Ladakh Biking Expedition - Part I

Everyone knows that I love adventure riding. My friend Dan sent me this and I'm passing it along in total so that you don't miss any of it. Part 2 tomorrow.

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Ladakh Biking Expedition - A Journey to Top of the World

(June 2009)

                          Heaven!!  Any one seen heaven when you are all alive? Majestic mountain ramparts crowned by snowcapped peaks, crumpling alpine slopes draining into wild mountain streams of foaming cascades of immaculate water, deep river valleys with yawning canyons & powerful rivers, blue lakes with the reflection of tranquil mountains, awesome huge glaciers and piled moraine, oasis of green fields swathe by cream-colored desert mountains that all beyond the imagination of human mind and the charm bestowed on this land by the god. That all I am speaking about heaven on earth i.e. Ladakh, my heaven’s bike ride. But wait for one minute, entry to this heaven is not easy, you have to pass through embarrassing conditions...Just imagine when you travel hundreds of miles in barren & no man’s land, devastated & suddenly disappeared roads, swept bridges, steel rods coming out of road, 2 feet deep snow-melts water & mud ponds, harsh and unforgiving conditions. After crossing such an abyss you can see this heaven.

                 One of the toughest terrains to ride in the world- Ladakh is every biker’s dream. I’m not an exception. I am passionate trekker around Western Ghat. Long awaited dream of Ladakh came true by great planning and guidance of my genius friends Sameer Phansalkar & Hrishikesh Tambe with support of other 4 team members.

                  We started our biking from Jammu & then to Paradise on Earth i.e. Srinagar & "Golden meadow"  Sonamarg, crossing perilous Zozi la Pass, saluting tiger hill at Kargil , then Suru Valley of immense beauty, reaching most isolated area of alpine lakes amidst snow peaks of ‘Zanskar Valley’, reaching forbidden city  Leh, visiting mysterious monastery in Ladakh, conquered the world at Khardungla (18,380 ft the world's highest motorable road), then splendid vistas of  scintillating ‘Pangong Lake’ lake, visiting to Lake of God ‘Tso Moriri’, meeting gigantic needles on the way at Pang & Sarchu, traversing through world’s  worst & mighty Baralacha La & Rohtang pass, then ‘land of god’ Himachal via Manali,  Chandigadh & finally completed at capital of  India, Delhi.

                 During this expedition on my bike, Bajaj Caliber (111cc) which already crossed 1,00000 Kms in December 2008 gave me best company without any single compliant though it was harsh conditions or low standard petrol.  Finally there is entry to heaven only for selected persons & I am one of them. So friends take seats & get ready for story of my 21 Days & 3,000Kms of Men, Machines, Mountains & Heaven.

Regards,

Shrikant

Pune, India.

www.shrikantescapades.com

                              Road to Ladakh
                             was.....

                            a peaceful adventure,
                            an old new venture,

                            a dream with eyes open,
                            a scream with lips sealed,

                            something out of the world,
                            a story never heard never told,

                             i am back to my town
                             leaving something of my own

                             my mind, my heart is there,
                             High Road of Ladakh is where
                            _________________                                                                      - Nitin Sharma

Please Check out full detail blog of our Ladakh Biking Expedition By Shridhar Purandare

Leh Ladakh biking expedition -- Challange that one can enjoy

http://shridharattrekking.blogspot.com/2009/06/leh-ladakh-biking-expedition-challange.html

Map By: www.bcmtouring.com

Route Map

Our Route Shown in Red Color

Jammu - Patnitop - Srinagar - Sonamarg - Zozi la Pass - Drass - Kargil - Suru Valley - Rangdum (Zanskar valley) - Kargil - Mulbek - Namika La - Lamayuru - Leh - Khardung La - Hemis - Thiksey - Leh - Chang La Pass - Pangong Lake - Leh - Kiari - Chumathang - Tso Kar - Tso Moriri - Tanglang La - Pang - Sarchu - Baralacha La - Zing Zing Bar - Keylong - Tandi - Rohtang Pass - Manali - Chandigarh – Delhi

First meet our team

Anand Lohokare (Bajaj Pulsar 180cc), Nikhil Upadhye (Bajaj Pulsar 150cc), Ashutosh Khandkar, Sameer Phansalkar (Bajaj Pulsar 150cc),Shrikant Shimpi (Bajaj Caliber 111cc), Shridhar Purandare (Yamaha Gladiator 125cc), Hrishikesh Tambe (Bajaj Pulsar 180cc)

Dal lake, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir

Visual spectacle that unfolds before u will put anything that you have ever seen in life, well just scenery.

