The ATGATT Rat

I want one (Cafe Racer)

2012-01-07T19:23:00.000-05:00

Justin W. Coffey (@coolisacolor)
1/6/12 3:36 PM
Images of Royal Enfield's "new" #motorcycle - motoroids.com/news/2012-expo…

Cheap Boots

2011-11-22T09:38:00.001-05:00

I've never found a proper pair of motorcycle boots. When I started riding, I bought a pair of cheap cruiser style boots. And I have been looking for a good pair ever since. The cheap boots wear out and I haven't found a decent pair yet, so I buy another cheap pair. And the cycle repeats.

Turned Down a Chance to Ride...Again

2011-11-19T23:54:00.001-05:00

As has happened all too often this year, I had the means and the opportunity to ride today, but felt unwell enought to skip it. This depresses me, but reality is, I'm still recovering from a long illness. There are days when my strength is not there. Or, in the csse of today, my will to be chilled.

Temps were in the forties, perhaps reaching fifty.

Late Season Ride

2011-11-15T19:57:00.001-05:00

I rode to work again today. Any time I can commute after November 15 I count myself lucky; my season usually finishes by then.

Not only did I ride, but I enjoyed it! So many of my recent rides have been dull, and my skills have been rusty. Today everything felt good, and I was happy to rack up more miles before the snow.

Ray of Light

2011-11-14T19:03:00.001-05:00

I braved the thirty mile per hour gusts of wind, and the shopping mall on a weekend, in order to find am excuse to fit a ride in. It was sixty degrees with thunderstorms in the forecast. The sky looked like a Maxfield Parrish painting. I didn't get blown off the road, though a Toyota tried to merge on top of me.

Low Mileage

2011-11-13T14:28:00.000-05:00

After two and a half years of ownership, my wife's Harley has less than three thousand miles on it. This is a bit embarrassing . . . Any self-respecting motorcyclist would average more than a thousand miles in a year. Yet, how many riders totally exit the motorcycle scene during their child rearing years? Many take a break . . . Even sell their bikes . . . While the kids are young. So, compared to that standard, any miles accumulated during these very busy years are commendable. And . . . We tell ourselves, we'll ride more next year.

Mrs. Rat and I

2011-11-05T18:21:00.001-04:00

Mrs. Rat and I took a brief ride this afternoon. Though we didn't have much time, we managed to make a quick circuit out into the countryside, and back again. Here we share a fill up . . . Honda and Harley.

Rode to work today

2011-11-04T21:09:00.001-04:00

I rode to work today. There was no rain nor snow. The low this morning was about 40 degrees F, and the high was about 50 degrees F.Mine was the only bike I saw, which is kind of odd. There have been colder or rainier days lately on which I have seen more bikes.

Hoping to ride tomorrow...

2011-11-03T23:35:00.003-04:00

I haven't ridden since Saturday. It's been cold and rainy, and I've been under the weather all week.If i get some sleep, and if it doesn't rain, I'll ride to work tomorrow.

Sport-Commuter Tire

2011-10-16T08:51:00.001-04:00

Though I have a capable sport-touring machine, I use it mostly for commuting. The wear pattern on my tread tells the story. Flat on the center, barely used on the sides. It will take more than commuting to reach those untouched parts of the tread. I hope I get the chance to get some lean on!

Who is Dorothy Snell?

2011-10-14T12:37:00.000-04:00

Who is this Dorothy Snell and why is her name on my helmet?

Come to think of it, her name is on my wife's helmet, too.

Maybe she designs helmets? I like my helmet . . . I wonder if Dot designs other gear besides helmets? Are there gloves?

Okay. Yes. I know Dot Snell is not a person. I know what the sticker means. But why not have fun with it?

We could promote motorcycle safety with the creation of a cartoon character.

Dot Snell says, 'Always wear your helmet!'

Kind of like Smokey Bear for the two-wheeled set.

Ouch! My butt!

2011-10-06T08:55:00.000-04:00

On Saturday I took a three hundred mile jaunt into the twisties --- my longest excursion to date on the ST1300.

My butt hurts from the Sargent saddle that the previous owner installed. I made the same circuit last year on the magna with less pain. Got me looking for alternative seats. Yikes.

Felt like knives inserted into pressure points in my butt after the first hundred miles. Also I had pain in my neck, shoulders, and both wrists by about two hundred miles. It really was quite painful, and all of it a bit of a surprise.

I return home to check with http://www.st-owners.com and to discover they have a wealth of knowledge about seats. Some of this info is not surprising:

-- many folks love their Sargent seats
-- a handful have serious problems with Sargent
-- some have tried custom seats and been pleasently surprised

But even simpler than this, I learned i need to test out a few adjustments which are possible on ST1300 seats. Better start there ... With adjusting seat height front and back, and thereby adjusting seat angle.

More research needed...

And Then There Was One. . .

2011-10-01T15:00:00.001-04:00

Four of us set out for our 300 mile jaunt. Work called me about 150 miles out. I ended up having to bail on the trip and head home. I waved the other three on while I joined a conference call at work.

I was able to resolve the work issues over the phone in about 30 to 45 minutes. By then I knew I could never catch up, so I plotted a solo return trip.

Break Time

2011-10-01T12:18:00.001-04:00

First stop. Gosport, IN.

BMW LT1500
Kawasaki Versys
Honda ST1300

Not pictured: Kawasaki KLR 650.

First To Arrive

2011-10-01T09:46:00.001-04:00

It's October 1st, and this is the first time this year I've been able to join my riding buddies in a group ride.

This year hasn't gone according to plan. So, I'm eager to start, and am the first to arrive at our traditional rendezvous point.

It was forty degrees when I left my house. The heated gear, plus the ST's great wind protection, kept me plenty toasty. By the time we're done with breakfast, it may be warm enough for me to turn off the electric gear.

You Never Saw Me

2011-09-29T19:31:00.001-04:00

You never saw me at all. I was on my motorcycle, riding home to my family after working all day. You were in your black Mercedes sedan, with deeply tinted windows.

With windows that dark, it's a wonder you can see anything going on outside your vehicle. I get the impression, however, that you don't concern yourself too much with what's happening out here.

When you pulled into the roundabout, you scarcely cast a glance in my direction. The conversation you were having on your cell phone was obviously much more important than the well being and safety of other drivers, or me.

As your expensive European sedan loped into the intersection, right in front of me, you were blissfully unaware. Fortunately for me, I was watching my surroundings a good deal more intently than you were watching yours.

In fact, I survive my daily two wheeled commute by watching out for the likes of you, and being prepared to take evasive action.

So when you pulled out in front of me, I was able to stop. Did you hear the chatter of my tires on the pavement as I came to a stop? You seemed unaware of the peril you had placed me in. You simply slid on by.

I resumed my trip home. Because of my own watchful eye, you'll go on to menace other drivers . . .and riders . . . like me. And I'll go on watching out for you.

Adventure (Motorcycle) Girl

2011-09-29T08:36:00.001-04:00

This young woman took the "long way around"

See the story on Advrider.com.

Parked motorcycles, again. . .

2011-09-24T23:02:00.001-04:00

Mrs. Rat and I had big plans for the weekend, including a get-away on our motorcycles. Hers, pictured left . . . A Harley Davidson Super Glide. Mine, on the right, a Honda St1300A. But the motorcycling gods did oppose us. First with rainy and cool weather. Second with my wife having her arm in a sling,after effect of bursitis in her shoulder. We're sad to leave the bikes parked at home, and instead take the cage. But, we agree that it's Better to let the shoulder heal and live to ride another time.

Bike at the Conference Center

2011-09-15T18:40:00.000-04:00

I'm happy to be on two wheels today, after such a long absence from riding. I'm the only bike at an after-work conference. And the only attendee wearing motorcycle boots and leather jacket in a business suit setting.

Boot Search

2011-09-05T22:36:00.000-04:00

Cycle Outfitters in Indianapolis is a great place to buy gear. Though I haven't been able to ride, I am still in the market for some new riding boots.

So I paid them a visit, and tried on several pairs of boots.

I would've tried on the River Road "Engineer Boot" if they'd had them in black. They looked so good on Arnold in "Terminator 2" that I can't resist them. Even though I doubt they'd make the transition to sport touring. Some attire only belongs on a cruiser.

There weren't many choices. A few "tennis shoe" looking things which barely covered the ankles. A few truly gawdy cruiser-style boots with buckles and fringes. A bevy of dirt-bike style boots, which I'm really not going for.

I settled on the Tour Master Solution 2.0 Waterproof boots. The size 12 seemed a little to tight across the ball of my foot, so I looked for a larger size. A 12.5 fit the ball of my foot, but was sloppy and loose at the heel. What I really need is a 12 Wide, which of course, the manufacturer doesn't make.

Another odd thing about the Tour Master boot was the way the heels were shaped. The inside of each heel seemed shorter than the outside. This made the boot slant inward, and gave me a slightly knock-kneed stance. If I noticed it walking around the store while trying the boots on, I'd surely notice it -- and probably suffer for it -- if I were to wear the boots for any length of time.

So, unfortunately, I left empty handed. No boots for me this time.

Too Sick To Ride

2011-09-03T10:29:00.001-04:00

Motorcycles are fun, and this blog has always been about enjoying motorcycles, and doing so safely.Without boring you with the details, let me say that this year I've been too sick to ride most of the time. It pains me to leave that new-to-me ST1300 sitting idle in the garage for two months of prime riding season. Then, In the past two or three weeks I have felt well enough to ride a handful of times. There is little joy in it for me now, but I cling to the hope that things will get better. It's best that I focus on recovery, and not on the loss of the season. Gotta stay positive.

