Every year I collect those motorcycle event posters, drawing and printed art that catch my eye or tickle my fancy (and no, I don’t know what part of my body contains the fancy 😊). This year I started with 14 but it was not hard to narrow it down to the 9 Best Motorcycle Posters of 2023.
I wish I could attribute all the artists in this awesome list but there is rarely information on who created each item.
Which one is your favorite piece of artwork? Mine is the Willow Springs Grand Prix poster!
Weather, snow, ice or freezing rain permitting the wife and I like to go out for a motorcycle ride each New Year’s Day. It has been a 50/50 proposition most years for these rides, but this year the forecast looked cold but ridable. Good weather for Polar Bears and nut cases like us.
At about 11AM we set out with our friend and neighbor Mark for a 90-mile ride. The sky was dark and overcast and looked heavy with moisture but, the weather folks reported that there was only a very low chance of precipitation. The temperature was 39F degrees, a very wet, damp feeling 39 degrees.
Leaving Front Royal, VA we headed east towards the town of Warrenton, which is not named after me sadly. I was quickly reminded of one of the failings of my Sena Outrush (Harley version) motorcycle helmet, the visor is not pinlock ready and I had, yet again, not ordered the replacement. Because of that I had to The Sena communication package worked well the entire ride as all three of us were paired and could talk as we rode.
About 30 minutes into the ride, it started snowing! Soon snow was swirling in tiny tornados across the pavement. It was not sticking to the pavement so onward we rode our iron horses into the cold and snow! 😊
At the halfway point the temperatures had not improved but the snow had slowed to just random flakes here and there. However, the cold was starting to penetrate, making us feel a little like the polar bears of this namesake ride. This ride, during a warmer time, is a great one for those that wish to visit Civil War historical site. There are many road markers directing you to those sites along the way.
Arriving back home it was a bit of a struggle to get off the motorcycle. Instead of just swinging my leg over the back rest and off the bike, I had to slide it across the seat and off. I had tightened in the cold and was quite stiff. Plus, it did not help that I had multiple layers of clothing and leather chaps in hopes to stay warm.
If you have been reading this blog for a long you might recall that I had called these rides “Frosty Balls” rides. I can no longer do that as the new motorcycle has a heated seat! LOL Between the heated seats and the heated hand grips all I need is a heated body!
If you would like some tips for cold weather riding check this post out “9 Cold Weather Riding Tips”
For those of you that ride Harley Davidson models with the “Boom Box” system you can download our ride here “2024 Front Royal Polar Bear Ride“
Winter in the northern hemisphere is approaching fast, maybe faster then you can ride your motorcycle south, chasing the sun! On top of that there is great concern that the winter in the Unites States may be worse than normal because of an El Nino jet stream pulling damp air and turning it into snow. Just look a few post in the past to see we had a winter ride already this year.
If you want or “need” to ride in winter here are some tips to help you prepare for the conditions. However, always look at the level of risk to reward before you ride out.
Wear appropriate gear: Dress in layers to keep yourself warm and dry. Wear a windproof and waterproof outer layer to protect yourself from the elements. Don’t forget to wear gloves, boots, and a helmet that covers your face. If you can make a lot of that gear heated even better! If you can make your base layers synthetic and not cotton as cotton does not dry fast and you do not want to be wet in the winter.
Check your tires: Make sure your tires are properly inflated and have enough tread to provide good traction on slippery roads. Racing slicks will not help you much on snow or ice.
Use the right oil: Use oil that is designed for cold weather. This will help your engine start more easily and run more smoothly. I am a big fan of synthetic oil which seems to work better in winter, IMHO.
Warm up your bike: Let your bike warm up for a few minutes before you start riding. This will help the engine run more smoothly and reduce the risk of stalling.
Be cautious: Be extra cautious when riding in winter conditions. Slow down and leave plenty of space between you and other vehicles. Folks in cars don’t look for us in summer I am sure they will look even less in winter.
Avoid sudden movements: Avoid sudden movements like hard braking or accelerating quickly. This can cause your tires to lose traction and lead to an accident.
