymark720.
Some will always believe what they hear from one side only, without bothering to investigate. It goes both ways. Refusing to seek the truth, to see things for what they are is a hopeless place. Argue 'till you're blue in the face -and have a heart attack from all the anger in your soul... or learn to compromise and fix things. Thats the way it's always been done in the past... the only 'past' worth talking about.
And speaking of 'talk' [from so many experts] about 'the need to run this country like a business', have any of you ever discovered the First Rule of Business?
Adapt or die. It applies to Politics, Life, Motocross...
Don't see any two-strokes on the Podium at SX or National MX races lately.
That was a metaphor... Thank you Peter (MoneyBall) Brand.
Hey everyone, check out a new Moto website, originalmoto.webs.com.
I am from Germany so I will stay out of your poltics but I own a KTM 125 - 2 Stroke and I love her. There is nothing of the smell of that oil ... hitting the clutch and rev her out of that corner .. that relationship with bike and track is so intense no 4-stroke will never give that feeling. 2-Strokes kick ass
I'm not a party person, I'm a people person. I don't care which party they belong to, I'm all about who has the better ideas. You can pretty much sum up the election by looking at the geographical map. Sorry for those stuck in those states that went to him, but it is of course those same states that carry most people along with government handouts.
Yeah, The Great Obama saved the auto industry? I don't think so. He just gave the unions and the companies that don't deserve it, a lifeline. Toyota (the Official Truck of Supercross and Motocross) seemed to be doing well enough. Ford didn't take any bailout money. Make good vehicles and it takes care of itself.
Speedster
Romney's voters sign their checks on the front,
Obama's voters sign their checks on the back!
Speedster
Ping,
Couple of issues with your responses above.
I live in Colorado and it's very doubtful this law will stand. As our esteemed Governor put it “This will be a complicated process, but we intend to follow through. That said, federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug so don’t break out the Cheetos or gold fish too quickly.”
Not unlike California, our state is littered with medical marijuana shops and just like CA, the reported rate of "glaucoma" has skyrocketed in the last few years... The people that are smoking pot in CO today are the same ones that were smoking it pre-election.
As for your taxes going up, I assume you are referring to the upcoming Bush Tax Cut expiration (assuming it happens based on current congressional balance that tend to negate each other out). Unless you are making $250k / year (and if you are, that may be an indicator of why CA has an ongoing budget crisis), it really isn't going to affect you so you can relax.
I suggest you turn off talk radio, let your hand heal up, then put $8 of gas in your tank (still a lot less than the majority of the world pays), hop on your bike and enjoy that awesome warm SoCal winter weather.
By the way, since that dog attacked you and your poodle in the street, I believe you have a good case. Sick 'em.
Rear ends still swap back and forth in whoops.Just that the whoops are much bigger and the bikes are hitting those a much faster speeds.
@MotoXScript
Believe what they hear from one side?? I listen to all sides, but I don't need to listen to anyone's opinion to see this country is in a world of sh*t, and the policies of the current government are making it way worse. Name one good thing that Obama has effected in his first 4 years??? Nothing. The health care bill is a joke, and that is the only thing he rammed through The House. The Stimulus Bill was an absolute license to steal. Billions in crapplily paved highways. Saved the US auto industry?? Puhleeeeeez... I drive a Ford F150 son. Ford didn't take any handouts and they would have been around if Obama didn't dump millions in taxpayers' money into GM etc. Calll a square a square man... things are f'd up and you just voted to keep them heading further down the crapper.
Oh, and @markymark720 and @Preston... did you guys graduate high school? I would take what you were saying a little more seriously if you could craft a sentence that wasn't a grammatical nightmare littered with misspelled words. That's all I have for this dummed down board. Oh, @MotoXScript... no 2 stokes on podiums? Adapt or die?? Comical. How is it competitive for a bike with double the displacement to race in the same class? Why don't they let 250 2 strokes race in the 250F classes? Do you really need an answer? Talk about allowing an unfair advantage. Oh, and have you watched a GNCC lately? Couple or more 2 strokes racing in the woods homeboy. 4 strokes are a joke.
Preston we are not evolving. History repeats itself. Every 300-500 years a revolution happens because people become spoiled and make stupid decisions. We are trillions of dollars in debt and it will have to be repaid. There will be a time where 60%-70% of our income will be taxed. It will either be that or the government will just come in and take peoples land because they will need a way to payback China and other countries. We are in a mess but we are to spoiled as a country and won't vote in the people that would come in and lay down the law.
I would go buy me a new dirt bike this year, but to much of my money is going into people like Preston's pocket. Must be nice to just go to the mailbox and collect a check. Idiots
@jmx411... You didn't get your Obama phone and your EBT card this month? I will look into that for you. lmfao
You are right on the money though... no one wants to sacrifice anything to solve the problem. Everyone needs their BMW X5, iPhone 10, 9 million inch flatty, 4000 square foot house... entitlement.
OBAMA scoreboard .... blowout .....over .....OVER.....politics suck. Don't use the Obama took all my money excuse for not buying a bike @Jmx411 thats crap....the sky hasn't fallen.........both of your "teams" suck...... but each person has to take some responsibility for the way things are instead of blind alligence to two teams of crooks and wack jobs....get off your ass go to work. Ride your bike and enjoy how great we STILL have it and quit you f^%&KING; endless whining about politics....the entertainment division of big business......I'm more interested in whos hiring Wilson.
