Rabu, 28 Desember 2011
A Bit of Linky Love
I was trying to come up with something clever to say about riding in cold weather, and then I saw that Steve over at Scooter in the Sticks had beat me to the punch. I'm going to try out his tip about warming one's hands on the headlight tomorrow morning....
Jumat, 23 Desember 2011
Happy Holidays!
Lady Luck and Santa Claus have both said something about me "splattering [myself] across the roadway like a douche" if I were to get a Ducati Superbike for Christmas. I'm a little worried the holiday might pass without finding a bright red bike under the tree.But, really, who needs a shiny new high performance Italian motorcycle that makes 195 horsepower and only weighs 361 pounds when I've got a wonderful family and wonderful friends. I'll gladly take the treasures I'm lucky to have over a fussy motorcycle any day.
Though, I wouldn't kick it out of my garage if it showed up. Just saying.
[Stoppie Santa photo stolen from SportBikes.Net.]
Rabu, 21 Desember 2011
Photographic Evidence, Per Request
You asked for it, you got it. I stopped on my way home last night to get a photo of the strip club from this post, and took another photo in the dark this morning.
Unfortunately, I was running a bit late this morning and the sun was already rising, so the lights don't show up as well as I'd like. Also, the effect is much more impressive when zipping past at 45mph.
Click to embiggen.
Unfortunately, I was running a bit late this morning and the sun was already rising, so the lights don't show up as well as I'd like. Also, the effect is much more impressive when zipping past at 45mph.
Click to embiggen.
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| Inviting, eh? |
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| Tranformed into a holiday wonderland. |
Selasa, 20 Desember 2011
Delightful Instructional Video On How To Change Your Oil
Apparently, this video demonstrates the proper way to change the oil for an SR500.
If you're like me, you'll find it entertaining even if you don't own an SR500.
(Thanks to The 520 Chain Cafe)
If you're like me, you'll find it entertaining even if you don't own an SR500.
(Thanks to The 520 Chain Cafe)
Senin, 19 Desember 2011
So, Would You Do It?
Get a few bikers together and wait for the Isle of Man to come up. The question will come up eventually: would you do it?
Well, would you?
(Inspired by Baron's post.)
Well, would you?
(Inspired by Baron's post.)
Selasa, 13 Desember 2011
Urban Adventure Scooting - Holiday Edition
For the last five years or so, I've worked in a rough part of town. The office is quite literally along the tracks that divide "bad" from "really bad." There is a large bridge nearby under which there is usually a large encampment of people. I haven't seen any people gathered around a burning barrel for warmth, but it's just a matter of time.
When I ride the Triumph to work, I generally take the freeway, and only ride through a couple miles of the city to get to work.
When I ride the scooter, however, my only choice is to ride right through the ugly parts of town. The parts where strip clubs don't have signs apart from "Open." The parts where you're likely to see a guy wearing a Halloween hockey mask walking down the middle of the train tracks at six in the morning, a week and a half after Halloween.
Naturally, it is a much more interesting ride than taking the freeway.
One of the things I really like about riding the Vespa is that the slower pace and routes brings me through neighborhoods that have Christmas lights up at this time of year. The lights, by the way, are my favorite part of Christmas. I am firmly in favor of decorating with twinkly colored lights regardless of season.
I believe I mentioned the route I take to work, that runs more or less parallel to the train tracks, goes through an ugly part of town. I ride past scrap yards, discount automobile dealerships, an RV repair shop, an incredible variety of adult bookstores and strip clubs, and many squat grey buildings with generic company names on the outside, like Diversified Amalgamated Fittings. I'm pretty sure I pass by the clubhouse for the "Legitimate Businessman's Club." These kinds of places don't put up Christmas lights.
Except, apparently, for one of them. There is a strip club in a building you couldn't pay me enough to go in to just off the road I ride. The kind of place that has an A-frame sign on the main road that has "Girls Girls Girls" and an arrow, hand spray painted, to bring in customers. The building itself is made of unpainted cinder blocks. It looks like a big utility shed.
They have decorated the hell out of their building. They have lights strung all around the building, and on the "grounds." In the dark of an early morning, it almost looks wholesome with all those lights up. I can almost imagine actual gentlemen inside, gathered around a fireplace in a wood-panelled room, smoking pipes and exchanging witticisms.
Of course, on the way home, in the light of day, it's a creepy building you still couldn't pay me enough to go in.
Finding things like that is what makes riding the Vespa entirely worth the extra time.
When I ride the Triumph to work, I generally take the freeway, and only ride through a couple miles of the city to get to work.
When I ride the scooter, however, my only choice is to ride right through the ugly parts of town. The parts where strip clubs don't have signs apart from "Open." The parts where you're likely to see a guy wearing a Halloween hockey mask walking down the middle of the train tracks at six in the morning, a week and a half after Halloween.
Naturally, it is a much more interesting ride than taking the freeway.
One of the things I really like about riding the Vespa is that the slower pace and routes brings me through neighborhoods that have Christmas lights up at this time of year. The lights, by the way, are my favorite part of Christmas. I am firmly in favor of decorating with twinkly colored lights regardless of season.
I believe I mentioned the route I take to work, that runs more or less parallel to the train tracks, goes through an ugly part of town. I ride past scrap yards, discount automobile dealerships, an RV repair shop, an incredible variety of adult bookstores and strip clubs, and many squat grey buildings with generic company names on the outside, like Diversified Amalgamated Fittings. I'm pretty sure I pass by the clubhouse for the "Legitimate Businessman's Club." These kinds of places don't put up Christmas lights.
