Moto Tech

 

Recently, I discussed BMW's future motorcycle concept and implications it may have to the future of motorcycling. Now, I read this article detailing BMW's vision of technology we might be using in the near future. One item detailed is the HUD (heads up display) which is pretty cool, but that technology has already been created, well kind of (you know what I'm talking about if you've heard of the disaster that was Skully Helmets).

The technology that interests me the most is laser headlights. With the ability to illuminate double the distance of conventional headlights, this will make night time riding much safer. As a rider who has had an accident at night, this is a greatly welcomed advancement.

If you read some of the posts I made while I was searching for a new motorcycle, you'd know that a BMW was one of the bikes I was interested in (specifically the R9T). With all of this technology, I might have to purchase one for my next motorcycle!

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." - Albert Einstein

Gifts for a Picky Biker

 

Every year I go through a similar issue during the holidays. My relatives usually are fairly clueless on what to get me as a gift. My initial reaction is that no one has to get me anything, but that never works and it usually leads to me getting a gift that I don't want and will never use. Motorcycle gear is always a great thing to get, but it tends to be expensive and without any guidance, your well meaning aunt could buy you a leather jacket with tassels and some embroidery (no offense if this is your style, it's just not mine).

I've found over the years that it pays to be specific with the gifts you tell people that you want. There is still the issue that gifts geared toward motorcycle riders tend to cost more than I'd like anyone to spend on me. For the last couple of years, I've made a conscious effort to browse motorcycle parts and apparel websites for their close-out deals and note all of the stuff that I like. I give the list to my wife, who shares it with our relatives.

I no longer get gifts that collect dust in my closet and I can kind of dictate how much everyone spends on me. Although this does still seem like an odd process to me, searching for my own gifts, it has actually made my family quit spending money on useless gifts. Well, at least they're not wasting money on me.

"As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same." - Donald E. Westlake

Blizzard Focus

 

A topic I've mentioned multiple times is the stress relief you can get from motorcycling. I attribute this to the fact that all of your focus must be in the present while you are riding, which causes you to let go of other thoughts. Yesterday, I did something else that forced all of my focus on the task at hand. This was driving my car in a snowstorm.

My question is, why I was so stressed out about driving in the storm, when I feel so relaxed while riding my motorcycle? Both can be inherently dangerous, both can cause you an exhilarating feeling, but only motorcycling will relieve my stress instead of adding to it.

I guess I'd theorize that I choose to ride motorcycles while I am forced to drive in a storm. However, I don't feel that really explains it. Maybe it's the unpredictability of a winter storm, or the other drivers that make driving miserable. Then again, drivers can be unpredictable at any time. I guess I really don't know the answer, but I do know that winter driving sucks!

"The blizzard doesn't last forever; it just seems so." - Ray Bradbury

Writing Relief

 

I recently listened to a Joe Rogan podcast in which the guest was Dr. Jordan Peterson. This podcast was outstanding and Dr. Peterson has an extremely informed and interesting outlook on multiple topics and I recommend that everyone should listen. One comment he made resonated with me more than the others. He was mentioning his self authoring program and said that if you think of a personal memory and it gives you an emotional response, than writing about it can help remedy that.

I instantly thought about my motorcycle accident. Before I began writing this blog, the shear thought of what happened, or what could have happened sent a shiver down my spine. After recalling those memories and writing about them, I no longer feel that way. I can think back to when it happened, realize what mistakes I made, and think about what I could do differently if I was faced with a similar situation in the future. I think a huge part of the success of doing this is that writing forces you to be honest with yourself.

I think that writing a blog can have multiple benefits, but this may be the best one. Now if I could only relate the story of my embarrassing myself with my attempt at flirting with a girl in junior high or the time I almost drowned to motorcycles, so I could include them in this blog. Those memories still give me a bit of an emotional response (the flirting one was mortifying back when I was thirteen). Maybe I should start another blog just to air out my personal shit, but I doubt anyone would want to read that.

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you." - Maya Angelou



ATGATT

 

You'll know after reading a few of my blog posts (this one for instance) that I find it pretty irritating when riders fail to wear any protective gear while they're operating (or being a passenger on) a motorcycle. However, there's a bit of a trend I'm noticing that swings the pendulum in the complete opposite direction. ATGATT is an acronym for All The Gear All The Time and is a term used by a lot of riders who believe that you should never be without full protection while you're on a motorcycle.

While this idea is generally something I can stand behind, I believe some common sense may be in order for some individuals. If you are riding on a track or plan to do some aggressive canyon carving on your bike, by all means wear a full bodysuit, proper boots, gloves, etc. But, if you are riding two blocks down the street to get a cheeseburger, then I'd say that much gear is a bit of an overkill.

As I stated previously, use some common sense. A good riding jacket, helmet, gloves, and boots will go a long way in keeping you safe enough for nearly all of the riding you will be doing. A good pair of jeans should also go a long way...no yoga pants on motorcycles, ladies! You can splurge and buy the Kevlar reinforced jeans, but that's up to you and your budget. Please don't get fully geared to ride your bike from you driveway into your garage.

"People should not be protected from the world.. -It cripples them." - Josephine Humphreys



Stress Relief Replacement

 

 

It snowed and it appears that riding season has come to a close for me. For some reason I was surprisingly ok with it this year. My first thought was that I was able to ride for half of the month of November and there have been years that I wouldn't have been able to do that.

Then, yesterday I had an extremely stressful day at work. It was definitely in the top five worst days of my career. My first thought as I walked outside was how much I'd like to ride my motorcycle so I could relieve some of the stress that I was feeling. A little aggressive riding usually will clear my head very quickly. Driving my car home didn't help at all to reduce my stress levels.

