Racing with the Wind

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

2012-01-29T19:11:00.000-08:00

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)

2012-01-29T18:08:00.000-08:00

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)

2012-01-16T16:13:00.000-08:00

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!

Last Ride of 2011 (December 31, 2011)

2012-01-01T12:26:00.000-08:00

One last photo for 2011, sitting on the Vulcan on the last day of 2011-went for one last ride. Actually did some visiting, saw a couple of friends from work, but did ride by Concord Mills and the Concord Regional Airport for a short while. Was just nice to get out, see some people, and to get a last ride in on a beautiful day. Got close to the mid-60's and as you can see was a fantastic day under clear blue skies.
One of the great things about living in North Carolina is that we get days like this even in the summer. Many years I have enjoyed some great riding, and I am looking forward to more great rides with some great people in 2012. There are a lot of things coming up, and I will keep you posted as well as I can.
Short notice but on January 6 in Charlotte, NC at Bojangles Arena-Arenacross will be run starting at 7:30. For more information, check the event web site, or check with the Bojangles Ticket Office. You will believe a motorcycle can fly!
Hope that everyone has a great 2012, thanks for visiting this page!

Motorcycle Museum at Iron Horse, Monroe, NC (December 30, 2011)

2011-12-31T14:04:00.000-08:00

Took a windy ride on the next to last day of 2011, went to Iron Horse which is a Suzuki/Honda dealer in Monroe, NC. They also, as do many dealers have a sort of motorcycle museum there (no admission charge either) and some great old classic motorcycles on display. This one is better than most, as the bikes are very old, such as this old Indian. While some are tagged better than others and some I can talk about some this bike is a bit of a mystery. Still though, you can see the bicycle roots of this old Indian which was the bike that competed with HD for so long. For a time they were built here in NC.

Bike below is a 1929 Excelsior-Henderson motorcycle. That engine is unique, being an in-line four , but running along the frame. Triumph uses an arrangement like that with its Rocket III triple. This type of engine was also used in cars and in aircraft. The company was owned by Ignatz Schwinn (also famous for bicycles) and was formed from a merger of two companies. It ended production during the Great Depression around 1931. There was an attempt to re-start the brand just a few years ago, but it did not last long, coming out with one model. I think I have a photo of that bike in a long ago previous post.

This black bike is a 1947 Indian Chief. It was 74 cubic inches, and put out 40 horsepower. Brand new this bike cost $475 dollars. Indian as I noted had a long history, and there have been a number of attempts to restart the brand. Currently the company puts out three versions of the Indian Chief, all of which are very pricy. It is owned now by Polaris, which is the parent company of Victory Motorcycles. That resulted in the closing of the North Carolina factory in Kings Mountain-I believe they are now being built in Iowa. It will be interesting to see what happens to the brand in the near future.

Amazing old Harley-Davidson, this is a 1914 model. According to the info near the front tire it was one of the first chain drive models of Harley-Davidson, was around 500cc and put out a whopping 4 horsepower. Once again you can see the bicycle roots of the motorcycle, and this was just a few short years into the history of what is the longest produced American brand. Harley-Davidson has had an amazing history, and has turned out some legendary motorcycles over the 100+ years it has been in business. Truly, Harley-Davidson is not just a great motorcycle, but it is an American icon.

Bikes below are at left a Pope (that is the Gray one) and next to it is a Cleveland. Both of those are two of the many brands that came out in the early days of motorcycles. Henry Ford came out with the famous Model T which due to its low price put many motorcycle companies out of business, the car certainly being a lot more practical for families. However, motorcycles and motorcycling has endured over the years and there have been some remarkable advances during the over 100 years that men and women have been riding in America and around the world.

Japanese Classic Motorcycles in Indiana

2011-12-30T08:05:00.000-08:00

Went by S+S Powersports in Clarksville, Indiana during a Christmas visit home. Nice motorcycle shop (in fact I purchased a bike from them a few years ago...the last bike I purchased in Indiana) but love their small collection of classic motorcycles. This bike is a HondaV-65 Sabre. It came out about 1984, and had an 1100cc version of the Honda V-4 engine. That engine really got a lot of use having been built in a number of versions. A really good cruiser, the V-45 Magna (750cc) was a good version, but it was most famous in the Honda Interceptor. The engines were compact and powerful for the day.

This bike has had a huge impact...it is one of the first versions of the famous Gold Wing. Originally a four the bike was evolved into the touring bike today largely by the people who owned it. Aftermarket fairings and baggage was added (these were famous with Vetter "Windjammer" fairings) over the years, and finally Honda came out with the touring version today. The Honda Gold Wing is probably the most popular touring motorcycle out there. It has grown a great deal over the years both in engine size and weight-hard to look at this and realize this was where it all started. However, this is the child so to speak that grew into the legend.

Street/trail bikes were popular in the 1970's and 1980's, and this is a Honda version of one. The pipes were made like that to give better ground clearance, and the engine in this bike is a 450cc twin. The bars were also designed to hold up against flexing on dirt. There were a number of these types of motorcycles then, over the past few years they have made a comeback. BMW, Ducati and the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers all make some version of what were known as Street/Trail bikes, and they are very popular. BMW's big GS1200 has even been used in around the world rides...most famous on the show "Long Way Around".

Finally, few motorcycles have had the impact of this one. Known for basically small motorcycles Honda's 750 Four changed the game for those companies. Amazingly powerful and reliable for the day, the 750 Four lead to changes in motorcycling which still ring today many years later. This bike had a chain drive, kickstart and was air cooled. Current in-line four versions are usually water-cooled and still exist in a number of sizes. This bike though is no longer made by Honda, though they still do make in-line fours which remains a very popular engine type .

Uptown on Christmas Eve (December 24, 2011)

2011-12-24T11:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterdays post was mostly about motorcycles, but riding is also very much (if not more so) about the places we ride to. Today, took a ride to Charlotte, NC which is one of my favorite places to ride, as it is a very interesting city. Stopped at Bank of America Stadium where Tampa Bay played Carolina on a cooler than yesterday Christmas Eve. Good crowd there though a little light from what I have seen, did not go to the game, but enjoyed wandering around for a bit. That is a very nice and fairly new football stadium, have been to a number of games there with my son.

This is the Mint Museum in Uptown Charlotte, and as you can see, its decked out for the holiday! There are a number of museums in Charlotte covering a wide range of interests from art, to history to science. I have been to a number of them (but not all, not yet). There is a lot to see and do in Charlotte and on any given day its not a choice of what one will do, but rather what one can fit in. It is a fun place to explore and I like wandering around the streets seeing what there is to see, and what is new. Charlotte seems to be constantly evolving and changing and is never the same from day to day.

This is the new Duke Power Building-it just went up a couple of years ago. Neat building as they do all sorts of things at night with the lights on the building, and it puts on quite a light show during the course of the evening. Like to watch that when I am downtown (or Uptown as it is known) at night.
Charlotte has a lot of fine places to eat and especially fun out on the outskirts of the city. There are a lot of interesting neighborhoods with a lot of different character. Many have changed from what they were having been redeveloped or redesigned. One of the best examples is North Davidson or NoDa as it is known-once a declining textile area it became a mecca for artists, and is now one of the most hip and happening parts of the city. I have been there a number of times, and there are a few past posts with photos of that area.
I enjoy the rides around Charlotte, my only problem the last few years is so many places to see...so little time.
Want to take this time to wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas! May it be a wonderful time of joy for each and every one of you!

Badin Lake/RideNow (December 23, 2011)

2011-12-23T13:12:00.000-08:00

Photo was taken by Phil of me on the Vulcan (that is his bike in the background) at Badin Lake on December 23. After a few days of rain, got out and enjoyed a nice ride-sunny as you can see, temperatures in the 60's which is really, really nice for late December. Enjoyed a fine ride, hit some backroads and that is fun especially considering the "getting off from work and last minute shopping" holiday traffic near the malls. Badin is a very nice old town, and enjoyed that along with a ride though Rockwell, NC. Nice two lanes past farms, fields, and small businesses....covered close to 80 miles.

Phil and I met up at RideNow which is located in Concord, NC. Had to keep driving off salesmen- I know you guys are in the business of selling bikes, but I already got one from you a while back, and its fine. Also fine is the Kawasaki Ninja 250. Did you know that is Kawasaki's best selling motorcycle? Well it is, and with good reason. A nice vertical twin engine, easy maintenance, remarkable gas mileage, and a stone cold reliable engine. Great bike for a beginner, or for someone looking for cheap, reliable and fun transportation. Honda has joined the 250 types with its new single, and Suzuki also makes a nice 250 as well.

I had a Yamaha 350 a few years ago, this is the FZ-1 (1 as in 1000cc) but liked how it was done in the old Yamaha racing colors (though as I remember my RD-250 was yellow). A nice bike, not a sportbike but what is known as a "naked" or standard. Has a more upright riding position than the sportbikes, and though it uses a sportbike engine, it is de-tuned from those types. It also has less fairing than the sport bikes, which saves on repair if it falls over, and also makes jobs such as changing oil easier. Good compromise between raw naked power and also has a much more comfortable riding position.

I am rather fond of the Vulcan line (as I ride one) and these are two nice cruisers. At the left is the Kawasaki Vaquero (which means cowboy in Spanish) and to its right the Kawasaki Voyager. Both have 1700cc engines, V-twin, and water cooled. The Vaquero is a "bagger", while the Voyager is a full out touring bike along the line of many of the HD line, though not as equipped as the Honda Gold Wing. On either of these motorcycles long distance touring would be a piece of cake-they would take you anyplace you would want to go-coast to coast without a problem.

Finally, this is a Kawasaki ZX-14. I am 99% sure this bike is a modified version, but it looked too sharp to pass up. The 2012 version of this bike is currently the king of horsepower, having been designed to out muscle the famous Suzuki Hayabusa. A detuned version of the ZX-14 is the engine used in the Kawasaki Concours sport touring motorcycle. Kawasaki unlike many of the other Japanese manufacturers has been both upgrading their older bikes as well as coming up with brand new models as well during the current recession. The are currently the best selling Japanese brand of motorcycles in the US.
So, thought I would share some of the bikes that got my attention today, and also a photo from the ride today. Plan tomorrow is to get out again, this time to roll into Charlotte, NC...one of my favorite places to ride, and one of my favorite cities in the region. That will be the subject of my next post!

Formerly Davis Harley-Davidson, and News of the 2012 Motorcycle Racing Season

2011-12-16T05:14:00.000-08:00

Prior to the ride in the previous post, I made a stop on my journey to Davis Harley-Davidson in Burlington, NC. Harley is the iconic American motorcycle and have a few examples of them seen in this photo sitting outside on that December 10 day. Noted that the classic motorcycles they had on display (and they can still be seen in photos at the Davis Harley-Davidson web site) are gone. I also met the (very nice) new owner, for it has been sold and is going to be "Down Home Harley-Davidson" (again, according to the web site) in the very near future. Has been a lot of changes in motorcycle dealerships in the last few years and this is another example.

However, this is another example of change this time to Harley-Davidson. For the last 10 years Harley-Davidson has been making motorcycles with water cooled engines. There are a number of reasons for that; water cooled engines make greater and more reliable power, nd burn much cleaner reducing emissions. Formerly the Revolution engine displaced 1130cc, they are now up to 1250cc and around 125 hp. Some of the much higher priced CVO models of Harley-Davidson may come close in horsepower, but pound for pound the V-Rod line is the most powerful stock Harley-Davidson line out there. 10 years ago the V-Rod was part of a push to appeal to a wider world market as well as to appeal to a younger one. This bike as well as other models that have come out in the last few years has hit the mark on those goals in many cases.

In the upcoming year I hope to bring more news of motorcycle events both in the Carolinas and Virginia but also of national interest. Be looking for those each month. Unfortunately, this being wintertime, such events are few and far between. Rides tend to be shorter and certainly slower (I made some comments on winter riding in my previous post). Of course when its too cold to ride its not too cold to enjoy some motorcycle racing. Speed Channel covers a number of motorcycle races, and they can also be seen on a number of national tv channels from time to time. Of course the first big event which goes along with Daytona Bike Week is the Daytona 200 in Florida. This year the races will run from March 15-17. The AMA road racing series used to have a stop in Virginia, but that was cancelled last year, and they will not return for 2012 either apparently. Flat track racing and motocross will also be held during Daytona's "Speed Week." Other series events of note include MotoGP which starts April 8 in Qatar but also has two American races- July 29 at Laguna Seca, and August 19 at Indianapolis. If you like Supercross (you will believe a motorcycle can fly!) that season gets underway in Anaheim, Ca on January 7. AMA Pro Motocross starts May 19. As noted, AMA Flat Track racing starts at Daytona during Speed Week. I have been to quite a few events in that series-went to a few races at Louisville Downs in Louisville, Kentucky when younger, and also went to the two events held at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Unfortunately, neither track holds those events any longer, and there are no NC or Virginia stops for what is some great racing.

Finally, a final note. He is an NBA Hall of Famer, perhaps the greatest player to play the game. Now the owner of the NBA Charlotte Bobcats Michael Jordan is also the owner of Michael Jordan Motorsports and fields a two bike team in Superbike. The team has won a number of races, and will be heading back to the racetrack in 2012.

Be looking for some more upcoming events in future posts, and as always-ride safe!

Brrr.......Cold Riding in Carolina

2011-12-11T19:54:00.001-08:00

Winter does have a bite to it, as does late fall. Took a ride on December 11 around the Concord, NC area. Amazingly I was not the only motorcyclist out on that day-there were a few people out riding (counting two other motorcycles; one Harley and one Honda VTX) along with a few hardy scooter types. I wanted to go by Charlotte Motor Speedway, like this spot. The tree is near the main entrance (the pole in the center with lines running down) which is neat when lit up. Drivers handprints and shoe impressions are in that walkway-aka "The Walk of Fame:"

The track has a great Christmas display, I hope to share some photos of that in a later visit this Christmas on my "Richmond and Me" blog. As for my ride, here I am dressed for the conditions. It was sunny, but it was barely above 30. Bare skin can quickly freeze, light layers, help keep you warm, I have my face covered, and cold weather gloves and boots. I also wore lined insulated jeans. Late fall/early winter riding is possible, but you have to fully dress for conditions. Though not a factor on this ride, also important to keep an eye on changing conditions. Rain when temperatures can quickly turn to ice and snow.

It was a bright sunny day though on my December 11 ride. I like Sunday mornings, traffic tends to be really light, and it is a good time to cruise down some quiet streets. It also is very important in late fall/winter to be especially careful-motorcycles can be a rare thing on the roads, and "out of sight" is often "out of mind". Always a good idea to be careful around other vehicles-even more so in the "off season". Riding this time of year is fun, as long as you consider such things as wind chill. For the ride I took I took it slower than usual and did not cover a great distance. This time of year a short ride is often better than no ride at all.
While on my way to Carolina this weekend, made a stop at Davis Harley-Davidson and enjoyed my visit there. That will be the subject of my next post very soon! Thanks for visiting, and ride safe!

Three Rides Around Thanksgiving

2011-11-27T20:57:00.001-08:00

Blessed over the Thanksgiving holiday with some remarkable weather-sunny (for the most part) and very warm. Did a quick ride on Black Friday to do a quick bit of shopping via motorcycle (first time to do that on the bike, and first Black Friday in a long time) during the morning of the 25th, and later took a ride just for fun. One of the first stops in the afternoon ride was to Stewart Hass Racing in Kannapolis, NC which is seen at left. Unfortunately, the shop was closed for the holiday weekend, but it is a very impressive operation. I made a previous visit some time ago, and will do so again.

During the course of the day rode around China Grove, NC and also visited Landis, NC. This is Landis in the photo at left, just before sunset. The white building is the original post office, not sure how old it is, but it dates back quite a way. Landis is a very neat old city, and there are some great roads in that area, which makes for some excellent motorcycling. As this was also during Black Friday I tried (with the exception of the morning ride) to avoid the malls, and especially the highways which were packed with shoppers and travelers. I had really nice ride though, and along with the morning ride was very happy.

Sunday, November 27, I took a ride around Concord. Visited the Concord Regional Airport which was decorated for Christmas. I like aircraft and it was near some other sights I wanted to check out such as Charlotte Speedway (which is set up for one of the biggest light displays in the region for the next few weeks) and Bruton Smith Boulevard which is also lined with light displays. I love this time of year, and although I will not be able to see the lights for some time, as it will be awhile before my next visit, it all looks fantastic. It is pretty nice being in Carolina over the holidays-they do a good job celebrating the season.

Hard to believe in some respects, but the #1 tourist attraction (with so much to see in NC, this always amazes me) is Concord Mills Mall. The massive mall is partly seen here, from the seat of my Vulcan, and going off in the distance. Not only is the mall massive, but there are also a number of other smaller malls all around it. Going by there on a Sunday morning (this was taken as was the previous photo) on November 27) it is quite, but will be for the next few weeks especially the site of massive traffic backups, and huge crowds. Of course, that is not all that different on any other weekend.

Finally, a Sunday morning look at downtown Concord, NC, once again before crowds come calling. I like Concord, it has a lot of character in its downtown, and some very interesting stores. They also have some very good places to eat, and even a very impressive craft beer store. Like with Virginia, craft beer is getting to be pretty good, and to think that it is also doing so in Concord is pretty impressive. Not that long ago, Concord was a "dry" town, and you could not even get a beer there. It has changed a great deal in the years that I have been there. I do enjoy the region, and I certainly did enjoy some great rides...covered 130 miles in the three rides I took over the three days. Some clouds kept it overcast on Sunday, but both days temperatures were close to 70 and never saw a drop of rain. Looking forward to the next rides on the Vulcan very soon!

Fall Ride to Salisbury, NC (November 12, 2011)

2011-11-13T19:43:00.001-08:00

The day after Memorial Day, Phil and I got the motorcycles out for a ride to Salisbury, NC. There are some great roads out that way, and we wanted to enjoy the fall colors on what will probably be the last weekend before I get back again to North Carolina to see them. Ride took us up Old Concord/Salisbury Road, and I took us on a stop to the National Cemetery in Salisbury, NC. The cemetery is the final resting place for many of the heroes in NC who served the United States in a number of wars. We owe them all a great debt of gratitude. I also served in the US Navy a few years back, and it was a remarkable experience.

Monument here was in memory of the 11,700 (though the actual number may be less or more even...records back then were sort of confused, but that is the number on the monument) of Union soldiers who died at the Confederate Prison that was in Salisbury, NC during the Civil War. It was near the site of the current cemetery. The dead (who died mainly of disease) were captured in various battles, and I read (as did Phil who is reading the information next to the monument) that many of the prisoners were transferred to Salisbury from another Confederate Prison which was located in Richmond, Va (there were actually two in Richmond). As I remember the prison was a converted cotton factory, and I believe it was destroyed when Union troops captured the town near the end of the war. Some of the foundation has been located of the building, and a building that housed some of the guards still remains in Salisbury. The prison dead are buried in 18 trenches that lie in front of this monument in unmarked graves.

Riding on, we headed up Bringle Ferry Road, a nice twisty road which took us to High Rock Lake. A favorite stop along the ride, High Rock Lake is one of the many lakes in the area, and one of the most beautiful. This fall colors were not as striking as they have been in previous years, but both of the NC rides (and for that matter, driving in the car checking out fall colors in Richmond) were blessed with warmer than usual fall weather. I enjoyed the previous ride to Morrow Mountain, and the ride on November 12 was also very nice under fine riding conditions.
On the way back, we hit a nice series of back roads and enjoyed a very fine ride which covered close to 80 miles from beginning to end. Already planning the next ride for the next weekend I am in North Carolina, and can't wait.

Pre-Ride Posts (November 9, 2011)

2011-11-09T08:49:00.000-08:00

Enjoying some time before work in Richmond, got a weekend coming up in NC and looking forward to a ride over the weekend coming up. Forecast looks very good both with good temperatures, and sunshine for the period. I hope to catch a final look at fall color, its been very nice in North Carolina as well as in my "other home" of Virginia.
A few items have captured my eye in the last few days. For one, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council and for the second year in a row Kawasaki leads the Japanese Manufactures in US motorcycle Market Share with 15.38% of the market. Honda has 13.97%, Yamaha 13.035 and Suzuki 7.17. Harley of course is the biggest in the US as far as market share. Also of note is this is just motorcycles...the shares change when you toss in ATV's and scooters.
Not sure when I will get to see it (as Virginia does not have a Ducati dealership) so I guess it will be when I see someone ride one. Some years ago I rode out to the dealer in Charlotte to see the then brand new Ducati 1198, now that bike is being replaced by the all-new Ducati 1199 "Pinigale". The bike features a new design engine (still a v-twin, called a superquadro) a monocoque chasis, and by all accounts it will be an amazing motorcycle. I look forward to seeing one in the very near future.
There are not to this point a great many new models due to the economy, mostly they are improvements on old versions, but there are a few here and there. One neat improvement is a limited addition "Steve McQueen" version based on the bike he rode in the movie "The Great Escape". Though he did not make the jump, the bike jump over the fence is one of the great moments in "motorcycle movies". McQueen was a avid rider, and was a big part of the classic motorcycle documentary "On Any Sunday. Just a bit over 1100 of the "McQueen Triumph" will be produced.
So hopefully will get a few fall photos on here. Leaves thanks to weekend photos from my friends who rode to the mountains of NC this weekend are pretty much changed up there, but its pretty colorful in both Richmond and in the Charlotte area. Get out and enjoy..I plan to for sure!

Seen in Richmond on a Fine Fall Day (November 5, 2011)

2011-11-05T17:34:00.000-07:00

Nice day in Richmond, it was a beautiful fall day with a lot of great color here. Temperature was in the 60 range, and there were a lot of motorcyclists out running their bikes on this very fine day. Saw a lot of them, plus some different bikes while out. For instance this lime green Moto Guzzi is a very rare bike to see, and enjoyed checking this out for a while after enjoying a frosty cold beverage at Legend Brewing in Richmond, VA. Moto Guzzi is an old Italian brand, and has a long history having made motorcycles since 1921. This bike is a real beauty and is an interesting take on the popular V-twin engine (a BMW below also has a different sort of V type engine). They sell these at Ultimate Cycle in Richmond (or at least they used to, I assume they still do) but a very fine bike for sure. I enjoyed seeing this one and visiting Legend's was also good. Nice to check out the local beer, and they make some good ones in this city. Had planned to hit some bike shops today, but the bike shops came to me. Good when your ride in waiting for you in NC.

