Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'motorcycle'.
-
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) reports that a new web-based survey for motorcyclists has been launched by the Federal Highway Administration's Motorcycle Advisory Council (FHWA-MAC). The members of the FHWA MAC recently created the 2008 Motorcyclist Road Conditions Survey. The purpose of the survey is to help state and federal highway administrators better understand and plan for the needs of motorcycle riders. All riders are encouraged to take the survey before the deadline of August 1st 2008. The idea is to launch the survey during riding season when riders are most aware of current conditions and can more accurately respond to the survey. To take the ten minute survey before August 1st visit: www.surveymonkey.com/MACmembersHighwaySurvey Note: this is a busy site, so be patient if the survey does not work on the first try.
-
It's about time! MOTORCYCLE GROUPS THREATEN LEGAL ACTION OVER N.Y. ROADBLOCKS The National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) announced that its New York attorney has sent a letter of intent to file a class-action lawsuit against New York State Police and the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles in response to a series of discriminatory roadblocks targeting motorcycles en route to motorcycle-related events. After a roadblock was established on New York's I-84 in October 2007, which singled out motorcyclists on their way to a Marcus Dairy Cycle Sunday in nearby Danbury, Conn., motorcyclists' rights advocates learned that Federal Grant money was to be used to fund police overtime to conduct these so-called 'safety checks' at motorcycle events statewide. Despite talks between DMV and representatives of NCOM, the American Motorcyclist Association, ABATE of New York and other motorcycle rights organizations during the winter, roadblocks were also set up on I-88 and the NYS Thruway targeting motorcyclists traveling to the American Motorcycle Jamboree, or AM-JAM, a 24-year old event held at the Cobleskill Fairgrounds, and again on I-87 stopping riders traveling to Americade in Lake George, America's largest touring motorcycle rally. According to Robert 'Prospector' Boellmer, the New England and New York representative of NCOM, Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) Attorney Mitchell Proner of New York, NY has given notice to the NY State Police and DMV that a class action suit will be filed in protest of the road checks being conducted on state highways during events that draw thousands of motorcyclists. Warren County Tourism Director Kate Johnson said Americade's 2007 economic impact in the region was estimated to have been $46 million. 'The rally brought about 50,000 motorcyclists to the area last year,' she told the newspaper, adding that attendance was down this year. Boellmer told the Daily Gazette that the stops constitute harassment of cyclists and his group will fight them in court to halt the discriminatory roadblocks. He said the national coalition represents more than a thousand motorcycle organizations across the country. 'ABATE of New York, Inc. expresses its opposition to New York State's burgeoning tactic of conducting highway roadblocks which divert only motorcyclists from the state's roadway for the purpose of conducting 'safety checks', and hereby expresses its support of a class-action initiative by the National Coalition of Motorcyclist against the NYS Police and the NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles,' said Timothy D. Werder, State President of ABATE of New York in an official press release issued by his organization. With the support of ABATE of New York, the AMA and various other biker rights organizations, NCOM officials plan to pursue legal actions against state agencies involved in what they consider unconstitutional infringements.
-
I just saw this on the news tonight. Seems Florida wants us to ALL be certified on a M/C. Even us old timers. At a cost of $200.00+! Plus they let us know 4 days in advance of the law taking place. What kind of garbage is this. Sounds pretty unconstitutinal to me. Especially given the fact that they have charged extra all these years for a M/C endorsement. At least grandfather in the older riders. Certification Required For All FL Motorcycle Riders http://www.cbs47.com/media/news/7/f/9/7f944998-a100-471a-8724-42c24dc41997/Contributor.jpg Reported by: Kristen Cosby Email: kcosby@tvjaxfl.com Last Update: 4:54 pm Print Story | Email Story http://www.cbs47.com/images/textsize/11N.gifhttp://www.cbs47.com/images/textsize/12S.gifhttp://www.cbs47.com/images/textsize/14N.gifhttp://www.cbs47.com/images/textsize/16N.gif http://www.cbs47.com/media/news/a/0/2/a0228aa9-d85c-407a-b076-66626a63463d/Story.jpg George Drake will soon trade in his car for a motorcycle, figuring he'll cut his family's gas costs in half. "Its convenient, its something that's a thrill and I think probably the way America's gonna go if we continue with our gas prices," said Drake. Florida wants to make sure these growing number or riders rev up safely. Starting July 1 everyone who hops on a hog has to be certified by going through a training course. Even if you've been riding a motorcycle for years, if you don't have that certification, you also have to go to class. Michael Dobbs runs Jacksonville Motorcycle Safety Training and says this law will save a lot of lives. "90 % of people that are self-taught will probably get in an accident, self taught by a friend, an uncle or someone," said Dobbs. The training course is 15 hours long- five hours in the classroom, 10 hours on the bike. The course teaches things like how to avoid an accident and how to maneuver through a tough situation on the road. It average $200. For Drake, it means he'll save gas money and stay safe. "Florida's going the right way by enforcing this course," said Drake.
