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Yeah, I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything but I figure y’all will understand. I finally had something really worth posting for a change, so I figured I’d do it while I had a few moments BMW Motorcycles of Las Vegas held an open house yesterday with free food and drink, free dyno runs, a raffle, plenty of cool old bikes, great vendors, and lots of great people If you like vintage BMW motorcycles, this was the place for you to be yesterday I’ve wondered for quite some time just how much horsepower my V-Star has. There are no factory figures published anywhere that I can find and everyone else has just been guessing. Some thought it might be mid 40′s. Turns out it was quite a bit less than that. The averages for the three runs were 33.62 HP and 34.1 lb-ft of torque. I’ve only had 33 HP hauling my 550+ pound motorcycle and my substantial posterior everywhere I actually had a pretty good laugh at myself over this because I’d been worried before I got a motorcycle that the 423 pound (with fuel etc.) G650GS only has 50 HP and I thought that might not be enough An “R” designation on a BMW motorcycle means that it has a horizontally opposed, two cylinder engine with a shaft drive to the rear wheel. They’ve been making this type of engine since the very beginning just after WWI. Over the years, there have been several different styles of bikes with this powertrain and some have lasted longer than others. The most popular is the R1200GS which is a dual sport on and off road bike. They also currently make a sport tourer called the R1200RT and a roadster which is the R1200R. The R1200C was dropped from the lineup a few years ago with BMW citing the unsuitability of the engine for the cruiser tastes in the U.S. They’re not too expensive (relatively) on the used market and I’d really like to have one someday I did remember to get a couple of pics of the Dynojet setup! Really, these guys are great
Last, but certainly not least was a surprise to me. Akrapovic is a European exhaust manufacturer. They mainly make systems for sport bikes, but have branched out recently to make systems for bikes like Harley Davidson and the BMW K1600GT and GTL. They showed up to show off the new products and they brought a treat for everyone in attendance. The Morsus is a custom motorcycle that Akrapovic commissioned a while back which won quite a few awards. I’d seen pictures of it online and even the video above, but I never thought I’d see it in person so I was very happy to have this opportunity That’s all for now, but I’ll try to post more soon. Have a great day everyone ———————- A couple shots from just before the services for Lex at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. It was a beautiful day. The service was very nice indeed. The flyover by the Hornet and Kfir was most excellent. ![]() Some of us at Fort Rosecrans. Among them are Pogue, me and xBradtc among the bloggers along with Beth, Armando, John and a couple I do not remember.. Wing Wife took the picture .
A large number of folks were not bloggers but simply enjoyed reading Lex……and who didn’t? I also managed to run into a man who I had common friends and acquaintances with past and present. But my moment was delivering a message from our good blog bud, Pinch Paisley. I went up to Mary Lefon and told her I had a message from Pinch on the East Coast. Lost the voice for a moment then. Gave her a kiss on the cheek and a hug. She returned both and then pressed a Memorial Challenge Coin into my hand. Almost lost it completely had it not been been for Mary and Marcia(Wing Wife) along with Beth. Gonna miss him, yeah, definitely. Even on the occasion he gave me constructive criticism, it was good. That will remain between us now, eternity. The relationship was always mech to pilot, Petty Officer to Captain. It was better that way.
