This is not exactly an official announcement ... not yet.

As I mentioned in another thread, I have shot footage for a full-length How-To video on doing a GS500 valve adjustment.   I may reshoot the whole thing before I make it generally available, I don't know.  While editing this, my first big video, I learned a lot about what I should have done!

In the spirit of trying to figure out what I'm doing, I would like to enlist some of your help.  I burned 3 CDs last night with a Windows Media Player version of the (roughly edited) video.  I brought them to work today on the off chance that the board would come back up.  My idea is to drop by the post office and ship them out to 3 of you on the way home.

Which 3?  Well, I'd like to get the best cross-section in two areas:

* I want someone who has never (or almost never) wrenched on their bike before ... and I want someone who is pretty darn good at wrenching on their bike.  (This is to get technical feedback from both ends of the spectrum.)

* I want someone who is only one or 2 States away from UT ... and I want someone near the East Coast or in Hawaii or something.  (This is to get a feel for the postage costs involved ... for when I start shipping

in earnest.)[/list:u]Ideally, I will find all four combinations in a set of 3 people.


The idea is that you:

1) Watch the 1 hour and 18 minute video on your computer

2) Read the included notes about things I already know I want to improve, and

3) Send me constructive feedback on the technical information conveyed as well as the "production value" aspects of the video.  (And whatever else you care to share.)[/list:u]
If you think you fit the bill, PM me your "qualifications" and your street address.  If you are selected I will notify you via PM, address one of the envelopes to you and drop it off at the post office on the way home.  If you are NOT selected I will still notify you via PM ... just maybe not today.

Oh, did I forget to mention that this first round is free of charge to the lucky 3?  Not that it's a huge discount - the materials I have purchased come to $.71 for a CD, thin jewel case and mailer envelope ... $.92 with a DVD instead of a CD.  Once I have the postage figured out I'll know what to charge in the future to recoup my costs.

Ladies & Gentlemen ... start your engines!  Good Luck.  

Hmmm, not a single PM.  Well, I won't bother rushing to the Post Office before it closes then.

C'mon - it's my first video but it's not THAT bad!  

I'll attribute the poor response to the board having been down, and the East Coast having left work before I posted the offer.

Maybe tomorrow....   :dunno:

PS - Hey Flash!  Did you get the package?  Did YOU watch the video?  What did YOU think of it?  

I'll PM ya Kerry......


Chris

OK, the "Far Away / Near Enough" slots are filled, as well as the "Newbie" category.

Now I need someone for the "Experienced Wrencher" slot.  I promised respondent #3 that if I get no such response by noon tomorrow ... the 3rd CD is his!

To anybody else who wants a CD sent out tomorrow:

* PM me your address

* I'll PM you my address

* I'll burn / package / ship the CD in the morning

* Drop $1 in the mail, please![/list:u]I'm sure the eventual materials & shipping cost will be slightly higher, so here is your chance!

On the other hand, the product should become noticeably BETTER in a week or two, so you may want to risk spending an extra $.10 to $.20 at  that point....  

I want one

However, I think I will buy one later, in a couple of weeks, after you do the revision. I relate myself to a good wrencher with cars but I have never done anything to a bike. I will be in Cali by then, so that would be closer to ship

i live in florida kerry and looking to do the same thing your doing, perhaps we can scan eachothers work for bumps or tips.  ive got a video capture card and a camcorder but want to set the camcorder up for an overhead view and get a remote/bullet cam to mount to a hat for 1st person view.  does the remote cam have a mic built in too?

you take paypal? i'll drop a couple bucks to you for it.

pm sent kerry

wish i woulda seen ya earlier

I'll help you out if you need it

sent ya a pm

Sounds fantastic!  I've been assembling my tools in anticipation of doing a valve adjustment within the next few weeks.

Question about the video, though.  What is it going to be encoded in?  If it's .WMV I'm afraid I won't be able to view it (I run Linux).

