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Ken’s News:
Zero announces 2015 lineup.
Mike Tyson is a rider’s best friend?
Warren’s News:
Ferrari Motorcycle???
Get ready for $1000 dollar increase to the price of all motorcycles.
Racing News:
A very wet World Superbike at Magny-Cours tightens up championship.
Silly season in full swing early this year.
Picks for Japan Grand Prix Motegi.
News from Moto America
On the 28th of September I and hundreds of thousands of other around the world rode our motorcycles in support of and to raise money for prostate cancer. WAIT that did not sound right let’s try it again… We rode in a “dapper and genteel” manner to raise awareness of and money in support of the fight against prostate cancer. The ride was part of the world wide phenomenon known as the Distinguished Gentleman’s ride.
The Washington DC DGR began in Georgetown at the Exxon gas station near the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the famous “Exorcist” stairs. This was my first ride with the DGR, and I cannot state how different it is from any other event I have participated in to date. Riding in from Leesburg to Georgetown in jacket and tie I received more than a few double takes… but that is part of the purpose of the ride right?
From my research on last year’s DGR in DC I assumed that there would be a similar number of riders and bikes in attendance about 50-60. Well, there was, in my estimation, double that, at one point I noticed a thoughtful gentleman counting the bikes at the first stop (Belle Haven Park on the George Washington Parkway) he was at 102 when I moved to take pictures.
Due to the greater number of participates the organizers had to make a few “on the fly” changes as we progressed. An example of the changes was the revamping of the route to loop around the front of Mount Vernon instead of riding through old town Alexandria. That was a very wise decision as it would have caused a lot of traffic issues, which should not be gentlemen’s first choice. The riders took it all in stride and things worked out well, kudos to the organizers.
For the record I had two items that I was disappointed with during the DGR, both were my issues not the ride itself. First it was at Mount Vernon that I had to drop out from the ride. I missed the stop at the US Capitol and the hoisting of pints. Not something that I will miss next year! Second I am only contributing $100 to the cause, I just did not have time to get out and look for sponsors. I am making a calendar event now to start that process in early August for the next ride.
Please mark your calendars for next years ride!
Racing News:
Flattrack from Callastoga.
MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 results from Aragon.
Picks for World Superbike Magny-Cours.
Warren’s News:
Another Top 10 Roads…North America
HD is recalling 2014 Street and Touring bikes
Want to see a hoverbike get off the ground?
Ken’s News
Biker gang wars …in Canada???
Ducati goes off-road?
No bikes in this future?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, part of the Department of Transportation, recently issued an “advanced notice of proposed rulemaking” on “vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications.” Which means they are considering requiring a transponder be added to transmit your vehicles data. In this age of American bureaucracy that means it is all but a done deal.
This document initiates rulemaking that would propose to create a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, No. 150, to require V2V communications for light vehicles. In this effort light vehicles are cars and small trucks (pickups).
V2V communications would contain the “relevant elements and describe them accurately (e.g., vehicle speed; GPS position; vehicle heading”.
These future rules would create a uniform V2V system built into all vehicles that will give automobile manufacturers the opportunity to equip their products with standard warning systems that alert drivers to potential accidents — such as one that might be caused by cross traffic at a blind intersection or a light changing color.
Now that all sounds good but tie that with the following….
The agency has published a “Preliminary Statement of Policy Concerning Automated Vehicles.” This statement describes V2V as part of a “continuum” leading to fully automated vehicles. “Accordingly, three distinct but related streams of technological change and development are occurring simultaneously:
(1) in-vehicle crash avoidance systems that provide warnings and/or limited automated control of safety functions
Let go of the bars and take a nap!
(2) V2V communications that support various crash avoidance applications
(3) self-driving vehicles,” NHTSA finds that it is helpful to think of these emerging technologies as part of a continuum of vehicle control automation”.
Soooo how does this make the future of motorcycling dim? I am not sure where bikes fit in this brave new, safer, reduce health care cost, world.
Suppose that separate lanes may be established early in this effort to allow these V2V vehicles to operate. If you don’t have a transponder then you are not allowed on these roads.
Then as the technology matures it may be required to merge onto major highways to “ensure your safety”. If your bike does not have the tech to merge you into the traffic you are not allowed on the road.
After a little more time all interstates and major urban areas would be “wired” to supported automated vehicles, no transponder no access.
