Mototrope

Test rode the new Triumph Tiger 800XC

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Sun, 08 May 2011 20:34:00 +0000

Last month, I started looking at the new Triumph Tiger 800XC as a possible ride for my cross-country trip which is just around the corner in July. This bike has gotten incredible reviews in the trade and by new owners. I first spotted the Triumph at the International Motorcycle Show in February in Chicago and loved the way it looked. Once I sat on it, it seemed like the perfect fit for me. I talked to the dealer at the show and as soon as they got a demo, I was going to come out and take it for a ride.

Last week, I finally got to the dealer and took the Tiger for a 45 minute ride. I wanted to make sure that I could ride on the highway for hours on end without feeling like I was riding on an off road bike. The instruments on the bike was familiar since I've been riding Triumphs for several years now. The engine started with barely a whisper and as I rode out of the parking lot, I already felt comfortable on the bike, as if I'd ridden it many times before. Then as I shifted to second and then third, I realized that this inline triple engine was very different than anything I'd ever ridden before. It was in fact, the smoothest engine I've ever ridden on, even more effortless than the BMW r1150r boxer engine. It didn't matter whether I was on 2nd, 3rd or 4th gear, the engine ran so smoothly, I didn't feel like I was pushing it at all. I kept looking at the indicator on the dash which identified what gear I was in. It was then that I realized that I missed the torque and feel of my V-twin Ducati and Moto Guzzi engines. After getting over the slight disappointment of the torque, I got on the highway and there, the Triumph Tiger really came to life for me. I loved the smooth triple engine and I was able to ride through the highway traffic with no effort and really appreciated the lightness of the bike.

I returned from the ride and wished that the Triumph Tiger 800xc had a little bit more power. If I wasn't looking for a cross country ride, I think I would have considered this Tiger more seriously. As I parked the bike, I looked over and saw the Ducati Multistrada 1200 that I test rode last fall staring at me.

Did anyone really get to ride much in April?

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Sun, 08 May 2011 01:27:00 +0000

I heard on the radio that it had been 50 years since we had this much rain in April. I was walking back to work on Michigan Ave. last week on a rare sunny day and I saw a group of riders buzzing through town on their sports bikes. It was about 1:30 in the afternoon and I had a twinge of jealousy as the last of the riders weaved through the traffic past where I was walking.

Noticing a few bikes out and about in Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:41:00 +0000

BMW spotted on Fulton Market and Clinton.

More pictures and laughs from the 2011 International Motorcycle Show

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 22:16:00 +0000

I had heard about these guys during the past few years of riding in Chicago. A group dedicated to the spirit of classic bikes, namely cafe racers. No cruisers. I liked that. They do a ride every summer called Mods vs. Rockers (scooters are part of the fun) but I always seemed to have something going on. They had a nice set up at the show this year. Lots of cool Triumphs, BSAs, among others. Nice graphics too. I'll have to be more mindful of the schedule this summer to make this ride.

Joining me at the show again were my friends Mike and Anthony. As usual, Mike was happy to sit on a Ducati. Last year, he almost pulled the trigger on a Ducati GT1000. Now that they've discontinued the model, his eyes are wandering. The Hypermotard looked good on him. Anthony spent some time at the Harley Davidson exhibit. He is talking about upgrading his Sportster to a Heritage Softail – so that his wife can be more comfortable on the back. Always so thoughtful.

Anthony also brought his leather jacket that he got at the show last year. He got a nice, "Born to be Free" patch stitched on the back this time. And upon finding the seamstress that put his American Flag patch on his sleeve last year, he jokingly mentioned that the sewing was a little sloppy because there were a few pieces of threads hanging loose. Before I could stop laughing, she rushed towards him with a lit lighter. I think Anthony thought she was going to torch him but she smiled and told him that that's how you "fix" loose threads. Sure enough, she went over the patch with the lighter and "Voila," the loose threads burned away. The look on Anthony's face when she approached him with the lighter was priceless.

Hard to believe a place like this exists; past, present or future. Power on Deus!

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 23:25:00 +0000

Deus Canggu
In Bali surfing and motorbikes have always been fused together. In the early days surfers only access to remote breaks, other than on foot, was on 2 stroke trail bike. Today most surfers still get to the same breaks on two wheels.

Deus promotes and celebrates a custom motorcycle culture that first appeared in Europe and America in the 1940s that has recently been revived by groups of young enthusiasts in Japan, America, Australia and now Indonesia.

The company has built the Temple of Enthusiasm in Canggu, Bali. The 2000sqm site is a clever combination of new and 100 year old traditional Indonesian wooden houses, taking references from the kampung, or traditional Indonesian home village. This somewhat eclectic collection of buildings house the showroom, art gallery, workshop facilities, photographic studio, artists studio, and even a surfboard shaping bay. Connected by a wide verandah full of tables and chairs that is the Deus Cafe, where Canggu locals, pro surfers and artists rub elbows with riders gassing up on caffeine whist out on their Bali excursions. A melting pot of ideas and ideologies, a Warung of Knowledge.

While the sale of custom motorcycles and surfboards are at the core of the business visitors to the Deus showroom will find hand built fixed gear bicycles and a range of Deus brand clothing, bags and accessories as well as a range of items which feature timeless design and reflect the Deus culture. Art is a very important part of the Deus mix and besides our own art gallery which will be filled with prints and paintings by artists such as, Andrew Wellman, Robert Moore and Dustin Humphrey, not to mention regular exhibitions by these and other invited artists, we have an artists workshop where invited artists will come to work and ultimately hold an exhibition.

We are united in our belief that modern motorcycling & surfing have been hijacked by marketing forces and we harbour a desire to introduce a new generation of rider to that same pure enthusiasm that kick-started our own love of motorcycling & surfing.

Now, another reason to plan a trip to Bali...

Triumph returns to the Chicago International Motorcycle Show

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:11:00 +0000

Last weekend, I attended the International Motorcycle Show in Chicago. Attendance on opening night was much greater than the previous couple of years – and significantly larger than the opening night crowd at the Detroit show which I attended last month. Adding to the excitement in Chicago was the appearance of Triumph after a seven-year absence from this venue. I was especially excited to see the new Tiger 800 and 800xc Adventure models and the newly updated Speed Triple. The Tiger 800 series enters Triumph into the growing adventure riding category competing directly with the very successful BMW 800GS and 1200GS series. The new Tigers have been getting generous reviews by both the European and North American press and they didn’t disappoint. The bikes on display were a huge draw throughout the night.

