I don't remember an exact date or time of when I started falling in love with motorcycles but I do remember vividly those first "baby steps" of learning to ride and the eagerness to grow that knowledge and increase my abilities exponentially. Those first few years were about devotion to be better and know more. I studied everything from motorcycle technique to advances in technology to details in riding gear. I probably had a better understanding of new products and innovations in the 2-wheel industry than many insiders. In short, it was about total submersion for me. I simply couldn't get enough.
Circa 2004 I had made friends with a couple of guys (full-time airline pilots, part-time amateur road racers) who took the bold leap into trying their hands at turning their part-time passion into a career. They opened a retail store/motorcycle shop dedicated to repair, gear & accessory sales and road racer support. I spent a lot of time at that shop but I knew from the beginning that the business was doomed. I don't think it would have taken most people much outside perspective to see these guys, although really good guys, had any clue what it took to run a successful business. I remember hanging out there just to absorb as much of their knowledge as I could. I think we all have this idea in the back of our heads that somehow being physically around motorcycles we learn more about them through some sort of osmosis. I still subscribe to this theory even if it ever would be disproven.
These 2 gentlemen lacked one important element to their business model; their information was old and dated. They had made the transition from street rider to road racer years prior and completely lost touch with what was happening in the industry outside of the racetrack. They couldn't speak to their customers about new products on the market or current trends. At the time I didn't understand how a person can be passionate and knowledgeable about motorcycling and not pay attention to the latest in gear, technology, models, etc. For me it was part of the whole. Isn't the most exciting stuff the new stuff? Ten years later, I am starting to better understand it.
Teaching new riders I get a snapshot of the eagerness that I had early in my riding days. They have that hunger for knowledge and are still in the total submersion phase of their new found passion. Compared to them I sometimes feel that I am now in the "out of touch" phase that my road racer friends where in 10 years prior. It's okay, I sometimes get the opportunity to learn through my students about new innovations and what the latest gear is. If anything it sparks some really good discussion in the class. So what has changed with me? Well, two things have changed; time and interest.
My life has progressed to the point that I simply don't have the time for total submersion any more. Spending the bulk of my time in online forums, at bike nights, roaming dealership sales floors, subscribing to every relevant periodical I can find and seeking out new instructional classes and techniques isn't an option for me. Don't be confused here, I still do all of these things but I have to do it on a much smaller scale these days. When you have less time to dedicate to a task you start prioritizing which means you pick what you identify as the most relevant or important and concentrate on that first. I don't need to know everything, I need to know the important things like; what will increase my skills, what will keep me safer while riding, what are the new technologies as a whole and how is it relevant to motorcycling today. Example; I realized that there are a myriad of motorcycling periodicals out there that pretty much say the same things about the same things so I pick the ones that I trust or seem to be more accurate and stick with those. Instead of reading a dozen or so magazines, now I read about 3-4 regularly.
As I have explored various avenues of riding and motorcycles over the years I now focus on a couple of key categories that interest me the most. Admittedly, I spy on other stuff just to keep a finger on the pulse of what is going on but I don't put too much effort into it. For example, I know that Triumph currently makes about 3 variations of adventure bikes but I couldn't tell you any of their specs, capabilities or how they rank with their competition. I concentrate more on improving my street riding skills now versus my road racing skills because that's where I spend more of my time. I have opinions on most brands of riding gear but I will tell you my opinion is largely based on information that I collected in the past and may not necessarily hold true now. I skim the magazines and read the articles that spark my interest but I will almost certainly look over the review of the new dirt bike because I don't ride off road. My interests direct my attention now whereas early on everything had my attention.
My experiences may not hold true to some of the "brand centric" motorcyclists out there. In some cases we fall in love with the brand moreso than the actual bike. However, if you are anything like me and eh hem, "geek out" on anything with two wheels than you likely know exactly where I'm coming from. It doesn't mean I like or dislike riding or motorcycles any more or less than before. I think of it as this; I am now more focused on what is important at this stage of the game. Because of that focus I can concentrate on the key areas that will improve my skills and abilities where I need it most.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
To Helmet or Not To Helmet? Is that the Question?
