First Sunday in March

 Came into Carolina on a very rainy March 3, and made a stop at RideNow in Concord, NC. Still looking at the new motorcycles out there, and there I saw this 2012 Super Tenere by Yamaha. It is what is known as an "Adventure Tourer"-though big and heavy it is designed to be ridden on both pavement and dirt. The bike is powered by a 1200 cc twin and is a cheaper alternative to such bikes by BMW and Ducati. Of course it also comes with Yamaha quality, I have owned a few of the brand over the years, and frankly never had a bad one in the bunch. It is a very interesting motorcycle.

Course, my current ride (since 2005) is my Kawasaki 1500 Vulcan Classic, seen here during the Sunday morning ride in Concord, NC on Sunday March 4. After the rains of Saturday, it was a beautiful day, if slightly chilly, to ride. I was not alone as many took advantage of the sunny skies to get the motorcycles out. The bike was photographed on Union Street in Concord. Concord is located some 20 miles NE of Charlotte, NC and is home to many NASCAR teams (most of them are located in or just outside of Concord, NC) and it is also home to Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is also where the number one tourist attraction in the state is found-the giant Concord Mills Mall. Frankly my favorite tourist attraction is The Blue Ridge Parkway, but to each their own I guess. In 2010 Concord was listed as the 12th largest city in North Carolina. It is a fun place to live, and a nice city to ride a motorcycle in. There is a lot to see and do there, and being close to Charlotte is really nice as well. It is also not far from South Carolina- which is fun to ride in as well. I feel pretty lucky living here, and enjoy the time I spend in this city, and the surrounding area. Being a resident of North Carolina, and a part time resident of Richmond, VA tends to make my days pretty interesting.    

2012's in the RVA

 Could not make the Motorcycle Show in Charlotte (see previous post) but did get out on a windy day in the RVA to check out some new stuff...and saw some today. For instance checked out the green and black 2012 Kawasaki ZX-10R at Ultimate Cycle on Midlothian Turnpike. Nice shop with some friendly people and they claim they will beat any price in town. I also know that in Richmond Kawasaki will have in a few weeks a chance to ride virtually any Kawasaki at an upcoming event. I am following that, and will bring news of that time, date and site very soon.  

I ride a Kawasaki Vulcan 1500, liked this 2012 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 custom. They do this quite often (the custom treatment) with the 900, seems to be a popular platform for the company. As noted, its a 900cc V-twin, belt drive. Like the white on black treatment, also the white walls on the spoked wheels is pretty cool too. The engine is also water-cooled, and I believe it has a six-speed transmission. The 900's are good sized and comfortable motorcycles with very good performance. They will run good at highway speeds, and get pretty good gas mileage. My 1500 has been stone reliable.

 This is the new "King of Speed" the 2012 Kawasaki ZX-14. They made a number of changes for 2012 and according to the cycle magazines it is quicker than the Suzuki Hayabusa (for now at least). The company also puts that engine (detuned) in its Kawasaki Concours 14 which is said to be one remarkable sport touring motorcycle.
I read that among Japanese motorcycle manufacturers that Kawasaki is #1 in motorcycle sales in the US (just counting motorcycles though) . However the #1 in sales still belongs in the US to Harley-Davidson overall. 

As for Harley-Davidson, this is one of the 2012 models- in this case the 2012 Fat Bob. Certainly the most iconic brand in the US, and one of the most iconic in the world, they build some amazing motorcycles. I saw this one at South Richmond Harley-Davidson which is located on Hull Street.
You do see a lot of Harley-Davidson motorcycles and they have some interesting bikes out and on the road. HOG groups which can be found at most dealerships are a great way to experience some interesting rides and events with fellow Harley-Davidson riders. 

Charlotte Motorcycle Show (February 25, 2012)

 Cell phone photos seen here (actually pretty good) were taken by my friend Phil (often seen on these very pages) at the 2012 Progressive Motorcycle Show which came to Charlotte, NC. I could not be there, but Phil sent these, and a few more photos from the event which was held February 24-26. Bike at left is a very radical custom, and there was as will be seen a great variety of motorcycles at the show. Such events are a great way to see what is new (and often old) in the world of motorcycling.  

 Bike at left is a Ducati Diavel which means "Devil" in Italian. The bike which is the company's version of a cruiser has a 1198cc engine (also their version of a V-twin, though more of an L-twin) which puts out 1198cc and a claimed 162 hp. Ducati is known for performance, and few stock cruisers would be a match for this motorcycle. Nice to see a change from the typical cruiser configuration, and certainly one of the most interesting motorcycles to come out in the last few years.

This is an older motorcycle, not sure what is is (Phil did not say) but it is in perfect condition. Early in the history of motorcycles, there were many, many brands out there. As time went on, they became fewer and fewer. Many of the oldest brands have continued on through, or have come back from the dead...including Harley-Davidson, Triumph, Indian, Moto-Guzzi, and a few others. I like he old classic bikes, and enjoy shows that feature them. There are a couple of those coming to Carolina in the next few months.    

