Bandit Alley
REGIONAL FORUMS => CANADA => Topic started by: jbrough7 on May 30, 2006, 12:00:07 PM
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An American's View of Canada
(This editorial ran in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in August 2003)
It's not just the weather that's cooler in Canada: You live next door to a clean-cut, quiet guy. He never plays loud music or throws raucous parties. He doesn't gossip over the fence, just smiles politely and offers you some tomatoes. His lawn is cared-for, his house is neat as a pin and you get the feeling he doesn't always lock his front door. He wears Dockers. You hardly know he's there. And then one day you discover that he has pot in his basement, spends his weekends at peace marches and that guy you've seen mowing the yard is his spouse.
Allow me to introduce Canada. The Canadians are so quiet that you may have forgotten they're up there, but they've been busy doing some surprising things. It's like discovering that the mice you are dimly aware of in your attic have been building an espresso machine.
Did you realize, for example, that our reliable little tag-along brother never joined the Coalition of the Willing? Canada wasn't willing, as it turns out, to join the fun in Iraq. I can only assume American diner menus weren't angrily changed to include "freedom bacon," because nobody here eats the stuff anyway.
And then there's the wild drug situation: Canadian doctors are authorized to dispense medical marijuana. Parliament is considering legislation that would not exactly legalize marijuana possession, as you may have heard, but would reduce the penalty for possession of under 15 grams to a fine, like a speeding ticket. This is to allow law enforcement to concentrate resources on traffickers; if your garden is full of wasps, it's smarter to go for the nest rather than trying to swat every individual bug. Or, in the United States, bong.
Now, here's the part that I, as an American, can't understand. These poor benighted pinkos are doing everything wrong. They have a drug problem: Marijuana offenses have doubled since 1991. And Canada has strict gun control laws, which means that the criminals must all be heavily armed, the law-abiding civilians helpless and the government on the verge of a massive confiscation campaign. (The laws have been in place since the '70s, but I'm sure the government will get around to the confiscation eventually.) They don't even have a death penalty!
And yet ... nationally, overall crime in Canada has been declining since 1991. Violent crimes fell 13 percent in 2002. Of course, there are still crimes committed with guns - brought in from the United States, which has become the major illegal weapons supplier for all of North America - but my theory is that the surge in pot-smoking has rendered most criminals too relaxed to commit violent crimes. They're probably more focused on shoplifting boxes of Ho-Hos from convenience stores.
And then there's the most reckless move of all: Just last month, Canada decided to allow and recognize same-sex marriages. Merciful moose, what can they be thinking? Will there be married Mounties (they always get their man!)? Dudley Do-Right was sweet on Nell, not Mel! We must be the only ones who really care about families. Not enough to make sure they all have health insurance, of course, but more than those libertines up north.
This sort of behavior is a clear and present danger to all our stereotypes about Canada. It's supposed to be a cold, wholesome country of polite, beer-drinking hockey players, not founded by freedom-fighters in a bloody revolution but quietly assembled by loyalists and royalists more interested in order and good government than liberty and independence. But if we are the rugged individualists, why do we spend so much of our time trying to get everyone to march in lockstep? And if Canadians are so reserved and moderate, why are they so progressive about letting people do what they want to?
Canadians are, as a nation, less religious than we are, according to polls. As a result, Canada's government isn't influenced by large, well-organized religious groups and thus has more in common with those of Scandinavia than those of the United States, or, say, Iran.
Canada signed the Kyoto global warming treaty, lets 19-year-olds drink, has more of its population living in urban areas and accepts more immigrants per capita than the United States. These are all things we've been told will wreck our society. But I guess Canadians are different, because theirs seems oddly sound.
Like teenagers, we fiercely idolize individual freedom but really demand that everyone be the same. But the Canadians seem more adult - more secure. They aren't afraid of foreigners. They aren't afraid of homosexuality. Most of all, they're not afraid of each other.
I wonder if America will ever be that cool.
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...Canada signed the Kyoto global warming treaty...
Then failed to abide by it. :stickpoke: :beers:
But that's OK! 'Cuz there ain't no global warming. We're on the way to the next Ice Age. :wink:
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(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/PaulVS/jhcrap.jpg)
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He started it!
