MeanStreet Riders

You have probably already read several motorcycle blogs talking about the MeanStreet Riders. Yes, there is a new band two wheelin’ onto the music scene and their making sparks and soon to be rising up the charts. The MeanStreet Riders, whose members are made up of motorcycle riders, enjoy making music about all aspects of riding.









MeanStreet Mary, the bands Social Media Publicist, contacted me and asked if I would be interested in listening to a pre-release demo of their up and coming new album being released June first. I love music so I jumped at the opportunity. The CD arrived in the mail in a few days.


You can read how the band was formed and their bios on their websites see the links at the end of this article. I would like to take the time here to talk about their music.


You cannot pigeonhole there music into one safe genre or make a comparison to one other single popular band. The closest I could come up with to maybe compare them to would be the Eagles.  Some of the songs have a definite Classic Rock style & sound and others have a more Modern Country or Americana type sound. You can hear all kinds of instruments in the MeanStreet Riders music from electric guitars to banjo. The vocals are solid with lots of harmony.


It’s hard to put the feelings of riding into words, let alone song, but the MeanStreet Riders manage to pull it off.  The first song on the CD, High on the Hog, starts off with a Classic Rock style guitar riff that propels the song to the finish like a hard twist of the throttle. I’m reminded of .38 Special while listening to the lyrics about living the good life and enjoying life and friends as well as the ride to the fullest. The song ends with a snort that left me laughing.


The MeanStreet Riders second song, Kiss it all Goodbye, is my favorite. It has a real catchy chorus and I found myself humming it later on my ride down to Bikers Bay to get the state inspection done on my bike. They have managed to bottle the feelings and emotions of wanting to leave your troubles behind and just ride. You know the feeling. Like when you are on your commute to work on a beautiful day and when you are getting closer to your exit you just want to hit the throttle and drive on by and keep on going. Maybe one of these days….



The third track, 129, is about hitting the road and seeking out the twisties while leaving your troubles and cares behind. It has another addictive chorus and is specifically about Deals Gap, a section of US129 in Tennessee nicknamed the Dragons Tail. You may not have three hundred and eighteen curves in eleven miles near your house but listening to this song definitely catches the spirit of riding the curves, draggin’ the pegs and pushing the limits. There are no chicken strips on this tune.


I’ve had a good ride, track number four, captures the mood of riders everywhere after the ride is over and the kickstand is put down. It ain’t all about if you get their fast, the lyric sys it all. The song itself is not slow by any means but the inclusion of the banjo almost gives the illusion of a lazy day ride out in the country. At the conclusion of every ride I hope everyone can say, “I’ve had a good ride.”


Track five, Rollin’ On, slows down the pace a little. Rollin’ on stats off on a relaxed note with Kansas (the band) like violins and Indians chanting hauntingly. The vocal and musical harmonies seem the blend together nicely on this tune. There is something also real earthy about the sound of a guitar players fingers sliding down an acoustic guitars strings. This song is also about leaving behind your troubles and pain and rolling down the open road to clear your mind.


A Modern Country hit is what track six sounds like. Titled Where I was Born, it reminded me a little of Keith Urban. It’s all about exploring the country side freely on two wheels remembering the past and proclaiming allegiance to your roots. Musically it is very polished and sounds great like the lope of a fine v-twin.


Picking up the pace a little, Livin’ it Up is track seven on the up and coming CD by MeanStreet Riders.  With some smooth guitar and the addition of some brass and some synth, this song has a unique sound all its own.  The dreamy lyrics are about several different riders and rides and living it up.


Number eight, Long Road of Love, is a slow melodic love song. The love of the road can be compared to the love of a woman.  Fun, exciting, thrilling, mysterious, curvy, and dangerous can be used to describe both. If you love the road and have another companion in your life that you love, you will enjoy this song.