It seems as if the helmet topic comes up often when I'm speaking with people about motorcycling. Maybe more-so in my geographical area because I live in Missouri where the state law requires us to wear a DOT approved helmet when riding however just a few miles away in Illinois there is no helmet law. Until recently my feelings on the matter where callous because I make the decision to wear a helmet regardless of political or legal standings. I say, "until recently" because my thoughts on wearing a helmet remain unchanged however my view on the law is starting to evolve.
You cannot dispute that wearing a helmet increases your level of safety. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), "helmets saved the lives of 1,617 motorcyclists in 2011 and that 703 more lives in all states could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets." Additionally, "helmets are estimated to be 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries to riders and 41% for passengers." (http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811765.pdf). I can go into greater detail but you get the idea. Bottom line is they work.
The purpose of this post isn't to advocate for or against wearing a helmet but rather to view the purpose of the law requiring them. I teach new riders that riding a motorcycle is a risky endeavor and they have to decide what level of risk they are willing to accept. This includes everything from how and when they ride too where they ride, who they ride with and what type or level of gear they choose to wear when they ride. As adult riders we take responsibility for ourselves and/or how much risk we choose to take when riding.
Admittedly, it is a bit of a pet peeve of mine when laws are passed to protect us from ourselves. With kids I feel it's a different story. Sometimes the law has to step in to help certain people make good parenting decisions. As an adult, I have to believe that other able-minded adults understand gravity of their decisions and the level of risk they choose to accept.
So...Does there need to be a helmet law? I don't know. I do know that every piece of gear I put on decreases the severity of my injuries and can potentially save my life in the event of a crash. I know that I am about 40% more likely to survive a crash with my helmet on. I choose to educate myself and others on the importance of protective gear and riding safely in effort increase everyone's level of awareness. These are my choices. Others may choose a different path and regardless of where that path takes them I have to believe they are prepared to take responsibility for their actions before they ride. As American's we have freedom to make our own choices but we definitely need to be prepared for the results. Frankly, if you're not prepared for the end result then you are simply not making good choices.
For me it's a matter of defining where the line should be drawn. At what point do we start taking responsibilities for ourselves and stop letting others make decisions for us? I don't agree with riding without a helmet; for me, it just doesn't make sense, I don't get it. I do, however, support preserving our freedom as individuals to make our own choices. We need to be held accountable for ourselves.
You cannot dispute that wearing a helmet increases your level of safety. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), "helmets saved the lives of 1,617 motorcyclists in 2011 and that 703 more lives in all states could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets." Additionally, "helmets are estimated to be 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries to riders and 41% for passengers." (http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811765.pdf). I can go into greater detail but you get the idea. Bottom line is they work.
The purpose of this post isn't to advocate for or against wearing a helmet but rather to view the purpose of the law requiring them. I teach new riders that riding a motorcycle is a risky endeavor and they have to decide what level of risk they are willing to accept. This includes everything from how and when they ride too where they ride, who they ride with and what type or level of gear they choose to wear when they ride. As adult riders we take responsibility for ourselves and/or how much risk we choose to take when riding.
Admittedly, it is a bit of a pet peeve of mine when laws are passed to protect us from ourselves. With kids I feel it's a different story. Sometimes the law has to step in to help certain people make good parenting decisions. As an adult, I have to believe that other able-minded adults understand gravity of their decisions and the level of risk they choose to accept.
So...Does there need to be a helmet law? I don't know. I do know that every piece of gear I put on decreases the severity of my injuries and can potentially save my life in the event of a crash. I know that I am about 40% more likely to survive a crash with my helmet on. I choose to educate myself and others on the importance of protective gear and riding safely in effort increase everyone's level of awareness. These are my choices. Others may choose a different path and regardless of where that path takes them I have to believe they are prepared to take responsibility for their actions before they ride. As American's we have freedom to make our own choices but we definitely need to be prepared for the results. Frankly, if you're not prepared for the end result then you are simply not making good choices.
