Any Excuse To Ride

November 11th, 2013
Widder Plug

Who knew this was a totally non-standard plug?

I talked about needing a battery cord to be able to use my electric vest on my sorta new Suzuki V-Strom; it was a beautiful weekend, let’s go shopping.

Sure, I could have called and asked, “Hey, do you have a Widder cord for an electric vest?” but that would have been cheating. I’ll just ride over and see.

So I went to BMW of Denver, knowing that they have sold Widder equipment in the past. Heck, I’ve bought Widder gear there in the past.

I also know, however, that Widder went out of business some years ago, but someone else has picked up their line. Surely they’ll have it in stock.

Wrong.

I also checked out Grand Prix Motorsports because they have a large inventory and I knew they carried electrics. Nope. Nobody carries that stuff any more.

My fall-back position was to go to Radio Shack and get the individual pieces and make my own cord. Surely this plug that Widder used (see photo above) is a standard item. And gosh, I’ll probably save money doing it this way anyway.

Wrong. The guy at Radio Shack had never seen a plug like that, and it certainly wasn’t standard.

Hey, at least I was out riding on a gorgeous day in November.

But I still need that cord. What to do?

Oh yeah, there’s this thing called the Internet. Seek and ye shall find. It turns out I was right about someone having picked up the Widder line, but who do you suppose that would be? Would you have guessed the Iron Butt Association? Yes, indeed. They sell everything you’ll need to keep your Widder gear operational through their IBA eStore.

And you know what else? I apparently knew this at one time–like probably the last time I needed something–because when I registered I got a message saying this email address was already registered; did I need them to send me my password? Yeah, I guess so.

So fine. The cord, this pig-tail thing that connects to the battery posts and then plugs into the cord going to the vest, is on its way. Maybe next time I’ll remember. But hey, I got out and did some riding on a wonderful fall day. Who can argue with that?

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Colorado rider training program ailing badly

Biker Quote for Today

The adventure is in the rider, not the bike.

Tags:
Posted in Motorcycle Gear | 1 Comment »

The Downside to Running this Blog

November 7th, 2013
Motorcycling In Colorado

Raise your hand if you love this kind of riding.

You wouldn’t believe the number of people who want to spam you–you, the readers of this blog–and the kind of crap they want to foist off. Or maybe you would.

I figure I get on average about 10 emails a week from people asking to do guest posts for the blog, promising the very best in quality and interest for my readers. My reply is very straightforward. I paste in my boilerplate answer and send. The boilerplate basically says that I know they get paid for getting links to their client sites placed on good sites like mine, and if they’re going to get paid I want to be paid, too. But first, even if they’re willing to pay me, the content has to be good. I’m not going to spam my readers.

For most of them that’s it; I never hear from them again. A few express interest in the paid post and they send me what they want me to run. I cannot tell you the dreck I receive. Let’s take the most recent one as an example.

In reply to my boilerplate reply, this woman said OK, she’d be willing to pay, but as a freelancer she only gets $40 for each placement, and I ask $50, so would I be willing to take $20? I told her no, I really don’t care if anyone pays me because for me the blog is not work. I’m a writer and I do it for my own pleasure and satisfaction. So no, I’m not going to cut my fee.

Somewhat to my surprise, I got a follow-up from her saying OK, she’d pay the $50, and here’s the piece she wants published. You can’t imagine what garbage it was. Right off the bat, it wasn’t a motorcycle-related piece at all; it was about mountain biking. Hello, do you understand that I run a motorcycle site. And then, even if it were a motorcycle piece, it was one of these totally basic things like “Three Must-Dos for Motorcyclists” with the three items along the lines of get training, wear the proper gear, and get insurance. Oh, now that is really useful information I absolutely must share with my readers. I’m sure none of those three things ever crossed any of their minds. Yeah.

Of course, insurance is the really key thing here. She wants to get a link to an insurance website on my blog. So I fired an email back to her telling her how abysmal the piece she sent me was, and that no, it will not be running on my blog. To my great surprise she emailed right back apologizing for disappointing me and including another piece for me to run. I didn’t even read it; I just hit the Spam button so with any luck anything else she sends me will go straight to that folder.

