When a Day Decides

The coffee is warm as I watch the waves come crashing. Sunlight hunts and pecks its way forward. Drizzles rays in-between the hallucinogenic stratosphere and wraps its very hands around the beginnings of yet another day.
A newspaper rests between the thumb and forefinger, as silverware clicks and clatters while plates are set down. [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/twistingasphalt/JFfB/~3/Hnx9urD-ZNw/

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15 essential go-faster tips from the Kevin Schwantz School

Source: http://www.fasterandfaster.net/2011/01/inimitable-number-34-kevin-revvin.html

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Motorcycle Training Does Not Reduce Crash Risk, Study Says

Courses designed to make new motorcyclists safer are not decreasing crashes, according to a new study by the Highway Loss Data Institute, an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. However, research also shows that helmets and antilock brakes on motorcycles are life savers.

?We are not saying they aren?t supposed to get training, but we need to have realistic expectations about what training can do,? said Anne McCartt, the senior vice president for research at the Insurance Institute, which is funded by the insurance industry.

These findings are part of a number of studies the institutes have just released on motorcycles.

Source: http://yourbikelife.com/news/2010/04/17/motorcycle-training-does-not-reduce-crash-risk-study-says

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Coming SOON: The Genuis of Jim Bortles CHOPPER WHIZ

The last three days I was on the North Carolina/South Carolina shared state line with a gal whose talents are above reproach. I was also introduced to a chopper builder: JIM BORTLES. Jim's choppers have been featured in Easy Riders, American Iron, Iron Works...the list goes on.

I'm writing a bio on this man for you guys...Pics included featuring his genius.
I consider myself very fortunate to have sat in the garage/work area of this talented builder... You will too. Stand by for the story, but for now... Well...here is the man's personal ride.

Source: http://chessiestales.blogspot.com/2010/10/coming-soon-genuis-of-jim-bortles.html

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Neander motorcycle

Ever heard of Neander? Me neither, until Legend of The Motorcycle founder Jared Zaugg mentioned the German marque in a recent Bike EXIF Interview. This drop-dead gorgeous machine is a 1929 Neander P3 1, which surfaced at a Bonhams sale in the UK a couple of years ago. Ernst Neumann-Neander used a variety of engines [...]

Bike EXIF supplies a daily dose of cafe racers, custom motorcycles and bobbers. Brought to you by the good guys at Ural Motorcycles.

Source: http://www.bikeexif.com/neander-motorcycle

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Cafe Kawasaki H1

Friend of the site David Edwards sends us these images of his Kawasaki H1 cafe racer, just dripping with 1970s swagger. He says he purchased the bike, a retired proddie-class roadracer, with the intent of going vintage racing. Painted up in Team Cycle World colors, the bike’s track heroics would be chronicled in the pages [...]

Bike EXIF supplies a daily dose of cafe racers, custom motorcycles and bobbers. Brought to you by the good guys at Ural Motorcycles.

Source: http://www.bikeexif.com/cafe-kawasaki-h1

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Interview: Mark Wilsmore

The Ace Cafe in northwest London is one of the most iconic biker hangouts in history?and the spiritual home of the original ?cafe racer? motorcycle. When the Ace closed its doors in 1969, it looked like this slice of motorcycling history was gone forever?until new owner Mark Wilsmore reopened the venue in 2001. Here?s a [...]

Bike EXIF supplies a daily dose of cafe racers, custom motorcycles and bobbers. Brought to you by the good guys at Ural Motorcycles.

Source: http://www.bikeexif.com/interview-mark-wilsmore

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Should I insure my bike or can I skip?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HondaMotorcylesBlog/~3/vJFCkIsPh8s/

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Your Bike Life on the iTunes Store

For those of you who use iTunes, Your Bike Life is now available as an automagically downloadable file!

If you click on this URL, iTunes will open up and take you to the Your Bike Life "page" on the iTunes store. You'll see a button next to the graphic that says "Subscribe". Click on that button and every time you open iTunes, it will check to see if there is a new episode available and download it to your hard drive or your favorite MP3 player.