-
Went in to the DMV in FL today to get the motorcycle endorsement on my license. I dropped it when moved here and had to get my license changed. I had a CDL and had endorsements and they were making a mess of it, so I did not notice the motorcycle endorsement had been dropped. I had sold my bike before I moved so just shrugged it off and told myself I would just add it back later. Well, I found out by reading their booklet that effective July 1, 2008, the state is getting out of the motorcycle driver's license business altogether, except for the actual issuance. From 7/1/08, you have to attend a privately run motorcycle driver's course(at any fee they choose to charge), they will do all the testing(written/practical) and give you a certificate. You take it to the DMV and for $15(up from $5), they will put the endorsement on your license. Cheapest I found was $185. So, not counting the gas/lunch money for the class, your license now runs you $200. Pretty good jump from $5. I also see some parallels to the privatization of the smog krap Calif had where friends of the shop got it for free or reduced, some passed that shouldn't, etc. Oh, and they only do the test on Wed and it is booked, so that finshes the month.
-
Why not, everyone else is. http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/-volkswagen-to-produce-its-first-ever-motorcycle-ar57535.html
-
N.H. leaders focus on motorcycle safety, not helmets By Terry Date Staff writer Stow that helmet if you want. Charlie St. Clair, executive director of Laconia Motorcycle Week, and many other motorcyclists say they only wear a helmet in states where they are forced to do so. New Hampshire isn't one of those states. In these parts, many people think education — not mandatory helmets — will save lives. That education is focused on public awareness and motorcyclist training, said Peter Thomson, head of the New Hampshire Highway Safety Agency. The state's safety awareness campaign goes into full swing in May and June, before Motorcycle Week from June 14 to 22. It includes roadside safety messages, the distribution of bumper stickers and an annual rally on the State House steps. The information blitz urges the public to share road space with motorcycles, and riders and drivers to be aware of each other. The state police always urge motorists to increase following distances, not to crowd the center line and not to drink and drive, said Sgt. Steven Ford. Ford, himself, rides a motorcycle in his personal life and always wears a helmet. His experience responding to accidents tells him that helmets save lives. "Some are so devastating that it wouldn't make a difference, but if you have a serious head injury ..." he said, pointing out a helmet wouldn't help in that case. State safety officials also urge motorcyclists to attend the Motorcycle Rider Training Program, offered by the state Division of Motor Vehicles. Two private companies also offer the class. About 64,000 motorcycles are registered in New Hampshire. Last year, about 3,000 people took the classes through the state, and another 650 through the two private companies, Thomson said. He said the program helps novices and older people who haven't ridden for years. While motorcycles have become faster and bigger, he said, older riders' reflexes have slowed with age. Course coordinator Katie Daley said the class includes instruction on turning, stopping, avoiding vehicles, shifting and wearing a helmet. "(We) absolutely recommend everyone wear a helmet," she said. "No one goes through our course without one." Nonetheless, the state has no intention of enacting a helmet law for adults, lawmakers say. New Hampshire champions the rights of individuals to choose for themselves. St. Clair, Thomson, and Sen. Robert Letourneau, R-Derry, are among those who support an adult's right to choose whether to wear a helmet. Is it ironic, that the state won't enact a helmet law but it also won't let you take its safety class without one? No, Letourneau says. Those who take the basic course never leave the parking lot, he said. The helmet is needed for liability reasons, he said. He and St. Clair both said that helmet manufacturers claim their product provides only limited protection. An industry figure given out in the 1980s maintains that a helmet provides limited protection up to 15 miles per hour, St. Clair said. "No greater than that," he said, saying that helmets have not changed much since then. The New Hampshire Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Task Force was formed in 2004, after motorcycle fatalities tripled to 27 from nine in 2003. The