I am writing this as follow up to an earlier posting on helmet options for my 2008 Harley-Davidson Sportster. There have been more than a few strong feelings expressed on the topic of helmets so I’m providing some feedback and a poll so others can weigh in.
I’ve ridden the Sportster XL1200 Custom for about a thousand miles with a half helmet and no windscreen. Overall it has been a lot of fun and is a true immersion into the experience of riding. There is really nothing out there to separate rider from the full experience, sites, sounds, smells, temperature. That said, I’ve never really felt comfortable riding with my face fully exposed, probably a result of starting on sportbikes.
A Harley windscreen was fitted to the Sportster in October and that has made long distance riding much more enjoyable. Behind the screen I feel I can ride all day, without the screen long rides became tiresome. With the windscreen I experienced some significant buffeting about the head, very noticeable with the smaller helmet. With the full face Arai the buffeting is hardly noticeable, another benefit.
I do find that visibility is much better with the smaller helmet, the Arai blocks some peripheral vision and make lane changes solely reliant on the mirrors. I’m going to look into other full face helmets and see if I can find something with a wider portal.
What do you think about helmets? Take the poll.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Motorcycle Helmets
Monday, October 22, 2007
From Sea to Sea with Desert in Between
October 14 friend and local banker John Harelson and I head East up through Ramona. It’s early Sunday morning, the sun is just cresting the Eastern mountains and the further we go the colder it gets. To put things in perspective, cold for a Southern Californian is anything below sixty degrees. As we wind up the 78 into the town of Ramona we enter a fog bank and in the moisture the temperature drops, the official low is 51, including wind speed and moisture it was damn cold.
Riding out old Julian highway and into Julian proper we made good time – not many people on the road in the early morning, just riders out looking for some fresh air and no traffic. On the way to Julian we detour down Wynola road, enjoying the twisty road and beautiful fall colors. We pass a group of wild turkeys standing by the side of the road and then wind into the town proper, stopping at the Julian Coffee House on the East side of Main Street, next to the gas station.
A few cups of coffee and the tanks topped up, John and I head East on the 78, to the desert of Borrego Springs. The ride down the mountain is fantastic, the air crisp and the wide-open roads phenomenal. We continue through the desert on the long, long road, past the sand dunes and desert rats. The Harley Sportster's XL1200 engine motors along a comfortable vibration coming from the v-twin, seemingly effortlessly moving us along at a cool 70 mph. North on the 86 we head up through the first traffic of the day to Salton City.
The Salton City area is the land of lost expectations with streets named Sea Oasis, Desert Shores, and other names that came from a more optimistic time. The Salton Sea has receded over time shore-front properties are now in the middle of arid lands, far from the water. Looking for a road that will take us to the water’s edge, we finally come across an RV park that has access to the sea.
We ride down one of two jetties to get a look out at the Salton Sea. Further out the water is blue, up close it is mostly clear. Most striking is the lack of activity; used to seeing people enjoying in water, boating, jet skiing, fishing, swimming and more, it is strange to see so much water with only the occasional bird.
Riding back we head up through the town of Borrego Springs and into the mountains. The air is remarkably blue and crisp, perfect riding weather. We ride back down into the valley and head back West on the 76. In all we cover 270 miles in about six hours. The whole time we are reminded of the beauty of rural San Diego, the sights, the sounds, the smells. All of nuance isn’t noticed in the climate controlled environment of a car.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Hot Deal on a Cool Cruiser Jacket
The folks at New Enough Motorcycle Leathers are blowing out the Power Trip Supercharger leather jackets at $72-$85. These appear to be pretty sharp and well made so I thought I’d pass it along. With the weather getting cooler now may be the time to get an extra jacket, to mix things up on the daily ride.
The Next Harley You Can’t Buy
According to Autoblog, Harley Davidson have announced the future release of the Sportster XR1200 for Europe. This model moves away from the classic cruiser style to more of a standard or “naked” bike configuration including an aero tail and real rear-sets, not the centered or forward mounted controls found on American Sportsters. This may be pure speculation but it wouldn’t surprise me to see The Motor Company looking to extend its presence in Europe where riders are far more likely to ride the more upright standards or sport bikes than cruisers.
The XR1200 looks like an evolution of the Nightster, with a radical rear fender and tail treatment (for a Harley). I’m not sure how they’re going to get enough air into lump through that little snorkel but I’m sure the details are all being worked out. So is this just a less comfortable version of the venerable Sportster or is this the new world market entry for Harley? Time will tell.