If you have the time, we would also appreciate you going to the page, rating the show and/or writing a review of Your Bike Life!

Source: http://yourbikelife.com/blogs/shawn/your-bike-life-itunes-store

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Braking Tips and Techniques

Going fast on a motorcycle is fun. Carving the perfect line through a corner is fun. Riding smoothly and well is fun!

But at some point, you are going to need to scrub off a *lot* of speed *very* quickly. It's a technique that, if not performed properly, "can end in tears" - not to mention and banged up bike and body.

Whenever I get the opportunity, I practice braking. I want to know how my bike reacts - how does it feel with the front tire heavily loaded? Is the rear getting light? How much pressure do I need to apply? How smoothly can I pull in the brake lever?

All of that and more needs to be practiced as often as you can. These two articles give you some tips and techniques to practice on your next ride.

Advanced Riding Course: Braking Techniques

Street Savvy: Smooth Motorcycle Braking Tips

Source: http://yourbikelife.com/blogs/shawn/braking-tips-and-techniques

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Former Ducati North America CEO Michael Lock talks Bikes

Michael Lock is something of a rock star in motorcycle circles.

The former chief executive of Ducati North America grew the small Italian sportbike brand from a niche player in the U.S. market into a powerhouse synonymous with sleek and sporty sex appeal.

Lock recently left to take over marketing duties for Think, a Norwegian EV maker that will soon start selling plug-in electric cars in the U.S., and stopped by The Times to chat about his new venture.

The Times took the opportunity to pick his brain about the U.S. motorcycle market, which continues to experience declining sales.

Source: http://yourbikelife.com/blogs/shawn/former-ducati-north-america-ceo-michael-lock-talks-bikes

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Japanese customs video from AOL

Ok, sure I’m feeling a little sick with jealousy over Brad Hasemeyer’s trip to Tokyo to chat with the locals about custom rides but that’s not gonna stop me from sharing the experience with you. Check out Translogic 8.3 from AOL (and the Chevy Volt) where Bradley tries to do the Japanese scooter scene [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thescooterscoop/~3/24IP7VbdVek/

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Kawasaki ZX-10R vs Mazda RX-7 [video]

Kawasaki ZX-10R vs Mazda RX-7 [video]
The sport of drifting in the car world has been entertaining motorsports enthusiasts for years, spawning national race series across the globe.� And this genre is now gaining a foothold in the motorcycle world. In the video below, we see these worlds collide as a Corvette-powered Mazda RX-7 battles a stretched Kawasaki ZX-10R in a [...] more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/motorcycle/the-sidecar/~3/_4nyXsbizIw/

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Book Review: Chicks on Bikes

When you hear the phrase ?chicks on a bike? it might conjure up one of two images: a dolled up, half-nekkid girl with butt floss & fake boobs draped across some guys motorcycle -or- a real, independent woman riding her own.

Christina Shook thankfully delves into the diverse world of the latter, using her photography to punctuate the alluring stories of the featured women riders in her book.

Source: http://yourbikelife.com/blogs/shawn/book-review-chicks-bikes

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Kinda like Kanan? but Better

Every so often you think to yourself there?s a moment here.
A moment you can really believe in.
A corner to grind.
A curve to conquer.
A straight away to blast down at top speed.
It?s a thought that seems so true that it shoots right through you and hits the very core of your own personal humanity, [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/twistingasphalt/JFfB/~3/0QLZ8PO8j3I/

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BMW S1000RR Turbo: The Wrath of Jack

Source: http://www.fasterandfaster.net/2011/01/bmw-s1000rr-turbo-wrath-of-jack.html

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Leslie Porterfield makes Guinness World Record History

Leslie Porterfield has officially entered the Guinness World Records books as the fastest woman on a motorcycle.

Porterfield?s speed of 232.522mph, set in the 2008 BUB Speed Trials at the Bonneville Salt Flats on a 2002 2000cc Turbo-charged Suzuki Hayabusa, nudges the female motorcycle dealer into the spotlight as the fastest woman-ever on two wheels.