The other bike that I was really interested in seeing was the newly updated 2011 Speed Triple. I had always been drawn to the idea of the Speed Triple with its torqued out 1050 engine but I felt like the design had become too dated over the years. For the 2011 model, Triumph increased the torque by 7% and completely redesigned the chassis with a new aluminum twin spar frame. They also fitted a wider back tire and added twin headlamps making the new Speed Triple look even more aggressive than before, and in my opinion, more contemporary and appealing. I think we'll be seeing a lot more Triumphs on the road this year.

Three broken ribs, a punctured lung and still smiling. Kinda.

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 05:24:00 +0000

Jake and Bruce pictured at Mike's Ranch, just a few hours after his tumble

I missed the trip to Baja this year. Initially, I was going to join my friend Bruce and his son Jake for the 500 mile ride but I couldn’t free up my schedule in time. As Bruce and Jake prepared for the three day ride, I started receiving texts and FB postings on their progress. His first FB post read:
In less than 30 days Jake and I will be motorcycle trail riding on beastly Honda CRF 450Xs through the hot Baja desert terrain starting in Ensenada, Mexico. There are miles and miles of treacherous deep sandy whoops (huge moguls for you snowboarders and skiers). The attached video clip is a sampling of what Jake should expect. I have a feeling we will be racing the entire 500 miles to the bitter end.

I could sense their excitement grow as I grew more depressed that I wasn’t going to be with them for all the fun. When the day finally came to start their journey, Bruce sent me another text. They had landed in San Diego and was waiting for the van to take them to Enseneda, exactly where Bruce and I were a year earlier. I knew that once they reached Ensenada, I wouldn’t hear from them until after they completed the 500 mile route.

Two days later, I received a surprise text from Bruce. I knew that they would have reached Mike’s Ranch by then, about the half way point but the only way to call out was by satellite phone. The text from Bruce read:
Fall at Baja. Landed on big rock. Checking for broken ribs and punctured lung. Jake did awesome.

This message was accompanied by a photo of Bruce lying on a hospital bed, wearing an oxygen mask. The next message read:
Surgery tomorrow. Freak unexpected fall. Call me.

Apparently, on the first day of riding, just a few hours into their ride, Bruce hit a rock and dumped his bike and fell awkwardly on another rock. Despite the pain, he finished the first day of riding thinking he could keep going. The next morning, he made it about 100 yards before he realized he couldn't go on. That's when he checked himself into a local hospital.

Riding the Baja is beautiful and cruel at the same time. The weather and scenery is so beautiful, you can easily get lulled into a false sense of security. The reality is there’s potential danger at every turn. Bruce and I talked about how many close calls we had last year riding through the desert, winding through the mountains on single lane dirt trails and blasting over whoops, water, gravel and boulders all while dodging cactus, dogs, prehistoric sized cows and poisonous rattle snakes. On top of that, after a long winter break from riding, arriving in Baja, you’re immediately sitting on a dialed in Honda 450x to cover close to 500 miles of off-road riding for three straight days. Lots can go wrong.

Bruce and Jake cut their trip short and made it back to Detroit without the surgery. Upon learning that the surgery was only going to reduce the pain but prolong his recovery in the hospital and at home, he opted out of the procedure. I caught up with Bruce at the International Motorcycle Show in Detroit a couple of weeks after he returned. He was walking a little slower but I don’t think his fall deterred him much. He was looking for a new motorcycle and he ended up buying his wife Anita a new dirt bike.

Beautiful Chaos

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:52:00 +0000

She put her money where her mouth is...

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 02:30:00 +0000

I met my friends Anita and Bruce at the Motorcycle show in Detroit. Bruce and I rode the Baja last year and he tried again this year but ended up cracking three ribs and puncturing his lung falling off his Honda 450. Unfazed by Bruce’s mishap, his wife Anita made the emboldened decision to get a dirt bike of her own. And even though several manufacturers were missing from the show, Anita found just the right bike to start her new venture.

While Anita was sizing up various models, Bruce checked out the new Yamaha Tenere and I hopped on the Can-Am Spyder. I would love to try this out but I wonder if it would be as satisfying as riding two wheels...

Quiet first night at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show in Detroit

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 23:32:00 +0000

Last weekend, I stopped by the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Michigan to see the Progressive International Motorcycle Show, touted as the largest motorcycle show on the planet. Having attended the show in Chicago in recent years, I was disappointed that BMW and Ducati were absent (BMW was missing in Chicago last year as well). Triumph is a participant this year but not in Detroit. Present were, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Harley Davidson, Victory, Can-Am and Indian. Additionally, there was a nice display of custom choppers along with the usual suppliers, vendors and clubs representing both the national and local motorcycle scene. What was somewhat surprising was the fact that there were hardly any people there on opening night. It was a tough weather night with snow falling heavily but c’mon, this show comes around only once a year! I’ll attend the Chicago show in a few weeks. BMW, Ducati and Triumph all have new bikes to introduce in 2011. Let’s hope the attendance will be better.

Both Progressive and Allstate Insurance companies had significant presence at the show. Even though Allstate was not a sponsor of the traveling show, they had two large booths where mechanics and other presenters provided hands-on demonstrations on how to perform valve-adjustments to providing information on how to buy the right fitting protective gear. Unfortunately, all the booths were sparse without a big showing that evening.

This custom triumph was one of the highlights of the show for me. You could hardly call this a Triumph, but they used the Triumph badge on the gas tank. It was a beautifully built bike. Note the large rotors on the front tire. The rear tire had a similar set up. And the way they connected the handle bars into the fork was a great design element. The front shocks system was built into the center right behind the headlight. Just beautiful and amazing!

The cross-country 2011 Rolling Reunion will cover 2995 miles

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 02:44:00 +0000

This is the riding route Forrest sent for the summer ride. Nine days of riding covering 2995 miles. The longest riding day will be 371 miles. I'll have to decide whether to ship my bike from Chicago to Virginia Beach (where we will begin the ride) or to ride there. After nine days of riding, when we reach Santa Monica, California, I'll have the bike shipped back to Chicago.

The '70s never looked so good. Riding in Islamabad.

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:18:00 +0000

As we continue to plan the 2011 rolling reunion ride this summer, I've been gathering photos and stories from fellow riders Alex Mard and Forrest Izuno about their riding days in Islamabad during the early and mid-seventies. Some of these photos are real gems. Above, Alex and Forrest are helping their friend Jerry Eckert get his bike out of the mud on Rawal Lake. Below are photos of Alex climbing President's Hill (a large dirt hill near the President's residence) and racing around Rawal Lake.