task force decided from the outset that it would push for driver and rider education as a means to reduce fatalities — and not press the Legislature to enact a mandatory helmet law. The state only requires helmets for motorcycle riders under 18. "If I rode (a motorcycle), I'd wear one," Thomson said. "But I wouldn't push for a law." At least one task force member thinks mandatory helmets would save lives. "Although a mandatory helmet law isn't a popular subject, it makes sense when it comes to saving lives," John Kohler said. Kohler, who offers private motorcycle safety courses, said that at "a minimum new riders should be made to wear a helmet for a period of time." Letourneau, who has been riding motorcycles for 40 years and owns a Harley-Davidson touring bike, estimates that about half, maybe a little more, of motorcycle riders in the state wear helmets. He bases this on personal observation. He wears one — on occasion. St. Clair said most motorcyclists prefer not to wear a helmet. They can be cumbersome and interfere with what some motorcyclists describe as a spiritual experience. "I am much more comfortable without one," he said. Many of the riders pouring into the state during Motorcycle Week will be riding without helmets. St. Clair expects about 300,000 visitors from June 14 to 22. But with many more motorcyclists in the state during Motorcycle Week, the chance of accidents and fatalities rises. There were 10 fatalities during bike week 2006, and five last year. To help counter the number of deaths, state police go into full patrol mode during Motorcycle Week and help out around Laconia. Trooper days off are cancelled. Vacation days only are allowed for special circumstances, said Ford. Meanwhile, some say the Legislature would never enact a mandatory helmet law because it would hurt attendance at Motorcycle Week and cut into the hundreds of millions of dollars spent by visitors. Letourneau acknowledges that a mandatory helmet law would "do a lot of damage to" bike week. But, he said, the issue is a matter of adults being free to make their own choices. "This is the Live Free or Die state," he said. Bike Week fatalities Year%Number of deaths% Deaths where rider did not wear helmet 2004%5%4 2005%4%4 2006%10%9 2007%5%5 Statewide motorcycle fatalities Year%Number of deaths% Deaths where rider did not wear helmet 2004%27%15 2005%42%34 2006%21%16 2007%25%14 Source: N.H. Department of Motor Vehicles
-
You guys have helped me so much already, had to tell you this. Through tomorrow, Sears is having a sale on their great motorcycle lift/jack: It's only $79! With all the maintenance I'm already doing, I need it too. Picked up a really nice roller stool too, should save some back pain. Act quick, sale ends tomorrow! No, I don't work for Sears. Here's the pics:
-
Hi folks, I am considering buying a Stinger Motorcycle Trailer, I would like some feedback on this trailer, I have never bought a trailer for my bike before and I need some direction from people who have some experience with trailers. thanks. Patrick
-
I have a prescription change coming up and will probably get new lenses and frames. What particular motorcycle factors in choosing eye glasses have others found important? I am thinking of such things as tinting, shape of the frames, or the temple pieces. Iowa Guy
-
A fellow worker has a V-Star 1300 fuel injection silver/gray for sale with only 1,300mi for 9,850.00 . So I posted it in classified for him he has no Internet at this time. Motorcycle is in excellent shape and still looks new. Reason for selling it is due to the wife not liking the seating for long trips he loves the ride but to please the wife he needs to sell it and buy another motorcycle for long trips. If your looking for a fairly new motorcycle at a good price this is the one!!! buddy
-
Introducing the newest venture Rider Member, We'll call him Monkey rider... [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5uS2eCtiUQ]YouTube - Monkey on a motorcycle![/ame]
-
There is a 1984 blonde on e-bay. Looks pretty good. Thinking about getting a 1st Gen Mark 1 for the stable. Anyone game to go look at it? Maybe take a few pictures. Looks like a small used motorcycle shop. Seller is acesmotorcycles. Thanks, JB
-
Would like to let riders in the Florida area know about the bike show at the World Golf Vilage. " Ride into History" this saturday the 17th. I will be showing off my rebuilt 03 RSV along with a poster to bring attention to it being May's Motorcycle Safey month. The prior owner (my neighbor) was the victom of a hit-and-run. Come on out and see a lot of nice motorcycles.