Agoraphobia and The Motorcyclist

2011-08-26T23:37:00.001-04:00

I think I have agoraphobia!

You may think it's nonsense. How could a motorcyclist can have agoraphobia? A fear of open spaces? That can't be - a motorcyclist loves the open road, and coudn't possibly have a clinical phobia about open roads.

But let's dig a little deeper into the etymological roots of agoraphobia. Phobia is of course fear, and agora means "of the marketplace". In its time, it was an open space, an open market, but today's markets bear little resemblence to them.

So, as an agoraphobic in the literal sense, I am afraid of the marketplace.

I hate buying and selling things - particularly large objects such as vehicles in general, and anything I have to negotiate in particular.

This to me is the beauty of eBay, and why it's 1,000 times better than Craigslist or its ilk. eBay allows me to sell at auction, without having to dicker. Craiglist embodies the "ditigal want-ads" -- nothing more than an "ad in the newspaper" moved into the digital age.

For me, collecting payment and handing over the title is enough stress for one face-to-face transaction. To add dickering and dithering on price, as the glorified want ads do, makes it an unbearable transaction.

Maybe my motorcycle blog isn't a forum for discussing our phobias...but I chose to do it.

Am I alone in the way I feel about the modern marketplace?

Sold It

2011-08-10T18:40:00.002-04:00

Jezebel has been sold to the highest bidder. After four years and 16,000 miles, it's time to say goodbye.

I listed her on eBay, and had my share of flakes making bids, demanding special treatment, and ultimately cancelling bids.

But in the end, she appears to have sold.

Sale Prep - Honda Magna

2011-07-17T10:53:00.000-04:00

I'm finally getting the Honda Magna ready for sale on eBay.

Based on the advice of fellow-riders, I removed most of the expensive farkles (accessories) which I had added to the bike. I'll sell those separately.

Then, I decided I needed to clean the carbs? Why? Why did I do this to myself when the bike was running well enough? I don't know. I was unhappy with a little off-idle hesitation when I throttled up when the bike was cold. It seemed to me to need a carb cleaning.

But, what a lengthy and painful process for a Honda V4. I was cursing Soichiro himself as I was removing the carbs.

Getting them cleaned wasn't too bad. Assuming I didn't mess something up or make something worse in the process.

Getting the carbs back on the bike wasn't too tough either. The carbs on the 3rd generation Magna, with its modified carb boots, are much easier to seat than the 1st generation Magna.

I'll get the air filter back on, and then the gas tank, and then eagerly await the moment of truth. If I've fixed the off-idle hesitation, I'll call it good, and start polishing her up for photographs.

Stay tuned.

The Genetics of ATGATT

2011-06-30T16:09:00.001-04:00

There has been at least one geneticist who has mistaken my monicker ATGATT RAT for an amino acid sequence. This photo, showing amino acid sequences, taken at Chicago's Museum Of Science and Industry, illustrates why.

Are You An ATGATT Rat?

2011-06-24T10:00:00.000-04:00

What is an ATGATT Rat, anyway?

What does that mean?

What's ATGATT?

I've been asked this question since I assumed the monicker "Atgatt Rat" and began the blog.

ATGATT is a well-established term, a mantra for the safe rider, and an acronym for "All The Gear, All The Time". It's been described as a philosophy, an ideal.

ATGATTers abound. We're the quiet minority in moto-culture. I don't know the percentages; someday when I'm bored I'll take to doing informal surveys of riders I see on a sunny day. How many are wearing helmets? How many are wearing gloves? How many are wearing boots? How many are wearing long pants (for starters). How many are wearing pants with some level of protection above mere denim.

If "moto-gear" is a continuum, on one extreme we have the pure SQUID. This, too, is a well-established term in moto-culture.

Squids wear no protective gear. They don't even wear appropriate attire. Sandals, flip-flops, shorts, tank tops, no shirts. I've seen it all. They hop on a bike dressed like they would walk to the refrigerator, or walk to the beach.

On the other extreme, are the hard-core ATGATTers. There are those among us who would not dream of throwing a leg over a motorcycle without donning every article of protective clothing. Boots offer more protection than sandals or flip-flops. Motorcycle-specific boots have special abrasion resistance and armor in strategic locations.

So it is with pants. Blue jeans offer more protection than shorts or cutoffs. They offer more protection than a pair of Dockers. But motorcycle-specific clothing would take this the extra step, by adding padding in the butt and knees, abrasion-resistant fabric, or armor.

Leather Jackets are iconic motorcycle wear. Even a jacket worn for its good looks, if it's made of leather, offers more protection than a tank top. But for true protection, it has to be motorcycle-grade leather, or another abrasion resistant fabric such as kevlar, nylon, or cordura. There are mesh jackets for summer and quilted padded lined jackets for cold-weather riding.

Helmets, too, have a wide range, from the minimalist beanie, to the full-face helmet.

So, we have the Squids, and we have the ATGATTers, and everyone in between. Most folks who ride fall somewhere in between; we may tend toward true pure ATGATT, or may tend toward Squidishness.

What's A Rat?

Okay, I understand ATGATT? But where does "Rat" come in?

In moto-culture, a Rat Bike is a beat-up old bike. Technically, it takes more than age or signs of wear to make a bike a "Rat". It needs to be modified. And by this, I don't mean "customized" with expensive after-market parts. I mean modified, cheaply, to serve some function. An example of a Rat modification would be patching a hole in the exhaust with an aluminum beer can. Rat bikes might have missing covers, dangling wires. The emphasis is on getting the bike running on the cheap. Function over form. Sort of the antithesis of the chromed and polished "custom bike" which has lots of expensive modifications which enhance the appearance but do nothing to enhance the performance or the function.

When I bought my first motorcycle, at the tender age of 38, it was a 20-year-old Ratty looking bike that I bought for $900. Rusty tank, duct tape wrapped around the broken stubs of the turn signals holding them on -- all it lacked to be a true rat bike would have been a broken mirror or a beer-can exhaust patch.

Immediately after buying it, I geared up. Before I ever rode it, I bought a helmet. I found gloves. I wore boots. I would tell my friends about the jacket, or the pants, or the boots I bought as "motorcycle gear."

One friend made the observation "Holy Crap! You're going to spend more on gear than you did on your bike!"

I thought about it, and thought, "Yeah, I probably will. And what's so bad about that?"

ATGATT RAT is born

So, I made up this term...ATGATT Rat. I combined two already-existing terms in our moto-culture lexicon, and made a new term.

Strictly speaking, an "ATGATT Rat" spends more on gear than he does on his motorcycle.

More broadly interpreted, it means an emphasis on safety over image. It might be cool to evoke Brando in his blue jeans and leather jacket, but it's safer to wear abrasion-resistant pants and jacket, gloves, and a full-face helmet. You can't wink at the girls at the stoplight as readily wearing a full-face helmet, but you'll fare much better in case of an accident.

At its core, the ATGATT Rat philosophy says, "It doesn't matter what you ride! Just put on your gear, and let's ride!"

Wheel Jockey

2011-06-17T19:17:00.002-04:00

Riding the Magna, Anew

2011-06-04T13:49:00.005-04:00

How strange it was to ride my Magna again, after having become accustomed to the ST1300. Since the Magna hasn't sold yet, and is licensed and registered, I figured I would ride it to work. I want to keep it happy until I'm able to sell it. Here are my thoughts on riding my old bike anew.

One. What a rush. What a quick bike off the line. With no windshield, the blast of air was exhilarating.

Two. How did I ever endure that seating position? Feet so far forward compared to the ST. All my weight on my spine. I worried the ST would uncomfortable. Now I see it's more comfortable than the Magna.

Three. Turn baby turn. What the heck is wrong with the steering geometry on this bike. The ST turns effortlessly. The worse turning bike I've ever ridden was the V Rod Muscle. By comparison to the two . . . ST and V Rod . . . The Magna is squarely in the middle. Better than the Harley at turning a corner, but cumbersome compared to the ST.

Four. A chain isn't so bad. I welcome the maintenance free aspect of the ST's shaft drive, but I have noticed some drive-train lash. A feeling of sloppiness in transitions from deceleration to acceleration. That, I guess, comes with the territory for shaft drives. The Magna, by comparison, with its chain drive, is smooth in transition from deceleration to acceleration. Like a dream.

The Back Road to Pendleton

2011-05-28T20:24:00.002-04:00

Sure, we could take the interstate to get from Indianapolis to Pendleton, but where's the fun in that?

View Larger Map

This route is much better:

Take Olio Road to 104th street. Turn east on 104th Street.

104th street becomes Connecticut Avenue.

Take Connecticut Avenue east, across, SR 238, where it becomes Lick Creek Road.

Lick Creek Road follows the river, and is one of my favorite stretches of country road.

Lick Creek emerges at SR 13 as County Road 1030 S. Turn left (North) on SR 13 for about 100 ft. Turn right on County Road 1000S.

Follow 1000S east to County Road 750W. Jog left on CR 750W, and immediately turn right again on Reformatory Road.

Follow Reformatory Road east to County Road 650W.

Turn left on 650W; continue North to Fall Creek Drive. Take Fall Creek Drive all the way to SR 38 in Pendleton. Turn right on SR 38, into downtown Pendleton. Follow signs for Falls Park.

Take me home country road. . .

2011-05-28T16:31:00.001-04:00

River Road

2011-05-28T16:26:00.003-04:00

I guess I like bridges. Especially old iron bridges on country roads. It reminds me of my childhood. These days they're also associated with roads that follow the river . . . Which make good motorcycle roads.

