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Not a fan of casinos either...never been a gambler, always found Las Vegas tacky and noisy, overcrowded. About the only time I go to them is for concerts...the local casino (an MGM property) has a nice little concert venue inside, and I do go to shows there several times a year.. The older I get the less I like crowds and like the simple pleasures of experiences like sitting on a beach in the evening listening to the roar of the surf and watching darkness approach.

It has more to do with the fact that BMW chooses to make its saddles out of cement, so much so that an entire cottage industry has cropped up to address the issue with more comfortable foam. That said, I’m not willing at this time to spend $800 for a new saddle. Did a valve adjustment. I also replaced the valve covers, valve cover gaskets, and spark plug covers. It looks like I should probably do spark plug wires, but it’s not yet urgent. I think these plugs, like the battery was, are original. The bike is 25 years old and has 108k miles. Ready for a test ride, it got its first drink in who knows how many years. Ran perfect for the 6 mile trip. Once I get it home from Costco, I’ll let it cool 20 minutes and then change the oil, transmission oil, and rear drive oil. The oils in these is thick and needs to be warmed up to drain properly.

How it started: How it's going: Funny story - apparently those spark plug covers with the "4 Valve" silver lettering have been out of production for years and you can only get reproductions with no lettering or black lettering. I knew I needed a set way back when I first bought them and grabbed them on an e-bay auction randomly only because I thought they looked better than the plain ones. I didn't realize I was grabbing something made of unobtanium.

Very cool

Awesome Job Drew, looking good. Suck getting older that we cannot ride long on the sport bikes, but touring does make it comfy.

Long time no see on this one. The fairing has been incredibly difficult to source, but about three weeks ago one turned up in the UK in great condition. I bought it and had it shipped over. On Saturday, I rode 2 1/4 hours out to State College, PA, area on my 2019 BMW R NineT Scrambler to test ride some Moto Guzzi bikes. After riding there for a few hours, I rode the 2 1/4 hours back. The seat on my NineT is horrible for long-distance riding and by the time I got home I was exhausted and everything hurt. Some of the Moto Guzzis were touring bikes and were really comfortable to ride, making me think that I might like having a touring bike instead. But wait.... I already HAVE a touring bike. So as soon as I got home, and before I even got my riding gear off, I went and pulled the R1100 RS out of storage, put the battery back in, and it fired up. By Sunday, I started cleaning the grime and grease and finished up like this. Yesterday I ran around getting some bulbs, small parts, and fluids for a fluid change, but you can't do a fluid change on these bikes until they've been ridden for at least 20 minutes and then cooled for 20 minutes.... so, my next step was clear. Put it back together. As of last night: I took it for a short shakedown cruise this morning and it ran great. It still needs the fluid changes, and I'm going to replace the valve covers (I already have them), and a few other odds and ends, but it's getting pretty close to being ready to ride.

Casino's are hugely depressing. Mentally and emotionally I am so done with so much of America and American culture. I want to get on an A350 (not a Boeing product...!) and leave...and never come back. Seriously. Slap the window shade down when the plane pulls off the runway, and never, ever look back.