Posts Tagged ‘Café Racer’

Amid all the different post on getting your bike ready for winter (I wish I was some place warmer) here is an article about getting your leathers cleaned up.  LeatherUp.com has some great tips on cleaning and protecting your leathers, click here!

Don’t forget your boots.  Now I am sure there are as many different ways to clean and protect your boots as there are people.  But for 25 years in the Army I had to clean and shine my boots on a regular basis.  Sometimes I came home with more mud and junk on my boots then you could even imagine.

For me the best way to clean my boots (bike or army LOL) is to use a high quality saddle soap and water as hot as your hands can stand.  Before you start put an old wash cloth or paper towels inside the boot to absorb any water that might get in.  Next use a soft brush to clean the grime using the saddle soap, you may need to do this several times depending on how dirty your boots are.  Rinse with the hot water, making sure to heat up the leather (I do this so that the surface of the boot will dry faster), wipe dry.

The last step was always the most time consuming, the spit shine.  Now with my bike boots I only have to give them a good bush polish.  I do put on several coats of black (or whatever is the matching color) polish followed by one or two coats of clear.  For my army boots this was about every two to three weeks.  For my bike boots I apply the polish about twice a year and give them a good cleaning each winter.

Now results will vary depending on the age and quality of the leather, but this is what works for me.

motorcycle leather

…. the Task Force’s presentation to the CDC in October 2013 “links the adoption of universal helmet-use laws to a potential reduction in motorcycle riding, which would help meet the CDC’s goal to reduce injuries and fatalities”….

I am so happy that the AMA is jumping in this issue! They have sent a letter to the CDC asking for meeting to discuss the issue. As I noted in earlier posts (here, here, and here), it is my opinion that this is the first strike to make motorcycling a bad health choice just like cigarettes, soda and trans fats.

The AMA has created a FAQ that attempts to inform us of what they are concerned regarding this issue.

As a community we need to make sure that motorcycling stays out of the health care debate. Please contact your congressional representatives (202-224-3121) and ask them to keep the CDC out of motorcycle safety issues. Motorcycle, motorcycling, Harley, Harley Davidson, café racer, café motorcycle, motorcycle safety, motorcycle advocacy, congress, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle riding, hog, hd, custom motorcycle, harley owners group

Aerodynamics, motorcycle art,Motorcycle, motorcycling, Harley,  Harley Davidson, café racer, café motorcycle, motorcycle safety, motorcycle advocacy, congress, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle riding, harley davidson, harley, hog, hd, custom motorcycle, harley owners group

Airodynamics as Art

They say that art is in the eye of the beholder, will I behold art.

This was a small picture on page 65 of the current issue (# 23) of HOG magazine (the scan does not do it justice).  The moment I saw it I began searching the web for this or similar photos, I did not find anything as nice as this.

Harley Davidson, if you were to offer framed versions of this for sell I think you would get a few takers. HOG how about making this available as a wallpaper for our computers/laptops/tablets.

picture by scott massey

DOT Approved? Not likely.

I just ran across another congressman who has sent a letter to the CDC (back in September, obviously I got to this late).

Congressmen Tom Petri of Wisconsin has written the CDC telling them to stay out of motorcycle safety issues and to focus on their mission of disease prevention. The congressmen said this:

“Given the demands on your budget and the unique ability of the CDC to address such pressing issues as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and a host of other conditions and issues, which afflict millions of Americans and others around the globe, we encourage you to direct your attention and resources to areas that are not currently already being addressed elsewhere in the government.”

ABATE of Wisconsin and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is working with the congressmen, who is apparently a motorcycle fan, on this and other biking related issues.

As I mentioned in my other posts about this issue, allowing the government to label any part of motorcycling a health cost risk is to open the door to the elimination of what we love. I am personally in favor of helmets, and think we should all use them but using the new health care laws will, eventually, slowly, eliminate motorcycles “for the safety of the children”.

Make sure you contact your congressmen about making the CDC stay out of transportation issues! You can call your representatives by calling the US Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.

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Looks like others are taken aback by the CDC and “its helmet study” I mentioned in my last post.  Congressman Tim Walberg (Michigan) wrote a letter to the CDC asking several pointed question about the study and its “findings”. A quick web search finds that the AMA, ABATE and others are taking the CDC to task on this issue as well.

If you have not yet dropped a note to your congressman or women now is the time.  It is not about helmet laws it is about labeling our activity as a health risk just like cigarettes, soda and Trans fats! If they can label motorcycles as a health risk then higher taxes and heavy restrictions will soon follow.

Cafe bike

Royal Enfield Continental GT

As I mentioned in an earlier post I have always liked Royal Enfield motorcycles.  I ran across a short, interest article on the DealerNews.com website that covers where Royal Enfield came from and where it is now.

Check it out HERE.

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According to several other websites Yamaha will be displaying a café styled motorcycle built from their Bolt platform. Yamaha is rolling out this concept bike to show off what owners can do via “garage modifications”.

I like the look of this bike, as much as I like the look at the Harley Sportster (imitation is flattery, right). I have seen many Sportster café bikes and they look cool as well. The big thing I get from this is that the café scene is going; maybe it will get as big as it did in the 40 years ago.

The bike is going to rolled out at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, maybe it will come to some US shows afterwards.

1381567_665545136813772_1486441758_nAs I noted in an earlier post the Velocity Channel’s Café Racer starts in its new season this November.  But new details have been released as to what the new season looks like.

For starters the show is now one hour long. Some of the “famous” folk that are highlighted are Jay Leno, Katee Sachoff, Travis Pastrana, Giovani Ribisi to name a few.

But it is still going to highlight builders and makers of the Café Racer.

dgrI have never heard of this motorcycle ride before but I am very intrigued.  I ran across the link in while just surfing around and I think I may participate in next year’s event, if there is one.

You get dressed in nice clothes and ride your bike in support of several charities.  I like the idea and will be keeping an eye on their website and the local groups Facebook page.

According to their website the event began in 2012 and has now spread to over 100 cities.  This year they raised over $250,000 dollars supporting Prostate Cancer Foundations in several countries.

If you have time check out their website! (the photos are from the DRG website and the DGR Washington DC Facebook site)

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A video showing off the SilverBullet. Built by Gasser Customs this bike is a great example of what can be done with older bikes. The video is well shot and a nice 5 minute view.

Anyone have a reason the link is displaying not the video? BTW I am using the native iPad app.

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