While out by Legends, went by Scoot Richmond. Sure scooters are not motorcycles, but like us they ride on two wheels, and they accept the same sort of adventure and danger, so I consider them brothers and sisters of the road. Liked this bike and for sure on a dark night you would see it coming. They were having some sort of event out in the lot (even a few motorcycles were there) and there was food as well as (gasp) beer there, though I did not have any while I was there. Scooters were popular in England back in the 60's during the "Mods and Rockers" period (The Who sang about those days) and as for today they sure make fuel efficient machines for the road.
Spoke about the BMW V-twin engine, saw this version off of Cary Street. Now they make in-line six and in-line fours as well as some twins (engines of the twins by Rotax who also make ultralight aircraft engines) but it was the Boxer that made the company a legend. They have made bikes since 1923, and have a long history in Germany. Known for technological innovation, BMW motorcycles come with a lot of items which are not found on other motorcycles, and have a reputation for stone reliability. Some of their touring bikes have been the best in the world. Their GS series motorcycles were a big part of the "Long Way Around" show of a few years back.
Finally, saw this Ducati Monster. One of the great designs this bike (think it is a 620, though could be bigger) is a real motorcycle classic. It is a basic air cooled engine on a basic trellis frame-both light and powerful. Ducati uses a different sort of system to make the valves work, which makes Ducati motorcycles some of the most powerful out there. Ducati is is another old brand which started production in 1926. They are heavily involved in racing and have been very successful at it over the years. There is a Ducati dealer in Charlotte, but not one that I know of in the Richmond area. That is a damn shame!

Fall Color at Morrow Mountain (October 30,2011)

2011-10-30T19:56:00.000-07:00

Back in North Carolina, went on one of my favorite rides. Not quite a peak color (in fact, something like 40%) but I figure the next time I am home, it will be over. Seems like a strange sort of Fall-lots of yellow and red with some orange, but leaves are also falling fast this year. Weather has been sort of strange, but still have enjoyed what I have seen so far. Will be interesting to see how it all turns out this year; but fall and the colors to be seen in one of my favorite times of the year. Got in a 70 mile ride today, down some beautiful roads. Noticed this trip from Virginia to North Carolina a lot of road work going on.

Views from the top are really something to see, usually there are a lot of motorcycles up there-Morrow Mountain is a state park in Albemarle, NC. It was a bit chilly on this ride, 55 degrees when I headed out. Not a problem though, I was dressed for it, and for a change I was right on what I needed-it was perfect for the ride. Another thing I like about fall is the haze that is often seen up there was no where in sight (the same sort of smoke that gives the "Smoky Mountains" their name) and loved the clear views. It was a really fine ride, and I enjoyed being up there. Lots of people were there in their cars and a lot of photos such as these were taken.
After the ride went to Harmanco's in Albemarle (the park is also in Albemarle, NC). Noticed that the motorcycle dealership that was there is closed (I think Crossroads Yamaha is still open, but not sure) which is another loss from the economy. Love the food there, a good place to eat, and a friendly place to stop in after a good ride (or in this case, in the middle of one). Albemarle is a very nice town in fact, though not much is open on a Sunday. The bike seen here (a Harley) is not mine, but there are many photos of my Vulcan on these pages. It was a fine day for a grin inducing ride, and I really enjoyed this one. Even better, being fall, that is a bug free grin at that!

Pair of 2012's, and West Broad Street Bike Show (Oct 22, 2011)

2011-10-24T08:36:00.000-07:00

Love to ride but this weekend the ride was far away so went out to see what I could come across and to be around some motorcycles. Came across this bike show by luck in Richmond (on West Broad Street) and enjoyed these two Kawasaki drag bikes. It was part of a car show, and have more photos on my Photo Page, as well as on my "Richmond and Me" blog. Nice free event with a few interesting motorcycles, mostly cars at this event, but the motorcycles that were there were very interesting. Nice to see customs that are not choppers (though there was one of those too). It was a beautiful day to be out and enjoyed exploring (though riding would have been better).

Went by the Yamaha dealer next door to Honda House (also on West Broad Street) where I saw this 2012 Super Tenere. It is an "adventure bike from Yamaha designed for street and trail riding. BMW, Suzuki and KTM (to name a few manufacturers) have bikes along this line. This bike is shaft drive, 1200cc, and will set you back around $14,000 (approximately, according to the Yamaha web site where you can get more information). These are popular bikes, can add some bags to haul gear and could really do some interesting exploring with this type of motorcycle. Bike seen here in red and silver is the new 2012 Honda Gold Wing. A great touring bike, the Gold Wing is still pretty much the standard for long distance travel on two wheels. A pretty expensive motorcycle but a great way to cover massive distance in comfort and style.
Finally another bike which was on display at the West Broad Car/Bike Show in Richmond. Think that long swingarm would keep the front end planted firmly down on the dragstrip. I also liked the paint job on this motorcycle, and thought it was a very creative work. I do like seeing motorcycling from a Richmond point of view. Have met some interesting people here, seen some interesting and creative bikes, and enjoy checking out the sights here in this very interesting and fun city.

Indian Summer Ride (September 16, 2011)

2011-10-16T20:03:00.001-07:00

Amazingly warm day, and on a bright and sunny Sunday, I took a ride on the Vulcan-the first real ride in weeks. Photo here was taken on NC-74, also known as Independence Blvd. Even early in the morning (well, around 11am) it was warm. Had on a leather jacket, gloves and of course a helmet (and not the half-helmet either) but was very comfortable in jeans. Like the Sunday morning rides, as traffic is real light. My last ride a few weeks ago was very short, was in the rain, and did little more than get the bike home from the shop and clean it up. This was a much better ride. In this photo at left, I was riding toward Charlotte, NC.
Prior to the previous photo, I rode from Concord, NC to Monroe, NC. Seen here is the Union County Courthouse, which was built in 1886. Monroe was founded in 1843 and was named for James Monroe, the 5th US President. It is a nice town, population somewhere around 32,000 (give or take) and has a nice mall there, also a few good motorcycle shops. Riding around the old downtown is pretty cool, and like the old houses that can be seen there. In a few weeks there will be an air show at the Monroe Airport (November 4-6, 2011 to be exact). Details can be found on the Warriors and Warbirds Air Show at the web site, there is also a facebook page.
Last part of the ride was to Charlotte, NC which runs right down Independence/NC-74 (that road links all three places I featured here, in fact it also runs to the ocean and to the mountains of NC). I love riding to Charlotte, it is a very interesting city. While there, rode to the Uptown (that is what its called) and also into North Davidson, and University City, ending my day's ride after almost 2.5 hours and 80 miles right back where I started. It felt great to be back on the motorcycle, and I enjoyed it a great deal. To have such a warm wonderful day to enjoy it was a real bonus-you don't get warm weather like this often this time of year, even in North Carolina. In fact there were a lot of motorcycles out today; both in North Carolina, and also back on the road in the car when I headed back to Richmond later this night. Saw quite a few motorcycles on the highway tonight.
Important thing. Temperatures have changed quite a bit, and that had quite an impact on my tire pressures. For some reason temperature can change that, and did. Prior to the ride on Saturday I checked my tires. Before every ride I check the bike over-pilots do a preflight on their planes, and its always a good idea to check your ride over before throwing a leg over and turning the key. Remember when riding a motorcycle safety is YOUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY.

Back in the Saddle Again! (September 26, 2011)

2011-09-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

Weather in Carolina has been awful this weekend, with some remarkable heavy (but badly needed) rain....Carolina Panthers game on Sunday was played in a monsoon. I was in Charlotte for the Carolina Hurricane pre-season game, that was indoors thankfully, but quite a pounding rain getting into the Time Warner Cable Arena. Between showers, got out and got the Vulcan from the shop. It has been ready for a few days, but could not get it due to being in Richmond (I live a unique life last few years) but finally got it back home. First thing I did was to clean the dirt off the bike, as it has been in the shop for a solid month.
Took it out for a brief ride after cleaning it, to blow the water out of it. Going to wax it in a little bit, but sure felt good to be riding again. To be sure was a short ride; conditions are not great for any sort of distance ride, and have a lot to do this morning. I sure have missed riding though, and it is good to have this back again. Will get out and get some nice fall riding in.
Weather killed some good plans; was looking forward to the BBQ thing at Tilley HD in Salisbury, NC on Saturday, but of course it was pouring rain when I went past that in the car. Amazing bad weather and not just in NC...this has been a wide area event. As the saying goes "into every life, a little rain must fall". In this case, it was a lot, still a great weekend, and the promise of things to come brightens my days ahead. Once again...let's ride!

Seen on the road (September 17-19)

2011-09-23T05:50:00.000-07:00

While on the way to Louisville, saw these motorcycles rolling though Tennessee. This bunch was from Canada; was mostly Harley-Davidsons but included one Honda Shadow. Bike that was taking up the back was a trike. There are some beautiful roads in that area, and some great riding can be had. Some of my favorite roads to ride in North Carolina are mountain roads (speaking of riding, good news is that the bike is done at last, now hoping that when I get back to Carolina that the weather which the last few days has been wet to say the least) is dry long enough to get it home, or at least not too wet to where a drive is possible).
At a rest stop in Tennessee came across these bikers who were also doing some traveling on a beautiful day. This was on September 18 (previous photo on the 17th). The one bike is a Harley Davidson (in the background) an a Yamaha FJR 1300. For some reason have been seeing a lot of FJR 1300's of late. A nice touring motorcycle with a 1300cc 16 valve in-line four, the bike has a lot of nice features. As to the Harley, will have a few new 2012's to show off in my next post; Harley-Davidson has the new bikes out now, and as always they are fun to check out and see what "The Motor Company" is up to.
Saw this Harley-Davidson (you certainly would see it on the road, a good color for visibility) at a gas station in South Hill. There are bikers and then there are bikers...this guy was totally ready with a type of set up I have never seen...Harley for the open road, and bicycle for when he parks the HD. Certainly a unique set up, and this bike was mounted in an interesting way.
Enjoyed checking out the vehicles that I come across on the road, and often see some interesting bikes and groups when I do so. I have met some really interesting people on two wheels, and sometimes as seen here, even when I am not on two wheels. Motorcyclists are amazing people!

Down Time: Bikes in North Carolina

2011-09-21T05:58:00.000-07:00

While in North Carolina on September 15, made a stop to check out the new motorcycles at RideNow in Concord, NC. My bike is still in the shop, but may be out and back in my hands this weekend! I ride a Kawasaki Vulcan, this is the Kawasaki Concours 14. The engine for this bike is the powerful ZX-14 engine, and it can really move the 688 pound bike with its 131 horsepower and 88 foot pounds of torque. This bike also uses shaft drive. The bike is a very good (I have read) sport touring motorcycle I am a big fan of the ZX-14, but would this version in my case to be a lot more practical for the manner in which I ride.
In a previous review I rode a couple of Victory Motorcycles, but did not get to ride the Victory Vision. This bike might be a 2012: Victory like Harley-Davidson come out with the new models earlier than foreign manufacturers. The Victory is a fine motorcycle though. I for sure like (though many don't) the sci-fi look of the bike, it is certainly a very interesting motorcycle. I found Victory transmissions to be clunky in the two bikes I rode a few weeks ago, can't speak to this one's, but found the v-twin engines Victory makes to be very impressive. Victory also has a very good customer satisfaction rating, they seem to be here to stay.
Does not currently seem to be in the 2012 Harley-Davidson lineup, but the Rocker models (there were two at one time) were/are interesting bikes. The seat has a trick feature; the passenger pad unfolds from under it. Of course this is one of the "factory chopper" bikes-Honda also had a bike like this (and still does) called the Fury. At any case, the HD came with the 1584cc Twin Cam 96B engine, a 90mm front tire, and a 240mm in the rear. A sharp looking bike, but not sure how it would handle with the extended front end (choppers tend to be great in a straight line, but curvy roads can be interesting. I have seen some 2012 models, will be showing them in a upcoming post. Thanks for visiting my page.

Asheville Trip/News from the World of Motorcycling (September 3-4,2011)

2011-09-05T17:13:00.000-07:00

Couple of photos here from the Asheville trip over September 3-4. My bike is still in the shop, but the news from that is good; price will not be bad for the repair (was an electrical problem), and it should be out in a few days. That will be fantastic! My wife Patty and I took the Versa (that is in the background) but Asheville is a motorcycle paradise. I saw a slew of bikes such as this Harley Davidson trike (a lot of trikes for some reason) and motorcycles of all types. Enjoyed that, and though in a car, nothing like a long ride (in my case, 100 miles on September 4) on the remarkable Blue Ridge Parkway. It was a wonderful time, and always a wonderful place to visit.
Second photo is a Victory Motorcycle and this time a Honda Gold Wing Trike. I have some more photos on my Richmond and Me blog of some of the views there-just remarkable. Course had a good place to stay, wonderful weather, and a great woman to spend the time with.
Do have some news of note. Was reading the new issue (October 11, 2011) of Motorcyclist-one of my favorite motorcycle magazines. Did not know that Kawasaki no longer builds touring bikes or cruisers at its plants in Maryville, Missouri or Lincoln, Nebraska..that ended in 2006 (however the Vulcan I ride is a 2005, so I assume it was made there). Kawasaki does make its ATV's in the US at those factories according to the article. Honda of course ended production at its Marysville, Ohio factory in 2009; Gold Wings and Cruisers were made there. Great article on where motorcycles are made-some of the places were a real surprise to me. Check out the issue for more information.
Of note- the OCC event scheduled for October 22 has been cancelled-no reason given. Shame, I was looking forward to attending that one. Lots of other events coming up, and will be covering some of them in a future post. Always be sure to check with the event though before you ride-things can and do change, especially with motorcycles where weather can be a very important factor. Ride safe, I hope to be joining you all again real soon!

Post Storm Day in the RVA (August 28, 2011)

2011-08-28T18:24:00.000-07:00

Signs of life after "the big storm" which took out power for like two thirds (no kidding) of Richmond from Hurricane Irene. After checking out some of the damage, hard to figure that frankly. I have seen more after a good thunderstorm. At any case, the next day was real nice, and saw the owner of this bike get in a nice ride. My ride is still sitting in North Carolina, in the shop, but I am hopeful that the problem (electrical) will be found soon, and repairs will be made in the near future. Miss riding but glad that so many are enjoying getting out, and fun to see people riding in Virginia. Not all power to be had is electrical.
Having been out of electricity for some 24 hours though (it went out Saturday at 4:15pm, came back Sunday around 4pm) while out saw this Suzuki sport bike (1000cc) in the truck. Liked the "Hemidog" decal on the truck too. A lot of motorcycle news of late. Good news on the legal front. In Virginia HB 1981 was passed and signed which now makes it legal for motorcycles, mopeds, and bicyclists to go through a red light under two conditions. Must come to a complete stop and must sit though two complete light cycles. In NC, HB 381 makes "motorcycle only" police check points illegal. Was in one of those, was "checking helmets" but turned into a "What Can we Find" deal (as it turned out for me and three friends...it was nothing).
Read this month that Big Dog Motorcycles went out of business. One of the biggest "clone" motorcycle makers, and used S+S Cycle engines in their bikes.
Saw that motorcycle exhaust maker Yoshimura has made a pipe called the R-77 which meets EPA standards (83 db) as well as being lighter than stock systems, and more power is created than with the stock pipe. While the AMA is raising cain about the laws signed in California on noise, since 1983 EPA regulations has stated "no onroad motorcycle shall produce noise in excess of 83 decibels". Loud pipes may save lives (though I doubt that) but they certainly do a lot to piss of many non-riders, and lead to bans on motorcycles, as well as increased enforcement of noise laws.
Read quite a bit (and good to see back) Erik Buell who has for sale his 1190RS, which uses a punched out version of the Rotax built 1125 Helicon engine. The 1190cc version puts out 160hp and thanks to a generous use of carbon fiber weighs in at 384 pounds. A limited production bike, it is expensive, but on a par with some of the leading bikes out there.
Speaking of new bikes, the 2012's are hitting the show room floors. Will be checking some of those out in the next few weeks as they reach the dealerships.
One of my favorite shows, "Sons of Anarchy" starts its new season on FX on September 6 at 10 PM.
That is all I have for now, will keep you posted on this and other news. Ride Safe!

Home again in NC (August 20-23, 2011)

2011-08-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

Had a good time in North Carolina. Took this photo of a pair of Harley-Davidson motorcycles (and one rider on the phone) at a rest stop on I-85 on the way to my house. There, finally got my bike in the shop. Problems have been rare, and I do the vast majority of work on my bike, but an electrical problem cropped up, and that will require an expert look. For the time being, I will be looking at motorcycling outside of riding. Hopefully it will not be a huge financial hit, and won't prove to be a major problem. Unfortunately, it does not seem to be the battery. Hope to be back on the road soon with the bike though, looking forward to some great fall rides.
On the way back, passing though Salisbury, NC saw this trio riding down I-85 on a quiet August 23 morning. Did read some interesting articles in Motorcyclist this month ( they have a great web site, I also subscribe to the magazine) that Harley is considering adding watercooling to its air cooled bikes. The bikes will retain the look, and the water cooling will be largely hidden. Air cooled bikes take a hit in both performance (heat takes a toll), reliability (ditto), and also in air quality. Most motorcycles (and even HD with its V-Rod line) have embraced the benefits of water cooled engines. It will be interesting to see what comes out of that. Hope that this weekend I can get into some motorcycle items of note here in the Richmond area, where I will be spending the weekend. I also have a trip planned to the mountains and am looking forward to that, and will be sharing photos of that trip. A motorcycle mecca of sorts, sure to be some great motorcycle photos there, plus some of one of the best riding areas in the US. Thanks for visiting my page!

Ride to Uptown Charlotte (August 7, 2011)

2011-08-07T20:35:00.001-07:00

I took a ride to Uptown Charlotte on Sunday August 7. One of my favorite towns, and until the recession hit, it was one of the fastest growing cities in the US. Nice to explore on a Sunday, I got off the bike and took a walk around the area. Charlotte is a beautiful place, and a place where change happens rapidly and sometimes it seems without warning. During my walk, saw a few places that were brand new under construction, and that is not uncommon to find in that city. I love the big buildings, and enjoy seeing what is new. Charlotte is a city where many people both live and work downtown (or Uptown as the locals call it) and that makes for an interesting vibe.
I took this photo from the bike at Bruton Smith Blvd and NC 29. That is the intersection where Charlotte Motor Speedway is located, and that is the sign to it at the right. Unfortunately while in Charlotte, I started to have some electrical problems with the motorcycle. I talked quite a bit in previous posts about the importance of maintenance, and it is. However, sometimes things just break. Thankfully, the bike did get me home, though once home it did not start again. It could be a battery problem, though not sure at this time. For sure, being an electrical problem, it will be going to the shop for these repairs, and I will be reporting on what they find and (hopefully) fix in a future report. For the time being though, the riding is done for a bit.
Another view of one of the big buildings in Charlotte, NC. The city has had some remarkable changes over the years I have been there. I have more photos both on my Richmond and Me blog, and also on my Photo Page, a link to which can be found on this page. Thanks for visiting my blog, I enjoy sharing it with you!

Upcoming Motorcycle Events in Carolina (July 29, 2011))

2011-07-29T08:12:00.000-07:00

Came across some interesting motorcycle events coming up as summer starts to wind down. Something always seems to be going on in North and South Carolina- these are just a few of what I consider the "best of the best". I have links to motorcycle event sites on this page if you are interested in looking at some more; including some in Virginia. However, the Carolinas really like to have a lot of motorcycle events and activities.
The North Carolina HOG Rally will be held August 18-20 in Hickory, NC. I did get to attend the Virginia State HOG Rally (Hog is Harley Owners Group by the way) in Richmond, Va and had a great time. Though I don't ride a Harley (Kawasaki is my motorcycle of choice) still a friendly group to hang with. This event in Hickory will feature all the cool things at a HOG rally, but this event will also have an aviation theme. Motorcycles and aircraft....now that is a great combination in my book. I in fact combine the two quite often.
Looking real forward to this next event, and will be attending it. "Biker Blues and BBQ" is a first time event for Tilley Harley-Davidson in Salisbury, NC. Free admission to the event which runs from 9am-11pm September 23-24. There will be a judged BBQ cookoff, plus food and beverages for purchase, vendors, a bike show, various rides, tethered balloon rides ($12), bands...it sounds like a great event, and I am looking forward to this one. You can find more info at the Tilley Harley-Davidson (Salisbury, NC) web page or on their facebook page.
Just came across this; a rather interesting event. Orange County Choppers Live will be at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, NC on October 22. General Admission is $25, for a price of $130 you get photo opps with Paul Teutul Sr and other members of the OCC team. They will be building a bike on stage, the OCC Band will play, and a number of OCC's motorcycles will be on display.
Of course while there is still a lot of summer to enjoy, fall is not far away either. There are some great riding days with the remarkable fall colors and amazing roads of the Blue Ridge Parkway not too far off. From time to time will publish more events of note. Be sure to check event web sites (and also facebook sites also have more information) on these and other Carolina Motorcycle Events. Thanks for stopping by here by the way!

To High Rock Lake (July 25, 2011)

2011-07-25T12:23:00.001-07:00

Much less humid day, cooler temperatures as well when we (Phil on his Star Motorcycle, me on the Kawasaki) rode to High Rock Lake, which is located just outside of Salisbury, NC. We rode via some really great (and favorites of mine) backroads off of Miami Church Road, including Five Points. Lots of farms and also past quite a few horses; many of which were out today. The lake was really nice, and enjoyed riding with Phil who is always great company. After a short visit at the waterside (they have redone the deck there, have a bunch of fans in the ceiling outside which is very cool) we rode up Bringle Ferry Road to Old Concord/Salisbury Road and back to Concord. It was a really good days ride, and always enjoy getting back there. This was actually Phil's suggestion, but it was a great one. Got in a good two days of riding, and enjoyed both of them; putting something over 120 miles on the bike for the two days.

Hot Ride in the Summertime (July 24, 2011)

2011-07-24T09:15:00.000-07:00

Nice cruise on a unreal hot week; made an early morning ride on a Sunday in NC to Davidson, Cornelius, and Huntersville (where I took the photo at left). Whole area has been dealing with heat indexes of over 100 degrees (and talking of well over) so early morning or late evening rides have been largely the order of the day here. Been a long period of this very hot weather.
Did read today of a cool weekend ride, that would be up in the mountains. Of note, it is sort of a VA, NC thing. Details are at http://www.runtotheridge.com. Includes ($25 per bike/$30 per couple) a 15 stop NC/VA Poker Run, a free Rat Rode and Bike Show on Saturday with vendors, and a live music concert on Saturday night. That would be a much cooler place to ride, nothing like a summertime cruise in the mountains.
As for me, hope to get in another morning ride on Monday, and will have a few more photos following that ride.

