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.

Reflections on a Rainy Saturday (February 5, 2011)

While I was enjoying my visit to Velocity Motorcycles (which by the way is doing some painting on the inside of the business, sprucing up for the upcoming riding season), I picked up a couple of "free" motorcycle publications. The first was the January/February 2011 edition of Motorcycle Times (calls itself "The Mid-Atlantic Motorcycle Magazine"). Nice publication, and has some good stuff in it. Good amount of interesting news on motorcycling and upcoming shows (magazine is regional but the majority of items seems to be in the Maryland area), riding calendar, a Biker Billy cooking article (love those), and a really good article on a ride from Weston, VA to some points in West Virginia. It was a great article and saw some really unique places in that article. Those two pages alone were well worth the "price".
The second magazine was Fast Lane Biker, January 2011, Issue 1 (and also free). Again, a nice magazine; articles, a ride calendar, and though not "Biker Billy" a cooking article (one thing I have learned from riding...bikers love to eat!).
Always like to pickup the free magazines in a local bike shop, where you can learn what the local community of riders is thinking/riding, and some of the places they go. Plus it makes for something motorcycle related to do on a rainy and cold winters day.
On this rainy and cold winters day, the Charlotte Vulcan Riders had their monthly meeting. As I noted, it is held monthly at a local restaurant (this one was at Jakes Good Eats in Charlotte, NC). As with Richmond, it was a rainy morning in Charlotte, but cleared out around noon (later in the afternoon here) and from what I read on their facebook page, they had a great time. I got an invite, but was here this weekend, and don't get to ride with them as often as I would like, but have in the past, will in the future, and have found them to be an outstanding group of guys and gals. You need to have a Kawasaki Vulcan to be a member, but not sure at all they would not welcome you to ride if you don't. Group is just around two years old, but is growing like a weed.
As for me, enjoyed my non-riding day of motorcycle culture Virginia style. This is an interesting place with a very fun motorcycle community and some fine shops and events. I am sure I will be visiting more shops (and some of the old favorites as I did with Velocity) and some fun events in 2011 here in Virginia, as well as many great rides and events in North and South Carolina. Won't be long till Spring is here, and the riding will be even better.

Day at Velocity (February 5, 2010)

Been visiting some motorcycle shops this winter to see some of the new 2011 motorcycles. Those have been (mostly) Harley-Davidson's as the other brands new bikes are not out yet. Today, visited Velocity Motorcycles at 1202 N. Boulevard in Richmond, VA. One of my favorite shops in Richmond, they sell new Royal Enfield, Bajaj, Ural and Hysung motorcycles, but also some really great classic bikes. Seen at right is a Honda CB1000, I think dating to 2004 if I remember right. The engine was an in-line water cooled four. Honda has a much updated version, the CB1000R coming out this year. This is basically an early version.
The motorcycle seen at left is a BMW motorcycle, and I believe it is an older model. It is one of the famed "Boxer" twins, though they now make a number of great motorcycles including an in-line six touring model, and even a couple of in-line fours (including one howling sport bike). Known for technical innovation, the company started building aircraft engines (the company emblem is designed to represent an aircraft propeller) and built its first motorcycle in 1923. That bike, the R32 is the basis for many of the motorcycles they are still building today. BMW motorcycles are popular in a number of applications, and said to be very reliable.
Ducati is a Italian manufacturer, and makes some of the fastest motorcycles on the road today. They have a great racing history and use a lot of that technology in their motorcycle designs. Among their bikes are the Monster line, Multistrada line, the new Diavel sport cruiser, and the 1198 among others. Ducati started in 1926 though it did not build motorcycles until around 1950, but it has a number of racing championships in that time period. Richmond does not have an actual Ducati dealership, but a number can be found at Velocity at any given time. I am looking forward to seeing some of the new 2011 models in the near future.
Finally, this is a very interesting model from Bimota. With some research was able to find this is a Bimota DB3 Mantra. It was a very rare motorcycle and was only made for a very few years. Like Ducati it is an Italian company, though with a much shorter history which began in 1973. This bike uses a Ducati 900SS engine; most of the models used engines from Ducati or a number of Japanese manufacturers. The company went out of business, but has in recent years began production again. I checked out their web site, but its mostly in Italian, but features a number of new bikes.
I enjoyed my visit to Velocity, and have also put a few more photos, plus larger versions of these on my Photo Page which is one of the links to this site. There is always something interesting to be seen there, and some very friendly people to help you. They also rent motorcycles at the shop, something I may take advantage of later this year, as my bike is in North Carolina and I have never ridden in Virginia on a motorcycle.

