Harley | I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!!

Posts Tagged ‘Harley’

Motorcycle Ride for Neurofibromatosis

Posted: June 8, 2014 in Motorcycle Rides
Tags: AMA, Baltimore ramblers, Harley, Harley Davidson, Maryland, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, Neurofibromatosis, NF, Virginia

Pulling out for the NF ride!

My daughter and I rode in a charity ride supporting Neurofibromatosis (NF). The ride was hosted by NFmidatlantic.org and the Baltimore Ramblers Motorcycle Club.

NF is the most common of the “rare” diseases. Neurofibromatosis is extraordinarily complicated. It comes in many forms, is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, and presents in a myriad of forms. Read more about the different types of NF here.

The event began with a pancake breakfast at Applebee’s in Timonium, MD. After everyone had their fill of pancakes the riders, about 50 or so, broke into smaller groups for the ride.

Members of the Ramblers guided us through the back country of Maryland for about an hour and a half before we finished at their clubhouse. The ride itself was quite nice, we only had to dodge giant farm tractors twice! 🙂

There were a few vendors and food available at the clubhouse along with door prizes and 50/50 draws. There was also several vintage motorcycle to look at including an old Indian and a 1953 BMW. After hanging out for a while and talking with the volunteers from the Mid-Atlantic NF and the Ramblers Eryn and I headed for home. BTW the Ramblers are one of the oldest AMA motorcycle clubs in America, founded in 1929.

Much to my worry, the sky started to darken and the closer to Leesburg the more rain drops we felt. Luckily we missed the down poor by a bit and made it to the garage dry.

: lined up waiting to go

: Eryn talking with NF volunteers

: Drawing for door prizes

: Eryn won XXL gloves! She is 5 foot even and 100 pounds!

: Bad picture but the dark stuff… but you can see the green on green

Whites Ferry: C & O Canal Motorcycle Ride

Posted: June 7, 2014 in C&O Canal, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Rides
Tags: C&O Canal, Harley, Maryland, MD, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, national park, VA, Virginia, White’s Ferry

Whites Ferry C&O Canal Stop

Location – Whites Ferry

Mile Marker – 35.5

Historical Comments –This stop on the canal is named for the actual ferry with which it shares the location. The ferry predates the canal by more than half a century and is still in operation today as the only ferry on the Potomac River. You can read more about the Whites Ferry ferry here.

Ride to Site – Riding to Whites Ferry requires you ride through farm land. Be on the lookout for slow moving farm equipment. Pay attention as well for deer and other wildlife crossing the road. There are multiple speed cameras in and around the nearby town of Poolsville.

Amenities – The ferry operates a small grocery/deli during the summer months, the area has picnic tables, boat ramp, restrooms.

Road Conditions (from main road) – All paved and in decent condition

Railway Situation – None

Parking Lot Conditions – Hard packed gravel, use a kickstand puck.

Main Attraction – Whites Ferry, $3 for motorcycles to cross the river.

My Thoughts – The canal site itself is interesting. After crossing the river you can, at the traffic light, turn left and head into Leesburg or turn right and head back towards Point of Rocks, MD (another stop on the canal tour).

Map

: On the road to the Whites Ferry C&O Canal Stop

: What is left of the canal at Whites Ferry

: My bike at Whites Ferry C&O Canal stop

Motorcycle stuff: I was on the radio again this week!

Posted: June 5, 2014 in Motorcycle radio
Tags: Harley, Harley Davidson, Motorcycle, ntn radio network, ntnradio, radio, sport bike, Sportbike

The NTN Radio studio (Phil in the fore and Chis on the board)

I was asked back to guest host on the DWAGHOUSE motorcycle radio again. That make two weeks in a rows! The show is broadcast live on the internet Tuesday 6-8PM EST.

This past weeks show is now up in podcast form (available at the link above and iTunes). So if you have time check it out and drop me a note if you like it…if you don’t like it well, grandma said if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything! 🙂

You can also get linked to the podcast on the DawgHouse Facebook page.