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Hey! I resemble that remark!
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This American's view of Canada: Nice location for a new shopping mall, Home Depot (please, no Home Hardware stores) and a Wal-Mart. Plus a few gazillion "undocumented" Messicans.
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From The World Book Encyclopedia Dictionary-----
shoop (shup) v. (U.S. slang) - an action taken by a Canadian citizen in gaining vengeance on an American citizen when said American utters detrimental items about Canada: usually in the form of a 'slap' to the side of the head.
(Example) That Canuck really shooped that guy, didn't he? Watch out, man, or that Canadian's gonna shoop ya!!
Often a ringing in the ears is reported by Americans after they have been shooped.
:grin:
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(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/PaulVS/canadabillboard.jpg)
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Shoop defined from Wikipedia: The sound a Canadian makes when he nothing to say and yet keeps on typing.
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(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/PaulVS/canadabillboard.jpg)
AND POST HO'S ON THE LOCAL BBS!! :banana: :banana: :beers: :beers: :beers: :beers: :beers:
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(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/PaulVS/jhcrap.jpg)
+1 (or perhaps +100).
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You know, I was going to say that Des and I together really are idiotic but when you join up the three of us are Einstein's (or maybe Seinfeld's) but now I'll be darned if I give you a compliment! :gatlin
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You know, I was going to say that Des and I together really are idiotic but when you join up the three of us are Einstein's (or maybe Seinfeld's) but now I'll be darned if I give you a compliment! :gatlin
Wouldn't I give you a compliment if you deserved one? (Hey, somebody let me know if he ever does something that deserves complimenting.)
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You never said one nice thing about my new helmet!
I remember Mother warning us about this when we were young. You recall? She said we would make our own way in life but then you would always be trying to prove yourself better than me but you just never can, can you??
You should give her a call - 666-9191 - Bates Motel......
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You never said one nice thing about my new helmet!
I remember Mother warning us about this when we were young. You recall? She said we would make our own way in life but then you would always be trying to prove yourself better than me but you just never can, can you??
You should give her a call - 666-9191 - Bates Motel......
Stay off the Canadian Club!
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Canada has more of its population living in urban areas...
And the vast majority of those urban areas are a short drive from the US border.
...and accepts more immigrants per capita than the United States.
Is that a good thing? Maybe so, when their tax rate is so high, it gives the gov't more income to pay for their social programs. Especially that 'free medical' that's so great Canadians flock to the US to pay out of their pocket for health care just bypass the long waits in their country.
Canada - a nice place to visit, I just don't wanna live there.
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(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/PaulVS/jhcrap.jpg)
+1 (or perhaps +100).
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/PaulVS/canadabillboard.jpg)
+2 (darn that PaulVS and his frivolous posts :stickpoke: )
Canada has more of its population living in urban areas...
And the vast majority of those urban areas are a short drive from the US border.
...and accepts more immigrants per capita than the United States.
Is that a good thing? Maybe so, when their tax rate is so high, it gives the gov't more income to pay for their social programs. Especially that 'free medical' that's so great Canadians flock to the US to pay out of their pocket for health care just bypass the long waits in their country.
Canada - a nice place to visit, I just don't wanna live there.
Uh oh, this could get political. Duck & cover!!
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Geez! I don't know what to attack first so I think I'll just keep my mouth shut! :wink:
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Red01: Canada - a nice place to visit, I just don't wanna live there.
Mind you, that's just my own personal opinion. . . and not meant to be a slam against Canada - or any other country. The US does have it's share of problems, but of all the places I've visited, I've yet to find another country that I'd rather live in.
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So you're dissin' us but you're NOT dissin' us, you S.O.B!!! :wink:
Seriously, though, I know what you mean...makes you feel for those who leave their homeland and all they grew up with...
This might seem a paradox but I don't think it is - What I really hate are people who go to a new land and then just moan and groan about how it's not like their homeland - well, no kidding! Be glad its not like your homeland! That's why you left the friggin' place! Get over it and get on with your life!! (Whew! i feel better!)
