Last Ride of 2010 (December 31, 2010)

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)

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)

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.

December Motorcycle News

First off want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! Photo was taken in my front yard in Carolina. Santa rides this time of year, and often in Carolina we do too. Big ride was held on December 4; the Gaston County Toy Run. The Charlotte VRA rode in that (I unfortunately was here in Richmond) along with a huge number of riders. The video of the group heading out was 11 minutes long...a few hundred riders in all, and on a cold and wintry like day. There was even some sleet at the end of the ride. Well done guys, wish I could have been there! A great group of bikers out for a good cause, the need is real this year and people appreciate your riding for a good cause.
Much of the fall has been a combination of some really nice warm days, followed by some damn cool ones. Now with winter which officially starts on December 21 near, the cold days are here. Still some good riding, but requires some bundling up. Cover that exposed skin, watch out for leaves which can be really slick on the roads, and especially watch out for the other guys out there out on Christmas shopping expeditions. Their minds are often elsewhere, not on the motorcycle in the next lane!
Some interesting news on the Honda front; Honda has pricing on its CBR1000 (a very nice looking bike) and its (also nice looking) CB1000R at $10,999, and its CBR250R at $3,999. This matches the price of the Kawasaki Ninja 250R. Will be interesting to see what happens with these two manufacturers on the 250 front. The Ninja 250 is a very fun, and very popular motorcycle. Frankly, I would like to see more being done toward smaller motorcycles, had some great times back in the day on my 250 and 350cc bikes. Good combination of power and price can be had if the development is there.
Read that Harley-Davidson got $2.3 billion in loans from the US Government in 2008-2009. I also read that it has been paid back. There was a lot of grief from the right wingers over the bailouts, but glad that it was done to help out this iconic brand which along with Victory is the only remaining American manufacturers (though many foreign bikes are assembled in the USA). My only problem with Harley is that, being over 6 foot tall many of their more affordable bikes (such as the Sportster) are built for smaller people. They don't make a smaller bike that fits a tall person. Heck the Japanese do a better job in that regard with their Ninja 250R. I have sat on it, and have more room than on a Sportster. Be nice also if they could get the prices down a bit; they make some really pricey motorcycles imho. Beautiful bikes and I love the sound, but the wallet does not want to take that sort of hit.
Oh well, looking forward to some great riding at the end of the year, and a very good year of events and rides in 2011. Merry Christmas to everyone, and a Happy New Year to you all!

Brrrr......Late Fall Ride (November 28, 2010)

Got out around 12:30pm on a Sunday, on a cool and crisp day in Carolina for a motorcycle ride. Went to Onemor on Union Street, and waited there for Phil. He and I worked together at the factory in Concord, now he is retired and I am working at the other factory in Richmond, VA. We don't get to ride as much as we would like, but we do get out from time to time. Even though it was cold, as the riding opportunities are not as good as they used to be (with me being there, and the bike being here) you do the best you can with the weather that is handed to you. So bundled up and we got out on the road for a very good ride. Any ride is good when it is a rare treat.
Phil and I rode out to Concord/Salisbury Road and rolled out under the blue skies to NC-152. That took us out toward China Grove, nice place with a house there (though have not seen it yet this year) with a great Christmas display (I have a few Christmas photos on my "Richmond and Me" page taken this weekend in Concord and Kannapolis, with more to come). From China Grove we made some back road rides to Enochville, and though Kannapolis via the Kannapolis Parkway. That last is a fairly new road and is really nice; I can see that being a great development route in the years to come. It is really nice out there.
We came back to Concord and we split on NC-29. I had the fuel light shining brightly, and stopped at the BP for some $3.01 Super Unleaded for the bike. Got back to the house, where I got a cup of coffee (made by my wife Patty), and unthawed after a good ride. It was short, but a nice run down some great roads, with a good friend,and had a very fine time. Can be tough riding this time of year, but with the right equipment (and the occasional stop) riding can be not only possible, but pleasurable as well. I had a really good time and was glad I got out for a while. Better to ride then to think about riding; do enough of that in Richmond anyhow!

