Merry Christmas & Happy New year!
I sent my generic Christmas/New Years greetings out by email the other day to all the ones in my address book that I have kept in touch with (but may not have seen) in the past couple years and I got alot of replies back, but this one in particular really made my day: It is from Gary, a former student who came over a year ago to the Basic Rider Course to get re-acquainted with motorcycles. He has since kept in contact with me and is one of the happiest, most smiling people I know. I’ll never forget the smile he had on his face when he was taking the course. This is what really makes being a RiderCoach worthwhile. He sent this note and picture:
“I know you remember me as the big hairy guy that couldn’t stop
grinnin’ once I got my groove back, from the Cycle Safety Course a year or
so ago. I’ve attached a pic of me & Ol’ Blue, my 66 FLH Electra Glide.
Thanks for all the great riding tips, lessons and encouragement during the
course. I want you to know that I’m a much safer rider because of you and
all the instructors committed to making cycle riding as safe as possible.
Be safe and enjoy your holiday, Gary S. “
Cal, Dorothy, and the Vulcan!
This is a picture of my good old friend from way back in my Navy days. He is on his Kawasaki Vulcan 900 with his wife, Dorothy. Cal says she carries her suitcase with her in anticipation of coming out to San Diego for some good ole Rubio’s fish tacos! I think the white stuff in the back ground is called “snow”. They are in Kansas.
2010 Triumph Thruxton SE
Dear Santa,
I have been a good boy this year. This is all I want for Christmas:
Other Pics of ‘09 Long Beach International Motorcycle Show
This 1963 Honda 125cc GP motorcycle idles @9000 RPM!
One shot of the VJMC booth.
Another shot of the VJMC booth.
Cycle World’s HD tracker.
Cycle World’s Yamaha XS650 Street Tracker (I think it is bored out to 750cc).
Another Cycle World tracker, this one has a Yamaha FZ1 engine.
Don Emde’s Flat Tracker from the 60’s.
World’s fastest electric motorcycle. 176 MPH. Built in 6 days and runs on 440 volts.
Harley Davidson flat head 45 (750cc) flat tracker.
Nice old Italian motorcycle, the Gilera.
Really nice 1967 Honda CL160.
Indian 4 cylinder.
Vintage Harley Davidson (not all HD’s were V-Twins in the beginning.
The new Honda VFR1200!
My wife really likes the comfort of the Goldwing!
My XS650 @ the 2009 Long Beach International Motorcycle Show
I was honored by the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club, to be invited to display my 1978 Yamaha XS650E in their area this year at the Long Beach International M/C Show.
Hot September Days
This heat is not as bad as elsewhere in the country, so I am not complaining. I do want to say that you know it is hot when you crack open your face shield and it feels like a hot blast from an oven. I sure like my mesh jacket though, just wished the vents in the helmet would actually circulate over my wet hair. Anyway readers (and riders), take care and ride safe!
June is a busy month so far
It is almost the middle of the month and I have not posted anything. Work has been good. I guess with our gasoline prices near $3 a gallon, we are getting more people wanting to ride again, plus you cannot beat the San Diego weather.
I have over 3200 miles on the DR650 (in less than a 2 1/2 months) and have had no problems whatsoever with it. I changed the sprockets on the Qlink from 14/48 to 15/44 so now it runs a slower and more normal RPM at road speeds. It was geared very low for stock. I keep it down at the range mostly, so I can run errands during the week when I have my truck there. I have taken the other 3 bikes out this month, the Superhawk, the XS650E, and the XS750F and they are all fine. The Superhawk is still the torque monster and prone to wheelies even without trying, so I have to be very careful on it. Both of the old Yamahas have nothing but character and they are a pleasure to ride.
I installed some larger florescent lighting fixtures in the garage as when the heat of the summer comes, I will probably work more in the evening than during the day.
I am still looking for some pictures of a KZ750 (twin), a Cimatti 100 short tracker, and a stock KZ400.
Have a great month of June and remember, if you do not ride your motorcycle to work daily, then at least ride in on June 15th!
2009 Vintage Motorcycle Photo Show by Jim Franklin
From the Micapeak XS650 mailing list:
No April Fool’s Joke!
Today, California sales taxes went up at least 1%, and in some locales, even more. (San Diego is now 8.75%) I wish it were a joke, but it is not. I hope the plan works, whatever it really is.
