Keep The Rubber Side Down

A Ride to Indian Lake

2013-05-20T15:42:00.004-04:00

After spending much of the day on yard work, Kim and I, jumped on the RT for a short ride. We traveled a few back roads taking our time and enjoying one an other's company. We ended up at Indian Lake; a resort community about an hour north of the house and since it was nearing dinner, we decided to stop in at Cranberry's for a light snack before traveling back home. What began as a trip around the neighborhood, ended as a four hour trip, but, hey; it was a gorgeous day to ride and being with a beautiful woman made it that much better. Tis the season!

The View from our table

Some fellow cyclist visited Cranberry's

This Isle of Man video will get your blood flowing.

2013-05-20T08:24:00.002-04:00

Motorcycle Quote of the Week

2013-05-18T10:51:00.000-04:00

People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs.
Alexei Sayle

A motorcyclist and a good deed.

2013-05-17T22:52:00.000-04:00

One afternoon I stopped at the hardware store on my way home from work. Walking down the aisle carrying my helmet, a little boy of about 5-6 years with his grandma spots me. "Lookit gwamma, he has a motorsickle!"

A few minutes later they were in line in front of me at the checkstand. The boy kept talking to grandma about the motorsickle. He wanted to go outside with me so he could see it. I looked at grandma and said, "It's ok, I don't mind". She didn't seem too thrilled with the idea, but she finally said ok to shut the kid up.

We walked outside, I put the key in the ignition and turned it on. I told the kid, "Push this little button right here". He did, the engine spun over and fired up. His eyes lit up and he could barely stand still he was so excited. Then I said, "Now push this other button here". He did, and the horn tooted. And he did it again, and again.

Grandma finally said thank you and dragged the boy away. Hopefully he'll remember that, and hopefully grandma has a slightly better impression of riders now.

by Red Shark

Granview's Euro Bike Night

2013-05-16T16:22:00.001-04:00

A warm spring night brought out a good number of motorcycles for Grandview’s Euro Bike Night. Jerry and I, rode over to see if he could sell his Norge. Unfortunately, no bites!

Jerry's son, Joel, stopped by after picking up a tire at Iron Pony.

Although, not European, here's a restored 1949 H.D. Panhead. Pretty Cool bike.

Al Bundy... Born to Be Bad.

2013-05-15T04:44:00.001-04:00

Xelement Jacket from LeatherUp.

2013-05-13T10:08:00.003-04:00

Now that riding season has began, I am thoroughly enjoying my new Xelement Jacket from LeatherUp.com. The designers of this jacket thought of everything a biker would need while out for a ride. The well placed venting keeps you cool, and their are plenty of securely closing pockets for the things we all need to carry. Once off the bike the jacket is comfortable and stylish. If you are in the market for a new leather jacket be sure to visit, Leatherup.com

This is my XS-100 Jacket

This is One Fast Chevy!

2013-04-29T07:55:00.000-04:00

Motorcyclist Radio

2013-04-25T04:30:00.000-04:00

OK, it's a sunny Saturday afternoon and instead of riding, your are finishing up those spring chores such as cleaning out the garage or painting the shutters. Well, there's still a way to get your motorcycle fix, I suggest listening to the Motorcyclist Radio podcast hosted by Steve Natt. The show is upbeat, informative, and they often have some cool guest such as Roland Sands or Ryan Villapoto. Give it a try!

Riding in the Rain. Tip #3

2013-04-23T07:01:00.000-04:00

Riding your motorcycle in the rain can be an exciting adventure if you are prepared. A quality rain suit can make life much more enjoyable the next time you get caught in that unexpected downpour. The rain gear doesn't need to cost a fortune, but make sure you purchase one made for motorcyclists. I still wear a Tour Master rain suit that I bought from Competition Accessories some five years ago and it only set me back about $100.

What Motorcycles Work Well For Large Riders?

