This past weekend I went for an overnight trip to visit family at their home in rural south-central Washington state. I rode my 2012 Suzuki GSX-R750, nicknamed "Shoot to Thrill." The weather was perfect, the road conditions were great, the bike ran wonderfully.
I left Gresham Saturday morning and got on I-84 westbound. At I-205 I crossed the Columbia River and got on SR14 eastbound. Between Washougal and North Bonneville I got stuck behind some slow cars that for whatever reason were all Oregon drivers. To this day I don't know why people think driving 10 mph below the speed limit is a good idea.
Here is the Google Maps route I took.
I stopped at the rest area on the north end of the Hood River bridge for a bio break. The sun was bright, air temperature was about 60 degrees, and the wind was calm. The river was nearly mirror perfect. Continuing east I had more of the road to myself without the hassle of slow cagers. At Lyle, I headed northeast on highway 142. This road follows the Klickitat River and has many fast sweepers and a few tight turns. The road was in great condition and didn't appear to suffer any damage during the winter.
In Goldendale, I rode south a few miles on highway 97 to the Chevron where I filled up my fuel tank. I rode 133 miles on 2.3 gallons of gas. What a machine! After a quick snack, I continued east on the Bickleton Highway, then to my sister's house. The last two miles were on gravel road, and although that's never any fun on a sport bike, I kept it upright and stable.
The ride home the next day was even better. Rather than backtracking the whole way, I continued east to the tiny community of Bickleton before heading south to Roosevelt. This stretch of road is simple at first glance, but has some interesting characteristics. It has numerous straight stretches a few tenths of a mile long, followed by a 90 degree turn posted at 30-45 mph. Each turn is banked, and the pavement is in perfect shape. There is some gravel on many of the curves, however, so picking a good line and maintaining control is critical. The other interesting aspect of the route is the rows and rows of wind turbines.
Here is the Google Maps route I took home.
The road descents about 2,000 feet to the road-side community of Roosevelt along the Columbia River. It comes to a T-intersection with SR14. I turned right and headed west toward home. From this point forward, SR14 can be extremely windy. Today, however, it was calm and I had the road practically to myself.
I stopped in The Dalles for gas and food before continuing west. Traffic increased, and there were lots of motorcyclists about. Several sport bike riders gave me the signal for law enforcement ahead (by patting the top of their helmet). I saw one unmarked Washington LEO with his lights flashing, having pulled over a guy in a blacked-out Honda accord. I got two more warnings for cops but never saw where they were hiding.
I crossed back to the Oregon side via the Bridge of the Gods to Cascade Locks. I pulled up behind a buddy in his car just as we were getting onto the freeway. Small world!
By the time I got back home it was in the upper 60's.
Monday, March 9, 2015
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Mid-60s in the middle of January?
This past weekend I went for a long ride on my 2012 Suzuki GSX-R750, and was amazed at how warm it was. This is the middle of January and the temperature in town was 65 degrees.
I saw a lot of motorcyclists out and about, and although I couldn't see through their face shields, I'm sure they were all grinning like me.
The bike is running fantastic and I'm very happy to have found a source of 'clear' premium unleaded ... gas without ethanol. Since I don't ride but once every week or two, it's good to keep the tank filled with ethanol-free fuel.
I saw a lot of motorcyclists out and about, and although I couldn't see through their face shields, I'm sure they were all grinning like me.
The bike is running fantastic and I'm very happy to have found a source of 'clear' premium unleaded ... gas without ethanol. Since I don't ride but once every week or two, it's good to keep the tank filled with ethanol-free fuel.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
My second novel is now available, Ohlen's Bane
I just released my second novel, Ohlen's Bane, available as an e-book for Kindle and Nook. It will be available for iOS devices on the Apple iTunes Bookstore soon as well.
A free preview edition in PDF format is available for download here.
Ohlen's Arrow is the first book in the series, and Ohlen's Bane is the sequel. You can read about them here and here.
Yes, I intend to write a third book in the series, perhaps more. Stay tuned.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Writing instead of Riding
Lately I've been pushing to finish my second book, Ohlen's Bane, the sequel to Ohlen's Arrow. My goal is to get it published and available for purchase by Thanksgiving. Because of this, I haven't had many opportunities to ride lately. To further complicate matters, highway 224 between Estacada and Ripplebrook Ranger Station has been closed because of the 36 Pit Fire back in September. It burned on both sides of the highway and ODOT is concerned about landslides. This effectively eliminated rides to Detroit as a possibility.
