motorcyclebloggers.com

            It all ends here – in the junk yard and then the recycle bin.  The motorcycle graveyard is the final destination for most bikes.  It’s a sad affair, the death of a motorcycle, but a few of the steel steeds manage to escape this fate and are resurrected through a total restoration.  Instead of being dismantled, crushed and melted down to create new commercial products, their restorers give them a second life and honorary titles as motorcycle classics.  This transformation is usually a time-consuming, expensive and tedious process for each restorer.  Yet each has his or her own reasons for undertaking such a rigorous and demanding task.  The project is a labor of

The state of roadracing in America is dismal. The AMA/DMG alliance has basically killed what was a totally entertaining, viable and lucrative business. For the first time since I started watching racing 30 years ago, we need someone to step in and organize a “new” series. This year’s Daytona 200 is likely to be the least watched of all time. Less teams, less racers, less press and less spectators ….. what a great combination for success. I’ve been watching the demise of the series for an entire year now and all I can say is who’s minding the store? It’s almost as if the powers that be want American raodracing gone so they can give us NASCAR instead. I’ve got

The first modification I did to my V-Star 1100 was to add some front pegs. I am tall and needed a way to stretch out my legs on long rides. Someday I would like some Lindby Custom Linbars when funds become available. I started looking at front pegs to install to my V-Star so I could stretch out and rest my tired dogs.

Researching front pegs I found I wanted some that folded up out of the way when not in use, rather than stationary. Online I found the Kuryakyn X-Tension Highway Peg Mounts at the Kuryakyn website. I looked there because several

Count me thoroughly impressed. It seems nothing can stop Texan Ben Spies from marching straight to the pinnacle of the motorcycle roadracing. This guy is a juggernaut. In only his second pre-season test (Sepang, Malaysia), he had the 5th fastest time. The only riders to better him were the 4 aliens (Rossi, Stoner, Pedrosa and Lorenzo) recognized as such for their speed difference over the rest of the field. Spies seems to be making unstoppable forward progress. And there’s no sign that any of the normally difficult hurdles to becoming the MotoGP World Champion are anything more than just another minor task for him to master.

Notable names behind Ben at the same test were the other two Americans and MotoGP veterans: his teammate and fellow

I came across an interesting article in The Week magazine, December 18, 2009 issue. The following information was derived from that article. I believe it is pertinent to motorcycle safety and worthy of all motorcyclists’ attention. Here’s a reiteration of its content.

Hugh “Harry” Hurt, Jr. was a safety engineer at the University of Southern California (USC) during 1981. He is famous for having conducted a groundbreaking study that involved the investigation of 900 motorcycle accidents in the Los Angeles area. The study pioneered the field of motorcycle crash research. Its findings doubtless contributed to saving numerous lives.

Mr. Hurt was also an avid motorcyclist. Harry’s first bike was actually a Cushman scooter; later he graduated to a heavyweight ‘47 Harley Davidson.

He studied vehicle safety as a graduate

2010 brings a new year to all of us, but for me it means a fresh start in many ways. 2009 was full of “change” (ugh…do i hate that mantra now). Regardless, I’m back on the keyboard!

I’m going to get caught up on the authoring stuff due to the many things that have been going on in my little world:
Dirt bike (now dirt bikes)
Suspension stuff
Getting “unmarried”
Off-roading: the 4-wheel version
Driving the Rubicon Trail
P90x
Racing in the Baja 1000
Crashing the dirt bike in a bed of cacti (friggin’ yesterday)

Right now, with few exceptions, life is good and the plan is to share that now that I have things fairly well sorted.

Happy trails and lets have a great (well…better) 2009.

AB

Noriyuki Haga has been competing in World Championship motorcycle racing for over a decade. He’s competed in World Superbike during 10 seasons. He’s established himself as one of the best riders of all time, able to win races at virtually any track, any season on any bike. But the guy just can’t seem to put a Championship season together. I like the man and hope he finally get’s a Championship before he retires.

This year, Ben Spies (rookie season - American) foiled Haga’s latest (and most likely best chance) attempt and is moving on to MotoGP next season. Watch out Valentino, you may have one mare competitor able to make Championship #10 even more difficult.

Here’s Haga’s final position season standings for every year he’s raced WSBK:

Year      

Recently, my sister and I were making less than flattering comments about people that affix their little cartoon family to the back of whatever SUV they use to go to soccer games. Since I’m not married and have no children, I’m a strange bird here in Utah. But I do have a collection of motorcycles, and in some bizarre way consider that to be my family. So for my 50th birthday, my sister purchased the necessary stickers to try to help me blend in with the locals ……. NOT!

I’m sure it’s good for a laugh or snide comment. I’d love to be a little bird in the cars with the “My Kids on Honor Student at …..” crowd.

Rhino

[caption id=”attachment_1754″ align=”alignnone” width=”440″ caption=”Makin' fun of Soccer

It’s called the Roehr Motorcycle. More specifically, it is the 2009 Roehr 1250 sc, 180 horsepower sport bike. Walter Roehrich began building his dream bike in 1995 when he founded his Roehr Motorcycle Company.

He built it light, gave it plenty of power and ensured that it had superb handling. And although it uses a Harley Davidson V-Twin engine, the two companies are not affiliated with one another.

“Harley-Davidson” and “Revolution” are registered b55 trade names of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Roehr Motorcycles LLC is in no way affiliated with the Harley-Davidson Motor Company.” Quote from www.totalmotorcycle.com/Home — 2009 Models— 2009 Roehr Motorcycle Models.

Mr. Roehrich created a new American beauty and future classic. It is, as he says, a true “American thoroughbred . . . a dream come to

For those of you who don’t already know about Buell going out of business, here’s a quote extracted from the Hog Radio Newsletter, October 28, 2009:
By-By Buell It’s with heavy heart we bid Buell Motorcycles good-by. By now all of you have heard the news concerning the Harley-Davidson Company decision to close down Buell Motorcycles. It’s always sad when any business closes its doors but having to close the doors on Americas one and only Sport Bike Company is a sad chapter in motorcycling history. Good luck to everyone who have been laid off. Thanks Eric and crew for bringing us 25 years worth of cutting edge two wheeled technology, you’ll be missed.
The really sad part of it all is

Fall has arrived with a vengeance here in the Northwest. A couple nights ago, it was storming pretty good. Heavy, inky black clouds lingered menacingly to the North, lightning flashed and the wind swirled. Still, I need to ride. It had been one of those days. I felt and heard the first fat drop of rain slap my helmet as I paddle-walked the bike down the driveway. Just for a moment, I reconsidered going for a ride. No, I needed this.

I eased the bike to the end of the cul de sac as the skies opened up and the rain began to fall in earnest. Big, heavy drops. As I turned onto the street the wind gusted and

     Road rash and vehicle accidents are things to be avoided, because they are “show stoppers.” A carelessly driven bike is an open invitation to self-annihilation. So how do you enjoy the positive aspects of motorcycling and prevent these adverse things from happening? Would-be and novice motorcyclists, as well as seasoned bikers, are invited to read on and receive a practical indoctrination on the world of motorcycling. Consider this article to be a review of safe and responsible bike-driving techniques, rules and dangers of the road, practices to avoid, courtesies to extend, and the proper example to exhibit as a motorcyclist and true knight of the road.

     As a first step toward safe and responsible motorcycling, do your homework. Read