What People Think Motorcyclists Do

Here's a nice little photo montage showing What People Think Motorcyclists Do (as compared to What We Really Do).

And this one (for my Sport Rider friends)

USA 4 Corners Tour Planning 2012

USA 4 Corners Planning 2012

As crazy as it sounds, I'm doing another 4 Corners Tour later this year. Am I a sucker for punishment, or what?

I've received my rider packet and the pre-addressed envelopes. All is set for a mid-May departure. My good friend Ted and I plan to depart at 1AM on May 12 and return by late May.

There will be some differences from the last time I rode this as I'd like to quicken the pace a bit and get the entire ride completed in 2 - 2 1/2 weeks. I will do the ride on my trusty BMW GS this time (vs. my Triumph that's been causing me so much grief of late). As well, I plan to use a "Modified X" route. It'll save some mileage initially, then add about 500 miles to the overall ride.

As well, I now have a SPOT GPS tracking device so interested parties can keep track of our progress via these links:

http://www.spotadventures.com/trip/view?trip_id=296601

Here's the 4 Corners portion of the route:

Here's the entire route, including the loooooong road home:

Here's the website: http://www.usa4corners.org/

We need to do a few things before, during and after the ride.

1. (BEFORE): We need to send in the paperwork for the USA 4 Corners Tour AND the SCMA membership AND the AMA release. That's $125 ($100 for the 4 Corners Tour and $25 for the SCMA membership. DONE!

2. (DURING): The clock starts once we get the first gas receipt at the initial corner (San Ysidro). It only takes about 15 minutes to get the secret phone number, photo and gas receipt. When we mail the first letter from the San Ysidro post office, that starts the ride.

When we arrive at each point along the way, we must snap a photo of us in front of a certain landmark and mail the pre-addressed envelopes (with receipts and mileage) from the location. We must also write our motorcycle license numbers on the gas receipts.

3. (AFTER): The final stop is a biggie. We must make sure to obtain a dated, timed receipt showing the location (I ask for a 2nd copy from the gas station attendants).

I estimate that the actual 4 Corners ride will take us about 11 days or less and we will travel about 7,100 miles -- well under the 21 days allowed.

Once we mail off the final letter, we have completed the USA 4 Corners portion of the tour and it's just a matter of returning home (no rush as it's not counted as part of the 21 days). Ted plans to visit friends in Mississippi after we complete the ride and take his time getting back home. He may head south from Louisville and I continue west. I plan to travel back fairly quickly, putting on as many miles as I can safely ride.

4. Expenses: Fuel and hotels will likely be our biggest expenses, with gas at $4.60 a gallon in California (cheaper around the US, more expensive in Canada).

5. Route planning: This is a biggie for several reasons. We've decided against the new "True X Route." It'll take more time and more fuel. Where do we go from San Ysidro? Or do we want to start with San Ysidro at all? Maybe we can use that as our ending point. Do we want to travel through Canada? It'll save time and a lot of miles, but it can be complicated and the roads aren't as good. Beautiful riding, though! I prefer the "Modified X" route, where we go from San Ysidro to Blaine to Key West to Madawaska. Returning home, we will cross our previous route somewhere near Des Moines or Omaha.

6. When do we want to depart? I can budget no more than 3 weeks off of work this year, and I prefer to do the entire ride in about 2 weeks. The last time I did this ride (May 25-June 10, 2010) it took me 12 days to ride 7,000 miles. I predict that the way we ride, it will be 10 days to ride it and 3 days to return to San Diego (for me). I have obligations in April, June and July. I hope these dates work as I’m unavailable during certain dates: May 14 – June 1.

See my ride report from my 2010 USA 4 Corners Tour.

More to follow...

Let’s break out the maps and start planning!

Lane Splitting: Getting to the bottom of a hot topic

Lane Splitting: Getting to the bottom of a hot topic

I've heard all of the arguments for and against motorcyclists splitting lanes. My own opinion is irrelevant as each rider must make up his or her own mind. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't – depending on the situation (weather, time of day, traffic, etc.). I've decided to address the issue via this forum for my friends and family members who seem to disagree most about this seemingly minor matter.

The Facts: In California lane splitting is absolutely legal, with conditions. That's it in a nutshell. The California Driver's Handbook, Sharing the Road with Other Vehicles, states, "It is not illegal to share lanes with motorcycles."

For example, here it is in black and white from the "Ask an Officer" FAQ thread on the CHP site: (http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/answers.html)

Q: Can motorcycle riders "split" lanes and ride between other vehicles?
A: Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner.

That's pretty clear. But, you may ask, just what is a "safe and prudent manner?" And therein lies the rub, as the definition of “safe and prudent” is very much up to interpretation by police officers and judges.

Lane splitting refers to a two-wheeled vehicle moving between lanes of vehicles that are proceeding in the same direction. More narrowly, it refers to passing stopped or slower moving traffic between lanes at a speed greater than surrounding traffic. It is also sometimes called lane sharing, whitelining, filtering or stripe-riding. Alternatively, lane splitting has been used to describe moving through traffic that is in motion while filtering is used to describe moving through traffic that is stopped.

Lane splitting by motorcycles is generally legal in Europe, Japan and several other countries, and is illegal in many U.S. states, but is considered lawful in California.

The legal restrictions on lane splitting for bicyclists can be the same, such as in California. In some jurisdictions, such as Nebraska, lane-splitting by motorcyclists is specifically prohibited.