VA Harley and a Hoosier Harley-Dog (July 17)

2011-07-18T06:13:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine in Southern Indiana sent me the photo he took of this Motorcycle Riding German Shepherd there. John was told the dog is nine years old, and goes about everywhere the riders of the Harley do, he was also told the dog loves to ride a jet ski. I thought this was remarkable, and was worth sharing and keeping on my blog. I do get a kick out of unique things that I come across, or that come across my way in the wonderful world of motorcycling. Like that the dog even has goggles on which is pretty cool. Dogs to me are a special friend, and a great gift for people, and it is amazing what they can like to do, as well as the many ways they enrich our lives!
Harley-Davidson at right was seen in Richmond, VA where I spent the weekend. Not a lot of motorcycle events here this weekend (at least that I know of) but liked the look of this bike. Weather wise is was a much better weekend; the blazing heat and humidity made a temporary pause-though getting word that it will be coming back in time for my return visit to Carolina very soon. Hope to get a bit of riding then, though will not be doing a whole lot of riding if it gets close to 100 as is expected. In great heat, riding under those conditions can be really dangerous. Be sure to drink a lot of water if you are out in the heat. I will be checking on upcoming events in the near future here in the Richmond area.

For the Record...10 days in Concord

2011-07-10T18:50:00.000-07:00

Great time on the Vulcan, as seen here. As I hoped, got a lot of work done on it; front brakes, new antifreeze, oil change, air filter cleaned, gear oil changed, brake fluid (front and rear) changed, cables lubed, clutch fluid changed, and new brake pads. Got in a total of 303 miles of riding over the very hot, humid and thunderstorm ridden period. Considering the weather, that was not bad. Enjoyed the ride to Albemarle, NC, also the ride with Phil to the Carolinas Aviation Museum (and an interesting ride though Charlotte, NC). Much of that is documented in previous posts.
I had hoped and planned to get a ride in on the fantastic Blue Ridge Parkway. Due to weather (storms fired up there daily around noon) did not make it, but the mountains have been there for millions of years and will wait for my return ride in the near future. Had a great time with the Charlotte Vulcan Riders; hope to get a ride in with them soon, and hope their national rally is a great success again this year. Just a fantastic time at home, and not only the riding. It was a remarkable trip!

Bikes at RideNow (July 9, 2011)

2011-07-10T07:14:00.000-07:00

Good time at RideNow in Concord, NC during the Victory Motorcycle demo, though there was a lot of interesting other things going on, and some nice bikes. For instance, liked this all black Kawasaki Vulcan Special Edition (and in fact they had a few of those there). Real fond of my Vulcan, think it was a really good value and the time, and over the years (currently enjoying my sixth year with the bike) its been a great ride. I like this, being a "factory custom" model, which is pretty cool, and this has a really good look to it. Wonder though how the paint on the bike's pipes would hold up over time, but all black is pretty neat way to go.
They had a dyno truck, and one of the motorcycles waiting to make it's run was this Triumph Rocket III. The Rocket III name came from a BSA motorcycle; BSA (and for a time Triumph) went out of business in the 1970's, but Triumph came roaring back. The engine in this bike is the biggest by a major motorcycle manufacturer, something on the order of 2300 cc's. Tons of horsepower and torque, and a fine looking motorcycle. Famous for triples, this bike is also a triple, though its in-line and in a pattern that runs along the fuel tank. Very interesting engine and a most unique motorcycle with a long and proud history.
Speaking of old bikes, here is a trio of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Ape hangers are not standard on this bike (added by the owner, these are all used, RideNow is not an HD dealer) though Harley does have a standard model called the Cross Bones which does come with ape hanger handlebars. Harley is the oldest US motorcycle manufacturer, Victory also makes its bikes in the US, and Indian (which has just been purchased by Polaris, company which owns Victory also) will be made in the US as well. Indian motorcycles were built at their factory at Kings Mountain, North Carolina until a few weeks ago when the purchase was made.
Nice looking custom here, there was a guy doing some pin striping and this and the Honda behind it I believe was some of the bikes he brought to show off some of his work. Like custom bikes, and there were a few interesting ones. Many of the custom bike makers in this area have fallen on hard times, due to changing trends and also due to the economy. Grumpy's Customs has gone out of business, as well as a number of dealerships and other motorcycle shops in the region. Not only common to North Carolina though, the economy has impacted a great many bike shops and builders around the US. Still, fun to enjoy fine motorcycles such as this one.
Finally, not sure who built it (though it did tell me, "its for sale") but a fine looking Victory custom which I am told has been ridden all over the country. Like people who make bikes like these their own, and this was certainly a fine looking example of what you can do with a motorcycle. Unlike the Vulcan at the top, nice contrast here with black and red.
A quick note on RideNow; does seem to get a lot of grief at on-line forums, but overall I think they are pretty good to deal with in most areas. Few problems I have had with them over the years have been easily resolved. I get parts and tires from them, and overall I am pleased.

Demo Rides; Victory Motorcycle(s) July 9, 2011

2011-07-10T06:50:00.000-07:00

Certainly not a professional motorcycle reviewer, and in fact this was my first test ride event at RideNow Powersports in Concord, NC. Victory Motorcycles brought their demo truck. Road a pair of bikes, photo at left is the second I rode, which was the Cross Country. All the Victory line has the 106 cubic inch engine which is rated at 97 hp, with 113 foot pounds of torque. Hydraulic lifters are also standard in this engine. The Cross County was the second Victory I rode, and I found that engine to move it along quite well. Noted the Speedometer had a gear indicator built into it, and liked that (do not have that feature on my Kawasaki Vulcan) though its not a big deal.
Photo here is from my first ride, the Victory Jackpot. Bike had a big wide rear tire, and a real skinny front tire. As the woman leading the ride (one of Victory's reps noted) handling with that combination was a bit wild. I also noted on this, and on the Cross Country, that the transmission is really noisy. Big meaty clunks were a part of riding it, and it was rather strange. If loud pipes save lives, then nothing will save lives like a Victory Transmission. The Jackpot had a nice seating position though, with footpegs and the brakes were really good. It was a smooth bike, and as I noted it had a lot of good grunt; really moved along well and quickly.
The Jackpot is seen here. Love the styling of the Victory line, with a sort of factory custom look. Bike also had a very good sound to it, clutch pull was fine. Mentioned the gear indicator on the speedo, liked the placement of that between the handlebars, and the amount of information that you could get from that. Did not get up to highway speeds on the tour, but did get a few bursts up near 60; vibration was never bad, and the bike was not very buzzy. I would like to have tried this bike with a better tire combination, this one was not the best for handling. Also wonder of the cost of replacing that big rear tire on the bike's back wheel.
Looking here though the windshield of the Cross Country. Again, the same mount position of the speedo. This one though had a tachometer built into it. I think the windshield was an accessory, the web site shows a different set up. Being 6'2" got a lot of buffeting from it, coming off the top, which I did not like. Of course, I don't ride with a windshield, so it was a different thing anyhow for me to do.
Like the Jackpot, the Vibration was fine on this bike, again the transmission was very clunky noise wise. On this model, getting it into neutral was not as easy as the first one; took some doing at times.
Overall, it was a neat experience checking out these motorcycles. They are beautiful bikes, and well built, a different sort of thing. Not sure I am a big fan of air and (in the case of these) oil cooled motorcycles, but many people are. I like the connection they have with custom bike builders, and great to bring the bikes on tour and let people ride them. I enjoyed riding both of these motorcycles.

Bikes and Planes at the Carolinas Aviation Museum (July 8, 2011)

2011-07-08T13:27:00.000-07:00

Took this photo at the Carolinas Aviation Museum on Charlotte, NC ride, though this is at the airport viewing area which we rode to after visiting the museum. It is a great area at Charlotte Douglas International Airport to watch planes takeoff (and sometimes land). The airport is one of the busiest in the US, and the busiest in North Carolina, and is the hub airport for US Airways. On the day we rode it was a very hot and humid day with a lot of haze, but a great ride and a good time as it always is whenever I ride with a good friend, on fine motorcycles, and get to check out some amazing aircraft. That to me is a combination that can't be beat!
The museum has a fine collection of aircraft such as this F-4S Phantom. The Phantom was a Vietnam era fighter bomber. There is quite a collection of aircraft, though many of them have been moved to an outside area due to the arrival of US Airways Flight 1549. That plane seen below was the famous "Miracle on the Hudson" plane which was flown into the Hudson River on January 15, 2009 when both engines failed after striking a number of Canadian geese. All 155 on the plane were rescued from the river. The plane arrived at the museum by truck on June 10, 2011, and will be on display at the museum. Restoration is being done by US Airways and Airbus mechanics.

On the way back from the museum, we took a ride though Charlotte, NC where I snapped this photo. A great city to explore, it is a fun town, and always enjoy rides though the area. Though we did not have a lot of time to ride around following our adventures at the airport, we had a nice ride and look very forward to the next one. For the record, the museum is open 10-4 pm Monday-Friday, 10-5PM on Saturday, and from 1-5pm on Sunday, though it is closed some holidays. You can get more information from the web site, as well as information on ticket prices. You can also get directions there. It is well worth the price, and is a very interesting place to visit.

Cornelius/Huntersville, NC (July 5, 2011)

2011-07-06T05:39:00.000-07:00

Ok, a bit out of order photo wise, but a good ride to Huntersville, and Cornelius, NC. Both are really neat areas of the "Charlotte area" with a lot of things to see. For instance, finally came across this place at left, and amazingly it was Michael Waltrip Racing in Cornelius, NC. It is easy to find there, though I just came across it. Address is at 20310 Chartwell Center Drive in Cornelius, NC. Unlike many of the race shops they charge admission, though told you get amazing access for that price. I did not tour it this time, more due to time available than cost (will do so at a future date). It is open weekdays only from 9-5, and seemed to have a good crowd there.
Seen at left is Mac's Speed Shop, one of the many bbq places to be found in North Carolina. I like the location in Charlotte, got to this one before it was open, again, as was the case with Waltrip Racing, I just stumbled across it. It is right across the street from the race shop. Also nearby is Gators, was a favorite restaurant of my family in University City, but it closed a few years ago, this is a new store. I rode out along Lake Norman, where I took the photo of the boats. Lake Norman is really cool; a huge lake, and there is a lot of development around it. I like the places there, and always nice to ride around the water.

I took a ride out to Birkdale Village which is in Huntersville, NC. Nice place with a number of stores/shops, also apartments there. Those type of developments are really springing up in NC. Think a lot of those appeal to what are known as "halfbacks". Northerners who moved to Florida and found the cost and the heat to be more than they figured on. It is a really nice development.
Finally, went by Interstate Cycle in Cornelius, NC. Nice bike shop, which deals mainly with Yamaha (also Star which is a division of Yamaha), and Suzuki motorcycles. Nice bike shop with some very friendly people. They like motorcycles there, and it shows. Told it is a great place to get a bike, not that familiar with it, as I never have purchased from them, but will give them a good look next time "down the road." Speaking of down the road, got some more riding to do, hope you all have good and safe rides. Thanks for visiting!

Charlotte Vulcan Riders

2011-07-05T05:26:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, July 3, prior to my motorcycle maintenance project (see previous post) I visited with the Charlotte Vulcan Riders. From just a few short years, the chapter (which is Chapter 1-7 of the Vulcan Riders Association) has grown by leaps and bounds. In fact, for the second year in a row they are hosting the 5th Annual Vulcan Rally, which will again be held in Robbinsville, NC. The rally location will be Kickstand Lodge there, and the location in the NC mountains also is very close to the legendary "Tail of the Dragon". Though I will be unable to attend this rally, I look forward to news and photos from friends there. It will be a great time.
It was great to see so many good friends, I have been on a couple of rides with them; unfortunately due to my current life situation (in a sort of limbo between Richmond, VA and Charlotte, NC) with work, I don't get to ride with them as often as I would like. They are a great riding club, as well as having some awesome gatherings of other sorts. If you are looking for a fine bunch of guys and gals to hit the open roads with (and there are few finer roads to ride than those of North and South Carolina) this group is well worthy of your attention. I hope before the Summer/Fall is out to make a few rides with them, they are a ton of fun!

The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (July 2 and 3, 2011)

2011-07-03T13:09:00.001-07:00

Not my bike, this is a pre-North Carolina built (and they have been sold now to Polaris, so that factory will be closing) Indian with an S+S engine (came out with that before they starting making their own engine. Best of luck with this classic brand to Polaris (they also make Victory Motorcycles by the way).
Saw this during the test ride (the second one actually) following two days of motorcycle maintenance. Take care of your bike, and it will take care of you. Had a few "two year things" and some other items to do on the Vulcan (which is my ride) this weekend. On Saturday; I changed the oil. Though the mileage is not due, had some 2,000 miles on an old bit of oil in the engine, thought it a good idea to freshen it up with some new. I changed the rear gear oil in the shaft drive, again for the same reason as the oil change. Anti-freeze had been in the bike for two years, time for some new Honda anti-freeze, I like that because it is pre-mixed and is made for motorcycle engines. Took the bike after that for a short 20 mile ride around the area to make sure nothing bad happened, and nothing lit up; but all was perfect.
On Sunday morning, I put new brake pads on the front wheel of the Vulcan. Thankfully I had a manual, and a great Vulcan web site to help, ran into a few confusing issues, but it all worked out, and got those on. Good idea to test them out, had to pump them up a bit before they worked after I had pushed the Pistons in on the calipers (part of the installation). I also bled the brakes front and rear (rear brakes are still good with a bit over 50% left on them), and the clutch fluid as well. Then I took the bike for a short 35 mile ride, and again, it was all very good. No problems and this bike is ready for a few days of some serious and hopefully interesting rides.
I am going to make sure everything is still tight before the next ride, and will also be lubing the throttle cable tomorrow, as well as checking the tire pressures . That will keep it up to date. Good maintenance is important, and vital for that matter both for the protection of the investment in the bike, and also for your own personal safety.

Tilley Harley-Davidson, July 1, 2011

2011-07-02T06:10:00.000-07:00

On the way home from Virginia, made a stop at Tilley's Harley-Davidson.It is located in Salisbury, NC just off of I-85 (just follow the signs). The store is one of two (there is also another location in Statesville, NC. Seen at right is a Screaming Eagle Harley-Davidson V-Rod. Basically uprated customs of some (varies from year to year) Harley-Davidson models; they tend to increase performance of the bikes so done. This is Harley's highest performance model, the V-Rod series has the most horsepower of any of the Harley line (which is due to the end of the Buell line of motorcycles) and also is Harley's only water cooled motorcycle engine.
Seen here is the Harley-Davidson Blackline. It has the air cooled Twin Cam 96B engine, split drag bars, and is the typical cruiser configuration. This bike is nice in that it uses smaller tires (moving away from the ultra wide tires that have been popular the last few years. Read a review of the bike in Motorcyclist this month; they noted it is rather "pricy" and at around $15K I could see that. Harley makes some lower priced bikes (mostly in the 883/1200 cc "Sportster line up) but they tend to be small for a tall person. Back in the day, the 883 was considered a big bike, now its considered a girls bike (which in the movie Wild Hogs was a point of some humor)
Harley though is beefing up that image somewhat with the XR1200X which is a more performance based version of the Sportster. In fact they have quite a line up of Sportster based bikes. This one at left (which is the XR1200X) uses the Evolution engine. Styling is based on the XR-750. Buell did a lot with these engines which was the basis of most of their line, but they still tend to be underpowered in comparision with many other brands of motorcycles. Still this one is said to have some better than average handling (for an HD) and pretty good performance for an air cooled motor. I sure like the look of this bike, though small for a 6'2' in rider.
Seen here is the outside of the Tilley Harley-Davidson Store. Ed Tilley had a long career as a car and motorcycle racer including a number of championships in 84,85 and 86 on a bike that had the neat name of "Lucifer's Hammer" (and has reached somewhat legendary status), and a three year championship run in HD Twin Sports in 91,92,93. At one time Ed also worked with the NASCAR legend Richard Petty. Among locals, the dealership is held in high regard, know a few who have purchased bikes from them, and say they will again.
The dealership is having what it calls the "Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic September 23-24, 2011 at the dealership. There will be bands, "Favorite beverages", vendors, food, a bike show, a poker run (those are a blast) and other fun things to see and do during the two day event. Check the Tilley Harley-Davidson web site for more information on the dealership, and the upcoming event.

VA State Hog Rally, June 25, 2011

2011-06-25T16:39:00.000-07:00

Found out about this, and had to check it out, even though in Richmond I am "sans Motorcycle". Still a day spent with bikers is a good day, riding or not. This was a pretty cool event, though most of it was only open to "registered riders". However, the festivities at Colonial Harley-Davidson were, and so I went by there around noon on the last day of the rally. All the photos were taken there, including the one at left. I liked that bike which to me is what a chopper should be...long and (especially) lean. There is nothing extra on that motorcycle (other than the front fender) but its a fine looking bike, and sounded good too!
Thought this was one of the finest looking customs there. Ape Hanger handlebars seem to be the thing of late (in fact both Harley-Davidson and Victory Motorcycles have models which come standard with those type of bars. This bike really had a nice look to it. Nice air breather cover as well, and the paint job just flat rocked. I also liked the pipes on this bike, though did not get to hear it run. That is getting to be quite the problem though; the "loud pipes save lives" bunch is really creating some issues for the motorcycle community. Been a real increase with noise complaints from non-bikers, and those will have a real negative impact if they continue.
Got a kick out of this pair, one is a Kawasaki Vulcan, and one is a Honda Shadow. Since those were the types of my current and previous bike, I liked seeing that. Lucky in that both motorcycles were (and still are...knock on wood) trouble free other than routine maintenance. I am grateful for that, of course a lot of times you make your own luck. Before I ride next time in NC (just a few short days from now) I have some maintenance that I will be doing on the Vulcan. Take care of your ride, and your ride will take care of you. Most of the work that needs to be done on a regular basis is simple and relatively low cost. It pays to do it, or to have that work done!
I liked this photo, just a few of the many bikes at the event. The place had a really good crowd, and there were some biker games (such as the ever popular slow ride) going on when I was there. Harley Owners Group is a fine organization, and they put on some really cool events. Been on a few rides with them, Harley dealerships are also very, very supportive of the groups and they put on some very fun events. Even though I don't ride a Harley, I do enjoy visiting with them, and taking part in what I can. While very supportive of their brand, most are pretty friendly, and take a "its not what you ride, its that you ride" attitude.
Seen here are just a few of the booths at Colonial Harley-Davidson. Many of the people on this hot day were in the (air conditioned) dealership. The Colonial Heights Police Department was there to make sure nothing got out of hand, but it was a really calm crowd while I was there.
While riding would have been better, it was a great time there, and enjoyed the event. If I am in town and it comes here again, I will be back for this.
Later in the day, went to the Virginia Aviation Museum, where I saw some great planes. Love aviation, and enjoyed that a great deal, can read about that in my "Richmond and Me" blog.

First Ride of Summer (June 21, 2011)

2011-06-23T07:19:00.000-07:00

Took this photo at Iron Thunder, had made a previous day visit, and went for a second visit. Took this at the bar, some nice people working there, and as I noted like the theme of the place. It is located near the Harley-Davidson dealership (Speedway HD) and there is another one in Hickory, NC at Crossroads HD. That is a cool dealership, kind of made up like a hunting lodge. Though not a Harley fan as such (own a Vulcan by Kawasaki) they do have some beautiful motorcycles. Speaking of that, the big Virginia State HOG (Harley Owners Group) Rally is in Richmond this upcoming weekend. I hope to catch some of the sights of that.Will be here this weekend.
Took this photo of myself, got the helmet a few weeks ago. Has a sort of helicopter pilot style to it (and I am a big fan of aviation). Very comfortable though, and like the flip down half visor. Makes talking easy, plus it gives good protection from the sun and also things that can come up from the road. Photo by the lake is my bike, enjoy riding that and had a very good day for it. Ran up many of the roads of the previous day, covered about the same mileage (60 or so) but a nicer day sun wise, not so much heat wise. Got very hot at the end of the ride as the temperature for the day hit a high of 99 degrees. Welcome to the first day of Summer!

At home, odometer is at 22,000 miles. On next visit home will be doing some routine maintenance on the bike. Going to change the oil, antifreeze, lube cables, clean the air filer (its a K+N, love those things, and have them on all my bikes the last few years), and change the rear gear oil. I will also be changing out the front brake pads as they are showing some wear after 22,000 miles. Good maintenance is very important not just for the motorcycle but for the rider, a good running bike is a safer bike. I do most of my own work; I don't for instance put tires on it, but a lot of work can be done with a good set of tools, and a good shop manual. There is also a lot of good information to be found online.A number of good motorcycle shops (both dealerships and private ones) also can do work on your motorcycle.

Last Ride of Spring (June 20, 2011)

2011-06-23T06:28:00.000-07:00

Good ride on a warm and overcast Monday, the final day of Spring 2011. Went with Steve, who got the HD trike a few weeks ago (and according to him has already put some 2500 miles on it..always a high mileage guy). Due to the weather we did not go very far. Did ride out behind Concord Mills (the big shopping complex near the Charlotte Motor Speedway.. Concord Mills also happens to be the #1 tourist destination in North Carolina) but not to shop. The roads back there are pretty nice. Big changes though, a LOT of development there; housing has really popped up in that area, and some really impressive houses at that.
Before the ride, went to get the motorcycle inspected. It is an annual requirement. Took the bike to Southern Car Connection. It is where I have work done on the car, love their work. Nice to find a shop that does not rip you off, and always been pleased with both the prices and the work done. They are just outside of Harrisburg and no...I am not getting paid for this plug. Think the world of the people who work here. Bike did fine, as with the previously owned Honda, no problems with the motorcycle. I have had to replace a battery with this bike, and tires (which is to be expected, but at 22,000 miles it has been a great, and reliable ride!
Steve and I stopped for lunch at Iron Thunder. Usually I go to the nearby SBB, but this is his favorite place. Bike here is (I believe) an Indian Scout. Has a nice motorcycle theme, and I enjoy visiting those sort of places. Food and beverages were very reasonable, they had a nice lunch special.
Got in around 60 miles, had planned a bigger day ride, but the skies were really ugly. I have ridden in the rain, but there is a difference in my book between "having to" and being able to avoid doing so. That said, rain ended up holding off till later that night. Ride though was a good one, nice rodes and great riding company with my friend Steve.