Quote from: KerryHmmm, not a single PM.  Well, I won't bother rushing to the Post Office before it closes then.

C'mon - it's my first video but it's not THAT bad!  

I'll attribute the poor response to the board having been down, and the East Coast having left work before I posted the offer.

Maybe tomorrow....   :dunno:

PS - Hey Flash!  Did you get the package?  Did YOU watch the video?  What did YOU think of it?  

I haven't received it yet    
It was supposed to arrive today, but the Post Office is closed b/c of Veteran's Day. Kerry, check your PM if you haven't yet.

Sorry - I was AWOL after work until about 9:45.  The wife and I needed to get some stuff in anticipation of our trip to FL on Saturday.

Working on the return PMs....

Kerry:

You're so cool to do this for people.  Remember, you can mail it "media" which would put it under $2 just about anywhere.  But, since it's so light I'd say it would go first class and still be around a buck.

You're darn close!

I sent out 4 CDs this morning.  Postage to CA and WA was $1.06, to Ontario was $1.35.  I'll find out about FL and OK this afternoon.

Here's what the packages include:


Do you think the postage would be any cheaper if I changed to a CD-sized square mailer and used a windowed paper sleeve rather than a thin jewel case?

good to see that you have some sent out i am interested to see one as well once you get them cleaned up

dang... a day late and a dollar short... the story of my life. :lol:

I guess I'm too late for the test run, but I want in once full-scale production begins.  I'm at 4500 miles so I'm due for my first adjustment   Nice work Kerry

The cleanup work hasn't begun yet, but I'm gearing up for it.  I have Pinnacle Studio Media Suite purchased and installed, but I only have specific feedback from ONE person so far.

Don't be shy - send me those comments.  Good or bad, I can take it!  I'm sure I won't be able to incorporate them all, but I would like multiple viewpoints....

Meanwhile, I have a better handle on my actual costs.  The big surprise for me was the postage:

1) CD-R:

$.21 (I bought stacks of 50 for $9.95 + 6.25% sales tax)

2) DVD-R or DVD+R: $.42  (I bought stacks of 25 for $9.95 + 6.25% sales tax)

3) Stiff mailer: $.31  ($.29 each plus 6.25% sales tax)

4) Thin jewel case: $.21  (I bought packs of 25 for $4.95 + 6.25% sales tax)

5) First-class postage within the U.S. (not sure about AK and HI yet): $1.06

6) PayPal fee: 2.9% + $.30 (I have an upgraded account that can accept credit card payments.)[/list:u]So for a CD shipment in the US the total is $1.79 if paying by check or money order and $2.15 if paying via PayPal.  For a DVD it will be $2.00 and $2.37 respectively.  NOTE: Both payment methods come out even after you include a $.37 postage stamp for the slower method.

BTW, the discs and jewel cases were bought at a half-off sale.  If I run out of them and have to replace them with full-price items I will pass the increase on.  In the meantime I will check for online sources.  I may also experiment with smaller packages (no jewel case, smaller mailer).  I'm not sure it will change the postage, but it will replace the jewel case with a cheaper sleeve.

These are my actual costs as figured from store and PO receipts.  I have not added (and do not plan to add) the cost of the equipment and software I have had to purchase, the time spent shooting and editing footage, or the time / gas / hassle spent in runs to the post office.  If a few extra cents means that you can't afford a copy ... then you have bigger things to worry about than valve clearances.    In that case I wish you the best of luck, my friend!  

Quote from: Kerrybut I only have specific feedback from ONE person so far.

Yeah but the feedback was A+ material!  

I can attest that this video is an excellent guide.  It had a ton of great information, and can only imagine how great this will turn out after the final edits.   GJ Kerry!    :mrgreen:

still waiting  

Quote from: Blueknytstill waiting  

Hmmm.  I'll have to check into this when I get home.  I wonder if the dog-sitters took the mailers back out of our mailbox, thinking they had just come?

Rats - I knew I should have mailed yours after I got to Florida!  :x