Miles from the Motorcycle (Early Days In VA)

Got to Virginia on February 15; have been getting set up. With all the things going on with that move, have been doing little on this blog for some days now. Which would not be all that rare; it is after all February. While we did get some very good weather in Carolina a few days ago (see previous post) it is still winter. Learned today that there is even a chance of snow this weekend in the Concord area. In fact today in both Richmond, VA and Concord, NC we got rain which is also not conductive to motorcycling. Between that and temperatures this week in the 40's just would not be doing much (if any) riding at all even if I had my motorcycle here (and I don't).
Still though, have talked some with a few local bikers at my new job, who say this is a great place to have, and to ride, a motorcycle. I can believe that, and sure would be a great way to explore this area. Certainly that was the case in Carolina, from talking to people have been to and have seen more of the state than many of the people who live there. That is one of the great things about riding. Riding is so much fun that its easy to get lost in it, and to go further with a bigger grin on your face, than a person would ever imagine.
Miss my family, friends, (yes) the bike, and of course looking forward to getting back there this weekend. Will though get some good rides in; and still have a lot of pleasant memories to tide me over till I get back on it. A lot of good events coming up soon in Carolina. However, among the many things I plan to explore here, will also get out and see what the Virginia motorcycle scene is like (unfortunately here...sans bike). Still though, will be an interesting perspective, and should be a lot of fun.

Morrow Mountain Ride (February 8,2009)

Good days ride today, got one of those days that just don't happen that often in February.....lower 70's. Enjoyed it a great deal, and took advantage starting at noon. Sure its been a pretty rough weekend; got the transfer coming up soon to Virginia, and this weekend the furnace gave up the ghost. Thankfully, have a great wife, son and dogs..oh and a motorcycle. Today put the transfer and the furnace (its only money) behind me, and got out on the bike. Rode out on the backroads near my house to Albemarle, NC. Took this photo while I was out (and yes, its in black and white, thought it went well with the winter look around here, and enjoyed the twists and turns of the road. Lots of farms and animals; interesting sights and smells; those are some of my favorite roads. Good Carolina two lane roads with a lot of wonderful things to see around every corner.

I went to Morrow Mountain, it was full of cars and motorcycles at the top. Always a nice view up there and today was no exception. Not sure what it is about that place except maybe that its the closest "mountain" in this local area, and its a beautiful ride to get there, but at any case it draws motorcycles to it like flies to honey. I made a short stop at Harmanco's in Albemarle, a great place to get a quick bite to eat. It also helps that it is very biker friendly. I have been going there for years. Continued to ride around Albemarle, NC which is famous for being the home town of Kellie Pickler, the country singer on American Idol.

I finished my ride around the area with a visit to Baden Lake. Baden Lake is located in the town of Baden which was once famous for the Alcoa plant there. The plant is still there but employment is way down, if its still running at all (I am not quite sure to be honest).

That is my bike in the photo at the left, and the lake goes on for miles. Often sea gulls are there; bring a bunch of potato chips, toss them in the air, and you would not believe how popular you can be for a brief time. Often people swim there in the summer (which is the reason for the barricades out there) but warm as it was today, not so much in early February.

I headed back down the same roads I came up. As it was all day, passed a lot of motorcyclists all enjoying this very unique winter day. Winter days like this is one of the great parts of riding in the Carolinas, and certainly made the three hour ride today one I will remember. It was a very good time, and a most enjoyable day. Nothing left to do today but to wash some road salt (from the winter weather a few days ago) off the bike, and chill out with Patty the rest of the day. Certainly, it was a most relaxing and very enjoyable day out on two wheels today.

Virginia Trip #3 (Moving Day)

Spent the weekend moving in to Richmond, VA where I will be working for the next three years. Had a great time, and met some nice people. Patty (my wife) and I explored some on Sunday February 1. Went down the Midlothian Turnpike near the house. Pretty much anything and everything you might need is there. While there, I found two bike shops near the apartment; one with an interesting twist. The first was Virginia Yamaha, which looks to be a nice shop, but is closed on Sunday.

