After Breakfast we rode our bikes to Mount Rushmore where motorcycles have their own entrance, and the ticket is valid throughout the year.
We Parked the bikes and went inside to view the Monument, and visited the Sculptor's Studio as well as visit the Display Center.
We went back to the hotel, and I had to work on the reservations for the day especially since we were targeting Sioux Falls. It turned out that there were no Hotels with Vacancies any where close to Sioux Falls due to the big amount of motorcyclists riding into Sturgis the next few days.
Luckily we still have our tents and sleeping bags so I reserved a camp site in Mitchell SD.
The ride was very windy most of the way with the bikes leaning almost 45 degrees against the strong winds. We then started to chase a thunderstorm getting some rain while on it's edge.
At any one time during the ride there were always motorcycles on the other side of the road going to Sturgis. We reached the campsite early enough to put up our tents, and go into town for a meal.
That night I met an elderly gentlemen who drives an RV in the laundry room who stated that the South Dakota is known for their strong winds and that Minnesota was better.
A Camping We Will Go
2009 Hero Honda Karizma R reviews
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2009 BMW S 1000 RR Prototype
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Buell 1125CR picturesSturgis Motorcycle Rally - August 3-9, 2009
Each year, hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists head toward, what many feel, is the motorcycling mecca of the world, Sturgis, and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota takes place this year August 3-9.
Check out my article on this great motorcycle rally. See if you can see me waving in the picture when I attended the 1993 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. I really need to go back at least one more time.
Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Silver Shadow and Jimmy
Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Silver Shadow on her 2007 Honda Shadow Aero. Also see Jimmy on his 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Nomad. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.
If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.
Interview: Prubert, industry insider, podcaster, sport-touring fanatic
Today we present an interview with the Internet's own "Prubert", Sport-Touring.net's resident industry insider. But what some people might not know about Prubert is that he's the former co-host and founder of the Motocast motorcycle podcast, and later the short-lived Sidestand Cafe podcast, presented by Aerostich. Readers who wish to subscribe to back episodes of Motocast can visit the website at http://motocast.libsyn.com/.
Pru, thanks for taking the time.
No problem, thanks for asking...
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself. General biography type stuff, and how you got interested in riding in the first place. What bikes or bike styles have you enjoyed and prefer?
A: It started in 1986 when I took the MSF course on a 1982 Yamaha Seca 400. My friend John's family owned the local Honda Motorcycle dealer and he got me into it.
I have been on few bikes since then but I always come back to a Sport-Touring type of bike. I have had a couple of Honda VFRs, a Triumph Sprint ST and a Speed Triple. Got a Buell Ulysses for a while and now I'm on an FJR. I just enjoy the Sport-Touring bikes, they are comfy enough to ride as long as you want but still can be quite a fun bike on the backroads.
Q: I know you work in the industry that we all love, and I'm sure you're under pretty specific guidelines about what you can and can't say, so we won't ask for any specifics in that regard. But I think we would all love to know; is working in the motorcycle industry the dream job that we all envision it to be? Do you find it getting in the way of actually enjoying the lifestyle, or enhancing it? Or is it best for you to consider it "just a job"?
A: Yeah, this is all of my own opinions and not of my employer, "the typical legal stuff". I think I am "living the dream" for now. My job allows me to ride as part of the job and when I am at work, it is all about motorcycles. There are some people at work that it is just another job, and others that have been at it so long they are worn out, but I am not there yet.
I can be at my desk reading cycle mags and looking at cycle sites and I am doing my job!! How cool is that!
Q: Again, without going into any specifics you may not be able to discuss, can you tell us a little bit about what you do in the industry at the moment? Can you tell us a little bit about the work, the rewards for the type of work you do? The perks?
A: I can tell you that I work for Rider's Edge, part of Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company. I help the dealers in my region that carry the Rider's Edge program with their programs.
My job is to make sure my the Rider's Edge dealers programs are operating within the rules that are set by the MSF, their local & state governments and Rider's Edge. I also consult with the dealers to help them optimize the their programs.
I work in the field about 60% of the time and I get to ride to my dealers. So, I get paid to ride my bike!! How much of a perk is that?? I also get to attend events sponsored by the company as a employee representative.
H-D has quite a history and it is very cool to be a part of it.
Q: Let's talk about the podcasts. What got you interested in doing the podcast initially? Was Motocast your first effort? Do you have other experience in journalism or broadcasting?
A: My co-worker (Chuck Tomasi) got into podcasting early on and shared it with the group that I worked in at the time. He does a podcast called Chuck-chat and had me on as a guest for one show. When it was done I had the idea of doing a motorcycle related podcast, and Chuck helped me get it going. I had NO broadcast or journalism experience... none. That is the great thing about podcasting, you can do it for almost nothing and you really don't have to have any prior skill.
