Lucky's Hideaway

When Does It Stop Being A Motorcycle?

2011-09-13T13:00:00.000-03:00

There's an interesting discussion thread over on the BurgmanUSA forum regarding the use of "trike kits" on motorcycles and how a trike ends up being classified by the various laws and regulations. For the most part, if it's got three wheels or less (but hopefully more than one) it's considered a motorcycle and thus, you must have a motorcycle licence to ride it. But what happens when you install one of these "trike kits" which add two outrigger-style wheels in the back, effectively bringing the number of wheels in contact with the ground up to four? Interesting conundrum - and it would seem that the answer differs considerably depending on the jurisdiction.

Legal speak aside, for me the question is more: when does it stop feeling like a motorcycle?

I've never ridden a trike or a sidecar hack, so I can't really comment first hand. I have read numerous articles and reviews of Can-Am Spyders and Ural hacks which almost always come to the same conclusion: they're plenty fun, but ride in a completely different manner than a motorcycle. Personally, I can't help but think that what makes riding a motorcycle so great is lost somewhere in the transition from single track to three-wheeler. Not being able to lean in a corner, or steer by shifting your weight, or counter-steer... I don't know, but it just wouldn't do it for me anymore.

Sure, a trike would still give you the whole "wind in your face" thing, and a sidecar hack will give you an added thrill the first time you "fly the chair", but in the end it's simply a different beast.

Now, I'm not putting down three-wheeled aficionados. If you ride one and you enjoy it, more power to you. However, most of the trike riders I've met chose to do so as a compromise. In many cases, health reasons are cited for the move to three wheels. But again, if a trike allows you to keep riding rather then getting stuck in a cage; I think it's a good compromise.

There are, of course, a few oddities out there. The most popular one being the Piaggio MP3 scooter: two wheels up front, one wheel out back, and it still leans into corners thanks to its parallelogram front suspension (brilliant!). Cool trick: it can also lock the front mechanism at slow speeds, keeping itself upright, so you don't have to put your feet down in that puddle of water at the stop light. Just the thing for those fashionable Italians on their way to work. Oh, and just so you're aware: TowPac actually makes a "trike" kit which is compatible with the MP3, effectively bringing the total number of wheels up to five. Now, I'm sorry if you ride such a contraption, but when your motorcycle ends up having more wheels than your car, maybe it's time to reconsider!

Well, move over Piaggio, it would seem that a fellow Italian company wants to take top honors in the "what the heck is that" category. Quadro plans to go into production with the 4D - a scooter with dual wheels front and back, yet it still allows you to lean in corners. Basically, it looks like the bastard lovechild of a Piaggio MP3 and a Dodge Tomahawk. Interesting fact is that Quadro is owned by Marabese Design, the same design firm that came up with the MP3 for Piaggio!

Details are still sketchy, but from the pictures it looks like the rear wheels are further apart then the front ones - no doubt to make room for the drive mechanism. Like the MP3, it can lock the leaning mechanism to prevent the bike from tipping over. Look Ma - no kickstand! I'd be curious to know how it rides... can you imagine the traction afforded by four contact patches rather than the typical two? Initial specs say a 500cc engine, so it should have enough power for highway riding. Dealers must love this thing when you go in for a tire change!

So what will the various government authorities make of it? Car or scooter?

"Accessible design is good design." - Steve Ballmer

Like a Fine Bottle of Wine.

2011-09-09T05:30:00.000-03:00

Some things, like good wine, tend to age well; while others, like bad fish, not really.

The same can be said of many motorcycles. I'm a bit of a pack rack when it comes to all things motorcycle, to the point that I've got a box of old, broken parts in the garage that I'll most likely never use... yet I can't bring myself to throw it away (to the great horror of my wife, I'll admit). Anyhow, among the things I've saved are hundreds of old copies of Motorcyclist, Cycle World, Cycle Canada, and other various motorcycle rags.

On those boring, rainy days - of which we've had our fair share this summer - I like to flip through the pages of old magazines. It's entertaining to see what used to be considered way cool ten, twenty or almost thirty years ago. What's also interesting is to see how their looks have stood the test of time. Sure, classic-style bikes like Sportsters or Bonnevilles will always have a certain, timeless appeal. What I like to see is how a motorcycle that was designed to look "modern" in 1990 compares with what's out on the showroom floor now.

If I walked into a local dealer's showroom with a wad of cash in my pocket, how many of these old modern bikes would still yank my crank (so to speak).

One that sticks out is the 1993 Yamaha GTS 1000. It still looks so cool. Of course, the hub-center steering up front certainly has something to do with the appeal. Other than Bimota, I can't think of any manufacturers that have messed around with hub-center steering on a production model. Although the Tesi 3D looks cool, it's design isn't as well executed as the GTS.

Another bike in the sport-touring segment would be the K1200RS which BMW came out with in 1996. It's still got great looks. The last sporting version of the (in)famous "Flying Brick" inline, laid-down engine. The swoopy lines, like waves on the water, made it look fast even when standing still. Some will argue that it looks better than the post-2004 K-series that replaced it (Gail at SheRidesABeemer might agree?).

Another technologically advanced motorcycle (at the time) which has continued with a long heritage is the early-nineties Honda VFR. As handy as a Swiss Army knife and with one of the sweetest mills in all of motorcycling, this was a bike you could take to the track or tour the country on. Again, it still looks nice and would still make a fine sport-touring mount.

What do you think? Any bikes that made you drool a few decades ago still hold their own against today's modern marvels?

Of Flower Pots & Weak Shocks

2011-09-08T14:20:00.005-03:00

What a wonderful labour day weekend that was! There's just something about that third day tacked onto the end of the weekend that brings me back to my childhood schooldays. Although as kids we rarely did anything that interesting on typical weekends; for some reason the idea of a three-day weekend would spark our grade-school imagination and we'd start planning all sorts of things to do.

As a motorcyclist with a full-time job (and then some); I still cherish the idea of an extra day of fun. This year even moreso as in my neck of the woods rainfall records have been broken for June, July and August. Yup - it's been wet. So imagine how excited I was when the forecast called for nice weather all weekend.

Time for a ride.

The missus and I decided to ride the Burgman down to Hopewell Cape on the Bay of Fundy to see the famous flower pots (note: since buying the Burgman, SWMBO has decided that the Old Seca is strictly for solo riding). The provincial park at Hopewell has gone through some major renovations over the past few years. Really nice!

Here are a few pics...

A few comments about the Burgman: Nice seat, excellent fairing/windshield, great power... but I've got to do something about those rear shocks. With just four inches of travel and weak springs, when riding two-up they're easily bottomed-out by potholes or speedbumps. And given the current state of most of our roads, that means they hit bottom quite often.

Some of the forum dwellers over on BurgmanUSA.com have had great success with Progressive Suspension's 416 Series air shocks. Guess that'll be yet another hibernation project for the winter months.

The Man in Black

2011-08-25T15:30:00.002-03:00

First off, let's be clear about one thing: I love Johnny Cash. I've always been a big fan of his music and his style. I use the "Man in Black" title sarcastically and with no disrespect intended.

Why is it that something like 90% of motorcycle gear is black? I've been asking myself this question for a few years now and I can't seem to figure it out. Is there a safety advantage? Obviously not, as it's probably the most inconspicuous of colours. What about practicality? Nada. Have you ever been stuck in gridlock under the mid-August sun while wearing a black riding jacket? Fun, eh?

My favourite long-distance riding jacket right now is a First Gear Kathmandu that I picked-up last year at a considerable discount over at New Enough (now motorcyclegear.com - as a sidebar, those guys are great to deal with, I highly recommend buying your gear there). It's a great jacket, with plenty of pockets, good venting, CE armour in the right places, and hey - it's even got a hydrapack pocket so you can maintain your H2O levels while riding. Best of all: it's beige! Yup, that's right, beige. Plain, simple, boring, beige. The light colour helps reflect way more heat from the sun's rays than any of my black riding jackets. I liked it so much that two weeks later I ordered the matching pants (again - at a considerable discount).

SWMBO also liked my new jacket. So much that I had to order a Kilimanjaro for her in the same boring beige. She loved the jacket and, naturally, wanted the matching pants. Uh oh! No such thing. I've searched and searched the web, googling 'til the wee hours of the morning. No dime. It's near impossible to find some nice, beige, ladies' riding pants. Go figure?

Sure, a two-piece touring suit is a bit bulkier and slower to get in and out of than, say a Roadcrafter. But the 'Stich is in dire need of a makeover. Sure, it's got the quality and practicality down, but it's about as fashionable as a hazmat suit.

Which may be the main reason why so many riding jackets & pants are black. Maybe it's a fashion thing? The idea of black leather and motorbikes has so deeply ingrained itself into the whole "biker culture" thing that many people wouldn't consider wearing any other colour... Except for the racer boys who look like Sherwin Williams did a number on their puck-kneed suits. But that's another story...

Sunset ride to Beaumont

2011-08-20T09:45:00.010-03:00

One of my favourite local rides is due South out of town heading along the Petitcodiac river towards the small agricultural villages of Pré-d'en-Haut and Beaumont. The muddy banks of the river, ondulating fields of corn, apple orchards and the lovely small villages are the stuff post cards are made of. Add the setting sun over the river and some low-lying clouds for diffused light and it's practically perfect.

Here, Burgie takes a break while I shoot a few frames.

Sun setting over the river and the fields.

The small church at Beaumont. There's also a small Indian cemetery and monument to the Mikma'q people who used to call this beautiful place home. In the summer, local singer-songwriters offer concerts in the church - talk about an intimate setting. The acoustics are pretty good too!

Since Heritage Canada did a PSA in the early nineties regarding the history and importance of Inukshuk for the Inuit, they've started popping up just about everywhere! Guess they've moved further South from the Arctic.

One last shot of Burgie against a beautiful backdrop.

Beautiful ride, although I did end up unwillingly donating about half-a-pint of blood to the local mosquito population! I really gotta remember to bring some deet next time.

"Sundown ya better take care, if I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs" - Gordon Lightfoot

A Man's Scooter!

2011-08-19T15:19:00.004-03:00

As expected, the jokes have already started at work about my new "girly" bike! No worries, I can take it and dish it out with the best of 'em. However, one of my colleagues was worried that I might feel emasculated by the fact that I'm now "stuck riding a step-through", so he wrote me the following email which I share with you now:

"OK, let me start off by saying this 2011 Burgman 650 Exec ABS is only available for purchase by the manliest of men. My friend, if it was possible for a vehicle to sprout chest hair and a five o’clock shadow, this 2011 Burgman 650 Exec ABS would look like Tom Selleck. It is just that manly.

It was never intended to drive to the mall so you can pick up that cool shirt at H&M that you had your eye on. It wasn’t meant to transport you to yoga class or Bath and Body Works. No, that’s what your Tiguan is for. If that’s the kind of vehicle you’re looking for, then just do us all a favour and stop reading right now. This bike will make it to hell and back, twice, and without a scar. So if you can’t handle being seen behind the wheel of this biblical, fire breathing, dragon slaying, nazi killing hero because it has no pegs, move on.

No, this brute comes with the things us testosterone-fuelled super action junkies need. It has a 638 cc (38.9 cu. in), 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 2 cylinder engine to outrun the cops and an Electronically-Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission with 2 automatic modes (Power and Way Too Fast). It will save your bacon more than once. It’s got special upholstery that was made from the scales of some obscure extinct groundfish. It’s even got cutaway floorboards to accommodate a large Bernese Mountain Dog. The Burgman 650 Executive also comes with a passenger backrest for when your wife or mother rides with you.

The price on this bad boy is none of your damn business. Asking the price of all this macho is liable to earn you a Burnese-roundhouse-sphincter-kick with a follow up three fingered eye-jab. Would it hurt? Hell yeah. Let’s just say you won’t be the prettiest guy at the boat christening in Caraquet anymore.

There’s no km’s on this hellcat from Planet Kickass. Trust me, it will outlive you and the offspring that will carry your name. It will live on as a monument to your machismo. It has room for you and the hottie you picked up on the way to the gym to blast your pecs and hammer your glutes.

Notice: you should be aware that men will shoot at you because they are jealous of your ride.

Now, go look in the mirror and tell me what you see. If it’s a rugged, no holds barred, super brute he-man macho Chuck Norris stunt double, then get a Burgman 650 Executive ABS when you get back from hang-gliding or BASE jumping or just chilling with your lady."

Thanks Tony... I needed that!

"Some men are so macho they'll get you pregnant just to kill a rabbit." - Maureen Murphy

It's Here! (But what is it?)

2011-08-18T10:15:00.001-03:00

Got the keys to the new Burgman on Monday and drove it home from the dealer's in Amherst, NS. Granted, it's only 70 kms away, but it was an interesting ride nonetheless. I did get to familiarize myself with this new scoot.

Lessons learned:

The left lever is not a clutch (repeat five times before riding).
ABS on the rear brake is very effective at preventing lock-up when you grab a handful of the left lever (see above point).
It'll do 0 to 60 mph in under 7 seconds. Not impressive by sportbike standards, but plenty fast to spook the guy on the Road King when I merged into traffic on the highway.
60 - 80 mph "top-gear" roll-on is surprisingly quick.
It can easily do 100 mph. On a long stretch of superslab, I had it up to 160 km/h and it still had plenty of pull. No doubt that it can reach 180 km/h.
CVT tranny means constant engine rpm's does not equal constant speed. Very surprised to find I was going 165 km/h at the bottom of a long hill!

Worst (or best) part about owning a Burgman: the inquisitive stare you get from cagers/motorcyclists/gas station attendants/innocent bystanders... Three times already I've been asked the question: What is that?

Answer: That's my ride.

"Yeah, it's a scooter. You got a problem with that?"

"I like to do things that are surprising and different." - Rudy Rucker

New Horse in the Stable

2011-08-12T11:09:00.003-03:00

I haven't ridden much this season. I try to blame it on many factors: the constant rain, low temps, mechanical gremlins in the old Seca... in the end, however, it's mostly due to this damn pinched nerve that causes my left hand to go weak and numb from time to time.

Ever try riding in midtown traffic and have your "clutch hand" go numb? Believe me, it gives a whole new appreciation to clutchless shifting!

So what's a guy to do? I guess the responsible thing would have been to push the old Seca to the back of the garage, under a tarp, and try to ignore the temptation until it goes away. Yup, that would've been responsible; but it wouldn't have been me.

Instead, I went looking for a solution to my predicament. How to ride without a clutch? Simple - get a scooter. I still need something that'll haul my aging carcass comfortably while ideally offering some space for the missus. So here's what I found:

I'll be picking up the Black Burgman on Tuesday. For now, I have to get a stall ready for her in the stable, next to the old mare (which I hope won't be too jealous).

Wish me luck!

"No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle." - Winston Churchill

Ugliest Bike?

2011-08-10T13:26:00.006-03:00

So I'm on coffee break at work with a few colleagues who happen to be motorcycle aficionados and rather than argue on who has the most blinged/farkled/powerful bike, we're pondering the question of the ugliest bike ever built. Of course, for such an important debate to take place, there has to be some ground rules: a) it must be a full production motorcycle (i.e. not a "custom" or "limited edition" model), and b) it has to be mainstream enough that a motorcyclist worthy of the title will have heard of it (i.e. no obscure brands from Slobovia or Whatsthatistan).

My colleagues who were of the "cruiser" persuasion immediately pointed out modern interpretations of the style like the BMW R1200C, the Victory Vision or the Honda Rune. The crotch-rocket crowd were quick to put down Ducati's Terblanche designed 999.

Personally, I'm a motorcycle polygamist who goes for all styles of bike. My vote was split between the Munch Mammoth and the Ducati Indiana!

The brainchild of Friedl Munch, the Mammoth managed to cram an air-cooled inline-four taken from a car (the NSU Prinz) into a motorcycle frame. Displacing 1200cc with a 5½ gallon tank up top, it was actually a good performer... But like the Boss Hoss and Amazonas which came after, it is painfully clear that even the best designer would have trouble making something other than an eyesore when a car engine is used in a motorcycle.

The European manufacturers have long known that to stay afloat, they must cater to the American motorcyclist. For the most part this can mean only one thing: build a cruiser. While some like Triumph and Moto Guzzi had some success in this market segment, others like BMW and Ducati seemed to fall flat. Ducati can be forgiven - to a certain extent - as the Indiana was actually built by Cagiva, who would stick the Ducati logo on the tank. The premise was simple - build a cruiser using a sportbike engine. However, the resulting bike wasn't very well executed. I guess the one redeeming quality is that lessons learned by Ducati with the Indiana may have prevented them from a repeat with the stunning Diavel!

So what say you? What do you think is the ugliest production motorcycle ever?

“No object is so beautiful that, under certain conditions, it will not look ugly.” - Oscar Wilde

How (Un)original!

2011-07-05T13:48:00.009-03:00

Just got notification from Zinio that the August electronic editions of Cycle World and Motorcyclist were now available for download. Great - except I had to do a double-take to make sure I hadn't downloaded the same magazine twice.

Editors at CW and MC must be spying on each other's contact sheets lately, as the cover story on both of these competing publications is pretty much the same: the effects of fancy electronics on superbikes. Heck, even the front covers look suspiciously similar.

"Originality is the art of concealing your sources" - Benjamin Franklin

Fat (or Phat) Hooligan Bike?

2011-07-01T13:00:00.001-03:00

Let's be honest: sometimes being bad feels good. Like pulling a wheelie on your super-light and overly powerful sportbike (when nobody's around - of course).

But you've got to truly admire someone who can get a 2294cc, long wheelbase cruiser to stand one her hind legs like this:

Lipstick and Gluteoplasty

2011-03-18T14:40:00.005-03:00

After a 10 year run, Honda has finally come out with a "new" Goldwing. Except when you delve deeper in the press release, you start to wonder what's so new about it. Obviously, there have been some aesthetic changes: the front fairing now has a "two-tone" paint scheme which apparently should channel the VFR1200 (yeah - right!) and the rear sidecases have been visually trimmed (although they have bigger volume).

What about the engine? Same old, same old...

The tranny? Nope...

But they must've finally added electric windshield adjustment? Not yet...

It almost gives the impression that Honda panicked a bit when BMW came out with their new (from the ground up) K1600GT and GTL. Even though the Beemer now seems to be in the lead for the title of über-bagger, I'm not convinced that BMW will steal much business from Honda. Let's face it: most dyed-in-the-wool Goldwing fans will keep buying it as long as it offers a seating position reminiscent of a Lay-Z-Boy, more switches and knobs than an Airbus, and that big, flat-6 engine which puts many a four-wheeled people mover to shame.