Eye of the Hurricane is a number nine on the demo CD.  It is about the love of speed and the consequences and dangers of the addiction. When life is in turmoil all around, you can find peace at speed on your bike, in the eye of the hurricane. The driving guitar chords mates well with the driving lyrics of the song carrying the listener to the somber story ending.


The last song on the MeanStreet Riders CD is the rocking Souls of Chrome. It’s about the long road of life and the fact that even when alone you are not by yourself. On the open road you are surrounded by the ones who have gone before you. This song has a driving drum beat and cool guitar licks with some nice vocal harmony thrown in for good measure. This tune is definitely one you will have to keep an eye on your speedometer when listening to it.   


MeanStreet Riders music is made by riders, is all about riding, for riders to enjoy. However, you don’t have to be a biker or even a motorcycle rider to enjoy the sounds of the MeanStreet Riders. There is a good musical mix on the demo CD with something for every musical taste. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for some new and interesting music to listen too. So, don’t walk, don’t run, ride out and get your own copy on the first.


















Links:
http://www.meanstreetriders.com/index.html
http://meanstreetriders.wordpress.com/
http://meanstreetriders.wordpress.com/
http://www.myspace.com/meanstreetriders
http://airplaydirect.com/music/meanstreetriders/


Ride on,
Torch

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Motorcycle Parking Lot Dangers

Motorcycle Parking Lot Dangers



I’m beginning to think that parking lots are just as dangerous, if not more so, than riding on streets or freeways. No, I have not been involved in any parking lot skirmishes, but I have seen the aftermath of several automobile parking lot crashes recently. So, when you turn off the main drag don’t relax and let your guard down. I think there are more dangers per foot in a parking lot than on the main road.



For one you have a lot of vehicles that have to be backed out of parking spots and a lot of them will be doing so blindly. It’s not that they just don’t see you like when riding in traffic, it’s that they can’t see you at all. Maybe those loud pipes will come in handy here. Parking lots can be more populated than streets or freeways. So, you have to be on your toes and proceed cautiously all the while being prepared to come to a sudden stop. Also, drivers tend to use their turn signals even less in parking lots than on the main roads.



Yes, you are (hopefully) slowing down but that also brings on its own stability issues you don’t have at higher speeds, losing the motorcycles gyroscopic stability. Slow speed maneuvering is an art form in of itself and is a skill if you are not proficient at I recommend hitting some empty parking lots and practicing before venturing out onto public bumper car lots. There are several good motorcycle books and DVD’s out on this very subject.



Another problem to watch out for is vehicles cutting across the lot and not in the designated driving lanes, trying to beat someone to a cherry parking spot. This happens even on empty parking lots with vehicles driving through the parking spaces.



Crowded parking lots also present the problem with pedestrians, especially small children, stepping out from between parked cars right in front of you. Shopping carts can come from anywhere as well. Trash and debris such as glass and cans are hazards that can also be found strewn haphazardly around parking lots.

So, the next time your turn into a parking lot, don’t start to relax. It’s not the time to put your head in stand down mode, on the contrary, it is time to be more on the alert and put those slow speed parking lot maneuvers that you have practiced to use. Ride safe.







Ride on,
Torch

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Riding in the Rain

Riding in the Rain



For the ease of writing this blog post I will refer to anyone who pilots a motorized two or three wheeled vehicle as a “rider”. This will include; scooterists, bikers, motorcyclists, motorcyclists with sidecars, trikes or three wheelers such as the Can-Am Spyder. If I left anyone out I apologize in advance. We all ride, so I group us all together as riders.


I have been commuting by motorcycle now for a couple of years and have noticed some interesting trends. One of these is that a lot of riders are fair weather riders. Don’t get me wrong, I am not bringing this up to tease or condemn you. I am just stating what I have observed commuting every day.


