New 2010 Honda Stateside and Interstate

Been looking forward to seeing these, and on a Saturday in Richmond, just a bit before heading out for some overtime hours at work went to see them. HondaHouse on Hull Street got these two bikes in just two days ago, and wanted to see them. My previous motorcycle was a Honda Shadow 600...a very good ride and prior to that an older (like 1970s era) Honda 550 which I picked up for a song and got running again (it is how I got back into motorcycling after a few years layoff). Honda makes some great motorcycles, and these are prime examples. I like the look of these new models, which to me have a lot of the Honda Fury look to them.
Both bikes can be seen here in this rear shot (and the Stateside at top. The Interstate comes with bags and a windshield (it is the bike at left) while the Stateside is at right in the rear shot. Both have the Honda VTX1300 engine which is watercooled, and has shaft drive. I like the wheels which have a custom look, and the modern instruments (though more of a cruiser type tank instrument rather than the digital type pod of the Fury. Both sit low and have forward type controls for that cruiser look. I noted that the Stateside (unlike the Interstate) has footpegs, as I know from my Vulcan that will give it a bit more lean (the Vulcan tends to drag the floorboards in hard cornering.
Here is a side view of the two bikes. Both are nice to sit on, and have a good feel. I did not get to ride them (which would have made my day) but certainly was a treat to see them. Glad to see Honda is making some changes in their line, some of the models were getting dated (the Sabre which is not in yet, is also getting changes along these lines).
As for me, enjoyed seeing these bikes and a lot of people out riding today. My bike is 300 miles away, but will certainly be in my thoughts today at work. After a long hard winter, spring is certainly in the air (though a few days off officially) but a nice preview this weekend of warmer days to come...and the glories of motorcycling in the Spring!

Edge of Spring 2010

Bike fever is hitting me really bad; due to the winter weather of late, and the fact I need a battery (will be getting that soon) for the Vulcan. Have not pushed to get one, for one thing its been cold and snowing during my last few visits home!
Course it does not help living in two cites (one in Virginia, the other in Carolina) and winter has visited both places hard this year. However, the signs of Spring are coming; both areas are warming up with a great weekend on tap this weekend, and the first sign of 60's temperatures.
As noted in previous blogs, have been visiting bike shops (those who can not ride for a time...dream about riding), and have another one planned for the weekend here in Richmond (which will be my next post). Fun to see the new motorcycles coming out; have been some interesting ones in the pipeline. Motorcycle sales are down substantially (what isn't?) but a lot of new and updated models out there. Did read that Triumph Motorcycle's are selling quite well even in the recession.
Found that the Wheels Thru Time Motorcycle Museum in beautiful Maggie Valley, NC did NOT relocate and close this year as they planned. Was a big deal last year even with a "last day" event before it "relocated". Not sure what happened or why, but glad to let everyone know that it open in 2010, though seems to be on a limited visit schedule. One thing I do know, if you are into classic bikes, it is something to see..and most of them run. The website is for sure worth a visit at http://www.wheelsthrutime.com (or you can find it by punching in Wheels Thru Time via Google or your favorite search engine). It is well worth a look with many photos, videos and news items. In fact, Maggie Valley, NC is a very motorcycle friendly place to visit, and a remarkable riding experience with a slew of great roads.
Anyhow, next post will have some bike photos as I continue to check out the local Richmond motorcycle scene. Also looking forward to some major motorcycle events in North Carolina, and some great riding in the next few weeks. My motorcycle riding club (Charlotte VRA) is planning some great rides in 2010; difficult to work out some of them, but will make a few. Got a really nice ride coming up later this month. So, until the next post...ride safe!

Bikes on view in Concord, NC

Got back to Concord the weekend of February 27-29 and had a great visit with my family. I was not able to get the bike started again (battery has for sure bit the dust) but did get out to Iron Thunder in Concord, NC and enjoyed hanging out with motorcycle people there while my bike is down. A friend from work here (Keith) and former riding buddy (he sold his bike last year) visited with me. Got a photo of Iron Thunder above. I also took a photo of the new Camaro (I used to have one of those a few years ago) and the bikes next to it from the Iron Thunder parking lot. Behind those is Pat Rogers Harley-Davidson in Concord, NC and we visited that for a little while.
Real fond of the V-Rod "line" which started with one bike, and has turned into a few. This version of the V-Rod has a 1250cc engine, and of course like all the V-Rods is water-cooled. I think it is one of the finest Harley's on the road, and a really neat design. Of course the purists are not big fans of the V-Rods but rather like the air cooled engines. To each their own, but all the Japanese motorcycles I have ridden the last couple of decades are water-cooled, and I love them (prior to that had Japanese air cooled bikes...a long line). Really like the look of the Harley's, but those price tags are pretty scary. For the price of this one, I would be able to get two of my 1500's (though the 1500's are no longer in production). Still it is a remarkable piece of engineering. Hopefully by the next visit home, I will be back on the road again, although my big Kawasaki is waiting for me to fire it up!

Valentines Day Weekend in NC

Pretty wild weekend in Carolina; though was the day after the snow fall on Saturday February 13 when I stopped in RideNow, Concord, NC to take these photos. The photo at left is a Honda Shadow, and as a former Honda Shadow owner I like that line of motorcycles. Had one (the VTX600) for eight years, and it was a great bike. I am not sure to be honest...think this might be a 2010 model (should have looked on the bike) but like the styling of it. Honda makes some real fine motorcycles, and I have been fortunate to have a few (though...knock on wood over the years have never really had a "bad" bike. This seems to be the new "bobber" style that I read about coming out this year.