For me it's a matter of defining where the line should be drawn. At what point do we start taking responsibilities for ourselves and stop letting others make decisions for us? I don't agree with riding without a helmet; for me, it just doesn't make sense, I don't get it. I do, however, support preserving our freedom as individuals to make our own choices. We need to be held accountable for ourselves.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Practicalish
First, I have to apologize for allowing so much time to lapse between posts. My mantra in regards to this blog is, "no entry without purpose." Not that I haven't had something to say but just not enough time to put it to words.
Well, I finally did it. I sold the 998 and bought an ST4 about month or so ago. At 37 years old I have made the plunge from Superbike to Sport Tourer. So, how do I feel about it? Not sure yet. Let's just say it's growing on me.
The purchase was filled with emotion and a lot of research although in hindsight maybe I should have done more. Changing my motorcycle is a big deal for me and, like I already stated, an emotional one. In the beginning I felt as if I was selling my Porsche 911 to buy a Dodge Caravan. Many people have and will challenge that analogy but it really is a true representation of what was going through my head at the time. Ugh, sacrifices! The things that you have to do but you don't really want to in effort to be more practical.
Back to the bike. I chose the Ducati ST4 for several reasons namely; it's a Ducati which is a brand I love, right now the used market has these at a tremendous value and it hit all the check marks on my list (performance oriented, has luggage, comfortable enough to spend long stints in the saddle). My initial research turned up many rider reviews that said, "this bike is more sport than tourer." My thought, "Yeah right. That's what people try to tell themselves when they are in the market for an 'old man' bike." Upon further discovery I found this was actually true. Ducati basically took a 916/996 and engineered it into a more upright and comfortable ride. With that said, in stock trim this is by far the most uncomfortable Sport Tourer ever made. The riding position isn't much different than my 998 so aftermarket items like handlebar risers and a more comfortable seat is a must.
I looked at several within about a 5 hr drive of my home on a myriad of used motorcycle sales forums and got lucky by finding this one just 25 miles from my house. It had the aftermarket seat & handlebar risers I wanted and also the Ducati factory luggage. These are items that, if purchased ex post facto, can be really expensive and sometimes nearly impossible to find. I negotiated what I felt was a fair price with the seller and made the purchase.
So how do I feel about my purchase/bike change? At first, reluctant & sad. Sometimes I have students in my Basic Rider classes that first buy their bike and then take the class. They are almost always apologetic as if I am going to judge them negatively for buying the motorcycle first or buying something that isn't the best "first bike". My opinion is that you should ride what drives your passion, what you like, whatever gets you excited. Every time I looked at my 998 I felt that excitement and passion. For me, it was the coolest and sexiest motorcycle on the planet. I was afraid of losing that. After I purchased the ST4 and got my first indepth look into things I became disenchanted with it. Long story short, I found a couple of surprises when I removed the fairings. Nothing big but a few little things that put me off. Then, my continued research found some other nuances about these bikes plus, I began to have some issues with it randomly stalling on me. I began to replay the series of events in my head that lead up to the purchase and started to wonder if I had made too hasty of a decision.
After several weeks of ownership, several hundred miles of riding, more research into the aforementioned nuances and what I believe is the remedy to my stalling issue I feel much better about things. It appears as if the stalling issue was due to a faulty fuel pump relay which was an easy and inexpensive fix. I took some time last weekend and went for a joy ride by myself; something I haven't done in a really long time. I think this was exactly what I needed, just me and the bike. It handles terrifically, has enough storage to haul anything I could possibly need and it's a lot more comfortable than my 998. There are still a few things that I would like to address and I will as money and time allows but overall, I am happy with my decision now. Still not #1 on the my list of bikes that drive my passion but a really good combination of form & function. If I can't own several bikes then this is the perfect bike for me.
Well, I finally did it. I sold the 998 and bought an ST4 about month or so ago. At 37 years old I have made the plunge from Superbike to Sport Tourer. So, how do I feel about it? Not sure yet. Let's just say it's growing on me.