Watch out for black ice: Black ice is difficult to see and can be very dangerous. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses, and shady areas.
Stay visible: Wear bright and reflective clothing to make yourself more visible to other drivers. This is one of the reasons I run Custom Dynamic lights, they are extra bright. There are also other options such as adding reflective tape to your clothing and even helmet.
Stay alert: Riding in winter conditions requires extra attention and focus. Stay alert and be prepared for unexpected situations.
It is possible to ride your motorcycle in winter and even with there is snow and ice on the ground. You just have to be very careful as you only have two wheels to handle the conditions. As I mentioned above always weigh the risk vice the reward before heading out on a cold winter day.
Why just 9 ideas for your motorcyclist? Because 10 is too much work!! LOL
Your biker/motorcyclist, deep down, wants some motorcycle related stuff. Any parts or accessories for the bike or new gear for them will likely work, but here are a few other items to think about. If you have some different ideas include them in the comments!
9 – Communication Gear – There are several options out there that will allow your motorcycle rider to talk to a group of other riders, listen to music or answer your phone call. Sena and Cardio are two of the more popular brands.
7 – Cleaning equipment – Take a look at your riders cleaning equipment. Does it look worn and tattered? Consider replacing their current equipment for new cleaning equipment. For those times you just want to clean the bike quickly between rides I use and recommend Bugslide. I am not paid by, but I do endorse Bugslide.
6 – Recording equipment – A GoPro or similar type of device to record their rides.
5 – New riding gear – Do their riding gloves look ratty? What about their boots or jackets? Now might be a good time to gift them with new motorcycle riding gear.
4 – Motorcycle related books – There are a lot of them out there. I just finished reading the memoir of Willie G. Davidson, grandson of the founders of Harley Davison. You can read my review here.
3 – Their bike on something – and I am not talking about crack or meth. There are a lot of companies that will take a photo of their motorcycle and put it on mugs, pillows, t-shirts and even make it into a 3d Christmas ornament.
2 – Custom Dynamics Motorcycle Lights – Custom Dynamics makes SUPER BRIGHT, eye catching lights for many motorcycle models. I suggest their ProBeam LED Motorcycle Turn Signals! I have had them on 3 motorcycles and highly recommend them. As before, I am not getting paid to promote these motorcycle lights, I just believe in them.
1 – Membership – Motorcyclist need to make sure their rights are not trampled upon. There are two good groups that help preserve those rights. Sign your rider up for either or both!
American Motorcycle Association – Membership does not only help in the political arena but also include discounts on products and emergency towing. The AMA is the largest motorcycle lobbyist group.
Motorcycle Rider Foundation – In addition to their pro-motorcycle lobbying efforts membership will get you a $4000 AD&D insurance policy and regular weekly/monthly updates on what is going on in Washington DC.
Over the Columbus federal holiday weekend Debbie and I took our first long ride on the new motorcycle (I will be posting about the new motorcycle soon). The weather was supposed to be cool but not terrible. However, cool turned into cold and cold turned to a mix of rain and snow.
This was also likely the last overnight trip of the season as we head, quickly, into winter! Winter sucks!
Sunday morning, we pulled out and headed south to Staunton, Virginia. Our goal was to ride “The Raptor”, 88 miles across 8 mountains with sections of twisties that rival the Tail of the Dragon.
The Raptor lived up to its appearance on the map. Multiple up and down hill switchbacks, tight twisty turns many exceeding 90 degrees. In other words, it is a lot of fun for riders that like this type of road. This is also a road, like the Tail of the Dragon, that if you don’t pay attention, AND ride within your abilities, you could get yourself into trouble.
There’s nothing quite like riding US Route 250, the Raptor, on a motorcycle. It’s a thrilling experience that takes you through some of the most scenic and challenging roads in the country. You’ll encounter twists and turns, mountains and valleys, forests, and farms, as you cruise along this stretch of asphalt.
When we finished The Raptor, I wanted to turn around and head back to do it again. But the temperature had dropped, and Debbie wanted to head to the hotel. Alas, I was relying on the GPS and did not realize it was set to “Scenic” not fastest. OPPS! About an hour into what I thought was to be, at most, a 30 minute trip I realized my mistake. 20 minutes later we made it to the Corduroy Inn and Lodge at Snowshoe, WV, our stop for the night.