Methinks BMW is starting to aim for a somewhat younger demographic - like the forty-something Gen-Xers who've grown up and are starting to see some light at the end of this long tunnel called recession. Those who still view the 'Wing as an "old man's bike" (regardless of the new Tupperware) and want something a little (teenie bit) more lithe. Sure, many fans of the now discontinued K1200LT (i.e. Light Truck) were disappointed that the new inline-sixers don't have electric centerstands or - gasp - a reverse gear, and I'll admit those were cool farkles... but have you guys seen that trick self-adjusting headlight?!? Besides, the K1200LT never really had a strong "personality" other than it's creature comforts... The sound alone from the new inline-6 at redline should be enough to convince any performance-hungry motorcyclist to fork out the 20-grand (or sell some non-vital organs to help finance their folly).

Anybody looking for a slightly used and abused kidney?

Two-Wheeled Adultery to Keep the Missus Happy!

2010-10-26T14:57:00.000-03:00

I am unfaithful.

Although I spend countless hours doting on my beloved old bike, I secretly sneak off to my computer every now and again to lust on other bikes. I just feel so dirty!

It's a serious disease and for which I've yet to find any kind of relief. Our house is running out of room to store the innumerable magazines, books and glossy dealership handouts which I've accumulated over the years. I'm a bit of a packrat, and I refuse to throw away any of my old magazines. Hey, you never know when that review of a 1994 BMW Funduro might come in handy. I mean, it's reference material, right? Only the recent availability of electronic magazines has given us some respite.

Anyhow, the temptation to cheat on my beloved Seca has gotten worse lately. I love the old beast, and although it is great for carving twisties and running errands around town; it doesn't really fit the bill when it comes to touring. Mostly, I think it has to do with the fact that my wife isn't really comfortable travelling on the old Yamaha. Can't say I blame her either, as the longish, flat seat has all the comfort of a two by eight piece of pine.

So I'll probably spend some time this winter checking the online ads for a decent used (i.e. cheap) touring rig. I'd actually spotted a nice '82 Goldwing without the fairing or excessive chrome (à la Nakedwing); but the wife didn't go for it. Says it looks too much like an "old man's bike".

Maybe I'll be able to get my hands on a nice sport-touring bike. I'm thinking something like a Honda ST1100 or maybe a Yami FJ1200. With the cold, wet weather settling in, I'll have plenty of time to look.

Any suggestions?

One Man's Junk

2010-10-20T09:15:00.000-03:00

The concept (or belief) of Heaven is an interesting one. As kids, we were made to believe in Heaven as a place of perfection: everyone there is happy, healthy and never wants for anything. I remember my elementary-school mind thinking that it must be something like DisneyWorld... or at least I supposed as much since I'd never been there (DisneyWorld, that is).

As a motorcyclist, I can only hope that if there is such a thing as the afterlife, that it looks something like Allen's Cycle Salvage yard. In other words, as far from perfection as possible! Sure, I love to go to the local motorcycle dealerships and drool on the perfect lineup of shiny new bikes. But for sheer, unadulterated bliss, give me a few spanner wrenches and acres of junked bikes.

I may have been a fool in buying an old '82 Yamaha Seca 650 (XJ650RJC for you aficionados out there). It's a somewhat rare model, as even in 1982 North American tastes had started being more focused on style-specific bikes and moving away from the "standard" which continues to be so popular in Europe. As such, the Seca wasn't a huge seller - so used parts are scarce. To make matters worse, I have the Canadian model (hence the "C" in RJC) with the YICS engine. And yeah, she's a real finicky one to tune.

Oh sure, there will always be an interest in rarer bikes for collectors who spend insane amounts of money restoring them to pristine condition. But let's get real here: this is my daily driver. My goal isn't to make some sort of museum piece out of it; I just want it to be reliable, comfortable and versatile.

My most rewarding challenge so far? Simple: finding parts from other bikes that can be made to fit on mine. It's slowly turning into a Frankenbike, but in a good way.

"My wife is always trying to get rid of me. The other day she told me to put the garbage out. I said to her I already did. She told me to go and keep an eye on it." - Rodney Dangerfield

Riding, It's Good For The Soul

2010-09-23T14:09:00.003-03:00

Lazy blogger I am.

Seems life pulls you in one direction just long enough so that you get accustomed to the trajectory, then there's a shift and you beeline towards something else. Past six months have been something like that. Nothing major, mind you... just an accumulation of small changes that add up to a whole pile of "what the hell just happened?" The important stuff (i.e. the things a normal, well-balanced person should focus on but rarely does) is still there: still married, health is OK, still working (albeit, a bureaucrat).

So what's changed? Well, the job is getting more difficult for one. OK - I can imagine what you're thinking: poor little overpaid public servant with his cushy job. Firstly, I've never complained about the pay or benefits because you're right: they're great. No argument here. But imagine being in a job where you feel like a dog chasing its tail. You're constantly stuck in meetings and conference calls, everything you do is questioned, audited and redone by one of your superiors. People are moving from one job to another, and no one seems to really be in charge.

A recent study of federal executives found that three quarters felt "on the verge of burnout". You'd think that a high-paid director of something-or-other would be empowered by such a position, but it's quite the opposite. Executives in the private sector typically feel less stress because they have more control. When you work for the government (at least, in Canada), regardless at what level, you are little more than a puppet whose strings are held by the politicians in Ottawa.

Sound like I'm overreacting? Consider this: in the federal public service, disability claims related to mental health doubled between 1991 and 2007. Right now, they account for 45% of all claims.

But at least I've got my bike! Even with all the BS I have to put up with at work, just a half-hour ride still does it for me. I get home more relaxed, focused and probably easier to live with.

...but what will I do this winter?!?

"I don't want a pickle, just want to ride on my motorsickle" - Arlo Guthrie

Waiting for the Breakdown

2010-02-26T07:29:00.003-04:00

Like millions of others around the world, I've been watching the Olympics for the past two weeks, rooting for the home team, hoping for some medals. Vancouver has been marred by problems since the very start. There was the tragic death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili during a practice run just hours before the opening ceremony. Then our Canadian sweetheart, figure skater Joannie Rochette, lost her mother to a heart attack just days before she was scheduled to compete.

Of course, when tragedy occurs, media will be there. Hence the title of this post. For these athletes to continue on after tragedy is commendable... but to be able to forge ahead under constant media attention and scrutiny; well, that is truly admirable.

The resilience for some athletes was amazing, while for others, the pain was simply too great. Rochette went on to win the Bronze last night. Kumaritashvili's fellow luger, Levan Gureshidze, felt he could not compete following the death of his teammate, and returned to Georgia to mourn.

Vancouver has also been challenged by the various technical and logistical problems they've had. From ice surfacers breaking down at the speed skating oval, to lack of snow on the mountains. Oh yes, let's not forget the protesters... Thousands who march the streets to bring more attention to their chosen cause. Don't get me wrong, I'll be the first to stand up for a person's right to protest... but not when that protesting involves violence or destruction of property.

But even with all the negative attention these games have garnered, there have still been moments that were simply uplifting. Watching Rochette get her bronze last night, the voice of legendary sportscaster Jim McKay floated in my head from his well remembered introduction to ABC's Wide World of Sports:

"Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport...

The thrill of victory...

And the agony of defeat...

The human drama of athletic competition..."

Indeed.

We've Got A Pulse!

2010-01-12T22:08:00.002-04:00

I’ve been a bad blogger. My last post was over 6 months ago, and I have become the great procrastinator. I was considering waiting ‘til spring to start posting again, as there’s currently a few feet of snow on the ground and the temperature is way below the freezing mark – not exactly the right motivation to get me writing about motorcycles again, eh?

But then I got the buzz. Motorcycle magazines are featuring new models on their covers, bike shows are happening, and the annual hunt for new farkles is well under way.

But first, my excuse: I’ve been busy. I know: it’s weak. Life’s other priorities took control for a while, but I’ve now managed to take the reigns again.

The Yamaha is in pieces: frame, engine and wheels are in the garage, while the various body parts, seat, exhaust and suspension components are in the basement. What started out as a simple “freshening-up” of the ’82 Seca has turned into a full blown restoration. Why can’t I ever leave good enough alone? Must be some sort of affliction. I'm sure there's a support group for people like me. But I digress.

Winter is a great time for this kind of project... It’s not like I’m going to be riding it anytime soon – so I might as well take the opportunity to get to know my bike from the inside out. So I’ve converted a small corner of the basement into a parts cleaning/restoration/paint shop. The Seca doesn’t exactly look like a classic bike, at least not in the same way as a Bonneville or even a Honda CB750, but I’m hoping the makeover will give it a bit of that old charm.

By the first days of spring, the Seca will have traded it’s severly sunburned metallic red paint for a nice light beige taken from the Toyota paint catalog (same colour as available on the FJ Cruiser). The seat will have gone from the torn black vinyl to dark brown faux-kangaroo vinyl. And finally, all the shiny bits will have spent considerable time under the buffing wheel.

Mechanically, other than some basic maintenance like rebuilding the carbs, there really isn’t much required. I’ve ordered a nice new micro blade fusebox to replace the breakage prone OEM glass tube type one, and I may consider changing the big, round turnsignals for something a little more modern.

But that’s it as far as modifications go.

By the way, if anybody knows of someplace where you can get nice looking brown leather saddlebags, please let me know. I don’t want anything with metal studs or fringe – it would look out of place on an UJM. Plain, simple and functional is what I’m looking for here.

In the meantime, fiddling around on the bike has been a nice way to fend off the latest bout of cabin fever.

My New (Old) Bike

2009-06-16T14:42:00.003-03:00

After five great years and many miles together, I’ve bid adieu to my dear V-Strom. Although somewhat bittersweet, the big beast had become a little too much to handle given my recent back problems. No worries though, I replaced the technologically advanced, fuel-injected Suzuki with something so much better: a 1982 Yamaha XJ650RJC! Air cooled and carburetted, but at least it’s got TCI (no points – yeah!) and a lovely low-maintenance shaft-drive.

So how does it ride? Pretty darn nice! Feels much more nimble than the V-Strom ever was, but I’m sure that has to do with the lower weight and much lower CG. Quicker turn-in makes this bike way more flickable. Surprisingly, there was very little work to do on it to get it roadworthy. Fresh oil & filter, fresh shaft oil, new air filter & plugs, cleaned and synced the carbs. That’s it! I still can’t believe that a bike that rolled off the assembly line 27 years ago and hasn’t been taken very good care of (previous owner left it outside most of the year) still runs so well. Starts and settles into a steady idle every time without even fiddling with the choke.

There are, however, some issues that I’ll be trying to get sorted out in time. There’s a leak in the exhaust collector (i.e. the 4-into-1-into-2 thingamajig) due to it being quite rusty – but then again it also doubles as a bash plate so this can be expected. I’ve been told it’s easy enough to fabricate a replacement, but for now maybe some strategically placed gobs of JB Weld will do the trick. There are also a few nicks and dings in the mufflers (both left and right). There’s still some NOS OEM replacements floating around eBay, but with the price people are asking you’d think they’re made of gold. I’ve read of a few owners retrofitting HD Sportster mufflers onto their XJ’s with no rejetting required. Since many (most?) Sportster owners seem to go for aftermarket pipes, there’s a whole lot of slightly used OEM ones available for cheap.

I’ll also be looking into getting a fresh paint job, as the original red has faded to the point where the rear fender seems more like a metallic pink. Not my preferred colour. I’m thinking a light beige/cream colour with dark brown pinstripes. Similar to Ducati’s GT1000. Also want to get the seat reupholstered, as the original vinyl is torn in a few spots.

Functionally, it’s good, but I’ll be looking to replace the brake lines with braided stainless-steel ones, and get some better gripping brake pads. As a precaution, I’ll probably change the clutch/throttle cables too, and all the fuel lines.

For now though, I’m just happy to ride!

Swap

2009-06-03T10:44:00.003-03:00

I sold the V-Strom. I decided that it was just too darn tall and top heavy for me to comfortably handle given my current health issues, so I listed the bike on Kijiji and a few days later I got a bite. He came to pick it up last night.

Although there was some melancholy when loading the bike onto his trailer, it was all good. Oh, and by the way, I made sure that he paid me first, as I've always sworn that never any bike that I own would see the bed of a trailer or truck as long as it was running... but since he'd already forked over the cash, it was no longer my bike.

So I'm wondering what to buy now? One thing's for sure, I'll be staying away from taller bikes like sport-tourers or dual-sports until I can get these back problems sorted out. I'm thinking of getting something a little more classic, like an early eighties UJM. The seat height would definitely be lower than the 33.5" Corbin on the V-Strom. I've always liked the older CB750's, or maybe a nice KZ1000. Actually, I've seen an ad in the paper for an '82 Yamaha XJ650 Seca with less than 30,000kms. Maybe I'll check that out tonight.

A Fork in the Road

2009-04-30T16:12:00.002-03:00

Haven’t posted anything in a while ‘cause I’ve been busy. Spring has finally arrived, so I’ve been busy riding. More than that, I’ve been busy thinking (never a good thing – I’ll admit). See, I’ve had a few tense moments while riding over the past few weeks, the memory of which I’ve tried to sweep under the carpet, but I haven’t had much success as they keep sneaking back out of my subconscious mind. Mundane little screw-ups, really. Like releasing the clutch too quick at a green light and lifting the front wheel for a few feet. Told myself that I was just a little rusty and after a few hundred miles I’d be fine.

Problem is, I’m not fine.

I hurt my back last year while doing some work at the cottage. Doesn’t yet make sense to me, as it wasn’t really backbreaking work to begin with. Just typical chores around the yard. Then I woke up one morning with a numbness in my left arm and hand. By the end of the day, the numbness had turned into partial paralysis. Not good. So I went to see my family physician, who sent me out for some x-rays, then I went for an MRI, and finally was referred to a neurologist. By then I was getting a little nervous about the whole mess, as I’ve rarely been sick in my life – honestly, this was only the second time in my thirty-six years that I’d seen an x-ray machine, and obviously the first time I’d been sent into the belly of an MRI (noisy bugger, it is).

Diagnosis: osteoarthritis... spondylosis to be precise. In laymen’s terms, arthritis of the neck. Osteophytes (bone spurs) grow off my neck vertebrae, which in turn compress the discs, which pinch the nerves, which finally causes all sorts of havoc in my extremities.

So I’ve been doing my exercises, seeing my physiotherapist, and generally being a good boy. Things have gotten better – but they still aren’t great, as evidenced by my sloppy clutch work lately.

I don’t like the feeling of riding without being in full control of the bike, so I’m considering selling it as the temptation to ride is liable to make me do stupid things against my better judgement (human nature: passion over logic). I haven’t talked to my wife about it yet, but I know she’s suspicious of something. I’ve been out riding quite a bit over the past few weeks, and I always find some excuse for her not to tag along. Truth is, I don’t want to risk riding with her on the bike.

Meanwhile, I keep thinking about my next move. I’ve thought about those new automatic crossover bikes like the Aprilia Mana, or maybe the Honda DN-01, but they’re both too pricey for my budget. Maybe I’ll try to find a used maxi-scooter like a Burger or SilverWing.

For now, I’m still looking at that fork in the road.

Scooter in the Future?

2009-03-03T15:40:00.005-04:00

So I've been trying to get my wife to move from the backseat to the frontseat, so to speak. She's always been a little curious about riding a motorcycle herself, but most bikes out there intimidate her as they're either a) too high, or b) too long. Seems there just aren't that many smaller bikes out there anymore, although the UJM does appear to be making a comeback.

So one thing we've talked about is getting a scooter. Regulations around here permit you to ride a scooter without a special endorsement to your regular (i.e. car) licence if its displacement is 50cc or less. Now I'll admit that I was hoping she'd go for something more like a Ducati Monster so I could have a little fun with the "wife's bike" every now and then. But I'm slowly warming to the idea of a scooter.

First of all, they're cheap. A decent Japanese scooter will run you about $2,500 new in my neck 'o the woods. If you're willing to take your chances with either a Korean or Chinese model, then you're looking at $1,500 or maybe even a bit less. They're also quite cheap to insure.

Secondly, I'm thinking a small twist-n-go scoot could be fun in urban traffic. Since we've moved from the country to the city, and I can walk to work in about the same time it takes me to gear-up, a scoot would be a great alternative for short trips around town.

Of course, maybe it was Doug and his fair Debbie over at 40on2 that convinced me it wasn't a bad idea. I mean, if the scooter can keep up at about 70 kph, maybe it could even work for leisurely rides out in the country?

So any suggestions as to which scooter would work best? I know she-who-must-be-obeyed seems to prefer the classic, Italian-looking ones (like the Yamaha Vino), but maybe I could convince her that a Ruckus would be better!

Who the f*ck is "Ed"?

2009-02-26T22:35:00.004-04:00

Not in a very good mood. To be honest, I'm quite pissed.

Seems there's an Asian guy out there named "Ed" who's developped a parser that can lift the characters off of Blogger's word verification generator for posting comments. Result? I've just spent the better part of an hour deleting eighty-plus comments linking to porn sites. How do I know it was a parser? Simple, all eighty-two comments were posted within 10 minutes.

So now I have to activate comment moderation. Sorry, it sucks, but I don't want to have to go through this crap again.

Anybody else run into this problem, or am I the only lucky bastard out here?

Doldrums

2009-02-25T13:11:00.003-04:00

Feeling kinda blue today, as winter is slowly gnawing away at my hard outer shell and multiple layers of clothing. Might be dealing with a mild case of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD – how’s that for an acronym?). Or maybe I’m just sick and tired of all the snow after last weekend’s 35cm whopper of a storm (that’s a little more than a foot for you Yanks and Brits). It’s gotten to the point where, short of trucking the stuff out of town, I just don’t know where to shovel it anymore. Snowbanks along my street are over my head, which makes pulling into traffic a little more exciting than it should be. At least Mr. Weatherman isn’t predicting any more of the white stuff for the near future.

Also worrisome to me is the state of certain other MC bloggers out in cyberspace. I was sad to read about all the problems that Gary over at Rush Hour Rambling has gone through over the past year, and the fact that the RHR blog is most definitely gone for good. Very sad, as it was a great blog, not to mention that Gary has done so much for motorcyclists (especially rounders).

Same goes for Gail at SheRidesABeemer. Currently unemployed due to the economic state and looking for work before the reserve runs out. Her latest blog entry details how truly difficult it is dealing with bureaucratic red-tape when you're just struggling to get by. Scary indeed, and as a public servant I can't help but feel somehow responsible for some of her troubles. Sure, I don't work for the same department - heck, I'm not even in the same country! But bureaucracy is the same the world over. Processes, procedures, policies and paper trails have taken precedence over common sense. I can't tell you how often I get frustrated by how powerless I am in my job. Sometimes I could actually fix a problem here, or deal with an issue there, all in a matter of a few minutes. But then the red tape monster rears its ugly head, and something that seemed so simple ends up taking a few days to get done... and even then it isn't done right.

Here’s to hoping that spring and sunnier times aren’t too far off. I think many of us could use it right now.

Motorcycle Movies - Part II

2009-02-17T10:48:00.002-04:00

A few years ago, I blogged about a few good motorcycle movies, and asked suggestions from my fellow cyberbikers. Must have to do with the long winters up here on the Canadian east coast, but I like to stock-up on motorcycle-related entertainment to get me through the long months of hibernation. There were the obvious choices like Easy Rider and On Any Sunday, and a few more obscure ones like Dust to Glory and Cycles South.

