Just a guy who loves riding motorcycles and writing about it
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 8,700 times in 2015. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
So 2015, it’s been nice knowing you. I’m not sure about the “older you get the faster time flies” thing because it seems this year has lasted longer than 365 days. And besides, when did I get old? Who am I kidding…
I know one thing for sure, if how I felt was a true measure to how old I am, I would not be able to buy beer. Of course, I don’t feel that old. My mind is still telling my body that anything is possible, and it is more mind over matter anyway. Just tell that to the guy behind the counter at the liquor store.
So for 2016 I will make some promises to myself. Not the usual lies I tell myself every new year, but the ones that really, truly matter. Why we always pick the beginning of the year to make these random claims of personal improvements is beyond me, but here I go;
Laughing More – I need a huge belly laugh where the snorts and snot come from my nose. The kind where Diet Coke comes spraying from my mouth like a split radiator hose. Admit it, you want to laugh like that too.
Working on My Health – I know, right? My mind is telling the matter down below everything is fine, but at my age I know better. I need to stretch, walk and eat better for the health of it. Why? It’s the right thing to do and I can only imagine I would feel better. And besides, a nice evening walk gives me plenty of time to think. My motorcycle does the same thing but without all the cardio.
Take Some Time Off – I need this for my mental state. I’m not sure if this is good or bad, but I’m sure it will depend on how I use this time off. Beer and Nacho Doritos or stretch, walk and be active? Mind over matter, right? I also want to take a ride someplace I haven’t been on my motorcycle. Maybe to the southwest. That’s where Nacho Doritos are made right?
Be a Better Listener – Pay attention and be present daily. Or better yet, shut up and let people talk. I have been told I’m a good listener and I have the stories to back this up. I have perfect strangers tell me things they may not tell anyone else. It must be the perfectly timed concerned nod I give.
Sunrise and Sunsets – I talk a lot about my morning and evening rides on my motorcycle reflecting on how beautiful these are and how each one is unique and beautiful in its own way. I also know others are looking at them too from their own perspective and vantage point, but from now on I’m going to appreciate the beauty of both the visual and spiritual sides of these daily wonders. The beauty as it happens and how and why it happens, and in turn, give thanks each day for this amazing gift.
Appreciate – So much wasted energy is given to those things we cannot change and I will dedicate this energy to appreciating all that is around me. I will also communicate my appreciation to those who are important to me. I hope you don’t mind, because this matters to me. Get it?
One thing is for sure, every day is a gift and there isn’t any point in wasting it. Make the most of your time spent on this earth and give it all you have while making a positive difference in someone else’s life.
Here is another great article from Ania!
There are plenty of different reasons to get into biking, and there are several options when it comes to style, performance and size. Everyone can afford to be fairly specific when they choose their perfect bike and there are some great entry-level options in any class, but dual-sports bikes just lend themselves well to beginners. You can get a spry little 250cc Ninja if you like sport bikes, or a competent Suzuki TU 250x if you prefer cruisers, but there are certain features that dual-sports offer that make them a great learning tool for your first year or so of riding that these other bikes simply lack. Here are a few good reasons to get a dual-sport as your first motorcycle:
The number one reason to recommend this type of bike to a new rider is the fact that you can take them off-road and practice away from all the traffic and pedestrians. You can spend hours riding around the dirt without worrying about bumping into things, making a considerable amount of damage or even hurting yourself badly. Falling on concrete is a much rougher experience than hitting the grass or mud, and practicing for hours on uneven terrain will make riding around town later feel like child’s play. You still have to be smart and careful, making sure to wear all the necessary riding gear, but it is a much more private and safer environment to learn the basics.
2. They have a wide variety of uses
You can’t take a sport bike out into the forest, and you can’t expect a smaller cruiser to be very agile. Not only can you ride around in the dirt having all sorts of fun, but you can then simply clean up your dual-sport and go round some errands around town. These bikes are often modified for adventure touring, where people ride for hundreds of mile across countries and even continents. Those are bigger and more powerful versions of course, but even entry-level dual-sport bikes can carry you over moderate distances, be it on concrete or off-road, on business or for pure pleasure.