The other was Ultimate Cycle which you see here. It was also closed, but the owner, who was Pete Daniel had opened the shop on a Sunday to work on a customers bike. I thought that was pretty neat, and also thought it was neat that I got a tour of the inside. The dealer has Kawasaki and Suzuki, also some Moto Guzzi and Aprilia motorcycles.

Though not planning to bring my bike down there as I will be living in an apartment complex, do hope to check out the local scene, and bike shops are a good place to find out what is going on motorcycle wise in an area. Enjoyed my visit to Ultimate Cycle.

Great weather in Richmond, and in fact all the way home on February 1, and a lot of motorcycles were out and about taking full advantage of the sun and warmer temperatures. I read this morning that some bikers were protesting the various bans at Myrtle Beach this year concerning motorcycles. Myrtle Beach is passing some laws to try to get the rallies out of town. I did read many of the residents comments in the article comment section (article was in the Charlotte Observer by the way); and have to admit some are valid. The rallies though old (The MB Bike Rally was held for 69 years, Atlantic Beach Rally since 1980) do run for a long time being some 20 days in total in May. I think the motorcycle community sometimes misses the impact that wild behavior has on locals. Riding in defiance of the laws of the community, and of course making your bikes as loud as they can be does not endear us to local people. To me though, the whole thing comes down to not being wanted; and frankly I can pass on Myrtle Beach as easy as they can pass laws to keep me away. I have no intention of going to the rally this year, and in fact will not be going to Myrtle Beach with or without my motorcycle (and I have done both in the past). Of course, thats easy for me to say, as I will be spending time exploring Virginia this year, and in my Carolina rides, have plans to visit some old favorite places and some new ones. Went with two friends to Wilmington, NC last summer on a motorcycle ride, and had a great time. Plunty of new Carolina sea side places to explore. In fact have made more vacations to the very interesting town of Charleston, SC than I have to Myrtle Beach over the years here. To those who do go, be careful and be aware they have many new laws at Myrtle Beach, be aware of them before you head to the rally.

Musings on a Winter Day (and new bike news)

Got some absolute bitter cold here; noticed the last few days as the mornings have gotten into the single digits that even the two wheeled diehards (and I salute you all!) have put the motorcycles and scooters in the garage. We don't see temperatures this low in the Piedmont very often, even in winter, but we do from time to time...and now is the time.
During cold like this, fun to do some research on the internet; a good time to explore some of the motorcycle sites out there. Today in fact, I not only discovered, but Honda also released the new Honda Fury. Had read some rumors about it, but saw today the first photos. Its a chopper of all things, very clean looking bike. The Fury uses the Honda VTX-1300 engine, has a shaft drive (Honda has no belt drive bikes) and despite appearances it is water cooled. Interesting time to release a chopper styled bike (but then again Harley-Davidson did it with the Rocker series of motorcycles) but got to admit its a very cool looking motorcycle.
Another bike I am really looking forward to seeing is the new Triumph Thunderbird. It also is brand new (like the Fury, this will be year one for the bike) and unlike most of the cruisers out there, it uses a vertical twin engine. The 1600 cc bike has a really nice look to it. Triumph really breaks the mold when it comes to motorcycles; not only do they have that bike, but they also make the remarkable (and biggest motorcycle factory motor in a motorcycle) in the Rocket III.
While it will be difficult with the Richmond transfer coming up in a few weeks, I do hope to make my annual ride out to the BMW/Triumph/Ducati dealer in Charlotte. Seems like every year one of those three come out with something really remarkable...getting to be a fun late/winter early spring ride. Got a feeling this year will be no exception. That dealer is also one of the nicest and cleanest motorcycle shops I have ever been in.
Course, sure to be dealers for those three (though they may not be together in one place there) in Richmond, Va. Getting ever closer to exploring the motorcycle scene in Richmond, and am looking forward to what I will find.
Hope this cold snap finds you (wherever you are) warm and toasty. Hang in there...spring is coming (and maybe some warmer weather soon for those of us in the South!). Ride safe!

