Posts Tagged ‘motorbike’

Motorcycle News: Baggers Racing at Laguna Seca???

Posted: August 18, 2020 in custom motorcycle, Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle racing
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upshift

Hitting Neutral ­– Harley on a new course – Harley Davidson Motorcycles changes course, again. Out with the old boss in with the new boss. Out with the old plan in with the new plan.

When the last Harley Davidson CEO was in charge, he put in place an ambitious plan of 100 new motorcycles in 10 years. 

The new guy thinks that is an overreach and ended the effort and has stating that 30% of new models will be cut. This is paired with a cut to production to “make them more exclusive”.

While the new streetfighter motorcycle looks like it may be on the cut list. Its engine sharing brother, the Pan America adventure bike, is coming out with the 2021 models.

The new guy also wants to drive up the parts and accessories business along with merchandise. 

My Take: Who is right? According to the board of directors, not the guy that got fired.  I thought trying to expand appeal by having different Harley Davidson motorcycles was an interesting idea.  Not sure where cutting production will help exclusivity when there are 1000’s of bikes on the used market.

*****

Upshift: The King of Baggers Race – MotoAmerica is adding a touch of the surreal to American motorcycle racing. Well maybe, in the age of COVID who knows.

If you always wanted to see American V-Twins race at Laguna Seca raceway, maybe this is the year.  Watching a mildly modified Harley Davidson Road or Street Glide swinging through the corkscrew is going to be bonkers at best.

The race is getting attention.  Drag Specialties is the King of Baggers sponsor. A bunch of accessory companies are getting in on the action, for example Saddlemen, the motorcycle seat and luggage maker, is sponsoring bike #87 in the race.

And Indian and S&S are teaming up to run a Indian Challenger as well.  It should dominate on the straights as it has more than a few cubic inches on the Harley’s.

Currently the race is schedule for October 23-25, but who knows if it will happen until it happens.

My take: OH HELL YEAH!

Motorcycle Book Review: Tortillas to Totems

Posted: August 5, 2020 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Product Reviews
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Photo provided by Sam Manicom

Sam Manicom’s fourth motorcycle adventure book tracks his and his partner Birgit travels through Mexico, the United States and Canada.  While I have never toured the world like Sam but, he lays out the work involved while making it a fun read.

I say work because he is not reliant on sponsors or doing “viral” things to get attention and “followers”.  He sells stories and does “odd jobs” while touring to have the money to move from point to point.  He does rely on a network of friends and friends of friends to reduce his costs of traveling. The “work” part of global motorcycle touring comes out well in the book.

This book has been in my stack for a couple months and now I wish had moved it to the top when it came in.  It is an easy, fun read that I can readily recommend.

I particularly enjoyed the sections on the border crossings.  I found it funny how it seems that the crossing guards are pretty much the same just with different languages, overworked and underpaid and less then helpful. However, of all the places to cross into the US, Tijuana would be at the bottom of my list.  But no one asked me LOL!

I was a bit surprised that after traveling through the many third-world countries that they travelled, that they were worried about travelling back into the first world.  I understood the worries on cost of travel in the US/Canada but, as their trip unfolded, I like to think that the other worries were abated. 

Full disclosure Sam wrote an unpaid article for this blog a few months ago and I paid for the book.

I liked this book enough that I am going to buy his other books!  4 Stars

Taking a 14 year-old on a motorcycle ride.

Posted: July 6, 2020 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, motorcycle show, Rally
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The July Bikes & Breakfast, for Poolesville, MD gathering occurred over the weekend. The 1st Sunday morning of each month motorcyclist collect in a Poolesville parking lot for a meet and greet.

Click for the website

This month my grandsons are in town, so I took the older one with me to the event.  Taking the blue Harley Davidson, we rode the motorcycle the long route to Poolesville, on a beautiful bright day but very humid morning.  We arrived about mid-morning and there were not a lot of bikes in the parking lot.  At first, I thought maybe it was Covid-cancelled but we hung around to see what would happen.

By about 10AM the parking lot was getting full, I would guess there was at least 70 motorcycle on display.  Besides the ubiquitous Harley Davidsons, there were the standard Triumphs, Hondas, etc. There were a bunch of custom bikes from café racers to bobbers.

The one motorcycle that stood out for me was a 1967 Moto Guzzi.  A two-owner bike that is in remarkable shape for a very well ridden bike.  Of course, it helps if the owner runs a vintage European Motorcycle garage.

When we left, we took the White’s Ferry across the Potomac river and head for the house.  My grandson said he had a good time, but 14 year-olds…does one really know?

Work to Ride Day is June 15th

Posted: June 4, 2020 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy
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r2w

The 3rd Monday in June is International Ride Your Motorcycle/Scooter to Workday.  This year that is the 15th of June for the calendar challenged out there. 😊

Assuming you are allowed to ride, or you have work to actually ride to.

I have been working from home, so my plan is to ride around the neighborhood a few times before I start my day.

Ride on, Ride Safe

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