-
I have no idea what to get the ole lady or do for her for Mothers Day. What have or will you do for your honey? She wants a motorcycle but not any close enough for what I would spend.
-
Who changes tires fastest...or my experience with MR MOTORCYCLE NC
Guest posted a topic in Lessons Learned
So…after the Vogel meet I spent a day cruising around with Todd (86er) which culminated in a luxurious shower and good night’s rest at his motorcycle restoration emporium near Atlanta. (WOW! Thanks 86er.) I was thinking about taking the Blue Ridge home but got worried about how quickly my rear tire was being used up…that usually happens when Todd and I get together. I decided to call MR MOTORCYCLE in Asheville NC to see if they had my size, my brand and the time to put one on if I needed it when I got there. They had all of the above. I got there a few hours later, I checked out the rapidly disappearing wear bars on my tire and decided to pursue a tire purchase and installation. First off, they couldn’t find the tire, any tire, spent 30 minutes looking, didn’t have any other brand my size in stock. In conversation with the guy behind the counter I referred him to their big showroom sign which read #1 motorcycle tire dealer in the Carolinas. I laughed and jokingly wondered about the truth of the sign’s contents. He couldn’t suggest any other place to look for tires, he couldn’t give me the name of the next biggest city going north, and he kept saying “I don’t know” to those kinds of questions. He did give me options for ordering a tire…it’d be in house the next day and I’d be on the road the day after if I wanted them to install it. While considering this I asked for a quote on installation. He said 1.5 hours! I was shocked. I discussed this quote with him explaining that I couldn’t see it taking any Yamaha dealer that long if I could take the tire off and on in 30 minutes myself if I had access to a lift. He referred me to the service dept. where I continued to exclaim how outrageous this time was for changing a back tire. Some of the conversation with the service manager centered around how much of a pain it is to change a tire on my bike, and I responded with it only being one muffler which I’d take off for him! He held his ground, said he'd be happy to help me on my way if indeed I did need a tire. (huff)Finally, I came to the conclusion that my trip up the Blue Ridge wasn’t meant to be. I decided to hobble home slowly on the I75 checking my tire at every gas stop. On my way back I picked up some rear tires I had dropped shipped earlier in Michigan…that was after spending 6 hours trying to get around the Ohio flood disaster in Findley (but that is another story). I arrived home with some glum resignation that my summer sojourns were at an end. I put on a new rear tire the next day…yup, my Yamaha dealer charged 30 minutes labour!! After sitting around the place for a day (cleaning up the bike, doing an oil change) and connecting with some other Kitchener ventureriders who complained it was too cold to ride any more this season(!!), I decided to do the Blue Ridge!…I reasoned that I still had vacation time and the weather was nice so why not? Or was it really the ill reasoning that results from camping a week with LaPryor? So back down to North Carolina I cruised. Got to Cherokee in one day; started out on the parkway the next day. Half way through the day I jumped off the parkway to get gas, eat and mail a post card. Walking out of the post office I looked up the street and there was MR MOTORCYCLE! I really had no idea I was in the very same town and street that I was in several days earlier because I had approached it from a different route. Well, I decided right then to have a chat with the dealer’s manager. I introduced myself as an avid motorcyclist and a Venture rider who blogs about their travel experiences; I told him that I was also a business teacher and always like to give feedback to proprietors when the usual happens; and I asked him if he’d be interested in hearing my story. He was and I explained the whole thing. He was first amazed that I’d travel back and forth to Canada within a week, then he was concerned about what I’d blog about MR MOTORCYCLE on the venturerider’s website and hoped I "wouldn't say anything bad about them", and finally, he said he could do nothing but apologize to me for my experience and then added the proviso that he had little to do with what happens in the service dept. I thanked him for his time and went on my way enjoying a great ride up to the top of the Shenandoah NP. So my question remains…CAN CANADIANS CHANGE A REAR TIRE THREE TIMES FASTER THAN AMERICANS CAN?! -
My wife and I are going to be in Biloxi next weekend. Does anybody from down there know of a motorcycle rental close to Grand Casino?
