Motorcycle | I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!!

Posts Tagged ‘Motorcycle’

What would it take for me to buy an electric motorcycle?

Give me POWER!

With the advent of an electric Harley Davidson I decided to really think about electric motorcycles. Yes they have been around for a while, yes Yamaha is looking at some production models as well but, come on, Harley Davidson considering electric motorcycles means we have to take this seriously.

I have been reading a lot more about electric bikes lately, as there have been more than a few articles about this genus of motorcycle. We have even had a few discussions about electric bikes on the Dawg House Motorcycle Radio Show. I am not going to cite a bunch of numbers around range or how environmentally friendly/unfriendly the technology is or anything like that. I understand that it is going to be a long time before I can ride cross country, due to the lack of infrastructure. I am going to discuss what it would take for me to buy and use an electric motorcycle as a daily rider.

So, what would it take for me to buy an electric bike?

1. No range anxiety. I need to be able to commute 80 miles round trip at an average of 60-80 MPH, with somewhat significant uphill climbs. I need to be able to do this with zero worry about range; in fact I need to be able to do this for two days in a row without recharging or worrying if I will make it home. This means I need a 200+ mile range in the worse of conditions.

2. No modifications to my home. With my home, (or my friends/family home) as the only “filing station” that I would have available, I do not consider it reasonable to be required to install a high capacity circuit in my garage to maximize my charging capability.

3. Charging time consideration. A refill from empty to full should take no longer than 2 hours, empty to half full should take less than 30 minutes. That still seems to be a long time but I am giving in to the fact that the technology for rapid charging is not now, nor will be for a long time, anywhere near that of filling a gas tank.

4. Battery life consideration. Batteries do not live forever; I want the first battery replacement to be included in the price of the bike. Whether that is 5 years from purchase or 15 years from purchase I do not want to worry about the cost to swap out the battery pack when it becomes necessary. That first swap has to follow the bike not the owner, if I trade or sell the bike the new owner should not be put at risk for the cost of the new batteries.

5. Charging stations availability. It is unlikely that in my or my children’s life that electric charging station will be as ubiquitous as gas stations. But, if a major manufacture (Harley, Yamaha) begins selling electric motorcycles then every dealer in their network needs to be a charging station. Not a great solution but a first step.

6. Compatibility -Is there a standard for charging hardware, software, volts, amps, etc.? If I am riding a Harley and pull into a Honda dealership will the charging station be compatible? Are the one off charging stations you see here and there standardized for motorcycles? If there is not currently compatibility in the electric motorcycle industry it will have to occur before I will consider buying one.

7. Customization consideration – Now this is not a deal breaker issue, but I would like to have the option to change out the appearance of the bike. New handle bars, saddlebags, grips, mirrors, etc. are things that I and others would like to change to make it their own… just look at my Army bike.

8. Ergo dynamics – I am no longer capable of using a sport bike style seating position for my commute. Due to age and 25 years of Army life I cannot ride in that position for any significant length of time. Most, including Harley’s entry, lean more to the sport bike styling and I have no problem with that. But for me to buy an electric bike it will have to have a cruiser type riding position.

9. Price – It cannot be more than 10% more expensive than its gas powered equivalent. I am willing to pay a little more upfront if I am able to save quite a bit over the long run. My ROI for fuel savings would have to be less than two years (20,000 miles).

I am sure there are other things for me to consider before buying an electric motorcycle but these are the ones that spring to mind. Do you have any additional considerations to consider? J

The Harley Davidson electric motorcycle is real and you can ride it this month!

Posted: June 19, 2014 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle news
Tags: electric motorcycle, Harley, Harley Davidson, Motorcycle, Motorcycle news

The new Harley

With the motorcycle spotted on the set of the new Avengers movie and a teaser video that came out yesterday announcing a big reveal today…we get Project LIVEWIRE!

AND, if you live near the right area you will get a chance to ride it. The first three stops on a nationwide tour have been announced:

June 24-25 – Harley Davidson of New York.

June 27-29 – Boston Harley Davidson

July 17-19 – Brian’s Harley Davidson (Philadelphia)

So if you live around there go check it out!

Motorcycle Radio: I was on the Dawg House again

Posted: June 18, 2014 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news, Motorcycle racing, Motorcycle Rides, motorcycle safety, motorcycle touring
Tags: Australian motorcyle, Harley, Harley Davidson, KTM, Motorcycle, Motorcycle racing, Motorcycle Ride, sport bike, sprotbike

If you would like to hear Ken, Phil and I talk about motorcyles, motorcycle riding and racing check out the podcast here.

This show we talked about:

Patriots ride to U.S./Mexico border to retrieve soldier abandoned by Barack Obama.

Motorcycles can now run red lights in Washington State…let the carnage begin.

Harley Davidson preparing to release an electric motorcycle into production?

