2-Wheel'in Down South

GPS Mount Part I - 12 Volt Power

2011-03-14T20:30:00.000-07:00

I recently purchased a portable GPS from Best Buy  - a Magellan Roadmate 2036. It's a general purpose unit that comes with good reviews. It's not motorcycle specific, so it's not waterproof (more on that later). The first step was installing a 12 volt power source. Here are some photos - pretty straightforward. Run the wires back to the bettery for positive with an inline 30amp fuse, and the negative to a frame bolt. The next steps will be posted after I receive my RAM Motorcyle mount!

Do the "Doo"

2011-03-14T20:26:00.000-07:00

If you are reading this post and you know anything about the Kawasaki KLR, then you know what the title means. If not, here is what it is The infamous "doo hickey" is the idler shaft lever that is made (and has been for over 20 years) too light, and has in some instances broken sending bits of metal through the engine. The KLR is a fantastic - simple, and reliable machine - but this part is it's achilles heal - so much that a guy that goes by "Eagle Mike" has made a business out of providing bullit proof replacement levers - AKA - the DOO. Most people replace them before the bike hits 5K miles - mine is at 4400 so I did mine. It's a pretty easy repair because there is so much documentation and youtube videos out there. It's just time consuming. I waited for the first warm evening this past February and knocked it out in about 4 hours (and a few beers). Here are some photos.

Pelican Panniers

2010-12-05T16:52:00.000-08:00

Waterproof, lockable storage. Isn't that what all motorcycle riders really want? I recently added the Happy Trails SU Side Racks, perfect for mounting my throwover Cortech bags. But, sometimes you need to lock things up, and also need to be 100% waterproof.

PELICAN CASES
In a nutshell, bullet proof. One of the best products I have come across.  These cases come in all different sizes and are used for all different types of applications. Dual Sport motorcyclists have figured out that they make great panniers and top boxes. I have had one on my luggage rack since summer that I use to lock up my valuables when out riding. I have been researching different hard case setups - aluminum panniers made by all different companies, ammo boxes modified, Givi boxes, etc. In the end, I just love the Pelican cases. They are light, durable, lockable, and waterproof. And, they "look" like they belong on a dual sport bike - let's face it, it's just not right to get to fancy - after all we are still riding street legal dirt bikes right?

MOUNTING OPTIONS
Choosing the cases was the easy part - I went with 1550's. Figuring out how I wanted to mount them was difficult. Some people hard mount them permanantly. I did not want to do that. I don't plan to keep these on the bike all the time. I just don't need the storage, and like to stay as "light" as possible when I go offroad.  I will probably only use these for shopping trips, overnights, or maybe commuting to work. Day rides I will leave them at home. So, I decided I wanted a quick release system. Pelican cases are so popular as Panniers that there are company's that actually make mounting systems for them - but,they are expensive, and frankly, you can get all the right hardware at the hardware store for a fraction of the cost. So, I stopped by Lowe's one night - with a pretty good idea of what I wanted to do, and picked up a few items. My system is very simple. I fabricated an aluminum bracket on the backside/bottom of each case that sits on the bottom of the side rack that holds the weight of the case.  They sit on the bottom of the rack on a pin that keeps them in place. Then, the case is held to the top of the rack by a threaded carriage bolt, and a plastic threaded T-knob type handle on the inside (making it difficult - if not impossible to remove without gaining access to the inside of the case).

THE FINISHED PRODUCT
I am very happy with how this turned out.  They can come off the bike in about 10 seconds, and I can interchange the right side case as a top box if I ever need one that's a little larger.  I put some reflective tape on the boxes to dress them up a little and also for safety reasons.   I also added small bungee cords on the inside to keep the lids from dropping down to their hinge stops. I look forward to trying these out sometime on an overnight.

Making a New Riding Friend

2010-12-05T16:31:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to get together with Kerry King since the week I got my KLR last year. He has 5 kids and is a Doctor, so he is very busy like me - not to mention he lives 30 min south. He also had Knee Surgery last year which kept him off the bike for several months. Well, we finally got together and enjoyed meeting each other, chatting about bikes at Starbucks, and riding in the mountains on a beautiful day. Temps were 55 (39 when we left) and the sun was in and out of the clouds. We made my usual stops at Riders Hill, and had lunch at Two Wheels Only.