That last part came from a comprehensive Wikipedia article that you may enjoy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lane_splitting).

First, some history about lane splitting by motorcycles.

I was told by a CHP officer that the decision to allow the practice of motorcycle riders sharing the lanes with or riding between two vehicles came about after the large, air-cooled Harley-Davidson bikes would overheat in heavy, slow or stopped traffic. Sounds like a legitimate concern to me. Anyhow, that ruling (or actually, not technically disallowing it) evolved into what we have now: ANY bike can split lanes when safe to do so. And that brings us back to "safe and prudent."

All of us have likely witnessed sport bikes weaving in and out of traffic at 75+ MPH. Those riders shouldn't be surprised when they are stopped and ticketed.

Some quick Net research I did revealed that in California it's legal to "split" lanes on a motorcycle, which means you can ride in the lane between the lanes when traffic is slowed to a "virtual halt" and even then it is legal only if done safely. And "safely" is always very much a judgment call. The mere fact that an accident happened while a rider was lane splitting is very strong evidence that on that occasion it wasn't safe to do so. If an accident happens while a motorcycle is lane splitting, there’s a good chance that fault for the accident will be attributed to the motorcycle rider. If the insurance adjuster or court finds that the motorcyclist’s carelessness was a substantial cause of the accident, the rider is out of luck when it comes to recovering damages.

Other states, when considering lane splitting laws, often reference California's success, or lack thereof. In a 3/1/05 Tacoma, Washington News Tribune article (Bill could give bikers free pass through traffic), the following quote says it all: "But the Washington State Patrol is opposed to the bill, according to patrol spokesman Capt. Jeff DeVere. He told the committee that it would be difficult to set and enforce standards for appropriate speeds and conditions for lane splitting. And he said that officials with the California Highway Patrol told him that they wished they had never begun allowing the practice." Hmmmm, very interesting.

Even Arizona put together a bill to legalize lane-splitting in stopped traffic. The bill, introduced by fellow Harley rider Representative Jerry Weiers, went into effect for a one-year probationary period on January 1, 2011. The bill only applied to counties with populations of over 2 million, which is mainly just Maricopa County.

So why are more states not following the lead? It seems that the majority of the car driving population does not like the idea of lane splitting, citing reasons from "it's too dangerous" to "if I'm stuck in traffic, you should be too." Lane splitting can be dangerous; however being at the back of traffic on a motorcycle can also be dangerous. Rear end collisions are very common and deadly for motorcyclists. Then again, just riding a motorcycle is dangerous.

Anyhow, like most riding decisions that we as motorcyclists make, legal or not, it's really up to the individual rider to determine what's safe and how much he or she will "push it." That goes for speeding, lane splitting, riding in groups or riding above ones skill level.

Here are a couple of resources for those who choose to split lanes:

Tips for Splitting Lanes (http://www.whybike.com/motorcycle5.htm).

That site "Splitting Lanes 101" includes a short video pointing out the dangers of splitting lanes. Man, that dude has some loud pipes!

And here's some new info from a recent study (and an article titled, "Proof That Motorists are Out to Kill Motorcyclists"). Some scary statistics!

According to a survey conducted by the California Office of Traffic Safety, the majority of car drivers are unaware that lane splitting is a legal practice. A small minority, seven percent, admitted to researchers that they'd actively tried to prevent lane splitting. Despite that, the vast majority, 84.4 percent of riders, have never had an incident while splitting. A lot of what's in this report is statistical confirmation of common sense and what you and I observe every day:

- The vast majority of riders are male (93.4 percent) and middle aged (30.4 percent are 45-54).
- Most riders use motorcycles only for leisure (45.9 percent), but plenty use them for both commuting and leisure riding (30.8 percent).
- More riders lane split on freeways (77.6 percent) than on surface streets (63.9 percent)
- You're more likely to be hit by a car while lane splitting on the freeway (11.7 percent) than on surface streets (8.3 percent
- Only 1.7 percent of riders admit to splitting while traffic is traveling at 70mph or faster.
- 10mph above the speed of traffic is the most popular splitting pace (42.1 percent).
- Distracted drivers (30.0 percent) and drivers not bothering to check mirrors before changing lanes (32.5 percent) are seen as the biggest dangers.
- You're more likely to lane split the more often you ride.

Whatever you decide, with regard to splitting lanes, be safe out there.

Motorcycle Crime Around the World: Thugs on Bikes Give Us a Bad Name

Motorcycle Crime Around the World

Because thugs on bikes have been involved in a number of crimes(bombings, drive-by shootings, etc.), more scrutiny has been placed on motorcyclists in some countries (i.e., Georgia, India, Honduras). For example, the AMA recently alerted motorcycle enthusiasts traveling in Central America that Honduras has banned motorcycle passengers. Here are two related articles:

1. Honduras bans motorcycle passengers after drive-by shootings

Politicians in Honduras have voted to ban motorcycle passengers after two drive-by killings threw the spotlight back on to the country's increasingly desperate security situation. MPs approved the law on Wednesday night, during a closed session, arguing that it would help tackle a growing wave of drug-related slayings in the Central American country, now a major hub for traffickers smuggling cocaine into the USA.

"Given the current security situation, we believe that the appropriate response is allowing only one person [to ride] on motorcycles," Pompeyo Bonilla, the Honduran security minister, told Congress.

