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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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














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

Charlotte Vulcan Riders

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

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.

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.

Flying at Low Level!

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

Random Thoughts and VA News

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

A Weekend to Ride

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

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!

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.