Tilted Horizons

What's Up With Tilted Horizons?

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 20:53:00 +0000

The site is either on hiatus, or is shutting down, or will be sold; yet be determined. Why would I consider shutting down the website I've published for over nine years? To have more time to ride -- simple as that.

Dam good ride!

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 16:44:00 +0000

During last Sunday morning's motorcycle ride I visited Holtwood Dam on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. Even though I've ridden past the turn-off for the dam hundreds of times, I'd never stopped in. Later, I stopped at another dam on the Susquehanna, Conowingo Dam, which is in Maryland, and a dam I've visited many times. For instance, clicky here.

Holtwood Dam

Two-wheeled Berlin

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 15:40:00 +0000

(Warning: this post contains a bit of non-motorcycle content!) I spent a couple of weeks in Germany and Czech Republic last month, the majority of it in Berlin. Two-wheeled life in Berlin appears to be very good: the car drivers are disciplined and courteous (except the cabbies) as to right-of-way rules, and both human-powered and internal-combustion two-wheelers are allowed to park in just about any available space; sidewalks are very popular. Bicycles are provided their own lanes on many streets, including their own traffic signals at some intersections. While the most common private conveyance in Berlin is shoes, bicycles come in a close second, followed by cars, then scooters; full-size motorcycles are a very distant 5th place. All this is based on my outsider viewpoint of course; nothing scientific.

Simson scooters are relics of eastern Berlin's Communist past, and I'm told are quite popular today as resto projects.

Not many places in the States where we can park like this.

Small scooters with top boxes are are so common I think Berlin must issue them to its citizens.

Go ahead, just try to find yours.

Why does USA hate efficient use of space like this?

This could've been a couple of dozen cars taking up space instead.

Traffic signal for the pedal crowd.

Road Eats: OleyTurnpike Dairy

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 13:15:00 +0000

I recently stopped in the Oley Turnpike Dairy, located south of (surprise!) Oley, Pennsylvania on (wait for it...) Oley Turnpike. I first worked up a hunger by negotiating the twisties on PA 345 through French Creek State Park; it was early, so I had the whole park to myself. The blindingly bright low sun dappling thru the trees, making it difficult to spot potholes, gravel and deer, just added to the challenge. The dairy started making its own ice cream back in 1970, and over the years, a diner and small petting zoo were added. I'm not a big fan of private roadside zoos but as this one had only farm animals, and appeared very well-kept, I guess it's OK. (Nothing like poor ol' Ricki the bear at another PA diner I've visited.) The diner was very busy, the grub decent enough, and the service was friendly if a bit harried. As I was in the parking lot gearing up to leave, a tiny woman who had to be in her mid-80s told me how she'd motorcycled all over the country until she got "too damn old" to continue. As I pulled away, she still had that wistful look in her eyes.

Komoot phone app

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 16:44:00 +0000

My son-in-law Alex is an iOS developer for Komoot. Above shows a test I did on the way to work this morning using the app. Click on "Open in Komoot" to see the full display. I've also used Komoot for hiking and bicycling, it's chief intended uses, but there's no reason it can't be used for motorcycling (or driving) as well. Give it a try; it's a great way to plan, record, or share your travels. Komoot is available for both Apple and Android phones, and the maps can be downloaded for off-line use, which is a big plus.

Product Review: MotoJug hydration system

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 18:25:00 +0000

MotoJug is a universal on-board hydration system kit designed by ADVrider.com forum member "lacofdfireman" a/k/a Dave and his wife from Utah. You can order the bag and straps only for $50 (shipping included) or get the whole she-bang like I did for $75, which includes the tubing, tubing retractor and bite valve, everything you need except the water cooler, which would cost more to ship than for you to buy. Click here for the full product description, photographs and ordering information. Below I've copied and pasted a short review I recently posted in the ADV thread. Highly recommended!

"Lovin' my MotoJug so far. Had it out for a long shake-down ride over the weekend. Not only did it remain 100% secure despite my best cornering and braking efforts to induce movement, but the handling wasn't at all affected, which I was a little worried about ahead of time, particularly as I have a mid-sized bike. Mine is on the left as my exhaust would interfere on the right. I have the tubing retractor clipped to my tankbag so it takes a few extra seconds to deal with the tube when mounting/dismounting the bike, but it's well worth it in the heat. (When temps don't warrant carrying this much H2O, I may use the cooler as a waterproof storage device.) The bag, loops and straps offer many mounting possibilities, and everything is constructed very well. The price was worth it to me to have someone source and build the kit. I went with Dave's recommended $8 cooler but I had to get someone else to buy it for me so I could keep my claim of never having purchased anything at WalMart intact...well, sort of."