And that’s the way it goes, week after week. On the rarest occasions I actually get something good, or at least good enough that I don’t feel I’ll be totally insulting you publishing it. If you’re read those in the past and not been impressed then I suggest you just skip over them; I won’t be offended. I mean, the occasional 50 bucks is nice but if in the future I run something and you think I should have turned it down I’d be pleased to hear from you to that effect. Turning off my readers is not worth $50.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Colorado rider training program ailing badly

Biker Quote for Today

“The engine settled into the climb, with that relaxed ticka-ticka-ticka old BMWs have. It’s not the sound that makes you want to race; more seductive, it tempts you to quit your job and ride to South America.” Riding with Rilke by Ted Bishop

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Posted in Motorcycles | No Comments »

Winterizing the Motorcycles

November 4th, 2013
My three motorcycles lined up in the driveway.

My three motorcycles lined up in the driveway. This is the first time I've gotten some shots of them all together.

No, this is not a piece about getting your bikes ready to put them away for the winter. I never do that. There’s not a single month that goes by that I don’t ride every bike I own.

Nope, winterizing in this case is getting my bikes prepared for getting through the winter and being ready to run any time we have a nice day. That was my main objective on Sunday.

The first thing I figured I needed to do was make sure each bike had a full tank of gas, with fuel stabilizer in it. That meant running the Kawi and the Honda over to get gas and adding the stabilizer. Of course I then had to go for a short ride on each of them, After all, it’s November, a new month, so each needed a chance to run and keep that battery charged.

The Suzuki didn’t need gas as I had just filled it the last time I was out on it, but I put in some stabilizer and went for a ride. What an incredibly gorgeous day! Temps were at least in the high 60s and I saw one clock that said it was 73 degree. This is why we love Colorado.

The next thing I do is make sure to put each bike on the trickle charger periodically. Getting the seat off the Honda to get to the battery is a bear so I had a pig-tail connected to it. For the other two it’s easy to pop the seat off and access the battery. I only have one trickle charger but I figure if I rotate it around the bikes regularly that will be fine. There’s nothing worse than having a fabulous, warm day in February and not being able to get your bike started! Your battery will live longer, too, if it doesn’t just sit for long periods.

And make no mistake, they do sit for long periods. In the middle of winter it’s cold and I don’t ride as much. (You, too? Who’d a thunk?) And even though I ride each bike every month, I just rode all three on Nov. 3 and in theory at least it could be Dec. 31 before I ride again and that will still meet the criteria. That’s not generally how it happens but there have been a few times over the years when it did. Sometimes the weather is not a friend.

The next part is winterizing myself. I have an electric vest, with pig-tails for it on the Honda and Kawi but I don’t yet have a pig-tail for the Suzuki. That is on the top of my priority list and I just have to remember to do it.

I also have battery-powered electric gloves and for them it has been the opposite. That is, I’ve periodically charged them over the summer because I don’t want those batteries to die any sooner than I can avoid. I really don’t want those batteries to die because they would cost almost as much to replace as the gloves themselves. So I try to keep them charged, and of course during the weather when I wear them they go back on the charger immediately after each use.

I also have some fleece-lined chaps and they’re cozy in cold weather. They don’t keep you warm the way electric gear does but they’re way better than just going out in jeans.

So OK, I’m about ready. Just need to get that pig-tail for the Suzuki. Then eventually it’s going to be spring again and I’ll need to do a bunch of other things. The Honda is going to need new tires next year and the Kawi will need a new back tire. And the Suzuki still needs highway pegs and . . .

It never ends, does it?

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Colorado rider training program ailing badly

Biker Quote for Today

You’re a biker wannabe if you’ve never had to replace a worn out tire.

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Posted in Motorcycle Gear | 3 Comments »

MOST Program “a Mess” But Not Hopeless

October 31st, 2013
Motorcycle rider training

Rider training programs such as this one are what the money is supposed to go for.

ABATE of Colorado hasn’t given up on the badly crippled Motorcycle Operator Safety Training (MOST) program yet, despite its being twisted out of shape by the bureaucrats charged with running it.

ABATE State Coordinator Terry Howard told me Sunday that “the program is a mess.” She said they have cut reimbursements for riders seeking training and the person charged with overseeing the program has been burdened with so much paperwork that they don’t have time for any quality assurance visits that are the key to ensuring that the program functions as intended.