Here are a few picks of Kerry's KLR - he purchased it used from a guy who had done all the major performance mods including the Progressive rear shock and spring. Kerry did this light set up - I may do this mod - they really make the bike more visible even in the daytime. He also hard wired connections for his heated jacket and gloves. In all, a very nice KLR. He also has a KLX 250 - which are very popular around here for serious single track trail riding. I am not sure when we will be able to ride together again - he is having shoulder surgery in early January (the price you pay for an active lifestyle he says).

Thermobob Modifcation

2010-11-29T22:24:00.000-08:00

The KLR 650 has a few flaws that Kawasaki has decided that after 20 years of experience with this model, they will just ignore. One of them is the cooling system. Cooling isn't the problem - warming and maintaining a constant temperature is. It's a cold natured system and when temps dip below 50, the bike does not want to warm up much past the low end of the normal range, and then fluctuates wildly as you transition from highway to stopped speeds. Anybody with basic mechanical knowledge knows this isn't optimal for internal parts - especially if you plan to keep the machine for tens of thousands of miles (which at the moment, I do as I love this bike).

THERMOBOB By Watt-Man.

Who is Watt-Man? Another fellow KLR enthusiast who happens to not only love the model but has made a business out of manufacturing and selling an aftermarket Thermostat/bypass system designed to keep the KLR's temps right in the middle of the normal operating range at all times - regardless of outside temp, speed, etc. It's a time tested and proven modification that I just had to do.

HOW IT'S DONE
The directions were very easy to follow with many great photos. The most difficult part of the whole process is getting the plastic shrouds off and removing the gas tank. The actualy installation of the unit was a piece of cake. Basically, you remove the factory thermostat, and reinstall the Thermobob and bypass. The thermobob and bypass work in conjunction to regulate the temp of coolant in the system - if it's too cold, it keeps the coolant in the engine to keep the heat in it unlike the factory set up that just kept it circulating through the whole system to keep it cold from outside air temps. If it's too hot, it circulates it through the radiator like the factory set up did at all times to get max cooling. Seems like such a basic concept that Kawasaki should have fixed a long time ago. But, then again, we KLR enthusiasts wouldn't get to meet "Watt-Man" and engage in email conversations with him about our bikes then would we?

Let me tell you, after 130 miles in 45-55 degree weather riding at all different speeds, I can say that it works beautifully. Great product "Watt-Man" (his handle on KLR.Net forums).

Happy Trails SU Side Racks

2010-11-29T22:08:00.000-08:00

I have been performing some maintenance on the bike as it approaches 5,000 miles. One of the items I have decided to repair is a bit of a "modification" rather than maintenance. I have been using soft saddle bags made by Cortech that lie easily on the plastic side covers. No problems whatsoever - they fit great. However, I recently noticed that the muffler is starting to burn the outside corner of the right one. So, time to set the bags up properly. I installed Happy Trails SU Racks. This were a little beefier than I needed, but I opted for them as I can upgrade later to hard panniers using the same racks if I so choose.

Here are a couple of pictures of the finished product. Very functional, very sturdy. BTW, these are not quick release, so I am leaving them on the bike even when I am not using the bags (which is a majority of the time).

Repairing the Top Box

2010-10-25T21:09:00.000-07:00

I installed a Pelican 1450 top box shortly after taking the first overnight trip on my bike. I really needed some lockable, waterproof storage for my valuables. Well, I found out after some recent riding that 3 of the 4 bolts securing it to my luggage rack were sheered off. NOT GOOD considering I carry my DSLR Nikon camera in it. I am guessing it happened while beating the bike around in the woods carrying tools in it.

THE REPAIR
First, I used some of the "pluck and pick" foam that came with the box to design a foam organizer to keep valuables from flopping around in the case. The next thing I did was upgrade the size of the box. I really like riding the bike on day trips without the saddle bags - the bike feels better in the twisties. Also, I commute to work on the bike and my laptop bag will not fit in the existing box. At the same time, I want to be able to switch back and forth from smaller to bigger box as needed. So, I decided to run the bolts up through the bottom of the luggage rack as posts and secure them with wingnuts inside the box. That way nobody can remove the locked box from the bike, yet I can still take it off in a minute if I want to.