Southside Super Show: The Bikes (June 12, 2011)

2011-06-12T14:37:00.000-07:00

Nice time at the Southside Super Show at ROC Church on June 12. Free Admission, and a number of cash prizes for the best vehicles in the show. On a hot humid Richmond day, they had some really nice bikes to see (some of the cars and trucks are on the "Richmond and Me" page, which is also part of this site) Seen here is a fine looking Kawasaki which was really a fine motorcycle "back in the day" (around 1970-1980's). I remember the sound of these bikes and they really were a hell of thing to ride back then. This one is an outstanding restoration, and to be honest, I don't think they looked this good back in the day.
I really enjoy choppers, that long lean basic look. This angle of this one really caught my eye. Long lean and mean this is a fine looking bike. They do not get more basic than this, it is about as minimal as it gets. Sometimes with motorcycles I think they are getting, as are many vehicles, more and more complex. There is a lot to be said for basic...working on something like this would be a piece of cake.
Choppers are sort of out of fashion, but I am sure they will be back. Something about that long lean look is really something that touches the basic biker in all of us. This is really though something that looks fantastic.
I do enjoy watching American Chopper, been amazing how many years that show has gone on. The conflicts are neat, kind of remind me how my work goes at times. Its real life, building real motorcycles; to me just about the perfect show on television. Be fun to meet those guys, and as far as working there, would be no problem...many of us have jobs just like that, working for people just like that, and dealing with those kind of situations.
When it comes to custom motorcycles, Harley is a popular subject. Few Harley's remain the same, all have some sort of touches. You can even buy (for a whole lot more money) CVO versions of many Harley-Davidsons which have larger engines, and a whole lot more chrome. The owner of this HD did all that himself. There is a whole lot of work and love that went into this bike, and yet it still retains most of what came from the factory. There is enough chrome on this bike to blind the average driver, which could or could not be a good thing. For sure though this is a beautiful motorcycle. It was one of many in the show, and all were fun to see.
You never know what will cause a biker to create a masterpiece on two wheels, for instance I think a love of the Dallas Cowboys was the theme for this Suzuki Hayabusa. I liked the theme, but it is also well equipped for the road with the longer single sided swingarm, and I am sure some major engine work as well. Suzuki makes some engines that can easily take some very radial and extensive modifications; they remain even in the stock condition some of the most powerful motorcycle engines out there (though the Kawasaki ZX-14 will give it a really good run for the money). I was pleased to see this motorcycle though and am glad to present it to you here.
Finally, the show had some really good stunt riding (by the way, the Nissan Versa second from right is mine, thought I would throw that in) and I was amazed at what they could do on two wheels. In fact they were even able to wheelie a Harley-Davidson Sportster and that I am here to tell you is quite a trick (and I have a photo of that on my Photo Page, via this site).
The show was an absolute great time, with many great motorcycles, and other vehicles. It was my first time to go to this show in Richmond, but I will be back next year (if it is held again next year) and if you are in the Richmond area around this date, be looking for it.

Richmond, Yamaha (June 11, 2011)

2011-06-11T19:03:00.001-07:00

Finally, the previously (three posts today) mentioned Keith checking out some of the Star Motorcycles (brand owned by Yamaha) at Richmond Yamaha, also owned by Honda House. This is the third of the three locations (visited Honda House 360 on Hull Street in Chesterfield in the past; previous posts show that shop) they operate. The store, which is located right next to Honda House in Short Pump is a nice motorcycle dealership with a number of Yamaha and Star Motorcycles. A real good friend of mine is a big fan of the brand, and rides a Star which also has an owners group. Salespeople were (as at the other two motorcycle dealerships I visited today) very friendly. I sure had a great time visiting the shops today. If you can't ride, checking out motorcycles is a fun way to chase away those I can't ride today blues.
You see a lot of motorcycles on the streets of Richmond, watch out for them. Riding a motorcycle is a lot of fun, but it is a dangerous hobby. We also have a responsibility as riders to keep our eyes moving, and to "watch out for the other guy". Its a great hobby, but the best part of a good day on the road is to get home safe and sound.

Honda CB1000R (June 11, 2011)

2011-06-11T18:40:00.003-07:00

Seen here my first look at a 2011 Honda CB1000R motorcycle. Brand new (at least to the US) this year, the bike has been popular in the motorcycle press, but tough to see in the US. I have looked for it at Honda dealers in North Carolina, and also here. Today, a mention to a salesman at Honda House in Short Pump brought me a "we have one, its been sold, in the back") and we walked back to check the bike out. Here you can see the four into one exhaust, and the typical modern headlight. Under the headlight is a "Led Position" light, which is different. I got to sit on it, very comfortable motorcycle even though I am 6'2" with a lot of leg room.
The 2011 CB1000R uses a older (and re-tuned) model of the CBR1000RR engine; an in-line 998cc water cooled four, 4 valves per cylinder, DOHC fuel injected engine. Rear wheel uses a single-sided swingarm and it has disk brakes front and rear. The gas tank holds 4.5 gallons of gas, it has a six speed transmission, and final drive is by chain. The bike comes in only one color, Pearl Black, and the MSRP is $10,999. Supply is short, probably due to the tidal wave which has greatly impacted production of items such as motorcycles in Japan, also that it is a new bike and they tend to be in short supply. The economy in the US may also be having an impact.
So a real shout out to Honda House, seen at right, and a very cool salesman who gave me a good look at the very cool model from Honda. Honda House also carries other motorcycles from Honda, and also carries Can-Am motorcycles, as well as Honda watercraft. Visited the Short Pump location today, but they also have a location on Hull Street. I have owned a number of Honda Motorcycles over the years, and have enjoyed them a great deal finding them to be a great deal of fun, and very, very reliable.

Velocity Motorcycles, Richmond, Va (June 11, 2011)

2011-06-11T17:58:00.003-07:00

View of a an award winning older Royal Enfield on display at the new location for Velocity Motorcycles in Richmond, Va. Now located at 3023 West Marshall Street, the shop is a dealer for Royal Enfield. They also sell a number of used motorcycles including some very interesting models. As there is no dealer in Richmond that I know of which sells Ducati motorcycles, it is a great place to check out some older models. You also can find some BMW and bikes such as old BSA motorcycles, as well as some fine Japanese motorcycles from time to time. It is also a great place to rent motorcycles. I think it has some of the most interesting bikes in Richmond.
I mentioned Ducati, this is one of the bikes there. Ducati is made in Italy, and is a very performance oriented brand of motorcycle. I have seen both older models, as well as some newer model Ducati motorcycles for sale in the former store and the new one. The shop has a good parts department, and a fully staffed service department. This cafe racer model is one of the older Ducati's but would be a great deal of fun to ride. Ducati has a long history and has been very successful in motorcycle racing. The Monster line is very popular and also they have this year added a cruiser to the line up. Maintenance has also been made a lot less complex over the last few years.
Seen here is a 1958 Harley-Davidson, which is also for sale at the shop. As I have noted, you never know what you will come across at the shop. This is a rare model Harley-as it does not have the classic V-twin type engine. It looked to be in very good shape. I have as I have noted, seen a lot of interesting and very rare bikes in the shop, and have enjoyed checking out quite a few models. The staff is very friendly, and has a lot of information on the motorcycles on hand.
I have a few photos posted on my photo page of some older and interesting bikes at the shop. I am not sure if they still do, but they did sell Russian made Ural motorcycles (with sidecar!).
Seen here is the entrance to Velocity. Guy on the bike is checking out a brand new Royal Enfield Bullet. Royal Enfield started production in 1870 in England, and ended there in 1971. However, they also made bikes in India, and that production continues to this day. The "Bullet" got its name because Royal Enfield also made rifles (slogan for the bike was " Made like a gun, goes like a Bullet"). Current model is fuel injected, 500 cc's and a single. Not a real powerhouse, but gets great fuel mileage, and the classic styling is certainly cool. Also neat is that the bike has a front disk brake. It comes in a number of models.
Finally, seen below is a BMW (as I remember it is a R60. BMW is a German company, also with a long history. Though it makes a number of in-line fours, and even a brand new in-line six touring bike, the boxer engine (opposed twin) seen here is the classic engine (and is still used in BMW's today). Next to it is a another Ducati motorcycle. As I have noted (and this was not all that could be seen in the shop, there were also a couple of used Yamaha motorcycles) you never know what you will come across at Velocity Motorcycles. If you are interested in motorcycles, and are in the Richmond area, this is a must see shop during your visit. Easily one of my favorite shops!

Bikes While Touring the RVA (June 4, 2011)

2011-06-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

Nice weekend in the RVA; though did miss Hog Happenin in Lincolnton, NC (nice motorcycle event, did see some nice photos from friends..maybe next year), had a visit from a former riding buddy (he still rides) from NC who wanted to see the area. Of course while out (got a couple of posts on my "Richmond and Me" site), saw some very nice motorcycles. First one here, was at Hollywood Cemetery, a popular place to visit with a lot of history. Bike seen here has a lot of history also, being a Russian made Ural motorcycle. An old design (based on a BMW used during the German WWII invasion of Russia) but updated over the years. Still sold by the way!
During the lunch visit, we went to Buz and Ned's in Richmond. Behind the fence is a Harley-Davidson V-Rod. Of all the Harley models, that would be the one I would have, being water cooled, and a more modern engine design than the old classic air cooled bikes. I like water cooling and the bikes I have ridden over the past few years all have/had that. Water cooling tends to make the engines last longer, doing a much better job of controlling heat from the engine which is a real killer to motors over time. As for the BBQ there, it was outstanding. Have been there a few times. We were also going to go to Velocity Motorcycles, which sells among other brands Ural Motorcycles, but it has been moved. Finding the new location (which is on Marshall Street according to the sign), will be a project for next weekend!
Finally saw this Suzuki sportbike in the Shockoe Bottom part of Richmond. We had quite a day of exploring, though unfortunately not on one of these. Great motorcycles though, and I have had a Suzuki in the past (rode one during my years in Hawaii in the USN..now that was a great place to ride!). Saw a lot of motorcycles out riding on what was a very nice "hot but low humidity" day in Richmond. Though we were not riding, and were traveling around the city by "cage" we still had a great time, and it was fun to show off this very interesting city that I have grown to appreciate over the years.

Gold Hill, NC (May 28, 2011)

2011-05-30T20:33:00.000-07:00

Got out on a fine day on May 28, fun ride to Gold Hill, NC. Interesting place which is right off of NC-49. I get there turning onto St. Stephens Church Road which is a great ride. Of course, in that area, great roads abound. Interesting place to visit, and they also will be hosting a Classic Motorcycle Show on June 25th from 10am-4pm. Its free and worth the trip, as is the whole area. It was the site of one of the first successful Gold Mines in North Carolina, and also one of the first big gold rushes. Not too far away is the Reed Gold Mine, which is also well worth a visit. Here though you can see some of the mining equipment. There is also one of the original tunnels used in gold mining which you can see at the site.
Many old buildings and equipment can be seen such as this windmill seen at right. There is a restaurant, stores selling various items and the town also hosts a number of events over the year. Gold Hill, NC has a nice web site and its worth a look both for the history of the place, as well as seeing what it has to offer. I have been there a number of times, and always enjoyed the visits, and have ridden there with a number of friends to the town. There are also often people there in period costumes, and also there are a number of music events held in the area. It is a great place to wander around, and a nice place to bring a camera. The riding in that area is really fun as well, some really great roads can be found in that area, and there are a great number of interesting sights to see. Most of the roads are two lane country roads with a lot of twists and turns. It is great to get out on a fine day. Have to watch out for the farm equipment at times, there are a lot of working farms in the area, as well as a number of small towns which are interesting to visit along the way.
Seen here at left is the main street at Gold Hill. For my ride, went some 75 miles and explored some really nice roads. I will not be in town for the bike show, but I have been in the past, and will hate missing it this year. Had to get out that way though, and enjoyed the ride. I have posted a few more photos on my photo page, and hope you have enjoyed these seen here.
Memorial Day weekend was a very good riding weekend, hot but not too humid, and got in a few nice rides, and saw some good sights while I was out. There is nothing like riding in North Carolina, and I will have a few more photos of some other sights in my next post!

Colonial and Commonweath (May 21, 2011)

2011-05-22T17:22:00.001-07:00

Previous post was on Honda CBR250R I saw on May 21, but this is some of the other bikes I saw at the two dealerships I visited. Of course of late, Blogger is kind of mixing up the photos but still works ok. Here is at left big and green is one of the Harley-Davidson CVO models. I think that stands for "Custom Vehicle Operations", and what that gives you is more bike of certain HD models. For instance this one comes with a lot more chrome than is standard, and a great deal of performance upgrades thanks to its "Screaming Eagle" package. If you want more of what HD has to offer, this bike (and others in the CVO line are for you. Of course, this bike was a bit over $32K!

Commonwealth Power Sports is practically within walking distance of Colonial Harley-Davidson (where the photo at top was taken). They carry Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha (plus the Star Line) and Honda motorcycles. They also have ATV's and "Jet Ski" type water craft. The dealership is large and has a number of accessories for those vehicles, plus a service department, and also have clothing and other items (but nothing clothing wise on the scale of your average HD dealer). It was my second visit there since coming to Richmond, and I like the shop. Trend in Japanese dealerships seem to be "bigger is better" though you can still find single brand dealerships.
Seen here is one of the motorcycles at Commonwealth Power Sports; in this case the Kawasaki ZX-10. While the Japanese make all sorts of motorcycles, they are probably best known for their sport bikes. Those bikes tend to be technologically advanced to a great degree and provide some very high performance. I ride a Japanese cruiser (a Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic) and even that has many features not found on the typical Harley such as water-cooling, and a shaft drive (though Harley does have the water-cooled V-Rod line which raises the bar for that brand). They also tend to sell for a lot less than your average Harley does.
This is Colonial Harley-Davidson, which like Commonwealth is located in Colonial Heights, Va (which by the way is located between Richmond and Petersburg). I liked this one, has a good line of motorcycles, nice service department from what I saw, and people as at Commonwealth were friendly without being pushy. There was a poker run going on while I was there, and there were a slew of bikes coming and going. Harley dealerships tend to have a lot going on, and usually serve as a starting point for many "Harley Owners Group (aka HOG) events. I like visiting Harley shops as you get to meet a lot of interesting riders, and see some great classic bikes.

2011 Honda CBR 250R (May 21, 2011)

2011-05-21T17:38:00.000-07:00

Two bikes that I have been waiting for in 2011 are both from Honda; the CB1000R (which I am still waiting for) and the Honda CBR250R. This is the Honda CBR250R which I first saw today at Commonwealth Power Sports in Colonial Heights, Va. I had been at that dealership once before (I believe it was last year) but made a trip back there today to check out some bikes while I am here in Richmond for the weekend. They carry Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki motorcycles. A very nice dealership with a very friendly staff. They let you look though without hassling you which is what I like when I go to a bike shop. At left is the CBR250R, which has a very basic cockpit. Nice roomy bike even for a tall person such as myself, I read that the bike comes in two colors; the red as seen here, and also in an all-black model. To compete with the Kawasaki Ninja 250, the CBR250R comes at the same price (suggested retail) of $3,999. For some $500 more you can also get the ABS braking system which is said to be a really good feature especially for a motorcycle at this price.
The Honda CBR250R certainly takes some styling cues from its bigger brother the VFR1200. Like that bike it has a layered fairing. Seat height is 30.5 inches, and the bike fully fueled weighs a claimed 359 pounds. It is fuel injected, has front and rear disk brakes, and sits on 17 inch rims. It has a 3.4 gallon gas tank and due to the fuel injection and the size of the motor it should get some really good fuel mileage. The engine is a 249cc DOHC four valve single, with a compression ratio of 10.7:1. That info above comes from the Honda web site. From other research, found the bike is built (assembled?) in Thailand.
The bike is also watercooled, as you can see from the radiator in the front view here. I saw in a magazine comparison with the Kawasaki Ninja 250 that it is heavier than the Kawasaki twin, and also has a lower RPM limit. The Kawasaki hp at the dyno was 26.24, while the Honda came in at 22.66 hp. The Honda though has higher torque numbers over the Ninja. The Kawasaki had a higher top speed (by some 20 mph) over the Honda with the Ninja able to run close to 110, while the Honda was able to get to a hair over 90.
I had a Yamaha RD250 some years ago, one of the old two-strokes and it was an outstanding motorcycle. I think that either of these bikes would be great for beginners, or for a rider who was interested in getting a fun motorcycle with outstanding fuel mileage. These bikes would be the best of both worlds, offering both good performance for their size, as well as reliability and some advanced features. With the rising price of gasoline, the 250 CBR250R and the Kawasaki Ninja offer a great value.

Stuff and Events from the World of Motorcycles

2011-05-16T09:25:00.001-07:00

Did want to mention that on June 3 (from 6pm-10pm and (especially) June 4 (10am-6pm) "Hog Happenin" will be held in Lincolnton, NC. This is a GREAT event; features a BBQ competition, live music, and a host of other events. For instance there is a bike show, and also this year will feature a stunt rider. It is a lot of fun, and its free (except for food/beverages). The area of the event is closed off to cars, but you can ride in your bike, and park along with the hundreds of motorcycles lining the street. I hope to hell to be there (the town is very motorcycle friendly, seems my boss in Richmond is less so). For more information check out the event web site at http://www.hoghappenin.org
I enjoy motorcyclist magazine a great deal, have been a subscriber for a number of years (they also have a good web site). Read some fun articles this month, a review of the Victory High-Ball (photo of the just arrived bike at RideNow is on my previous post) and an interesting article on possible future plans of Harley-Davidson to make a replacement bike for the Buell Blast and perhaps a smaller 750-800 cc bike for the US and India in India..will be interesting to see what the HD faithful think of that idea! Good article on a find of old motorcycles in a storage unit in Texas. I always find it interesting.
There was also in Motorcyclist a funny article on encounters with bees (and other bugs) on the road. Funny anyhow afterward, never at the time. As it said, ride long enough and you will get stung. I had a moment a few years ago, took a sting on my leg, thought I had been shot from the pain. Always good to be aware, and to dress to prevent that, though there is no guarantee that even that will prevent it. Motorcycling does have quite a few risks, this is just one of them.
Been on some nice rides this year. plus have been taking care of some maintenance. Going to be doing the yearly major maintenance this July during the vacation plant shutdown; always good to keep that up to date. Not only is it important for safety, it also protects you from breakdowns on down the road. A few dollars, a little of your time, and it can pay off in big ways.

Carolina Motorcycling (May 14-15)

2011-05-16T07:56:00.000-07:00

Took this photo at RideNow Powersports during a short motorcycle ride on May 15. Bike in the foreground is a 2012 Victory High-Ball. It gets the name from the handlebars; currently there seems to be an "ape hanger" craze and this is the latest version from the factory. Harley-Davidson also has a ape hanger bike; the Harley-Davidson Cross Bones. The High-Ball is a version of the 8-Ball, which is the lowest cost Victory motorcycle. Nice bikes, they tend to be priced above Japanese motorcycles, and slightly below Harley-Davidson. I like how they do many things different though, have some really nice custom models done by Arlan Ness and his son Cory, and the Victory Vision touring bike is like something for the next century design wise. People either love it or they hate it. They also are only one of two made in the US motorcycle companies; though three if you count Indian Motorcycles. Noted in a previous post that Victory purchased Indian, which was formerly made in North Carolina, and will be building them at the factory in Iowa. Will be interesting to see what happens with that.
On May 14, made a stop at Morton Custom Cycles on my way home from Richmond, Va. I like local motorcycle shops, sure often beat the service at the bigger places, as well as the prices found there. Morton's does a lot of custom paint and some interesting custom work, they have built some really great looking motorcycles. As for the bike, motor said "Johnny Reb" and they are offering it for sale, not sure about it much. Lots of bikes out there beyond the major motorcycle manufacturers; but did give this bike a look.
During the Sunday ride on May 15, made a quick stop at Suck Bang Blow. New bar/restaurant in Concord, NC (near Pat Rogers Harley-Davidson) got some friendly people, and some good food as well. Good meeting place to get riders together (as they often have a problem getting in one place at the time set it seems) Course anyplace with a motorcycle theme is pretty cool. I posted a number of photos from the ride, as well as some other sights from it (got a photo of the World's Largest Video screen at Charlotte Motor Speedway I took during the ride) at my photo site. Good ride on an unsettled weather weekend, lots of rain and sun during this visit home.

Carolina Classic Motorcycle Show (May 7, 2011)

2011-05-08T21:16:00.000-07:00

Did some great riding on a beautiful Carolina day from 9am-1pm. Best part of the days ride was going to the Carolina Classic Motorcycle Show in Spencer, NC. Not only is it free, but its a chance to see some remarkable and rare motorcycles. Plus, as a bonus (not that there is anything wrong with them) but the vast majority are NOT Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Many unique and even one of a kind bikes are seen at this show. At left is a BSA (Birmingham Small Arms) which is a British motorcycle no longer in production. They made beautiful (and very fast) motorcycles though, and this is a wonderful example. Many more can be seen on my photo page!
At left is a Honda 450. That bike was beautiful, and in my opinion was the best of the show. I would have sworn that it had just come off the sales floor, though it dates to at least the 1960's-1970's period. I remember that type, but not that specific motorcycle. That is the beauty of this show, because we can not know where we are going, if we do not know where we have been. The Japanese brought some really good competition to the motorcycle industry, as during the 1970s the British and American bikes of the day were (frankly) not very good. New Triumphs are pretty much state of the art, and Harley after the AMF period, has some real fine bikes now!
One of the motorcycles that turned the motorcycle world on its ear, is the Honda 750 Four. After that came out, motorcycles went into a amazing cycle of development. In some cases, that is not all good in my opinion. Engines got bigger and bigger, Kawasaki soon came out with the 900/four, and then came 1000's, 1100's, 1200's , 1300's, 1400's (you get the picture). In fact the biggest standard mass production motorcycle engine is the one in the Triumph Rocket III which is a whopping 2294cc (or 140 cubic inches) . In a nod to the past, the Rocket III is named for a former production BSA motorcycle.
Seen here is the bike show itself. Held at the NC Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC the show was fun, also enjoyed the many trains, cars, and aircraft that can be seen there. The fact that it is all free (except for train rides which can be had for a very small reasonable fee). The museum is being expanded, and will be adding some displays in the near future. It has been over the years one of my favorite places to visit. Spencer and nearby Salisbury, NC have some neat historic sites, and as a bonus to a biker, some really great nearby roads to ride as well. If you are ever in the area, it is well worth a stop, and as I have noted the cost is free, and you can't beat that.
Another great looking bike is this 1954 Triumph Tiger. A great British bike, it was produced for many years, but in the 1970's ended production (think that is the right time frame). It was "brought back from the dead" and greatly improved. Some of the models are actually built in Thailand, though many are also made in England. They have brought back many of the classic bikes such as the Bonneville, but also some really great sport bikes such as the Daytona 675 and as mentioned earlier the massive Rocket III. Triumph has greatly improved the quality of the bikes and their reliability, and is now one of the faster growing motorcycle companies in the world.

