Sportbike | I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!!

Posts Tagged ‘Sportbike’

The DawgHouse Motorcycle Radio and Podcast (show #297)

Posted: February 20, 2015 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news, Motorcycle racing, Motorcycle radio
Tags: BMW motorcycle, Ducati, Harley Davidson, motorcycle blog, motorcycle podcast, Motorcycle racing, motorcycle radio, motorcycle safety, sport bike, Sportbike

The DawgHouse Motorcycle Radio…The #1 Motorcycle Show in the US

This week show was a bit out of the normal.

Phil is still out (supporting his mom and dad) for a couple more weeks and with the bad weather here in in Northern Virginia we decided to do the show remotely. There was no live broadcast, it was about an hour long and we recorded via Skype so the quality is not as high as normal.

Click this link to get to DAWGHOUSE MOTORCYCLE RADIO SHOW #297

This week we discussed:

A man, struck way lane-splitting in the UK, was awarded $10 million.

When love of motorcycling and love of your spouse goes a little too far.

Are your accessories secured?

Breaking News…. Phil takes a bike out of the WienerMobile!!

Tips for Buying a Helmet

Entry Level BMW?

AMA Supercross Arlington Texas.

Ducati’s first totally new GP bike since the Audi acquisition, the GP15, debuted in Sepang and it looks like Ducati may give Yamaha & Honda some competition.

Motorcycle Advocacy: AMA call to action to protect motorcycles from E15 fuel.

Posted: February 10, 2015 in Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news
Tags: AMA, American Motorcyclist Association, Café Racer, E15, ethanol rules, Harley, RFS Reform Act of 215, sport bike, Sportbike

I am sure you have seen a lot of information flying back and forth on the proposed EPA rules about increasing ethanol percentages in gasoline and the impact on motorcycles. The long story short is that the AMA, major manufacturers and a lot of other folks truly believe that E15 will damage motorcycle engines.

The AMA and others have been working in congress to try and stop the EPA E15 mandate but the EPA is not listening. To that end there is a new bill proposed by U.S. Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Peter Welch’s (D-Vt.) H.R. 704, the RFS Reform Act of 2015. “The bipartisan bill would amend the Renewable Fuel Standard to recognize market conditions and realities. It will also prohibit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from allowing the introduction into the marketplace of gasoline blends with more than 10 percent of ethanol by volume.

If this bill becomes law then E15 will not allowed. Of course that is a long shot as it will have to pass the house then the senate then go the president…. But you can help!!

The AMA is asking us to contact our representatives and senators and is providing us with pre-written statements to do so. Please check out this link if you are interested in more information or you want to send a message to your politician.

Comrade Mayor of Paris to outlaw motorcycles built before 2000

Posted: February 3, 2015 in Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news
Tags: ann hidalgo, French Federation of Angry Bikers, Harley Davidson, Motorcycle, motorcycle ban, motorcycle pollution, motorcycle protest, motorcycle riding, paris, sport bike, Sportbike

Generic French Motorcycle Protest

In a bid to reduce pollution in the city, the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo (a Socialist of course) is attempting to ban all motorcycle produced before 2000. She is also going to ban cars built before 1996. From what I can tell, as there has been little English reporting on this (or at least that is what Google reports), she pulled the dates for those bans from her …. Thin air.

This ban is all about age as it does not allow for upgrading your vehicles to current EU exhaust standards. But, if you cannot afford a new vehicle Paris will help you finance a new one or provide you accommodation on public transport.

So from my limited results research I was able to discern the following:

The poor citizens of Paris are out of luck buying cheap vehicles.
Any small businesses working on retrofitting exhausts are out of luck.
The Socialist are going to buy your vote with low/no interest loans for your new bike. (and then raise taxes to pay for it)
Vehicle dealerships are, most likely, the largest contributors to the Socialist Party in Paris.
A year from now Comrade Mayor Hidalgo will be calling for a tax increase to support public transportation based on all the poor folks who cannot afford a vehicle.

Of course, as with all socialist and progressives, their good intentions are more important than if there are any actual results. I would be surprised if she is basing her proposed ban on actual science (or what is passing for it today). I would be very interested in seeing the air quality results 1 year after the ban is imposed. I am sure it will report that the air in Paris is 10,000% better now that the terrible vehicles have been removed…..no matter what the instrumentation really reports. Of course the real reason is for the state to be in your business and direct your life as they see fit and make you pay for that privilage.