For kicks, check out the translated Italian announcement.
Update: UK Motorcyclenews confirmation of the XR1200 production announcement.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Life with the Harley-Davidson Sportster
Last night while riding home I couldn’t help but think how much I am enjoying my 2008 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL1200C Custom. I was on the freeway at the time, keeping pace (or ahead of traffic) when coincidentally the clock turned 700 miles. The bike remains stock, the first time I’ve had a bike and done nothing to it within the first couple of days. I’ve not made any changes because I want to take in the experience of riding the stock bike and because the bike is so damn good I don’t feel the need to make any serious modifications. Certainly accessories will come, but they don’t need to happen immediately.
I was coming home from the new customer appreciation event put on by San Diego Harley-Davidson in Kearny Mesa. The event, which included dinner, was very enjoyable and a good opportunity to meet the dealership staff in a casual setting. I was impressed by apparent interest the staff members have in the customer’s overall experience. This makes sense as there is tremendous ongoing sales opportunity for all departments, parts, service, sales, and motorclothes. As I was told when purchasing my Sportster, “you’ve just made your down payment on accessories.”
Also interesting was the recurring theme that being a Harley owner is a unique experience, comments ranging from “your life has changed” to “people will look at you differently from now on” came up several time from both the staff and the members of the local HOG chapter. This is a testament to both the machines and the brand, as The Motor Company has obviously done a great job of not only creating a brand image but in instilling that image in the hearts and minds of faithful.
So, complimentary hat, coffee mug, and fridge magnets stuffed into my jacket and powering up the 15 North at 75mph I was thinking of how nice the Sporty is to ride. Power is good and the handling is precise. The weight of the bike seems ideal to me, coming off of lighter bikes, as it smooths some of the bumps out of the highway. The ride is good and so is the sound, the subtle reverberation of the v-twins exhaust getting louder when passing other vehicles.
The ride only got better as I pulled off the freeways and into the back roads of Rancho Santa Fe. The bright headlight providing plenty of visibility for the extremely dark winding roads, illuminating my path and providing warning for the animals that come out at night. Riding motorcycles is a vastly different experience from driving a car, you are truly an active participant in the environment, taking in the sites, sounds, smells, kinetics, and not insulated from these elements by the temperature controlled box on four wheels.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Slow Isn’t Always Safe
On Sunday I had a chance to get out and run “the East County loop” as I’ve come to call the ride from the 395 North, to the 76 East, to Julian, and then back home via 78 West. To mix things up on this ride I ran the loop in reverse, hitting Ramona on the 78 East, to Julian, etc.
On this ride I encountered significant traffic on the 76 leg, pretty much from Lake Henshaw to the 15. The most frustrating of the traffic was a driver in a Mercedes SLK doing between 35 and 40 from the lake to the Pala Casino. The speed alone would have been marginally frustrating but it was a nice day and having a relaxed ride is not a bad thing. What was frustrating and dangerous was the build-up of cars behind the SLK, and more worrisome, my Sportster.
One ass rode the back of my Harley-Davidson for a good five miles. To try and be as safe as possible I put some distance between my front wheel and the car in front (an SUV behind the SLK). By the time the Mercedes reached the casino there must have been close to two-dozen vehicles (cages and bikes) stacked up. The driver and passenger seemed completely oblivious to what was going.
Now I know that twisty roads can be problematic for drivers and riders alike and that’s fine. Do what you do within your limits and be safe but please, use the turn outs to get out of the way and let the other motorists pass. What's safe for you may not be safe for those around you.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Sleep Deprivation and Riding
I only got two days of riding in this week so I’m hoping to make up some miles this Sunday. Wednesday I took the girls to school, Friday I was supposed to pick-up my son, and Thursday I was tired from only about 3 hours sleep the night before (no, I wasn’t up all night playing Halo 3).
I actually felt like riding Thursday morning but don’t when I’ve not slept. Sleep deprivation has a major negative impact on my riding as it lowers my awareness – not good when surrounded by cars – and I tend to get point fixated. The point fixation is extremely frustrating and not safe. For those of you not familiar with the term, point fixation is when you find yourself staring at a point on (or off) the road. Because the bike tends to go where the rider is looking point fixation is very dangerous.
I find that rides on my Harley-Davidson Sportster are more enjoyable the further up the road I can get my mind. This takes active concentration, not just sitting back and following the road or, worse, the cars in front. This is why I don’t ride when I’ve not slept.