The move followed two high-profile murders in the capital, Tegucigalpa.
On Tuesday, Luz Marina Paz Villalobos, a radio show host, was gunned down outside her home by men on two motorbikes. The following day, Alfredo Landaverde, a prominent security expert and anti-corruption activist, was killed as he drove through the Honduran capital with his wife.

According to most estimates, Honduras now suffers from the world's highest murder rate. In 2010, there were around 82 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Speaking to the Honduran newspaper La Tribuna, the mayor of Tegucigalpa, Ricardo Álvarez, suggested his country now needed outside support to battle the rise in violent crime.

"I think the entry of an international force in the country is something we must start to discuss and give serious thought to," he said, adding that the ban on motorcycle passengers could be "part of the solution to Honduras' plight."

"We are reaching a point at which we either save Honduras or all Hondurans sink together. We must come together and row in the same direction in order to stop the terrible wave of violence that is plaguing the nation," he added.

As Honduran politicians approved the ban on pillion passengers, there was outrage in Brazil's economic capital, Sào Paulo, over similar plans intended to clamp down on motorbike-riding thieves. The bill, voted through in late November by members of Sào Paulo's state parliament, now needs approval from the governor, Geraldo Alckmin. Alckmin has signalled that he will veto the new law.

"We are enormously concerned with the question of security but we need to be careful not to punish workers and low-income people who use motorbikes as a means of transport or for work," he said.

Writing on Twitter, Luiz Eduardo Soares, a leading security expert, remarked that lawmakers might also want to outlaw the use of shoes or people walking in pairs. "I'm astonished," he wrote.

2. Politicians argue move will help the fight against drug-related murders as country's security situation worsens

NEW DELHI (A P) — Assailants targeted Israeli diplomats in India and Georgia in near-simultaneous strikes Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed on archenemy Iran, and its Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah.

The bombing of an Israeli diplomat's car in New Delhi by an attacker apparently on a motorcycle wounded four people, officials said. Israel said an attempted car bombing in Georgia was thwarted.

San Diego Backcountry Adventure Ride: February 11-12, 2012

The post on ADV back in October sounded interesting enough:

"San Diego County Back Country Adventure Route: Looking for a weekend adventure ride in our San Diego back country? If you're interested I plotted out an adventure route through San Diego's back country for adventure bikes like the BMW F800GS, Triumph Tiger 800 XC, KTM 990 and KLR 650. It's a two day route with a mix of mountain twisty paved roads and dirt tracks with awesome scenery. It's got mountains, desert and back country roads laced with dirt tracks to keep it fun. The route was picked for the mid sized adventure bikes."

OK, I was in. The route was being set up by two guys from the local SDAR site (http://www.dualsport-sd.com/). I'd ridden with a few of them and this sounded fun. So I packed up the bike, loaded the camping gear and off I went.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=737745&page=34

The after ride report begins on post # 506. Lots of fun!

You can read some of the ride reports and see from the photos that this was a really run ride.

More to follow, but you get the idea.

Riding in the rain: The Rule of One Action.

Here's a great tip for riding in wet weather that I just found. It's called, "The Rule of One Action" and it's very handy for "all-weather" riders.

I know that you are a very complicated person, but in the rain, you need to be a very simple person. Specifically, in the rain, you should think about your tires and what I call the rule of "One Action." What do I mean by "One Action?"

In normal conditions, we put our tires through many different stresses (or actions):

• We accelerate while turning. (two actions)
• We downshift while coming into a turn. (two actions)
• Shifting weight while turning and accelerating (three actions)
• Etc.

In the rain, you should focus on only putting your tires through one action at a time.

In other words, accelerate (one action) after you make a turn (one action). Downshift (one action) before you start to turn (one action). Don't combine actions on your tires together in the rain. Less tension on your tires in the rain is going to result in better traction.

I'm sure there are more great tips out there for riding motorcycles in the rain, this is an important one to remember when riding when it's wet out.

Chance Encounter

Just watched a short-film about an overworked man who's life is changed when he encounters a parked motorcycle; I thought I'd share it.

http://vimeo.com/34920214

Love it! Pretty much nails the addiction. Enjoy.

Animated Engines: How those motors work.

Ever wondered how that 4-stroke thumper worked? How about that screaming 2-stroke?

Well, check out Animated Engines (http://www.animatedengines.com/) to see how these and many other engines really work.

Four stroke

Diesel

Two stroke

Wankel

Atkinson

Gnome Rotary

Jet Propulsion

Steam Locomotive

Oscillating Steam

CO2 Motor

Coomber

Crank Substitute

Revolving Cylinder

Watt Beam

Grasshopper Beam

Unknown Beam

Newcomen Atmospheric

Two Cylinder Stirling

Single Cylinder Stirling

Ross Yoke Stirling

Low Differential Stirling

US states where I've ridden my motorcycle

This is a cool little program that shows the US states, Canadian Provinces and Mexican states where I’ve ridden a motorcycle. You can create your own Visited States easily and freely:

http://www.epgsoft.com/VisitedStatesMap/VisitedStatesMap.html

Bad, bad bike! (What my Triumph Rocket III Touring puts me through.)

Oy, my R3T is really testing me! Went out for a nice ride with 9 other bikes this past weekend. I met up with everyone in Temecula and proceeded to the desert (Borrego Springs) from there. Less than a 200-mile ride round-trip.

