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[This message has been edited by JazzMan (edited 12-08-2008).]

Patience, James, patience.

I know right now you're extremely ticked, but you KNOW not everyone is like that. Think back about the GOOD dealings you've had. for whatever reason we're wired to remember the crap that really trips our trigger.

I'd been looking for an enclosed trailer since I started building the roadster. I knew my open trailer just wasn't going to work to haul it, it needs a place to run and hide if at a show and the storm clouds move in. I think I had about 4 deals just like you described, one even kept $100 or my earnest money (out of the $500 I sent) because I had to change the day to pick up the trailer from one day to the next and he got bent over it. I could have sued him and gotten it back, but it would have been a lot more aggravation than the $100 was worth. Finally, I found one on racingjunk.com. It was a little more than I wanted to spend but had a treadplate floor, 9,000# winch, 5,000 watt RV Generator, cabinets, 3hp compressor and plumbed for air. I had set my limit at $7500 for an enclosed gooseneck, and this one I got for $8000. A little more, but I'd have had $10K in one by the time it was fixed up like this one is. So I talked to the owner, told him I'd take it, offered to send $500 in earnest money as it was going to be a couple of weeks before I could pick it up from the Jefferson City, MO area. He didn't really want my earnest money because he wanted me to look at the trailer first to make sure it was what I really wanted. I told him I'd take it based on the pictures, as long as his description was accurate (which I was sure it was going to be). He then OFFERED to meet me halfway with it, do the deal, and we go on our way. Everything worked out exactly as planned except two things. He wouldn't let me buy him lunch (I had offered since he was nice enough to bring it that far) and he bought mine instead and he discovered that the battery on the generator was bad so he took $75 off the price because he felt bad about it.

That's not a normal deal, for sure, but don't give up on everybody because there are a few buttholes out there determined to screw you over.

Why don't you take some vacation time and come up here to my place this August and ride with us to the Sand Hills Open Road Race? You'd have a great time and it wouldn't cost but a little in gas for you to get here and back.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by JazzMan: For the first time in a long, long time I'm really tweaked. Last week I made a deal to buy a motorcycle from a guy in Austin, an Intruder 1400 with 20k miles, '93 model, in immaculate shape. All it needed was the gas tank painted to fix some dents, a new front tire, and the ubiquitious slipping clutch fix. I sent a cashier's check for $1,500 down to a friend of mine in Austin to pay for the bike, and my friend was going to bring it up to me in a couple of weeks. So, the check arrives ok, then the guy tells my friend that he sold it to someone else for $1,500 instead. I'm out the money it took to get the cashier's check, postage, gas and time to drive across town to my bank, lost interest on the money, and having my hopes dashed (once again, as usual) that I might finally be getting a bike. Man, I've been looking for a bike for more than two years now and everyone wants $2k or more for something that isn't an obsolete clapped out high-mileage wrecked piece of feces. And, this isn't the first time this kind of crap has been done to me. My first Fiero was going to be an '88 out of San Antonio but luckily just before heading out the door to drive down there I called him to make sure I had his directions right, that's when he told me he sold it to someone else. The madre-fkr wasn't even going to tell me before I drove 300 miles that the car wasn't even there anymore. It was four years before I could find a Fiero because three local wheeler-dealers were soaking up all the affordable deals for more than a thousand mile radius from here. And then there was the Saturn deal last year, but that was more my fault because I wasn't as effective as I should have been in communicating my desire to purchase. Oh, lets not forget the house I tried to buy in '99, hand-shake deal in front of witnesses, good friend of mine that I trusted implicitly, so after I closed out my 401k for downpayment money (on a downswing, no less) and hefting out half a grand in extra penalties I go take the contract to the friend to sign and he tells me that he "...changed his mind a few months ago, sorry, been meaning to call you.." That deal ended up costing me more than a grand in penalties and extra taxes, and was a significant contributor to the failure of my marriage. I could go on and on, but why bother? I just don't make enough to pay retail for a bike so fck it, all these lying sons of bitches that I seem to run into all my life can go get bent. I'm not getting bike, it's been two years trying and I'm not wasting another freaking second trying. James

Just take a nap, you'll feel a little better after you wake up. Hopefully, you'll get a bike eventually, but try not to get bummed about it too much...

quote Originally posted by jstricker: Patience, James, patience.

Fortitude, James, fortitude.
My turn.
I have a lot on my plate also. Man, James I can lists my woes, it does help some, but I am not trying to one up you. I reached a snap decision, decided to go drink two Colorado Bulldogs at the local tavern and come back home.
While drinking the first one, I realized my fortitude was weak.
EDIT
I am a beer drinker.

[This message has been edited by cliffw (edited 04-12-2007).]

I'm one of those people who believes that everything happens for a reason. Maybe not a good reason to you at the time. But maybe something better will come out of it later. Relax a little. Don't actively search for a bike. Sometimes, when you do it that way, the thing that was really meant for you all along can just fall into your lap. Hang in there dude. I also believe that buttheads will eventually get their comeuppance.

------------------
Whade' "The Duck Formerly Known As Wade" Duck
'87 GT Auto
'88 Ferrario
'84 Indy

quote Originally posted by whadeduck: Don't actively search for a bike.

James, my 88 GT T top sat in the mall for more than a week while I was out of town at work. It was local (Rob White, pres of AAFO). I was not even looking for an 88.

People suck.

My experience with "too good to pass up" deals - you have to drop whatever you are doing and go check them out immediately - with cash in hand.