I maybe a cynic but I can see a future where bikes would not be allowed on major interstates because they cannot be made part of the herd. That “for the safety of everyone” only smart vehicles will be allowed on major roads and in cities.
Would you want to ride a robo-bike when you could stretch out and nap in a robo-car?
….. and why would anyone want/desire to ride a motorcycle that would be limited to riding with the herd anyway.
Debbie and I rode our “Army” motorcycle in the 2014 Rattle the Runway ride to support the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial Fund. This commemorative ride is an attempt to honor the memory of the people killed in the attack on the Pentagon. The ride loosely follows the path of Flight #77 from Dulles International Airport to the Pentagon
The weather for the event was great; I rode in a t-shirt and leather vest (yea I know ATGATT…) while Debbie started in a light jacket and switched to her vest at the staging area. We left the house a little late this year and missed the opening ceremonies but arrived in plenty of time to make the start.
As always the ride starts behind the National Air and Space Museum – Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. In the past the museum had opened its doors for the riders to stroll through and view the exhibits before the ride starts, not sure if it happened this year as we arrived a bit late. The staging for the event has riders park their bikes six abreast in an area about three to four hundred years long. Almost every major and minor brand of motorcycle is represented in this ride, this year I saw:
| Harley Davidson | Honda | Iron Horse |
| Yamaha | Star (I know) | Suzuki |
| BMW | Motor Guzzi | Cam-Am |
| Victory | Triumph | Ducati |
| Stallion | MVAgusta |
But I must say the turn out this year was about half of what it was last year. More often than not the bikes fill the staging area, this year my guess would be that the bikes numbered at about 1000. Maybe that this was the first day of the NFL season reduced the number in attendance.
To reduce the traffic congestion that a ride of 1000+ motorcycles would bring around Dulles airport the ride is broken in serials of about 100-150 bikes. We were in one of the last serials to pull out and the ride to and past the main terminal of Dulles were smooth and quick. The ride to the Pentagon was also uneventful with only 2 cars merging through the line of bikes to enter or exit the highway.
When we reached the Pentagon the mood of the group became more somber as we visited the Memorial site. If you have never been to the Memorial site you should consider adding it to your list of places to visit, at a minimum look at it on line, it is quite well done. After paying our respects we mounted up and headed for home.
PS…. On the way home we saw the BING version of a Google Street View car. It was pulling onto Route 267 near Reston, VA. I will be keeping a look out on Bing for the updated street view as it should show me flipping the driver the bird because he nearly ran us off the road!!!!
The 3 Motorcycle Charity Rides are:
The first ride is the annual Rattle the Runway Ride, this year’s ride is the 7th of September (rain or shine). Debbie and I have ridden in this ride multiple times and, with one exception, it has been a great, well organized, well run ride. All proceeds from the event goes to the Pentagon Memorial Fund.
The Rattle the Runway Ride follows a symbolic route from the Dulles Airport to the Pentagon. Staging for the ride is at the rear of the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum and ends at the Pentagon 9-11 Memorial.
On September the 12th the Battlefield Run supports the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF). The funds raised for the SOWF provide college scholarship grants, based on need, along with financial aid and educational counseling to the children of Special Operations personnel from the Army Special Forces, Rangers, Navy SEALs, and Air Force and Marine Corps Special Operations Command that have been killed in operational missions or training accidents.
Beginning in Leesburg, VA the ride passes through or near multiple Civil War Battlefield sites and culminates in a final, slow speed trip through the Gettysburg Battlefield. The ride itself ends at Battlefield Harley Davidson in Gettysburg.
Next is the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride on the 28th of September. Raising funds worldwide for prostate cancer research the DGR will be held on the same day in over 200 cities all over the world, check the website for the nearest ride to you. For the ride in the DC Metro area check out their Facebook page.
The Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride was founded in 2012. Inspired by a photo of Mad Men’s Don Draper astride a classic bike and wearing his finest suit. It was decided a themed ride would be a great way to combat the often-negative stereotype of men on motorcycles. That first ride brought together over 2,500 riders across 64 cities. The success of the event encouraged the organizers to consider how it could be used to support a worthy cause. And the rest, as they say, is stylishly-attired history
The 2 Rallies include:
September 11-14 is the Ocean City BikeFest at Ocean City, MD.