Well, my movie library has grown since then (thanks to Whitehorse), but there’s one movie I just wanted to single out from all the others since I found myself so interested by it. It’s called Riding Solo to the Top of the World, and it’s the work of Indian documentary videographer Gaurav Jani.

Now, I loved all the Boorman/MacGregor series and I appreciate what they’ve done for motorcycle adventure touring the world over. One of the sales reps at the local BMW dealership even told me that some people walk-in asking for the “Long Way Round” bike. But for all their bitching and whining, these two guys weren’t exactly roughing it as much as they’d want us to think. Something breaks down? The accompanying trucks will have the spare parts. Problems with the GS? Phone a tech at BMW on your satellite phone... Perks like that aren’t exactly available to mere mortals like me.

That’s where Jani shines. He goes from Jaipur to the top of the world, Changthang Plateau in Northern Tibet (altitude: 16,000 feet)... and he does it alone... on a 350cc Royal Enfield! Now, that’s courage. He documented the whole journey with a Panasonic DVX-100 camcorder that he only started using a few days before he left. 70 days later, he returned to Mumbai with over 40 hours of material which was eventually edited down to a 94 minute documentary.

It is, in my opinion, one of the best motorcycle documentaries available. Everything from the music to the scenery to the journey itself transports you. Oh, and it was completely self-financed. No big producers! In fact, the DVD release was funded by 60kph, a motorcycle touring club in India, and Jani’s brother.

I highly recommend it.

"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." - G. K. Chesterton

Moncton Bike Show

2009-02-16T10:37:00.004-04:00

I've been dealing with the winter blahs for the past few weeks, so to lift my frozen, soggy spirits, I thought I'd check out the Bike Show over the weekend. Firstly, I've got to congratulate the organizers for doing such a great job. Just about every major MC manufacturer and aftermarket distributor was there. Secondly, where did all these people come from!

It took me almost 20 minutes just to find a parking spot! Considering that this is only the second year that they've had this bike show, I'd have to say that it's been an amazing success. Also judging from the licence plates on the cars in the parking lot, plenty of bikers (and wannabes) from Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and even Québec braved the slush covered roads to attend. Great turnout.

There weren't that many "new" models to see this year. Sure, BMW had the K1300 series, but I'd consider these an update of the K1200's rather than a new model. Same goes for most of the other manufacturers. Some new comers were to be seen though, like Honda's DN-01. I was actually surprised by how small it is when compared to some of the marketing pictures. Also, the seat is way too low for me! Can't imagine spending any amount of time in the but-on-the-ground legs-up-front position... but if you're used to riding a cruiser, it just might be something you'd find familiar.

Yamaha had the new V-Max, albeit on a raised turntable with a chain around it so you couldn't get too close. Kinda stupid, really, as it was the only production bike at the show that you weren't allowed to throw a leg over. Anyhow, again it wasn't my cup 'o tea.

Suzuki had their new SFV650 "Gladius" standard bike. Nice from afar, but up close you notice that the red metallic paint is actually more of a fushia/purple. Might make sense, as one of the Suzuki reps told me it was targeted more towards female riders. Not a bad idea, as the low seat height (30.9 inches) would make it inviting for newbies and those of challenged inseam. I'm just not so sure about the MSRP of $9,199 CAD. I mean, for an extra $800 you can pick up the original naked bike (i.e. Ducati Monster 696), and trust me - there is no comparison in the fit and finish of these two bikes. The Monster is beautiful from every angle - near or far. The Gladius? Well, when you get up close it's easy to spot the cheap plastic panels, exhaust cover, etc...

New, Sexy European Import

2009-02-09T07:38:00.004-04:00

Although they don't sell in as high numbers as the Japanese, European bikes are gaining popularity here in the Great White North. BMW and Ducati are mostly responsible for this trend, as the local dealer has told me that he can't get enough R1200GS's to keep up with the demand, same goes for Ducati's 1098/848. Although still quite pricey when compared to their Nippon counterparts, the manufacturers across the Atlantic have dropped their prices quite a bit over the past few years.

Maybe that's why other European manufacturers have decided to test the icy waters. Sure, we've already got Moto Guzzi and Triumph - though again, in smaller numbers. Nope, here we've got a new-to-Canada Motorcycle Brand that has long been popular in Europe. Amongst the models they'll be offering, there's the only supercharged production bike on the market... Give up? Think Peugeot.

Doesn't ring a bell? Well, if you've never been to Europe that's completely understandable. The French carmaker hasn't had much luck on North-American soil. They're hoping to change that by exporting not cars, but scooters.

Oh yeah, the supercharger thing? Completely true. They're offering the Satelis BlackSat scooter, a 125cc scooter with a supercharger that pumps out something like 20hp. Not much compared to a Hayabusa, I'll admit, but more than enough for the urban commuter with occasional weekend jaunts. Typically, 125cc scoots are in the 10 - 12hp range.

I was surprised that Peugeot will be offering quite a few models; everything from the VS2 Retro - a 50cc moped, to the Satelis 500 Executive which is in the same class as the Burgman and Silverwing.

Over The Fence

2009-02-08T13:24:00.008-04:00

I remember when I was a teenager (hey - it wasn't that long ago), and I started being interested in the opposite sex. My grandmother, in her old world wisdom, would say that I was at the age when a young man starts "looking over the fence". In other words, looking for something more interesting than what I had in my own backyard.

I've always remembered the expression, and I find that it can often be applied to more than simply attraction to all things female. As a motorcycle touring enthusiast, one of the things that keeps me searching for that elusive perfect curve is the insatiable need to look over the fence. I'm always trying to discover new places, people, and experiences.

Last week, that need lead me to the Challenger Canada Annual Rendez-Vous at the Fairmont Chateau Montebello resort in (you guessed it) Montebello, Québec, Canada. For the uninitiated, the Challenger in this case is not a neo-retro muscle car by Chrysler, but an ultralight aircraft by Quad City Ultralights of Moline, Illinois.

I've been on assignment in Ottawa for the past three months now, and since I'm away from home and family, my weekends have been rather boring. I've always been interested in aviation, and more specifically ultralights, as they offer an entry into recreational aviation at a price cheaper than most family sedans. You can't say that about a Cessna. Since Montebello is just an hour's drive from Ottawa, I figured "why not"?

First thing of note: the Chateau Montebello is simply amazing. It's one of those old, grandiose railway hotels that you can find all along the tracks in Canada. What makes this place so interesting is the architecture. It is a huge red cedar log cabin! The lobby's main focal point is the central quarry stone fireplace. Beautiful! Built in 1930 as a private club, it's elite membership once included the likes of Lester B. Pearson, as well as Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco. Very swaggy! In more recent times, it hosted a G7 summit with Reagan, Trudeau, Thatcher and Mitterand. Man, what a wild time that must've been... Not. For motorcyclists like me suffering from a bad case of cabin fever, they rent snowmobiles - which is just what the doctor ordered.

Anyhow, the Canadian Challenger Club have been holding their yearly winter retreat there for a number of years. I was lucky enough to be there on Saturday morning when most of the members started flying-in. Now, before I go any further, maybe we should dismiss some myths about ultralight aircraft? These aren't simply lawnchairs bolted to a hanglider with a chainsaw engine and propeller. Forget that. These are fully-enclosed, dual-stick, heated airplanes with more head, leg and elbow room than a Cessna 180! Equipped with skis, they can land on just about any flat, snow covered field. And, as I witnessed, they don't need much room to land or take-off either.

So I attended a few sessions with the flyboys during the day. Great bunch of guys, very similar to hanging out with a bunch of motorcycle enthusiasts. Of course, while the two-wheeled variety will talk about sprocket combinations and tire choice, these guys talk about propellers and... uhm... tire choice! Seems Tundra Tires are a big deal to those who like to fly out in the back country (imagine ATV tires on a plane - you get the idea).

At the end of the day, I drove back to my appartment in my rental (Pontiac G5 - ugh) with a new appreciation for these little planes and what they have to offer. We motorcyclists are often quite proud of our adventurer image, out on the open road, wind in our hair, bugs in our teeth... Of course, most of it's marketing. So you think you can go anywhere there's a road, eh? Imagine if you weren't limited by roads... Now you know the attraction to flying. These guys really see over the fence.

The Times, They Are 'A Changing.

2009-02-07T17:00:00.003-04:00

Went on about Honda's new DN-01 a few months ago, and I noticed that they finally put up the price for it: $17,499CAD. They've also got it listed as a touring bike, yet it doesn't have any luggage. Destined for failure? Maybe so. But I still admire Honda for at least having the vision to try something different. But they've been different for some time now... Anybody remember the Rune? How about the Pacific Coast? Both were interesting concepts that were put into production, but never really achieved any significant level of sales.

Maybe I'm just an optimist (or a dreamer), but I can't help but think that this time Honda got it right. Other odd-looking bikes have come out over the past few years that have turned out to sell quite nicely. How about the Victory Vision, or the BMW R1200RT, or even my beloved Suzuki V-Strom. All these models were met with mixed reactions when introduced, yet they still appeal to a certain market, since they're selling.

So maybe the DN-01 will find a niche market too. For what it's worth, I think it would make an excellent touring bike. Just throw on some nice sidecases and you're ready to go. Why does a touring bike have to be overweight with tons of torque anyhow? Remember when people would tour two-up with tent, sleeping bags, and all the fixin's on a Honda CX500 (with the all-important Vetter shield)? Never heard them complain. People still travel the roads and by-ways on Sportsters without any issues. So why not a DN-01?

When Is A “G” An “F”?

2009-02-06T17:00:00.001-04:00

I remember getting confused when BMW came out with their new 800cc parallel twins two years ago. My problem was that I’d gotten a rather good handle on BMW’s naming convention: Inline-4’s and 3’s are part of the K series, Boxer twins are R’s, and thumper single cylinders are F’s. Or at least they were. Now the F series were parallel twins, and the G series would be singles. Got it? Good, ‘cause it gets worse.

After a successful launch of the F800S and F800ST, BMW did exactly what everybody was expecting them to: they applied the engine to their flagship GS line with the launch of the F800GS and the F650GS. But wait. They already had an F650GS based on the thumper engine… No, forget that. This new F650GS is actually a twin, and the displacement is – get this – 798cc’s. Makes sense, no? Seems marketing trumps common sense. Since the existing (i.e. single cylinder) F650GS was a rather good seller for BMW, they decided to keep the name, and apply it to a parallel twin 800cc bike. So what’s the difference between the F800GS and the new F650GS? About 14hp and $2000. Same engine, simply detuned in the lower end model.

So by now, I figured that was it for the old thumper GS. Off to the two-wheeled graveyard, so to speak. Of course not! BMW has re-released it, without any notable changes, except it’s now part of the G series. The name? Duh, the G650GS of course!

There are some advantages to this. From BMW’s perspective, it’s an inexpensive model to manufacture, as their tooling is all set up and ready to go. For buyers, it’s also good, since you can now get a G650GS with ABS, heated grips, trip computer and a few other goodies for about the same price as equivalent Japanese bikes (like the V-Strom 650 ABS or the Versys). Sure, with the thumper GS you’re getting old design and technology, but you’re also getting something proven with fewer teething problems. Another advantage is that there’s plenty of aftermarket goodies already available out there – so let the farkling begin!

Oh, and by the way, I still haven't be able to learn the intricacies of Harley Davidson's naming convention!

Someday, My Spring Will Come.

2009-02-05T15:56:00.001-04:00

OK, so I’m sick and tired of winter. It seems every time I think things are getting better, Mother Nature dumps another coat of snow on us. At this rate, I’ll have to get studded snow tires for the bike if I want to get it out of hibernation any day soon. Yeah, I know: it’s only February. Maybe it’s just a bad bout of cabin fever.

Whatever, if I can’t ride it, at least I can fiddle with it. Starting this weekend I’m gonna start doing some prep work and little mods to the Silver Strom that I always mean to do during riding season, but never have the time because… well, I’m riding!

First off is the wiring. I’ve added some farkles on the bike over the years, and the wiring – although functional and safe – isn’t very elegant: inline fuses, oddly routed wires, etc. In short, it’s a mess. So I’ve ordered a new AP-1 auxiliary fuse panel from Centech, and once I get it there’ll be a stripshow in the garage (not me, the bike). Some of the wiring that has to be rerouted includes the heated grips, GPS (power and audio), satellite radio (ditto), aux. lights, and intercom. Judging by the small size of the fuse panel, everything should fit quite nicely in one of the under-seat compartments with room to spare.

Second is the intercom. It’s buggy. Seems every once in awhile the sound from my mic either gets cut off, or is replaced with a lovely crackling full volume static. The wonderful part is – I never notice it! My lovely wife, riding pillion, gets all the noise. Needless to say, she wants it fixed. As far as I can tell, it looks to simply be a loose connector. No biggie, right? Well, not exactly. It took me almost a month to get the schematics for the intercom from the manufacturer in Germany. Took me another few weeks to get some replacement connectors. Ack.

Finally, there’s the satellite radio. Ordered a kit from TSS-Radio that will allow me to use the Sirius plug-and-play receiver from the car and put it on the bike. Lovely!

Once that’s done, there’s a few mods I’ve been thinking about to make things a little more comfy for the missus. But that’s another story.

Left and Right Can't Meet in the Middle.

2008-11-20T07:38:00.004-04:00

I've been following a thread over on the V-Strom Riders International forum for a few weeks now and its been an interesting one, to say the least. It has nothing to do with sprockets or clutch baskets, heck they hardly even acknowledge that they're motorcycle enthusiasts in it. Its about the P-word: Politics.

But rather than a heated debate on Barack vs. McCain or Palin's qualifications (or lack thereof), its simply about the idea of bringing up politics in a motorcycle oriented Internet forum. You see, V-Strom Riders International (VSRI for short) has members from around the globe, with the majority hailing from the U.S. of A. I checked the membership a few minutes ago, and they're up to 5470 members. Its important to note that these are active members, as the administrators flush out inactive accounts on a regular basis. That's pretty good for a brand and model-specific forum. Not to mention that the V-Strom isn't exactly winning popularity contests in North-America, although Europeans seem to have caught on. But I digress...

A longstanding rule in the forum has been no politics and no religion. When you register, you actually must agree with the following statement: "By registering you agree not to post any messages that use vulgar or profane language, are impolite or disrespectful toward any forum member, that express political or religious views, anything about past or present wars, or about serious law offenses."

So why put limits on subject matter? Simple. I've seen too many forums and newsgroups go from great to crap once people bring up any fundamental issue where you have to pick sides. Forum members that used to get along suddenly turn bitter. Soon it gets personal, with cheap shots galore. Then you notice that many of the members aren't logging-in as often, and the ones who are still there aren't really contributing anything useful.

Luckily, the administrator at the VSRI forum (He who must be obeyed) came down on all evil doers and closed the politics thread. Good thing, too. We've all got plenty of politics in our day to day lives, when I'm browsing through a MC forum or website, I'd much rather do without.

But, will it fly?

2008-11-10T16:00:00.000-04:00

So Honda has actually decided to bring the avant-guard DN-01 to the North-American masses, eh? Good for them, at least we can't accuse Honda of being unoriginal. I'm just curious to find out if a v-twin, full fairing, automatic transmission, über-scooter is actually going to find any buyers here. I hope so, but if we look at other concepts-turned-production models from the past, Honda hasn't always been very successful (remember the "Rune").

Of course, Suzuki's big-Burgman has been selling quite well for the past few years... So maybe an easy to ride, non-intimidating bike with a little power to spare is just what the market wants. But then again, at over $14K USD - it ain't exactly scooter cheap either.

Time will tell.

The Biker's Batsuit?

2008-10-27T17:30:00.001-03:00

I've been scouring the Internet of late, looking for some possible replacement options for my well worn riding suit. Seems there's lots of new stuff available - and some of its rather high-tech. Both Rukka and BMW have come out with new abrasion resistant materials that have a bit of stretch built-in which should make riding gear a little less stiff, and Aerostich is no longer the only one-piece touring option available.

Rukka, those innovative Fins, have the "SRO-Anatomic" suit which touts itself as "the latest know-how in the areas of safety and comfort. Breathable, waterproof, stretching, ergonomic, reflecting, thermal regulating, durable, machine washable"... not to mention damn expensive! Over $2,000 for the jacket alone. For that price, it should be self-cleaning, have built-in airbags, and maybe a few other nifty 007-type gadgets. The look of the suit is questionable - in my eyes, at least. Black Cordura with red stitching and Aramid blend in strategic areas truly does give it a "Batsuit" look. By the way, SRO stands for Smart Rider's Outfit, which should give the owner a nice feeling of superiority (at that price, there's got to be a few perks, right?).

BMW have long been known for trying to do things a little differently than others. Sometimes the results were good, like the Hossack inspired Duo-Lever front end; and other times not so great, like the vague feeling servo-brakes. Their newest suits seem, at least on paper, to be good. The ComfortShell jacket and pants include the newly developped "c_change" membrane, which was developed through a partnership between BMW Motorrad and Swiss textile specialist Schoeller. According to the brochure, "the pore size of [the c_change membrane] adapts to the ambient temperature to thus control the breathing capability of the clothing as necessary." Translation: when its hot outside, you're cool; when its cool outside, you're hot. I've seen these suits up close at the local Beemer dealer and I've got to admit, they sure look nice. How nice? You could almost walk into a restaurant with the jacket on without tipping off the other patrons that you just rode in on a motorcycle. Again, it isn't cheap at about $700 for the jacket and $500 for the pants, but if this suit actually lives up to the hype it might be worth it.

Much has been written in MC forums all over the net about Olypia Motosports' Phantom one-piece riding suit. Many have pondered if this would finally be a worthy competitor (or replacement) to the much beloved Aerostich Roadcrafter. At about half the price, many were probably hoping it would be as-good-as the 'Stich. So what's the verdict? Depends on who you ask. Many Phantom owners love their suits, and are proud to point out that their crotch is still dry after riding in the rain - a longstanding problem with the Roadcrafter. However, for people who commute on their bikes, the Phantom still can't match the Roadcrafter's speed for putting it on or tearing it off. Guess its a bit of a toss-up, but if you're looking for a one-piece and don't have money to burn, the Phantom is definitely worth checking out.

Rev'it has also come out with a one-piece suit, which looks oddly similar in design to some of BMW's riding suits (albeit, two-piece). This suit looks like an evolution of the Roadcrafter. Although the 'Stich may have a certain utilitarian appeal, it's looks aren't really up to par with other offerings out there. That's where Rev'it's Infinity suit really shines. Without going over the top like the SRO Anatomic, the Infinity is still utilitarian in nature with plenty of pockets and velcro galore, but it also looks good with a two-tone colour scheme in neutral grey and off-white. It's also got that long zipper for easy in-and-out even when wearing boots, so it might actually be a contender to the 'Stich in that regard. One issue though, it ain't cheap! At about $1,100, it'll cost you $300 more for the extra bells and whistles of the Infinity compared to a Roadcrafter.