Australian government revokes visa of Rebels Motorcycle Club president while he was on vacation in Malta.

2013 Motorcycle theft statistics.

Harley Davidson and KTM recalls.

19 year-old does 155 mph “NOT” evading cops in Florida.

Motorcycle Racing:

Olaf’s British Superbike report.

MotoCross from High Point.

Moto2 and MotoGP results from Catalunya (Barcelona.)

Motorcycle ride on the Harpers Ferry Road.

Posted: June 18, 2014 in Motorcycle Rides, motorcycle touring
Tags: Harley, Harley Davidson, Harpers Ferry, MD, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle touring, sport bike, sportsbike, WV

Good description of Harpers Ferry Road!

This road kind of parallels the Potomac River and the C&O Canal starting in the south on the Maryland side of the river across from the town of Harpers Ferry, WV and is a great road for motorcycles. We rode from there to Sharpsburg, MD which is where the Civil War battle of Antietam was fought (this link will take you to our ride to the Antietam Battlefield).

The road is only about 13 miles long it is twisty, with lots of elevation changes, stomach dropping dips, blind corners and blind entrances to the roadway; it is not a road for the beginning rider to take lightly or with speed. It is also scenic and lots of fun, even if the speed limit is only 35 MPH. There are several neat places to stop along the route including the C&O Canal, Antietam Battlefield, Antietam Iron Works Inn, and Harpers Ferry of course.

The road has views of some great stuff; railroad tunnels, rail road overpass, small towns, rock walls, open farm land, cool barns, mountain cliffs, and on and on!

If you are ever in this area I highly recommend a short side trip to ride this road…and then get some ice cream across the river in Harpers Ferry!

: Starting at the south end of Harpers Ferry road

: US 340 overpass

: East end of Harpers Ferry tunnel

: West end of Harpers Ferry tunnel

: Potomac River

: C&O Canal Tow Path

: Great views on Harpers Ferry Road

: Sharpsburg, MD

Electric Harley Davidson Spotted?

Posted: June 17, 2014 in Motorcycle news
Tags: Avengers, electric motorcycle, Harley, Harley Davidson, marvel, Motorcycle, sport bike, Sportbike

Electric Harley?

Electric Harley Davidson Spotted?

The folks over at “Asphalt and Rubber” posted this article about how an apparent electric Harley Davidson was spotted on the set of the next Avengers movie.

If you look close at the pics you get the clues that it might be real:

Looks like a Daymaker headlight on the bike.

Safety reflectors on a one off movie prop?

Plus the other items pointed out in the article.

Motorcycle ride to the 9/11, Flight 93 Memorial and National Park

Posted: June 16, 2014 in Motorcycle Rides
Tags: 911, flight 93 memorial, Harley, Harley Davidson, Lincoln highway, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle touring, national park, sport bike

Park Entrance

This past weekend Debbie, our friends Tim and Karma and I took a motorcycle ride to the Flight 93, 9/11 Memorial and National Park.

We mounted our bikes and had kickstands up at about 9AM, headed north and west on Interstate 70. WOW, the traffic on I70 was very heavy; it was like a Friday afternoon on a holiday weekend heavy. I understand why everyone wants out of the Washington DC metro area, but come on guys; did you not know I wanted the highway to myself?!?!

The first point where the traffic begins to thin, but only slightly, was as we passed the Hagerstown Outlet Mall. But traffic did not really become light until we reached the I70 and I68 intersection, from that point on things were calm and smooth. At least until the temperature began to drop the further north and the higher elevation we made.

While I was comfy behind the fairing on the Ultra Limited the others were quite cool and in the mood for warmth and food. We stopped for breakfast about 10:30 at “Cathie’s County Store” near the intersection of I70 and PA 915. Debbie declared that Cathie’s home fries were the best she ever had! Pulling back out onto the interstate it was not long before we were onto US 30, also known as the Lincoln Highway.

Just a short way before the actual park entrance we crested a ridge and saw dozens of wind turbines and at the same time understood why they were there. From the time we crested that ridge until we nearly reached the interstate again there was a constant wind, sometimes enough to cause the bikes to move a bit in our lane.

When we reached the Flight 93 Memorial I was pleasantly surprised how full the parking lot was for a cool, overcast Saturday. We arrived at the park just as a park ranger began a presentation of the events of that day. His presentation was a pointed reminder of the events of 9/11 and the courage of the crew and passengers of Flight 93 knowing that the terrorists were intending to crash the plane into a building. While their efforts cost the lives of 40 they likely saved the lives of hundreds if not thousands.

After that solemn stop we rode south stopping at Highland Harley Davidson in Somerset, PA. Tim needed to buy a heavier shirt for the trip back. While he claims otherwise, I am sure he bought one off the women’s rack as the shirt he bought had thumb holes “to hold it in place”…. 🙂

From Somerset we rode south to Cumberland, MD and I68 then back towards home. We stopped for diner at the Longhorn Steak House in Frederick, MD. After a good diner we said out goodbyes and head for the house.