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In all sincerity: I have never been to Canadia, but I've always thought that the only thing I would NOT like about it is that it's further north. Me no like the winter weather. When I lived in WV, I would come home from work in the dark, and lay on the sofa and eat and watch TV until bedtime. That's not life. Maybe if I knew people who could teach me winter activities, it would be better.
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I can teach ya, buddy! You already know the basics with the sofa (or couch), eating and TV but you have to throw in C.C. over ice as well!
The weather does suck and as you get older, you start to dream of Texas or some place where you can go out and ride or do whatever in the winter.
But then when spring does hit, the change in you and your lifestyle is really incredible. I'm outside all the time doing tons of physical stuff.
I read something somewhere about people in Northern climes are healthier because they shut down over the winter and rest up. Just gets pretty boring being inside all the time.
Just realized I pay nearly $1000 for bike insurance but that's just for a short six month season (and that's stretching it!). What a friggin' rip!
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...When I lived in WV, I would come home from work in the dark, and lay on the sofa and eat and watch TV until bedtime. That's not life...
:shock: It's not? Cr@p! That's what I do! :wink:
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Sven: Maybe if I knew people who could teach me winter activities, it would be better.
Canadian women are supposed to be pretty wild - I'm sure you could find one to teach you. :banana:
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jbrough7: Just realized I pay nearly $1000 for bike insurance but that's just for a short six month season (and that's stretching it!). What a friggin' rip!
OUCH! Even with the exchange rate, I'm feeling pretty darn good with my $99 for my 12 month coverage. :beers:
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Just realized I pay nearly $1000 for bike insurance but that's just for a short six month season (and that's stretching it!). What a friggin' rip!
Jim, Try TD Canada Trust. They do insurance, and it's underwritten by Primmum. I -assume- that's for full coverage, not what Red likely has ( plpd only)
My old ins co wanted $1332 (full coverage - coll, comp, and plpd.) to insure the blue beast. TD wanted $572 (same coverage).
My 919 should cost more to insure than your 650,... in theory. Of course, now that the 919 appears to be a restricted bike,... luckily the ins co doesn't know yet that a CB900F is the same as a 919. :shock: :lol:
Ins co: What's the model of the bike?
Me: CB900F
Ins Co: Hmm,.. that's not the 919 though right?
Me: The Bill of sale says CB900F...
Ins Co: Ok,.. that should be fine then...
In fact, by switching to TD for the bikes, I saved over $1k in insurance.
The B4 went from $449 for plpd and theft and fire, to $300 ( it would have been lower, but I put the other half on the bike so he can get his first year of motorcycle ins over with before he buys his own bike.)
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Thanks, Stormi - I AM with TD Canada Trust. Did a lot of searching around and found them really cheap - my old 1988 Savage was only $660 but that jumped to about $970 (now full coverage) with my 2006 Bandit.
I still don't have my full M license so maybe that hurts (although I have a perfect record for car license) and have only been fiding for two seasons. Also, I live in a kinda built up area and that hurts.
Are you in the country?
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Yikes!! Is your bike rated for "pleasure use"? (5000kms or less a year) I'm not too sure what the M license entails, it sounds like a graduated license? That could be doing it. They're talking about instituting that here, but nothing yet. You haven't taken a Safety course yet, right? I wonder if that's hurting you. In AB, TD wouldn't even insure you without the course, unless you'd already been insured somewhere else for more than 3 yrs.
I'm not in the country, but I ride through it every day. :lol: I live in Morinville, that's about 25kms north of Edmonton.
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No- I did the safety course right away - I think they passed me just to get me outa there! :wink: M1 is just the easy written thing; M2 is the next step with the safety course and all the riding around on a parking lot. Then I get my M after I try the full-fledged license test with the tester in the van yakking to me on the headset and me going out on the four lane highways, etc.
I don't think the graduated thingie has hurt me for price as they weren't even concerned about what level I was at or if I had done the safety course. It was just kinda one price and that was it! :sad:
I live just on the edge of a town and ride to work every day through the country as well. I don't know if I can get 'just pleasure use' here so maybe I'll try that.