Speaking of landslides, there was a bad one on 224 recently, further complicating matters. It is possible 224 won't be available for riders like me until spring of next year.
In the meantime, I have been taking short maintenance rides on both my V-Strom 650 and GSX-R750 just to keep them running. Having my bikes stabled in a storage unit a half mile from my apartment makes it that much more of a hassle to hop on and go for a ride.
Speaking of landslides, there was a bad one on 224 recently, further complicating matters. It is possible 224 won't be available for riders like me until spring of next year.
In the meantime, I have been taking short maintenance rides on both my V-Strom 650 and GSX-R750 just to keep them running. Having my bikes stabled in a storage unit a half mile from my apartment makes it that much more of a hassle to hop on and go for a ride.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Fast and hot ride in northern California
I just got back from a six-day, 1,500 mile trip to northwestern California. This trip included a rather vigorous and hot run on the black-diamond route of highways 36, 3, and 299, with temperatures reaching 100 degrees at the mid-way point of Weaverville, California.
To start, I rode south through the eastern side of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, then cut across from Lebanon to Philomath for my first bio and gas break of the day. Highway 34 from Philomath through Alsea to Waldport was in fantastic shape and I practically had the road to myself. When I reached the coast in Waldport, it was time to add a layer under my Aerostich Roadcrafter to fend off the increased chill.
Shortly after, a rider on a Yamaha FJR1300 whizzed by me, then another. Because of numerous members of the Anti-Destination League restricting their forward progress, I caught up with them. Then the race was on. The lead rider was rather assertive and stayed ahead, while the second FJR pilot and I maintained a brisk but safer pace a few hundred yards behind. One by one, we passed slow cars when possible. I was impressed by how quick and nimble the FJR can be.
We eventually stopped at a gas station in Florence and chatted. Bruce and Dwayne were out on a day ride from Eugene and were still getting acquainted with their new-to-them FJRs. Bruce was a bit high-strung and ranted rather colorfully about slow cagers, especially those driving the Toyota Prius. We mutually wondered why people who drive them insist on going so slow.
I needed to keep moving on, so I said my goodbyes and continued southward. Soon I was in Coos Bay, checking into the Best Western and unloading my gear. Dinner was Hungarian goulash at the Blue Heron a few blocks away.
The next day was a sedate run down highway 101 into Fortuna. Dinner was great conversation, food and beer at the Eel River Brewing Company next door to my motel. After the carb-only breakfast provided by the motel and a protein bar, I left the next morning heading east on highway 36. My pace was moderate and the ride started out with mist on my face shield and damp roads. After 20 miles of riding inland away from the coastal weather, the pavement dried out and my pace quickened.
I got into Weaverville by 10:30, and after getting gas, I ate breakfast at The Nugget. After parking in front of the restaurant, I didn’t even have my helmet off before a gray-haired gentleman emerged and started chatting me up about my bike. Then he began to tell me all about the numerous fast bikes he’s ridden and owned over the years. He seemed rather proud of the fact that a BMW S1000RR seemed a bit slow for his tastes.
After a nice breakfast, I backtracked on highways 3 and 36 toward Fortuna. I stopped at Grizzly Creek Redwoods campground and got chatted up by a mechanical engineer named Marvin, who was visiting the area from Arizona, doing some soul searching about his career and where he wanted to call home.
Back in Fortuna, I gassed up, then headed north on highway 101 through Eureka before heading inland once again, this time to my friend Mark’s house in Kneeland. Mark and I had met by chance at The Nugget in Weaverville back in 2009, and have been friends ever since. He had just purchased a brand new 2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 so we spent a bit of time checking it out and talking about bikes in general.
On Wednesday, we met Mark’s friend, Jim, in Eureka. Jim was riding a Moto Guzzi Griso, Mark was on his new Strom, and I was on my GSX-R750. We rode into town and had coffee at the very cool Black Lightning Motorcycle Cafe. It was neat to see a write-up and pictures of the trip to Steens Mountain Mark, his wife Janice and I took back in 2010.
