Almost time to winterize

With fall here and winter close behind, it is almost time for me to winterize the motorcycle. Luckily winterizing a motorcycle is quite easy. All I really need to do is put an gas stabilizer in the gas tank. Then I'll just have to park it and hope for an unusual warm day of winter to maybe take it out for a small ride.

I'll probably also give it one last clean up. I'll also think it would be a good idea to clean the tire so that they don't dry out and crack over the winter. I'm sure there is something that I'm forgetting, and will be sure to read my manual for any other details.

Fall Colors

Once my homework load lightens up a little bit, I'm going to go and experience the fall colors up big and little cottonwood canyon. My favorite place to ride is the canyons. The smells of pine trees, and the cool air coming off the river invigorate the senses. The scenery is spectacular. The colors of fall becomes almost fantasy like in the matrix of trees. This will be the experience of a lifetime.

I recently had the chance to paint a window scene of fall scenery. It turned out awesome. It really got me craving a ride in nature, and wanting to experience the awesome colors of the Utah canyons. The view on a motorcycle is unlimited, it is really something to experienc

A Little History

Have you ever wondered were it all began for motorcycles. Well its most likely the Germans who are credited with inventing the first motorcycle. You could argue it was just a motorized bicycle, and not a motorcycle. It was called Reitwagon (riding car). It was invented in 1886. The Americans created the first steam motorcycle in 1867, and could be considered the first to have invented the motorcycle.

As far as manufacturing and selling of motorcycles went, started with the German Hildenbrand and Wolfmuller bike in 1894. The best selling motorcycle producing over 20,000 a year, was the Indian motorbike. It was an American bike. Around the 1920's Harley Davidson started to take and over and is still very popular and respected by the Americans. However, today Honda Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Suzuki dominate the sales market.

HOT

There is one thing that most people learn on accident, exhaust pipes are hot. Since I've had my bike I have burned myself, and just about every one else daring to go for a ride. It only takes a fraction of a second to happen, but the mark it leaves on your skin may very well take a week to go away. What kind a heat leaves a mark with such little contact? Around 1000 degrees farenheit. What surprises me is how fast it heats up. 

Consider this blog a warning to all those invited to climb on back of somebody's motorcycle, watch out for the pipes! The only good thing about getting a burn at that kind of heat is it doesn't really hurt all that bad. You will feel pain, but it goes away rather quickly. With little kids just be extremely cautious. Any long sustained contact could melt the flesh really fast and burn down to the bone. This is just another one of those things that puts motorcycles on peoples crap list.

My Website URL

http://fileserver.art.utah.edu/~jlarsen

Synthetic vs traditional oil

The first thing I did when I got my motorcycle was to switch it to a full synthetic oil. Regular oil does a good job, but synthetic provides a little better lubrication and lasts a lot longer. The only thing you have to really be careful about is your oil filter. If you buy a cheap one you will need to replace it before you need to change your oil. There are some oil filters that are good enough to go the life of the synthetic oil. This is what I like to use, and the only thing I have to worry about is that I don't have any leaks or burning oil. This give me a whole year without having to find the time to change my oil. What also great is that there is a noticeable difference in how smooth the motor runs. My oil promises to never give a dry start up which should help me to really keep the ware on my motor. All in all the little extra in expense for a synthetic oil pays itself off.

The differences

With the summer going out the door and the fall well on its way, my days of riding are coming to a quick hault. I have had some time to reflect and compare my scooter days with my now motorcycle days. It would be a lie not to say at times I really miss my scooter. The things that were great with my scooter was its ease of use and its storing capabilities. Not that the motorcycle is difficult to drive, it just requires a little more skill in shifting. In heavy traffic it becomes a little cumbersome. 

The thing I probably miss the most is the storage features on my old scooter. You could easily fit a jacket under the seat. It also had a hook to hang a bag of groceries, or whatever else you could hang between your legs. This made it great for shuffling little things around, or running a quick errand. The bike requires me to always carry a pack. Its not terrible but it lessons the free feeling of riding out in the open air.

All in all I wouldn't change my decision to go to a bigger bike. The power and speed heavily out way the pluses of the scooter. I can go places where the scooters can't. I can access the freeway. I can travel out of the city. These all make owning a motorcycle the better choice for me.

Group Riding

We've all seen the large of group motorcycles cruising down the highway. Did you know that the riders have some guidelines to safe group riding? This I feel is an important thing to know and understand by motorcyclist and automobile drivers. Motorcyclists for proper riding skills and for auto drivers to understand what group riders are doing.

The best way to group ride is in a staggered formation. The first rider riding on the left third of the line, and the following rider at least a second behind, riding the right third of the lane. This formation would continue down the line of riders. This allows for each rider to have a good visual of any hazards ahead and plenty of space to react. Also important is the size of the group. Five to seven is a good size, if more it would be wise to break up in to clumps so as not to create a wall of riders.

Experienced riders should lead and sweep up the group. Good leaders and sweepers can do a great deal to keep their group safe and riding properly. There are signals that can be used to communicate to the group by the leader. When properly followed by the group there can be no safer and relaxing experience on a group cruise. 

I hope to find a few other riders and go for a ride. They say its one of those things every rider needs to experience. After all what could be more fun than riding by yourself?

What is it about motorcycles?

Towards the beginning of the summer I purchased a motorcycle. I had recently owned some scooters, but felt I needed to go bigger and badder. Since my purchase I cannot believe the crap people give me for it. With the scooters I received sissy comments, but with the motorcycle people look at me like I'm crazy and have a death wish. Its hard to ignore some of the comments people have, and at times it makes me second guess my purchase of motorcycle. But to be honest my experience of riding the motorcycle has been nothing more than fantastic, and rewarding to my wallet at the gas pump.

This if my first real experience of riding one and I've really come to love it. Until now I never thought of myself as a biker, but now I'm hooked and can't help but want to learn all that I can about bikes and share experiences with others. I feel that by informing myself about the many possible topics of motor bikes I can really help myself and others feel more comfortable towards motorcycles.