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Theft?

Love your "ground float tip" THAT YOU STOLE FROM KTMTALK !

When I saw that Guest Book entry I was baffled! I simply had no clue what he was talking about. I decided not to simply delete it as garbage, since obviously someone out there is under the impression that I stole the idea for that article. So I decided to add a comment and then post his statement in my Guest Book in the hope that he would reply and we could talk about this like rational adults. Since "REALdirtbiker" didn't leave me any contact information I couldn't do any more. So far I have heard nothing.

I want to clarify what I do here at this website. My intent was never to compete with KTMTalk - that site has well over 50,000 members, many of whose motorcycle riding and technical experience humbles mine. Combined, their knowledge is formidable. I am a Team KTMTalk Lifetime Member, and I enjoy the camaraderie, humor and and wisdom to be found there. I visit the Forums daily and usually make a few posts each time. I try to make each one worth reading.

I've ridden and enjoyed motorcycles for many, many years, though I was away from the sport for a decade and just came back to the True Path in '05. I wanted to use my technical background and organizational skills to give something back to the motorcycling community that has provided me with so much enjoyment over most of my adult life.

I spent my early years while in school working as a pimply faced motorcycle mechanic. All those biking skills have gotten rusty, and many of them are now as out of date as the Nortons, CZs, and BSAs themselves. I attended A & P school in Tulsa in '75 and '76, and worked for nearly two decades in General Aviation, mostly in Seattle. The Grim Years, I call those, the time immediately following the heavy collapse of the once-vibrant General Aviation market of the 70s, when production of small aircraft plunged to 10% of previous levels, and entire companies vanished. I never built planes - but I wrenched on everything from the Cessna 150 through Lear 35 and Falcon 20, with a few Jet Ranger and A-Star helicopters thrown in for good measure. I even did some radial engine work on Beaver floatplanes down from Alaska for major repairs. I did everything from major structural repairs like replacing and painting a ripped off wing, to instrument installations and wiring, to hydraulic system overhaul, to minor engine repairs, including turbine Hot Section Inspections on King Airs and Citations. I never got into the specialty work of complete engine overhaul.

When my wife wanted to start making babies, I decided to stay home and take care of the kids, and to leave behind the ulcers and Burning the Midnight Oil schedules. My skills are getting rusty now, but I have a solid technical background and extensive experience with all sorts unusual mechanical situations. I know how to look at a problem, evaluate it, and come up with a practical solution. I have a shop full of tools and the knowledge to use them.

When I decided to start my own website, I wanted to include as much original content as possible. There are plenty of technical resources on the Web, so there wasn't much point in adding another Page of Links. All my articles are original work, unless noted clearly. All the photos are mine, unless noted. I make NO claims about originating an idea (like "Floating the Ground" which has been done for years and is well documented). What I do is research the hell out of it, evaluate what others have done, decide on an approach, and then do it to my own bike, while taking lots of pictures. Then I try to present the job so that others can see what I chose to do, and how, and above all, why. Never have I indicated that my method was the best, or the only way, or the original way. Only, "this is how I did it, judge for yourself."

I always welcome comments, as long as they are constructive and friendly. If you disagree with me or want to correct a mistake, please speak out. I will be delighted to talk with you.

Anonymous accusations of thievery fall WAY beyond the boundaries of common sense and good manners. I would be happy to spar with this accuser, if he is brave enough to speak up. If he continues to hide, his remark will go into the Recycle Bin along with the rest of the trash.

Thanks for letting me vent.

John E Davies - spokanister