This ban will go into effect April 2015 unless it is defeated by the city council on the 9^th of February. The French Federation of Angry Bikers (I did not make that up) is going to attempt to shut down the roadways in Paris on the 8^th of February in protest. Let us hope this craziness is stopped before it spreads to the rest of the world.

Motorcycle TV: Naked Speed, 1st Thought

Posted: February 2, 2015 in Motorcycle TV
Tags: Café Racer, canada, mike seate, motorcycle blog, motorcycle TV, naked speed, sport bike, Sportbike, velocity channel

If you keep up even a little with my blog you know I review every motorcycle television show I can. I watched the first episode of the new motorcycle show, Naked Speed this past weekend. I am not going to do a full review until I have seen at least three full shows but thought I might pass on my first thought regarding the show.

A new format for “Café Racer TV”,,,,,, Which is not a bad thing. 🙂

Motorcycle TV: Naked Speed

Posted: January 26, 2015 in Motorcycle TV
Tags: Bryan Fuller, Café Racer, Harley Davidson, Motorcycle, motorcycle blog, motorcycle TV, naked motorcycle, sport bike, Sportbike, street fighter, velocity channel

Where has all the motorcycle television shows gone? Just a couple of years ago we had lots of motorcycle themed shows to watch. My DVR had plenty of shows recorded and ready to watch. Not so much anymore.

I recently started to notice commericals for a new motorcycle show on the Velocity Channel called Naked Speed. But, if you look on the Velocity Channel’s website you will find no indication that there is any motorcycle programing let alone Naked Speed. Naked Speed will premier January 28^th at 10PM EST (based on the following You Tube vid). Bryan Fuller and Mike Seate (of Café Racer Magazine and Café Racer TV) of the show. Mr. Fuller has been on other TV shows to include Café Racer and Overhaulin’.

From what I can gather the show is about making stripped down, modern and retro, motorcycles go fast! So Café Racer, Naked Bikes, Street Fighters all are going to be highlighted on the show. Can’t get much better then that!

Some other links about Naked Speed:

Meet Bryan Fuller

What is Naked Speed?

Motorcycle Radio: DawgHouse #294

Posted: January 16, 2015 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle news, Motorcycle racing, Motorcycle radio
Tags: cambodia motorcycle, Harley Davidson, harley davidson india, Motorcycle, motorcycle blog, Motorcycle racing, motorcycle safety, riding naked, Sportbike, supercross phoenix

Does he have a splitting headache or what?

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OR DOWNLOAD THE BROADCAST!

On this episode…… Ken is out with shingles (not the roofing kind)

The most BADASS biker ever….could you ride 60 miles on rough roads with a KNIFE IN YOUR HEAD?

Ken pokes fun at Harley on its 5th year anniversary in India

Riding NAKED will get you deported!

Some 2015 riding goals

Racing Update

AMA Supercross Phoenix results and discussion.

Dakar Rally update.

Ride naked…get deported!

BMW Motorcycle Fans… 90 years in 90 seconds

Posted: January 11, 2015 in Motorcycle
Tags: BMW, bmw history, BMW motorcycle, Motorcycle, motorcycle blog, Motorcycle racing, motorcycle riding, sport bike, Sportbike

Although I think they omitted the motorcycles from the World Wars….. hummm

Some 2015 Motorcycle Riding Goals

Posted: January 11, 2015 in C&O Canal, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Rides, motorcycle touring
Tags: Appalachian Waters Scenic Byway, C&O Canal, Harley, Iron butt, motorcycle blog, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle riding, motorcycle touring, route 39, sport bike, Sportbike

What the likelihood of completing these goals…. quite high I hope! None of these are to terribly difficult, if I chose to make some time. But, time is always an issue, I either make time to do this or let life get in the way. Hopefully I will choose right this year.

Ride the Appalachian Waters Scenic Byway – This is one of the roads on my motorcycle bucket list. It would be a weekend trip for us if we left early on both Saturday and Sunday and we would have an overnight stay with my Mother.

