Late October Carolina Ride (October 24, 2010)

On a beautiful Carolina Sunday, not as cool as normal either (I guess there might just well be something to that global warming thing) went out on the motorcycle for a ride. First time in two weeks, it was good time to get out. I rode for a while around Union Street, but off the beaten path got this photo of my Vulcan in front of a red tree. Fall is coming, though slowly to the Carolinas. Not sure how the drought of the past few months will impact the trees, but will see in a few weeks for sure. Still, I love seeing the fall colors, and enjoy riding this time of year. Nothing like a fall ride anyhow, love the colors and the weather. Sunday mornings are a great time to ride as well as the traffic is light: some go to church to hear of the glory of God, I like to ride to see the world he has created. It was a beautiful day, and the ride was a soul-cleansing experience. Nothing like being out on a fine motorcycle on a Sunday in Carolina. Went to a lot of interesting places, and had a fantastic time on the motorcycle on a very remarkable day indeed.

Being close to Halloween, there were a number of decorated houses such as this one, on Union Street. A nice tree lined street with the old downtown in the middle, it has a lot of fine houses, and some neat displays as well. I will have a few more photos on my Flickr page, and also some in my "Richmond and Me" blog. It was hoot seeing what some of the people have done, and some of them were really creative. What I am really looking forward to is Union Street at Christmas, that is always something remarkable to see, and will be bringing that in just a few weeks, because Christmas will be here before we know it.
I rode down some great backroads, visited a friend of mine (a former co-worker who did not make the move to Richmond) and saw some great sights. This old house is a favorite of mine and next to it is a cotton field. Those are in full bloom, and they will soon be picking the cotton. That is done mechanically now, and cotton is bailed into giant bales before being hauled off by trucks. I also rode out on NC-200, which is a really great road which I enjoy a great deal with its gentle hills and curves. I was out on the bike close to four hours, not sure how many miles I went (frankly, forgot to check) but it was a very outstanding time on the bike.
Patty and I went out to Three Monkeys (her reason was work related) but got to see some of the game ( did some errands with her after that) but got to see some of the Carolina/49ers game (they won their first game this year!) and the Bears/Washington game (Chicago lost) and also got to check out this fine looking motorcycle while I was there. neat looking custom in the bobber style; thought it was a very good looking motorcycle.
A great visit home, and a fine time with family and friends, as well as a great ride...can't ask for much else. Looking forward to the next adventure on two wheels soon!

Bikers at Malvern Hill! (October 16, 2010)

While out on a day of exploring Richmond and the area, at the Malvern Hill battlefield, met an interesting trio of bikers. First one (they all rode in together) was riding this classic Honda GL-1000. Originally the GL-1000 was designed as a bike in the "Honda 750/4" model; sort of a punched out version. However, it quickly got popular as a touring bike. Gradually, features were added such as saddlebags, fairings and the like. This model has a classic Vetter faring (his most famous creation was the "Windjammer". In fact Craig Vetter is a most interesting person to check out. This old motorcycle had some 30,000 miles on it according to the owner seen on the bike. It looked to be in outstanding shape, with little wear or tear. Also of note, the engine is an opposed four; the current 1800cc Gold Wing uses an opposed six.
The Star Motorcycle (I believe it is a Venture if memory serves me right) has some 10,000 miles on this bike. I am pretty sure this is a V-4 engine; sort of Yamaha's (aka Star in this case) answer to the Gold Wing. Bike has a lot of bells and whistles, and also a very interesting almost automobile like speedometer. Owner was riding with his wife, and they were also a lot of fun. One of my riding buddies in Concord is a big fan of Star Motorcycles, and rides one of the newer models.
A quick note on Malvern Hill, was the site of one of the major Richmond area Civil War battles, it is a very nice battlefield which has been very well preserved. Richmond is real good at doing that, and enjoyed walking around the area. There are a slew of great Civil War sites and museums to check out in the Richmond area.

Return Visit to Velocty Motorcycles (October 16, 2010)

In Richmond today, made a visit to Velocity Motorcycles, which is located on the Boulevard in Richmond, Va. Easily the most interesting motorcycle shop in the city, they have a number of different sort of motorcycles (including the all-electric Zero) to check out; including some very old models. One such model is this Royal Enfield. I BELIEVE it is a Bullet, which has a 350 cc Engine. If it is, the Royal Enfield Bullet was the longest produced motorcycle (according to the Wikipedia web site, where I got most of the information on the company). Royal Enfield was produced in England; making motorcycles since 1899!