Except, apparently, for one of them. There is a strip club in a building you couldn't pay me enough to go in to just off the road I ride. The kind of place that has an A-frame sign on the main road that has "Girls Girls Girls" and an arrow, hand spray painted, to bring in customers. The building itself is made of unpainted cinder blocks. It looks like a big utility shed.
They have decorated the hell out of their building. They have lights strung all around the building, and on the "grounds." In the dark of an early morning, it almost looks wholesome with all those lights up. I can almost imagine actual gentlemen inside, gathered around a fireplace in a wood-panelled room, smoking pipes and exchanging witticisms.
Of course, on the way home, in the light of day, it's a creepy building you still couldn't pay me enough to go in.
Finding things like that is what makes riding the Vespa entirely worth the extra time.
Senin, 12 Desember 2011
Oh, Hello
Cough, cough, geez, a bit dusty around here.
So, November came and went. I wrote a great deal of fiction (which you can read here, if so inclinced), and have now had two weeks for my brain to recover from that ordeal.
As such, I should have some new content for you here very soon.
So, November came and went. I wrote a great deal of fiction (which you can read here, if so inclinced), and have now had two weeks for my brain to recover from that ordeal.
As such, I should have some new content for you here very soon.
Senin, 31 Oktober 2011
Just A Quick Update
Point One: Over the weekend, I replaced the stator in the Triumph. The Speed Four is, once again, Triumphant. I'll try to post some more details about that fun process later.
Point Two: November first is tomorrow, which means it's time for National Novel Writing Month. And, once again, I'll be posting each chapter as I write them straight to a novel blog. If you've dug the Holy Rollers stories in the past, you'll probably like this one too. You can get to it here: http://winkingatdeath.blogspot.com/
Point Two: November first is tomorrow, which means it's time for National Novel Writing Month. And, once again, I'll be posting each chapter as I write them straight to a novel blog. If you've dug the Holy Rollers stories in the past, you'll probably like this one too. You can get to it here: http://winkingatdeath.blogspot.com/
Jumat, 28 Oktober 2011
A Bit Of Wisdom We Can Borrow From Sailors
There is a poorly kept secret among sailors that rarely makes it into the awareness of folks who don't sail: One is safest in the deepest and most remote waters, and most at risk close to shore and near other boats. A smart sailor tries to ensure he/she has plenty of sea room at any given time. Sailors get a bit anxious when something gets inside their personal bubble. A sailor's personal bubble, by the way, is a lot bigger than you'd think. In fact, prior to GPS, the general wisdom was to go around obstructions marked on the chart by a mile or more, just in case you weren't where you thought you were. This is still good advice, by the way. More than one sailor has trusted the GPS a bit too much and ended up on a reef.
The reason a sailor likes a lot of sea room is because there is only so much he/she can control. A sailor can control which way the boat is pointing, sail trim and... that's about it. Really, he/she can only control how the boat moves through the water - which is also moving most of the time. The water's current, waves, and the wind have a constant impact on the boat and where it ends up. In the wrong conditions, a sailor can do everything in his/her power, and still get pushed into a nearby obstruction. Because of this, maintaining as much sea room as possible is vital. Even when racing, sailors give the other boats plenty of room, because it's embarrassing to smash up another sailor's boat when a wave pushes you into them.
How does this apply to motorcycles?
I think we can agree the safest places to ride are those places where other people are not operating their vehicles, and there aren't a lot of things to run into. A square mile of blacktop with no obstructions would be a pretty safe place to ride.
Of course, it would also be impossibly boring after an hour or so, and such a place doesn't exist anyway. Here in the real world, we spend most of our time riding in areas where there is traffic and/or plenty of obstacles to avoid.
Motorcycles are uniquely nimble, in terms of motorized vehicles. They accelerate quickly, require little space to maneuver, and modern motorcycles have effective brakes. This leads, I suspect, to a bit of overconfidence on the road. I regularly see motorcyclists tailgating, sneaking into tiny gaps in traffic, and generally using as little space on the road as possible.
I'm not going to say that finding the opening isn't a heck of a lot of fun, but the cost of playing in small spaces is a lack of a cushion if things go wrong.
There are roads here in Phoenix where traffic bunches up on itself. Everyone is driving roughly the speed limit, but crammed right next to one another, and right on the bumper of the car ahead. I shudder to think of the pileup that is going to occur one day when something goes wrong and no one can stop or evade in time.
The only we can control is how we move through traffic. When I find myself in situations where I don't have enough space for evasive maneuvers, I do whatever is necessary to give myself a safety cushion. If I have to slow down and annoy the S.U.V. behind me, so be it. I can be patient. If I can pass or change lanes, I will. The more space between me and that distracted driver in a Lexus, the better.
Seek out and maintain ample "sea room" while you're riding. I guarantee you'll find your rides more relaxing and enjoyable, and you'll have increased your margin of safety.
The reason a sailor likes a lot of sea room is because there is only so much he/she can control. A sailor can control which way the boat is pointing, sail trim and... that's about it. Really, he/she can only control how the boat moves through the water - which is also moving most of the time. The water's current, waves, and the wind have a constant impact on the boat and where it ends up. In the wrong conditions, a sailor can do everything in his/her power, and still get pushed into a nearby obstruction. Because of this, maintaining as much sea room as possible is vital. Even when racing, sailors give the other boats plenty of room, because it's embarrassing to smash up another sailor's boat when a wave pushes you into them.