OldAFSarge is another “Lexian” (reader of the late Neptunus Lex) who’s decided to give this whole blog thing a try Chant du Départ is up and running and I’m sure the author wouldn’t mind a few more people in the comments There’s a lot going on in my life right now, but I’m going to try to post much more than I have so far this year The weather forecast in California over the weekend called for rain and the real world didn’t disappoint! Management at work requested volunteers for some overtime over the weekend and I figured I’d do what I could to help out and reap a bit more money. It was work. That’s all I’ve got to say about that. There was also a sleep study jammed into the weekend as well. It was supposed to start at about 2030 hours, but didn’t start until half an hour after midnight. Starting with two hours sans CPAP, the test finished with four hours on the CPAP. No, I didn’t get too much sleep. Add to that the fact that Monday and Tuesday were to be 10.5 hour days including lunch. I knew all of this was supposed to happen on Saturday as I headed home from work. The skies had held the promise of rain all day long out here in Las Vegas, but it wasn’t until I walked out to my motorcycle that the clouds overhead delivered on that promise. That was something I had hoped for all day as I looked out the windows Riding is wonderful anytime with very few exceptions. Variety is the spice of life. Weather in Las Vegas can be hot and it can be cold, but it’s usually clear. I don’t have much in the way of rain gear, but I also don’t usually mind getting wet because it’s different and I like that. Saturday let me go play in the rain again which was a most welcome diversion from the normal pace and flow of life, even if it was only for a couple of miles and a few minutes It’s time for me to go get some sleep and prepare for another day at work tomorrow. At least it’s going to be a normal shift instead of more overtime Have a great Wednesday, everyone I saw this posted on Facebook and it immediately became my desktop background at work The caption reads:
The photographer is a fellow blogger who I’ve known online for quite a while now and I hope he’ll forgive me for failing to add a link to the blogroll on the right until tonight Head on over to Carmichael’s Position and browse around a while – I think you’ll like the place Thanks again, John I found out that I’m going to be a father back in the beginning of January ( We know that we have a whole lot of work ahead of us and we’re going to do the best we can to raise our son or daughter the right way Cindy can’t move to Las Vegas for various reasons, so I’m going to move up to Utah in the near future. I’ll have to find a new job in central Utah (not the easiest thing) and I’m sure other challenges will arise as well. I know this won’t be easy. That’s one of the very few things I know for sure. Funny thing about the things that are worth doing, though – they’re usually not easy Cindy and I agree that while this development was not planned, we will not consider it a mistake, a problem, a punishment, or anything negative. A child is a blessing! I’ll try to update this blog as I can and will do my best to keep it actually online (money is going to be tight), so stay tuned Have a great day everyone Tonight is a night of remembrance. Many around the United States and most likely quite a few overseas are raising a bottle or a glass in memory of someone many never had the chance to meet in person. Carroll “Lex” Lefon was lost to us earlier this week when the fighter jet he was flying crashed at NAS Fallon. Whisper, a guest blogger, has kindly published a post so that friends and family can leave tributes and eulogies in the comments. There are currently 1,225 comments. Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, has even sent a personal note which Whisper posted as well. I stopped and picked up some Guinness (for strength!) on the way home so that I could toast Lex from here in Vegas. Many others are doing the same thing in pubs, bars, taverns, and their own homes and have connected on Facebook to share the time. Thanks and prayers are still going out from here in Las Vegas. They’re being sent for Lex, for his family, friends, and colleagues. We’re much better for having known him. PS – Steve here in Las Vegas has posted a list of tributes to Lex over on his blog. Please consider stopping by and looking through the links. I heard that there was a horrible possibility last night. I found out this morning that it wasn’t just a possibility anymore. It was a fact. A wife had lost her husband. Daughters and a son had lost their father. A nation had lost a patriot, warrior, and leader. I had lost a friend and inspiration. The world had lost a good man. Lex had taken a fire breathing Israeli made K-21 Kfir up into the sky yesterday as a civilian contract pilot helping to train aviators for the United States Navy’s Fighter Weapons School. He never made it home. Captain Carrol Lefon USN (retired) was better known as Neptunus Lex to those who read blogs. Lex was everything I said in the first paragraph of this post and so much more. If I were to think of words to describe him, quite a few come to mind. Professional, excellent, humorous, loving, wickedly intelligent… I wish I could be half the man he was. Truth be told, I’d settle for