You know how banks just take you for granted after a few years? Wonder if that's what's happened to TD insurance with me? They have me with the auto/home/ motorcyle so they figure they've got me by the you know what.
But I'll flip in a second if I can find anything cheaper.
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I have heard that ins co's get complacent as well. You should at least look around every 3 years. I just pulled my insurance away from the company I'd been with for 12 yrs. They were a little surprised. I still have my auto and house insurance there, but those are all moving as soon as the policies expire.
They verified that I would be putting 5000k or less on the bike,.. and asked me the same for the bandit and the KTM ( of course, on a dirtbike, I'd like to see them prove or disprove that I did that many KMs.) but interestingly enough, I don't recall them asking the milage of any of the bikes... so how are they going to enforce that?
Wow,... you mean they,... wow. You're allowed to ride on the street without another fully licensed rider before you have the full motorcycle endorsement? That's a quick way to a license suspension here.
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I have the max PL/PD as well as Comp. I didn't spring for Collision, but if I had, the bill would have still been <1/3 of Jim's cost.
I also get discounts for having my cages with them and having safe driver & rider courses. Also, no tickets or accidents or young people in the house with licenses.
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I have the max PL/PD as well as Comp. I didn't spring for Collision, but if I had, the bill would have still been <1/3 of Jim's cost.
I also get discounts for having my cages with them and having safe driver & rider courses. Also, no tickets or accidents or young people in the house with licenses.
:shock: Oh,... then yeah,.. we both get bent over for insurance.
I have a clean record, car and motorcycle safety courses, my bikes at one ins co, and the rest in the process of moving, and no young-un's in the house able to drive and I still pay about 2x what you would and ride 1/2 the time.
I wanna move to the states,.. I'm smart enough (smarter than Jim at least. :wink: ) ... and I'll bring my own bike. :crybaby:
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Stormi: All you have to do in Ontario is answer the 24 questions on a written test with less than four wrong, I believe....any chimpanzee could pass that sucker. Then you can ride your bike on public roads with some restrictions (no passengers;not at night; no alcohol and no 400 series highways) I rode when I was younger so it was pretty easy to get back to it. Scary thing was some of the guys that passed the safety course still couldn't ride worth a sh!t! I wouldn't have passed half of them if it were up to me. :duh:
They also give you the motor vehicle written test as well here, which was a surprise to me! Some of the questions were retarded on that; "If you are sixteen and you get charged with __________, then how many points do you lose????" I haven't been sixteen for about 30 years, so I guessed my way through that bullcrap!
You ARE smarter than me - you post less on this board so you have way less contact with these nincompoops! :lol:
So what do you do in AB, just write the written, practice and then go for your full-fledged license?
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But then when spring does hit, the change in you and your lifestyle is really incredible. I'm outside all the time doing tons of physical stuff.
If you call peeing off the front porch "physical stuff"....
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Sven: Maybe if I knew people who could teach me winter activities, it would be better.
Canadian women are supposed to be pretty wild - I'm sure you could find one to teach you. :banana:
I am SOOOO into that idea. Any volunteers? (No, not the gal with the Adma's apple and the pink helmet!)
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You ARE smarter than me - you post less on this board so you have way less contact with these nincompoops! :lol:
So what do you do in AB, just write the written, practice and then go for your full-fledged license?
Yeah, but I read a lot,.. and sometimes feel the need to apologise on the behalf of Canadians for some of the stuff you say!! :stickpoke: Damn Jim, you know I still can't look at the Hostas in my front yard?
In AB, you can ride with your class 5 ( that's a regular car license ) as a motorcycle "learner's" permit. In this capacity, you can ride with another rider that IS a fully licensed class 6 (motorcycle) rider. This is how you get your practice. (Of course if you want to take the safety course, you can do this as well. The added benefit of the course, is that you take your road test at the end of it, so you don't have to worry about licensing and insurance for a non-class 6 rider on a bike)
We write a "written" test, but it's trivial as well.
Question: What do you do when crossing controlled railroad tracks?
