Geek who loves 2 bike

I completed a valve check and adjustment on my 2004 Ducati ST3 today. In the near future I will post some details and thoughts on the process. For now, I will just mention that this service is for someone comfortable in wrenching on a motorcycle or automobile. While it is very much in the realm of a capable mechanic it may be towards the hard end of your normal do-it-yourself person. My thoughts only. Second it is is very useful to have access to someone who has done the valve adjustment before. I can not say enough thanks to my good friends at Cafe Racer. Greg Williams and his crew at Cafe Racer really remind me of what a joy owning a motorcycle (including servicing) can be. In addition that high praise, Greg just runs his shop in an honest and inviting manner that I can only wish other businesses emulated.

As mentioned at the start I will post details later. Like most garage mechanics I had a floor full of tools to pick up at the end. I've decide to post a list of the tools I used in this service. It may give you some idea of the effort involved. As a note, others could get by with a few less tool.

Tools used:
        T-handle allen wrenches        4mm, 5mm 6mm
        Allen screwdrivers                        3mm, 4mm, 5mm
        5mm allen key (short)        
        Large screwdriver
        Regular screwdriver
        Phillips head screwdriver
        Needle-nose vice grips
        Regular vice grips
        Diagonal cutter
        Small pliers
        Regular pliers
        Safety wire pliers
        Hemostat
        Magnetic pickup tool
        3/8 in torque wrench
        3/8 angle-head ratchet wrench
        3/8 ratchet wrench
        3/8 sockets
                4mm allen
                5mm allen
                6mm allen
                4mm long shaft allen
                5mm long shaft allen
                5/8 spark plug socket
        3/8 6-inch extension
        1/4 in ratchet
        1/4 sockets
                8mm
        1/4 6-inch extension
        Nutdrivers        5mm, 10mm
        Digital caliper
        Feeler gauges
        Micrometer (in mm)
        Micrometer stand
        Shim measuring tool
        Small pick
        Bicycle tire lever (plastic)
        Sharpie - sliver
        Safety wire
        Misc zip ties
        Flashlight
        Air compressor
        Straws
        Narrow funnel
        Oil drain pan
        Shop light
        Extension cord
        Contact cleaner
        WD-40
        Shop rags

I enjoyed doing the service and found it rewarding.
                

I recently helped a friend of mine who was experiencing a small problem on his Mac Powerbook. Basically, the online Apple software updates where failing due to some unknown disk error.

I recommended that he clean permissions on his hard drive. This is a simple procedure that some Mac technicians recommend be run periodically.

1. We first tried the simplest method. Start the Disk Utility application (found in you Applications/Utilities folder). Select you internal hard dive. Then select the "repair disk permissions" button. Unfortunately this did not correct the problem in his case.

2. We then tried a second solution. Restart your Mac in single user mode by selecting restart under the Apple menu. Hold down the command (Apple) key and 's' key until the black screen and text is displayed. Release the keys. This puts in command line mode (no graphic user interface). Type in "fsck -f" without the quotes and press the <return> key. After the program finishes (text will be displayed as it is working) enter "exit" and press the <return> key. This solution worked for my friend.

There are two things I want to comment on about this experience. First, this is another illustration of how good the Mac and Mac OS X are. All the tools you need to keep the system hard drives maintained are built in.

The second comment is my recommendation that you do not run any third-party disk utility (de-fragmentation) tools. The standard, automatic, OS X maintenance jobs keep the hard disk performing well. These jobs are run seamlessly at night. Occasionally you may want to repair the disk permissions. But, unlike a PC, no extra cost or third-party tools are required.

Kinda smiled when I read this post on the 1098 forum.

This guy has sort of been bragging on te ST forum that he was the first to get a new 1098. Now on the 1098 he is starting to wonder how he is going to carry any stuff. Ha...Ha...

I did notice several things about the 1098 while I was googling over it. No rear hugger, underseat exahust, minimal framework in the rear. With the undertail exhaust and brakelight in the tailwork I wonder how well a Ventura type system would work (if they end up making it)? Additionally, the tank has a different look/design than the traditional Ducati tanks of late. The new tank is plastic. With the tight confines of the windshield and dash it looked like any tankbag would completely cover the dashboard.

Sort of leads me to my belief that the 1098 is very impractical for the street. Of course friends remind me that purchasers/owners are probably rich and not really concerned about practicalities.

I was talking to my friend K.W. today, and our discussion turned to the high prices of clothing with the Ducati logo from Ducati. Just this week in a visit to one of his local shops he noted $50.00 t-shirts and even a $150.00 sweatshirt! I, too, have noted these excessively high prices on all clothing from Ducati. Both of us noted that as Ducati enthusiast and owners we would likely have some Ducati branded clothing but not at these inflated prices. Also discussed is how the high prices transfer to the perception that Ducati purchasers are probably being held-up for other non-clothing purchases from Ducati.

As a business-person, I frequently think about the strength and potential of the Ducati brand. I have a firm belief that if the prices were lowered to reasonable prices there would be a huge sales to Ducati owners and non-owners. As it is, even most avid Ducati owners I know do not purchase Ducati's clothing.

I admit that Ducati clothing is very nicely styled. But, I also note that in looking at the clothing the manufacturing is of the same quality and probably from some of the same plants suppling lower-priced clothing in the far-east. I doubt anyone will stand up to say the clothing is actually of high-quality.

To contrast, we recently had a chain, Steve & Barrys, open a store near me. Here I find clothes manufactured in the far east. But, in high contrast to the Ducati, most of the Steve & Barry clothing is prices at $10.98 or even $5.98. These prices are for decent clothes including dress shirt, chinos, and jeans, not just cheap t-shirts. I find it hard to believe that Steve and Barry's can sell for their prices but Ducati needs to charge well over five times that amount.

As a final note, while I have found clothing prices high at several Ducati dealers, a quick check of two high profile dealers showed a $10.00 difference in the price of a $50 t-shirt. $50.00 is already high, but a twenty percent markup on that inflated prices is exorbitant.