How does this apply to motorcycles?
I think we can agree the safest places to ride are those places where other people are not operating their vehicles, and there aren't a lot of things to run into. A square mile of blacktop with no obstructions would be a pretty safe place to ride.
Of course, it would also be impossibly boring after an hour or so, and such a place doesn't exist anyway. Here in the real world, we spend most of our time riding in areas where there is traffic and/or plenty of obstacles to avoid.
Motorcycles are uniquely nimble, in terms of motorized vehicles. They accelerate quickly, require little space to maneuver, and modern motorcycles have effective brakes. This leads, I suspect, to a bit of overconfidence on the road. I regularly see motorcyclists tailgating, sneaking into tiny gaps in traffic, and generally using as little space on the road as possible.
I'm not going to say that finding the opening isn't a heck of a lot of fun, but the cost of playing in small spaces is a lack of a cushion if things go wrong.
There are roads here in Phoenix where traffic bunches up on itself. Everyone is driving roughly the speed limit, but crammed right next to one another, and right on the bumper of the car ahead. I shudder to think of the pileup that is going to occur one day when something goes wrong and no one can stop or evade in time.
The only we can control is how we move through traffic. When I find myself in situations where I don't have enough space for evasive maneuvers, I do whatever is necessary to give myself a safety cushion. If I have to slow down and annoy the S.U.V. behind me, so be it. I can be patient. If I can pass or change lanes, I will. The more space between me and that distracted driver in a Lexus, the better.
Seek out and maintain ample "sea room" while you're riding. I guarantee you'll find your rides more relaxing and enjoyable, and you'll have increased your margin of safety.
Senin, 24 Oktober 2011
Rabu, 19 Oktober 2011
How To Determine The Cause Of Your Charging Problem
I'm no stranger to tracking down electrical issues. My first bike, the VX800, developed a charging problem within three days of bringing it home. It turned out to be a bad rectifier, and replacing it was an absolute nightmare of back-ordered parts, and then contending with getting the old rectifier off the bike. Suzuki, in their infinite wisdom, located it on the back of the motor, just in front of the exhaust crossover tube. And the bolts holding it in place, for no understandable reason, had stripped Philips heads.
I'm still recovering from the trauma of that repair.
So now the Triumph is having charging issues. Here's a quick guide on how to go about figuring out the cause of the problem if you've got a bike with a stator and regulator/rectifier (You probably do. If you're not sure, find out before proceeding.). In yesterday's post, I mentioned the value of a multimeter. Have you got one yet? You're going to need it, so go get one. I'll wait until you get back.
Step One: check your fuses. It's probably not a bad fuse, but it would be embarrassing to pull everything apart only to find the problem was a fuse.
Step Two: Set your multimeter to test DC voltages. I'd set it to at least 20 volts. Start your bike, and put the red probe on the positive battery terminal, and the black probe on the negative battery terminal. Rev the motor to 2500 RPM. If the voltage is less than 13.5 volts, there's a problem. If it's higher than 13.5 volts, rev the motor to 5000 RPM. If the voltage is more than 14.8 volts, there's a problem. Go ahead and shut off your bike for now.
In my case, the voltage was about 12.5, and didn't change at all when I revved the motor. At this point, I guessed the stator was bad, but it's best to be sure, so I continued on.
Step Three: Pull all the plastics and other parts off your bike keeping you from the connectors for the stator and regulator/rectifier (RR). On the VX800, the connectors were hidden under the gas tank and were a real drag to get to. On the other hand, the connectors were super easy to get to on the Speed Four, just tucked under the rear plastic on the chain side of the bike.
Disconnect the RR from the stator and battery.
If you don't know what a RR looks like, it's the finned, octagonal hunk of aluminum with wires coming out of it in the photo to the left.
Step Four: Set your meter to read resistance. Test from each of the three yellow wires coming from the RR to each of the red / black wires. If one of the readings indicates a short (zero resistance), you need a new rectifier.
The rectifier on the Triumph is fine.
Step Five: Check the resistance between all combinations of the three yellow wires coming from the Stator. It should be a very low resistance, probably less than 1 ohm, but it should absolutely not be a short circuit. Also check from one of the yellow wires to engine ground. This should read maximum resistance (an open circuit). Again, if you've got a short, the stator is bad.
My stator appeared good here.
Step Six: Leave the stator and RR disconnected. Set your meter to read AC voltage. Start the bike, and check the voltage coming from all combinations of the three stator wires. The three voltages should all be the same. If one is significantly different, your stator is bad. At idle, you can expect the voltage to be around 20 volts, and it should go up to about 70 volts at 5000 RPM. These voltages can, of course, vary depending on the bike.
On the Triumph, at idle, the voltages read 24, 24, 4. Bad stator. The good news is, the stator on the Speed Four looks exceptionally easy to replace.
So now for the fun part: The OEM stator for the Speed Four runs about $600, and there appears to only be one company making aftermarket replacement stators for my bike right now. Hopefully, this one company will prove easy to work with.
If you followed the previous steps, found nothing, and are still having trouble, chances are you've got a bad connection somewhere. I am not jealous of you.
For a really, really thorough troubleshooting guide, check out this fault-finding chart provided by Electrosport.
I also found this thread provided by the Triumph Rat forum most helpful.
I'm still recovering from the trauma of that repair.
So now the Triumph is having charging issues. Here's a quick guide on how to go about figuring out the cause of the problem if you've got a bike with a stator and regulator/rectifier (You probably do. If you're not sure, find out before proceeding.). In yesterday's post, I mentioned the value of a multimeter. Have you got one yet? You're going to need it, so go get one. I'll wait until you get back.