Answers: a. Stop b. Brake hard c. shift gears d. signal e. nothing special, contiune riding as though it's a regular roadway.
Oi.
You must pass the written as well as the road test. Then you can ride without anyone else. We have no time limits -yet- as far as I know. They have a graduated licensing system for the class 5 now, but I'm not sure how that affects you if you get the motorcycle learners, if at all. (Since I'm not in that under 20 age group anymore, it really didn't affect me, so I didn't waste the "memory storage" on it. )
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I am SOOOO into that idea. Any volunteers? (No, not the gal with the Adma's apple and the pink helmet!)
Hmm,.. as the only (??) Canadian female here,.. I'm gonna have to pass. Your best offer from this forum may be that gal with the Adam's apple and the pink helmet. Maybe just keep the lights off...? :stickpoke:
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Question: What do you do when crossing controlled railroad tracks?
Answers: a. Stop b. Brake hard c. shift gears d. signal e. nothing special, contiune riding as though it's a regular roadway.
Uh...rise off the seat and put my weight on the footpegs, moving from back to front?
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Hmm,.. as the only (??) Canadian female here,.. I'm gonna have to pass. Your best offer from this forum may be that gal with the Adam's apple and the pink helmet. Maybe just keep the lights off...? :stickpoke:
But you haven't seen me yet! And I am NOT into hairy breasts!
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Who the frick told you!! :crybaby:
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I am SOOOO into that idea. Any volunteers? (No, not the gal with the Adma's apple and the pink helmet!)
Hmm,.. as the only (??) Canadian female here,.. I'm gonna have to pass. Your best offer from this forum may be that gal with the Adam's apple and the pink helmet. Maybe just keep the lights off...? :stickpoke:
The only female, period, I'd say. Did that sound wrong? Anyway, we usually offend the ladies pretty quick around here and that's the last we hear of them. Your constitution must be stronger to put up with, well, you know, people like Jim. :bigok:
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stormi: We write a "written" test, but it's trivial as well.
Question: What do you do when crossing controlled railroad tracks?
Answers: a. Stop b. Brake hard c. shift gears d. signal e. nothing special, contiune riding as though it's a regular roadway.
Jump it! Or at least wheelie over it. :motorsmile:
Seriously though, cross it as perpindicular as possible while staying in your lane. This is to avoid wheeltraps.
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But you haven't seen me yet!
Yeah, but the other half might object... I'd never hear the end of it.
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The only female, period, I'd say. Did that sound wrong? Anyway, we usually offend the ladies pretty quick around here and that's the last we hear of them. Your constitution must be stronger to put up with, well, you know, people like Jim. :bigok:
Yeah,.. Gee,.. I have no idea why you guys could offend the women... :roll:
I think there was a girl that posted in the 400 forum recently. Oh crap! Now don't you all go over there and scare her off at once. :stickpoke:
I used to hang out with a bunch of "Fbody" guys, and I've lived with a "truck driver" for the last bunch of years,... and I'm a computer geek, not too much offends me anymore,... besides Jim's anatomy...
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... and I'm a computer geek, not too much offends me anymore,... besides Jim's anatomy...
Hey, don't you talk about my buddy Brough that way!
That's *MY* area of expertise!
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... and I'm a computer geek, not too much offends me anymore,... besides Jim's anatomy...
Hey, don't you talk about my buddy Brough that way!
That's *MY* area of expertise!
Uhm,.. Jim's Anatomy is your area of expertise?? I guess that's how you'd know which parts of him are hairy. :stickpoke:
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... and I'm a computer geek, not too much offends me anymore,... besides Jim's anatomy...
Hey, don't you talk about my buddy Brough that way!
That's *MY* area of expertise!
Uhm,.. Jim's Anatomy is your area of expertise?? I guess that's how you'd know which parts of him are hairy. :stickpoke:
Ugh. You KNOW what I meant.
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Jim's Anatomy: (I think it's called Fuschian Man)
(http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/CORPOD/BE001035-COR-sml~Vitruvian-Man-Posters.jpg)
:banana: :banana: :lol: :lol: :banana: :banana:
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Ugh. You KNOW what I meant.