2013-04-16T13:49:00.001-04:00

My brother is now looking for a used motorcycle and being a rather large man asked me what motorcycles were best suited for his size. The main function of this bike will be for commuting and of course he doesn't want to spend a great deal of money. My immediate response was the Honda VTX and the Suzuki Boulevard,or a Yamaha V-Star, all of these bikes have plenty of power, easy on and off, and are large enough to accommodate a bigger rider.

What would you suggest?

BMW Motorrad

2013-04-15T22:18:00.002-04:00

Riding in the Rain. Tip #7

2013-04-12T18:37:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned last week I have put the car away and am now relying solely on the motorcycle for my transportation needs. It's early spring in Ohio which means there will be many days I will be riding in the rain and chances are you will as well. So here's a tip for riding your motorcycle in the rain.

Riding in the rain tip #7: "When stopping for a traffic light don't put your foot down on any painted surface. The painted lines and arrows used at most intersections can be very slippery in the rain making it easy for your foot to slide out and for you to drop your bike.

Florence Motorcycle Patrol Pursues a Susupect.

2013-04-12T03:00:00.000-04:00

The V Twin. How it's Made

2013-04-11T05:32:00.000-04:00

Road Food

2013-04-10T08:13:00.001-04:00

One of the best things about motorcycle touring is the food. Stopping at unusual food joints or being creative and cooking your own. These guys have it right.

Beer and Bacon! Nothing Better!

Thunder Roads Ohio Magazine

2013-04-07T07:57:00.000-04:00

Glad to report that Thunder Roads Ohio Magazine has published on of my stories entitled "The Diner" in their April edition. Thanks Derek.

Motorcycle Camping

2013-04-06T08:55:00.000-04:00

So, you'd like to take a weekend ride, but don't have the funds for a hotel; tent camp! Camping on your motorcycle can be a great experience and you don't need a lot of equipment or money to get started.

Now, I could reinvent the wheel and give you all the details of motorcycle camping, but why when there are so many links to get you started.

From WetLeather Motorcycle Riders: Bill Johns' Excellent Motorcycle Camping Guide. Several experienced guys from the Northwest put these guidelines together and they are super.

MicaPeak: Motorcycle Trip Checklist. This is an amazing checklist of items you may or may not have thought of. Just uncheck the boxes and print. This is a great resource that I still take advantage of today. Thanks guys!

I know these two links will answer many of the questions you might have about camping, but one word of advice from me is to practice camping, right, practice. Set the tent up in your backyard or a nearby state park. Practice cooking on a small camp stove, practice packing and unpacking your gear, and practice loading your motorcycle so that your equipment is secure and properly balanced. Believe me, you will be glad you did. If you have any questions be sure and leave them in the comment section. Now get out there.

What music do you listen to while riding your motorcycle?

2013-04-04T08:25:00.000-04:00

Spent last night downloading that special music for the ride. You know, the music you listen while cruising the highway. Like hot dogs at a baseball game, some music sounds best on the open road. I mostly prefer to ride in silence, but after an eight hour day on the RT it's nice to have a change of pace. What's your favorite tunes for your motorcycle trips?

Learning about Harley Davidson

2013-03-29T08:37:00.000-04:00

Back to school for me! Not in a brick and mortar school, but at my desk with a cigar and whisky. Recently, I have been dedicating a lot of time to the history and motorcycles of the Harley Davidson company. If you have followed my writings at all, you will know that I am not a big fan of the Harley Davidson culture, I think their motorcycles are fine, it's many of the people associated with Harley I detest. Like the ones who preach; "If you aren't riding a Harley, you aren't riding a real motorcycle." gospel. Those loud mouth bastards sicken me, but I do have an appreciate the company's history and love to ride their bikes. As I continue my studies I am certain that much of what I learn will show up here in one form or another.

It won't fit on the motorcycle.

2013-03-28T05:30:00.000-04:00

I've been in the market for a medium sized tool chest so with a little time on my hands I decided to visit our local Lowe's store. To make a long story short, I found the chest I was looking for, bought it, then remembered I was riding my motorcycle. This could be a problem as I only had a couple bungee cords in my top bag and the box was bigger than I had imagined.

