Posts Tagged ‘motorcycles’

9 Tips for Attending a Motorcycle Race

Posted: April 4, 2024 in Uncategorized
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The motorcycle racing season is underway!  World Superbike, MotoGP, and here in the USA MotoAmerica and King of the Baggers.  If you have never been to a race this year might be the year you go to your first.

Below are some commonsense tips to make sure you have a good time:

  1. Plan ahead: Check the race schedule and plan your trip accordingly. Make sure you have all the necessary tickets, passes, and documents.
  2. Dress appropriately: Wear comfortable clothes and shoes that are suitable for the weather. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses.
  3. Stay hydrated: Bring plenty of water and other non-alcoholic beverages to stay hydrated throughout the day.
  4. Bring earplugs: Motorcycle races can be loud, so it’s a good idea to bring earplugs to protect your hearing.
  5. Pack snacks: Bring some snacks and food to keep your energy levels up during the race. BUT, the track makes it money on their consessions please help them out.
  6. Get there early: Arrive early to find a good spot to watch the race and avoid traffic. Most tracks park the motorcycles in a motorcycle only area so watch for signs/directions.
  7. Be respectful: Be respectful of other fans, the riders, and the track. Follow the rules and regulations of the event.
  8. Take photos: Capture the excitement of the race by taking photos and videos. But remember to be mindful of other fans and not to obstruct their view.
  9. Enjoy the experience: Finally, relax and enjoy the experience. Motorcycle races are thrilling events that offer a unique opportunity to witness the skill and bravery of the riders.  MotoAmerica has a fan walk of pit road at most races.  This will give you an opportunity to meet the racers and see the bikes.

I hope you find this helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Motorcycle TV: Steve McQueen Desert Racer

Posted: April 1, 2024 in custom motorcycle, Motorcycle, Motorcycle racing, Motorcycle TV
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I ran across this hour-long motorcycle documentary on Amazon Prime and, of course, I had to watch it.

I knew the actor Steve McQueen was into motorcycles and motorcycle racing, but I did not realize he was REALLY into motorcycles and motorcycle racing! This TV show documents what he and his friends did to get motorcycles into movies and how they raced at the top levels.

A few the things I discovered while watching:

           Steve McQueen and friends were the first American team to race in the International 6-Day Enduro

           McQueen and friends were drivers of making Metisse Racing Motorcycles famous.

           McQueen spent hours changing customer tires at his friend’s bike shop, to prepare for the 6-Day Enduro

The documentary is narrated by motorcycle enthusiast Charle Boorman, famous for the “Long Way” films, and contains a lot of historical film clips and photos from that time. Steve McQueen Desert Racer was released in 2015.

I enjoyed the show, my wife even watched much of it, and I think you might as well. Check it out on the next rainy day!

Ride On, Ride Saff

Spring Motorcycle Riding Prep: A checklist for getting your bike ready for riding.

Posted: March 27, 2024 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle Rides, motorcycle safety
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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 recommendations:

  1. 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.
  2. 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).
  3. 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.
  4. Give Your Motorcycle a “Colonoscopy”:
    • If you didn’t adequately prepare your bike for winter, it’s time to peek up your tailpipe. Make sure nothing is living in your exhust.
    • Inspect all areas for leaks and ensure everything is in ship shape.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Review the owner’s manual:
    • Get yourself reacquainted with the bike.
  8. 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.
  9. Remind yourself about PANIC STOPS:
    • Find an unused bit of road or parking lot, get up to speed and BREAK 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 bike as well. It is best to know how it feels in a controlled environment before you really need to do it. OH, check your breaks 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, and rider, ensures both safety and enjoyment during the riding season.

Ride on, ride safe

 🏍️

Motorcycle News: Moto Guzzi and Suzuki

Posted: March 18, 2024 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news, Motorcycle Rides, motorcycle touring, Rally
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ijustwant2ride.com

Motorcycle News – What you need to know… 2024 Moto Guzzi Experience USA

Moto Guzzi has announced the 2024 Moto Guzzi Experience in the United States. The Moto Guzzi Experience is not only about stunning scenery but also about rewarding riding.  