My idea was just to talk about bikes, much like I did with the folks I met in person or online. I asked a few of my friends if they were interested and we started from there. Chuck got us started, pointing out all of the free programs to mix and record shows. There is a site called libsyn that is a hosting site for amature podcasters...we used them as our distribution point and we were up and running!
We did motocast for about a year and half then Andy Goldfine from Aerostich approached me with an idea to do a podcast with him. After some meetings we set things up, but unfortunately it didn't go as well as Motocast. I guess I am not the staged performance type of person that Andy was looking for and the show faltered. When I got the job with H-D I had to get out and the show ended.
I must say it was a great experience but if I had to do it all over again I would stick with motocast. Just a bunch of moto-nuts talking bikes and having fun. Andy had some excellent ideas, but I was not the guy to carry them out.
Q: Motocast was a group- or panel-hosted show most episodes, was it not? Were your co-hosts all personal friends or were you all business contacts that got together to do the show. Whose idea was it? Can you tell us a little bit about the other members of the 'cast?
A: Motocast was a panel type show that I hosted. It started with Nate & Brandon, a couple of friends from one of the VFR related mail lists that we were on. I asked them to join me after hearing a one-man show and how plain they could sound. I figured that having a couple of us would make things interesting. Brandon was not available as much as we needed him so a local (to me) guy heard the show and wanted to join. That is where Dr. Dave came in and most of the shows were Nate & me, with Dr. Dave and Brandon sometimes showing up.
The show started out as my idea that I pitched to the others, then it grew as we started doing it. Nate & Dr. Dave really did add much to the show. I did most of the show mixing/editing but Nate would do some shows to share the load.
All of us were just the run of the mill guys that you see on any motorcycle mail list; we went audio with our chats.
Q: Motocast is still considered by many to be the standard in motorcycle podcasts. From my personal perspective, I haven't found any that measure up. You obviously were doing something right as you were able to get sponsorship and later Aerostich sponsored the 'Cast exclusively. Can you tell us a little bit about the format and formula you chose? And was it something you tweaked considerably before the first episode was ever heard by the public?
A: Wow, thanks for the compliment!! I don't know how I came up with it. I was listening to what others did and figured out how to plug in motorcycle content. We got into it on the ground floor and I still think the medium has a lot to go. Sponsors were trying to get in and there were not many choices, our appeal was that we were very broad with our material. We would talk about anything dealing with motorcycles, where other podcasts were very specific at the time (MotoGP, Crusiers, ama racing, etc).
The first episode was me convincing Nate and Brandon to call in via Skype, then getting to the Chuck-Chat studios (I didn't have a clue how to mix a show at that point) and coming up with a really rough outline for the show. Chuck queued us up and we were off and running. From there I learned how to mix the shows then we did them all from our living rooms. We would create a show idea, come up with an outline and go. Once we started getting outside people wanting to join us it just started to grow.
Q: Later, Motocast was shut down in favor of The Sidestand Cafe podcast, presented by Aerostich. The show didn't last all that long. The format was very different, the production quality was different and it seemed to be more socially focused than product or event focused. Can you tell us a little bit about the changes and what happened to make Sidestand Cafe such a short-lived property?
A: Andy approached Nate & I to do a podcast for him. It was funny, Nate flew over and we rode up from the Appleton, WI area to Duluth to meet with him. It was October and snowing. We got a late start and were riding the snow and dark to talk to the Aerostich staff about the podcast.
(editorial note: I remember when that ride was featured on the 'Cast. One of the guys was on a borrowed Triumph, IIRC.)
At first Andy said he liked Motocast and wanted to sponsor it and wanted it to be Aerostich branded with something. He really wanted something that was more of a show, not just a bunch of guys sitting around. So, it went from a very loose Motocast and turned into a very elaborate production and type of Radio Show that was called the Sidestand Cafe. I assembled quite a staff of current podcasters, motorcycle industry folks and some random motorcyclists. The only problem was that I was out of my element. I am not that artistic and the show needed that.
We started out weak and really didn't have that much time to gel. I got the new job with H-D and had to bow out of the show and left it to Nate and Marc Cook to run. I think that once I left no one was really liking were it was going and it podfaded.
Andy did have a great idea but I think I was the wrong person for the job. If I had to do it again, I would have stuck with just doing plain 'ol Motocast.
Q: Do you miss doing the 'casts? Do you see yourself getting back into the public eye again in the future? Or do you consider the podcasting a "been there, done that, moving on" part of life? Are you happier working more "behind the scenes" now in regards to being an "Internet celebrity"?
A: I think I may do another podcast again... although my wife may not like it. It takes A LOT of time to put even a basic show together. With my job I am very busy and don't know if I would have the time to do anything consistently. I think if you had a show you would need to do it enough so it would be fun for people that would listen to it. Nothing is worse than hearing a good show and then wanting more, then never getting it!