The company went out of business in England in 1967. However, "Enfield of India" made Bullets under license (using some British parts) starting in 1956 and then made complete bikes on their own in 1962. They purchased the naming rights in 1995; and are the oldest motorcycle manufacturer (thanks to the British history) still in production. New models include bikes such as this Royal Enfield Classic 500. The company also made rifles which gave the motorcycle company the slogan "Made like a gun, goes like a bullet". The bikes though having a classic look, have been greatly modernized over the years. Though low in power, they are also very low in price.
Green bike seen here is a Ural, made in Russia. The bike is based on the BMW R-71 which was (apparently) copied as saw heavy use in WWII by the Russian Army. Called the M-72 the reverse engineered bike saw some 9,799 built during the war, and by 1950 some 30,000 were built. The bike went into both military and civilian production, and has also been sold (as seen here) in many nations around the world. In fact, in Russia and around the world something over 3.2 million (again thanks to Wikipedia for the info) have been built! Again, the design has been modernized over the years, though not a high performance bike, it now has modern features.
I always find something interesting to check out at Velocity Motorcycles, which is a very nice shop filled with some very friendly people. If you are in the Richmond area, be sure to check out this fine motorcycle shop. They also service bikes of all types, and have a number of bikes you can rent and take out on the wild streets of Richmond, VA...and beyond.

131 on NC-49 (October 9,2010)

It had been nearly a month since my last motorcycle ride; but had a beautiful Carolina day on October 9 to get out. Rode up NC-49 toward Asheboro, NC. Made a short stop at Tuckertown Lake, and another (seen at left) at Asheboro Airport where I saw this very cool plane behind my bike. Great smells along the way; wood stacked at Mt. Pleasant at the lumber yard, the reek of skunks, the smell of water, and the clear, clean Carolina air. Cool when I first headed out at 9am, wore for the first time in a long time my leather jacket and gloves, but it got warmer near the end of the ride. Enjoyed the horses and cows I passed in farms along the way.

I stopped in downtown Asheboro, where a farm show was going on; saw a lot of very nice farm equipment (though very old, most of it looked brand new), and also wandered around town a bit. Heading out, took a different road and went by the Pisgah Covered Bridge. A replica bridge (the original was washed out in a flood of the creek below) but still really cool. Also nice was the backroads there, a very scenic ride and very peaceful. Did not pass a car as I rode along. Came back via NC-49 where I saw once again the Mustang on the pole. Just a great time, and too long since I had been down that route. It is a really great ride.
Stopped at Steve's house before going back shortly after 1pm. Rode his bike, which is a 1996 Harley Wide Glide (somewhat customized). Liked the bike, nothing quite feels like a Harley...a bit rougher than my very smooth Vulcan, but loved the sound, and nice performance wise for a cruiser too. It was a great ride, long anticipated and very well enjoyed on a fantastic Saturday in the Carolinas. Until I get to ride again, will keep me smiling during my upcoming days in Richmond, VA...far from my home!

Between the Handlebars: October

Actually took the photo of this CVO Harley-Davidson, and the Sportster below at the Naval Air Station Air Show earlier this month. Had a great time at that event; was simply a hell of a thing. Some great flying (and featured the always amazing Blue Angels) and just a remarkable experience. Hell, it was fun being back on a Navy air base (I served in the USN some years ago) and it just felt good. Lots at a air show, including motorcycles; both those ridden in, and these on display there. Lots of interesting new bikes are coming out, and there will be some real nice (hopefully) new iron from various manufacturers gracing these pages. Tough times for sure still exist, but there will be some new eye candy coming out in the very competitive motorcycle market.
I though will be sticking around the Richmond area at least into early October, thanks to my employer (who despite that, I am thankful for). My "Virginia motorcycling" consists largely of remembering previous great rides on my Kawasaki Vulcan Classic (photo of that can be seen on my previous post). Some great rides are coming up, because fall is here at last; with the promise of cooler temperatures after a pretty brutal summer heat wise, and of course those fall colors. I usually make a ride to the Blue Ridge Parkway in the fall, and I hope to make this year no exception. Still I am looking forward to the next ride on the bike, and it can't come soon enough! Still, do see some interesting things here in the Richmond area from time to time.
....Have been missing a great Carolina web site (Carolina Motorcycle Events) that did a remarkable job of posting motorcycle events in the Carolina (and even some in Virginia) area(s). The man who did it, sure did an outstanding job. What I am left with now is "Full Throttle (Carolina) and Thunder Roads (Virginia) magazines; and while they are better than nothing, finding that I often come across things just by luck. Stumbled across a few bike shows (both at Hooters; one in Chesterfield, and one at Short Pump) just by chance (being at the right place at the right time). Course, some great events can be found at and via various Motorcycle dealers, who post a number of events.
....That said do have some rides of note (some will get more mention). In Carolina on October 2 is the Cruising Carolina Charity Ride....info is sort of lacking, but tends to be a big ride. Info on that can be found on the Full Throttle site. Of SPECIAL note, is 11/21 Arzie Rogers Toy Run which will leave from the Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium in Kannapolis, NC (sometime around 10-11, get there early for registration/food). I have been on that ride a few times, it is a MASSIVE ride, police escorted (and seeing those howling police bikes running up to block intersections is remarkable) and is a really, really great ride. The ride is put on by (and ends at Speedway Harley-Davidson); its the most fun you can have for the price of a toy!
....Virginia news is a bit more lacking. Did see that Departure Bike Works will have an open house (38th, which I assume is the number of years they have been in business) on October 9. There will be music and food. Colonial Harley-Davidson (nice shop by the way, I have been there) will be having its "Teddy Bear Run" November 6, and will leave from Colonial at 1PM. Like the charity rides, they tend to be a lot of fun, have some nice "extras" (such as food, music) and its a neat way to do some good over the holidays, and have a great time too.
....When I was in the Navy (by the way photos from that air show can be seen on my Photo Page, there is a link to it on the site) we would check accident reports to learn from the problems of others. What bikers have is the newspaper, and read of an accident this month (fatal unfortunately) where a bike at a light was rear ended by a car. ALWAYS a good idea, especially at a stop (but lets be honest anytime is a good idea, and often) to check your mirrors. Always be ready for anything, have an escape route if needed. Ride like people are trying to kill you, cause to be honest, and though it is not their plan....they are!
....Hope you enjoyed this update; be watching for more news (and hopefully more tales from the road of my rides very soon) and photos in the near future!

