I started working on a video about two years ago while I worked on the old site. It was a two-minute video that melded motorcycle trikes and the young kids favorite, Flat Stanley. I never got to put that video up. I just created a much longer -- 9 minute -- video based on that old video but with much more detail. I put the video up tonight on YouTube. Take a look.
Gravel Roads
Once in a while you will have the fortune, or misfortune, depending on how you look at it to travel down a gravel road with your motorcycle.
Gravel and street motorcycles are not that compatible but with a little common sense they can be navigated with ease.
Sometimes the only access to your destination is by gravel roads and you will not want to bypass it just because of a little gravel.
The best way to stay upright on a gravel road is to slow down take an ultra light grasp of the bars and let the front end of the motorcycle do its thing.
The loose stones on the road will jerk the front tire around and the worst thing you want to do is jerk back or try to man handle the steering. Usually you can follow in the tire tracks of the cars where the loose stones have been pushed to the side and all that is left is the packed base. It is when the tire tracks cross where you will ride over loose stones and your front tire will skip from side to side and this is where the loose hands on the steering comes in, let the front tire jump around a bit and it will correct itself.
Gravel road graders usually grade the road by bring the gravel, kicked off to the side, back to the middle of the road to form a crown. So riding close to the ditch will keep you out of the really loose stuff and some times all that is left on the sides is hard pack.
At any rate if you are out riding around with no destination try a little patch of gravel riding to practise just in case you find out that you have to challenge a gravel road some day.
Gravel and street motorcycles are not that compatible but with a little common sense they can be navigated with ease.
Sometimes the only access to your destination is by gravel roads and you will not want to bypass it just because of a little gravel.
The best way to stay upright on a gravel road is to slow down take an ultra light grasp of the bars and let the front end of the motorcycle do its thing.The loose stones on the road will jerk the front tire around and the worst thing you want to do is jerk back or try to man handle the steering. Usually you can follow in the tire tracks of the cars where the loose stones have been pushed to the side and all that is left is the packed base. It is when the tire tracks cross where you will ride over loose stones and your front tire will skip from side to side and this is where the loose hands on the steering comes in, let the front tire jump around a bit and it will correct itself.
Gravel road graders usually grade the road by bring the gravel, kicked off to the side, back to the middle of the road to form a crown. So riding close to the ditch will keep you out of the really loose stuff and some times all that is left on the sides is hard pack.
At any rate if you are out riding around with no destination try a little patch of gravel riding to practise just in case you find out that you have to challenge a gravel road some day.
1936 Knucklehead Video
I'm experimenting with including a You Tube video in the blog. I already have motorcycle videos permanently embedded on the rightside of the blog. I just want to be ready to include new videos about motorcycles as I see them.
Ducati Recalls 2007 Model 1098 for Two Defects
Ducati has issued a recall of certain 2007 Model 1098 motorcycles.
These recalls are a little different from the usual recalls I report on. The first recall is for 119 units that were already fixed before retail sale to customers. The second recall is for only two units.
Recall 1: On certain motorcycles, the horizontal cylinder head fitting to the thermostat produced a coolant leakage. Coolant leakage over the rear suspension and wheel could cause a crash.
Recall 2: On certain motorcycles, the horizontal and vertical cylinders mobile timing belt tensioner is dimensionally incorrect. The mobile tensioner can come into contact with the timing belt cover which could cause the timing belt to fail and consequently stop the engine increasing the risk of a crash.
Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.
These recalls are a little different from the usual recalls I report on. The first recall is for 119 units that were already fixed before retail sale to customers. The second recall is for only two units.
Recall 1: On certain motorcycles, the horizontal cylinder head fitting to the thermostat produced a coolant leakage. Coolant leakage over the rear suspension and wheel could cause a crash.
Recall 2: On certain motorcycles, the horizontal and vertical cylinders mobile timing belt tensioner is dimensionally incorrect. The mobile tensioner can come into contact with the timing belt cover which could cause the timing belt to fail and consequently stop the engine increasing the risk of a crash.
Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.
Laughlin River Run in Progress
The Laughlin River Run is now in progress. This is the 25th annual Laughlin River Run. This year it's held from April 25-29.
Here's an excerpt from an article by Dominika Maslikowski of The Daily News:
Read the complete article.
The Laughlin River Rally is the second major motorcycle rally covered by my article, Major Rallies for Motorcycles.
Here's an excerpt from an article by Dominika Maslikowski of The Daily News:
"Terry Evans roared into Laughlin from Bakersfield, Calif., on Wednesday on a Victory motorcycle, saying he's looking forward to seeing Hoover Dam and the wet T-shirt contest at the Loser's Lounge."
Read the complete article.
The Laughlin River Rally is the second major motorcycle rally covered by my article, Major Rallies for Motorcycles.
Article, Feature, and Subject of the Day
I have created a new daily feature, "Article, Feature, and Subject of the Day," that showcases my content on the Motorcycle Views site (not this blog).
Each day, a new item will be listed for each of these three categories.
Check back daily to see three new items each day. Hopefully, this new feature will assist to make more riders familiar with what Motorcycle Views has to offer.
Articles are stand-alone pieces giving information about some aspect of motorcycling or motorcycles.
Features are not static and grow with either user submissions or additional work on my part.
Subjects are listed on my Main Menu and contain all the articles, features and outside motorcycle links.
Start your day by checking out Article, Feature, and Subject of the Day.
Each day, a new item will be listed for each of these three categories.
Check back daily to see three new items each day. Hopefully, this new feature will assist to make more riders familiar with what Motorcycle Views has to offer.
Articles are stand-alone pieces giving information about some aspect of motorcycling or motorcycles.
Features are not static and grow with either user submissions or additional work on my part.
Subjects are listed on my Main Menu and contain all the articles, features and outside motorcycle links.
Start your day by checking out Article, Feature, and Subject of the Day.
Wild Motorcycle Tales
A popular feature on the old site was Wild Motorcycle Tales. These were user submitted personal stories having to do with some aspect of motorcycling. Most of these were funny. I've re-created that feature here on Motorcycle Views by taking 26 stories from the old site. If you have a motorcycle story about something that happened to you, send it in to be included in the collection. Read Wild Motorcycle Tales.
Motorcycle Road Tests Index
I have just added 10 new motorcycle road tests to my Motorcycle Road Tests Index. This feature lists the various motorcycle makes and models alphabetically on an index page. Clicking on the model of interest takes you to a separate page of information about that bike. This information includes the motorcycle magazine containing the test and the month and year of publication. Information is given so you can order back copies of the magazine. If any electronic magazine articles have been found for the same model, they are also listed.
53 tests are in the index at this writing.
53 tests are in the index at this writing.
Finally Got To Ride
After suffering through a couple of weeks of cold weather including a week of fresh snow I finally got the bike out for a ride.
It wasn't without some minor setbacks and repairs as I had to do the same as Broke Down Suzuki Rider and remove and clean my carbs.
I took the bike out for a small ride around town on Saturday and noticed there was fuel overflowing onto the ground. Sticky needle and seat on one of the carbs so Saturday I removed the carbs and cleaned them with some carb cleaner.
BDSR came over on Sunday afternoon and we took a little ride up to the Halkirk Hotel and enjoyed a cool beverage with the saloon owner and one of his faithful patrons.
Just a short little jaunt as the weather was still on the cool side but the bike ran great with no more fuel marking the ground.
It wasn't without some minor setbacks and repairs as I had to do the same as Broke Down Suzuki Rider and remove and clean my carbs.
I took the bike out for a small ride around town on Saturday and noticed there was fuel overflowing onto the ground. Sticky needle and seat on one of the carbs so Saturday I removed the carbs and cleaned them with some carb cleaner.
BDSR came over on Sunday afternoon and we took a little ride up to the Halkirk Hotel and enjoyed a cool beverage with the saloon owner and one of his faithful patrons.