I also asked Forrest and Alex to send me some stories about riding back in the '70s in Islamabad. The following is an excerpt from their recollection of what it was like to ride back then in Pakistan.

Back in the 1970’s, we rode a raggedy collection of enduro bikes, some upgraded with knobbies, raised front fenders, fork braces, handlebars and grips, expansion chambers, shaved pistons, porting and polishing and re-geared for grunt. The Margalla Hills, Murree, Rawal Lake, the banks of the Indus River at Attock, terraced farm fields, parks, sidewalks, streets, construction sites and supermarkets were our playgrounds. We were a fortunate collection of ex-patriot kids growing up in Islamabad, Pakistan. The Indo-Pak war caused evacuations and consolidation of many ex-patriots in Islamabad. The natural two-year turnover cycle of U.S. foreign service employees brought new faces together. Little did we know at that time that a core group of motorcycle aficionados had been gathered. Slowly, starting with a Honda Trail 70, Honda CB 100s and Yamaha HT-1B’s, we began riding. A Yamaha CB 175 replaced the CB 100, a Yamaha 175 CT-3 showed up, a 1968 Yamaha 250 DT-1 was bought from an ex-pat leaving Karachi, a Honda MT 250 Elsinore arrived, followed by a Yamaha MX 125, all adding to an eclectic collection of unlikely riders and bikes. Alex Mard, Forrest Izuno, Dan Dimick, Tom Leap, Warren Cohen, Jeff Hardee, Ron Rice and Cynthia Izuno were some of the earliest riders.

The group continued to morph with graduations, the cycling in of new people, the redistribution of bikes as people moved on, and the coming of age of others; Tom Wagner, Ron and Don Jim, John Cool, Chris Lawson to name a few. Through 1976, most of us were together during the summer. We’d ride the back way up to Murree and coast down the roads with engines cut off. We made a motocross track at Rawal Lake. We’d do hill climbs at construction site of the Presidential palace. We’d ride all day. In the evenings, bikes were torn down, cleaned, tweaked and readied for the next day of fun. We’d mix in mudding, chicken fights (jumping terraces closer and closer to muddy stream banks or riding deeper and deeper into Rawal Lake), buffalo dung racing (flinging water buffalo dung from spinning real tires at riders behind), wheelie contests, racing cars and a go-kart with a MAC-91 motor and no brakes. It was common to see other non-riding friends at the races. We became a close-knit group of friends with motorcycles playing a huge part of our "growing up."

Pictured above, Forrest Izuno and Alex Mard in 1974. Riding all day, working on bikes at night. Man, what's not to like about that? Riding cross-country with these guys this summer will certainly be a highlight!

The above black & white and color photos were images from Forrest and Alex's collection from the '70s.

Social networking working… the 2011 Rolling Reunion set for July 4th weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:02:00 +0000

I joined Facebook in January of 2009 and within a matter of a few weeks, I reconnected with guys that I went to middle school with like we had been in touch for the last 35+ years. What makes this somewhat remarkable is that I went to elementary and middle school in Pakistan at the International School of Islamabad (ISI). There were about 100 US families living there at the time and the school was represented by students from over 45 nations – primarily embassy and government employees. Others were from the private sector such as the Ford Foundation. I had moved back to the States and went to high school and college in Michigan. Many, as I found out went to other overseas locations such as Sao Paulo, Panama City, Cairo, Istanbul, Brussels and Zagreb and through those moves, lost contact with one another, until more recently finding each other through social networks such as Facebook.

Very shortly after reconnecting with long last friends, a multi-class reunion was organized and I found myself in a Marriott Hotel in Washington DC reunited with people that I hadn’t seen or talked to since leaving Pakistan in 1973. Aside from feeling like I was transported back in time, I also learned some new things about life in Islamabad that I hadn’t known as a kid. The older guys that were in high school while I was there were active motorcycle riders, riding throughout Islamabad and the outlying countryside where the hills of Margalla overlooked the city. Instantly I felt a pang of jealousy. Even though I would have been too young to ride a motorcycle then, I could vivdly imagine what that would have felt like.

For the reunion, a couple of the guys actually rode in from Minnesota and Florida on their motorcycles and the conversation about a 2011 cross-country, rolling reunion began immediately. Even though I was a little geeky kid back then riding my British made Raleigh bicycle, once they learned that I was a rider, I was in. Over several months, the two riders, Alex Mard (shown left on his Triumph at the multi-class reunion of ISI students in Washington DC) and Forrest Izuno (read earlier Mototrope entry, "Cig Police") began planning the cross-country ride. I volunteered to set up a blog site and soon, I was getting the most incredible photos from their riding days in the ‘70s in Islamabad. I looked forward to getting their emails as each batch of photos got better.

As of today, there are six committed riders and a few enthusiastic friends who are going to rent an RV and follow us from coast to coast. Of the known riders, Forrest is taking his Harley Cross Bones, Alex Mard on his Triumph America and I’ve been hearing rumors that a couple others who don’t have bikes yet. The departure date for the rolling reunion has been set for the July 4^th weekend, staring in Virginia Beach and ending in Santa Monica; 3,000 miles in thirteen days.

The above black & white photos were images from Forrest and Alex's collection from the '70s.

18 degrees fahrenheit today. Almost feels like a heat wave with the sun shining.

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 01:39:00 +0000

This Honda has been a resident of the Fulton Market district for the last several years. Last winter, it was covered and on Fulton Market Street for most of the winter. With our second snow fall of the season, the owner hasn't covered it yet. Reminds me to get my bikes ready for winter; Stabil, oil change, trickle charge, tires off the ground. Now that winter has arrived in Chicago, just looking at a bike (my own or others) makes me want to ride again. Time to start thinking about what mods to make on my Bonneville this winter...

It's also a good time to get serious about planning the 2011 cross country ride. More to come shortly.

The 2011 Moto Guzzi Stelvio is now equipped with a new 8.4 gallon tank

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 02:05:00 +0000

Now we just have to wait and see if Moto Guzzi will really deliver this by Spring of 2011. I'm not going to hold my breath but I'll be the first in line to see it when it arrives.