We started our Biking Expedition from Jammu after Halt at Patnitop we reached at Sringar

Dal lake, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir

Beauty as we feel it is something indescribable; what it is or what it means can never be said.

In Srinagar our stay was at House boat at Dal Lake

Dal lake, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. We need silence to be able to touch souls

Next Day Morning stupendous view of Dal Lake from our House boat

This is indeed a heaven on earth

Dal lake famous for encircling mountains, blossoming gardens and orchards, Shikaras and Houseboats

Floating markets, Dal Lake

Next day morning visit to floating markets

Salesmen paddle from boat to boat, selling everything you could want such as fruit, nuts, fresh flowers, woolen shawls, silk carpets, leather goods.

Journey from Srinagar to Sonamarg takes you through splendid vistas for which Kashmir is renowned

Narrow trails weaving through misty snow-clad peaks, cool mountain air lashing against your face, and charming hill folk greeting you on the way

'Meadow of Gold’ Sonamarg, Jammu & Kashmir

“The greatest treasures are those visible to the eye but found by the heart.”

Sonamarg surrounded by dense forests, full of sycamore and alpine flowers, silver birch, fir and pine, the meadow presents a fascinating sight. It further enhanced with the snow capped mountains

Sonamarg, Jammu & Kashmir (6,561 ft)

This is like a fantasy picture, the clouds, the mountains, the river... all in perfect harmony

Sonamarg, Jammu & Kashmir

Beauty of this place is beyond the imagination of human mind and the charm bestowed on this land by the gods.

Sonamarg, Jammu & Kashmir

Encircled by snow-covered mountains, Sonamarg is a place of enchanting beauty

Zozi la Pass (11,500 ft) Himalayan Gateway to Ladakh

Located at an intimidating 11,500 ft & 100 km from Srinagar on Srinagar-Ladakh highway. Normally inaccessible except the short summer months because they remain ice clogged. Indian Army & BRO (Border Road Organization) toiling hard everyday to maintain the roads as best as they can under the harsh conditions.

Zozi la Pass (11,500 ft)

Riding through steep valleys and deep narrow canyon under over-hangs in the mountainsides, through snow-melts waters and frozen ice-breaks, over narrow & water swept bridges and even across the abyss, this intended only for audacious bikers.

Zozi la Pass (11,500 ft)

Khalid (Ashutosh) crossing nallah. Roads are in bad condition with lots of gravel, during rain the gravel turns to slush

Tiger hill, Drass, Kargil (16,800 ft)

Being so close to the might of Tiger Hill, was an overwhelming experience.

Standing tall and dominating the famous Tiger Hill on the Line of Control (LoC) is a grim reminder of the Kargil war 1999.The highest peak in the region which has a clear view of the National Highway 1 D, occupied by Pakistan

Drass Second coldest inhabited place in the world, 10600 ft. Temp. (-60°C) on 09 June 95

Normally Drass experiences recurring snowfalls during winters lower the temperature to as low as minus 40 degrees

“When you go home, tell them of us & say for your tomorrow we gave our today”

Kargil war memorial, Drass, Kargil

Panoramic view Suru Valley, (9,850ft)

40 km south of Kargil

Panoramic view of Suru Valley, Royal mountain ramparts crowned by snowcapped peaks, crumpling alpine slopes draining into wild mountain streams of foaming cascades of immaculate water, awesome glaciers descending along the Himalayan slopes to the river  bed in riverine formation, maze of mud-mud brick villages surrounded by lush irrigated farmland.

Unique Design farms at Suru Valley

Charming Girls at Suru Valley, Dist. Kargil

“Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven.”

“A smile happens in a flash, but its memory can last a lifetime.”