First issue: At the gas station where we all met, a Harley rider had to inform me that my Rocket was leaking. What?! Of all people, a friggin' Hog rider... Anyhow, it turned out to be a fresh (bright green) coolant leak coming from one of the 3 hex bolts on the pump cover. I tightened it, but we'll see. I have a chrome cover I've been meaning to install, so maybe now is a good time. I smelled coolant during the entire ride...

Second issue: On arriving to Borrego Springs, my bike decided not to start back up when leaving a service station. It appeared to be electrical so I checked the usual suspects -- fuses, loose wires, battery. Looks like I had a dead or dying battery. I jump started it off a Goldwing (what is going on in this world if a Harley guy tells me MY bike is leaking and a friggin' Goldie has to jump start me?).

Anyhow, I got home (100 miles of worrying) and turned the bike off; it would not turn over after immediately trying to restart it. No biggie, if it turns out to be the battery, I need a new one anyhow as this is the stock one.

I took the BMW for a planned ride to Julian over the Sunrise Highway (S-2) the next day. Too bad, as I love rolling thru Julian with my Rocket!

UPDATE: After my recent dead battery travails, I scoured the net for info on The Best Battery for our Rockets. The site I like (www.r3owners.net) agreed with others that:

1. The Scorpion was the best battery available, overall.
2. The Odyssey came in a close second.
3. The best place to buy it was www.batterystuff.com

I followed the sage advice provided by the genius Rocket Scientists on that site and my battery arrived 3 days after I placed the order on-line. I installed it last night (it was an easy drop-in direct replacement). My bike fired up, sounding stronger than ever.

One bonus with the Scorpion battery is the extra mounting posts on the sides, allowing for uncluttered terminals for all those farkles we're prone to add.

So, it was a $100 fix and the bike is running stronger than ever. No biggie, as battery replacement (every few years) is just an accepted part of bike maintenance. I'll keep it on a battery tender.

Ah, the continuing saga of a very bad bike...

I still love her, even though she treats me bad.

Top 100 Motorcycle Road Tunes

A List of a "Few" of MY Favorite Road Tunes

Here are some choice tunes I enjoy listening to on long rides, pumping through my helmet at high volume as the road goes by under my wheels.

I know I'll miss a few -- and I've prolly included some that might not fit the bill -- but this is a pretty good start (in no particular order) and one of the most complete lists I've seen. I hope you enjoy 'em!

1. Riding for The Son: Jerry Williams
2. Bad Motor Scooter: Montrose
3. Roll me Away: Bob Seger
4. (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66: Nat "King" Cole/Chuck Berry/Depeche Mode
5. The Devil's Chasing Me: Reverend Horton Heat
6. Call me the Breeze: Lynard Skynard
7. Long Lonesome Highway: Michael Parks
8. Heading Out to the Highway: Judas Priest
9. Highway Star: Deep Purple
10. Rockin' Down the Highway: Doobie Brothers
11. Highway Patrol: Junior Brown
12. Highway Knights: Tyran Pace
13. Highway in the Wind: Arlo Guthrie
14. Ventura Highway: America
15. I've Been Everywhere: Hank Snow
16. Traveling Man/Beautiful Loser: Bob Seger
17. Kick Start My Heart: Motley Crue
18. Flirtin' with Disaster: Molly Hatchet
19. Ramblin' Man: Allman Brothers
20. Radar Love: Golden Earring (or better yet, the White Lion version)
21. 1952 Vincent Black Lightning: Richard Thompson
22. Born to Be Wild: Steppenwolf (The Cult does a good version, too)
23. Rock’n Me: Steve Miller
24. East Bound and Down: Jerry Reed
25. Driver's Seat: Sniff' n the Tears
26. Driving my Life Away: Eddie Rabbitt
27. On the Road Again: Canned Heat
28. On the Road Again: Willie Nelson
29. On The Road: Motörhead
30. Six Days on the Road: Dave Dudley
31. King of the Road: Roger Miller
32. Open Road Song: Eve 6
33. Detroit Rock City: KISS
34. 24 Hours at a Time: Marshall Tucker Band
35. Running on Empty: Jackson Browne
36. Ramble On: Led Zeppelin
37. Ol' 55: Tom Waits
38. I Can’t Drive 55: Sammy Hagar
39. Runnin' Down a Dream: Tom Petty
40. Million Miles from Nowhere: Dwight Yoakum
41. Live to Ride: Neil Young
42. The Rover: Led Zeppelin
43. Movin’ On: Bad Company
44. Wanted Dead or Alive: Bon Jovi
45. The Distance: Cake
46. I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide: ZZ Top
47. Crimson Rider: Masterplan
48. Midnight Rider: Allman Brothers
49. Time for Me to Ride: Toby Keith
50. Henchman Ride: Testament
51. Let it Ride: BTO
52. Ride On: AC/DC
53. Ride The Wild Wind: Queen
54. Ride: Joe Satriani
55. Ride The Wind: Poison
56. Ride: Warrant
57. Ride Like the Wind: Christopher Cross
58. One Last Ride: Molly Hatchet
59. Slow Ride: Foghat
60. Ride: The Vines
61. Ride to Live, Live to Ride: Twisted Sister
62. Blessed Hellride: Black Label Society
63. I Wanna Ride: Feedtime
64. Free Ride: Edgar Winter
65. Born Free: Kid Rock
66. Motorcycle: Love and Rockets
67. Motorbikin’: Chris Spedding
68. Motorcycle Mama: Neil Young
69. Motorcycle Man: Saxon
70. Motorbike Girl: Feedtime
71. Motorcycle Girl: Road Vultures
72. Motorcycle Cowboy: Merle Haggard
73. The Motorcycle Song: Arlo Guthrie
74. Motorcycle Song: Billy Joel
75. Helsinki Motorcycles: Zodiac Mindwarp & The Love Reaction
76. Motorcycle Emptiness: Manic Street Preachers
77. MC Baby: Hanoi Rocks
78. Moto Psycho: Megadeath
79. Freewheelin: Road Hammers
80. Under my Wheels: Alice Cooper
81. Feel the Thunder: Blue Oyster Cult
82. Rider: Pretenders
83. Golden Age of Leather: Blue Oyster Cult
84. Ghost Rider: Suicide (or the Henry Rollins version)
85. Ghost Rider: Rush
86. I'm your Captain (Closer to Home): Grand Funk Railroad
87. Desert Plains: Judas Priest
88. Silver Machine: Hawkwind
89. Prodigal Blues: Billy Idol
90. Harley Davidson Blues: Canned Heat
91. Harley Davidson: TNT
92. Panheads Forever: David Allen Coe
93. Best Biker Song Ever Written: Devil's Lullaby
94. Unknown Legend: Neil Young
95. New Sensations: Lou Reed
96. Motor Angel: The Wild
97. Eye of the Hurricane: David Wilcox
98. Steve McQueen: Sheryl Crow
99. Built for Comfort (Not Built for Speed): UFO
100. Built for Speed/Mean Machine/Iron Horse/Born to Lose: Motörhead