We then headed south on 101 to Fortuna before heading inland on highway 36. I was in the lead. Going past Grizzly Creek state park, three guys on BMW sport-touring bikes pulled out in front of us. One by one they pulled off and let us go past. Apparently our pace was a bit too fast for them.
By the time we reached Hayfork, the temperature was into the 90’s. We stopped for beverages and snacks, then began the really fun — and challenging — part of the trip, the section of highway 3 between Hayfork and Weaverville.
Mark led on his V-Strom, and although he was still breaking in his bike and didn’t want to get above 5,000 rpm, it took a fair bit of effort for me to keep up with him on the numerous 25 mph curves of highway 3. In the straights and faster curves, my Gixxer excelled and both the Strom and Griso had a hard time keeping up. But in the slower, tighter curves, the V-Strom excelled. I recall a few times when I was on my 2007 Suzuki V-Strom 650, riding up the tail pipes of sport bikes in the tight twisties, and was reminded just how nimble the Strom really is.
We made it to Weaverville safe and happy, but knackered. The temperature had reached 100 degrees by the time we stopped for lunch at Trinideli. We went up to the Chevron after eating to get gas, and saw two guys on BMW GS’s hanging out. One of them came up to talk with us. They were on a big trip from Colorado and had gone through several break-downs. One bike’s fuel system had died and the throttle cable of the other had broken. They were waiting for a new part to get shipped overnight to a local repair shop.
We headed west on highway 299 and, although quick, we ran a more moderate pace due to the notoriously high law enforcement presence. We also got held up by slow cagers. California drivers tend to pull over and let you pass, even log truck drivers, but drivers from other states don’t seem to have a clue about this courtesy. We got stuck behind an ADL life member with North Carolina plates that refused to pull over and let the string of impatient cars stacked up behind him go past.
We stopped in Willow Creek and got some provisions from the local grocery store. I bet our sweaty and road-weary presence was quite a sight to the other customers. Our final stop for the night was Jim’s camp spot in a private RV park 25 minutes further down the road.
When we got up the next morning, we found fresh bear scat in two spots within 50 yards of our camp site. After breakfast, Mark and I took off on 299 west while Jim hung back to get some chores done on his camp site. At highway 101, I headed north while Mark headed south back toward his home in Kneeland.
My ride north was uneventful. Once I crossed the border into Oregon, I noticed a huge law enforcement presence along the highway. There were radar traps seemingly every five miles. Prior to that, however, my low fuel light began flashing and by the time I got into Crescent City, my reserve meter said I had only 5.2 miles to go before hitting empty. It took 3.48 gallons to fill my tank, making me wonder if my Gixxer has a 3.5 gallon tank; I had always thought it was 4.5 gallons.
I stopped in Bandon for lunch, then got into Coos Bay around 3 PM. The temperature there was 87 degrees, courtesy of hot east winds blowing down the coast range. Dinner was at Shark Bites in downtown Coos Bay, dungeness crab cakes and halibut fish tacos, with a nice Eola Hills chardonnay.
Friday, the last day of my trip, was intended to get home as efficiently as possible. That meant cutting inland on highway 38 from Reedsport to I-5, then boogying up the freeway to home. I was tired and was suffering from some kind of sinus infection or allergies or cold that developed the night before. But, I got home safely and with a big smile on my face. It was quite a ride.
To start, I rode south through the eastern side of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, then cut across from Lebanon to Philomath for my first bio and gas break of the day. Highway 34 from Philomath through Alsea to Waldport was in fantastic shape and I practically had the road to myself. When I reached the coast in Waldport, it was time to add a layer under my Aerostich Roadcrafter to fend off the increased chill.
 |
| 2012 Suzuki GSX-R 750 |
Shortly after, a rider on a Yamaha FJR1300 whizzed by me, then another. Because of numerous members of the Anti-Destination League restricting their forward progress, I caught up with them. Then the race was on. The lead rider was rather assertive and stayed ahead, while the second FJR pilot and I maintained a brisk but safer pace a few hundred yards behind. One by one, we passed slow cars when possible. I was impressed by how quick and nimble the FJR can be.
