New V-Strom Tire, Hello To A Cousin

September 5th, 2022

1 Up 4 Down and Let It Ride are right next door, which makes things extremely convenient.

I’ll be leaving soon on this year’s OFMC trip and I plan to ride the Concours. So I got a new tire put on the V-Strom.

You have to understand, one of the best things about having more than one motorcycle is that if you’re planning to ride and find at the last minute that the bike you planned on has an issue, you just take a different one. I’ve run into that situation more than once.

Most recently, I was loading my Concours the night before departure on the Great River Road ride and found that the valve stem on the rear tire was totally rotted out. I immediately unloaded and moved everything to the V-Strom. I don’t expect anything like that this time but I wanted to be prepared just in case.

And man was that front tire in need of replacement. It wasn’t down to the cords or anything like that, but ever since I’ve had that bike I’ve run 80-20 Shinko tires that have an 80 percent bias for street riding but a chunkier tread that provides the 20 percent bias toward dirt. The thing is, in reality I don’t get off on the dirt all that much, but this tire doesn’t seem to like the pavement very much so it had a really odd wear pattern.

In fact, the guy at One Up Four Down, where I had the work done, commented on what an odd wear pattern it had, how the cupping was very unusual. Basically, the chunky tread along the outside was still thick but sloped down to almost nothing diagonally at an angle, while the inner portion of the tread was almost down to the DOT lines. Weird.

So I decided OK, I’ll just go with street tires. The guys next door at Let It Ride, where I bought the tire, recommended a Metzeler so that’s what I got.

   A 1980 Honda CB750 Custom just like mine.

In the meantime, while the guys were putting the new tire on I looked around at all the bikes they had in the repair shop. In the front of the shop, in an area where I was told the bikes were either ready to be picked up or were waiting for parts to arrive I spotted something very startling: A 1980 Honda CB750 Custom exactly like mine, except looking a lot more shiny and polished than mine.

It seems this bike, though, has an aftermarket exhaust system that has gone to crap and now they’re having a hard time finding something to replace it with. I still have the stock exhaust on mine and it works fine so whoever took theirs off and replaced it might have made a bad decision.

But there it was, looking very pretty and otherwise probably in a lot better condition than mine. I’m glad to see there are still others out there loving this old bike.

Biker Quote for Today

100 reasons not to date a biker: 38. “Am I dating an adult or a 10 year old” you’ll wonder sometimes.

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Posted in Kawasaki, Motorcycle Gear, Suzuki motorcycles, V-Strom | No Comments »

September 1st, 2022

Dennis was on his new (for him) 2018 BMW R1200. It’s lowered and fits him great.

Bill texted asking if we would like to ride up to Black Hawk for lunch and Dennis and I both said yes so we met at the usual place. Bill said he was figuring on going up Golden Gate Canyon so I had a flash. Have you guys ever been on Douglas Mountain Drive, I asked. No, they hadn’t so I led them on this ride.

When I first rode this road, last year, there was a sign at the top that said “Pavement Ends.” That was the case then, but this spring some time they sort of paved almost all of it. The sign is still there but now it’s largely incorrect. I would never had considered taking Bill and Dennis on that road but this newer, more paved road seemed like something they would be OK with.

The thing is, Dennis is very short and it’s a challenge for him to reach down and plant his foot, so he hates gravel.

So we went up from Golden Gate Canyon and dropped down into Clear Creek Canyon on Douglas Mountain Drive. We got to Black Hawk and parked and I asked how they had liked that ride. Anyone else I’ve ever been with on a first ride of this road has raved about how fabulous it was or how totally cool it was or something like that.

Dennis’s response: “It was a bit rough in places.”

Bill’s response: “It was kind of challenging sometimes.”

That’s it. OK.

So just as we came into Black Hawk, as we approached our turn, my bike sputtered a little like it’s needing to go to reserve. The odometer said only 118 miles and this bike (CB750) goes to reserve generally around 140 miles. So I didn’t immediately flip the petcock. Sometimes the warning can be subtle and it was this time. But then it just died. So I flipped the petcock, fired it up again, and pulled into the parking area and shut it back off.