Time - 6pm, Temperature 3 °c, Height -11,500 ft, Spot - No man’s land surrounded with snow-clad peaks, Where - on way towards Zanskar valley, 104 km from Kargil, Nearest village - Rangdum with very rare population (22 km from this spot), Road condition – crushed, What happen - Sameer's bike's rear tyre punched 2nd time, Worst thing - For half an hour, one by one we tried to pump air but it was all in vain. Finally we decided to left Sameer's bike here & move towards Rangdum with punched tire.

Rangdum, Zanskar valley (11,500 ft)

130 km south- east of Kargil

As we moved further the road got worse and beauty got outmaneuver.

Entire View becomes entities to another world, another universe…… Surely the Gods live here.

Rangdum, Zanskar valley (11,500 ft)

The farthest and the most isolated part of Rangdum surrounded by colorful hills on one side & glacier encrusted rocky mountains on other.

Panoramic view of ‘Zanskar Valley’ (11,500 ft).

The picturesque tableland adorned with small alpine lakes and surrounded by snow covered peaks.

Marmots

Ubiquitous on mountain slopes all over Ladakh

Check Out Full Photos Album @ Picasa

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/lh/sredir?uname=shrikant10000&target=ALBUM&id=5434436974274172753&authkey=Gv1sRgCNWWxr--9syVaw&feat=email

Feeling Brave?

Herman sent this to me. Not sure where it is but it looks like fun!

This video should have you grabbing something solid pretty quick. The ride across the rock piles had me thinking about the time I rode my Transalp descending the Shafer Trail in Moab. It really doesn't make sense does it? Whether you fall 100 meters or 1/2 mile, it's just as fatal isn't it!
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What do men want?

The 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 is a naked bike for riders who don't feel the need to look like Ricky Rocket. Sure it still has that origami / Transformers look but it is not a dumbed-down chassis with a de-tuned, old generation engine like the best forgotten Honda 919.

Of course the head of the class belongs to the Triumph Speed Triple. It is the bike that resurrected this class and still sets the standard. The Ducati Monster is another bike that "gets it". Both bikes have sharp handling, big torque, and reasonable ergonomics. Now there is the Z1000 to add to the group. The Suzuki Bandit 1250S is nearly there and is a great bike for the money but misses the mark by just a bit.

So where is Honda? Still licking their wounds from all the 919's and 600F's that were laying unsold in the back corner of the warehouse? Over priced and under performing, the Honda name on the tank just wasn't enough to push them out the dealer's doors. However, now there is the CB1100F lurking in the Asian shadows. Released to Europe in two versions, it may be an answer. Watch this interview with the engineers who designed the bike. I promise that it's not dry and overly technical. There is some great photography of the bike in action. Still, I wonder, are there enough "mature" riders who are just dying for an air cooled big bike? If the target group is the over 40(50?)(60?) age group wouldn't the similar CB750F have more resonance? (and less weight?) After all, the original CB750F was the bike to own when Boomers were young.

Just for comparison here's a picture of the CB1100R prototype that is based on the street bike. Too radical? Or maybe just what they need to appeal to that mature market segment. Ducati is certainly doing well with their GT 1000 retro model. Comments or opinions?


Note: Many of these pages are in Japanese. If you use the Google Chrome browser (instead of Internet Explorer or Firefox) it will offer to translate each page so that you can see most of the words. 
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Roadgear Mesh Sale

Remember last summer when your Oh So Cool leather jacket was actually blazing hot and you were about to pass out? "If only I had a mesh jacket ..." you were thinking. When I was riding in Baja my mesh jacket was what kept me from dying in the desert while still giving me full armor protection. Pulling on a rain jacket over it kept me plenty warm in the San Francisco fog. Best of both worlds!

Roadgear is having a Mesh Sale for its preferred customers. I think that means anyone with money or a credit card. Mansoor has always let me post these sales on this blog so here it is.

Airtec Mesh Jacket 40% off use Promo Code AJKT4
Airtec Mesh Pants $89 use Promo Code APNT
TDF Jacket 20% off use Promo Code TDF2

if you have any doubt about size call Jody at 800-854-4327. She's a wizard at looking through the telephone and getting just the right fit. I think she's telepathic or something. Tell her I sent you, she actually knows who I am.

