Seen on the road (September 17-19)

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

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.

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

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.

Tilley Harley-Davidson, July 1, 2011

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

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.

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.

Stuff and Events from the World of Motorcycles

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.

Greeat Roads and other items of interest

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!

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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!

Motorcycling and the Future

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

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

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

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.