“Participants will tackle some of the country’s most challenging and bucket-list-worthy roads and highways, offering a true test of skill and adrenaline. experiencing the thrill of riding our latest Moto Guzzi models on some of the most iconic routes in this beautiful country.”

  • Rocky Mountains, June 5-9, 2024 (3-day Ride)
  • Pacific Northwest, July 15-21, 2024 (5-day Ride)
  • Yellowstone, July 31 – August 5, 2024 (4-Day Ride)
  • Smoky Mountains, September 11-16, 2024 (4-Day Ride)

If you are interested in participating check out the details at the MOTO GUZZI EXPERIENCE website

My Take –UPSHIFT – While some folks don’t care for vendor driven events, I do.  You often get to see their new products and often get to take them on demo rides.  I don’t own a Moto Guzzi if I did I would try to attend one or more of the events.

purple motorcycle ijustwant2ride.com

What you need to know… Suzuki 2024 National Demo Tour

          Suzuki has kicked off its 2024 Demo Tour.  Their tour will give you a chance to try out a large part of their fleet of motorcycles.  The tour began during Daytona Bike Week. 

Here is a listing of the motorcycles you could try out:

  • GSX-8R sport bike
  • GSX-8S 
  • V-STROM 800DE and 800 adventure tourers
  • V-STROM 1050DE and 1050 adventure tourers
  • Hayabusa sport bike
  • Hayabusa 25th Anniversary Edition
  • GSX-R1000R, GSX-R750, GSX-R600 sport bikes
  • GSX-S1000GT+ high-performance sport-tourers
  • GSX-S1000
  • DR-Z400S and DR-Z400SM supermoto
  • DR-650S dual-sport
  • M109R power cruisers and more.

Go to the SUZUKI EVENTS CALENDAR to see when and where the demo fleet is headed.

My Take – Upshift – I still want to take the Katana out for a spin, but it is not on the list.

purple motorcycle ijustwant2ride.com

Ride on, Ride Safe

Motorcycle Recall February 2024: LiveWire, Honda, Triumph, Dainese Helmets, CFMOTO, Suzuki, Indian

Posted: March 1, 2024 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, motorcycle recall
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Be aware that this motorcycle recall list is for the United States for the last 30 days, or so, 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.

*****

NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V149000

Manufacturer LIVEWIRE EV, LLC

Components ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Summary LIVEWIRE EV, LLC (LiveWire) is recalling certain 2024 S2DM (S2 Del Mar) motorcycles. The Vehicle Supervisory Control (VSC) software may initiate and cause a powertrain shutdown as a result of internal software voltage thresholds being exceeded.

Remedy LiveWire will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 5, 2024. Owners may contact LiveWire customer service at 1-855-387-4337. LiveWire’s number for this recall is 1001.

*****

NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V113000

Manufacturer Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Components FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Summary Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 GL1800 (Goldwing), CBR600RR, and 2018-2019 CBR1000RR motorcycles. The fuel pump impellers may have been improperly molded, which can cause them to deform and result in fuel pump failure.

Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pump module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 8, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda’s numbers for this recall are KP8, KP9, KQ0, and KQ1.

 *****

NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V109000

Manufacturer Triumph Motorcycles America, Ltd.

Components STRUCTURE

Summary Triumph Motorcycles America, Ltd. (Triumph) is recalling certain 2023 Trident 660 and Tiger Sport 660 motorcycles. Due to incorrectly machined threads, the front fork caps may strip and detach from the fork outer tube.

Remedy Dealers will replace the fork caps, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 28, 2024. Owners may contact Triumph customer service at 1-678-854-2010. Triumph’s number for this recall is SRAN 617.

*****

NHTSA Campaign Number: 24E014000

Manufacturer Dainese S.p.A.

Components EQUIPMENT

Summary Dainese S.p.A. (Dainese) is recalling certain AGV Tourmodular helmets. The micrometric buckle may fail to automatically engage, allowing the chin strap to remain loose.

Remedy Dainese will apply lubricant to the buckles, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 12, 2024. Owners may contact Dainese customer service at 1-855-327-5639.

*****

NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V108000

Manufacturer CFMOTO POWERSPORTS, INC.