Honorable mention? Here are some recommendations from other riders that may or may not be direct bike tunes (but they sure get the blood pumping).

• Ride: Lana Del Rey

• Turn the Page: Bob Seger

• Run to the Hills: Iron Maiden
• Harley Davidson: Brigette Bardot
• Blues Theme: Davie Allan & The Arrows
• Little Honda: Hondells/Beach Boys
• The Ballad of Easy Rider: Roger McGuinn/Byrds
• Ridin’ with the Driver: Motörhead
• Ezy Rider: Jimi Hendrix
• Roadhouse Blues: The Doors
• Bike: Pink Floyd
• Going Mobile: The Who
• Cruisin': Smokey Robinson
• Red: Sammy Hagar
• DOA: Van Halen
• Life Is A Highway: Tom Cochrane
• Bat out of Hell: Meatloaf
• Black Denim Trousers: The Cheers
• Goin' to Mexico: Steve Miller
• Night Prowler: AC/DC
• Across the USA: The Mahones
• It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock and Roll): AC/DC
• Black Betty: Ram a Jam
• Green Grass and High Tides: Outlaws
• Gone, Gone, Gone: Bad Co.
• On and On: Michael Schenker
• Alone Again Or: Love/UFO/Damned
• Born on the Bayou: Credence Clearwater Revival
• Give me Some Water: Eddie Money
• Paul Revere: Beastie Boys
• Mustang Sally: Wilson Pickett
• California Dreamin': Mama's and Papa's
• Green Manalishi: Judas Priest

• Life in the Fast Lane: The Eagles

• Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress): Hollies

• Goin’ Up the Country: Canned Heat
• Promised Land: Chuck Berry/Elvis
• Chill Out: John Lee Hooker and Carlos Santana
• Whiskey in the Jar: Thin Lizzy/Metallica
• Hair of the Dog: Nazareth
• Gentle On My Mind: Glenn Campbell
• Asleep in the Desert: ZZ Top
• Guitar Boogie: Arthur Smith
• Coast to Coast: Scorpions
• You May be Right (I May be Crazy): Billy Joel
• How Soon is Now?: The Smiths
• Copperhead Road: Steve Earle
• Hush: Deep Purple
• Carolina Blues: Blues Traveler
• Gone to Carolina: Shooter Jennings
• Back Home Again: John Denver
• Home Sweet Home: Motley Crue
• Take the Long Way Home: Supertramp
• My Wife: The Who
• Panama: Van Halen
• The Weight: The Band
• Dreams I’ll Never See: Molly Hatchet
• Ghost Riders (in the Sky): Johnny Cash/Outlaws/Duane Eddy
• Hot Rod Heart: John Fogerty
• The Long and Winding Road: Beatles
• The Window: Steve Miller
• The Pusher: Steppenwolf
• Bad Company: Bad Company

Planned Bike Rides for 2012

Ah, let's see...

I really want to get out there and ride this year. Alaska, Canada, Baja, maybe South America. However, the reality of my situation is that I have about 4 weeks of vacation time in 2012, and not all of that can be taken consecutively...or on my motorcycle. Like many of you, my wife expects, rightfully, that we spend some quality time together in tropical climes. We are planning on Tampa and San Antonio this year. We are seriously considering Australia, too.

Having said that, it appears my Deadhorse, Alaska/Inuvik, Canada ride is not gonna happen until at least 2013. That's fine. The Dalton and Dempster Highways will wait for me. They're calling me up north -- daily -- but they'll wait.

I "may" be on the hook for another USA 4 Corners Tour (http://www.usa4corners.org/) with my friend and fellow CMA'er Ted, who really wants to do this ride. I may be able to knock that out in 2 to 2 1/2 weeks, but that will be some serious riding. That would take place in May/June if it takes place at all this year.