Anyhow, today's a beautiful day but they're saying we could be getting snow before then end of the week. I need to get out and ride. There'll be plenty of time to consider which suit to buy during the long winter months.

Identity.

2008-10-20T10:38:00.006-03:00

I've read a few interesting blog entries lately about how the press and mainstream media seem to always paint motorcyclists in a negative light. Doug, over at 40on2, made a list of what appears to be mandatory terms to be used when writing a story about motorcyclists; while Belt Drive Betty commented on the negative connotation that seems to be associated with terms like "biker".

Of course, I agree wholeheartedly with everything they said. It is factual and I don't think anybody can deny that, in most cases, when motorcyclists are portrayed in fiction or mentioned on the evening news its rarely a good thing. But that's human nature. After all, as any newscaster will tell you: "If it bleeds, it leads". Nobody in their right mind would think of leading the evening news with a story about a motorcycle club that raised $50K for a children's hospital... but if one guy from that same club crashed his bike in the back of an SUV on the way home from the event, you can bet that'll be the first thing to be aired.

Although I'm certain that the majority of motorcyclists cringe when they read yet another story about how motorcycles are dangerous and all bikers are bad, there's also that side of us who wouldn't want it any other way. Most of my riding buddies didn't get into motorcycling because of the price of gas or the lack of parking spaces downtown. They liked the image and the instant membership into this mystical brotherhood.

The outlaw biker image has been cultivated not only by the mainstream press and a slew of B-movies in the sixties and seventies, its also being touted by the very people who are making the motorcycles. Think about it: when was the last time you saw someone smiling in a Harley magazine ad? How about Kawasaki's catchphrase from the mid-eighties: "If you don't look bad, we don't look good." Cruisers are meant to look mean, not friendly!

Not since the early sixties, with the "You Meet The Nicest People On A Honda" ad campaign, has there been such a positive spin put on motorcycles. But no manufacturer in their right mind would try that kind of advertising for a cruiser! Seriously, if the folks in the ad below were riding a VTX1800 instead of a Cub 50, would you buy it?

Truth is, many are looking for an escape from their boring everyday lives. Motorcycles, and the image associated with them, provide a release. For that half-hour when you're riding around town on your chrome steed, you're no longer Jerry the Accountant... you're badass. Reginald A. Bruce wrote an excellent Case Study of Harley Davidson's Business Practices. Amongst the American manufacturer's obvious strengths is Marketing. Bruce says that "It is difficult to define an average Harley-Davidson buyer. The demographics range from a blue-collar worker to a high-power executive located all over the world. The common thread is a desire to escape the routine and become anyone you like. [...] With Harley, you can live out your fantasies, as well as experience camaraderie with fellow bikers." Obviously, its worked quite well for HD - so why should they change?

Deep down, we all know its little more than role playing. We're all still regular Joes and Janes both on-and-off the bikes, with our jobs and mortgages and bills to pay. But that's all a bit too boring, isn't it?

Plains, trains, automobiles... and boats!

2008-10-15T09:08:00.003-03:00

Aye, it's been awhile but now I'm slowly getting back to normal® - whatever that may be. In the past month my body has been transported by plane, bus, automobile, cable car, tram, train and boat. Oh yeah, and by motorcycle too!

After two weeks on a wonderful Alaskan cruise where I was a willing participant in the excesses of dining and libations, I'm trying to get used to living at home again with no five-course meals, martinis, and crew members to take care of your every whim. If there is any truth to the old saying that the bigger they are, the harder they fall, then I must be falling pretty hard given the extra weight I've taken on. Oh well, it was all worth it.

Contrary to what I had expected, going back to work after five weeks vacation wasn't the chore that I thought it would be. I didn't exactly miss the job, mind you... but I didn't really mind being back. I'll tell you what I really didn't miss - the election campaign! How great is it to be away during the major part of the campaining (i.e. bullshitting) and only get back in time to vote? Priceless! Of course, the majority of passengers on the cruise were American, so I did have to listen to alot of Palin vs. Obama rhetoric. Maybe because it was an Alaskan cruise, but I didn't hear John McCain's name mentioned once... it was just Palin, Palin, Palin. Not sure how good that reflects on a presidential nominee when his running mate gets all the attention.

Came home to nice autumn weather - which was good, although bittersweet. I love riding in autumn: the colours, less traffic, good weather. What I don't like is that those falling leaves signal something much more ominous: winter. But for now I'd rather not think about it, I just want to ride.

Feeling Mouldy

2008-08-06T11:08:00.003-03:00

August has been looking a whole lot more like October over the past week. Constant dark clouds and drizzle coupled with lower than normal temps has got me feeling the autumn blues a bit early this year. According to Mr. Weatherman, we can expect pretty much more of the same for the next week or so.

Maybe the BMW C1 wasn't such a bad idea after all. It keeps most of the rain off of you... Nah, forget that! I'm simply losing it. Guess I'll just slip into my Frogg Toggs and find a new road to explore.

That extra wheel sure ain't cheap!

2008-08-04T09:01:00.002-03:00

Harley Davidson has introduced the Tri-Glide Ultra Classic trike. Smart move. Considering their aging demographic and how many current Harley owners are turning to Lehman for trike conversions, being able to buy one directly from the manufacturer makes sense. You get a full warranty, and service can be handled by any Harley dealer.

...then I saw the price: $30K! Oh, and that doesn't include certain options that - to me - sound more like a necessity, like a reverse gear which will cost you an extra $1,195.

Still, for those out there who can no longer handle two wheels, its an interesting option. And of course, with 185 liters of luggage capacity it can pack more gear than most full dressers.

Essential (Motorcycle) Travel Skills

2008-08-02T07:00:00.001-03:00

Travel writer Chris Elliott has penned an excellent article on how to effectively cope with the summer travel blues. Although most of the tips are written from an airplane or automobile traveller's perspective, I've found that they're all just as handy when travelling on two wheels.

Here are the 7 skills Elliott suggests to make your summer travels more enjoyable:

Take care of yourself

Lower your expectations

Think of travel as an adventure

Pack your sense of humor

Role playing, anyone (read the article, you'll understand)

Condition yourself to think positively

Look inward for a solution

Most of these skills could also be summarized as "Plan ahead, take it easy, have fun".

Is this normal?

2008-08-01T15:11:00.003-03:00

Maybe I need to see a psychologist? I've been spending way too much time on CycleTrader lately searching for that elusive "next bike". Many have caught my eye, like that pristine Ducati ST4 with no mileage going for $8,000... or maybe that ZZR1200 complete with luggage cases for a tad over $6000. Then again, there was a nice first-generation K1200GT with the flying brick engine for next to nothing including the thousands in aftermarket farkles.

Problem is, every time I find a bike that stirrs me, I start seeing all the things that I'll probably have to tweak for the bike to fit me and the missus. Then I look at the V-Strom sitting in the garage and remember all the hours spent adding this, or changing that, or modifying this, etc... That's usually the point where I stop thinking of getting another bike.

Is the V-Strom perfect? Of course not, far from it. Problem is, I don't think there is such a thing as a perfect bike, so anything I end up buying, I know I'll have to put some work into it before I'm happy with it... and I just don't want to go through all that again. At least, not yet.

But then again, that ST4 sure looks nice.

Anticipation

2008-08-01T14:48:00.004-03:00

It started almost a year ago. My wife comes into the veranda with an open laptop in her hands - typical sign that she wants me to see something. "I want to show you something", she says as she's turning the laptop's screen towards me. Celebrity Cruises' 14 Night Ultimate Alaska Cruise on board the Infinity. I look at the screen and pause a few seconds, considering my reply to what I'm guessing is meant to be a proposal.

"Uhm... How much?", I ask as visions of smouldering credit cards dance in my head. "I can get a really good deal on a balcony room, less than what we paid for that last cruise in the Carribbean". OK, I'll admit that at this point she's got me curious, as the Southern cruise hadn't cost us that much. She spills the beans, and I agreed. Being an amateur photographer, Alaska is a choice destination - so how could I refuse?

Like I first said, that was almost a year ago, and now it's almost here... Finally!

We'll be leaving in mid-September for two weeks aboard a big boat and, according to what we've read, we'll be in the much younger minority as Alaska doesn't seem to be at the top of the list for younger couples looking to party. That's fine, maybe the line-ups for drinks won't be as long.

15 Seconds of Fame

2008-07-31T14:00:00.003-03:00

Couldn't believe it. I was scrolling through new blog entries in Google Reader when I noticed that Doug (of 40on2 fame) had posted another entry in his "As the Wheels Turn" series of photo-soap-operas. Imagine my surprise to find out that Doug deemed me worthy of mention in his eminent blog due to a comment I had made a few days earlier.

Wow! So this is what it feels like to be famous... Damn. I was expecting a little bit more. I'll check my emails... Nope, still no invitation to mingle with the beautiful people out there.

Oh well, that came and went pretty quick.

“Fame and riches are fleeting. Stupidity is eternal” - Don Williams, Jr.

The Honda Cop-Out

2008-07-29T13:18:00.005-03:00

OK, so Suzuki isn't the only Japanese manufacturer trying to justify it's exhorbitant pricing with weak arguments. I just noticed today that Honda Canada has a similar missive on their website.

It seems the reason why Canadians are being asked to pay a higher price for Honda bikes when compared to our neighbours to the South is because motorcycles purchased in Canada have "Canadian-specific features and dedicated service to provide peace of mind throughout the entire ownership experience". Blah, blah, blah... Cheesh, do these marketing types just plagiarize each other, or what?

They do go on with a list of reasons why Canadians shouldn't cross the border to buy a bike. My favourite is that northern bikes have "Canadian-specific climate-related parts, which may include such items as heated breather hoses to reduce winter ice-up." Well I'm sure glad to hear that! Wonder if you can get that as an after-market part, as I'd really love to have heated breather hoses on my V-Strom for when I just gotta take the bike out in sub-zero temps.

About the only reasons why I'd buy from my local dealer would be: a) to support my dealer and local economy, and b) to get a bike that isn't available South of the border (yes, my American friends, we've got the Varadero).

Can't help but wonder if it wouldn't simply be easier to lower the pricing on their bikes to make it a more level playing field and give their dealers a chance to stay afloat.

Something Up at BMW Toronto?

2008-07-25T09:49:00.003-03:00

Although I've never shopped there, I like the fact that BMW Toronto seems to do alot for its customers and Beemer riders in general. From tech days to track days, group rides and social get-togethers - they always seem to have something going on. I know this because I get the newsletter every other week or so.

The latest edition, however, was a bit cryptic:

"Dear Valued BMW Toronto Client,

We regret to inform you that the seminar scheduled for this evening has been postponed until further notice.

BMW Toronto has undergone an ownership change in the past two weeks. As a result, there are several organizational and process changes that are currently underway.

We will continue to strive for improvement in the level of service that you have grown accustomed to at BMW Toronto. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding as we adjust to make ourselves a better organization to meet the needs of your Motorrad experience.

We sincerely apologize for an inconvenience that this may cause. Please feel free to contact us for any questions that may arise.

Thank you for your continued patronage.

Sincerely,
Tim Sarch & the BMW Toronto Motorrad Team"

Hmmm. Could BMW Toronto be adopting the same attitude as other single-brand mega-dealers? 90% of all effort goes to selling cars, with 10% for whatever else they've got (motorcycles, atv, snowmobiles, etc...).

I've also noticed that Honda has opened a PowerHouse™ dealer in Bathurst, NB where you can shop for a Civic while also perusing the collection of CBR's. I don't mind the concept of an all-in-one dealership, as long as the level of service offered to motorcyclists remains up to par with what I can get at smaller shops.

The Suzuki Cop-Out

2008-07-24T14:44:00.002-03:00

So Suzuki Canada has posted an explanation as to why model pricing is so much higher in Canada when compared to the same models down in the States. It seems that since certain models sold up in the Great White North "are built and equipped with Canadian consumers in mind", we should just cough-up the extra dough and buy it. I don't think so.

They also list particularities with Canadian models when compared to their American counterparts. As an example, it would seem that we Northerners prefer it naked - which is odd considering the climate - as the SV650 and GS500 are available sans tupperware North of the border, while our neighbours to the South can only get the all-dressed version. What they don't mention is that the naked SV650 actually costs $1,100 more than it's fully-faired American cousin. Same goes for the GS500, which in the nude will cost you $6,499 while the American Gixxer-wannabe GS500F retails for $5,199.

As for the models that are identical, we're still paying a high premium in Canada. A V-Strom 650 with ABS will cost you about 25% more if you purchase it here. That's an extra 1,800 loonies which could just as easily have been spent on accessories.

Now if this were the case across all manufacturers, I'd probably not bitch about it so much. But the truth is, other makes out there have considerably lowered their pricing while the Big-3 Japanese brands seem to be holding strong. So as unlikely as it may seem, it's now cheaper in Canada to buy a BMW R1200RT than a Honda ST1300. It's also cheaper to get a Triumph ST rather than a VFR (and the ST has standard luggage).

Whatever happened to Japanese bikes being the affordable alternative?

Modern Motorcycle Design - Love it or Hate it.

2008-07-23T11:15:00.002-03:00

It seems most motorcyclists fall into two different camps: the evolutionaries and the traditionalists. They rarely agree on aesthetics.

Case in point: the Victory Vision. When Victory came out with the initial prototype and started doing the marketing rounds, even moto-journalists were polarized. Some called it a brave new design, while others thought it looked like a UFO. Personally, I liked it.

I can understand why boomers and early genexers like Harleys and classic Triumphs. Its melancholy - finally getting the bike you lusted at years ago. The look hasn't changed that much, and with a bit of faded memory a brand new Sportster looks just like the one you remember your uncle riding when you were a kid.

The same neo-styling is gaining popularity with the four-wheeled crowd too. Just check out Chevrolet's new Camaro or the Dodge Challenger. Straight outta the seventies, eh? Funny thing is, they both look remarkably similar. Then again, so do most cruisers out there.

I've always preferred thouroughly modern looking machines. Bikes that you simply couldn't mistake for your uncle's old Sportster. Of course, the fact that I ride a V-Strom should make the previous statement evident.

I talked about that, so that I could talk about this. Honda's new DN-01. Now for most traditionalists, one look at Honda's new Sports Cruiser will most likely trigger an involuntary gag reflex. I simply love it. This ain't your daddy's bike. It is modern in how it looks, how it works and probably how it rides. Forget the VTX, think of Akira's bike in the classic film by Katsuhiro Otomo. Want to be an individualist? Forget the chrome and leather fringe and get one of these. I guarantee that it'll turn more heads at the doughnut shop than the latest cookie cutter chopper.

For now, the DN-01 is only available in Japan. But I hope that some day Honda Canada might bring it over. After all, they did import the CBF1000, Varadero and CBR125.

Paperless Society?

2008-07-23T10:34:00.005-03:00

I’ve been bombarded lately by Eco-group propaganda that I should be doing my part to Save the Planet™. Which, when you come to think of it, is a farce that probably works well on weak-minded lemmings who easily buy into that sort of advertising. Truth is, the planet’s fine. It was around long before we started screwing things up, and I’m willing to bet it’ll still be here long after we’ve blasted ourselves into oblivion. The little pests living on its surface, however, aren't doing so great.

Anyhow, I do subscribe to the Reduce, Recycle and Reuse philosophy for much more egotistical reasons: I’m still fairly young and I’d like to save some stuff for me to enjoy into my later years. But I digress…

Got an "URGENT MESSAGE" in the mail last week letting me know that my subscription to Motorcyclist Magazine was up and that I should be renewing “immediately” to either prevent World War III or find a cure for cancer… don’t remember exactly which. Well, being the good Samaritan that I am, I went to their website and proceeded to renew my subscription. That’s where I found it.

Electronic magazine subscriptions. Basically, you sign up and rather than receive a torn-up and battered copy in the mail (Thank you, Canada Post), you simply download it onto your computer and thumb through a virtual copy of the complete magazine – ads and all.

At first I wasn’t really impressed by the service that much, I mean, it would be awkward balancing the laptop on my, uhm, lap while sitting on the throne. Then I started reading more about this new distribution medium. Seems they’re going to be coming out with an application that also lets you read your favourite mags on your iPod Touch or iPhone. Now there’s an idea that holds some promise.

I travel a lot for work, and the thought of loading up a stack of motorcycle mags on my iPod is attractive. No more reading through those cheesy airline mags (although Air Canada’s EnRoute is quite good). Not to mention that my iPod is already loaded up with my favourite tunes and a few good movies – so to be able to add my magazines simply completes the concept of portable entertainment.

Oh, and when a new issue comes out you get an email notifying you. Then you simply download it to your home computer, or if you’re on the road with your iPod just find a public Wi-Fi hotspot (like any Starbucks) and download the issue directly to your iPod. Cool.

So how is this good for the environment? Well, no paper for starters. Also, no delivery which means less gas (I’m talking about the postman, he’s got the winds something bad).

And one last advantage: it’s cheap! For the price of a regular Motorcyclist subscription I was able to subscribe to Motorcyclist, Dirt Rider, and Sail.

Biker Philosophy

2008-07-17T11:17:00.004-03:00

Great quote from FLHX Dave when commenting on Doug's post about the HD - MV marriage:

"I just can't buy into the HD lifestyle crap. Your lifestyle should be your lifestyle."

Thanks Dave. Truer words have rarely been spoken. If somebody relies on a bike - be it a Harley, Beemer, Goldwing or whatever - to define their lifestyle, then they probably didn't have much of a lifestyle to begin with.

Find what fits, ride it, and be happy!

Like a Phoenix

2008-07-17T11:11:00.002-03:00

Reading through my usual list of favourite motorcycle blogs, I came across Doug's take on the recent aquisition of fabled Italian brand MV Agusta by All-American® Harley Davidson group. Blogs and online forums have been busy prophesizing what will happen to MV Agusta now that Willie G. and the boys have taken over. Italian purists fear the worst, of course, however I can't help but think the opposite.

I've got to agree with Doug on this one, HD's experience at resurrecting an historic marque is no laughing matter. What a group of investors have done with that company after AMF had practically dug it's grave is truly remarquable. Maybe they'll be able to work their marketing magic with MV Agusta too. I strongly doubt there'll be much parts swapping between the two brands... Just picture it: Screamin' Eagle pipes and an Evolution Twin on a Brutale. Ugh!

Speaking of resurecting a storied brand, there's alot of buzz surrounding the upcoming launch of the "new" 2009 Indian Chief. Initial pictures are promising. Flared fenders, round cylinders... yup - it's a Chief all right. I really like the upside-down teardrop headlight - nice touch. I just hope they iron out all the bugs before it makes it to the showroom floor this time.

Broken Backs and Sad Goodbyes.