The purchase was filled with emotion and a lot of research although in hindsight maybe I should have done more. Changing my motorcycle is a big deal for me and, like I already stated, an emotional one. In the beginning I felt as if I was selling my Porsche 911 to buy a Dodge Caravan. Many people have and will challenge that analogy but it really is a true representation of what was going through my head at the time. Ugh, sacrifices! The things that you have to do but you don't really want to in effort to be more practical.
Back to the bike. I chose the Ducati ST4 for several reasons namely; it's a Ducati which is a brand I love, right now the used market has these at a tremendous value and it hit all the check marks on my list (performance oriented, has luggage, comfortable enough to spend long stints in the saddle). My initial research turned up many rider reviews that said, "this bike is more sport than tourer." My thought, "Yeah right. That's what people try to tell themselves when they are in the market for an 'old man' bike." Upon further discovery I found this was actually true. Ducati basically took a 916/996 and engineered it into a more upright and comfortable ride. With that said, in stock trim this is by far the most uncomfortable Sport Tourer ever made. The riding position isn't much different than my 998 so aftermarket items like handlebar risers and a more comfortable seat is a must.
I looked at several within about a 5 hr drive of my home on a myriad of used motorcycle sales forums and got lucky by finding this one just 25 miles from my house. It had the aftermarket seat & handlebar risers I wanted and also the Ducati factory luggage. These are items that, if purchased ex post facto, can be really expensive and sometimes nearly impossible to find. I negotiated what I felt was a fair price with the seller and made the purchase.
So how do I feel about my purchase/bike change? At first, reluctant & sad. Sometimes I have students in my Basic Rider classes that first buy their bike and then take the class. They are almost always apologetic as if I am going to judge them negatively for buying the motorcycle first or buying something that isn't the best "first bike". My opinion is that you should ride what drives your passion, what you like, whatever gets you excited. Every time I looked at my 998 I felt that excitement and passion. For me, it was the coolest and sexiest motorcycle on the planet. I was afraid of losing that. After I purchased the ST4 and got my first indepth look into things I became disenchanted with it. Long story short, I found a couple of surprises when I removed the fairings. Nothing big but a few little things that put me off. Then, my continued research found some other nuances about these bikes plus, I began to have some issues with it randomly stalling on me. I began to replay the series of events in my head that lead up to the purchase and started to wonder if I had made too hasty of a decision.
After several weeks of ownership, several hundred miles of riding, more research into the aforementioned nuances and what I believe is the remedy to my stalling issue I feel much better about things. It appears as if the stalling issue was due to a faulty fuel pump relay which was an easy and inexpensive fix. I took some time last weekend and went for a joy ride by myself; something I haven't done in a really long time. I think this was exactly what I needed, just me and the bike. It handles terrifically, has enough storage to haul anything I could possibly need and it's a lot more comfortable than my 998. There are still a few things that I would like to address and I will as money and time allows but overall, I am happy with my decision now. Still not #1 on the my list of bikes that drive my passion but a really good combination of form & function. If I can't own several bikes then this is the perfect bike for me.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Motorcycles Are Cool...Again.
I don't typically read Rolling Stone magazine but I happened to pick up a past issue today from last October that someone graciously left in a common area at work. Upon my peruse was a brief article (below) about how motorcycle's are now considered, "the most on-trend mode of dude transportation." I wrote before about the surge in popularity of vintage motorcycles which is apparently now considered a must-have in hipster culture. The last poplularity boost in our sport was the chopper craze which one can argue if that helped or hindered us. Personally, I feel the more people that get involved with motorcycles, the better; even if it is a fly-by-night interest.
Say what you want about hipsters and their culture; I only see the positives in this trend.
A couple of notes about the article.
Say what you want about hipsters and their culture; I only see the positives in this trend.
- More people interested in motorcycles means more moto-concious drivers.
- Motorcycles trending equates to higher resale values on used bikes (great if you're selling).
- Great used inventory when the trend is over (great if you're buying).
- A larger gear & apparel selection.
- Increased revenue for dealerships (especially mom & pop shops) giving them increased sustainability.
- Bike Nights and motorcycle-centric festivities.
