motorcycle touring | I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!!

Posts Tagged ‘motorcycle touring’

Unboxing a new motorcycle part

Yes, chrome does not get you home. But it does look good! Check out my latest purchase of a chrome part for my motorcycle.

Vintage Motorcycles: Women’s History Month

Posted: March 7, 2025 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle racing, motorcycle touring, Rally, vintage motorcycle
Tags: Harley, Harley Davidson, Motorcycle, motorcycle blog, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle riding, motorcycle safety, motorcycle touring, singer motorcycle, sport bike, Sportbike, Vintage Harley davidson, vintage honda motorcycle, vintage triumph motorcycle, vintange motorcycles

Among the many realms where women have left an indelible impact is the world of vintage motorcycles. Historically dominated by men, the motorcycle industry saw an influx of pioneering women who refused to be sidelined. These women not only rode but also designed, raced, and innovated in the field of motorcycles. Icons such as Bessie Stringfield, known as the “Motorcycle Queen of Miami,” and Dot Robinson, co-founder of the Motor Maids, challenged societal norms and paved the way for future generations of female motorcyclists.

The intersection of Women’s History Month and vintage motorcycles is a testament to the enduring spirit and resilience of women who dared to defy conventions. These trailblazers not only enjoyed the thrill of the open road but also fought for their place in a male-dominated sphere. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it is vital to remember and honor the women who have made significant strides in all areas, including the exhilarating world of vintage motorcycles. Their legacy continues to inspire and empower women worldwide.

Essential Motorcycle Prep for Spring Riding

Posted: March 5, 2025 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle Rides, motorcycle safety, motorcycle touring
Tags: bikes, essential motorcycle prep for spring riding, Harley, Harley Davidson, Motorcycle, motorcycle blog, motorcycle gear checks, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle ride preperation, motorcycle riding, motorcycle safety, motorcycle touring, motorcycles, preparing your motorcycle for spring riding, sport bike, Sportbike, spring motorcycle pre-ride checks, spring motorcycle riding tips, t-clocs, tips to get ready for spring motorcycle riding

Spring is here, and your motorcycle is beckoning you to hit the open road.

Before you embark on your two-wheeled adventures, take a moment to prepare your bike for the riding season. While the T-CLOCS (Tires, Controls, Lights, Oil, Chassis, and Stands) inspection is essential, let’s delve into some often-overlooked tasks:

Check Your Gear:
- Retrieve your riding gear from storage. It might have been sitting in your saddlebag for months.
- Clean your gear thoroughly. Run it through the wash or clean it by hand.
- Apply water repellent or waterproofing for added protection.
- Remember, rainstorms are not the preferred method of cleaning your gear!
Inspect Your Helmet:
- Your helmet deserves special attention. Start by cleaning the exterior. Those bugs from 2023 should be easy to remove by now.
- Remove and clean the interior padding following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Don’t forget to check every nook and cranny for any unwelcome guests—SPIDERS (not the Can-Am species).
Evaluate and Replace Gear:
- Take a close look at your riding gear. Are your helmet and gloves still in good condition?
- Remember, you are responsible for your own safety. If something isn’t right, repair or replace it promptly.
Give Your Motorcycle a “Colonoscopy”:
- If you didn’t adequately prepare your bike for winter, it’s time to peek up your tailpipe.
- Inspect all areas for leaks and ensure everything is in ship shape.
Give your bike a rub down: Happy ending optional!
- Give it a good wipe down to clean off the dust and debris that adhered to your bike over winter.
- Now is a good time to give your motorcycle a waxing to help preserve the paint.
Restock your saddlebags or backpack:
- If you pack a first aid kit replace what you used last year or what is now expired.
- Sunscreen and ChapStick…might want to swap them out for new.
- That candy bar you had for an emergency snack, go ahead, and eat it now and put a new one in its place.
Review the owner’s manual:
- Get yourself reacquainted with the bike.
Check your insurance:
- Did you stop or reduce your insurance on the motorcycle over the winter? Give a quick call to your agent to get your insurance up to date.
Remind yourself about PANIC STOPS:
- Find an unused bit of road or parking lot, get up to speed and BRAKE HARD! Get that feeling about what you and your motorcycle will do when you must make a sudden stop.
- Ride with a passenger? Then run this exercise with them on the motorcycle as well. It is best to know how it feels in a controlled environment before you really need to do it. OH, check your brakes before you do this to make sure they are good to go.

