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.

Scoot Richmond (January 9, 2010

Pretty good day. Went by Legends in Richmond, Va for a taste of local beer (only in moderation though...got to say that was very good), and dropped into Scoot Richmond. Nice place with very friendly people; and no high pressure. I also enjoyed visiting with a very neat Pit Bull in there; was a sweet dog (and I am for sure a dog person). Had bikes that I saw from 50cc to 300cc. Some of those would be great (especially the bigger ones) for bopping around Richmond. All are automatic (or all I saw) which makes them great for beginning riders.
Back in Carolina in a local motorcycle magazine a biker was raising hell about moped riders, saying they were not paying their fair share (if under a certain CC in VA and NC no license is required). I disagree..to me a biker is a biker. I like those, great gas milege, simple operation. Those Scoot Richmond sells (mostly) Taiwan made brands, many of the mainline companies also sell these type of bikes. Always impressed with the Suzuki Bergman...a 650cc range bike, lots of storage, and good amount of power. Not for me yet, but someday? Perhaps as they develop further they would be a very viable alternative to mainline motorcycles.

Charlotte Vulcan Riders Association (January 2, 2010)

Attended the first meeting of 2010 with the Charlotte Chapter of the Vulcan Riders Association. This group formed last year (figures, was also the year that I ended up being a part time resident of the fine city of Richmond, VA). Easy group to join, the only requirement being that you have some sort (various versions available out there) of Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycles (I happen to have one of those!). Pretty good bunch, and I did (think I have some photos in an earlier post) make a ride with them to Morrow Mountain in Albemarle, NC. Meeting was pretty good, discussed future plans, and also planned some upcoming events for 2010.
Got to give them credit too. I did not ride to the meeting; and as one noted when riding down I-85 to the meeting, the temperature on a clock off the highway read 22 degrees. Factor in highway speeds and you are talking sub-zero wind chill. Some also rode in from as far as South Carolina which while Charlotte is on the border with that state, its still a ride from there to Concord. Rugged bunch for sure, and will be fun riding with them. Not sure how much I will be able to do, depends a lot on work of course. Found this year that working out events from 300 miles away to attend is more difficult than I thought it would be, though getting better at it.
Did get in some good rides over the long Christmas shutdown. Back to Richmond in the morning; but before going will at least run the motorcycle for a bit today. Both cities are in the grip of a hard cold snap.....with lows around 17 and a high (perhaps) around 30 today I will pass on getting it out on the roads today. Still, a great 12 days in North Carolina, had a fantastic time and can't wait till I return again!

Short ride on a Cold Tuesday (December 29,2009)

The year is winding down, the weather may turn a bit wet soon, and its certainly cold; but on a 40 degree Tuesday under a lot of sun, took a short ride today out on Union Street in Concord, NC. While there, went by the "old" city Christmas Tree and took a photo of the bike parked there. Was nice to get out for a while, and enjoyed the ride even with the coolness of the day. There is joy to be found under a bright cloudless blue sky, and besides...even a short ride is better than no ride at all. This is my third ride on the bike since I have been home (due to the upcoming weather...possibly the last this year) but was nice. In the course of the ride went by Onemor (also on Union Street) where hooked up with my old riding buddy (sold his bike last year) Keith and Jerry Jones who like me is working in Richmond, VA. Had a nice time with them, and had a nice lunch there before heading back to the house. Doubt I will get more in than starting the bike on Sunday before I go back to Richmond, but have sure enjoyed the rides. In distance over the three times I have been on it, went close to 100 miles, which is not bad considering it is late December, and a cold one at that!

Winter Ride in the Piedmont (December 27, 2009)

Have been out twice this visit so far, first time was a surprise ride. Found the motorcycle battery started fine (after being charged and even after sitting a month) and got a good ride on Thursday around the area for around an hour. Chilly and overcast but fun to be out for the first time since the Thanksgiving weekend. I continued that today, after a nice morning, headed out around noon for a ride around Concord. I headed out to Dale Earnhardt, Inc which was founded by the man himself, and enjoyed the ride cool as it was. Think it got pretty close to 50 while I was out, and did have nice looking skies.

Ride took me out to Davidson College in the town of Davidson on NC-115. I like that road, passed through Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson. Many of the buildings in the town and at the school are old. Hell, Woodrow Wilson went to school there. It is a nice school; the church at left, and the building below are just a couple of the buildings on campus. Davidson itself is very neat; a small college town with a lot of interesting places to eat, as well as some friendly people. That area makes for a good ride, though good idea to always follow the posted speed limits. No tickets there (knock on wood) but the Davidson Police I am told do not fool around. I did get off the bike and walk around the campus a bit, like to do that from time to time. There was a family with a lot of dogs, and they were taking photos of the family and dogs. That is notable cause I did not see a lot of people; usually light early on Sunday rides, and this one was no exception. Sunday is often the best time of the week to ride, if you like a little peace and calm.

I rode back to Concord on NC-73 and as I got close traffic picked up (but never really bad) as I got back on NC-29. Rode out past the former Philip Morris factory in Concord, and finally saw a few bikers here and there in town. Good to see there were a few hardy souls (some of which were women riders) out as well as myself. I rode back to my house a little before 3pm following my noon start, and had covered some 85 miles in that three hours on the bike (though one hour was spent visiting with Ray, a former co-worker at the old factory). It was, as always, a good ride on two wheels on a Sunday.
Oh one other thing comes to mind...almost forgot. Did some maintenance checks, added a little oil (though not below the low line) but due to the cold temperatures did also check the air in the tires before the Thursday ride. Found the front tire was at 22 pounds (usually at 28) and the rear at 32 (usually at 38). With the cold temperatures, be sure to check your tires often. Proper inflation helps fuel mileage, handling, and also improves the ride. Ride safe always!