Four retro Hondas just five blocks from each other in Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 19:49:00 +0000

Walking back to the office from a meeting, I came across four nice looking Hondas from the past, all within five blocks of each other. All in great shape and well-cared for. Made me wonder if the riders knew each other.

3600 miles on my Moto Guzzi. I think I'm finally getting it.

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:03:00 +0000

During the last days of summer, I rode out of Chicago at 7:00 am on a Sunday morning to meet my friend Bruce from Detroit for breakfast. I knew I was going to lose an hour with the time change so we picked Marshall, Michigan as the meeting point. It was still going to be an 180 mile ride for me and I figured I could make it there by 9:30 am (10:30 Michigan time). The sun was just coming out in Chicago when I left and saw only a few cars on the Kennedy. The night before, as I was thinking about which bike to take, I realized that I had been riding my Moto Guzzi Griso more and more this summer. Previously, I would almost always opt for the Ducati GT1000 on a trip like this but I was beginning to enjoy the ride on my Guzzi, finally.

This is my second year on the Moto Guzzi and while I loved the bike, I never seemed to get the same enjoyment riding the Guzzi as I did my Ducati. My Guzzi odometer indicates that I've ridden just over 3100 miles in the two years since I took delivery of the bike. It seemed like my lighter Ducati with a shorter wheel base, with large lumps of torque in every gear and rpm suited my riding habits perfectly in the city and on two-three day trips out of town. In fact, last summer, I did two trips through Michigan and the Upper Peninsula and back down the Wisconsin side and my Ducati performed with aplomb. My Moto Guzzi on the other hand rides much heavier, harder to turn in slow speeds (which doesn't build much confidence) and didn't seem to have the mid-range grunt that I was so used to on my Ducati. But recently, on each ride on my Moto Guzzi, I began to understand the handling and shifting of the bike a little better. In both city riding and on the highways, the Guzzi likes to run in lower gears and responds like a freight train at the higher rpms. Anything over 5500-6000 rpms and the Guzzi feels like it can plow through and past anything really unleashing the power of the 1200 cc engine. I also began to understand the weight and the longer wheel base really is built for the highway, even the curvy ones. The correct gear shifting seemed to be the key.

Last year, I was at Rosefarm Classic in Woodstock, Illinois where Jim Barron worked on a Griso cam recall and when I was there to pick up my bike, a young customer rode off on a beautiful V11 Sport Ballabio out of their parking lot on the the street. I noticed Jim and his mechanic listening to the rider shifting into second before he left the parking lot and they both looked at each other and shook their heads and then looked at me as if I knew what they knew. The fact was, I knew that the guys shifted way too early, but what I didn't know back then that I'm beginning to understand now is that they knew that that customer didn't know how to handle that beautiful V11 bike and enjoy it to its fullest.

As I enter Indiana, I get to a good cruising speed of about 80 mph. The 70 mph speed limit in Indiana and Michigan really makes for a better ride on the highway compared to Illinois. By this time there were more cars on the road. Interestingly, I noticed that most of the cars I passed on this Sunday morning were retirees. It reminded me of my dad who after retiring would always want to leave at 7:00 am to "get on the road" before everybody else did when taking family trips. Except, "everybody" else were other elderly folks who seemed to have the same idea. Entering Michigan, I was really in tune with the bike and my confidence and enjoyment grew with each mile.

At 10:15 Michigan time, I reach my destination, Marshall, Michigan, where my dad retired and where I Bruce and I decided to meet. It's been almost 15 years since my dad left town but as I rode down the main strip, Michigan Avenue, I saw some of the same familiar stores and scenery. Among them, Louis Bakery was still open (baking and serving their famous nut rolls), Darling and Sons hardware store had changed to Darling and Daughters, the old Bogar Theater was still playing current run movies, the famous Win Schuler's restaurant seemed to be going strong and The Stagecoach bar served the locals and visitors alike. As I stopped at the end of the downtown area across the street from the Bogar, my friend Bruce came up from behind me on the BMW R1150R I had loaned him two summers ago. I'd only seen Bruce a couple of times since our ride through the Baja 500 last year in Mexico. After a brief catch-up we doubled back on Michigan Avenue to go back to a new outdoor diner called Zara's near the Marshall Fountain to have breakfast. During breakfast, we noticed several motorcyclists dining there and driving through town, almost always on Harleys. One patron came up to ask about the bikes, but he was really asking about the BMW. I don't think he even knew what the make of my bike was. I get this a lot when I'm on my Moto Guzzi. In fact, after breakfast when I stopped at the Shell station on Old US 27, I was standing at the checkout line to get a drink when an older guy came in and saw me standing in line with my helmet and asked, "Is that your motorcycle out there?" Then he asks, "What is it?" to which I reply, "It's a Moto Guzzi." Again, a blank stare (one which I've seen quite often when answering that question). Then I say, "It's Italian." That's when the blank stare usually turns into a knowing smile, "Oh, yeah! Nice looking bike." The reality is, I get that question a lot. There's something about the Moto Guzzi Griso that elicits people to take that second look and ask, "What is it?"

After breakfast, I head to Fennville, Michigan near Saugatuck by Lake Michigan before I head back to Chicago. I'm getting about 120 miles before the fuel light goes on which is a little better than what I get in the city. I calculate that I'm averaging close to 37 miles per gallon going at fairly high speeds on the highway. Not bad. The specs on my Griso manual says that the fuel tank capacity is 4.4 gallons. I do wish it had a slightly bigger tank but then again, the Griso seat forces you to stop every couple of hours anyways. I've read all sorts of descriptions on the Guzzi forum about the this seat and I would have to agree with most of them. It simply is not a seat for long rides. But on this day, as I head back to Chicago, everything about this Guzzi is clicking for me. At 6:30 pm, I reach home and I park my bike in the garage and note the trip odometer is reading 486 miles from start to finish. That was a perfect ride and I already start thinking about taking the Guzzi for my ride to work the next day.

It only took two years and a sporadic 3600 miles of riding but I finally understand the fervor and loyalty among Moto Guzzi riders. Initially, when you see a Moto Guzzi, you will either fall in love with it or you'll hate it. I remember when I first saw a LeMans that one of my friend owns, I couldn't take my eyes off of it. He used to ride it to work in the city and I noticed right away the transverse mounted V-Twin engine sticking out at an angle on each side. Unlike many bikes where the engine looks neatly tucked into the frame of the bike, the Moto Guzzi engine looks like it's going to leap out its frame. I had the same visceral reaction when I saw the first year model of the Griso back in 2004. When they improved the engine displacement in 2009, I bought one of the first ones to arrive in the U.S. Riding the bike however has been a longer learning experience for me. I would have to say that it's an acquired taste, but having "acquired" it, I am appreciating the engine and the ride more and more. Long time Guzzi riders describe the feel of the engine as a cross between a BMW and a Harley Davidson and I totally get that. Especially on a modern chassis like the Griso, I love the fact that the lumpy engine and extra torque I get at the higher RPMs makes me feel like I'm riding a "real" motorcycle, not a modern, computer programmed machine without much soul.

