We were able to sneak out for about 2-hour motorcycle ride this past weekend. Still a lot going on in life/work, so I am just happy to get out on the motorcycle.
Motorcycling around Front Royal, VA and the surrounding area is a lot of fun. More than a few nice places as destinations and more than a few good country roads to ride.
We even got up on Skyline Drive for a short ride. The leaves have not yet reappeared on the trees, so the views were spectacular!
The curiosity of the day was the “Audi” Can Am Spyder. The reality was the guy was not happy with the big, black, empty area on the front of his trike and put the Audi badge there. It was a neat conversation starter. Ride on, Ride safe
My wife mentioned that this is Women’s History month and that I should post something, just not photos of her. LOL
I went back into my vintage photo folder to look for those “old school photos of women and motorcycles. Women have been riding motorcycles from the start and these photos prove that women JustWant2ride.
WOW 2021 was just as bad as 2020 in regards for content for best motorcycle poster, but it was close. I gather my candidates from the social media cesspool, looking all year for the interesting, cute or weird poster.
This year I had 12 to start before reducing down to the best 9 motorcycle posters. Why 9 because everyone does 10 and 11 is too much work. I would love to give credit where it is due, so if you know the artist that produced the items below let me know and I will be happy to provide attribution.
BEST WEIRD motorcycles of 2021! This year I started with a list of 22 really off the wall strange motorcycles. Was not too hard to work it down the best 9.
Just a quick note, these motorcycles may have been around for a few years, but I first noticed them this past year.
In the lead up to Christmas 2021 when, at a local bookstore, I noticed the latest issue of Easyriders magazine. But that magazine did not look at all correct, it did not have a hot bike and girl on the cover.
In fact, glancing through it at the newsstand, it did not have “really” have any hot bikes and no nude or scantly clothed women.
The new Easyriders magazine looked more like coffee table style magazine then anything else. All this raised my curiosity to find out just what happed to the old school motorcycle magazine.
Death of Easyriders Magazine
The original Easyriders magazine was a champion of the counterculture, on the road biker symbolized in movies like “Easyrider”. But, as we all know, the printed word is in decline due to the evolution of digital media. From my point of view, magazines have been the hardest hit with many, to many, motorcycle magazines failing to survive the transition.
Easyriders magazine started in the early 1970s and always showcased the best motorcycles from across America along with the aforementioned scantily clad women. Later Easyriders would host and run events, rallies (or as they called them rodeos), and motorcycle shows.
From what I can gather, that Easyrider magazine closed its doors and auctioned off what was left in 2018.
So, What Happened Next?
It appears that a Canadian clothing company called StrongHold now owns the name and trademark of the old company. If you go to the new Easyriders website you can purchase $16 shaving kits, $30 t-shirts, $25 boxers, and $60 hoodies.
The magazine, as noted above, is now more “up-scale” targeted to a very different audience then the original Easyriders. On their website they state that this is an “Elevation of an Iconic Brand”, that it is more then a magazine it is a lifestyle.
I purchased the second issue and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Short stories and great pictures laid out in a modern format; the magazine looks nothing like the classic version.
Rodeos and events
Easyriders did support three events 2021 but the long running, over 30 years, rodeo in Chillicothe, OH will not be back in 2022 but not due to the pandemic.
The town, fairgrounds and county will not allow the Easyriders event to return because, during the 2021 event, there was, very nearly, a “gang” battle.
According to reports an undercover cop stopped the unnamed biker gangs from starting a shootout when he spotted “his” gang putting guns together and getting ready to move against their rivals. The gangs were not identified.
Easyriders is dead, long live Easyriders.
I am sure many purest will not like the new Easyriders but, at least it is still around. I don’t have any issue with the new direction while at the same time, I am kind of missing the old magazine. Things change and in this new age, at least we still have a motorcycle magazine on the news stand.
Ride On, Ride Safe
(If I did not get anything right, please let me know!)
Hey guys, I am in a middle of a move and have not provided as much content lately. Please stand by for a bit while I get back to normal… whatever that is!
Up Shift – Entire Family to Race at the Amateur Championship – The entire Rau family is going to the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s motorcycle complex! This is the first time that a mom, dad, and son have pulled this type of hat trick.
Mom and dad (Tressa & Justin) qualified for the Senior (40+) and son (Jett) made the cut in the Mini-E Junior (4-6) class.
My Take – This is one of those, “Isn’t that cool!” items. Congratulations to the Rau family and I hope they all make the podium for another amateur motocross racing first!
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Up Shift – New Harley Davidson Sportster – If you did not see this coming, I don’t know what to say to you. The ever changing and tightening emission standards is slowing ending the air-cooled era of motorcycling. Lament if you wish, but the old engine just could not compete in this modern world.
The 50+ year old Sportster name continues at Harley Davidson with an all-new motorcycle. The new Sportster brings the Harley Revolution Max engine and 121 horses (from 1252cc) as a major upgrade to the name.