Post Ride Motorcycle Stuff

Still pumped from the motorcycle ride on January 29 (featured on the last three posts) along with the motorcycle related places I visited. Suck Bang Blow was a lot of fun as well as a good place to eat, and always nice to visit Pat Rogers Harley-Davidson. Even though not motorcycle related (though good food tends to be a part of the riding experience) Jerky Outlet next to Pat Rogers was a fine discovery. Always good to have a great day, good riding buddies (thanks Phil and Terry!), and a great place to go. Rides like that keep me smiling during the days spent in Richmond, Va. Ah the life of a migrant factory worker!
While home, saw the new Motorcyclist Magazine (I am a subscriber; get that and the AMA Magazine as I am also an AMA member). Motorcyclist (the March 2011 issue) had a good story on a "Superbike Vs Supercar" (Ducati 1198 vs Ferrari 458 Italia) which was interesting. I have also seen a video from that shootout on the Motor Trend web site (via the also very fine Motorcyclist magazine web site), and its interesting to say the least.
I also got a kick out of the article on the Ducati Diavel (very) sport cruiser. Want to check that out; but don't believe there is a Ducati dealership in the Richmond area. There IS one in Charlotte, NC...though it has moved from the former location on Independence Blvd (they also sell BMW, Triumph and MV ; or did when I last saw them. My last visit there last fall was their final day at the old location, will have to find and check out the new one. Was a very fine motorcycle shop, always enjoyed visiting that. More on that in a future post.
I also read (checking on motorcycle rear tires, coming up on the time to get a new one for the Vulcan) that Quaker Steak and Lube will start their famous bike nights on April 6. Will check on that, but might want to be watching about that time. Certainly the biggest in the Concord, NC area, and one of the biggest (if not the biggest) in the region. Usually some vendors on hand, always some fine bands, usually good food/beverage specials, and a slew of motorcycles are on hand. Good to get there early, it has been known to fill up rather early. I will update that bit of news as events get closer. There are also many, many fine bike nights in the Charlotte, NC area, and also now there is a Quaker Steak and Lube in Richmond...and they will be holding bike nights too. I like those, good way to get together with some friends, and check out some interesting motorcycles.

Pat Rogers Speedway Harley-Davidson

Last section from the remarkable weekend of January 29-31 included two visits to Speedway Harley-Davidson in Concord. Located on Bruton Smith Boulevard just up from the Charlotte Motor Speedway and near the giant Concord Mills Mall (the mall is the largest tourist attraction in North Carolina...go figure) it is a very nice Harley dealer. Always a lot of nice events there; often bands play there, and a number of great rides (I have been on their big toy ride near Christmas). Currently Saturday's they have free hot dogs and hamburgers. Nice Sales staff and a big dealership. They even have a lot of motorcycles to check out!

Photo here is of a pair of 1200 cc Sportsters. I was always a fan of the Sportster, though I never got one. Biggest problem was that they leaked oil and vibration was a real problem. A few years they finally took a look at the vibration, and got the oil leak problem under control, and by all reports they are now fine motorcycles. Of course now I am over 6 feet tall, and a Sportster is not really an option. I do like them though, especially the XR1200 (one can be seen in the back, the black bike) which is said to be a pretty good performer (for a Sportster anyhow). An old show on tv with Michael Parks called "Then Came Bronson" was about Bronson riding around the country on a Sportster. I remember it, also had a good theme song ("Long Lonesome Highway") back in the day when this bike was one of the big bikes on the road. Times and motorcycles have certainly changed; with engines getting larger and larger. Future trends in fuel, and certainly cost of those bikes may impact that in the years to come. Harley is the most expensive of the major American manufacturers though its a small list.
Seen here are a pair of special edition motorcycles from Harley-Davidson, these are the Firefighter editions. Harley certainly makes some beautiful and iconic motorcycles. I am glad the brand exists as an American institution. They have even been changing over the years with the V-Rod line of motorcycles, and that water-cooled engine is really remarkable. Always interesting to see what they have to offer, and always they are the first to get 2011 bikes out on the market. It has been another tough year for motorcycle sales with most manufacturers showing less bikes sold, and many a decline in profits. Harley as I noted in a previous post sold less motorcycles, but made more of a profit due to a number of restructuring moves. Due to the early arrival of their bikes has been a real focus on Harley of late (and a failed attempt to see the new Honda's..which are not there yet) but it has been enjoyable to check them out. Harley is a big part of the motorcycling past and present, and is still riding into the future!