Luckily, I was able to unwind a bit last night and I slept pretty well given the circumstances. However, I just can't shake the feeling that a motorcycle ride would really help my mindset right now. Maybe I'll workout tonight, it may not be as effective as motorcycling, but it sounds a whole lot healthier than having a drink or two, which also crossed my mind. Getting a little exercise can never be a bad thing.

"Adopting the right attitude can covert a negative stress into a positive one." - Hans Selye



Removing the Danger

 

 

If you have read some of my past blog posts, you probably know that a concern/interest of mine is what motorcycling will be like in the future. I've read multiple articles detailing what a world with autonomous vehicles would look like, but this one really resonated with me. It looks at this subject from the perspective of a motorcyclist. The theory is that a more autonomous vehicles would create a safer environment for motorcycles because it removes other people from the equation. We no longer will have to rely on other people to notice us, or not be distracted in some way. Personally, I like that idea!

Imagine a world that motorcycles are the only vehicle that would still be operated by people. Would there still be danger? Absolutely, but you wouldn't have to worry about the person that's cutting across three lanes while stuffing pizza in his face taking you out. Right now, I hear that you're pretty much guaranteed to be hit by a driver in Los Angeles if you're riding a motorcycle (of course this is a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the point). This danger can be eliminated.

The article also details the safer motorcycles being able to identify dangers that lay ahead on the road. While this is also encouraging, I feel it pales in comparison to eliminating the danger of other drivers. Now, if we could only do something about the suicidal animals jumping out in front of us...

"I drive a motorbike, so there is a whiff of the grim reaper round every corner, especially in London." - Benedict Cumberbatch



Controlled Recklessness

I

 

I recently had a discussion about motorcycling with a coworker. He said that he now rides a cruiser because he found sportbikes too dangerous and didn't think he could control himself enough to justify owning one. Now my bike isn't necessarily a sportbike, but it's definitely close. I told him that I use "controlled recklessness" when riding a motorcycle that has the ability to put me in especially dangerous situations.

What is controlled recklessness? It's strategically picking the places and times that you decide to do things that some may consider reckless. An example of this would be trying to wheelie your bike in an empty parking lot instead of in the middle of a bustling downtown area. This may seem like common sense, but you'd be surprised how many riders don't follow this practice.

One great example of me using controlled recklessness is the my choice of roads when I decide to ride at excessive speed. There is a stretch of road not far from my house that is flat, clean, and in the country. If conditions are acceptable (daylight, little to no wind, and high visibility) I'll open up the throttle a little. Is this still dangerous? Absolutely! However, I make sure that other unnecessary variables aren't also working against me.

Another instance of controlled recklessness was the time I did a stoppie in my driveway. A stoppie, for those that don't know, is when a rider brakes aggressively while shifting his or her weight forward, causing the motorcycle's rear wheel to come off of the ground. There were no other vehicles around and I knew my driveway was debris free. Again this is a dangerous thing to do, but I knew this would be a relatively safe location to do it. Actually, in this case, I was showing off to my son who was watching me from the porch. I know this is setting a bad example, but hopefully I can teach him the lesson of controlled recklessness when he gets old enough to ride his own motorcycle.

If your reading this and thinking that I'm condoning reckless behavior, I guess you're right. I look at it this way, people who own sportbikes tend to buy them to be a little reckless anyway (notice that I said TEND, there are exceptions, so don't get defensive if you're the exception). Hopefully, they read this and at least try to pick the proper moments to be a little reckless. I wish I had taken this advice when I was a young rider.

"We pushed to the edge of recklessness, yet I felt safe." - Ruat Sepetys

Half-Assed Fan

 

 

I've always called myself a "half-assed" fan of a lot of things. Motorcycling has been my biggest focus for the past twenty-five years, but I dabble in other interests. I call myself a half-assed fan of music, comics, and weight training. I enjoy each of these things quite a bit, but I can't dedicate enough time to truly call myself a fan.

How do I know I'm a half-assed fan? Usually I figure this out by having a discussion with a true fan and getting overwhelmed with the knowledge of this person. Conversations usually are sparked by the shirt I'm wearing (I have multiple band and superhero shirts).

I'll enter a store wearing my Wolverine t-shirt and run into someone who suddenly has excitement written all over their face. The conversation will lead into specific issues of a comic that I have no idea about. I just nervously nod and agree with whatever the person is saying, desperately listening for something familiar in what they're describing.

This can be even worse with music. I own a Slayer shirt, which I wear on occasion. I do truly like their music and am pretty knowledgeable about it. However, Slayer fans are usually diehards and you better be prepared to have an in depth conversation if you wear a Slayer shirt. I've tried to keep up with discussions about specific shows on Slayer's tours and deep tracks that only the most dedicated fan would know of. This also can lead into discussions of obscure metal bands that I have never heard of.

I bring all of this up, because I wonder if I do this to half-assed motorcycle enthusiasts when I talk to them. I hope I don't frighten people by an extremely in depth conversation about something they aren't that knowledgeable about. My advice to anyone in this situation is to steer the conversation toward subjects you know and let on that you may not have as much knowledge as the other person. Hopefully, you'll learn something new about a subject you enjoy, even if you're just a half-assed fan.

"You can do a half-assed job of anything, you're a one-eyed man in a kingdom of the blind." - Kurt Vonnegut



Winter Forecast

This time of year I usually try to research what the upcoming winter has in store. I google search weather patterns, the Farmer's Almanac, and historic weather data. Most of the time I'll cherry pick the information that shows a mild winter is ahead. This is in most cases incorrect, but it makes me feel better.