2009 Star V-Max (My first look)

Interesting motorcycle ride yesterday, got a good day to get out in Concord. Sure do enjoy riding in the winter in the Carolinas (was a lot more difficult to use the term "enjoy winter" during my days in the Louisville, KY area). Near the end of the ride went by RideNow in Concord, and saw this surprise there. This is the 2009 Star V-Max. It is the newest version of the Yamaha (same company, sells cruisers and the V-Max under the Star name) V-Max which was in production since the 1980's. That bike (which sold for $10,899 in 04) had a 1200cc engine, 4 carbs, a 150 rear tire, shaft drive, and a weight of 580 pounds. It put out 133 hp, and 86.8 foot pounds of torque. The V-Max was a master of "stoplight to stoplight" transportation. The 2009 V-Max as seen above and below, has a number of changes. One is the cockpit, which is updated with a lot of digital instruments. The gas tank is still under the seat (and holds 4 gallons like the old one). The V-boost system though is now functional, those silver air scoops on the side of the tank actually work.

The new V-Max is now 1679cc's, and puts out a claimed 197 hp, with 122 foot pounds of torque. The new bikes weight is 683 pounds. Like the old bike is has a shaft drive, but a lot of the items have been upgraded. I have ridden an older V-Max some years ago, and it did have a very 1980's feel. The suspension, and other items were certainly dated. While great in a straight line, it was not a great bike on a twisty road. However, Star has put a lot into improving the whole motorcycle with a better frame, suspension, and tires. The front tire is a 120, while the rear is a 200.

Only 2500 of the 2009 Star V-Max will be made, and the MSRP is $17,990. It will be interesting to see how well the bike sells this year with the economy (see my previous article on used bikes is this price gets too depressing) . In fact along those lines, the old V-Max was in production over many years; some good versions of the bike are still around. Other bikes to check out if this type interests you is the Suzuki B-King which follows much of the same concept design as the V-Max.
It was good to see the bike first hand, have read a great deal about it, and think it is certainly one of the most interesting bikes of 2009. Nice to see Star do an upgrade on a bike that has been a big part of the companies history, and filled a role that few bikes can hope to match. For the fans of the V-Max, your bike is here at last!

The Value of Used Motorcycles

Let's face it; the economy is in the toilet, jobs are tough to get and to keep, and its not getting better soon. A new bike may well be out of the question, but many people ride used motorcycles, and they can be the very best values out there. While often not as shiny as the latest and greatest out there, or quite as fast, they can still get you there quickly (if that is your goal) or with a great deal of reliability and fun. Many people don't put a lot of miles on a bike per year, and often they get used and then parked for long periods.
I have gotten some of my best motorcycles used. There are a lot of good points to a used bike. Of course at the top is the lower price.....you don't have to eat the depreciation. It can also be (if you are at all mechanically inclined) a good chance to learn to do much of the work yourself (with shop labor costs getting into the $70-75 an hour range I suggest that).
So what are good points in buying used? First, look the bike over well. Look for obvious signs of damage; dents, different colored parts, scrapes, etc. Look at oil color (has it been changed), cable wear and also the condition of brake pads and tires. Start the bike, and look for smoke from the tailpipe, leaks (also from the radiator if water cooled), and hopefully take a ride on the bike if you can. If possible, have a mechanic take a look at the bike; you will probably have a relationship with a bike shop and this is a good chance to start building one. A look by an expert eye is not a bad thing.
Remember that motorcycle parts can be amazingly expensive. However you can also save money on them via on-line auctions, e-bay and some of the on-line retailers of parts. Go used on parts whenever you can; the idea is to save money here. Do go with quality though.
One vital item is the factory service manual. This helps a great deal on a bike; if you are going to do the work, this is the book to have! Also check your brand on 0n-line sites, and also there are some motorcycle specific books to your "new" bike out there as well at on-line booksellers. Get the right tools and equipment to work on the bike; metric tools for Japanese bikes, standard for your Harley and Victory motorcycles.
As far as repairs to your used bike...even if just a year or two old I would suggest changing oil, anti-freeze, brake fluid, and lubing cables. If the bike is pretty high in mileage, and it has not been done (and does not have hydraulic lifters), a valve adjustment is a good idea.
Above all, if the tires are old, or worn DO NOT ride the bike with bad tires. Nothing in my opinion is more critical on a motorcycle, your safety depends on tires. If in doubt on their condition, replace them.
There are some great bikes out there. They might be a little bit older, but many brands do not change much from year to year. Some motorcycles have been in production for decades with only minor changes. Those can be some of the best values out there, with a wealth of information on them, used parts and also lots of riders and maintenance information. Watch out for long out of production bikes, expensive brands for parts (BMW, Ducati, and some other Italian bikes can be expensive when having work done, or getting parts), or long not produced bikes (such as older two cycle models) though in the latter case there are a lot of aftermarket suppliers that can get you running again.
With a little bit of money, and some elbow grease, it is possible to get a good reliable motorcycle at a fraction of the cost of new.

