Motorcycle Misadventures

Motorcycle Destinations on the Northern California Coast

It doesn't matter how long I live in Northern California, I feel like I will never be able to visit all the great destinations, even if I narrowed it down to the California Coast. For example, I recently treated myself to a week at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur. It was my first visit, though I've passed it dozens of times. I enjoyed the ride down Highway One from San Francisco to Big Sur in the bright, warm sunshine, knowing that it was a rare treat and loving every minute of it. About eight miles south of Big Sur town I turned into the hallowed gates of Esalen, parked the bike, dumped my stuff in my room, and went off to soak in the baths. That evening I started a week-long un-painting workshop, hiked, meditated, did yoga, read poetry on the grassy lawn, and watched whales, pelicans, sea otters, and other sea life from the perfect vantage-point of the famous Esalen baths perched on the cliffside. I didn't take my computer, telephone, or even write in my journal. A true retreat and a unique "California experience." To find out more about Esalen and their weeklong or weekend workshops and personal treats, visit their website.

A Conversation with Michael Murray of Motorcycle Travel DVDs

Brent Miller has another great interview on his Sojourn Chronicles site, an interview with Michael Murray, who has produced a series Motorcycle Travel DVDs that include Moab, Alaska, Baja, New Zealand, Copper Canyon, and the TransAm Trail, with Nova Scotia & Newfoundland and Hawaii coming in the future. Find out how he puts together the DVDS, how he chooses the locations, the experts interviewed about the rides, the resources available, and more about these informational and inspirational works. Listen to it here.

Miss Adventuring talks with Ted Simon

In 1974 Ted Simon set out on a round-the-word motorcycle journey, and his account of the four-year odyssey, Jupiter's Travels, has long been "the" classic motorcycle travel tale. His new book, Dreaming of Jupiter, is the story of how he did it all again at age 69. The delightful Dreaming of Jupiter is the tale of that adventure. How did Ted become a writer? A motorcyclist? How have life's interruptions determined his path? Listen to a conversation on life, travel, love, and writing with Ted and Carla on the Miss Adventuring podcast.

Motorcycle Camping: Tents

Bluepoof just blogged a review of her new Sierra Designs tent. It looks like a great little tent, and very affordable at around $150. I still love my Bibler (now Black Diamond) but it's hard to recommend a $600 tent. Still, I don't know of a better investment. It's light, but sturdy.  It even stood up to Burning Man winds while everybody around me collapsed--even geodesic domes. And I love the big door-window and the yellow interior. Keeps me cheered up when I'm stuck in a foggy campground.  Here's the Bluepoof review.

Uh Oh! I Dropped My Bike!: How to Get it Back Up Again

Women Riders Now has updated their article Oh No! I Dropped My Bike!: How to lift a downed motorcycle. The article gives you detailed, step-by-step instructions on picking up your bike -- watch a 118 pound, 5-foot 3-inch woman pick up a 2000 BMW GS 1150. A great confidence builder! I know that this technique, along with a little "wrenching" knowledge, will free a lot of trapped female souls. Fly away!

Photo: Carol Youorski, aka "Skert," of PinkRibbonRides.com. 

Suzuki V-Strom 650 "Sport Enduro Tourer"

While checking some facts to answer Jason's question in my last entry, "Your First Street Bike: What to choose?" I came across this excellent article on Motorcycle USA on the Suzuki V-Strom 650 "Sport Enduro Tourer." This is old news, of course, but I was re-intrigued, as I'm always trying to determine what's the "best touring motorcycle." Here's an excerpt of the four-page, in-depth article. And I see from Suzuki's corporate website that they've now added ABS braking.

You can read the entire article, here.

Suzuki's concept for the DL line was to create a "Sport Enduro Tourer," and the V-Strom 650 gets top marks for living up to the monicker. In combining the SV650 motor with the DL1000 chassis, Suzuki has built its parts bin special into a bike that defines a new market segment.

With a 417-lb. claimed dry weight and road-biased rubber, the 650 isn't gonna win many enduros, but it actually takes to loose conditions fairly well.

It has the power and smoothness to dust a BMW F650, and it offers more comfort and wind protection than the SV650/S, Honda 599 and Triumph Speed Four. Its closest competitor is likely Yamaha's buzzier but faster FZ6, which shares a similar riding position, fairing coverage and price tag. The FZ is definitely faster in a straight line, but its R6-based engine isn't as adept as the smooth and torquey DL's Twin. And with its standard luggage rack and optional hard luggage, the V-Strom is much more the SUV as opposed to the FZ's sports coupe. In a way, the DL650 is the Honda VFR of the adventure-touring segment, offering versatility, a sporting nature and Lexus smoothness.

As the day's light faded into the horizon on the way back to the hotel and the subtly attractive orange glow of the instruments matched the color of the setting sun, it was hard to imagine another machine with a competitive versatility-per-dollar ratio. At $6599 in blue or black...  Read the entire article, here.

In my quest for the best world touring motorcycle, I'm keeping this one on my list of possibilities. Any takers? I'd love to hear your comments.

Until next time, may all your motorcycle misadventures have happy endings!

Carla

Your First Street Bike: What to choose?

What's a good first street bike for city and occasional cruising?

I had a dirt bike growing up and I am 22 years old and am thinking about getting my first street bike. I would use it mostly for work, as I travel the city daily, but I would love to take a long ride with my dad (who has a Honda Shadow VTX) every now and then. Would you recommend a 'Bullet Bike' or a cruiser style motorcycle for me?
Thank you for your time! - Jordan

Dear Jordan,

It's great that you are experienced with dirt bike riding, you've probably taken all the falls you need to know that you don't want to fall on the street, and are a careful rider Here are a few suggestions to get you started on a bike that is #1, nimble enough to ride around the city and #2, powerful and comfortable enough to take on long cruises with your dad.