We had lunch and played the machines a bit, which, or course, is what people do in Black Hawk. We ended up leaving with more money than we came with but the cash was not distributed equally. Bill won as usual, but only a little. Dennis had what is for him an extremely good day. And as usual I lost. You just have to think about it as paying by the hour for this particular form of entertainment, with the small possibility you’ll actually get paid rather than be the one paying.

Bill figured to just head back down through Clear Creek Canyon but he warned us there was construction going on and we might have to stop. OK. Then, taking the lead, he pulled into the gas station just down from Black Hawk thinking I might like to fill up. I appreciated his thoughtfulness.

That worked out perfectly then. We came onto a line of traffic stopped in the canyon but had only been there about two minutes when the folks ahead of us started to move. Great. And as we passed the line waiting in the other direction I counted at least 45 cars waiting for us to get clear so they could go the other way. Meanwhile, there were only three cars behind us. Great timing.

And then back in the city, after riding in canyon/mountain comfort, the heat soared and my last 10 miles were scorched. I’m ready for this heat to go away again.

Biker Quote for Today

You know you’re a biker if Jack Daniels makes your list of “most admired people.”

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Posted in Colorado motorcycle rides | No Comments »

Neglecting An Old Pal

August 29th, 2022

Still loving it after all these years.

I was out on my 1980 Honda CB750 Custom last week and I realized I’ve been neglecting this old friend. It’s late in August and I was only getting out on this particular bike for the first time this month. Meanwhile I’ve put a good many miles on the other two.

Not only that, I’ve already taken the V-Strom on a trip of 2,800 miles this summer and in just a couple weeks I’ll be taking the Concours on a 1,500 mile trip. Meanwhile, even after my ride the other day I’ve only put 198 miles on the Honda so far this year. If I really love this bike (and I do!) how can I ignore it like that?

You have to understand, my Honda is not just a motorcycle, it is the physical realization of one of my fondest, most ardent dreams. My dream to own a motorcycle as a teenager was thwarted by my mother and years later when I finally got the CB I was absolutely in heaven.

Then, on top of that, when Judy and I got married she came with three kids who did everything in their power for the first seven years of our marriage to make every single day a living hell. There were two weeks every year when I was not in a constant state of rage. One was the week each year when she would take the kids and they would go off on a road trip, leaving me at home, blissfully alone. The other was the OFMC trip when I was gone, out on the road on my beloved motorcycle.

I remember one day heading out of town on the Honda and throwing my head back and screaming to the skies, “I love my motorcycle!!”

Fortunately, the kids finally all moved out and after a while they even grew up and became human beings. Every one of them now has deep regrets over how they behaved and how they treated us back then. And that’s great, we get along fine. I don’t hold it against them; they’re not the same people they were back then.

Also since then, I have acquired two additional motorcycles. And honestly, although I used to always do long trips on the Honda, the other two really are better suited for that kind of thing. So the Honda sits at home. But I still love that bike. And every time I do get out on it it just reminds me how much fun it is to ride. I just need to do it more.

Biker Quote for Today

Why motorcycles are better than women: You don’t have to take a shower before riding your motorcycle.

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Posted in Honda motorcycles | No Comments »

Two Batteries, Both Claim ‘Best’

August 25th, 2022

Yeah, getting in here under the seat to push a button to jump start the bike would be a heck of an inconvenience.

I’ve had motorcycle batteries on my mind recently because one of my bikes has one that is a bit long in the tooth. I’ve had battery troubles while on the road before and I’d rather be preemptive than have to interrupt a trip with problems.

So it was with some interest that within two days I got emails, both from Adventure Rider, about two hot new batteries, both claiming to be the best ever. One is by Shorai and the other is Antigravity. I’ve never heard of either of them. So what do ya got?

Shorai says this: “Originally founded in 2010 in Sunnyvale, CA, Shorai LFX has quickly become the world’s most popular lithium iron phosphate power sports battery. Shorai LFX™ batteries deliver more energy faster, with less weight and with less wear on the battery per start cycle than any other brand or technology available on the market today.”