:lol: Yeah,.. but for some reason, I couldn't resist. Must be reading too much on that BanditAlley Forum lately.
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Yeah,.. but for some reason, I couldn't resist. Must be reading too much on that BanditAlley Forum lately.
Oh God, we've ruined you. There are so few chicks on this board to begin with....and we've turned you into another knuckle-dragger, just scratchin and spittin and fartin....welcome to the club.
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Oh God, we've ruined you. There are so few chicks on this board to begin with....and we've turned you into another knuckle-dragger, just scratchin and spittin and fartin....welcome to the club.
LOL! I'm a long ways from scratchin, spittin and fartin. And my knuckles only come close to dragging cos the rest of me is so damn close to the ground too. :duh:
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Jim's Anatomy: (I think it's called Fuschian Man)
Wow, getting that Corbis tattoo right across your dangly bits must have hurt.
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This American's view of Canada: Nice location for a new shopping mall, Home Depot (please, no Home Hardware stores) and a Wal-Mart. Plus a few gazillion "undocumented" Messicans.
Hey, isn't this America's plans for the whole planet?
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Any country’s citizens that would allow its government to take away the right to bare arms in exchange safety (CANADA), deserves neither freedom nor safety, and can be assure the best days are behind them. Ben Franklin.
:crybaby:
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Hey, isn't this America's plans for the whole planet?
And another thread awakens from a coma...
How bout we keep the Home Depot and Wal-Mart if you'll take the illegal aliens.
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Hey, isn't this America's plans for the whole planet?
And another thread awakens from a coma...
How bout we keep the Home Depot and Wal-Mart if you'll take the illegal aliens.
It seems that we are too cold for them & they all want to head South after the 1st winter! :lol:
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Not sure about the rest of Canada but here in Kamloops, BC we enjoy 30C+ summers and over 20C for at least 6 months of the year. Winters are short and mild. My kind of Canadian weather.
I know of more then plenty of places south of the border that can't match that climate. :grin:
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Not sure about the rest of Canada but here in Kamloops, BC we enjoy 30C+ summers and over 20C for at least 6 months of the year. Winters are short and mild. My kind of Canadian weather.
I know of more then plenty of places south of the border that can't match that climate. :grin:
Yeah, it's looking more and more attractive for us to "border jump" over your way too. That said, we got our first relief from the heat this week, and it's back on an upward swing as I type this. Atypical for here to have so many warm days in a row, but certainly welcome after our winter.
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Ya I was in Calgary at the end of July on business and noticed it was uncharacteristically warm there and had been for some time.
Hopefully it'll stay warm and mild for you guys into the fall. We're usually good for riding weather into October here. Fingers crossed. :D
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Well, I often ride til Oct regardless of the weather. As long as there's no white crap on the road, I'm out. I'm typically a fair weather rider, but as the season progresses, I get more and more reluctant to get off the bike. Heated grips have been the best investment I've ever made. We're going to put them on Dita as well, as soon as I remember to pick them up from the dealer. :wink:
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Ya I'd say for now I'm a fair weather rider. Until I have more experience on the bike we'll see how reluctant I am to put it away once I have it back on the road.
I'll wait on the heated grips. Probably next year. :)
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Ya I'd say for now I'm a fair weather rider. Until I have more experience on the bike we'll see how reluctant I am to put it away once I have it back on the road.
I'll wait on the heated grips. Probably next year. :)
Really?? Best $30 I ever spent. :grin:
That included the relay I bought, the extra wiring and the fuse adapter. :grin:
The grips also help extend the life of your Regulator Rectifier ( which I'm sure you have, or will read about in the B2.5/4 forum. )
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Quite the sales pitch you have there. :lol: I have insurance until October 23rd so if I need some heat before then you can be sure I'll be getting a heads up from you to find them as I know I probably won't want to put the bike away. Finally getting the parts ordered this week. Who knew I'd be so anxious to get back on it. What have I done.... I'm hooked and only 3 weeks in and with one ditch under my belt.
