David’s Riding The Edge blog

McDowell Creek Falls in HD

nobody@vox.com(David) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:56:44 -0800

I just finished a video of a nice little park in the foothills of the Cascades. I am testing a piece of camera gear to see if I can use it on next seasons rides. The video was shot with a Nikon D90 digital SLR with video capabilities. it might be cool to only need to carry one camera on a motorcycle trip.

http://ridingtheedge.net/mcdowellcr.html

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Death of the American Sport Bike

nobody@vox.com(David) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:35:58 -0700

It deeply saddens me to see that Harley Davidson is dumping the Buell Motorcycles, the only American sport-bike company.

I never owned a Buell motorcycle but they built a couple of bikes that I had considered for the future and it seemed in the last couple years they started bringing out some competitive rides. I was always intrigued with a number of the motorcycle companies innovations such as fuel in the frame, underslung exhaust and oil in the swingarm.

I have never been a fan of the Harley Davidson motorcycle company and this move will surely solidify my dislike of the motorcycle maker. If they would have sold the company it would have been easier to swallow but to discard them is a slap in the face to the faithful Buell fans and the motorcycle community in general.

Here is a link to a message from the company's founder Erik Buell. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5i7JDNACtI

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Next Year's Ride

nobody@vox.com(David) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:27:11 -0700

With the motorcycle touring season coming to an end in much of the country, at least in my neck of the woods. My thoughts have already began to race to next season. We have all ready picked next years big ride which will take us to the scenic state of Utah. We don't have the specifics worked out but that's ok, we will figure it out over the cold winter months. Dreaming of the next adventure is much of the fun and helps me get through the winter chill.

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Motorcycling is so Relaxing

nobody@vox.com(David) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:35:11 -0700

I cringe every time I here somebody say that motorcycle riding is so relaxing. Relaxing! I have been with in inches of being a hood ornament two times this week alone, thank God I was not relaxing. Relaxing conjures up thoughts of kicking back on the couch and watching the game. Not to say you shouldn't ride relaxed but that is body position only.

I suggest ride alert, on edge and ready for what might be around that next blind corner. I would describe motorcycling as fun, exciting, exhilarating, stimulating and even a life changing experience but relaxing doesn't be long in the description.

Be Safe and leave the relaxing for the hot-tub after the ride.

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The Mileage Badge of Honor

nobody@vox.com(David) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:39:57 -0700

Recently I have noticed that when talking to bikers about past rides one of the first details shared is the mileage of the trip. An example would be, Yeah I just did a 3000 mile ride to Yellowstone.

I have noticed I do the same thing and I am not sure why. If I lived 400 miles from Yellowstone, would my Yellowstone experience be diminished? I don't think so. To be honest some of my shorter trips have been more rewarding and engaging. I am finding that I like exploring and eating at little out of the way places. I like to arrive at camp with enough light to take in what the area has to offer.

For me it is becoming more about the experiences and less about the mileage badge of honor.

So next time someone asks me about my motorcycle trip I can say… Let me tell you about what I've seen.

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Riding the Edge in Central Oregon

nobody@vox.com(David) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:36:45 -0700

We have just finished a new trip video from a recent motorcycle camping trip to central Oregon. You can check it out here http://ridingtheedge.net/centraloregon.html

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Suzuki DR650

nobody@vox.com(David) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:30:11 -0700

I was looking into a Suzuki dr650 as another option for an adventure bike. Some of the knocks on that dual sport is the small 3.4 gallon tank and a narrow and hard seat. No worries, after market parts to the rescue. You can turn that dual sport into a long range adventure bike with a Corbin seat and 7.9 gallon Safari Tank By Aqualine, oh my!

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Motorcycle Terms You Should Know

nobody@vox.com(David) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:01:31 -0700

I find it kind of funny how just about any activity I do seems to come with its own language, terms and phrases that can be colorful at times. Motorcycles are no different so here are a few of my favorite words and phrases I have come across in my motor sport journey.

Ape Hangers: The handle bars that positions the riders hands high above his shoulders, like hanging from a tree.

Monkey butt: I have heard it associated with dirt riding and the color the rear end gets resembling a baboons butt. I use the term rather loosely to describe the way my butt-ox feels during a long ride making me walk like a chimpanzee.

Chicken Strips: These aren't the ones served in a basket but the untouched rubber on the tires of a motorbike.