I donÃt think I ever reached internet fame, never was trying to. I was just having fun talking about bikes and meeting new folks along the way.
(editorial note: Pru'... ask around man. A LOT of people know about Motocast!)
To tell you the truth, I don't know how much people know about our show. We would watch downloads and see if anyone was listening, but it was not important.
Q: What are the other members of the Motocast doing with themselves now? Do they work in the industry? Are they still in the public eye?
A: Nate finally got a job as a Fireman, Dr. Dave left his position with Safety First racing and is a tech inspector for the AMA series. Brandon has dropped off the face of the earth... I don't know where the hell he went off to.
Let's change gears a bit, here. I always wonder about other riders' perspectives on several of the more controversial topics in the motorcycling world. Let's do a few "10 words or fewer" topics. Just rattle off what comes to mind in a few short words. Feel free to "pass" on any you don't wish to talk about, or expand on if you so choose. Let's go...
Q: Helmet laws
A: Less Govt intervention, more education. Wear a helmet because you want to.
Q: Headlight modulators
A: Is that guy signaling me? Irritating, but that's the point.
Q: ABS
A: Love it. Everyone should try it, once it saves your bacon once you are hooked.
Q: ATGATT
A: Yes I do. Again, everyone has to choose for themselves, hopefully they learn why I do and choose to do the same.
Q: "The Pace"
A: The best way to ride.
Q: Track days
A: Have never been... on purpose. They are a gateway drug.
Q: "Tail of the Dragon" and other hyped-up roads
A: I love the dragon!! Go when no one is around in the early morning. There are lots of good roads and I like them all... and looking forward to finding more.
Q: Auto-clutches or shiftless riding like the FJR/AE or the Mana 800
A: Not for me, I can still shift, thank you.
Prubert, thanks so much for taking the time today. As a fan, I really miss the Motocast podcast. I really enjoyed the more general nature of Motocast, and the topical "segments" rather than making the whole show about one single topic. You had a good thing going, and there's a hole in the market now.
Is there anything you're currently working on that you'd like to talk about? How can people reach you if fans of the cast want to stay in touch? Thanks again.
Dood, I could bring it back.... but didn't think it was missed!! Funny, it was just something I did during the winter to expel my moto energy and was fun.
I am really surprised that some corporation has not jumped in by now. With the gaining popularity of MP3 capable players it seems like a natural step. I think if everyone knew how easy it was they would be all over it.
I gotta run and make some phone calls... maybe a reunion cast is in the works??
Thanks for listening to Motocast!!!
Smoke 'em if ya got 'em!!
Modifikasi ExtremeTiger Like Ninja 2008
in Front of Modification Tiger 2008Modifications Tiger 2008 specification : Front of the rear drum Ninjaoverdrive back ninja RRBaros velg aluminum front 2:503:00 behindBATTLAX front tires Bridgestone BT39 90/80Bridgestone rear tires BATTLAX BT45R 130/70from behind Modifications extrem 2008 Tiger Suspensi rear monoshock Suzuki Satriadisc heads back + pig Suzuki Satriabar buckling little ninjacat
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modification Karisma 125D EleganceConcept Specification :Engine: standard abizzFilter carburettor : KOSOSok Rear: WP suspensionExhaust: NOB1 Triovale ALTires front / rear : Mizzle 60/80 - 17Velg : RCY giga diskStirrup: chrome layerView Karisma 125D Elegance Concept besidenextchrome velg & calter engine full modification.replace the piston IzumiCDI BrtCat black colour.
Modifikasi New Bajaj Pulsar 2008 | Specification
Bajaj modification mufflerNew Bajaj Pulsar Modification and specification :- Port n Polish- Keihin PE28 carb- K & N open air filter- CLD clutch spring (per canvas kompling)- Stainless Steel Free Flow Muffler by 3DI- Brt Smartclick CDI- Protec Coil- Denso Iridium spark plugs IU27A- Sprocket ratio 15/38- Rear Disc Brake- Stainless Steel Engine Guard by 3DI- Stebel Magnum horns- T-rack & E-21 Givi
new 2008 Tiger Revo Modifikasi and spec
New 2008 Tiger Revo modificationModification Honda Tiger Revo 2008 and Specification :topper box: givi maxia e52 (52 liter)sider box: givi keyless e41 (41 liter)headlamp : yamaha V-ixionbohlam : HID 35 watt, 4300 K, ballast slim.front disk : psmsetang : suzuki TStires : front : battlax bt45 110/70/17rear : battlax bt45 140/70/17velg : takazawaknalpot: R9.bullbar, airscoop. whinshield, handguard :
Wow! hi-speed photography of a motorcycle race
If you're a fan of motorcycle racing, or a fan of photography/video at insanely fast frame rates, or a student of practical physics, you must watch this video. You can see things happening that people never normally see. Tire flexing that looks scary. Frame and body flexing that looks like the whole bike is about to come apart. Tires landing after a slight wheelie where it looks like a crash is imminent. This is pretty wild. I love high-speed photography and video... I'm really quite interested in real-world physics, so seeing what's happening to the bike during these turns is just fascinating to me.
http://axisofoversteer.blogspot.com/2009/07/motogp-1500-frames-per-second.html
Interview: J.C. Hutchins. Author, blogger, podcaster.
