Motorcycle Articles ~ The Riding Obsession

Margaret Dean May 12, 2014 CommentsShare!

Venture Heated Glove Liners Keep Your Fingers Toasty Warm

It's time to open my birthday gifts. What did he get me? There are three gifts to open. I'm ready! I'm a fan of most surprises and my husband has never disappointed me when it comes to gift giving. He knows me better than anyone. He not only knows what I like and am passionate about but listens intently to me for a few weeks before he's preparing to shop in case I drop any gold nugget hints during conversation.

I open the first two gifts and am pleased so far. Okay, package number three. What do you hold? I tear open the wrapping paper. Is it going to be a certificate to go skydiving? I've wanted to try this but keep putting it off. I pull out a plastic bag with something inside, not a certificate.

I'm the proud owner of ... a pair of heated glove liners?

Robin Dean May 11, 2014 CommentsShare!

Know What's Missing From Your Motorcycle

It would seem that my main sport touring motorcycle is missing a core component that could cause real problems if left unresolved. It all started yesterday when I noticed my battery tender wasn't bringing my battery to a full charge. Suspicious that I'd once again broken my auxiliary relay's ground wire, I pulled the seat.

I was right. "Under the hood", I can see that the wire connector has cracked off at the main hub, a problem I experienced once before during a two-up trip around Lake Michigan. Today I'll be removing the relay assembly, cutting a longer wire that can be coiled for a "spring" effect and soldering new connectors for use as a main ground ... but that's not the point.

Even with my bad choice in cable length, why is this pattern forming? When I look beneath my relay assembly, I see that the battery is just sort of sitting there. There are no straps, fasteners or walls boxing it in place. Sure, it sits at an angle but is that really all Suzuki saw fit to do with regard to stabilization? I've noticed this before and it's time I get to the bottom of it.

Robin Dean May 9, 2014 CommentsShare!

"Wagon Wheels ... Just Throw Wagon Wheels On It."

Back in May of 2012, when my good friend Domino extended an invitation to join him for a four day riding excursion all over Wisconsin, I belched out an immediate acceptance speech. I don't remember exactly what I said. I think it was in the realm of "it would be my great honor and pleasure to take part in this experience as a new rider garble mumble ... uh" while smacking my forehead.

I'd never met the other guys. He described them briefly, saying I'd learn a lot. I cracked open a text file on my computer and created a list of everything I'd be buying in military-grade newbie fashion.

One thing that I didn't add to my list, which at this point was lined with waaay more crap than a thirty year old, 400cc bike should carry, was tires. I mean, rubber comes from a plant. It's not like we do anything to that rubber before it becomes a tire, right?

Robin Dean May 5, 2014 CommentsShare!

Motorcycle Soft Luggage: Affordable, Durable And Practical

In buying what would become my first sport touring motorcycle, an '03 Bandit 1200, I knew that I'd want to equip it with hard luggage. Givi, Shad and Kappa offer many feature-rich possibilities but one stands out in my mind as being the most sensible and attractive. Unfortunately, Givi no longer manufactures the hardware that's required to mount their v35 side cases onto my motorcycle. What's worse is the rumor that the very same luggage is the original "optional feature" that was marketed with my motorbike when it was still on the showroom floor. Ouch.

On the upside, their 52 liter Maxia II fits the Bandit just fine and is truly a storage megalith. As I write this, it sits by the door, fully packed with my tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, mess kit, propane burner and a slew of other items within. For out-of-town travel, however, more storage is necessary (especially if the wife is joining me).

My alternate hard-case options simply aren't to my liking. After seeing the v35 series, no other hard cases will do. Realizing this from the get-go, I knew I'd be needing a soft-luggage solution.

Joe Konrardy May 1, 2014 CommentsShare!

Who Is "That Guy"?

In our riding circle, there's an unspoken meaning for the term "That Guy". It isn't completely derogatory but it certainly isn't flattering either. We've all been "That Guy" on different occasion and have suffered the wrath of our fellow riders (although it's mostly good-natured).

To qualify for "That Guy" status, you must experience some sort of mechanical, electrical, technique, or gear malfunction. Simply having a malfunction does not automatically qualify one for "That Guy" status because sometimes $h!t just happens. However, in situations where "That Guy" activity is low, a "$h!t happens" malfunction may suffice.

