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. 🙂
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 28th 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:
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!
Racing Update
AMA Supercross Phoenix results and discussion.
Dakar Rally update.
Ride naked…get deported!
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. 🙂
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!
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.
I officially declare that I have ridden a motorcycle at least once during each month of 2014. This makes me a “Rounder” according to the site yearrounders.com. While I have ridden like this in the past I did not know there was a name or a group for this type of accomplishment.
I use the world accomplishment very much tongue-in-cheek as I enjoy riding as often as possible and have the gear to ride when I want. But, if you review their website (yearrounders.com), you will see that the rounders enjoy the same tongue-in-cheek approach.
Riding our Harley Davidson Ultra Limited Debbie and I have put down just over 7000 miles in all kinds of weather. According to their temperature guide, we have checked off all but three of their categories, and I have no plans to knock the those three off this year. 🙂
Whether or not you are or even want to be a year rounder you should check out their website for the fun of it!
Your motorcycle safety video for the day!!
I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!! 