Finally, this a custom Star Raider. Star (a division of Yamaha) is starting a sort of factory customization program much like Harley-Davidson's CVO bikes and I believe this is one of the works seen here. It is one sharp motorcycle though.
Unfortunately I was in Richmond today, and as noted could not make the show. However, I did see some bikes today-had it in my head to check out a few, and got to see some bikes of interest. That will be the feature of my next post. Do appreciate Phil sending me these fine photos though!  

Quaker Steak and Lube/Velocity Motorcycles, Richmond, VA (February 4, 2012)

 Made a stop on February 4 at Quaker Steak and Lube in Richmond, Va for a order of chicken wings and a frosty cold beverage. Saw this hanging among the motorcycles, it is said to be (according to the name on the gas tank) a "Wizzer" and is a bicycle with a motorcycle engine. Final drive to the rear wheel is belt, and told it is for sale if anyone is interested. Guy also said it would run in the 60 mph range, which would make for one thrilling ride (to say the least) on those tires. With the rising price of gasoline, I have a feeling that a vehicle like this will be just the ticket. 

 Motorcycle here I photographed the same day but this time at Velocity Motorcycles in Richmond, Va. Velocity is my favorite motorcycle shop in the city, as they always have a number of interesting Italian, British, and Japanese motorcycles (as well as the occasional Harley). Bike at left is a 1930's (believe it was 1934) Royal Enfield. It was made when the company was still a British motorcycle manufacturer. This one is pretty old, but would be a fine restoration for one with the skills (and the cash) to do it. Many of their bikes though are ready to ride, and they are also very interesting rides.

 Velocity also has brand new Royal Enfield motorcycles-they sell the bike seen at left which is the Bullet. The company was once British owned but is owned now by owners in India, and the bikes are made in India and China. The name bullet comes from the fact that Royal Enfield also made military rifles for the British Army. The bikes are 500cc, have hydraulic lifters, are fuel injected twins, and have disk brakes. What I like about them is that they have a very classic look, and are also basic and simple motorcycles. Not a common sight on the roads of America, and that is also a plus.  

Speaking of old British bikes, this is a 1954 Triumph Cub. This bike is "not for sale" but is a very rare model. Triumph a few years ago came back from the dead-production restarted a few years ago, and the brand is doing quite well with a very interesting line of motorcycles.
Velocity sells new and used motorcycles, plus some riding equipment, and also has a very good service department. They also rent motorcycles, and you will find them a very friendly and interesting shop to visit. On a soon to be (and currently is) rainy day in Richmond, this was a fun place to spend some fun time around some interesting motorcycles and motorcycle people. I look forward to the next visit. As for Quaker Steak and Lube, always have a good time there, and look forward to a future visit to their Bike Night which will start in a few weeks on Wednesday night. I will keep you posted on that! 

NC Music Factory, Charlotte and NoDa (January 28, 2012)

 Photo here is the Time Warner Amphitheater at The NC Music Factory. One of the many places to check out a live act (and this one being outdoor has a nice view of Uptown in the background) it also has a number of indoor music places, as well as restaurants and bars. I also read that it has a band practice facility and a recording studio as well. I am pretty sure that this project is largely a rework of a previous use facility. One thing is sure, it is a massive place. Lots of parking to be found there, and a lot of variety. From what I am reading it is a popular place to check out local and national music.    

I came there to check it out, also to see this place which is VBGB. It got a good review in the Charlotte Observer-has a wide selection of craft beers. I checked out one while I was there, and was nice to have a staff with some knowledge of what they were serving (with samples if you are not sure) and a very nice beer deck. The sign over the place (this is actually the back, where the deck is located) was from a former Charlotte coffee factory. Nice to see the city recycle some of its history at long last. This facility is really something to see, I will be back to VBGB and will bring some friends along as well later this year.   

 Glass building at left is the Charlotte Convention Center. It is not far from the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and I believe that will be the site of the 2012 Democratic National Convention which is going to be held in Charlotte this year. Charlotte is certainly an interesting town and on a "winter" day under blue skies with a temperature of 65 degrees, it was very nice indeed. I had talked about dressing for winter weather when riding, but to be honest have had to do that very, very few times this winter. As winters go, this one is rapidly turning into one of my favorites in North Carolina. This was just a remarkable day.

I made a stop in North Davidson, which is part of Charlotte. It was once a mill town section, and pretty run down when artists attracted to the cheap rent opened some studios and galleries. It also is a popular place to hear music, has some really good restaurants, still some fine art galleries (and a good gallery crawl on many weekends). With popularity though rents have been going up, and also some new (and higher priced) condos and apartments. So the character of the neighborhood is changing some. There is also a local brewery there, and they make some really fine beer. NoDa as it is known is just outside of Charlotte-again with a great view of Uptown.