We eventually stopped at a gas station in Florence and chatted. Bruce and Dwayne were out on a day ride from Eugene and were still getting acquainted with their new-to-them FJRs. Bruce was a bit high-strung and ranted rather colorfully about slow cagers, especially those driving the Toyota Prius. We mutually wondered why people who drive them insist on going so slow.
I needed to keep moving on, so I said my goodbyes and continued southward. Soon I was in Coos Bay, checking into the Best Western and unloading my gear. Dinner was Hungarian goulash at the Blue Heron a few blocks away.
The next day was a sedate run down highway 101 into Fortuna. Dinner was great conversation, food and beer at the Eel River Brewing Company next door to my motel. After the carb-only breakfast provided by the motel and a protein bar, I left the next morning heading east on highway 36. My pace was moderate and the ride started out with mist on my face shield and damp roads. After 20 miles of riding inland away from the coastal weather, the pavement dried out and my pace quickened.
 |
| Rider and GSX-R750 on Highway 36 |
After a nice breakfast, I backtracked on highways 3 and 36 toward Fortuna. I stopped at Grizzly Creek Redwoods campground and got chatted up by a mechanical engineer named Marvin, who was visiting the area from Arizona, doing some soul searching about his career and where he wanted to call home.
Back in Fortuna, I gassed up, then headed north on highway 101 through Eureka before heading inland once again, this time to my friend Mark’s house in Kneeland. Mark and I had met by chance at The Nugget in Weaverville back in 2009, and have been friends ever since. He had just purchased a brand new 2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 so we spent a bit of time checking it out and talking about bikes in general.
On Wednesday, we met Mark’s friend, Jim, in Eureka. Jim was riding a Moto Guzzi Griso, Mark was on his new Strom, and I was on my GSX-R750. We rode into town and had coffee at the very cool Black Lightning Motorcycle Cafe. It was neat to see a write-up and pictures of the trip to Steens Mountain Mark, his wife Janice and I took back in 2010.
We then headed south on 101 to Fortuna before heading inland on highway 36. I was in the lead. Going past Grizzly Creek state park, three guys on BMW sport-touring bikes pulled out in front of us. One by one they pulled off and let us go past. Apparently our pace was a bit too fast for them.
By the time we reached Hayfork, the temperature was into the 90’s. We stopped for beverages and snacks, then began the really fun — and challenging — part of the trip, the section of highway 3 between Hayfork and Weaverville.
Mark led on his V-Strom, and although he was still breaking in his bike and didn’t want to get above 5,000 rpm, it took a fair bit of effort for me to keep up with him on the numerous 25 mph curves of highway 3. In the straights and faster curves, my Gixxer excelled and both the Strom and Griso had a hard time keeping up. But in the slower, tighter curves, the V-Strom excelled. I recall a few times when I was on my 2007 Suzuki V-Strom 650, riding up the tail pipes of sport bikes in the tight twisties, and was reminded just how nimble the Strom really is.
We made it to Weaverville safe and happy, but knackered. The temperature had reached 100 degrees by the time we stopped for lunch at Trinideli. We went up to the Chevron after eating to get gas, and saw two guys on BMW GS’s hanging out. One of them came up to talk with us. They were on a big trip from Colorado and had gone through several break-downs. One bike’s fuel system had died and the throttle cable of the other had broken. They were waiting for a new part to get shipped overnight to a local repair shop.
We headed west on highway 299 and, although quick, we ran a more moderate pace due to the notoriously high law enforcement presence. We also got held up by slow cagers. California drivers tend to pull over and let you pass, even log truck drivers, but drivers from other states don’t seem to have a clue about this courtesy. We got stuck behind an ADL life member with North Carolina plates that refused to pull over and let the string of impatient cars stacked up behind him go past.
We stopped in Willow Creek and got some provisions from the local grocery store. I bet our sweaty and road-weary presence was quite a sight to the other customers. Our final stop for the night was Jim’s camp spot in a private RV park 25 minutes further down the road.
When we got up the next morning, we found fresh bear scat in two spots within 50 yards of our camp site. After breakfast, Mark and I took off on 299 west while Jim hung back to get some chores done on his camp site. At highway 101, I headed north while Mark headed south back toward his home in Kneeland.
