Memories of Conferences Past

The van pounded down the freeway as rain and snow mix spattered against the windshield. The heat was keeping the six passengers and the driver comfortable despite the dropping temperatures outside. We had left the parking lot of the school about 9:30 p.m., heading to Hollywood for the Associated Collegiate Press journalism conference. As I watched the miles of highway pass by, I thought about my last trip to California by motorcycle for last year’s conference.

Hunter Thompson, my favorite author, wrote a story about a ride that he used to do from San Francisco to San Jose along California Highway 1, in the middle of the night. I wanted to run this route myself, on my own bike. I was determined to make it happen, so I started planning.

I was going to head down Interstate 5 and cut across to Highway 101 at Sacramento, the quicker way. However, at the last minute, the weather reports started calling for snow in Ashland. Damn. So, I was forced into taking the coast route.

The day of the trip, I strapped my bags to my bike, got suited up, fired it up and headed out of town. By the time I hit the mountains heading to the coast, I began to question my sanity. I decided to just kept persevering, knowing that it couldn’t rain forever. However, if it didn’t stop by the time I made it to the California border, I was going to turn around and get my car.

Pulling into Brookings, Ore., it was sunny and starting to warm up. I started getting excited, thinking that the trip was actually going to work out for me.

Before leaving the house, I had looked at the map and saw that Highway 101 went inland once it hit California. I heard from someone in Brookings that there was no rain the rest of the way to San Francisco. I was going to get a chance to warm up and dry off. What I failed to notice on the map was that although the highway went inland, it also gained about 2000 feet in elevation. It wasn’t raining any more, but the ambient temperature dropped about 15 degrees. I was wet and cold. But I was committed.

In the end, I spent a total of 15 and a half hours in the saddle. I arrived in San Francisco stiff, sore, and shivering.

I was still too sore to do the ride down Highway 1, so my motorcycle just stayed parked for the weekend as I worked the kinks out of my knees.

For the trip home, I took Interstate 5 the whole way, as the weather was very nice. For a while the hardest part was keeping cool enough.

At first I was a little wary of letting someone else drive all the way to Hollywood, but the more I thought about how I could be out there on a bike in the horrible weather.

What Bike is Best For Me?

Spring is begrudgingly waking up and rubbing the sleep from its eyes, bringing with it a fast approaching riding. Many motorcyclists are just now starting to dust off their rides and get things ready for warmer weather and higher gas prices that are on their way.

However, there are many motorcyclists out there that are currently bikeless. Whether it is because they had to sell their bike in order to upgrade, or they have never owned a bike before, now is the time to shop. The nicer the weather gets, the higher the prices are going to go.

The first thing that you need to look at is your experience level. If you have never even thrown a leg over a bike, then your first one probably shouldn’t be a 600cc repli-racer. There is a really good chance that you will kill yourself. Also, buying a brand new bike isn’t a great idea. If you drop a bike that already has a few “beauty marks” then you are less likely to be as upset.

Next, you should consider what type of riding you are going to be doing. Are you interested in exploring backwoods? Are you ready to take off across the country, or are you more interested in just cruising around town?

If you are looking for a bike that will get you around town, down the highway and around the backwoods, then a dual sport is what you are looking for. One of the most famous examples of this is the Kawasaki KLR 650. This bike isn’t the greatest at tight trails, but it will explore fire roads in comfort and keep up with freeway traffic while still getting over 40 miles per gallon.

If your goal is to pack up and take off for a cross country tour tomorrow, then a full dress touring bike like a Honda Goldwing should be on your shopping list. With such amenities as a radio, cruise control and adjustable air shocks, you can ride in comfort while the spacious hard luggage compartment holds your clothes and supplies in waterproof protection.

For most however, commuting is going to be the name of the game for their bikes. The cruiser or standard style is great for this. These bikes can run in displacement from 250cc all the way over 2000cc. They have a foot forward seating position and can be fitted with all manner of accessories, such as bags and windshields, to help make your commute easier on you.

The most important thing is to not rush out and buy a bike just because you think it looks cool. Take your time and shop around a little bit. Throw your leg over a couple of bikes before choosing one. The more comfortable you are, the safer your ride is going to be, and the more likely you are to ride your new gas saver.

Reevaluating Oregon's Helmet Law

Currently there is a bill being passed through the House of Representatives, sponsored by Andy Olson that would relax Oregon’s helmet law. House Bill 3141 would amend the law to state that people over the age of 21 are allowed to ride their motorcycles without helmets. This will be a very popular amendment to the law for a lot of people. I am one of them.