Today, I'm pleased to present a brief interview with J.C. Hutchins, author and podcaster. Mr. Hutchins is the author and narrator of the 7th Son trilogy of podcast novels, the first of which is due out in bookstores Fall of 2009, and of the podcast novella, Personal Effects: Sword of Blood. Sword of Blood is the precursor to J.C.'s current novel, Personal Effects: Dark Art, currently available in book stores and online since June of this year.
Personal Effects: Dark Art brings a new dimension to the standard printed book. In addition to the actual paper novel, the reader is also able to dive deeper into J.C.'s universe and into the story and characters' lives by way of telephone and online interaction with characters, computer accounts, information and with actual hard copies of certain swag from the story. It's quite unique and makes for a very enjoyable out-of-book experience. J.C. also has a fictional character who posts on the Suicide Girls 'blog... something that caused quite a stir in the 'blogging community.
All this extra-book interactivity is great, but at its core the story is gripping, well written and the characters are very, very well fleshed out. I never find myself wondering what the characters would "really" do in given situations. I believe in J.C.'s characters; I accept them. They don't feel made up or hastily crafted. Personally, I've enjoyed his works of fiction very much, and look forward to more of his books finding permanent places on my bookshelves, right alongside my growing set of Sigler and Lafferty novels.
Q: J.C., Thanks for taking the time to be a part of the Motorcycle Manifesto, and for being our first celebrity interview. I'm very excited. I'll try not to gush.
JC: Thanks for the opportunity! I'm thrilled to be here.
Q: Let's get right into it. I believe you spent some time as a journalist or reporter; do you find that training and experience helped or hindered you with writing something so techinically-detailed and involved as the science fiction based 7th Son, or the supernatural thriller Dark Art?
JC: That's right. I discovered journalism in high school, writing for the student newspaper ... and then went to college to study print journalism for a career. I really enjoyed writing personality profiles and feature stories -- the longer and more colorful, the better. After school, I moved from my home state of Kentucky to Florida, and worked on the Features desk at a great South Florida paper. But I left the biz in 2002 because I could see that it was becoming a troubled industry. I wish I hadn't been right about that.
An important thing my journalism experience taught me, however, was the importance of research. How can a story be convincing if it didn't *sound* convincing, you know? But the most important lesson I took away from features reporting was focusing on people and their surroundings. What does this person sound like, or look like? What's in their office, or living room? What do the pictures on the mantle mean to this person? Does he ride a Harley, a crotch rocket, or something else? Those are all peeks into the character of a person, and provide realistic and sympathetic "anchors" that make them come alive in a newspaper story.
The same goes for fiction: the more "real" you can make your characters and their surroundings in the story, the more a reader is likely to identify with him.
Q: Dark Art is very different from the hard-science and science fiction based universe we came to understand in the 7th Son stories. Speaking chiefly about Dark Art, but also about your books others, too, can you tell us, what was the inspiration for the story?
JC: The inspiration for Dark Art came in large part by Jordan Weisman, my co-author and creator of the Personal Effects series. When we began chatting about the project, he'd already created some of its foundations: a talented art therapist working in a mental hospital ... the therapist uses his patients' personal effects to unlock their psychoses ... etc. He'd even presented a story idea -- just a sentence or two -- about the strange case of Martin Grace, a psychosomatically blind serial killer. It was up to me to flesh out that world, working closely with Jordan to make sure his vision was realized on the page.
For Dark Art, I wanted to capture the vibe of some of my favorite TV shows, like the X-Files. That show really did a great job of walking the tightrope between fantasy and reality -- you were never quite sure if the phenomenon Mulder and Scully were pursuing was supernatural, or something more mundane.
The supernatural creature seen in Dark Art -- The Dark Man -- was mostly inspired by my own slight fear of the dark. I think we all can identify with that fear, or can remember having that kind of fear. What if there was something so unholy, it lived only in the darkness? What if it were a beast that had lived for centuries, brought forth to punish the guilty in a kind of supernatural "street justice"? And what if this living darkness hunted our novel's hero? It was a blast to write those scenes in particular, because I love writing twisted shit ... but rarely have the opportunity to do so.
