Todd and I have a very close and personal friendship. We talk amongst ourselves and share many common ideas and observations. I am extremely protective of him and I value our friendship highly.
I am happy for anybody who gets anything they like for themselves. I celebrate people’s joy and success. I love to read people’s excitement at what they purchase. I always offer congratulations and I try to greet and welcome all new members.
In this particular case, I wrote to you:
“ Interesting.
For the life of me, I cannot see how this device is clamping the wheel in place to utilize the duck head. Strange indeed.
I would be very wary of gouging the rim up.
These chinese tire tools are all just terrible. I do not recommend them at all but to each their own.”
The #1 weak link in these tools is the clamping. The wheel spins and the clamps end up gouging the rim. That’s why I asked about it.
You also commented how this new tool was going to be better than spoons and I specifically gave this other option to you so that you would never have to use spoons again. It wasn’t a pejorative directed at you.
My confusion and absurdity comment was directed at the very overpriced No-Mar setup which can cost in excess of $1,500 plus “options” and exorbitant shipping charges. But again, to each their own. Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry. I say this all the time.
My principle point was to offer another way to anybody reading that hey, you don’t need a tire machine to dismount or mount a tire. You don’t need a garage or mechanic.
You can do it yourself for $5 paltry dollars.
That was my point. It was another CHEAP solution to give what most people here usually ask for. I obviously screwed that delivery up in your case. I apologize.
Most tire machines are purchased and rarely used. This is truth. They are cool and can be really neat to own. To me, they are like Snap-On tool boxes. But in truth, most of either, are garage bling. They aren’t really needed, just cool to own. If that is your thing, then kudos! Enjoy.
For the member reading that can’t see owning one but would like to do there own tire changes, there is a way to do it for $5.
So I shared but nobody seemed to care. I found it extremely curious. So be it.
I commented on how Todd and I have shared with each other, the phenomenon of how people will balk and complain at the cost for real genuine products that will increase the daily performance and rideability of their motorcycles, but they will spend money on something that has only limited function without a hesitation at all. It’s unusually curious to us. It isn’t a matter of right or wrong but one of “hmm, why is that?”. That was my point.
Most people are here because they are seeking a way to avoid paying a professional shop for anything unless they are absolutely forced to. This is a fact.
A few of us give solutions to people all day every day for free and it can be maddening often times.
For 13 years I have helped people here over and over.
I have had hosted people in my home and shop for years. I have driven 1000+miles at my entire expense to rescue people off the side of the road. I have worked on members motorcycles for cheap and even free. I have traveled great distances to work on members motorcycles for nothing. I am joyful and happy to do all of this.
Unlike Todd, I have had hundreds of phone calls I’ve had with members to help for free. Hours and hours of my time given gladly and in pursuit of Guzzisti camaraderie.
My “new found wealth”?
My partner of 30 years and I retired! We were not poor before now. We live in Ohio which is cheap.
We owned property in California. We sold our primary residence for nearly 500% profit. We’ve worked our whole lives and I have collected motorcycles since I was 18. I sold 22 of them when I left California, and another 4 I brought here to Ohio with me. I’ve acquired some more since then yes, but all of them are USED of which I have said repeatedly that I bought for peanuts.
The property we bought and live on now is a fraction of the value of my home we lived in for 20 years in Findlay, and owned outright.
I’m very sorry that my stories of our life and my motorcycles has become such a burr in your saddle. I never meant to “show off” anything but a love of motorcycles, life and Guzzisti.
If you ever met me you would know this to be true. My clothes are Walmart, I own no jewelry other than my wedding ring and my college ring. I’ve worn the same brand and model of shoe for 20+ years and my bikes are all almost virtually stock. There is almost nothing on any of them.
I’ve shared everything I own with others, including open invitations for any member here to come visit and stay free and ride anything I have. I’ve also offered assistance mechanically to anybody in need who comes.
I do not covet others things and most certainly not my own things. I have all my life shareed everything I have been blessed with by God, with others. Always.
I’ve never gone to a group motorcycle function that I didn’t arrive with armfuls of gifts, wine and food that I personally prepared to share with everyone.
My postings were never meant to be show off or look at me. I am nothing like that at all.
I am a regular guy who uses a toilet just like everybody else. I have more than some, (blessings from God for which I am thankful), and considerably less than others, of which I hold no avarice or malice towards those with more than myself. Good for them. My posts were never ever meant to provoke such a reaction. I regret they affected you so. I am sorry.
Truly, based upon your previous writings, I thought you specifically even asked for more details to which I felt absolutely comfortable to share. I regret they upset you instead.
As I said before, I am happy for you and your tool. Truly. Congratulations! I hope that you enjoy it but be mindful to exercise caution with the clamping mechanism as that is the common weak link, and a spun gouged wheel is a supremely upsetting thing to just about anybody.
I knew your statement was meant tersely. I correctly interpreted it. Still I offered the Readers Digest version of just how $5 in zip-ties does have tremendous value and functionality and “can save your arse”. You just have to be willing to receive the knowledge. It’s ok if you don’t. You are upset and I understand.
I still offer:
My sincere apology for upsetting you and making you feel attacked. This was never my intention.
My sincere congratulations on the acquisition of your new tool. As a mechanic, I have felt that joy many times. Enjoy it! Kudos.
My sincere apologies that my trying to offer an alternative to tire machines, struck such a personal chord in you. That was never the intention or spirit of the message.
Plese forgive my intrusion into your personal joy. That was wrong of me.
You have every right to spend your money in any fashion you wish and to celebrate your life as you see fit. I support that belief 100%
Enjoy.
Peace.
