The Moment Collector is an anthology of short stories from motorcyclists traveling the world. The collector of these stories is Sam Manicom, himself a world traveler on two wheels.
Sam collected twenty tales from intrepid motorcycling travelers. As with all anthologies some stories are more engrossing than others, some writers are better than others. Yet overall, I enjoyed the book greatly.
I was familiar with a few of the authors, Tim Notier for example, but most were new to me. Mr. Manicom provided each writer’s social media information with their stories. A subtle but impactful touch that allowed me to see more about each of them.
As noted above, it is difficult for any collection of stories, or moments, to have every tale a hit. I am giving this book a 4-Star review because it is an anthology and not all the stories were great.
However…. It should be part of your motorcycle book library!
Maybe one way to judge if we are returning to something approaching normal is the number of motorcycle events around the world. I started with the over 20 motorcycle themed posters, many of which were for events in 2022. However, come on guys, put a little more effort into your designs and PLEASE put something about the location on the poster too!
Below are the top 9 motorcycle posters for 2022. My personal favorite is the flat-track motorcycle rider on the moon by Ryan Roadkill. Which one do you like best!
By the title of the movie, you can guess this is a film about a firefighter motorcycle club. You would be right, but there is a lot more to it than just a motorcycle club movie.
This is a movie more about the mental health aspects of first responders and what they bring home after years of service. How PTSD is impacting their lives and that of their families and the fact that they find it difficult to deal with the issues while on duty.
That said…. This is a difficult film to watch.
The Florian Knights were formed in 2017 in Vancouver, Canada by an active firefighter. It was his attempt to create a group of motorcyclists to ride with and to talk about the hard stuff, away from work. Each of the members of this chapter had a reason, beyond riding, to join the club.
A year or so later, in New York City, another firefighter was starting a riding club with the same name, Florian Knights. When he found out that there was already a firefighter motorcycle club by that name, they decided to open a new chapter to help fulfill the same purpose.
My motorcycle is my medicine.
Many of the Florian Knights, throughout the movie, comment that motorcycling helps cope with their stress and PTSD. This is where the first twist in the movie occurs.
The film switches from a documentary of the two clubs to an actual scientific study of motorcycling on the brain. A Doctor of Psychology wants to track brain patterns and uses many members of the clubs as test subjects. Putting on wired caps under their helmets to track how their brains worked while riding.
No surprise to us, motorcycling reduces stress by 28% according to the study.
Right after this segment the movie takes a second, harsher, twist. This twist I am not going to describe as I will leave it to you to create your own take away. I am also not going to rate this motorcycle move as I don’t think it can judge it on a normal scale, it is just so different.
What do you think of how this motorcycle movie ends? Let me know in the comments.
2022 was an OK year for motorcycle memes. The internet though up a lot of recycled, older memes and a bunch of really dumb motorcycle themed memes. Yet, I found 12 decent and/or funny memes and narrowed that down to best 9 motorcycle memes for 2022.
Why nine? Because everyone does 10 and 11 is too much work!
I reviewed an earlier version of the Bilt Iron Workers Kevlar motorcycle pants way back in 2013. The older version received a 4-star rating, but these pants have been improved over the years.
The new Iron Workers Kevlar pants are available in several colors, I purchased the khaki version. They were more brown than khaki but acceptable. I read that the sizing was running a little small, so I bought one size up from my normal and it worked out well, a good fit.
They look more like casual office pants than any of the other motorcycling pants I currently own. With the knee pads removed it would be even more difficult to discern they are motorcycle-based clothing.
Speaking of knee pads, the Bilt Iron Workers Kevlar pants have an external zipper that allows for “easier” access. I placed “easier” in quotes as it can still be a bit of a struggle to get them in and out, but it is much better than turning the pants inside out to access the armor pockets. This is a plus over many other pants I own.