This year it appears we are in store for La Niña weather pattern. I'm not sure what this entirely entails, but apparently it tends to cause below normal winter temperatures for the upper Midwest. This most definitely can lead (and has lead) to an abundance of snow. However, in my neck of the woods, most snow is lake effect and the if the Great Lakes freeze, the "snow machine" tends to shut off.

What I'm really saying is I have no idea what type of winter we're going to have this year. All I can say is that I'm trying to enjoy every last bit of motorcycling before the snow starts falling. I can also guarantee that you will see some blog posts from me in the upcoming months that will be bitching about winter and snow (just read some of the past posts). If winter bothers me so much, why do I live here? There are a lot of reasons, but that's for another post.

Keep riding while you can!

"Winter is nature's way is saying, 'Up Yours.'" - Robert Byrne

The Future

Source: brand.bmw-motorrad.com

 

 

Recently, I linked a video about a BMW concept motorcycle on the KLK Cycles Facebook page. This thing is radically different than any motorcycle ever conceived (from what I've read/seen anyway). A bike that cannot fall over and that claims to be so safe that the rider does not need a helmet. A nearly autonomous motorcycle. However, it is noted that a motorcycle like this probably won't be available for another thirty years.

At first I was not a huge fan of this bike. Don't get me wrong, I think it looks awesome! In fact it kind of reminds me of Batman's Batpod (see here for my thoughts on that bike). I don't like the idea of taking the danger away from motorcycling. Part of the allure of riding is the inherent danger that goes along with it and removing that would, for lack of a better way to say it, suck!

Then I thought of my dad. He is sixty years old and still rides like a madman, but I notice that he can't recover from a long ride like he used to. He has issues with his back, shoulders, knees, and feet and there is a very real possibility that he may not be able to hold up a motorcycle in the future. If this did happen, the BMW concept would be a great alternative for him. I just hope he lives long enough to see it.

In thirty years I'll be sixty-six, so who's to say I won't be in the same situation as my dad. I'd love to still be able to ride, so I'd get that BMW in a heartbeat. Maybe this new and safer technology is a good thing.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke



Project Bike

 

I've mentioned a few times that I've hoped to start a KLK Cycles project bike to detail in this blog. It hasn't happened yet, but my partner here at KLK just started buying parts to turn his Harley Davidson Sportster into a bobber. I think we can officially call this the first KLK bike project.

I have no idea how this will entirely shape up or how long it will take to complete, but I'll post updates as soon as we make them. Hopefully, I'll be able to post both pictures and overall cost of each modification.

Also, I'd like to note that I keep saying "we" for all this build stuff, but chances are it'll be my partner doing most of the real hands-on work. I'll probably be taking pictures, drinking beer, and talking shit while he does the work. I might swing a wrench here and there, or cut and grind some metal, but this is his bike and he's an actual motorcycle technician. Not that I'm incapable of doing a lot of this stuff, he's just WAY better at it.

So, what I'm really trying to say is tune in for future updates on the KLK Bobber Project. Thanks for reading and keep riding!

"It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires a great deal of strength to decide what to do." - Elbert Hubbard

Moto Ego

This past weekend I had a great ride. The weather was beautiful, especially for October. The leaves were starting to change color (not close to peak color, but they were definitely nice), traffic wasn't bad, and some great friends came along. I also felt that my cornering skills were nearly the best they have ever been.

Nearly the entire tour was on twisty roads and I didn't hold back very much while carving through the corners. With fresh tires, my bike performed perfectly every time I dipped a knee toward the pavement. At times my friends had a difficult time keeping up and this only pushed me to take corners a little faster. My wife was on the back of my bike, but she is such a seasoned passenger that I barely could tell she was there. I felt like I was "in the zone."

Let's just say my ego may have been a little too big and I was feeling pretty proud of myself. Then, when our ride was nearly over, I didn't downshift to first gear as I approached a stoplight. As I tried to take off, easing my grip on the clutch lever, the bike stalled. Sigh...this brought my ego back down to earth. My friend who was behind me rode around my stalled motorcycle as I was trying to get it started.

I caught up to him and all he could do was look over and shake his head, totally shaming me. Hey, I deserved it. You'd figure that after 25 years of motorcycling that this wouldn't happen anymore, but I guess that'd be wrong. I guess it serves me right for letting my ego get a little too big.

"The ego is a fascinating monster." - Alanis Morissette

Fall Priorities

 

I've mentioned before that Autumn may be my favorite season. I love the weather, the colors, and football. The bad thing about this season that every biker is familiar with is that Winter is coming soon. It's time to take advantage of the last couple of months of motorcycling before the white stuff falls.

Another problem I tend to have in Autumn is that it usually is the busiest time of year for me. My job usually gets extremely busy from September to December, my wife returns to her teaching job, and both of my kids' birthdays are in Autumn (actually both in October). On top of all these things, Autumn is usually a wet and rainy season where I live. With all of these factors added up I have very little time to do any riding in beside my daily commute.

My solution to this is to schedule a ride. Make it a priority to enjoy an evening, Saturday, or Sunday on your motorcycle. This does take some effort, seeing as you need to squeeze time out of your busy schedule on top of watching the forecast to see if weather will cooperate, but it's definitely possible. This is what my wife and I are doing this Saturday, we planned a ride and invited friends (this'll keep us from backing out). It seems silly, but I'm basically forcing myself to get out and have fun. I recommend you do the same!

"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities." - Stephen Covey

I Could Be Batman

 

If you've read this blog post, you know that I'm a nerd at heart, especially when it comes to comics in general and Batman specifically. I just read that the actual batpod (Batman's motorcycle) from the films The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises is up for auction (see that article here). Oh how I wish I was a millionaire!