It made me think, “You know, I’m a pretty optimistic guy.”

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:12:00 +0000

I met up with Joe Black at the Map Room on Armitage Avenue on a sunny August afternoon to talk about motorcycles. Joe showed up on a new red Ducati Monster. With a big grin, he told me that he had been eying this bike ever since Ducati announced the 696cc engine. It’s a beautiful bike and it fit Joe well.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST START RIDING?

Growing up in the 70s, all my cousins and uncles had dirt bikes. Mini bikes were also very popular back then and I rode on a Honda 50cc. I couldn’t even shift the gears but that was my first ride.

In the ’90s, all of my friends were into the Vespa culture and I used make fun of them until I ended up buying one myself. I loved working in my garage restoring the Vespa. At that time, there was an old lady that lived across from the alley from me and one day she came over and said, “Yeah, my son had this motorcycle in the ’70s and it’s been sitting in my garage for all these years.” Then she just gave it to me. It was a blue Yamaha RD 250 in mint condition. And, that’s how I got started with motorcycles.

WHAT KIND OF MOTORCYCLES DO YOU LIKE?

In general, I’m not the kind of person that goes out and buys a new motorcycle. I’ve restored or fixed every bike I’ve owned except for my Ducati. Currently, I have a 1973 Yamaha RD 350, a 1985 Yamaha RZ 350 and for track riding, I have 1992 Aprilia 250 Replica.

Restoring the bikes was really a learning experience. Initially, I didn’t know that the TZ parts (for racing) wouldn’t fit on the RD (street version) so I ended up doing a lot of custom work to the point where I actually bought a micrometer to measure the pieces. Honestly, there have been times when I feel guilty about the materialism of owning several bikes, but I love working on them – all of them. It’s really therapeutic.

In the city, I’ve been riding the Ducati most of the time. I don’t want the risk of having one of my restored bikes stolen on the street or parking garage while I’m at work.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO TRACK RIDING?

My Vespa friends used to race Vespas and Lambrettas thorugh a Midwest racing organization but by the time I was ready to join them, the organization kind of died down. So, I was aware of it and I was riding motorcycles so much by then, I really felt like I wanted to do a track day. Instead of taking my street bikes to the track, I bought an Aprilia 250 specifically for track riding. Now I ride that bike about six times a year but I wish I could do it all the time.

If I lived near a racetrack, I would do it every day. You really can’t get enough in to satisfy yourself.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT TRACK RIDING?

I grew up skateboarding and then snowboarding. I was really hardcore into both of those things. There are a lot of similarities. I enjoy that part of it. I like having an understanding of the physics of riding a bike. And the beauty of bikes on top of that is the mechanical side that I really enjoy. So I get the therapeutic benefit of riding the bikes and working on the bikes. And, really, when it comes right down to it, you are safer on a racetrack than on the street.

The first time I went down on the track, I was coming around this corner wide and I see the edge of the track and I knew I was going there. The whole time in my mind I was going “Not a problem. I’m going to save this. I’m going to get on the grass, slow down and just get back on the track.” I was going about 50 mph and I hit the rear brakes which wasn’t slowing me down fast enough so I touched the front brake and the bike just tucked under me. My knee hits the ground first and I proceed to roll over on my back and I’m just sliding next to my bike on the grass for about 30 feet. No hard impact. They tell you in the classroom that grass is 95% water and for my first crash, it was the best. It was really easy. I really love the things you learn about yourself when things like this happen. It made me think, “You know, I’m a pretty optimistic guy.”

BEING IN A CREATIVE FIELD, DO YOU LOOK AT BIKES DIFFERENTLY?

I have better taste (Joe laughs at himself). Look, everyone thinks they have the best taste. I have my niche of bikes. I have my thing. I like certain types of motors. I like lightweight and sporty bikes, but not necessarily crotch rocket style, although I’m beginning to appreciate that as well. Being in the creative field, we all have a different take possibly.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT MOTORCYCLING?

It is surprising how big motorcycles have become in my life. It’s a great hobby. It’s something I do, but it doesn’t define me. Just because you ride a motorcycle, it’s not like you have something in common with every motorcyclist, because everyone has a different reason for riding.

There are guys who are 60-65 years old and older riding sport bikes on a racetrack. It gives me some confidence about riding in the future as long as you’re safe and mindful of what you’re doing.

If there’s ever a day when I don’t enjoy it anymore, I’ll stop.

WHY DO WE RIDE?

There’s a freedom involved in riding motorcycles, but there’s something to be learned from riding motorcycles as well. That’s what I enjoy about it.

Today, when I pulled up to a stop sign, I was next to a husband and wife on a bicycle with their kid on a trailer. The kid was probably 3 years old and he says, “Mom… motorcycle!” And the mom says “Yeah, motorcycle. Don’t ever ride one of those.”

It’s driven into you. But you stop next to any car with a kid and they just zero in on you and your motorcycle. It’s so visceral.

Come to think of it, I still do that when I’m walking and I hear a bike ride by.

Joe Black, originally from Rockford, Illinois now lives in a converted garage that was once a funeral home in the Chicago Bucktown neighborhood with his many motorcycles, scooters and various musical instruments. He is currently an art director at Whitmanhart Interactive and works on the Harley Davidson account.

Another hot day in Chicago. More riders in shorts.

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:41:00 +0000

We were going about 75. Shot out of the window with the "Hipstamatic."

Dragging a knee going 70 mph around a corner is one of the best feelings in the world

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:44:00 +0000

Dan Schrock is a photographer based in Chicago and Denver. We’ve worked together over the years but only recently got together to talk about motorcycles. I met Dan at the Iguana Café on Halsted Street while he was back in town from Denver. Later, I visited him at his studio on Grand Avenue where he shoots and works on his bikes. Dan keeps trying to get me to go track riding with him and I tell him that it sounds too dangerous. After listening to him, I started to wonder if I could even do it.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST START RIDING?