Cute Couple

2011-05-27T14:42:00.000-04:00

Honda Rider's Club of America featured this happy couple on their website.

Problem Solved?

2011-05-24T20:56:00.004-04:00

Based on feedback from the Sabmag group, and from www.st-owners.com . . . I checked the battery connection on my ST1300.

I had been having intermittent reboots where the bike would die when at idle.

I removed the seat, and what do you know . . . the negative terminal of the battery was flopping around loose. Fired it up and let it idle for a while afterward . . . and everything seemed fine.

It'll take a while for me to be certain of the fix, since the problem had been intermittent. But, wouldn't it be great if it were that easy to fix?

I hope I didn't jinx it!

Vanguard Clothing

2011-05-23T21:02:00.002-04:00

Mysterious rebooting ST1300

2011-05-22T12:51:00.000-04:00

I've finally gotten some saddle time on my ST1300, and I will say I
love it. I can't say enough good things about it.

Last night as I returned home, I paused outside the garage door, bike
idling, clutch pulled in with my left hand while my right hand fumbled
in my jacket pocket for my garage door opener.

The bike died abruptly. I hit the starter again to pull into the
garage and noticed that the computer had reset. Clock was reset back
to 1:00, trip meter was zero.

What the heck?

This is the second time it has happened, both times at the same
location, both while I was fumbling for the opener.

Could the garage door opener interfere with the bike?

Today I took a ride again. I parked the bike in a parking lot and let it sit for about an hour. When I returned to the bike, I started it and let it idle. It idled for about 2 minutes and then did its mysterious reboot again.

Well, that rules out the garage door opener theory.

Maybe it's a loose battery cable? Maybe it's a loose something else? Maybe there's a glitch in the main computer.

If it were just the clock and trip meter resetting I wouldn't care. But the bike is also dying, abruptly, as if I had hit the kill switch. I don't want to have to worry about the bike dying while I'm riding in traffic. I don't want to be on pins and needles worrying whether it'll die at the most inopportune time.

The first step is to check the battery connectors.

The perfect gauge

2011-05-20T18:06:00.001-04:00

Honda put god's perfect speedometer on the ST1300. It's analog, easy to read even in full daylight, and it sweeps a full 270 degree arc.

Sport Commuter

2011-05-17T18:55:00.002-04:00

The Honda ST1300 is classified as a sport touring motorcycle. I'm enjoying it, though I'd classify my riding more along the lines of 'Sport Commuting'. While 1300 cc's might be overkill for a trip which never exceeds 45 mph, the hard bags hold what I need for work -- my iPad, and any notebooks or planners. It also holds my rain suit. The windshield and fairing protect me from the weather.

Dyna Beads?!

2011-04-21T12:37:00.000-04:00

I paid the local Honda dealer to install a new front tire on my ST1300. since I have no tire changing experience or equipment.

When I picked up the bike I saw a line item on the work order I wasn't expecting:

Dyna Beads

I had to look it up. It turns out "Dyna Beads" is a product of Innovative Balancing, which supposedly dynamically balances the tire.

From their website:

Dyna beads uses a high-density ceramic bead that, when ...installed, continuously balances your tires as you drive. The amount of material will distribute itself in weight and position dependent on the balance requirements of the individual tire.

The result is a smooth, vibration-free ride, derived from our balancing media that is always repositioning itself as the tire wears. If you own a pickup truck, commercial truck, motorhome, RV, tractor trailer, motorcycle, or similar vehicle, and want to get rid of those wheel vibration and tire cupping problems, then you need to move up to Dyna Beads®!

The website included lots of pictures and information about installation.

I hadn't intended to participate in a product trial, but I guess I am. The dealer didn't ask me about this, they just did it.

However, the previous front tire was badly cupped. Dyna Beads claims to reduce cupping. We'll see how this product performs in my real-life test.

Motorcycles Made Of Watches

2011-04-20T21:31:00.000-04:00

Helmet Or Heels found some fascinating moto-related kitsch -- Motorcycle Made Out Of Watches...

What's This Farkle For?

2011-04-16T06:36:00.001-04:00

This metal ball adorns the handle bars on my bike. At the base of the bars where they attach to the triple tree. It was there when i bought it. What is it for?

This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.

Reflections

2011-04-15T20:25:00.003-04:00

Reflections in my motorcycle's gas tank.

I'm trying to get ideas for a new logo for ATGATTRAT. I'll need to enlist professional help, I think.

F@& Birds

2011-04-15T09:55:00.003-04:00

Left my bike in the parking lot while running an errand. Returned to it to find birds had been trying target practice.

Oh, crap!

At least it was the passenger seat, and was riding solo.

Bringing him up right

2011-04-09T20:00:00.003-04:00

My son has ridden behind me since he could reach the foot pegs.

I've always insisted on full gear -- helmet, gloves, boots, mesh jacket and riding pants. Jacket and pants have been especially hard to find. We've had to borrow from the "Dirt Riding" realm, which has a broad range of gear for kids. Street riding gear for kids is almost non-existent in the U.S.; some we've had to import from Europe.

We talk openly about safety with our kids.

Spring Ride

2011-04-09T18:07:00.002-04:00

My son and i took a ride on my new bike. Was supposed to be a ride around the block, but we ended up a couple counties over at a town park. Of the new bike, he said it was 'awesome, roomier and more comfortable.' For me, having a bigger, more capable bike . . . One capable of accomodating a nearly adult size passenger . . . Was part of my buying decision.

Wiring Your Bike For Heat -- Heated Gear Installation

2011-03-27T10:23:00.002-04:00

Heated gear extends my riding season. I'm able to ride comfortably down to the freezing point with heated gear. Without it, I'm shivering below fifty degrees.

The heated gear involves a special jacket, worn under my regular riding gear, which is laced with high-resistance wires which generate heat when an electrical current passes through them... just like an electric blanket.

The gear is powered from the bike's battery. This requires installation of a special wiring harness which attaches to the battery and provides a plug in for the heated gear.

In my case, I have a Gerbing heated jacket, and so have also purchased the Gerbing wiring harness and temperature controller. These are each sold separately.

To install the wiring harness, you'll need access to the battery.

The exact steps for accessing the battery will vary from bike to bike. Check your owner's manual. But usually, accessing the battery requires removing the seat and possibly one of the side-covers.

1. Remove the seat.

For the Honda ST1300, this involves opening the saddlebag-bracket lock on the left side of the bike, and pulling the seat release lever.

Pull the seat slightly up and to the rear of the bike to release.

For the Honda Magna, this involves removing the three seat bolts (stock seat) or one seat bolt (after-market seat).

2. Remove the side cover.

For the Honda ST1300, there are three bolts holding the side cover in place.

For the Honda Magna, this step is not required.

3. Disconnect the battery

Remove the bolts from the battery terminals, one at a time. The black wire of the wiring harness goes over the negative terminal of the battery; red over the positive terminal.

4. Position the plug

Thread the wiring harness carefully so that the plug is accessible under the edge of the seat. On the Honda Magna, the most logical place for the plug seemed to be the front edge of the seat, since there was a ready-made notch between the gas tank and the seat.

For the Honda ST1300, given the shape of the seat, it was easier to position the plug at the left side of the seat.

Just make sure the wiring doesn't block the seat's locking or clamping mechanism. And keep the end of the plug from the engine or exhaust.

Replace the side cover, then the seat, and you're ready to go.

Cold Weather Ride

2011-03-26T16:42:00.001-04:00

I bought my "new to me" ST1300 last Saturday and brought it home. I took it for a ride on Sunday, and again on Tuesday night. Then we were plunged into a cold snap, and it's been rainy and cold for the past several days.

This afternoon while working in my home office, slaving over bills and tax forms, I noticed the thermometer perched atop the 45 degree mark.

Time for a ride!

First, I installed the wiring harness for my Gerbing heated gear. It attaches to the battery of the bike, and allows me to plug in my controller and my heated jacket. Installation was a snap. Honda finally wised up and put bolts to hold on the side cover. I'm sure fewer side covers are lost on this model of bike than on the previous model, with friction fit rubber tabs holding on the side cover.

Fired up the bike. Gotta love that fuel injection. No messing with choke. She purred along happily while I donned my gear.

Out on the street the face shield on my full-face helmet was fogging up. I rolled up the power windshield, and opened my face mask about an inch.

The bike purred along happily, and with heated gear on max, I was actually getting toasty. I think the full fairing plus windshield plus heated gear will afford plenty of protection from the cold.

A quick 4 mile ride "around the block" was all I had time for. But I blew out the cobwebs from my brain, and arrived back home with a smile on my face.

Now, back to work.

www.ST-Owners.com

2011-03-25T17:40:00.000-04:00

I'm not used to such a fancy online forum as the ST-Owners. Since beginning my search for an ST1300A, culminating finally with my purchase of the bike last week, I've begun to explore the st-owner's site.

Back when I owned an older Goldwing, I found a helpful community at goldwingfacts.com -- which was especially attuned to the needs of owners of older Goldwings. I also used to frequent "Naked Gold Wings", as I imagined at the time that I would strip my 1982 Interstate "naked". These plans never materialized, and I sold the bike intact a year after purchasing it.

Then I bought a Magna. For whatever reason, I never got involved with a "Magna Owners Group", though there were a few out there. Perhaps it was the fact that it was a dead bike, no longer in production. Perhaps it was the fact that the folks at SabMag met all my needs.