How awesome would it be to have Batman's motorcycle?!! I'm super excited about it and I know that there's no way I will ever have it, unless someone wants to invest $100,000 in the KLK batpod fund. It's an investment in my nerdy fantasy!

This wouldn't be a good investment, though. There would be no way that I wouldn't ride this thing, so I'm sure the value would definitely decrease with time. However, I did read that the battery and fuel tank have been removed and the throttle control has been disconnected to prevent people from riding this bike. There's no way that'd stop me though...I'd make this thing run!

Since we all know that none of this will ever happen, maybe I'll take a ride on my motorcycle with my Batman mask (yes, I have a Batman mask). There's more than one way to pretend to be a superhero!

"The gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge." - Albert Einstein



Lessons Learned and Taking My Own Advice

 

Last year we posted a couple of articles about motorcycle tires (See them here and here). Both of them give some advice on changing your tires to stay safe while getting the most out of each tire. Let's just say I need to follow my own advice.

I have been needing to replace both the front and rear tires on my bike for nearly a month. I actually purchased tires right when I noticed that I needed them, but I haven't replaced them yet. Tires for my current bike are so expensive that I try to get every last mile out of them. Last night I got a sudden reminder that I should quit compromising safety for money savings.

After dinner, my wife asked if I could run to town to pick up a couple of things. These would fit in my backpack, so I could take the bike (always an awesome realization). I made the trip into town without any incident, completed my errand, and headed home. On the way home I passed a slow moving car. After I passed, I felt my rear tire give out, like I was spinning it. I knew this feeling, the tire had been punctured.

I pulled in the clutch and coasted to a stop on the shoulder of the road. While nothing really bad happened, it could have been disastrous. Luckily, I remained calm and got off of the road quickly and safely. I was also lucky that a friend was driving by in his truck soon after the tire blew, so I and my bike had a ride home.

So, I think I learned my lesson with this one. I'm taking my own advice and I'll be replacing my tires much sooner next time. Hopefully you'll listen to my advice too, for your own safety.

"Wise men don't need advice. Fools won't take it." - Benjamin Franklin



Motorcycle Parking Paradox

You ride in to a giant box store parking lot on your motorcycle. Where do you park? What is the proper etiquette in this situation? I'm not sure what the correct answers to these questions are, but I'll give you some of my opinions on motorcycle parking.

My first piece of advice is to NEVER park in a handicapped loading/unloading area. If you do this, you're being a douchebag. Also, you make the rest of us bikers look bad, so knock it off!

Ok, I'll get off of my soapbox. I do think that all other (non-handicapped) areas between the first parking spot and the driving lane (see picture for clarification) are fair game. However, some motorists may disagree because this technically is not a parking spot.

Source: www.hdherd.com

It is also just fine to use a normal parking spot. If you do this, make sure you park in a place that'll be visible to all approaching vehicles. This will prevent people from thinking they're pulling in to an empty parking spot and running your bike over. Again, there are motorists who would disagree with using a car's parking spot as you need way less space for your bike.

In conclusion, no matter where you park, there'll be some cager that'll be pissed off by your decision. Park in the place that seems the most logical for your situation. If someone confronts you about your choice, explain your logic and hopefully they will see your side. If they don't, move on. Haters gonna hate!

"Haters don't really hate you, they hate themselves; because you're a reflection of what they wish to be." - Yaira N

Crash Lessons

 

A friend recently shared this article on his Facebook page. It's a great read and it pokes fun at motorcyclists a little bit. This is great because we all should laugh at our own expense once in a while.

Number 5 on the list actually struck a little bit of a chord with me. It basically states that when a biker says that they laid their bike down to avoid an accident, it's bullshit! They didn't avoid an accident, laying a bike down is an accident.

When I crashed my motorcycle, I "laid my bike down". What really happened was I grabbed my brake way to hard when a deer jumped in front of me, so I put the bike into a skid that I couldn't control, crashing it in he process. I did not purposely put the bike on the ground.

I know now that there are a lot of things I could have done better to avoid this accident and the blame should be placed squarely on me. I used to think that if I didn't brake so hard I would've hit the deer, but who knows if that would've been the case. All I know is that I ended up on the pavement due to nothing else but my excessive speed and improper braking. There is something positive that came from this, I think I'm a better rider now than I was back then. I'm definitely still not perfect and you probably aren't either, so please be careful riding on the streets!

"I never expect to see a perfect work from an imperfect man." - Alexander Hamilton

25 Years of Metal and Motorcycles

 

I got my first motorcycle in 1991. It was in May and my school was having its annual carnival. My mom dropped me off at the school and I had a great time playing games and goofing off with my friends. One friend was having his birthday party right after the carnival, so I was going to walk to his house. To my surprise, my dad was waiting for me at the door when I was on my way out of the school.

I looked at him with a confused look and asked why he was there. His only reply was, "I bought you a motorcycle." I just about fainted! I had been dreaming of riding for years and had been staring longingly at all the older kids riding their motorcycles. I didn't want to go to my friend's party anymore! I wanted to get home to ride right away.

I ended up going to my friend's house because I didn't want to be rude (I'm sure my parents made me). This was the longest party I had ever been to...time just dragged on and on! I guess you could say that this is when my obsession with motorcycles began.

I bring this up, because 1991 is also the year my parents gave me something else. For Christmas, my mom gave me a cassette tape of Metallica (The Black Album). Prior to this, music was basically just background noise to me. This began my other obsession, Heavy Metal and music in general.