I believe that it should be my choice as to whether or not I wear a helmet while I am on my bike. My choice would be to wear a helmet of course. A full face helmet. Yes, although I believe that there shouldn’t be helmet laws, I would also still choose to wear a helmet. My head may be funny shaped, but it is mine.

As much as I would love to see my beloved Oregon become a state where we can make choices as individuals, I am a little disturbed by the motivation behind it. He is sponsoring this bill because friends of his who ride have told him that it is too hard to see or hear out of full face helmets. I call shenanigans.

This is an argument that I have heard numerous times, and I just can’t swallow it. I have had a few years out on the road, riding from little Corvallis, Ore. to Seattle, San Francisco, Klamath Falls and even around Crater Lake three times. I have never worn anything less than a full face helmet, and I have had plenty of close calls. However, none of those were caused by my inability to see or hear the traffic around me.

Also, if you don’t like full face helmets, then don’t buy one. They are actually the most expensive of the helmet designs. A small DOT approved “skull cap” helmet can be picked up at a gear shop for around $30. These helmets do not impede anything, as no part of them is anywhere near your eyes or ears. How is this going to work into the argument of “I can’t see or hear anything when I wear a helmet?”

I do believe that the helmet law should be revised. I think that the new bill that is being introduced is a good idea. However, I don’t believe that it is being fought for the right reasons. If you start stating that full face helmets are dangerous on the road, who’s to say that the next bill wouldn’t outlaw full face helmets?

This is a fight that bikers have been slogging through for a long time. I just want the fight to be for the real reason, a biker’s choice. My choice will still be my full face helmet.

Where Can I Get a Jacket?

Where is a good place to get a riding jacket? This is something that I hear a lot when out on the road, from people who ride in ski jackets or letterman’s jackets when they start to crave the protection of windproof materials and foam armor.

Proper riding gear really can make the difference between a good ride and a bad one. The materials that are used in the production of riding gear are tested and used specifically for protection against weather , crashes, or both.

Let’s start with the two main types of material: leather and textile. Both are abrasion resistant, so they will keep your skin on your body in the event of a crash. Usually textile is a little lighter and less expensive than leather.

There are a few online sources for getting riding apparel. DennisKirk.com has a very large (over 300) selection of men’s jackets and riding suits alone. Another online source for riding apparel is Leatherup.com. They have a large selection as well, of both leather and textile products. The upside of shopping for jackets online is that the prices are usually lower, as they are able to buy in bulk. Dennis Kirk even has a deal that if you spend over $100 then the shipping is on them.

The downside to ordering from an online store however is that riding gear needs to fit you a certain way. Having an experience d sales person who can help you get the right fit and show you how to adjust the straps properly will make you a more comfortable and a safer rider. A great store to check out is Cycle Gear in Salem, Ore.

Cycle Gear is a chain store, but very customer service driven. They have a price match guarantee, where they will match a price and knock off an extra 5 percent on any product that is found at a local retailer. The staff members are knowledgeable and most of them commute on motorcycles themselves. If there is something that they don’t have in the store, they will likely be able to order it. Employee Ron Davis said if they have a product at a different store, they can have it shipped to your local store. Also, if there is something on their website that you want, you can order it from the website while in the store and have it shipped directly to your house.

Getting a properly fitting jacket will keep loose material from slapping around in the wind, beating you up. Also the material of a motorcycle jacket will keep the wind out, helping to keep you warm and prevent dehydration. With a little shopping around, you will be able to find a jacket that will suit your needs and not cost you more than your tuition.

Preparing Your Bike for the Winter

It is a heartbreaking experience, pulling your trusty steed out of the spot where moss has started to form around the tires. As you push it out to a nice clear space to start it, you wonder why you don’t remember your bike weighing this much. You soon realize that the rolling resistance is caused by the completely flat rear tire .

Then you turn the key. Although the headlight comes on, when you push the starter button, the motor hardly turns over. Damn. If you are lucky, then there is merely a single plastic cover over your battery. However, if you have a full fairing, out come the tools.

Once the fairing is off you realize that the battery is low on water. Usually this is an easy thing to fix, except that your terminals are corroded together. Double damn. Suddenly the pleasant day of riding has turned into two hours of work, frustration, and the delusion that the birds chirping merrily in the background are actually mocking you.

There are a few simple steps that you can take to make sure that this isn’t your beginning of the riding season scenario. The simplest answer is of course to not end the riding season. Brad Lawrie commutes daily on his motorcycle and his response to storing his bike for the off season is, “There’s an off season?” Through the use of proper riding gear, including electric clothing, he is able to ride year round.