I've been a member of SabMag for the past 7 years -- as much as anyone can be a member of a loose affiliation of folks who have no formal organizational structure or membership. Don't get me wrong, they're a great bunch of folks. They just don't have a fancy organizational structure, or even a fancy website. They're essentially a listserv -- and beneath that, in the real world, a community of folks who love motorcycles and who now, or at some time in the past, owned a Honda V4 such as a Magna, Sabre, Interceptor, or ST.

How To Trailer A Motorcycle (Or Not)

2011-03-23T12:08:00.007-04:00

Trailering a motorcycle can be a convenience or a necessity. Some folks choose to trailer their bikes to a large rally, then ride the bikes around town once they're there. (I call that CHEATING! But that's another story.) Other times, when a bike breaks down it has to be transported to a mechanic, or back home to your own shop to work on it.

I've trailered a few bikes over the years, and I've made mistakes along the way. From my experience, here's a list of what NOT to do.

1. Don't try this alone.

Bikes are heavy. Unless you can pick it up with one hand, you shouldn't try loading it on a trailer by yourself. Get help. At a minimum, you'll need someone to stand on the other side of the bike. If a bike starts to fall, it's easy for the person on the downside of the bike to position themselves to keep it from falling -- provided it hasn't tipped too far. It's almost impossible, and actually dangerous, for the person on the high side of the bike to try to stop its fall.

2. Don't forget the chock.

Expensive chocks are available to immobilize the front wheel. Inexpensive alternatives are available on eBay or your favorite dealership. Even a few blocks of wood fastened to the floor would do. Chocks keep the front wheel from moving, keeping the bike centered and upright. It's the foundation.

Adequate: Basic Motorcycle Chock

3. Don't use the kickstand.

A center stand might be okay to use, as it stabilizes the bike and centers it. But don't use the kickstand. Given the other stresses on the bike and the bouncing that will occur, the kickstand could bend. Or worse, could force the bike to tip with repeated bouncing.

I actually use neither the center stand nor the kickstand, because I personally believe that the bike's suspension is better able to absorb the bumps in the road.

4. Don't skimp on tie-down straps.

The best kind of tie-down straps are the ratcheting variety. Unless you're a body builder, you'll find it very hard to secure the bike using the "cam-buckle" straps, which rely on your own strength to tighten the strap. The cam-buckle prevents the strap from slipping lose, but offers no assistance in tightening the strap.

Bad: Cambuckle Tie-Down	Good: Ratcheting Tie-Down

The ratcheting strap, available at Walmart, at most Automotive Supply as well as specialty stores, uses a little lever handle to tighten the strap.

5. Don't under-tighten your straps.

Your objective in strapping down the bike is to compress the front suspension and place enough tension on the straps that the bike is held fast. A bump shouldn't loosen the straps. There should not be enough play in the strap that a bounce allows the strap hook to come free from its
anchor.

6. Don't over-tighten your straps.

Compress the forks with your tie down straps, but leave some room for more shock absorption. The bike will still compress the forks further when it hits the bump. If you remove all the travel from the shocks by compressing them fully, the shock of the bump will be transmitted freely to the bike. This will place undo strain on the shocks themselves, and to the bike. This is a good way to destroy your fork seals, and is completely unnecessary.

7. Don't hook the handlebars.

It might be tempting to use the handlebars as a place to secure the straps. Don't do it. They're not built for this. Depending on the bike, the handlebars could twist or bend under the strain. Better to attach to the lower end of the triple tree, around each fork. This is much more able to withstand the strain, and won't bent or shift.

8. Don't put a metal hook anyway near your bike.

Find yourself a set of "soft loops", sometimes called "soft straps", which are also available at trailer supply shops and some automotive shops. Harder to find than the cam-buckle or ratcheting straps, but a necessity if you care about your paint. These loops can loop around your triple tree, and extend perhaps a foot from your bike. Hook your ratcheting straps to these loops, and you're keeping the hard metal hooks well away from your bike.

This photo shows the soft loops attached to the triple tree as described, and metal the hooks a safe distance from the bike.

9. Don't forget the back of the bike.

The primary means of securing the bike is by compressing the front forks. For the rear of the bike, you need to minimizing bouncing and keep it from shifting from side to side. Resist the temptation to use a luggage rack as a tie down point, as it's not built to withstand that kind of force.

Better to attach to the body of the bike, the wheel itself, or the swingarm.

10. Check Your Work!

Take your time to secure your bike before moving the trailer. After driving a mile, stop and recheck everything. Things shift on the trailer as you hit bumps and make turns.

Stop again after 10 miles and recheck your work. Once you've made it ten miles, you can ride for hundreds of miles if necessary.

If it rains, and your bike and straps are exposed to the weather, check them again. Water may loosen the straps or cause them to stretch.

Follow these tips and you'll have many miles of safe trailering, and your bike will arrive unscathed.

Ducati Science Fiction

2011-03-22T17:19:00.000-04:00

Check out the Ducati of the future in this fantasy artwork.

Jacob Charles Dietz

The Trailering Of The Bike

2011-03-22T09:10:00.005-04:00

My wife snapped some photos of "The Trailering Of The Bike".

The ST didn't jump off the ramp like they've been known to do. You may not know, they have a reputation for hating trailers. They prefer to be ridden.

Saddlebags removed.

I didn't like the position of the rear straps. The buckle was too near the exhaust pipe and would've banged against it with every bump.

I used the passenger grab rail as a tie down point. My fellow ST owners have since told me this was a risky move ... the grab rail is not made for that kind of stress and has been known to break in similar circumstances. I got lucky.

We're both happy with the sale.

Ready to roll.

My son helped me unload. My wife on one side, me on the other, and my son behind to ease it down the ramp.

My daughter helped me fish the soft straps from around the triple trees. Her small hands have been put to use working on bikes before. She can reach things inside the bike's frame that I cannot.

The proud owner.

Liked It So Much I Bought It Twice

2011-03-22T04:00:00.001-04:00

I just bought another Tour Master Draft Air Jacket.

I already own one, but am buying a new one.

Why? The old one is red, my new bike is blue. I need a jacket that matches my bike.

Same vendor -- New Enough. Well, actually, New Enough is changing their name to "Motorcycle Gear".com. I don't think the new name is nearly as catchy as the original. It'll take some getting used to.

But they're still the same great folks with the same great deals.

First Ride - Honda ST1300A

2011-03-21T11:46:00.000-04:00

I met the seller in the Walmart parking lot in Wisconsin Dells, WI.

After looking over the bike a while, I took it for a brief test drive. First, around the parking lot. Then, for a brief ride down a rural highway in the rolling Wisconsin hills. It was 37 degrees, I pressed the button to "roll up" the windshield, and instantly felt warmer. Fancy!

There's a distinctive whine which varies with RPM. I've heard this noise before. Where was it? Oh yes, the Honda Interceptor a friend let me test drive a couple years ago.

I had to assume the whine was a normal ST noise; I haven't spent enough time around these bikes to discern normal from abnormal sounds.

The brakes are amazing. I guess they have to be to pull that heavy bike to a stop. The Magna's brakes, by comparison, are lackluster. I haven't tested the ABS, and actually don't really want to. Maybe I should -- in a secluded parking lot, just to get a feel for them.

The rear view mirrors are the best I've seen. On a cruiser these are typically mounted on the handlebars, and are mostly useful for seeing my own elbows. These mirrors are below my hands, on the fairing, and get a clear view of what's behind me -- a line of sight essentially under my arms.

The suspension is rock solid. Super smooth ride but no jostling or hunting in the corners. Crosswinds don't affect steering like a bike with a fork-mounted windshield. Everything I wanted in a bike, everything I disliked about the Magna. Obviously the ST suspension is not "cheapest components possible" like they are on the 3rd Generation Magna.

The power was impressive. The GoldWing GL1100 I used to ride was underpowered. Not so the ST. It's a heavy bike, and it needs the 120 horsepower to compensate for its bulk. But thanks to its rock solid suspension and its V4 torque curve, it didn't feel like a big bike. It felt natural and easy.

Made It Home Safe

2011-03-21T10:00:00.001-04:00

This is the fifth bike I've bought out of state and trailered home. (I wrote up some tips and tricks about trailering your bike, in case you ever need to do it.)

I had to learn the hard way. I've bent kickstands because of improper trailering. I've had a bike fall over and dent the gas tank because it was improperly strapped in. I have friends who have blown their front fork seals from over tightening the straps.

The seller might have thought I was overly cautious in my trailering techniques. He was kind enough to help me load the bike and strap it in.

Ultimately I let him go while I continued to fiddle with the straps and ratchets. He had trailered bikes for short distances, I don't think he's trailered them for four hundred miles.

Getting the bike into the trailer took just a few minutes. Getting it secured may have taken another full hour.

New Acquisition - Honda ST1300A

2011-03-19T14:42:00.002-04:00

I'm bringing my new baby home. A trip to Wisconsin netted me my new
beautiful baby ... A blue, 2004 Honda ST1300. Already has handlebar
risers and Corbin seat. Stock adjustable windshield and ABS.

Looking forward to many miles of smiles.

Blue ST1300

2011-03-13T15:59:00.002-04:00

I spied this beauty on Craigslist and began conversing with the seller.

I knew I wanted an ST with ABS. I didn't think it would be blue.

Since Craigslist is really positioned as a local want-ads, I used a search aggregator to search across multiple cities until I found what I wanted. Search Tempest fills this very needed role. Craigslist lack of long-range scanning is the number one reason why I hate Craigslist. Search Tempest allowed me to specify a search radius, and it pulled back Craigslist listings from all cities within that radius.

