Scrambler Talk

Recently, I had a conversation with a friend of mine who is interested in buying a motorcycle before riding season starts. He’s really into scramblers, which I think are awesome as well. We texted each other Craigslist ads of scramblers and photos of scramblers that I have taken over the years. After our exchange, a question crossed my mind. Scramblers look really cool, but are they nearly useless?

 

If you don’t know what a scrambler is, I’ll try to briefly describe one. If you take a street motorcycle and put some knobby tires on it along with stripping excess weight from it (bobbing the fenders, removing unnecessary electrical components, mirrors, etc) you’d essentially have a scrambler. You see, in the past there was no such thing as dirt bikes, so people would change their motorcycles into scramblers to ride off-road. Then, factories picked up on the trend and created their own scramblers. That went away for a while, but in recent years scramblers have become incredibly popular again. You can buy one straight from a dealership or buy a kit to convert your bike.

 

Now, back to my question. Nowadays, there are a huge variety of off road motorcycles to buy. Motocross bikes, enduros, dual sports, and adventure tourers will outperform a scrambler in the dirt without question. So, what would be the point of owning a scrambler? Well...they look cool!

 

I wouldn’t recommend a scrambler for someone’s only bike if they planned on doing some serious riding, but if you’re going to ride once a week or so, or need a daily commute motorcycle, go for it! I do have to say that buying a brand new one might be a little excessive cost wise, but if you have the money to spend and will enjoy riding, then more power to you!

 

“Back in the day, there were no "dirt bikes"; you had to build your own out of a regular road bike, and that's how the scrambler genre was born.” - Aaron Cortez

Proper Gear for the Temperature

This article is a pretty good one. It details an experienced rider’s insight into things he wishes he would’ve known when he started riding. I’m only going to discuss the first on on the list, “Dress Warmer (Or Colder) Than You Think You Need To.”

This is something that I’m ashamed to say that I still haven’t quite gotten right. I do have cold weather riding dialed in, however. I dress as if it’s winter if the temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and that serves me well. I never complain about being too warm in these situations. From 50 to 80 degrees, I also am fairly good about wearing proper apparel. Usually this entails my riding jacket with no liner.

The temperatures that I tend to be ill prepared for are those above 80 degrees. Usually, if I wear my typical riding gear, I’m too warm. This is especially true if I'm riding in traffic. If I strip down to just a shirt, I tend to be too cool (not to mention unprotected). I do have a couple of thin motocross chest protectors that I’ll wear in the summer that’ll save me from taking bugs and rocks in the chest, but this also tends to overheat me when the temperature is above 88ish. Also, my arms will still be unprotected.

I guess my advice to all of you (and myself) is to wear as much protective gear as you can bare in the summer months. Asphalt hurts just as much when it’s hot as it does when it’s cold.

“It's so damn hot... milk was a bad choice.” - Ron Burgundy in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Beginning of the End for Printed Motorcycle Magazines

I’m on an airplane right now, bored out of my mind. I might as well blog, right? The problem is that I don’t have a topic...Well motorcycles is the topic, but I’m not exactly sure what to write about. I did read that Cycle World magazine is moving to a quarterly printed version instead of monthly. In my opinion, Cycle World is the pinnacle of motorcycle magazines, so this move must really be pointing to a huge shift toward online content.

 

I’m not sure how I feel about that. I know that sounds funny from a guy who creates online content about motorcycles, but I grew up reading and subscribing to Cycle World. This was my source for a perspective on all types of motorcycles. Also, most reviews at least seemed to be objective and unbiased. I really didn’t see that from others. Either they’d be specialized or tend to be biased for or against certain brands.

 

I also read that the quarterly issues will be more of a coffee table book format, which could definitely be a positive change. Online content will still be available as well, so the brand isn’t going anywhere yet. More than anything I’m awaiting what the outcome of this change will be because I’d be willing to bet that the rest of the motorcycle journalism world will be affected whether it’s good or bad.

 

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss

Moto Safety for Kids

 

 

I bought my son his first helmet for Christmas. He was absolutely stoked and he ran around the house telling everyone that he had a dirt bike and he was going to wear this helmet when he rode it. Here’s how the conversation would go.

 

My son would ask a family member or friend, “Do you know I have a dirt bike?”

 

They’d say yes.

 

Then he’d ask, “Do you know how it works?”

 

They’d humor him.

 

He’d reply, “If you twist the handle, it’ll go really fast and if you let go, it’ll go slow.”

 

I’d struggle to keep a straight face. I was super proud of his enthusiasm. However, another thought creeped in my head. “How in the world am I going to keep this kid safe?” I’m sure he’s going to push this bike to its limit as soon as he gets the chance.

 

Then I thought back to my childhood and my father’s strictly enforced rules. Always wear a helmet, a protective shirt or jacket, gloves, and jeans. I also remember seeing my friends riding in t-shirts in the summer and being jealous. If my dad caught me doing that, there’d be hell to pay. I guess I’m going to have to do the same. It’s not pleasant being the “fun sheriff” but my son’s safety is far more important than pleasantries!

 

“It's not wise to violate rules until you know how to observe them.” - T. S. Eliot



Motorcycle Safety Tech

Picture that you’re riding on an interstate highway. Ahead lies a merger between this interstate and another. As you come to the merger, a driver who doesn’t notice you is about to merge into your lane right on top of you! Thinking quickly, you check the lane to your right, noticing an open space in traffic and quickly get over. You thank the gods that you were able to avoid an incident and raise your middle finger to the idiot that chased you out of your lane.

Situations similar to this have happened to me more than once. This is why I (and most experienced riders) preach awareness of your surroundings while riding. What if your motorcycle was able to warn you that a car was too close? Better yet, what if the driver of the car was warned that they were about to merge on top of you? This article details the technology that’s in development that may make that a reality.

I actually read about this awhile back and have been wanting to blog about it for a while, but haven’t taken the time to do it. Basically, WiFi based systems allow vehicles to communicate to and alert the presence of each other. I’ve mentioned how autonomous vehicles would create a safer environment for motorcycles, but I think that this technology is coming sooner and will have just as drastic an impact on motorcycle safety. This is awesome news. Until then, stay safe and alert.

“The safety of the people shall be the highest law.” - Marcus Tullius Cicero