Motorcycle TV: Biker Battleground Phoenix

Posted: June 4, 2014 in custom motorcycle, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Rides, Motorcycle TV
Tags: Biker Battleground Phoenix, custom motorcycle, dirty bird concepts, Harley, History Channel, motorcycle TV, motorycycle

The History Channel now has a website for their new series. The Biker Battleground Phoenix website does not yet have much but, there is a “Sneak Peak” video available.

According to the site the show is about….

“Phoenix, Arizona—where the country’s top motorcycle builders compete day and night. It’s a dog-eat-dog world, where buyers are willing to pay upwards of $150,000 for a fully-customized, one-of-a-kind ride. Biker Battleground Phoenix follows the temperamental and talented bad boys of the bike business. In their world, showcases are for pride and bragging rights, competition is cutthroat and money talks. When egos and passion collide, the aftershocks echo across town.

They don’t follow trends–they set them. No tactic is off limits and no move is too corrupt. From stealing ideas and poaching employees to public bashing on social media, these guys will do whatever it takes to give themselves and their shops the ultimate edge over the rest.”

After reading this I hope this is not a “The Devil’s Ride” show for builders!

Additionally, History is sponsoring a contest to support the new show. You can register here to win a custom bike built by Dirty Bird Concepts, one of the shops on the show.

Motorcycle Stuff: Rides and events in June

Posted: June 1, 2014 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle Rides, Rally
Tags: delaware, Harley, Harley Davidson, HOG, Maryland, Motorcycle, motorcycle rally, Motorcycle Ride, ride to work, Virginia

I am sure there are more but here are a few Northern Virginia and surrounding area events of which I am aware. If you know of any others please add them in the comments.

Ride for NF – June 8^th

Back of the Dragon Days – June 13^th – 15^th

Ride your bike to work day – June 16th

Maryland/Delaware HOG Rally – June 19^th-22^nd

ABATE of Virginia Rally – June 20^th – 22^nd

HOG Worldwide Ride – June 22^nd – 23rd

Virginia HOG Rally – June 26^th – 28^th

Motorcycle Ride: Memorial Day Weekend Part 1

Posted: May 27, 2014 in Motorcycle Rides, Rally
Tags: Harley, Harley Davidson, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, rolling thunder, washington harley davdidson, washington hd

Rolling Thunder 2014

Debbie had to work Saturday so I was out on the motorcycle by myself. I rode the Army bike as I was planning on entering a bike show that afternoon (see Part Deux).

The first stop of the day was the HOG Pin Stop at Washington HD. Getting there from Leesburg takes a while and it involves some of the most trafficked roads in the DC Metro area; I495 and I95.

With Rolling Thunder the next day I was surprised that there were so few bikes out and about. From home to exit for the dealership I counted 17 bikes, much much fewer than I have noticed in the past.

I arrived at the dealership about a little before 10 and was surprised again at the number of bikes. In the past, at about the same time, the parking lots were packed and the vendor areas were standing room only. Not this year, I had no issue what so ever getting a parking spot and had a leisurely stool through the vendors. I saw nothing I could live without among the tents, although I am becoming intrigued with center stands, and decided to go inside and check out the remodeled digs.

The dealership has been in this building for a long time and was looking very “long in tooth”. The remodeling was, I have to say, was underwhelming. IMHO there was no real improvement at all. The one area of the store that I though was better was a display of older bikes with large period photos behind them.

I did speak to a person, who claimed to be an employee, stated that the dealership was about to change hands and that the new owner was going to build a new building. In the DC area, and especially Maryland, that can be an expensive proposition (hey, Maryland even taxes the rain).

Mounting my bike I was back on the road in less than a minute, still no heavy bike traffic.

Part of the vendor area at Washington HD, Rolling Thunder.

HOG Pin Stop

Motorcycle Ride: Memorial Day Weekend Part Deux … Freedom Fest

Posted: May 26, 2014 in Motorcycle Rides, Rally
Tags: Bike Show, custom motorcycle, Hardcore choppers, Harley, Harley Davidson, Kawasaki, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle show, rolling thunder

1st Place

After leaving Washington HD I rode over to Hardcore Choppers for their Freedom Fest. The proceeds for this event were to benefit Able Forces.

They had multiple bands all day including Sam Tate and Gypsy Sons. There were a several vendors, a bike show (which I entered) and the Fairfax County Police motor patrol drill team among other things.