This all came to my mind because I just saw Metallica in concert for the first time and it brought me back to that eleven year old kid in 1991, discovering the things he loved. Through everything else that has happened in my life over the past 25 years, my sheer enthusiasm for Metallica and motorcycles hasn't changed. If you ask my wife, I'm probably still as mature as that eleven year old as well!

We are the one as we are all the same

fighting for one cause

Leather and metal are our uniforms

protecting what we are

Joining together to take on the world

with our heavy metal

Spreading the message to everyone here

come let yourself go

 

From "Metal Militia" by Metallica

Scrambler Love?

I'm a huge fan of the motorcycle manufacturers building retro "scrambler" bikes. Last year I strongly considered buying a Ducati Scrambler (see that story here). As much as I loved that bike, I think Triumph's version of the scrambler may be even better and BMW has a factory custom scrambler version of the R9T that might be my favorite.

 

 With my love of all these bikes, I was extremely interested in seeing Yamaha's version, the XSR900. When I finally saw a picture of this bike, my reaction was underwhelming. My exact quote was, "Meh." It's not an awful looking bike, but it really doesn't do it for me. This could change if I saw it in person, but as of now I'm not a fan.

 This makes a good point. Just because you like a certain type of motorcycle, it doesn't mean you have to like every single bike that falls in that category. This can be applied to styles, brands, years, or any subcategory you can think of. Like whatever motorcycle you want for whatever reason you want, but don't put yourself in a box when it comes to what type of biker you are.

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." - Oscar Wilde

The Present

 

Last week I went on an evening motorcycle ride with my wife and a friend. It was an incredible ride! The weather was nearly perfect, traffic was minimal, and the scenery was outstanding. At one point, we stopped at another friend's house that is right on the shore of Lake Superior. While visiting, my friend took a photo of our bikes with his phone.

After our ride, I noticed that my friend had posted the picture on Instagram. I thought it was cool, so I liked the post and went on with my night.

The next day I noticed a comment on my friend's Instagram post. A follower of his commented that his photo looked like heaven. This made me take a closer look. The two bikes are in front of a bunch of trees and an outdoor sauna that has recently been restored. The photo perfectly captured a great moment. It really did look like heaven!

I started thinking that I need to be conscious of these great moments while they're happening, not just remembering them in the past. I believe that most people struggle to live in the present and not worry about other things. Let's realize that we are living the good times right now!

I'm not sharing my friend's photo on this post, as it's not mine to share. He's an outstanding photographer and I'd hate to take any credit away from him. I'm sharing photos of my kids because they are another reason I'm trying to focus on being in the present.

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift from God, which is why we call it the present." - Bil Keane



Unwinding Needed

There are two great stress reliefs that I utilize in my life, motorcycling and strength training (you could throw music into the mix also, but that's not really an activity). During the winter months I rely heavily on lifting weights to get me through as I am unable to ride. This time of year, I focus more on motorcycling to clear my head.

If you read the post from last week, you know that I've been away from home for work. It was a rather stressful week to say the least and I did not have my motorcycle to help me mentally. Also, with the long hours I was working, I would basically go straight to bed after work, leaving no time for lifting weights. I'm finally home today, but I have not been able to ride yet because I parked my bike at the office and drove a company car.

Let's just say that I'm currently chomping at the bit to get back on my bike! After work today, I'm going to finally ride my bike. I know for sure that a huge part of my stress will melt away and I'll be a better husband, father, worker, and overall person afterward. I can't wait!

Do you feel the same after riding?

"Its not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it." - Hans Selye

On the Road Again

I have to travel for work from time to time. It's always a bummer to be away from my family. Thank goodness for Skype and FaceTime, so I can at least see my wife and kids' faces everyday. It seems that every time I travel, I miss on some great event for one of my kids, whether it be a new word, phrase, or skill.. I also have a very difficult time sleeping without my wife next to me. All this is saying nothing about the stress this puts on my wife to take care of the kids alone.

Each different season also brings its own headaches during travel. During the winter, I have to worry about snowstorms or the furnace breaking down while I'm away. During the summer I miss out on prime motorcycling weather.

I was told yesterday that I need to get prepared to head out on the road soon. This is just for a week, so it's not too bad, but I instantly start thinking about how I'll miss my family and I won't be able to ride. Let's just say that I'm pretty bummed out right now.

Sorry for the whining. Maybe I could rent a bike for one of the evenings after work. I'm sure that could cheer me up!

"Nothing makes a room feel emptier than  someone in it." - J

New Rider Sensibility

I recently read this article detailing a rider's accident. The author details some specifics about motorcyclists' accidents and deaths and then relates it to his own accident. He received his motorcycle endorsement and purchased a new Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 a few months later. He crashed a few miles into his ride home from the dealership. It was a minor crash, he wasn't injured, and his motorcycle had minimal damage.

The statement that stood out to me in this article was that the author purchased a brand new Sportster 1200 only a few months after getting his license! If you've read my past blog posts, you know that I am a firm believer in riding a smaller bike until you are more confident in your ability. I may be wrong, but I'm assuming that this author didn't have much if any riding experience before getting his endorsement beside a motorcycle safety course. He should have purchased a bike under 500cc and ridden it for a solid year before upgrading to a Sportster.

Now a Sportster 1200 is no speed demon, but it is pretty damn heavy and awkward to handle, especially for a new rider. Honing in on your skills prior to getting a heavier bike is in every rider's best interest. Also, like I've said in other posts, if you enjoy riding a bike that's not as "cool" as the brand new one you're dreaming of buying, you'll know that you truly enjoy the sport of motorcycling.