I was probably 6 or 7 years old. Growing up in Topeka, Indiana, we always had dirt bikes around. I started on a 150 Mini Trail.

I rode right up to high school until I had an accident. I lost my knee. Broke both collarbones. Got a concussion.

I was on a Yamaha Enduro 250 on road with off-road tires with a passenger. Going around a corner, I hit some loose gravel and my front end slid out. I was going about 40 mph and my passenger panicked and sat up and the entire bike shot his way and I barrel-rolled and skidded to a stop on my leg. Fortunately, I had a full-face helmet but shredded the whole chin guard off. I stopped riding after that for a while.

WHEN DID YOU START RIDING AGAIN?

I started riding again at 33. My neighbor and one of my best friend had a place on Maplewood near the Congress Theater and was constantly buying used bikes, fixing them up and reselling them. I would help him clean the bikes, clean the carbs and would ride the bikes over to the new owners after he sold them. After doing this for a while, I finally bought one of the bikes for myself, a Suzuki SV650. Soon after, I ended up riding on tracks.

I’ve ridden a lot of bikes but V-twins are my choice. There are a lot of inline 4s that are more powerful but I got hooked on the SV650. On the track, I just point my SV650 and it takes a corner with the back tire firmly planted.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT TRACK RIDING THAT YOU LIKE SO MUCH?

Camaraderie. Sport Bike Track Time is the organization I belong to and they are very well organized and very friendly. After riding on the road, the track is so much safer. Everyone is going the same direction. There are rules. There’s a lot of respect. On the track, the only element is you not listening or you over stepping your own boundaries.

After a ride, every body has a grin from ear to ear. I’m not a very vocal loud person, but when I get off the track at Barber, I just scream… I don’t even know how to explain it. You turn into a little kid.

BEST FEELING WHEN RIDING?

Dragging a knee going 70 mph around a corner is one of the best feelings in the world. The next thing to hit the ground after your knee is your elbow. The adrenaline flows during your entire ride on a track.

WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND?

When you’re riding on the track for the 20 minutes, nothing goes through your head. If something can actually pop up in your head – if work or if money can pop into your head, you better get off. There’s no time. If I’m going 130 mph and I have to throw the bike left or right on a chicane and go from 130 mph to 40 mph, if I fluctuate and screw up my breaking one tenth of a second, I’ll probably go out of the corner in to the grass or in to the kitty litter. You can’t think about anything. All you can think about is the next race line marker.

HOW MUCH LONGER DO YOU THINK YOU’LL DO THIS?

Once at Barber Motorsports in Atlanta, I was schooled by a guy on a brand new Honda CBR RR. We just diced up corner for corner, wheel to wheel, the whole session and even bumped elbows going full speed. I felt horrible about it because you’re not suppose to get that close so when we came off, I went looking for him. As I was looking, the guy comes up from behind me (I thought he was going to yell at me) and he pulls off his helmet to tell me that that was the most fun he’s had in a long time. I notice that he has a full head of white hair and I find out he’s 62 years old! He’s been riding all his life but likes tracks because it’s the safest place to ride.

SCARY MOMENTS

I’ve crashed at 100 mph, 40 mph, 10 mph. I’ve even dropped my bike at a stoplight.

My first year riding in Chicago, I got hit by cars three times; twice by cabs and once by a lady in a SUV while she was on her phone.

I’ve also fallen asleep while I’m riding. Happened a couple of times. I hit my head on the tank and woke right up once. It was really scary. The other time, I ran off into the shoulder and that woke me up. It was one of those dumb trips where we were going 100 mph+ the whole way – nobody there to stop you.

FAVORITE GEAR

My Arai helmet is my favorite. It’s like wearing nothing.

WHY DO WE RIDE?

It really makes the trip to the grocery store more fun. You get everywhere quicker.

It’s relaxing on the highway, more energizing in the city. You’re alone. You’re not on the phone. There’s something about it like you’re part of the elements.

Born and raised in Chicago, Dan Schrock moved downtown at nineteen to attend Columbia College. In 1993, after earning his B.A. in Photography, he acquired a studio in the South Loop area. He uses mixed sources of light to create realism within a photograph and has an affinity for natural light and how it captures the beauty of an inanimate object.

The Beaches neighborhood has a great vibe for riders in Toronto.

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:12:00 +0000

Last week, my family spent a week in Toronto and we stumbled on to an area called The Beaches. The Beaches is a neighborhood located on the east side of the "Old City" of Toronto. We walked through the main "downtown" area, which is a few blocks from the actual beach. Considering how close we were to downtown Toronto, it was really a pleasant surprise to learn about this neighborhood since it had such a different vibe than the city. A vibrant community with mostly independent stores, restaurants and cafes, the main commercial area was full of young parents with children, nannies, dogs and their owners, and motorcyclists. It was great to see so many bikers in one concentrated area. It reminded me of London, except the Beaches is much more casual. I saw several bikers riding in shorts and t-shirts (I don't think you'll see too many riders like this in London). The Beaches has one main strip called Queen Street East. I noticed that several bikers seemed to be just cruising up and down this strip. We were there during the middle of the day and wondered what all these people did for a living as the streets were full of people. I suppose there were a certain number of tourists but most of the strollers seemed to be locals.

After walking through the main strip (which took about 30 minutes), we decided to stop for lunch and settled on a small corner cafe called Juice and Java. In addition to coffee and smoothies, they had a nice selection of food that included salads, sandwiches, quiches and crepes. They also had a nice outdoor seating area but there were a couple of smokers so we ate in their upstairs dining area, a quiet and secluded space above the main floor.

I didn't miss riding all week until we came to the Beaches neighborhood. It was fun to see so many riders and to experience another vibrant and active area of Toronto.

Carlos Segura loves his Termignonis!

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:09:00 +0000

I met Carlos Segura in the mid-eighties when he was an Art Director at Marsteller Advertising in Chicago. I worked a few floors above him in the One East Wacker building and I’d always see him in the elevators wearing his hip narrow ties, cool shades, skinny jeans (this is in the 80s) and always listening to music on his Sony Walkman. We got to know each other through our work. There was always a healthy respect for one another and it seemed to be the one thing that kept us in touch over all of these years. Carlos went on to build an international reputation for his design work and continues to innovate today through his firm, Segura Inc., along with various other design ventures and interests. He is also a car and motorcycle fanatic. He is truly passionate about his wheels, which is another reason I’ve enjoyed our friendship over these years. I recently stopped by his office to talk about motorcycles and his love of riding.