I had to bump up my search radius to 400 miles to find what I was looking for. 400 miles is doable in a weekend-run. 8 hours out, 8 hours back.

The egg carton luggage is a little cheesy. I wouldn't have had that strapped on the bike when taking "For Sale" pictures, but that's just my opinion. Perhaps the seller wanted to show how useful the rear luggage rack is.

7 years old and only 20,000 miles means less than 3,000 miles per year. This poor sport tourer was underutilized!

I hope to put some road miles on this bike, in addition to using it as a commuter.

My Wife's The Best

2011-03-11T18:57:00.000-05:00

My wife is a Harley fan. I'm a Honda fan.

We've proven that the rival brands can coexist.

We have discovered that Harley fan memorabilia is a little easier to come by than Honda material.

One can walk into any Harley dealership in the world and buy a HD logo mug, T-Shirt, license plate, belt buckle, spittoon, etcetera.

You can't find such material at a Honda dealership.

To give me a gift of Honda memorabilia, my wife had to track down official Honda logo decals and basically manufacture her own Honda-logo coffee mug, and Honda-logo novelty license plate.

She surprised me with these goodies today.

I think they look great.

I'm shocked at how much effort it was for her to make them.

Seems Honda would do well to make memorabilia a little more accessible for the fanboys, like me.

Dream Rangers. Dream Riders. Ride on, brothers!

2011-03-09T16:30:00.003-05:00

This is very good.

Why do we ride? Why do we live?

No Motorcycle Expo

2011-02-27T17:31:00.004-05:00

I drove the family of four to the Indianapolis Motorcycle Expo this afternoon. We arrived shortly before 3 p.m.; 2 hours before it closed.

The clerk at the ticket office said, "40 dollars please".

I had forgotten kids were 8 dollars; I was thinking kids under 12 were free. I had been expecting something on the order of 20 bucks.

I said, "Forget it".

Though I was somewhat interesting in seeing the Xtreme Sports performance, I wasn't up for $40 bucks for two hours entertainment.

I've enjoyed it in times past. I usually buy something there. I bought my leather jacket there for a good price, right after a got into motorcycling.

I think they ought to pro-rate admission for the waning hours of a show like this.

Sure, I should have looked at the show hours (and double-checked the rates) before I hauled everyone down there.

The kids were cool about it; they weren't overly upset.

Spoons, and forks, in the road...

2011-02-20T18:15:00.000-05:00

I took my first ride of the year yesterday. It's been a winter filled with snow and ice, more so than usual for central Indiana.

Years past we've had a traditional "New Year's Day" ride, and even with frequent snow and ice there are usually occasional thaws which allow me to sneak in a quick ride on a Saturday afternoon.

Finally, the opportunity for a winter ride presented itself yesterday. It took almost a week of above-freezing daytime temps to melt the thick layer of ice which coated the streets and roads.

It was 45 degrees, warm enough to go for a ride without risk of hypothermia. I was properly dressed ... of course.

Winter rides are always challenging, at least in this climate. Salt accumulates in the roadway after the ice melts, and gathers in piles in the center of the lane, between the tracks where the automobiles' wheels typically go.

Potholes emerge in winter, with the damage caused by freezing and thawing. Snow plows gouge these pot holes, ripping them into larger holes. The debris from the pot hole gets strewn across the road.

When riding in the winter, I'm on the look-out for this special breed of winter road hazard. I've lost traction on one of those winter-road salt piles before, while cornering. It was a little nerve-wracking.

I was on the lookout for these road hazards during my ride yesterday. I had no issues with the roads. But I did have to laugh when I pulled to a stop at an intersection, and noticed a spoon in the right of way.

I've heard of forks in the road, but that was a new one to me.

Brain Bucket

2011-02-10T13:14:00.000-05:00

Brain Bucket -- a) Slang term for a helmet.

Is this safe?

MotoGP Moving to Austin?

2011-02-08T17:24:00.002-05:00

Indianapolis may lose the MotoGP to Austin, TX, according to racer.com

True Love

2011-02-07T10:16:00.001-05:00

Motorcycle Superstore launched a Valentine's themed ad campaign.

The topic of "motorcycle love" is a common one. Certainly many of us riders feel very passionately about our motorcycles.

Here's a link to Motorcycle Superstore.

What other Valentine's ads have you seen this season?

Drift Battle - RX-7 versus ZX-10

2011-02-02T10:21:00.001-05:00

I'm tired of winter! I've seen my share of snow drifts. Here's a different kind of drifting; this kind warms my heart.

Craig Ferguson crashes a Harley-Davidson V-Rod

2011-01-29T17:54:00.003-05:00

It's old news, if it's news at all. But TV's Craig Ferguson, host of CBS's "The Late Late Show" recently gave details of his Harley Davidson V-ROD crash, in England. He's an experienced motorcyclist, and owner of an Indian motorcycle. But apparently on a visit to England several years ago, he rented a HD V-ROD, and wrecked it.

He mentioned the accident on his show recently, when the topic of cracked ribs came up in conversation.

In his words, "The Harley V-ROD doesn't like to turn." Then, apparently thinking better of disparaging the product of a potential sponsor, he said, "Okay, it was my fault."

"I was going around a corner and I turned, and the bike didn't. I broke three ribs and my collar bone. And it was springtime in England, and I discovered I had pollen allergies. Let me tell you, sneezing with broken ribs is a good way to invent new cuss words."

Like a true comedian, he turned his misfortune into laughs for the audience. And like a true corporate guy, he deflected the produce defamation into self-deprecation, for the sake of the corporations involved.

The cracked rib discussion appears at about 4:45 into this segment on YouTube.

But if truth be told, I think he's right about the bike. Following my own test drive of the V-Rod last year, I didn't give it points for handling or comfort.

Of course, Craig rightly also blames himself. Shame on him, as a rider on an unfamiliar bike, for putting himself into a position where he was outside his skill level. Next time he jumps on a rental, I bet he'll make allowances for the differences in the handling and performance of the bike. He'll be careful!

Infamous Page 53 -- Hells Angels and Honda ST's

2011-01-28T11:31:00.002-05:00

This fascinating quote is part of ST-owner's tribal lore. We sat up and took notice when a founding member of the Hell's Angels said he'd rather be riding Honda.

Here's the actual quote, from page 53 of Sonny Barger's biography "Hell's Angel".

"It's always been important for Hell's Angels to ride American-made machines. In terms of pure workmanship, personally I don't like Harleys. I ride them because I'm in the club, and that's the image, but if I could I would seriously consider riding a Honda ST1100 or a BMW.

We really missed the boat not switching over to the Japanese models when they began building bigger bikes. I'll usually say, "F*** Harley-Davidson. You can buy an ST1100 and the motherf***** will do 110 miles per hour right from the factory all day long ...

While it's probably too late to switch over now, it would have been a nice move because Japanese bikes today are so much cheaper and better built. However, Japanese motorcycles don't have as much personality."

This quote flies in the face of the Hell's Angels image. It's hard to imagine Sonny and the rest of the Angels riding into town on BMW GT's or Honda ST1100's.

Harley owners cringed, and BMW and Honda owners grinned, at this unexpected endorsement.

As a Honda owner, I'd like to frame this quote:

"Japanese bikes are so much cheaper and better built (than Harley Davidsons)"

And of course, my Harley-owning friends (not to mention spouse) would likely lift this quote:

"Japanese bikes don't have as much personality (as Harleys)"

Which, I suppose, defines the argument. Do you prefer personality or quality?

Do you agree with the premise?

There will be those who don't. Some will argue that Harleys are well built. Or, that Hondas have personality.

And there will be those who agree with the premise, but place a different value on the equation. Those that buy a Harley because personality matters most. Those who buy a Honda because quality matters most.

Would Sonny be welcome in the Honda crowd?

Sure, Sonny. Put on your gear and let's ride.

My Kind Of Naked Crazy

2011-01-23T00:54:00.000-05:00

The folks at Autoblog have an article on the beautiful FGR Midalu V6.

26 Motorcycle Side Cars

2011-01-11T12:50:00.000-05:00

Maybe if we had a side-car, we could ride our motorcycles in the snow.

Anunciatos.com features 26 different varieties.

Which is your favorite?

ST1300A Values

2011-01-07T22:57:00.002-05:00

Year	Retail Price	Trade-In
2011	17,699
2010	11,500 - 15,000
2009	9700 - 12,800	8300
2008	8600 - 11,300	7500
2007	7600 - 10,000	6500
2006	6800 - 9,000	5900
2005	6300 - 8,500	5200
2004	5400 - 7,000	4500
2003	4800 - 6,400	4200

ABS or no ABS?

2011-01-01T22:44:00.000-05:00

A good friend of mind says ABS on motorcycles is evil, it encourages a rider to ride outside of his skill level.

Having been mauled in a car accident before (while in a cage myself, long before my motorcycling days...) I'm a big fan of safety equipment.

When I bought my current cage -- a Dodge Intrepid -- I visited more than half-a-dozen used car lots trying to find one with ABS. It was the only real must-have feature I had on my shopping list. More important than leather seats or premium sound.

So, now that I'm in the market for an ST1300, which comes with an available ABS package, why wouldn't I buy one with ABS?

I've read what other riders have written on the subject.

It's a lively debate. But I'm not yet sure where I'll wind up on this topic.

Obviously, safety gear is important, but it's also true that the most important safety precaution is being a prepared rider, with well-honed skills. No technology can replace that.

What's a technical hold and why did Kawasaki impose one?