One of the funnier items occurred when the police were giving a demonstration of how to pick up fallen bike. When they asked for volunteers to try picking up the bike a 70+ year old lady jumped out to give it a go! Check out the video Old Lady picks up police motorcycle!

As for the bike show I took first place in my class!

OldLady picks up police motorcycle!

Motorcycle Ride: Memorial Day Weekend Part Three… Ride to Solomon Island

Posted: May 26, 2014 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle Rides
Tags: Harley, Harley Davidson, Maryland, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, rolling thunder, solomons island, Virginia

Late Saturday evening Debbie and I rode the new bike to our friends (Tim and Karma) home. We were spending the night there with the plans to take a long ride Sunday.

We have all done the Rolling Thunder event multiple times and decided to take a break this year from this year’s festivities. We had no particular destination in mind until we were ready to pull out, then we decided to cruse to Solomon Island (which has an interesting history).

While Tim and Karma had both been to the Island in the past this was the first for Debbie and I. The ride out was outstanding, not much traffic (by DC standards anyway), warm but not hot and clear sky’s made the ride out very pleasant. When we made it to the island we had lunch at Stoney’s Solomons Pier restaurant.

After lunch we rode to the end of the island took some pictures and headed back out on our ride. Heading south towards Frederick, VA we crossed the Governor Harry Nice toll bridge ($6, really Maryland, for a bridge) and then up US Route 1. We stopped in Dumfries at Baylor’s Ice Cream shop which was very tasty and just right as the asphalt and concrete was warming us up.

By the time we made it home we were ready for a good shower. At over 275 miles we had quite a day on the bike with great weather and good friends.

Tim & Karma at Stoney’s

Cool driftwood

Debbie and I at Stoney’s

Debbie and I, Solomon Island, MD

End of the road on the island!

Motorcycle Ride: Rolling Thunder 2014

Posted: May 20, 2014 in Rally
Tags: 2014, Harley, Harley Davidson, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, rolling thunder, thunder ally

This coming weekend, May 25^th, is Rolling Thunder in Washington DC. In addition to the ride itself there are a lot of other, smaller events in the DC metro area that feed on the biker traffic that Rolling Thunder brings to the area.

Some of the other events in the area are:

Thunder Ally – The OFFICAL vendor location for Rolling Thunder is located at 22^nd St. and Constitution Ave in the city. It is open Saturday-Monday.

HOG Pin Stop – At Washington Harley Davidson, plus they have vendors and bands at the dealership.

Candlelight Vigil 9PM Friday the 23^rd of May at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Ride of the Patriots at Patriot HD in Fairfax VA, is an event that covers all four days of the Memorial Day weekend.

Lots of the local bike dealers have their own Rolling Thunder related events. Check your favorite bike shop’s website to see what is going on. For example, Hardcore Choppers is sponsoring their Operation Freedom Fest 2014 on the 24^th.

Harley Davidson “Street” motorcycles spotted in Maryland.

Posted: May 14, 2014 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle news
Tags: Harley, Harley Davidson, Harley Street, HD, Motorcycle, street 500

I saw the new Street 500 in person for the first time. I did not get to ride the bike but I saw it being ridden by students in the new rider’s course.

My first impression it is quite and at idle very quiet. I was watching the students run through their different drills and when they were stopped I had to listen carefully to realize that they were still running. Under acceleration, as when they were performing the drill to get to speed and break hard to a stop, you could start to discern the Harley sound.

My second impression was they are small. But, in retrospect, that is what is intended and for their purpose exactly what is required. Also, after riding large touring bikes most every motorcycle is small by comparison.

They also appeared to be very nimble. Although I do not know the skill set of the riders in the training course, no one dropped a bike while I was there. They all executed the figure eights and left/right swerves with no issue. The bike appeared to be quite “flickable”.

After the rider training had ended I took a closer look and also sat on one. These bikes were rigged with all there protective gear, to insure there are some resell value after a few years on the training course. The bike felt very sturdy and its center of gravity quite low. Just sitting there rocking it left and right, I had the impression that It indeed was bike made to jump around the urban landscape.

According to the guys at the dealership (Frederick HD), all the bikes they received were for their training program. They would not get any of the bikes to sell until August at the earliest.