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Tuesday, September 25, 2007
500 Mile Break-In Period Complete
We just passed the 500 mile mark today, completing the factory recommended break-in period. The odometer clicked past 500 on the way down to the local dealership, San Diego Harley-Davidson, where I bought my Sportster XL1200 Custom. A fitting destination for the event made even more momentous as I was heading down to buy Mickey our brindle boxer (named after the Irish boxer in Snatch) a birthday gift.
The Best Book on Riding Technique
I’ve read a lot of books on riding over the past several years with the goals of improving my technique and having an overall more enjoyable and safer ride. By far the best book I’ve read to date is Keith Code’s Twist of the Wrist 2. This book is a very complete analysis of the physics of riding presented in a very understandable format that includes pictures and tips. Understanding the dynamics of traction and how those dynamics change during cornering, braking, and acceleration has really improved my riding and my confidence. While this book is targeted at sport bike riders the information applies to all including Harley-Davidson riders. I highly recommend Twist of the Wrist 2. Note, the first book in the series is also very good but not necessary if you buy the second.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Harley-Davidson Creed
Agree with it or not, there is a certain feel to riding a Harley that in my experience other bikes just don’t convey. Some owners may be posers but the real riders have their own take on life and the road. I don’t necessarily agree with all the opinions in this video, and lord knows it’s heavy handed, but this video captures the essence of Harley-Davidson. See it at the official HD site here.
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Friday, September 21, 2007
Sound of Stock 2008 Sportster XL1200C Custom
As part of what appears to becoming a “sounds of Harley-Davidson” series I’ve captured some footage of my stock 2008 Sportster XL1200C Custom. This bike is stock including the pipes. The Sportster has about 370 miles on it so is not fully broken in yet; I expect the pipes will get louder over time. You can compare this with the sound of the Sportster Custom with Harley’s Screamin’ Eagle pipes in the video posted earlier this month.
Digg It | Reddit It | Add to del.icio.usTuesday, September 18, 2007
NPR Report on Motorcycle Makers Responding to Noise Complaints
When it comes to Harley-Davidson motorcycles “loud pipes save lives” seems to be the battle cry of the masses. When I first rode a HD it was running Screamin’ Eagle slip-ons and I thought them loud, though enjoyable, at the time.
When I bought my Sportster Custom I looked into the Screamin’ Eagle option and was told by the dealer rep that those pipes “weren’t very loud.” They seem plenty loud to me and I know it would annoy my neighbors to be running anything much louder than stock up and down our suburban street. The greatest benefit I see in the Screamin' Eagle pipes is in torque and horsepower, as shown in the dyno chart.
National Public Radio just produced a segment on the topic of loud pipes including comments from representatives of The Motor Company. The biggest concerns are the “noise laws” communities including New York City, Denver, and Lancaster, PA are passing against loud pipes. The concern is this becomes a slippery-slope that leads to further regulation of the sport.
Digg It | Reddit It | Add to del.icio.usMonday, September 17, 2007
Update on Riding Glasses
One cautionary note on the Panoptx: do not wipe the inside of lenses if wet, this can damage the anti-fog coating and “make them pretty much useless.” While I question that this would make the glasses useless it could certainly have an impact on their day-to-day use and you don’t want to bollocks up a pair of pricey glasses.I purchased the Whirlwind CV model today. The frame are very comfortable even with the foam seal, they are fairly light and not tight on the temple – important traits for all-day use. I will provide impressions on the glasses after I’ve had a chance to ride with them for a couple of weeks. Given that the days are getting shorter I should have plenty of opportunities to use the day/night Photochromic lenses.
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Sunday, September 16, 2007
Baby’s First Bath
After commuting three days last week and a big ride yesterday it was time to clean my Vivid Black Sportster Custom today. The bike had a fair amount of dust build-up detracting from the overall shine.
I wasn’t sure if I should leave the seat on for the wash or remove it first. The ECM for the fuel injection is under the seat and I didn’t want that to get wet. At the same time, I did not want to get the seat wet unnecessarily. I ended up removing the seat (easily done by removing the lager screw at the back and pushing forward off the center mount), placing the ECM in a ziplock bag, and wrapping the large wiring connection with plastic wrap.