I wanted to scare folks, but not in a horrific way. Dark Art is more about the psychological aspect of fear; it's more about what you don't see. I'm a big fan of that kind of storytelling. It's like the movie "Jaws" ... the shark is way scarier when you simply see the fin on the water.
Q: Since this is a motorcycle-oriented 'blog, I have to ask: Are you a motorcyclist? If so, can you tell us what you ride, what bikes you've owned over the years? Or, if not, can you tell us how you, as a non-rider, feel about motorcyclists, motorcycles and how "we" interact with the world around us in your eyes? Be as candid as you like... we're all well aware that sometimes we're not painted in the best light, often by some of our own community members. Thank you.
JC: I'm not a rider, though I've written characters who are -- so I get to live vicariously through them. I've got a lot of admiration for most motorcyclists, and I like to romanticize the hobby and lifestyle in my mind. I think of riders as Wild West cowboys, on mechanical horses, taking advantage of the speed and -- most important -- the freedom the motorcycle provides. It looks like hella fun.
I also swoon, without fail, whenever I see a female rider on the road. Call me a sexist, but a woman on a bike is *hot*.
I know it can be a touchy subject, but I do wish more motorcyclists would wear helmets and protective gear when they ride. I'm not a worrier by nature, but when I see a helmet-less, shorts-wearing kid on a Kawasaki roar past me on the road, I cringe. I'm certain these riders have absolute faith in their abilities, but all it takes is a slight miscalculation to wind up tumbling off a bike ... and then your limbs are hamburger, and your ribs are snapping like celery sticks, and your head's a broken watermelon, and you're deader than disco. I liken helmets and leathers to car seatbelts: they exist for those impossible-to-calculate odds when shit just goes wrong.
But I'm a "live and let live" kind of guy. Pursue your happiness however you like, as long as you're not hurting anyone else.
Q: And to wrap up, is there anything you would like to say? Pimp yourself? Tell us how you can be reached, and where people can learn more about the Personal Effects and 7th Son stories.
JC: Sure! If your readers are interested in learning more about me and my work, they can visit www.JCHutchins.net.
Q: Thanks again for taking the time, and I hope you can virtually visit us again in the near future.
JC: Thanks for having me, and for all the support!
Twiddling My Thumbs-High-tech Motorcycle.
Dragged the bike out of its winter storage last Saturday and started doing some of the prep work for the upcoming riding season.
Removed the seat and gas tank to access the radiator cap and topped off the coolant. Bike need a new battery this year so didn't get it started yet to warm up the oil and do an oil change.
One of the features of the old Silverwing is that I can have a passenger seat in place or the trunk. The past year I had the seat in place and used the trunk relocation kit but this year have changed the bike back into its solo seat configuration. I don't need the rear seat for extra storage space when I am pulling my cargo trailer but without the trailer it is a great place to put a duffel bag which can substitute as a back rest.
Saturday was a warm day and it felt good to get out and fiddle around with the bike but as it turned out the weather turned colder the next day and then snowed again.
The next few days are supposed to be warm enough to melt the remaining snow pack and my riding may resume by the end of the month.
The roads are clear enough to ride on but the alley behind the house is still full of ice and snow and the driveway is a mess of mud and ice. So my motorcycle and myself are still being held hostage by the elements.
No use being in a hurry can't do much till the snow and mud clears but at least I can go out to the shop and check things over and make sure everything is in order for the upcoming riding year.
Suspected Malaysian fugitive suspected in hotel bomb JW Marriott And Ritz Carlton.
Orang Malaysia Sebagai pelaku Peledakan Bom??? The Malaysian fugitive suspected in hotel bombing JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN)- Authorities investigating the twin hotel bombing in Jakarta have found the remains of another person and believe that a fugitive Malaysian-born militant known may be behind the attack, police said Saturday.The police studied the aftermath of a bomb blast at a restaurant in
Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Tom G.
Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Tom G. on his 2003 Harley-Davidson Softail Deuce. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.
If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.
Harley-Davidson Recalls 2009 FLTRSE3 Motorcycles for Wheel Crack
Harley-Davidson is recalling certain 2009 FLTRSE3 motorcycles equipped with blade rear wheel accessory kits.
Some wheels within the subject population underwent a secondary heat treatment process. As a result of this secondary heat treatment, these wheels may have a crack.
1759 units are affected.
Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.
Hayabusa GSX 1300 R
Here is a great site with a lot of info,and the owner has a wonderful bike, where he has done some Great modifications.
