Twelve Days of Christmas - Part 1

There's an old saying, "You can never be too rich or too thin." Motorcycling modifies that to being too light. Nothing kills a motorcycle's performance and handling like dead weight.

On the other hand you have the traveler's creed, "What you have and don't need is better than what you need and don't have." 

The next axiom is to lay out everything for your trip and eliminate half. Then wait 24 hours and eliminate half of what's left.

However, unless you enjoy eating with your fingers the proper utensils are in order. Morning oatmeal is hot, sticky, and messy, a proper spoon really makes a difference.

The Sea to Summit Alpha Utensil Set is about as good as it gets for compact lightness. It's aircraft grade aluminum that weighs about as much as a sheet of paper and it comes with a carabiner to keep them together. An unexpected bonus is the 3mm, 4mm, and 5mm wrenches built into the handles. I wouldn't try to overhaul my engine with them but they might come in handy in an emergency. Cleaning the nozzle on my camp stove comes to mind.

$14.95 makes this an excellent and practical gift for a friend who goes camping. 

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Travel Pctures

Giving pictures as well as taking pictures just might be the greatest part of your next trip. I used to take my Polaroid with me on trips and give away photos along the way. Because of it I was invited to be part of the landscape rather than just an observer.

Polaroid has gone out of business but Fuji is making the Instax Mini and Instax 210 instant cameras. Despite the pictures below the Mini is half the size of the 210. It prints out photos the size of a playing card. The 210 prints pictures that are a little bigger than the old Polaroid pictures.

 

There are also battery operated digital printers such as the Canon CP800 (review here)  that print directly from the camera. Print in the middle of nowhere with the NB-CP2L battery. Pictures are 4x6" and have a postcard format printed on the back so you can use them as instant postcards to send home. Make all your friends envious of your trip to Ulaanbaatar!!

 

A spin-off of the old Polaroid company sells the PoGo printer that connects with any BlueTooth device like your cel phone camera and prints directly with no computer needed. It's about the size of a pack of playing cards. What's cool is that the "ink" in embedded in the paper so you never run out. Business card sized prints that are pretty sharp and clear.

Time to get back to sharing!
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What I Listen To

Back home with the help of a lot of friends who relayed me from one point to another. Thanks to all!

I'm sorting through the 2,000+ images I brought home with me. Everyone shared with me so that I could create a Best Of collection for the trip. I'll get these posted in a couple of days.

In the mean time I thought I'd share some of the internet radio stations I listen to as I work.

Jazz

WKCR - from Columbia University in NYC. 

KKJZ - From - Cal State Univ at Long Beach

KJAZ - The original San Francisco station is off the air but now functions as an internet station on a somewhat erratic schedule.

Alt-Country

KGSR - Austin Texas at it's best

KPIG - San Francisco eclectic

News - It's amazing what you can learn when you get away from mainstream U.S. media!

BBC - For an outside view of world news

Deutsche Welle - German station (in English) for a European view point.

WBUR - Slanted to the left but the best all around NPR news station - Note: I still protest the firing of Juan Williams!

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Got internet favorites of your own? Leave them below in the comments.
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Amtrak

This may not be your father's railroad but it's still the same old late as usual schedule.

The joy of travel

Like lemmings rushing over a cliff we pack ourselves into flying metal tubes. Hostages probably have better conditions. And I paid for the privilege!!!

Back To Civilization

Back in San Francisco after enjoying 20" of snow in Yosemite with friends.

Not to mention friends who didn't move their cars before the snow came in. We had to dig out a path almost 1/4 mile through the woods to get them out.

But it was good exercise and a bit of weird fun. Another adventure story in the making. Thanksgiving dinner was warm and wonderful as it always is with good friends. And then there was the tobogganing ...

I'm back in range of a data connection so posts will resume on a regular basis. Hope you're all still out there.

Yosemite

About 12" of snow and loving it!

San Francisco

Where too much neon is never enough.

KLR vs GS

Note: I will be in the air tomorrow on my way to the mountains of the left coast. I'll be sending in updates as I did on my way across country to Bonneville. I'll be back in December.

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When you can buy four KLR's for the price of one GS you have to think about how that extra money could be used to actually go on an adventure. While I've been impressed with how a friend's GS would do well when the going got tough he had to work a lot harder than I did on my Transalp and there were places that those wide cylinders just wouldn't go.

Most GS's, like most Harleys, are personal statements rather than touring machines. I wonder how you say "Bad Ass" in German?
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It's not safe in the woods

This morning's Washington Post had this comment:

some Democrats are eager to use the lame-duck session that starts this week to pass as many bills as possible while the party still controls both chambers of Congress.

While the article was about another topic it echoed other voices I've heard about the lame-duck session coming up. Most importantly, a lot of members who were voted out of office will try to ram through legislation to enforce their Green Taliban agenda.

