Thursday, March 3, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Back to basics
I recently have been evaluating how I want to re-enter the world of drumming. For those who don't know the history, I played drum corps style and rock drumming for the better part of 15 years as a young man, and became very proficient in that capacity. I never had formal training on a full drum kit, but like many teenagers, that mattered very little.
Due to the usual struggles a guy has when first venturing out on his own, I lost interest in drumming, largely due to the lack of rehearsal space. That coupled with injuries to my wrist, that break ended up lasting 16 years.
A few years ago, I decided to at least deal with my carpal tunnel issue, so off to surgery I went. Then, about a year and a half ago, my buddy Dan relentlessly persuaded me to attend a jam session with a friend of his, who also happened to have a drum kit. Needless to say, I quickly went to my reliable (and cheap) resource, aka "kijiji" and found a very reasonably priced Pearl kit. This was followed by many more good used equipment finds, and now I have what I like to call a comfortable home practice set. Practicing on a regular basis has brought to a level where I am kind of happy, but mostly recognizing that I am hitting a wall, and I need to push forward in a more intelligent fashion instead of rehearsing my mistakes.
I finally took the plunge and booked lessons. At 39 years old, it is both humbling, and motivating at the same time. I was very fortunate to find not only an enthusiast for a teacher, but a truly skilled musician. I have a long way to go, but I am very excited to be finally taking that journey. At first when I posted some video links to my drumming, I was worried that it would come across as egotistical and foolhardy, given my limited ability. I never told anyone that I was a great drummer, but I intend on becoming one. It's never a bad idea to give it a go.
Due to the usual struggles a guy has when first venturing out on his own, I lost interest in drumming, largely due to the lack of rehearsal space. That coupled with injuries to my wrist, that break ended up lasting 16 years.
A few years ago, I decided to at least deal with my carpal tunnel issue, so off to surgery I went. Then, about a year and a half ago, my buddy Dan relentlessly persuaded me to attend a jam session with a friend of his, who also happened to have a drum kit. Needless to say, I quickly went to my reliable (and cheap) resource, aka "kijiji" and found a very reasonably priced Pearl kit. This was followed by many more good used equipment finds, and now I have what I like to call a comfortable home practice set. Practicing on a regular basis has brought to a level where I am kind of happy, but mostly recognizing that I am hitting a wall, and I need to push forward in a more intelligent fashion instead of rehearsing my mistakes.
I finally took the plunge and booked lessons. At 39 years old, it is both humbling, and motivating at the same time. I was very fortunate to find not only an enthusiast for a teacher, but a truly skilled musician. I have a long way to go, but I am very excited to be finally taking that journey. At first when I posted some video links to my drumming, I was worried that it would come across as egotistical and foolhardy, given my limited ability. I never told anyone that I was a great drummer, but I intend on becoming one. It's never a bad idea to give it a go.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
"The List"
Lol, so I was trying to remember the vast collection of bikes that have entered my life over the years, and here is what my memory was able to come up with:
1978 KE250 enduro (4 stroke)
1978 Suzuki 250 enduro (2 stroke)
1978 GS750
1983 KZ440 ltd
1981 CB650
1989 RM250
1998 Shadow 750 ace
1999 Shadow 1100 aero
1981 GS750
2001 SV650 - track bike
2003 SV650 - track bike
2001 600 ninja ZX6R
1998 PW80
2002 Blata pocket bike
2003 Honda jazz
1982 550 vision
1983 GS 400
1983 CB450
2005 CRF250X
2001 XR200
2003 Firestorm 1000
1985 Interceptor 500
2007 CBR 125
2003 PW50
1997 KLR 650
2008 KLR 650
1981 KZ750
Overall mod list on the bike
So far, this is all I have done. I'm really on the fence about how much one should modify a KLR; they were intended to be an affordable bike, and that is why I bought one. I really don't want to put "pearls on a pig", so I'm hoping I can stick with a pattern of the most cost-effective and realistic mods to make this bike work well for me. Some of these mods are a direct result of my size alone, as the suspension just doesn't work well from stock. For a point of reference, I am 6'4, 235lbs.
The list:
1. Kawasaki gel seat & cover
2. Doohickey
3. 16 tooth countershaft sprocket
4. Heated vest plug
5. 685 kit
6. Mild port & valve clean up
7. Remove emissions air intake
8. Carb shim
9. Progressive fork springs
10. Elka shock
11. EBC - HH pads
12. Exhaust (removed and put back to stock, unsure what to do next)
13. GIVI monokey trunk
I'm hoping to find some decent soft bags for it, and hopefully someone is now making bag stays for this year. The old style do not work
The list:
1. Kawasaki gel seat & cover
2. Doohickey
3. 16 tooth countershaft sprocket
4. Heated vest plug
5. 685 kit
6. Mild port & valve clean up
7. Remove emissions air intake
8. Carb shim
9. Progressive fork springs
10. Elka shock
11. EBC - HH pads
12. Exhaust (removed and put back to stock, unsure what to do next)
13. GIVI monokey trunk
I'm hoping to find some decent soft bags for it, and hopefully someone is now making bag stays for this year. The old style do not work
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