VA State Hog Rally, June 25, 2011

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.