wednesday

Who doesn't like bewbies and kittens? Nobody I want to know, that's for sure.

PS. Happy Saint Patrick's Day. Now go get drunk.

monday

Michelin Tweel

(TireWhEEL)

No article, just pictures of Michelin's airless Tweel in a 2wheeler configuration.

I am waiting, Bibendum, but I am not waiting patiently.

Really Goddam Funny Public Service Announcement

brought to you by 100milesBB and France

saturday

The World's Shortest Fairy Tale

Once upon a time, a guy asked a girl 'Will you marry me?'

The girl said, 'No!'

And the guy lived happily ever after and rode motorcycles and went fishing and hunting and played golf a lot and drank beer and scotch and left the toilet seat up and farted whenever he wanted.

THE END

sunday

Re: My post of Monday, 14 September,

just a few days ago.

"Dear Automobilists..."

KATU-TV (story): http://www.katu.com/news/local/59789107.html

KATU-TV (witness report): http://www.katu.com/news/local/59798742.html (click the video icon below the picture)

The KATU witness link above has helicopter footage and the WhoWhatWhenWhere info. I was about 2 miles back in the reported seven mile backup. After 20 minutes or so with my feet down in the left lane I worked my way across to the right shoulder (would have been impossible in a car) and put the sidestand down. I sat there watching traffic creep slowly along (not really moving, just getting the bumpers closer together as the pack contracted from the front to the back) for an hour. The truck I had been behind before I pulled out was clearly visible for the first 45 minutes. Then a bigger truck got in the way. If not, the first one would never have been out of sight.
looking south (left) and looking north (right) about 5.30pm - these vehicles have not moved in at least 15 minutes

After the first 20 minutes a lady named Fay (the topcase said "Steve & Fay" on it - she didn't look like a Steve) went by on a Goldwing trike and said she had heard on the CB that it was a bunch of bikes down just before the next exit. Twenty minutes or so later a guy I had passed several hours before went by on the shoulder on a heavily modded ratbike (fiberglass rear fender broken off halfway up to accommodate the oversized rear tire) and asked if I needed help...the BrotherSpeed patch on his jacket didn't mean anything until I saw the TV report later in the motel. Then I recalled that the guy with the super high apehangers I talked to at my gas stop in Eugene had had the patch as well and he'd said he and "a bunch of us" were on their way from the Medford area to Portland for "a function." Knowing a little about outlaw culture, the flat way he said it could have meant "we're gonna set some guy on fire because he looked at Jerry's sister" or "a party to which you are not invited" - really could go either way.

In fact, an SUVist jammed on the brakes and the tightly grouped bikers behind (him?/her?) dominoed all over the road. Following too close was probably a factor. This is supposition on my part, but outlaws in formation frequently do it to intimidate cagers out of the way - the "footprint" of a tight-packed group is as big as a semi truck, and automobilists - especially SUVists - are also frequently guilty of using their greater mass as a tool to intimidate drivers in smaller vehicles. It's apparently common enough amongst Oregonians in general that there are signs about following distance all over the place. Just a thought.

Not how I intended to spend my day. I was thinkin' maybe I'd blow through Portland, get some gas on the Washington side (where one can roll up, pump some gas and roll on without waiting for one of the extras from Deliverance to hand over the nozzle and push the button - I still don't know if the no-self-serve rule is because Oregon wants to provide jobs for as many people as possible or if it's because the average Oregonian is too dim to pump their own gas without spraying half of it all over Dear Mother Earth) and stop at Comet's for the night. Instead I got off the freeway ASAP and circled back to the previous exit where I had seen a cluster of motels and a Denny's (Woodburn, OR), took a really long shower and went to bed.

This is why I don't like to ride in groups.

tuesday

What I did before breakfast yesterday.

And that was just the road to get to the curvy road.

monday

Dear Automobilists,

Fer fcuk's sake, please take the time to turn your goddam head and look before you turn or change lanes. I'd like to come home from my ride unbroken.

