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Posted by Zoar
- April 24, 2018, 09:55:54 AMQuote from: RockinRollin on April 24, 2018, 08:35:54 AMThat's pretty cool the Wife is a journalist and a few years ago she did a story about this guy who built a cottage up in central Ontario and was told it would cost about 20K to bring in power so he went off the grid, put up a few panels had a bank of batteries and all his appliances including fridge ran off the batteries. His cost was a fraction of the cost of bringing in power and no bills!
Yes. It is not rocket science and you don;t need a NASA budget.
I did my off-grid power system for under $18K and because it is OFF THE GRID I do not get state tax credit but I do get Federal credits so knock off another 30 cents on every dollar so knock off $6K. So it cost me less than $12K. And I have NO utility bill, and when the power goes OUT which is does a lot around here, my power is ON. I like making my own power. A LOT. After 13 years I would say it is one of the best things I ever did in my lifetime. What's THAT worth?
Posted by RockinRollin
- April 24, 2018, 08:35:54 AMThat's pretty cool the Wife is a journalist and a few years ago she did a story about this guy who built a cottage up in central Ontario and was told it would cost about 20K to bring in power so he went off the grid, put up a few panels had a bank of batteries and all his appliances including fridge ran off the batteries. His cost was a fraction of the cost of bringing in power and no bills!
Posted by Zoar
- April 20, 2018, 08:43:38 AMQuote from: CDNRatMan on April 19, 2018, 18:26:39 PMHere is a photo taken from yesterday. My bike photo was just for inspiration. It was actually taken BEFORE I put on the dual seat so autumn 2017. But this photo in this post is about 20 hours old.looks very nice and no snow in the picture, I still have lots in the front lawn.....
The days have also been gray and cold even when not snowing. I am off-the-grid and make all my power from solar and store it in a battery bank. Good thing because sun (and warmth) have been in short supply but I always have power. Lordy, this solar technology with batteries is pretty darn cool and wonderful and yes it works because I am in a low sun index place yet always have had power.... going on 13 years of off the grid living with 4 years with this larger solar array and it works.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- April 19, 2018, 18:26:39 PMlooks very nice and no snow in the picture, I still have lots in the front lawn.....
Posted by Zoar
- April 19, 2018, 13:05:12 PMQuote from: Zoar on April 04, 2018, 07:58:15 AMI am looking forward to riding my Drifter 800 again. It has been cold with occasional snow here since I posted last. But it is better than UP pf Michigan where my son lives. He texted me and said they just went over 300 inches of snow for the season, that is 25 FEET and it is still coming down. We had white on the ground this AM, so no motorcycle riding today. Again. I have been starting it and letting it run some. I am biting at the bit........I did not realize how lucky I was to get the speedo visor with the purchase of the bike!
Regarding the sliding forward, the only other bike I have right now with a dual seat is a Ducati ST4. Last year my GF rode on the Ducati with me and our only complaint was she was constantly sliding forward on the seat. Ducati are a challenge to drive without some aggressive movement. I am optimistic the Drifter will be vastly superior. We will see. Hopefully soon!
Posted by Zoar
- April 12, 2018, 11:50:24 AMQuote from: CDNRatMan on April 11, 2018, 17:03:50 PMAccording to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) ---- your product is "Made in the USA" means "all or virtually all" of the products' parts must be made here.Not sure but I recall reading someplace that as long as the packing and the assembly is done this side of the ocean it is American made, and so that caused me to wonder who decides where it is made.....
"Packaging" is hardly what the FTC demands.
HD is lying and it appears their workers are happy to just look the other way for the paycheck.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- April 11, 2018, 17:03:50 PMQuoteNot sure but I recall reading someplace that as long as the packing and the assembly is done this side of the ocean it is American made, and so that caused me to wonder who decides where it is made.....Actually there's a certain percentage I think it's 75 that the manufacturer has to actually make the product in country in order to say American made
Posted by Zoar
- April 11, 2018, 15:11:48 PMQuote from: Tfrank59 on April 11, 2018, 15:07:07 PMIndeed, yet HD has apparently convinced themselves that as long as the packaging is made here it is actually okay for them to say american made. At least that is what I read they tell their people at the plants, who apparently suck it up and feel justified that their bullcrap is a-okay and as long as they can cash their paycheck they swallow any senses of decency.Actually there's a certain percentage I think it's 75 that the manufacturer has to actually make the product in country in order to say American made
Posted by Tfrank59
- April 11, 2018, 15:07:07 PMActually there's a certain percentage I think it's 75 that the manufacturer has to actually make the product in country in order to say American made
Posted by Zoar
- April 11, 2018, 10:11:11 AMQuote from: Inkslinger43 on April 08, 2018, 11:38:33 AMIf they can put American made simply because the packaging is, even though the parts ARE made overseas, then they are LIARS and cannot be trusted.Sorry. Btw you can get a light visor that'll fit over speedometer. That's what I've done.
Since my mods etc to the drifter/Indian I've not ridden my HD.
Also you can get HD parts or any bike cheap at Banggood.com
HD parts actually come in an orange n black box just like HD except doesn't have the name in the shield. Has shield and EVERYTHING just not HD through middle of shield. Cousin works at York HD plant and has said for YEARS that parts are made overseas. They can put American made cause the packaging is.
Posted by Inkslinger43
- April 08, 2018, 11:38:33 AMSorry. Btw you can get a light visor that'll fit over speedometer. That's what I've done.
Since my mods etc to the drifter/Indian I've not ridden my HD.
Also you can get HD parts or any bike cheap at Banggood.com
HD parts actually come in an orange n black box just like HD except doesn't have the name in the shield. Has shield and EVERYTHING just not HD through middle of shield. Cousin works at York HD plant and has said for YEARS that parts are made overseas. They can put American made cause the packaging is.
Posted by Inkslinger43
- April 08, 2018, 11:34:47 AMYou can get a quick detach sissy bar with or without a luggage rack that mounts directly to the grab bar.
Wife has never had a problem with sliding forward on seat. I modified mine and put a small air ride shock on bottom of seat.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- April 04, 2018, 10:36:39 AM Well like Marco said in another post that Ledrie (what Mopar was to Dodge) was to Drifter for parts, they made a sissy bar, front engine guard, front fender guard and the luggage rack for the 800's for sure and they were extremely well made and very nice finished product. But they are the Unicorn to find.......I have been also lucky in I did get the front engine guard for both bikes, and the front fender guard and sissy bar but I have not seen any online for a long time.
Zoar since I bought my 80 I have bought 2 visors and just found a third one so they are not easy to find.........now as for the sliding around on the seat I am really wondering, I have 2 females that I rode with a lot in the past few summers, and both are different in weight and height, and on any long ride neither one has complained of sliding around.......I'll have to go and ask them now.....or I'll wait till the summer and take myself for a ride....
Posted by mittico68
- April 04, 2018, 10:13:42 AMQuote from: Zoar on April 04, 2018, 07:58:15 AMRegarding the sliding forward, the only other bike I have right now with a dual seat is a Ducati ST4. Last year my GF rode on the Ducati with me and our only complaint was she was constantly sliding forward on the seat.
That is why I just bought a (2nd hand) backrest for ma-deuce: it's from Ledrie (Ratman sure knows what I'm talkin' about...), a good maker that unfortunately is out of business... I must admit I've been very lucky!
Posted by Tfrank59
- April 04, 2018, 09:29:00 AMIf you really want her to be happy back there give her a rider backrest, and if you can the kind that have armrests. Then she'll be a queen on her throne 