Shockoe Bottom Bobbers (November 20, 2010)

Far from my ride, went wandering with Dennis Lowery (a fairly new arrival) from Concord to this area to show him some of the sights. Those can be seen on my other blog (Richmond and Me) for those interested. Noted while in Richmond's Shockoe Bottom this couple checking out the motorcycles parked at Bottoms Up Pizza. Always interested in checking out both new and interesting motorcycles, and these really captured my attention. These were not "new bikes" and certainly not what you would get off the dealer floor, but modified and customized in a number of interesting ways. Always cool when people make bikes their very own!
I believe this is a bobber style bike. It is powered by a Suzuki in-line four engine (which would make lunch of your typical cruiser V-twin). Everything not needed has been removed such as fenders (the rear one has been cut off mostly; or "bobbed", turn signals...this bike is built to be as light as possible; even the seat is lighter. I like the ape hanger handlebars, though don't ride with them on my bike: have noted though that they are seen more and more on the highways and bi-ways of roads both in Virginia and North Carolina. Harley has taken up the "bobber" movement with its Cross-Bones model, but this bike was really fine.
Following a like pattern of sorts to the Suzuki is this Honda in-line four which again is lightened substantially from the bike it is based on. Unlike the Suzuki it has a chain drive (the Suzuki being shaft) and instead of ape hangers, it has more of a drag bar look. It also retained the front fender, but either has totally removed or radially cut back the rear fender. Big horsepower (for the time) aided by light(er) weight, this and the other bike would be a fast pair. What it also shows is that it does not take big money to ride. Take an older bike, make some changes, and you can have a really fun ride for little money. I did that a few years ago with my 77 Honda 550 four. My complements to the owners of these bikes for some very creative and interesting rides!

More from the November 14 Ride!

Previous post had some photos from the Morrow Mountain ride, but prior to getting to the Overlook to see the wonders of fall laid out before me, took a couple of stops in Baden, NC. A very nice town; it is the home to Baden Lake. There was for years an Alcoa Plant there which provided a number of jobs; since closed the town goes on. I took this photo at left of two Gold Wing riders checking out the lake. The lake is a beautiful and popular spot and I enjoy going by there. The ride to Baden is also very nice, I enjoy the backroads that take me there. This trip rode up NC-49, to NC-52 and then up 740 into Baden past a great deal of country scenes.
This is downtown Baden. Founded at the turn of the century many of the buildings are old, and it is a "small town" that John Mellencamp would certainly find song worthy. Quiet on a Sunday, and peaceful, like the old stone wall in the background photo with my trusty motorcycle in the foreground.
Baden is just outside of Morrow Mountain State Park; which I mentioned (and had a number of photographs of) in my previous post. I also have a number of photos published on my photo page which can be seen via the link on this page. It is a very nice place to explore, and has a very nice festival which unfortunately I missed this year.
Riding back from Morrow Mountain, I took this shot of downtown Albemarle, NC. Like with Baden, and typical of many North Carolina towns, they largely take Sunday off so it was very quiet. Albemarle is famous I suppose for being the home town of American Idol contestant (and country music star) Kellie Pickler. Like with many Carolina cities, it has an "old" downtown, and a more active "other downtown" with malls, gas stations, stores, and a number of (usually) chain restaurants. I prefer the old downtowns though for the history and the different stores. Have found some great places to eat in places such as this.
One such great place to eat is Harmanco's which is located in Albemarle, NC. I like to stop here when I am in town, and this is a very popular place with the local community (also a favorite stop of bikers). One summer day a couple of years ago, during a major thunderstorm in the area, we all stopped here (had my riding buddies also a few dozen other bikers) to wait it out and to enjoy the great food and the big screen tv's as the storm raged outside. Rain happens when you ride on two wheels, but lucky to have a good "port in the storm" to ride it out. I have found that the local places, the non-chains are great places to eat. This of course is the "smoking area" as most of the bars and restaurants in NC are now totally non-smoking inside. At any case, a great days ride and a fantastic time on the motorcycle in a fine area of the great State of North Carolina on a remarkable fall day!