When it is freezing cold outside I usually do not see other riders on the road to wave or nod to. I remember one Saturday that I had to work last winter when it was 15 degrees out, (cold for us Texans) and I did not see one other idiot, I mean rider, out on the road. However, the first day of fair warm weather of Spring I see riders out everywhere and I wonder, where have they all been? It gets lonely out on the road by myself; get some cold weather gear riders.


The fact is I miss you all when you are not out there. I think the cagers miss them too and because of this they tend to start to forget that we are out there at all. This lethargic attitude is not good for us. I would much prefer cagers to always be on the alert for us riders.


It seems that only a very few riders like to ride when it is wet out or raining. I feel there are several reasons for this. One of these reasons is that they are not prepared to ride in the rain. They may not have rain gear which includes waterproof; jacket and pants or a one piece, anti-fog spray, boots, gloves, waterproof storage for other items, and a full-face helmet. Bright and reflective gear also helps visibility so people can spot you. Honestly, good gear is hard to come by and you tend to get what you pay for.


Another reason is that they may not be confident enough in their riding skills or in the capabilities of the machine on which they ride. When I took the MSF Basic Riding Course most of the riding part of the course was in the rain. I was a new rider, still am really, and one of the most memorable things I learned was just how amazing the motorcycles could grip the road surface leaning for turns, taking off, and when braking. That really bolstered my confidence in what motorcycles could do. I am still learning and I know the bike can handle a lot more than I am capable to do as a rider.




Still, one of the most common responses I get when asking fellow riders why they did not ride when it is wet out is that it is too slippery. I disagree, there may be less traction, but it is not too slippery to ride. Ever watch a MotoGP, AMA Superbike, World Superbike or similar race being run in the rain?





Another excuse I hear a lot is that, “I just washed my bike.” So let me go ahead and say this, a clean bike is not a ridden bike. There, I said it. Now I have an excuse for my Mistress not always looking like a Garage Queen. I feel much better now, thank you.





Here is some wet weather riding tips:


• Remember that it is going to be slicker when it first starts to rain, especially if it has not rained in a while.


• Avoid the center section of the road where most of the oil leaks are going to wind up.


• Watch out for road snakes, metal grates or covers, and painted lines or road markings because they are all slick when wet.



• Plan ahead where you are going to plant your feet, they can slip too.


• Try not to make any sudden moves taking off, stopping or turning.


•  Stay prepared and brace for strong wind gusts.


• Leave more of a buffer space when traveling behind other vehicles.


• Watch out for the spray from larger vehicles which can cause your vision to temporarily go away.


• Wait for any lightning to pass.


• Find cover if you encounter hail.


• Pay even more attention to what is going on around you.


•  Do not outride the view of the road in the rain; it is just like out-riding your headlamps at night.


• Lastly, and most importantly, just slow down!




How does one get proficient at riding in the rain any way? Get the gear and get out and practice. Yes, it is a little more slippery and you just have to adjust how you ride for it. Yes, it is more inconvenient, but the ride is always worth it. The sky is crying so I’ve got to go. See you out there. Have a safe Fourth of July and Happy Birthday America.






Ride on,
Torch

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Guzzi. Moto Guzzi.

Finally most of the ice and snow is gone from my driveway and street. The main roads have been clear enough to ride for some time, but getting in and out of the neighborhood would have been... interesting. Today, finally, my "new to me" Guzzi enjoys some road time. I let my son take my car today because his is in the shop. So, if I wanted to get to work, I had to ride anyway. Gosh... twisty my arm.

Last night I took a few minutes to get the Guzzi ready for the morning ride in to work, which included moving some things around in the driveway and in the garage. I went to fire the Guzzi up, pushed the starter button and ... click, then nothing. Dead to the world. No power, no lights, no nothing. Great...

Start with the basics... I pulled the battery cover and found a bunch of fuzzy corrosion on the battery terminals. I pulled all that apart and cleaned everything up, including wire-brushing the terminals, cable ends and hardware. I put it all back together, shot some WD-40 in and around the connectors, reinstalled the cover and fired up the bike.

crank, crank, chugga, chugga, vroom, vroom. Music. I will never understand the people who think Harleys sound good... especially when compared to a Guzzi. Harleys always sound like they're about to stall out and are barely hanging on to life at idle. This thing just sounds... intense.