@still_ride_two_strokes....I concur with your posting 100%. I will add the following for the liberals that "don't know what they don't know"......
In 1776 our country was founded as a REPUBLIC, not a Democracy (look up the difference to know). From 1776 to 2008, 232 yrs, the entire money supply was only 850 billion dollars. Thats it, no more. This was actual printed money in circulation. From 2008 to present, the Obama administration, under the guidance of Private for Profit" Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke , has increased this amount of "REAL" money to 2.6 TRILLION!!!!!!! (300% in 4 years) What does this mean???
It means that the very same people who voted Obama another 4 years, are the very same people who will be in-slaved by the inflation that this "IS" going to cause in the not too distant future. Those of you who keep records....go back and see ALL of the price increases from 2008 to present, ie....food, gasoline, insurance, movies, amusement parks, anything that you pay to receive or do......That is the danger that "ALL OF US" face in the coming years. HYPER-INFLATION (google Weimar Germany 1922 to see the potential effects, or Zimbabwe 2001 to educate yourselves)
Our banking system is built on the "FRACTIONAL RESERVE SYSTEM" which means that for every dollar in circulation there are 10 more "make believe" dollars as well....do the math as for how many "NEW DOLLARS" that are now in circulation for the past 4 years.
THE ONLY REASON WE HAVE GOTTEN AWAY WITH THIS RECKLESS MONETARY BEHAVIOR IS BECAUSE THE US DOLLAR IS THE WORLDS RESERVE CURRENCY. IT HAS BEEN BACKED BY THE OPEC COUNTRIES IN EXCHANGE FOR PROTECTION. (don't believe, again, look it up and become educated)
People, irrespective of party affiliation, our elected officials are destroying this country, and have been for the past 40 years. The time of the US DOLLAR as the worlds reserve currency is at its end. We are going to perish as a country if we keep borrowing from our childrens children future with the >1 trillion dollar annual budget deficits that have been occuring for the past 5 years. Obama will continue this course, Romney was the change-agent to start the process to end it. 4 more years of Obama will certainly destroy our nation.
Research and learn for yourself, or, keep your head in the sand, up to you.
Our financial demise will happen in your lifetime. With knowledge comes the ability to be prepared. With ignorance comes the realization that you were/are screwed, because by then it will be too late to react.
SeventiesRacer great post. Inflation was so bad in Germany that they burned their money for heat because that was cheaper than buying wood. Hitler was voted in because he promised to make them a great nation again. The day that the world currency relies on China is the day that us Americans will be struggling to survive. America has become to ignorant that we think nothing can happen to us. Lord only help us that the Obama 2016 movie doesn't actually happen
POPCORN
PEANUTS
Best news I've heard all week is Oklahoma passed a law requiring drug test to obtain welfare! That should be nationwide for every type of handout!
The solare energy company Barrack Hussein Obama invested $787 billion economic stimulus package money into went bankrupt. Toyota was hit by the tsunami. That is why Their sales went down. But BHO took credit for it and it supports don't care about the failures.
Bringing up two-strokes and politics in the same Ask Ping. You had to know the comments section would get ugly after that.
This country needs more independent-voting, Muslims that converted to Mormonism, and ride two-strokes on public land, looking to shoot illegal aliens that are perpetuating gridlock on their four-stroke, three-wheelers. That makes about as much sense as half the other comments on here.
Couple comments I see here that I dont agree at all with
Obama saved the auto industry- Nope, he saved the UNION in the auto industry. What SHOULD have happened was to let GM and Chrysler do a bankruptcy which would have really been a re-org, but the union would have gotten the boot. The employees would have probably kept their jobs, but lost their "union" benefits unless the union would have honored them to the point of re-org. Instead, we as taxpayers get to pay for the auto workers union protection.
face it, Dems are pro union and look for the union vote, this was not a wise financial decision of the govt.
I saw another post about Bin Laden being Bushes fault, Nope, we can thank Clintion for that, he didnt finish the job and didnt listen to Ollie North.
Housing crash- Thank Clinton, he required teh lending institutions to reduce the requirements on people borrowing money to sell inner city houses. Thanks to another Dem
Last
Until the EPA loosens up on their regs on manufacturing companies, this country will never come out of this recession fully, what do we manufacture to trade with other countries?????? Thanks to Clintion signing the NAFTA treaty, businesses made the decision to move, mostly because of taxes, and costs imposed by the EPA
US postal service- who will be teh bad guy to start cutting people loose there, I think I heard they cost the US taxpayer 10 million dollars per day because they do not have enough income to cover expenses. I will tell ya, the Dems arent gonna do it, UNIONS!!!
Thats because thier formative years were spent in front of the tube being raised by big bird and oscar the grouch on PBS.
@ghost of christmas....you forgot rasict and A*S waaaaaaah waaahaahhhhh.
Hey seventies racer and still rides 2 strokes, i drive a nice new ford. a handout is different than a bailout. you have to pay back a bailout. GM has paid back almost all of it. so has chrysler. you are right in the fact that ford did not take any bailout money but they borrowed money from china instead. you are also right when you say we were founded as a republic but you are wrong in saying we are not a democracy. i took your advice and looked it up and they mean the same thing in the context they are used. for moto 947. how do you know what would have happened? can you see into the future? do you have a hot tub time machine? if so are two strokes the wave of the future or a thing of the past? bye the way i am a registered republican. i don't know how i did it but i did graduate high skool. Puhleeze don't call the spelling police on me. i dont know my grammer good any moore
I predict Tomac will win over Pourcel and Chisolm in Bercy
Gary Johnson was on the ballot in 48 states. If anyone here voted for him, thank you. The only candidate that had a clue. Romney was a flip, flopping telepromter like John Kerry that didn't know what he believed in. Obama will turn this economy into something like Yugoslavia in 1994.