2010-12-13T21:55:00.000-05:00

Perhaps to avoid public humiliation, Kawasaki has termed their recent recall of the "ZX-10R" a "technical hold."

The terms of the "hold" are actually more stringent than any ordinary recall. Rather than recalling the bikes for repair, they are recalling the US-spec ZX-10R for a refund. Owners will be given dibs on a replacement bike once the technical hold is released.

What could be the root cause of this? Something more serious than a faulty starter or failure-prone rectifier. Must be something catastrophic to prompt the manufacturer to issue refunds to the buyers...

Motorcyclenews.com has the details.

I've done Three Sisters on a motorcycle

2010-11-29T14:34:00.006-05:00

I took the day off work, and rode with my wife to have lunch at the Three Sisters Cafe in Broad Ripple. It's is a great place to eat. Everything on the menu is fresh and home-made. The sauces are delicious. It started as a vegetarian restaurant, but they quickly added fish and poultry items to the menu. I recommend the fish tacos.

If you're passing through Indianapolis, take a detour to Broad Ripple to visit the Three Sisters. Here's the route my wife and I took. It's not the most direct route, but it's an enjoyable, winding road which follows Fall Creek from where I-465 crosses the creek on the city's east side.

View Larger Map

The route follows Fall Creek Road just a few hundred feet west of I-465 to Fall Creek Parkway. Left on Fall Creek Parkway to Kessler Boulevard. Right on Kessler Boulevard to Guildford avenue. Right on Guilford Avenue all the way to The Three Sisters Cafe. It's ten miles off the highway, but worth the detour.

Parking is free, but scarce.

View Larger Map

Honda Is On A Roll

2010-11-02T18:31:00.003-04:00

I love seeing new models of bikes being introduced. Particularly when they are actually, you know, new.

Harley may repackage the same engine and frame into a dozen variations with cool (or lame -- depending on your persuasion) names. HD has a fairly short list of powerplants and frames, and a broad list of "bike names." That doesn't excite me as much as a brand new entry ... a new class of bike for a manufacturer.

Honda is entering the adventure touring space with the recently announced V4 Crosstourer Concept.

Check out the press release at honda.com.

Also, for 2011-- an actual production bike -- Honda announced the V4
Crossrunner.

Visordown.com has the scoop.

Better pics, and better writing, are found at motorcycle.com.

At The Corner Of Fashion and Safety

2010-10-28T19:39:00.000-04:00

I wear my gear for protection, not for fashion. So I am always bemused by riders who put such a high emphasis on fashion.

I know one Harley Rider who wouldn't ride to work except on Fridays because blue jeans weren't allowed Monday through Thursday, and things just didn't "look right" when he rode wearing anything but blue jeans.

I would never have this problem; I can commute any day ... my blue jeans never show anyway, as I'm always wearing my trusty pair of Alpinestars Mesh Tech 2.0 overpants. They cover dockers as well as they cover blue jeans.

So when a friend sent me this link, I had to laugh. Apparently faux motorcycle jackets are making a comeback in the world of fashion.

Most of which, the article deftly notes, seem suited "for men that couldn't find themselves on a motorcycle if one ran them over."

Wear your gear. Make it stylish if you want. Just make sure you are protected!

(( Check out the fine product pictured, here ))

Michigan State Police Bike article objectively proves Hell For Leather sucks

2010-10-27T20:23:00.004-04:00

Hell For Leather recently posted an article entitled, "Michigan State Police objectively prove Harley's Suck".

I have to give them points for an attention-grabbing headline. But that's really all it was.

The Hell For Leather article summarizes the findings of the Michigan State Police vehicle evaluation for police motorcycles. Their summary pulled a few statistics into a table, and concluded that Harley's suck, apparently based on their 0-100 mph performance compared to other bikes.

So, by what subjective criteria did Hell For Leather determine that "suckiness" equated to "lackluster acceleration at speeds above 80 mph".

If this were truly an objective analysis on HFL's part, the selection criteria of the bike would be established in the article. Without knowing what the criteria were for the test, we can't choose a winner.

For example, the Harley's beat all competitors in the zero-to-30 mph acceleration test.

How do we know, and how does HFL know, that acceleration 0-30 is more important than acceleration 80-100 mph, in which the Harley's drew dead last. Which is more important? Which do police bikes do most often? Do police motorcycles really get involved in high speed chases?

What do we really know about the selection criteria for police motorcycles?

Don't mistake this for a defense of Harley Davidson. That's not my point. What really at stake here is the definition of "objectivity", and the concept of fairness and accuracy in reporting.

Included in the HFL article is an unrelated, but probably similar, evaluation report from the LAPD.

The Los Angleles Police Department article makes for an interesting read. In fact, if you have time for reading only one more article, skip HFL, and jump right to the report...

Shamu 2, the revenge of the whale

2010-10-14T17:24:00.000-04:00

There sure is a lot of hatred in the Moto Press for Honda's VFR1200 -- dubbed "Shamu". Reading "Hell For Leather's" reviews makes me worry about the future of Honda...if this bike is any example of what we can expect from them.

Now, there are rumors of "Shamu 2 -- the sequel" -- a V4 adventure bike. Honda apparently is taking aim at the BMW's GS.

Shamu 2, the revenge of the whale | Hell for Leather

No Moto Guzzi For Me! « Cool Cycle Dude

2010-10-12T18:52:00.002-04:00

Cool Cycle Dude deftly describes his first, and probably last, ride on a Moto Guzzi.

No Moto Guzzi For Me! « Cool Cycle Dude

I follow him on Twitter @CoolCycleDude.

Best Dressed Biker

2010-10-12T17:56:00.001-04:00

A cow-orker of mine, who isn't a rider himself, commented on my riding apparel today. He said I was the "best dressed biker" ... a commentary on the fact that I always wear my gear.

I overlooked the fact that I consider myself a "rider" and not a "biker", and I took it as a compliment.

I wear my gear, and come into the office dressed in my get-up every day. Folks have gotten used to it. Out of the two dozen motorcyclists in my office building (who have ever commuted to work) I'm the only one who wears protective over-pants and protective boots. Most wear helmets, a few wear jackets and / or gloves.

I get questions sometimes. What's it made of? Aren't you hot in the summer?

Some mistake it for rain gear. Some say, "Good for you!" Some roll their eyes.

I enjoy the full protection, and the anonymity, of the full faced helmet. I change personas when I'm on the bike.

I've been made fun of. "What are you -- some sort of superhero? Is that your super-suit?"

To which I reply, "Yes, I am, and yes it is."

Consumer Reports Hog tied: Consumer Reports rides the latest Harleys - Night Rod Special and XR 1200X

2010-10-08T14:34:00.000-04:00

Consumer Reports Cars Blog: Hog tied: Consumer Reports rides the latest Harleys - Night Rod Special and XR 1200X

From ATGATT To ASSSHATT

2010-10-07T14:05:00.001-04:00

If you're readying this blog, you ATGATT stands for "All The Gear All The Time"

But have you considered ATGATT's lesser known siblings: They are:

HOTGATT-Half Of The Gear All The Time

HOGSATT-Helmet Only Gear Some Of The Time

NOTGATTNAB-None Of The Gear All The Time No Apparent Brain

And my favorite:

ASSSHATT-All Safety Stuff Sits Home All The Time

Fellow Magna owner Brent put together this gem.

Spanish Moto Mag Announces Honda ST1200F

2010-09-29T20:50:00.000-04:00

2011 Pan European -- Exclusive!

It cracks me up that Yahoo's Babelfish website translates the Pan European as the "Bread". Makes sense of course, "Pan" is Spanish for bread.

There are also some perfectly recognizable Spanish words that Babelfish fails to translate, and leaves in their original Spanish form.

Kawasaki Ninja 500R

2010-09-22T19:33:00.001-04:00

Not really a Ninja, they say. Began its life as a GPZ500, before being renamed under the Ninja badge to take leverage the familiar name.
Bulletproof parallel twin powerplant and good fuel economy keep this one going and going.

Is Harley-Davidson Cruising for a Crash?

2010-09-22T17:53:00.001-04:00

Is Harley-Davidson Cruising for a Crash?

Loyal but aging customer base, and a continued failure to attract younger buyers spells an impending lowside for the Motor Company.

2010 Honda CB Unicorn Dazzler Review - Motorcycle.com

2010-09-22T17:50:00.001-04:00

2010 Honda CB Unicorn Dazzler Review - Motorcycle.com

Aside from the horrifyingly "gay" name, this little Honda motorcycle for India seems pretty cool.

A Trip Report In Haiku

2010-09-20T08:47:00.005-04:00

Cause I'm too tired to type a complete report, here's one in Haiku...

French Lick, Indiana
150 miles to the south
Through Hoosier National Forest

Weather was perfect
Five riders together
The road less travelled

DR650 and KLR650 outperform Magna
On gravel-strewn twisty roads
Oh, my aching pride.

Fellow rider traded Magna
For a loud-piped Harley
Do not ride behind him.

300 miles of fun
Whether Honda, Kawi, or HD
Each man smiled and returned home

Fans of the form recognize this doesn't conform to Haiku 5/7/5 syllable rules. Oh well, call it free verse then.

I'll try again, with some more verses, these in strict Haiku form:

Five Of Us Set Out
For French Lick, Indiana
No two bikes alike

Twisty roads we chose
May not have been the fastest
But were the most fun

Weather was perfect
Five riders rode together
The road less traveled

One rider's bald tires
brought trip to a sudden end
without incident

Dual sports proven
To outperform the Magna
Oh, my aching pride.