The nice part of it is that you cant see the changes if you dont know a little about the Suzuki Hayabusa.Here is the site ;
SUZUKI HAYABUSA GSX 1300 R
Safe Bikin'
Marius
Honda Shadow Aero side views
Honda Shadow Aero wallpapers
Honda Shadow Aero photos
Honda Shadow Aero touring bikes
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R seat design
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R pictures
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R wallpapers
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R backlight design
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R dashboardFoto , gambar , Wajah Pelaku Peledakan Bom JW Marriott dan Ritz Carlton
setelah melakukan penyelidikan intensif yang dilakukan oleh pihak kepolisian Republik indonesia, dugaan sementara Wajah pelaku Bom di JW Marriott dan Ritz Carlton telah di temukan. akan tetapi pihak kepolisian masih terus melakukan penyelidikan mengenai hal tersebut.ini merupakan Gambar , foto , pelaku Bom yang di duga dengan motif Bom bunuh diri.....Wajah Pelaku Peledakan Bom
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R photos
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R bikes models
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R wallpaper
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R pictures
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R concept
BMW HP2 Megamoto best rider
BMW HP2 Megamoto touring bikes
BMW HP2 Megamoto wallpaper
BMW HP2 Megamoto pictures
BMW HP2 MegamotoMy Motorcyle History-High-tech Motorcycle.
Looking back at all the bikes I have owned there appears to be a common theme.
They have all been Honda's of early 80's vintage. And after owning nothing but Honda's I am a firm believer in Honda technology. The early bikes had crude engineering but in the early 80's they improved their technology to the point that many of these bikes are still on the road and running strong.
1975 Honda CB500T
First bike which I paid about $700 dollars for and it did not run very well as it strained to achieve a high speed of 60 MPH.
1981 Honda CB400T
Second bike I owned more up-to-date technology and a snappy little runner, more reliable, that banana seat was a butt buster.
1981 Honda CX500 Custom
I took a bare bones bike and made a small tourer out of it, adding fairing, radio, trunk and floorboards.
1980 Honda GL1100 Goldwing
The best of the bunch, added over $2,000. worth of chrome and extras and even pulled a small cargo trailer behind.
1982 Honda CB 900 Custom
What I bought after thinking the Goldwing was too big just to ride around town on.
1981 Honda GL500 Silverwing
My current ride after being out of biking for 12 years.
Not a very impressive list of bikes to be sure but all except the first were good reliable transportation. I put the most miles on the CX500 taking it cross country a couple of times without any major problems.
When I decided to get back into motorcycling a few years ago I was dismayed to find that I could not replace any of the old bikes for the same price I had disposed of them. They all had appreciated in value.
I may not be on the latest marvel of technology but at least I am out there on the road enjoying everything about the lifestyle of motorcycling.
Presiden republik Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ( SBY ) Menjadi Sasaran Tembak oleh teroris????
When President SBY at the press conference at the State Palace on Friday 17 June 2009, with the explosion of the BOM monitoring in Marriott and Ritz Carlton. The point of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) that there are a few people laugh satisfied because of the bomb explosions that occurred at the hotel JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton. The point of SBY, the parties do not have a sense of
Presiden republik Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ( SBY ) Menjadi Sasaran Tembak??
Foto Gambar SBY Menjadi Sasaran tembak.Saat Presiden SBY melakukan Konferensi Pers di Istana Negara Pada Hari Jumat 17 Juni 2009, menindak lanjuti Aksi Ledakan BOM di Marriott dan Ritz Carlton. Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) menuding ada segelintir orang yang tertawa puas akibat ledakan bom yang terjadi di Hotel JW Marriott dan Ritz Carlton. SBY menuding, pihak-pihak tersebut tak
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2009 Suzuki DR-Z400SM How's this for a combination of a fiery red? Take the versatility and the incredible performance of renowned DR-Z400 from Suzuki. Mix in street-legal opportunities and unmatched handling. Add a double shot to call and aggressive attitude Suzuki. The result is the 2008 DR-Z400SM.For exceptional performance on the street, the DR-Z400SM offers remarkably fresh performance, with
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APRILLIA 2009 Daytona SportBike
2009 AMA Daytona SportBike classAprilia USA, the U.S. importer and distributor of Aprilia sports bikes, announces the start of a factory-sponsored team completely new way of competing with the new class of 2009 AMA Daytona Sportbike, part of the 2009 league championship AMA Superbike. KWS Motorsports and will compete only manage the team of the millennium technology of the factory Aprilia in the
Sport Motor BUELL GEICO Powersports
GEICO Powersports today announced it will sponsor a Richie Morris Buell 1125R with competing in the 2009 AMA Superbike Championship with rider Michael Barnes of the veteran. The RMR team will compete in the Daytona Sportbike class plans to participate in the entire 12 race series, beginning with the Daytona 200 at Daytona International Road under lights in the evening of March 6, 2009.