I let the Guzzi just sit there and idle a few minutes while I reprogrammed the clock and got myself familiarized with using the onboard computer, all the while enjoying the mechanical music the Guzzi offers. Finally, when I was all done, I reluctantly shut the bike down, closed up the garage and headed inside for the night.

This morning I opened up the garage, geared up and rolled the bike outside and mounted up. According to the Guzzi's on-board thermometer, the temperature was just about 32 degrees. I was geared up in my Transition II jacket, Mercury pants, Windtex gloves and EXO-400 helmet. Very comfy. It was time to get going. I clunked it into 1st gear, eased out the clutch and was on my way.

This is the second time riding this bike. The first was a couple of hundred miles North on I-95 after picking the bike up in Daytona Beach, Florida. Somewhere in South Carolina I put it on the trailer for the rest of the drive home. So, I'm still learning the bike.

I headed out onto the main roads, nice and gentle, and continued on my way to US Rt. 1. Cold tires, cold asphalt covered with dried salt, the occasional moist areas that may or may not be iced over... yeah, I was riding like a sissy. I'm OK with that... this bike is beautiful and I'm not looking to rash it up any time soon because of silly impatience.

Once out on Rt. 1, I opened it up a little. By then the engine was up to temp, the tires should have been at "normal" operating temps given the conditions, so I played with the throttle a little bit. Yeah. This thing is fun.

Now let's be clear... The Goose won't win any races against truly "fast" machines, but it pulls very nicely and all the way through the rev range. It will get you to extra-legal speeds quickly enough. But who cares...? Spirited as it may be, this bike isn't about speed. Riding this thing takes me right back to the 80s during my muscle car days. The sound and the feel of this bike are very, very reminiscent of the mid-70s Chevies I used to build. A politely-raucous engine in a fairly well refined chassis. This thing is absolutely the small block Chevy of the bike world. And that's a very good thing.

The muscle car comparison continues as you run through the gears and apply varying levels of throttle. The engine is never Caprice-smooth but, rather, is always Chevelle-present. You know it's there, you know it's working and you know it's yawning, just waiting for you to demand more of it. Like its V8 brethren, it's got a fairly low rev limit - I've got the shift like programmed to come on at 7900 RPM - but the 6-speed gear box gives you a cog for every occasion.

When you open up the throttle and the engine winds up - which it does in every gear due to the "all the torque, all the time" nature of the mill - the engine's mechanicals, the intake and exhaust sounds and the general feel of the lump all join together to emit... joy. Just pure, road-loving, wind-feeling, throaty-wail joy.

I can't think of too many cars these days that would give you that same visceral, mechanical, raw feeling of power that a lumpy, cammed-out V8 of yesteryear would offer. So you young guys who've only ever driven buzzy 4-cylinder cars... I can't really help you understand. Sorry.

But this bike offers something more, too. It offers a well-handling chassis, good brakes, neutral and comfortable ergonomics and some kick ass style that - sorry folks - Japanese sport bikes simply don't offer. They make some pretty bikes, to be sure. But rarely are they stylish.
I continued my trip in to work, sticking to the biggest, clearest main roads. Normally I'd be impatient to take the bike down Rt. 82 - Delaware's only twisty road - during my morning commute, but I have to believe there are lots of icy, wet and washed-out places on that road yet. I can wait. Besides, I still haven't dialed in suspension settings and I'm still trusting the air pressure the dealer set when I picked up the bike. No... no, I can wait.

Nice and easy... just a mellow ride to work on a machine that puts character and style one notch higher on the importance scale than flat out, track-style performance. Track-capable bikes are a dime a dozen. How many of them are truly wonderful to ride on regular roads...?