I figured I’d take a look at what they have for my 1999 Concours. Wrong. Their selections don’t go back to that model, so I looked at other model bikes that might use the same battery. What I came to was the Shorai LFX21A6-BS12, which listed at $245.95. OK, that’s pricey. Maybe check for a battery for the 2006 V-Strom 650.

OK, that brought me to the Shorai LFX18A1-BS12, which lists for $209.95. That’s still a bit high but I guess it depends on what you get for the money. And that’s actually kind of hard to get a handle on. Not surprisingly these lithium batteries are much lighter than their lead-acid counterparts and they claim to provide better starting power. How long will this thing last? I can’t find anything on the website that speaks to that.

And by the way, the lowest-priced battery in their line-up lists for $109.95. It gives the size specs so if that one works in the space you’ve got it might do the job. But all in all I’m not satisfied with the information provided.

As for Antigravity, they say: “THE BEST BATTERY EVER?!!!
That’s a bold statement… but we feel it holds true if you are looking for the best Starter Battery for your Motorcycle, Powersport vehicle, or even your Car. Antigravity Lithium Batteries offer a first-of-its-kind Built-In Jump Starting that will save you from being stranded; they also offer more REAL Amp Hours than competitors, which increases starting performance in cold weather and offers more overall Capacity for your Bike. Additionally, we have Heavy Duty (HD) versions for those needing even more capacity and power.”

OK, so one key thing here is their “built-in jump starting.” That is, even when the battery is theoretically dead, there is a separate compartment or reserve somewhere that holds onto enough juice to get you going so you can get out of the boonies to some place where you can get service. That could be a very handy thing.

Again, I could find nothing specified for my Concours but for the V-Strom they offer two, the ATX-12 RESTART and the ATX-12 HD RESTART, for $224.99 and $259.99, respectively.

Now here’s an interesting thing. To jump start when you’re otherwise dead you have to push a button on the battery. That’s not generally a very easy thing on most bikes so they also offer a remote device that makes it easier–at a price, of course.

They do also speak to battery life, claiming that their battery will last up to twice the life cycle of other lead acid and/or lithium batteries. And the battery comes with four posts, not two, so it will fit in your space and connect properly regardless of whether your set-up is oriented one way or the other.

So OK, maybe I’ll look into one of these Antigravity batteries. If I do you can bet I’ll have a follow-up report down the road.

Biker Quote for Today

You might be a Yuppie biker if you can’t find your oil filter.

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Posted in Motorcycle Gear, motorcycle mechanics | No Comments »

Riding Behavior Since Covid

August 22nd, 2022

Stunt riders like this guy operate in a controlled environment. Hotshots on the street do not.

I was heading out last week on that RMMRC ride I mentioned and had only gotten as far as the collector street coming out of our neighborhood. I looked left and then pulled right, out onto Tamarac, and only seconds later a young guy on a sportbike blasted past me in the parking/bike lane on my right.

That definitely gave me a start and at first I thought I had looked but had not seen him coming along. But after zigging into the traffic lane he then zagged back into the bike lane to pass the car in front of me. So no, it probably wasn’t that I hadn’t seen him, he was probably behind the oncoming car I saw when I looked but in just a flash he had passed that guy and then was right up on me.

We continued up Tamarac and the car ahead of him stopped at a red light. The guy on the bike pulled alongside the car, using the bike lane, of course, looked both ways to see there was no cross traffic, and blasted on through the red. Another two blocks and I came up in the left-turn lane and while he sat at the red at Hampden I made my left turn. Just another of the countless examples I’ve observed where aggressive driving (or riding) gains you almost nothing.

So I headed west on Hampden and was approaching Broadway, but now, stopped two back at a red light, another young guy on another sportbike filtered his way to the front, pulling fully into the pedestrian crossing that everyone else had stopped short of. My immediate question was, is he going to blast through the red, too? He didn’t, but as soon as the light turned he screamed on ahead. And he kept doing that. Again it didn’t work very beneficially for him because by the time we got to where he turned left off Hampden I was still almost right up with him and I was just moving with traffic.