Now, while I'm out riding, please enjoy these European (and one US remake) PSAs about not treating motorcyclists like road debris.

~

This one is from Norway:

In a perfect world:

~

UK version ("On yer right, mate!):

US version("But I didn't bother to look for...er, I mean I didn't see him, officer."):

Remember, it's a real dick move to kill somebody - even if you didn't really mean to.

Be careful, it's dumb out there.

monday

Today is Ride To Work Day.

Every day should be Ride To Work Day.

Someday we will be so ubiquitous as to remove the need for a quasi-holiday to raise public awareness of motorcycling* for on that day they'll see the bike like we do, as a practical means of daily transportation as well as an economical travelling platform that will often outperform all but the most prohibitively expensive sports cars. That time has not yet come, oh my brothers, but one day...

~

So ride to work as often as possible, and talk to people about it, encourage them to try it (with proper training). Lots of people have some serious misconceptions about motorcyclists and the level of risk involved (among other things). You can help them to understand, answer their questions. You might even be able to correct some of those misconceptions, but don't go on and on or harangue them, people hate that.

*Read: To remind the herd we're here.

tuesday

Isle of Man Tourist Trophy 2009

It's time once again for the IoMTT, the Paris-Dakar of roadracing (ie: intense, fast, dangerous, sometimes people die). The first practice sessions begin on Saturday 5/30. The all-electric TTXGP, a brand new class (no fossil-burners allowed) added for this, the 101st IoM, will run on Friday 6/12, the same day as the SeniorTT (the real race). Both will run on the Snaefell Mountain Course which is made up of 37 miles of public roads circling the Island - closed to traffic for the TT, of course - with average speeds on these two lane country roads being in the triple digits. The course record, set in 2007, is an average speed of over 130mph. No foolin', these racers are 75% balls and 75% crazy (crazy doesn't have to follow the rules of math).

Update - 23 September, 2009: Embedding of this video has been disabled by the uploader, but it's really good so go watch it HERE.

This clip is from the 2003 Sidecar portion of the TT and gives a good idea of what professional motor racing is like on narrow, bumpy, stone-walls-at-the-edge-of-the-pavement public roads, both town and country. At 2:51 when the announcer says "Oh! He was almost in the pub!" that's not a quaint britishism for crashing, the sidecar was almost scraped off the bike by an actual (open for business and full of drunken motorheads) pub. All motor racing used to be like this. Now only this is like this.

Some Background: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IoM_TT

Official Site: http://www.iomtt.com/tt-2009.aspx

tuesday

"Red hair and black leather,

that's my favorite color scheme..."

Richard Thompson - 1952 Vincent Black Lightning

Lyrics:
Oh, says Red Molly to James "That's a fine motorbike.
A girl could feel special on any such like."
Says James to Red Molly "My hat's off to you It's a
Vincent Black Lightning, 1952. And I've seen you at the
corners and cafes it seems, red hair and black leather,
my favourite colour scheme." And he pulled her on behind
and down to Boxhill they did ride.
Oh, says James to Red Molly, "Here's a ring for your right hand,
but I'll tell you in earnest I'm a dangerous man. For I've fought
with the law since I was seventeen, I robbed many a man to get
my Vincent machine. Now I'm 21 years, I might make 22 And I
don't mind dying, but for the love of you. And if fate should break
my stride, then I'll give you my Vincent to ride."
"Come down, come down, Red Molly," called Sergeant McRae.
"For they've taken young James Adie for armed robbery. Shotgun
blast hit his chest, left nothing inside. Oh come down, Red Molly to
his dying bedside."
When she came to the hospital, there wasn't much left He was running
out of road, he was running out of breath.
But he smiled to see her cry, he said "I'll give you my Vincent to ride."
Says James "In my opinion, there's nothing in this world Beats a 52 Vincent and a red headed girl.
Now Nortons and Indians and Greeves won't do, Ah, they don't have a soul like a Vincent 52."
Oh he reached for her hand and he slipped her the keys,
said "I've got no further use for these. I see angels on Ariels in leather and chrome, swooping down from heaven to carry me home."
And he gave her one last kiss and died. And he gave her his Vincent to ride.