Fork-mounted windshield
adversely affects steering
good for crushing bugs

He trades his Magna
for a Harley with loud pipes
Do not ride behind

Bike Shopping

2010-09-11T22:02:00.008-04:00

My buddy Steve is a hard core bicyclist, but has recently expressed an interest in motorcycles. Here we study a dual sport Suzuki DR 650.

If only we knew someone who owned one, we could ask them all our questions!

Steve is one of those people who seems to know everybody; an outgoing and personable guy. These are some very handy traits in a motorcycle-shopping companion. At one dealership, we got a guided tour of the owner's private warehouse, with some old Honda's, Triumph's and BSA's on display.

I've been there many times before and have never been offered the private tour.

I'm gonna bring Steve bike-shopping with me more often.

It was fun to have some vicarious enjoyment of Steve's newbie experiences. He was learning a lot, sitting on bikes, picking them up off their kickstand and feeling their weight, seating position, and controls. Those are some good memories for me. As one who fell into motorcycling late in life, it was being around them, feeling them and moving them around, that hooked me. I hope Steve gets hooked, too, as I'd love to have him join me on some local jaunts.

Steve was interested in dual-sport bikes, and checked out the KLR650, KLX250, the Honda CRF230L, and the Suzuki DR400 and DR650.

While Steve was checking out dual-sports, I was checking out Sport Touring bikes. I got a chance to sit on a Yamaha FJR1300, a Suzuki DL650, an FZ6, a Kawasaki Concourse 14, a Z1000, and a Honda ST1300.

I was impressed with the comfort and style of the FJR, it was lower and sleeker looking than the Connie. The dealers had used FJR's coming out of their ears. I saw four or five FJR's on showroom floors; at least one at each of the three dealerships we visited. During this time I only saw one ST1300. When I saw it, I exclaimed happily, "Oh -- finally!"

When we were done with our dealer visits, Steve confessed to me: "I couldn't tell the bikes you were looking at apart. The one you were all excited about finding looked exactly the same to me as the ones you weren't interested in."

I laughed. To the uninitiated, they do look alike. Even to the Harley rider, I'm sure, all sport tourers look alike. Just like to the sport bike rider, all Harley's look alike.

I smiled at him and said, "Yeah, and I couldn't tell the dual sports apart either. They all look the same to me."

Sport Touring Highway Pegs?

2010-09-11T21:20:00.006-04:00

I've seen highway pegs on cruisers, but I've never seen nor heard of them on a sport tourer.

I snapped some photos of these, on a Honda ST1300 at a dealership today.

They fold back into a retracted position, hidden within the "tip over wing".

Being somewhat of a purist, I objected to the fact that the "tip over wing" had to be cut and modified in order to accommodate this after-market footpeg. However, I thought it was an ingenious design.

Are these really necessary on an ST1300?

They certainly don't go with the motif.

Uniform Measures

2010-09-07T18:54:00.002-04:00

I've been thinking about uniform measuring criteria for motorcycles, since I posted my last entry, "How does the ST stack up?"

It was eye opening to me when I first discovered that displacement was a fairly meaningless measure. Displacement is used in the motoring world -- whether two or four wheel variety -- as a rough measure of power.

It's misleading, however. In the four wheeled world, as well as two, there are beasts with large displacement with relatively small power. I remember this from the days when I owned a Ford Explorer. The Ford SOHC V6 generates almost as much power as the Ford V8.

Cylinder count, and displacement, isn't a good indicator of power.

If not displacement, and not cylinder count, then what shall we use as a measure?

Why, horsepower, of course!

Except horsepower itself is only part of the equation. A hundred horsepower in a 400 pound bike, or a 600 pound bike would render a different rider experience.

So what do you call it then, this weight-adjusted horsepower factor? Take the weight, and divide it by the horsepower, and you get a figure which can be used to compare one bike to another.

How many pounds does each pony have to move?

The same could be done for torque. How many foot-pounds of torque does the engine generate? How does that compare to the weight that the engine must move?

Of course, we could find some numerical formula to express, in scientific terms, every aspect of the bike, and we would still fall short of describing the bike.

It's not a mere machine, and it's not a mere science. There is no formula for the perfect bike. Each of us, as humans, will have our own preferences, and will interface with a bike in our own individual way. No formula can predict which bike will bring maximum enjoyment to which rider.

There is no substitute for a test drive.

How does the ST stack up?

2010-09-06T12:18:00.008-04:00

Here are the stats for the ST1100, compared to the Magna VF750C, the Gold Wing 1100 Interstate, and the Harley Davidson FXD Dyna Super Glide.

	ST1100	VF750C	GL1100	FXD
Displacement	1100	750	1100	1574
Peak HP	100	84	64	61
Peak Torque	82	50	41	77
Dry Weight	634	505	718	666
Weight/Horsepower	6.3	6.0	11.2	10.9
Weight/Torque	7.7	10.1	17.5	8.6

I'm surprised to see how much more power the ST1100 has compared to the GL1100, with the same displacement and number of cylinders.

I'm aware that "not all displacement is created equal"; for example Harley's with their large displacement twin cylinders, don't compare in horsepower to a sport bike with half the displacement. But I'm still surprised that the V4, compared to the flat four, has such a disparity.

No wonder I love V4's.

I've added two metrics which I don't usually see discussed in the trade magazines, but which seem to me to offer a basis of comparison.

Weight divided by Horsepower, or what I call "Pounds per horse". How much weight does each of those horses have to carry. Seems like a way of leveling the horsepower playing field by factoring in the effect of weight.

Weight divided by Torque. This is similar to the "Pounds Per Horse" measurement, except this one blows my mind when I attempt to do dimensional analysis on it. If torque is measured in foot-pounds, and weight is measured in pounds, then pounds divided by foot-pounds equals what? The inverse of feet? 1/foot? I need to consult a physics textbook to figure this one out.

Compressed Air Dent Removal

2010-09-05T17:33:00.003-04:00

When I bought the Magna 3 years ago, it had a small (less than 2 inch diameter) dent in the upper right hand corner of the tank.

I've lived with it for three years. Occasionally when bored, I've done research on motorcycle dent removal.

I've seen YouTube videos of guys removing dents in motorcycle tanks using bent rods and a hammer, and essentially hammering out the dent from the inside. That seems a little dangerous for an amateur like me to try. The inside of the tank is pristine, with no rust. I fear misuse of a hammer and a rod might scratch the inside liner of the tank, leaving it prone to rust.

Then I saw this technique of removing dents from car doors and motorcycle tanks called the "Compressed Air" method.

By the name of it, I had visions of sealing up the tank and blowing air into the tank until the dents popped out.

But that's not how it works. It uses rapid changes in temperature to draw the dent out.

First heat the dent with a hair dryer, for about a minute.

Then spray the dent with a can of compressed air, like the kind sold at office supply stores for cleaning schmutz out of computer keyboards.

The rapid expansion of the compressed air sucks the heat out of the surroundings. There are warnings all over the can not to spray your flesh, or be prepared to get treatment for frost bite.

I saw this demonstrated successfully online for a car body panel with a dent.

I also saw someone attempt it on a motorcycle tank -- and it didn't work.

But a can of compressed air is $3.00. I figured I would give it a shot.

My results were the same as the Ducati owner in the video. No luck.

I'll find a Paintless Dent Repair place that'll do it for me.

Naming A Motorcycle

2010-09-04T00:23:00.003-04:00

I mentioned earlier, (see "The Motorcycle Name Game") that I've been thinking about ST names before I actually own a bike.

I've been stuck at work, working lots of overtime, and keeping myself entertained by daydreaming about the bike I would buy.

I mentioned to some riding friends that I was thinking about names for my non-existent bike, and they gave me a hard time.

Some thought I was losing my mind. "Geez, just wait," said Carl. "The bike will tell you its name very soon after you buy it."

Some reject the whole idea of naming a bike. "The closest I come to anthropomorphizing the bike is to call it a "she" occasionally," said Pete. "I confess I just don't get the whole idea of naming one's bike."

Another said, "My policy is, don't name anything that doesn't come when you call it."

I said, "By that line of reasoning, my kids should be nameless."

Tradition among Honda ST owners dictates that the bike names have "ST" in them. I'm not aware of any other makes or models that have such a tradition. They may exist, I'm just don't know of any.

My FJR-riding friend, who has changed engines in his bike more times that I have changed oil in my Honda, quipped that if he were obliged to use the letters F, J and R in the name, it would be something like "F-ing Jury Rigged", or "F-ing Just Replaced". Not a happy bike owner!

I wonder what percentage of the bike riding population have names for their bikes?

WOW?

2010-09-03T15:02:00.003-04:00

Has anyone worked with a place in Marietta, GA, called "WOW Motorsports"?

They appear to have a large selection.

What has a name must surely have a soul

2010-08-29T00:31:00.006-04:00

I've been doing some more pondering on the subject of Naming A Motorcycle.

Why do we name our bikes?

Surely, beneath it all is a universal truth. Something which rings true within your heart because of your own experiences, not necessarily because some teacher told you so, or some leader, or some dead poet in a book on the shelf.

But am convinced of the fact nonetheless: That which has a soul must also have a name.

This is why we name our bikes.

This is why we name our pets.

Those who identify most strongly with what I'm saying tip their heads in agreement, and think upon their own experiences. "That's right!" they say.

The counter argument, the stoic, logical, scientific view, would say: Soul's don't exist in these things. Certainly not in a dog or a motorcycle. Soul?! Bah!

If you'd like to stir up some conversation, next time you're grabbing lunch with your motorcycle buddies, toss out a casual question.

What is the name of your bike?