This is not an all-inclusive checklist or recommendations, I am sure each of you can add more items, but it can get you started for the new riding season. Remember, a well-prepped motorcycle ensures both safety and enjoyment during the riding season.

Have any additonal tips…put them in the comments!

Ride on, ride safe

Motorcycle recalls February 2025: Kawasaki DO NOT RIDE, Honda, KTM (Husky/Gas Gas)

Posted: February 28, 2025 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news, motorcycle recall
Tags: Gas Gas motorcycle recall, Harley, Harley Davidson, Honda 650 recall, honda motorcycle recall, husqvarna brake recall, Indian motorcycle, indian motorcycle recall, Kawasaki do not ride, kawasaki motorcycle recall, kawasaki ninja, kawasaki recall, KTM break recall, ktm motorcycle recall, Motorcycle, motorcycle blog, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle riding, motorcycle safety, motorcycle touring, sport bike, Sportbike

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. So, safety first.

Also, (DISCLAIMER) 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.

LASTLY – you need to make sure you get recalls on your motorcycles resolved. It is your butt on the line!

*****

NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V118000 DO NOT RIDE

Manufacturer Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.

Components ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Summary Kawasaki Motor Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) is recalling certain 2024 Z e-1 ABS and Ninja e-1 ABS motorcycles. The connection between the battery pack assembly and motorcycle may fail due to a missing battery terminal anchor.

Remedy Owners are advised not to ride their motorcycle until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect the battery terminals and replace the battery if the anchor is missing, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact KMC customer service at 1-866-802-9381. KMC’s number for this recall is MC25-03.

*****

NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V970000

Manufacturer Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Components POWER TRAIN

Summary Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2024 CB650R and CBR650R motorcycles. The fasteners of the gear shift arm may loosen and detach, resulting in the inability to shift gears.

Remedy Dealers will replace the gear shift arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 21, 2025. Owners may contact Honda’s customer service at 866-784-1870. Honda’s number for this recall is KR7.

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V108000

Manufacturer Indian Motorcycle Company

Components FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Summary Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2025 Challenger Dark Horse, Pursuit Limited, Roadmaster Elite and Springfield Dark Horse motorcycles. Due to an incorrectly crimped wire, the fuel pump may fail and result in an engine stall during operation.

Remedy Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed in February 2025. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 877-204-3697. Indian’s number for this recall is I-25-01.

*****

NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V074000

Manufacturer KTM North America, Inc. (Husqvarna and Gas Gas)

Components SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Summary KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Husqvarna FE 350s, FE 501s, and 2024-2025 GASGAS ES 350 and ES 500 motorcycles. The front brake caliper may crack in the area around the upper guide pin.

Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the front brake caliper, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090.

*****

Motorcycle News: 50 Years of Gold Wings, Motorcycle Racing

Posted: February 19, 2025 in custom motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news, Motorcycle racing
Tags: American Flat Track, Daytona 200, Daytona bike week, Harley, Harley Davidson, honda at 2025 Daytona bike week, honda gold wing, Honda gold wing 50 years of flight, motoamerica, MotoGP, Motorcycle, motorcycle blog, MOTORCYCLE RACINING, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle riding, motorcycle safety, motorcycle touring, sport bike, Sportbike, World Superbike

What you need to Know: Motorcycle Racing is Nearly Here

The first races of the motorcycle racing seasons are fast approaching. Here is a list of the first race of each of the major promotions.