Morrow Mountain Ride (November 14,2010)

Unlike the previous weekend (which was abnormally cold) November 14 was seasonal; which meant temperatures in the mid-60 range. Like the previous week ride though to the air show, was a day of clear blue skies, and time to ride. Took the Vulcan out on a ride to Morrow Mountain. I did not make it to the NC Mountains this year to see the wonder of the Blue Ridge Parkway (one of the most amazing roads in America, and also by the way runs into Virginia) but I did make it to Morrow Mountain. There the colors were popping, and it was really close to peak. Looking at the view at left I was just dazzled at the wonder of it all.
Morrow Mountain is a popular motorcycle destination, and people in cars, trucks and especially motorcycles like to ride out there and see that there is to check out. The park is a great area to explore, and has a lot of really nice features such as a lake to swim in, cabins to camp in, trails to wander, and of course the remarkable overlook at the top. Here a group of bikers are riding in to check out the leaves. All of us wandered among the trees and the comments were generally the same, being of the "Oh Wow!" variety. It was just pure luck being at the right place at the right time, with my work, and living as I do in two places, things just worked out!
Last photo is of three bikers parked at the overlook. Not only is the riding to Morrow Mountain fun for the views, but is a great chance to talk with fellow riders and at times to check out some very interesting motorcycles. I have seen every sort of bike you can imagine at the top of the mountain; trikes, sport bikes, cruisers of all types (Harley and metric), duel purpose, trail bikes, even quite a few customs as well as a few homemade motorcycles! Always a great bunch of people riding a great variety of machines.
Fall is hands down my favorite time of year, and I enjoyed the ride to Morrow Mountain a great deal. Lucky to be in both Virginia and North Carolina for a number of reasons, but rides such as this one make it all worthwhile indeed.
Sure at times it can be a real pain; getting to one place or the other for this or that event can be close to impossible at times thanks to work (but am very thankful for work believe me in times such as these) but days like this will really get me through the hard days of winter that are coming up in a few short weeks.

Fall at Ultimate Cycle (November 12, 2010)

Went for a walk on a fine fall day, to check out the colors in Richmond; which I am told is now at "Peak". Not quite like a fall motorcycle ride in the mountains, which I was not able to do this year, but still was a beautiful day. While out, stopped by my favorite motorcycle shop (although might be a tie with Velocity Motorcycles in Richmond) which is Ultimate Cycle. Always been impressed with how friendly the place is, the owner I met on a Sunday a couple of years ago. Had not even moved to Richmond (was on an exploration trip with Patty) and he had come in to work on a customers bike. Shop is closed on Sunday, but he invited me in and gave me a tour!
I like that kind of attitude in a bike shop. Not in the market for a bike right now, but will be needing a few maintenance items soon; think I will pick them up there this year. As for bikes they have a good selection of Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Aprilia motorcycles. This is one of the Suzuki cruisers, its an M-50 (which is a 800cc bike, or 50 cubic inches). I had a Suzuki back in the mid-70's; which I rode in Hawaii, was a great motorcycle (course to be honest, don't ever remember having a bad one). Suzuki makes an interesting line of cruisers including the M-109 (2000 cc). That engine is also in the Vulcan 2000, for a time they worked together in a cost saving move.
Bikes below are used also. In the foreground is an Aprilia (wish I knew the model, but don't). Italian made motorcycles, very strong engines I am told and some interesting designs come out of their factories.
Next to the Aprilia, in the background is a KTM. They are highly regarded (at least by the leading motorcycle magazines) and are made in Austria. Said to be very powerful motorcycles though both of the brands seen here are on the pricey side in my opinion. Still, as the old saying goes, performance costs. Like to give one or both of these a spin one of these days. Cruisers are fun, but raw power is a fun thing to enjoy as well.

Between the Handlebars: November 2010

Fall riding is some of the best out there; enjoyed a great pair of rides in early November (see previous post). Great to get out during the change of seasons, though warm clothing is a must. Luckily there is a good amount of quality gear out there. Also a good idea to watch out for wet leaves in the road (they can be slick), and especially watch for cagers....distractions such as cell phones are always a danger, but as fewer of us ride in the colder weather, we can be more "out of mind" than normal. So ride defensively! This is also a good time to check maintenance on your bike; give it a good pre and post ride check before every ride, and make sure its in top condition. Tire pressures are important, as they can change with the changing temperatures. As the saying goes; "Ride to Live, but Live to Ride"!
Speaking of rides, this time of year is great for big charity rides. Nothing like the sound of a big group of bikes riding together to do something good. Many groups (such as the Charlotte branch of the VRA) have already done some rides, which is especially appreciated this time of year with so much need out there. One really fun ride is the "8th Annual Arzie Rogers Toy Run" which will be held this year on November 21. It will leave from Cannon Stadium at 1pm, with registration starting at 10am. The cost is just a new unwrapped toy. For that you get to go on a great ride which is police escorted from beginning to end (and the police are a hoot, believe me!). The ride ends at Pat Rogers Harley-Davidson. I went last year, had a meal there, and a lot of giveaways. It is a really great time for a great cause.
At Full Throttle Magazine (I have a link on this page) there are a number of rides listed all over the state. At Thunder Road, the rides are fewer, but you might check with local motorcycle dealers for a ride near you. Bundle up, and have a great time!