There's some other stuff too but as much as I keep telling him to post a link to a copy of the email does he listen to me? No ...

Anyway, you should know by now that I am a big fan of Roadgear equipment. I don't get a kickback or free samples but I do get first rate protection from the elements. This is where I spend my hard earned bucks! Highly Recommended!
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I posted a review of the last York PA swap meet in January and thought it was a great time for anyone searching for old bike parts. Will Stoner, who is well known for staging the swap meet at the Vintage Motorcycle Days, is scheduling a similar (if smaller) event in York on 21 March. Here is the press release:

Contrary to some rumors, the March 21, 2010 Classic Swap Meet at the York Expo Center in York, PA is a go! The meet will move from Old Main Building to Memorial Hall. Memorial Hall is south of Old Main Building on York Expo Center (York Fairgrounds) property The new venue offers more space for vendors, bike show participants and spectators.
The swap meet will feature all brands of motorcycles, parts, literature, memorabilia and accessories. Sharing the spotlight at the event will be a vintage motorcycle show. The show is open to all bikes 1989 or older, with awards in over ten classes up for grabs.    

Bike show entry fee is $10 for the first motorcycle and $5.00 for additional machines. 
Admission is $7.00 per person. Brit and Euro club members, AHRMA, AMCA and VJMC members: $6.00. Enthusiasts under sixteen are free. Indoor and outdoor vendor spaces are $60.00 each. 

For more details, call Will at (440) 591-5099, info@classicswapmeets.com, or www.classicswapmeets.com

BLM land closure alert!

Here is a call to action from the Blue Ribbon Coalition. This needs immediate action. As in today, not tomorrow! Take a couple of minutes to send an email. If we don't stand together on these issues we will all lose later. What's next? No motorcycles in National Parks because it might offend the bears? There are people who think like that and if we don't make our voices heard they will get their way.

I've included the entire content of the BRC email so that you can just cut and paste and send the email right now. You don't have to look up your congressman's name, it all goes to a single BLM (Bureau of Land (Mis)Management) e-address. If you have multiple email addresses, send a message from each one. If it doesn't violate policy send one from your work email. DO I NOW!

BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!
CLEAR CREEK - ACTION NEEDED ON OR BEFORE MARCH 5
Dear BRC members and OHV Supporters of Clear Creek,
As many of you know, one of the top ten OHV areas in the country has been closed to the public since May 2008. Many local, state, and national motorcycle clubs, 4WD organizations, gem and mineral groups, and motorcycle shops have been fighting to reopen the Clear Creek Management Area to historic OHV use.
BRC continues to argue that the agency has overstated the health risk of naturally occurring asbestos by using flawed studies and science.  The BLM admitted at the recent CA OHMVR Commission meeting in San Jose that to date they are aware of no cases of asbestos-related illnesses noted in the recreation community that has been using Clear Creek since the 1940s.
BRC and other OHV groups petitioned the BLM on February 12 to extend the public comment period for 90 days.  The CA OHMVR Commission voted on February 25 to petition the BLM to extend the public comment period for 90 days and also directed the OHV Division to prepare comments on the Draft RMP/EIS. Despite these requests and others by affected counties, no formal extension has been granted.
March 5, 2010, is the current deadline for the public comment period for the Draft RMP/EIS. As the Western Representative for BRC, and also a Clear Creek rider, I urge you to please send comments to the BLM.
If you are short on time, you can use BRC's letter generator, but please know that personal emails are much more effective! (www.sharetrails.org/letters/letter.php?id=50). It has an easy interface for adding additional comments and sending your letter.
Old-fashioned snail mail is also effective. If you prefer, you can mail written comments, but please make sure they are postmarked by March 5, 2010. Mail written comments to:
          CCMA Draft RMP/EIS
          Attn: Planning Coordinator
          Bureau of Land Management
          Hollister Field Office
          20 Hamilton Court
          Hollister, CA 95023
INSTRUCTIONS:Be polite. Be Professional. Be on time. (The comment deadline is Friday, March 5, 2010)

1. Open your email program and begin an email to: 
          cahormp@ca.blm.gov

2. In the Subject Line of your email, please put: "Comments on Clear Creek Management Area Draft RMP/EIS"

3. It's always good to include a brief paragraph about how much you and your family enjoy motorized use on BLM lands. Then use the comment suggestions below to write your email.