Step One: check your fuses. It's probably not a bad fuse, but it would be embarrassing to pull everything apart only to find the problem was a fuse.
Step Two: Set your multimeter to test DC voltages. I'd set it to at least 20 volts. Start your bike, and put the red probe on the positive battery terminal, and the black probe on the negative battery terminal. Rev the motor to 2500 RPM. If the voltage is less than 13.5 volts, there's a problem. If it's higher than 13.5 volts, rev the motor to 5000 RPM. If the voltage is more than 14.8 volts, there's a problem. Go ahead and shut off your bike for now.
In my case, the voltage was about 12.5, and didn't change at all when I revved the motor. At this point, I guessed the stator was bad, but it's best to be sure, so I continued on.
Disconnect the RR from the stator and battery.
If you don't know what a RR looks like, it's the finned, octagonal hunk of aluminum with wires coming out of it in the photo to the left.
Step Four: Set your meter to read resistance. Test from each of the three yellow wires coming from the RR to each of the red / black wires. If one of the readings indicates a short (zero resistance), you need a new rectifier.
The rectifier on the Triumph is fine.
Step Five: Check the resistance between all combinations of the three yellow wires coming from the Stator. It should be a very low resistance, probably less than 1 ohm, but it should absolutely not be a short circuit. Also check from one of the yellow wires to engine ground. This should read maximum resistance (an open circuit). Again, if you've got a short, the stator is bad.
My stator appeared good here.
Step Six: Leave the stator and RR disconnected. Set your meter to read AC voltage. Start the bike, and check the voltage coming from all combinations of the three stator wires. The three voltages should all be the same. If one is significantly different, your stator is bad. At idle, you can expect the voltage to be around 20 volts, and it should go up to about 70 volts at 5000 RPM. These voltages can, of course, vary depending on the bike.
On the Triumph, at idle, the voltages read 24, 24, 4. Bad stator. The good news is, the stator on the Speed Four looks exceptionally easy to replace.
So now for the fun part: The OEM stator for the Speed Four runs about $600, and there appears to only be one company making aftermarket replacement stators for my bike right now. Hopefully, this one company will prove easy to work with.
If you followed the previous steps, found nothing, and are still having trouble, chances are you've got a bad connection somewhere. I am not jealous of you.
For a really, really thorough troubleshooting guide, check out this fault-finding chart provided by Electrosport.
I also found this thread provided by the Triumph Rat forum most helpful.
Selasa, 18 Oktober 2011
Fun With Batteries, or, How to Load Test Your Battery In The Comfort of Your Garage.
Since the Triumph is currently on time out for being naughty and not charging it's battery like a good motorcycle, I thought I might ride the Vespa to work today.
Last night I went out the the garage to make sure the Vespa was still healthy and happy and likely to start come this morning. Sadly, it was not. The battery has caught a nasty case of "dead."
Incidentally, you can be certain that your battery is dead and not just very, very sleepy by doing an impromptu load test with your multimeter. You have a multimeter, right? If not, get one. Especially if you like European bikes. You can get a cheap one for practically free, and you will use it a lot once you realize how awesome it is.
Start with a fully charged battery. If you battery isn't charged, attempt to charge it. You have a battery charger, right?
Set the voltage test on your multimeter to 20 volts and turn it on. With the fully charged battery in your bike, connect the red multimeter probe to the positive battery terminal, and the black probe to the negative terminal. It should probably read somewhere over 12 volts. If it's less than that, and you just charged the battery, that's bad.
Anyway, turn on your ignition and see how much the voltage drops. It might go down a little, but shouldn't go down more than maybe one volt. Hit the starter button. If the voltage drops dramatically, you've got yourself a dead battery.
Of course, if you don't have a multimeter, and for some reason you aren't willing to shell out $5 to get one, you could also do the following: Try to charge the battery, and when it's done charging, attempt to start your bike. If the starter blows a raspberry at you, your battery is toast.
Now when you go to get your battery replaced because it's still under warranty, you can tell the helpful employee that you load-tested the battery and it is dead, so please make with the free replacement.
Last night I went out the the garage to make sure the Vespa was still healthy and happy and likely to start come this morning. Sadly, it was not. The battery has caught a nasty case of "dead."
Incidentally, you can be certain that your battery is dead and not just very, very sleepy by doing an impromptu load test with your multimeter. You have a multimeter, right? If not, get one. Especially if you like European bikes. You can get a cheap one for practically free, and you will use it a lot once you realize how awesome it is.
Start with a fully charged battery. If you battery isn't charged, attempt to charge it. You have a battery charger, right?
Set the voltage test on your multimeter to 20 volts and turn it on. With the fully charged battery in your bike, connect the red multimeter probe to the positive battery terminal, and the black probe to the negative terminal. It should probably read somewhere over 12 volts. If it's less than that, and you just charged the battery, that's bad.
Anyway, turn on your ignition and see how much the voltage drops. It might go down a little, but shouldn't go down more than maybe one volt. Hit the starter button. If the voltage drops dramatically, you've got yourself a dead battery.
Of course, if you don't have a multimeter, and for some reason you aren't willing to shell out $5 to get one, you could also do the following: Try to charge the battery, and when it's done charging, attempt to start your bike. If the starter blows a raspberry at you, your battery is toast.
