Back after a bit of a break

It's been a while, since the last post, been busy with stuff.  Anyway, back at it.  The weather broke for a few days and it was fun to see some bikes out there. There were even some commuters in the parking garage at work.  They keep talking about $5 or even $6 gas this summer...I hope that a lot more guys (and girls) will figure out the logistics of commuting on their bike.  I plan to ride to work as much as I can.   I wear a suit to work but I am going to figure out how to make it work, rather than drive my 15 mpg pickup.
Anyway, as mentioned before, I ride a suzuki c50 boulevard, which is a cruiser. I picked up a genuine OEM suzuki windshield for her yesterday on Ebay for $160 less than suggested retail.  The windshield will make the commuting much nicer. 
Speaking of accessories, I have been dressing my bike out strictly by buying stuff on E-bay at deep discounts to retail.  It's surprising how much stuff is available out there.  I now have the touring backrest (and brackets), crash bars and windshield.  Next on the list is saddlebags, loud pipes and a fuel manager.  I am only buying the suzuki accessories because they fit sooo nice. 
Anyway, ride safe and thanks for reading!!

American Chopper Rant

I like to keep my posts positive but I have to comment on what a joke the show American Chopper has become.  This show was great at the beginning.  The Teutul's were building really cool bikes.  But like so many of the people that get involved with the Discovery media empire, they experience the mixed blessing of fame (it would still be Jon and Kate plus eight if not for the money and fame).  Anyway, I believe that most of the scenarios are contrived in these shows; whether its the building of bikes, or the activities of a family of dwarfs, or the comings and goings of a family with 19 children. 

Here's the DC formula: Find someone who's making a living doing something interesting.  Create a discovery/TLC/History special on it.  Get great ratings on the special because it's interesting and real.  Sign the people to a contract to do a series.  Get a bunch of writers and producers to manufacture situations that can be filmed, because the ongoing day to day stuff will only hold viewers interest for so long.  Keep putting the people into increasingly unrealistic scenarios (or in the case of the Teutuls, dial up the intensity and frequency of Paul Sr.'s tirades).  The best of the bike building shows was the Jesse James ones where he was hammering metal for the gas tanks, etc.  They never really drew Jesse into the drama thing (he did that to himself, but that's a rant for another day). 

Anyway, DC should pull the plug on American Chopper.  It would be a mercy killing at this point.  The Teutul's have become caricatures of themselves, the bikes they are building aren't interesting and creative anymore and it's no longer about the bikes but about the drama. 

And that's what grinds my gears...

Ride safe!

Motorcycles in movies

There have been a number of great bike movies and bike scenes in movies.  No discussion on this topic would be complete without a mention of the greatest bike movie ever...Easy Rider. Two guys, riding across the country...experiencing freedom (along with a few other things).  James Dean in Rebel without a Cause, Tom Cruise rode bikes in a bunch of different movies, but most memorable for me was the scene in Top Gun where he's riding along at sunset next to the runway on his Ninja.  Anyone remember Little Fauss and Big Halsey?  Robert Redford was a motocross rider in that one.  Of course, more  recently (and probably the biggest reason that I'm back on two wheels after 30 years) was Wild Hogs.  How about Ahhnold riding the big Harley in T2?  I'm sure there's a million more that I'm not remembering right now but it's always neat to see a bike have a role in a movie...it adds a bit of interest to the show!
As always ride safe!

There's something about the old parallel twins

How great of a motor is the parallel twin?  It was relatively smooth, fairly compact, made great power for their size, and were on a ton of classic bikes.  Going back to Norton's, BSA's, the old Honda cb350, Triumphs (still used on the new Triumph Bonnevilles), the Kawasaki 440's and 750's, The Yammerhammer 650's...heck, I think they are still powering some of the modern sport bikes. 
Anyway, ride safe! 

Keep your bike's title!!

Today's post is to encourage everyone who owns a bike to keep the title in a safe place! Treat it just like you would a car title.  As I search the motorcycle listings on Craigslist, you can tell right away by the price the bike is being offered for that the seller doesn't have the title.  Even 30 year old bikes that have a title and run bring $1000 or more...but the same bike without a title goes for $300 or $400 dollars, simply because you can't get it licensed and prove ownership.  A bike without a title is basically a parts bike. 
Iowa does have a process to re title an untitled bike, but it is an onerous process involving fees, a search of the dmv records, letters to the last known title holder and finally an inspection and purchasing a surety bond for 2X the value of the bike.
If you watch American Pickers you'll notice the same thing...the guys will pass every time on bikes that don't have titles. 
Thanks for reading, and ride safe!

Post for February 8th

Thought I'd post a picture of my first bike...this was a 1978 yamaha dt250 enduro.  I got this bike new in February, 1979.  It was a great bike, did a lot of off road riding with it.  after about a year, I bored it out and put a weisco piston in it.  http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3402/3209014470_1071482364.jpg

My first post!!

Hey everyone! this is my initial post out here-wouldn't be here except for the able assistance of my 20 something son! check out his blog-dongafunshit.blogspot.com...I intend to put motorcycle related content out here and give general musings on all things motorcycles!! I love all bikes: sport bikes, cruisers, standards, dual sport, choppers and on and on! 
We're in the dead of winter here in Iowa, so no riding...hoping for an early spring!  I have a Suzuki C50 Boulevard that I got last summer, brand new from Action powersports in Tulsa-brand new left over 2008-got an amazing deal on it!
Anyway, come back soon-see what I have to say!!