2008-07-10T07:41:00.004-03:00

The past few weeks have been tough, but there's finally some light filtering through the clouds. About a month ago I woke up with a sore back - not really a big deal. But as the day progressed things got a little weird. It started with a tingling in my left hand which eventually turned into complete numbness, then partial paralysis. As I said: Weird.

Anyhow, I went to see my family doctor, he checked a few things then pronounced the verdict: a herniated disk. WTF! I'm 35 for crissakes, only "old guys" get herniated disks, right? Wrong. So the doc sent me over to get an MRI to make sure, and sure enough he was right. So it was bedrest, anti-inflammatory meds and physiotherapy for me. Great. And of course, no motorcycling. Shit.

So I've been a good boy, following my regiment, doing physio 2 or 3 times per week. Truth be told, my physiotherapist is the best. Our first session consisted of a half-hour chat as she tried to get a good idea of where the ouch was. Then she got to work! We used electrodes to stimulate and relax tense back muscles, then ultrasonic therapy, deep body massages, traction, and on and on. But it works! Still have to keep doing physio, but I've recovered most mobility in my left hand. Only the index finger is still numb and dumb... but we're working on it.

Finally last Saturday I was able to go out for a ride. Still had to be careful though, as I only had three fingers for clutching duties rather than the full-fisted approach I usually use - but it wasn't too bad. The clutch action on a V-Strom is fairly light, so it made things easier. Wandered around town for a bit, but quickly decided to stop for a visit at a local MC shop to look for a mesh jacket as the temps outside were hitting the low thirties and the long black touring jacket was making quick work of cooking me to a crisp (30 degrees Celsius, of course, for the non-metrics out there, that would be in the mid-eighties). Found exactly what I wanted in a Teknic Supervent Jacket (grey) which some guy had purchased, worn once, then returned. Got it for $75, which ain't bad at all considering it retails for about $280.

With that taken care of, I headed back out on the road and decided to ride the Fundy Trail down to Alma. Conditions were perfect and although I did get a little discomfort in my upper vertabrae (C5 to C7 for you geeks out there), my mind hadn't been this much at ease for quite some time. So although my doctor and physiotherapist wouldn't have approved, I'm sure any reputable psychologist out there would've given me a thumbs-up. Unfortunately, the feeling was going to be shortlived.

On Sunday morning, I was enjoying my coffee when the phone rang. It was my mother. Granddad had passed away earlier that day. He'd been sick for some time now, spending the past 7 months in a hospital room, but the moment you hear the news it still hits pretty hard. I'd driven up to Bathurst three weeks earlier to visit him, and although he was weak, he still sat up strait and proud in his chair. And he still had a firm handshake.

Grandad and Grandma would've celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary later this summer, and although this may sound corny, they were still very much in love. I always admired how perfectly they matched each other, they had a kinship that could be felt by all who met them. He was ninety and he will be dearly missed by his eight kids, 20 grandkids, and 14 great-grandkids. We laid him to rest yesterday afternoon, a beautiful summer's day.

This morning I'm feeling a little introspective, and melancholy weighs heavy on my mind. We had thunderstorms for most of the night, but as is always the case after a storm, the sun is now filtering through the clouds. It's a new day.

Panic! at the Handlebars...

2008-05-15T12:30:00.002-03:00

So media outlets across the US and Canada are abuzz with Gannett News Service's new series of reports on the inherent dangers of motorcycling. At the same time, many motorcyclists' organizations have come out swinging in a bid to discredit the claims being made in the reports. Truth be told, most of the claims are simple common sense that would be hard to contradict.

I'm just wondering if this is a small sign of things to come.

It was municipal election time this week in my neck of the woods, and one of the subjects being raised for debate with the local wannabe politicians was excessive noise. Now usually, the finger always points towards motorcyclists since we're often a victim of our own persona... You may be a middle-aged orthodontist with a nice house in the suburbs who coaches minor league hockey, but once you put on your leathers and beanie helmet, you're just an outlaw biker like all the rest of them! Cruisers with straight-pipes or crotch-rockets with racing exhausts are often grouped together, as the general public can hardly differenciate between a Ninja and a Sportster.

I was somewhat relieved to notice that in this case it wasn't directed at any specific group of noisemakers, as one member of the electorate who wrote to the local newspaper stated: "Whether be it from motorcycles, sportscars or powerful sound systems makes no difference: noise is noise, and when excessive it disturbs the public peace. Someone has to stand up for the majority."

A few politicians have taken a stance for new bylaws that would limit motorcycle use, but most seem to be against it by simply stating that if existing noise laws were enforced, then no new bylaws are necessary. Time will tell.

Harley Owner with a Sense of Humour

2008-05-13T13:00:00.000-03:00

Was riding around town last week when saw something that had me laughing so hard I had to pull over. In front of me at a red light was a beautiful, fully decked out Ultra Classic Electra Glide. The owner was obviously very fond of it, as his personal licence plate was FLHTCU (for non-HD enthusiasts out there, it's the model code for the Ultra Classic Electra Glide. And no, I'm not that smart, I had to look it up). That's not what got me laughing though.

On the topcase, right underneath the shiny chrome Harley Davidson lettering, was a simple, black on white bumper sticker that read: "My other ride is a trailer."

Since most motorcyclists will often answer the question "What's the best bike out there?" with "The one I'm riding right now", it's refreshing to find people who can laugh at themselves (and their bike) and not take things so seriously. So now, I'm thinking of having my own bumper sticker made up. Since I ride a Suzuki V-Strom, whose looks are obviously questionable, I was thinking of something like: "Hey, with looks like this nobody's gonna steal it!"

Any suggestions?

Clueless Wannabe Banter

2008-05-12T13:22:00.000-03:00

They'll creep up on you just about anytime, and anywhere. You may be at work, or fueling-up, or maybe even in line at the cashier at the grocery store. The simplest thing will trigger them, like the helmet you're carrying or your riding jacket. All motorcyclists fear them like the plague. By now, you should know what I'm talking about: clueless wannabe bikers.

We've all been there. I remember one time last year when I went for an early morning ride and decided to stop for coffee and a doughnut along the way (hey, I'm Canadian - coffee and doughnuts are major food groups, right?). I walk into the Tim Horton's and already as I'm ordering I can tell that they're watching me, just waiting for the right moment to strike (for you Yanks and Euros, Tim Horton is a demi-god here in Canada, who ensures we get our daily fix of caffeine and Boston cream). The first one I have to fend off is a baby-boomer with a beer gut and a goatee. Looks to me like a recently retired career desk jockey who probably spends all his mornings chugging coffee here 'cause he's got nothing better to do. He fires off his first shot: "You ride?" Well, there's the pitch, and it's a weak one considering I'm decked-out in full riding gear and carrying my helmet in my left hand. My first reflex was to ask him if he'd spent too much time sniffing glue during his career, but that would have simply encouraged him. Instead, I kept it short and simple: "Yep".

I was hoping that my succint, but polite answer would've been indication enough for him that I wasn't here to make conversation... It didn't work. Soon he was telling me how he used to ride but then sold his Sears Allstate motorcycle when he got married, and then with kids it just didn't make sense to ride anymore until they'd moved out but now that he's retired he's been thinking about getting back into riding except he's got a bad back and he's also scheduled for hip replacement surgery so he's not sure if he could handle a bike for at least a few months after the operation but besides that he's had to renovate the house this year because his wife had been asking for new kitchen cabinets so he doesn't have the money to get a new bike just yet but he's hoping that next year he might be able to get one except he's not sure if he's going to buy new or used and he figures he'll get a Harley Davidson because they're supposed to be the best, right?

Damnit. Another Saturday morning gone to shit.

Honestly, I always try to be an ambassador for motorcyclists. Small things, like smiling to kids staring at you from the backseat of the SUV at a traffic stop, or politely educating non-motorcyclists about motorcycling in general (ex. No, we're not all in gangs and we don't all wear chaps and leather with fringe). I figure I should do my share to promote the positive side of motorcycling to non-motorcyclists, as we aren't exactly climbing in the public opinion polls thanks to bad attitudes and loud pipes. But I digress...

There are some days, however, when I just don't want to listen to some old fart go on about how his poor ole pappy used to ride an Indian-4 - or even worse - some pencil pushing yuppie driving a Lexus with an OCC sticker on the bumper telling me how much better a chopper is compared to my bike when the arrogant prick has never even lifted a bike off the sidestand.

Nevertheless, I finish listening to beergut-goatee guy, then I smile, nod and tell him to get a Sportster 883L as he obviously lusts for a Harley, and the low seat height and featherweight of the XL will probably make it easier on his back and hip. He thanks me and wishes me well, while I take my double-cream and doughnut and make a beeline outside for the deserted picnic tables. That's where I had my encounter with the second one. This time, it was an elderly gentleman - probably in his mid to late seventies. He was inside the doughnut stop when I walked in, and I had noticed him checking out my bike. As he walked out and past me on the way to his car, he just had to stop and make a brief comment. "That a Jap bike you're riding?"

Shit.

Lesson learned: When the first thing a cager wants to know is if you're riding a Nippon motorcycle, it's never going to be pleasant. They somehow believe that they have the right... no, make that the responsability to tell you what you should and shouldn't ride.

"Yes sir, its a Suzuki." Even as I was muttering my response, I already knew the gist of what his reply was going to be. "I rode a Norton for a while, then I had me an Indian for almost twenty years. Never, ever, would you have seen me riding a damn Japanese bike." And with that he turned around, got into his Toyota Camry, and drove off. Guess that argument was settled!

So I'm now in need of advice, dear fellow cyber-bikers. Does anybody out there have any brush-offs that have been proven effective with cagers who just have to talk about bikes whenever they see somebody pull-up next to them on two wheels? I'm open (and appreciative) to all suggestions.

Still 'Ridin.

2008-05-06T08:23:00.003-03:00

Brief blurb in this morning's Times & Transcript that put a smile on my face. Local resident Elmer Hansen on his shiny new Piaggio MP3 scooter. He says he plans on riding the scoot on a roadtrip to Ontario later this summer with his wife.

Oh, and did I mention that Mr. Hansen is 86 years young (and still going strong, obviously).

I remember when I first heard of Piaggio's 3-wheeled scoot a few years ago. At first I thought it would be little more than a novelty; something that trendy Italians could ride without having to put their feet down at intersections. Turns out that Piaggio may have found a niche market that nobody expected. The latest generation is available with a 500cc thumper putting out enough power for easy highway riding, and the fact that you can still lean in the corners without having to worry of a tip-over. The MP3 just might be the answer for aging motorcyclists who don't want a traditional trike-converted full-bagger.

Tip 'o the visor to ya, Elmer. Biker for life.

"Elmer Hansen, 86, of Moncton picked up the 25th motorcycle that he has ever owned last night at Atlantic Motor Plex in Dieppe. Elmer and his wife are planning a four-day trip to Ontario later this year. He bought the Piaggio MP3 Scooter, which has three wheels and is designed not to tip over."

Telling It Like It Is.

2008-04-24T11:44:00.004-03:00

Just finished reading a most excellent editorial by Thomas Day, Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly's Geezer with a Grudge. Day's topic in this issue was freedom of choice for motorcyclists as it's being touted by the various motorcyclists' rights groups out there. I agree 100% with his conclusion: in the end, the general public (i.e. non-motorcyclists) are the ones who will decide our fate, and their decision will be based largely on perception.

So keep it up with the loud pipes and bad attitudes, and it won't be the EPA or helmet laws you'll have to worry about, but an outright ban on motorcycles. Sound too far fetched? Many cities and towns across Canada and the USA have already passed by-laws that prohibit motorcycles from certain neighbourhoods or from dusk 'til dawn. It's already started and with each new by-law its gaining momentum.

At least some organizations are speaking out against the problems that we may have to face one day due to public opinion. The AMA and MRF have a "Loud Pipes Risk Rights" campaign, and even motorcycle rallies like Americade have taken position against loud pipes. But will it be too little, too late?

Oh, What A Feeling!

2008-04-23T15:20:00.004-03:00

"What is it about motorcycling, anyway?"

So was the question that my mother-in-law asked me last weekend as she was staying with us for a brief visit. The question didn't really catch me by surprise, as she's never been too fond of my interest in motorcycles. She's also not too keen to the fact that my passion has somehow rubbed-off on her daughter! What did catch me off guard was how direct she was with the question. It wasn't confrontational in any way, but seemed like genuine curiosity on her behalf.

I can't help but wonder how many motorists (i.e. cagers) are left bewildered when listening to motorcyclists wax eloquently on the inherent advantages of desmodromic valve actuation. Then again, many motorcyclists would be confused by that subject. But to us, the chosen few, the attraction to motorcycling seems so simple yet difficult to communicate. Kinda like sex... wait, forget that. Almost everybody has some idea about sex, while two-wheeled travel remains an enigma to most.

So put yourself in their shoes for a minute, the majority. Why would you chose a method of transportation that seems downright primitive over a nice, comfy, quiet, air-conditioned bubble? I can only speak for myself, but when I'm riding on two wheels I feel alive. I can connect with the heat and the cold, the sounds around me, the smells wafting into my helmet. The feedback from the bike is physical. I shift my weight and it responds. It doesn't get much more real than that. The act of driving in a car is in itself an isolation. Car manufacturers boast how quiet and peaceful their vehicles are; its what most people want. Not me.

I've had some biker friends mock me for adding large sidecases and a topcase to my bike ("looks like Silver has hemorrhoids" said one particularly humourous biker - funny, eh?). Truth is, the big cases allow me to pack groceries, laptop, equipment for work... in a nutshell, it allows me to live without having to drive a car. And for six to eight months out of the year, that suits me just fine.

So although I still don't have an answer for my mother-in-law, I did offer this one up : "Hop on and you'll understand." Luckily for me, she has yet to take me up on the offer.

Reserve Not Met: Death of the Chopper

2008-04-23T14:01:00.005-03:00

Looking to find out how much your beloved two-wheeled steed is worth? Forget about the Kelley Blue Book or the classifieds, they'll only give you a static image of a motorcycle's worth. Rather, surf on over to eBay and check out what the going rate is.

That's exactly what I was doing last week, as a sudden onset of spring fever following a trip to the local dealer to get a new battery (innocent enough, eh?) got me thinking of selling Silver to buy myself the latest and greatest. But alas, after a few minutes on eBay it was all too obvious that Silver's worth much more to me as a daily driver than on a trade-in.

I did notice one thing, though. Choppers don't sell. Forget about all the hype and the reality TV soap operas starring the Teutuls, Jesse James, and others with a clear lack of chlorine in the gene pool. These rolling chrome altars just aren't selling. Out of the twenty or so listings I checked out on eBay whose auctions were going to wrap-up in the next 24 hours, fourteen had not yet met the reserve price and eight hadn't even gotten a single bid! Seems a few years ago, these bikes were selling like hotcakes... so what happened?

The simple answer is: it got old. As with all that is fashion, people get tired of something when it goes from being exclusive to mainstream. And yes, I do consider choppers as being little more than a fashion accessory. They aren't really meant to be ridden, only flaunted. This was most evident in recent reviews of OCC's "production" choppers by Motorcyclist and Cycle Canada. Besides, Japanese production bikes are getting closer and closer aesthetically to these one-off creations, and the Nippon production bikes have better handling and reliability without breaking the bank. You want custom? Order some bling from the catalog and get a paint job!

To me, the great irony has always been how these neo-choppers are the furthest thing from what a true chopper is supposed to be. At least, in the historical sense. GI's returning home from World War II were disappointed with what Harley and Indian had to offer, as they found these bikes too heavy when compared to the bikes they had seen in Europe during their service. As a compromise, they started chopping off bits and pieces to make the bikes lighter and handle better. Some of the first things to go were the prominent fenders, then smaller tanks were installed, and on it went. But they weren't doing this uniquely for looks. They were trying to squeeze every last bit of performance out of them.

Anyhow, as the baby boomers move on to convertibles, power boats and motorhomes and move away from motorcycles we should be seeing a considerable drop in the used bike market. Which is a good thing if you're looking to buy!

MBI 2008 - The results are in!

2008-03-20T08:36:00.001-03:00

The votes have been meticulously counted and the results are in. Care to see what was the best and worst in motorcycling last year? Check out MBI's 2008 Rider's Choice Awards selected by none other than... YOU!

Equinox

2008-03-20T08:17:00.003-03:00

It's a time of celestial alignment, when the Sun is positioned directly over the Earth's equator, when the day is as long as the night. In the case of the Spring equinox, that's a good thing... as it means that the days are getting longer. I should be happy, overjoyed even. Yet, I am not.

The friendly weatherman hiding in my alarm clock let me know with a cheerful voice this morning that all schools are closed today due to the snow, hail and freezing rain we're going to be getting all day. I hit the snooze button hoping that when he'd wake me up again nine minutes later he'd have a more optimistic forecast. He didn't.

I always get a bit of the winter blues every year around late January to February, but I'm usually done with it by the time March rolls around and the snow banks start to melt away and the temps climb oh so slowly but surely. Problem is, that hasn't been the case this year. Nope, Ole' Man Winter has been popping Viagra and he's friskier than ever before! So far this season, he's dumped 381 cm (150 inches) of the white stuff (snow, that is) on us; with no signs of stopping.

I need a vacation.

Searching for the Perfect Road?

2008-02-29T11:15:00.003-04:00

Found an interesting site while cruising through cyberspace: MotorcycleRoads.com. Think of it as a Facebook for rides. According to the site's creators, Motorcycle Roads "was developed with essentially one goal in mind - to bring motorcyclists an easy to use insider's guide to the best motorcycle rides & trips in America. MotorcycleRoads.com provides valuable information about each motorcycle trip such as the scenery quality along the route, the motorcycle road quality, and the roadside amenities (things to do along the trip). And, we don't stop there. We also provide you with a map of the ride, with a weather forecast for the route's area, and information about the trip's contributor."

Personally, I love the idea. I bookmarked it just yesterday and already I'm using it to research some roads for an upcoming North-Eastern US trip. Cool stuff!

Soundtrack to the Perfect Ride... NOT!

2008-02-28T15:47:00.008-04:00

OK, so I've already listed a few dozen songs that I think fit well into the aural backdrop of a Sunday morning ride. But now I want to list a few tunes that just don't work when you're making time on two wheels. Of course, as always, your opinion may vary...