Debbie and me

I am cold but happy

Breakfast at Cathie’s County Store

One of the alters of rememberance.

The bolder marks the crater Flight 93 made on impact.

Windmill are everywhere in that part of PA.

Lock 38: C & O Canal Motorcycle Ride

Posted: June 13, 2014 in C&O Canal, Motorcycle Rides
Tags: C&O Canal, Harley, Harley Davidson, Maryland, MD, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, motorcyle tour, VA, virgina, West Virginia, WV

C&O Canal Lock 38

Location – Lock 38

Mile Marker – 72.7 and 72.8

Historical Comments – Near two Civil War Battle Fields Harpers Ferry and Shepherdstown, WV. Also nearby is the former headquarters for the National Park Service’s C&O Canal division, Ferry Hill, which is now a restored plantation museum.

Ride to Site – Lock 38 has two separate areas both assessable from Canal Road. Canal road is a paved but not well marked byway, pay attention to traffic.

Amenities – the lock areas have restrooms but nothing else. Shepherdstown is nearby with full amenities.

Road Conditions (from main road) – paved

Railway Situation – underpass, very spectacular when a train is passing overhead

Parking Lot Conditions – Paved

Main Attraction – The remains of the lock and the nearby Ferry Hill Plantation.

My Thoughts – A major trail head for folks hiking and bicycling on the Canal Trail but not a lot to see here for the motorcyclist EXCEPT for railroad overpass. The overpass has to be about 50 yards about the roadway and canal. When a trail is crossing the view is spectacular.

Map:

Lock 38

: Milepost 72.7

: Trailhead at milepost 72.8

: Tow Path

: The railroad overpass

: You are here

: Facilities at milepost 72.8

: Parking lot at mile post 72.7

: Lock 38

: Lock 38

: Canal Road

: Canal Road

Motorcycle TV: What’s In The Barn 2014 Review

Posted: June 12, 2014 in Motorcycle TV
Tags: antique motorcycle, Excelsior motorcycle, Harley Davidson, Maggie valley, Motorcycle, museum, road dog, velocity channel, what’s in the barn, wheels through time

After watching the first two episodes of this season I am….disappointed.

After a first season of decent shows I expected a second season of great shows. I don’t know if they have a new director or producer (I could look that up, but I won’t) but the overall implementation of the show leaves me wanting to go back to last year.

In the first show Dale was sent to a GPS location to find an old Excelsior. He had received a hand written note, which looked like a third grader was the author, with directions to the “secret location”. Along the way Dale grabs a deep pocket friend to pay for the bike, if they can find it. When they reach the secret location of the bike they find a garage of old parts and Harleys but no Excelsior, then they look in the rafters before “discovering” a door to the other part of the garage. Each time they enter the rooms for the first time a camera team seems to have magically appeared inside. In the end they find another third grade level note asking for $80,000 dollars for the bike. They put the money in a cigar box and leave. It was a corny as it sounds.

The second episode was not any better. Here Dale was on the hunt for the long lost “Road Dog”, the largest, ridable motorcycle built. Except it was not really lost, and shots of Dale peering through holes in a barn wall going “is that it” were almost cartoonish (again the camera team magically gets their firs). Turns out that a local Harley Davidson dealer had already bought the bike for his dealership (oh, and it started right up). The story behind the bike is very interesting and watching Dale ride it at the end was worthwhile.

All in all I am not a big fan of the new product. I will still watch the show as the content is good but the attempted “made for TV reality show hype” needs to stop as you DO NOT NEED IT.

Same rating as last year 3 out of 5 stars.

Motorcycle TV: What’s In The Barn …. New season tonight.

Posted: June 10, 2014 in Motorcycle TV
Tags: Dale Walksler, Harley, Harley Davidson, Motorcycle, motorcycle TV, museum, old motorcycle, what’s in the barn, wheels through time

According to my DVR there are two new episodes of this show starting tonight (June 10^th). A check of the Velocity Channel’s website did not indicate that a new season was starting, or I overlooked it.

What is What’s In The Barn… “WHAT’S IN THE BARN? brings viewers on a quest that crisscrosses the U.S. for vintage motorcycles and cars. Wheels Through Time Museum curator Dale Walksler hosts this one-of-a-kind journey through America’s barns where yesterday’s junk becomes automotive Americana that he will bring back to life and sell”

The first two shows (according to DirecTV) are:

A Diamond In Dodge City – Dale is hired to buy an Excelsior but may buy if for himself.

Biker Lore – Dale is on the trail of the largest motorcycle ever built.

I reviewed the show last season and gave it 4 out of 5 stars (you can read that review here). I would expect that the production values have only went up so it might get to 5 stars this year. It would be nice if the Velocity Channel would update their website.

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.