What a nice machine.

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Embarrassing Moments in Riding

Embarrassing Moments in Riding



I have had many embarrassing moments as a motorcycle rider when I hoped and prayed no one was watching. I’ve only been riding for a year and a half or so now and at times I still feel like a bull in a china store on two wheels, with a blindfold on. Here for your entertainment and pleasure, in no particular order is a list of some the stupider things I’ve done. Kids, please don’t try these at home.

I have managed to walk in the house with my helmet still on, looking like an astronaut walking on the moon, a couple of times, not on purpose. Duh!

I’ve leaned over forgetting my helmet was on with the extra clearance needed, and banged it on things, so much for keeping it in pristine condition. Is klutziness inherited or communicable?

I’ve knocked my helmet off the bike onto the cement scuffing it up. Permanent marks don’t you know and I’m still looking for decals to cover them up.

Almost looking like a cheap fake bake, I have gotten sunburned on my face, ears and hands from not wearing sunscreen on a long bike ride. I now carry a bottle in my saddlebag, thank you.

I’ve been caught in the rain and my clear riding glasses smeared with road grime when I tried to wipe them off with my gloves so bad I could not see out them any more. I finished riding home looking over the top of the glasses. I learned my lesson and will no longer attempt to wipe them once it starts to rain; it’s hard to ride by sense of smell and sound.

I rode off from work half cocked once without strapping my half helmet on and had to pull over off the access road, remove my gloves and fasten it on. Boy did I feel like an idiot. Maybe I am?

I’ve driven off haphazardly several times forgetting to put my eye protection on. My windshield does not block everything from hitting my face, that’s for sure.

I found out that new leather boots are not waterproof and need to be sprayed down with something to waterproof them. Then I found out that you have to reapply the water proofer periodically ever few months or the boots will loose their waterproofness.

One time I neglected to buckle my saddlebag just closing the lid and wound up loosing a good pair of clear riding glasses on my way to a bike night. That’s just brilliant, huh?

Not long after getting the bike I almost dropped it the first or second time I pulled out of my driveway on my way to practice riding at a nearby parking lot. I ended up with a black and blue bruised up and soar leg from that one. OK, so Evil Knievel I’m not.

I completely lost one whole saddlebag while riding home once when I was exiting the freeway. I felt like a two inch tall moron in leather pulling over to walk back and get it. At least I can still use the damaged bag, go figure.

I stalled the engine once like a teenager learning how to drive a standard transmission, after coming to a stop to make a left hand turn into my neighborhood. I think I was too distracted by the cager coming up fast on my six.

One really freezing cold day I got stuck in traffic on the freeway while on the way home from work and the motor was not warmed up enough with the enrichment lever (choke) turned off and it stalled while I was in the fast lane when I came to a stop and I had to pull over to the left shoulder to restart the bike, and I call myself a commuter, geesh.

On at least two occasions I have gone to put the kickstand down and my foot lost grip and slipped leaving my leg above my ankle with a nice scrape down it. I must confess that I may not have been wearing the proper riding foot gear at the time which may have contributed to my pain. What does ATGAT stand for again?

Believe it or not, plastic melts on hot engine. I found that out one day when I left the end cover of my battery tender connector loose and it laid a little too close to the rear cylinder head. It also makes a strange burning odor when this happens.

Several times I’ve had to make the biker “Ya, I’m Cool” move putting my left foot up on the floorboard, while checking to make sure the bikes in first gear. Yes, I’m so cool I’m downright cold.

I have accidently taken off from stops in second or third gear, having forgotten to down shift when coming to the stop. That’s a real impressive look taking off lugging the poor little V-Twin down slowly gaining speed like a trolling motor pulling a forty foot yacht. What was I thinking, or, maybe not?

Every now and then I still hit neutral instead of first or second up-shifting or downshifting. Some times I hit it several times in a row for effect. Yes, that was me revving up the engine and not going any where fast.