Me and My Gang - Rascal Flatts: C'mon, get serious. These guys have to be the least intimidating bikers out on the road today... if they actually do ride, that is. The whiney high-pitched vocals, falsetto harmonies and cheezy talk-box guitar mixed-in with pre-pubescent lyrics (ex. "We're gonna rock this thang, cock this thang") trigger a gag reflex everytime. Don't get me wrong, when they stick to what they do well - like sappy-broken-hearted love songs - they aren't too bad. But when they try to be bad, they aren't.
Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts: OK, two for two. One more strike and these guys are out. When Tom Cochrane first recorded this song is was good - maybe a little kitsch - but it had a good hook and the guitar lick sticks to your brain like fresh roadkill on summer asphalt, not to mention that Tom has a bit more grit to his voice. But these guys sweetened it up and took away any edge it might've had. Of course, they did cover it for a Disney cartoon... so what should I have expected?
Low Rider - War: Weird and entertaining, but not music to ride to. Kinda like a Mexican Fiesta on acid. Oddly enough, War's Why Can't We Be Friends (from the same album) is actually a pretty good tune for the ride home. Oh, and Low Rider always reminds me of Cheech and Chong - which is good, but not when you're hanging in the twisties.
Born to be Wild - Ozzy Osbourne feat. Miss Piggy: Yes, you actually read that right. The Ozzman did a humourous cover of this overused biker anthem and added the vocal talents of Miss Piggy in the chorus. This rare recording can be found on the Muppets' Kermit Unpigged album, and it was also included on Ozzy's Prince of Darkness boxset. To be honest, this version just might be more entertaining than the Steppenwolf original (my apologies to John Kay).
Electric Avenue - Eddie Grant: Though not technically a biker song, the DX7-sound-FX of a revving engine seems to be trying to emulate a V-twin. Didn't work. Don't get it. Whatever happened to that guy, anyway? Two hit neo-reggae songs in the mid-eighties then: Poof! No more. In the meantime we had to endure another decade of synth-reggae white-boy cover songs by UB40.
Ghost Rider - RUSH: First, let me say that I'm a big fan of Rush. Smart music, intelligent lyrics and great musicians that always seem to mesh (I've got three of their songs on my first top 25 list). These guys have managed to do what very few 30+ year old bands have done: stay together, and stay fresh. So why not "Ghost Rider"? Read the book of the same name by Neil Peart (drummer and lyricist) and understand the subject matter. Too dark and introspective for a pleasant ride in the countryside. Great song, wrong situation.
Riders on the Storm - The Doors: This psychedelic, 7-minute rock opus is claimed to be the last recording before Jim Morrison's early check-out. Great song, very hypnotic, haunting lyrics and performance - which is exactly why it doesn't work for riding. There are many myths regarding the inspiration behind the song, with the most plausible being that Jim Morrison was writing about Billy Cook, the hitchhiking murderer from the early fifties.

Canada: A Dangerous Destination - Part II

2008-02-26T08:27:00.007-04:00

A few weeks ago I mused at the idea that the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trades considered Canada to be a somewhat dangerous destination for Australian tourists. At first I got a really good chuckle out of it. I mean, who would've ever considered Canada to be a haven for terrorists and a land of spontaneous natural disasters like earthquakes and avalanches? Heck, the last great disaster we had on the East Coast was the French munitions ship Mont Blanc exploding in Halifax harbour - and that was 90 years ago!

Anyhow, it got me wondering about where the Australians could've gotten such a tainted image of this Great Country? At first, I thought that maybe we were ourselves to blame. After all, us Canucks just love to mess with tourists' innocent minds by telling tall stories of how we live in igloos and ride snowmobiles to work in the winter. And like good fishing stories, the effects of a winter storm of yesteryear always grow greater with time. But, as it turns out, it wasn't our doing at all.

Nope, after a lengthy investigation (i.e. Google search), I found the source of this erroneous information and it is... the UK?!?

Yes Sir, good 'ole Mother England is telling tall tales at our expense. Whatever happened to the great historic ties between our two nations? We're part of the British Commonwealth, for crissakes! But then I read on the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office's website that Canada has "an underlying threat from terrorism" and that "tornadoes can occur almost anywhere in Canada". What? I've lived here all my life and I've yet to see any tornadoes or terrorists... then again the East Indian guy who works at the hospital cafeteria does look somewhat suspicious - but I'd hardly consider the fact that he screwed-up my turkey wrap last week as an act of terrorism. Of course, don't forget that "Forest fires can break out at anytime, regardless of the season" in Canada. That's why I always travel with a industrial sized fire extinguisher bungeed onto my luggage rack.

Really, the last serious terrorist activities within Canadian soil weren't carried out by foreign nationals, but rather by Canadian citizens. All Canadians, and especially French-Canadians, remember the events of October 1970, when members of the FLQ (Québec Liberation Front) kidnapped government officials and murdered Pierre Laporte, then Labour Minister for Québec. It is a dark and shameful stain on the fabric of this Great and Peaceful Nation, the effects of which are still felt. But it was almost forty years ago!

Oh, and contrary to popular belief, none of the 9/11 terrorists got to the US via Canadian borders. Truth be told, none of them had ever even set foot in Canada. Guess we'll still be fighting that claim for years to come.

In the meantime, here are some true facts about Canada - and although they may not be enough to make you forget some of the lies out there, they may just convince you to visit the Great White North anyway:

About 10% of Canada's total population of seven million people served in the armed forces during the First World War, and nearly 60,000 died.
During the Second World War, the Canadian navy began the war with only six vessels, yet they ended up policing nearly half of the Atlantic. More than 120 Canadian warships participated in the Normandy landings, during which 15,000 Canadian soldiers went ashore on D-Day alone. Canada finished the war with the third largest navy and the fourth largest air force in the world.
The United Nations Peacekeeping Force was future Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson's creation and he is considered the father of the modern concept of "peacekeeping". He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for his role in creating what would become the UN Peacekeeping Force.
Canada only accounts for about 1% of the world's population, yet Canadians make up 10% of the world's peacekeeping forces.
Canadian soldiers are the greatest peacekeepers on earth - participating in 39 UN-mandated missions and six non-UN peacekeeping duties in the past half century.
In the medical field, Canadians have been responsible for many achievements: Sir Frederick Banting and Charles Best discovered insulin, Wilfred Bigelow developed the first artificial pacemaker, John Dick is credited with discovering cancer stem cells.
Canada has consistently placed in the top-10 of the UN's Human Development Index, which is a measure of life expectancy, literacy, education, standard of living, and GDP per capita for countries worldwide.

You'd think that with all the above achievements, the rest of the world would cut us some slack... But if that isn't enough, here's another important tidbit: 52% of active players in the NHL are Canadian!

Gratuitous Self-Promotional Plug!

2008-02-20T12:24:00.002-04:00

OK, it seems the powers-that-be over at Motorcycle Bloggers International (of which I am an ill-esteemed member) are threatening to throw me in a dark room full of two-stroke exhaust fumes if I don't convince you - the reader - to head on over to their website and vote in the 2008 Riders' Choice Awards... So here it goes:

Are you sick and tired of overpaid Californian magazine editors telling you what's to be the best and worst in motorcycling for the coming year? How many times have you read Motorcyclist's annual BOTY award and thought to yourself that drugs must be easy to come by where they are if they chose that [INSERT BIKE NAME HERE] as the best new bike? Well, here's your chance to prove them all wrong (or right)! Head on over to the 2008 Riders' Choice Awards and let everybody know what you think is the best and worst out there in MC-land. Categories range from the bread-n-butter "Best New Motorcycle" and "Best New Scooter" to some more off-the-wall categories like "Object of Lust" and "What Were They Thinking?".

Please, tell all your friends to check it out too... I don't know how long I'm able to hold my breath in all these exhaust fumes!

http://www.mbiweb.org/2008/vote.html

Soundtrack to the Perfect Ride - Part II

2008-02-18T11:09:00.002-04:00

...a few more additions to my soundtrack:

Drive my Car – The Beatles
End of the Line - The Travelling Wilburys
Get Down – Gilbert O’Sullivan
Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
Papa's Got A Brand New Bag - James Brown
Runnin' Down a Dream - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Stuck in the Middle with You – Gerry Rafferty
The World Where You Live - Crowded House
Vertigo – U2
Wild Night - Van Morrison

Of course, please be cautious as listening to certain types of music can encourage fast driving habits to its listeners.

Tip 'O The Visor: Master Promotions

2008-02-18T10:23:00.002-04:00

A big thanks to Master Promotions, who put on the first (and surely not last) Atlantic Motorcycle and ATV Show over the weekend here in Moncton. According to this morning's paper, over 20,000 people attended the show, including yours truly.

There's always something great about bike shows, and it has to do with more than just seeing what the new models are going to look like. I love the idea of sparking up a conversation with a fellow motorcyclist for no other reason than the fact that you're both looking (i.e. drooling) over the same bike.

Personally, I was feeling quite under the weather (still dealing with the tail-end of a nasty bout of flu), but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. It was funny to see a virgin, un-farkled V-Strom and remember how mine looked when I first got it. Glad to know that my memory is still pretty sharp, as the OEM seat really is as uncomfortable as I remembered it!

One new model that caught my attention was the Honda Varadero. Very nice adventure-tourer, with typical Honda fit and finish (in other words, top notch). Pricing wasn't available yet, but if they play their cards right this could bite a big chunk out of the V-Strom's sales. What I didn't get was that Honda is marketing their CBF1000 (another new-to-Canada model) as an adventure tourer also, complete with mud-encrusted bike on a sod-covered pedestal. I figured it would have been aimed more at the entry-level sport-touring crowd (ex. cheaper and lighter than a VFR), but no.

I was also glad to see that BMW has significantly lowered their pricing on many models. Case in point: the R1200RT base MSRP is now $19,000 - that makes it cheaper than most of the competition like the Honda ST1300A ($19,699), the Yamaha FJR1300A ($19,099). The Kawasaki Concours 14ABS ($19,099). One of the sales reps for the local BMW dealer told me that the new, more competitive pricing for the RT came at a cost to them, as the dealer mark-up has been lowered significantly too. BMW's betting that the number of RT's sold should compensate for the lower mark-up. Guess time will tell...

Yamaha has come out with some interesting "Dressed-up" models, which are basically stock bikes pre-accessorized with farkles out of the Yamaha catalog. For the most part, they're cruisers, but there is one interesting exception: the FZ1TE. First, take your new 2008 FZ1, then add a full lower fairing, taller touring windshield, and the sidecases off of an FJR and voilà: instant sport-touring bike for only $14,999. Of course, for about the same price you could get a Honda VFR with ABS and a set of Givi sidecases. Personally, I'd take the VFR as it seems a more well-rounded bike for sport-touring purposes... but that's just me.

With the Canadian dollar holding at par against it's US counterpart, I would've thought that all manufacturers would have been lowering their prices, but that didn't seem to be the case. The biggest price drops were noted at Harley-Davidson/Buell, Ducati and BMW; although a general difference of about 10% is still noted when compared to US pricing. However, none of the Japanese big-four seemed to have adjusted their prices. Take the new Concours 14ABS; it retails for $19,099CAD, and $13,799USD. That's a difference of almost 28%.

Anyway, after a few hours of checking out the new bikes and talking to the numerous reps on hand, I was pretty much worn out. Went home, took some various pills, and was unconscious for the rest of the day... but it was worth it!

Soundtrack to the perfect ride

2008-02-13T14:01:00.002-04:00

You’re out on the Road, the weather’s fine, and there’s little to no traffic. So what’s playing in your helmet? I’ve never been one to listen to music while riding, but to be honest with it was more due to a lack of decent sound quality than anything else. My intercom (an IMC-Motocom unit) does have a music input for piping-in tunes from an iPod or such, but it ends up sounding like complete crap. Anyhow, something’s gone screwy with the intercom lately, and it’s blurting out random bursts of loud static… So I’m thinking of replacing it with something better (leaning towards a Baehr unit, but still undecided).

So what tunes should I load into the iPod for a nice summer ride? Here are some of my initial choices, and if some seem obscure – well – they were meant to be. I want the music to fit with the act of riding, without being too corny. For that reason, I’ve purposely left out the oft-overused “biker anthems” like Born to be Wild, Highway to Hell, Roadhouse Blues, ad nauseum… Don’t get me wrong, they’re good songs, but it’s just all been done way too many times.

Here’s what I’ve got so far:
1. Analog Kid – RUSH
2. Angel on my Bike – The Wallflowers
3. Bicycle Race – Queen
4. Days are Numbers (The Traveler) – The Alan Parsons Project
5. Feelin’ Satisfied - Boston
6. Feels so Good – Van Halen
7. Fly By Night - RUSH
8. Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
9. Goodbye Stranger – Supertramp
10. Heavy Fuel – Dire Straits
11. Lay Down Sally – Eric Clapton
12. Let It Roll – Little Feat
13. Let’s Go – The Cars
14. Limelight – RUSH
15. Message in a Bottle – The Police
16. Modern Love – David Bowie
17. No Particular Place To Go – Chuck Berry
18. Nowhere With You – Joel Plaskett Emergency
19. Over the Hills and Far Away – Led Zeppelin
20. Roadrunner – Bo Diddley
21. Roundabout – Yes
22. Twilight Zone – Golden Earring
23. Walls Fall Down – Bedouin Soundclash
24. Wherever I May Roam – Metallica
25. Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who

So, any suggestions?

"You can call it the 'Perfect Moment' when the universe aligns and the music in your head actually matches the music outside and all is well." - Hugh Elliott

Are we better than bears?

2008-02-12T08:22:00.000-04:00

Odd thought: Brown bears (of which there are many around here) have a thick coat of fur, combined with about 400lbs of fat for warmth. These animals are obviously made to tough it out through the cold winter months. So what do they chose to do? Hibernate!

I, on the other hand, have a very thin coat of fur, and although I'll admit to having some superfluous fat, it isn't enough to keep me warm. So why don't humans hibernate? Seems to me it would make winter go by much faster.

Here's an interesting statistical tidbit for New Brunswickers:

In the first few months of 1992, Moncton and many parts of New Brunswick recorded record amounts of snowfall. Ex: from January 1st to February 11th, in 1992, we had a total accumulation of 136.10 cm of snow.
Reality check! This year, from January 1st to February 11th, we've already gotten 143.50 cm of the white stuff!

Is my helmet legal?

2008-02-10T11:56:00.000-04:00

I was bored, snowed-in, and looking for something to keep my feeble mind occupied, so I started reading through the various acts and regulations here in New Brunswick that relate to motorcycling. Wasn't really searching for anything specific, but I was curious about the legality of ape-hangers as I've often wondered if gripping the handlebars two feet above your head made any sense. Well, I didn't find anything specific to ape-hangers (if someone else knows, please point it out), but I did come across something rather strange regarding helmets, and I'm still trying to figure it out!

According to Section 229 of the Motor Vehicles Act:
"No person shall drive a motorcycle or ride thereon as a passenger unless he is wearing a helmet protection for his head which helmet conforms with the standards prescribed by regulation."

No big surprise there, as all ten provinces and three territories have mandatory helmet laws. But given all the hooplah lately about Snell vs. DOT vs. ECE, I was curious about which standard applied; so the next logical step was to see what the regs specified as prescribed standards, right? Well, that's where it gets confusing. In the General Regulations to the Motor Vehicles Act, Section 38, it reads:
A helmet worn by a motorcycle rider shall
(a) be a helmet of a kind that has been approved by the Equipment Approval Division of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), or
(b) conform with the standards set out in CAN3-D230-M85[ID#710], "Protective Headgear in Motor Vehicle Applications", prepared by the Canadian Standards Association, including any amendments, additions or deletions made subsequently to it, or any subsequent editions of it, and shall bear the following label: (image of CSA approval label)

Now, a quick search of the AAMVA website lead me to the following information:
http://www.aamva.org/KnowledgeCenter/Vehicle/EquipStand/EquipmentCompliancePrograms.htm
"Many years ago, AAMVA conducted a program to approve vehicle-related safety equipment, including motorcycle crash helmets. AAMVA's equipment approval program was discontinued in the early 1980s.

AAMVA continued certifying laboratories that conduct vehicle equipment testing until 1994. Both programs are now conducted independently by a private organization, not affiliated with AAMVA, called the Automotive Manufacturers Equipment Compliance Agency, Inc. (AMECA)."

Therefore, Section 38(a) of the General Regulations is invalid, other than as a grandfather clause for helmets purchased when the AAMVA still conducted equipment compliance testing.

Which brings us to Section 38(b). Those of you who (like me) have been riding for some time probably remember the CSA tags that used to be in many helmets sold in Canada. Of course, you don't find those anymore... because CSA stopped certifying helmets over a decade ago! So this would effectively render 38(b) invalid also, except as a grandfather clause for older helmets. But really, if your helmet is 10+ years old, maybe you should be thinking of getting a replacement soon, eh?

So I called up the NB-DOT, which gave me the run around and told me to call the NB Safety Council. Spoke to a nice lady there, who seemed quite confused by my call and referred me to the NB-Dept. of Public Safety. There I left about 3 messages at various numbers. Didn't get a callback yet.

So my question is this: If, in New Brunswick, I must wear a helmet because it's the law, and that helmet must conform to either of two standards that no longer exist, do I really have to wear a helmet at all?

Anyhow, just fighting a bout of cabin fever and my mind tends to amuse itself with these useless arguments.

Tip 'O The Visor - Marc "MAZZ" Mazerolle

2008-02-05T11:18:00.000-04:00

Met an interesting fellow motorcyclist last week, Marc "Mazz" Mazerolle. Mazz has used his passion for choppers as inspiration in creating a program to help keep at-risk teens out of trouble. The Bike Klub membership is comprised of students from Bernice MacNaughton High School in Moncton, New Brunswick. They started by building a chopper-styled bicycle under the guidance of Mazz; but they've since moved on to much bigger (and badder) things. Check out these pics of Betty!

Check out their homepage and maybe make a donation if you feel so inclined.

He Made It!

2008-01-29T15:43:00.000-04:00

Well, it seems Paul Mondor (a.k.a. the Iceman) has finished his cross-Canada trek. "So what?" I hear you say, "what's the big deal?". Well, he did it in winter on a motorcycle and it included the Trans-Labrador Highway - a road not lightly taken even in mid-summer.

OK, I'll admit that his journey was actually on three wheels (he added a sidecar) - but to do it in the thick of winter is still quite an achievement.

For all who are interested, he kept a pseudo-diary of his journey through regular posts on his website's forum.

Canada: A Dangerous Destination!

2008-01-29T15:09:00.000-04:00

I read an interesting article by the Canadian Press last week regarding a travel advisory by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that listed Canada as a risky destination for Aussie travellers. Amongst the reasons listed were the risk of terrorist attacks, possible earthquakes, spontaneous forest fires, and the oh-so-common risk of avalanches and tsunamis!

I always thought Australians to be a brave and hearty bunch, especially considering that they come from a country whose fauna includes the ten most venomous snake species in the world!

Oh, and by the way, here are some of the countries deemed safer than Canada: Belarus, Croatia, Guam, and South Korea.

What really bothered me is that now, on top of dodging absent-minded cagers while riding, I also have to look out for terrorists, forest fires, avalanches and tsunamis.

All Praise The Mighty Chrome!

2008-01-25T08:25:00.000-04:00

For some reason, religion and motorcycles seem to make a good match in some peoples' minds. Now I'm not the most religious man, although I do claim to be spiritual (I don't buy-in to what most compartmentalized religions are selling), but something tells me that I'd enjoy the service at the Hope Fellowship Church (formerly The Pigeon Hole bar) in Irving, Texas.

