THE THUMPERGARAGE PAGE OF THE FOUR-STROKE SINGLES NATIONAL OWNERS CLUB WEBSITE - visit all the other pages before you head for the house!  This site is updated for the world of motorcycling on each Thursday evening, don't miss out, visit us weekly and tell your friends, no password, no secret code word, just come, pull up a chair and see what's happenin'...  if you'd enjoy belonging to this national organization, see the membership application page.  Thank You and Keep On Thumpin', it's what we do!  -  #000
P.S.  If you are a FSSNOC member and have some input, email us here at the ThumperGarage with your comments.  Note that if we have a response to your email, it will be posted here the following Thursday evening during our weekly update,  so please note that you will NOT receive a response by email, only here on the glowing rectangle.  FSSNOCthumpers@yahoo.com
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(11-30-23)  Boom! Another month comes to an end, hope you got in some quality time on your Four-Stroke Single cylinder motorcycle... Good Morning, All you FSSNOCers! 

     This is Jack, #000, Director of FSSNOC, coming to you here from the snow laden plains of Kansas.  This is our weekly update of our club website here at FSSNOCthumpers@yahoo.com , thank you for stopping by ... be sure and check out all the pages before kickstands up.

     It is the quiet time of year for many riders as the weather kinda plays a part in our activity ... at least it does here in ThumperVille.  Temps of late have been as "fresh" as 18 degrees so hanging out in the shed doesn't seem to be too bad of an alternate for the moment.  I do get some strange looks from my row of Thumpers when I come into the shed but don't pick a mount and disappear for the day ... to them, every day is the same, eh? ... "Let's go for a ride, take meee?"

     It is a good time for projects, tune-ups, cleanups, etc ... but somehow, speaking for myself, I haven't been too motivated to do that ... I kinda pine for the riding days of Autumn, not really ready for winter, but that is nothing new...

     Wichita, Kansas had a record snowfall for November the other day, we didn't get quite as much but we did get a good measure for us ... Wichita is about an hour away by my Royal Enfield Himilayan, about 45 minutes by the KLR650s ... anyhow on the snow day, I did a straw poll about our FSSNOC Thumper Calendar, "Do you routinely use your Thumper News calendar?" was my query.

     Results of that poll (and thank you for responding so swiftly...) was 55% for YES and 45% for NO ... couldn't be a lot closer, huh?  So anyway, I then asked those poll folks for photos for possible use in the 2024 FSSNOC Thumper Calendar, and again, thank  you for your response. 

     Now, here is your chance, dear viewing FSSNOC member, to respond if you would like to have your photo in our 2024 calendar ... send it to FSSNOC via the email address above or you can simply text it from your phone to the club cellphone at 1-620-663-1869.  Use a large version for better photo quality...

     Keep in mind that we won't use every photo in our calendar and that anything we don't use there might be used here on this website or maybe not used at all, all submissions become the property of FSSNOC, INC. for use in our club-related products.  Photos must be thumper-related in content and it is best if they are in the horizontal format (phone turned sideways) so they fit the calendar page.   Also, a few words of description add to the photo sharing opportunity...

     And, of course, do it NOW (yes ... today?) as I have delayed doing this, in fact, the calendar should have been in our latest Thumper News #153 issue ... but it didn't happen due to so many pages going to the reporting of what's been going on within our club during the Autumn riding season, and by the way, it was AWESOME!

     So there you are, your assignment is above ... (grin), hop to it, okay? 

     Keep On Thumpin' ... #000, Jack
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     We hear from Allen...  

     Hello, I’m a thumper owner since my purchase of a new ‘83 Honda XR200 , (I decided to purchase the cheaper dual shock) which I owned and rode until it was destroyed in forest fire 10/1983 in Grand Lake, CO, along with my home of 40 years and all belongings, leaving only memories and ashes.

     Moving forward, we purchased a replacement home in New Mexico, took 2 1/2 years to remodel and update now completed giving me opportunity to purchase replacement bike(s). I currently own 7 Honda’s;

     First - 1985 XR200R basket case, now 80% complete

     Second- 1990 XR 200R, 2 valve single carb, great running bike, 100% complete

     Third- 1986 XR 200R, 2 valve single carb , nearing completion,

     Fourth- 1983  XL250R 4 valve single carb, nearing completion assembling engine.

     Fifth- 1983 XR 200 (dual R shocks) collecting parts, replacement for my fire bike…

     Completed bikes at our summer home in NM

     2- CT 90 trail, bikes finished restoration, both 95 point bikes, using to explore NM with my wife and grandchildren when available. It is totally stock, other big bore upgrade w OS carb, & little head work…Runs well, 45+ MPH.  lol.

     My address is Tucson, AZ,Summer NM .

     Happy Thanksgiving to all!
     I appreciate hearing from others w similar interests.  Best Wishes for Thanksgiving!

     Good Stuff, Allen ... we have many HONDA thumper fans in our ranks!  We invite you to join our club, I think you'd fit right in, for sure!  Just go to our membership application page here on this site, and follow the prompts ... and we can make that happen. 