My ride north was uneventful. Once I crossed the border into Oregon, I noticed a huge law enforcement presence along the highway. There were radar traps seemingly every five miles. Prior to that, however, my low fuel light began flashing and by the time I got into Crescent City, my reserve meter said I had only 5.2 miles to go before hitting empty. It took 3.48 gallons to fill my tank, making me wonder if my Gixxer has a 3.5 gallon tank; I had always thought it was 4.5 gallons.
I stopped in Bandon for lunch, then got into Coos Bay around 3 PM. The temperature there was 87 degrees, courtesy of hot east winds blowing down the coast range. Dinner was at Shark Bites in downtown Coos Bay, dungeness crab cakes and halibut fish tacos, with a nice Eola Hills chardonnay.
Friday, the last day of my trip, was intended to get home as efficiently as possible. That meant cutting inland on highway 38 from Reedsport to I-5, then boogying up the freeway to home. I was tired and was suffering from some kind of sinus infection or allergies or cold that developed the night before. But, I got home safely and with a big smile on my face. It was quite a ride.
Friday, July 11, 2014
A Motorcycle Rider's Ten Commandments
1. No one brags about brain damage.
Does your riding gear consist of little more than a stylish black leather vest with a company logo on the back as you demonstrate your freedom and individuality just like everyone else? Is that outfit accompanied by a clam-shell helmet shallower than a grade schooler’s cereal bowl?
Or perhaps you wear a garishly painted full-face helmet with a plastic mohawk adorning its crest, while covering your torso with nothing more than an Iron Maiden t-shirt as you ride a liter sport bike with enough acceleration and top speed to make The Stig want to go work for NPR?
Looking good is great when you’re standing on your own two feet. But there’s nothing sexy about road rash on 50% of your body and no one brags about having brain damage after smacking their skull on the pavement with no protection.
Be a rider. Be proud of your bike and the crowd you hang with. But do it in a way that lets you live to ride another day if you find yourself with the shiny side down and the rubber side up. Safety trumps everything else.
2. Ride as if you are invisible.
Assume cagers don’t see you, because they probably don’t. There are a lot of well-meaning drivers out there, not all of them are distracted soccer moms texting their girlfriend while putting on their mascara behind the wheel. Motorcycles are rather small compared to SUVs and mini-vans, so people in cars just don’t see us as well.
Even if a cager locks eye contact with you, they still may not see you in terms of recognizing that you exist and have a right to remain upright. Be prepared for them to pull out in front of you, or turn left into your lane or any number of other disruptive possibilities. Have an escape path. Weave from side to side as you approach intersections. Wear a bright colored jacket or helmet. Do whatever you must to be seen, but never assume that you have been.
3. What you wear is based on crash protection, comfort, and fashion — in that order.
See #1 above. Safety trumps everything. But safety isn’t the only concern when choosing riding gear. Most riding jackets and pants will provide a moderate amount of impact and/or abrasion protection in the event of a slow-speed get-off. It’s also important to pick gear that is comfortable to wear and gives you adequate protection from the elements.
Even if you’ve got the highest level of crash protection surrounding your body, if you’re distracted by cold or rain running down your back, you won’t be focused on the road. Pick gear that is durable and flexible enough to handle changing riding conditions.
Once you’ve got safety and comfort squared away, find something that looks good and makes you want to ride because of how bad-ass you look.
4. There is plenty of time to drink after your bike is parked for the day.
Say what you will about multi-tasking, but it’s difficult to argue for the benefits of drinking and riding. There is plenty of time in the day to ride first, then drink afterward. Those that say they can ride unimpaired after having a beer or two only have their own subjective (and flawed) opinion to rely upon. Medical science and insurance statistics emphatically and unequivocally say otherwise — you can’t drink and ride without substantially increasing your risk of crashing.
Enjoy your cold beer or cocktail, just do it after your bike is parked.
5. You always have room to expand your skills.
Have you heard of an Italian chap named Valentino Rossi? He’s won a few races and a few championships. It’s easy to say he’s at the top of the motorcycle racing game, a guy that has nothing more to learn. But guess what? There’s a 21 year old kid from Spain named Marc Marquez that is teaching Rossi he still has a few things to learn.
Every rider, regardless of their experience or training, still has something more to learn. Be a student of the art and science of riding a motorcycle. Be aware of how you ride and practice your skills. Simply racking up the miles isn’t practice, either. It takes conscious, active effort to improve your ability. The more skill you have, the less likely you are to crash. And as we’ve already established, no one brags about brain damage or road rash.