Source: http://yourbikelife.com/blogs/shawn/leslie-porterfield-makes-guinness-world-record-history

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Survey: When would an electric scooter pique your interest?

Howdy folks! I’m hoping you can help me out here. I’m doing a bit of research to try to find the tipping point for electric scooters. Most electrics to date have been too slow, and too expensive. I don’t think the parallel hybrid (gas / electric) scooter is going to stick [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thescooterscoop/~3/dp_tLtSU2xw/

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Where have I been?

As I said earlier, it's become harder and harder to find the time to blog. I must apologise to all the regular readers who have inspired me to continue to write here.

Since August 1, 2008, the last real post until these, I've changed jobs, moved to another place and it's even busier than before. However, I'm expecting to end up with an even more pronounced online presence, as you shall see shortly. As an extension of that process, I'm considering integrating the blog, archives and all, into that 'online presence.' I'd deeply appreciate it if you could write back and tell me what you think of that kind of a move. My idea is that once the blog becomes part of my official duties, my freedom to post frequently will become less of an issue. Which means I can write more, and whenever I like. And no one can object, since it is, after all, official work.

I will, of course, endeavour to not let the 'rules' that come with an official blog to alter or curtail the freedoms this blog has enjoyed, or for that matter, the sort of content that I've posted here.

What say you?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rearset/~3/GwP5Ysb-q_w/where-have-i-been.html

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Motorcyclist Deaths Drop, Sour Economy Cited

After a decade of steady increases, motorcyclist deaths nose-dived last year, possibly due to bikers watching their budgets in a sour economy.

The study, set for release Thursday, indicates a 16 percent drop in U.S. motorcycle fatalities through the first nine months of 2009 compared to the same period in the previous year. It projects at least a 10 percent decline in fatalities over the entire year, or about 530 fewer deaths.

The 5,290 motorcyclist deaths in 2008 was the highest ever.

There is nothing in the data to indicate the cause of the sudden decline, but it is most likely due in part to a cutback in recreational driving by motorcyclists, Hedlund said in an interview.

Source: http://yourbikelife.com/blogs/shawn/motorcyclist-deaths-drop-sour-economy-cited

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More Lost Roads

November 14th, 2010.
Mounting up the "Lil Girl" I headed toward the Johnson City. I had decided to help Edward Winterhalder and Wil de Clercq promote their new book "BIKER CHICZ OF NORTH AMERICA".   I am, after all one of the 22 featured "CHICZ" in the book. 

It's 12:00 in the afternoon and I figured I would ride up to Smith Brothers Harley Davidson in Johnson City.  I wanted to leave some advertising material Edward had forwarded to me along with a few advance copies of the book.  Smith Brothers know me and my bike: the 150 thousand mile Sportster.  When I asked to leave the brochures at the desk they were quite enthusiastic.

Leaving the parking lot from there, I decide to head into Bluff City to talk to the guys at Biker Wear on RT-11E.  I left some brochures then continued on my way.  Now, with business out of the way it was time for lost road riding. 

I'm very broke this weekend.  I somehow have misplaced my last $10.00. I did have a full tank of gas which gave me a radius of 90 miles to play with. Life is still good. Even with a greenback missing in action.


IMAGE CAPTION: Lost greenback....

I decide to head back into Elizabethton on the Bristol Highway (RT-19E). I had recently driven this way with my mom in her BMW.  She had noticed a few back roads along here that appeared interesting.  She was right of course: I had been meaning to ride these roads for a year or two at least.  I just never thought of it again until today with my limited funds. 

I'm so glad I did!  Taking these "lost roads" keeps me happy. I never know what I will find, how the road will end, or where it will lead to.  This time was no exception.  I didn't take note of the roads I was on, and most of them dead-ended in a driveway, but along the way I found some of the best sights!