With the electronics protected I rinsed the Sporty lightly and washed her down with Meguiar’s Gold Class Car Wash. Being mid-afternoon it was pretty sunny out and the tank and fenders spotted quickly. The Sportster was overall very easy to clean and I highly recommend the stock Custom rear mag wheel over the upgraded spoke wheel. The mag is very easy to clean where a spoke wheel would be a pain.
Once washed and dried with a microfiber cloth I idled the Sportster into the garage and closed the door to keep the sun out. Meguiar’s Gold Class Liquid Wax was applied to the tin with two application on the tank to really bring out the shine. ScratchX was used lightly on the rear fender to remove some of the blemishes where the seat comes in contact.
Griot’s Garage Leather Care was applied to the seat (not even sure it’s leather but what the heck) and that cleaned it up nicely. I finished up by applying a little Purple Slice show polish to the bright work to remove a few water spots. Start to finish the job took about three hours with a result that while not show perfect looks mighty nice.
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The First 300+ Miles on the Sportster Custom
This week I’ve put over 370 miles on the Sporty including 160 on Saturday that included destinations in Julian and Oceanside. I continue to be amazed by the bike overall; it is very comfortable for clocking miles, handles well in the twisties, and has plenty of power. I am mostly surprised with how well the Harley-Davidson handles.
Going through very tight turns you can really lean the Sportster over and feel very confident in the control. The only thing to watch for is gearing, you want to be low enough in the gears to leverage the copious torque through the turns. I found that the Sporty and I performed best when looking as far as possible through the turns, and if I got fixated on the rider in front the ride became significantly less smooth and enjoyable.
My neighbor Doug and I did the 130 mile Julian loop in about three hours. Now that we’re into Fall the weather and scenery are perfect for riding and it stayed cool enough for jackets the entire time. The ride out to Oceanside on the 78 was less enjoyable but I made good time. The amount of turbulence at speed is significant without a windscreen and I can feel the effect in my back and shoulders.
Doug has a great pair of riding glasses from Panoptx that include the Photochromic Day/Night lenses that adjust the tint based on the ambient light. They go from clear to a fairly dark tint without the need to change lenses. This is a perfect solution for riders, especially those with open-face helmets, who don’t won’t to limit their riding by time of day and don’t want to pack multiple glasses or lenses. This week I found myself riding at night with my blue-blocker lenses, not impossible to see but they certainly limit the effectiveness of the excellent Sporster Custom headlight. Harley-Davidson also has a line of riding glasses with Day/Night lenses that I plan on checking out soon.
Taking the coastal 101 from Oceanside to Carlsbad capped the day – those of us in San Diego are really fortunate to have such great riding destinations and weather. Average mileage for the day, 46mpg which is pretty good considering the Sporty is still in the break-in period. I expect to see the mileage climb above 50 mpg as we get closer to the 500 mile mark.
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Thursday, September 13, 2007
Selecting the Right Lid for the Harley-Davidson Sportster
Does the helmet have to match the bike ...
When I started talking to my buddies about buying a Harley the first thing nearly everyone said was, "you’re going to need a new helmet." The helmet they were all referring to is an Arai RX-7 Corsair, a damn fine and safe helmet. The reason they all thought I needed a new helmet was because the Arai does not match the image of the Harley-Davidson; rather, it is a helmet more fitting a sportbike including the Gary McCoy paint scheme.
Riding the Sportster home I got to thinking about the helmet. It was true that the kangaroo graphic paint scheme does not match the classic Vivid Black Sporty and the full face helmet does not match the “image” of the Harley rider. I got to thinking maybe I’d try something different. So what’s the right helmet? A three-quarters number with a face shield or maybe without? Maybe a half helmet?
I knew I didn’t want the “yamika” some riders prefer as I do believe that a good helmet is the best thing to have between your head and the highway in a worst-case scenario. I had a gift card for the local import motorcycle shop and went there hoping to find something interesting. What I ended up with is a black HJC CL-21M helmet that includes a handy zip-out ear flap. The HJC fits great and it turns out is super comfortable to wear.
At speed the open face helmet really changes the ride. I wouldn’t want to necessarily put a lot of miles on the Sportster Custom without a windscreen but it is a helluva rush to catch the wind at 70mph square in the face. Kind of like the 1925 Czech FN Motorcycle Poster, but without the yellow suit.
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Operation Rolling Thunder
Bringing home a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle ...