     It's a 12 month membership so you can join right away, no need to wait until the first of the calendar year.  A 12 month membership is $100.00, use a money order or a check made out to FSSNOC, INC, mail it to:  FSSNOC,   P.O. Box 1809,  Hutchinson, KS. 67504-1809  via the good ole USPS along with a completed membership application and we get you onboard right away.  We'll need your shirt sze as you do get a club t-shirt in the deal, no extra funds needed there, and it'll spruce up your motorcycling wardrobe so you can be looking good in the neighborhood (grin).

     And, Allen ... I am very familiar with all those HONDAs on your list as I was in a HONDA dealership for some 30 years during that era, 1970 - 1999 ... I sold those brand new every day and I've been riding Thumpers for 69 years, so like I say, our club should feel like home to you ...  we await your membership with a big smile!
      ..... Jack, FSSNOC #000
P.S.  We are a national club, "thumpin' in the USA" since 1986! 

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From last week's update:

JUST OFF THE NATCHEZ TRACE ... and living large! - Ron, FSSNOC #4570 - KLR650 Thumper.
     Ron sent a photo to the ThumperGarage while he was riding the Natchez Trace Trail.
     "Thought of you today at lunch...", with the eye-winking moji ... 
     Wow! Beautiful KLR ... and ... do those beans look tasty or what?    Thank You, Ron.  Enjoy those miles... - #000
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     HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  We are blessed... 
     This website update is a bit early as we wanted to wish you all a holiday greeting prior ... and ... Carrie is going into the hospital for a new hip, so that may re-arrange my/our weekend schedule, ya think?
     Interesting enough, she's been pretty calm about the whole thing, in fact as we drove home from church last Sunday, she commented about what the Doctor said to her earlier, like last September (?) ...
 
     "No more running, skipping, or jumping ... ever."

     Thinking that over for awhile, I recalled another comment that he had made to her on apparently that same day...

     "After you are all done, you can go back to riding your motorcycle if you want..."

     Now THAT is my kind of Doctor!!! - #000
See you up the road ... your prayers for Carrie's well-being would be appreciated ... Thank You much! - #000.
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   HAPPY BIRTHDAY, belated...
     Hi Jack (000),
     
     Happy belated 80th birthday. 

      REPLY:  Thank You, young Sir!! - #000.

     And, Happy Turkey Day to ALL you thumper riders out there. 

     For us on the west coast, this week we have a full week of nice motorcycle weather.  So I'm doing some thumping.

     Recently finished reading my latest Thumper News #153 cover to cover.  Interesting reading about your FSSNOC Gathering trip to Vermont.  I have one question for now, did you change your sprockets one tooth larger on the counter shaft or is your KLR stock?
   
     REPLY:  Hi Alan ... Yup, it is still stock, except I did remove the plastic hand-guards, the windshield, and the stock mirrors (replaced the mirrors with a handlebar-end type on left...)  -  #000)

    Regarding O-ring and non O-ring chains, I usually prefer non O-ring chains. They offer much lower mechanical friction hence better fuel economy.  On cross-country trips, at the end of the day, I lubricate my chain with white lithium grease.  It is not uncommon for me to get 30,000 to over 40,000-miles on them.  Then again, don't get those cheap non O-ring chains.

     REPLY:  I did remark to Woodrow after we headed out on our trip, "After this trip, we all may come home and put on o-ringless chains if your's works out good..."  We oiled it with 90 WT about every 100-150 miles.  His 2018 KLR (yellow one on cover of TN#153) has a center-stand so it was easy and quick... #000

     I know this isn't a thumper photo, but I think it is appropriate this week.  
     Alan Smith (5286) Northern California

     Reply:  Yes, it is funny and very relevant, also copyrighted and syndicated (grin) ... T'was a turkey looking at a newspaper forecast that read the temperature for this Thursday was going to be 350 degrees...

      He was musing, "This cannot be right??..."   

     "Oh, yes, it can, Tom, yes, it can..."  -  #000
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           (11-16-'23 update) 
... discussing THE FINE ART OF COASTING... aka. Coast-2-Coast Tiddler Tour  (thank you, Joe - #0661 ... an awesome time!)
... (this coasting activity is not recommended, btw - #000)

Hi Jack (000) and fellow club members,

Remember way back in 2014 during the Coast-2-Coast 250cc Thumper Ride?  You and I, with our engines off, did a couple of coasting races down a mountain?  If memory serves me correctly, I did pretty darn good against your Honda CBR250R.

     REPLY:  Yes, you did!  You hammered me!  Ha! Ha!  see History Page - #000

Okay, back to today.  Late in October while riding with my dirt riding buddies, one of them said let's do an engine off coasting race down the mountain.  The road has some pavement but most of the switchback turns were dirt.

Some of my riding buddies are faster than me, but I warned them that coasting down a mountain I would beat them.  The competition started pretty close, handlebar to handlebar racing.  After a few turns, I started to pull away.  Speeds reached a blistering speed up to 35 MPH!  It was a close race for some, but I easily beat all of the others.