In discussion with Sen. Lois Tochtrop, a close ally of ABATE, the idea of lobbying for removal of the $2 per year fee that each of us pay when we renew our plates was dropped because that would mean no program at all. Of course, I thought killing the program was about the point Terry had gotten to in her thinking but I guess she’s not ready to give up.

Instead, the plan now is to work with the legislature to try to mandate how the money is spent. According to Terry, the folks at the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) are saying the 15 percent of the dollars that are now allocated for administration are not enough to do what is needed. The bill that ABATE hopes to have introduced by Democrat Tochtrop in the Senate and by a Republican member in the House would mandate 20 percent of the money go for administration, just 10 percent for motorcycle awareness programs, and the other 70 percent for rider training cost deferral.

Of course, the whole point of the MOST program from the start was to make it less expensive for new riders to take training classes, thereby–hopefully–resulting in better riders and fewer motorcycle fatalities on Colorado roads. But the way things have gotten twisted, very little of the money now goes for that purpose, which is why the people who have always backed the program are so upset. CDOT wants to use almost all the money for motorcycle awareness programs. Never mind that similar programs for people in cars and trucks do not get paid for by extra fees on car and truck license renewals.

What’s going to happen? Who knows. Stay tuned. But Terry hasn’t given up hope.

“We’ll fix it one way or another,” she assured me.

Biker Quote for Today

The most dangerous times on a bike are the first month when you don’t know what you’re doing, and the fourth month when you think you do. — Bill

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Posted in ABATE, Motorcycle Safety | 1 Comment »

Black Forest Exploration

October 28th, 2013
Pavement turns to gravel just down that hill

Looking back to where the pavement ends.

Sunday was such a gorgeous day I had to ride. The only question: where?

It was clear I wasn’t going to the mountains. Last week’s ride convinced me that I won’t be heading up in elevation till things warm up again next year. So I got to thinking about the Black Forest area, down toward Colorado Springs. I’ve never explored that area, and wasn’t even sure there were many paved roads down there, so it seemed like as good a time as any to find out.

Blasting down on I-25 I planned to get off at Monument but came upon an exit just north of there that I had never taken. This was exit 163, labeled County Line Road, Palmer Lake. Time to explore. I headed east. West would have taken me to Palmer Lake and I’ve been there plenty of times.

I couldn’t really tell but looking just now at Google Maps I see this entire area is heavily built up, with roads and homes covering the entire area. It’s hilly with a lot of woods. I just headed east and once I came over a ridge the trees ended and so did the development. It was mostly just grazing land from there until I hit CO 83, which comes up out of the Springs, through Franktown and Parker and back into Denver. At the highway I continued east because I could see a lot more hills and woods up ahead.

By the way, this road is also called the Palmer Divide Road, so it must be up pretty high, but on such a great fall day it was just as warm and nice as you could ask for.

I was only able to go a few more miles through the trees when I came over another ridge and not only did the trees peter out, so did the pavement. You can see that in the photo above, with the asphalt ending right where that road heads off to the right. This is exactly the sort of thing I bought the V-Strom for but I really wanted to ride the Concours this day so that meant turning around.

I guess I really need to plan things out more carefully. Last week I took the V-Strom on a ride that would have been better suited to the Connie. This time it was the reverse. I’ll figure it all out some day.

The other thing I keep telling myself I should do–but never remember when it matters–is to look at the map before I go out. I often come to a place where I think, “hey, that looks like an interesting road, I wonder where it goes,” but except when I’m in my most adventurous mode I am reluctant to find myself in a spot where I only hope there is a connecting road up ahead or else have to turn around. I wouldn’t have to follow a predesignated route, but it would be good to know that if I go this direction long enough I will come to some road that will get me out of here.

Anyway, I turned around and headed back to 83 and turned north and just cruised on home. Not as much of an exploration as I had hoped. But now at least I’ve looked at the map and I know I want to go back on the Suzuki and keep going on that road, off onto the gravel. You see, after a few turns you go north just a short distance and then the road runs along Kiowa Creek, up toward Elbert. That looks like a nice ride. I’m gonna go check it out.

Biker Quote for Today

Motorcycles are better than men/women because motorcycles don’t care if you are late.