-
Maybe this will help someone see a motorcycle before it's too late. HowClose
-
The Motorcycle safety course was an option. http://www.funlol.com/funpages/good-motorcycle-skills-buddy.html
-
Could someone help please? I am looking for a place in the Apache Junction area (Phoenix) Arizona that sells synthetic Mobil 1 Motorcycle oil. Would greatly appreciate any help you can give. Thanks
-
I am a MSF instructor and I need a waterproof boot that I can stand and walk in for eight hours. What do you recommend up to $150? I don't care if they are not motorcycle boots since most of the time I will be just wearing them on the range. tew47
-
I found this posted to another board, and found it a very interesting read, even if it is a little outdated. Especially the last few paragraphs, and how the percentages pertain to a majority of the members on this board. The over 40 statement makes one think. Something to take into consideration when looking at bike industry and where it's going in the next few years. ********************************************************** Wall Street Journal September 18, 2007 Bigger, faster, more-powerful machines are helping to make 2007 the deadliest year yet for motorcycle riders, say safety officials and a new insurance-industry study. In the past few years a horsepower battle in the cycle industry has produced bikes that have the power of a car but often weigh less than ever. Sophisticated suspension and braking systems and other electronics make them easy for inexperienced riders to handle -- up to a point. But the bikes' potential speed and violent acceleration can quickly overwhelm all but the most skilled riders. The new Ducati 1098's 160-horsepower engine makes it the Italian company's most powerful regular production model. These high-performance machines, often called "superbikes" or "supersports," accounted for less than 10% of motorcycle registrations in 2005 but accounted for more than 25% of rider fatalities, according to data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analyzed in a study released last week by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The total number of rider deaths has more than doubled since 1997. At the current rate, some safety experts say, fatalities in 2007 could surpass the previous peak of 4,955 set in 1980. Superbike riders suffer much higher death rates than riders of other kinds of bikes. And while superbikes still aren't as popular as the larger, more laid-back cruiser-style bikes made by Harley-Davidson Motor Co., such bikes have been one of the fastest-growing segments of the industry. They represented 9% of the market in 2005, compared with 47% for cruisers. But superbike registrations jumped 83% between 2000 and 2005. In addition to more-powerful machines, an influx of inexperienced riders is also helping to drive accident rates higher. And as more middle-age consumers return to motorcycling -- often after not having ridden for 20 years or more -- more older riders are being killed in crashes. Another contributing factor: a trend toward more-liberal helmet laws. "These guys start riding again in their 50s and don't realize that they aren't the same physical specimens they were in their 20s," says David Livingston, director of the New Jersey Trauma Center at University Hospital in Newark, N.J., who has recently seen an increase in motorcycle-related injuries. "During June, July and August, about one in four patients hurt in traffic accidents have been motorcycle riders," he says. SUPERBIKES Motorcycles, much like cars, have gradually become more powerful and nimble over time. But the more-rapid run-up in engine size and performance has occurred in only the past few years, as overall sales of motorcycles have boomed. New construction techniques and the widening availability of lightweight materials like carbon fiber and titanium "have made it easier to reduce weight and increase power cost-effectively," says Ted Miller, director of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, a research group. "The stoked sport bike," he says, is a fairly new development. Bike makers across the industry are conspicuously boosting power. Italian manufacturer Ducati Motor Holding earlier this year began selling the 1098, a superbike with 160 horsepower -- a big jump from the 112 horsepower the company's racy 996 model put out 10 years ago. The bike