The next day some of those non-winners wanted another try at me.  Those fast riders were not happy to get beat the previous day.  For day 2, I had learned how to carry more speed through the corners.  The results were a slaughter.  None of the others were even in sight of me when I reached the bottom of the valley.

Day 3, no one was interested in challenging me.
See above photo of that day.
Alan Smith (5286) Sunny Northern California​

     REPLY:  Good memories, Alan, of our 2014 escapades!  You were riding a motorbike that looked more like a wingless F-16 fighter jet ... no wonder you smoked me, eh?  Just for grins, I posted a photo of that particular Four-Stroke Single, my revered Repsol Replica CBR250R Honda, which resides in respite in my garage... see the History Page

(11-09-'23 update)  Thank you for tuning in to our INNERTUBE channel...
     ... get it? Innertube?  See photo...  Ha! Ha! 
     This week, it's all about ThumperCafe #61and our journey to the World's Smallest National Rally (WSNR) held last September on the 21st, the first day of Autumn, and what better place to be than in Vermont during the "Leaf Season", eh?  

     "Funny thing happened to me on my way to the Printer to make TN#153 a reality..."

     Referencing Thumper News #153, page 1, our cover, which incidentally, was somewhere in the back roads of Pennsylvania, I think ... had the comment along the bottom of the page, "Never underestimate an old man on a KLR" ...
     It continually amazes me how an unplanned event in our lives can lead to unexpected changes in that life... 
    As I awaited a red light on the main drag here in ThumperVille, I was on my way to the print shop, I noticed a Jeep to my left.  People with sailboats notice people with sailboats, Carrie is a Jeep fan ... anyway, written in bold script on the Jeep's bumper-mounted spare tire's cover was the following, "Never underestimate an old man in a Jeep", so now you know "the rest of the story". -  #000

     Back to the photo above, that is a smiling Woodrow on the cement, happy to be finishing up his tire repair.  This was on day two of our trip to attend the WSNR, seems it doesn't take long for the adventure part of things to kick in when one is on a two-wheeled journey.  See TN#153. 

     First, no ferry.
 
     Gus ... "Whattttt?" 

     Woodrow, on his ever present phone, comments dryly ... "Yeah, last crossing was in April of 2014?"
 
     Gus ... "Hmmmmm, didn't think that map was THAT old!  Oh well, let's do a plan "B"... we'll ride over through Quincy, it's a beautiful old town with awesome old buildings, most made of brick, you'll see what I'm talking about when we ride through!"

     Second, Woodrow picks up a wayward nail...

     Third, rain and more rain...
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     See/read more on the WSNR in the other pages of this website... Gus, a.k.a. Jack, FSSNOC #000- in temporary director status since 1986.

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11-02-23 update:  THE THUMPERGARAGE PAGE ... see all the pages on this site, you don't want to miss nuttin'... #000

     Hello JR,
    How is everything in kold Kansas today?  Guessing about the same as cold WNC, (North Carolina).  Low of 28 last night, expected high of 44 today.  Far cry from the 80 degrees we had here 4 days ago.  As you can see in the enclosed photo, riding in a t-shirt and a mesh jacket. 
   Credits for this photo belongs to Jim, former FSSNOC member #3012 from Oklahoma at that time, and Wichita, Ks. before that.  Even though he is no longer a member, as evidenced by the KLX 230, he still rides Thumpers.  That's me in the Got Torque? t-shirt along with my DR650. 
     Picture was taken in an area owned by Duke Power called Bad Creek in NW SC. Lake Jocassee in the background.  We had a great time riding dirt roads in the area but paying for it in the following days.  Knees were so sore the next day my wife had to help me get my socks on.  As with many forms of pleasure, pain will follow. 
     Looking forward to the next TN.  Ride safe and often, Vic Force, #3701, NC.

     (REPLY)  Yup! Winter Greetings from ThumperVille.  25 degrees yesterday morning, but I did get in a 52 mile ride in the afternoon.  A winter-time goal is to thump one mile for the temperature high for that day ... 52 degrees high = 52 miles of smiles.  It was at about the 40 mile mark on the Himalayan that I realized my zippers were still open on my winter jacket that I had worn on the Vermont ThumperCafe #61 ride ... ahhh, that's better!  It happens every year ... winter, what ya gonna do? - #000

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     Hi Jack (000),
     One word that describes the FSSNOC club?  Oh man, that is a tough one.  How about "a great group of Thumper people"? 
     Oh, wait that is too many people.  It can't be done!
     Alan Smith (5286) Sunny Northern California​
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     *This is the THUMPERGARAGE PAGE ... brought to you by the FOUR-STROKE SINGLES NATIONAL OWNERS CLUB (FSSNOC)  *This MULTIPLE PAGE site is viewable on a cellphone but we encourage the viewer to use a tablet, laptop, or computer ... typically, the format works better on those devices than on your phone, particularly with the photos. 
     *THERE ARE MORE ... pages on this site, more info, more photos ... CHECK'EM OUT! - THEN send us your comments, pics, etc via:  FSSNOCthumpers@yahoo.com
................................................................................................................................................................. KEEP ON THUMPIN'! - #000