Land closures will be at the top of their list and they will care little about what people think because they have already lost their elections and have nothing more to lose. Now is the time to write the politicians who have been re-elected and tell them you hold them accountable for the actions of all the members of their party. The Blue Ribbon Coalition has an excellent political action program. If you don't belong, you should. At least you should use their resources to write your politicians to let them know how you feel about open access.

Write today, or cry tomorrow!!

Bicycle Skill

Hermann sent me this. I can't get a picture but I assure you that since we love all things wheeled you will be impressed. I was literally holding my breath at times. Definitely not the usual bunny hopping post jumping!

http://wimp.com/bicycleskill/

Funny Papers

I've been pretty busy lately with winter prep on the many bikes we have around here. However, I always find time to read the latest edition of Hot Bike Magazine when it arrives. It's better than the comics to make me smile.

A tech article in this month's edition shows how to install 20" ape hangers for under $500. OMG - LOL - ROTF !!!

Where else could you find ads for carbon fiber shorty helmets so you could look really Bad Ass! ??

I will give them credit on two points. First, this is a serious magazine that's all about the bikes. I may laugh about the ape hangers but they also have tech articles on more serious subjects such as suspension upgrades for the XR1200 and twin disk brake upgrades (who knew a HD could go fast enough to need one?).

Secondly, Hot Bike is not a sleaze rag. If you're looking for naked bimbos draped across ridiculous cartoon bikes this is not the place. They show women with their own bikes as real people who love to ride.

Veterans Day

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Whether you are for the war or not, everyone should support the men and women in our military. One of the greatest disgraces in this country's history was the way the soldiers of the Vietnam era were treated when they returned home. It was the politicians who sent them who should have been spit on, not the people they sent to serve.

It's very simple. Write your politican about the way you feel about the wars but honor the women and men who go into harm's way.

Take care of the ones who take care of you!

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Moto Gear Sale

Here's a quick way to get some of the Christmas shopping for your moto friends out of the way and save some money while doing it.

The Coconut sox are a favorite of mine (hint, hint).

 And how many of your buddies could use a decent tire pressure gauge in their tank bags!?

Tell them you saw it here. Maybe they'll add me to Santa's list.
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Tron LightCycle

I'm looking out my window and everything is white. As in the first snow of the year. No riding today! What to do to get some 2 wheeled fun while still staying warm?

I showed off the Tron LightCycle before but at a cost of $35,000 it's a bit out of my budget. However Disney has felt my pain and come to the rescue.

Here's one that I can afford and, best of all, work on while I'm enjoying my hot chocolate and cookies. Get the free parts and instructions here.

The official Tron site is here. The movie is coming soon, I'll be there!

Yamaha Super Ténéré

The new Super Ténéré is coming from Europe to the U.S. I have only one word for it, BIG. The Yamaha web site lists it at 575 pounds ready to ride.

To put this in perspective the new Triumph Tiger 800 comes in at 462 pounds and the BMW 800GS at 455 pounds. Even the BMW 1200 GS Adventure is lighter at 564.

Let's face it, this (and the 1200 GS) are bikes for fire roads, not trails. More often than not they are comfy road bikes for riders that don't want the Gold Wing look but don't want to be bent over a sport bike. My friend Bob bought a GS, not because he wanted to ever go off road, but because his wife said that it had the most comfortable back seat.

The Super Ténéré and the big GS are for comfy riding and Class 1 dirt roads. If you can take your Corolla there you can take your bike there. And that's just fine for the people who are going to buy them. Think of them as 2 wheel SUV's. It's good to see that Yamaha is taking a chance and giving us choice. If it sells well Honda might even wake up and bring the Transalp or Varadero.

$20 Swingarm Stand

 

Snagged this off the NYC VinMoto list.

While perusing the internet I found a really cool article on how to make your own Swingarm Stand for $20. This is specifically for the sv650 but looks like it can be adapted.

http://www.svrider.com/tips/pipestand/SwingarmStand.htm 

Credit goes to Doug Roever from the SV Rider list for this great idea. Also to Seth from NYC VinMoto for forwarding it.

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Vote Today !!

Vote for whomever you want but vote today! I would like my favorites to win of course, but I'd rather lose to an informed electorate than win by indifferent default.

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Today - NOW - Vote Like A Motorcyclist!

Let them know that You Ride and You Vote

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Good Friends and Great Friends

An old joke goes, "A good friend will post your bail. A great friend will be sitting next to you saying, 'That was fun!'"

Air bubbles in the upper injection line

When you you call for motorcycle advice, a good friend will patiently go over all the possible causes, effects, and remedies. A great friend will show up on your doorstep with manuals and special tools, and spend a couple of hours working on your bike with you.