6. Everyone on two wheels is your family.
Arguing over brand or bike type is splitting hairs. We are all riders, and traveling on two wheels (or three) is what bonds us together. We aren’t surrounded by a protective cage riddled with air bags and two tons of steel. We feel the motion of the bike and smell the air and sense the temperature changes as we motor forward. Regardless of brand, we all experience that and what motivates us. It is what we share. We are a family whether we ride a dual-sport encrusted with mud or a 100 cubic inch cruiser covered in chrome.
7. Primum non nocere. First, do no harm.
Be respectful of the communities you ride through and the terrain you ride across. Whether we ride souped-up metric sport bikes or loud-pipes-save-lives low-slung cruisers, we make an impression upon the communities we ride through, for good or for bad, that reflects upon our entire riding family. When we tear up the trails and fire roads with our knobby-equipped dual-sports, we make an impact on the environment and we make an impact on the perception of motorcyclists on the general public. When we wake up the neighbors with the brap-brap-brap of our after-market exhaust pipes, we give people an impression of our character.
Let’s strive to always leave a good impression wherever we ride.
8. Take care of your body and your bike.
Personal health and mechanical maintenance are equally important, both in terms of safety and comfort. Who wants to have a mechanical break-down in the middle of nowhere? Who wants to be physically wiped out after only riding for two hours or even two days? Take care of your bike and take care of your body and you will have a much more enjoyable ride — and a longer one, too.
9. Take it seriously.
Riding a motorcycle is fun, but it is also dangerous and demands respect. Never lose your appreciation for the risks involved. Flippant consumption of alcohol before riding with an off-handed dismissal of the danger is exactly how disaster takes shape. Many people ride as a form of rather effective mental or emotional therapy, but if you are distracted with thoughts of work or relationship strife you are not going to be focused on the ride itself. Take the ride and be 100% engaged in what that entails, and when you safely return home you will find your other woes are somehow diminished or at the very least put into better perspective.
10. Ride.
Ultimately, it’s all moot if you aren’t out there traveling on two wheels. The rest is just talk and posing. Be a rider, not merely someone that possesses a motorcycle.
Does your riding gear consist of little more than a stylish black leather vest with a company logo on the back as you demonstrate your freedom and individuality just like everyone else? Is that outfit accompanied by a clam-shell helmet shallower than a grade schooler’s cereal bowl?
Or perhaps you wear a garishly painted full-face helmet with a plastic mohawk adorning its crest, while covering your torso with nothing more than an Iron Maiden t-shirt as you ride a liter sport bike with enough acceleration and top speed to make The Stig want to go work for NPR?
Looking good is great when you’re standing on your own two feet. But there’s nothing sexy about road rash on 50% of your body and no one brags about having brain damage after smacking their skull on the pavement with no protection.
Be a rider. Be proud of your bike and the crowd you hang with. But do it in a way that lets you live to ride another day if you find yourself with the shiny side down and the rubber side up. Safety trumps everything else.
2. Ride as if you are invisible.
Assume cagers don’t see you, because they probably don’t. There are a lot of well-meaning drivers out there, not all of them are distracted soccer moms texting their girlfriend while putting on their mascara behind the wheel. Motorcycles are rather small compared to SUVs and mini-vans, so people in cars just don’t see us as well.
Even if a cager locks eye contact with you, they still may not see you in terms of recognizing that you exist and have a right to remain upright. Be prepared for them to pull out in front of you, or turn left into your lane or any number of other disruptive possibilities. Have an escape path. Weave from side to side as you approach intersections. Wear a bright colored jacket or helmet. Do whatever you must to be seen, but never assume that you have been.
3. What you wear is based on crash protection, comfort, and fashion — in that order.
See #1 above. Safety trumps everything. But safety isn’t the only concern when choosing riding gear. Most riding jackets and pants will provide a moderate amount of impact and/or abrasion protection in the event of a slow-speed get-off. It’s also important to pick gear that is comfortable to wear and gives you adequate protection from the elements.
Even if you’ve got the highest level of crash protection surrounding your body, if you’re distracted by cold or rain running down your back, you won’t be focused on the road. Pick gear that is durable and flexible enough to handle changing riding conditions.