Monday (Cruises) in the Carolinas (September 13, 2010)

Great Monday ride thanks to a day at a time vacation day, enjoyed a nice ride around the area. Did a bit of a different ride on the Vulcan (which is seen at left...all shined up last weekend, but still looking good in the photo I took today) as I rolled down my favorite backroads to Mt. Pleasant, NC. Nice little town with a lot of history, and some really fine old houses. Got off the bike and wandered around a bit, and enjoyed that a great deal. Photo here was taken at a friend's house, stopped there for a while to visit with him, and to also check out his new bike. Not really new, but a nice ride nonetheless. You can get a great deal on used bikes...and Steve did.
That bike is seen here, its a 2000 Dyna Wide Glide with a little over 8,000 miles, got it for a really good price. Used motorcycles CAN be a good value, many people do not ride that much (though I am not one of them) but with reasonable care a motorcycle can last a good long time. Looking forward to some good rides with Steve in future visits. Today did a combination of riding and visiting; nice to see friends, also rode by my wife's work, but got in some good roads. Nice that it was just a wonderful day with bright blue skies, low humidity, and reasonable temperatures for late summer. It was a beautiful day to ride.
You can see some of those blue skies in the photo below. Don't know who this guy is, but liked the handlebars on his Harley..Ape Hangers seem to be the current "thing" on cruisers (though not on mine, and I don't see that happening.
After getting back home, went for another visit with Steve (who had a good job interview...in this economy a good interview rates some celebration) and a nice night ride. Love the big headlight on the Vulcan, its a very nice thing in the dark. All in all, a great pair of rides, and visits as well...covering some 70 miles today. This will be a good thing to keep me smiling over the upcoming days in Richmond, VA.

Cannonball Motorcycle Race (September 11, 2010)

A very unique motorcycle event made a stop on September 11 in Concord, NC. The Cannonball Motorcycle Race is being run from Kitty Hawk, NC to California on pre-1916 motorcycles, and they made a stop at Pat Rogers Speedway Harley-Davidson. I went to see them with my wife Patty following an earlier stop (on the way back from Richmond) at the Winston-Salem Air Show. More photos of that event can be found on my "Richmond and Me" blog, plus photos from both events can be found on my Photo Page (a link to that is on this page). The photo at left is of one of the riders coming in to the checkpoint; they came in at different periods, but most of them had arrived when I got to the event around 5:30PM. It was very unique to see 100 year old motorcycles and to hear them running engines that in many cases have long not been in production, or riding bikes that have not been made in decades. Not just taking about bike models not made, but also brands of motorcycles that were just history book items until I visited yesterday!

Here are a few of the bikes, seen lined up along the dealership. They had a real bicycle look to many of them, which is what early motorcycles were taken from. Mechanical breakdowns were common, and the bikes leaked a bit of oil, but they were remarkable to see run, and to hear them was really something. Many of the early features on modern motorcycles could be seen on some of them, and it was really cool to see and smell the engines running. Early engine technology was something to experience, and there were some unique engined on hand, especially the Henderson in-line four.

There was a very big crowd of people there, earlier there was a poker run held, and there had been a band playing. The bikes and the very interesting riders were fun to check out, I also enjoyed seeing the crowd; as typical of a motorcycle event, they were also interesting. Some friends of mine from Concord were also there, and it was good to meet up with them. This event had been in the news a bit, plus I had spread the word and it was good to enjoy it with my wife and some riding buddies along with some former co-workers in Concord. They also had a dinner for the teams which was really nice. Pat Rogers put on a great event.

It was a very fun time, and I was very glad that I made the trip there (the dealership is located near the giant Concord Mills Mall). As noted many more photos of the bikes; I got mostly Harley's on this page, but some of the other brands were even more interesting.
Speaking of interest, got a few more things of note to show, but will save that for the next post here.
I hope you enjoyed these photos of this very unique motorcycle event.