About a month ago I came to terms with my midlife crisis and realized that it was time to re-think my approach to motorcycling. I had two bikes, a 2003 Suzuki SV650S and a 2003 BMW F650GS Dakar. Both bikes are very nice and have the pros and cons but neither was for me; the Suzuki is just not comfortable for extended trips and the BMW is both awkward (for someone of my size) and sluggish with its large single cylinder.
I had seen some of the new Harley-Davidson Sportsters and thought they looked pretty nice and that with a 1200cc engine they would have plenty of power. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve spent several hours in the local HD dealers looking at bikes and thinking about what would be right for me (if any). On Labor Day I rented a Sportster XL1200C Custom and road almost 130 miles and knew at the end of the ride that was the bike for me.
Since then, I’ve sold both the Suzuki and the BMW (BTW, if you are looking to sell a vehicle I highly recommend Craigslist, both buyers came from this site while I had very few leads from CycleTrader – and Craigslist is FREE). My Father-in-Law, Warren, and I went out looking at Harleys on Saturday and found the perfect bike at San Diego HD in Kearney Mesa. This is one of the stores owned by NY Myke who you may have seen on TV in one of his commercials if you live in the San Diego area.
I picked up the XL1200C on Sunday and rode 70 miles, up the coast and out into Escondido, mostly for a run through the twisty back roads of Rancho Santa Fe. The Sportster is great, super comfortable and a pleasure to ride. My Sportster is completely stock right now, no bags, pipes, or windscreen.
Riding without the windscreen is quite an experience, and while none of my bikes have had large fairings the Harley-Davidson really seems to put you out in the wind. With the vents open on my riding jacket I felt like a parachute going up the freeway at 70mph, holding on to the bars to keep from being peeled off the bike. I realize that much of this is sensation and that I’m not likely to get blown off the bike but the feeling takes some getting used to.
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Sound of the Sportster XL1200C
Not the subtlest of sounds ...
Harley-Davidson motors may not be the most refined engines on the planet but they do have a primal charm that seems most authenticate from products made in the USA. The Screamin' Eagle pipes make the sound of the 1200cc engine more raw and (obviously) louder.
In this clip you can also hear the sound of the fuel injectors tapping away, it is most notable when I move the camera to the left side of the engine.
Overall a great sound a part of the complete Harley package.
Digg It | Reddit It | Add to del.icio.usTest Riding the Harley-Davidson Sportster
Riding the Harley-Davidson Sportster through the Center of the Sun ...
A work friend, Jesus, and I rented Harleys from the local dealer, Biggs in San Marcos. This is the first time either of us had ridden Harleys and neither of use was that comfortable with spending an extended amount of time on someone else's bike, but hey, that's why they offer rentals. I rented a Sportster XL1200C Custom and Jesus a Dyna Wide Glide, apparently the next smaller bike in the Harley-Davidson line. After signing papers and getting the run-down on the bikes we left Biggs at 10AM. It was already hot in San Marcos, probably in the high 80’s and rapidly climbing.
With jackets on we rode up the 395 past the 76 and into Fallbrook. This was the period of getting used to the XL1200 motor. I’ve ridden v-twins in the past but nothing of this size (Suzuki’s SV650 to be exact). At first the Harley motor seemed very rough, with the momentum of the internal mass, crank, pistons, etc. quite noticeable, especially at low RPMs where the Suzuki is extremely smooth. The Screamin' Eagle pipes were also a lot louder than what I am used to on my bikes, cracking out a low bark that increased in urgency up the power-band. The Sportster Custom has the forward controls and this was also a new experience. My initial impressions were very mixed with the Harley but as we rode my comfort level with the machine began to increase.
When we stopped in Fallbrook the temperature had to be over 100-degrees. We chugged some water, stuffed our jackets in the saddlebags, and applied another round of sunscreen. From Fallbrook we took the 76 East, looking for more open roads and the opportunity to get a sense of how the Sportster handles the twistys. By now had become very comfortable with the riding position and most of the controls. The only thing really throwing me off is the Harley-Davidson turn-signal configuration with a button on each hand control and, something I kept forgetting, automatic cancelling once you make the turn. Obviously, these are not significantly problematic issues, they just take some getting used to. The forward controls quickly grew on me, though I think it would be ideal to have standard pegs and highway bars for maximum comfort. Being able to weight the pegs would provide better feel for cornering and allow the rider to take some of the load off the back.
Jesus and I rode into the Pala Casino around noon and the temperature had to be 107-degrees. After cooling down we headed back out, going from the 76 to the 79 and down into Santa Ysabel where we stopped for Gatorade. On that stretch we encountered a few drops of rain from some of the clouds overhead. The cloud cover really helped drop the temperature and this leg of the ride became very comfortable.