"Iron Butt types: order two, but substitute a small funnel for the bite valve on one side, so you'd have both intake and output."

A Job Worth Doing is Worth Doing Twice

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 17:04:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I get home from a long ride and find my left front turn signal dangling, the rubber mount having broken in half. Hmmm, that's weird; wonder what caused that? Impact with something? Someone bumping into it? Old age? No matter, I ordered a new left-hand mount right away, and being the smart guy I am, also ordered the right-hand mount, figuring that some day that one may fail as well and, if so, I'd already have the part on hand.

What I'd figured would be a 10-minute installation of the new turn signal mount turned out to be a sweaty, cuss-filled hour or more (thanks Kawasaki!), which would've taken someone with normal man-sized hands much longer (thanks genetics!). While I had the dashboard and windscreen off, I of course considered replacing the "good" mount on the other side, and, of course, decided against it because of the major hassle involved with the wiring I'd encountered on the "bad" side, and anyway, what were the chances the other mount would somehow fail or get broken anytime soon? I fear the 95F and 100% humidity in my garage influenced that decision.

This is what I found at the end of a ride about a week later:

The good news is that now I know to an accuracy of about 200 miles the precise life of a Kawasaki ZR-7S rubber turn signal mount, and I've become twice as proficient at replacing them. Yay for me. Freakin' yay.

Nothin' to see here; move along please!

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 16:43:00 +0000

It's difficult to get photos of oneself in motion on a motorcycle. Below are some from the last few years, mostly shot by event or roadside photogs. You don't really need to see them; I just decided to catalog them in one place for future reference. Yeah, I know a couple are just me standing around...

This and the 2nd below were taken at nearly the exact spot 3 years apart.

Too much civilization; get me outta here!

T'was a slow news day obviously. Posted at my American Legion hall.

Photo by Rod Don

Don't distract me with your camera; I'm trying to not ride into that stream.

Can you can spot the error in this image?

Pro Hill Climb This Weekend!

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 18:25:00 +0000

This Sunday, June 7th AMA professional hill climb returns to the 300-foot hill at White Rose Motorcycle Club's facility near Jefferson, PA. I've attended this event a few times previously and I hope to make this one. If you've never watched a real hill climb, you should. It's one of the oldest forms of motorcycling competition, and also one of the toughest...and most basic: fastest to the top wins (or furthest, if the hill beats everyone). A couple of jumps on the way up make it even more interesting, particularly as the riders are usually on the very edge of control as they blast up. Those who crest the hill with momentum to spare take a final huge leap. The first rider launches at 12:30 PM, rain or shine. It's easy to plot a nice twisty, back road route to the event. More event info on the club's website.

Motel, Motor-Tel, wait...what?

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Wed, 27 May 2015 12:54:00 +0000

This seems so wrong on so many levels, not the least of which are physics and common sense, but hey, may great ideas were spurned in their day. I wouldn't sleep in it, but perhaps it would come in handy as a sail in the event of an empty fuel tank. For more info, check out http://www.mobed.eu/.

No joke; they're actually trying to sell this product.

Dealer Enthusiasm

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Tue, 26 May 2015 19:14:00 +0000

About 150 miles into yesterday's ride, I was looking for a suitable rest and hydration stop when I passed a large Harley dealer with a lot full of motorcycles and people, and a BBQ vendor going full blast. A quick 180 and I parked up. I've passed Chesapeake Harley-Davidson in Maryland dozens of time previously, and these weekend gatherings always seem to be happening. There were picnic tables under a tent, rocking chairs on the shaded front porch, food and drink (non-alcoholic I'm happy to report), and a mobile stage for the band that I imagine followed later. The dealership is impeccably clean and the employees were friendly without feeling the need to put on the sales pitch. Large flat parking lot that even had a roundabout to keep traffic flowing in and out. Quite the oasis for riders. I was there for about 45 minutes and watched 40-50 bikes come and go. And I know this isn't all that unusual for H-D dealers. Which had me wondering why none of the Big Four Japanese or Euro dealers near me do anything similar. Sure, most dealers have an open house or a special event or two each year, but nothing consistent, nothing I know I can count on during any given ride for a little break. All it would take are clean restrooms and drinking water. I'm not a "lifestyle" rider, and I know that's a little part of it, but c'mon man, show a little enthusiasm for motorcycling and motorcyclists! And as I'm sure the H-D shops well know, having more riders hanging out, walking by those shiny new machines on the sales floor, leads to a few more sales. Know ye of such shops?

"One of these things is not like the others..."

Scottish Games tomorrow!