While the Bilt pants come with armor for the knee they do not come with hip armor, luckily, I have several extra pairs. Unlike the knee armor the hip armor is not as easy to insert or remove. The pocket openings face the outside pant leg, and it can be a bit of a struggle to put the armor in place. Once the hip armor is installed, they are comfortable and snug. This is about the same as other pants I own.
After riding in these pants for a few thousand miles, I have to say I like them quite a bit. While heavy they are not too hot in the heat, and they have some decent wind breaker qualities that help in the cool weather.
The cargo pockets are secured with heavy-duty Velcro and, wow, it is some really heavy-duty Velcro. It can be a bit of an effort to pull the pocket open. You will not need to worry about the cargo pockets coming open during your ride! The regular pockets are just regular pockets. This is a plus over other pants I own.
The only downside and it does not impact my rating is the hip armor pockets, they could be better with a pocket opening facing the inside of the pant with a Velcro closure. Some people might complain of the limited use of the Kevlar lining but there is a price point consideration.
For their price these are very good motorcycling pants.
How about some ideas for that crazy motorcycle rider you love. Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out what to get for your motorcyclist during the holiday season so I made a list of those things that would appeal to most bikers.
9) Heated gear – We all “Just Want 2 Ride” right. The gift of heated gear will extend the riding season for weeks or months depending on where you live.
8) New tie-down straps – Another piece of equipment that gets old, but one that is especially important if you’re crazy biker tows or hauls their bike(s). Steal a glance at their current straps, look worn or about to be worn out, get them a new set.
7) Custom Dynamic Motorcycle Lights – Custom Dynamic makes SUPER bright, eye catching lighting for motorcycles. I have several sets on my bike and wish I had more! Look at the ProBeam LED Motorcycle Turn Signals I have added them to two motorcycle and I am sure I have sold several dozen for Custom Dynamics as well.
6) A Gift Card – from their favorite local dealership. That way they can pick out what they want!
5) Frame them – Frame a nice picture of them with their motorcycle. Simple and cheap but you might have to snoop on their phone to find the best one!
4) Battery Tender – Winter is here in the northern hemisphere. This gift will help your crazy biker be ready to roll the first chance they get. No recommendation, they are almost all good. Just make sure you get the right connection for their motorcycle.
3) Kevlar lined pants, shirts, or jackets. Kevlar can get pricy but, your motorcycle rider will love you for it.
2) Long sleeve T-Shirts – Motorcycle themed long sleeve T-Shirts provide a wardrobe option when the weather gets cool.
1) Membership in the AMA – That is the American Motorcycle Association. Membership not only gets discounts on products, it also includes emergency towing. The AMA is the largest, but not the only, lobbyist group protecting your right to ride.
Be aware that this motorcycle recall list is for the United States for the last 30 days, there is no way I could cover the entire world. But in the world of global manufacturing, if a motorcycle is being recalled in one country there is a good chance it is under recall in others.
Also, this should not be considered a definitive list, check for yourself if you have any questions.
If you are US based use the NHTSA website http://www.safercar.gov. Enter your VIN number to see if your motorcycle is affected by the recall.
If you are based outside the USA, use the appropriate website to locate recalls that may impact you.
*****
NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V636000
Manufacturer Indian Motorcycle Company
Components ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Summary Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2019-2020 and 2022 FTR 1200, 2019-2020 FTR 1200 S, and 2020 FTR 1200 Rally motorcycles. The coolant junction may leak.
Remedy Dealers will replace the coolant junction, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 30, 2022. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian’s number for this recall is I-22-04.
*****
NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V629000
Manufacturer Genuine Scooters, LLC
Components STEERING
Summary Genuine Scooters, LLC (Genuine Scooters) is recalling certain 2022 NIU MQiGT EVO scooters. During operation, excessive handlebar vibration can occur which may cause rider fatigue or loss of vehicle control.