- Love that Motto Guzzi. Looks like a V7 which is a cool little bike,.
- Arun Sharma is the GM of MotoCorsa (www.motocorsa.com) in Portland, Oregon. A awesome dealer that I hope to visit someday soon. You may already be familiar with some of their work such as the seDUCATIve vs. MANigale calender or the 1199 Terracorsa. Google either or both if you're not.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Anxious in the Winter
Some winters I pack my bike up and pretty much forget about riding until the weather warms up again, other winters I spend time in the garage working on whatever adjustments or preventative maintenance I deem necessary. This winter however, has been a hubbub of motorcycling activity for me which has resulted in a desire to ride more than I have had in a long time.
It started with my son, Aiden, receiving his first real motorcycle for
Christmas courtesy of his godfather (my brother). Sure he's a little
young at 3 but these days you have to start young if you are going to be
good or great at something. For the first time in a long time I
actually got to go shopping for new gear; not a thing I get to do much
anymore since funds are limited and replacement gear only comes on an
"as needed" basis. I have to admit it was fun buying gear on miniature
scale.Fresh off of the dirtbike buzz from Christmas it just happened that the Nuclear Cowbowz traveling freestyle motorcross show came in to town so we had to go to that! My first (along with Aiden's) experience seeing freestyle motorcross live and it was awesome! It was a culmination of pyrotechnics, lasers, motorcycles, guys doing marshal arts and even a handful of scantily clad women. What else do you need in a live performance, really.
Lastly, I've been catching Orange County Choppers on CMT every week. The show is shit but hey, it's motorcycles so I'm in. Also, I have been watching the series Long Way Round & Long Way Down on Netflix which is pretty good. If you haven't watched it here's the synopsis; Ewan McGregor and his buddy hop on some BMW GS's and ride really far for 3-4 months going through some really interesting places. (www.longwayround.com)
I have been remembering what I love of about motorcycling; going places off the beaten path, being alone with my thoughts, having good times with good friends and escaping the realities of life for a while. If you are not careful life will consume you and if you don't take a break once in a while I believe you will become the worst version of yourself. For me, motorcycling is/was my escape, my breather from the confines of reality. It helps me keep things in perspective and focus on what's important so I don't let the many burden's eat away at the real me. I'm not much for New Year's resolutions but I think I will resolve to actually ride for fun and for me this year.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Funny because it's true! Well, mostly.
This Twitter pole conducted by visordown.com is great. In their comprehensive list of motorcycling fashion faux-pas there is definitely a gamut of emotion-evoked responses going on in my head including; "What's wrong with that?", "Oh, they got that one right!" and "People actually do that?" Enjoy.
http://www.visordown.com/features/every-motorcycle-fashion-faux-pas-ever/20460.html
http://www.visordown.com/features/every-motorcycle-fashion-faux-pas-ever/20460.html
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Where's the Value?
An interesting evolution has taken place over the past decade in the motorcycle industry. Ten years ago Japanese motorcycles where by far the best "bang-for-the-buck" in nearly any category. They offered cutting-edge technology, performance and reliability for a relatively small amount of money. Example: I purchased my 2003 Yamaha R1 in the spring of 2004 as a left over new stock for $9,300. 150hp, 77.4 lb ft of torque, fuel injection and a dry weight of 384 lbs. Specs that are impressive and still relevant now.
At that time, in the superbike category, you could step up to a Ducati 998 or 999 with similar specs but higher quality components, lower production numbers and higher maintenance costs for around $17k. Bottomline was the European competitor to my R1 was nearly double the purchase price and more expensive to maintain but I could ride around knowing I had something special and unique. Taking a similar approach to the power cruiser category look at the 2003 Yamaha VMax ($11k) vs. the Harley V-Rod ($18k); similar specs however the Harley was a third the price more to purchase.