Image Caption: Lost Roads Log Cabin


Chimney View of Log Cabin


IMAGE CAPTION: Log Cabin Window

Or how about the oldest church in Tennessee?


IMAGE CAPTION: Oldest Church in TN. (Sinking Springs)


IMAGE CAPTION: log structure is the oldest church in TN.

I know I've mentioned how much I like trains. I've been longing for a train to pass beneath me while on an overpass for a very long time! GOT MY WISH THIS DAY!

 
IMAGE CAPTION: Coal Train and overpass

Later, I found myself riding this gravel road through the Cherokee National Forest near Stony Creek. This was fun! It got much more narrow and potholed...but it was worth the views I got!



IMAGE CAPTION: Gravel road in the Cherokee National Forest

I would really like to take you guys along for more sights, but let's face it...the longer you sit here checking out MY ride, the less time your spending on your own LOST ROADS!

If Old Man Winter hasn't gripped you yet in his icy clutches, GET OUT HERE AND RIDE!  I'll see y'all on the roads!

Source: http://chessiestales.blogspot.com/2010/11/more-lost-roads.html

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Buy the best, pay more...

Here's this awesome quote on the Arai website. Neatly says everything I try to explain when someone asks me why my helmet costs nearly Rs 20,000

What to pay?
"It is unwise to pay too much, but it is worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money...that is all. When you pay too little you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the things it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot...it cannot be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder it is well to add something for the risk you run. And if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better. There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell for a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only, are this man's lawful prey"
John Ruskin(1819-1900), Economist

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rearset/~3/yUBE8Tt-zX8/buy-best-pay-more.html

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Poll results: When do you wear your helmet?

I've basically nothing left to say on this subject. I am hoping against hope that the 4 per cent who don't use their helmet when touring basically never go touring and that the 35 per cent who prefer not to ride with a helmet in town essentially use public transport or their cages. As for the 14 per cent who never use a lid, my fingers are crossed that they aren't riders at all, just web traffic, passing through.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rearset/~3/MS9lvTA2mXA/poll-results-when-do-you-wear-your.html

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M�nch TTE-1.2: Son of the Mammut

Source: http://www.fasterandfaster.net/2011/01/munch-tte-12-son-of-mammut.html

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GoPro Hero: A Chesty Motorcycle Video on a Winter Day

When Kenny came home from grabbing breakfast on Sunday morning, he found me outside shoveling the remaining snow away from the front of our garage door. As he walked up the driveway he looked at me, chuckled and said, “where are you going?” I was of course was shocked by his inference and the look [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Fuzzygalore/~3/_LKKdKlM5wE/

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Top 10 Motorcycles of All Time

Choosing the top 10 bikes of all time is a little bit like picking the top 10 movies all time; no matter how judicious your choices, someone is going to disagree.

Pick the Honda CB750 as the most significant Japanese bike and some Kawasaki fanatic will take you to task for rating it over the Z1. Choose the Triumph Bonneville as the seminal British twin and the Norton aficionados will be up in arms. Rally around pre-war bikes and you're an old fart; pick a bunch of modern motorcycles and you're a shallow dilettante. There really is no way to win.

So, knowing I am sure to lose or at least to be corrected, here is my top 10 list of motorcycles of all time.

via autos.ca.msn.com

Source: http://yourbikelife.com/blogs/shawn/top-10-motorcycles-all-time

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Yamaha FZ16: First Ride

So you want to know how the FZ16 is , is it?

Styling
As you can see for yourself, the styling of the FZ16 was central to the project. At least that is the official line. They first created the look and the 'fitted' the engineering into the design. No, really. That is why the FZ16 runs those fat tyres, has the faux pivot plate in aluminium colour, the faux aluminiun subframe look sidepanel and all. Like they scaled the R1 down for the R15, they scaled the FZ1N down for the FZ16. Personally, I'm just happy to be looking at an Indian bike that would hold its own anywhere in the world. As is usual with Yamaha, build quality, fit and finish levels are all great and I don't get the feeling that something will rattle loose, soon or later.