Best fucking motorcycle song ever. No contest.

Chokes me up every time I hear it, and this is a particularly good performance.

not-at-all-blue monday

It has come to my attention via an email from Paul at The Kneeslider (always available from the sidebar at right) that we have reason to celebrate. Something new and strange and wonderful has been growing in secret in Alabama for a year and its name is Motus.

Brian Case, Kneeslider contributing writer and the designer responsible for the carbon backbone, aluminum frame and absolutely sweet carbon girder front end of the Wraith model while he was at Confederate Motorcycles (below right, click to embiggen), has partnered with medical equipment mogul Lee Conn to bring us an American made V4. No, it's not gonna be a ten foot long chrome trailer queen or a peaky, high-strung $40K track bike. It's to be a purpose built, from-scratch Sport Tourer, light, agile, comfortable and with plenty of range. And aimed squarely at the FJR1300/R1200R/ST1300 market. "Case said no United States motorcycle company produces the niche market bike where base models sell in the $15,000-$20,000 range" (from the Birmingham Business Journal article linked below).

I will wait, as I must, but not happily and not without butterflies (mmm...butter) for pictures and testing and information as it appears, but I've read Brian's articles and comments for a few years and he seems a sharp fella and if he says he's gonna make “a next-generation American V4 face-melter” that's got all-day (or even most-of-the-day) comfort and appreciable distance between fill-ups I believe him. I'm pretty sure he's making exactly what I want.

Motus Article on The Kneeslider

"Recession is prime time for Motus, a local R&D company" -Birmingham Business Journal, 27 Feb. 2009

wednesday

Track 800 Update

It has come to my attention via teh moto-intertubes that the production version of the 2010 Track 800CDI (on which you may now put a deposit) will not be equipped with the 2wd system. For that we will have to wait a little longer.

It still has 74lb/ft and 112mpg, though. Want.

tuesday

Oh, baby.

photo: jarno schurgeis (via Track website)

The Good: The Mercedes engineered engine (it's a variant of the Smart ForTwo diesel engine) runs on any kind of diesel (petro/bio/veg oil), has a CVT (to keep mpg up and emissions down), makes 74ft/lbs of torque, has ALL WHEEL DRIVE*, you can use PayPal to buy one, it's four kilos lighter than a BMW GS...oh, and did I mention the ALL WHEEL DRIVE*?

-

The Bad: It's €17,500 (before taxes & fees) and you have to go pick it up at the factory (in Holland) "sometime in late 2010."

-

Track Dieselpowered website (in Dutch)

English version via BabelFish

*the front wheel is driven hydraulically and the rear is shaft-driven

tuesday

R.I.P. U-Honda

1959-2009

It's very like a death in the family.

Last week as I was e-shopping for a second bike (I'm thinkin' TW200, but that's not what this post is about) I stopped at the website for University Honda/Yamaha/MuZ to check the PreOwned Inventory and was greeted by big red letters on their homepage informing me that the oldest Honda dealer in the US (opened in 1959 with 2 Cub 50s as inventory) has closed forever.

"We regretfully announce that after 50 years of business, University Honda/Yamaha has closed its doors. I want to thank everyone for their support over the years, and wish everyone well in the future."

click photos to embiggen

On the eve of the 50th Anniversary of HondaUSA, too. Very sad.

I bought my first streetbike there (an '83 CB550SC). And my second (an '81 GL1100i), both at the Ravenna location (B&W picture). And gallons & gallons of 20w/50 for my BMWs. And so much gear I can't begin to list it all.

They were (are) people who knew their business and cared about the bikes and the customers who bought them. They will be sorely missed.