I'd like to do another Iron Butt ride or two, as well. Something exciting and exotic, perhaps the 3 Flags Tour. I have a new (heated) Corbin on my Beemer so that may be my bike of choice for the next long distance rides.

I will likely host a couple of IBA Saddle Sore rides this year, just to show some of my fellow riders how easy and enjoyable a 1000-mile ride in under 24 hours can be.

There are some really interesting IBA rides (www.ironbutt.com/) that I’m considering. The National Parks Tour (visit at least 50 National Parks, Monuments, etc in at least 25 states within 1 year), the 48-10 (ride all lower 48 states in 10 days), the 48 Plus (49 States in 10 Days – ride to all 48 continental states plus Alaska) and the Border-to-Border Insanity (Mexico-USA-Canada in less than 24 Hours). Those are some intriguing rides.

I plan to get out to the desert (Ocotillo, Superstition, Anza-Borrego) for some long weekend camping dual sport rides. I'm slowly but surely putting together a bike equipped to handle all sorts of terrain, weather and distance.

I’ve made some friends on ADV Rider (www.advrider.com/), San Diego Adventure Riders/SDAR (www.dualsport-sd.com/) and Triumph Rocket III Owners (www.r3owners.net/) and would like to meet up with some of them for informal rides throughout the year.

While I'm not a fan of large organized rides, I will continue to participate in charity events and poker runs for good causes. I enjoy supporting other bike groups and community functions relating to motorcycle awareness. Unfortunately, last year I did way too many rides for fallen officers.

Either way, I’ll be out on the road for a day, a weekend or an extended road trip at various times this year. I’ll likely be riding solo and I’ll probably be grinning like an idiot as I experience the sights, the smells and the culture of the road from the saddle of my Big ‘Ol Motorbike.

See ya out there!

Fun Motorcycle Flicks: Bike Movies for Enthusiasts!

Fun motorcycle movies in no particular order:

On Any Sunday

A very fun motorcycle documentary by Bruce Brown (of Endless Summer fame) following the lives of motorcycle nuts. Shows actor and bike enthusiast Steve McQueen. Not to be missed.

Why We Ride

Interesting bike documentary very reminiscent of Bruce Brown's most excellent flick. (Description from the film): A story about who we are. Individuals with a desire to dream, discover and explore. Seeking a life outside our daily confinements and sharing those moments together. It’s a story about the journey, not the destination. Motorcycles represent the milestones of our lives. From a kid’s dream come true, to a retiree’s return to freedom. From a family riding together on the sand dunes, to hundreds of choppers carving through the canyons – the bond is the same. It’s about the passion of the riders and the soul of their machines. Your senses will heighten as the world rushes in, your heart will beat to the pulse of the engine, your mind will race and set you free. Once you let a motorcycle into your life, it will change you forever.

Here are three movies my Indian film maker, adventurer and high altitute motorcycle enthusiast Gautav Jani. Both are filmed on or around the Changthang Plateau.

Riding Solo to the Top of the World (Documentary 2006).

A unique experience of a lonesome traveler who rides his motorcycle to one of the remotest places in the world. Indiscribable beauty and subtle toughness in this amazing and harsh environment. Beautifullycapturestheplacesand people.Themotorcycle aspect is what brought me to this film; the cinematography kept me spellbound. Super.

One Crazy Ride (Documentary 2009).

A motorcycle expedition on uncharted roads across the Himalayan state of ArunachalPradesh, situated in North-eastIndia. Butmore than anexpedition,it'sa film on friendship, camaraderie and the "never say die" attitude of five motorcyclists in the face of unforgiving terrain. Shot in the same format as "Riding Solo To The Top Of The World" with no back-up vehicle or film crew, in parts of India hardly seen, filmed or explored, the documentary captures the interactions and experiences of the riders who are trying to chart a route, which according to everyone does not exist.

Motorcycle Changpa

A film about the journey which Gaurav did for almost an year exploring ChangThan plateau, another virtually unexplored region in the Himalayas.

I salute to the courage & determination of Gaurav.

His films, along with others of this genre (watch the most excellent trailers), can be found on this site:

http://www.dirttrackproductions.com/trailers/ridingsolo/index.html#rs

Long Way Round/Long Way Down

These are some extremely enjoyable documentaries...buddy flicks, really.
For all the bashing and bad press these flicks received, they're really just two friends--Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman--on a motorcycle trip around the world. The two friends travel through Siberia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Alaska before ending the journey in New York. The filming is done by on-board cameras and one ride-along cameraman. Sure, they have a support crew, but that's such a small part of the story. The interaction of the two pals as they encounter beautiful people, stunning countryside, frustrating setbacks and potentially dangerous situations with senses of humor is fun to watch. These guys capture the passion of traveling, riding bikes with your mates and best of all, friendship through it all. They're both "must watch" movies (LWR is a bit better than LWD, IMHO).

Cycles South

A 1970's movie about 3 American dudes traveling south from Denver to Panama on some reliable Japanese 2-stroke motorcycles. Tight budgets, no real time limits and no specific reason for their travels. More of a "mockumentary" than a documentary, with laughs and good times a-plenty. The boys have a great time in any circumstance they run into. Bobby Garcia provides comic relief throughout. In his words, this movie is "Muy Bueno." You will love this flick for several reasons.

The World’s Fastest Indian

Based on the true story of New Zealand bike racer Burt Munro, depicted by Anthony Hopkins on an Indian motorcycle. At the time of the record attempt, Munro was 68 years old riding an Indian motorbike that was also 47 years old. That record still stands to this day.