Thanks Paul!

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Nov 2 - Vote Like A Motorcyclist!

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Busted

Generally I think the MythBusters are a bunch of weenies who use bad science and twisted logic to be entertaining. However, I recently saw them rebuke the BMW tablecloth ad.



Granted that they seem to be using a Buell instead of the BMW S1000RR but the run up with all the cable seems to negate that. However, by making everything lighter they do reduce friction but they also reduce the mass and, hence, inertia of the resting objects. That's where there science gets a little lite.

No matter what or where the truth is in all this, the fact is that BMW has reaped an enormous amount of exposure for the RR from the ad and all the call backs. Somebody at the ad agency should be getting a big bonus this Christmas. A 1000cc bonus??

Here's Aprilia's answer

Here's the Vespa spoof.

Here's the original.
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Dirt Bag Challenge

San Francisco always goes its own way. Brooklyn has the HoleShot/Detonation/Brand-X rally and the City By The Bay has the Dirt Bag Challenge. I don't want to get into a left coast vs right coast thing. Each one has the flavor of it's environment.

One of the things I like about the DBC is the builders challenge. 30 days, $1000, and it has to be ridden 4 miles around Hunter's Point. Oh, and no Harleys! Check out the rules. The pictures of past year's event show the usual collection of choppers and bobbers. There is also quite a collection of vintage bikes and everyday riders. Luckily, I just might be out there for this event. I'll post a full report.

Finally, what's not to like about a girl with a 996 bra?
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The Way It Should Be

The Washington Backcountry Discovery Route is an example of what can happen when groups share and cooperate instead of dogmatically pursuing narrow agendas. The more people get out into the wilderness and experience all that it offers, the more the Green Taliban will be exposed for what they are.

Visit the Washington Backcountry Discovery Route website and check out the maps and descriptions. Now if they could hook up with the end of the TransAmerica Trail it would be even better! And then link up with the Continental Divide trail ...

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Nov 2 - Vote Like A Motorcyclist!

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Tiddler Pictures

Getting Ready To Go In The Morning

Here is the link to the MMM Tiddler Rally pictures with help from John and Bob. It was a huge success with over two dozen bikes from all over New England. People rode in small groups of 3-5 bikes at their own pace. Lunch was at Harry's Place, an old hamburger and ice cream stand from the '50's. After the ride everyone warmed up by the fireplace with Amy's excellent chili while Beth showed pictures from the Bonneville Adventure.

Next year there will be three Tiddler rides; Spring, 4th of July with Amy and Doug, and Fall with Beth and J. Details will be forth coming as they develop.

A Rider Never Stands So Tall

As When They Stoop To Ride A Small Bike

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Triumph Tiger XC

One of the reasons that Triumph has increased their sales while practically everyone else's has fallen off is because they continually think outside the norms. Their cruiser has a parallel twin engine. Their sport bike has 675cc triple for better torque rather than the same old high strung 600cc 4-cylinder.

 

Now they are trying something really radical. They're making their adventure bike, the Tiger, smaller! Down from 1050cc to 800cc, hopefully with a concomitant reduction in weight. I comes in normal and XC versions, the XC conspicuous by it's handguards and 21" front wheel. 

Admittedly it looks way to GS-ish but time will tell when it hits the showroom floors soon.

If only KTM would release the 690 Adventure here in the U.S. Then there would be real rejoicing in Mudville.
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Tiddler Update

Apres Rally fun

Tiddler Update

Lunch break

Tiddler Update

Last crew out

Tiddler Update

They're off!

Tiddler Update

It's starting

Tiddler News

They're lining up already

Tiddler Route Sheets

I've driven the two routes for tomorrow's Tiddler Rally so often that I think I could do it with my eyes closed. I've checked, and rechecked, all the twists and turns, to make sure that every rider will stay on course and not get lost. I've tried to apply all the WTF?'s I've experienced following other route sheets so that people will not return wondering "What were you thinking here?"

To that end I've posted the route sheets here. However, the rules are:

• No GPS
• No iPods
• No mobile phones (unless you need to be picked up but bonus points if you walk up to the nearest house and ask to use their phone).

Ride like it was 1966 - The Summer of Love 

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If You Got To Know Me ...

This is what the government of the UK does to help with motorcycle awareness. A great campaign to show that there's real people under the leathers and behind the face shields. Certainly a lot more creative than the bland "Motorcycles are everywhere" posters and bumper stickers you see here.

Not that it would have helped the biker who was killed by the drunken senator who was speeding or the rider who was killed by the woman who was painting her nails. Still, it might get people to past thinking that we're all morons with loud pipes and a sneer. It says, "Hey, we're regular people just like you. You'd like to have most of us over for tea sometime."

You can get a copy of the song from the artist here. This is the video of them making the video.


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