There is something that I find very strange. Why is it that people have no idea about the things they own?

For instance. If I buy a car for say $2000. I open every compartment, push every button, flip every switch, and pull every lever. I kick the tires, check the oil, adjust the mirrors, and give it a good test drive.

I have customers that have paid $200k for my software and have never even added a user, never 

I've been on the Mac platform for about 10 years now after switching from Linux. Everything has been awesome. But it seems that the new updates are as good as they used to be. Things are running  a bit slower and features are being removed.

So, before it goes all to hell I'm switching back to Linux. I'm not even sure why I really switched anyway. I think it was because OS X was built on Unix. Because the Mac just looked awesome. And the Mac had more software that I could use. But when it comes right down to it, I don't use that much software.

I only use my computer for work anymore. I have my iPad for play. When I'm not working I'm outside working on my new hobbies.

So last week I tried to install Debian Linux on my MBA. After hours and hours I finally got it on, but I could not boot it. So I finally gave up and restored my Mac from TimeMachine. (Had to work you know)

I'm going to give it another try soon. I'll be more prepared this time. More research into booting Linux on the Mac and stuff. If all else fails, I'll sell the MBA and get something that I can boot Linux on. ;-)

Vibration

When I first got my bike anything over 45MPH would vibrate my teeth out, make my vision blurry, and parts were breaking off the bike. Everyone kept telling me that if I didn't like the vibration then I picked the wrong bike. That the vibrations were part of the character of the XS.

Now after fixing the wheel alignment, new chain and sprockets, tensioners, guides, synced carbs and tune, and new pipes I can ride 80MPH with a vibration that is more tolerable. Things are not breaking off the bike and I can ride a hundred miles a day.

I think when people complain about the vibration, maybe it's because there is something wrong with the bike. The bigest thing on mine was the chain alignment. After fixing that my bike smoothed out and it became a real nice ride. Still vibrates but it's totally different than when I got it.

Electrical

I'm pretty good at electrical. I figured things out pretty well. But the stock XS650 electrical system is a rats nest. It doesn't have to be this complicated. People kept saying that the stock electrical system is fine. You just need a battery tender, make sure the brushes are good, keep connections clean, and re-solder the TCU, get a stronger larger battery and it's all good. Easy as that.

Just save yourself some pain and go with the PMA and Pamco. There is a reason why they are so popular. It's because they are so much easier. I don't even need a battery let alone keeping it charged so the bike will run. Best money I've spent on my bike. I was fighting my electrical system for a month. After installing the PMA/Pamco I was running in 10 minutes. I haven't had a single problem since.

Carbs

Carbs were the easiest thing I've done so far. It's best to clean them up, replace anything that's bad, and set them to stock. I have pods and baffled pipes with stock jets. It runs pretty good. Be sure to sync them to improve vibration. I went with the BS38's on my 81 because it came with them and the BS34's were not in good shape. The carb guide helped a lot. Also make sure your electrical is good before blaming the carbs. I had fouled out plugs and low battery when I was working on my carbs. After fixing the electrical my bike ran great. Use good gas. I'm getting 57MPG right now.

Clutch

The clutch on these bikes can be maddening. Finding neutral is impossible unless you are rolling or the engine is off in a lot of cases. There is a cold and hot adjustment and you have to keep dialing it in as you ride.

I have replaced the clutch lever, cable, worm gear, clutch rod, clutch pack, thrust bearing, springs, HBB's hydro clutch, and 20/50 motorcycle oil. Nothing has improved the clutch. It either slips or it grabs. I have shaved the clutch lever to get more pull but I still can't get neutral when idling in gear.

Getting neutral isn't really my problem. It's if I don't get it into neutral or first before slowing below 15MPH, then I can't get it into first at all. I have to take off in second until I can get it to coast enough that I can get it into first. 15MPH seems to be the magic shift before you go slower number.

I have also found that it's much easier to shift without the clutch. I'm sure it's not the best for the bike though. Especially downshifting. I can downshift easy but if I do it too soon it will skid the rear just a bit. I guess getting the timing right will help with this.

When I got the bike it had about 300 miles on it. I'm up to 1770 now. I really like riding. Building, eh, no so much.

I'm still fighting with things vibrating off or cracking/breaking from vibration. Still trying to fix problems from the previous owner. But it's getting a lot nicer.

The current problem is fixing the chain alignment. It flaps side to side hitting the tire and frame. It's eating the tire up. Yesterday I spent the entire day re-aligning the rear wheel to see if I could fix it. It's better now, but still bad at 65-70MPH under load.

Today, on my way home from super burritos, I lost my tail light cover. I paid 40 bucks for that light and first the internals broke and now it just falls apart. Good thing I have another. But I'm thinking that I need to replace it with something more sturdy. Also today the rubber mount for my gas tank failed and now my take is all loose.

My next steps are to rework the hardtail. It's too long and I think it's not straight. Then this winter I want to re-phase the engine. 277° from HHB. That should help a lot with vibration. I'm also going to go up to 700 or 750 cc. That should give me some more power to also keep the vibrations down. And while I have the engine cracked open I'll put in the MikesXS 5th gear to lower the RPMs while going down the highway. That should really improve the bike.

After all that, I should have a nice bike to ride while I build my next project bike. ;-)

I'm still waiting for the perfect web browser. I'm using Chrome right now and it is almost perfect.

Chrome:

• Pros:

• Awesome address/search bar.

Safari

• Pros:
• Seems faster than Chrome.
• Better extensions.
• Cons:
• Address bar never has the right match when typing and this is very annoying.
• The browser window resizes depending on if tabs are shown or not.
• Always show tab bar preference is gone.
• Needs Tabs on Top or Sidebar previews instead of tabs!

Chrome would be the perfect browser if a few things had preferences or fixes. I'm still using it as my default browser though. I wish that Safari kept the Tabs On Top option from their beta a few years ago. It was the best. I prefer sidebar tabs with screenshots like Omniweb though.

I did a lot of riding this weekend. Rode to Fernley on Saturday to the bank and filled up. I'm getting 54MPH right now. That's pretty good. Better than I thought.

Then Sunday we rode through Virginia City and into Carson for an 80 mile round trip. The curves were cool. I think I'm going to like this biking thing. Can't wait to start riding to work.

I'm going to try and get my clutch sorted out tonight/tomorrow night. Then I'm going to ride into Reno on Wednesday for work.

Made it to my first 100 miles on my chopper yesterday. Everything is running great.

I'm going to wire in the blinkers this weekend and ride into town. I think I have everything I need to wire up the blinkers now. I need to take the rear fender off and weld in some steel brake line that I bought then run the wires in it to protect them from the wheel. It should work out good.

My chopper is so close to being done. I just can't wait to start riding it. Well, I have been riding it actually.

I still have a few small things like blinkers and tail pipe mount to finish, but its pretty much done. I have the paint for it and when it's nice out I'm going to clean it up and paint it. I want to relocate the filler and petcock on the tank before I paint though.

I'm going to finish it up this weekend.  Here it is as it looks right now.

I decided that I needed to take another look at Sublime Text 2. There has been several version updates since the last one I used. A few new configuration settings help make this editor great. Not to mention the new look is really cool.

I still can't get used to having to double click on files to open them. You can single click to "preview" them, but when you toggle to another tab the preview goes away. This is very annoying.

But editing is really great. I love some of the things that they include like the token matching. If I've typed something var name above, then I just start typing it and hit tab to complete it. This is super nice. (I set mine to tab completion in my config)

I'm actually thinking about buying a license for it.