Components STRUCTURE

Potential Number of Units Affected 1,700

Summary

CFMOTO POWERSPORTS, INC. (CFMOTO) is recalling certain 2023 450SS motorcycles. The telematics box (T-box) may fall onto the front steering forks, which can cause a loss of steering control.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the T-Box holder, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed in February 2024. Owners may contact CFMOTO customer service at 1-763-398-2690. CFMOTO’s number for this recall is SAF-2024-01.

*****

NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V081000

Manufacturer Suzuki Motor USA, LLC

Components POWER TRAIN

Summary Suzuki Motor USA, LLC (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2024 GSX-8R motorcycles. The drive chain may detach due to missing rivets, which can result in a loss of power to the rear wheels.

Remedy Dealers will inspect and repair the drive chain with a replacement joint and replace sprockets as necessary, free of charge. All affected motorcycles are within the manufacturer’s direct control and therefore no owner notification letters will be sent. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at (714) 572-1490. Suzuki’s number for this recall is 3A02.

*****

NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V069000

Manufacturer Indian Motorcycle Company

Components EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Summary Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Challenger, Challenger Dark Horse, Challenger Limited, 2022 Challenger Dark Horse Icon, Challenger Elite, FTR 1200, FTR 1200 Rally, FTR 1200 S, FTR 1200 R Carbon, Pursuit Dark Horse, Challenger JD Limited Edition, Pursuit Limited Icon, Pursuit Dark Horse Premium, Pursuit Limited, Pursuit Limited Premium, 2019-2020 FTR 1200 S, FTR 1200, and 2020 FTR 1200 Rally motorcycles. The brake lights may illuminate unexpectedly and without brake application from the rider. As such, these motorcycles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”

Remedy Dealers will update the ABS module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 14, 2024. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian’s number for this recall is I-24-03.

*****

Ride On, Ride Safe

Motorcycle Recall January 2024: Suzuki, BMW and Cake 0

Posted: January 29, 2024 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news, motorcycle recall, motorcycle safety
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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.

BTW I had never heard of Cake 0 motorcycles either!

*****

NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V038000

Manufacturer Suzuki Motor USA, LLC

Components SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Summary Suzuki Motor USA, LLC (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2024 GSX1300R motorcycles. The brake fluid pipe flare nut for the brake fluid supply line may have been tightened incorrectly and cause a brake fluid leak.

Remedy Dealers will inspect and tighten the brake pipe flare nut connection and adjust the brake fluid level, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 5, 2024. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-714-542-1490. Suzuki’s number for this recall is 3A01.

*****

NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V904000

Manufacturer Cake 0 Emission USA Inc

Components ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Summary Cake 0 Emission USA Inc (Cake) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Kalk, Kalk Ink, and Kalk work motorcycles. The lithium-ion battery cells can fail while charging.

Remedy Cake will replace the battery pack, free of charge. As an interim action, owners will be instructed to check their battery serial number and if necessary, follow interim charging instructions until the remedy battery is available. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed January 19, 2024. A second notice will be sent once the remedy becomes available, anticipated March 2024. Owners may contact Cake customer service at service@ridecake.com.

 *****

NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V884000

Manufacturer BMW of North America, LLC

Components EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021-2024 BMW R 18B and R 18 Transcontinental motorcycles. The headlight low beam attachment points may break, shifting the reflector out of position, and resulting in insufficient illumination. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”

Remedy The remedy is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 13, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Ride On, Ride Safe

Front Royal Virginia Polar Bear Motorcycle Ride

Posted: January 3, 2024 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle Rides, motorcycle touring
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Weather, snow, ice or freezing rain permitting the wife and I like to go out for a motorcycle ride each New Year’s Day.  It has been a 50/50 proposition most years for these rides, but this year the forecast looked cold but ridable. Good weather for Polar Bears and nut cases like us.

At about 11AM we set out with our friend and neighbor Mark for a 90-mile ride.  The sky was dark and overcast and looked heavy with moisture but, the weather folks reported that there was only a very low chance of precipitation. The temperature was 39F degrees, a very wet, damp feeling 39 degrees.  

Leaving Front Royal, VA we headed east towards the town of Warrenton, which is not named after me sadly. I was quickly reminded of one of the failings of my Sena Outrush (Harley version) motorcycle helmet, the visor is not pinlock ready and I had, yet again, not ordered the replacement.  Because of that I had to The Sena communication package worked well the entire ride as all three of us were paired and could talk as we rode.