The Old and the Interesting (April 30, 2011) in RVA.

2011-05-01T17:39:00.000-07:00

Went to Ultimate Cycle which is located on the Midlothian Turnpike just outside of Richmond, Va. Nice bike shop with friendly people. Found out some things about this Aprilia RS125. It is not street legal in the US I believe; it is overseas though. The engine is by Rotax. They make a number of motorcycle engines as well as aircraft engines, and this one is a water-cooled 124.8 cc single. I used to ride two-cycles in my early motorcycle days, and I loved them. Not sure about that not street legal, there is a guy at work who has one, and he got it licensed, though I think that (according to what I was told) that he had to make a few mods to make it so.
Bike in the photos below is a Schwinn Scooter. Apparently in doing the research, Schwinn makes four 50cc scooters, three 150cc scooters, one 200cc scooter, and one 300cc scooter. Doubt it is the original bicycle company, which I believe went out of business. I do know that original company was the owner of the Excelsior-Henderson company. I had seen in a show that the day after what became known as the Great Depression, they shut the company down. Interested in these bikes, and am sure with the rising price of fuel that they and other such vehicles will be a whole lot more popular. Liked the look of this model, and also the neat (for a moped) gauges on the machine.
Finally at the very bottom is the reason I came by Ultimate Cycle. Really liked this Eddie Lawson Replica Kawasaki, also known by its fan as "Z-Rex". Officially they were the ZRX-1200R (earlier versions had engines growing from 1000cc-1100, and finally the 1200). Kawasaki ended production of this bike a few years ago, but good models can still be found. The bike has a big fan following, and was a popular bike in its day. One of what came to be known among the type as "Universal Japanese Motorcycles" with an upright sitting position and really good power, plus with out fairings easy access to the engine and other important parts.

Bikes Over Easter

2011-04-25T18:28:00.001-07:00

On getting into Concord over the Easter Holiday, made my usual stop to RideNow in Concord, NC. Nice shop (and since I got a tire, brake pads and a helmet there a few weeks ago, I must really think so) and some interesting bikes. Took this photo of the Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager at right. Real fond of the Vulcan line (in fact I own one of that line, though it is now no longer made) and this is a very fine cruiser. I am real fond of water cooled bikes, and though this does not look it, it is! I have found my Kawasaki to be stone cold reliable to this point (and this point is six years and close to 22,000 miles) and a great deal of fun to ride. I have also found them easy to maintain.
I used to have a Honda Shadow VLX 600 which was also a great motorcycle. No problems with that during eight years and some 36,000 miles. This is a Honda Shadow RS. A bit bigger v-twin engine (a 750cc I believe) but like the VLX a chain drive. I like the styling of this bike, and they are certainly well made motorcycles. You can not go wrong on a Honda; they tend to last for a very, very long time with reasonable care. Certainly the Shadow line does not have many "rocketships" though if that is what you are looking for Honda makes a few of those too. Honda is a very respected name in motorcycling and makes a fine line of bikes.
I mentioned in my previous post a ride on Monday April 25 (following the big ride on April 24). On the 25th went by Kannapolis, but on the way back got this photo of this Moped Trike that I saw across from the Carolina Mall on NC-29 in Concord. I have never seen anything like this moped wise, and the salesmen said it was the only one in the area. He also said the top speed was 35 mph, and though not sure what the mpg is, I am sure it is pretty impressive (even if the top speed isn't). Never know what you will come across while out for a pleasant Monday morning motorcycle ride, and this was certainly something to check out.

Easter Ride Uptown (April 24)

2011-04-25T18:07:00.000-07:00

Took a motorcycle ride to Charlotte, NC on Easter Sunday, got a few sights here and will have a few more on my Photo Page (there is a link to that on this site). Great ride, enjoyed the day which was very sunny, and frankly very warm; unseasonable upper 80s for most of the weekend. Seen at left is Bank of America Stadium, which is the home of the Carolina Panthers. Nice stadium and I have spent many hours there with my son Robby enjoying the wins and dealing with the losses that come with having a professional football team in your city. Hopefully the Panthers will have a season this year, right now its not real sure.
Opened last year, this is the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Uptown Charlotte. Charlotte is quite a sports town; there is also the Charlotte Checkers Hockey Team and the Charlotte Bobcats (both play at Time Warner Cable Arena which is also Uptown). Plans are to move the AAA baseball team (The Charlotte Knights) which play in South Carolina right now to a new stadium to be built near the Bank of America Stadium. That though will not happen any sooner than 2013. Looking more and more like it will happen though, and will be watching for that. There is a lot to do downtown and not just sports events. Area has a pretty good nightlife too.
This is the Shoppes of University (actually the lake there) which has a lot of places to shop and also some good places to eat. University City is the home to nearby UNCC (University of North Carolina at Charlotte) which is a really nice campus, and is part of the UNC system. Charlotte has a pretty good college basketball team, and will start playing Division I football in (I believe) 2013. For the time being they will play in a stadium (though not Bank of America Stadium) in Uptown Charlotte. The school is really nice, and has been greatly added on in the last few years. It is a first rate educational institution and a nice place to visit.
Speaking of nice places to visit, this is Charlotte (formerly Lowes) Motor Speedway which is actually in Concord, NC. Home of a number of NASCAR races AND the All-Star Race, it also has near by a Dirt Track, and the Z-Max Dragstrip as part of what can only be described as a massive racing complex. A number of other racing, and also many auto related events are held at this track. It will soon be home (this year) to the largest television screen outdoors in use; Bruton Smith who runs the track constantly makes improvements and additions to this facility. Though he has had some issues with the City of Concord, he is a real plus for the city and the area.
Finally, since this is a motorcycle blog, here is the motorcycle that took me to a number of places on April 24. Got the new helmet on the seat (seen in previous post) and I have to say I really liked it. Liked the aviation style, but found the half face shield (for lack of a better term) really functional. Can ride with it up or down, but on a bright sunny day such as this, it was really, really nice. I also liked the way it attached, uses a military type fastener instead of a D-ring for the chin strap. Nice fit and very comfortable. I can say the same about my 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan. Enjoyed some 85 miles of riding this weekend; the long trip seen above and a short ride before heading back to Richmond on April 25 to Kannapolis, NC. Like those morning rides and I miss them during my time in Richmond, but the rides this weekend will keep me smiling until the next time.

Flying at Low Level!

2011-04-23T05:48:00.000-07:00

Two big passions in my life are motorcycling and aviation so a couple of weeks ago when I got a new tire for the Vulcan and front brake pads (will be putting them on soon myself, a future post in the making) saw this helmet. Not only does it link my two interests, but it also was a design I like. The eye protection seemed very good, not a big fan of full face shields, and this I thought will be pretty cool. Rained when I got back to Carolina on Good Friday but sure the helmet will get a "test flight" this weekend. My son took this photo of me in the helmet. On the rides this weekend, will be showing some of the sights in the Carolina area, though will also have a couple of bike photos in a later post. Did make a stop at RideNow on my way into town...do miss those motorcycles in Richmond. Hope to check out some shops in the Richmond area next weekend when I am back there.
Speaking of bikes, news was announced that Victory Motorcycles (who is under the parent company of Polaris Industries) will be taking over Indian Motorcycles. They will also be relocating production from Kings Mountain, NC to a new factory location in Iowa. Indian has been back in production since around 2006-2007 (company dates to 1901, but ended production in the 1950's) but has been restarted a few times. They have in the latest attempt made (as I remember) only one model, and have a few dealerships around the US. Will be interesting to see what happens with this motorcycle company, but wish them the best of luck.
Interesting story about a woman, 62 years old and the registered owner of a Suzuki Katana who was arrested back in 2009 for evading police. The cops arrested her, though they knew she could not have done it, and that it was her son who outran the cops, but Mom would not come clean. She is suing over the arrest, and I wish her the best of luck. Thought it was a interesting, and even somewhat funny story.
Riding season is in full swing, and a number of big motorcycle events are coming up in the next few weeks and months here in NC. I will be giving details on some of the best ones in upcoming posts; but in the meantime ....Let's Ride!

Random Thoughts and VA News

2011-04-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

Enjoying a rainy but restful Saturday in Richmond. Read this week about a new program in Virginia called "Rider Alert". Its based on a British/European program used by 250,000 on the other side of the ocean. A card, which contains contact information and medical information (such as blood type I would assume) is put in the helmet, and then on the helmet is a sticker with news that the card is in there. There is also a note that in the event of an accident, for only trained personal to remove the helmet from the riders head. There are plans to expand the program nationally; to me this is a very good idea. No one wants something to happen, but its a good idea to take efforts before it does. I know a lot of people put their contact number under "ICE" (In Case of Emergency") in their cell phones, many emergency providers look for that. I think that could be a good idea either on a motorcycle, or just in case.
Still looking for new model motorcycles out at dealers. I have seen (and have posted here) some interesting bikes over the last few weeks, but the two I have most wanted to see, (both from Honda) the CB1000R and the new Honda 250 I have yet to see. There is also an interesting model from Victory (which has ape hanger bars) and of course new models from Triumph and Ducati that I would be interested in seeing.
When in Richmond, I do not get to ride (I keep and ride my bike in North Carolina; just have an apartment here in Richmond, and it has to be one place or the other) but like to go to bike shows and events here in the area. Can be difficult to find either, but occasionally I come across something locally. When I do in the upcoming months I will be posting photos and news of it here.

Steve's Trike (April 11)

2011-04-15T07:28:00.001-07:00

My friend Steve and I have ridden on quite a few rides over the years. First he had a Honda 1100 (the old model of the Sabre, that bike has been redone based on the Honda 1300 engine and the Fury design by the way), and then a pair of Harley's. He had a Wide Glide and then an Ultra Classic. We have ridden over a whole lot of the Carolinas (both North and South) as well as some amazing rides in the North Carolina mountains. Those are specificially special, cause that is some of the most amazing riding in the USA. Steve has for the past couple of years been fighting a terrible disease, and that has taken a lot of his strength and energy.
Rather than not riding anymore, Steve got this Trike which he brought by my house on April 11. It is built on a Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic and he got it from Tilley Harley-Davidson. It was a demo, with only 200 miles on it. Though Harley now makes a trike, this is a kit bike. Many Honda Gold Wings are converted like that; and you can not tell that they were not "factory kits". Everything on Steve's Harley looked to be a perfect match. As with most Ultra Classic's, the trike comes with a slew of features, including a very fine sound system (nothing like jamming to "Born to be Wild" as you roll down the road). The bike also comes with a 6 gallon gas tank.
One of the great features about a bike like this, is that it has reverse. Kit is said to have a 1,000,000 mile warrenty, and I hope that Steve gets to use all of that up. We did a bit of riding together; its going to be different with motorcycle and trike, but it will be a way to keep him riding, and looking forward to some great rides with the man who feels that barbeque, and the quest for the best, is not just a reason to ride, but a calling! Trikes are getting to be a big part of motorcycling, and there are some interesting designs out there (such as the Can-Am Spyder) that are interesting variations on the theme. I am looking forward to some great adventures in 2011 with Steve on this machine. Two wheels or three, nothing beats being in the breeze with the wind on your knees!

Riding Carolina: April 10

2011-04-14T08:07:00.001-07:00

As mentioned in the previous post, Phil (seen at right with his Star motorcycle) and I headed out on a very nice Sunday afternoon ride. We met up at RideNow and rolled out down some of the great backroads along the way. It was a beautiful day with sunny skies and some fairly warm temperatures. Do have to note though, it was summerlike the following day with temperatures in the 80's. Still, it was very nice and traffic was really lite at 2pm. We rolled up into the little community of Faith, NC past a very cool old church, and wandered down some roads that I (even though I have been in NC for over 12 years now) have never been on. That was pretty cool!
This is me on my motorcycle (photo by Phil) again taken at the start of the ride. I have had the bike since 2005 and it has been an outstanding motorcycle (in a long line of outstanding motorcycles). During the course of the ride we covered some 70 miles, and enjoyed a post ride tea at Bojangles before calling it a day near 5pm and heading back home. Last photo is of Pete's Barbeque in China Grove, NC. Carolina is famous for its barbeque and Pete's is a great place to eat (though like many places in North Carolina it is closed on Sunday). When it is open though, it is packed! We had a great time, but there was more to come the following day!

Signts at Ride Now (April 9-10)

2011-04-14T07:17:00.000-07:00

Spent a couple of days at Ride Now in Concord, NC. Big dealership there; sells Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Victory motorcycles. It was both a place to meet up for a motorcycle ride (which I did with Phil on April 10), a place to get some needed work done, and a place to check out some new rides. For instance, check out these Yamaha cruisers. I like what Yamaha is doing with its Star line of cruisers, and seen here is a nice pair. There is a real active Star chapter which operates out of RideNow, a group of Star riders who ride together. There are groups like that for most brands of motorcycles, it is just not a Harley thing!
I really liked this R-1 which is by Yamaha. Great sport bike and the graphics were really neat looking, this bike would be great going down the road. Yamaha makes some fine bikes, I had an RD-350 many years ago. That bike was a real giant killer (the type, not my bike) in AMA Motorcycle racing, winning championships against must larger motorcycles in the day. In fact to this day Yamaha has a very impressive racing history. The R-1 makes a good street bike, and is also used in Yamaha's current racing program. Sport bikes are a whole different way to get from Point A to Point B; very fast and quick. This is not a bike for an in-experienced rider!
I ordered this helmet, on April 9. I have always been a big fan of aviation, and this helicopter type helmet caught my eye. Think it not only is neat to look at, but very practical. I like that shield which covers the eyes (and there is also a clear shield with it. Not everyone wears helmets (required in North Carolina, but not in South Carolina) but I like to wear them. Think this will be a fine helmet and should protect my rather fragile head should it impact the pavement in some future ride. Looking forward to many great miles with this companion; one of the best you can have on a motorcycle in my opinion. I don't mind that people choose; but I choose to wear a helmet.
I got a new tire; tires again are really important. While you only have one head, you only have two tires on a motorcycle. Having good ones on the bike makes good common sense; plus there is no spare on a motorcycle, and tires with good tread tend to be more resistant to punctures. Went with Dunlap for the rear, though I have also used Bridgestone. One of the good things about cruisers is that you tend to get a lot better mileage on the tires (distance wise) then with sport bike tires. Sport bikes tend to have stickier tires (to grip the track or road better) and of course that means faster wear. Be safe, keep an eye on your tires, and watch tire pressures.
Finally, one of the "newer" Honda motorcycles, the VFR1200. This bike is really a great bike, and the new 250 that is due to come out (and I am looking forward to seeing that and the new CB1000 which are due to hit dealers soon for 2011, but have not yet) will be along the styling of this bike (the 250 I am speaking of here). A very fine sort of "sport-touring bike" (with added bags) the VFR1200 has been getting a lot of good press. I had a VLX600 Honda for my previous bike and it was a really fine motorcycle. I enjoyed riding it a great deal, and sure had no problems with it. Other Hondas I have owned over the years were also trouble free. Of course (knock on wood) I have had great luck with my motorcycles. That is because they are very well made, and I also keep up with maintenance on them. In fact I also got brake pads for the Vulcan and will be putting them on soon. A lot of luck with motorcycle lifetimes is quality construction, but also you make your own luck with good maintenance and attention to detail when it comes to riding. Be careful out there, it is a dangerous but fun thing to ride a motorcycle, but you have to keep alert at all times on the roads.

Indiana Motorcycling

2011-04-13T08:05:00.000-07:00

Made a trip to my old home town around Louisville, Kentucky. Got a lot of photos on my "Richmond and Me" blog of Louisville, Kentucky and Southern Indiana. I also have a number of photos on my photo page which has a link on this page. Interesting area and a fun place to be. Saw a few interesting bikes there, and have a few photos here. Took the photo above of the Honda CB-160 at S+S PowerSports in Clarksville, Indiana. They have a few good old classic motorcycles there as do most really good bike shops. I love the old motorcycles, it was a really different era then, but many of those old Japanese motorcycles are still on the road.
Few bikes went through as many changes as Honda's Gold Wing. It started out as a stripped down bigger version of the Honda CB-750, but people started adding wind protection and bags to them. This one has a Windjammer fairing and bags by the legendary Craig Vetter. That was a very popular addition to the bike which now is one of the premier touring motorcycles in the world today. Over the years the bike and the engine has grown in side, and many features have been added to the Honda Gold Wing of today. I got to ride one of the new ones (for a short time) a few years ago, think that for going from coast to coast it would be one of the great rides to do that on.
Bike below is a Honda 600 VLX Shadow. I had the pleasure to ride one prior to my Kawasaki Vulcan for some 8 years and 36,000 trouble free miles. The bike never let me down. A bit small for me size wise (but still more comfortable then a Harley Sportster) the 600 had good power and simply great fuel mileage. This 600 has a custom paint job so not sure what year it was, but liked the look of it and nice to see one again. Honda makes some fine motorcycles, I have owned a few over the years, as well as a few Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki motorcycles. I have to say all of them have been great rides, problems over the years were few and far between.
Got a last photo here which is of S+S Powersports. Took this early; its a very old dealership. I had a good relationship with them over the years, and liked dealing with them, and it was good to wander around the store again for a short time during my visit.
While I was able to check out some sights in Kentuckiana, I also got in some nice motorcycle rides (and got some very important maintenance done) in Carolina during my vacation. It was a wonderful time riding with good friends, and enjoying some wonderful weather in North Carolina. I will be featuring some photos from those rides in my next post here!

A Weekend to Ride

2011-04-10T06:18:00.001-07:00

Have been enjoying a fine few days. Will be featuring some photos from Louisville, Kentucky and Southern Indiana where my wife and I spent four fine days. There will be some photos of the city on my "Richmond and Me" web site, and of course "Kentuckiana" (as the area is called) motorcycling on this site. Wild to be there, did a lot of years riding in that area (though we took the car on this long trip from North Carolina. There are so helmet laws in Indiana or Kentucky, so strange to see riding without helmets (though that is also common in South Carolina). Many riders though did have helmets; in fact via an un-scientific poll seemed to be more wearing than not. I wear a helmet when I ride, but have no problems with people choosing not to wear them. Went by my favorite Southern Indiana motorcycle shop (S+S Powersports in Clarksville) where I purchased my Honda 600 Shadow a few years ago; still no sign of the new model 2011 Honda motorcycles.
I also did not see them on my return to North Carolina when I dropped into Ride Now in Concord, NC on Saturday. Went there to (finally!!!!) get my rear tire and tube for the bike. I also got a set of front brake pads; got the tire put on (sparing my fingers and knuckles great pain) but will be doing the brake pads myself. With labor costs being what they are, and the job being amazingly simple (have the bike's service manual, its a minimal job) will do that myself. I do a lot of service on the Vulcan, its a very user friendly bike. That is the nice thing about cruisers, easy access and simplicity. Sure it does not have that "jet fighter"like performance (which is very cool though, love the feel of a sport bike at throttle) but sure is easy to do a spark plug and oil change on it. Plus I enjoy the hydraulic lifters on the bike; and shaft drive is pretty easy to maintain too. While I was there got a new helmet, its sort of aviation themed based on a helicopter pilot helmet, will be showing that in some future photos as well. Liked not just the theme but the design as well.
Ride Saturday was short, took a while to get the tire on there, and by early afternoon big storm clouds were rolling in (big storms were soon to follow). On this fine Sunday morning though, planning an afternoon ride with a friend around 2pm, and that will be a great deal of fun. Will have to take it easy for a while, new tires tend to be a little slick the first 100 miles, but a good warm sunny day to just take a short ride around this very interesting area. So will have some good photos coming up in the next couple of posts, I hope you enjoy them, and this wonderful weather. Spring is definitely here, and its time to ride. As always, ride safe!

To the Walll, April 3 Ride

2011-04-03T14:39:00.001-07:00

As you can see in the photo at left, taken from the seat of my motorcycle, a very fine Sunday morning in North Carolina. Unlike the weather of the previous visit, this was a very fine day, and got out around 10:30 for a ride. Love to ride on Sunday mornings, traffic is light, and the roads are wide open for a cruise. Enjoyed being out and this was near the beginning; at the light would be turning left onto NC-49. Nice road which I have traveled many times, and have been on many great adventures with friends, and as in this case, while out solo. Sometimes it is nice to be out with thoughts and enjoying the day. Great thing about solo riding is that you can change directions easy.
Had read in the paper about the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall. It is a replica of the big wall in Washington, DC. Though you can't see it here had a good crowd there, as well as a small museum, and even an Army truck on hand from the period. There are many (way too many) names on that wall, including one name which is the brother of one of my best friends while I was in the US Navy (though my period of service was shortly after the Vietnam War). Still, felt like making a stop was something that I needed to do, and I am glad that I did. I think it is very important to remember those people who died in service to our country.
Now open seven days a week stopped at RideNow in Concord. Saw this very fine Kawasaki ZX-14 Ninja. It, along with the Suzuki Hayabusa are two of the quickest and fastest motorcycles you could own (does not mean you should own them, but that is what you would have if you did). The ZX-14 also comes in a touring version; which I am told can get you from coast to coast in a very short period of time. I am really fond of the Kawasaki line of motorcycles, have had a few over the years, and my Vulcan has been trouble free (knock on wood) since 2005 when I got it from this dealer brand new. I have certainly enjoyed my rides on the bike.
Seen here are a pair of KLR-650 Kawasaki motorcycles. Very popular bikes, they are good street/trail motorcycles and have been in production for a long time and are said to be very reliable. If you are looking for a good economic and easy on gas motorcycle due to the current fuel increases, this would be a good one to consider.
I was pleased that RideNow got some tires in, needing to get a new rear tire and will be doing that (weather permitting) next weekend. I also hope to get in some more riding next Sunday; plus will be doing a little checking on another hotbed of motorcycling over the next week.
This bike was sort of different, saw it at (of all places) Harley-Davidson of Concord (aka Pat Rogers Harley Davidson). Nice little bike, be just the thing for dodging the pot holes of Richmond, Va, and talk about a gas miser! Not sure even what the hell it is, but liked it, and it made me smile. So did the ride today, which I ended with a stop at Suck Bang Blow and Charlotte Motor Speedway. It was a really great day, and had a fantastic time in the wind today. Did not cover a lot of miles due to all the stops, but had a great time on a warm day under Carolina blue skies. More photos can be found on my photo page. Thanks for dropping by my page.