Be sure to add a bit of personal information, it's always good to include a brief paragraph about how much you and your family enjoy motorized use on BLM lands. Then use the additional comment suggestions to finish your email.
Please send a letter before the March 5th deadline and also forward this alert to your email list.
Thanks in advance for your continued support and involvement in the CCMA saga.
Sincerely,
Don Amador
Western Representative
BlueRibbon Coalition, Inc.

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SAMPLE COMMENT LETTER:
CCMA Draft RMP/EIS
Attn: Planning Coordinator
Bureau of Land Management
Hollister Field Office
20 Hamilton Court
Hollister, CA 95023
Email: cahormp@ca.blm.gov
        
DATE:
RE: Comments on Clear Creek Management Area Draft RMP/EIS
Dear Planning Coordinator
I want to voice my support for the recent vote by the OHMVR Commission to petition the BLM to extend the public comment period for 90 days. In the last 30 years, over $9 million dollars of OHV Trust Funds have been granted to the BLM to manage the Clear Creek Management Area.  The OHV community is being overwhelmed by an avalanche of concurrent federal planning processes.  The release of the Revised RMP/DEIS was delayed for a year or more, and it seems unfair for BLM to ignore the requests for an extension when BLM's own actions seemingly reflect the complexity and sensitivity of this subject.  The BLM should show respect for the public and land-use partners by granting an extension.
The BLM should honor the February 12, 2010 formal request by the following organizations to extend the public comment period for 90 days.  Those groups include; AMA, BRC, AMA D36, TimeKeepers MC, Salinas Ramblers MC, CA4WDC, ORBA, AMA D37, CORVA, and Friends of CCMA. Because the 70,000-acre CCMA is the largest destination OHV area in Central California, the BLM should grant an extension to insure they make an informed decision.
The BLM should grant a 90-day extension because the local and regional business community was largely unaware of DEIS planning process.  Many shop owners attended the recent DEIS socioeconomic public meeting in San Jose and those proprietors need the extra time so they can properly articulate and document the fiscal hardships they have experienced by the current interim closure and, more importantly, illustrate the future monetary impacts of a permanent closure of CCMA to OHV recreation.
The DEIS is fatally flawed because it does not analyze the socioeconomic impacts to local and regional businesses including restaurants, motorcycle shops, hotels, sporting goods stores, gas stations, and grocery stores.  The omission must be addressed in the FEIS/ROD.
The EPA's 2008 CCMA Asbestos Exposure and Human Health Risk Assessment is a fatally flawed study that should not be considered significant new information. A primary fatal flaw is in the study design. The EPA's sample collection script states: "The distance between riders varied depending on visibility, terrain, and safety considerations, with the ultimate objective to realistically simulate the behavior of recreational riders. The second and third trailing riders rode in the dust cloud of the lead rider, to the extent safe and practical." That narrative does not match the BLM's ongoing 20 year educational outreach that instructs riders to not ride in another rider's dust cloud. Most, if not all, riders avoid riding in a dust cloud.
The Purpose and Need in the DEIS notes the; "Changes in social and economic conditions in San Benito County, the San Joaquin Valley, and the entire State of California have led to increased demand for use of public lands for recreation and energy production as well as an increased awareness and social value placed on the cultural and natural resources in the Planning Area."  Recent public testimony at the February 25, OHMVR Commission meeting illustrated that displaced CCMA OHV riders are overcrowding the regional OHV areas that include, Jawbone OHV Area, Hollister and Carnegie SVRAs, and Metcalf Cycle Park  A Cumulative Effect analysis must be included in this planning process.
The EPA Risk Assessment is fatally flawed because a majority of the samples were collected during dry periods when Clear Creek was closed to the public. That information was gleaned via a FOIA request that showed a personal communication from Daniel Stralka, EPA.  The FOIA information also showed BLM toxicologists raised questions about the validity of the EPA study.  The EPA study should be redone or at least reviewed by a qualified independent body.
The OHV community cannot rely on the BLM "finding" another OHV area to replace CCMA.  The BlueRibbon Coalition submitted formal comments on the Hollister Field Office's 2007 Draft RMP/EIS petitioning the agency to consider OHV opportunity on lands outside of CCMA.  However, BRC found the BLM has used a manner of reverse or circular logic to develop Alternative C which effectively banned OHV use on lands outside of CCMA. CCMA must be reopened for OHV use since the BLM has functionally eliminated motorized recreation on its other lands.
The BLM/EPA has used inaccurate visitor use scenarios regarding time spent traveling on routes in the ACEC. They have based the human risk analysis on flawed assumptions such as stating the average speed dirt bikes on single track trails is 15-20 mph.  Unless you are a national caliber rider you know speeds on single track trails average no more than 12 mph.  The planning process must address this issue.