About 30 minutes into the ride, it started snowing! Soon snow was swirling in tiny tornados across the pavement.  It was not sticking to the pavement so onward we rode our iron horses into the cold and snow! 😊

At the halfway point the temperatures had not improved but the snow had slowed to just random flakes here and there. However, the cold was starting to penetrate, making us feel a little like the polar bears of this namesake ride. This ride, during a warmer time, is a great one for those that wish to visit Civil War historical site. There are many road markers directing you to those sites along the way.

Arriving back home it was a bit of a struggle to get off the motorcycle.  Instead of just swinging my leg over the back rest and off the bike, I had to slide it across the seat and off.  I had tightened in the cold and was quite stiff. Plus, it did not help that I had multiple layers of clothing and leather chaps in hopes to stay warm.

If you have been reading this blog for a long you might recall that I had called these rides “Frosty Balls” rides.  I can no longer do that as the new motorcycle has a heated seat! LOL Between the heated seats and the heated hand grips all I need is a heated body!

If you would like some tips for cold weather riding check this post out “9 Cold Weather Riding Tips”

For those of you that ride Harley Davidson models with the “Boom Box” system you can download our ride here “2024 Front Royal Polar Bear Ride“

Ride On, Ride Safe!

🏍️

Out and About – A short Quarantine Motorcycle Ride

Posted: May 19, 2020 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle Rides
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IMG_20200516_135828779_HDR

Just a short motorcycle ride, just a bit over one hundred miles. Really nothing more than loop through northern Virgina and Maryland. BUT, we were out of the house, we were out on the bike, the weather was great (for a change) and it was fun!

Leaving our home in the late morning, it was still jacket wearing temperatures but with copious sunshine and a promise of great riding weather. Heading north we crossed both the Catoctin Mountain and creek before dropping down into Brunswick Maryland. The main street was like a ghost town. No lights in the windows and no one on the street. It is going to sad that when the quarantine is over that most of these building will still be vacant.

We did drop down next to the Potomac River and the Brunswick section of the C&O Canal to have a picnic lunch. There were a lot of folks moving along the canal towpath on hikes or bikes (peddle type). Everyone was observing the rules about social distancing so no need to freak out.

IMG_20200516_123801788_HDRBack on the motorcycle we headed up the mountain and stopped at the War Correspondents Memorial. This memorial is way out in the middle of know where but is an interesting and atypical to most memorials.  I wonder how many war correspondents are even aware of it?

From here we road about other hour heading south back into Virginia and then to home. A short motorcycle ride but one that was greatly needed.

Most Dangerous States to Ride a Motorcycle

Posted: August 19, 2019 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news, motorcycle safety
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safety 1

I ran across this list of dangerous states to ride motorcycles quite by accident. I was looking for something about riding in Virginia and up this popped on page 2 of the search results. The article was published in May 2019.

Interesting to say the least. Based on 2017 data QuoteWizard used the following methodology:

“We looked at 2017 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fatality figures in each state and compared it with 2017 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) motorcycle registration data to find which states had the highest rate of fatalities per registered motorcycle. Below is a ranking of all 50 states, with 1 being the highest rate of fatalities and 50 being the lowest.”

Below are the 5 worst and 5 best states to ride motorcycles. You can find the entire list here!

5 Worst                                                 5 Best

Mississippi                                           Montana

Texas                                                 South Dakota

South Carolina                                     Alaska

Florida                                                New Hampshire

Arizona                                                Minnesota

The 5 best also look among the top coldest too…… humm

 

Ride on, Ride safe

IJustWant2Ride on MightyGood.com

Posted: May 6, 2019 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Product Reviews
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ijustwant2ride logo

The folks on Mighty Goods asked me to contribute to an article about preparing for a long motorcycle trip.  So I did!

My content is at the bottom of Mighty Goods article:

8 Motorcycle Tourers Share How They Packed and Prepared for the Big Trip

In the article I mention the motorcycle luggage we use for long trip along with tips that have made those longs days on a motorcycle a little more comfortable.

Check it out along with the rest of the Might Goods website.

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