However, if you are not into riding during inclement weather (safety first) then you will have to prepare your bike for storage. First, get a cover of some sort. Covers are fairly inexpensive and can be found at most auto parts stores and motorcycle dealerships.

Disconnect the battery. This does two things positive for you. First, trying to get corroded terminals to disconnect is an arduous task, as they are usually brass and can strip easily. Also, if there is a slow voltage leak, it will keep your battery from draining. If you have a garage, getting a Battery Tender is a great idea. This is a product that charges your battery and keeps it at a constant charge without blowing it up.

Also before you store your motorcycle, you should address the fuel. Gasoline degrades quickly, so adding something like Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer will help keep the fuel in the tank from turning into paint thinner later. And speaking of your carbs, draining them is always a good idea for long term storage. As the fuel breaks down, it leaves a gummy residue on important internal parts, keeping your bike from performing at its peak.

Taking these small steps before the weather kicks you off your bike, will save you a huge headache when the sun does come out for the season.

Need a New Game for Your Motorcycle?

Getting bored with the day to day commute? Got a free moment during the weekend after all your homework is done? Try logging onto the Pacific Northwest Riders forum and look into some Photo Tag.

The concept is simple. Log onto the forum, www.pnwriders.com, under the Corvallis>Photo Tag thread and check out the last picture. You have to figure out where that picture was taken. Once you know where to go, you ride there, take a picture of your bike in front of the same scenery, and then post your picture.

You have to be the first one to post on the forum with your picture in order to claim that victory. If you are not first, then you have to find another picture on the forum and try again.

Obviously, it would be unfair to ride to Los Angeles, snap a picture and expect anyone from this area to ever get that tag. The main point of the game is to keep it local. Through the game, you are trying to show people new and interesting places to ride around the valley and surrounding areas.

Here are some tips for your photos, in order to have a successful photo tag experience. First, don’t forget your bike. I know this sounds simple, but how many people forget to plug the computer in before calling tech support? Remember that this is a game mostly about places to take your bike. Prove to people that a motorcycle can get there.

Second, even though you want to include your bike, don’t make it the main focus of the photo. Nobody is going to be able to figure out where you are if all they can see of the surrounding area is the reflection of a street sign in your highly polished chrome tailpipe. Your ride is pretty, we all get that, but have some clues in the picture as to your location.

Don’t reveal too much. There is no challenge if you have the street signs as part of your picture. Give just enough clues that someone is going to be able to figure it out, but don’t lead the horse to water and push it in and drown it.

Take a decent picture. The camera technology is such that even cheap cell phones take some pretty nice pictures for the most part. However, if you sneeze during the picture, or the light is bad, try again. Or if you have to, come back when the light is better.

With these few simple tips, you can be the hero in the fight against boredom. However, don’t tie a cape around your neck while riding. That would be dangerous. Have fun and take pictures!

On Your Mark, Get Set, Commute!

“The Edge…There is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.” –Hunter S. Thompson, “Midnight on the Coast Highway”

“Remember when sex was safe and motorcycles were dangerous?” –Author Unknown

The first quote was written in 1965 after a blistering midnight run down California’s Highway 1 by Hunter S. Thompson. During that time, the most protection that was offered was a leather jacket and helmets that did little more than keep the weather off your onion. The second quote rings true in that there are so many more options out there for motorcycle safety equipment.

The technology for this safety equipment has trickled down from racing. Leather suits with high density foam armor in them, helmets that absorb the impact of a crash while keeping your brains inside your head.

The leather suits with body armor started as a racing suit, but now anyone with a credit card can order one for themselves, even if they never see a track. The same with helmets, as the same safety materials that go into a racer’s helmet can be found in one found in Cycle Gear stores.

Not only did they cover the things that protect you during a crash, but they covered things to prevent you from having the crash in the first place. Brembo makes brakes that won’t fade, even if the rotors hit 1200 degrees. They test their products to standards that they will never reach in the real world.

A more recent thing that has trickled down from racing technology is the slipper clutch. Most people think that the most dangerous thing that you can do is braking during a corner; however, downshifting is even more dangerous. It is much easier to lock up the rear tire if your motor and tire speed don’t match.

With the development of the slipper clutch, when a rider heads into a turn, they can just jam the bike into the gear that they want and let out the clutch. The clutch will slip until the tire and motor catch up to each other instead of the tire losing traction. These slipper clutches are now available in most sport bikes in one form or another.

The safety technology is moving at a blistering pace, but it has to in order to keep up with the racers that need it. Then as commuters, we all benefit from this technology trickling down.