being half the writer he was. I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet that there will never be another post from a master of language and wit to take my mind off all that’s clouding it on any given day. Like so many others, I never had the opportunity to meet him in person. We exchanged emails from time to time and each one came across like I was corresponding with an old friend. I devoured his writing on a daily basis and again it felt like I was reading something from someone I actually knew rather than someone who just posted on a blog. The comments on the memorial post on his blog tell the story of who Lex was much better than any words I can conjure tonight. So many things have swirled around in my mind since I heard the confirmation of Lex’s passing this morning and I just can’t seem to put any of it into words in a way that would do justice to his memory. So instead of trying to do that, I’ll try to at least put it into words the best way I can and keep it short. To Lex – Thank you for your service and for the kindness you’ve shown me over the years. You were an inspiration to me and one of the reasons I kept up blogging over the years. I doubt you realized the way that link on your blogroll boosted my morale and the pride I felt when I saw it up there. You’ve been an example of diplomacy, decorum, professionalism, leadership, and what people mean when they say that someone is a good man. You were an example of The Right Stuff. While I’m incredibly sad for having lost you, I’m even more glad for having had the opportunity to know you through your writings. We’ll be sure to raise a few toasts with some good Gunness (for strength!) in your memory. To the Lefon family – I extend my deepest condolences and wish there was something more I could do for you. I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers. I’ve said my thanks to Lex, but you also deserve thanks as well for being understanding and kind enough to share him with us along with sharing yourselves through him and his writing. To everyone else – Please take some time to go through the archives of Capt. Lefon’s blog. You’re sure to find wit and laughter, but you’ll also find a tremendous amount of wisdom about an astounding array of topics. One of my favorite literary works penned by the good Captain was titled Rhythms. It is well worth your time. Godspeed and blue skies, Lex. You will be greatly missed. OK, so you’ve read the previous post about Operation #EFAD below, right? If not, go take a look and come back here. Assuming you’ve read that, you know about former Navy SEAL Matt Bracken and how he’s giving away free electronic copies of his book Enemies Foreign and Domestic to bring much needed attention to a criminal government operation known in the BATFE as Operation Fast and Furious and known to gun bloggers as Gunwalker. Gunwalker has cost at least two federal agents their lives along with taking the lives of untold numbers of Mexican and now American citizens. Matt has written more about Gunwalker and Gangster Government responsible for it. I’m republishing it here with his permission. Please take the short amount of time needed to read it and think about what it means. When you’re done, go download your free copy of Enemies Foreign and Domestic. Don’t worry if you don’t have a Kindle – Amazon.com has free software you can use on your PC, Mac, i-Phone, or i-Pad. There are other programs out there which will allow you to read it on many other platforms as well. Without further ado, here’s Matt Bracken’s latest work of non-fiction – Gangster Government:
Thanks for taking the time to read this. I believe as Matt does and want to get the word out. He has the means to bring attention to Gunwalker and while this blog is much smaller, I’ll do what I can to support him. My thanks go out to Matt for his service in the Navy as well as for his continuing service as demonstrated in this endeavor. Matt Bracken is a former Navy SEAL and a current author. He’s also a tireless fighter for the cause of Liberty. His first ever book was Enemies Foreign And Domestic and I’m sure you won’t be surprised at why he says he wrote it:
Matt has figured out a way to use that book to bring much needed attention to “Gunwalker.” For those of you who don’t yet know, the official name for Gunwalker was Operation Fast and Furious. David Codrea has an excellent resource on what happened at this link. Gunwalker is a whole load of B.S. as you can see from David Codrea’s work. It’s being covered up by the Department of Justice and the Mainstream Media. For example, U.S. Representative Darryl Issa has subpoenaed nearly 80,000 pages of information about this operation from the Department of Justice. He has only received about 6,000 pages and those were heavily redacted. I have yet to hear a massive clamoring in the media screaming about a cover-up. I really haven’t heard much at all. So what did Matt Bracken decide to do? He decided to give away free e-book downloads of Enemies Foreign And Domestic on Amazon.com in an effort to draw attention to the situation:
There’s much more information at this link. Please go download your free copy of Enemies Foreign And Domestic at Amazon.com and share the word about Operation #EFAD. This needs to get out and go viral. |
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