Into Every Life, a Little Rain Must Fall

2011-03-27T20:01:00.000-07:00

Went to Carolina the weekend of March 26-27, but unfortunately winter came to roost in Early Spring. I am told they even had some sleet and snow over the weekend in the Richmond area, in Carolina it rained...and rained..and rained. For the first time in a long time, no riding at all this weekend during my visit home. I did move the bike (which had not moved for a couple of weeks since the last time I rode it) to keep from flat spotting the tires (and was not able to get that new rear tire I am planning to get real soon) but it is waiting for me and a ride will be coming up in the near future. The next visit forecast (though early) looks a lot better.
I did enjoy reading and getting some photos from my friend Phil who took a motorcycle ride to Florida; making some good stops in the Daytona area. I think he missed bike week, but had a great time nonetheless from what I read and saw. They had a lot better weather there, but we have been short of rain (don't miss a lot of riding due to rainfall) so it was not all bad. I did see some bikers riding down the highways even during the showers, bundled up against the cold (barely got out of the 40s this weekend) and braving the rainfall.
Not even a lot of motorcycle racing on tv this weekend, but did enjoy seeing local Richmond college VCU (well not seeing actually, I was on the road back to Richmond at the time) beating Kansas and getting into the NCAA Final Four. That is big news in the city (Richmond made the Elite 8, but lost to Kansas in an earlier game).
Won't be long at all till the next trip home, and looking forward to a bit of quality time in the wind.

Greeat Roads and other items of interest

2011-03-19T09:42:00.000-07:00

Saw that the American Motorcyclist Association ( great group that you should join, they do a great job protecting the rights of motorcyclists as well as a being involved in motorcycle racing) published a list of the top "motorcycling roads in the US." #1 was the Beartooth Highway on the border of Montana and Wyoming. Got to admit, there was a photo, does look like a hell of a road to ride. Of course the great Pacific Coast Highway made the Top Ten (have not ridden it, but was lucky to drive a part of it in my Navy days, and it is a hell of a thing).
North Carolina had three roads in the top ten, which says a lot for the state. #7 was the Cherohala Skyway (got to love that name) near the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. The other at #3 is the famous "Tail of the Dragon"; US Route 3 also near the NC/TN border. I have not ridden either of those (yet) though came close to a dragon ride until the big work change in my life (the VA thing) put an end to that for a while. I have ridden a number of times on the AMA's #2 Top Ten US Road; The North Carolina section of the Blue Ridge Parkway. As far as riding goes, for an "OH WOW" experience, I have had more of them on the Parkway than in virtually any other riding. Riding the Blue Ridge Parkway in the fall is a breathtaking experience. Lots of great sights along the way from the town of Blowing Rock, to Grandfather Mountain, to all the lookouts and the great views, plus some fantastic roads. One of my favorite places to ride, and will be going back there again in the near future. Someday hope to ride the entire parkway, which runs all the way into Virginia.
As for Virginia, it also made the list at #12 (just outside of the top 10) with US Route 33, Harrisonburg, Virginia to Seneca Rocks, West Virginia . Have not been on that ride either, but could be done in the future. I have driven though Virginia and West Virginia, beautiful scenery and roads; West Virginia is a very interesting state.
One ride that really stands out, but did not make the list for me, is riding in the area of Mt. Airy, NC. The website www.visitmayberry.com in its things to do section notes that "motorcycles are welcome", and even suggests some riding routes. I find that refreshing, and have been to that area a number of times. It has some really good sights to check out, plus Mt. Airy (which was the basis for the Andy Griffith Show) is a neat town to explore.
Mentioned the ride last weekend, I also got to check out the Daytona 200. They had some major tire problems which black flagged the race for a couple of hours; I had to move on as time on my weekends home is limited, but I did enjoy seeing the bikes race. Daytona is a classic race with a long history, if the NASCAR version is the "Great American Race" (though I think the 500 has a better claim frankly) then the 200 is the "Great American Motorcycle Race". The racing season is in full swing both in the US and around the world and in a variety of types of motorcycles. If you want to get in on some of it at any level; once again the AMA is a great source for racing your type of bike in a number of state and local events.
Looking forward to the next ride. As I write this, it is the last day of winter; Spring starts tomorrow on March 20. Thank God!

White Trees...and a Leaf

2011-03-15T06:06:00.000-07:00

Enjoyed a short but beautiful Sunday March 13 ride in the Concord area; temperatures in the 70's and very sunny. While spring is officially a week away, the trees are all ablaze in white (Bradford Pear Trees which are very popular in North Carolina) and I enjoyed seeing all of that after the blandness of the winter landscape. Other than the green evergreens; it has been looking pretty barren among the many trees in the area. I took this photo of my Vulcan which even has a sign thanks to the Vulcan Materials (now just Vulcan) quarry near the airport. Gives a real good look at all of the things that I have been talking about.

I did stop at the Concord Mills airport, enjoy my visits there. In the parking lot saw this Harley-Davidson trike and got to talk to the rider who was also out there watching the planes fly. Airports are interesting places and the one I stopped by (Concord Regional which is I believe the fourth busiest airport in North Carolina) is a nice one for a short stop. Plan for the day was to be there which is near the big Concord Mills Shopping Center. I wanted to check out the Nissan Leaf, the all electric car that was having demo drives. Interested in technology and electric vehicles may be the wave of the future. There are even some electric motorcycles of note.
Got a lot of photos of the Leaf. Looking at the engine compartment you would not know its an electric car. The Leaf has no tailpipe though and is really quiet. It is all-electric: 90 mile per hour top speed, and a 100 mile range before recharging. Electric cars were used in the distant past as some of the earliest cars were electric. There was not a lot though that would tell you it was different from any other car out there. That I believe is the plan. I will have more photos on my
"Richmond and Me" blog, also on my photo page where you can see more of it.
The Leaf is made by Nissan of Japan, and my heart goes out to the Japanese for the problems they have had with the tidal wave which struck much of their country and the problems they are and will be facing in the months (if not years) to come. The loss of life and the scale of damage is almost impossible to believe.

A look at some 2011's....Ride Now, Concord, NC

2011-03-13T06:29:00.000-07:00

Made a real quick stop at RideNow in Concord, NC on my way home on March 12. There I saw for the first time, the Yamaha FZ8 which is seen at left. It has been sold in Europe for a while, but is making it to these shores for the first time this year. The FZ8 is in in-line four somewhat based in the R1 sportbike engine though downsized from that 1000cc engine (this bike also exists in a 1000 cc version, as well as the R6 based FZ6 . I like 750-800cc engines, and this bike looks like it will be a good motorcycle for Yamaha. I read that this is the only color it comes in. Should be a lot of fun to ride and has been getting good reviews from the motorcycle magazines.
Another bike getting good reviews from the motorcycle press is the Kawasaki Ninja 1000. It uses the same engine as is found in the Z-1000 but is said to have better room for taller people such as myself, and has an adjustable windshield. I did like this bike, and it is another naked as is the Yamaha FZ8. Next photo (the red cruiser) is the new Kawasaki Vaquero, also new for 2011 with a 1700cc v-twin. Like the look of this bike, which has a definite Harley look, though the 1700 in the Kawasaki, unlike the HD engines is water cooled (though Harley does have water cooled engines in its V-Rod series). The last bike is one of Victory Motorcycles fine line of bikes, like the look of their bikes and they are getting a good reputation for quality and reliability. Many of them have a custom look and are interesting motorcycles.

Down time and Motorcycle Racing

2011-03-02T08:24:00.000-08:00

When I am not riding, I enjoy motorcycle racing (in fact, am a big fan of all sorts of racing including auto and air racing even!) which is a good way to enjoy some top professionals hitting the tracks, trails, and flying motorcycles though the air in races such as Supercross. The AMA races at Daytona will be televised on Speed Channel this month. In fact, the "flying motorcycles" will be shown on March 5th with AMA Supercross at 8PM. On March 12, the two big road races will be shown; the Daytona 200 which will be LIVE at 1PM and later that night (think that will NOT be live, but I could be wrong, not real clear at the Speed Channel web site) will be AMA Superbike starting at 11PM. On March 13 will be AMA Flat Track. A special event for me, in that I have been to a number of events in Flat Track in Louisville, Kentucky and also in Concord, NC..though both events are no longer held in those cities unfortunately. Those races were always a great time.
Speed Channel has a lot of motorcycle coverage including other Motocross and AMA Road Racing series, as well as World Superbike, and of course the remarkable MotoGP. If you enjoy motorcycle action, you can find a lot on the TV this time of year.
Still smiling after last weekends great ride, though will be in Richmond this weekend will not be long until I get some riding in. Going to be a great season I think for riding, and looking forward to some great rides. Got a number of friends heading to Daytona for bike week, have seen some amazing photos from that in the past, and look forward to some more this year.
Hope you all are enjoying some great riding. Weather temperature wise has been sort of back and forth with a warm day or two, and then a cooler day or two both in NC and VA, but the warmer weather is coming. Spring officially starts March 20, and I am looking forward to it!

Race Shop Rides (February 25+27)

2011-02-27T17:59:00.000-08:00

Back to Concord, NC on Friday February 25. It was a warm and very windy day; but after two weeks of just wanting to be on a motorcycle, was good to again be on mine. Took this photo in Concord; got a kick out of my shadow following me, and thought this photo was sort of different. Turned out better than I thought, as did the ride. Friday in the area is pretty busy traffic wise, and this day was no exception, but I knew a few roads that were usually not bad traffic wise. Rode up NC-73 and turned onto the Kannapolis Parkway where I came across Stewart-Haas Racing. I had not seen that shop, did a little backtracking, and found my way to the door..which was open.
Inside the shop was a lot of really cool cars (which will be featured in my "Richmond and Me" blog) but also this motorcycle. This bike was built for Stewart Haas Racing by Orange County Choppers (aka OCC) in 2004, and it is quite a ride. Good quality job from what I could see, and its quite a looooonnnnnngggg motorcycle; I would think it could be a real bear to turn. This is the second OCC bike I have actually seen (another one was on display during one of the races, and can be seen on a previous post to this site) but it was a lot of fun to check it out. I was always a big fan of that show, and the work that those designers did. Kind of wacked now there, but whatever!

Got another view of the bike here, sort of a closeup of that big massive tank. Visited the shop for quite a while, and then went up NC-3 (figures don't it?) to Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Surprisingly, the museum there is still open as most of the racing operations have been moved to the area of the Concord airport as a merged "Earnhardt-Ganassi" operation, but the older shop still had a lot of things on display and it was nice to be back there (and that shop was also open, which was a surprise). Rode some of my favorite roads back to the house in what was a three hour ride. It sure felt good to be back in the saddle again, and enjoyed a fun and interesting ride.
Non-bike on Saturday visited Wood Brothers Racing in Harrisburg, NC, but back on the bike on Sunday. Saw this sport bike on sale (just liked it, so snapped a photo) and rode for an hour. That and the previous ride gave me a total of 103 miles for the weekend. Much less windy on Sunday, and much less traffic too.
As I noted, got some good photos of the three race shops and also some of the items in it, which you can see on the Richmond and Me blog as noted.
Certainly was a smile-inducing weekend, could not have asked for better weather, and as always no better places to ride than can be found in NC.

It's a Gas...the rising costs of fuel and motorcycles

2011-02-24T10:18:00.000-08:00

Funny, just a short while ago, a few previous posts back I talked about the future and electric vehicles and the problems with gasoline. Now the problem is paying for it, events in the Middle East have caused a big rise in fuel costs. Many people will be considering motorcycles as an alternative, and they can be a real good one. Many things to consider though before the big leap into two wheels, not that it can not be a good move but research is important. Motorcycles can get really good fuel mileage, but not all bikes are the same. Like with all things, some are better than others. There is also maintenance costs to consider; valve adjustments can be a real huge cost (especially on multi-valve four cylinder engines) and tires can be expensive as can chains and sprockets (if so equipped). Do your research before you leap.
As for great fuel saving motorcycles; two come to mind. One is seen directly below in the previous post; the Kawasaki Ninja 250. I believe (last I read) that bike is the top seller for Kawasaki in the motorcycle division. It is a twin with a long history (been basically unchanged for a lot of years) with a low initial price new, and with many used models on the market as well. Getting some competition this year from Honda which is coming out with a 250 single; I hope to see that soon. If gas gets in short supply, or prices zoom up the Ninja 250 will get in short supply (that happened a few years ago when gas hit $4). The bikes are highway rideable, smaller bikes than 250 get even better mileage, but they get real limited on highway travel. Suzuki makes a pair of street 250's that are well worth a look. To me 250cc is the smallest and most versatile motorcycles you can get, though for just commuting without highway travel smaller is possible if you can get there via side streets.
The DL-650 also seen (and other bikes in the 650-500 range) also are good on fuel. Not as good, and more money to buy, but would be a big improvement on the vast majority of cars. Generally bigger bikes will get less mileage as horsepower goes up.
There are also a number of scooters out there. Again size is a factor both for fuel mileage and what you can do with it. Laws also depend on size, at a certain point in many states a motorcycle license is required. Those laws vary, so you need to check that before you sign on the dotted line if that is a factor. One "scooter standout is the Suzuki Bergman (there is a 650 and 400cc version). Automatic, and also have some good storage space, these bikes also give good motorcycle performance.
Know I said it before, but I will repeat...most important thing is to do a lot of research. If you get a motorcycle and have not ridden, be sure to get some training. It saves on insurance, and also can save your life. Well worth the time and the small cost of such programs. Most motorcycle dealers can point you to places (many even can provide) training on riding. Good luck, and best wishes!

Ultimate Cycle; on a Sunny February Day

2011-02-23T09:10:00.000-08:00

Went by Ultimate Cycle on a Sunny, but a little cool February 23 day. Getting close to riding time in Carolina this weekend, and ready for that. In the meantime though, a good time to check out some 2011 motorcycles. Though these are previous models (which is to say they are basically the same bikes as in 2010) nice to see some of the new motorcycles. There are a few new models coming out, and I plan to bring them soon. I like Ultimate Cycle, seems to be a fine and very friendly shop. Bike at left is a Kawasaki Ninja 250. It is one of Kawasaki's best sellers, and I have a feeling with the big uptick in fuel prices, that won't change.

Seen here is a 2011 Suzuki DL-650. Stronger than the Ninja seen above, but like it is a twin (though the DL-650 is a V-twin) it has a real good reputation for reliability and is said to be a really fun bike to ride. Being tall, I like the size of this bike, and has one of the most comfortable motorcycle seats I have had the pleasure to sit on. The 650 V-twin is also the motor on the SV-650, which is also said to be a very fun bike. The bike appeals both to beginners, and is also said to be a great motorcycle for the more seasoned motorcyclist. There is also a larger Suzuki DL-1000 for those who need a bit more horsepower.
As far as Suzuki cruisers, they do not get any bigger then the 2011 M-109. That is in 109 Cubic inches, or for those of us with a metric bent that would be 2000cc's. Suzuki was in a partnership for a while (not sure if it is still going on) and the engine is the same basic engine as you would find in the Kawasaki Vulcan 2000. Amazingly this is the second largest production motorcycle engine (from a major manufacturer) with the largest being the 2300 cc (or thereabouts) in the Triumph Rocket III.
If you are in the market for a new motorcycle in the Richmond area, be sure to check out Ultimate Cycle. They are friendly people to visit.

Bikes...and Barbeque Events in NC

2011-02-19T15:23:00.000-08:00

Two posts below spoke of trying to find any motorcycle events in Richmond, Va...but was thinking today of news on a great riding day in Charlotte (heard about it, I was in Richmond doing some fun exploring in the car) and hearing about some of the stops there. A favorite motorcycle stop is Mac's Speed Shop, which has multiple locations in the Charlotte region. I have been to two; one on South Blvd in Charlotte, and one at Lake Norman. Great food, and a fun place which is VERY biker friendly. They also have some very good bike nights upcoming soon.
As far as Barbeque events; a big one announced its dates. That would be the Hog Happenin in Lincolnton, NC which will be held June 3 and 4, 2011. Great food, music, and a lot of motorcycle events. Heck, they even close off the town to where you can't drive into the square unless you are doing it on a motorcycle. Admission is free and this is a favorite don't miss event.
New for 2011 at Tilley's Harley-Davidson on September 23-24 will be "Biker Blues and BBQ" at the dealership. One of the bigger regional dealerships, they have a lot planned, and this will also be an event worth checking out. I plan to do so, if at all possible.
There is another Hog Happenin, this one held in the very cool town of Shelby; which will be held September 23-24. I have not been to that one (yet) but they have the food, its a great ride there, and they also have a bike show there (also some cars as well). There was a $2 admission charge on Saturday, at least back last year, could be possible again this year.
Course for some great BBQ there is the nearby town of Lexington, NC. Lexington bills itself as the "Barbeque Capital of the World" and has a number of fine places to eat. They have a huge one day festival, which is not really motorcycle oriented (but they are welcome there) which will be held this year on October 22. Lexington in the fall also happens to be a great motorcycle ride via NC8 which is a beautiful road which runs from the High Rock Lake area to downtown Lexington. That road is fun though any time of the year. The Lexington festival will have well over 100,000 people, and offers a great deal for everyone. The festival is free.
As with all of them either a low or no admission charge, but food and beverage will cost you though have found those charges to be very reasonable for some good food (at least I can speak to that in Lexington, Hog Happenin in Lincolnton, and at Mac's Speed Shop.
Riding and BBQ....does not get much better in the Carolina. More to come with a lot coming up in the Carolinas in 2011.

The Quest for 2011's...here is a Pair

2011-02-16T08:33:00.000-08:00

Some what tired from the long drive and the previous night at work, pretty sure the bike at left was a 2011. Of course, it is a holdover from 2010, but a good one. This is the Honda Shadow Phantom, seen here at RideNow in Concord on my visit on February 12. My last bike (prior to the current Vulcan Classic) was a Honda Shadow VLX 600. Nothing short of a great and trouble free bike, this bike felt familiar. It also felt a bit short; with a 25.7 inch seat height (I being 6'2" was a problem with the VLX). It has a water cooled 745cc V-twin engine, fuel injection, 5 speed transmission, 3 valves per cylinder, and shaft drive. Looking like a Harley Sportster is probably very intentional. One of these will run you around $8,000, though think most bike shops in the current economy are very willing to deal on most if not all of the motorcycles out there.
This next bike is very interesting, and is one of the fine Victory Motorcycles. American made since 1998 they have created some very interesting designs. Arlen and Cory Ness, very noted motorcycle builders are associated with the company. The bike is the 2011 Victory Cross Roads. It comes with the 106 Cubic Inch (aka 1731cc's), a six speed transmission, v valves per cylinder, and also comes with fuel injection. It has the added bonus of hydraulic lifters and a self adjusting cam chain. Power to the rear wheel comes via a "Carbon fiber reinforced belt" (got all these details from the Victory web site). The engine is air and oil cooled. Again, subject to the deal you can work, the basic bike is right around (give or take) $15,000. There are a slew of add-on's you can get with this bike which could significantly raise that price.
Still waiting to see the all-new 2011 motorcycles (as in totally new designs/models) and on that front a lot of news and pricing is coming out. I think I will be reporting on them in the near future; get a kick out of all the new models, and am looking forward to both seeing them in the "flesh" (so to speak) and presenting some of them here. Ride safe!

Richmond Motorcycle Events (a few anyhow)

2011-02-15T09:57:00.000-08:00

Enjoying a good post ride day in NC while relaxing in Richmond (previous post), and also enjoyed the new bikes I saw (next post) also in Concord. That was a great time, I am soooo ready for Spring which will offer some of the best riding of 2011. I have been looking for some upcoming events in the Richmond area, though I am far from my motorcycle when here, motorcycling is not far from my thoughts. Stumbled across some fine events in 2010; enjoyed the ChildSavers Ride by the Tuskegee Motorcycle Club of Richmond, Va...but as of yet I have not been able to find any info on the 2011 edition of that ride. Sure that Bike Nights will start soon in the Richmond area, but as of now, not a lot of information on them. Charlotte area events and rides are a lot easier to locate, with a lot more information.
However, I like to bring what I can; and did find a couple of upcoming events. April 2-3 Virginia Motorsports Park will host the 2011 Virginia Bike Fest. Found there will be some drag races, a poker run, and a host of other events; I also think there is a admission fee...think because other than the fact the event will be held, there is little information out there. Will be checking out a local bike shop this week, maybe there will be more information there.
Also on April 3, The Richmond Riders will be hosting a Poker Run which will leave from The Shoppes of Bellgrade Mall which is located in Midlothian, VA. I went to see them off last year; nice group and they ride a variety of motorcycles which is pretty cool. I was once in a club like that in Concord, NC, and we had a lot of fun (broke up when the factory closed, but at one time had over 200 members). Richmond Riders have a facebook page, and I decided to "join" that.
Many of the bike shows that I found last year I stumbled across; two of which were at Hooters. They seem to have problems updating their sites (one in Richmond had events and specials from 2009 and a note that none of the specials and events were current); but a surprise is a lot of fun. Will keep looking, and as I find anything of interest in Virginia motorcycling will keep you posted!