At this point I started to understand fully (not that I did not already know from being there multiple times) that we were at a ski resort. Debbie and I started laughing about our situation and quickly made for the Inn.
The next morning, I walked out to see how the weather impacted the bike and parking lot. There was some snow on the motorcycle, but the parking lot was good to go, with no ice or snow. Also, upon check out we were told we should have used the parking garage… thanks guys we will know for next time.
By the way, our room at the Corduroy Inn was genuinely nice, we would stay there again.
Pulling out we headed first to Senica Rocks for breakfast and the view. It was cooling off even more and starting to rain so we spent little time on the view.
Back on the road we headed to the house and made it home on a filthy and wet motorcycle and looking forward to warm showers!
The website has both roads designated as American Byways and All-American Roads. The homepage describes the differences between the two types of roads.
I am revisiting this website because they have added forty new roads to the list that now totals 184 byways for us to travel. You can discover the roads by clicking on the state you want to travel and see what National Bayway or All-American roads are there for you to explore.
The following are a few examples of the new roads added to list and might make my bucket list:
If you need new motorcycle tires now may be a good time to make a purchase. Both Bridgestone and Michelin are offering rebates on their motorcycle tires. By the way, the picture above indicates that I needed a new set of tires before I took the picture!
Get a $80 MastercardMD Reward Card1 via mail-in rebate with the purchase of two (front and rear) qualifying Michelin Cruiser Motorcycle tires.
Get a $60 MastercardMD Reward Card1 via mail-in rebate with the purchase of two (front and rear) other qualifying Michelin On-Road and Road Racing Motorcycle tire.
I have a favorite motorcycle jacket, a Harley Davidson “Switchback” that is now ten years old. When I put it on to ride Howard’s Twisted Tongue, I noticed the elbow armor was broken into several pieces.
This jacket has been great for three season motorcycle riding. It has a zippered, removable textile cover that, when on, provides good wind protection as well as some basic rain protection. When the cover is removed it is a mesh jacket for those warm to hot days. There are pockets for elbow, shoulder and back armor built into the jacket.
The modern version of this jacket has zipper vents where you have roll up the vent covers. It looks stupid and is a stupid design.
When I took a closer look at the broken elbow armor, I also noticed that the other armor was breaking apart as well. The armor that came with the jacket was CE level 1 and was now past it use by date. I needed to replace this motorcycle armor as soon as possible.
I had to go to my local Harley Davidson dealership to find out where they are with a motorcycle I would like to buy and while I was there, I noticed that they had replacement armor for sale. One trip solved my armor issue, I still have an issue regarding the new motorcycle though.
The new armor is also CE Level 1 but is radically different than what came with the jacket 10 years ago. The old armor was very thick and not very flexible. The new armor is very thin and highly flexible. The documentation stated that upon impact it becomes hard and absorbs the impact, I hope I never have to find out.
During all this I also noticed that the mesh seam under the right arm was coming apart. A trip to the local seamstress fixed that problem. My favorite motorcycle jacket is showing its age, I wish I could find another motorcycle jacket with the same features.
Howard’s Twisted Tongue is also known as Howard’s Lick, Lost River State Park Road, and West Virginia Route 12 this is a technically difficult road to ride your motorcycle. It is an unmarked 1 to 2 lane road with multiple 180 switchbacks and hairpins.
I had never heard of Howard’s Twisted Tongue until a few days before we made the ride. My riding buddy, Mark, discovered this ride on a map, it was close by and looked like it might be fun, so it was time to mount up and ride.
The weather on the day we took off for Howard’s Twisted Tongue was perfect for riding motorcycles. It was partly sunny and early morning cool.
It did not take long to get to the road, and we knew from the start that it was going to be a bit of a challenge as it became a steep incline immediately. I don’t know how high we climbed but my best guess would be between 800 and 1000 feet.
