Doing anything for Halloween tonight?

This just in from Larry.

Halloween Dirt-Deth Rally in Brooklyn

All the details are here.

4-10p tonight. RSVP on the web page.

Halloween Movie Review

It's almost Halloween so it must be time for a zombie movie. My vote goes to Zombieland. 4 stars out of 5. Why not 5 stars? Because Jesse Eisenberg is a jerk!

What's with this new wussy, irritating, boy, anti-hero thing? And who, in their right mind, thinks he is ever going to get a girl like Emma Stone? Trust me, she would rather hang out with one of the zombies before going out with this whiny, sniveling guy. When he finally gets his act together to go save her, he jumps on a motorcycle and crashes 12' later. If I was Woody Harrelson I would have shot him right there.

So it lost a star but it's still good fun. Not a slasher movie but not a spoof movie either. Go see it.

The best motorcycle commercial of all time!?

My friend Herman sent me this and I am glad that there are still people in the world who don't take themselves too seriously.

Tool tip

Soda blasting is to sand blasting as ballet is to break dancing. When you want to clean up something delicate where even glass beads would be harsh soda blasting is the way to go. It also has the advantage of being water soluble so that when you're done, rinsing the piece out with water will wash the soda away. This is good for all the small orifices on a carb that would be clogged with bead or sand.

Harbor Freight has soda blasters for $99.99 here.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=66742

Eastwood has a similar unit made in the USA for $409.99 here.
http://www.eastwood.com/soda-blasting/soda-blasters/portable-soda-pressure-blaster.html

Unless you think you're going to be blasting away every weekend here is a do-it-yourself plan for making one out of common tools you probably already have. You could make one, try it out and then decide if it's good enough or whether you want to buy a more professional rig.
http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/
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Two motorcycle auctions you should know about

It's a pretty harsh environment for motorcycle dealers right now. Those that thought the economy of years past was going to go on forever are now finding that their glossy showrooms and megabuck "custom" cycles are sitting alone and forlorn. Setting aside for the moment the question, "How can it be a custom if the parts came from a catalog?" the hard times are hitting dealers and the ones that didn't manage their inventory and finances are dropping like flies. Even Harley dealers are struggling after several years of take it or leave it attitudes. Buells are being advertised at half price or less.

Two auctions that are coming soon in New England are the RER Motor City in Monroe, CT and Bettencourts in Bridgewater, MA. Of special interest at the RER auction are 2 '04 HONDA Dream 50R racers. These are specially created bikes to commemorate Honda's 50th anniversary and are replicas of the CR110 factory racer.

 

This could be your big chance to get one if you've ever wanted one. My guess is that they'll go for ~$2500 or half of original price.

Bettencourt's auction is different. This is an old line dealership that was very prominent in the '70's dirt bike scene. Now Dave has cancer and is cashing out to pay the bills. Life is certainly not fair. However, the collection is amazing and has both breadth and depth. How many people have multiple CBX's sitting next to Nortons and Bultacos? Just to look at the pictures is to see a history of the motorcycle industry.

I'll be at the Bettencourt auction. All I ask is that you don't bid against me on the XL600L. Buy one of the other bikes and help raise money to help Dave beat Leukemia.

Info and photos are here:

RER Motor City - 18 Nov

http://www.jwoodandcompany.com/2009/rer_auction/rer_auction_sale.htm

Bettencourts - 21 Nov

http://www.jwoodandcompany.com/2009/bettencourt_collection/Bettencourt.htm

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Fall ride in Northeastern CT

Erika and Jason were visiting and we went out for a ride in Northeastern CT. It was sunny and warm, the last of the year? The delay at the beginning is a quick repair to a leaking fuel line. It's always something with bikes of a certain age! We stopped at Zip's Diner in Dayville. It seems to be a favorite of Bill Griffith and is mentioned in Zippy the Pinhead from time to time.



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Cafe Racer Movie In Brooklyn

Cafe Racer Magazine will be showing the movie "Cafe Society" at Smith and Butler.

http://www.cafesocietyfilm.com

Thursday, October 29,
Smith Butler,
225 Smith Street,
Brooklyn, New York
6 until 9 p.m. with a question and answer session to follow.