The price difference between European/American made motorcycles versus their Japanese competitors was considerable and the Japanese had a leg up on their competition in regards to technology and reliability. Now, let's fast-forward 10 years to 2013. The price of a new Yamaha R1 is $14.5k and a Ducati 1199 Panigale is $18k. A new Yamaha VMax retails for $18k and the Harley V-Rod Muscle retails for about $16k. In addition to the price disparity, European and American made motorcycles have stepped up their game in regards to product reliability and technological advances to the point where they are on par with or better than the Japanese competitors. In addition, if you check resale values you will likely find that U.S. & Euro bikes hold their values better and longer than the Japanese do. So, what happened?
Some say the impact of the world economy circa 2008 played a role by throwing the exchange rates off. A friend of mine that works in the industry believes that the Japanese got complacent and significantly scaled back their R&D efforts while the U.S. & Europe manufactures invested more in R&D. I remember reading and article several years ago that Yamaha was going to drastically reduce production numbers and move toward selling fewer bikes at higher profit margins. Regardless, if you are in the market to purchase a new bike going U.S. or European just makes more sense now.
I maintain that I am a fan of motorcycles regardless of make but if I can get better product or simply get a comparable product but it will be unique plus retain its value better well, I'm all over it!
Sources:
http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/yamaha_yzf-r1_2013.php
http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/yamaha_yzf-r1_2003.php
http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/2003-harley-vrod-vs-modified-yamaha-warrior-15098.html
http://www.ducatiusa.com/bikes/superbike/1199_panigale/index.do
http://www.starmotorcycles.com/star/products/modelspecs/23/1/specs.aspx
http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Motorcycles/v-rod-muscle.html?locale=en_US&bmLocale=en_US&source_cd=SEM_Retention_Motorcycles_V-Rod_Muscle&_cr=ppc|Google|Int_Retention_V-Rod|{harley%2Bv-rod%2Bmuscle}&version=desktop#!specs
At that time, in the superbike category, you could step up to a Ducati 998 or 999 with similar specs but higher quality components, lower production numbers and higher maintenance costs for around $17k. Bottomline was the European competitor to my R1 was nearly double the purchase price and more expensive to maintain but I could ride around knowing I had something special and unique. Taking a similar approach to the power cruiser category look at the 2003 Yamaha VMax ($11k) vs. the Harley V-Rod ($18k); similar specs however the Harley was a third the price more to purchase.
The price difference between European/American made motorcycles versus their Japanese competitors was considerable and the Japanese had a leg up on their competition in regards to technology and reliability. Now, let's fast-forward 10 years to 2013. The price of a new Yamaha R1 is $14.5k and a Ducati 1199 Panigale is $18k. A new Yamaha VMax retails for $18k and the Harley V-Rod Muscle retails for about $16k. In addition to the price disparity, European and American made motorcycles have stepped up their game in regards to product reliability and technological advances to the point where they are on par with or better than the Japanese competitors. In addition, if you check resale values you will likely find that U.S. & Euro bikes hold their values better and longer than the Japanese do. So, what happened?
Some say the impact of the world economy circa 2008 played a role by throwing the exchange rates off. A friend of mine that works in the industry believes that the Japanese got complacent and significantly scaled back their R&D efforts while the U.S. & Europe manufactures invested more in R&D. I remember reading and article several years ago that Yamaha was going to drastically reduce production numbers and move toward selling fewer bikes at higher profit margins. Regardless, if you are in the market to purchase a new bike going U.S. or European just makes more sense now.
I maintain that I am a fan of motorcycles regardless of make but if I can get better product or simply get a comparable product but it will be unique plus retain its value better well, I'm all over it!
Sources:
http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/yamaha_yzf-r1_2013.php
http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/yamaha_yzf-r1_2003.php
http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/2003-harley-vrod-vs-modified-yamaha-warrior-15098.html
http://www.ducatiusa.com/bikes/superbike/1199_panigale/index.do
http://www.starmotorcycles.com/star/products/modelspecs/23/1/specs.aspx
http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Motorcycles/v-rod-muscle.html?locale=en_US&bmLocale=en_US&source_cd=SEM_Retention_Motorcycles_V-Rod_Muscle&_cr=ppc|Google|Int_Retention_V-Rod|{harley%2Bv-rod%2Bmuscle}&version=desktop#!specs
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