Just a short little jaunt as the weather was still on the cool side but the bike ran great with no more fuel marking the ground.
BMW Recalls F650 GS and F650 GS Dakar for Sidestand Problem
BMW has issued a recall of certain 2006-2007 F650 GS and F650 GS Dakar motorcycles.
On certain motorcycles, the weld between the side stand and the frame bottom section was not positioned properly. The load-bearing capability of the side stand is affected. As a result, the side stand could fail.
If this occurred when the motorcycle was parked, the motorcycle could fall to the ground and injure a person sitting on the motorcycle or a person nearby.
305 units are affected.
Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.
On certain motorcycles, the weld between the side stand and the frame bottom section was not positioned properly. The load-bearing capability of the side stand is affected. As a result, the side stand could fail.
If this occurred when the motorcycle was parked, the motorcycle could fall to the ground and injure a person sitting on the motorcycle or a person nearby.
305 units are affected.
Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.
Yamaha Recalls XV19 for Throttle Cable Problem
Yamaha has issued a recall of certain 2006 XV19 motorcycles.
On certain motorcycles, when equipped with a windshield, the throttle cables can kink at the guide bracket located at the steering head when the handlebar is turned all the way to the left. In this position, a kinked cable can cause either a stickly throttle feeling or prevent the throttle from returning to the closed position.
If the rider turns the handlebar to the full left lock during a slow-speed maneuver, this sticky/binding throttle feeling could result in reduced vehicle control, which could cause a crash resulting in injury or death.
8,500 units are affected.
Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.
On certain motorcycles, when equipped with a windshield, the throttle cables can kink at the guide bracket located at the steering head when the handlebar is turned all the way to the left. In this position, a kinked cable can cause either a stickly throttle feeling or prevent the throttle from returning to the closed position.
If the rider turns the handlebar to the full left lock during a slow-speed maneuver, this sticky/binding throttle feeling could result in reduced vehicle control, which could cause a crash resulting in injury or death.
8,500 units are affected.
Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.
Motorcycle Views A-Z List
I have just created an A-Z list for Motorcycle Views. It puts all my original motorcycle content into an alphabetical list.
Check out the Motorcycle Views A-Z List.
Check out the Motorcycle Views A-Z List.
Suzuki Recalls VZR1800 for Fuel Leakage Problem
Suzuki has issued a recall of certain 2006-2007 VZR1800 motorcycles.
On certain motorcycles, the fuel hose that connects the two metal fuel delivery pipes mounted on the throttle body may have been clamped at a location on the pipes that is not completely round, which could allow fuel leakage to occur. In the presence of an ignition source, leaked fuel can cause a fire, presenting the risk of injury or death.
12,331 units are affected.
Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.
On certain motorcycles, the fuel hose that connects the two metal fuel delivery pipes mounted on the throttle body may have been clamped at a location on the pipes that is not completely round, which could allow fuel leakage to occur. In the presence of an ignition source, leaked fuel can cause a fire, presenting the risk of injury or death.
12,331 units are affected.
Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.
Paint a Triumph: 15 Year-Olds Get Creative
One of my forum members is an art teacher. She recently had her students go outside and paint various parts of her Triumph motorcycle. I think you'll find the results interesting and quite creative. MotArtCycle Student Work
Red Deer Motorcycle Swap Meet
It was a long and cold ride to the annual springtime Motorcycle swap meet in Red Deer this past Saturday. In fact it was so cold and miserable with a forecast of snow that I took the truck instead of the bike.Not many bikes in the parking lot either and but a few local diehards did ride their cycles to the meet.
There was not as many bikes there as I thought there would be but I did spy a couple of nice choppers.
The place was packed with people by the time I got there and it was hard getting close to some of the tables to have a good look at all the chrome and leather for sale.
Lots of vendors with lots of nice stuff but as usual it was mostly Harley Davidson with a smattering of Asian and English bike stuff . As it turned out I never bought a thing at the swap meet even though I had filled my pockets with some cash.
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