The Motorcycle Name Game

2010-08-28T21:19:00.011-04:00

I'm contemplating buying a different bike -- a Honda ST1100 to replace my Honda Magna.

This leads me to want to try on possible names for the bike.

I think there's more at work here than simply what appears. I think "trying on the name" is part of the decision-making process. Think of the enamoured high-school sweetheart who just got asked to the prom by the high school basketball star.

She is infatuated with him, and writes his name on her english notebook. She also experiments with the combination of his name and hers. "Mrs. Fiona Charming". She tries it on, and sees how it fits.

It's not just the name, it's everything that goes with it. Do I want to be a part of this life? Does this name, this look, this bike, this lifestyle suit me?

I chose Raven as the name of my bike. It was black. But I also took the name from a legend I heard from during a trip to London. The legend of the Tower Ravens. Ravens surround the base of the Tower of London, and according to legend, cannot be removed from the tower, or the tower will collapse.

As a bike name it suggested something black and light-weight, able to fly. And also, part of the "foundation"; the foundation of my riding career. That bike launched me into the world of motorcycles.

My second bike was a 1982 Honda GL1100 I "Gold Wing Interstate". Riding this 770 pound bike in a steep crosswind, in the evening, her name came to me:

"Oh Black Betty, bam ba lam, she's so rock steady, and she's always ready"

What would I name an ST?

I don't know other bike naming rules, but convention is very strong in the ST Owners Community, that an ST should have "S" and "T" in the name, and preferably, have "ST" in the name contiguously .

I employed this humorous ST naming convention when I test drove one (see "My First Taste Of ST") and dubbed it "STinky Turd".

My ST owning friends have names for their bikes like "STargazer", "STiletto".

I was toying with the potential names for ST1300's for me; some adhering to the "ST naming convention" and some not.

a. Remy. Sure , that violates the ST rule, but does make a pop culture allusion to the TV Show"House", and the beautiful doctor whom he has given the nickname "13",

b. The ST1100 is known in Europe as the "Pan-European". I've seen "Pan-American" stencilled on a few state-side ST1100's. Fans of Douglas Adams "Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" might recognize the name "Pan Galactic Freeway Blaster" as a tip of the hat to the "Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster" referenced in his books.

c. STormcrow ... ideal for a gray ST of the 1100 or 1300 variety. This name was one of the nicknames given to the the great Wizard in "Lord Of The Rings" -- Gandalf The Grey".

d. MiSTy .... nicely feminine name, also suitable for a gray bike.

Motorcycle Fashion & Safety

2010-08-25T18:58:00.002-04:00

Enjoy!

Practicality And Style

2010-08-24T14:16:00.002-04:00

"And I didn't even have to bungee it down!" said Mrs. Rat.

Mrs. Rat ran a few errands on her Harley Davidson Super Glide today, and was thankful for the deceptively capacious rigid saddlebags I had installed for her earlier this year.

She was able to fit two dozen donuts in one saddlebag, not having to resort to strapping cargo on the pillion seat.

Some folks feel bags detract from cruiser aesthetics. We Rats are passed that . . . we embrace the aesthetic of usability.

2010 Oddball Sport-Touring Motorcycle Shootout: Ducati vs Honda vs Kawasaki

2010-08-22T19:37:00.000-04:00

Just when I was doubting my choice of next motorcycle, I spy this with my little eye.

Hot and Heavy Motorcycles

2010-08-22T18:56:00.004-04:00

I remember the moment I decided to sell the Goldwing. I was sitting in traffic, sweltering atop a large engine behind a large fairing which blocked all wind.

As much as I loved the bike for touring, it was hell for commuting.

I watched a guy, older than me, riding a FZ1 -- I think it was. It was lightweight. He seemed to be having fun.

I realized that I was not.

I sold the bike and bought a Magna. It was naked as opposed to fully faired. It was lightweight by comparison.

And it was much more fun.

Lately as you know I've been toying with the idea of buying a sport touring motorcycle.

Today I go for a hot ride on a hot afternoon and wonder -- will I be happy if I sit atop a large engine behind a large fairing? What will make the heavy sport tourer better than the heavy luxury tourer. The seating position? I mean, that's a big deal, but will it make a big enough difference.

It's cause for pause as I consider my next major purpose.

A Buell Ulysses -- not the touring variety -- goes by. Sporty in looks, relaxed in seating. Lighter weight than even my Magna, with as much horsepower as the ST1100.

Am I headed down the wrong road?

The Universal Conspiracy

2010-08-21T20:53:00.003-04:00

About the time I decided I was in the market for an ST, about the time that I decided I would head to my local Honda dealer at my next opportunity for a test drive, about the time that I started combing classified ads looking for used ST's for sale

... the universe began to conspire against me to ensure that I would have no time to do any bike shopping.

With the exception of my "First Test of ST" test drive, I've been thwarted at every turn. Work schedule keeps me chained to the office until the dealership has closed. Except for Saturdays, when I'm usually off.

Then out of town trips, prior engagements ... and work, calling me in to work on a Saturday ... have kept me out of those dealerships the past three Saturdays.

I keep thinking things will change. I'll take off work early to hit the dealership before they close.

Fat chance.

The current project I'm working on at work, the one that's keeping me busy with lots of overtime, will probably keep me busy until ... at this rate, the first snow of the season.

My First Taste Of ST

2010-08-17T20:16:00.004-04:00

As you know, I've been jonesing for an ST, despite the fact that I've never ridden one. I'm drawn to the touring abilities of the bike; obviously a more natural tourer than a 750 Magna.

I've been trolling eBay and Craigslist for ST's of both varieties, and saw a downright cheap ST1100 on Craiglist on the south side of Indianapolis.

The listing was terse: 1993 ST1100, 20,000 miles, no mechanical problems, runs and rides great.

I called the owner and chatted about the bike, and decided to go see it after work on Monday.

When I arrived at 7 pm the ST1100 was sitting in the driveway, and the owner emerged before I dismounted the Magna. I started sniffing around the bike as he began a folksy spiel about his adventures with the bike.

I should've known by the absence of any description of its appearance in the listing that it would have a few warts.

First thing I found was a poorly fitting saddlebag, which had obviously been split like a melon, and then puttied back together. Poorly.

On to the dash, which was held together with liberal amounts of bondo, painted gloss black.

"What happened here?"

"Oh, I had a bunch of lumber fall from an overhead rack onto the bike when it was in the garage."

Then to the cracked right valve cover. "That must've happened when my wife backed into it and knocked it over," he supplied.

Scuffs on the right mirror stem, and bags. Closer inspection showed swirled scuffs on the right saddlebag. "I lost that saddlebag at about 40 mph because I didn't have it fastened in properly."

I told him I had just seen a pair of Honda Maroon ST1100 saddlebags on Craigslist.

"Oh, this isn't the original color. I had the bike repainted Mustang Red to match the repainted saddlebag."

This was getting comical.

I noticed the front fender was floating - the mounting bolts had disappeared.

He noticed that I noticed. "I must not have tightened the fender bolts tight enough after I had the fender repainted. But the fender doesn't rattle or nothin'."

The fender bolts weren't the only thing missing; about half of the bolts and fasteners which fastened the body panels to the bike were missing. Many of the ones remaining were stripped or mismatched.

"I did have to push it about 3/4 of a mile when I ran out of gas one time. The previous owner had installed power mirrors, and he had a loose wire that shorted out and took the fuel gauge with it."

He supplied some additional testimonial: "The bike's real solid going down the road, and the windshield blocks the wind just great. I can even take my hands off the handlebar, light a cigarette, and smoke it."

After all this, I was ready to walk away, when he said, "Well, you're obviously bike savvy. Would you like to take it for a spin?"

"Sure," I replied.

My first time riding an ST, and I was very tentative, despite the fact that I probably could have dropped the bike, picked it up and returned it to him and he wouldn't have been able to tell.

Plenty of power, and a comfortable, natural seating position. I should've taken advantage of his generous offer and driven it for half an hour, but instead, I returned the bike to him after a brief spin around the neighborhood.

I told him there were a few more cosmetic issues on the bike than I was looking for, and I wished him good luck. He apologized. I think he felt guilty for leaving out those important details from his listing. He confessed the bike had been for sale for a long time and he hadn't had any luck selling it.

"I wonder why," I said to my self, sarcastically.

It was worth my trip, even if the bike was a turd, because I got to ride an ST for the first time, and confirmed that the seating position was comfortable.

I think I'm on the right track with this quest. I think an ST is what I want, though it'll take longer than a few minutes of riding time to feel comfortable enough to push the bike, and see what it can do.

From what I saw, and all that I've heard, I don't think I'll be disappointed.

Rider On The Storm

2010-08-17T13:31:00.003-04:00

One of the most memorable rides of the summer found me an hour west of home, watching an approaching line of storm clouds. The storm front was to the north, heading south east. It was a race against nature in all its fury - our paths converged. Would I make it home before the lightning storm and torrential rains hit?

The raw power of this storm was amazing. The temperature difference between the hot muggy summer afternoon air, and the (seemingly) icy blast of air of the storm front was staggering. I rode through alternating pockets of still, hot, muggy air, and whirling, dust-filled "ice cold" air. I would never have felt these dramatic shifts in a car.

Each stop light I would glance apprehensively to the north, seeing how much closer the lightning storm had grown.

A mile from home the wind picked up with gusts up to 30 mph, and the street lights switched on beneath the dark clouds.

I rolled into my garage - safe and dry - not one minute too soon. The rain began in earnest behind me even as I closed the garage door.

I made it.