2009 Ducati Streetfighter New Motor Sport
Only those moterheads out there so you know, inside the mind of the stimulus there is a clause which makes sales of any purchase of a new motorcycle tax deductible in 2009 for the individual who makes less than 125k a year. In the spirit of sharing this good news we would like to purchase just what it should be. Devil himself made in the factory Ducati street, convenient it is named the
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2010 Honda VFR1200 PriviewThis is the latest motorcycle that is slated for release by Honda, and a picture of it has now leaked way ahead of schedule, thanks to the internet. The bike features close to 200 HP and variable cylinder management. Of course this bike will get great gas mileage, making it a good option for commuters and bikers alike.The bike you see here is, according to MCN, the
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Harley-Davidson 2009 XL 1200N Sportster Nightster 1200 ($9.899 - $10.389, according to the color) comprises an engine 1,200cc rubber-assembled. The retro naming selections include cuffs of fork of old school, a guard of belt of ball-hole, and a number plate side-rise."The XL 1200N Nightster is a blacked-out street bike that continues a half century of Sportster tradition of innovative, fun and
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Honda Powersport has introduced the 2009 CBR600RR and CBR600RR ABS in US, with increased mid-range power, new bodywork for a sleek, race-ready look and Radial-mounted monoblock four-piston front calipers.2009 CBR600RR ABS is equipped with patented, electronically controlled Combined ABS, delivering the benefits of Combined Braking System (CBS) and the benefits of Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
Harley-Davidson XR1200 ride review
So, today I had a doctor's appointment at 8:45am, and to which I rode my Sportster. I got out of there, then went and had breakfast. Some of you may know the place - Hank's Place @ Rt. 100 & Rt. 1 - yummie! After breakfast I took a spin down Old Rt. 100 and back up to Rt. 1, then headed to Hannum's Harley-Davidson dealer on the way to the office. I wanted to check on a 2-up seat for my Sportster since I'm selling the 'Glide but still want to ride with my daughters. While I was there I was convinced I should take one of their XRs for a ride. Gosh, my arm hurts from all the twisting they had to do. This place knows me pretty well, so a smile and a handshake, a toss of the keys and I'm down the road.
My test ride took me down Rt. 1 South to Creek Road (where I did three passes), across Center Meeting Road to Rt. 52, up 52 to Owl's Nest Road then down to Rt. 82 in to Kennett, where I turned around and came back up Rt. 82 to Snuff Mill Road, back over to Rt. 52 and up Rt. 1 back to Hannum's. This allowed me to explore the bike's ride and handling on highway conditions, mild and intense twisties, and casual country roads. It's a good loop for testing a bike in this area, and you get to ride Delaware's only seriously twisty road, Rt. 82 - which is not to be missed if you're in the area.
Harley-Davidson XR1200
Harley-Davidson XR1200
Comfort:
Sitting on this bike took me right back to earlier in the year when I was lusting after one of these and was sitting on each one I could find and making "vroom vroom" noises. For me, the ergos on this bike are almost perfect. My body size and proportions just feel right at home on this bike. Each hand and foot just fall to a perfectly neutral position with the balls of my feet on the pegs and with my hands resting on the bars with the appropriate amount of elbow bend.
The seat is a bit tall for my 30" inseam, but no worse than the CBRs and FZs I've ridden in the past. I can't flat-foot it, but I feel perfectly secure with the balls of both feet on the street at stops. The bars are wide and have only slight angles in them, akin to a dirt bike or large cruiser. They provide ample leverage for turn-in and for in-turn maintenance. Very neutral and comfortable for me. All comfort features on every bike are, of course, subjective. They seem to have done well getting this bike ergonomically "good enough" for the masses.
It's a naked bike, so the wind hits you... well, everywhere. There is no buffeting at all, only a clean stream of unfoiled air on your torso and up and around your helmet. Legs don't feel fatigued by the wind because your feet are behind your knees and that natural "locked-in" feeling that you feel in your legs on more aggressive sport bikes is there, but not as extreme. Again, very comfortable and neutral.
The seat just sucks. It's hard in the wrong places, it's soft in the wrong places, it's sloped funny and there are edges inside it. It just sucks and begs for an aftermarket upgrade. But I was perfectly ok on my hour-long test ride. Any longer than that and I would be kicking the bike over in frustration at the next stop.
I didn't go exploring, but I'm told there is storage space under the pillion seat. It can't be much, but apparently it's larger than many other "sport" bike offerings. I didn't find the air box or oil cooler to be in my way at all... the tank is very narrow and the air box is well out of your way. In that regard, it's far and away better than my Sportster, with its conventional ham-can air cleaner taking up real estate on the bike's right side. The XR is very subtle in that area.