Air Show Ride, Monroe, NC (November 7, 2010)

Actually took this photo as part of the previous days ride (see previous post) but liked the last little hint of fall. It was not really a great fall season; some color and some moments of really nice rides, but overall the colors were sort of bland to be honest. Probably due to the lack of rain, and the heat of summer; both of which were hard on trees. This year for the first time in a long time, did not make a ride to the NC Mountains, but there it did look pretty nice from photos that I saw.
At any case, on Sunday November 7, rode once again to Monroe, NC to the "Warbirds and Warriors" Air Show. I did not have a great deal of time, and it was a "brisk" day when I headed out in the morning, but a cold ride is better than no ride at all. With my new (and very warm) motorcycle coat from the Ride Now Open House the day before, I was warm as I hit the quiet open road which was NC-601 to Monroe. It was a day much like the previous day with clear skies, and temperatures slightly south or at 40 degrees! It was a nice day for an air show!
I did not have a great deal of time to stay there. They gave a discount for prior military service (I liked that) and wandered around a bit. Basically went to see this plane; the Curtiss Helldiver. A WWII carrier plane, it was a divebomber late in the war against the Japanese. This is the only one still flying (believe that is true, though information does change from time to time). I like history and cool to see these great old planes. I was disappointed that they roped off the area of the vast majority of the planes; so could not get "up close and personal" to them. Still, it was a neat thing to see history outside of a museum, and ready to fly!
I also took this photo of the T-6, a trainer (the type also saw some combat during Vietnam) and saw a number of other aircraft. The Tora Tora Tora group was going to fly later (they put on a hell of a show, have seen them before) in replica Japanese aircraft, and I did get to see the Black Daggers US Army Parachute Team and "some" flying before heading back out. The smallest of the three (!!!) air shows I have been able to see in the past few weeks, it was a nice event nonetheless. Liked the growth of it, and have a few more photos on my photo page if you are interested in seeing them. There is always some amazing things to see at air shows, and all have something interesting to offer.
As for the ride back, enjoyed rolling down some of my favorite roads on my return. Went back via Rocky River Road which is very scenic, though Lawyers Road with its twists and turns to NC-51 just past Mint Hill, NC and then on to home. Nice ride if short, but a short cold ride is better than no ride at all. Normally it would have been around 65, but the weekend was a cold spell. Due to my situation with Richmond (where I work) have to get rides in when I can. Motorcycles and aircraft for me are a perfect combination, and this was a very nice day out on the bike.

Short Cool Fall Ride (November 6, 2010)

Saturday November 6, 2010 was cool and overcast at first (later the sun came out) when I took off for the first ride in a couple of weeks. Dressed for the ride with helmet with face shield, heavy gloves, leather jacket, lined jeans and boots to deal with the below 50 degree temperature. Knew it was not going to be a great distance ride, nor very fast, as going far and fast adds to the effect of wind chill on the bike. However, even a short ride is better than no ride at all, and this was a very good one indeed. Made a early stop to visit my riding buddy Steve Dixon. Been on many great adventures with him; his latest has been fighting Cancer but he is giving it his all.
Ride Now in Concord was having an Open House. I saw a number of interesting motorcycles there including this Honda Fury with a very neat paint job. They had a lot of very fine motorcycles on display, including a number from Kawasaki, Yamaha and Star, Honda, and of course the Victory Motorcycles. Victory was having its test ride program; people were riding every model they had, as they had every model out there to ride. It was a pretty neat event. They also had a lot of giveaway and good deals. In fact I picked up a motorcycle riding coat (with protection built in for arms, shoulders, and back ) with a zip out liner for $25 (normally an $80 jacket). I will enjoy that.
This was the view of the Victory Motorcycles that everyone could ride (with a valid MC license). They also had a dyno trailer and some other fine things to check out. I
enjoyed the ride a great deal, finished the three hour ride with a quick stop at Onemor and got back to the house at 1pm. A short ride indeed distance wise, but very enjoyable.