Now when you go to get your battery replaced because it's still under warranty, you can tell the helpful employee that you load-tested the battery and it is dead, so please make with the free replacement.
Sabtu, 15 Oktober 2011
Turns Out It's A Triumph After All
Electrical issues and oil leaks. Yep, a modern Triumph is still a Triumph.
OK, so it took until the bike reached 40,000 miles for these issues to come up. And if you show me a motorcycle that doesn't leak oil and develop electrical issues, I'll show you a bike that's never been ridden.
Still, kind of a pain in the butt. My battery isn't charging. I've stuck the multimeter on the battery, and I can rev the motor to my heart's content with no increase in voltage. I'll have to figure out if it's a problem with the rectifier or the stator.
Fun times!
OK, so it took until the bike reached 40,000 miles for these issues to come up. And if you show me a motorcycle that doesn't leak oil and develop electrical issues, I'll show you a bike that's never been ridden.
Still, kind of a pain in the butt. My battery isn't charging. I've stuck the multimeter on the battery, and I can rev the motor to my heart's content with no increase in voltage. I'll have to figure out if it's a problem with the rectifier or the stator.
Fun times!
Rabu, 21 September 2011
To Give Fear a Square Kick in the Shin
From what I've read, and otherwise gathered from talking to folks that don't ride, motorcycles scare the hell out of a lot of people. As in, "Oh my god, that motorcycle parked over there is going to lunge at me and eat my travel-sized dog."
People have told me they don't ride because it's too scary, and they don't know how I do it.
Here's something to consider: motorcycles scare the hell out of people that do ride, on occasion. Any biker will be able to tell you about a time he/she almost shat in his/her gear. It might have been an oncoming truck intruding in the lane, or gravel in the middle a fast curve. If you've never had to check your pants after a ride, you haven't been riding for very long.
It's not a lack of fear that lets us continue to enjoy riding, it's just a good supply of nerve. Nerve as in ability to cope in a demanding situation, in equal measure with impudence and audacity.
Some people don't have enough nerve to get on a bike in the first place. Some don't have enough nerve to make it beyond the first high-intensity experience. That's OK. At least they know their limits now.
But a select few are the sort who survive a close call, yell "Wahoo!" and ride on, because letting fear win is unthinkable.
Long time riders are the ones who have it together enough to face a terrifying situation, respond correctly, and then look over at fear and death and give them a cheery wave just to shine 'em on a bit. It takes a lot of nerve to get back on a bike after that.
People have told me they don't ride because it's too scary, and they don't know how I do it.
Here's something to consider: motorcycles scare the hell out of people that do ride, on occasion. Any biker will be able to tell you about a time he/she almost shat in his/her gear. It might have been an oncoming truck intruding in the lane, or gravel in the middle a fast curve. If you've never had to check your pants after a ride, you haven't been riding for very long.
It's not a lack of fear that lets us continue to enjoy riding, it's just a good supply of nerve. Nerve as in ability to cope in a demanding situation, in equal measure with impudence and audacity.
Some people don't have enough nerve to get on a bike in the first place. Some don't have enough nerve to make it beyond the first high-intensity experience. That's OK. At least they know their limits now.
But a select few are the sort who survive a close call, yell "Wahoo!" and ride on, because letting fear win is unthinkable.
Long time riders are the ones who have it together enough to face a terrifying situation, respond correctly, and then look over at fear and death and give them a cheery wave just to shine 'em on a bit. It takes a lot of nerve to get back on a bike after that.
Kamis, 08 September 2011
The Weather Here Has Been Contemptible
The heat here in Phoenix has been overwhelming for the last several weeks. Extremely high heat and high humidity just sucks. Coming in to the office covered in sweat isn't much fun, and getting home absolutely soaked with sweat is less fun. So I've been carpooling with Lady Luck.
I was getting a bit twitchy from the time away from the bike, though, and I am glad the temperatures are falling.
This morning I rode in to work for the first time since early August. It's funny how quickly new routines develop, and how difficult it can be to get back in to an old routine. I got my boots on, and then had to stop and think about what gear I needed to put on next.
It's probably for the best, then, that I was less than two miles from home when I encountered a guy in a Mustang that wanted to race. Silly man, Mustangs are many things, but they aren't fast.* Not compared to a bike, anyhow. After giving him a brief demonstration of how inertia impedes velocity, I felt like I was back in the groove.
Fall is just around the corner, which means comfortable riding. Hooray!
*I can say that because I really like Mustangs, even if they're a bit poky.
I was getting a bit twitchy from the time away from the bike, though, and I am glad the temperatures are falling.
This morning I rode in to work for the first time since early August. It's funny how quickly new routines develop, and how difficult it can be to get back in to an old routine. I got my boots on, and then had to stop and think about what gear I needed to put on next.
It's probably for the best, then, that I was less than two miles from home when I encountered a guy in a Mustang that wanted to race. Silly man, Mustangs are many things, but they aren't fast.* Not compared to a bike, anyhow. After giving him a brief demonstration of how inertia impedes velocity, I felt like I was back in the groove.
Fall is just around the corner, which means comfortable riding. Hooray!
*I can say that because I really like Mustangs, even if they're a bit poky.
Rabu, 24 Agustus 2011
Senin, 22 Agustus 2011
Ask Lucky: How To Communicate With Other Bikers on Group Rides
Anonymous asks: "How do you communicate with your buddies when you go on a group ride? I'm thinking of velcroing a 2 way walkie talkie for 2 or more people to the outside of a helmet. Thoughts?"