PELICAN 1550
I went with the Pelican 1550 after looking at several sizes. I also looked at GIVI top boxes - which are extremely nice and also affordable. However, I really like the "utility" of the Pelican cases. The 1550 is 2 sizes bigger than the current box I have - it actually fits inside of the 1550. My foam organizer tray also fits nicely inside the box leaving room for a small cooler. This is going to be perfect for long day trips, commuting, or trips to the store. I do plan to continue to use the smaller box if I go on any rough roads.

THE REPAIR ISSUES - Stripped out threads
The first chore was to drill out the sheered off bolts in the frame where the luggage rack is secured. WHAT A PAIN - I think I broke about 15 drill bits and a couple of taps. Once this was complete, I had to carefully align the box and make a template for drilling the holes - turned out perfect. I am very happy with it.

Fall Ride with Friends

2010-10-25T19:31:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I had 6 friends come visit for a long weekend of riding. Curt Owens, Steve Landes, and his wife Tina arrived on Thursday, and Andrew Steadman, Chris Galardi, and Bob Lowe arrived on Friday. The weekend started early on Friday morning as Curt, Steve, Tina and myself went up to the Suches, GA area and did some off roading. Then, on Saturday morning, the entire group departed for 2 days of riding in North GA, Easter North Carolina, and Southeast Tennessee. Our route took us from my home up through Dahlonega, GA where we stopped at Riders Hill - a really cool Moto Guzzi dealer and motorcycle cafe. From there we traveled further up into the mountains and stopped at Mountain Crossings Hiking store at Walasi Yi - this is where the Appalachian trail crosses Highway 129 about 15 miles south of Blairsville, GA. It's a historic building that is actually the only hike store "on" the Appalachian Trail (so they claim). From there, we headed on north until we reached Murphy North Carolina where we stopped for fuel. Then on to Andrews, NC for a snack stop, then we checked into our hotel, the Two Wheel Only Inn. What a cool place - it's a motor lodge designed for motorcyclists - each room comes with it's own garage. Very nice.

TAIL OF THE DRAGON

After dropping our gear, we fired up the iron horses again and headed for Deals Gap and the "Tail of the Dragon". 318 Curves in just 11 miles - cool road - fun people watching!

MOONSHINER 28

After we rode the section of US 129 called the "Dragon", we picked up US 28 and road a section called "Moonshiner 28". This piece of road is actually less stressfull riding than the Dragon - more sweeping curves and less blind corners - less hooligans.

CHEROHALA SKYWAY

For me, I think the highlight of the trip was the morning journey across US 143/165 which is the Cherohala Scenic Skyway. This is one of the nicest roads I have ever ridden on a motorcycle. Big sweeping curves, beautifull wide open scenic views - and the weather was just perfect with the leaves near their peak. It was really cool to see that part of the country on a sunny fall day. We stopped in Tellico Plain's TN for a break, then rode on down to my house taking Highway 60 through Suches, GA - another great motorcycle road.

In all, it was a fantastic trip and we were very thankful to have all stayed safe on the journe

South Carolina, Sumter National Forest, Lake Burton

2010-10-25T19:25:00.000-07:00

What do I do when my wife says "you need to get out of here and ride your motorcycle" spur of the moment......I put my gear on, start the bike, and leave as fast as possible before anybody changes their mind. Sometimes, like this particular day, I had no clue where to go - just knew I wanted to explore a part of the South I had not been to. So, I headed to the Northwest Corner of South Carolina and rode through the Sumter National Forest. On the way there, I went past a historic site called Travelers Rest. It was closed, so I just got shot from the parking lot. I then road over to Clayton GA,and then down past Lake Burton and to Helen. I found an awesome road around Lake Burton down to Unicoi State park that is awesome - I am gonna be visiting it again sometime!

Cherohala Skyway Pre-Trip

2010-10-25T19:19:00.000-07:00

In preperation for a planned trip with Friends, I took a day trip up to the Cherohala Skyway over Labor Day weekend. I only rode about a quarter of it - just didn't have enough time. Nice day - great ride.

Ten Dollar Tool Tube - You get what you pay for!