The DEIS is fatally flawed because it ignored the scientific work in process at the EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response to create a new risk analysis methodology for chrysotile since there is a growing body of scientific opinion that chrysotile is not a significant public health risk.  This runs counter to EPA's Region 9 hypothesis that a "single fiber of chrysotile asbestos is as dangerous as a billion fibers of chrysotile asbestos."  The BLM must analyze all current science before permanently closing CCMA to OHV recreation.
In the DEIS, the BLM makes a false assumption that OHV users would not be willing to  use a wash rack at the agency's new Decontamination Center at the entrance of CCMA. Most riders would jump at the chance to wash off the infamous CCMA mud/dust off their vehicles before leaving the area. If needed, a study should be done to analyze user compliance with a wash rack before assuming and incorporating that theory into an alternative.
I support the No Action Alternative that restores historic OHV use on up to 270 miles of routes and approximately 450 acres of barrens. Permitted OHV events should be allowed.
If some small health risk is identified by a new risk assessment or a review of the EPA's 2008 report, the BLM should use signs and educational outreach as a way to inform the public rather than closing this important OHV area on a permanent basis.
Very truly yours,

Your name &
Address

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The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national (non-profit) trail-saving group that represents over 600,000 recreationists nationwide The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is beginning. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742 http://www.sharetrails.org 
_______________________________________________________

As a non-profit, grassroots organization funded primarily by membership dues and donations, we greatly appreciate your support. Visit http://www.sharetrails.org/make-a-difference-now to help fund our efforts to protect your trails!

Climate change and political agendas

Two recent interviews on NPR caught my attention for their yellow press reporting on the two recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. In one, the interviewer kept pressing the scientist about the roll of global warming in the earthquakes. Surely the dreaded global warming must be the cause of these earthquakes coming so close to one another. The scientist patiently tried to explain the particular points of how an earthquake happens but the interviewer would not desist about global warming. Finally, the scientist pointed out that plate tectonics have been going on for millions of years and are not caused by anything humans do, or do not do. Duh!
In a second interview with a scientist from the Woods Hole Institute another interviewer again pressed the global warming argument and this scientist admitted that global warming could cause the sea to rise over time and put more pressure on the tectonic plates thereby causing a change in earthquake activity in certain specific areas. Smelling blood the interviewer pressed for more details. The scientist elaborated that if the seas rose between 10-20 meters (33-66') then the pressure might be sufficient to cause a change. Not quite realizing how big 10-20 meters was the interviewer asked how long this would take. Over 200 years! was the answer. Duh!
NPR has never let the facts get in the way of their agenda!

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On a lighter note you might remember a group called OK GO and their clever treadmill video.

Now the boys are back with a new song and video.

Some people just have too much time on their hands!

Choppertown

When you get tired of the Doofus father and son "reality" chopper show on TV check out Choppertown.

These are real people who really care about their choppers, bobbers, rails, and rods. No phoney mayhem, just plenty of good rides.

Brittown is a favorite of mine. Although everyone knows that I bleed Honda red I am the first to admit to a fondness for Triumphs. Back when I was working my way through UConn with jobs as a mechanic in motorcycle shops I spent one summer working on Triumphs. It was both frustrating and amazing. Beautiful polished connecting rods and crankshaft bearings that disintegrated in 1000 miles in the same engine. My Honda was faster and more refined but there was no denying that the Bonneville was the King of Kool!

Rosko sends this note about a new film from these guys.