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Fri, 15 May 2015 21:19:00 +0000

While not a motorcycle event per se, the 55th annual Scottish Games and Gathering of the Clans being held at the Fair Hill, Maryland Natural Resources Management Area tomorrow. It's a huge, unique one-day event that would be an excellent excuse (as if you needed one) to take a ride. Motorcycles usually are afforded a nice parking area, too. As 18th Century Scottish explorer Alexander Mackenzie is my great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather on my mother's side, I claim this tenuous Scottish heritage this one day each year. Among the attractions are the caber-toss, sheaf-toss, sheep dog demonstrations, marching band competitions, bagpipes galore, and of course more red-haired folks in one place than you're likely to see anywhere outside of Scotland itself. There will also be food and Scottish-product vendors, plus plenty of McEwan's Strong Ale, so take it easy if you're arriving on two wheels OK? See ya there!

Mid-Week Ride Report

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Fri, 15 May 2015 18:26:00 +0000

Wednesday seemed as good a day as any to ditch work in favor of a long day-ride through the Amish countryside. It was also the first day of my motorcycle club's annual rally HQ'd in Bird-In-Hand, PA, so I checked in there as well.

My famous map/nav skills took me down a gravelly road for a couple of miles.

Obligatory Pennsylvania covered bridge shot.

Well, that's 100,000 done.

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Tue, 05 May 2015 15:47:00 +0000

OK, it's 62,000 miles, but that's 100,000 km to the rest of the civilized world. Pulling off to document the event on the way home from work yesterday was mandatory, even though it was in a somewhat precarious location. Disclosure: only 61,999 of those miles are mine; it had 1 mile on the odometer when I headed out from the dealer on my test ride 11 years ago.

1st Ever Triple-Backflip Completed

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Fri, 01 May 2015 12:36:00 +0000

Not by me. :^) By Aussie Josh Sheehan on April 28th at Travis Pastrana's facility. Love this quote from the video: "There's only two outcome: roll away on two wheels, or roll away on four wheels..." The helmet cam view is pretty awesome, too. There's not much dirt bike content on Tilted Horizons, much less freestyle stuff, but I think this is a worthy exception.

2015 AMCA Meet, Oley, PA

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 14:08:00 +0000

This past Saturday I rode up to the Antique Motorcycle Club of America's annual meet in Oley, Pennsylvania. Two days later, my legs are still sore from repeated crouching down to shoot photos of so much great vintage iron; everything from Concours-quality restorations to bikes that looked as if they were just unearthed from the back of a barn that morning. More than you may think were ridden to the meet, too. Below is a mere sampling; click here to see many more from 2015, and click here to see motorcycles from 2013's meet.

Don't see this brand every day.

Liter bikes aren't new; this model was Lawrence of Arabia's favorite ride.

Beverly Hillbillies meets The Munsters?

This had a number plate autographed by Jack Penton, too.

MotoStays: an Airbnb for motorcyclists?

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 17:21:00 +0000

MotoStays, the web site that connects motorcyclists with free home stays in other motorcyclists’ homes, announces free memberships for another twenty-five days, until May 15, 2015. “We’ve been offering the MotoStays membership for free for the past year and the site has expanded to include twenty-six countries,” said Tad Haas, co-founder of MotoStays.

MotoStays is a growing motorcycle community that promotes and provides access to home-sharing opportunities throughout the world. The MotoStays network provides a convenient alternative to camping and hotels by connecting motorcyclists with local hosts along their route. MotoStays also features motorcycle-friendly businesses that offer accommodations for members at reasonable rates.

Launched in June of 2014, MotoStays.com is the motorcyclist’s equivalent to Airbnb; the difference being the overnight stays are free. Motorcyclists create a membership account and profile listing then look for places to stay. Using the member location, photos, amenities and accommodation details to see which hosts best match their needs, members then contact potential hosts to work out the details.

“There are lots of people doing this, and have been doing it for years; it just hasn’t happened in an organized way until now,” said Gaila Gutierrez, MotoStays co-founder. “What we’ve done is create a community that is based on reciprocal hospitality and consolidated it in a way that people can actually plan around. It eliminates the randomness and connects people who share the passion of motorcycling in a unique and interesting way.”

Haas and Gutierrez quit their jobs, rented their house and took off on their motorcycles for fourteen months in 2012-2013. Traveling over 40,000 miles through ten different countries, the trip opened their minds to a new way of thinking. Upon their return home they decided to build a community where other motorcyclists could take advantage of the experiences that result when you share space and a connection with other people and founded MotoStays.

MotoStays will be offering free one-year memberships through May 15, 2015. More information can be found on www.MotoStays.com.

If anyone uses this service, please drop me a line or a comment to let me know of your experience.

Finally, a real ride this winter.