Planes and racing on a winter "spring day"

2011-02-15T07:26:00.000-08:00

Took the Vulcan out for a cruise on a very fine winter day; a bit on the breezy side, but warm is a beautiful thing. It was close to 70 out riding; nothing wrong with that especially in mid-February. Went out to one of my favorite places which was Concord Regional Airport. It is a nice place to ride to and I have always enjoyed aircraft. This is my bike in front of a couple of planes in the distance. Nice airport and one of the busiest in the state, this small airport gets a lot of flights. Many of the race teams are based there (as you will see in a little while a little further down). Sunday was a nice riding day, traffic was not real bad, and the motorcycles were for sure out in force! Nothing like a warm winter day to bring the guys and gals out for a ride. Enjoyed being on the bike after my two week pause from riding. I really enjoy getting out and do so every visit I can. The fact that the area is sort of in a drought makes that possible, though they had a snow fall (very light) just a few days prior. It is still winter, though nice to get a break for a short while at least. I am sure some more winter is still to come though.
From the observation deck, watched a number of planes take off and land. A Dad and two boys were also watching the flights, brought back memories of doing that with my Dad many years ago. Motorcycling and aviation have gone well together, many pilots also ride and make comparisons to the two activities. In fact one could make the case that riding helped the creation of planes. Many control issues were figured out by the bicycle knowledge of the Wright Brothers, and early versions of motorcycle engines powered the creations of motorcycle racer, and aircraft designer Glenn Curtiss.
A number of racing teams are based around the airport such as Earnhardt-Ganassi, Roush-Fenway, and of course Richard Petty. That is the Vulcan in front of Petty's shops. The track is also nearby, and many of the teams have aviation departments at the airport. I have in the past even seen drivers (saw Tony Stewart there) at the airport.
Rode out by Concord Mills (getting there would be wild, huge line of traffic on I-85 which I passed over in both directions to NC's most popular tourist destination) with a stop at Suck Bang Blow in Concord. Really like that place , nice place to relax near the end of a ride with some refreshing beverages (just one though...I am riding). Had a great ride, covering a short but fantastic 36 miles. Not a long ride, but better to ride a little than not at all. Looking forward to the next one. I also made a visit to RideNow in Concord the day before, couple of new bikes to show off and will do that in a future post.

Motorcycling and the Future

2011-02-11T07:35:00.000-08:00

Been reading a great deal on electric motorcycles; and of course enthralled over the years with such things as "Speeder Bikes" in Star Wars and some of the motorcycles such as the flying one the cop rode (flew, rather) as well as Captain Kirk's bike (though never clear on what powers it, though obvious an internal combustion engine does not) in Star Trek. Some have wondered where are the flying cars sci-fi promised us, I on the other hand was more excited about the flying motorcycles. In a since though, they do "fly"...giving us incredible performance and improved reliability. Change comes rapidly and improvements are dramatic; and I enjoy checking out new developments that years ago were undreamed of. There are all sorts of bikes out there from the basic to the technology packed. Now you can change power settings on many sport bikes with the touch of a button; need some help on that track day...there is a setting you can change to make the bike more manageable. ABS, GPS...all sorts of letters that can help you in a ride; things are forefathers never dreamed of on their motorcycles, and more is coming.
Also coming are electric motorcycles, like it or not. All sorts of posts in all sorts of forums have knocked those who ride them as tree huggers, and point out that they also need energy to make power. That is true, but they also can be charged with a variety of forms of power, and that is what makes them interesting among other things. Forget saving that planet (though that is important, that being where we ride currently). There are like it or not limits to fuel in this world. One of those fuels; aka gasoline is getting harder and more importantly more expensive to find. Sure there are new techniques such as pumping fluids into old sources to get the last oil out. That reminds me of the old trick of putting water into a shampoo bottle to get enough soap to wash your hair one more time; sure it works but for how much longer? Fact is the days of cheap oil are long over.
Here is my thought on electric motorcycles. Are they ready for prime time for the typical rider? Probably not; range and cost are issues. Of course of the latter, cost tends to come down with more production. Look at what happens with most things; plasma tv's, computers, digital cameras (you get the idea). As for improvement range is continuing to get better, charging times faster. Plus there is the thought that development may even involve machines that don't use batteries as the storage media. Fuel cells, alternative fuels (perhaps a natural gas powered generator); the field is wide open.
I can say this; take a well developed future electric motorcycle with price, power (easy to do that with electric motors, they drive trains with electric motors) and range and then tack on say an arab oil embargo (happened before) some sort of series of natural disasters (say a few hurricanes), or just a dramatic rise in prices and this motorcyclist will be more than happy to give electric motorcycles a closer look.
The time of electric motorcycles may not be here for most of us, but that time may well be coming. As with many changes, that may be more remarkable than most people think; just look back at those who sold horses and carriages at the dawn of the internal combustion engine.

Winter Riding

2011-02-09T10:15:00.001-08:00

Took this photo on Sunday, February 6; was in the car here in Richmond, saw these (and many others) enjoying the warmer weather in the Richmond area. In fact, I am one of those who ride whenever I can this time of year. Once read that the best battery charger made is the engine of your motorcycle (generator or stator actually, but you get my point) and its good to get out and ride. Does require some special attention to the weather and conditions, and often a good amount of cold weather gear, but winter riding can be especially good. Got to say though it is much nicer when the temperature is comfortable for you; some can ride in very cold, some look for warmer temperatures in winter (say 50 and above). On colder days the rides tend to be slower (which can help cut down on wind chill) and shorter, but as I often say a short ride is better than no ride at all.
Hopefully will get some riding in this weekend, will have to check the roads. Noted that there is a (minor) snow fall due in North Carolina this week; while it is expected to be minor, the road crews are out salting the roads. Salt is not a friend to aluminum parts on a motorcycle, so a post ride wash (aka "Bike Bath") of your machine is a good idea. Also be of note, especially as I have noted in the Richmond area, but also in Carolina to a point, that potholes are common this time of year. That is important to watch for no matter if you ride a motorcycle, or for that matter a car, moped or bicycle. Ride safe in the winter, and for that matter year long.

Zero Motorcycles Update

2011-02-09T09:19:00.000-08:00

As I noted in the previous article; change comes quickly when it comes to electric motorcycles. Zero Motorcycles announced many changes to its four bike line up for 2011 a few days ago, and details can be seen at the company website. Among them are that the former dirt only versions (the Zero S and DS) now have "street legal versions". Battery packs have been improved for greater range, and a quick charger which significantly shortens charge time can now be purchased for the bikes. There have been changes/improvements to many components of the motorcycles including the suspension, wheels, power train and brakes. Prices have a also changed including some new prices for the Street legal dirt bikes. The Zero X in dirt version is $7,995, the street/trail version is $8,495. The MX is $9,995 for the dirt version, $9,945 for the street/trail version. The two road bikes are the Zero S at $9,995 and the DS (dual sport) at $10,495. All that is current pricing and may of course be subject to change, as is the 10% federal tax credit. All the details as noted can be found at the web site for Zero Motorcycles.
As I have noted have been for a long time amazed at the range of motorcycles out there, and have noted the impact of technology on the motorcycles available today. On the one hand there is the sort of basic motorcycles such as my Kawasaki Vulcan and most Harley-Davidson motorcycles; designed to be simple for the most part. However they have even benefited from technological advances over the years. BMW motorcycles and most sportbikes offer a dazzling array of technology from engine development and features with staggering (and changeable) power at the push of a button. Touring bikes offer features typical of most cars.
I look at electric bikes as another development in the history of motorcycles and an important one due to the rapidly rising cost of fuel. As noted in the previous article, the era of cheap gas is most probably going to be relative year to year anymore. As development continues these type of motorcycles could serve in the future to be cheap, reliable and good ways to enjoy motorcycling. That future may be closer that we think.

Zero Motorcycles

2011-02-05T19:07:00.000-08:00

The first one of these I had ever seen (last year) was at Velocity, this is the one I saw today. Interesting design; an all-electric motorcycle. Zero makes four models; the Zero X (the trail model, seen here) at $7,495, the MX (Motocross) for $8,295, and the S (Street) for $9,995 and the DS (Dual Sport) which is also $9,995 (at the time I write this). Also as I write this there is a Federal Tax Credit, which can equal up to $1,000 off of those prices. For the price you do get a bike that has limited range (40-50 miles depending on the model) but uses no gasoline, needs no oil changes, has no transmission and needs only a short time on the charger to get back on the road. The company started in 2006 and is based near Santa Cruz, California. The founder is Neil Saiki who has an aviation design degree and worked as an engineer at NASA. He brought a lot of technology from NASA and aviation; creating a bike that is amazingly light (the frame of the Zero X is 13 pounds and the whole bike weight is 161 pounds total; or as they say "100 pounds less than the average 250cc motorcycle". While horsepower is low at 23hp, torque is in the range of 50 foot pounds (for the Zero X) which makes for some great acceleration. Top speed is around 55 mph for the Zero X, though the street and Dual Sport are somewhat faster (and have lights too).
While motorcycles get great mileage (as a rule) the rising cost of gasoline, and the problems with supply will impact us too. Development is certainly in the early stages, but range and top speed will increase. The potential is certainly there...as I write this the electric bike record is a hair over 175mph (for the quarter mile). Other bikes are under development with longer ranges, higher speed, more torque, and greater horsepower. Zero is also constantly improving its bikes as technology improves.
They don't yet match internal combustion engines by a long shot, but are certainly coming along quickly toward that target. Whatever happens with them, they are an interesting side to motorcycling, and will most likely be a part of the future of the sport.
More information on Zero Motorcycles including current pricing, tax credits, and other information can be found at their web site via your favorite search engine.

Reflections on a Rainy Saturday (February 5, 2011)

2011-02-05T18:36:00.001-08:00

While I was enjoying my visit to Velocity Motorcycles (which by the way is doing some painting on the inside of the business, sprucing up for the upcoming riding season), I picked up a couple of "free" motorcycle publications. The first was the January/February 2011 edition of Motorcycle Times (calls itself "The Mid-Atlantic Motorcycle Magazine"). Nice publication, and has some good stuff in it. Good amount of interesting news on motorcycling and upcoming shows (magazine is regional but the majority of items seems to be in the Maryland area), riding calendar, a Biker Billy cooking article (love those), and a really good article on a ride from Weston, VA to some points in West Virginia. It was a great article and saw some really unique places in that article. Those two pages alone were well worth the "price".
The second magazine was Fast Lane Biker, January 2011, Issue 1 (and also free). Again, a nice magazine; articles, a ride calendar, and though not "Biker Billy" a cooking article (one thing I have learned from riding...bikers love to eat!).
Always like to pickup the free magazines in a local bike shop, where you can learn what the local community of riders is thinking/riding, and some of the places they go. Plus it makes for something motorcycle related to do on a rainy and cold winters day.
On this rainy and cold winters day, the Charlotte Vulcan Riders had their monthly meeting. As I noted, it is held monthly at a local restaurant (this one was at Jakes Good Eats in Charlotte, NC). As with Richmond, it was a rainy morning in Charlotte, but cleared out around noon (later in the afternoon here) and from what I read on their facebook page, they had a great time. I got an invite, but was here this weekend, and don't get to ride with them as often as I would like, but have in the past, will in the future, and have found them to be an outstanding group of guys and gals. You need to have a Kawasaki Vulcan to be a member, but not sure at all they would not welcome you to ride if you don't. Group is just around two years old, but is growing like a weed.
As for me, enjoyed my non-riding day of motorcycle culture Virginia style. This is an interesting place with a very fun motorcycle community and some fine shops and events. I am sure I will be visiting more shops (and some of the old favorites as I did with Velocity) and some fun events in 2011 here in Virginia, as well as many great rides and events in North and South Carolina. Won't be long till Spring is here, and the riding will be even better.

Day at Velocity (February 5, 2010)

2011-02-05T16:51:00.000-08:00

Been visiting some motorcycle shops this winter to see some of the new 2011 motorcycles. Those have been (mostly) Harley-Davidson's as the other brands new bikes are not out yet. Today, visited Velocity Motorcycles at 1202 N. Boulevard in Richmond, VA. One of my favorite shops in Richmond, they sell new Royal Enfield, Bajaj, Ural and Hysung motorcycles, but also some really great classic bikes. Seen at right is a Honda CB1000, I think dating to 2004 if I remember right. The engine was an in-line water cooled four. Honda has a much updated version, the CB1000R coming out this year. This is basically an early version.
The motorcycle seen at left is a BMW motorcycle, and I believe it is an older model. It is one of the famed "Boxer" twins, though they now make a number of great motorcycles including an in-line six touring model, and even a couple of in-line fours (including one howling sport bike). Known for technical innovation, the company started building aircraft engines (the company emblem is designed to represent an aircraft propeller) and built its first motorcycle in 1923. That bike, the R32 is the basis for many of the motorcycles they are still building today. BMW motorcycles are popular in a number of applications, and said to be very reliable.
Ducati is a Italian manufacturer, and makes some of the fastest motorcycles on the road today. They have a great racing history and use a lot of that technology in their motorcycle designs. Among their bikes are the Monster line, Multistrada line, the new Diavel sport cruiser, and the 1198 among others. Ducati started in 1926 though it did not build motorcycles until around 1950, but it has a number of racing championships in that time period. Richmond does not have an actual Ducati dealership, but a number can be found at Velocity at any given time. I am looking forward to seeing some of the new 2011 models in the near future.
Finally, this is a very interesting model from Bimota. With some research was able to find this is a Bimota DB3 Mantra. It was a very rare motorcycle and was only made for a very few years. Like Ducati it is an Italian company, though with a much shorter history which began in 1973. This bike uses a Ducati 900SS engine; most of the models used engines from Ducati or a number of Japanese manufacturers. The company went out of business, but has in recent years began production again. I checked out their web site, but its mostly in Italian, but features a number of new bikes.
I enjoyed my visit to Velocity, and have also put a few more photos, plus larger versions of these on my Photo Page which is one of the links to this site. There is always something interesting to be seen there, and some very friendly people to help you. They also rent motorcycles at the shop, something I may take advantage of later this year, as my bike is in North Carolina and I have never ridden in Virginia on a motorcycle.

Post Ride Motorcycle Stuff

2011-02-02T09:16:00.000-08:00

Still pumped from the motorcycle ride on January 29 (featured on the last three posts) along with the motorcycle related places I visited. Suck Bang Blow was a lot of fun as well as a good place to eat, and always nice to visit Pat Rogers Harley-Davidson. Even though not motorcycle related (though good food tends to be a part of the riding experience) Jerky Outlet next to Pat Rogers was a fine discovery. Always good to have a great day, good riding buddies (thanks Phil and Terry!), and a great place to go. Rides like that keep me smiling during the days spent in Richmond, Va. Ah the life of a migrant factory worker!
While home, saw the new Motorcyclist Magazine (I am a subscriber; get that and the AMA Magazine as I am also an AMA member). Motorcyclist (the March 2011 issue) had a good story on a "Superbike Vs Supercar" (Ducati 1198 vs Ferrari 458 Italia) which was interesting. I have also seen a video from that shootout on the Motor Trend web site (via the also very fine Motorcyclist magazine web site), and its interesting to say the least.
I also got a kick out of the article on the Ducati Diavel (very) sport cruiser. Want to check that out; but don't believe there is a Ducati dealership in the Richmond area. There IS one in Charlotte, NC...though it has moved from the former location on Independence Blvd (they also sell BMW, Triumph and MV ; or did when I last saw them. My last visit there last fall was their final day at the old location, will have to find and check out the new one. Was a very fine motorcycle shop, always enjoyed visiting that. More on that in a future post.
I also read (checking on motorcycle rear tires, coming up on the time to get a new one for the Vulcan) that Quaker Steak and Lube will start their famous bike nights on April 6. Will check on that, but might want to be watching about that time. Certainly the biggest in the Concord, NC area, and one of the biggest (if not the biggest) in the region. Usually some vendors on hand, always some fine bands, usually good food/beverage specials, and a slew of motorcycles are on hand. Good to get there early, it has been known to fill up rather early. I will update that bit of news as events get closer. There are also many, many fine bike nights in the Charlotte, NC area, and also now there is a Quaker Steak and Lube in Richmond...and they will be holding bike nights too. I like those, good way to get together with some friends, and check out some interesting motorcycles.

Pat Rogers Speedway Harley-Davidson

2011-02-01T08:09:00.000-08:00

Last section from the remarkable weekend of January 29-31 included two visits to Speedway Harley-Davidson in Concord. Located on Bruton Smith Boulevard just up from the Charlotte Motor Speedway and near the giant Concord Mills Mall (the mall is the largest tourist attraction in North Carolina...go figure) it is a very nice Harley dealer. Always a lot of nice events there; often bands play there, and a number of great rides (I have been on their big toy ride near Christmas). Currently Saturday's they have free hot dogs and hamburgers. Nice Sales staff and a big dealership. They even have a lot of motorcycles to check out!

Photo here is of a pair of 1200 cc Sportsters. I was always a fan of the Sportster, though I never got one. Biggest problem was that they leaked oil and vibration was a real problem. A few years they finally took a look at the vibration, and got the oil leak problem under control, and by all reports they are now fine motorcycles. Of course now I am over 6 feet tall, and a Sportster is not really an option. I do like them though, especially the XR1200 (one can be seen in the back, the black bike) which is said to be a pretty good performer (for a Sportster anyhow). An old show on tv with Michael Parks called "Then Came Bronson" was about Bronson riding around the country on a Sportster. I remember it, also had a good theme song ("Long Lonesome Highway") back in the day when this bike was one of the big bikes on the road. Times and motorcycles have certainly changed; with engines getting larger and larger. Future trends in fuel, and certainly cost of those bikes may impact that in the years to come. Harley is the most expensive of the major American manufacturers though its a small list.
Seen here are a pair of special edition motorcycles from Harley-Davidson, these are the Firefighter editions. Harley certainly makes some beautiful and iconic motorcycles. I am glad the brand exists as an American institution. They have even been changing over the years with the V-Rod line of motorcycles, and that water-cooled engine is really remarkable. Always interesting to see what they have to offer, and always they are the first to get 2011 bikes out on the market. It has been another tough year for motorcycle sales with most manufacturers showing less bikes sold, and many a decline in profits. Harley as I noted in a previous post sold less motorcycles, but made more of a profit due to a number of restructuring moves. Due to the early arrival of their bikes has been a real focus on Harley of late (and a failed attempt to see the new Honda's..which are not there yet) but it has been enjoyable to check them out. Harley is a big part of the motorcycling past and present, and is still riding into the future!

First Ride of 2011

2011-01-31T10:09:00.000-08:00

January 29 was a beautiful day; talk about a perfect weekend (actually it was even better on Sunday, January 30....over 70 degrees). However, the Saturday was also nice with a high of around 65 and clear blue skies. I took the Vulcan out after doing some checks (cold weather always plays with the tire pressures, so added air to the tires) plus checked it over good. Headed out to Suck Bang Blow (previous post) to meet up with some friends for a ride. After lunch there, we decided to head to Morrow Mountain which is just outside of Albemarle, NC, and is a great park with some fine views of the Carolinas. It also tends to attract motorcycles.
Terry (at left) and Phil (at right) are seen here in this photo at the start of the ride. Both ride Yamaha's (actually Star Motorcycles now, though a division of Yamaha) and are good friends. Terry has a V-4, while Phil and I have V-twins. My bike though is a Kawasaki Vulcan 1500. Rode out to NC-49, though the neat town of Mt. Pleasant, NC, and then up NC-73 to Morrow Mountain State Park. Not a long ride, but really scenic. There was a pretty good breeze but nothing that caused us any problems along the way. I lead the way, and we all made it to the top of the mountain with no problems; enjoying some of the twisty roads to the top along the way.

As you can see here, a lot of bikes were at the top. Great variety of motorcycles which is always the case; Sport bikes, cruisers, and even a few customs were to be found up there. Enjoyed meeting with the bikers, talking about the bikes and all of us marveling over the weather. It has been a cold wet and sometimes snowy winter this year, and the good riding days have been few and far between. So it was great to be up there and to be able to enjoy riding without having to be too heavily bundled up. It was fun watching bikes come and go as well, in an on-going changing of the guard during the time spent there. The views were nothing short of remarkable as well.
Bike that caught my eye while I was there was this Triumph Bonneville. They are a brand that came back from the dead, and has been very successful in doing so and they have a number of neat models including this classic. Course, they are greatly improved over the old 70's Triumph was new electronics (a weak point on the older ones) and improvements in manufacturing. Good to see this old British brand on the roads again, and was great to hear this vertical twin motorcycle engine again. We got back safe and sound from the ride which in my case from door to door was just short of 92 miles on a very fine winter's day. I am looking forward to the next one!

Suck Bang Blow, Concord, NC

2011-01-31T10:01:00.001-08:00

Had a good time this weekend, visited a new restaurant/bar in Concord, NC called "Suck Bang Blow". It is located in Concord right next to Pat Rogers Speedway Harley-Davidson. Actually it is named for three of the four cycles in a four-cycle engine; at least according to the menu! Nice place though, liked the motorcycle theme, and as seen from the photo at left, there are a number of motorcycles inside the restaurant. It also has pool tables, and shows sporting events but also motorcycle movies (saw part of "Easy Rider" and "The Wild One" on a screen). Service is good, beer specials are there to be found, and there is a lot of parking for both bikes and cages. They also have some shirts and other items for sale as well. I think there are other bars in this chain in South Carolina and Florida.
Here is a view of inside looking toward the pool tables (which would be found behind the Harley's on the poles) and also a view of the big fan (which I found is made by the Big Ass Fan Company, and yes...they have a web site!). Ate there; BBQ, slaw and fries, and it was pretty good. Friend of mine from work (when I worked in Concord) and two riding buddies and I met there for a ride to Morrow Mountain on January 29, which turned out to be a really remarkable day both ride wise and weather wise as well. Got into the upper 60s for that ride, which also was the first ride (for me) of 2011. I will have more on that, and some photos from that ride on my next post!

State of the Union: Motorcycles

2011-01-26T08:36:00.000-08:00

Interesting statistics from the Motorcycle Industry Council over the past few weeks. Noted that motorcycle sales are down (go figure) and by a whopping 50% over sales in 2008. In a bad economy wants and needs quickly balance out; and motorcycles are a want or even a "toy" for many, so sales drop off. Plus even those who are big fans of them have to balance out the need for a bike against the need for a car...and the car always wins out. I have been lucky (knock on wood) that I have been able to keep my motorcycle.
Harley had a big increase in net income in 2010 of $259.7 million over 2009's 70.6 million. The income rose despite selling fewer bikes in 2010 (222,110) over 2009 (242,634). Much of that was due to restructuring (some layoffs, other restructuring) and Harley-Davidson did get some TARP money. Harley is still the big leader in US motorcycling; 32.7 % of all US bikes sold, and a whopping 46.7% of all road bikes (which is basically what Harley makes) in the US are Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
Of course, have also been reading that the average motorcycle buyer is getting older; seems to be a trend that many younger people get motorcycles, leave the sport early on, and then some of them get back into it down the road. I can relate to a lot of events in this article. Rode motorcycles in my "teen years" and also had a motorcycle while in the Navy (in Hawaii while stationed there; and a remarkable place to ride). Rode for a while after the Navy (brought the Suzuki back here with my household goods move) but due to income and the cost of living, sold the bike and did not ride again for many years. Finally, finances got better and I was able to ride again. Have enjoyed it a great deal, but you never know what will happen.