Remedy Owners are advised not to ride their scooters until the repair has been completed. The remedy is currently under development. Owners have the option to return their scooters for a full refund. Owner notification letters were mailed August 18, 2022. Owners may contact Genuine Scooters customer service at 1-773-433-1316. Genuine Scooter’s number for this recall is MQiGT EVO. The scooters in this recall are also affected by recall number 22V-597.
*****
NHTSA Campaign Number: 22E068000
Manufacturer BatteryJack Inc.
Components EQUIPMENT
Summary BatteryJack Inc. (BatteryJack) is recalling certain RS helmets, model TN-0700, sizes SM, MED, LRG, and XL. The helmets may not adequately protect the wearer in the event of a head impact during a crash. As such, these helmets fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 218, “Motorcycle Helmets.”
Remedy BatteryJack will issue a full refund or replace helmets with a comparable model. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 31, 2022. Owners may contact BatteryJack’s customer service at 1-815-467-6464.
*****
NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V597000
Manufacturer Genuine Scooters, LLC
Components ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Summary Genuine Scooters, LLC (Genuine Scooters) is recalling certain 2022 NUI MQiGT EVO scooters. A loss of drive power may occur due to a firmware issue in the electric motor.
Remedy Owners are advised not to ride their scooters until the repair has been completed. Dealers will provide new motors with new firmware, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed in August 2022. Owners may contact Genuine Scooters customer service at 1-773-433-1316. Genuine Scooter’s number for this recall is MQiGT EVO. The scooters in this recall are also affected by recall number 22V-629.
*****
NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V588000
Manufacturer KTM North America, Inc.
Components TIRES
Summary KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Husqvarna and KTM motorcycles with equipped with TKC80 tires. Please refer to KTM’s recall report for specific model details. Cracks longer than 3/16 inch may develop in the tread grooves. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 119, “New Pneumatic Tires-Other Than Passenger Cars.”
Remedy Dealers will replace the affected tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 19, 2022. Owners may contact KTM’s customer service at 1-888-985-6090. KTM’s numbers for this recall are KTB2208 and HTB2207.
*****
Manufacturer Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Components EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Summary Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain Detachable Tour-Pak Luggage Carrier Conversion Kits with part numbers 53000916 & 53000917, when installed on 2014-2022 Touring and CVO Touring motorcycles. When the Tour-Pak Luggage Carrier is removed from the motorcycle while the conversion kit remains installed, the turn signal indicator lights may flash fast continuously and not adjust the frequency to alert the operator of a turn signal light failure. As such, these Luggage Carrier Conversion Kits fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”
Remedy Dealers will replace the kits, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 15, 2022. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson’s number for this recall is 0633.
Be aware that this motorcycle recall list is for the United States for the last 30 days, there is no way I could cover the entire world. But in the world of global manufacturing, if a motorcycle is being recalled in one country there is a good chance it is under recall in others.
Also, this should not be considered a definitive list, check for yourself if you have any questions.
If you are US based use the NHTSA website http://www.safercar.gov. Enter your VIN number to see if your motorcycle is affected by the recall.
If you are based outside the USA, use the appropriate website to locate recalls that may impact you.
*****
NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V503000
Manufacturer Bombardier Recreational Products, Inc.
Components STEERING
Summary Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP) is recalling certain 2022 Can-Am Ryker motorcycles. The handlebar stem bolt may break unexpectedly due to insufficient thread length.
Remedy Owners are advised to not ride their motorcycle until the remedy is complete. Dealers will clean the threads of the steering column and install a new steering stem bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 27, 2022. Owners may contact BRP customer service at 1-888-272-9222. BRP’s number for this recall is 2022-16.
*****
NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V449000
Manufacturer Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Components ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Summary Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2022 GL1800 Gold Wing motorcycles equipped with manual transmissions. An ignition timing software error for the engine control unit (ECU) may reduce engine performance, which can result in an engine stall.
Remedy Dealers will update the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 20, 2022. Owners may contact American Honda Motor Co customer service at 1-866-784-1870.