Wild Hogs

Don't hate me for this one, but this is a fun flick. It's a story of four middle aged friends (John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macey) who take their Harleys on a memorable cross country ride. The HDs featured in the movie include a XL1200C Sportster Custom, FXSTS Springer Softail, Black Fatboy and a Screaming Eagle Fatboy. And Marisa Tomei isn't too shabby, either.

Easy Rider

Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper seek freedom against a backdrop of the hippie movement showing that there is no better way to see the USA than from the seat of a Harley Davidson.

Dust to Glory

A 2005 documentary on the Baja 1000, the annual off-road race held in Baja California, Mexico that attracts hundreds of racers and thousands of fans. The cameo of Mario Andretti is icing on the cake. A film by Dana Brown, Bruce's son.

The Girl on a Motorcycle

A 1968 gem with Marianne Faithfull as a married woman who leaves her husband, hops on her motorcycle and speeds off to see her lover. Sure, reviews will state that his is a "pretentious and nearly completely pointless film and "a rather unintelligent piece of psychedelic excess that won't entertain anyone but those who enjoy this kind of kitsch." Sure, that's fairly accurate.

Electra Glide in Blue

Robert Blake is an Arizona cop who rides a Harley Electra Glide. Some fine cinematography of Monument Valley and other places you might've ridden your cruiser.

One Week

Ben Tyler (played by Joshua Jackson) learns he has terminal cancer with a survival rate of 1 in 10. On a whim, he buys a 1973 Norton. His girlfriend tells him something all of us has heard: Riding a motorcycle is the height of stupidity. Yup.

Knowing he will die soon, he hops on the Norton (hearing jeans, a tight leather jacket and an open-faced helmet. OK!

He leaves Toronto for British Columbia to see big things along the way. You know, BIG things. Along the way, we are treated to a lot of beautiful Canadian roadside. You might like this flick.

The Motorcycle Diaries

I'm conflicted on this one. One one hand, there are some great scenes of two guys hopping on an overloaded bike and exploring the world. On the other hand, it glamorizes the scumbag killer, Che Guevara. I dunno.

21 Days Under The Sky

If you enjoy motorcycle flicks, and I'm guessing you do, you'll like this very cool documentary.

https://vimeo.com/157336355

Available on Netflix, This 1:10 minute flick goes back and forth between a recent cross-country ride by 4 friends on their way to a New Jersey chopper rally and old video of the El Forastero Motorcycle Club doing the same thing in the 60's.

Worth watching...unless you really don't like watching Dope-smoking hipsters doing their thing...

Bikes I've Owned

I've been riding since the age of 12 or 13. I've had more than a few bikes. I sure wish I still had a few of them.

Here they are:

It all started with a 1975 Honda XR75...

Soon followed by a Honda SL100, circa 1977

My mom somehow came into possession of a 1980's Kawasaki KZ LTD 250

I acquired two bikes from friends while in the Marine Corps.

A 1984 Honda XL600

And a 1980 Honda 500 Shadow (that I still own...looking good, Pops).

I then bought the following bikes in rapid succession:

A 1981 Honda Goldwing 1100

A 1981 Yamaha TT500

A 1987 Yamaha TT600

A 1986 Yamaha XT600

A 1978 Suzuki RM400

A 1987 Yamaha YZ490 (widowmaker!)

A Kawasaki VN1500 Vulcan Nomad 1500

A 2005 Yamaha Raptor 660 quad

A 2009 Triumph Rocket III Touring (a 2300 cc monster bike)

A 2004 BMW R1150GS dual sport

2018 BMW R1200GSA

A 2011 Kawasaki KLR650

Hmmm, what's next?

Selected Motorcycle Quotes

Motorcycle Quotes: Here are some gems about riding motorcycles for those of us who enjoy being on two wheels, headed somewhere; maybe nowhere.

Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects the handlebars to the saddle.

One of the things that make motorcycling so great is because it never fails to give you a feeling of freedom and adventure. - Steve McQueen

"Dad, can I get a motorcycle when I grow up?"

"Son, you can't do both." 

I'd rather be riding my motorcycle thinking about God than sitting in church thinking about my motorcycle.

I spent all my money on motorcycles, guns, rock and roll music, whiskey and women...the rest I just wasted.

If you can read a map, you don’t need a GPS unit. Plus maps look better with coffee spilt on them. 

If I could marry my motorcycle, I'd roll her right up to the altar.— Flip Wilson

Love is the feeling you get when you like something as much as your motorcycle — Hunter S. Thompson

You can't go faster if you're wrapped in plaster.

Riding in a car is like watching a movie. Riding a motorcycle is like starring in a movie.

Anybody can jump a motorcycle. The trouble begins when you try to land it. —Evil Knievel

Never dress for the weather, always dress for the fall.

Saddlebags can never hold everything you want, but they do hold everything you need.

Sometimes, you find yourself in the middle of nowhere; and sometimes, in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself. 

A motorcycle functions entirely in accordance with the laws of reason, and a study of the art of motorcycle maintenance is really a miniature study of the art of rationality itself. That's all the motorcycle is, a system of concepts worked out in steel. — Robert M. Pirsig (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance)

It didn’t look that far on the map...

Riding a motorcycle isn't a matter of Life or Death. It's much more important than that. 

Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death. —Hunter Thompson

And I to my motorcycle

Parked like the soul of the junkyard

Restored, a bicycle fleshed

With power, and tore off

Up Highway 106, continually

Drunk on the wind in my mouth,

Wringing the handlebar for speed,

Wild to be wreckage forever.

James Dickey (Cherrylog Road)

Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul.

Respect the person who has seen the dark side of motorcycling and lived.

Young riders pick a destination and go... Old riders pick a direction and go.

There’s no such thing as bad riding weather, just bad riding gear.

The best alarm clock is sunshine on chrome.

A friend is someone who'll get out of bed at 2 am to drive his pickup to the middle of nowhere to get you when you're broken down.

Calling upon my years of experience, I froze at the controls.– Stirling Moss

There's something ugly about a new bike on a trailer.

Everyone crashes. Some get back on. Some don't. Some can't.

Only a Biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window.

"Oh crap!" is usually the moment when your plan parts ways with reality.

Got a $5 head? Get a $5 helmet. 

You see things vacationing on a motorcycle in a way that is completely different from any other. - Robert M Pirsig

If you think you don't need a helmet, you probably don't. 

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, Wow! What a Ride! —Hunter S. Thompson

Never trade the thrills of living for the security of existence.

A zest for living must include a willingness to die. 

NEVER argue with a woman holding a torque wrench.

The only good view of a thunderstorm is in your rearview mirror.

Pie and coffee are as important as gasoline.

Sometimes it takes a whole tankful of fuel before you can think straight.

Riding faster than everyone else only guarantees you'll ride alone.

Never hesitate to ride past the last street light at the edge of town.

A cold hamburger can be reheated quite nicely by strapping it to an exhaust pipe and riding forty miles.

Never do less than forty miles before breakfast.

If you don't ride in the rain you don't ride. 

A bike on the road is worth two in the shed.

I want to leave this world the same way I came into it: Screaming and covered in blood.

A good mechanic will let you watch without charging you for it. 

Sometimes the fastest way to get there is to stop for the night.

Two-lane blacktop isn't a highway it's an attitude.

When you look down the road, it seems to never end, but you better believe it does.

A motorcycle can't sing on the streets of a city.

Keep your bike in good repair: Motorcycle boots are NOT comfortable for walking.

Remember to pay as much attention to your partner as you do your carburetor.

Well-trained reflexes are quicker than luck.

Learn to do counterintuitive things that may someday save your butt.

The twisties, not the superslabs, separate the riders from the squids.

Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at 70 mph can double your vocabulary.

If you want to get somewhere before sundown, you can't stop at every tavern. 

Practice wrenching on your own bike.

Don't argue with an 18-wheeler.

Never be ashamed to unlearn an old habit.

Maintenance is as much art as it is science.

A good long ride can clear your mind, restore your faith and use up a lot of fuel.

No one ever complains about the cost of their second helmet.

If you can't get it going with bungee cords and electrician's tape it's serious.

If you ride like there's no tomorrow there won't be.

Gray-haired riders don't get that way from pure luck.

Do not mix whiskey and gasoline. 

There are drunk riders. There are old riders. There are NO old, drunk riders.

Thin leather looks good in the bar, but it won't save your butt from road rash when you go down.

Always replace the cheapest parts first.

You can forget what you do for a living when your knees are in the breeze.

Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly.

It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters in the end. —Ursula K. LeGuin

Middle age starts when you have been warned to slow down, not by a motorcycle cop, but by your doctor.

What do you call a motorcyclist who doesn't wear a helmet? An organ donor. 

Remember folks, street lights timed for 35 mph are also timed for 70 mph. 

If you want to complain about the pace being set by the road captain, you better be prepared to lead the group yourself.

It takes both pistons and cylinders to make a bike run. One is not more important than the other.

If the countryside seems boring, stop, get off your bike, and go sit in the ditch long enough to appreciate what was here before the asphalt came.

It’s a world with 20,000 television channels...get as far away from it as you can. 

Work to ride and ride to work.

Burn rubber, not your soul, baby. 

Sometimes the best communication happens when you're on separate bikes. 

When I finished high school, I wanted to take all my graduation money and buy myself a motorcycle. But my mom said no. See, she had a brother who died in a horrible motorcycle accident when he was 18.  And I could just have his motorcycle. 

I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol. 

Life may begin at 30, but it doesn't get really interesting until about 150.

Time spent riding a motorcycle is not deducted from your lifespan. 

The wet, cold and miserable days are the ones when legends are born.

You can go as fast as you like on a motorcycle - just never hurry on a motorcycle.

Saddlebags can never hold everything you want, but they CAN hold everything you need.

Life without pleasurable pursuits is hardly worth living, and while the best things may be free, some pretty excellent ones cost money and have wheels. — Paul D’Orleans

A good rider can overcome marginal equipment. However, even the best equipment can’t overcome a marginal rider.

I have to lead...I'm allergic to dust!

Sometimes I get off the bike before it has come to a complete stop.

Ride a BMW GS...it'll make your butt look smaller.

When my mood gets too hot and I find myself wandering beyond control I pull out my motor-bike and hurl it top-speed through these unfit roads for hour after hour. — T.E. Lawrence

When we travel, we are children again. And when we travel by motorcycle, we have nothing to think of when we wake but throwing a few belongings into our panniers and riding off down the road, unencumbered by regrets and concerns. On a motorcycle, every day is still an adventure and a new beginning. On a motorcycle, I am still a boy on a bike.