Engine
This is where the actual engineering began. The FZ16's aircooled engine is significantly different from the R15. Despite much prodding, for instance, Mizuno San, the project leader refused to accept that the R15 and the FZ16 motors shared more than a bare minimum of aggregates.

Creating two significantly different engines for what is effectively the same displacement band is a significant thing. It means that Yamaha is willing to look past economies of scale and parts sharing to create motorcycles that clearly adhere to a pre-defined role. Which is why the FZ16 feels quick of the line. Not quick enough to blow your socks off, mind you, but quick enough for you to notice the performance. I've read that the top-end isn't all that great and that FZ16 is reading from the same chapter on top-end as the Unicorn, but I don't subscribe to the same school. I think the FZ16 is clearly defined as an urban tool with styling and effortless low-rev performance being the two central themes, and this the engine does. That said, it is lighter than the competition, which should fill most performance gaps that the FZ16's peers might expose. The gearbox is a regular Yamaha job - slick and I don't think too many people will complain of the FZ16 being a laggard. In fact, I'd be very surprised if despite the low-rev focus, the FZ16 didn't equal or outperform its immediate competition.

Ride Quality, Handling and Braking
Personally, going into the test drive, I was expecting the storming tyre sizes to cause much trouble. Needless to say, my confidence in Yamaha's engineers was redoubled. Not only does the FZ16 handle well, it seems not to notice the extra rubber at all. I later found one of the reasons while helping some Yamaha staffers transfer a set of spare MRF tubeless radials from one car to another. The weigh nothing. Really, with tyres that light, it's no surprise that the not only does the FZ16 feel grippy, stable and responsive, it feels happy rather than that 'anchored' feeling that overtyred bikes seem to develop.

Ride quality is stiff and sporty, though. Again, personally, I've had the privilege of riding enough bikes to know that while plush ride feels great, stiffer setups encourage you to push harder and explore the envelope more... sometimes at the expense of your back. This is a compromise I have no problem with. You, on the other hand, might. Some riders who had the foresight to lower the preload to the softest settings reported instant, and noticeable ride quality improvements. I found the setup bouncy only over the worst of the roads, where the tyres do seem to bounce up off the surface entirely. In any other situation, the ride quality never comes to the point where you will leap off the motorcycle hurling abuse. I like it, but I think this is a personal choice so you should, ideally, ride an FZ and form your own opinion. Your experience will vary.

The braking is superb. No surprise there. Fat forks offer flex-free feedback-rich braking which the fat tyres respond to really well by mashing the larger contact patch firmly into the ground. I do wish that Yamaha'd put in a set of radially mounted brakes for brag value alone... but the whole wishes-horses thing applies to that line of thought, right?

Features and other stuff
Full LCD instruments, baby! But all is not well in that department. Internationally, Kawasaki came in for all-round notoriety for the all-LCD revcounter on their Ninjas from two generations ago because of readability issues. On the other hand, Ducati are currently running a slick, large race-spec all-LCD instrument cluster on the 1098, 848 etc. So it can be done. Yamaha haven't cracked it, I must admit. The tacho readout is cluttered by lots of design elements and the effect is that gathering info off the LCD meters takes some getting used to. Only the speedo is easy to read and the surfeit of carbon fibre, orange and white stickers makes the otherwise sleek instrument cluster a bit, how shall I put it, overdone. I do also have to point out that there's a few random stickers (like 'Monocross' on the side panel that add no value whatsoever to the motorcycle's style and could easily have been skipped.

Overall
As you can probably tell, I'm as impressed with the FZ16 as I was with the R15. But, there's a catch. The FZ16 is expensive compared to the 150s it wants to beat and the question is, is that extra money worth paying. This is something you must decide for yourself. I would have no hesitation paying the Rs 6000-odd extra for the solid feel, international looks and the general competence of the motorcycle. But would you? Tell me, leave a comment.

Image from Yamaha India

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rearset/~3/1TqbRHDAocQ/yamaha-fz16-first-ride.html

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