One cold but blindingly bright day I put down the internal smoke colored visor inside of my full face helmet as I drove off from work. It immediately fogged up so I could not see, and I was in traffic. Feeling like Stevie Wonder on two wheels, I attempted to put it up but could not feel the lever with my winter riding gloves on, so I opened the face shield and popped it back up. Then when the regular shield started fogging I tried to open the shield and could not open it. When I got home I found that I had accidently locked the visor down tight like a chastity belt when I attempted to put the inner visor up. At least I had not permanently broken something.

Once, like a football player in his first ballet class, I was turning into my neighborhood and had not slowed down enough, so I swung way too wide, and headed for the right curb like a bird spotting a new clean car. Target fixation had kicked in but I managed to lean her so far enough over I scraped the left floorboard with a jolt. I still managed to slightly scrape the right curb with the other floorboard and I almost dropped her. I’m sure the people in the neighborhood watching were probably wondering what the heck I was doing. Just think of all the sparks if it would have been darker.

I hope you got some laughs on my behalf, and maybe, just maybe, picked up a tip or two so as not to replicate any of my stupid antics. Please feel free to share some of your own; it’s a lot easier now that I got rid of that other comment program.

Ride on,
Torch

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To Wave or Not to Wave?

To Wave or Not to Wave?



To Wave or Not to Wave? The debate rages on. This question has been showing up on blogs, forums and magazines for a long time and has been popping up again here and there lately. This is the funniest read on waving I have personally run across and shamelessly stolen from the b.a.r.f. website. I searched for the original by the author and could not locate it. Seriously, take your time and read it through. It is well worth your time reading:



To Wave or Not to Wave



By Shalom Auslander



I love motorcycles, and I love riding. Like many of you, what first drew me to bikes was not just the experience of riding, but the feeling that I'd become part of a special community—a brotherhood, really. Nothing calms me more than a long ride down the interstate, waving to the members of my beloved clan. Except when I pass Harley guys. I hate Harley guys. Hate, hate, hate. When they pass me on the highway, you know what I do? I don't wave. With their little tassle handlebars and the studded luggage and the half-helmets—God, they drive me crazy.



You know who else I hate? BMW guys. Oh, I do hate those guys. I don't wave at them, either. They think they're so great, sitting all upright, with their 180-degree German engines. God, I hate them. They're almost as bad as those old bastards on their touring motorcycles. You know what I call those bikes? "Two-wheeled couches!" Get it? Because they're so big. They drive around like they've got all day. Appreciate the scenery somewhere else, Grampa, and while you're at it, I'm not waving to you.



Ducati guys—I don't wave at them either. Why don't they spend a little more money on their bikes? "You can have it in any color you want, as long as it's red." Aren't you cool! Like they even know what a desmo-whatever engine is, anyway. Try finding the battery, you Italian-wannabe racers! I never, ever wave at those guys.



Suzuki guys aren't much better, which is why I never wave at them, either. They always have those stupid helmets sitting on top of their stupid heads, and God forbid they should wear any safety gear. They make me so mad. Sometimes they'll speed by and look over at me and you know what I do? I don't wave. I just keep on going. Please, don't get me started on Kawasaki guys. Ninjas? What are you, twelve years old? Team Green my ass. I never wave at Kawasaki guys.



I ride a Honda, and I'll only wave at Honda guys, but even then, I'll never wave at a guy in full leathers. Never, never, never. Yeah, like you're going to get your knee down on the New York Thruway. Nice crotch, by the way. Guys in full leathers will never get a wave from me, and by the way, neither will the guys in two-piece leathers. And I'll tell you who else I'm not waving at—those guys with the helmets with the loud paintjobs. Four pounds of paint on a two pound helmet–like I'm going to wave back to that! I'll also never wave at someone with a mirrored visor. Or helmet stickers. Or racing gloves. Or hiking boots.