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 15:03:00 +0000

Made a wrong turn on the way to work yesterday. Funny how that happened on a relatively warm (~40F) sunny day. Spent the day wandering around Maryland's eastern shore. I chose that area of Maryland over my usual Pennsylvania haunts because the eastern shore roads get plenty of sunlight, so ice wouldn't be a problem, and they're very lightly traveled, so trucks wouldn't be a problem (this was a workday for everyone else, after all). Also weighing against PA is experience, which tells me that its back roads would be full of new potholes/broken pavement, salt/dirt/mud and lingering ice in the shady areas. It wasn't a huge ride, 205 miles, but it was sorely needed. Since 2015 rang in, my riding had consisted of a small handful of commutes, and a few rides of barely 100 miles each. I'm hoping the constant freeze/thaw/freeze cycle we've been in this winter is finally done, but March is a rather fickle month for the motorcyclist.

It's snow-go for riding this winter.

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 22:04:00 +0000

I don't recall a winter when I've ridden fewer miles. I doubt I've done 500 miles since Xmas. Today's pic is typical of what we've faced the last couple of months. So sick of snow, ice and salt! I'll be shoveling as Daytona Bike Week begins tomorrow...

If my bike were an animal, it'd be a Sad Panda.

Book Review: Tracks, Racing the Sun

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 15:27:00 +0000

The icy/salty/snowy roads that have pervaded my neck of the woods during the last month or so has provided (forced) some down time, so I've been trying to catch up on some reading. Even though I almost never post non-motorcycle content, Sandro Martini's Tracks: Racing the Sun is a worthy exception. A product of ten (!) years' research by the author, this is a highly detailed piece of historical fiction set in the early days of auto racing in Europe. A great read for anyone who enjoys motorsports, politics, WWII-era history, or simply an engrossing story mixing bravery, recklessness, nationalism and larger-than-life characters. You may even be inspired, as I was, to learn more about the real-life drivers who inspired this novel (some of whom began their careers as motorcycle racers -- ah, there's the connection.) Highly recommended! For more reviews, follow the links at the bottom of this post.

Tracks: Racing The Sun

Sandro Martini, 2014

335 ppg.

Aurora Metro Books

ISBN 978-906582-43-2

http://www.thevirtualdriver.com/lifestyle/2014/8/22/road-read-tracks-racing-the-sun.html

http://over40andamumtoone.com/2014/10/02/tracks-racing-the-sun/

http://www.badgroove.com/index.php/2014/10/24/amys-nascar-reading-list-tracks-racing-the-sun-by-sandro-martini/

http://www.amazon.com/Tracks-Racing-Sun-Sandro-Martini/dp/1906582432

http://www.tracksracingthesun.com/united-states-1-1/

http://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/tracks-racing-the-sun/

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/20/sports/autoracing/driving-wild-in-a-bygone-racing-era.html?_r=0

Fed funding for motorcycle-only checkpoints to end?

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 14:31:00 +0000

U.S. Senators Shaheen (D-N.H.), Johnson (R-Wis.), Ayotte (R-N.H.), Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Collins (R-Maine) have introduced S.B. 127, the Stop Motorcycle Checkpoint Funding Act, which would prohibit federal funding for motorcycle-only checkpoints, limiting the implementation of these discriminatory checkpoints nationwide.

During the past few years, federal, state and local governments spent many hundreds of thousands of dollars on motorcycle-only checkpoints, funds that could have been better spent on programs to prevent distracted driving, increase rider education programs or improve motorist awareness. I've never been pulled into one of these checkpoints, but I have friends who have, particularly in New York State on the major arteries leading to the annual Americade Rally in Lake George. While I have no sympathy for those riding unregistered or uninsured bikes, or with unlawfully loud pipes, motorcycle-only checkpoints is in my view an unlawfully discriminatory practice. If a governmental entity feels the need to check motor vehicles for certain compliance, then pull all non-commercial (commercial is subject to different rules) vehicular traffic into a given checkpoint, not just motorcycles.

What sayeth thou?

Throw-Back Thursday: Trail Riding Gear

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 19:10:00 +0000

Off-road gear has come a ways since the day this post-ride pic of my brother and father was taken in our backyard; probably about 1974.

New ADV Online Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 17:58:00 +0000

Stumbled across Road+Trail, a brand new adventure touring publication, while perusing ADVrider.com today. Give it a look; great ride reports!

Are You A Motorcyclist?

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 15:54:00 +0000

No matter how trained, skilled, safe, psychologically sound or ATGATT'd we believe ourselves to be, motorcycles are fundamentally rolling bombs. Humomgously-entertaining rolling bombs.

Ride to Vote, Vote to Ride!

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Just Doug) — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 16:34:00 +0000

Remember to vote today! It's not only your duty as an American citizen, it's a chance to have a voice in issues that may affect your rights as a motorcyclist...ethanol and health care insurance exemptions for example.