I have ridden along many national parkways including the Natchez Trace (TN/MS), Great Lake Seaway Byway (NY), Blue Ridge Parkway (VA, NC) and, of course, the Skyline Drive Parkway (VA). I have also attended multiple motorcycle rallies along the east coast including Daytona.
Outside of rallies, I have never seen as many motorcycles in one location as I do in Front Royal, Virginia. During motorcycle riding season, it is not uncommon to see hundreds of motorcycles in Front Royal, either singular or riding in large groups daily. You can see these large numbers of motorcycles passing through almost every day but especially on weekends. In my opinion Front Royal could be the motorcycle destination of Virgina much like Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee.
Why are so many motorcycles passing through Front Royal? It is because the town is located at the northern terminus of Skyline Drive and about an hour from the nation’s capital. All these motorcycle riders are passing through the town on the way to Skyline Drive or to parts unknown as they leave the Parkway.
By just passing through Front Royal motorcyclists are missing out on opportunities for some great local rides and the great local flavor. For example, a rider can take a loop from Front Royal to Luray via Fort Valley Road. That ride would last about two+ hours, depending on stops, and would have you back in town by lunch time.
After lunch, mount the motorcycle and head south out of town to cross under Skyline Drive at it two gaps. But be careful, they are quite technical, and the northern gap is designated as a high crash area. Two+ hours later you will be back in town with enough time to get to dinner and a stroll along main street.
After dinner, riders could visit the Virginia Beer Museum for brew and live music or Shenandoah Valley Axe Throwing for a unique activity or any of the many other venues in town. Front Royal has lots of hotels and restaurants and a main street that could be considered a throw-back to another era. Check out the movie theater that has a 1950’s vibe with a state-of-the-art projector and sound system.
Front Royal may be the gateway to Skyline Drive, but it should also be a destination at the start or end of your motorcycle ride. Stay a day or two, there are plenty of hotels and campgrounds, to explore both our local roads and our small-town atmosphere.
A few weekends ago the wife and I took a motorcycle ride to Shenandoah Speedway racetrack. A friend of mine was participating in a “drift” event. For the few of you out there that might not know about drifting it is the sport of sliding your car sideways through a turn as fast as you can. Quite exciting to watch a lot harder to do, unless you have plenty of practice and a car set up to do it properly. My buddy has both the skills and the car.
The ride to the racetrack was great. Bright blue skies with a few big puffy white clouds. The temp was not too hot or too cool making the ride with “ATGATT” comfortable. We left Front Royal going south on SR 340 in the spring green Shenandoah Valley. With little traffic it was no time at all before we passed Luray Caverns. The Caverns are a very popular tourist destination and today their parking lot was full of hundreds of cars and lots of buses.
Just a short distance past Luray Caverns is “Cooter’s”! For those of us of a certain age that remember the TV show The Dukes of Hazzard, Cooter’s is a museum of sorts celebrating the show. The man who played Cooter, Ben Jones, is from the area and had collected a lot of memorabilia from the show which is on display including some of the cars with a General Lee replica out front. By the way Cooter is also multi-term US Congressman.
My wife had never been to Cooter’s, so we pulled into its packed parking lot. This day they had a Blue Grass and Folk music band playing, something they do on a regular basis. We wondered around the facility for a bit with Rocky Top and Country Roads dancing in our ears. The stop was a nice diversion back to our teen years.
Back on our steady stead we continued south on SR 340 until we reached the racetrack. I knew we were close when I could see the plumes of white smoke and the smell of burning rubber in the air, drifting is very hard on tires.
It was not long before my wife was buckled in the race car and out on the track. She was only able to get two laps in before they blew up the right rear tire. Yet, those few laps were enough to give her an ear-to-ear smile. She talked about it for many days later.
As the day got longer it was time to head to the house. A 100+ mile motorcycle ride and a new experience for my wife made this a great day.
I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!! 