has about as much power as a Honda Accord EX sedan. BMW AG's motorcycle unit had a reputation for building sedate bikes with less than 100 horsepower until it rolled out the 167-horsepower K1200S about three years ago. Even Harley-Davidson, long known for its slow cruising and touring models, recently released the Night Rod Special, a fast, low-slung bike with a 125-horsepower engine developed with sports-car maker Porsche AG. In the late 1970s and early 1980s -- the last time motorcycle fatalities were this high -- the hottest bikes included machines like Kawasaki Motors Corp.'s Z1000. A fearsome bike at the time, its 90-or-so horsepower and total weight approaching 600 pounds seem benign compared with the nearly 200 horsepower generated by the company's new ZX-14 or rival bike maker Suzuki Motor Corp.'s GSX-R1000. The Suzuki weighs barely 400 pounds with a full fuel tank, and can accelerate to 60 mph in about 2.5 seconds. It even comes with a switch so the rider can select low, medium or high power settings. Other bikes have adopted electronically controlled brakes, transmissions and traction control to keep the rear wheel from spinning out of control under acceleration. Many supersport bikes are actually built for racing. In popular racing events like the American Motorcyclist Association superbike series, riders use bikes that are modified versions of those available to the public at dealerships. In order to compete in the races, cycle manufacturers have to build hundreds of the bikes for sale to consumers. The process, called "homologation," is meant to guarantee that the bikes found on the track are roughly the same as those widely available to the public. The bikes sold this way are sometimes touted as "race replicas" or "homologation specials." Although a tripling of motorcycle sales over the past decade accounts for some of the rising death rate, fatal motorcycle accidents have also risen proportionally. Over the time period of the IIHS study, from 2000 to 2005, the death rate for motorcyclists rose to 7.5 deaths per 10,000 registered motorcycles from 7.1. In the same period, the percentage of motorcycle deaths among all highway fatalities rose to 10% from 7%. Superbike riders had a death rate of 22.5 for every 10,000 registered motorcycles. In 2005, riders 40 or older accounted for 47% of motorcycle fatalities, compared with 24% 10 years earlier. In the same period, the fatality percentage for riders younger than 30 years of age fell to 32% from 41%. Safety officials attribute this in part to a tendency of "returning" riders to overestimate their ability to handle the latest powerful bikes. "You have a lot of people saying, 'I'm in my 40s and I want to start riding motorcycles again,'" says Daniel Lonsdorf, director of the Wisconsin Bureau of Transportation Safety. "But these aren't the same motorcycles they remember from 20 years ago." Write to Jonathan Welsh at jonathan.welsh@wsj.com2
-
I was sitting here watching an old movie tonight. I don't even know the name of it. Goldie Hawn is coaching a high school football team in the ghetto. A lady friend gave here a ride home on her motorcycle...not sure of the year but I THINK it was an '85 Venture. Pretty cool. Never saw a lot of them in the movies.
-
Any one going to the Motorcycle Swap Meet at the Rock Financial Showplace Novi Michigan this Sunday February 24 2008 ? http://www.motorcycleswap.com/
-
NAVAJO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS PRESENTS A RAFFLE TO BENEFIT: SPECIAL OLYMPICS ARIZONA 2007 ROYAL STAR MIDNIGHT VENTURE http://www.venturerider.org/raffle/star.png MRSP OF MOTORCYCLE $17,399.00 Tickets: $10.00 each http://www.venturerider.org/raffle/rsv.jpg ONLY 6,000 TICKETS AVALAILABLE! FOR TICKETS CONTACT: Sgt. Tony Miller Navajo County Sheriff's Office 928-524-4781 To order by mail send check to N.C.S.O. - L.E.T.R., P.O. Box 668, Holbrook, AZ. 86025 To order by mail send check, make check payable to: L.E.T.R. for Special Olympics INCLUDE NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER Motorcycle Provided by: ALL PRO CYCLE 1770 EAST ASH ST. GLOBE, AZ 85501 Email: ALLPROCYCLE@CABLEONE.NET PHONE: 1-800-479-2030 http://www.arizonatorchrun.com http://www.navajocountyaz.com Drawing will be held on December 19th, 2008 or before if all tickets are sold! Winner is responsible for all Taxes, License, Prep, Freight and Registration Fees!