Having had a couple of hours on the Harley I started to take in the sounds of the bike. Being a bit of a gear head I tend to be pretty tuned into the sound and feel of my machines. One of the first things I noticed with the Sportster is the fairly loud fuel injectors. They definitely make a noticeable sound at idle and constant, cruising throttle. It’s not a bad or annoying sound, just something that is very discernable in the fuel injected version. Second I notice pinging or pre-detonation that I’m guessing was caused by a combination of the heat and shite gas provided by the previous renter. The engine knock became very apparent with a twist of the throttle – I don’t believe these bikes have knock sensors, electronic sensors used on fuel injected cars to detect pre-detonation and retard timing, so the knock was not entirely unexpected. Third, I noticed rattling coming from several unidentified locations around the engine at certain ranges of the power band. I’m not sure if there were loose chrome bits or if this is “normal” for Harleys, either way, it wasn’t a big deal.
By now I was very happy with the Sportster and the appeal of the 1200 v-twin really became apparent. Unlike my other bikes the Harley is extremely relaxed, as the rider you feel in control and well positioned. The bike handles remarkably well, much better than I had expected, and by this time I was used to the hum of the engine through the Screamin' Eagle pipes. Riding through the back country, sun on my arms, the pulse of the motor underneath, the tone of the engine put a smile on face – this is what riding should be like.
We made it through Ramona, down into Escondido (friggin HOT) and to the gas station to fill up the Sporty before taking it back to Biggs. We had completed about 130 miles and consumed 2.8 gallons of gas! Amazing mileage for a fun bike and an awesome ride. This experience has really changed my perceptions of Harley-Davidson’s motorcycles, its given me a real appreciation of the machines and the experience of the ride.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
2008 New Model Year Event at San Diego Harley
My Father-in-Law, Warren, and I went down to Kearny Mesa for the San Diego Harley-Davidson Full Metal Attraction, 2008 New Model Year Event. We didn’t get down as early as I had hoped so we caught the tail-end of the event. It looked like they had a good turn out with a lot of bikes, a band, some BBQ scraps, etc.
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Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Kick-Ass Motorcycle Scenes in the Movies: The Matrix Reloaded
Speeding into Oncoming Traffic Two Up on a Ducati …
The near 15 minute freeway chase scene in the Matrix Reloaded raised the bar for this type of action sequence. The interaction of characters, vehicles, and camera angles is truly amazing. This is the first film that almost organically captures the action by weaving in, out, and under the traffic.
Much of the sequence involves action in, on, and around cars and SUVs but it truly heats up when the vinyl clad Trinity takes the Keymaker for a head-on ride through oncoming traffic on a black Duacati 996. The blend of live stunts and computer graphics (cgi) is clean and does not create an artificial barrier between the audience and the action, but draws in the viewer.
In addition to the riding and driving the sequence includes the typical highly stylized Matrix martial arts, choreographed by Yuen Wo Ping. The only change I would make to the freeway chase scene is to have Neo arrive on a Harley Davidson Nightster, barreling down the highway at super speeds with guns blazing.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Kick-Ass Motorcycle Scenes in the Movies: Torque
There’s Nothing Wrong with Mindless, Guilty Pleasures …
Torque is damn near the definition of mindless, guilty pleasure for me. This is a movie I take on the road when traveling for business, it’s great for tuning out the world, and noisy kids, on airplanes and it’s great to watch in hotel rooms after spending long hours in meetings.
There is nothing subtle in this movie, it highlights everything that is good and bad about motorcycling and the people that ride. Fast bikes (good), dirty riders (not so bad on weekends), hot women (good), bad bikers on Harleys (cliché), good and bad guys on sportbikes (whatever).
The best scene is during the opening credits when the hero, on an Aprilia, gets going so fast he spins a street sign on it’s axis with enough velocity that it appears to say “cars suck”. That is kicks-ass. Most of the movie is cgi stunts including a ridiculous scene at the end with the 227mph Y2K, helicopter turbine powered motorcycle. While the chase scene is silly the fact that the movie included the Y2K is awesome. Of course the villain is riding an equally fast v-twin but not a Harley Davidson Nightster.When you just want to kick back and think of a world ruled by the baddest bikes and their riders put on Torque, suspend belief, and enjoy.