Late October Carolina Ride (October 24, 2010)

On a beautiful Carolina Sunday, not as cool as normal either (I guess there might just well be something to that global warming thing) went out on the motorcycle for a ride. First time in two weeks, it was good time to get out. I rode for a while around Union Street, but off the beaten path got this photo of my Vulcan in front of a red tree. Fall is coming, though slowly to the Carolinas. Not sure how the drought of the past few months will impact the trees, but will see in a few weeks for sure. Still, I love seeing the fall colors, and enjoy riding this time of year. Nothing like a fall ride anyhow, love the colors and the weather. Sunday mornings are a great time to ride as well as the traffic is light: some go to church to hear of the glory of God, I like to ride to see the world he has created. It was a beautiful day, and the ride was a soul-cleansing experience. Nothing like being out on a fine motorcycle on a Sunday in Carolina. Went to a lot of interesting places, and had a fantastic time on the motorcycle on a very remarkable day indeed.

Being close to Halloween, there were a number of decorated houses such as this one, on Union Street. A nice tree lined street with the old downtown in the middle, it has a lot of fine houses, and some neat displays as well. I will have a few more photos on my Flickr page, and also some in my "Richmond and Me" blog. It was hoot seeing what some of the people have done, and some of them were really creative. What I am really looking forward to is Union Street at Christmas, that is always something remarkable to see, and will be bringing that in just a few weeks, because Christmas will be here before we know it.
I rode down some great backroads, visited a friend of mine (a former co-worker who did not make the move to Richmond) and saw some great sights. This old house is a favorite of mine and next to it is a cotton field. Those are in full bloom, and they will soon be picking the cotton. That is done mechanically now, and cotton is bailed into giant bales before being hauled off by trucks. I also rode out on NC-200, which is a really great road which I enjoy a great deal with its gentle hills and curves. I was out on the bike close to four hours, not sure how many miles I went (frankly, forgot to check) but it was a very outstanding time on the bike.
Patty and I went out to Three Monkeys (her reason was work related) but got to see some of the game ( did some errands with her after that) but got to see some of the Carolina/49ers game (they won their first game this year!) and the Bears/Washington game (Chicago lost) and also got to check out this fine looking motorcycle while I was there. neat looking custom in the bobber style; thought it was a very good looking motorcycle.
A great visit home, and a fine time with family and friends, as well as a great ride...can't ask for much else. Looking forward to the next adventure on two wheels soon!

Bikers at Malvern Hill! (October 16, 2010)

While out on a day of exploring Richmond and the area, at the Malvern Hill battlefield, met an interesting trio of bikers. First one (they all rode in together) was riding this classic Honda GL-1000. Originally the GL-1000 was designed as a bike in the "Honda 750/4" model; sort of a punched out version. However, it quickly got popular as a touring bike. Gradually, features were added such as saddlebags, fairings and the like. This model has a classic Vetter faring (his most famous creation was the "Windjammer". In fact Craig Vetter is a most interesting person to check out. This old motorcycle had some 30,000 miles on it according to the owner seen on the bike. It looked to be in outstanding shape, with little wear or tear. Also of note, the engine is an opposed four; the current 1800cc Gold Wing uses an opposed six.
The Star Motorcycle (I believe it is a Venture if memory serves me right) has some 10,000 miles on this bike. I am pretty sure this is a V-4 engine; sort of Yamaha's (aka Star in this case) answer to the Gold Wing. Bike has a lot of bells and whistles, and also a very interesting almost automobile like speedometer. Owner was riding with his wife, and they were also a lot of fun. One of my riding buddies in Concord is a big fan of Star Motorcycles, and rides one of the newer models.
A quick note on Malvern Hill, was the site of one of the major Richmond area Civil War battles, it is a very nice battlefield which has been very well preserved. Richmond is real good at doing that, and enjoyed walking around the area. There are a slew of great Civil War sites and museums to check out in the Richmond area.