2010-10-25T19:15:00.000-07:00

I have seen several Dual Sport riders mount tubes on their frames to hold tools. I decided to do the same using a welding rod holder I got at Home Depot for ten bucks. It worked great - for half a ride until a big rock kicked up and put a hole in it. I guess I'll put the tools back in my top box LOL.

Stock Exhaust - Gotta Go!

2010-10-25T19:12:00.000-07:00

Does anyone ever keep the stock exhaust on a motorcyle for very long? Answer - no, because they generally sound bad, weigh too much, restrict airflow too much, and sometimes look bad too. In the case of the KLR, all 4 apply - especially weight - take a look at these picks - BOAT ANCHOR. I went with an FMF Q4 slip on. It's a nice inexpensive system that sounds good but is the quietest of the aftermarket pipes available for the KLR. I also tuned the bike doing what's called the "22 cent mode" which is basically shimming the carb needle with a #4 washer from Ace Hardware - a very popular mod. I also enrichened the mixture, torn out the "snorkel" from the airbox, and installed an UNI performance air filter. I am very pleased with the results the bike came to life after the mods. It's still a 650, but it's much more responsive and sounds better too. It's popping on decel from the emissions air pump - that's my next mod - I need to remove it.

Flat Tires Suck

2010-10-25T19:04:00.000-07:00

During summer vacation in July, my wife spent 2 weeks in Ohio visiting family. I rode my motorcycle just about everyday while she was gone and there was little "commitments" to atten to at home. One evening, I took off just before sunset over to Gainesville for a quick run around Lake Lanier. Just as I got to my furthest point and ready to turn around and head back, I picked up a nail in my rear tire rounding an intersection. Man, that is a bad feeling to have a tire go completely flat in about 5 seconds in a corner. I got the bike off the road and into a CVS Parking lot and called Geico Insurance roadside. Yeah - they got me home, almost 3 hours later. So, now, not only do I have a new set of Avon Gripsters on the bike, but I also have a tire repair kit and spare tubes on board!

I decided to replace both front and rear tires. I got to put my motorcycle jackstand to the test. It was fairly straightforward and easy to do (a positive of owning a KLR). After the work was complete, I took off for Wolf Pen Gap Road - remembering the last words from the guy at the tire shop "these tires will be dangerous if not respected for the first couple hundred miles as they wll be slippery". Man was he right - and it rained on me to boot!

The new tires were purchased at Riders Hill after a bunch of research. They are 80% street and 20% dirt. Since purchasing the tires, they have enough miles on them for me to conclude they are decent for the style of riding I am doing and an overall good choice.

Summer Trip to Deals Gap - Motorcycle Camping

2010-10-25T18:53:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, I got a Saturday night yard pass and decided to throw the tent and sleeping bag on the bike and head up to Deals Gap and ride the Tail of the Dragon on the KLR. Overall, it was a great - but short trip.

IRONHORSE
I rode up late Morning Saturday, set up camp at the Ironhorse Motorcycle Lodge - an awesome place. Very nice people, clean facility, and friendly bikers to visit with

After setting up camp, I unloaded some stuff off the bike and took off on US 28 over to th Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort and then rode the Dragon. Man, what a place. Intersting piece of road, 318 curves in just 11 miles. Lots of hooligans - and cars crossing the center line in curves.

I got back to the camp at dinner time and learned that Graham county is dry - your kidding me? So, I took off and rode to Bryson City NC - 20 minutes up the road and grabbed a couple of cold beers at a gas station and came back. THEN I had had enough riding. I had dinner and sat by the campfire with other bikers listening to a couple of "locals" picking the guitar and singing tunes.

The next morning had to get back for Antonio's game, so I loaded the bike early and rode straight back the shortest route possible - 3 hours 15 minutes total time - not bad.