I tried to secure the box safely to the motorcycle, but it was simply too large. Just then I saw a friend of mine pulling into the parking lot in his Silverado pick up. I flagged him down and asked him for a favor, which he was willing to do, but only after some well deserved ribbing.

This impulse purchase worked out for me in the end , but without the help of this friend I would have been screwed.

I'm sure I am not the only one something like this has happened to. Tell us your story...

Riding My First Harley Davidson Rocker C

2013-03-25T21:25:00.002-04:00

“Sure, no problem, I’ll see you in the morning.” I said hanging up the phone. A friend of mine had called to ask if I would ride a motorcycle back from Columbus on Friday, and since I rarely turn down an opportunity to ride, I agreed to help him out. Jay had purchased a 2009 Harley Davidson Rocker C at an auction and had no one to get it to Springfield, having never ridden a Rocker; I looked forward to the trip even though the temperatures were to be in the mid teens.

Harley Davidson produced the Rocker from 2008-2011 with limited success, but to be honest with you I had never laid eyes on one until I saw this one. I’ve viewed lots of photos and read several press releases, but I had never seen anyone ride one. My first impression of the motorcycle was a positive one, I liked its stance and aesthetics, the chrome gleaming around the crimson paint was impressive and the Vance and Hines staggered shorty exhaust gave it a great sound. After filling out some paper work for the auction house it was time to hit the road, although I must admit, riding in eighteen degree temperatures without any wind protection isn’t something I dream of, I bundled up and away I went; “Hey, you only live once!”

I enjoyed the fit of the bike and the handle bar reach was nearly perfect, the Rocker rode like one would expect a chopper to and the 1584cc motor has plenty of power. My trip from Columbus to Springfield was nearly an hour and the stiffness of Rocker’s ride and the frigid temperatures made me glad it wasn’t any longer.

I’m now sitting in a warm office sipping hot coffee and trying to warm up, but I’m glad for the chance to ride the Rocker C. Hope to do it again in warmer weather.

Women and Motorcycles

2013-03-24T12:00:00.000-04:00

Cigar Review of the Cu-avana Punisher

2013-03-21T08:07:00.000-04:00

The Bolt... An Urban Performance Bobber from Yamaha.

2013-03-21T05:53:00.000-04:00

CYPRESS, Ca. - Star Motorcycles has unveiled the Bolt and Bolt R-Spec, two bikes the OEM has dubbed its “Urban Performance Bobbers” that target riders wanting a stripped-down cruiser devoid of the bling common to the segment.

Star — Yamaha’s cruiser brand — pulled the cover off the bikes today in Daytona, during the city’s famous bike week.
While the world unveiling took place at Yamaha’s display at the Daytona Club Pad near the front entrance of the Speedway, the first media debut happened earlier in the week at the Smog Shoppe, a hip events venue in Los Angeles.

Check out a full image gallery of the Bolt and the Bolt R-Spec

And check out the full tech specs on the Bolt and Bolt-R

Prior to the big reveal, Yamaha’s motorcycle product planning manager Derek Brooks offered up a bit of background on the OEM’s play in the cruiser space — first cruiser appeared in the 1970s and in 2005 the manufacturer spun off Star as its own brand — before highlighting the momentous shift in tastes and styles in the custom bike scene.

Bling and ridiculously customized choppers have given way to more elemental, rideable machines, he explained. With this trending away from flash to function, many riders are simply tapping into the vast used bike market to pick the platform for their next ride. (Here is where Brooks gave a tip of his hat to Yamaha’s cultish XS650, a bike that’s now a wildly popular platform for bobbers, choppers and trackers.)

This, he pointed out, is the jumping off point for the new Bolt and Bolt R-Spec. “This is the place and time to introduce a new bike with modern reliability and modern performance,” Brooks said. Given the bike’s light weight, fuel mileage (estimated 50.9 mpg), short wheelbase and all-around functionality, Brooks pointed out it’ll be ideal for everything from commuting to longer runs through the hills.

The MSRP for the Bolt is $7,990 while the pricing on the Bolt R-Spec is $8,290.