3. Your experience carries over easily to other types of bikes
These bikes have some similarities with most other types of motorcycle. The seat is a tad bit higher than on other bikes, but you are seated upright like you would be on a cruiser, the handling and performance are somewhat similar to those of a sport bike and the general look and feel is a hybrid of off-road and urban bike features. You can a dual-sport as a learning tool and then graduate to any style of bike you want, and you’ll get used to it very quickly, or you can just buy a more powerful dual-sport if you want.
4. They can be tons of fun and handle very well
These motorcycles are built with performance in mind. Even the lighter and less powerful models feel very fast and responsive, and can give you quite the adrenaline rush, particularly if you ride them out in the open country. Hitting a calm side road is always fun and exciting – you get a chance to speed up a bit, hit a few corners and enjoy the moment – but when you have the ability to go off the beaten path and do some exploring any time you like, you will have a hard time wiping a huge, goofy grin of your face.
5. A dual-sport can take a beating and keep going
A big issue for new riders is the fact that they will take a tumble at least once during their first year, and there will be plenty of times where they just drop the bike or bump into things when parking. It is a necessary part of learning to ride, but with some bikes this can mean spending tons of money on bodywork and various repairs. Being an off-road as well as a city vehicle, a dual-sport bike is built to take a beating and keep on trucking. You don’t have to worry about bumps and scratches too much, and the bike might last years and years.
There are probably a few more things dual-sport lovers could add to this list, but these five are the core reasons why any new rider should take a serious look at these sturdy and incredibly fun motorcycles.
As a half-inch of ice covers my little world, I find myself walking past my motorcycle in the garage wondering if it will ever see sunlight again. I know it will, but at the end of November it feels like a warm(er) day of riding is a long way from today.
I have been known to ride through the dark days of winter and as long as it’s not dangerous, I can put up with cold temperatures. I draw the line however, at dangerous or soon-to-be dangerous roads. There are too many things out of my control when dealing with the weather and those other folks that have their hands on the steering wheel sharing my little piece of asphalt. Like pulling up a chair in Vegas at the blackjack table you have to know when to hold’em and know when to fold’em. Ice? I fold’em.
So when I ran into the owner of this motorcycle, I had to question his sanity. He left central Missouri on his way to York Nebraska for Thanksgiving, stopping just long enough to warm up and make a phone call or two. It was on the Wednesday before the holiday and it was cold and over-cast but dry. He said he was returning on Saturday, and me being a junior meteorologists and the proud owner of a crystal ball, I told him there was no way he would be riding back on Saturday. He proved me wrong, but he also proved me right at the same time. I was wrong about him coming back by on Saturday, but I was right about how riding in the winter is all about mental fortitude. He was soaked through and through. His leather jacket and insulated bib overalls were heavy with drizzle and his gloves were dripping from the ice that was melting on them. He was in high spirits considering his situation. As for me, I would have pulled over long before I got to this point. Not that I don’t have the fortitude to ride in the cold, and for that matter I feel I would have been a little more prepared by wearing a proper rain suit. But the roads were only going to get worse and the traffic was heavy due to the holiday. In other words, not a good hand at the blackjack table and it was not a good bet to continue on.
So after a handshake and a pat on his shoulder wishing him a safe trip, he climbed aboard his bike and took off heading east with another 3-4 hours of road ahead of him. Knowing he would arrive at his destination after dark, I knew the worst was yet to come for him. The glare from the headlights off the icy windshield and his full-face helmet would be sketchy at best and all of this while being tired and cold. I hope he made it safely. I hope he knows that complete strangers were worried about him. I hope he knows how dangerous it was to be doing this.
I know one thing for sure. He made a promise to me on Wednesday that he would return, and he did. A man of his word – and I have a feeling he made someone else a promise that he would make it home safe and sound. Safe travels my friend and IÂ know we’ll meet again.
Jeff Maddox 