Did I mention multiple switchbacks and hairpins? There are a bunch of tight turns, many are a little off camber, and most are ascending or descending steeply. You need to watch yourself as many of these turns have gouges in the road from heavy vehicles or vehicles towing trailers. The road itself is, as I noted, unmarked, in mostly good condition but with some rough and potholed areas as well.
The climb up is well worth the ride, as you will ride along the ridge top for several miles. The views from the top of the ridge are great and there are a surprising number of very expensive homes along the road.
After a few miles you will start the descent which will take you into Lost River State Park. I have been to Lost River State Park in the past and I like to make the park a day ride destination.
Howard’s twisted tongue ends, for us, at the intersection of 12 and 259 at the town of Mathias. If you are going to ride this road, be ready for some technical riding. You will be in low gear for a lot of time. Make sure you get your head turned and remember to “look where you want to go”.
We wake up early to get ready for the day’s ride, we are still an hour from Marion and the start of the Virginia side of the Back of the Dragon. Now mind you, it was not our choice to wake up this early. Our hotel “neighbors” kids were fully awake and running around and slamming their room door.
Happily, we now had dry clothes, the storm the day before soaked everything we were wearing. The standard hotel “continental” breakfast filled our stomachs enough to get us on the motorcycle and down the road.
Getting to the start of US Route 16, which is the Back of the Dragon was easy enough and quickly we were riding the Dragon. Passing Hungry Mother State Park, we begin to climb into the mountain and start the twisties.
What a great ride! It was a cool morning, blue sunny skies with puff clouds, and the Harley Davidson motorcycle was running well. I was using our Go Pro and I thought my limited Go Pro skills had the camera working properly (turns out it kinda was and kinda not, I REALLY, need to read directions). It will be a while before I can edit and publish the video, not my strong suit.
We made a stop at what is called the “Back of the Dragon Lookout”. With the clear skies we could see 3 distant ridges along with some valley farmlands. A very nice view and you should stop to check it out if you ride the dragon.
The road was a great treat for those that love twists and turns. As we were riding in the early-ish morning there was little traffic. The only hazard was a dead deer that straddled both lanes. Riding through sections of the road titled “Cliff Hanger”, “Zero Gravity”, “Knee Dragger”, and the “Roller coaster” got us to what is called “Million Dollar View and Kudzu Corner.
Kudzu Corner is about two thirds of the way through the Back of the Dragon and that last third is just as exciting as the rest. I can highly recommend that you try out the 32 miles, 438 curves and the 3500 feet of elevation as it is just as fun as the Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee.
At the north end of the route, in Tazwell, VA, there is a Back of the Dragon shop catering to both motorcycle and car enthusiasts who come to make the ride. A very nice setup with shirts/pins/patches and all the other things that we like to collect. The building also has a brewery, coffee shop and food trucks (the food was good). There is also a photo op with a very big dragon!
After the visit to Tazwell, we set off north on US16 to explore the rest of the Back of Dragon. This part of the Dragon was just as much fun to ride as the part we just left. Passing the Virginia, West Virginia boarder we were shortly not only on the Back of the Dragon we were also on the Coal Heritage Trail which is an American Byway.
The Coal Heritage Trail was also on my bucket list, so I was able to knock out both! We passed through the coal towns of War, Welch, Pineville, Sofia, and many others. Sadly, many of these towns have seen better days now that coal is being phased out.
When you reach Beckley, WV Route 16 will be a mix of 2 lane and 4 lanes for about 20 miles, you will need to pay attention to the intersections to make sure you stay on route as much as possible. When you reach the town of Fayetteville you will be back on a 2-lane road, and you will drop down into the New River Gorge.
When you reach Beckley, WV Route 16 will be a mix of 2 lane and 4 lanes for about 20 miles, you will need to pay attention to the intersections to make sure you stay on route as much as possible. When you reach the town of Fayetteville you will be back on a 2-lane road, and you will drop down into the New River Gorge.
Climbing out of the Gorge you will face some of the best twists and turns of West Virgina side of the dragon. Part of this road is also called the Talon, an 8-mile ride from the town of Ansted and Gauley Bridge. This should be a great side trip for anyone riding the Back of the Dragon that will not cost you much time.
I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!! 