Rock On!
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Spring Giro News Already!

Just got a note from Geoff Boughton:

I drove the Saturday Giro route with brother Doug the other week checking mileages, I must say he has put together some great roads. They are mostly town and county roads with a few runs on state roads to let you catch your breath. There aren't any huge mountains to climb like Lincoln Gap or Mt Greylock so the course is "little bike" friendly. The course does take you over hill and dale thru beautiful woods and farmland. A couple of the roads are part of the Taborton Loop.  http://www.motorcycleroads.com/routes/NorthEast/NY/NY_12.shtml 

I think the best way to describe the route is this way; think of your favorite back road to ride, now imagine it goes on for 135 miles with a great lunch stop in the middle, that's Saturday's route. So put April 30th-May 2nd on your calender for the spring Giro, don't miss this one. Also, all your friends who are on the fence about riding a Giro, give them a push, they have all winter to get a bike for it.  Geoff

To repeat, the dates are 30 April - 2 May. Mark your calendars.

Motorcycle swap meet in CT

This is always a hoot. Mostly cruiser stuff but some great deals on non-cruiser stuff. I've always found the odd gem at this one. Plus, the people watching is absolutely the best!

November 1st in Stafford Springs, CT

http://www.staffordmotorspeedway.com/Pages/BoxOffice/2009-SCHEDULES/2009-NOV-1-MOTORCYCLE.jpg
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Sprocket calculator rates high with google.com

If you type "sprocket calculator" into google.com my sprocket and speed calculator comes up as the first entry. YEAH!

I wrote it to help sort out the variables when we go racing. Now I should go back and polish it up a bit.

Take a look and try it out. Suggestions are always encouraged! Google it to help my numbers or use this link.

How the mighty have fallen

I guess attitude isn't everything, or at least not enough to stay afloat in today's economy. Today's Wall Street Journal reports:

Harley-Davidson Inc.'s third-quarter earnings dropped 84%, as the motorcycle maker continued to suffer from weak sales during the economic downturn.
The company also said it will discontinue its Buell product line and divest itself of its MV Agusta unit as part of its turnaround strategy.

I have long said that HD needed to start making motorcycles again and stop making cartoons on two wheels. The XR1200 is the only new product that is actually rideable. All the other new bikes seem to be parts bin creations created for the wanna-be crowd.

Too bad Erik's bikes are going down with the rest of them. At least he went out with a Blast. Check out the videos in the last Buell Blast ad.

Here's a link to a SuperBikePlanet report.

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Dirt Ride Magazine Offer

I received a subscription renewal offer from Dirt Rider Magazine that included the offer for new subscriptions for my "friends" at only $5 each. This would normally cost $12/year so it's not a bad deal if you're into off-road bikes.

Since I would consider anyone reading this blog to be a friend I'll happily sign you up if you send me the cash. To make it real easy just send me $5.80 (80 cents to cover the PayPal fee) by PayPal and I'll add your name to the list. Use the email address braunj@cb77.org and make sure you include the address you want it sent to.

As Mr. Rodgers used to say, "Wouldn't you like to be my friend?"

Ride report

Went out yesterday for a ride through the fall foliage. One of the benefits of living in the country is that it is all just outside my door. The big RS is a happy mount for this sort of meandering ride through the back roads of CT.

I passed the Bach Door in Chaplin and noted the usual 60 odd cruisers parked in the lot. This is the favorite hangout of the "Let's drink beer and make a lot of noise" crowd. Nice enough people the few times I've dropped in but not my scene generally.

Lots of colors and sunbeams later I arrived at The Vanilla Bean. Only 50 or so bikes here but there was every type of bike from vintage cafe to modern naked, full dress cruisers to full on rockets. More noise from people talking and laughing at the outdoor tables than from revving engines and shorty exhausts.

From there it was on to We-Lik-It ice cream stand. This was obviously a ride to fill the inner soul. However, the line was long and the servers slow so I decided to move on. Days are short and I'd rather be riding.