What definitely qualifies one for this esteemed title is when the malfunction is directly related to:

Travis Burleson Apr 26, 2014 CommentsShare!

Is Motorcycling For You? Well, Maybe ...

If you're reading this, you might be what we'd call a "rider". You're someone who owns and frequently uses a motorcycle. It doesn't matter if you're a weekend warrior, throttle twisting speed demon or "ten years in the same stitch" cross-country traveler. We all have our story about how we got to this point.

My own starts in my mid-twenties. I was working a job that I didn't like very much and winter was coming to a close. As a first whiff of spring air filled my lungs, I got an itch. I was bored and the itch wouldn't subside. I had to scratch it.

I, on a whim and without telling my wife, signed up for a motorcycle beginner's course. A few weeks later, I was at a dealership, in over my head and letting myself get talked into purchasing a motorcycle. I bought a brand-new Honda Rebel and never looked back.

Joe Konrardy Apr 25, 2014 CommentsShare!

Spoke Wheel Lacing Instructions (2 of 2): Offset And Runout

Before you continue, be sure to read part one which focuses on spoke lacing pattern symmetry.

Important Concepts: This tutorial explains setting hub-to-rim offset and adjusting radial/lateral runout. It's important to understand how one spoke's tension affects the hub, rim and other spokes. Spoke tension affects the overall wheel in two directions: lateral (side to side) and radial (top to bottom). Tightening a given spoke attached to one side of the hub will have several reactions:

Travis Burleson Apr 22, 2014 CommentsShare!

Winter Motorcycle Gloves: Who Needs Fingers?

I've tried my fair share of gloves. It would seem that no matter how warm they are in the beginning, after thirty minutes at 30°F, my fingers lose all feeling. One solution I've considered is that of mittens. Of course, these limit dexterity. Enter the Ski-Doo Hybrid Leather Mitts.

Some lucky folks can sink their hands directly into a Rocky Mountain stream to procure an ice-cold beverage. If I did the same, my hand would be so numb that I couldn't pop the top let alone engage a clutch. If you're in my boat, read on as we reach for support from our winter-riding cousins: the snowmobilers.

Jack Frost, Old Man Winter, Arctic Vortex ... whatever you call it, it usually means you've washed your ride, replaced the oil and left it sitting in a garage with the battery on a tender. Now all you can do is wait for some Pennsylvanian rodent to give you a sign. This doesn't have to be the case. For those of us living in the northern regions, it is possible to keep riding. All-season motorcycling starts with having the right gloves.

Joe Konrardy Apr 21, 2014 CommentsShare!

Spoke Wheel Lacing Instructions (1 of 2): Pattern Symmetry

During my initial attempt at lacing spokes, I discovered and compiled a much easier order of operation. When acting on these instructions, there are two important things to consider. For starters, different spokes have different bends.

Spokes with a tighter bend are inserted into every other hole in the hub from the inside out, i.e. the bend will be visible from the outside. Spokes with a lesser bend are inserted into every other hole from the outside in, i.e. the spoke button will be visible from the outside. Tighter-bend spokes will work when inserted either way but lesser-bend spokes will only work when inserted outside in, so be careful to use the correct spokes every time or you'll have to disassemble the wheel all over again!

The second thing to note is that the spoke nipple holes on the rim are offset left and right. As would make sense, the left nipples are for the spokes on the left side of the rim and vice-versa.

Guest Contributor Apr 18, 2014 CommentsShare!

My Unexpected Transition From A Kawasaki Concours To A Honda Gold Wing

My first sport touring weekend was a non-traditional one to be sure. Having just returned to motorcycling, I awakened my 1970 Honda CL100 from it's twenty-five year slumber and began researching a means for it's transport. The driftless region of Wisconsin was beckoning.

A weekend of riding fun with other vintage motorcyclists was waiting for me there. "Don't look at it as a 250 mile ride. Look at it as five fifty-mile rides." said Bob Burns, a new mentor of mine. Accepting the challenge, I experienced the trials and joys of traveling many miles on minimal displacement … all in one day.

Weekend excursions such as these have been the extent of my two-wheeled travels but never without the siren call of a longer trip. You see, balanced on the other side of my life's scale are the demands of being a good husband and father. That involves the careful conservation of what little vacation time I'm allotted.