To me, motorcycling is a like a family, a close-knit brotherhood of people who ride Hondas, wear jeans and a leather jacket (not Vanson) with regular gloves and a solid-color helmet with a clear visor, no stickers, no racing gloves and regular boots (not Timberlands). And isn't that what really makes riding so special?





I hope you got a chuckle out of that, I sure did. Here is what I think he is saying. If we don’t wave because of every little thing about someone we don’t like; we will never wave at anyone. As for me, I will wave or acknowledge everyone on two wheels I see in time, as long as it is safe to do so.



Ride on,

Torch

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Riding a motorcycle is like the love of a great woman....

“Riding a motorcycle is like the love of a great woman, sometimes it’s hard to hold on, but all the excitement is darn well worth it!” – Torch ©2009.

Interpret it how you want to.

Ride on,
Torch

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A Few Things I’ve learned about Motorcycling

Image by GmanViz via Flickr

I have compiled a list of a few things I’ve learned while commuting back and forth to work and taking several longer trips in the short amount of time I have been riding. Not in any particular order;

Gasoline fueled V-Twin motorcycles will not run without gas.

Even light sprinkles of rain sting bare skin at 80 mph.

If you don’t know where your horn button is you might hit your high beam switch instead.

On a 40 degree day the wind chill at 80 mph makes it feel like 23 degrees.

Metal storm grates are slick as ice when they are wet.

If you forget to turn your fuel cut off back on your bike will stall about two blocks from your house.

Non-waterproof shoes, your socks, and feet will be completely soaked after riding in the rain even with a rain suit on.

Yes, motorcycles do make you invisible.

It is not safe to talk on a cell phone while riding, (no Bluetooth).

Even if a cage drivers does see you they do not consider you a large enough threat and will still pull into your lane running you off the road.

Most cage drivers do not look before changing lanes.

The loudest decibel horn cannot be heard inside a closed cage with the radio on.

You cannot trust gas station nozzle pumps to stop in time.

At night in a hard rain with clear ridding glasses on you cannot see the lines on the freeway.

When passing or being passed by large trucks in the rain you cannot see anything for a few seconds.

Goggles are better than glasses on a windy day.

If you do not secure your saddlebag lid down you will loose things while riding.

If you think there is a chance of rain and put on your rain suit it will not rain.

If you think there is a chance of rain and do not put your rain suit on it will rain.

In winter without proper gloves your hands will get cold and stiff even on a short ride.

Animals will run out in front of you at the most inopportune time.

You will not notice that your mirrors are not aimed properly until you are already underway.

Unless you have ABS your brakes can and will lock up when pushed hard enough.

It is a lot harder to stabilize a motorcycle at a stop riding two up.

You can get sunburned just as easily riding a motorcycle as not.

People give you strange looks when you are wearing leathers.

It is hard to get things out of your front pockets wearing chaps.

No matter how long you sit at some stop lights on a bike they just won’t turn green.

The more chrome you have the longer it takes to clean your bike.

No matter how fast you are riding there is always another motorcycle going faster.

Not everyone on two wheels waves back.

Even other motorcyclists think you are crazy when you ride all the time.

Parts of your motorcycle will vibrate loose and sometimes you may loose parts of your bike while riding.

Different parts of your body can get tired and sore on long rides.

A leg cramp while riding a bike is a pain in the rear.

Aside from shaving your head there is no sure cure for helmet hair.

Don't ask me how I know....

Ride on,
Torch

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A Few Things I’ve learned about Motorcycling

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Nuances of Temperature Changes While Riding

Image by Shutterhack via Flickr

Riding a motorcycle truly utilizes all your senses. I have written about the sounds, smells and the effect of the sun while riding previously. Another one of the nuances of riding that I really enjoy is touch. You have a heightened feeling of temperature change as you ride.