I also wrote not so long ago about coming south on Havana when a guy on a bike first went screaming past all the traffic ahead of him, using the center lane. At a red light with left-turn lanes in both directions he blasted on through the light using the turn lanes. Obviously, if anyone had been turning this would not have been possible but there weren’t and he did.

What’s with all this flagrant disregard of the traffic laws? It seems to have come on during the Covid lock-down. Back when the world had largely shut down and there was no traffic on the roads, the few people who were out found they could scream along at high speed and simply not worry about other traffic because there was no other traffic. Why wait at red lights for absolutely no other vehicles? And they liked that. Hey, who wouldn’t?

Now traffic is back to normal. But these guys are spoiled. They don’t want to give up their newfound freedom to scream down the road and ignore red lights. So they don’t.

That’s a little all right, until someone gets hurt. And really, do they think they’ll always be able to get away with it? I’m all in favor of flaunting the rules a bit as long as no innocent person pays a price. But when someone gets hurt it’s a completely different story. Maybe these guys ought to just accept that they had their moment but now that moment is past.

Biker Quote for Today

You know you’re a biker if You think black and orange would make nice house colors.

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Posted in Motorcycle Safety, Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Riders Club | No Comments »

Just Chill Out

August 18th, 2022

Getting ready to ride in Morrison.

After two days of rain it seems our heat wave has been broken. That meant that Wednesday was a great day for a ride. And there were 13 riders who showed up for the RMMRC excursion who seemed to agree.

Heading out early, I felt it wise to wear a sweatshirt under my mesh jacket. I didn’t regret that, and later in the day I was actually wishing I had an additional layer. That’s how cool it was.

We gathered in Morrison and headed up Bear Creek Canyon to and through Evergreen. At the Evergreen reservoir we left the highway and continued on up the canyon on Upper Bear Creek Road to Witter Gulch Road. Then it was up, up, up till we reached the Squaw Pass road. I had to wonder how some of these new guys were doing on this very technical road as they dropped well out of sight behind me, but everyone made it to the top.

From there we turned east down to Evergreen Parkway and got separated by cars along the way. When those eight of us in front got through the traffic signal, the five behind did not. That might not have mattered but we very quickly then turned off Evergreen Parkway at CR65, which runs northwest to cross I-70 and connect with old U.S. 40 just on the eastern downslope of Floyd Hill. Gray, who was leading, had said he would stop at turns so no one would get lost but he didn’t, nor did anyone else. As the last one in the eight I did stop, but I was afraid I would not be particularly visible as the others came along.

My fear was well founded. They came roaring along and went straight on through the intersection, never even noticing me though I was waving to get their attention. I waited a few minutes to see if they had spotted me at least and would come back but no one showed so I slowly headed along, pulling over a couple times to let cars past me. Finally I sped up to try to catch the others.

The first obvious spot for the main group to wait would have been where CR65 hits U.S. 40 but they weren’t there. I deduced that it was more likely that they were heading up Floyd Hill to drop down on the other side into Clear Creek Canyon and U.S. 6. I headed that direction and there at the top they were pulled over waiting. Gene came back and asked me about the others, then passed that info along. Nothing much to now but keep going and figure they knew the destination.

So down we went into the canyon, to where U.S. 6 branches off from the Peak-to-Peak Highway and there we went toward Black Hawk just a short distance before taking the sharp right turn to take us up Douglas Mountain Drive.

This is a terrific road and now that it’s nearly completely paved, though very roughly at points, it should be a must for anyone out for some fun riding. Up and over the top and then we dropped down into Golden Gate Canyon. We turned east to come out at Golden and then on to our lunch spot. No sign there of the other guys so we went on in and got tables. Then five minutes later there they were.

Turns out, they knew they had lost us so they pulled over to confer. Bruce had a pretty good idea of the planned route so he led and they pretty much followed the same route we did. If we had stopped at some point, even for a few minutes, they probably would have caught up with us. So all was well. And what a great day for a ride! And what a good route.

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Posted in Colorado motorcycle rides, Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Riders Club | No Comments »

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