I admire your creativity, but you don't need to jury-rig a communication device, there are several 2-way helmet radios on the market.
That said, I don't really do group rides with more than 2 other people, so I might not be the best person to ask. When riding with just a couple other people, pointing at the problem/point of interest usually suffices. There is also a rich motorcycle sign language to cover most riding issues - the signs vary from area to area, though, so you'll have to learn what people in your neck of the woods do. Barring that, passing the others and leading the ride when I need to hit a gas station or rest stop has always worked for me.
Personally, I don't care to talk to the people I'm riding with except when stopped. Chatting is for cagers, we're motorcycle people.
Does anyone with more experience riding in groups, or experience with helmet radios have any advice? Leave a comment!
I admire your creativity, but you don't need to jury-rig a communication device, there are several 2-way helmet radios on the market.
That said, I don't really do group rides with more than 2 other people, so I might not be the best person to ask. When riding with just a couple other people, pointing at the problem/point of interest usually suffices. There is also a rich motorcycle sign language to cover most riding issues - the signs vary from area to area, though, so you'll have to learn what people in your neck of the woods do. Barring that, passing the others and leading the ride when I need to hit a gas station or rest stop has always worked for me.
Personally, I don't care to talk to the people I'm riding with except when stopped. Chatting is for cagers, we're motorcycle people.
Does anyone with more experience riding in groups, or experience with helmet radios have any advice? Leave a comment!
Rabu, 03 Agustus 2011
Where I Snuck Off To
Why, yes, that is a photo of me with a pizza on the Oregon coast. I know how to travel.
Should you wind up in Yachats, get yourself a pie from Outta Gas [541-547-4424; 1685 Hwy 101, Yachats, OR 97498; Delivery only, cash only.].
Incidentally, this kind of ruins my plan to open the only pizza parlor in Yachats. Maybe there will still be an opening for a hot wing joint?
UPDATE: Go here to check out their website. Apparently, they also do pick up, if you're not the delivery type.
Senin, 18 Juli 2011
Motorcycle as Implement of Dentistry
I'm not sure this little biker is a qualified dentist. On the other hand, she did get the right tooth. That's gotta be worth something.
Senin, 11 Juli 2011
Self-Restraint Is A Real Drag
What kind of adult sticks his arm out the window that far on the freeway? I was riding home from work and had serious concerns about the passenger in the car in front of me. Did he somehow manage to miss all of those educational films where the kid hanging out the bus window gets his head lopped off by an angry streetlight or passing freight train? And why isn't his buddy, the one driving the car, giving him a hard time about it? Were I driving a cage and my passenger started crawling out the window, I'd offer to just pull over.
Apparently, the drag induced by this moron's arm was significant enough to reduce the car's forward velocity as well. Slowbies in the HOV lane annoy me - the whole reason for the lane is to go fast.
But I'm nothing if not patient, and when there was an opening I did a little glide to the right and applied a bit of throttle to pass. The stupid passenger's arm was nearly in my lane. I had a wicked thought. A delightful vision. Here was an opportunity to make someone's day just a little more interesting.
I applied just the tiniest bit of throttle, so I was going just a little faster than the slow car. I got myself situated in the left side of the lane. I was about five feet behind the space-invading arm when I let go of the left grip and got ready to slap the back of this joker's hand. This was gonna be good.
At the last moment, just before it would be too late, I had a vision of this idiot screaming like a little girl, heaving himself back in to the car and hugging the driver for dear life, freaking the driver right the Hell out, who would then swerve violently and either crash in to me or the concrete wall to the left.
I decided perhaps I'd save the pranks for another day and put my hand back on the grip. I applied a bit more throttle and finished my pass without engaging the idiot. I don't think he even noticed me there, plotting a surprise.
I felt mildly disappointed for the rest of the evening. The prudent decision isn't always the fun one.
Apparently, the drag induced by this moron's arm was significant enough to reduce the car's forward velocity as well. Slowbies in the HOV lane annoy me - the whole reason for the lane is to go fast.
But I'm nothing if not patient, and when there was an opening I did a little glide to the right and applied a bit of throttle to pass. The stupid passenger's arm was nearly in my lane. I had a wicked thought. A delightful vision. Here was an opportunity to make someone's day just a little more interesting.
I applied just the tiniest bit of throttle, so I was going just a little faster than the slow car. I got myself situated in the left side of the lane. I was about five feet behind the space-invading arm when I let go of the left grip and got ready to slap the back of this joker's hand. This was gonna be good.
At the last moment, just before it would be too late, I had a vision of this idiot screaming like a little girl, heaving himself back in to the car and hugging the driver for dear life, freaking the driver right the Hell out, who would then swerve violently and either crash in to me or the concrete wall to the left.
I decided perhaps I'd save the pranks for another day and put my hand back on the grip. I applied a bit more throttle and finished my pass without engaging the idiot. I don't think he even noticed me there, plotting a surprise.
I felt mildly disappointed for the rest of the evening. The prudent decision isn't always the fun one.
Jumat, 08 Juli 2011
Know How Your Body Reacts To Heat
One of the great things about motorcycling is learning exactly how your body responds to different environmental conditions. Even in all of our gear, we're extremely exposed to temperature, humidity, etc. We're probably even more exposed than someone just standing there outside, because we have to contend with intense wind on top of everything else.
Here in the desert wastes of urban Phoenix, we're reaching the hottest part of the year. As if the temperature and unrelenting sun isn't bad enough, we get to contend with rising humidity as well. Those of you acclimated to cooler, wet places might not think the humidity level here is that high, but I can assure you that adding any humidity to desert temperatures makes it absolutely disgusting outside.