@ Pizzacorner, see what you started
The moral of this comment section today is.....Romney rides a CR500. LOL.
Pings probably never ridden a super combat wombat is all I got to say. pfft 450.........
@markymark720....you did not read that the main difference between a republic and a democracy is that a republic is run by a SMALL group of elected officials with limited powers, AND, a democracy is a system of large government that directs the country for its percieved own good? The definition will not be worded so direct, but it implies the same.........
After WW2, America became the world's keeper, either by proxy or by its own will. Either way this global arrogance must stop, and we must go back to small, self governance and be "BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE" to ensure that we all belive in "LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS".
We are now consumed with political correctness, and worrying about "BIG BROTHER" and his armed enformers..........
I'm an old white guy. I have never taken a dime from the government, but I know that I receive plenty of indirect benefit from government spending. I also understand the crucial importance of having a safety net, not only for human reasons, but for maintaining an orderly and fair society. If we don't keep the bottom from falling out for people struggling the negative impacts are huge -- especially for children, and our long-term future. The level of complaint about spending on this is way out of proportion to the actual spending amounts. Sure there is some abuse, and I would like to see it minimized, but it is relatively insignificant.
Over my many years I have held regular jobs, and owned and operated small businesses. Taxation was never a significant factor in the success of any business in which I was involved. It is just one of many costs of doing business. During my years as an accounting consultant I saw the insides of many companies. I can assure you there are enormous tax benefits for small business owners, and, unfortunately, many of them go far beyond the law in the steps they take to avoid taxes.
It dumbfounds me to see people complain about high taxation now. We are in a time of historically low taxes. Too low. The deficit is out of control because it is impossible to cut our way to a balanced budget. Bush and congress launched terribly expensive wars without funding them, and instead sent us checks and cut taxes.
The amount of wealth concentrating at the very top is accelerating. That is a real problem, and probably the biggest threat to our nation's future. There is absolutely no excuse for us with wealth not to be taxed moderately more to help reduce the deficit and maintain a civil society.
It is sad to see politics on the right so driven by baseless fear and hate. There are plenty of arguments from the right with which I agree. We need to reduce the deficit. We need to cut the fat from government spending. But you lose me when you start labeling Obama a Muslim -- socialist -- communist or whatever. That just proves you have lost touch with reality.
You can try to paint the election result as all about race, or makers vs takers, or any of the other simplistic factors floated. But I can almost guarantee that if the Republican party was not weighed down by so many extreme factions (no tax increase pledges, anti-science, invading women's bodies) and had fielded a candidate with a workable plan, Obama was beatable. But Romney was too wide open to attack for his work at Bain (go back and watch how members of his own party attacked him on this during the primaries just a few months ago); and his plan of huge military spending increases, tax cuts, yet promising to reduce the deficit defied reason.
Wrapping this up, as much as you all are freaking out, I think you should relax a bit. I think Eli Tomac should put a little less stock in the spewings of Donald Trump (et al.) and come back to the good old USA after Bercy. Four more years of Obama and the split congress isn't going to be dramatically different than if the election had gone the other way. And cheer up -- the odds heavily favor the Republicans taking the election in 2016, especially if they learned anything from this year's.
Kee-rap.....pot smoking gay Mayans that all kinda look like they have roid rage.. have just shown up riding 98 cr250's (big bore with new Wizco piston) burning mcdonalds frie basket oil ,cleaning out bank accounts ,taking our guns and lookin at our WOMERNS....the sky is falling........signed Early Cuyler.
@lastbikerm250.....no one will like what you have to say...it makes to much sense....
LASTBIKERM250, so what exactly did Ronald Regan do in 1980 to bring us back from the second worst recession ever? He cut taxes.
Taxing the country out of spend money is not the answer, and did you know that the TOP 1% of wage earners pay 92% of ALL taxes in this Country?
Its the Jeno Paluccis and Bill Gates billionaires that employ hundreds of thousands of works. Why does punishing them for being successful make sense?
I'm at a loss here...
If more people listened to talk radio and watched Fox News they would learn alot more than playing Xbox, smoking weed and listening to Chris Matthews of MSNBC admit Obama gives him a boner.
This is some good reading, been checking back on it all day. Funny comments.
@Rick ama, I always thought Chris Matthews was a Obama nut hugger
like all Romney supporters, I was working today and just read what was said. But Obama guys, you can rejoice, I made some good money for you today, Now go through back a few wel-fare bought PBR's and party hard in the ol' trailer park!!! Its Friday and you haven't amounted to sh*t all week!!!!
I would like to make, and keep friends on this digital publication. I have a hard enough time doing that, just talking Motocross and/or bike related issues.
The quickest way for me to piss someone off in this melting pot of political warfare is talk about how and why this country is so divided between RED & BLUE.
I come from an era where RED used to mean an entire Nation. Not a state within our collective United States.
That, my fellow countrymen, is a sad (State) of affairs.
I think I still, reserve the (Right) to remain silent...