WHEN DID YOU START RIDING?

Technically, my first ride was when I was around 13. I used to convert lawnmowers into mini-bikes while growing up in Miami.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST BIKE?

Before I started our design firm, Segura Inc. here in Chicago, I was an art director in Pittsburgh. I moved there to work for Ketchum Advertising and it was there that I got the bug to ride (again).

Looking back, my first bike was a bit weak – it was a Honda Rebel 250. I had never ridden a "real bike" and had just sold my car, so I had no transportation. At that time, funds were tight, so I went with a bike.

I made a few calls to locate a Honda dealer (before the internet) and found one a few miles away from my home. I took a bus there, walked in and fell in love with this Harley-looking copy of a bike which to me looked big. I spoke with the owner of this little mom & pop shop of a dealer and asked him if he wouldn't mind taking the time to teach me to ride in his parking lot – and if he did, I'd buy the bike. He thought it was fantastic idea and we made the deal.

After a few hours, I was set and took off. Not a mile down the road, I almost got whacked by a car that didn't see me which almost threw me over a mountain side (I was able to come to a stop just before this potentially tragic end).

It took me a few more weeks to get my confidence up to get on that bike, but soon, I was going everywhere on the new Rebel.

Eventually, I moved back to Chicago, rode it for a few more years and bought a real Harley Davidson (Softail), and put the Rebel in my loft's living room. A year later I sold it.

TELL ME ABOUT THE BIKES YOU’VE OWNED

I've had quite a few, starting with the (previously mentioned) Honda Rebel.

The next bike was a 1992 Kawasaki Ninja 750. Man, was this thing fun! I cannot begin to tell you all the places I went to and all the things I did on this bike. Additionally, It was the bike I rode with my wife the most, so it has extra memories on that point.

It was red and white, sounded fantastic, and had a great little mean streak. Very comfortable and not too difficult to handle.

At the time, I lived on Lake Shore Drive and Ohio Street, in an old, converted loft. I used to park the bike in the bottom floor of the parking lot, just below the up ramp. I always put at least five locks on the thing, but that didn't stop someone from rigging the garage door, coming in, (with what I suspect was a truck) and throwing it in the back and riding off with it. I suspected this because he was able to remove every lock I had on the bike, except the front disc lock. Since he couldn't remove it, once he got back to his place, I imagine he simply removed the entire front disc system and took it for a joy ride – without any brakes in the front.

I know this because about two weeks later, I got a call from the police at 4am to tell me that my bike had been found. The guy had crashed my bike into the retaining wall on Lake Shore Drive and North Avenue and in the process, killed himself. He was only wearing shorts, nothing else. No shoes, shirt, helmet or gloves. Nothing. And, no front brakes!

To replace this bike, I got a 1994 Suzuki GSX-R 1100. Jesus God, this thing was bad-ass! At the time, it was the fastest production bike on the market. You really had to be careful with this thing. In truth, it was way too much bike for me. As one of my friends put it, I looked like a bug on a skateboard on this thing.

This was followed by the 1994 Harley Davidson Softail. I had always wanted this bike and during this time there was such demand for it, there was a two-year wait. I put my name on the waiting list and everywhere I looked, it seemed like there was one taunting me.

In desperation, and purely on a whim, I passed a 7-Eleven on Racine and Belmont one day and decided to pick up a Cycle Trader. Something I had never done before. The very first page I opened, there was a listing for this bike. It was unbelievable. The right bike, the right color, the right model, and it was even new. It had 150 miles on it with the factory wrapping. It had been purchased by a hotel owner in a town about 60 miles west of St. Louis, but was so busy, he simply never rode it.

I called him, made a deal, flew to the shop, and rode it back. It took me all day. I'd never ridden such a big bike and it rained all the way to back to Chicago. On the way, I stopped at a bike dealer to buy some rain gear and instantly burned a hole on the leg after leaning on the hot pipes.

Next, I got a 2000 Ducati 748 Mono and then the 2001 Ducati 748s Mono (more on this later).

I also had a 1999 Ducati Monster Cromo 900. I pulled my first wheelies on this thing. It was another beautiful Ducati.

And my last Ducati was the limited edition 2000 Ducati MH900e –Art on wheels. Really! This bike was only available for purchase at midnight, at the turn of the century, via the Ducati website.

What an amazing piece of work this was. Another momentary lapse of judgment on my part for selling this.

Riding it was fun but limited. It only had a 2.2 gallon tank, so I’d have to stop every 60 miles or so to fill it up. It also sat a bit too high for me, but again, a great bike.

While I had all of these "real bikes," I also got into classic scooters and had a few like the 1952 Rap, 1967 Honda Dream 170, 1955 Lambretta 150si and a 1974 Vespa 150 Piaggio.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE?

Visually, it was my 2000 Ducati MH900e...but I'd have to say that my 2001 Ducati 748s was absolutely perfect. It was designed just for me.

REGRETS?

My beloved 748s…I have no idea what came over me that led me to sell that bike, other than to admit that I am a complete idiot! But I did.

I just loved that bike so much.

A stockbroker came to look at it, fell in love with it and asked me to hold it for a day while he went to go get a loan. He came back a few days later, made the deal, and he rode off. A few days later he came to ask me if I’d sell the matching Suomi helmet and Dainese jacket I had, so I did.

The following week, he calls again, this time with a crack in his voice. He asks me if I can give him any history, pictures or other information about the bike. I said of course, but wondered why. He then told me that he had gone to the Water Tower on Michigan Avenue in Chicago to go shopping and parked the bike in the lot of the building. When he returned, it was gone and he never saw that bike again.

I think I actually cried when he told me this.

A RIDE TO REMEMBER (OR FORGET)

The 2000 Ducati 748 Mono was my first Ducati and the beginning of a love affair with this brand. Honestly, If you haven't owned a Ducati, you haven't ridden to the fullest. Even the color was perfect (in my view, at the time, all 748s should be yellow and all 996s should be red).

I had this bike tricked out to the max with every possible upgrade. I had to wait over three months for some of the parts to come in.

Two weeks after it was all finished, we went for an all day ride in Wisconsin and during our return trip, I crashed.

I had had a bad feeling all day. It started very early in the morning and I was underdressed for this very cold day. We even had to stop at a friends house in the burbs so I could borrow a sweat shirt. He only had a "large," and me being a "small," it was not good.