Return Visit to Velocty Motorcycles (October 16, 2010)

In Richmond today, made a visit to Velocity Motorcycles, which is located on the Boulevard in Richmond, Va. Easily the most interesting motorcycle shop in the city, they have a number of different sort of motorcycles (including the all-electric Zero) to check out; including some very old models. One such model is this Royal Enfield. I BELIEVE it is a Bullet, which has a 350 cc Engine. If it is, the Royal Enfield Bullet was the longest produced motorcycle (according to the Wikipedia web site, where I got most of the information on the company). Royal Enfield was produced in England; making motorcycles since 1899!

The company went out of business in England in 1967. However, "Enfield of India" made Bullets under license (using some British parts) starting in 1956 and then made complete bikes on their own in 1962. They purchased the naming rights in 1995; and are the oldest motorcycle manufacturer (thanks to the British history) still in production. New models include bikes such as this Royal Enfield Classic 500. The company also made rifles which gave the motorcycle company the slogan "Made like a gun, goes like a bullet". The bikes though having a classic look, have been greatly modernized over the years. Though low in power, they are also very low in price.
Green bike seen here is a Ural, made in Russia. The bike is based on the BMW R-71 which was (apparently) copied as saw heavy use in WWII by the Russian Army. Called the M-72 the reverse engineered bike saw some 9,799 built during the war, and by 1950 some 30,000 were built. The bike went into both military and civilian production, and has also been sold (as seen here) in many nations around the world. In fact, in Russia and around the world something over 3.2 million (again thanks to Wikipedia for the info) have been built! Again, the design has been modernized over the years, though not a high performance bike, it now has modern features.
I always find something interesting to check out at Velocity Motorcycles, which is a very nice shop filled with some very friendly people. If you are in the Richmond area, be sure to check out this fine motorcycle shop. They also service bikes of all types, and have a number of bikes you can rent and take out on the wild streets of Richmond, VA...and beyond.

131 on NC-49 (October 9,2010)

It had been nearly a month since my last motorcycle ride; but had a beautiful Carolina day on October 9 to get out. Rode up NC-49 toward Asheboro, NC. Made a short stop at Tuckertown Lake, and another (seen at left) at Asheboro Airport where I saw this very cool plane behind my bike. Great smells along the way; wood stacked at Mt. Pleasant at the lumber yard, the reek of skunks, the smell of water, and the clear, clean Carolina air. Cool when I first headed out at 9am, wore for the first time in a long time my leather jacket and gloves, but it got warmer near the end of the ride. Enjoyed the horses and cows I passed in farms along the way.

I stopped in downtown Asheboro, where a farm show was going on; saw a lot of very nice farm equipment (though very old, most of it looked brand new), and also wandered around town a bit. Heading out, took a different road and went by the Pisgah Covered Bridge. A replica bridge (the original was washed out in a flood of the creek below) but still really cool. Also nice was the backroads there, a very scenic ride and very peaceful. Did not pass a car as I rode along. Came back via NC-49 where I saw once again the Mustang on the pole. Just a great time, and too long since I had been down that route. It is a really great ride.
Stopped at Steve's house before going back shortly after 1pm. Rode his bike, which is a 1996 Harley Wide Glide (somewhat customized). Liked the bike, nothing quite feels like a Harley...a bit rougher than my very smooth Vulcan, but loved the sound, and nice performance wise for a cruiser too. It was a great ride, long anticipated and very well enjoyed on a fantastic Saturday in the Carolinas. Until I get to ride again, will keep me smiling during my upcoming days in Richmond, VA...far from my home!

