Travis Burleson, Author at The Riding Obsession ~ TRO

About Travis Burleson

Travis Burleson is a motorcycling enthusiast and advocate. He also enjoys making music and beer.

Travis Burleson Mar 12, 2018 CommentsShare!

The 2018 Honda CB1000R (IMS Chicago)

The 2018 Honda CB1000R originally debuted in November at EICMA. It immediately jumped to the top of my list of new bikes to see in person at this year's Chicago Progressive International Motorcycle Show (IMS). I think a big part of my attraction to this bike, aside from its obvious aesthetic beauty, is that it really harkens back to its predecessor.

Regulars to this site will know that I used to own a 1994 Honda CB1000 "Big One". This newest version of the CB1000 reignites that classic Honda naked bike styling that was dropped after the 919 Hornet in the late 2000s. Honda calls the styling "Neo Sports Cafe" and that really sums it up.

It has retro queues but a distinctly modern look. I think it's better looking than the last iteration of the CB1000R, which had a more contemporary "Transformers" styling. By that, I mean it came complete with a headlight that resembled a gas mask (though I thought that CB was more handsome than some of its "spike" styled rivals).

Travis Burleson Feb 4, 2018 CommentsShare!

I Bought A Junk Moped (And So Should You)

Thanks to an illness last spring that left me with impaired balance and medical bills to pay (dig back to our May, 2017 podcast to learn more), I opted to thin the herd and get a new bike. My 1994 Honda CB1000 "Big One" was just too fast and too heavy for me to deal with while under the influence of an ongoing balance issue. Similarly, my lack of stability made riding off-road difficult, so away went the DRZ400 also. The NC700X wasn't only an incredible deal, its low center of gravity and usable but controllable power made it a perfect bike for me. However, this left me with a problem. The service intervals for this modern honda are 8,000 miles apart ... and it's brand new.

What am I going to do over the winter?

That question sent me to craigslist with a $300 max budget looking for something to keep me occupied during the frozen months. I inquired about some old Suzuki GS's from the 70's but never heard back from the seller. There was a Honda CB750 SuperSport that looked good but was immediately gone. Then I started thinking about a moped. A cool old Puch, Suzuki FA50 or Honda Hobbit would be cheap and good for running to the store or whatever is local. I could take it camping or use it as transport in a track paddock. After some time I found a '78 JC Penney Pinto 2.

Travis Burleson Mar 28, 2017 CommentsShare!

Helmet Shopping: An Ear to the Ground

I recently got back into the helmet market as my latest helmet causes pain to my left ear after riding an hour or more. During my search for better head space, I hope to share knowledge you'll find useful when purchasing the most important piece of safety equipment for riding.

Let's talk about fitment. Generally, people buy a helmet that is too large. Don't do that. Helmets should be snug when they go on and you can expect them to loosen about 10% as they break in. It's best to go by the manufacturer's size chart. Get a soft tape measure or use some string and a normal ruler and measure your head. These YouTube videos might help.

A great trick I found is to remove the cheek pads when trying helmets on. Cheek pads are typically the tightest feeling part of a new helmet. They are also the part that will break in the most and are the least important as far as getting a good fit.

Travis Burleson Mar 14, 2017 CommentsShare!

Tourmaster's Lawndale: Style And Accessory

I've been searching for a nice leather jacket to wear both on and off the bike. As much as I love my Hi-Viz nylon while riding just for fun or touring, I wanted something that's toned down for the hang when riding my motorcycle to nearby destinations. The Lawndale fits the bill perfectly.

It has a classically styled, three-quarter length design with four large flapped pockets and hand warmers. This is an old school aesthetic, one that might not appeal to everyone, reminiscent of the Belstaff vintage. It's classic without siting the "Rebel Without a Cause" bomber look, catering to my old man's sense of style (despite being 33).

The Lawndale is made from Buffalo leather. Buttery-soft out of the box, it feels plenty thick, as if it would stand up to an off. It's also built with both double and triple stitch nylon thread throughout.

Travis Burleson Apr 6, 2016 CommentsShare!

Consider The Middleweight Sport Tourer

"Bigger is better!" This is the American way right? It certainly seems so when it comes to sport touring. The bikes in the segment seem to get bigger every few years. The Honda ST1100 is now the ST1300. The BMW R and K bikes went from 750 to 1000 to 1100 to 1150 to 1200 in the last 20 years. Now the K1600 is the standard-bearer for the series. The same can be said for Yamaha with the FJR and Kawasaki with the Concourse. The bikes seem to have become more tourer than sport. They're great if you want to spend hours on the slab munching miles two-up for weeks on end. But what about the weekend getaway through the twisties? Or even a longer journey where you want to take the scenic and curvaceous pavement and maybe even bring some gear to camp?

Even though the industry may have mostly forgotten about the middle weight sport touring segment there's still some options, especially if you're willing to supply the bags and touring comforts yourself. Let's start with what you can get out of the box. I'm talking about the BMW F800GT, Kawasaki Versys 650LT and Honda Interceptor. All of these bikes can come with full set of panniers and plenty of power and comfort to put the miles down.