The guys from One World Studios who produced the films "Choppertown" and 
"Brittown" have a new film coming out called "The harbortown Bobber" 
which will be showing on March 31st at the Anthology Film Archives on 
2nd Avenue in Manhattan. These guys have always been great supporters of 
NYCvinMoto with support for all of our previous events. We should return 
the favor and check out this film. Zack and Scotty who made the film 
will be there to hang out and shoot the breeze. I am organizing some 
sort of after-hang at MotorCity Bar on Ludlow St. More info as I get it.

The websites for info etc:
http://www.oneworldstudiosltd.com/
http://www.choppertown.net/

Let's get it together and make the pilgrimage to see what the real bikers are doing. See you there!

Can you hear me now?

An article in today's Boston Globe about tinnitus made me think about a mistake I made a long time ago. I used to ride with no helmet which was not too smart in itself but carried an unnoticed side-effect that now plagues me.

The roar of the wind over my ears is what has caused my current problem with tennitus, a constant tone at about 3khz in my ears. This causes a problem not just with hearing but with comprehending what I hear. Once the damage is done there seems to be no cure. I'm screwed!

Wearing a helmet helps. A full faced helmet is best as it provides the greatest wind protection. Better still is using ear plugs. Custom fitted ones are generally ~$100-150 which, in hindsight, would have been cheap money. They provide the best protection. My friend Marty, who is a musician, has a pair to protect himself. Custom earplugs have the benefit of easy insertion which makes using them more convenient. However, losing them is a big hit and if you have a variety of gear it would seem that they would always be with the other jacket or helmet

Foam ear plugs come in all sorts of styles, colors, and types. Over the years I've settled on Howard Leight LL1 Laser Lite Earplugs for my use. The sound suppression is very good and they are inexpensive, $21.25 for 200 pairs or about 11 cents a pair. A box will last me a couple of years. I keep several pairs in every jacket, every tank bag, and every gear bag so that I always have them with me. With spares I can offer them to other riders who don't have them or don't use them.

The upside of foam earplugs is that they're cheap and disposable. The downside is that they take a little practice to get inserted correctly. And they take a minute or two to insert. My buddies can sometimes get impatient but it's not my hearing loss they're concerned about. I just start getting ready a bit sooner so I can take my time.

Another downside is that I lose some of the clues I need when I'm riding my dirt bike. I don't know if it's the quietness or some sort of subtle inner-ear balance thing but I don't use the ear plugs when I'm out in the woods. Since my top speed is generally ~20mph this is not a big deal.

I'm sure that listening to loud rock bands in night clubs was a contributing factor with my tinnitus but I am even more sure that the larger villain was the wind noise in my ears while riding my motorcycle. Don't make the same mistake, get ear plugs and use them! A few seconds to put them in will save you years of saying, "What?"  You, and everyone around you, will be happier.

My basement

 

Send me pictures of your workshop and I'll post them!

Moriwaki Trip Report

The trip out was uneventful. I had loaded up my iPod with a combination of music and old radio detective shows that I'm fond of. Put it on shuffle and the miles slide by in a combination of Sarah Borges and Phillip Marlow. A favorite of mine is Candy Matson, a San Francisco PI.

I spent the night in Harrisburg with my friends Karyn & Dave. Dave is writing the definitive book on the history of Maico motorcycles. He's just waiting for the publisher to approve the final draft so it can be published. More on this when it hits the bookstores. Dave has a basement full of Maicos of all sorts including a couple of factory race bikes. He also has one of six existing Maico 125cc road racers. 

I spent the night in a motel and went over to the AMA Museum the next morning. I walked in to see a Bonneville streamliner right in the middle of the display. Did they know I was coming? There was another display of custom jobs by Arlen Ness. They don't do a thing for me, motorcycles are for riding. I actually managed to escape without buying a t-shirt although I did buy raffle tickets for the CB750 and C100 they were giving away.

I picked up the Mighty Moriwaki from Rick and toured his garage. I have to admit that I had never heard of a Bimota CB400F before. Too bad it was Not For Sale! And how many people do you know who have an even half dozen CBX's? There was a nice Ossa 350cc Super Pioneer and several other bikes that were for sale. A cute MR50 that had been redone to look like a miniature '73 CR250 almost came home with me but Rick was waiting to hear from another person that had made an offer. Nice to see some people still have ethics.