My First Bike - Suzuki TS 125

2009-10-23T06:39:00.000-07:00

I can't remember how old I was - maybe 12. My friend David had an old Suzuki TS 125 that he wanted to sell - he had recently gotten a new Honda 3-wheeler and was no longer riding the bike. Somehow, I managed to talk my dad into buying this bike. Mom and Dad certainly did not spoil me when I was a kid. We had a nice home and I had nice stuff, but there was no brand new machine sitting in the garage on Christmas morning with a bow on it. My parents taught me to take care of what I had and it will last you a long time. I was the kid that actually washed and waxed his bicylce. I haven't done so well with my kids - I can't even get them to use the damn kickstand. But that's another story. Anyway, while all my friends were getting fancy Honda 3 wheelers and other dirt bikes for Christmas, I was on the sidelines anxious to get my own motorized toy. When David suggested I buy his old bike, I am sure I put some awesome sales pitch together and promised my parents the world....they bought it - and we bought the bike.

The TS 125 that I had looked a little rougher than this one. Mine was missing the headlight and tail rack. Dad and I bought a plastic dirt bike number plate to replace the headlight - it looked pretty cool. The bike wasn't very powerful and realistically probably needed a carburetor re-build at a minimum. I didn't care. I rode the bike on a flat field road behind my house - up and down, up and down. I loved that bike. I even remember riding it around the yard in the snow. Ah - fun times...there is just something about the freedom of 2-wheels.

Suzuki TS 185

2009-10-23T06:21:00.000-07:00

I have always enjoyed swap meets - airplanes, cars, or motorcycle. It's interesting to see what "junk" people are selling. Recently, at the Barber Vintage Motorcycle Festival in Birmingham, AL, I came across something that brought back fond memories of my childhood. There for sale at the swap meet was an old Suzuki TS 185 Dual Sport bike. I had one of those as a young boy - probably 15 years old when I got it. I can remember loading it in the back my my pick up truck once I got my license and heading out to the abandon strip mines up near Clinton, IN with friends. It wasn't the most powerful bike and I remember dumping it plenty of times trying to climb hills that were too tall for it's strength. It was a pretty beat up bike, but I loved it nonetheless. The guy at the swap meet was asking $1,000 for this bike - are you kiding me? I think I gave some kid $100 for mine back in 1985.

KLR 650 - Pelican Top Box Installation

2009-10-23T06:10:00.000-07:00

When I purchased my KLR, I decided to have the dealer throw in the factory luggage which included soft sided tail, saddle, and tank bags. They generally look stylish, and function ok. They were also inexpensive. I think the dealer sold them to me for around $240 for the whole set. Well, that old saying, you get what you paid for does apply here. Soft sided bags have 2 major dissadvantages. 1. They are not 100% water proof. 2. They are not secure - you can use a luggage lock on the zippers, but, you can't bolt that bag to the bike so someone could easily walk off with your stuff if they wanted to.
PELICAN CASES
Pelican manufactures cases of all types. They are well known for their camera and video equipment boxes, but over the years, creative people have adapted their boxes for many uses. They are 100% waterproof, and lockable. They have a variety of sizes, and the smaller boxes like the one I purchased come with customizable foam inserts. For more information on Pelican, visit http://www.pelican.com/
THE INSTALLATION
After a bunch of research, I decided to buy the 1450 case. My luggage rack will accomodate a much larger rack, but, for general day trip use, I don't need the extra space (have a large tank bag and saddle bags) and would rather keep the profile of the set up as slim as possible. For anyone interested in doing a similar set up, I offer a summary of my experience installing the case on my tail rack as follows:
1. Remove Tail Rack top cover. There are 6 - 6mm bolts that hold the top rack on.

2. Turn the case upside down and lay the rack on it and use as a template to mark your holes. I decided to use the rear 2 sets of bolts so that the case set's as far back on the rack as possible. My method for marking the holes was to put measure, then tape the rack to the box, then use a small drill bit to make pilot holes.

3. Place the top rack back on the bike. You are about to embark on the hardest part of the installation. Lining the holes back up. The rack is actually under a bit of a load. Since the bolts are going into threaded holes, you have to get it right or you will strip out the threads and have a hole new problem. I replaced the original bolts with longer ones - and actually, they were a little too long as I had to use washers. This is something I will fix next time I stop by Lowe's. Be sure to use Rubber Washers to help prevent water leakage.

4. Reflectors - Walmart's Automotive section has some stick on reflectors that actually dress up the boxes. I also added a strip of reflective tape to the rear of the box. Being seen is very important when you are riding a motorcycle!!!