PS Ping, I hope you found a good orthopedic specialist, and your hand is healing correctly.
@rickamatuzio:
"so what exactly did Ronald Regan do in 1980 to bring us back from the second worst recession ever? He cut taxes. "
When Reagan took office, average tax rates (this is effective rates, not the tax table rates, which were higher) on the highest incomes where about 45%. By the time he left office it was down to about 33%. While this certainly played a role in getting out of recession, there were a lot of other factors at work including the overall business cycle. But this ballooned the deficit. Under Bush Sr. the cuts continued bottoming out around 25%. This did not stop the country from falling back into recession and proved unworkable in relation to the deficit. Bush Sr. began increasing rates, as did Clinton, which took them back up into the low 30% range. The Bush Jr. tax cuts have dropped them back below 25%. Few are calling to a return to pre-Reagan era rates, but clearly our economy has had no problem with rates in the mid-thirties.
"Taxing the country out of spend money is not the answer, and did you know that the TOP 1% of wage earners pay 92% of ALL taxes in this Country?"
That is not true. The top 50% of earners paid 97% of all income tax revenue collected (The top 1% of paid 38%). When you consider other taxes such as sales taxes, payroll taxes and property taxes, the lower incomes pay a much greater percentage of their income in taxes than is commonly believed.
"Its the Jeno Paluccis and Bill Gates billionaires that employ hundreds of thousands of works. Why does punishing them for being successful make sense?"
Punish? Seriously? Taxes are punishment?
Punishing success would be throwing them in jail, or taxing in such a way that the more they earned the less they made. Taxes don't work that way. Do the math. The more you make, the more you make. It is just a fact and necessity of civilization that the most financially able should shoulder the heaviest tax burden. We can handle it -- believe me.
"If more people listened to talk radio and watched Fox News they would learn alot more than playing Xbox, smoking weed and listening to Chris Matthews of MSNBC admit Obama gives him a boner."
I suggest one gets their news from none of those sources. They are worth an occasional view or listen for comic relief. I also suggest reading a few books on economics, statistics and history (not written by pundits of either right or left).
Me too bigtireguy. The peak of the bell curve was Reagan and now we are on an exponential decline.
Aim for mediocrity, kids. If you can somehow rid yourselves of being straight, white, male, or all 3 if you're lucky- congratulations. You've made it. If you can perfect a rockstar persona, your lies will not ever be held against you.
May the best man sit in the corner, shut up, and pay for dinner. Common sense is dead.
From each based on their ability, to each based on their need. Forward!
@ bigtireguy Hey whats up ! Mr-Mx sends his regards !!!
Speaking about tires .. This budinsky at the Gm dealer said during the oil change said "Oh your Okay" tires dont need rotated yet...........Now I'm a tire guy for 30 years building them so I know tires....Michelin on my SUV.............First oil at 5500 before a big trip. Me and Mr-Mx just came in with 18,980 thats a big difference..........Tires should be rotated 6000-8000 on these tires.............Knuckle heads . I wonder when they think they will need rotated .......We are going up tommorrow and bust some southern heads.. Maybe while there maybe I'll say its a stick up give me all all the money..........Will see..LOL LATER !
I knew Ping would shed a few tears on this weeks post...
Repubs were F'd as soon as Romney was the front runner. He did nothing but sabotage his own campaign. Maybe next time someone will step up who isn't such a whack job; think he was their best choice!
But don't worry your diminished hearts, congress is still going to stalemate on any issue needed to improve the country purely because of partisan bias. Dems and Repubs don't hold all of the correct answers exclusively, and they still can't work together to accomplish meaningful legislation. This will be the downfall of the country; not the vision on the President elect.
I wonder if we should give old General Petraus a free pass sniffin up another tree!
I AM SO SICK OF OBAMA, HIS TAX RATES AND REGULATIONS ARE PREVENTING ME FROM GROWING MY BUSINESS. THEYRE DOING THIS ON PURPOSE.
@ David Pingree- Quite a can of worms you opened up- and with only one hand too.
@ still_ride_2_strokes- I started by saying the crap is thrown from both sides... If you really listened and understood all sides you would have a different opinion of the issues you raise. But to your talking points: First, Bin Laden... Second HealthCare is 1 of over 500 pieces of Legislation signed by our President from January 21, 2009 through November 5, 2012.
Third, the stimulus bill, officially known as the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,” has actually worked and produced the desired results. It stopped the hemorrhaging of jobs and prevented the crisis from becoming a full-fledged depression and included over $288 billion in tax cuts, +$224 billion in education and health care benefits and over $275 billion for job creation using federal contracts, grants and loans. These were not hand outs.
The stimulus bill invested in modernizing the nation’s aging infrastructure. Economic forecasters JP Morgan Chase, Moody’s, etc., all give it credit for stabilizing the economy and the boom in private sector job growth, the largest in 30 years. What you probable aren't aware of is that of all the people who ran for President in 2008, Obama’s proposed stimulus was not the largest. Instead, the largest stimulus proposal was the one by former Governor Romney of Massachusetts.
Slow as it has been, the economy is improving across the board and will continue to do so if the House of Representatives decides to finally compromise, for the good of the country.
Fourth, had GM gone down in flames it would have cost hundreds of thousands of jobs and have negatively affected a host of ancillary businesses that are part of the supply chain in the entire automotive industry.
Fifth, I drive an F150 too.