This site might change your mind about riding a bike or at least help get your mind of the idea.
http://home1.gte.net/res0ak9f/bike.htm
WARNING: contains graphic images of accident victims.

[This message has been edited by avengador1 (edited 04-12-2007).]

quote Originally posted by cliffw: I reached a snap decision, decided to go drink two Colorado Bulldogs at the local tavern and come back home. While drinking the first one, I realized my fortitude was weak.

Fortitude cliffw, fortitude.

Hey, James call me this weekend and I will tell you the insane story of the man I purchased my house from. I just recalled this past month, it was three years ago, that I purchased this house. I lived in the house for six months before I was allowed to purchase it and durring that time I had no knowledge if at anytime I would have to move again. All my belongings were in the basement, still packed together, and I slept in the living room. The idiot guy owed so much money on the house, was so in debt, that the bank would not let him sell. The agent who sold me the house was his cousin. Its was like they planned the whole thing. And it did not end there....for about a year it was just crazy. I am still dealing with the ghost of this idiot.

i'm having a similar problem getting a mower deck for my 1978 cub cadet 1100. runs great but cant cut grass. for the last two weeks a guy has been promising to bring his rebuilt deck to his shop so i can inspect and buy it, but it's still out there somewhere in never-never land. meanwhile the grass is growing, and i'm the proud owner of a $300 self-propelled lawn ornament.

What kind or kinds of bike are you looking at? I will gladley help you look for one... I can search all over the web and houston texas, and send you the info on only the model bikes you have interest in. I am always down to help a fellow biker, as are alot of my biker friends

quote Originally posted by lurker: i'm having a similar problem getting a mower deck for my 1978 cub cadet 1100. runs great but cant cut grass...

http://www.letsmow.com/

Go racing!

quote Originally posted by lurker: i'm having a similar problem getting a mower deck for my 1978 cub cadet 1100.

ebay lurker and craigs list. You might be surprised.
I had a similar problem with a different mower way back when. I lucked out at a lawn mower salvage yard I stumbled across. Not that ebay or craigs list helped me then, just another idea. Just about any small engine shop has a mini salvage yard.

quote Originally posted by WhiteDevil88: Go racing!

heh, when I was in need of a deck, a friend of mine wanted me to enter my mower in a mini tractor pull.

Geeeez, hang in there James. Keep looking and I'm sure your friends around here will help out. As you know, I drive a Harley and love it. My son drives a crotch rocket (CBR Honda) he got this past Jan from a guy in Okla. As you say 2K is about as inexpensive as you can expect for something dependable and desirable. That is what he paid and all he has done (besides ride the crap out of it) is put in a battery.

My older son is starting to look for one also and will be buying in the next couple of months so I am actively looking for him. I assume you are looking for a touring or sport touring style. If I find anything interesting, I'll let you know.

BTW - Galia wants one also - as you can see here:

1984fierotrevor. When you get married and are raising a family, your priorities in life tend to change, especially when you are the only source of income your family has. Now that I am older and my son is almost at an age were he could take care of himself, my priorities are shifting again and I can look at bikes again. I had my first minibike when I was 9 years old and rode till I was in my mid 30s. In a couple of years my son will be in College and well en route to being independent. I can then go back to some of my old hobbies that were a little risky like bike ridding if I choose to.
Everyday I rode my bike I was on the defensive. People in cars and trucks do not see or notice people on bikes unless they are bikers too. Everyday I rode I was cut off at least once and almost runned off the road at least once a month. There also are people out there that try to do things like this on purpose just to get a couple of laughs at the bikers expense or because they are completely oblivious of their surroundings. I've had my share of leaving boot marks on car doors to wake some people up who tried to put me into a guard rail on purpose or not. Thankfully I never had to dump my bike and was able to avoid many bad situations.
I found that it was safer to ride with others than to ride alone. You are less visible and more vulnerable when you are by yourself. That is another reason I gave up riding. Now that my brothers and several friends have gotten back into riding I am considering getting back in myself, but I still consider all of my bad experiences before I do.
Riding bikes is not as safe as driving a car, especially if one is not experienced. You have to know how your bike is going to behave and what it can and cannot do. You also need to consider wearing the right equipment as you don't have too much to protect you if you take a spill or someone runs into you. I guess if you don't mind being crippled it is something you accept.
Riding a bike is one of the greatest feelings of freedom but it has a price to it. 99% of the time you will be perfectly alright and safe, it's that last 1% you need to worry about.
On one of my last rides I had some guy blow a stop sign and pull out in front of me. If I had been in a SUV he would be dead today. As it was, I was able to see him first and anticipate he would blow the stop sign. This gave me enough time to slam on the brakes and use the air horns I had on my bike. The guy didn't see me but he sure heard the horns. He pulled over as quickly as he could while he cringed and prepared for an impact that never came. I bet he even crapped his pants from the look of it. I just gave him a dirty look as I drove past him. He knew any accident would have been his fault for not stopping at the stop sign like he should have in the first place.
I parked my bike a couple of weeks later and eventually sold it. I haven't ridden since. I might start up again this year as my older brother has offered to give me his Nighthawk S. All I have to do is pick it up and bring it home. Meanwhile, the site I posted serves to remind me of what can happen when you are careless riding your bike. You can see from the pictures that many of those accidents were caused by careless drivers.

[This message has been edited by avengador1 (edited 04-13-2007).]

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[This message has been edited by JazzMan (edited 12-08-2008).]