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Posted in Colorado motorcycle rides | No Comments »

Exit Tours M/C Does Off-Road Tours

October 24th, 2013
V-Strom On Phantom Canyon Road

Phantom Canyon Road appears to be one part of one of these tours.

This post has been updated as of January 2022.

There’s no way I can keep up with the magazines I subscribe to when I’m working a full-time job–which I am now–so I’m always way behind. I just read the May issue of American Motorcyclist and was very interested to find a cover piece about a tour outfit here in Colorado. Got to check these guys out.

It’s an operation named Exit Tours M/C and it took some reading and some looking at their website to figure out that–at least as far as I can tell–they are a nonprofit organization that puts on three or more rides a year. Not that they’re a bunch of do-gooders; my take is that folks from three motor sports dealerships in the Buena Vista area put this thing together to offer these rides and they presumably benefit by sales of gear and bikes. Nevertheless, as a nonprofit, their prices for their tours are pretty reasonable.

As a nonprofit, or club, annual membership is now $425. For this membership fee you get one club ride per year at no additional cost and then second and subsequent rides are $299. Also, family members can come on ride at the discounted price of $249.

Here’s what Mike Brown, the honcho of the group, had to say about the outfit:

Attempting to define our Niche.

  • Club Rides for Adventure, Dual Sport motorcycles and plated dirt bikes.
  • Club Rides in the Heart of the Rockies, Northern New Mexico, Central California and the Las Vegas Valley Loop.
  • Any competent motorcycle enthusiast can join the club without an invitation, and come enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded enthusiasts.
  • Our Club rides are for competent Riders. We do not offer training, classes or play games.
  • Exit Tours club rides start and stage on private property, and either loop back to the staging area or travel to an overnight destination with luggage portage. We portage your gear so you may ride unencumbered.
  • Most Club rides include camping and some meals.
  • Our club rides are not ‘guided’, we use Ride With GPS which is cell phone compatible and easy to use and understand.
  • Ride With GPS works without a cell signal.
  • Club membership includes Ride With Membership for said event(s).
  • You must have either a cell phone or GPS unit to navigate our routes. A mount and a way to charge said phone or unit.

Back to our Niche of riders:

  • Competent Riders who want to share the camaraderie of riding and camping, bonfires and bench racing.
  • But don’t know where to ride or how to tie trails together for a cohesive ride in outstanding, often remote locales.
  • Exit Tours sets up camping and meals, bonfires, supplies a T shirt and porta potties.
  • The Club supplies GPS tracks mapped by our local experts.
  • Multiple Loops for A&B riders and some C loops with GPS tracks of your choice for Dual Sport & ADV rides.
  • Trail rides and exclusive Adventure rides are generally one route, but we do not encourage riding in large groups.
  • We generally do not suggest riding in groups larger than 6 riders.
  • We do not cater to ADV riders who like to ride alone or carry all their camping gear.
  • Generally club ADV riders will transport their motorcycle in a truck to save their tires for the dirt.
  • We do not tailor our routes to smaller foo foo Dual sport motorcycles. Most Club Dual Sport Routes are challenging, with as little pavement as possible, and best ridden on Plated Dirt Bikes or 250 to 700cc Factory Dual Sport Models.
  • If you like challenging 2 track and singletrack you will love Exit Tours Dual Sport Routes.
  • The Adventure loops use more dirt roads and jeep trails, some paved passes and are Adventure bike friendly.
  • Club Trail rides are just that. Trailrides with as little pavement as possible. Using pavement only to access amenities and lodging or camping locales.
  • On all our rides we encourage the use of the Buddy System. Team up with others who have mutual talent and desires for the ride. How often to stop to rest, take photos…
  • Buddies wait at intersections until the next rider acknowledges they are coming the correct direction, and if buddies get lost or don’t show up, go back to the last place they saw each other.
  • With the multiple loops on offer, generally Exit Tours Club Rides do not have sweep riders.

So this is just an FYI. If you or anyone you know is looking for this sort of thing, guess what, here it is. Maybe next year I’ll try to wangle a free trip in exchange for writing about it. You’ll see it here if I do.

Biker Quote for Today

Serious. Just like that scene from the matrix, except the chick was me and the ducati was a klr. — DirtyDog

Tags:
Posted in Colorado motorcycle rides, Dual sport bikes | 1 Comment »

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