The mirrors are typical Sportster mirrors. You can see behind you when you look in them. You can adjust them so that you can see pretty well behind you without staring at your own elbows. And yes, they shake... the V-Twin's vibrations are transmitted throughout the entire bike just as they are on any of Harley's other rubber-mounted, unbalanced, 45* V-Twin-powered motorcycles. This is part of what makes a Harley a Harley. If you don't like a twin throb, don't bother getting on this bike. You KNOW there's a twin under you on this bike, but to me it's just grin-worthy. I love twins.
Engine & Power:
The bike is powered by the larger, 1200cc Sportster engine, with some minor mods. I've ridden 1200cc Sportsters before, so I don't really have anything new or exciting to say about the bike's power, other than, if you don't like the way twins deliver power, then clearly you are a communist-era loser who hates kittens, apple pie and all things Detroit; you are unAmerican and deserve to be kicked in all the bad places. You probably like liver and onions for dinner, too. Freak!
But seriously, the bike is a typical twin, delivering all its torque nearly right off idle and completely through to red-line. The bike falls flat on its face once you hit redline and the rev limiter kicks in, so you'll want to be mindful of your RPM especially in the lower two gears. If you really go playing at red line in 4th or 5th, please be sure you have lots of open road ahead of you. This is not a slow bike. But once you get to know the shift points, the bike will pull you to triple digit speeds (and yes, that's in MPH!) far quicker than you might expect from something air-cooled from the Bar & Shield folks. The 1200 Sportster package is no slouch when it comes to acceleration and power delivery.
Yes, there is a shake at idle. Yes, there are vibrations. Yes, there is a serious twin pulse (as compared to the SV, the Ducatis, etc.) But the bike is buttery smooth at 4k RPM, tooling down the highway at speeds that will get you more than a wink and a wave from the troopers.
Ride & Handling:
The bike has inverted forks, lightweight sport-bike rims which are shod with Dunlop Sportmax Qualifiers. This bike knows how to stay glued to the road and feels absolutely awesome leaned over with its massive torque propelling you through any turn you're willing to twist it through. The bike handles well... period...
... as long as the road surface is good.
To clarify... The front end of the XR feels absolutely perfect, if only slightly under-sprung (I'm just shy of 200lbs with gear on). Damping is good, the ride is plush but well damped, predictable and rock-solid stable. It's a good common-denominator effort.
The rear suspension, in a word, sucks. This bike suffers the same rear suspension woes that my Sportster does. The shocks are harsh, softly sprung, overdamped and just generally crap. I've got progressive 412s on my Sportster and I don't like them at all. Something with more adjustability is in order and so it is with the XR as well. On a smooth road the rear suspension is fine, but you can quickly find less-than-perfect roads nearly everywhere you go.
There has got to be a better aftermarket solution. But the swing arm is bulky and probably carries more heft than other bikes you're likely to be interested in if the XR tickles your fancy. I don't know that this bike will ever be able to handle (at the rear end) quite as well as nearly any other sport-oriented motorcycle. But that's its only real weakness. It handles better than my Sportster and mine handles better than *any* other Harley I've ever ridden previous to the XR and as well as any japanese built standard. I spent lots of time and the right money getting mine to handle that well. The XR beats it out of the box.
Conclusions:
The XR1200 delivers monster amounts of torque at every operable RPM. It shifts sure and true. The bike delivers that power through a competent suspension that isn't perfect, but far better than "good enough" for this class of bike. It meets the street on typically-sized 17" sport bike tires covering light-weight sport bike rims. It provides comfort enough for day tours and multi-day riding, but offers very little in excessive features. I'm not a fan of the styling of the factory-available soft luggage, but it works, it does its job and it is made to fit the bike perfectly; something that many aftermarket solutions could be far, far better at.
The bike is fast, yet well mannered in all riding situations. It doesn't deliver its power in a "peaky" fashion like many smaller I4 engines, nor does it lumber like big-bore twins. It's spritely... it wants to rev and it wants to breath - let it. Twist it up and enjoy the extra length your arms will get over time.
The bike's closest functional competitor is likely the Suzuki SV-650 or perhaps the little Ducati Monster, and of course its cousin, the Buell. This bike is best suited for those who want a Harley-Davidson branded motorcycle, yet also want a bike that is fast, handles well and is a real competitor for sport-oriented riders. It isn't the best available in its class, but yeah... it's serious and it's well worth a look.
Given the non-adjustable suspension that is good enough but needs work for enthusiasts, the ride comfort, features and aftermarket support - if I had to buy a twin-powered naked, I would opt for the Buell (for similar money), or the smaller Ducati (for less money) and forego this bike, simply on price and its lack of better suspension. But hey... it's a Harley! And that is not an insignificant point of fact. It ooozes Harley sexiness while still being something of a new breed. It's a good bike. Period. This is what the Sportster Sport should have been 10+ years ago. But the Buell is probably the better buy for serious sport-oriented riders who don't care so much about branding but still want the iconic twin in a sport chassis.