-
I thought maybe with us being in mid-winter, someone might enjoy this little motorcycle story. I didnt write this, Dave Karlotski did. Its posted on my myspace, but I'm posting it here for members to enjoy. ---Brian ____________________________________________________ The Season of the Bike by Dave Karlotski There is cold, and there is cold on a motorcycle. Cold on a motorcycle is like being beaten with cold hammers while being kicked with cold boots, a bone bruising cold. The wind's big hands squeeze the heat out of my body and whisk it away; caught in a cold October rain, the drops don't even feel like water. They feel like shards of bone fallen from the skies of Hell to pock my face. I expect to arrive with my cheeks and forehead streaked with blood, but that's just an illusion, just the misery of nerves not designed for highway speeds. Despite this, it's hard to give up my motorcycle in the fall and I rush to get it on the road again in the spring; lapses of sanity like this are common among motorcyclists. When you let a motorcycle into your life you're changed forever. The letters "MC" are stamped on your driver's license right next to your sex and height as if "motorcycle" was just another of your physical characteristics, or maybe a mental condition. But when warm weather finally does come around all those cold snaps and rainstorms are paid in full because a motorcycle summer is worth any price. A motorcycle is not just a two-wheeled car; the difference between driving a car and climbing onto a motorcycle is the difference between watching TV and actually living your life. We spend all our time sealed in boxes and cars are just the rolling boxes that shuffle us languidly from home-box to work-box to store-box and back, the whole time entombed in stale air, temperature regulated, sound insulated, and smelling of carpets. On a motorcycle I know I'm alive. When I ride, even the familiar seems strange and glorious. The air has weight and substance as I push through it and its touch is as intimate as water to a swimmer. I feel the cool wells of air that pool under trees and the warm spokes of sunlight that fall through them. I can see everything in a sweeping 360 degrees, up, down and around, wider than PanaVision and higher than IMAX and unrestricted by ceiling or dashboard. Sometimes I even hear music. It's like hearing phantom telephones in the shower or false doorbells when vacuuming; the pattern-loving brain, seeking signals in the noise, raises acoustic ghosts out of the wind's roar. But on a motorcycle I hear whole songs: rock 'n roll, dark orchestras, women's voices, all hidden in the air and released by speed. At 30 miles an hour and up, smells become uncannily vivid. All the individual tree-smells and flower-smells and grass-smells flit by like chemical notes in a great plant symphony. Sometimes the smells evoke memories so strongly that it's as though the past hangs invisible in the air around me, wanting only the most casual of rumbling time machines to unlock it. A ride on a summer afternoon can border on the rapturous. The sheer volume and variety of stimuli is like a bath for my nervous system, an electrical massage for my brain, a systems check for my soul. It tears smiles out of me: a minute ago I was dour, depressed, apathetic, numb, but now, on two wheels, big, ragged, windy smiles flap against the side of my face, billowing out of me like air from a decompressing plane. Transportation is only a secondary function. A motorcycle is a joy machine. It's a machine of wonders, a metal bird, a motorized prosthetic. It's light and dark and shiny and dirty and warm and cold lapping over each other; it's a conduit of grace, it's a catalyst for bonding the gritty and the holy. I still think of myself as a motorcycle amateur, but by now I've had a handful of bikes over a half dozen years and slept under my share of bridges. I wouldn't trade one second of either the good times or the misery. Learning to ride was one of the best things I've done. Cars lie to us and tell us we're safe, powerful, and in control. The air-conditioning fans murmur empty assurances and whisper, "Sleep, sleep." Motorcycles tell us a more useful truth: we are small and exposed, and probably moving too fast for our own good, but that's no reason not to enjoy every minute of the ride.
.thumb.jpg.9cdbd0606d39584008fc344c5c502c8c.jpg)
.thumb.jpg.03be1f3c26aa3c2d2a0d905345cc43a7.jpg)
(2).thumb.jpg.ed38114c3594d76e49dd7acc0b8d9f32.jpg)
.thumb.jpg.5bc608c29d230c44c77c79acb0510cd8.jpg){kind=avatar}