5. Locks - Lowe's sells a set of Master locks in a 4 pack that are all keyed the same - very nice as the top box has 2 lock clasps.

That's it! Now I have a very nice, lockable, water tight place to keep my valuables when riding. No more loading my pockets up with all my stuff when I stop to use the bathroom or grab a coffee.

2009 KLR 650 Luggage Review

2009-10-14T13:38:00.000-07:00

I recently returned from a 3 night 4 day trip on my KLR 650. I have the factory tank bag, tail bag, and saddle bags. I got to test them out in a variety of conditions, and thought I would post a short review.

In short, I would summarize by saying if you are looking for a "light duty" set of bags that look great, are easy to use, and are inexpenive, then these are perfect. However, if you are looking for all weather gear that's lockable, look elsewhere!

STYLE AND FIT

The bags fit on the bike very easily and look great. They are easy to install and remove and definitely have the appearance that they are "meant for" this bike. You can have any of the 3 on and off very quickly. Also, they stay put too. In other words, they don't flop around at highway speeds.

CAPACITY

The Tank bag expands and holds a large amount. However, the map pocket could be bigger - you have to be pretty good at properly folding a map to the area of your route to fit in the clear plastic pocket. The tank bag also droops towards the seat so reading it requires you to look down pretty far. The saddle bags need to be expandable - they are just a bit too small. The tail bag is my favorite overall in terms of capacity. It expands and can hold a good amount of gear. On my recent trip, I used a backpacking compression stuff sack for all my clothes which included extra pants, sweatshirts, etc. Jammed it all right in there!

WATERPROOFING
OK - so most of what I have written so far sounds pretty good right? Well hang on. Let's talk about keeping your stuff dry. Not so much. I knew these bags would probably let some moisture in so I packed everything in zip lock bags. Good thing. There was a puddle of water in the bottom of the tank bag, and everything in the saddle bags was soaked (my tools, first aid kit, and extra shoes). The tail bag didn't do too bad. It did let some moisture in but there wasn't a puddle of water.

DURABILITY
I have owned the bike for 3 months now. I have used the bags in a variety of conditions. So far, they have held up fairly well. They don't feel like the kind of bags that will last long if not cared for. I can already tell that the first thing to go will be the attachment point where the tie down straps are sewn to the bags - it's a weak point on the tailbag and side bags.

CONCLUSION
That old saying "you get what you pay for" comes to mind. These bags work fairly well for the roughly $250 bucks that the dealership sold them to me for. I know how to pack for rainy weather so I can live with some water leaks. If one of the lightweight straps rips, I will repair it. Between the 3 bags, there is enough capacity to handle my typical trips. My biggest issue/complaint that I haven't raised so far is lockability. I have never had an issue with theft of items left on my motorcycles. I never really worry about it at biker events - bikers just don't seem to mess with each others stuff - I guess it's that mutual respect thing we all have for each other and our hobby. It would be nice though to have at least one bag on the bike that locked for "piece of mind".

"Guzzi Chris and his new toy"

2009-10-02T07:31:00.001-07:00

One of my Florida buddies, Chris Galardi, went on a trip recently to Ohio. Chris is one of those guys that is a member of the "Iron Butt" club. He is not afraid to travel cross country on 2 wheels. He loves Moto Guzzi Bikes. He owned a Guzzi Breva 1100 that he only had for a few years and racked up I believe near 30,000 miles. He made a trip to California on it for the annual Moto Guzzi Rally last year. Anyway, on his way back from Ohio, he picked up this Moto Guzzi Stelvio - one of the new models Guzzi Introduced this year. He reports that he is very happy with this bike. I will see it next week when we gather at the Barber Vintage Motorcycle Festival in Birmgingham, AL.

Modifications to the KLR

2009-10-02T07:13:00.000-07:00

After ripping through the Chattahoochee National Forest for a day, I quickly learned that the hard plastic factory engine skid plate wasn't going to do. I bought a new one from "Happy Trails" that's made of aluminum and they bundle it with side crash guards. I think it gives the bike a real "utility" or "mean" look!

Couple of other mods I have done are the aftermarket Center stand - great for doing maintenance, and "Barkbusters" hand guards. The factory hand guards had no metal or aluminum backbone so they were mainly cosmetic.