The two guys I was riding with were pushing it to the extreme all day. I honestly thought they were going to go down at any given moment.

At around 4pm, we stopped at an outdoor restaurant right by the Fox River and had lunch. Pretty tired from riding practically non-stop, we sat there for about two hours before we finally got on our way again.

As we were about to get on the highway to head back home, out of the corner of our eyes, we saw this beautiful, hilly, curvaceous road and we all looked at each other... "One more time?" This is where I made my mistake.

The curves were non-stop left, right, left, right, until the last one, which was a left, going up-hill. Someone had removed the "left" turn sign at the top of the hill and by the time I realized there was a turn to be had, I was simply going too fast. I hit a patch of dirt on the side of the road and slid into a drainage ditch, then on to someone's farmland. The bike slid into an enormous rock and burst into pieces. I was fortunate to be able to kick myself off the bike which was on top of me, right before the bike struck the rock.

I was wearing Dianese gloves with carbon fibre knuckle protectors, Vanson Jacket and an AGV helmet – the only reason why I am still here today.

My insurance company actually bought my helmet which had countless embedded stones on the right side for their gallery of helmets that saved people's lives.

While I was lying on the ground, a farmer drove by on his tractor, saw me laying there and actually continued on, as he waved his finger in disgust. That blew me away. Eventually, the other two guys I was riding with came back and got me to the hospital.

I had a few broken bones; collarbone, ribs, and my body was completely covered in all kinds of colorful bruises.

I did not start to feel any pain until the doctor told me my status, then it hurt like hell. It took me over 8 months to recover.

That was my first crash and it got me thinking about if I should stop riding. In some ways, I am glad it happened because I was fearless prior to this. The bad part is that I had become fearful. It took me a while but I just could not get my love for this bike out of my system, so I got another better bike – a 2001 Ducati 748s Mono – a better, more stunning machine.

WHY DO WE RIDE?

There is nothing that can match the feeling on a bike. Especially when there are bright blue skies above you with just a hint of a few fluffy clouds. The birds are all singing and the wind revolves around your body as you cut through it with your machine. You can smell nature as it passes you by. It gets you in a good mood.

I've never been one to put on headphones and listen to music while I ride (it seems a bit dangerous to me), but to hear what is around you, not to mention the sound of the Termignoni pipes under you, is just unbeatable.

Carlos Segura is the founder of the Chicago-based design firm Segura Inc., among other ventures such as T26 Digital Type Foundry and 5inch. He is also the creative mind behind several car and other assorted vehicle related blogs such as Cartype, Trucktype, Biketype and Mototype.

Carlos came to the United States from Cuba at the age of nine and found himself in the creative world of advertising and graphic design. Since forming his own design firm, Carlos has been recognized by just about every design publication and organization in the world including being named by Taschen Publishers as one of the 21st Century’s 100 Best Graphic Designers in the world.

More riders in shorts

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:15:00 +0000

Last Saturday was another scorcher in Chicago. Walking down the 900 block of West Armitage Avenue I came across several more riders in t-shirts and shorts. The young women and her passenger on a beautiful black Triumph Thruxton rode by wearing a t-top and shorts and I barely noticed that her motorcycle was as big as some of the cars parked on Armitage Avenue. It just so happened that on this day, there was a street exhibit of a dozen or more small cars organized by Teeny Tiny Productions, who brought the traveling exhibit of small cars from Europe, the United States and Japan to Chicago. It was a fun summer day of people watching – along with the added attraction of cars that were as small, or big, as motorcycles.

First smoke…sat on my bike and waited for the cig police to appear

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:33:00 +0000

Forrest Izuno is a professor and the head of Southern Research and Outreach Center at the University of Minnesota. He is currently planning a 2011 cross-country "rolling reunion" ride with former high school classmates from the International School of Islamabad, Pakistan. The following entry is from his recent ride to Washington D.C. to plan for the 2011 reunion ride.

Guest Blogger: FORREST IZUNO
After riding the first hundred mile stretch out of Waseca, Minnesota, late as usual, I was hot, tired and in need of nicotine. Pulling into a rest stop I was met with the dreaded sentinel signs proclaiming the entire grounds of the rest area to be a nonsmoking area…and that one could only smoke inside enclosed vehicles! What was I supposed to do? Sanity got the better of me…First smoke…sat on my bike and waited for the cig police to appear…Seeing none, I bravely got off my bike and smoked another 3 before heading out…grinding the butts into the asphalt to make a point.

Every rest stop was a rehydration point…something to drink. Of course, 3 or 4 butts hit the sidewalk or asphalt…Had to get the nicotine levels up to a point where I could stay awake for another hour! Timed my stops…160 miles to a tank of gas…rest stop to gas station to rest stop, etc. across the most boring stretch of Interstate through Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.

Last time I did the ride out in 2 days. Into Valparaiso, Indiana on the first day and from there about 750 miles into Falls Church, VA. This time, sanity said take 3 days..all about 400 miles. The first day was exhilarating…back in the saddle after a long winter. Waking up in Morton, IL, it took 3 cups of coffee in the breakfast lounge just to get human. There’s nothing like grease, fat and calories to start the day! Of course, washed down with another cup of coffee. The food sits like lead in your belly for half the day…greasy burps in a full-faced helmet doing 75 miles an hour down the Interstate…being buffeted by winds and jarred by joints in the pavement. Nailed it back with a diet coke at the first opportunity.

In Fairfax, VA…camping at the Hyatt…Starbucks in the morning! The server at the kiosk soon got to know me…3 grandes the first day…gave me the jitters! Cut back to 2 grandes as I sat out in the courtyard burning up half a pack of smokes. Ready to face the day, showered and went back down for breakfast and another couple of cups of coffee! Definietely living the high life!

Life is good on the road. Really good…2 days back and I was ready to hit the road again….

Story and photos by Forrest Izuno

When Forrest submitted this blog entry, I had to admit the constant emails and pictures uploaded on his Facebook page of cigarettes and fast-food wrappers during his planning ride to DC made me think a little bit about next year's ride, especially when I realized that his consumption of cigarettes, coffee and even his breakfast sandwiches at McDonald's were all in multiples of at least two, three or more. Gotta love it.

Another guy in a t-shirt and shorts

noreply@blogger.com (Mototrope) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:32:00 +0000

It's been pretty hot in Chicago lately. We're seeing a lot more riders in t-shirts and... well only a few in shorts. Cool bike however!