Vendors at two locations
Stunt teams
Wall o’Death
NASCAR Simulator
Lots of Bands including The Marshall Tucker Band
Harley Davidson Vehicle Operations, York, PA Open House
The Harley Davidson Vehicle Operations York Open House in York, PA is going to occur 18-20 September. The wife and I attended the 2013 Open House and had a good time. In addition to the free self-guided tour of the plant there will be the following activates:
Five dealer shopping area
Live entertainment (last year they had the “Globe o’Death”)
HOG Pin Stop
Test rides of new models (’15 Road Glide???, LiveWire???)
At the same time of the Open House the York “While Rose Thunder” rally will transpire. While the website has more details, the rally includes a hill climb event and a Parade of Chrome!
Some of the events for the rally include: 
AMA Flat Track Race
Paul Yaffee
Antique racing bikes
Bike Show
My wife Debbie is a huge fan of the TV show “The Waltons” so this ride was for her!
The creator/writer of that show, Earl Hamner, based the show loosely on his life growing up in the mountains of Virginia in the Depression era 1930s. Our 301 mile round trip took us from our home to the Walton’s Mountain Museum, across the street to the house that inspired the stories and back home.
The museum (in the former Schuyler High School) and Hamner’s childhood home are located in Schuyler, VA. While they are really out in the middle of the mountains and woods, it is easy to get there….just go until you think you went to far then go another couple miles! 🙂 This area of Virginia also has a lot of motorcycle friendly roads, a quick internet review will show you many.
The museum itself has multiple exhibits including replicas of the sets used in the TV show. It even has a real “confiscated locally” moonshine still to represent the Baldwin sister’s “Recipe Machine”. Earl Hamner’s home is across the street from the Museum and is on the Virginia Historic Registry.
While I knew a little of Mr. Hamner’s life story I was surprised at some of the things he wrote or was connected to. For example he was the creator of the series Falcon Crest, wrote for the Twilight Zone, wrote the tele-play for Hidi, Charlotte’s web and the book that inspired the move Spencer’s Mountain (based on his family, where his dad was played by Henry Fonda).
If you are a fan of the Walton’s, or not, and are in the area this is a nice little side trip and if you are on a motorcycle it is so much more fun.
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Ken’s News:
Best 10 Motorcycles of 2014.
Betting on death.
Warren’s News:
Attention European Motorcycle Riders – This Is A PSA
Conn. state trooper faces prison for theft from dying motorcyclist.
KTM to enter MotoGP in 2017.
Cow has beef with woman following motorcycle crash.
Racing News:
AMA Motocross Indiana National.
Czech MotoGP/Moto2 from Brno
I have been meaning to post this for a while but forgot about it until recently.
A reader of this blog, Greg G., has a nice website to document good motorcycle rides in Maryland. If you are in or near Maryland you should check out his site, Maryland-Motorcycling, for ride ideas.
Each of his rides contain a short description of the ride and links to the Harley Davidson Ride Planner to show the actual route and waypoints.
If you are going to ride in Maryland, Greg’s Maryland-Motorcycling website is well worth a look.
Ferry Hill Plantation
Location – Ferry Hill Plantation
Mile Marker –72.8
Historical Comments – Just up the street from Lock 38 is the Ferry Hill Plantation. The area around the plantation began as a cross river ferry site in the 1760’s. The ferry and plantation remained in a single family’s hands until 1958, a really good run. It site served as a restaurant and bar until 1974, catering to the students from Shepherd College across the river in Shepherdstown, WV.
The plantation served as the headquarters of the C&O Canal National Park system from 1979 to 2001. Now it is a museum to the C&O Canal and plantation life in Maryland. If you are touring the Canal this is a nice side stop.
Ride to Site – At the intersection of Route 34 and Canal Road, the ride to the plantation is a smooth easy ride. Coming from Canal Road be aware of the traffic on Route 34 as the speed limit does not seem enforced.
Amenities – Visitors Center, public restrooms, parking
Road Conditions (from main road) – paved
Railway Situation – none
Parking Lot Conditions – Paved and pea gravel
Main Attraction – Ferry Hill Plantation.
My Thoughts – One of the hidden gems while motorcycle touring the canal (it happens to be air conditioned) 🙂 . The plantation house is manned my volunteer docents who provide an oral rendition of the history of the home and grounds.
Map
I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!! 