As for this one, I do know for sure this is a brand new 2010 Honda NT700V. I think of it sort of as a pocket verson of the ST-1300. I have read that it has the same 700cc V-twin engine as the DN-01 Honda (the red bike) next to it; said to be a very good motor. For sure should give good fuel economy thanks to the fairing, and the size will also help. Has good storage for a day or overnight trip, and when I sat on it, seemed to have a lot of room for a taller rider (of which I am one). I liked this motorcycle when I read about it, liked it when I sat on it. Think this could be a real good econo-tourer and a fun motorcycle.
As for my Kawasaki Vulcan 1500, attempted to start it, but the battery is once again dead. I could recharge it again, but after almost five years, I think its time to invest in a new one which I plan to do soon. I might wait until early March; be nice to get it before the really cold weather of late can take a toll on it. Riding this weekend was out of the question anyhow thanks to the weekend snow in the Concord area. Many winters do little more than a short pause to the riding season (if that) but this has been an un-typical Carolina weather. I even got photos today of snow (and not just flakes, but actual measurable snow) from a friend in Charleston, SC. Good news though is Spring is just a few weeks away!

Davis HD+Burlington Yamaha....Snow Blitz

Got a very rare Friday off from work (took some doing) and drove back to Concord, NC via the usual route. With the snow storm on the way, noticed the roads were heavily salted; much more than usual. Storm was expected to be a huge one, especially near the NC/VA border. From what I am hearing, those expectations are being met. I did make a stop at Burlington, NC. Both the new (well, open for a few months) Yamaha dealership and Davis Harley-Davidson were within walking distance of each other. Yamaha dealer was pretty nice, though mostly 09 bikes. Davis I had visited before, and got this photo there of a (believe it is) 2003 Destroyer.
Davis HD has a lot of historic motorcycles on display such as the one at left. It is a nice bike shop, though noticed that both Burlington Yamaha and Davis Harley-Davidson were light on customers. Course, also a big snow was on the way. As I write this, snow is pretty deep outside my window. This weekend will be starting the motorcycle (to run fluids through it, and to give the battery a charge) but will not be riding for sure. Its a white winter wonderland out there today, plus its well below freezing outside. Pretty view with the snow, but will be glad when spring rolls around again. I like quite a few winter events (enjoyed the X-Games on TV last night) but it is certainly a rough season for motorcycling!

Honda 350 in Richmond, VA

Quite a winter day of exploring in the car (the bike is in North Carolina, though a few riding today in the Richmond area with temperatures in the 40s). Saw a lot of interesting sights, but came to a quick stop when I came across this Honda 350 on a Richmond, VA street. One of (in my opinion) great motorcycles of the 1970's, at one time it seemed like there was one of these on every corner. Sure it had drum brakes, was a small 350cc twin engine, but they sure did move along well. Be a great bike today; don't remember what the fuel mileage is, but I bet it would be fantastic. You don't see a lot of them anymore, but this one had a license plate on it.
Read some this week (to be expected in this recession) that Harley-Davidson lost 218.7 million in the last quarter. Shipments were down some 27% and worst is expected for 2010. In fact, HD has been selling not long ago acquired MV Agusta and closed out Buell (which made some fine motorcycles. Harley has also closed one of its York, Pa plants, and a number of dealerships have also closed their doors. Industry wide, sales are down across the board (with Triumph being the sole exception according to reports I have read).
Still, despite the hard times, Harley and the others are still putting out some interesting new motorcycles. I just read today that there is a new version of the Sportster called the "Fourty-Eight" and a number of new bikes. Many new motorcycles announced last year will be hitting the showroom floors of most of the major manufacturers. Will be a difficult time as many companies are scaling back; many companies have ended, or reduced racing programs, and are also cutting production of many models.
Motorcycling has a long and interesting history, and its fun to look back on the history of some of the great motorcycles of the past. Hopefully, that history will continue with many more chapters being added to what has been a great and remarkable story so far.

Finally, the 60's!

Last month or so has been simply brutally cold; did some motorcycling but usually short and well bundled up. Have also had a lot of non-riding weather due to snow and rain and beyond belief cold; but finally at long last got a bit of warm weather in the Carolinas (and during a visit home) on January 18, 2010. Rode out to Kannapolis, NC and then on past to Landis, NC where the photo at left was taken. Like that little gazebo with my bike in front, also an old train station in the back of them (was an old post office to the far left..the white building there). Landis is a very small but quiet town, and a nice place to ride.

Mill at left was on down the road at nearby China Grove. China Grove is another small town in NC, but a nice place to ride to, and has some interesting sights to explore. From China Grove turned back via NC-29 to Concord past the (now closed) Philip Morris factory, and stopped at Lowe's Motor Speedway. I got some photos of the track (nothing was going on there, but it was open) and then visited with some friends from work at a nearby bar where we all gathered. One of my co-workers (and a riding buddy featured in the mountain ride a few posts back on this blog) found this week he has cancer. Steve will for sure give it a good fight, and we are all very hopeful that he will have a full recovery. At any case, the ride was fun, the visit was good ; nice to get out in the wind again for a few short hours on a pleasant sunny and warm (when its been 20s-30s for a month, 60's felt like t-shirt weather) day in the Carolinas.