Cruiser Vs. Sportbike - The Debate

Wacky world we live in...get a kick out of the Party of Big Business (The Republicans) debating the Socialism of the Democrats. One party says the other is taking over business, and they would know...having been taken over BY business many years ago. We are Americans, and we like to debate things; such as which type of bike is "better". For instance take this sport bike (actually a sport touring Kawasaki but with that amazing ZX-14 engine more like a jet fighter). Exceptional performance, great technology, wind cheating fairing and fun to ride. It gets you out into the wind and down the road with authority. During my early days of motorcycling rode bikes like these, and loved every minute of it! Fun and come with amazing handling..these are remarkable machines. Took this photo at a Virginia rest stop on June 21, the first day of Summer.
This is a cruiser, photographed in Concord, NC at the start of the trip back to Virginia...specifically a Harley-Davidson. I currently ride a type like this (though a Kawasaki Vulcan, which opens up a whole other "which bike is better" debate with some). More of a classic technology, many of these bikes (as is this one) are air-cooled and not quite as nimble, certainly nothing close to as quick and fast as the sportbikes. Harley though is an Icon of Motorcycling, and it is the bike of a very passionate community. It is motorcycling which has roots back to the early days of riding but also gets you "out into the wind and down the road with authority."
That last line is my point, that whatever the differences in what we ride (and to be honest, there are even other sub types of these two; pure sport bikes, motocross, enduro, street/dirt, and trikes...and that does not cover it all) we are all motorcyclists first and foremost. Forget what is better, instead focus on the things that joins; a love for the open road and the in the wind feeling that keeps us going back again and again.
Remembering what joins us...now if only we could get the political parties to do the same thing, what a nation we could have! Summer is here, enjoy the ride, and as always keep safety first!

Riding in the Piedmont (June 19, 2010)

Enjoyed a great ride in North Carolina; good to be back though it was a hot and humid day. Photo here was taken in Salisbury, NC. Salisbury is a fun town to explore, and I did a little bit of walking there to see some of the sights. What I also love about that area is some of the best riding roads in the area can be found there. Salisbury has a long history; and goes back to Pre-Revolutionary War times. Course, much of the old buildings are being redeveloped, and these buildings have a number of new businesses in them. I liked this brick street in front of the store fronts and stopped here to get a photo of the area.
This is the old English Cemetery, which goes back to the days of the British. In fact, some of the troops of Cornwallis are buried in this cemetery. There are other cemeteries with Confederate troops and a big National Cemetery with some (estimated) 11,000 Union troops who died in a Confederate prison which was located in Salisbury, NC. There are many sights to see, and will be posting some more photos on my "Richmond and Me" blog (which deals with both North Carolina...as that is my home, and my current time working in Richmond, VA) and also some photos on my Photo Page (and a link to that can be found here also).
The Bald Eagles were taken at Dan Nicholas Park; which has a very nice zoo and some other interesting sights. Had a great ride, covering some 100 miles today. Bike ran perfectly after the work I had done on it, and I enjoyed a fantastic few hours exploring one of my favorite towns, and riding on the backroads to and from this very interesting city. It has been a while since I have been able to ride, this being the first visit home in a few weeks, and it was a remarkable day indeed. Always good to get back to ride the Vulcan on the roads of North Carolina...and this was a most wonderful day!

Child Savers Charity Ride (June 5, 2010)

Went by this last year which left from the same place (the Cloverleaf Mall on Midlothian Turnpike). Quick note on the mall a new sign went up yesterday, apparently its going to be re-developed. Told it was quite the mall back in the day. Anyhow, though my motorcycle is in North Carolina (where I had hoped to be this weekend...but work had other ideas) went by the ride. This ride is a charity ride for Child Savers and brings a number of riding clubs (not gangs in this case but groups that like to ride together. The Tuskegee Airman Motorcycle Club puts this ride together. They were formed to ride and to honor the brave black pilots who broke racial barriers in WWII flying P-51 Mustang fighters in bomber escort missions over Germany.

Speaking of fighters, you do get to see some very interesting motorcycles which have jet like performance. One I had not seen before is this BMW S1000 RR (in fact had to look it up to see the model name) which is BMW's first sport bike. Unlike most BMW motorcycles which use an opposed twin "Boxer" engine, this one uses a very powerful inline four and from the reviews I have read its quite a ride indeed. Enjoyed checking out this bike, and many of the others at the ride. If I can't ride today, always fun to hang out with motorcyclists especially those riding for a very good cause. Hopefully next weekend, I will get out in the wind again!