The Christian Science Monitor recently ran an article about the Church and its pastor, Rev. Dennis King.

2008 Motorcycle Bloggers International Riders' Choice Awards

2008-01-22T15:42:00.000-04:00

The fine and outstanding guys and gals over at Motorcycle Bloggers International (of which I am - ahem - a new member) are collecting nominations from bikers for the best (and not so great) of 2008. So come on, tell us what you think! What was the best new concept bike, or how about the most disappointing new motorcycle. There's also some interesting categories like "Wish We'd Thought Of That" and "What Were They Thinking?". Forget what the mainstream motorcycle magazines are telling you - make your own choice and vote at the MBI website.

Too Damn Cold.

2008-01-21T15:51:00.000-04:00

My office has a small electronic weather monitoring station on the roof of the building. We've set up a small webserver within the intranet that allows us to check the observations in real time from any computer on the network. Right now the wind is a steady westerly at 26km/h (about 16 mph), which ain't bad.

The mercury, however, seems to be stuck at the -27°C mark (or maybe it just froze there). For my friends out there who haven't fully embraced the metric system yet, that's almost -17°F. Of course, with that bit of wind coming in from the West, it dips down to -40°C with the windchill. Uh-huh, that's the break-even point between the Celsius and Fahrenheit gauges. -40°F my friends.

Anybody out there in warmer climes with a spare bike and an empty bedroom?

I Don't Trust Snell

2008-01-21T15:12:00.000-04:00

With all due respect to the late William « Pete » Snell, I’ve lost all trust in the foundation that now bears his name. For those of us who wear full-face helmets, the debate regarding Snell vs. DOT helmets can get quite heated at times, but never did it flare up as much as the weeks and months following the June 2005 edition of Motorcyclist Magazine. The article, by Dexter Ford, was titled “Blowing The Lid Off” and it raised quite a few eyebrows then, and continues to do so today. If you haven't read it, please go ahead and do so. I'll wait. No really, its worth it.

I remember admiring the editorial staff at Motorcyclist after first reading the article, because they were obviously aware that it would result in lost advertising dollars. After all, some of the more “high-end” helmets [read: expensive] like the Arai’s and HJC’s came out last, while the overall winner was the lowly Z1R, which retails for less than $100. The problem, as was concluded by Motorcyclist, is that Snell’s criteria for a helmet require it to be too stiff, in turn transmitting too much G-force to the cranium, in turn smashing your brains to a pulp… OK, maybe not to a pulp – but you get the idea.

Even Dr. Jim Newman, former director of the Snell Foundation, and Dr. Harry Hurt, author of the now infamous Hurt Report, agreed that the 300 G's allowed to be transferred to the headform by Snell in some helmet tests was way too high then what was needed for practical application on the street.

Snell’s website is, quite frankly, one of the worst I’ve seen in a long time. From a purely techno-geek standpoint, the layout’s all wrong, and it’s aesthetically unpleasant – to say the least. But that’s just a question of taste, and seeing how it's a not-for-profit organization, they just might not have the budget for it – so we won’t dwell on that too much. Of course, in 2005 their operational budget was $1,875,325 of which almost half (48%) went to director/officer compensation and employee salaries. You'd think they could hire a part-time web designer with that kind of cash.

What really bothers me about the website is the information (or lack thereof) that is presented. Most professional, scientifically-driven organizations will offer their research up for peer review, and sometimes learn from their critics. But when you take a look at Snell’s response to the Motorcyclist article… well, it seems just darn childish! Rather than respond with their own facts and figures to what was claimed in the magazine article, Snell comes out with a conspiracy theory of sorts, claiming that Motorcyclist had published "thinly disguised and highly biased attacks on Snell standards and on Snell certified helmets". Then they must have caught themselves, as they did retort with a technical response where they claimed that "We have rejected these ideas [Motorcyclist’s] not because of the source or even the manner of their presentation. We have rejected them because they are unsound."

Well, it seems even Snell can make mistakes, although I’m not sure they’ll want to admit to them. In their latest Newsletter, they’ve published the final draft of their new 2010 standard (which should replace the 2005 standard that was reviewed in Motorcyclist’s article). So what’s different about the new standard? Well for starters, its not as stiff! Yup, you heard it. Snell’s proposed new standard is actually closer to DOT than the previous one was. But wait! Wasn't that an "unsound" idea? Flip-flop.

I don't claim to be an engineer or scientist with hundreds of published studies. But I am a motorcyclist and I do read. Even more importantly, I am a consumer and I buy. So when it comes time to fork out some of my dough, I try to get the best I can for my money. But on the flipside, I also like to buy from people I trust. People who'll be honest about their faults and will admit when they may have done wrong. The Snell Memorial Foundation, in my eyes, are not those kind of people.

Need More Toys

2008-01-17T14:49:00.000-04:00

I've been sitting on the fence for the past year or so on the issue of trading up to another bike. I can't really afford to have more than one in the stable, so it's always a question of finding the best allrounder. For the past four years, it has been the Suzuki DL650 V-Strom, and I couldn't be more pleased. But the more two-up touring we do, the more SWMBO wishes there was just a bit more room to stretch around back there.

We'd been considering a few more touring-oriented bikes (read: bigger) and although the idea of more power and better ergos was interesting, I still knew I'd have a hard time saying goodbye to the 'Strom. Well, it seems I won't have to worry about it for another year. There's a few "must do" renos around the house that are going to seriously cut into the new bike budget... but not so much as there won't be any left for a few farkles!

OK, so I've got about $500 to spend on toys... but what will I chose? Here's the short list of things that I want:

Givi crash bars: Although I've been lucky so far... actually, scratch that. Luck has nothing to do with it. I've been a good rider, and thus far I've had no falls, but... you never know. These offer minimal protection (if any) to the rider in a crash or low speed fall, but they would probably limit the damage to the Tupperware on the 'Strom.
PowerMadd handguards: These are the Star series handguards. Not so much for protecting the knuckles from errant branches and twigs, but as weather protection from wind. I've also looked into getting the Suzuki OEM knuckleguards, but they cost about four times as much.
Bags Connection Camera Mount: Although Colyn in the BMWLT forum has done an interesting write-up on shooting from the saddle (pictures, that is), I'd much rather keep both hands on the handlebars as much as possible. I've already got the adapter ring on the fueltank for my Engage tankbag, so this would be an interesting accessory for videotaping those wonderful Sunday morning rides.
IMC Bluetooth Intercom: Man, would I ever like to cut the cord. I'm still waiting for more reviews to come in on this one to see how well it actually works. Wouldn't it be great to just put on your helmet and go?

So there are some of the goodies I'm looking at, but I'm open to suggestions. Maybe if I order just a few it would help me get over this case of cabin fever I'm coming down with?

Pickin' On The Purists

2007-12-31T10:15:00.000-04:00

Doug wrote a great blog entry yesterday that had me chuckling a few times. He writes about how he finds it amusing to mess with purists' minds. You know the kind, the "My-Bike-Brand-Is-The-Holy-Grail-Of-Motorcycling" group. I've teased some of my Harley-riding buddies a few times about the various Japanese parts on their American Iron steeds, and I can attest to the amount of fun to be had.

Anyhow, give it a read.

Winter Riding Or Calculated Suicide?

2007-12-31T09:56:00.000-04:00

On boxing day we loaded-up the car and drove my mum-in-law back home to Caraquet as she'd been staying with us for the holidays... and yes, I'll admit that it was a long three hours in the car, but we got there in the late afternoon and the trip was fine.

That evening, we drove into town to get a few things at the market. That's when I saw it. Coming towards me from the opposite direction was a lone headlight that I knew looked familiar. As it came closer, my visual memory kicked-in to overdrive and I realised at that moment that someone was actually riding a GL1500 Goldwing on that cold December night.

Now, to put this into perspective, you've got to know a few things about this little town called Caraquet, my birthplace (although I haven't lived there in over 17 years). In summer, it is festive and quaint, the wharf bustling with activity, and tourists galore wandering through the area to enjoy our many festivals, fresh seafood and beaches. In winter, it is only slightly more appealing than a blizzard in Siberia.

So to see this luxo-touring bike riding around the day after Christmas, on icy roads, in minus 20° Celsius (about -4° Fahrenheit)... well, let's just say it was a Twilight Zone moment. After a few seconds, it was over; his (or her) taillight fading away in my rearview mirror.

To whoever that Arctic rider was: my hat's off to ya! It was either a bold act of motorcycling enthusiasm, or a crazy joke. Either way, I got a kick out of it.

Southern Shopping - The Sequel

2007-12-31T09:10:00.000-04:00

Holidays are almost done (whew) and within a few days things should slowly get back to normal. Last night I was relaxing on the couch with a nice glass of Australian Chardonnay (Lindemans - I think), and I was thinking back to all the hustle and bustle of the past few weeks.

I stopped by the local music store a few days before Christmas looking for something for my 13-year-old nephew whose a budding musician. As a musician myself (and admitted technology geek), I headed straight to the keyboard department... ‘cause they always have the coolest gear. Terry’s been a fixture there for the past 10 years or so, and I know him well as he’s assisted in emptying my wallet quite a few times. Things weren’t too busy in the store (oddly enough), and we chatted for awhile.

Eventually, we got to talking about the current state of the Canadian dollar and what effects – if any – it was having on business. He admitted that, although they had lowered their prices on many items, more and more people seemed to be buying stuff from Internet music stores. After comparing prices on a few items, I can’t always say that I blame them... and neither could Terry. Nope, the biggest issue he had with Internet shopping is when customers come into his store, and he spends half-an-hour doing a full demo of a keyboard or other gizmo, only to have that same customer walk out the door and order it online to save a few bucks. I’ll admit, if I were in sales that would leave a rather bitter taste in my mouth too.

But here’s where it gets better. Terry’s actually had some people buy stuff off the Internet, then go to his store with the article in question so that he may explain to them how it works! I’ll tell ya, he’s a much more patient man than I. If somebody pulled that kind of crap on me, they’d get a good loud rant right there in the store... which kinda explains why I’m not in sales.

Anyhow, as Ron White would say: I told ya that story so I could tell ya this one.

I can’t help but wonder if the same applies to motorcycles. I admit that I spend way too much time at the local MC dealers during winter, just hanging out and looking at the accessories catalogs, or drooling on the new ’08 models that are starting to come in. Its my therapy for dealing with cabin fever. So I’m trying to imagine how I would react as a dealer if a MC-addict like myself spent countless hours in the store pestering my sales staff, only to turn around and buy the bike across the border.

But then again, I think the frustration would be doubly so. First because I’d feel betrayed by the customer, and secondly because I’m powerless to do anything to counter it. I’ve heard that some American dealers are actually selling motorcycles at less than what the dealer cost is for Canadian dealers.

So for 2008, my prediction is that either the Canadian prices will go down considerably on many motorcycles, or that we’ll continue to see more and more dealers close-up shop.

Another thing I’ve noticed lately is the number of car/motorcycle/atv/snowmobile dealers that have been popping up. I guess this is another way to stay afloat; although I can’t help but wonder if the level of service for motorcyclists is going to be affected somehow by these new mega-dealerships.

Give 'Em What They Want.

2007-12-17T09:31:00.000-04:00

It seems someone at Honda Canada has been listening to their customers. I was impressed last year when they came out with the CBR125, as I found that the "entry level" category had been sorely lacking for the past few years. For someone looking to learn on something other than a cruiser, about the only thing available was the Ninja 250 at a whopping $6,200CAD. The micro-CBR has a much more accessible MSRP of $3,499.

However, Honda was still lacking in the Sport-Touring and Adventure-Touring categories. For sport-touring, they still have the ST1300... which is a great bike, but I've always found it somewhat bulky for spirited riding (kinda like a GoldWing on Jenny Craig). Now they've confirmed that they'll be bringing the CBF1000A to Canada. This model should fit nicely between the VFR Interceptor and the ST1300.

For the adventure-touring segment (which has known the most growth over the past two years), they'll finally offer the Varadero 1000. A quick glance at the spec sheet puts this bike into direct competition with the Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom: similar power, 90° v-twin, large fuel tank, etc. The one thing it will offer over the big 'Strom is ABS (which is only available on the DL650). Of course, it also packs a few extra pounds...

No pricing information was available yet. However, it should be noted that only Canadians will be getting these new offerings, like the CBR125 last year, they won't be going Stateside.

Paul Mondor 2.0

2007-12-14T15:48:00.000-04:00

Call him crazy or adventurous, either way I've got to admit that I like this guy! Anybody who has the guts to take-on the Trans-Labrador Highway in the middle of winter on a Beemer F650GS (or any other motorcycle for that matter) is tops in my book.

Best of luck to ya, Paul. If you're ever passing through Moncton, New Brunswick; I've got a few beers with your name on them!

Is It Alive?

2007-12-14T15:45:00.000-04:00

For many bikers (myself included), the motorcycle becomes not only an extension of oneself, but also a seperate, living entity. It lives and breathes like us, and in many cases has it's own personality. I remember reading a comparo of sport-touring bikes in a MC magazine a few years ago, and although the reviewers griped about the always hot FJR, or the lack of oomph from the BMW GT (old model, not the new one), they didn't have much to say about the Honda ST. One guy finally admitted that the ST didn't really stick out because it didn't have any flaws... but that also made it somewhat bland and uninteresting!

At first, I thought the comment was curious, but when I got to thinking about it (a dangerous endeavour - I admit), it made perfect sense to me. As time passes and mileage accumulates, there's a relationship that develops between rider and machine. You get to be more familiar with the sounds coming from your bike; the chatter of the chain when it needs tightening, or the sound of the intake when the throttles need to be synched. To this day, I can easily tell when the throttle bodies are out-of-sync by simply sitting on the bike at idle.

A parallel could easily be made between motorcycles and mates. Although I'm sure my wife would start loading the shotgun if she heard me saying such things! But the truth is, life just wouldn't be that much fun if everything was predictable, consistent, planned. Having a "Stepford Wife" may have been every guy's fantasy at one point or another, but it would make for a rather bland relationship.

I need my bike to have its quirks, or its little demons. There's something oddly comforting about knowing that my bike sometimes does unpredictable things that only I understand.

Just like my wife ;-)

Of Southern Shopping and Dealer Survival

2007-12-12T11:29:00.000-04:00

I've read a few magazine editorials lately about the motorcycle industry's rising concern with cross-border shopping. It seems more and more dealers are going into panic mode as they see their clients going South-of-the-border to buy their new (or used) motorcycle.

First off, I’d like to say that I sympathize with the dealers in this case. I spoke to a rep at our local Yamaha/Ducati/BMW dealer and he told me that the retail price on some models in the ‘States is actually lower than the dealer cost here in Canada. So to remain competitive, he’d have to sell certain models at a loss! It’s an unfair situation, and the dealers aren’t the ones holding the big end of the stick; although in the end, they will be made to pay.

Problem is, you can’t exactly blame the consumers either. I mean, let’s get real for a moment... If you’re in the market, say, for a new Kawasaki Concours 14. You’d have to be nuts to pay $19,099 CDN when you can hop across the border and get it for $13,799 USD. Either that or you’ve got way too much “disposable income”. Even at the current exchange rate (which is close to par), that comes out to a 27% difference – over one quarter the price of the bike!

Some manufacturers have started adjusting their prices to more closely reflect the climbing loonie, while others are trying to offer incentives to keep their buyers from making that trip down South. But the real truth is in the numbers. I’ve yet to see one case where a motorcycle model was priced the same in Canada as in the US. Now I’m sure that manufacturers will be quick to point out how the market is different in Canada, or how shipping may cost more up ‘ere in the North; and most of these arguments do hold a measure of truth. However, the basic fact remains that as long as buying a bike in the States is considerably cheaper than buying it in Canada, that’s what’s going to happen.

Motorcycling is one of the last bastions where brand loyalty rules (ex. how many die-hard HD owners do you know?); but Canuck consumers can still stay loyal to the brand, while dumping the dealer. In the end, Canadian motorcyclists may end up being the biggest losers of all. As more and more local dealers are closing shop, who will we turn to when we need support? A trip to the ‘States may be easily justifiable when buying a new bike, but I don’t think it makes much sense when you need to get that front wheel balanced.

Bikers Can Read Too!

2007-07-26T14:14:00.000-03:00

Awhile back I had written a post about "Biker Movies" and had gotten quite a few suggestions. I'm now looking for opinions on motorcycle books. Here are the ones I've already read, so I'm just wondering if there are any other good motorcycle books out there.

Jupiter's Travels by Ted Simon
Riding High by Ted Simon
Ghost Rider by Neil Peart
Roadshow by Neil Peart
Mi Moto Fidel by Chris Baker
Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto "Che" Guevara
The Perfect Vehicle by Melissa Holbrook Pierson
Long Way Round by Charlie Boorman & Ewan MacGregor
Chasing Che by Patrick Symmes

Before anybody suggests it, I've also just ordered "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert M. Pirsig.

The Big Move

2007-06-29T06:56:00.000-03:00

The big Day is finally here. And although we're both extremely excited about moving into our new abode, I've got a feeling it's going to be a long day. We're tired. Not only because of the numerous trips to hardware stores, lawyers, realtors, contractors and city planning commission (UGH!); but the lightning storms we've had for the last three consecutive nights have left us sleep deprived. Oh, it has nothing to do with a deep astrapophobia for either one of us... but our 80 lb Bernese Mountain Dog turns into a blubbering heap of fur at the first thunder clap. She climbs into our bed, crawls up and lies - sideways - between our pillows. She then pants (hyperventilating?) all night long... and drools down my neck. I awoke to a drool-soaked pillow a few times this week!

So here we are, with boxes all over the place and bags under our eyes. The contractor for the garage we're having built should start work within the next two weeks - which is exciting news for me (and Silver). For now, I'm just pushing to get through the big move!

Still here!

2007-06-11T12:57:00.000-03:00

Haven't posted anything in a while now, so I thought I'd just stop in to give a sign of life! Things have been crazy lately both at work and on the home front. We're moving into the new (to us) house at the end of the month, so we've been running around trying to make sure that everything's ready... although I'm sure we will have forgotten a few things when the day finally comes.

We'd actually considered building a new house, but in truth that was just a compromise solution. What we were both really looking for was an older house in one of the downtown neighbourhoods - but it seemed that every old house we visited was more of an overpriced moneypit then anything else. So we had all but decided to move to the burbs in a new "cookie-cutter" house... but as luck would have it, the house came on the market just a few days before we were going to sign the building contract. Ain't it funny how life turns out that way sometimes.

Of course, I've also been spending a fair amount of time on two wheels. The weather for the past few weeks has been so damn good - it would almost be a sin not to be out riding! Yesterday I did some recon around our new neighbourhood; checking out all the sidestreets, the local parks, and what the neighbours look like ;-) I was pleased to see a few motorcycles parked in the neighbouring driveways... that must mean it's a good place to live!