You're right to keep it around 600 cc's. There's no reason to go heavier in the city and that size is just fine for freeway cruising.

There are actually more choices than just a classic or a cruiser: 
    1) A classic styled bike like the Enfield or the Triumph
    2) A 650'ish cruiser like your dad's Honda
    3) A sport touring bike
    4) A dual-sport

If you like the size and classic styling of the Bullet, check out the Triumph Bonneville -- it's faster, more comfortable, and much more reliable. It's the perfect size for the city, and does just fine on the freeway. You'll probably like the community around the Triumph, too. Check out the Ace Cafe "Mods-n-Rockers," for example.

You might want to follow in your father's footsteps though and get a Honda Shadow or similar Japanese bike. There are a LOT of choices in this category, and lots of bargain used bikes. I had a Yamaha 650 Maxim for years, and used it like you will -- for both city and cruising. Or check out the Kawi Vulcan 500, or the Moto Guzzi Nevada 650, which is a cruiser styled Italian that I really like.

That said, I also like the Moto Guzzi Breva IE 750, which is a sport-touring bike that's got a lot of city street smarts. I didn't think I'd like a "sport-touring" bike but I rode in for a month in Europe and fell in love. It took me through Milano with the greatest of ease, over curbs and all, and it kept up with all the speeding Fiats on the autostradas. I'm thinking that this may be my next bike for use in the San Francisco Bay Area and on long trips through North America.

The Suzuki 650 VStrom also comes to mind. It's been called the best all-around bike ever made, and it's got a huge fan base, which says a lot. I see plenty of them in San Francisco and also loaded up for long-distance touring. 

Also here in San Francisco I see an awful lot of Kawasaki KLR 650 dual sports. They're definitely fearless curb jumpers and pothole hoppers, and they zip around the latte-sipping SUV commuters before they can change lanes without signaling. Plenty of people cruise freeways on them, and the 2008 model is said to be a better freeway ride than previous versions. As a former dirt-bike rider, you might really like the KLR, and you can grab a good used one for a few grand.

Which brings me to my best advice, which is to delay investment in a newer model bike just now. Start with a used bike -- spend a few bucks and a some time to experience street riding, and figure out what you like and don't like about whatever your "starter" bike turns out to be. Then sell it, and spend the bigger bucks on your dream machine.

Jason, I hope that helps start you in the right direction. Let me know what you end up with.

Carla

Trippin' On Two Wheels: A TV Series

I just got notice of this television show on motorcycle travel - Trippin' On Two Wheels - with episodes on Sicily and Scotland, with Spain and Quebec coming up. From the previews it looks like the emphasis is on riding fast and picking up women. If you've seen it, let me know what you think. Here's their official blurb:

Trippin’ on Two Wheels is a fast-paced series of four, 60-minute specials on Speed Channel about riding in exotic locations, and a father introducing his son to the exciting world of motorcycling.

The programs follow television personality, Dennis Gage, his teenage son, Sam, and motorcycle photojournalist, Neale Bayly, as they ride the latest motorcycles through exotic locations around the world. The series also chronicles Sam’s coming of age from a mere passenger on the back of his dad’s bike to riding world-class machines of his own; all as his proud but anxious father looks on.

The four-day missions are very loosely structured, and unforeseen circumstances provide some intense moments for the intrepid riders. The episodes were shot in Scotland, Sicily, Spain and Quebec. The routes taken focus on back roads and out-of-the-way places rather than typical tourist destinations.

Ride! Podcast Guest is Motorcycling Dr. "Doc Flash"

Adrian Blake's guest tomorrow (Wednesday at 8:30 pm EST) on his Ride! podcast is ‘Doc flash’ aka the Motorcycling Doctor, who I met by chance in a gas station in Marin. (See blog entry.) For years flash gordon, m.d., has dispensed practical medical advice, along with a good dose of humor, through his 'Medical Motorcycling' column in Motorcycle Consumer News. His book is a great read and, more than that, an essential reference guide for motorcyclists to absorb before we fall off our bikes. How to treat road rash? How to pop your shoulder back into its socket in an emergency? How to keep your teeth viable while you're on your way to the hospital? The doc's got all the techniques to make all those moments you never want to experience a better experience. Ride! will talk to the doc with the superhero name about Blood, Sweat & 2nd Gear: More Medicine for Motorcyclists, a collection of those columns. (Order the book, here.) Ride! is an Internet radio podcast hosted by Adrian Blake, a longtime motorcycle columnist, that will air tomorrow at 8:30 pm. EST.  Check it out live and participate, or hear it on the archive at your convenience. Here's where to go.

Still Difficult to Motorcycle Tour in China

I'm afraid that I must report that it's still nearly impossible to cross into China with your own vehicle. People have been trying various borders for years, with no luck. If you have a lot of money you might be able to work out a "tour" with a "guide" but that's not really why we do this thing we do, is it?

It is possible to buy a motorcycle in China, and cheaply, but you need a Chinese driver's license to ride it legally. You need to be a Chinese resident to get a drivers license, not to mention proper registration papers and all that, and you need to make sure that the bike has a legal license plate. Fakes abound. It's all very complicated.

If you're still interested in information about buying a motorcycle to ride in China, or exporting a CJ sidecar rig, check out this FAQ for details.

Thanks to Big Bill of ZMW Motorworks in Beijing for this great info.

Also of interest:

• The CJ750 Sidecar Community website
• Jim Bryant's CJ750 shop in Beijing (Frank's Classic Sidecars)
• My China Road dispatches