Yikes. Gotta love the new expensive hobby! :motorsmile:
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http://www.theweebsite.com/tempus/wallpaper.html
If it's a repost, so be it,:)
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Quite the sales pitch you have there. :lol: I have insurance until October 23rd so if I need some heat before then you can be sure I'll be getting a heads up from you to find them as I know I probably won't want to put the bike away. Finally getting the parts ordered this week. Who knew I'd be so anxious to get back on it. What have I done.... I'm hooked and only 3 weeks in and with one ditch under my belt.
Yikes. Gotta love the new expensive hobby! :motorsmile:
Oh yeah,.. the most expensive hobby I have, and I'm a photographer too. Bikes are way more.
I've already been using my heated grips. It's nice on a moist evening when the temps drop after sundown. Was using them the other day when I just about ditched the 919.
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Hasn't been that chilly yet here. Although the cloudy days we've had aren't too impressive and might need them shortly. Where did you get em?
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I find the clear days are the worst. The heat just rises away and we're left with cold down here.
I got mine from the Honda dealer I deal with. They usually have them on the wall. I think the brand was Kimpex, and they come with a big god-awful looking switch, and no relay, but I can detail the info for you to add the relay ( so that you can't leave them on by accident and drain the battery, or have someone turn them on when they see the switch) and for a fuse adapter.
All in all, my grips were about $24 for the grips ( Scona had a Women rider's appreciation day and 20% off, so expect them to be around $30)
An 87a relay from Princess Auto $2
A bit of red and black wire $I think I paid $5 for both rolls
A Fuse adapter. $2
And a different 3way switch if you want.
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Did you install heated grips or grip heaters? The prime difference being heated grips have the heating element built into the grip itself and grip heaters fit between the bar and the grips of your choice. The other difference is grip heaters are cheaper than heated grips.
I know Hot Grips (http://www.hotgrips.com/products_motorcycle_grips.php) makes heated grips, but don't know about Kimpex. I know Kimpex makes grip heaters, as does Symtec (http://www.symtec-inc.com/) (they make heated grip, too) and DualStar (http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Rider/heated_grip_kit1.htm) (the brand I have).
For some reason, I can't find grip heaters on the Kimpex (http://www.kimpex.com/) site, but my local dealer had them hanging on his rack just yesterday when I was in there.
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I go through waaay too many bikes to even consider grip heaters...Gerbing's heated gloves and jacket liner are the only way to go for me...takes less than to minutes to take 'em off or hook 'em up to another bike :motorsmile:
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Good point, James.
OTOH, with grip heaters, you can't leave them at home and they're always there when the day's temps surprise you.
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Yep that's a good point...just remember to take the bike with the heated grips :lol:
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Did you install heated grips or grip heaters? The prime difference being heated grips have the heating element built into the grip itself and grip heaters fit between the bar and the grips of your choice. The other difference is grip heaters are cheaper than heated grips.
Grip heaters. I will see if i can get the Kimpex part number when I'm at Scona on the 22nd, if not earlier. We're thinking of putting a set on Dita too.
I change my grips too often to want to go with a wired set.
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Yep that's a good point...just remember to take the bike with the heated grips :lol:
Well, at $30 a pair and about 45mins to install (if you're more competent than me, which isn't hard electrically), it takes a lotta bikes to cost as much as the heated gear. Besides, you still have to attach the wiring dongle to the battery for the gear, it's not like it's "no" install... :wink:
Of course with the heated gear, the core is warmer, rather than the hands trying to circulate the heat. That said, once my core starts getting cold, despite the heated grips, Blue and Dita get their winter blankets for the year....
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For some reason, I can't find grip heaters on the Kimpex (http://www.kimpex.com/) site, but my local dealer had them hanging on his rack just yesterday when I was in there.
KIMPEX
KPX # 902025
OLD# 902025
OEM part # 912025/NEWSW
T-Pak ENS. Poign ES Chauffantes
T-PAK Deluxe Heating Grip Set
the Bar code has:
7 79422 23700 3
Price went up to $32.99 at my store, but it now comes with the smaller switch, rather than the big aircraft looking one.
I'm guessing this is the Canadian version, based on the french on the sticker. :wink:
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An American's view of Canada? Time to change the title.