I split the ride home by staying with Karyn & Dave again. Dave's friend Dave dropped by and we sat around talking about bikes for a couple of hours. Turns out we knew a lot of the same people and had been to the same places. Small world.

On the way back to CT I hit some heavy snow from Allentown PA to NYC. There were 6-8 cars that went off the road or smashed into the guard rails. I have to admit to a secret satisfaction that they were all 4WD SUV's. Mass and inertia aren't just good ideas, they're the law!

The Mighty Moriwaki is now on display in the front hall where it dwarfs the Dream 50R and looks modern compared to the Combat Wombat. It's cleaned up and ready to go as soon as the roads clear. 1400 miles to get it and worth every one.

Your US Government In Action

I'm still pretty tired from four days on the road to get the Mighty Moriwaki. Full report tomorrow. In the mean time here's another example of the wackiness from our government.

BLUEBIRD HOUSE
Plans and Instructions

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA Office of Communications at (202) 720-5881 (voice) or (202) 720 7808 (TDD).

I guess this means that you can't discriminate against robins or sparrows.
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Off to Ohio

I'm driving to Ohio to pick up my newest racer. The Mighty Moriwaki MH-80R

While I'm there I'll be stopping at the AMA Motorcycle Museum to see what I can see.

See you on Friday when I return.

No Motorcycle Today - But ...

This link from Natalie is hilarious! It has nothing to do with motorcycles but it is too funny to miss. 

What were these people thinking?!?!

Cake Wrecks

These are wedding shower cakes. 

What are friends for? To point out that you shouldn't wear a thong?

Congratulations - Your new kid looks just like ET!

Is there something about football fans that makes them bad spellers?
One too many hits in the backfield?

American Motorcyclist Magazine

American Motorcyclist Magazine has been described as the AARP For 2-Wheels Magazine. I'm sure that the AARP would be offended by this. One noted speaker, who shall remain anonymous, said that the best part of becoming a life member of the AMA what that you could elect to never get the magazine again! However, it has been showing signs of revival lately and is not nearly as coma inducing as it used to be.

As part of the Google Books program all of the old American Motorcycling/Motorcyclist magazines are now available on-line for free. Whether looking up reviews of bikes from the past, doing research for a restoration, or you're just amused by reading the old ads this is a great place to hang out. They are cataloged in reverse chronological order starting here.

The old issues are lots of fun whether you're new to motorcycling or want a trip down memory lane. If you are not already a member you should consider joining the AMA. We all have our complaints about them but, in the end, they are the main force guarding what little rights we have left. Best of all, they finally got rid of that ugly logo they adopted a couple of years ago and went back to the simple AMA style below.

2010 Honda NT700V vs. Aprilia Mana 850 GT ABS

I am inherently intrigued by the new Honda NT700V. It has the engine from the same family as the Transalp and the Hawk GT, two of my favorite bikes. Motorcycle.com has just done an excellent review of the NT700V vs the Aprilia Mana 850 GT. They won me over by not complaining about lack of wheelie power or Ricky Racer canyon carving ability. Instead, they invented the term Sport Touring Lite and proceeded to evaluate them on the basis of what they were designed for; commuting and simple touring. Not everyone wants a Concours 1400 or Goldwing to take a weekend trip to the mountains. Certainly nobody wants to take one of those on their daily commute through rush hour traffic.

I rode my Transalp across country a couple of years ago and found that 600cc was more than enough to propel me at any speed I wanted. Kevin took his Transalp from Boston to Alaska to Panama without a problem. For me, light and fun is much better than big and heavy not matter how much hp is involved. YMMV.

The two bikes turned out to be amazingly similar in ride, comfort, and power. The Aprilia has an automatic transmission with a sport option, the Honda has shaft drive, integrated bags, and a better fairing. The Aprilia costs ~$1000 more and the Honda has a better dealer network if you venture across the USA.

Maybe the key idea for these bikes is a return to sanity. Great rides for those of us who have our hormones under control and don't need to prove anything except our love of the highway. Read the article here if you missed the link above.