On the way back I remembered Murphy's Drive In on Rt 66 in Windham. Tina at Burt Ives Honda had recommended it so I stopped by for my ice cream fix. I talked to Casey who bought the place early this year. Bad time to buy a restaurant he said but he's committed to making a go of it. I must say it's a lot better than when Murphy built the place a couple of years ago. Better food and much better prices.

MMM Dinner next Thurs.

I was talking to Gretjen and the old gang has not been together for quite a while. Thus, a dinner at the Border Cafe in Harvard Sq. next Thursday (15th). Gathering begins at 4:30 - arrive when you can, leave when you must.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/border-cafe-cambridge

Obviously, anyone and everyone motorcycle-ish is invited. Bring a friend. RSVP not required.

Barbe finally gets her first bike, a 1970 Honda CL350 K2. After a short ride last night she gave it 5 stars and a "WOW". Thankfully skipping some anthropomorphic name for the bike she is calling it simply "The Pretty Blue Bike".

Barbe was one of the early Monday Moto Madness members when it met in JP for rides and pizza. She is also a member of the elite TransSierra Motorcycle Club. I'm sure that she will soon be connecting the dots by riding PBB cross country.

Way to go Barbe!

Burning Man Pictures

This just in from Gretjen. Great pictures that you should check out.

As some of you may already know, I traveled to Black Rock City, Nevada this year to experience and photograph the Burning Man Festival that takes place in August every year.  It was a wonderful adventure and I wanted to share the images I've prepared from such an overwhelming week.  When you get a moment to dive into a one of a kind experience- although this is just a taste of the works of art that evolve from this city of creative and wild people.

The wanna-be's linger around at Burning Man, but you can feel some of them working their way into the scene. Then a few here and there are looking for the nudity and some probably don't even know what they are looking for/at and probably go home with a natural lobotomy.  But we forgive them- and there are only a few.

Check out:

www.gretjenhelene.net/burningman/

and enjoy!
(don't forget to scroll right to view images)
I hope this comes as a fun and surprising break in your day.
Feel free to pass this along to anyone who might be interested.
If you have any questions or comments about any of it, I'd love to hear from you. : )

Cheers,
Gretjen

Tiddler II report from Jen

Said much better than I could:

I cant say enough about how awesome it is to take part in the Tidder 
Rides

Seems to me this event embodies what Vintage Moto enthusiasm is all 
about.
Keeping these vintage beauties alive and running
Hearing the pitter patter
and rumblings
of various engines.
Getting to enjoy the bikes on carefully selected scenic New England 
roads.
Feeling the flutter of excitement in your chest
swooping around curves
crossing metal bridges
and train tracks.
Passing through shadows and beams of sunlight.
Smelling wet leaves
grass
farms
and 2 stroke mix in the air.
Following the route
looking out for road signs
and watching the miles.
Seeing how the person in front of you takes that corner
-and one of my favorites-
watching that graceful sideways dance
as it looks like they just SWOOP
and FOLD into a turn.
I love that!
Talking shop
and kicking tires with like minded fellows.
Getting inspired by projects,
rides
races
and the various goings on.
And Eating Yummy food to boot!

Even the stuff that happens
when your bike keeps dying
as you see the others powering onward
and it gets all quiet
there by the side of the road
wondering
What could it be?
Thinking of the mechanics
and what makes these bikes go
when It can be as simple as running out of gas.
Yes
even pushing a bike up a long hill
and asking bewildered passers by
"is Parmalee road up here somewhere?"
Its all part of what makes it special.

And all that being said
the generosity that comes out of pure enthusiasm for these bikes
as exhibited by the Brauns
and the Ropers
is the topper of it all.

So thats a very long way
of saying something very simple:
In one word - YEAH!
and in another - THANKS!

Looking forward to next time
Jen

Initial post

The old MondayMotoMadness email list is coming to an end because:

• I'm moving my domain which means the email list will no longer be hosted.
• Nobody but me has added anything to it in quite a while.
• I was ready to try something new.

I'll move the old subscriber list when I feel this is all ready for prime time. See you on the other side when it's ready.