To help tame that horsepower the new Sportster has lean-sensitve Antilock brakes, wheelie control, traction control and “Drag Torque Slip Control” to reduce rear wheel lockup during engine braking.
My Take – At first glance this new Sportster looks a like the FXDR from a few years ago. A lot of styling points from that bike made it to the Sportster. I do like the styling; I do like the performance upgrade, and I understand why Harley Davidson had to make the change to old bloodline. I have not yet had an opportunity to ride this motorcycle, but I will make the time to do so. At a $15,000 US starting point it seems to align with many of its competitors.
Hey guys, I am in a middle of a move and have not provided as much content as normal lately. Please stand by for a bit while I get back to normal… what ever that is!
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Hitting Neutral – Certified Pre-owned Harley Davidsons – Somewhere along the line I missed this news item. Back in November 2019 Harley Davidson started a new program to the “Certified Pre-Owned program
This program will, if you buy from an authorized US dealer, provided used motorcycles that have been through a 110 point inspection and certified by Harley. If you buy a certified pre-owned motorcycle, you will get a 1-year warranty and roadside assistance.
My Take – My first thought “why have they not been doing this for years”? Then, “This might help some folks make that decision to buy a bike”. Then, “Oh well, moving on”.
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Up Shift – One of the fastest men on a motorcycle does not have a license to ride on the street! – If you have won 6 straight World Superbike championships, and the front runner for #7, one would think you have had motorcycle licenses most of your life, right?
Apparently not, but even world champion Jonathan Rea must take the official course to get the licenses.
My Take – LOL… to funny. But I am glad he is doing this it will help show folks that everyone is on the same playing field when it comes to safety. You can check out how well he does on his videos.
April is Motorcycle Helmet Safety month and the supposed start of the riding season in the Northern Hemisphere. So, if your riding season is just beginning or coming to an end you should check your helmet for any issues that could risk your safety.
What do you look for when performing a safety check on your motorcycle helmet? Different manufactures state similar and different things to check, please referrer to your helmets makers directions for the best information.
However, there are some generic checks you can do that will cover many areas to make sure your helmet is still safe. Here are the a few things you need to look for:
1) Is the shell all in one piece? No cracks or splits?
2) Are the straps and connectors in good shape, no adverse wear or tear?
3) The internal padding is connected and stays in place?
4) Remove the padding and check the foam. Is it dented or have cracks?
5) While looking at the foam, most companies place a sticker printed with the helmet’s birthday. Is it over 5 years old?
6) Does the rest of the internals look in good operating condition?
7) Check the visor for damage that might obscure your vision, can you see clearly?
8) Are the screws or other visor attachments tight?
9) Make sure that insects/creatures are not living in your helmet, see the photos below! (that is a Black Widow Spider)
Checklist item 5 is the 5-year rule. Most manufactures recommend that after 5 years you replace your helmet. While the cynical among us will cite the “more money” theory of why they want it replaced there is evidence that the foam lining (the part that does most of the work in a crash) does deteriorate over time. It is your head, so it is your decision to replace or not if everything looks good.
As noted in in Part 1 of this Quarantine Motorcycle Ride series on the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway, had to occur over three seasons. Part 2 Leesburg to Montpelier occurred last summer.
This leg of the ride started on a cool summer morning. Blue skies, white puffy clouds, and the local weatherman, promised a comfortable day to ride the motorcycle.
Our eyes and the weatherman were right! Our ride on the Harley Davidson Ultra Limited motorcycle was smooth and sweet. Great tunes and light traffic made this leg of the Hallowed Ground Byway nothing short of great.
This part of the Byway is packed full of sites that just beg to be stopped and explored as this part of Virginia is packed with history and historical sites.
Getting to Montpelier took us past the following historical sites, and these are the major sites. There are many, many smaller sites in each of the towns you pass through. This leg of the Hallowed Ground Byway can, by itself, could take a week to work your way though.
This section also passes though the Northern Virginia wine and brewery corridor. For example, there are over a dozen breweries and 30 vineyards in Loudon county alone! Just do not drink and ride, of course!
Of course, the destination of this motorcycle ride was the home of President James Madison’s home Montpelier. Montpelier was the plantation home of the Madison family, including the fourth President of the United States James Madison and his wife Dolly.
Montpelier is both a National Historic Landmark and part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Completed in 2008 a major restoration (by the National Trust), in part to return the mansion to its original size of 22 rooms.
Archeological investigations provided information on African-American life at the plantation. Philanthropist David Rubenstein funded and enabled the National Trust to restore the slave quarters in the South Yard and open a slavery exhibition, The Mere Distinction of Colour, in 2017.
Getting to Montpelier is a wonderful ride through historic lands. If you are in the area, on the Journey Thorough Hallowed Ground Byway or not, take the time to stop.
I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!! 