The F800GT offers comfort and sporting with belt drive simplicity and German reliability. In true BMW fashion if you want bags you'll have to get them as an accessory. If you skip out on some of the electronic mcguiffins like ESA you can get yourself a brand new F800GT with luggage for around $14K MSRP. Pricy for sure but you get a BMW and the usual standard features like ABS, heated grips and a center stand. If that seems a little steep for you remember you can get the earlier iteration the F800ST for under $10K on the used market. You'll have to spring for aftermarket luggage and maybe a taller windshield though you may be able to find one with the add-ons if you don't mind that the ST has slightly higher pegs and lower bars.

Travis Burleson Mar 22, 2016 CommentsShare!

Victory Empulse TT: The Cost Of The Future

At the 2016 Progressive IMS in Chicago, I ended up spending a good amount of time at a booth I normally ignore, namely that of Victory Motorcycles. Being a self-described moto-nerd, I've been interested in electric motorcycles since they first hit the scene a few years ago. From the first Zeros that were little more than hopped up electric bicycles to Harley Davidson's Project Livewire, it's always been a field of progressive startups and tentative water testing by big companies.

Brammo was one of the more successful startups. They focused less on the practical commuter bikes Zero was making and going for the full sportbike experience, complete with a six-speed gearbox. When news broke that Brammo was picked up by Victory last year, I wondered what the outcome would be. With a Victory branded TT on display at the IMS I had my chance to find out.

At first glance I really like the bike. It looks cool and "electric" but not too strange. It looks like a nice, sporty mid-size. Unfortunately you can't ride the bikes at the show but you can sit on them and give them a good once over. I was surprised that, despite the Victory badge, it still looked and felt like a small production machine.

Travis Burleson Apr 9, 2015 CommentsShare!

Start Your Riding Season Safely (P1)

Spring is here and for those of us burdened with unrideable winters it's time to get back in the saddle. The excitement of dusting off your ride and heading out to enjoy the fresh air makes it easy to forget that you may have gotten a little rusty along the way. Don't get caught up in trying to get your riding chops back, calculating that perfect apex while forgetting about the most important aspect to your riding ... safety!

The best way to get yourself in the safety mindset is to take a class. We here at The Riding Obsession advocate every beginner taking an MSF or similar course before heading out on the road. Editor in chief Robin Dean is currently in the process of training to become a motorcycle safety instructor.

Even if you're a seasoned vet, it's worth your time and effort to take an advanced riding course at the season's start. It'll align your focus and better your riding to get you home in one piece. You can even take a track day prep course or Total Control class. This will get you thinking about your riding and shake those cobwebs loose before you're really out there with the cagers.

Travis Burleson Feb 23, 2015 CommentsShare!

The 2015 Kawasaki Versys 1000: Now Available In 'Merca

I've always been a fan of bikes that are a little bit different. When I was ready to move up from my 250cc starter, I was looking for a good mid-sized all-arounder. The Kawasaki Versys 650 appealed to me. I liked the quirky styling. I liked that it was basically a Ninja on stilts ... but not a Ninja. I liked that it was practical and comfortable but could still be fun.

I ended up purchasing a BMW F650CS, which I love and which shares similar characteristics but the Versys remains the one that got away. Now, after a recent trip across the country, I'm looking for the next step: a larger displacement bike that will cover the distance when the 650cc is just too short legged. Just in time for me to start drooling on it, Kawasaki has brought the Versys 1000 over from Europe.

For 2015, Kawasaki has totally redone the styling on both Versys models. They ditched the stacked cycloptic lamps for a set that's split and Ninja-esque. I was a fan of the original look but it was a love or hate sort of characteristic. Now it has a much broader appeal and offers better wind protection and aerodynamic function as a bonus.

Travis Burleson Feb 4, 2015 CommentsShare!

Sena SMH5 Intercom Battery Replacement

Note: For similar instructions that are specific to the Sena SMH10, see this post.

In May of 2013 I picked up a pair of Sena SMH5 helmet intercoms so that my wife and I could communicate while riding. I also wanted the ability to listen to music or make mobile calls without having to stop and remove my gear. My main riding buddy Robin jumped on the bandwagon shortly after with his purchase of two Sena SMH10s.

I love the Sena interface and it's sound quality is quite good. It served me well during our cross-country trip to the northwest. During that trip, I discovered a design flaw with my communicator: streaming music for more than an hour or so quickly depleted the battery.

Travis Burleson Nov 6, 2014 CommentsShare!

Minneapolis To Madison/Chicago: Parting Ways And Homeward Bound

We wake up relaxed and refreshed for our final day. Nick heads off to work and we lock up after packing the bikes. We make our way to the Square Peg Café per Nick's recommendation and enjoy our last meal of the trip together. We almost miss it as it's on the bottom floor of an office building near the loading dock. After some coffee and great food we say good bye and head our separate ways for the last leg. Robin wants to get home and, his trip being two hours longer (Chicago), he decides to take I-94. Look for the details of his ride at the base of this post.

I decide to maintain my aversion to the slab, taking the River Road south along the mighty Mississippi before cutting east toward Madison. The day had started out gray when we went to breakfast but now things are sunnier. The River Road is scenic and relaxed. I love the little towns along the river and make a note to come this way again as it's basically in my back yard. Stopping at a few scenic overlooks, I'm beginning to feel hurried to get home as well.