Tilley Harley-Davidson, Salisbury, NC

Took a couple of motorcycle rides last week, finally got a change in the weather here. Usually winter here in the Carolinas is pretty moderate, but been colder than usual, with a fair amount of rain (luckily this year, only rain...no ice or snow). However the 30th was remarkable with temps in the upper 60s and some clear blue skies. I rode to Salisbury, NC to see the National Cemetery, to the NC Transportation Museum, and to High Rock Lake. All said some 90 miles of some really great riding, most of the route via backroads.

I also took a visit to Tilley Harley-Davidson in Salisbury, NC.

Tilley has two stores; the one in Salisbury, and the other is located in Statesville, NC. I have been to both often enough to have an opinion. I like going there, enjoy looking around. They are real good at answering questions about the bikes, but low pressure as far as sales. The shops have both been updated from other previous locations; I believe Harley has been requiring that for a number of years. Don Tilley has been involved for years in motorcycle racing (both drag and also road racing) and made quite a name for himself in those sports. In fact, I visited his Statesville store last summer for an open house, and saw some of his racebikes on display there. I am told they are really good price wise (considering that they are selling Harley's) and I also hear good things about their service department. I know people who drive to deal with them some distance, which says a lot (bypassing more local dealers).

As for Harley-Davidson in general I like them. I liked this bike a great deal; has the springer front end, the Screaming Eagle engine package, tons of chrome, and a fine looking paint job. Harley makes some remarkable motorcycles. Being a long time rider of Japanese motorcycles my favorite types of bike they make is the V-Rod with the water cooled motor. However, I hear and read that V-Rod owners are not always accepted as riders of "real" Harleys. My biggest problem with Harley-Davidson is price. They are very expensive overall, the Sportsters are not, but also are not a good fit if you are 6'2" (as I am). I do however find them to be some impressive motorcycles and you have to love the sound of a Harley.....there is nothing quite like it (and I believe they have a patent on the "potato potato potato" sound their bikes make).

I went on a event this year (the Toy Run) which was basically a HOG (Harley Owners Group) ride, and found them to be a good bunch of people. Though I don't ride a Harley, they are always good to me at least....of course many bikers start out on Japanese (or other countries) motorcycles. HOG does know how to put on a great ride.....there were some 500+ bikes in the ride last month, we never stopped for a light.

Anyhow, hope you all had a Happy New Year, and have a year of safe rides. Certainly I am in for some huge changes in my motorcycle riding in 2009....as I will be both working in Richmond, VA and riding on trips home (hopefully most weekends and during weeks of vacation) here in Concord, NC. It ought to be real interesting. Still have six more weeks here (as of today) and hopefully more weather like December 30. As always, ride safe!