Honda House (January 23, 2011)

2011-01-23T09:38:00.000-08:00

Two posts down is a post of the Honda DN-01, and two of the BRP Spyder trikes; but this is the more conventional bikes at Honda House. Went to see the new CBR250R and the CB1000R but they were not in yet. Still, some fine motorcycles at Honda House. The first is the Honda Fury, which is Honda's "factory chopper" and is based on the VTX-1300 V-twin engine. The Fury from all reports has done well, I have seen (and heard) a lot of them on the roads of North Carolina. Liked the seating position (low) the raked front end, and the use of forward controls and footpegs. Chopper popularity may be down, but this is a very fine motorcycle.
Along with the Fury, much of the same components have gone into two other bikes; the Sabre (seen here in red) and the Interstate (which is much the same as the Fury but with a windshield and saddlebags). All three use the VTX-1300 engine. The Sabre is not as raked as the Fury, sits higher, and has its instruments mounted on the tank (the Fury has them on the handlebars). I would imagine the handling is a bit crisper than with the longer Fury. It is a big change from this version to the old model of the Honda Sabre (and its former other model the Spirit) but a really impressive remake of a long time Honda motorcycle.

I find this a very interesting bike. It is the NV-700 which is sort of a light touring bike. It uses the same 680cc V-twin as the DN-01 (though the NV-700 does not come with an automatic, which I like...enjoy shifting my own gears on a motorcycle, but to each their own), an adjustable windshield, and hard bags for storage. I would think this would be a great commuter bike, or a very fine light weekend tourer. 700 cc's is a very good size for a motorcycle, and in addition the bike is also said to get very good gas mileage. This bike came to Europe and was a huge seller there, not sure how it is doing in the US (where bigger is better in many eyes) but I like this bike, and it could be worth a look in my future.
Finally, this is one of the few 2011 bikes at the dealership, though it is basically the newest model of the CBR1000RR and looks to be pretty much unchanged for this year from the previous years version. The bike though got a lot of interest from the motorcycle press when it came out as a major re-work of the previous design in 2007. It has won a number of "Motorcycle of the Year" awards, and in addition has been a very successful bike in motorcycle road racing. This is a bike for the experienced motorcyclist, but would be a great deal of fun on the roads (and road courses) of America.
Honda makes some fine and interesting motorcycles, and many of them have some interesting technology. Much of what they learn in racing is put into their bikes. The company also makes cars, lawn equipment, and even a small jet private plane called The Hondajet which is headquartered and built in North Carolina. Be watching here for the two new bikes in an upcoming post further down the road (which hopefully when the winter weather abates is where you will find me!). Ride safe!

Harley Davidson of Richmond (January 22, 2011)

2011-01-23T09:18:00.000-08:00

Made two bike shops on Saturday January 22; Honda House (previous two posts) and Richmond Harley-Davidson on Hull Street. Nice dealership, though not one of the "newer style" ones. Friendly people, and they don't bother you which is nice; sort of "look around and if you need anything, give me a yell" sort of thing. Did like this Screaming Eagle version of a Harley-Davidson. That gives them a bigger engine, and some really great graphics as well (as well as a bigger price tag) but they are beautiful motorcycles. Something just totally American and classic about Harley-Davidson. I like the sound of them too...very unique to the brand.

This bike is much like my Vulcan, your simple basic cruiser. Unlike mine, its air cooled, though Harley has moved to water cooled bikes with its V-Rod line. They have also gone from chains to belt drive. Like mine, Harley in general has hydraulic lifters which do not require periodic and often expensive valve adjustments. For many years vibration and reliability were issues (as were the famous Harley-Davidson oil leaks) but those I am told are pretty much issues of the past. I have ridden a few Harley's and find them to be smooth and impressive; and nothing fell off of them which is what you want with a motorcycle.
Really liked this photo, taken from the year of a Harley-Davidson bagger. Looks like a big long bike (and it is a big long bike). Harley now has some American competition, some from the latest version of Indian (which at last report makes versions of one model..The Chief), which is made in Kings Mountain, NC and Victory Motorcycles which is based and produced in Minnesota since 1998. They also make some interesting motorcycles and I will be showing some of their bikes for 2011 in a future update of this page.
Enjoyed my cold day out checking out some of the new 2011's (and some older bikes) though still waiting to see some of the newest creations from the creative minds of US and overseas motorcycle manufacturers. Like to see what the latest trends are; there is a lot of diversity in motorcycles, and some very interesting ideas which push the boundaries of what is a motorcycle. Will be fun to check some of those out in the months to come. Looking forward to some interesting shops, but also looking forward to some fun and interesting rides coming up in 2011.

Different Strokes :DN-01 and BRP Spyder(s)

2011-01-22T18:50:00.001-08:00

Motorcycling has some interesting variations from time to time, and has over the years had some different sort of vehicles under the classification. From a visit to Honda House in Chesterfield, Va; here are some examples. First is the Honda DN-01. First out in 2009, the bike looks pretty conventional with a liquid cooled 680cc V-twin water cooled shaft drive. What sets it apart is that is has a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) or as would be more commonly known; an automatic. The bike has a top speed of some 113 mph from its 43.3 hp engine. Two big drawbacks are its price for its size, and its limited carry capacity as it is rated for only 324 pounds total. It is not the only automatic motorcycle on the market, and I have a feeling that many more will be showing up in the years to come. Styling is sort of a cross between sport bike and cruiser. I have not heard how this model has been selling for the last couple of years.
First out in 2007 is the Can-Am Spyder family of bikes. First out was the Roadster which is powered by a Rotax 990 v-twin engine of around 109 hp. Rotax has been in business for some 50 years and has built some 6 million engines based on some 350 designs. They have built engines for snowmobiles, aircraft, boats, and other vehicles. Rotax engines have been in BMW, Aprilia and Buell motorcycles to name a few. Rotax and the Can Am brand are owned by Bombardier Recreational Products (PRP) which also makes Evinrude boat engines, snowmobiles, and Ski-doo watercraft. BRP is based in Canada. The first of the Spyders (Serial number 001) was presented to Jay Leno. Compared to a street snowmobile, the bike has a number of interesting features including Traction stability control, and anti-lock brakes to make it hold the road better.
New is the RT Line of Spyder Can-Am. Designed to be a touring version is featured a slightly de-tuned Rotax with less hp and increased torque, is 3 inches wider in stance, and comes with a long list of "bells and whistles". It is at 929 pounds some 230 pounds heavier than the RS model (one of which is the photo above). It comes in three different models which have price ranges from $20,999, $22,999, and $24,999 though added features can push up those numbers. On of those features is a "designed for the vehicle trailer which gives the trike a very large cargo capacity. I have not seen the tourer version ridden, but I have seen a number of RS models on the roads, and they are certainly very interesting vehicles. Certainly they are different takes on what is a "motorcycle", and perhaps a hint and some more designs to come.

Full Throttle and Finding Rides

2011-01-20T09:08:00.000-08:00

While at Davis Harley-Davidson (previous post) I picked up a copy of "Full Throttle." A very nice (and free, which is always nice) North Carolina motorcycle magazine, it is a favorite of mine. It has a lot of motorcycle news, and a great event listing (it also is listed in my links, as there is a fine on-line version with much of the same info). For the January issue, had a lot of good articles on the many "Toy Runs" held in the Carolinas (have ridden some of them in the past) , an interview with the maximum Hells Angel Sonny Barger, and my favorite section "The Cruisin Calendar". Miss the great motorcycle web site "Carolina Motorcycle Events" which ended last year, but this lists many events in the area, and there are a lot of motorcycle events even in the winter in North and South Carolina. Some of those of note will be listed below. Not the only way to list events though, some are not listed there, have a few favorites of mine as well that I have learned of over the years via word of mouth, visits to them, and will also mention some of those.
In Virginia, I also have a magazine site (Thunder Road) with a link on this page, but does not seem to get as many events. Some events here I just stumble across while out exploring (found a couple of great bike shows that way).
Another great way to find events is at motorcycle shops, were rides and events are often posted. Riding groups also are a good source of information; Harley Owners Group is the biggest (aka HOG), but there are also groups for Kawasaki Vulcan (I ride with the Charlotte Vulcan Riders Association), Star Motorcycles; in fact most of the major brands have groups (though not chapters in all places).
Popular motorcycle events are bike nights. In Charlotte and Concord, NC there are many of them at such places as Iron Thunder, Hooters, Pat Rogers Harley-Davidson, and the biggest is usually at Quaker Steak and Lube. Though will be cranking up in the spring and into early fall. Though I have not yet been, the new Quaker Steak and Lube in Richmond also hosts a bike night, and I am told it has been growing.
Lots of fun things to do, and this is an early list of some upcoming events. First, a few that will cost you a few bucks to get into. That starts with The Easyriders Bike Show Tour January 22-23 at the Charlotte Convention Center. It is a big and popular show. The AMCA Southern National Meet will be held at Denton Farm Park, Denton, NC May 13-14, and says they will have a number of classic motorcycles on display. If you like to see Harley's drag racing, two big events at Rockingham Dragway, Rockingham, NC on April 30-May 1, and again October 8-9 as part of the AHDRA 2011 Championship Series.
There are a number of free events to visit. Not really free (you have to get there) but Daytona Bike Week will be held March 4-13. Friends of mine who have been get all google eyed when they talk about it, I get the impression its a hell of a thing. Myrtle Beach comes up in the spring, but the city would rather that if you ride a motorcycle you would ride someplace else, so screw them! One of my favorite events (and not listed in the magazine) is the Antique Motorcycle Show at Gold Hill, NC; a very cool place, and has always been a fun and interesting event, this year on Saturday June 25.
As for Virginia, right now have only one; the AMA Pro Superbike Championship will be coming to Virginia International Raceway in Alton, VA August 12-14. That event also charges admission. Speaking of racing, a lot of events (including some you can participate in) are listed in American Motorcyclist Magazine, or at the AMA web site.
I will (with any luck) have some more Virginia events listed. Upcoming events that right now lack dates are the Childsavers Ride in Richmond, VA (always a huge ride) and of course Hog Happenin in Lincolnton, NC which is a very favorite event. Look for more events here from time to time, and I plan to be at many of them, so as I did in past years will have some photos from those events. Hang in there, Spring is on the way!

A Few New 2011 Harley-Davidson Motorcycles

2011-01-19T07:44:00.000-08:00

On Saturday January 15 was on the way home to Carolina from Virginia. Took a rest stop at Davis Harley-Davidson in Burlington, NC. Though I do not, and have never owned a Harley, I do like the motorcycles. They are American Icons which have stood the test of time. Davis seems to be a really good dealership; they don't hassle you as you look around, and they have a nice selection of bikes, clothes and parts from what I have seen. They also have a number of old Harley motorcycles on display. The brand has a long history; being the oldest continuous American manufacturer. Though Indian and Victory made bikes in the US, Harley had made them longer.
In the foreground is a 2011 Fat Bob (that is a 2010 in the background; though not sure of the model). Harley started production in 1903 in Milwaukee, WI. It built its first V-twin in 1907, though it has had many variations in that motor over the years. It has even trademarked the sound of that engine, which is unique to Harley (and from a show I saw, spent a great deal of money to get its V-Rod to sound the same as all other Harley motorcycles). There were some 150 manufacturers when Harley started, after the Great Depression only two remained: Harley and Indian. Indian would go out of production in the 1950s, though it came back a few times. Indian is made in North Carolina, near Kings Mountain.
Bike below is the 2011 Fat Bob Lo. Harley has been working to make its bikes more popular with both women and younger people. Read an article some time ago that motorcycle buyers are getting older, and Harley has been working to appeal to both a different demographic in the US, but also is building bikes to appeal to buyers overseas. In fact on the drive home a few days ago, heard in an NPR story that Vietnam has its first HOG (Harley Owners Group) as with the rising incomes there some of the Vietnamese can now own Harley-Davidson motorcycles. HOG is a big part of Harley ownership; the clubs get together for events and rides on a regular basis, and most of the dealerships are active supporters of the groups.
Last photo is a 2011 Electra Glide. One of the earliest motorcycle movies I remember seeing was "Electra Glide in Blue", and I also remember the old tv show "Then Came Bronson". Though Harley has suffered some serious sales losses, as have all other motorcycle manufacturers in the current recession, they are still churning out bikes. Harley is always the first to show new models, and they are classics in every since of the word. Love em or hate em, they are a vital part of Americana and the classic American motorcycle. Certainly I have enjoyed riding with a number of Harley riders (and have been welcomed even while on my Kawasaki Vulcan) and have been to some great events with them. I will be featuring more 2011 Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and more from the other brands as the year goes on. Thanks for visiting my page!

Arnold, The AMA, Loud Bikes, and News (January 16, 2011)

2011-01-16T08:35:00.000-08:00

Back in Carolina, though won't be riding this trip, though the day is sunny, and relatively warm. Problem is that there are still patches of ice on the roads from the big winter storm last week, and a ton of salt and sand on the roads. Just washed the bike after the last salty ride, been cold for the last couple of weeks in Richmond, and frankly will wait till the next trip to ride. I will be putting the bike in the trickle charger; to give the battery a charge, and will start it up tomorrow to run some fluids though the engine, but the ride will have to wait.
That is not to say that motorcycling is far from my mind. I made a visit to Davis Harley-Davidson in Burlington, NC; got some nice photos and those will be in the next post here in a few days. I also watched a bit of Supercross live last night before bed from Phoenix, AZ. A big treat has been the American Motorcyclist Magazine that came yesterday. The February 2011 edition had (as always) a lot of good articles. Liked the one on Bob "Hurricane" Hannah, who was a great motocross/supercross racer. Always enjoy watching those motorcyclists "fly", and Bob was also a very good air racer...who flew P-51 warbirds at Reno among other places, and has a successful aircraft business. He still rides (though a Harley-Davidson now) and is also a big fan of dogs. I think I would really like this guy. It also had a great article on Jorma Kaukonen, who was one of the founders of the Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna (the latter still tours), and lives in Southeast Ohio where he rides motorcycles. Jorma has also been on some interesting cross country motorcycle rides. I also learned that I get a free motorcycle rental (its in the magazine) on my birthday this year with EagleRider. The magazine is published by the American Motorcyclist Association, and is a great group to belong to. It protects rights of bikers, you get great discounts though a number of benefits (have gotten some good hotel discounts through the AMA, also some good deals on parts), and being a member gives me a discount on my motorcycle insurance...so its a win win sort of thing.
However...a bit of disagreement between me and them has come up. Minor but worth a few words. Arnold Schwarzenegger (whew) was made the 2010 Motorcyclist of the Year by the AMA due to his "negative" impact on the sport by signing a law that would require an EPA stamp on aftermarket exhausts on bikes sold after 2013 in California. This law was passed by the legislature, and would cut down on the noise from loud pipes. I know the argument "loud pipes save lives". Loud pipes also piss off other citizens, and I know from rides with a few bikers who had "loud pipes" that they get attention as well from citizens who drive in cars with uniforms on, and have colored lights on their state, county and city cars! Before leaving Richmond, read an opinion letter in the Richmond paper on a persons problems with loud motorcycles. The AMA seems to feel that we can "self police" but that does not seem to be working well. I am all for freedom, but loud bikes impact our freedom to ride. I agree with people who want to replace stock systems with aftermarket (and I am among those who have done it) but either for performance or for cost (they are a whole lot cheaper, as a rule, than stock systems). My point is that picking on Arnold (who has been a good friend to motorcycling; has ridden in many of his movies) for being the "first" is not fair. I think that unless the aftermarket industry makes some effort to control the noise of its pipes, that this is just the tip of what is coming. I think that limits on the noise stock pipes can make, coupled with increased enforcement is coming; the alternative will be bans on motorcycles in many areas such as parks and even neighborhoods (and that has happened in a lot of places already). Yeah I know its all about "Freedom" but freedom has a price in many directions. So in this case, I am not a fan of what they did to Arnold or why.
Still though, I will remain a member of the AMA. Like what it does in general, and like the magazine a great deal. Fun to keep up with races, and noted that the AMA Pro Superbike Championship will be rolling into Alton, VA August 12-14. They cover a lot of motorcycle races, and also other events in the states. So I enjoyed the issue, and am pleased with being an AMA member in general. Like any group, will always be some disagreement.
Motorcycling is a great sport, as well as one of the things I do that I most enjoy, and want to keep it viable for future generations to come. That is why the AMA is important, and is worth your attention. Ride safe, and see you on the open road!

Thoughts on 2011

2011-01-05T06:52:00.000-08:00

Up this morning, day five of the new year, and thinking about the last ride, and the weekend. Took this photo on January 2 at the Charlotte Checkers Hockey game; they had a display of bikes (Honda's) from Ricky Hendrick Performance Honda. The last day of the year I had a really nice ride (previous post) and enjoyed being out on the bike on what turned out to be a fine day on a most interesting week (started with snow, ended with a motorcycle ride..got to love Carolina).
Looking forward to the rides coming up in 2011. Course it remains difficult with the two cities thing, but do the best I can. It is interesting to check out motorcycling (though as an outsider) in Richmond, and have seen some nice events and some fine motorcycles here over the past two years. Course, have had some great rides in North Carolina, and am looking for many more this year. Missed some of my favorite events there due to weather and work, but hopefully will get some of those in as well as some new ones in 2011.
I am also interested in seeing some of the new motorcycles coming out. Even in these difficult economic times, some fine bikes will be coming out including a number of brand new models. I am looking forward to hitting the bike shops both here and in Carolina.
Racing will also be cranking up, and I do enjoy motorcycle racing on tv. There is a big road racing event here in Virginia this summer, and would be fun to make that this year. Looking forward to some fine events, and some outstanding rides. I guess with winter, though lucky usually in Carolina weather wise, a bikers thoughts turn to Spring! If you are riding, ride safe, and if you are waiting to ride; winter is a good time to get your ride in shape for the upcoming year. Remember regular maintenance is really important both for your safety and the long term performance of your motorcycle.

Last Ride of 2010 (December 31, 2010)

2010-12-31T13:24:00.001-08:00

What a week, a big snow on Christmas Day, some brutal cold, and just a feeling like winter for quite a few days. However, December 31 it got up to close to 60, though not when I first headed out, but bundled up; and wanting to get a ride in for sure, I headed out. Have to take advantage when the weather works out (sometimes even when it quite does not) when you are in my situation, but a great ride nonetheless. Last Christmas photo here at left, this is Jay Little's House in China Grove, NC. Used to work with him and this is something to see at night..but unfortunately something I did not get to see at night while home but even impressive in the day time.
Covered a lot of ground this ride. Went from China Grove to just outside of Salisbury, NC where the Rowan County Airport is located. I am a big fan of aircraft and like checking out aircraft. Ialso rode out to Kannapolis, NC where I got a photo of the NC Research Center there. Have always hoped that it would be a great place to work, but the economy has not cooperated with that, but some fine buildings, a major investment, and perhaps it will work in the future for many of the people here.

Last photo is of some Kannapolis fireman training on a building in Kannapolis, which I thought was pretty cool. They were going from the truck, up the ladder to the roof. A really great end of the year ride; weather was nice, traffic was light, and the sights were fun to see. I have to say, this is a remarkable place to go riding, and I do love riding here in North Carolina. This will be it for 2010, but will be doing some more in 2011 for sure, have a great motorcycle to do it on. For this ride, got in a hair over 75 miles, and that was a very fine ride indeed. Looking forward to my next adventures on the Vulcan; hope you all have a great 2011!

Visit to RideNow (December 28,2010)

2010-12-29T05:27:00.000-08:00

Over Christmas, has been a most interesting holiday...got a bit of snow here as part of the virtually national blizzard. Been a good week so far to enjoy "American Chopper" reruns, and to also catch up on Sons of Anarchy on Hulu. Temperature outside is rising, the snow is melting, and a ride is coming up this Friday on the Vulcan. Did get out in the car for a bit to check out some of the bikes at RideNow in Concord, NC. Under new management, the store had some really good deals. Motorcycle sales I have read have taken a real pounding during the recession, plus some other factors have come into play as well from what I am reading.
This is a look at some of the sales floor, and that is a nice looking Yamaha cruiser in the foreground. I am a big fan of the cruiser style of bikes, course there is a lot of variety in types of motorcycles, and that is one of them. Size and power are the big deal in American motorcycling. Most cruisers (with some exceptions) are down on power (big on torque though); my Vulcan with its 1500 cc engine puts out a little over 50 hp, many sportbikes get close to (or at) 200 hp. I like the room and the weight of the big bikes, but with size and power costs rise both to service, insure, and even to fuel the big motors. Course have not even mentioned the purchase prices!
Been reading that gas prices are back at $3 a gallon (and that for regular, many of the high performance bikes, and even my Vulcan require Super) and these bikes seen here (Kawasaki Ninja 250's) will probably make a big comeback this year if that is so. Already a huge seller for Kawasaki the Ninja 250 gets remarkable fuel mileage, and can run at a top speed of close to 100mph. Sure does not have neck snapping horsepower, but cheap to buy (MSRP $3999), cheap to maintain, and a fun bike to ride. Plus, you can get a lot of riding in while riding past a whole lot of gas pumps. Honda is joining the 250 ranks, with a new bike this year, and looking forward to checking that out, will have photos here this Spring when it reaches the sales floor. Unlike the Ninja 250 (which is a twin) the Honda will be a single.
As for me, got a ride coming up in just a few days. The temperature is rising, the snow is melting, and the road is calling me out. That will be the subject of my next post here soon!

Cold Ride to Harrisburg (December 11, 2010)

2010-12-13T09:45:00.000-08:00

Back in North Carolina for the weekend, got the bike out on December 11 for a one hour ride to "rotate the tires". Rolled down Flowes Store Road and took a ride down some backroads. Two reasons for that: one is that I like riding the backroads, and two on a day like that was, nice not to roll any faster than needed. Wind chill is a combination of temperature and wind speed, and wanted to keep my generation of wind speed down as much as possible. Did enjoy the ride though, always nice to get out, and when you spend so much time far away, any ride is a good ride. The photo at left was taken in Harrisburg, NC and is a recreated cabin under construction.
Also at the same site is this old building. I believe it is a Post Office/General Store; both the cabin and the store have been a work in progress for some time. Went back basically the same way I came to the house with a few different turns. I did stop and see the site of a bad house fire I heard about last week at Zion Church/Central Heights; house was well and truly burned to the foundation for the most part, had to be a really bad fire. I had read about it, seeing it was something else. Got back in an hour, which frankly even though I was well dressed for the conditions was a good enough ride. Rain on Sunday ended any chance of another twist of the throttle for the weekend, but the ride was good, and enjoyed the time on the bike.