The New Ride

2009-08-20T17:09:00.000-07:00

I pulled the trigger and bought a new 2009 Kawasaki KLR 650 Dual Sport - perfect for North Georgia. I negotiated the sale via the internet - working with 5 different area dealers until I got a really good price. Actually, Atlanta Motorworld in Roswell, GA was the best price, the best response to my email inquiry, and the easiest to deal with at the dealership. I would highly recommend them to anyone in the Atlanta area - they sell Kawasaki, Honda, Ducati, and Moto Guzzi.

SOLD SOLD SOLD

2009-08-20T17:05:00.000-07:00

I recently sold my Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Classic in order to clear space in the garage for a new toy - a 2009 Kawasaki KLR 650 Dual Sport.

This was a craigslist sale - the bike was on for 1 day - I had 2 offers - and took the one that was within $100 of my asking price - not bad in my opinion! Love the C-list!

Orange County Choppers at Racefest

2008-11-28T05:17:00.001-08:00

Orange County Choppers was one of the many company's that brought some cool stuff to look at to our Ford Racefest at Seminole Hard Rock Casino on Thursday, November 13, 2008. Some of the guys from OCC were there to sign autographs. I didn't get a chance to meet any of them, but I did spend some time looking at their bikes. Pretty cool!

Osteen Diner - another great place for breakfast

2008-10-30T07:34:00.000-07:00

Back on Labor Day, myself, Andrew Steadman, Eddie Mazzaredo, and Rob Lewis from my church made the short trip around Lake Monroe up to Osteen, FL for breakfast. This is another great place to go for the inexpensive, "greasy" breakfast!

Barber Vintage Motorcycle Festival - Birmingham, AL

2008-10-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

This years "guys trip" took myself, and riding buddies Chris Galardi and Bob Lowe to Birmingham, AL for the Annual Barber Motorsports Park - Vintage Motorcycle Weekend. This is a fantastic event. There is AHRMA Sanctioned vintage racing all weekend, and many interesting types of bikes ride in for the event. The show kicked off with an airshow performed by the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team. While visiting the festival, we toured the Barber Motorsports Museum - one of the world's largest motorcycle collections - just fantastic!

I highly recommend this event. It's a great time of the year to ride in the area - it's the beginning of fall in that part of the South so it's still warm but the humidity that we deal with down South is out of the air - very pleasant.

Take a look at some of the photo's and video's on my photobucket site to see some really cool machines.

http://photobucket.com/BarberVintageMotorcycleFest

Ghostrider

2008-08-10T17:47:00.001-07:00

Well, all I can say is - this guy is nuts, totally irresponsible, he makes us casual riders look like angels - he's a true lunatic. But, damn, this guy can ride - and ain't it some fantastic video footage? http://www.ghostridermovie.net/

Vance & Hines Exhaust

2008-08-08T08:30:00.001-07:00

When I purchased my Vulcan 800 Classic, it was basically stock, including the mufflers. Metric Cruisers with stock exhaust sound worse than Harley's with the original pipes. They are very smooth and quite - but, who wants that? So, I went nuts one weekend last summer and knocked the baffles out. Stupid idea - now they were just loud and annoying.
Vance & Hines Cruzers
Vance & Hines makes some of the best exhaust for Cruisers. In fact, they are the only manufacturer who makes systems specifically designed for smaller displacement bikes. The intent is to make your 800 sound like a 1200 or larger bike - while providing optimal performance. These systems are not cheap by any means, but sound great, look great, and perform well.
A few months ago I installed a set of Cruzers on my Vulcan and re-jetted the carb. It sounds great and runs better than it has since I bought it. Check out this video I took with my new "Flip" Digital Video Recorder.

A Ride up to SkyDive Deland

2008-08-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, August 3rd, Andrew and I rode up to SkyDive Deland to meet up with his Ducati Club friends and watch the AMA Superbike Race. Skydive Deland is an interesting place. It's one of the largest SkyDive centers in the U.S. and home to some well accomplished Sky Divers. Attached to their Sky Dive School, they have a bar/restaurant. No clue how the food is, but the beer is served cold, and there are several large TV's to watch sports on. They have a great landing viewing area patio just off the back of the bar.