Cage: a car.

Cager: a person driving a car.

Crotch Rocket: A term some people use to describe a high-performance sport-bike.

Riding naked or naked bike: a favorite of mine since I only ride naked, that is a motorcycle with little or no wind-deflection and an exposed chassis.

Sissy Bar: A tall backrest on the passenger seat of a motorcycle.

Crotch Rocket: A term some people use to describe a high-performance sport-bike.

Get-Off: Get-off is not as good as it sounds. It is when the bike and rider part company.

High-siding: Once again may sound up lifting and it maybe for the brief moment you are in the air. High-siding occurs when the rider of a motorcycle is flipped over the handlebars of the bike or is catapulted air born in a crash.

Hard Tail: Hard Tail refers to a motorcycle with no rear suspension. Hard tails always give me monkey butt

Soft Tail: A Soft Tail is a motorcycle that appears to have a Hard Tail rear suspension but in reality has shock absorbers that are hidden from view.

Road Rash: Road Rash is a term used to define injuries to the skin when a rider falls and slides on the pavement.

Squid: A motorcycle rider who does not wear protective clothing, darts into and out of traffic at high speed and seems to need some motorcycle training.

Stoppie: A stoppie is a motorcycle maneuver to stop a moving motorcycle so the rear wheel is raised in the air while the machine is balanced on the front tire.

Tank slapper: A rapid side-to-side oscillation of the front wheel of a motorcycle, where the handlebars literally 'slap' the gas tank due to insufficient road grip on the front tyre.

Thumper: A single cylinder motorcycle, not a fuzzy little rabbit.

Twisties: Twisties are any series of curves in the road, they are quite yummy at time.

Pillion: A pillion is a secondary pad, cushion, or seat behind the main seat or saddle on a motorcycle. A passenger in this seat is said to "ride pillion" or may themselves be referred to as a "pillion."

Two-up: Two people riding on a motorcycle.

Here is an example sentence using a few of these colorful terms:

While riding a crotch rocket two-up in the twisties I stood on my pegs to shake out the monkey butt when a cage pulled out in front of us causing evasive maneuvers that led to a tank slapper that turned into a get-off with a high-side sending me and my pillion dressed like a squid in our shorts to the asphalt resulting in some nasty road rash.

I am sure if I thought about it for a little longer I could get in a few more terms but that would just be silly.

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Bikes and Bars

nobody@vox.com(David) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:00:59 -0700

I was riding to a photo shoot on my motorbike yesterday and noticed that there often seems to be motorcycles parked in front of taverns. I never gave it much thought before, it is just not a place I would considered visiting on my bike. With motorcycles as with cars I made a promise to myself long ago, I would never drive after drinking any alcohol period, that is just my rule. I know it sounds a bit extreme but it has served me well. A mistake on a motorcycle can have dire consequences so I see no compelling reason to ad alcohol to the mix.

When touring with the guys we wait till we have reached our destination and done for the day before we break out the beers.

Ok, that is enough for todays sermon.

Cheers!

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Motorcycle Jackets

nobody@vox.com(David) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:04:02 -0700

When I started riding motorcycles back in the eighties, a riding jacket was whatever you put on when it was cold, usually it took the form of a ski jacket or wind breaker. When I came back to motorbikes about five years ago, I was back to wearing the trusty parka. After I started looking at the bike magazines and surfing the internet forums I realized there was another way to go and thus started my search for my first motorcycle riding jacket.

Decisions, decisions, Leather or Synthetic, three-quarter length or standard, insulated or mesh, CE armored or padded, water proof or rain cover and yes what cool color.

Living in the Pacific Northwest I new that I needed something to keep the rain out so that pointed me to Synthetic or textile jackets. It is true that leather is better for abrasion (I can testify that my armored synthetic held up quite well in a 30 mile an hour off.) but textile jackets are just more versatile when it comes to all weather use.

The added protection that a motorcycle jacket brings to the table is what got me interested in the first place. I new that armor, most have it in the forearm/elbows, shoulders and back was a must have.

I finally settled on my first riding jacket and through the years have put many miles on my textile jackets. Now I am back to looking again. No, my current cover is not wore-out, I would like to try leather. It may not be the most practical for my riding style but I just have always liked the looks of the leather ones. I know this sounds a bit vain but A leather jacket is just cool.

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