Once you’ve got safety and comfort squared away, find something that looks good and makes you want to ride because of how bad-ass you look.
4. There is plenty of time to drink after your bike is parked for the day.
Say what you will about multi-tasking, but it’s difficult to argue for the benefits of drinking and riding. There is plenty of time in the day to ride first, then drink afterward. Those that say they can ride unimpaired after having a beer or two only have their own subjective (and flawed) opinion to rely upon. Medical science and insurance statistics emphatically and unequivocally say otherwise — you can’t drink and ride without substantially increasing your risk of crashing.
Enjoy your cold beer or cocktail, just do it after your bike is parked.
5. You always have room to expand your skills.
Have you heard of an Italian chap named Valentino Rossi? He’s won a few races and a few championships. It’s easy to say he’s at the top of the motorcycle racing game, a guy that has nothing more to learn. But guess what? There’s a 21 year old kid from Spain named Marc Marquez that is teaching Rossi he still has a few things to learn.
Every rider, regardless of their experience or training, still has something more to learn. Be a student of the art and science of riding a motorcycle. Be aware of how you ride and practice your skills. Simply racking up the miles isn’t practice, either. It takes conscious, active effort to improve your ability. The more skill you have, the less likely you are to crash. And as we’ve already established, no one brags about brain damage or road rash.
6. Everyone on two wheels is your family.
Arguing over brand or bike type is splitting hairs. We are all riders, and traveling on two wheels (or three) is what bonds us together. We aren’t surrounded by a protective cage riddled with air bags and two tons of steel. We feel the motion of the bike and smell the air and sense the temperature changes as we motor forward. Regardless of brand, we all experience that and what motivates us. It is what we share. We are a family whether we ride a dual-sport encrusted with mud or a 100 cubic inch cruiser covered in chrome.
7. Primum non nocere. First, do no harm.
Be respectful of the communities you ride through and the terrain you ride across. Whether we ride souped-up metric sport bikes or loud-pipes-save-lives low-slung cruisers, we make an impression upon the communities we ride through, for good or for bad, that reflects upon our entire riding family. When we tear up the trails and fire roads with our knobby-equipped dual-sports, we make an impact on the environment and we make an impact on the perception of motorcyclists on the general public. When we wake up the neighbors with the brap-brap-brap of our after-market exhaust pipes, we give people an impression of our character.
Let’s strive to always leave a good impression wherever we ride.
8. Take care of your body and your bike.
Personal health and mechanical maintenance are equally important, both in terms of safety and comfort. Who wants to have a mechanical break-down in the middle of nowhere? Who wants to be physically wiped out after only riding for two hours or even two days? Take care of your bike and take care of your body and you will have a much more enjoyable ride — and a longer one, too.
9. Take it seriously.
Riding a motorcycle is fun, but it is also dangerous and demands respect. Never lose your appreciation for the risks involved. Flippant consumption of alcohol before riding with an off-handed dismissal of the danger is exactly how disaster takes shape. Many people ride as a form of rather effective mental or emotional therapy, but if you are distracted with thoughts of work or relationship strife you are not going to be focused on the ride itself. Take the ride and be 100% engaged in what that entails, and when you safely return home you will find your other woes are somehow diminished or at the very least put into better perspective.
10. Ride.
Ultimately, it’s all moot if you aren’t out there traveling on two wheels. The rest is just talk and posing. Be a rider, not merely someone that possesses a motorcycle.
Monday, July 7, 2014
$8.90 in Detroit
Over the holiday weekend I rode each of my bikes to Detroit and back, the V-Strom on Friday and the Gixxer on Saturday. There were a lot of vehicles on the road and a fair number of bikes as well, and Detroit itself was hopping.
Something interesting happened. I gassed up my V-Strom on regular unleaded at the small store in Detroit on Friday and paid $8.90 for the fuel bill. On Saturday I rode my Gixxer to Detroit and filled up the tank on premium unleaded. The bill?
$8.90.
Something interesting happened. I gassed up my V-Strom on regular unleaded at the small store in Detroit on Friday and paid $8.90 for the fuel bill. On Saturday I rode my Gixxer to Detroit and filled up the tank on premium unleaded. The bill?
$8.90.
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