Kick-Ass Motorcycle Scenes in the Movies: Deja Vu
While I’m in between motorcycles and riding I thought I’d write about some of the most kick-ass motorcycle scenes in movies. Now “kick-ass” can imply many things, crazy stunts, expert riding, unique machines, etc. At times I may write about kick-ass movies that would have likely been more kick-ass with a motorcycle scene.
The first installment is just such a movie, Deja Vu staring Denzel Washington as an ATF agent investigating an act of domestic terrorism in New Orleans (no, it’s not the Administration’s handling of Katrina). What makes this movie kick-ass is the extreme geeky undertones mixed with explosions and gun play. If you’ve seen the trailer you probably don’t realize how truly geeky this movie is; make no mistake, there’s a fairly reasonable discussion of folding the space-time continuum (a.k.a., time travel). It’s not as accurate or in-depth as the explanation on the tenth dimension but still, it’s pretty kick-ass for a Hollywood movie.Bad news, there’s not much in the way of motorcycle scenes in Deja Vu – a chase scene with a Harley Davidson Nightster would have made this movie even more kick-ass but even so, it’s worth checking out.
Best Coffee in Coastal North County
If you are riding the coast on a Harley Davidson Nightster, or any other motorcycle, and decide you could use a caffeine boost I recommend the 7-Eleven at
Check out:
Monday, August 27, 2007
Sunday Ride Update
Well I don't feel like a total wuss for not riding on Sunday morning as the North County Times reports flooding and lightening in Escondido and Valley Center. "I was out on the freeway responding to an accident at about 6 a.m., and it was right on top of us. We could see bolts hitting the ground everywhere," said fire Capt. Art Holcomb in the North County Times article. This type of weather would have made riding the twisty, and likely very slippery, roads of East County a real bummer, even if I were riding a Harley Davidson Nightster.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
No Ride This Weekend
My buddy John and I had planned to go out on the 76 East this morning and ride East to the 79 and down to the 78. The weather had a different plan and we scrapped the ride due to thunder and lightening in the Eastern sky. Given it wasn't raining at home I would have headed out but with both my 2003 Suzuki SV650S and 2003 BMW F650GS Dakar for sale I did not want to risk having any wet weather issues.
I'm looking forward to Labor Day weekend and taking a rental Sportster XL1200 for a ride along the aforementioned route. Seems like those windy roads East of Escondido and Valley Center are made for a Harley Davidson Nightster.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
No Test Ride this Weekend
I was hoping to rent a Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 from the local dealer this weekend to get an extended test ride, but the bike had already been reserved. Now I'm going to have to go out on my 2003 Suzuki SV650S (not a problem, its a great bike). The good news is that I've planned ahead and have the Sportster XL1200C reserved for Labor Day. I'm really looking forward to having a chance to feel what it's like ride the bike even though the rental is not a 2008 Harley Davidson XL1200 Sportster 1200 Nightster but a Sportster Custom.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Why the Nightster?
First, I have to admit I have not been a Harley Davidson fan; sure every now and then I'd see a decent looking Harley but the chrome, leather and tassels just don't match my Teutonic definition of what a motorcycle should be. I'm more into clean form and performance, at least that's what I tell myself but time has proven that performance is not as important as I'd thought or hoped. What's become important is a comfortable ride with reasonable seat of the pants power, more specifically torque, and a bike that looks as good as it rides. Honestly, I see myself as more a BMW rider than on a Harley Davidson but the new Nightster may just change my mind.
The 2008 Harley Davidson XL1200 Sportster 1200 Nightster is a slick looking machine. It emphasizes the 1200cc power plant, putting it out in the air to cool and show all what a v-twin looks like. The bike itself is retro cool, looking like a modified Sportster 1200L Low, with bobbed fenders, blacked out trim and the ever so bitchin combination tail lights and rear turn signals. For someone like me looking for a less frantic ride than that found on a sportbike and a more confident stance than the tall BMW F650GS Dakar provides, the Harley Davidson Sportster may just be a perfect solution.
I won't know until I've had a chance to ride a Sportster 1200 and get a feel for the handling dynamics of the bike and the feel of the motor; honestly, I'm hoping that it's going to be great but only twisty roads and a bit of highway will tell.
The Harley Davidson Sportster XL1200N Nightster
The 2008 Harley Davidson XL 1200N Sportster 1200 Nightster. Looking suh-weet in Mirage Orange Pearl and Vivid Black.