Please don't take this as an attack on this author. I just want to use this example to strengthen my point. It seems that he used this as a lesson learned and still enjoys riding. I just try to give all of you my advice. In all reality, I'm just happy people are buying and riding motorcycles.

"People always call it luck when you've acted more sensibly than they have." - Anne Tyler

Morning Ride

I slept like complete shit last night! I was on vacation from work last week, so my sleep schedule was thrown off and the stress of my upcoming workday was weighing on me. When I got out of bed in the morning, I prepared myself for what was seeming to be a long and tiring day. I barely had the energy to clean up and get dressed.

When I finally was ready to leave for work, I walked out to my garage, started my motorcycle, and rode out to the road. As I made my way up to 70 mph, I started feeling awake and refreshed. The cool morning air blasting against my face was exactly what I needed! This was way better than just a cup of coffee!

After this, my attitude changed, my workday was surprisingly productive, and the hours flew by like they were minutes. Of course, my lack of sleep did catch up to me this evening and I think I'm going to bed early. Hopefully, I'll be able to sleep tonight.

So, there you go. Another way motorcycles improve my life. Have you ever had a similar experience on your morning ride?

"You do not need a therapist if you own a motorcycle, any kind of motorcycle!" - Dan Aykroyd

New Blood

 

Yesterday, two of my close friends told me that they are in the process of getting their motorcycle endorsement. Both are in their mid to late thirties and have little riding experience. I also recently spoke to my uncle who is in his seventies and purchased his first motorcycle. It really is never to late to get into riding!

I usually encourage anyone who has an inkling of interest to buy a small and cheap bike to see if their interest is real (see here for more of my opinion on that matter). There's no need to buy a new Harley or liter bike just to look cool...bikers look cool to the average folk no matter what they ride! One of my friends is riding a 250 for now until he's more confident in his ability and that's the right thing to do.

Right now I'm just happy about the possibility of more riding buddies. This gives me more motivation to get out and ride. I hope that some of my passion and enjoyment rubs off on them.

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." - C.S. Lewis



Review of the Viking Dirtman Enduro Saddlebag from Viking Bags

I don't have a dirt bike, so why would I want enduro bags? The first reason is that they are durable. Bags that are designed to hold up to trees and branches scraping against them should easily be able to withstand the elements experienced in street riding. The other reason is that they are compact. Let's face it, looks are important and as bags go, smaller usually looks better.

Since I mounted these bags to a street bike and they're meant for a dirt bike, I had to get a little creative instead of using the included instructions (if you also have a Ducati Monster 821 and want to know how I did it, please comment and I'll let you know). With this being said, I was able to secure them very well and they haven't moved at all in the weeks I've used them.

As I said previously, the bags look really good in my opinion. They do not take away from the overall look of my bike. This is important, because chances are that you're not going to keep bags on your motorcycle if they are ugly!

 

Two important things I always carry with me are a heated vest and rain suit (jacket, pants, and boot covers). The great thing is that these easily fit inside one bag, which is surprising since these bags appear to be too small for that. I use the other bag to carry my lunch to work, tools, hardware, etc.

Speaking of hardware, I'm currently building a deck on my house. Last weekend I discovered that I forgot carriage bolts, nuts, and washers. I figured that this would be a great test for the bags, so I rode my motorcycle to the hardware store. I'm not sure how much this hardware weighed, but it was definitely heavy! I loaded it all in one saddle bag and it held up perfectly.

The only critique I have to say about these bags is that the mounting straps go over the seat, which could be uncomfortable for a passenger. However, they are meant for dirt bikes, which rarely carry passengers, so this is understandable. I'd definitely recommend these for anyone!

 

The Passenger

 



For Father's Day, one of my gifts was a few hours to go for a motorcycle ride with my wife (as a passenger). As much as I enjoy riding with other bikes, there is something great about the rides my wife and I take alone. She is, by far the most skilled passenger I have ever ridden with. Yes, I said skill because becoming a good motorcycle passenger comes from learning through experience. I'd like to give some tips on this for all of those people who would like to ride on the back of a motorcycle.

First, you MUST trust the person you are riding with and his or her skills. Your life is essentially in the rider's hands l, so choose accordingly. If the rider has your trust, you will be more relaxed which will make a more enjoyable ride for the both of you.

Next, hold on to the rider firmly, but don't squeeze. Let them know your there and hold on tight enough that you feel safe. If you squeeze too tight, it'll make for a less comfortable ride for the both of you.

Last, move with the rider. If the rider leans left, lean with him or her. Don't fight to stay upright as this will not allow the rider to properly control the bike in corners, which is downright dangerous! This goes hand and hand with the point of trusting the rider.

If you get good enough at being a passenger, the rider should barely notice you are there (another reason to hold on firmly, just to remind the rider you ARE there). My wife is so good at it that I usually forget that she is on the back and ride as aggressive as I would alone. This was the case this weekend, but she likes to go as fast as I do, so there were no complaints.

I am a passenger
And I ride and I ride
I ride through the city's backside
I see the stars come out of the sky
Yeah, they're bright in a hollow sky
You know it looks so good tonight

 

From 'The Passenger' by Iggy Pop

Electric Noise

A while ago, I wrote this post that explained a possible link between the sound of a high performance car engine and testosterone level spikes in men. I provided my own anecdotal evidence of my similar (motorcycle engine instead of car engine sound) theory with my observation of a bunch of men and my one year old son gathered around my old Harley Davidson when I started it. Lately I've been thinking that these visceral experiences may go away in the next decade or two with the advancement of electric powered vehicles.

