Human Interest: Couples and Their Motorcycles Changing the Face of Motorcycling

Well, it is true that the 'biker' of today is not exactly what the non-riding world assumes he or she is - bikers are just people who love to ride motorcycles, after all. Well, it turns out that a huge number of couples are now hitting the road together. And, you know what they say, the family who rides together stays together! From the town of Fayetteville, North Carolina comes a good story on three of those couples and why they ride as they do.

http://tinyurl.com/yf737cf

Addicted to Salt - Land Speed Record Challengers

This is the second part of the story, but it is still very much worth reading. In this piece, the author uncovers the stories behind the people who love to go fast on salt - the Bonneville Salt Flats. He gets three different questions answered from three different challengers - and the stories are very interesting. Check it out and learn something about people addicted to SPEED...

http://tinyurl.com/yat7nx6

2009 Triumph Speedmaster - Review from New Zealand

It's always nice to take a walk around the world (at least metaphorically) and see what other people think of the things we like and enjoy. The unfortunate thing for those motorcyclists here is that we are just the same as gear-heads everywhere - we all think pretty much the same, even if we like different styles. It is hard to explain unless there is something you are obsessed with - like dancing, art or yoga. Then you can take what you are passionate about and you know that all people who share this passion seem to have a similar mind - not identical, by no means, but very alike in many ways. So, here we will read about the 2009 Triumph Speedmaster from an author in New Zealand. I know, I know, NZ is not that far, culturally, from my home in the USA, but we are different and we are the same...

http://tinyurl.com/yll3mok

PBTF Ride for Kids Had Fantastic Weekend Across the USA

The PBTF Ride for Kids is a well-known event/cause in the motorcycling world. It doesn't matter what your tank badge says, we all care about children who by no fault of their own are fighting a powerful enemy - brain tumors. This past weekend (2 - 4 October 2009) saw four different cities hold Ride for Kids events and over half a million dollars was raised in total! Again, thank all of you who do this - volunteer, donate, ride, host bake sales, everything!

http://tinyurl.com/ycm6ozt

P.S. There is a previous post about the Maryland/Washington ride - full disclosure.

Riding the 2010 Kawasaki Versys in Historic Japan

Talk about an introduction to Japanese culture - the author almost ended up in jail (well, not really). The Versys is a very good companion on a road going journey. It is designed for that and it shows. The trip takes the rider through some of the most beautiful and historic areas of Japan and you get to go along with him and enjoy it as well...

http://tinyurl.com/yayr2jk

Doug Chandler Opens Bike Shop in Salinas, California

Chandler is well-known to fans of American motorcycle racing. In his hometown of Salinas, two months ago, he opened Doug Chandler Performance at 517 Abbott St. He does repairs on and tunes motorcycles and bicycles, sells accessories and plans to be selling two brands of bicycle. Chandler stays in touch with the racing community and still teaches one-on-one with new motorcycle racers. If you are nearby, stop in and you might just meet an AMA Hall of Famer, a great racer and a nice guy!

http://tinyurl.com/y9tzrok

Turns Out That Billy Joel - Piano Man - is an Avid Motorcyclist

Joel has been riding since the 1960s when he took a friend's Triumph out for a ride. Even with his career and the warnings he received from agents and record executives, he continues to ride. And, he wants to get out the message of motorcycle safety - riding with the proper gear and getting quality training.

http://tinyurl.com/yaohc5r

60 Years-old and Still Living in the Fast Lane!

As if I will even make it to 60; but, if I do, I want to be as capable as Terry Dailey of Moody, Alabama! He read a newspaper article about Barber Motorsports park and the AHRMA Vintage Motorcycle Festival to be held in October and decided he would take part. An amazing story from a very experienced racer who just started back into his past...

http://tinyurl.com/ybakz5v

A Canadian, His Brother and Their Friends Tour the USA

Along the way, they see some of the most astounding beauty that the USA has to offer. However, they also learn of the dangers of riding long distance in this nation - limited accommodations in the vastness of the West, limited gas stops and our ever-present police patrols looking to improve the local civic economy...

http://tinyurl.com/ybxyocf

241 BMW Riders Break Guinness Record for Largest Bike Parade

This beats the previous record, set in Switzerland with 128 riders, by 113! In Cape Girardeau, the city and Grass Roots BMW Motorcycles of Cape Girardeau organized the wildly successful ride to gain acceptance into the record book. It was all part of the local BMW dealer's open house event and 2010 S1000RR unveiling.

http://tinyurl.com/y8cqq7g

Riding a 2010 Triumph Thunderbird in Barcelona

Well, most of us know that the Spanish are hard-core motorcycle fanatics; their papers feature motorcycle racing on the front page, it seems that half of the population rides either a scooter or a motorcycle, and they have four to five world class motorcycle racing circuits. It can be a culture shock for an American - where motorcycles are still considered 'recreational vehicles'. This writer went there to sample the new Triumph Thunderbird - lucky ba$tard!

http://tinyurl.com/yb3qjco

Now, we also have a long-term test of the 2010 Triumph Thuderbird. It has a podcast attached to the link, which will open a more detailed presentation about the T-bird and how well it does what it does best!

http://tinyurl.com/yjm5tk9

Kenyan Man Rides Largest Motorcycle in Nation

This man is a real inspiration in many ways - first of all, I am old and I hope to still be riding when I get to his age - and he also has the most notable bike in Kenya, apparently. He rides a Kawasaki ZX-14 and people there know him no matter where he goes. At 56-years-old, Kimani Gathu rides just about every day and he also has a huge collection of Spiderman comics!

http://tinyurl.com/y95kqq9

Kawasaki 650 Twin Does 149.100 MPH on Salt Flats

Directly from the rider himself, James "the Rocket" Rispoli, comes the story of how he set the new record at the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials. Great story...

http://tinyurl.com/parxaf

101.5 Miles per Gallon for 2003 Kawasaki Ninja 250

A rider in New Jersey uses Hypermiler techniques to achieve over 100 MPG on his 2003 Ninja. There are only minor modifications to the bike; for instance, he uses scooter tires and inflates them to 60 PSI. Impressive!

http://tinyurl.com/ohmlnc

Interesting Blog - Cyril Green's Motorcycle Memoirs

I came across this a few days ago and found it rather intriguing. Have a look and let me know if you figure out what happened to Cyril!

http://cyrilgreen.blogspot.com/

Cool Story from Nearby...California

This is a simple story about "Why I Ride" from the point of view of a lifetime motorcyclist. You can never hear enough of these...

http://tinyurl.com/m9np4q