Take at least 1 long trip with wife – A few years ago we planned a trip that would take us to Niagara Falls, across Canada to the Harley Davidson Museum, south to Kansas to visit our daughter and then home. Life conspired to prevent that trip, but something like that should be on order for this year.

Iron butt 1000 – I-81 to south of Knoxville ,TN and back in 24 hours or less.

Practice more – work on my slow speed skills, tighten up my left and right circles.

Ride more miles then 2014 – between all the bikes last year we had a bit over 7500 miles. That should not be too hard to overcome just if I commute on the bikes a little more often. Oh, and take the long way home in the evenings. The way I keep track of my season mileage is through the “B” trip meter. Early each year I reset the “B” meter to 0 so I know the total for the year while using the “A” meter for anything else.

Attend a HOG Rally for at least 1 day – Depending on where the rallies for VA/WV/MD/DE/PA are I should be able to make that happen.

C and O Canal – knock out a bunch of those stops this year. If you have read this blog for a while you noticed I have attempted to document those stops that are accessible via motorcycle. I did not do that many last year.

I am sure there are other things that I should add to the list but the more I add the more I might regret not completing. 🙂

Happy New Year… Lets go old school 1920 Board Track Motorcycle Racing … you need to watch this vintage film.

Posted: January 1, 2015 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news, Motorcycle racing, Motorcycle TV
Tags: board track racing, Czech Republic, daytona racing, Harley Davidson, Indian motorcycle, motorcycle blog, motorcycle movie, Motorcycle racing, Sportbike, vintange motorcycle

WOW.. you never know what you can find on You Tube, this historic record of motorcycle racing blew me away.

Mr. Frantisek Marik, an Indian Dealer in the Czech Republic, came to the United States to attend the 1920 races in Daytona (although some have pointed out it might not actually be Daytona). Mr. Marik was also pretty darn good with a film camera and recorded this account of the race. As you will see when you watch the film he recorded more than just this particular board track race event but this is the only one to survive.

Now, just what blew me away about the film:

1) The quality of the film was just better than what you normally expect from that period.

2) I have seen other board track videos but the SIZE and scope of this WOOD track was unexpected.

3) That they could race 10 -12 across if they wanted was very cool.

4) That Mr. Marik filmed from all angles including from cars and sidecars.

5) That they raced sidecar rigs as well as regular bikes on this track.

6) The sidecar guys were racing 7 across at times.

7) The amateur and sidecar races were 10 miles long and the professional race was 100.

8) How high the banking in the turns was.

9) 212 KMPH = 132 MPH

I got excited just watching this old film. As I have stated before I think this type of motorcycle racing might do well in modern America (pavement not wood) over road racing. I can just see 30 bikes racing at some of the NACAR short tracks.

All in all this is 10 minutes well spent if you have any interest in motorcycles history!

Do you need a child seat for your motorcycle? A lawmaker in South Carolina thinks you do!

Posted: December 24, 2014 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle news, motorcycle safety, motorcycle touring
Tags: Café Racer, Harley Davidson, Motorcycle, motorcycle blog, motorcycle child seat, motorcycle safety, south carolina, sport bike, Sportbike

The other day I read an article on motorcycles that just blew my mind.

A representative in the South Carolina legislature introduced a bill to require motorcycles in that state to have car seats for children 7 years old and younger. WOW, two thing immediately came to mind 1) this guy has never ridden a motorcycle and 2) is this a law looking for problem?

As I read the article I was told that the bill was inspired by a conversation with his constituents, (my guess that the plural should have been singular) who were concerned about ex-spouse taking children on a motorcycle. “You know, it makes a lot of sense,’” said the lawmaker. For riders younger than 7 weighing less than 80 pounds, the proposal calls for a belt-positioning booster seat with both lap and shoulder belts.

Luckily the article also states that the bill is getting heavy resistance. Hopefully the long arm of the government will be slapped away. Because of things like this I prefer a do nothing legislature/congress v. one that over reaches into our lives.

I started riding my own motorcycle at about age 5 and I remember riding with my dad on the back of a Honda Trail 90. I have given my 6 year old grandson a ride on the back of my Harley Davidson Ultra Limited (around the block). I have never seen infants or small children riding on motorcycles here in the US. I am sure it happens but it has to be rare. We just do not need more laws to fix “problems” that don’t really exist.