While riding in a vehicle you are protected from the elements and will never notice the subtle changes in temperature that you can while riding a motorcycle. When standing, walking or running the changes are generally to slow to notice. There is nothing better while riding on a hot day than to take slight dip in elevation and feel a pocket of cooler breeze against your skin. I think that is one of my favorite things that I enjoy about riding.

If you ride on a regular basis you will pick up on patterns of temperature changes while you ride. This is because hot air rises and cold air sinks. If the road you are traveling suddenly takes a drop in elevation you generally can actually feel the drop in temperature as you descend. Since cold air seeks lower elevations, naturally you will find it along creeks and rivers. Of course, the opposite of this is true as well. In Texas you can sometimes feel these temperature changes on longer bridges and overpasses.

Another factor that comes into play is the location of cover. Trees and buildings also block the wind and as the day warms up they will hold the cooler air at bay. There is a small wooded area with a creek in it by my house and usually on a hot day I will feel a nice cool section of the road while riding through the area. I don’t know why it feels so invigorating but I guess it just makes you more cognisant that you are alive.

Some temperatures are just not comfortable and you better have the correct riding gear to compensate for it. Hot weather gear for summer, cold weather gear for winter and rain gear for the rain. It is fun to race a storm to your destination before it starts to rain, or to stay out in front of a storm. Tornadoes, lightning or hail is not something you wish to tangle with on the back of a motorcycle.

Having your senses bombarded with information is just one of the things that make riding a motorcycle so exciting and enjoyable. Feeling the temperatures change as you ride is quite exhilarating and is definitely one of the reasons I prefer to ride.

Ride on,
Torch

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Nuances of Temperature Changes While Riding

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FMC Classic Side Lace Leather Motorcycle Jacket Review

FMC Classic Side Lace Leather Motorcycle Jacket Review


When the weather got too cold to ride in my OSi Cool Mesh Jacket for my commute to work, even with the liner installed, I started looking for a leather jacket. My quests lead me to Full Boar in Hurst Texas. Unfortunately, due to the economic times, they have since gone out of business. They had the FMC brand Classic Side Lace Leather Jackets on sale. I tried a couple on for size and decided to get one a little larger than I needed. Having a larger size would allow me to dress in layers if I ever needed to ride in extremely cold weather.

The FMC jacket is manufactured for First Manufacturing Company Inc and, according to the label, made in Pakistan. This FMC jacket has the classic motorcycle styling. The outer shell is made from Top Grain Cowhide and feels very substantial. The zippers are all stout and function well. There is an abundance of pockets including two hand pockets with zippers, a small pocket watch style pocket with snap on left side, an upper zippered pocket on left side chest, (great for gun concealment), and lastly a pocket on the inside left chest panel.

The FMC Leather Jacket half belt and side leather laces make it very adjustable. The Action Back makes it much more flexible when moving about and stretching. The sleeves are long to cover your wrists when your arms are stretched out holding handle bars. The sleeves also come with a four inch zippered cuff section to open up your wrists for more room or to let more air in.

When it is cold out you can zip in the Full Size Quilted Thinsulate Liner, unsnap the collar and fold it up, and zip the jacket all the way up. If you have something to cover your face, either full face helmet, neoprene face mask, or balaclava, the only other spot to worry about is your neck just under the Adam’s apple. If your balaclava goes down far enough it might work, otherwise you will need something else to cover that spot that the FMC Jacket does not.

The FMC Classic Side Lace Leather Motorcycle Jacket is constructed very ruggedly and is a very heavy jacket to wear. This jacket is thick, black and, in my opinion, too warm to use for rides in the Texan summer months. For Fall, Winter, and Spring commuting and rides the FMC jacket served well. The hardware is solid and I have had no issues with it through its first season of use. Torch gives the FMC Classic Side Lace Leather Motorcycle Jacket a M.M.M. rating of 9.5 out of 10.

Ride on,
Torch

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FMC Classic Side Lace Leather Motorcycle Jacket Review

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