Passes & Canyons Blog

Some of these have got to hurt . . . and they all must be a hurt to the wallet.

We’ve all seen these guys who do amazing things on their motorcycles–trials riding, street stunting, whatever–but I bet you have wondered, as I have, how they learn to do these things. The answer, of course, is practice.

But when practice means falling down repeatedly on a motorcycle that can get to be painful and expensive. But how else are you going to learn?

Well, Jerry is the king of sending motorcycle videos and here is one he sent me recently, titled “50 Motorcycle Crashes in 2 Minutes.” Some of these folks were indeed practicing, but most were out riding and showing off. Which means their embarrassment was especially public.

Prepare to grimace.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/50-motorcycle-crashes-in-2-minutes/vi-AA1JOAcn?ocid=socialshare

Biker Quote for Today

“There’s a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore looking like an idiot.” — Steven Wright

I wish I could say I shot this photo yesterday but I didn’t. I’m missing it all this year.

Since I’m not able to ride again yet (four more weeks!) I’m running a little dry, so as I do at times like this I have turned again to threads on the Adventure Riders forum. This is the one titled “Stupid questions people ask you when stopped.” Time for some amusement.

• I had a Gold Wing Aspencade once. I insulated the left saddlebag with thin styrofoam to make it into an ice chest. It worked quite well. It would keep 24 cans of beer ice cold for 2 days in the hottest of summer weather. My buddies and I pulled into a gas station and, with the bike on the side stand, it started to drip. A passerby noticed the puddle under the bike and asked if the bike had air conditioning. “Yes,” I replied, “It does.”
• I’m standing next to the bike again in full ATTGATT and somebody asks “Your bike?” – I say Nooooo, it’s my Granny’s.
• After being pulled over by the local Police who have seen me on the DR a couple hundred times by now… “Is that thing street legal?” Me = Nope, it just has lights and a plate because I like the extra weight!
• Yesterday. It was raining, Grey and an all around dreary day. As I walked into a gas station dripping all over the place some guy speaks up: I bet you wish you are in a car today don’t ya?
  Me: That is a bet you would lose. (stepped to the counter and paid for purchase)
  Him: What do ya mean? You can’t be enjoying yourself!
  Me: You’ve never ridden a motorcycle have you? (Laughed and turned to walk out)
  Clerk: He rides every day rain or shine and always has a smile.
• One Sunday morning I was out for a ride in the Colorado back roads. The morning was fantastic and I had seen nary another driver. Coming over a hill and looking down, an officer of the law was sitting, apparently also enjoying the lonely Sunday morning. I was well in excess of the posted speed limit. I pulled up to him and stopped. He got out of his car and walked across the road to me. “Nice morning for a ride.”
  “Yes sir,” I said.
  “If you would slow up some you will have many more.”
  “Yes sir,” I said.
  “Have a nice day,” he said, and walked back to his car.
  It was a great day.
• Last week, it’s snowing like hell and I stop at a light while riding to work. (already 2 inches on the road, no studs B.T.W.) and the yuck next to me asks out his rolled down window… “You know it’s snowing don’t you?” Me = “Nah! Hadn’t noticed.”
• I was driving my 1200 LT and notice that a guy was following me in his car. At a red light he pulls over and says: Wowww what a bike! For that money you might have bought a car instead!
• Stopped at a gas station today… some random guy came up and ask me if my 1982 BMW R65LS was a Harley Davidson… :huh? I guess the BMW badge on the tank, tail, bikini fairing and on my license plate bracket wasn’t enough of a hint that it wasn’t an HD. I toyed with the guy saying “Yeah, it’s one of those boxer twins that HD is FAMOUS for…” and rode off.
• My ride is an FJR1300. Not the fastest or most powerful bike on the planet, but definitely no slouch. Was at a gas station one day and a guy walks up to me and asks “Do you need all that power or do you just want it?” “Both,” I replied.
• I kid you not, I was stopped at an intersection with two other guys on bikes and a troglodyte waltzes up and asks “are those motorcycles?”

OK, calling it a day. Hope you got a chuckle.

Biker Quote for Today

Bike to work. Bike to play. Bike tomorrow. Bike today.