Sixth, I'm not a modern day 4-stroke (dirt) owner; my off road bikes are all 2-strokes... 4-strokes are not a joke; just your opinion. I'm not defending 4-strokes as being competitive on a level (actual cc's) playing field; just stating a simple fact in the 2012/2013 world of professional SX/MX. I never brought up GNCC or amateur MX. Stick to the argument and stop pulling in misleading comments about stuff I didn't mention just to make yourself sound informed... I would love to see 250F's vs. 250R's; 500R's vs. 450 F's... but it will never happen in Pro SX/MX.
Seventh, you're narrow/myopic view of the issues is only surpassed by your inability to understand and acknowledge the many layers of the bigger picture. Many Presidents that made tough calls during their run (Abraham Lincoln is a great example of a President who was hugely unpopular in his day) and were hated by many.... sound familiar? The verdict will be out for at least 150 more years- but in the future, Obama may be seen as the voice of reason in his time too.
And finally, I'm not your Son or your Homeboy. I'm a middle-aged white guy with a wife, kids, a mortgage, car payments and trying to save for my kids' college educations... Where do you come from? The one thing I do agree with you about is this; I too am ashamed you call yourself an American.
@cxd56:
If you can't grow a business in a time of historically low taxes, it is not taxes that are the problem. Either you aren't a good businessman, or your business is adversely affected by outside factors, such as a sluggish economy.
What regulations enacted by Obama are causing you significant problems? Care to be specific?
Running a business is never easy, but blaming phantoms won't solve your problems.
My story:
I HATE Obama !! and everything he stands for ! Because of him, I couldnt afford the new KTM 500XC I've had on hold for 3 months now..........So I had to suck up and get a 2013 300XC ?....($2500 cheaper).
Thanks alot Obama.......the 300XC is awesome!.......wait, wut?
STOP ALL THE POLITICS!!!!!!!!!######@*%&%&^) !!!!!!!!You're making me insaaaaaaaaaane!
I come to this site to get away from all that crap! This is a RacerX page, please, for the love of GODDDD!! I know everyone is going to argue about stuff in the first place, which is fine, that's just what happens on message boards. But can't we at least keep the argument about motocross??? Please? Pretty please?
If I distract you with something that's complete BS will it derail the political flame-fest?? I'll do that and see what happens...
James Stewart is going to Team Honda because of the Suzuki restructuring stuff....Dean Wilson is going to take over JS's ride at Yosh/Suzuki for the year.
RCH signed Hill to a 8-year contract because RC watched him ride one practice and wouldn't have it any other way....Jeff Ward Racing isn't shutting down, they just made that stuff up because they decided they didn't like the guys they signed after all. This is just a way for them to get out of their contracts so they can use the cash to sign... wait for it.....J-Law to a multi-year deal on the Kawi's. K-dub14 is going to sign with KTM because he's just totally a non-loyal dude and his relationship with Honda really sucks. Josh Hansen totally came from nothing/made himself from nothing and is a frickin' warrior, 'yo - a damn soldier who had to battle through so much to get where is it that's it impossible to describe. Like, one year - his Dad could only get him 20 practice bikes instead of the usual 25 that he preferred. Can you believe that? Team Kawi dropped RV2 as a matter of fact after they all just sat down and really thought about much of an animal 'Hany is compared to RV2. His dedication and work ethic makes RV2 look like a Denver-dope-smoking street guy.
Did that work?
OK y'all, take a break and listen up. BEFORE you really start saying things like being ashamed to be an American, and that this country sucks etc, can I suggest you consider living in another country, and after trying that, you will kiss the ground upon your return. Growing up in New Zealand (where I raced 2 stroke RM's in the 80's), we elected a leftist Govt much like Obama is, turning it in a welfare state, and taxing the heck outta us "workers".... I left with my family and went to Uruguay in Sth America where there was so much potential (farming), in 2007 they elected the 1st communist govt ever, guess what they did first...start taxing "the haves", and giving it to the "have-nots".... we sold up and moved legally here, to rural USA, where we still honor old fashioned manners and hard work...can I tell you EVERYTHING here is a bargain (except heath care, so stay healthy) we couldnt be happier. I did vote for Romney, and now it looks like the US is headed down a slippery slope, but I aint going no-where. My kids have great jobs. AND- I have restored an old RM250Z Full Floater and at times try to ride it.....drum brakes have a hard time trying to slow down that screamer!!
Moral of the story? Pay down debt and live within your means. Enjoy the USA folks!!
@doug148877 - The arguments just moved to another story. Good try though. Usually just mentioning Stewart in any context, even if it's James Stewart the actor, will get a slew of responses. I guess the haters / complainers /argue about anything folk are into politics during the off-season.
Mx Bob.....very, very well said, and a true thanks for recognizing my pathetic attempt to steer this head-shaking tank-slapper back into the right direction...
My apologies, my post was top 10%, not 1%... I did not proof read my little fingers on the cell phone.
Also, apparently the numbers have changed since 2009 to 70% by top 10% . Here is my one of many sources..
http://m.freedomworks.org/blog/daniel-anderson/the-lean-forward-files-“our-differences-are-what-u
The IRS published this years ago, my memory serves.
In my opinion, a straight tax rate across the board is in order. Never shall we punish people for working hard and doing well by taxing them more than someone else.
I'm over this, it was fun.. I enjoyed this thread but we are pissing people off so let's argue that Honda will dominate.. That should stir a different pot.