MotoGP – March 2nd Grand Prix of Thailand

World Superbike – February 22nd Australian Round

MotoAmerica – March 29th Circuit of the Americas

American Flat Track – March 6th Daytona

Daytona 200 – March 7th

My Take: Winter may not be over yet, but sun rays of hope are flickering. The start of Supercross racing just stoked my motorcycle racing appetite. BSB and Isle of Mann start in May.

I have plans, don’t we all, to attend at least one MotoAmerica race this year after missing out in 2024.

What you need to know: 50 Years of Honda Gold Wing at Daytona Bike Week

From a Honda Press Release:

Pop-up museum to document legendary touring model’s rich history
Schedule includes a host of customer-focused activities
Also planned: demo rides with Gold Wings and other Honda on-road bikes

American Honda announced today an expanded activation area at the upcoming Bike Week event in Daytona Beach, Florida, celebrating 50 Years of Flight with the Gold Wing touring bike. Situated outside Daytona Speedway from February 28 to March 9, the space will cover a total of nearly 32,000 square feet and will include a massive display tent and a demo-ride staging area.

Earlier this month, Honda unveiled the 2025 Gold Wing platform, which features special colors and logos commemorating the iconic model’s half-century milestone.

My Take: 50 Years of the Gold Wing! I think it is great that Honda is doing something like this, taking a page from the Harley Davidson playbook. If I have to buy another touring bike, I am going to take a hard look at the new Wing.

Strange Motorcycles of 2024: A Look at the Weird & Wonderful

Posted: February 11, 2025 in custom motorcycle, Motorcycle, motorcycle show
Tags: custom motorcycle, Harley, Harley Davidson, Motorcycle, motorcycle blog, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle riding, motorcycle safety, motorcycle touring, sport bike, Sportbike, strange motorcycle, strange motorcycles of 2024, weird motorcycle

How about the weird and strange from 2024. Now I will admit they are not as weird or strange as motorcycles from years past but still weird and strange.

My favorite is the stainless-steel bike, which one do you like best?

Motorcycle recalls January 2025: Ducati and Indian

Posted: January 30, 2025 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, motorcycle recall, motorcycle safety
Tags: Ducati, ducati paigale recall, Ducati Panigale, Harley, Harley Davidson, Indian, Indian motorcycle, Indian scout motorcycle recall, Motorcycle, motorcycle blog, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle riding, motorcycle safety, motorcycle touring, sport bike, Sportbike

Also, (DISCLAIMER) 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.

LASTLY – you need to make sure you get recalls on your motorcycles resolved. It is your butt on the line!

*****

NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V013000

Manufacturer Ducati North America

Components SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Summary : Ducati North America (Ducati) is recalling certain 2025 Ducati Panigale S/STD V4 motorcycles. Excessive heat may damage the rear brake hose between the ABS control unit and brake caliper, resulting in a sudden loss of the rear brakes.

Remedy: Dealers will reinstall the thermal shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 18, 2025. Owners may contact Ducati customer service at 1-888-391-5446. Ducati’s number for this recall is CR285.

*****

NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V970000

Manufacturer Indian Motorcycle Company

Components ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Summary: Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2025 Scout and Scout Sixty motorcycles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of affected trims. The gear position display may falsely show that the motorcycle in neutral. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 123, “Motorcycle Controls and Displays.”

Remedy: Dealers will update the Engine Control Module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 30, 2025. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian’s number for this recall is I-24-11.

*****

Top 9 Crazy Motorcycle Helmets of 2024

Posted: January 27, 2025 in custom motorcycle, Motorcycle
Tags: best of 2024 motorcycle helmets, custom motorcycle helmet, Harley, Harley Davidson, Motorcycle, motorcycle blog, motorcycle helmet, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle riding, motorcycle safety, motorcycle touring, sport bike, Sportbike

Like the motorcycle tank art post, it was a slim year for new, crazy motorcycle helmets. Just not a lot out there, a few of the ones I collected during the year I had already used, not good.

But in the end, I did find 9 that fit the bill. Not sure I would use many of these helmets, but they are definitely crazy.