Luckily for me, I seem to be well-suited to the heat. Some people, for varying reasons, just wither in high temperatures. I don't look down on those poor souls, by the way. If you can't cope with the heat, then stay the heck out of the heat. Heat exhaustion is no fun, and heat stroke is a miserable way to die - and a common one.
It's therefore a good thing for you to know how your body responds to the heat, and when you should start being concerned.
Sweating, obviously, is a good thing. Your heart rate might also increase a bit as your body tries to cool itself by passing as much blood as possible close to the cooler surface of your skin. Things are still OK if you're a bit flushed and sweaty, though you need to stay attentive to what your body is telling you.
If you start feeling nauseous, fatigued, weak, dizzy, or start getting cramps, a headache or vomiting, you need to take immediate action to cool off. Get out of the heat and into someplace cool. Rehydrate. Get wet and stand in front of a fan. If you're really feeling sick, seek medical attention.
If you stop sweating, have trouble breathing, or have a rapid, weak pulse, you need immediate medical attention for heat stroke. Other common symptoms of heat stroke are strange behavior, hallucinations, confusion, disorientation, agitation, seizure and coma. Of course, if you have any of those last symptoms, you're probably going to have to hope that someone else notices you're not acting quite right and takes immediate action.
Exposure kills people. Even tough people. Don't be a chump - if you start feeling crappy in the heat, take immediate action to cool off. Get off the bike and in to a cool place until you feel right again. Everyone you know will prefer you arrive alive rather than croak trying to show up on time.
Here in the desert wastes of urban Phoenix, we're reaching the hottest part of the year. As if the temperature and unrelenting sun isn't bad enough, we get to contend with rising humidity as well. Those of you acclimated to cooler, wet places might not think the humidity level here is that high, but I can assure you that adding any humidity to desert temperatures makes it absolutely disgusting outside.
Luckily for me, I seem to be well-suited to the heat. Some people, for varying reasons, just wither in high temperatures. I don't look down on those poor souls, by the way. If you can't cope with the heat, then stay the heck out of the heat. Heat exhaustion is no fun, and heat stroke is a miserable way to die - and a common one.
It's therefore a good thing for you to know how your body responds to the heat, and when you should start being concerned.
Sweating, obviously, is a good thing. Your heart rate might also increase a bit as your body tries to cool itself by passing as much blood as possible close to the cooler surface of your skin. Things are still OK if you're a bit flushed and sweaty, though you need to stay attentive to what your body is telling you.
If you start feeling nauseous, fatigued, weak, dizzy, or start getting cramps, a headache or vomiting, you need to take immediate action to cool off. Get out of the heat and into someplace cool. Rehydrate. Get wet and stand in front of a fan. If you're really feeling sick, seek medical attention.
If you stop sweating, have trouble breathing, or have a rapid, weak pulse, you need immediate medical attention for heat stroke. Other common symptoms of heat stroke are strange behavior, hallucinations, confusion, disorientation, agitation, seizure and coma. Of course, if you have any of those last symptoms, you're probably going to have to hope that someone else notices you're not acting quite right and takes immediate action.
Exposure kills people. Even tough people. Don't be a chump - if you start feeling crappy in the heat, take immediate action to cool off. Get off the bike and in to a cool place until you feel right again. Everyone you know will prefer you arrive alive rather than croak trying to show up on time.
Rabu, 29 Juni 2011
Looking At The Bright Side Of A Suddenly Dead Battery On A Hot Summer Day In The Desert
I had been worried about not having anything to post today, but my ever-faithful Triumph, as always, provided.
The heat has arrived in Phoenix. It's the time of year when I can count on sweating more or less from the moment I leave the house until just before it's time for bed. Such is life in the desert. I can deal with it.
Of course, the temperature extremes in the desert are very hard on auto and motorcycle batteries. If your battery lasts more than a year here, it's one quality battery. That's why our car has a Die-Hard in it. I'm sure there's a compelling reason why I haven't put a Die-Hard in the Triumph, but I can't think of what it is. Anyway, I've got some other battery the dealer put in there right now.
And it died again. I just got the new one in March.
I discovered the dead battery thusly: After fifteen miles of desert freeway, I stopped at the grocery store to pick up coffee filters and tortillas (why else?). Every one and their cousin had also stopped at the Quick n' Dirty at the same time. I shouldered my way through the hordes of lifeless heat zombies, got my two items, checked out, and put my gear back on.
When I thumbed the starter, it coughed weakly and asked me not to do that again. Of course, I did try again, much to the starter's irritation.
The only reasonable thing to do was to raise my arms to the sky and yell "Today? Here? Seriously?" The other parking lot denizens took this as an their cue to look elsewhere and move away slowly.
Luckily, I remembered there are two things in my favor in these situations. One, my motorcycle has a clutch. Two, a Lucky in motion has a lot of inertia on his own. Added to a rolling motorcycle, well, don't try and stop me. My only concern about push starting the bike was whether or not the thing would run with a dead battery. Some bikes don't. A modern Vespa, for example.
I got the motorcycle rolling across the parking lot, shifted into first gear, popped the clutch, and rode along home. The instrument cluster was not behaving right, of course. The displays kept going blank on me at low RPMs, but the important thing was that it kept running until I got home.
So now I just have to wait for the bike to cool off enough so I can stand over it long enough to pull the battery. Easy as really, really hot pie.