However, looking at the numbers from 2009, the top 1% of earners paid 36.73% of income taxes. The top 10% of earners paid 70.47% of income taxes, and the bottom 50% of earners contributed only 2.25% of income taxes. In fact, the bottom 47% of earners paid no income taxes whatsoever, which is an oft-disputed statistic that PolitiFact.com has verified.
What percentage would Chris Matthews consider a “fair share”? Should the top 10% of earners pay 90% of all income taxes? How about 100%? Shouldn’t 47% of Americans contribute something in order to do their fair share? Matthews’ implicit claim that wealthy Americans aren’t paying enough in taxes only makes sense if you believe that the federal government has a revenue problem, not a spending problem.
I knew that crap wouldn't work....you people make me want to listen to Slayer and light things on fire.
Hey Rm250: Utility MACT/Transport Rule
Anti-business.
And don't say what I know your going to say, cause I know darn well you don't have a catalytic converter on your bikes. Hyprocisy suits none of us well...
I'm happy you think this is a peak time to grow business, but unfortunately the stock market dropped 331 points the day after the election.
Steve Wynn is even afraid to build a new hotel in Vegas because of Obama!! That's a direct quote! I think he knows a thing or too along with Donald trump. Perhaps you could debate them. They will tell you that money in the bank is what counts, not statistics.
Peace.
DEar GoD MaKE iT sTOp..............................
I really do like my new 300XC...............lol
@rickamatuzio > thought you were over this? Look up 'Nate Silver Five Thirty Eight' regarding the importance of statistics. He has no interest in political parties, just numbers.
Startling how many $250,000+ a year income earners read this blog and weigh in with their political prescriptions. Man 'o man... lot's a you's fellas mus' be rich like the Donald...!
Misoheye.....I am a Mormon and I have never heard of this buying a planet thing you are talking about...
Sorry, I can't help myself!! I have voices in my head.. They want me to do political battle. I put a muzzle on my face!
I miss my cr250r
@ Ping
I like the way you're thinking, brother.
@pizza corner
Right on!
@rocdaco
nothing but respect!
@MotoXscript
Check out the big brain on on MotoXscript. Well allow me to retort...
First of all, I am not a Bro from SoCal. I have a business degree, am also in my 40's with a family and a house,run a business, and our household income is close to Obama's classification of "the wealthy who need to contribute more". Trust me, $250K a year is far from wealthy in the Boston area, so I am not sure what Barry Obama is smoking. I made the "homeboy" and "son" comments to patronize you because you pissed me off.
Secondly- Name ONE of those 500 jewels of litigation that was of any value? I can't recall any... enlighten me.
Third- Are you f'ing high on the Bin Laden kill?? That was all W... Barry Obama just put his rubber stamp on something that had been in the works for years before he took office. Opportunistic delusion on his part if he claims that as an accomplishment.
Fourth- "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act" was total bullsh*t. Investing in modernizing the nations aging infrastructure??? You mean the national pave the highways handout glom-fest??? You really bought into the Dem's sales pitch on that beauty. Show me one piece of "infrastructure" other than a road that got "modernized". It was a license to steal for the paving companies. Are you familiar with the concept of sustainable jobs? Paving jobs are not sustainable jobs. It is like seasonal help. It was poorly spent money that your kids' kids are going to be paying for. I could go on, but not much point.
Fifth- How's that stock market doing lately... ie- after "The Chosen One's" re-election? Exactly...
I'll close with an actual moto argument (sorry to all that I tortured with the political commentary)...
The only reason everyone rides a 4 stroke these days is that the governing race bodies have stacked the deck to make it impossible to be competitive on a smaller displacement 2 stroke. Come on, you need 450cc's of 4 stroke porkiness to beat a 250 2 stroke? I would respect them if they could make an equal displacement 4 stroke to compete with 2 strokes. Race a 250F against 250 2t in the big boy class. Race a 125F against a 125 2t in the tiddler class. That would be comical. Racing a 450 against a 250 is like racing a Shelby GT500 against an SVT Focus. There is no replacement for displacement. If the factories threw the same budget toward developing a 300 or 400 2 stroke with all the engine management electronics and modern technology for traction etc, it would be a blood bath. How about a direct injected 2 stroke motor like they do in Ski Doo snowmobiles? You ridden a modern snowmobile lately? They run cleaner and are faster than their 4 stroke competition. The manufacturers caved in, and went balls deep with the valve and cam motors and they aren't going back down the path of reason. Real shame.
Anyway, I am done being a whiney pain in the backside. My apologies, but people need to wake the f up and stop being sheep.
In other news, somewhere someone out there is riding a dirtbike on a track that should be in a video game actually enjoying life.
What better to relieve stress....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYgu4QqA2YE
Wish i was there right now!
Still Ride Two Strokes, You R right on with the 2 stroke technology potential. I still ride 2 strokes, had been there and done that with many 4 strokes. Have KX 125 with a KDX 220 in it for tight trails(unreal) CR500 for high Mt. stuff (looking to AF that) I long for a KTM300, e button and all. I'm 55 so I better get one before my body gives in or "Barry O" has some say in it. I like your opinions on our new state of affairs. Keep pre mixin'
Why would manufacturers want to build a lite reliable 2 stroke e-start 400 with injection and a correctly spaced gearbox for ease of multi use when they are selling bikes that require alot of parts and maintenance and keep aftermarket pipe guys smiling....1400 for a pipe...give me a break....NEVER.
still_ride_2_strokes
Big brain? I know you meant it as smack-talk but that's your issue. I have a college education too. I'm sure many here do. Haven't had the opp. to ride a current sled... not much snow in SoCal... but I hear good things about those engines. I wish one of the big four (five?) would have the balls to put some of that tech. into a 250R (2strk.) or build a 450/500R (2strk.) would be a great thing for the sport and industry but it is very doubtful.