In the past, I was very against anything but a gasoline powered motorcycle. I was a proud advocate of "Loud pipes save lives" and "If it's too loud, you're too old." Now, I think that anything that keeps me riding on two wheels will make me happy. I was concerned about motorcycles losing performance with the change to electric motors, but I've read quite a few articles detailing the power some electric bikes have (see this Victory motorcycle with 170hp and 177 ft-lbs of torque!!!!).

With all this being said, I am still a sucker for the sound of a Harley, liter bike, two stroke dirt bike, etc. I feel I will never get over my love of the noise a motorcycle with a gasoline engine makes. However, I did read that electric car companies actually create sound that correlates with the vehicle's speed (kind of a whine), which is actually meant for pedestrian safety (no one wants a silent one-ton vehicle moving 70 mph across their path). Who knows, maybe our kids will marvel at the simulated noise that their brand new electric Harley Davidson makes in 30 years.

"I think there is something strangely musical about noise." - Trent Reznor

Motorcycle Buying & Selling Tips

 

When I began riding, I think I bought three or four bikes in my first couple of years. I bought used and kept on trading in. I never really understood my skill level and started with a 250cc bike that was way under my even novice class. It had no power, and I got very little enjoyment out of it. I went up to a used 500cc Triumph with a kick start. It was ok, loved the kick start, but still not where I wanted to go. I traded that in and moved to a used Harley Sportster. I found my sweet spot. To this very day, I only ride 1200cc Sportsters.

Although I never lost money on the trades and had the money to upgrade, I could have saved myself aggravation by researching and knowing where I wanted to go from the start. My early bikes were purchased pre-internet, so I had to rely on magazines and friends knowledge to figure out exactly what I wanted.
 

Today, with literally thousands of places to find motorcycle information, you should be able to avoid the hopscotch game playing I did early on.

Let’s look at some techniques for both buying and selling motorcycles.
 

BUYING

Stay within your budget, owning a motorcycle should be a joy. If you dread looking in the mailbox once a month for a payment statement that is much higher than you wanted, you are defeating the whole reason you wanted to become a biker.

Make sure the financing terms meet your expectation. A base payment of $99 per month sounds great but are there any hidden charges on top of that?

As I mentioned, finding the right bike to buy is your choice whether it is new or used. Just make sure you try to make the right decision from the start and not go through a few bikes before you feel comfortable.

I started with a 250cc. I would recommend starting with 500cc. They are not much harder to handle than a 250, but the power increase is substantial. However, if you feel safer in a 250 due to your skills, there’s no shame in that. It is likely, that you’ll want to upgrade as soon as you feel more comfortable on your bike though.

 

For a standard riding position, which is the most comfortable, a cruiser is a good choice. For a more aggressive riding position and harder lean angles, a sport bike would be your choice.

 

 

Don’t get stuck to a sport bike, if the lean over seating position and the zippy handling are not comfortable for you. One the other hand, if you are an adrenaline junkie, stay away from a cruiser. They are, as the name states, for enjoyable “cruising.”

 

 

If you go to a dealership, trust the knowledge of the sales force. Pound for pound, they have a much greater knowledge of their products then a car salesperson does.

 

While you can trust a dealer’s knowledge, their sole purpose in being at work is to sell bikes to make a living. They will naturally try to “upsell” you to a more costly bike. Watch out for the temptation if the up sale is a bike you can’t afford or too difficult to handle.

 

Bring your helmet along and take a test drive. This is an option that many potential buyers ignore or not aware they can do. Riding believes! What if you don’t like the way it rides? What if you can’t fully touch the ground at a light? You won’t know these things unless you test ride the bike before you buy it. 

SELLING

Whether you sell your bike through a private sale or trade it in at a dealer, there are some pretty simple rules of thumb.

Make sure from the first day you owned your bike that you keep all the paperwork in a safe place. This includes the title, maintenance service reports, receipts for aftermarket customization and the original sales receipt.

Clean and polish your bike to give it the best possible sales appeal. You should do this on a regular basis anyway, but especially when you’re trying to sell your bike.

 

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If your bike is heavily customized, it may not appeal to everyone else’s taste. You may want to remove some accessories and resell those separately on Ebay, Amazon, or a motorcycle parts exchange site. A lot of bikers are looking for “stock” bikes because they want to be able to customize it to their own liking and removing everything you’ve customized will get you closer to stock.

 

 

Make sure your bike is mechanically sound with fresh oil, filters and a fully charged battery. You’d be surprised how many times I went to check out a bike I was interested in buying but it wouldn’t start because the battery was dead, I left and never went back. You don’t want that to happen to anyone who’s interested in buying your bike.

 

Look online at valuation sites to see what your bike is worth. Don’t fool yourself! If you bike is not mint and in just good condition, so be it. Well-informed buyers also look for condition and value before they make a purchase and they already have that in mind before meeting you. Dealers give less than private sales, but there’s a lot fewer hassles involved if you are selling yourself, like having strangers come to your house, and waiting forever until a final check is produced.

 

So what are your thoughts? Any tips you have for those buying or selling their bikes? I learned some of these things the hard way, what have you learned?

Moto Diversity

Did everyone get out and ride this Memorial Day weekend? I had a very enjoyable ride with a diverse bunch of motorcycles and it instantly made me think of a point I always make; ride with anyone, no matter what kind of bike they have.

There were 2 Ducati Monsters, a Harley Davidson FXR, and a Kawasaki KLR. You can't get much different than that! We rode on some pretty twisty roads and everyone went at their own pace, not feeling pressured by the other riders. It was about as perfect a ride as you could hope for.

