The first print ads are out for the brand new, 1400cc, Kawasaki Concours14. And…the bikes themsleves are finally in the dealerships as of the first week of July. (According to my local Kawasaki dealer, the launch date has been delayed numerous times). You can see the ads in the August Read more
Do you have a problem with RTS (Runaway Throttle Syndrome)? You know, the tendency of that little right-hand grip to accelerate “all on its own†leaving you smiling past the scenery at triple digit speeds. I hate that! (I particularly hate it when it’s called to my attention by well-meaning Read more
Quiet. Wonderfully peaceful. A soft, late morning breeze rustles through the tall, brown grass. With motorcycle resting on the shoulder on a crest of G16 in Central California, I stretch my legs for a walk about 100 yards down the deserted road for a better photo vantage of this sunny Read more
Interested in a little bovine accompaniment on your mountainous road trip? I, for one, prefer to view cows that are corralled away from roads. Nevertheless, on this motorcycle excursion, plenty consider the road as theirs. (Moreover, I don’t like to argue with critters that weigh more than my bike, gear Read more
HOW CAN WE BE HUMBLE? We are the fastest racers alive on the fastest two-wheeled rocket ships in the galaxy. We need to lean on our brakes to let lightning bolts catch up so we can grab them, give them a twist, and re-launch them into the sky in the Read more
Read Motorcycle Lizards Unite! (PART I) After a little shut-eye, the dark-grey, dawn light outlines a bunch of Gulf Coast trees doing the limbo to the beat of a tropical downpour. Checking in with Mr. Weatherman, he gives us an evil howl, “Yo, Lizard Breath! You ain’t going nowhere!” Regardless, Read more
Like your roads wide and telling? Then you won’t like Route 146 in Central Coastal California, leading wayward motorcycle riders to Pinnacles National Park. Replete with enough narrow roadways, blind corners, and secret twists that you may want to trade in your motorbike for a unicycle to better navigate your Read more
This little ride is “not” about the Big Sur section of California Highway 1. This ride is about a rock and roll rollercoaster connecting a chain of deer paths with a feeble ribbon of wilderness asphalt. Your back door is wider than some sections of this amusement park excursion. No. Read more
DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO PLANS TO CRASH? Judging by the way some motorcyclists ride around in shorts and a T-shirt, it’s likely they believe it will never happen to them. Wearing a helmet and protective jacket, pants, gloves and boots is one way to afford yourself better protection in Read more
Are you a psychic motorcycle rider? I bet you already are…or can and will be…if you ride enough. Since the term “psychic” is one of those words in contemporary society that, for some persons, is fraught with opinion, emotion and even fraud, let’s consider a definition as a point of Read more
Tankbags, tankbags and tankbags: There are a gazillion of them to choose from! For such a simple piece of motorcycle luggage, how different can they all be? For some riders, all of this is moot because they ain’t gonna put one of them contraptions on their bike no matter what! Read more
WHAT DO ALL THOSE LABELS MEAN ON MOTORCYCLE GEAR? Ever wonder what all those different motorcycle textiles are about? What are the definitions of the myriad terms printed on the tags of motorcycle jackets, pants and gloves? What’s good? What’s better? Is textile as good as leather? Is there any Read more
Los Padres National Forest, in Central-Coastal California, offers extensive opportunities for all riders. There are 459 miles of trails and roads specifically designated for off highway vehicles (OHV) which is great for dirt-bike riders. There are also endless miles of dirt roads that are ideal for dual-purpose or larger adventure Read more
DRAGGIN’ JEANS – BETTER THAN REGULAR JEANS: I’ve been wearing Draggin’ Jeans with Draggin’ Armor by Fast Company for several years. These are cotton blue jeans (or black jeans) with Kevlar reinforcements sewn generously on the inside over the knee areas and in the seat of the pants. Their optional Read more
I’ve collected a number of motorcycle jackets and suits for various riding conditions over the years. I picked up the Fieldsheer Highland one-piece riding suit online over a year ago, primarily for winter riding. I’ve since extended its use, including on a coast-to-coast Spring/Summer tour last year. (Used it in Read more