And here I was worried I wouldn't have anything to write about. See? It's not all bad.
Senin, 27 Juni 2011
Have You Seen This Crazy Crash?
So, two riders crash (they both hop up right away), their bikes get tangled and start spinning in circles. I'm probably a terrible person for this, but watching the rider in black freaking out and trying to catch his bike makes me laugh uncontrollably. He's just so annoyed.
Rabu, 22 Juni 2011
Buell is Back At It
Personally, I knew Buell would be back. You probably did too. Face it, a guy who can do what he did with HD weighing him down isn't going to be stopped by a little thing like the loss of a supplier and dealer chain.
Erik Buell Racing has unveiled the 1190RS, and if I had roughly $40,000, I'd totally buy one. But I don't, so I'm just going to wait until they're mass-producing again.
Here is Motorcyclist magazine's write-up about it.
Yum.
One question for modern sportbike designers, though: What's the deal with the fiddly license plate holders stuck on the back of seemingly all the new bikes. Is that really the most attractive option you can come up with?
Erik Buell Racing has unveiled the 1190RS, and if I had roughly $40,000, I'd totally buy one. But I don't, so I'm just going to wait until they're mass-producing again.
Here is Motorcyclist magazine's write-up about it.
Yum.
One question for modern sportbike designers, though: What's the deal with the fiddly license plate holders stuck on the back of seemingly all the new bikes. Is that really the most attractive option you can come up with?
Senin, 20 Juni 2011
It's Ride To Work Day Already?
I had no idea that today was Ride to Work Day until just now. I thought it was on July 15th for some reason. So... if you didn't ride to work today, you need to drive yourself on home, hop on your bike and ride it back to work.
DO IT. I'll be checking up on you.
I think this marks the 2nd time I've actually ridden to work on the official day. It may be the third, I'm not certain. Usually something comes up such as sickness, vehicular trouble, or vacations.
I didn't notice any more bikes on the road than usual, but perhaps I'll see more this afternoon. Have you noticed an unusually high number of riders in your area?
DO IT. I'll be checking up on you.
I think this marks the 2nd time I've actually ridden to work on the official day. It may be the third, I'm not certain. Usually something comes up such as sickness, vehicular trouble, or vacations.
I didn't notice any more bikes on the road than usual, but perhaps I'll see more this afternoon. Have you noticed an unusually high number of riders in your area?
Jumat, 17 Juni 2011
Basic Biker Etiquette
So there you are, you've got a pretty bike, your gear is on and you are ready to go! Unfortunately, no one ever bothered to tell you how to comport yourself while riding. Here's what you need to know.
If you can safely stop to check on a motorcyclist who pulled off the road, do so. Even if you can't quite handle "righty-tighty, lefty-loosey," you might be able to lend a cell phone, tools, water, gum, or just a bit of moral support. Of course, only stop if you can do so safely. If you have to immediately cut across three lanes of traffic and come to a screeching stop, you'll be excused for not stopping.
Do not pass another motorcyclist in the same lane unless he/she indicates that you should. Seriously, passing in the same lane is just a jerk-ass move. If the rider you're passing didn't notice you, he/she is going to be startled when you fly by three feet away from him. It's not just rude, it's unsafe - how can you be sure the other rider wasn't planning to shift to the other side of the lane? Unless you get waved past (I do this all the time if I'm holding someone up and traffic is tight), don't pass in the same lane.
One exception to that rule - in the twisties, if the other rider is hugging the right side of the road and going slowly, you'll be excused for passing in the same lane if you do so as safely as you can.
Wave when you can, and return greetings at stoplights. What? Are you such a bad-ass that you can't even say good morning in return? Don't just stare like you're too tough for such things. Life is rough enough, make it a little smoother by acknowledging a fellow traveller in a small way. Sure, sometimes you just can't wave because you didn't see the other person in time, or it's not safe to do so, or your hands are full of clutch and throttle. It's OK. Just do it when you can.
Your thoughts?
If you can safely stop to check on a motorcyclist who pulled off the road, do so. Even if you can't quite handle "righty-tighty, lefty-loosey," you might be able to lend a cell phone, tools, water, gum, or just a bit of moral support. Of course, only stop if you can do so safely. If you have to immediately cut across three lanes of traffic and come to a screeching stop, you'll be excused for not stopping.
Do not pass another motorcyclist in the same lane unless he/she indicates that you should. Seriously, passing in the same lane is just a jerk-ass move. If the rider you're passing didn't notice you, he/she is going to be startled when you fly by three feet away from him. It's not just rude, it's unsafe - how can you be sure the other rider wasn't planning to shift to the other side of the lane? Unless you get waved past (I do this all the time if I'm holding someone up and traffic is tight), don't pass in the same lane.
One exception to that rule - in the twisties, if the other rider is hugging the right side of the road and going slowly, you'll be excused for passing in the same lane if you do so as safely as you can.
Wave when you can, and return greetings at stoplights. What? Are you such a bad-ass that you can't even say good morning in return? Don't just stare like you're too tough for such things. Life is rough enough, make it a little smoother by acknowledging a fellow traveller in a small way. Sure, sometimes you just can't wave because you didn't see the other person in time, or it's not safe to do so, or your hands are full of clutch and throttle. It's OK. Just do it when you can.
Your thoughts?
Rabu, 15 Juni 2011
How It's Done: Pinstriping A Royal-Enfield Gas Tank
Here's a little mid-week video treat for you - one of the workers at Royal-Enfield pinstriping a gas tank.
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