A thing that really impressed me was the riding ability of the guy on the KLR. You wouldn't expect a guy on an adventure tourer with knobby tires to keep up with any kind of street bike in the corners, but I looked in my rear view mirror and there he was. He stayed right on my tail. This guy spent the majority of last year touring Canada and Mexico on this bike, so he definitely has some riding experience and it showed. 

I sound like a broken record, but it is always great to ride with people who enjoy a different style of riding than you. In the end it can only make you a better rider.

"Different roads sometimes lead to the same castle." - George R.R. Martin

Watch Out

 

I recently read an article discussing the importance of realizing that many motorists are not looking for motorcycles and will not notice them when driving on streets and roads. This reminded me of one of my own memorable run ins with a car.

This was the same year that I had a deer accident. I was unable to ride from early June until the middle of August due to a broken wrist. When my cast finally was removed, I was definitely anxious to ride, although I was a little hesitant because of the accident.

I know that some of you more adventurous people will claim that you cut your cast and still rode with a broken wrist, but all that usually does is lengthen your recovery time by not allowing the bones to properly mend. I know a guy who did this exact thing and his recovery time went from six to twelve weeks.

Anyway, on my first ride, I came upon an area that a three lane road becomes two lanes. I was in the right lane and the lane on the left was the one ending. A car merged from the left lane, across the middle, and right into my lane, directly on top of me. Luckily I noticed this happening and veered to the edge of the road. Just when it appeared that I'd have to kick the cars door to get the driver's attention, she noticed me and swerved to the left.

Another accident was avoided and all was well. Actually, this incident pretty much erased all my hesitation from riding, as weird as that sounds. My advice to you about staying noticeable to motorists is the usual stuff you're going to hear. Wear bright colors or reflective clothing, stay out of blind spots whenever possible, and rev your engine when it appears a car is encroaching on your riding space (loud pipes save lives). As always, be safe!

"The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a cop in it." - Dudley Moore



Prepare Yourself

 

A few days ago I posted this video on the KLK Cycles Facebook page. A sportbike rider has a severe mishap while riding on a track. His clip on handlebar becomes detached, which is basically catastrophic at the rate of speed this bike was going. The rider calmly straightens the bike out and slows down, eventually coming to a stop. The level of calm this rider had in a terrible situation is remarkable!

While, I hope you never find yourself in a similar situation, I think that a rider should be mentally prepared to react to an emergency without panicking. This is WAY easier said than done, but running through these situations in your head can never hurt. What would you do if one of your tires blew out, or your drive chain/belt snapped? Figure out the most likely mishaps you might find yourself in and think your way out of them. This will train yourself to react correctly in an emergency.

I've only had one major mechanical mishap in my motorcycle riding lifetime. It was on my first bike, a 1977 Yamaha DT 100. I had just replaced the throttle cable that day. As a twelve year old kid, my mechanic skills were far from perfect. I mis-routed the cable and it was nearly kinked in one place. When I made the initial ride with my newly replaced cable, the throttle became stuck at full, when I was in 5th gear (top speed for this bike)! Luckily, I didn't panic and just pulled in the clutch and quickly flipped the killswitch. I hadn't thought about any of this ever happening, but like I said, I was lucky! I guess you can say I learned that lesson early in my riding life!

"Life is ten percent what you experience and ninety percent how you respond to it." - Dorothy M. Neddermeyer



Enjoy Life

 

Last Friday was the warmest day of the year so far. It was 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which is unseasonably warm for spring in the north. I, of course, was stuck at work until the evening and wouldn't be able to ride until the commute home. Then at lunchtime, my wife called and recommended that we both use our paid time off to enjoy a motorcycle ride in the afternoon. At first, I thought that there was no way I could make it happen with the looming deadlines I needed to meet, but I decided that I really needed to take advantage of the beautiful weather.

We didn't end up going too far, but we rode about 80 miles in total for the afternoon. It was incredibly enjoyable and a huge stress relief. Also, what better way to kick off the weekend then a motorcycle ride.

So, if you are able, take advantage of good weather whenever you can. You'll regret not riding when winter starts next year. I guess my wife and I are lucky to have a jobs that are flexible enough to allow us to take a couple of hours off to do some riding. I think I'll be doing this more often in the future!

"One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it's worth watching." - Gerard Way



Back on the Road

 

It happened! I'm finally riding my motorcycle and it is outstanding! Like I've mentioned in previous posts, there's not much that can achieve the need to be in the present like riding a motorcycle. The stress from my day to day life fades away as I concentrate on the road in front of me.

With this being said, I'm not ashamed to admit that my riding skills are definitely rusty after the long winter. Taking off, handling corners, and braking don't feel as smooth as they normally do. I'm not sure if this is evident to anyone watching me ride, but I can feel it. With that being said, the fact that my new bike has riding modes is a huge positive.

My new bike has throttle by wire traction control and ABS. The riding modes change the input each of these systems have on the motorcycle performance. With the "urban" mode selected, the throttle by wire system not only stops the rear wheel from spinning, it actually reduces the rear wheel horsepower significantly. While, this may seem like a bummer in most cases, it comes in handy during a heavy rain, or when you need to re-acclimate yourself to your motorcycle. Also given the fact that the local roads still aren't completely clear of debris, this is the right choice right now. I'll have plenty of time to ride like an asshole as soon as I'm used to the bike again.

On a side note, I'd like to mention that if the me from 15 years ago read this, I'd berate myself for being a complete sissy. It's funny how time and life experience (also technological advances) can change a person's perspective. Part of my hope with this blog is to share some of my life experience to keep young riders from making the same stupid mistakes I made. Then again, I doubt I'd have listened at that age!

"My life is on the road, man. I need to keep moving." - Matthew McConaughey