Stk. market was rising steadily/doing fine until the election... Big banks playing games. As soon as the House of Reps. get their minds right and come to the table to compromise, the stk mkt and other issues you have will continue to slowly but steadily be resolved.
We could go on and on... What makes this country great... being allowed to have an opinion even if it seems diametrically opposed to another person's. I have plenty of info I could throw back at you but I have a business to run too, 7 days a week (who has a day off if they own their own biz...) and be at two soccer games before the day is through... you probably have similar responsibilities as well. You're a glass half empty guy; I see it as a glass half full. I woke up already... when will you? Nice arguing with you, though.
OK Guys and Gals, I was reading earlier but had to go. The truth is as far as bama goes we are stuck with him?(I will say the word impeach) Just as I said about clinton I could not believe the American public took his bait the first time and was stupid enough to do it again?
I have to wonder what is going on when Petriuous (sp) and hillary both jump off the ship just after election? Seems like they dont wanna sink?
Lets just race! as long as we can! Come on A1 I am ready for some Supercross!
DC
Why do you allow this political bullS**T to infect and destroy what may be a good part of this website. Pingree may be good at entertaining, But, he is just stiring up hate. I don't want to read any more of this trash. Here's my answer. I just sent off an e-mail to ODI explaining that I will not buy any of their products if they continue to support this garbage. I will continue to do the same to the rest of your sponsors until this crap stops.
You guys ever rode a Hodaka?
I haven't been reading comments here since the election, but browsing through these (with a few exceptions) has strengthened my conviction that people say things without the slightest freaking idea what they're talking about. Here are a few tidbits for you "capitalists."
Let's start with this. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, two of the richest and most wildly successful Americans, both argue strongly that the rich aren't paying enough. A lot of other rich people agree. Which makes it confounding to hear not-rich people argue against raising their taxes – not even to the levels of the Clinton administration, when the economy, btw, was roaring.
Romney is a perfect example of the problem. He made a $250 million fortune (so far) loading up companies with debt and then extracting million-dollar fees from those same companies, in exchange for the generous service of telling them who needs to be fired in order to finance the debt payments he saddled them with in the first place. And if that involves sending jobs to China, so be it. If you think about his campaign, especially the enlistment of Paul Ryan, it’s ironic that Romney has been called “one of the greatest and most irresponsible debt creators of all time.”
All while paying a lower tax rate than us regular slobs.
In fact, four years ago the Romneys of the world nearly destroyed the world’s economy through greed, shortsightedness and wildly irresponsible use of debt in pursuit of personal profit.
Romney – whose own father built cars and nurtured communities, and was pushed aside by the new generation – emerged to sell this make-nothing, take-everything, screw-everyone ethos to the world. It’s been said he's Gordon Gekko, but a new and improved version, with better PR – and a bigger goal. The takeover artist who is Mitt tried to take over America itself. And if his own history is any guide, we would have ended up paying for the acquisition.
Ol’ Mitt sure got off his behind and created his empire. But sorry, this kind of “capitalism” makes me sick … and sad that conservatives – especially “regular folks” – don’t see it.
Moving on, I have nothing against making oneself successful. However….
CEO John H Hammergren made over $131 million last year for selling drugs. Meanwhile, the average American, aged 19 to 64, now takes more than 11 prescription drugs, according to the latest statistics from the Kaiser Health Foundation. Why? Partly because our medical system offers little in the way of disease prevention and non-drug alternatives. Pharmaceutical companies spent $900 million on lobbying between 1998 and 2005, more than any other industry, in order to protect their “brand” and “discourage” options. Advocacy groups within and beyond the medical profession have asserted that direct advertising to physicians, free samples, and research stipends encourage doctors to over-prescribe medications.
Take something as seemingly simple as flu shots. We’ve all been told how “vital” it is to get your flu shot. According to the CDC, the majority of flu vaccines contain thimerosal, and some contain as much as 25 mcg of mercury per dose. This means that it may contain more than 250 times the Environmental Protection Agency’s safety limit for mercury. Hurry, get your shot! Mr. Hammergren and his colleagues will surely appreciate it!
You see, I’m just scratching the surface of the offenses committed by corporate America against unsuspecting citizens. I could write several books. I’d certainly cover Monsanto, the seed giant that uses its might to make sure we’re all eating genetically modified crops, the same ones that are destroying farms overseas and causing cancer in lab rats. Virtually all soy eaten in America is GM. Yum! I’d say, in my humble opinion, the food industry is under-regulated, not overregulated.
Or perhaps we could talk of the oil industry? The multinational petroleum company Texaco, and its parent company Chevron, have been sued by lawyers representing local communities located in Ecuador. At the center of the lawsuit seeking $27 billion for the pollution and environmental damages is whether the company, which turned over exploration of the area to the state company Petroecuador in 1992, is still responsible for the damage. (They’re trying to weasel out of it.) Texaco left behind contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface streams that is said to have caused local indigenous and peasant settlers to suffer a wave of mouth, stomach and uterine cancer, birth defects, and spontaneous miscarriages. Ah, capitalism! Those people are probably mooches anyway!