University Honda

Seattle PI

very blue monday

R.I.P. Hub

Freddie Hubbard (1938-2008)

3 tracks; total time 12:42

Frederick Dewayne Hubbard has left the building. Hub died today at Sherman Oaks Hospital in California of complications from a heart attack in late November.

Freddie was always my favorite. Even more than Dizzy. He had a sonic grace that shone through whether the track was pushing the ragged edge of post-bop or a smooth and seamless ballad. I miss him already.

Here are some links.

Biographies:

JazzTrumpetSolos.com

The Hard Bop Homepage

Wikipedia

Videos & Music:

Freddie Hubbard Channel on last.fm

tuesday

Happy Chanukkwanzsolstmas and a Moto New Year

From Editor Monkeyboy and the staff at 100miles.

May Annual Gift Man supply you all with many toys.

sunday

Why I didn't go riding today.

It's a freakin' winter wonderland out there. With some (for Seattle) serious accumulation and more falling every minute (for 30-odd hours now). It's not quite the worst since I became a year-round-rider, but it's right up there. Pretty, though.

I was unable to ride, but that doesn't mean my bike has to go to waste. I built a SnowBiker to keep my saddle "warm" until the weather turns less Yukon-y.

I should have made him bigger, but it was 23F outside and the snow packed about as easily as sand. No matter, he's been absorbed by the surrounding snow already (took less than a day).

.

In other news: I was out on the deck about 2 this morning and I got to see an example of the Xmas spirit in action. There was a fella running down the sidewalk, and something told me to watch him. He slowed to a walk as he came abreast of my building and then, after looking both ways, crossed the street at a sedate pace, then burst into a run for maybe twenty feet after reaching the opposite side. As he then sauntered nonchalantly along the fence around the Yule-tree vendor in the parking lot I reached for my camera, sensing good video in the making. I wasn't quick enough. By the time I had the camera powered up and aimed he was half a block away at a dead run with a 6-foot Douglas Fir under his arm. Approximately 90 seconds after he disappeared up a side street two police cars cruised by. Blind luck, or a meticulously planned extralegal covert operation?

wednesday

Bikes and Beefs

The US government does not want you to use economical, earth-friendly transportation unless it is built by Americans or Asians*.

The US government is retaliating against a European ban on hormone-injected beef (from anywhere, not just the US) by imposing a 100% (!!) tariff on two-wheelers under 500cc if they're manufactured in Europe. The frankenbeef ban has already been in effect for twenty years, the tariff is brand new. I understand that the wheels of government grind slowly, but damn.

.

"There is no logical link between European motorcycles and the dispute over beef. Imposing these stiff tariffs on motorcycles would do nothing to resolve the trade dispute, but would punish American buyers of European motorcycles. Trade disputes residing concretely within the boundaries of the agricultural industry should not be resolved with trade sanctions levied against non-agricultural products. A 100 percent ad valorem, or higher, tariff on these motorcycles will cause serious and potentially irreversible harm to American small- and medium-sized business owners selling the vehicles. Additionally, citizens will be denied access to certain models of competition and recreation motorcycles that contribute to the lifestyle and well-being of millions of American families."

-Ed Moreland, AMA Vice President For Government Relations.

Full text of AMA letter (.pdf)

.

The public comment period seems to have ended (8 Dec) before we (the public) got to comment.

Hmm.

.

*Many of whom also do not want our chemical-y meats, fruits & vegetables.

monday

12east ~ partII

.

partI coming soon

.

US12 across Idaho on a sunny September afternoon. It was a long awaited and much needed day with no particular place I needed be and no particular time I needed to be there. This is from 5 to 5:30pm the same day, but again just the photogenic bits.

sunday

12east ~ partIII

Yes, part 3. It's the one I finished first.

US12 across Idaho on a sunny September afternoon. It was a long awaited and much needed day with no particular place I needed be and no particular time I needed to be there. This is from 5:40 to 6:00p on a Thursday, but just the photogenic bits.

Parts 1 and 2 will be ready when they're ready, I've heard that anticipation builds character or makes the reward sweeter...or something.