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...or get back on-topic. :wink:
Canada - just a bigger version of Alaska, right? :lol:
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Well, at $30 a pair and about 45mins to install (if you're more competent than me, which isn't hard electrically), it takes a lotta bikes to cost as much as the heated gear. Besides, you still have to attach the wiring dongle to the battery for the gear, it's not like it's "no" install... :wink:
That's the two minute install I was talking about and its the first thing I put on a bike when I buy it...the pig tail for the electrics :grin:
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...or get back on-topic. :wink:
Wha??
If we stayed on topic,... it would lose the flavor of the entire board!! :stickpoke:
Canada - just a bigger version of Alaska, right? :lol:
Naw,.. we have way more polar bears, and less snow.... in fact, I have one in my backyard right now.
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Well, at $30 a pair and about 45mins to install (if you're more competent than me, which isn't hard electrically), it takes a lotta bikes to cost as much as the heated gear. Besides, you still have to attach the wiring dongle to the battery for the gear, it's not like it's "no" install... :wink:
That's the two minute install I was talking about and its the first thing I put on a bike when I buy it...the pig tail for the electrics :grin:
Yeah,.. I've started that now,... I'm trying to figure out how to do it to my KTM next. :monkeymoon: Heated grips would be awesome on the dirtbike!
Hey,.. BTW,... what color is your B12 again? r_outsider said he saw what he called "some nutter on a black b12" on Hwy 2, yesterday,.. not you, right?
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Currently its red...we'll see if it remains so :wink:
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AHhh! There's your avatar. :wink:
So,.. you're not the nutter he saw then. :motorsmile:
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Nope, I'm not that nutter anyway :wink:
Hey...were you thinking of becoming a Alberta Safety Council instructor?
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Nope, I'm not that nutter anyway :wink:
Hey...were you thinking of becoming a Alberta Safety Council instructor?
I was,.. why?
The main thing that stopped me is all of the politics and garbage that I've learned from previous instructors.
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Nope, I'm not that nutter anyway :wink:
Hey...were you thinking of becoming a Alberta Safety Council instructor?
I was,.. why?
The main thing that stopped me is all of the politics and garbage that I've learned from previous instructors.
Someone there described a person that sounded like you and said that you were going to be an instructor but backed out...I'm writing the provincial exam in Jan then just need the audit/buddy and I will be an instructor
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The Alaskan highway also belongs to us right? :lol:
Canada - just a bigger version of Alaska, right? :lol:
Naw,.. we have way more polar bears, and less snow.... in fact, I have one in my backyard right now.
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Someone there described a person that sounded like you and said that you were going to be an instructor but backed out...I'm writing the provincial exam in Jan then just need the audit/buddy and I will be an instructor
Someone that sounded like me? ;) How so? What was the topic that someone who'd been there once for the orientation would come up in conversation?
I ended up backing out because I'd gotten a "hinky feeling" about it, but also because that was the exact time that Gizmo and my grandmother passed. I was in no shape whatsoever.
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I can teach ya, buddy! You already know the basics with the sofa (or couch), eating and TV but you have to throw in C.C. over ice as well!
The weather does suck and as you get older, you start to dream of Texas or some place where you can go out and ride or do whatever in the winter.
But then when spring does hit, the change in you and your lifestyle is really incredible. I'm outside all the time doing tons of physical stuff.
I read something somewhere about people in Northern climes are healthier because they shut down over the winter and rest up. Just gets pretty boring being inside all the time.
Just realized I pay nearly $1000 for bike insurance but that's just for a short six month season (and that's stretching it!). What a friggin' rip!
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As I recall, about 1/2 that insurance $grand goes to pay for no fault hospital coverage for your self and rider. I believe that this was brought in in the Bob Rae NDP era of Ontario. If not, the Peterson Liberals did the deed.
Free health insurance, my Ass.
We pay through income tax levy and again for Each vehicle. And despite the propoganda crap that Ted Kennedy and Hillbillary dish out, our health system doesn't work. People DIE up here with heart, cancer or other problems waiting many months in line for health care. If you have Any money, cross the border.