Between the Handlebars: October

Actually took the photo of this CVO Harley-Davidson, and the Sportster below at the Naval Air Station Air Show earlier this month. Had a great time at that event; was simply a hell of a thing. Some great flying (and featured the always amazing Blue Angels) and just a remarkable experience. Hell, it was fun being back on a Navy air base (I served in the USN some years ago) and it just felt good. Lots at a air show, including motorcycles; both those ridden in, and these on display there. Lots of interesting new bikes are coming out, and there will be some real nice (hopefully) new iron from various manufacturers gracing these pages. Tough times for sure still exist, but there will be some new eye candy coming out in the very competitive motorcycle market.
I though will be sticking around the Richmond area at least into early October, thanks to my employer (who despite that, I am thankful for). My "Virginia motorcycling" consists largely of remembering previous great rides on my Kawasaki Vulcan Classic (photo of that can be seen on my previous post). Some great rides are coming up, because fall is here at last; with the promise of cooler temperatures after a pretty brutal summer heat wise, and of course those fall colors. I usually make a ride to the Blue Ridge Parkway in the fall, and I hope to make this year no exception. Still I am looking forward to the next ride on the bike, and it can't come soon enough! Still, do see some interesting things here in the Richmond area from time to time.
....Have been missing a great Carolina web site (Carolina Motorcycle Events) that did a remarkable job of posting motorcycle events in the Carolina (and even some in Virginia) area(s). The man who did it, sure did an outstanding job. What I am left with now is "Full Throttle (Carolina) and Thunder Roads (Virginia) magazines; and while they are better than nothing, finding that I often come across things just by luck. Stumbled across a few bike shows (both at Hooters; one in Chesterfield, and one at Short Pump) just by chance (being at the right place at the right time). Course, some great events can be found at and via various Motorcycle dealers, who post a number of events.
....That said do have some rides of note (some will get more mention). In Carolina on October 2 is the Cruising Carolina Charity Ride....info is sort of lacking, but tends to be a big ride. Info on that can be found on the Full Throttle site. Of SPECIAL note, is 11/21 Arzie Rogers Toy Run which will leave from the Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium in Kannapolis, NC (sometime around 10-11, get there early for registration/food). I have been on that ride a few times, it is a MASSIVE ride, police escorted (and seeing those howling police bikes running up to block intersections is remarkable) and is a really, really great ride. The ride is put on by (and ends at Speedway Harley-Davidson); its the most fun you can have for the price of a toy!
....Virginia news is a bit more lacking. Did see that Departure Bike Works will have an open house (38th, which I assume is the number of years they have been in business) on October 9. There will be music and food. Colonial Harley-Davidson (nice shop by the way, I have been there) will be having its "Teddy Bear Run" November 6, and will leave from Colonial at 1PM. Like the charity rides, they tend to be a lot of fun, have some nice "extras" (such as food, music) and its a neat way to do some good over the holidays, and have a great time too.
....When I was in the Navy (by the way photos from that air show can be seen on my Photo Page, there is a link to it on the site) we would check accident reports to learn from the problems of others. What bikers have is the newspaper, and read of an accident this month (fatal unfortunately) where a bike at a light was rear ended by a car. ALWAYS a good idea, especially at a stop (but lets be honest anytime is a good idea, and often) to check your mirrors. Always be ready for anything, have an escape route if needed. Ride like people are trying to kill you, cause to be honest, and though it is not their plan....they are!
....Hope you enjoyed this update; be watching for more news (and hopefully more tales from the road of my rides very soon) and photos in the near future!

Monday (Cruises) in the Carolinas (September 13, 2010)

Great Monday ride thanks to a day at a time vacation day, enjoyed a nice ride around the area. Did a bit of a different ride on the Vulcan (which is seen at left...all shined up last weekend, but still looking good in the photo I took today) as I rolled down my favorite backroads to Mt. Pleasant, NC. Nice little town with a lot of history, and some really fine old houses. Got off the bike and wandered around a bit, and enjoyed that a great deal. Photo here was taken at a friend's house, stopped there for a while to visit with him, and to also check out his new bike. Not really new, but a nice ride nonetheless. You can get a great deal on used bikes...and Steve did.
That bike is seen here, its a 2000 Dyna Wide Glide with a little over 8,000 miles, got it for a really good price. Used motorcycles CAN be a good value, many people do not ride that much (though I am not one of them) but with reasonable care a motorcycle can last a good long time. Looking forward to some good rides with Steve in future visits. Today did a combination of riding and visiting; nice to see friends, also rode by my wife's work, but got in some good roads. Nice that it was just a wonderful day with bright blue skies, low humidity, and reasonable temperatures for late summer. It was a beautiful day to ride.
You can see some of those blue skies in the photo below. Don't know who this guy is, but liked the handlebars on his Harley..Ape Hangers seem to be the current "thing" on cruisers (though not on mine, and I don't see that happening.
After getting back home, went for another visit with Steve (who had a good job interview...in this economy a good interview rates some celebration) and a nice night ride. Love the big headlight on the Vulcan, its a very nice thing in the dark. All in all, a great pair of rides, and visits as well...covering some 70 miles today. This will be a good thing to keep me smiling over the upcoming days in Richmond, VA.