This is one of the newer condo/apartment buildings. I liked the art on the side, you see a lot of that in NoDa. You see a lot of people wandering around; there are places such as "The Dog Bar" (and yes, like in Richmond, you can bring your dog or dogs in) , There is a mill there which was converted to apartments a few years ago, but had to be abandoned (and the residents moved) due to termites. One thing this area does like to do is to convert the old mills in the area to housing (except for the Pillowtex plants in Kannapolis..those were all torn down). Some of the old mills are also used as office buildings-so its not all tear down in the area. One thing I really enjoy about Charlotte is that is constantly changing-there is always something new to see, something different to check out, and new things to see and explore. It is a fun city to ride in, and one of my favorite places to go in the Carolinas.  

Ride Now and the Saturday Ride (January 28, 2012)

 I am not 100% sure, think this is the 2012 version of the Kawasaki Ninja 650. Since the earlier one was the 650R (and no R on this one) pretty sure this is it. Nice bike though and getting great reviews. A lot of changes to the bike-it is almost a whole new version. Still uses the 649cc 8 valve DOHC vertical twin mated to a six speed transmission. That engine puts out 71 hp and 47 lb-ft of torque. In these high fuel price times, the bike gets around 50 mph...not bad at all. Plus it lists for $7499. The bike weight is around 461 pounds and the bike has a 4.2 gallon fuel tank. The same engine is also used in the 
Kawasaki Versys.  
                                                                                    Vulcan below is a Conversion kit trike-Kawasaki does not make a trike model, though Harley-Davidson does. It is made from a kit and many of them are first rate. I loved the rear spoked wheels on this conversion. I saw the Vulcan, and the Ninja 650 at Ride Now in Concord, NC.

Here is my Kawasaki Vulcan which is in front of the NC Music Factory in Charlotte, NC. My next post will have some photos of that music, food and entertainment complex. Made my first visit to it and was very impressed with all it has to offer. A lot of work and dreams have gone into it, and it is one massive undertaking in Uptown Charlotte. As for the ride itself, could not have asked for a better day to ride. A whole lot of motorcycles were out on a January 28, 2012 ride with temperatures in the mid-60s and under Carolina blue skies. In fact, to this point so far, there has been almost no "winter" in this winter 2012.
Speaking of upcoming events....read that the Kawasaki Street Demo will be held in Richmond, VA April 14-15 (that is confirmed at the Kawasaki web site) though it does not list the location in Richmond, VA. I also have been told that Star Motorcycles will bring a demo trailer to Ride Now Motorsports in Concord, NC April 21 (but that is not confirmed). Went to the Victory Motorcycles demo rides last fall in Concord (was the subject of a previous post) and they are a great chance to actually ride the bikes that the companies make. A motorcycle license is required, plus a certain level of protective equipment (helmets and other gear...check with the local venue where the event is held before showing up). 

A Cold Sunday Ride to Kannapolis, NC (January 15, 2012)

 I had not really planned it, with temperatures in the 40's, but under sunny skies, and well dressed for the ride, took a quick run out to Kannapolis, NC. I love those Sunday morning rides-interesting quote I remember reading applies" I would rather be on my motorcycle, thinking about God instead of in church, thinking about my motorcycle". Came across this in what was the former Cannon Village (now part of the NC Research Center) which is the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Closed on this Sunday, but worth a future visit. I believe this is pretty new though I had not been there for a while.

This is my Vulcan in front of the NC Research Center. Formerly in this area was Cannon Village (later Pillowtex) which was a massive (and I mean MASSIVE) complex of mills-some umpteen million square feet and employed thousands in its many buildings. The NC Research Center was built a few years ago-so far it has not been the big job creator that everyone hoped for in the Kannapolis area. It does remain a huge investment and hopefully the reality will someday match the promises. This is the largest building, there are others. It is designed to do bio-tech research and the facilities are absolutely first rate!   

I took this photo at Cannon Village (at least that it what it used to be called). There are still a number of stores there, also some buildings for the research center, and even a first class restaurant in the area. From Spring to late Fall a first rate car show is held on some Saturday nights all along this street. On a cold Sunday its a quiet and quite nice place to enjoy a ride (and yeah I was parked when I took this photo). As I have noted did not make a huge ride on this day, and certainly went the slow way to get there and back. Speed adds to wind chill, but it sure was good to get out at least for a while on my very fine motorcycle. I enjoyed the ride!
Got a bit of riding news today when I got back to Virginia after a great long weekend in North Carolina. Saw that C. Todd Gilbert, a representative in the House of Delegates on January 11, 2012 introduced HB-187 which would ban motorcycle only police checkpoints. In North Carolina HB 381 which also bans motorcycle only police checkpoints is already the law of the state. A couple of years ago, some friends and I were riding to a bike shop in Salisbury, NC and we came across one to "check that our helmets were DOT approved". Luckily we all were wearing "legal" helmets, and also had (which were required at the time) up to date inspection stickers. I thought that at the time it was just a witch hunt....(in fact seemed they also checked our licenses). We got off with little more than some lost time, but glad the NC bill is law, and also hopefully the bill will pass for my brothers and sisters who ride in Virginia. If you ride in Virginia, a letter to the House of Delegates or a call in support would not be a bad thing to do!