please god noooooo

[Ed Boyd]

Amen Dave, and well said! I just got back on the road after a 7 year hiatus during which I did the following in this order, and was finally rewarded with a bike (to basically shut me up). Quit my job at the ripe old age of 30. Went back to college to get my undergraduate degree (finally). Worked nights at UPS loading trucks with 18 year old party-ers (sp?) while attending school during the day. Graduated college (finally) with a decent gpa (finally). Moved across the country. Got a job. Married my wife (who else would I marry?) finally and had a BIG (for us) wedding. Went on a not cheap (for us) honeymoon. Bought a house. Had 2 kids. Watched my wife invest a lot of money (for us) in her small business. For 7 years I did a lot of staring at bikers riding around (like a broke kid outside the candy store with his nose pressed up against the glass). Finally we sprung for a bike for me. WAHOO!!! Its worth the wait, and all the sweeter! Hang in there man. And don't sweat the KLE thing, there's plenty of nice "pre-owned" KLR's out there if they nix the KLR for 2001.  Ed Duvall, WA '96 KLX 650 R '82 Katana 1000

[Jim Jackson]

In 1992 (or so) the Marine Corps decided to allow non-garrison personnel to use HiTech Magnum boots. There are a bunch of flavors but the Magnums are the tactical line. Of those there are three or four high-top boots. The differences I have found are in waterproofing, top liner and sole design. HiTech has changed the tread pattern rather often it seems but you can find most all their products at sporting goods stores. Expect to pay $60 for non-waterproof and 90 for waterproof/gore-tex. Be careful of the laces. Long teflon (or maybe kevlar?) laces that get into a sprocket is a toss up between what's going to break, your foot or the lace. We used the laces for tactical rigging when carrying casualties. Strong stuff and impossible to find replacements. Differences in top liners are basically that some are empty and some are nice and padded. I haven't been able to find the good padded ones locally in a while. With the sole, some are flat all the way across and some have a heel. Depends on what you like to ride with. I prefer a heel. I have a set I keep polished for riding to work, a set of hiking/dirt riding and my original set from 1992 which are still pretty usable. All together they cost me less than one set of riding boots. That and when people who know about this stuff see them they think you're a cop, a fireman or in the military. Folks just naturally give you a tiny bit more space. cool. Jim Jackson II A13 - South Carolina

>I found a site that has military and tactical >equipment. Just bought a pair of non waterproof, very light boots for >summer use and will be buying a pair of insulated, waterproof boots >shortly. > >In the catalog for this company, I noticed a set of shin guards which look >very good for off road use. They strap on over your pants and boots and >cover from the tops of yoiur knees to the tops of your feet. > >Gary B. > >

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