Too many people have seemed to let the BP spill from two short years ago fade from memory. July of last year (15 months after the spill), roughly 491 miles of coastline in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida remained contaminated, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokesperson.
Earlier last year, the White House oil spill commission’s final report on the causes of the oil spill stated that BP and its partners made a series of cost-cutting decisions and that they lacked a system to ensure well safety. They also concluded that the spill was not an isolated incident caused by "rogue industry or government officials," but that "the root causes are systemic and, absent significant reform in both industry practices and government policies, might well recur.” Drill, baby, drill! Stop trying to regulate those poor oil companies!
You see, I don’t have a problem with success. But at what cost? We’ve turned a blind eye to all this too long, while a 2011 study by the CBO found that the top earning one percent of households gained about 275% after federal taxes and income transfers over a period between 1979 and 2007, compared to a gain of just under 40% for the 60 percent in the middle of America's income distribution. The trend only continues today.
Call me a “commie” if you want. I prefer to think of myself as someone who gives a damn about all these things and doesn’t plan to sit quietly or ignorantly while it keeps getting worse.
BTW, notice I make my argument using FACTS and specific examples, rather than insults and/or vague references to some nonspecific entity labeled “capitalism,” as many conservatives do. (I do enjoy using sarcasm on occasion, however.) It may surprise you that by definition, probably very few reading this are truly “capitalists,” except in the sense that you say you favor it. Whether you TRULY understand it in all its “glory” is something else entirely. You won’t learn much about it on network news, ESPECIALLY the station named after that cute little animal. But I urge you to open your horizons and think beyond your traditional view of “success.”
Your right SEF. I think we all need to listen to people that share YOUR opinion. In fact I wished you were running the country. We would be absolutely broke in no time. You mentioned Mecury in flu shots. Interestingly, here in Minnesota at a local highschool a science teacher dropped a NEW CFL Lightbulb thats going to save the earth. The bulb shattered all over the floor, and because of some RIDICULOUS lobbyist that shares your opinion, a law was passed in which the school had to call the EPA for removal of the shattered glass on the floor.
To make a long story short, the EPA showed up to the school and quickly SWEPT the bulb up with a broom into a pan and DUMPED IT IN THE DAMN GARBAGE CAN. Resulting in a bill to the tune of $8000 which tax payers end up with. Im looking for the article so you can read it. Its a typical "lets create a cause" mentality that results in absolutely NO common sense thinking.
I dont share your way of thinking or relate at all. Oil gets spilled, cows sh*t resulting in methane gas, and cars make pollution..im not really concerned. Its the end of the world and I feel fine! If your so worried about pollution, I want you to look into history. Look at the CO2 levels during the Medieval Era, LLLOOONNG before industrialization. You will see it was 10x higher than today, thats without SUVs and Coal plants. Funny that is 1976 "Time Magazine" predicted another Ice Age was on the brink because of human behavior. Obviously scientists didnt know dick..
Your also not very well informed if your one of the "believers" that somone making $100,000,000 a year doesnt pay taxes.. and a person making $25,000 carries the burden. YOu think that makes any sense?
I think this thread as at the end, I respect your opinions.. I know lots of people think like you.. I just cant relate. I wanna ride my two stroke dirt bike without the EPA claiming we are creating a crisis!
China will never see it your way, they will never regulate themselves into a suicide economical mess giving us the edge. You wanna know why? Cause they have common sense, not bleeding hearts.
I hope you enjoy the next 4 years, lets see what happens. The EPA will absolutely bring this country to its knees in regulatory responses. I predict 6$ gallon gas in 4 years, maybe more.. and the near death of amateur motocross.
(Clintons economy based on the .COM era was good, but his last year of presidency was a recession after his bubble burst). We had 4 straight quarters of decline, which by definition is a recession that Bush inherited. Bush managed to have the SECOND lowest unemployment rate in history during his second year (3.9% I think).
@sef154 Great review of some of the facts out there. Many who rail against the logic which I believe you, myself and a few others here speak of and understand, are all suffering from the growing malignancy known as Epistemic Closure. [I can hear 'em now: "What the hell is that?"] Epistemic Closure is a relatively new philosophical term describing persons so thoroughly encased in the echo chamber of their own ideology that they are completely immune to considering other viewpoints. It's classic Tunnel Vision Syndrome. All of this is reminding me of a "B" level Vampire or Zombie Movie gone awry.
rickamatuzio, way to compare dropping a lightbulb to INJECTING mercury into your body! Very enlightened. CO2 levels during the Medieval Era? You mean when there were 50 million people in Europe? As compared to 7 BILLION people today? And you're REALLY going to defend Bush's economy? You, sir, are a bonehead.There are FAR too many of you out there.
Wow Ping, look what you started! Without going to either side here (actually seems like way more than two sides) could there ever be a system that would make everyone happy? People are different and everyone has an opinion. An opinion isn't really right or wrong, it is what you think. I think it is O K to agree to disagree. A different view may make your opinion change a bit. But many people (myself included) have a hard time changing thier train of thought once it is in gear. I have to agree with some of the people here saying this isn't the place for politics, and they are right, in my mind, but then again, I have read some interesting things here that I hadn't seen before. O K, is it Anehiem I yet?