I've been so busy that I've actually fallen behind on Silver's maintenance regiment. I'm about 800kms overdue for an oilchange, not to mention that I should be trying to find a bit of time to sync the throttle bodies (but that can wait). I did manage to wash it over the weekend, but just a 30-minute quick job - which was sufficient to get the bugs off the windshield and fairing, and the oil fling off the rear rim and swingarm.

Today we're at t-minus 18 days until the big move, and I just can't wait.

The Emperor's New Clothes

2007-05-02T14:26:00.000-03:00

I've been considering getting a new riding this year. Not that there's anything terribly wrong with my current suit; I just feel like trying something different. What I'm wearing now is a two-piece textile touring suit made by Rhyno. When I got back into motorcycling a few years ago, money was tight - but I didn't want to go "sans-suit", so I settled on this one which was cheap but functional. It's Cordura with a removable insulated lining and pads (non-CE). Being a budget suit, however, it does have a few limitations:

Colour. Its black. Completely black. Not exactly the best thing to be wearing when you're trying to be conspicuous. It also turns into a wearable sauna when mid-summer sun shines down on me.
Bulky. Like wearing a full-body diaper. This thing give me a good idea of what the Michelin Man must feel like.
Hard to get into. The pants only have 6-inch ankle zippers, which means boot-on entry is out of the question. Seriously, I've known nuns that were easier than this.
Venting. Two smallish chest vents, two armpit vents, and one non-functional back vent. See the "wearable sauna" comment above.

This past winter, I've spent some time researching the various options available out there and I think I'd rather have a one-piece suit; although I can understand why this doesn't work for many other riders. If you're the type that will regularly wear a jacket, but "get by" fine with jeans - then a one-piece is probably not the best thing for you. Personally, I never ride without both the pants and jacket (ATGATT), so one piece rather than two simplifies things for me. Another bonus is that most one-piece suits are easier and quicker to put on than comparable two-piece suits.

So what are my options out there? Here's a few that I've been checking out:

Aerostich Roadcrafter: Ah yes, the grandaddy of serious touring suits. Back in 1983 Andy Goldfine decided that there had to be something better out there for touring and commuting motorcyclists. When he didn't find anything, he decided to make it himself. The rest, as they say, is IronButt history. Many touring and long distance motorcyclists wouldn't be caught dead without their trusty (and sometimes crusty) RoadCrafter suit. Go to Beemerville or the Honda Hoot and it shouldn't be too hard to spot a few of these in the crowd (in a variety of not-so-fashionable colours). So what's wrong with the 'Stich - basically, it looks very 1983! That's to say, it isn't the most fashionable suit out there. It's also a tad on the expensive side at about $750USD. I also wonder if Andy might be resting a little too much on his CE-Padded laurels? Maybe it's time somebody challenged the RoadCrafter... Guess what: somebody did!
Rev'It Infinity: Although it isn't out in stores yet, this one-piece textile is oh-so-nice, and it bears a striking resemblance to some of BMW's suits (albeit, two-piece). I like the colour which is a light grey/grey combo. It should reflect more heat than it absorbs. I also like the assorment of pockets and the new Schoeller-Dynatec material in lieu of the popular Cordura. This new, abrasion resistant material has some cool qualities like stain resistance, and it breathes without letting in moisture (yeah, I know that sounds like a diaper commercial). There's a whole bunch of technological marvels in this suit; but to get the latest and greatest doesn't come cheap, and you'll have to cough up about $1,100USD to get into one of these... OUCH!
Olympia Phantom: OK, these guys seem to have gotten it right, and judging by some of the initial reviews that have been coming in, this suit just might give the venerable RoadCrafter a run for it's money. Available in a high-conspicuity neon yellow, or a boring pewter, this Cordura one-piece with removable lining may be just the ticket for me. Oh, and did I forget to mention that the price is a very reasonable $450USD?

My biggest beef with Olympia is that the nearest Canadian dealer is in Oshawa, some 1,500kms away... But then again, that sounds like a fun weekend trip!

Cheers,
Lucky

Silver Needs a Bath

2007-05-02T14:24:00.000-03:00

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. OK - it's not really all that bad; but amongst die-hard chrome worshippers, it could be considered a cardinal sin to leave a healthy coat of road grime and dust on a motorcycle. Guess it's a good thing that I'm not big on chrome, eh?

I'll usually give Silver a decent bath twice or maybe three times a year (i.e. when taken out of hibernation, mid-season, and before returning to hibernation). Other than that, cleaning is usually limited to removing the bugs from the shield and headlight lenses. This year marks the first time that I've taken it out of hibernation without so much as a quick wipe. I figure it was clean enough and besides, I had a serious need for some saddle time and nothing short of being physically incapacitated was going to delay my appointment with two-wheels and the open road.

Thanks to all the rain we've gotten lately, Silver now looks like a chocolate bar. Lotsa mud, baby! I don't really mind the "rugged" look, but I'm worried that the crud might make it's way into places where it shouldn't be hanging around. So I've decided to clean it. For those of you who actually care, here's my cleaning regiment:

Rinse. Get as much of the crud as possible to rinse away with a steady stream of water.
Lather. Foam-up the panels and fairing, along with seat and cases.
Rinse (again). Make sure no soap residue stays on the bike - it can eat away at the paint.
De-grease. This is for really cruddy areas like the rear swingarm. My bike's got a chain-oiler, so lots of the stuff tends to fling onto the swingarm, inside the rear fender, and on the rear wheel rim. I use the "Green" cleaner, spray plenty on, wait a few minutes, then use a wheel brush to get to the hard-to-reach areas.
Rinse (one last time).
Final buffing. This is more for upkeep than for looks. I usually buff the seat with some beeswax (it's leather, and the wax helps keep it waterproof). I'll also spray some BoeShield on most of the exposed metal parts (ex. aluminium swingarm) to prevent crud from sticking and prevent rust or tarnish.

That's it. It may sound like a lot of work, but I usually get it done in 30 to 45 minutes. Oh, and one last step: get out there and ride it!

Cheers,
Lucky

On The Road Again...

2007-05-01T08:45:00.000-03:00

OK, so I haven't posted much here in the past few weeks - but I've got a good excuse... really! I'VE BEEN OUT RIDING!!! It seems that spring is finally here, boys and girls. Mama Nature got the memo I sent her regarding the less-than-seasonal temps that we'd been getting, and she decided to take action. Last weekend had record temps in the mid-20's, which was a very welcomed change.

However, this weekend the weather was overcast with occasional showers and - ack - snow! Yup, you heard it right, we got some of the white stuff over the weekend. But to keep things real, it wasn't more than half-an-inch and pretty much melted away as soon as it hit the pavement. In other words, not enough to cancel a ride.

Tried out a few backroads I'd never seen before and got a little lost for a while... but isn't that half the fun?

Keep rolling with respect,
Lucky

Mother Nature's Yo-Yo

2007-04-13T09:46:00.000-03:00

OK, this is getting a little out of hand. Yesterday was sunny and beautiful, with temps nearing 10° C (about 50° F) - basically perfect spring riding weather. Last night on the news the weatherman said (and I quote) "not really sure what's going to happen tomorrow due to a strange weather system coming through". Ha! Oh well, I've got to give the guy points for being honest.

This morning when I got up the sky was grey, but no snow. When I finished breakfast, it was starting to come down. By the time I was ready to leave for work, it was really coming down! Now I'm sitting here at my desk looking out the window at the snow covered street. Morning DJ on the radio says all the schools are closed, as are the colleges, universities, medical clinics, etc... Yet, I'm still here. I guess it's not that bad, I mean, it's not like I could be riding!

Get Me Out Of Here!

2007-04-11T15:44:00.000-03:00

Sitting in my office, it's near quitting time and I'm looking out the dirty window at the street below. It's right then that I see something that really stirs my soul... five motorcycles ride past in the street below (two Yami Stars, an ST1300, an Z1000 and a ZX-12). That settles it: I need to ride.

Some of my coworkers think I'm a bit strange due to what they consider to be an "unhealthy" obsession with motorcycling. I figure it's probably one of the healthiest things I could do. From a purely emotional and psychological standpoint, when I ride I effectively filter out all the rest of the crap that a typical workday in bureaucracyland can throw my way and leave lingering in my brain. Kick-up the kickstand, press the starter button, drop it in gear and let go of the clutch... Poof! All the day's worries are flushed away until tomorrow.

If anything, it's a hell of a lot cheaper than an half-hour at the therapists'

Guess Who's Back?

2007-04-10T15:37:00.000-03:00

Just when the scent of spring was lingering in the air, I wake up Sunday morning to several inches of freshly fallen snow on the ground and storm-like conditions outside. So much for the idea of an Easter ride! Just when I think that I've become jaded and Mother Nature has run out of tricks, she pulls a fast one on me and I'm humbled.

On a positive note, the white crap seems to be melting away this afternoon, and they're calling for more "seasonal" temps by end of week. Maybe I'll go for that two-wheeled egg hunt next weekend...

Change of Seasons

2007-04-04T14:22:00.000-03:00

Things have been busy at work lately, but then again it always is at this time of year. I’ve been spending way too much time at my desk (nights, weekends, Argh!) and not enough time at home. My wife’s been great about it, but I can still pick up her vibes and she’s growing impatient hoping that this spring rush will lose some momentum. There is a silver lining, however: I’ve been riding Silver steadily for the past two weeks!

Man-o-man, it is such sweet release to be able to sit down on it and feel the weight of it beneath me as I tilt it off the sidestand. I’m impressed by how thoroughly reliable an “entry-level” Japanese motorcycle can be. After spending almost 5 months on the paddock stand, I just dropped the battery in it and pressed the magic red button. Instantaneously it purred back to life, sputtered for a fraction of a second, then settled into its oh-so-familiar idle.

I took it easy for the first few days though. Lots of sand and salt dust still on the road, and I haven’t had a chance to practice much either. The old airport’s parking lot where I used to spend a few hours practicing figure-eights, slaloms and braking techniques has been barricaded. I guess I’ll just have to find another vacant parking lot.

For now, I just can’t wait for April to pass and things to settle back down at the office, just like Silver settled into a steady idle.

The Other Itch

2007-03-16T14:47:00.000-03:00

This year's new batch 'o bikes are slowly making their way from the magazine pages to the showroom floor; and it's so damn tempting! I've seen the new Ducati 1098 (say 10-9-8) up close and, although I'm not a sport rider, I've got to say that it's simply sexy. Sleek, Italian, and that beautiful shade of red that says: "Pull me over and charge me for speeding". Even just sitting there on the showroom floor, it looks fast - like it's moving while standing still.

I've also checked out BMW's new "entry level" bike, the F800 series. This parallel-twin bike has the new tectonic look that graces most newer Bimmers, with the handlebared ST wearing a full-fairing and the clip-on S with a half-fairing. Like 'em both, but I'd probably lean towards the more touring-oriented ST - comfort is a big thing that I look for in a bike. Unfortunately, at $13K (CDN) it just seems way too expensive for a small(ish) twin. But again, you're paying a premium for that roundel...

One of the local dealers has also started carrying Moto-Guzzi. I think it's just something about the look of those two diagonal cylinders sticking out each side of the bike that makes Guzzi's special. The new Griso 1100, with it's polished frame running down each side of the fueltank, is the kind of look I love: modern, yet still a touch of retro. It just wouldn't be practical enough for me; but as a second bike to tear-up some local roads on weekends, it gets a nod.

Anybody out there have a winning lottery ticket they'd like to get rid of? I've got a serious need to go shopping... or maybe that's just another side-effect of acute cabin fever.

The Itch.

2007-03-13T16:05:00.000-03:00

It's been over four months and the bouts of cabin fever have been coming and going more frequently. Now to make things worse, it's 6 degrees outside (Celsius - about 43 Fahrenheit), the snow is melting, the roads are nice... and by the time I get Silver ready for the road it'll probably turn cold again! The thermometer's recent excursions into the land above freezing have given my the two-wheeled itch. I don't just want to go riding, I need to.

Tonight when I get home I'll roll out Silver and push the magic red button of bliss! Even if I can only get ten minutes worth of saddle time, it'll be enough to hold me over for a few weeks.

Chizzle my blogizzle (or something like that)!

2007-03-13T15:36:00.000-03:00

First off, let me just warn you that this is nothing more than silly fun... oh, and some of you may be offended by the resulting "tranzliation"! Came across a site called Gizoogle while surfing which resulted in hours (really) of fun running all sorts of other websites through it's translation service. Ever wonder what your blog would read like if it was from the 'hood? Check mine out:
http://sites.gizoogle.com/index2.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fluckyll.blogspot.com

I don't know who the people are that came up with this, but I love it! Be sure to check out the latest news on CNN too:
http://sites.gizoogle.com/index2.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com

...or how about the latest Hockey scores (hey, I'm Canadian - I can't help it):
http://sites.gizoogle.com/index2.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nhl.com

Childish? You betcha! But sometimes laughter is the best medicine (and cheaper than therapy).

Crazy, but fun?

2007-03-01T14:23:00.000-04:00

Came across the SnoXcycle website while wasting time on the 'net and what they're offering really piqued my curiousity: a kit to ride your bike in the snow! For some reason the hooligan in me starts drooling when I see stuff like this.

I'm thinking I could get a Suzuki DRZ400, which seems to be the only compatible dual-sport, and ride the streets and trails in spring and summer, while hitting the snowbanks in winter. Talk about the best of both worlds, eh?

Cabin Fever - Part II

2007-03-01T13:44:00.000-04:00

OK, a while back I wrote about suggested therapy to beat the winter blahs. I'd now like to add another suggestion to the list: GO SOUTH!

Just got back from a Carribean cruise last week and it was sweet. Lots of sun, exotic island, good food... and plenty of boat drinks! Ah yes, boat drinks. For some reason they only taste good when you have them on a boat; try to mix up some tropical fruit juice with rum at home and serve it up in a pineapple... it just doesn't work.

Spent eleven days on the beautiful Celebrity Constellation that took us to ports of call ranging from the beautiful (Grand Cayman) to the downright messy (Colòn). However, each different port had wonderful locals to meet and new cultures to discover. We also made new friends on the boat, both fellow travellers and crew members.

My only regret: didn't get to rent a motorcycle!

Heroes and Rebels

2007-01-08T14:03:00.000-04:00

More than any other means of transportation (with the steam locomotive being a possible exception), the motorcycle will forever be associated with certain romantic qualities. All those B-movies from the sixties have forever tainted cruisers and choppers as bad-boy bikes while scooters are either for punk-rockers or hopeless romantics - depending on which movies you watched as a kid. More recent movies like Torque or Biker Boyz, both of which were mediocre by any cinematic standards, have made sportbikes the tool of choice for thrill seeking testosterone-enhanced males. The funny thing is, none of the above have ever left any kind of a mark on my existence.

The riders I tend to admire are non-fiction; not the ones who are riding a dolly-mounted bike behind the camera truck (ex. watch the motorcycle scene in "Paycheck" with Ben Affleck and Uma Thurman - you can easily spot the tie-down brackets on the R1150R, not to mention the dolly's reflection in passing cars). My heroes are guys like Ted Simon for choosing to go around the world on a motorcycle long before marketing types came up with the term "Adventure Touring" and BMW came out with the GS. Or John Britten, for having the guts to go up against the big guys... and win! How about Avis and Effie Hotchkiss, the mother and daughter team who set out from New York to San Francisco on a Harley-Davidson sidecar hack... in 1915!

Of course, some of my heroes haven't reached semi-celebrity status yet. They're just the good folks I meet through the Internet and happen to do stuff that seems crazy to some, but makes sense to others. Guys like Gary Charpentier or Victor Wanchena who ride to work in the Minnesota winter; or the brave women who ride the Amazon Heart Thunder rallye each year.

Hollywood can keep their special effects and stereotypes; I'd rather read about those who are really out there... riding!

Coping with Cabin Fever

2007-01-06T07:16:00.000-04:00

OK, I'll admit it's only been a little over a month since I put the Silver Streak away for a long winter's nap; but I'm already noticing advanced symptoms of cabin fever. Buying insane amounts of motorcycle magazines, watching "Long Way Round" over and over again, making a list of farkles from the Aerostich and Touratech catalogs... all are symptoms that this dreaded disease has progressed much faster this year than usual.

Luckily for me, I've discovered a few ways of coping that just might get me through the next 3 months without a complete breakdown:

Planning a few trips: I'll sit down at the computer for a few hours and research different areas that I'd like to see on an eventual two-wheeled journey. Then I plug it all into MapSource and try to plot which route would be the most interesting. Sure, I may never get around to doing all these wonderful trips I've been planning, but come spring I'll have a nice list to choose from!
Spa: Not for me, of course, but for the bike! If you've got a heated garage or storage shed (or you simply store your bike in the livingroom), then winter's the perfect time to catch-up on maintenance and accessorizing. Even if my bike is in tip-top shape, I still enjoy the opportunity to tear the whole thing apart just to put it back together again. I make it a point to be as familiar as possible with Silver's inner workings.
Gym: This one is for me. Motorcycling is great, but it isn't exactly a workout (unless you're constantly dropping it). I love working out at the gym in winter, the physical activity helps to counteract the winter blahs; plus, when riding season finally comes around, I'll be in good shape to take on that BunBurner run ;-)
Live through others: I'll spend more time reading blogs and forums. Somewhere out there is warm weather, and you can bet there's a motorcyclist taking advantage of it. Lucky for me, many of these warm climate bikers are also bloggers. I'll also subscribe to motorcycle-related podcasts; 15 minutes of hearing someone talk about motorcycling can do a world of good.

Another guilty pleasure is wasting time on YouTube or Google Video and checking out some motorcycle clips. Through these videos I've been riding in the Sahara, the Swiss Alps, the French countryside...

Anyhow, for my cold weather friends who may be hibernating (like me), I wish you a speedy winter. To all warm weather bikers out there: keep blogging!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

2006-12-28T08:28:00.000-04:00

The seasons have gone from green, to brown, and finally to white. Yes, there's a few inches of snow on the ground, and although it only came on boxing day, I guess since the holidays aren't over yet I'm still technically safe to be whistling "White Christmas". The same as the seasons are changing, so are many aspects of my life. Got a new job now, and I'm making a bit more money, which invariably means that I'll be spending more money (ain't capitalism great?). So rather than go out and spend it frivolously, we've decided to build our house.

The next nine months or so are going to be crazy. First, we have to sell our current home, then there'll be the infinite number of meetings with the contractor, waiting in line at city hall for building permits, picking paint colours from swatches, kitchen cabinets, lighting fixtures, flooring, etc... Ah yes, sweet misery!

Luckily for me, my wife's great at coordinating (read: giving orders), so this will really be her moment to shine. Essentially, I'm trusting her with most of the decisions; since she knows what she's doing and I obviously don't. My only criteria for the house was that it have a double-garage with a workshop... and I got it! Finally, I'll have some elbow room when working on the bike.

To all my fellow cyber-bikers out there, I wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, Prosperous Eid ul-Adha, or whatever else you wish to celebrate during this holiday season. Hope to catch you around the bend in 2007!