NO - WE DID NOT GO THERE TO JUMP! Just a couple of beers and some good conversation. As a pilot, I have always had the attitude "there is no reason to jump out of a perfectly good airplane". In other words, I am chicken. Nuff said. http://www.skydivedeland.com/

The Greasy Spoons, unique cafe's, and coffee shops of Central Florida

2008-07-24T17:31:00.001-07:00

I like Motorcycles. I like Riding. I love food. One of my favorite things to do on the motorycle is to ride to an out of the way, "local flavor" restaurant, and have a down home cooked meal with my buddies.

In the past couple of years, I have found - with the help of friends - some great restaurants with that old world Florida charm. I would like to detail some of these restaurants, and provide information on their location so I can share the carbs, calories, and yes - occasionally grease with other bikers and friends.

So, let's go back in time, to about 2 years ago, and my first encounter with one, a unique Central Florida food destination - Yalaha Bakery.

YALAHA BAKERY - YALAHA, FL

Lake County, FL is located west/northwest of Orlando, FL. It's home to some beautiful Orange Groves, Lakes, and of course - some nice "twisty" roads perfect for us 2 wheelers. In the heart of this beautiful area, just south of the Leesburgh area and the south shores of Lake Harris, is a little stop in the road town called Yalaha. In this little burb is an old German Bakery called Yalaha Bakery. It's sort of an old house converted. When you walk in, one side is the bakery and coffee shop, and the other is the restaurant.

Whatever your pleasure is - coffee, tea, sweets, or a sandwich, they have it all. To top it off, they have a beautiful patio in the back with an undeveloped landscape behind. For more information, visit http://www.yalahabakery.com/index.html

The Yearling - Hawthorne, FL

Like food of a different sort? Something a little more on the "wild" side, or shall I say "gamey" side? travel the back roads of Central Florida, through the Ocala National Forest, up to the Yearling Restaurant in Hawthorne, FL. There, you will find just about anything you can think of. Menu items include Alligator, flounder, venison, burgers, etc. While enjoying your fried gator and fries, you can enjoy the music of legendary blues artis Willie Green, who is always hangin around pickin a tune. After dinner, walk around and take in some of the antiques and artifacts that decorate this real time piece of a place. For more information, go to http://www.floridasecrets.com/Restaurants/ENW/Yearling.htm

Damn Diner - Ocklawaha, FL (Moss Bluff Region)

Did you ever have fun getting lost trying to find some joint? Myself, Andrew, and Chris did a couple months ago. We set out for a breakfast run to find this out of the way place that Chris had heard of. I had no idea where we were going, so I brought up the rear. By the way - I didn't care that I had no clue - that's part of the fun sometimes! Anyway, after we finally figured out we were lost (temporarily disoriented), we stopped to check google maps on our blackberry's - found it - only slightly off course.

The Ducks Damn Diner - love the name. I guess it's by a river or lake Damn - no clue really. All I can really say is it' was one of those greasy, lard laiden, gravy soaked biscuit breakfasts that a good ole boy like me from rural Indiana dreams of. I think my bill was a whopping $4.65. Another great place to "find". The Moss Bluff Region is up in Marion County around the West / Southwest corner of Ocala National Forest. It's a pretty rural area - some nice smooth blacktop roads to cruise on. There is no website for the restaurant, but you can find Ocklawaha on google maps or you can view this article about the restaurant that was written some time ago http://www.ocala.com/article/20080623/NEWS/900957615

Soup to Nuts Diner - Tavares,FL

Sometimes, you just want some fresh air and a nice hearty breakfast. Last Saturday, Andrew, Chris, Antony, and myself rode up to Tavares, FL for a good old fashion breakfast at the Soup To Nuts Diner. Decorated in that "happy days" 1950's decor, Soup to Nuts is a real neat place. The biscuits - well, they are the size of bricks! http://www.mytravelguide.com/restaurants/profile-34783705-United_States_Florida_Tavares_Soup_To_Nuts_Diner.html

Willow Tree - Sanford, FL

When we have an hour or two to blow, that's just enough time to ride around Lake Monroe, and stop off at the Willow Tree in historic downtown Sanford, FL for a cold brew. If you are hungry, you will love the German food. http://www.willowtreecafe.com/