The good thing is, for motorcycle riders who have completed the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic Rider Course (BRC) and/or the Experienced Rider Couse (ERC) can get discounts at most motorcycle dealers/retailers. (Cycle Gear gives a 10% discount). Just show your completion card. If your dealer/retailer (or even insurance company) does not give a discount, leave and go somewhere that does!
Work
This is part of what I do during the week. I have almost 50 motorcycles, that are used for training, that I take care of. (I do have help-Thanks Rod). Sometimes, some unusual parts break, like this, where a student jammed on the gear shifter and actually broke a shifter shaft. Here is the clutch cover and clutch removed, and a new shift shaft set in place:
And then there’s, some regular maintenance that I do, such as valve adjustments on this Honda Nighthawk 250:
All in all, I really enjoy this type of work, next to being a RiderCoach.
My turn to Rant!
As I ride almost every day, it is important for me to be very aware of my surroundings. In fact, I imagine myself as being invisible, so that I can anticipate most drivers are not seeing me and ride accordingly. Most drivers are NOT seeing motorcyclist because of inattention and distractions.
What really irks me is that even though California enacted the “hands free” law, I still see about 25% of drivers still yacking on their cell phones, with one hand holding the phone up against their ear. These drivers almost never use turn signals. They are not paying attention to driving and seem completely oblivious to the traffic around them.
The thing that really gets me is our local (San Diego, Chula Vista, El Cajon, National City, La Mesa) police officers and state CHP (California Highway Patrol) talk on their cells while driving and almost never use turn signals (even if they are not on their cell). What ever happened to setting the example?
Only in a perfect world? I guess. It sure isn’t here.
New Pics of my Current Motorcycles
I brought all my bikes out of the garage so I could do some general cleaning today. Had my camera and figured I would get some recent shots, so here they are:
Amsoil and Sportbike Racing at Daytona
Nice to see some sponsorship with Amsoil. Read article here on Roadracingworld.com:
www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=35744
As a Certified Amsoil Independent Dealer, you can go to my Amsoil site and check out the products available:
Cimatti 100 Short Tracker
Looking f or pictures and or information on this bike. I remember seeing them in the late 60’s and wonder if anyone else remembers them.
2009 Supercross Races in San Diego Qualcomm Stadium
Sorry, no pictures. I went to the races last night on a spur of the moment, invited by my friend Mike from Full Throttle Power Sports (Santee, CA). Since I had already taken Tina out for Valentine’s the night before, I was good to go.
Did not get there in time to cruise through all the vendor and pit areas, was sorta bummed about that. From outside the fence, it looked as if there were many intersting booths to check out. Maybe next year.
The pre race show (which I was not expecting) was spectacular! Fireworks, laser lights, and fireballs! Wow, they sure did not have stuff like that when Iwas a kid. But we came to see the races.
The Superlites (why don’t they just call it the 250cc race?) was pretty good. It was easy to see that maybe the top 5 racers were really spectacular. Once the man in front got going, no one could catch him and the real racing was behind him. Ryan Dungey was the winner.
Now, the Supercross event: That James Stewart is some rider! By lap 8 (out of 20) he was already starting to lap the last place guy. Unbelievable! This guy is good, so smooth and his Yamaha wasn’t really faster than the others, as evidenced in the drag race at the start. I would say James is to Supercross as Rossi is to MotoGP. At the finish he was many many seconds away from the second place rider, Chad Reed.
I usally am not a spectator, I preffer to be doing, than watching, but this was really fun and I will go again next year, but this time, earlier so I can check out the vendors. Thanks, Mike for inviting me, and thanks to my wife Tina, for allowing me to go on Valentine’s Day!
You can read the official report on the races here on my favorite weekly newspaper, Cycle News.http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/supercross/2009/02/14/james-stewart-san-diego-supercross-win
55
Today I turned 55, so I rode my 5 motorcycles at least 5 miles each today. (If my wife did not have other plans for me, I would have rather rode each one at least 55 miles to commemorate my birthday)
It is hard to imagine myself being 55. Where did time go? I have surely been blessed with a great wife, 2 great sons, with great families of their own now, with 6 grand kids. I have had 2 nice careers and am enjoying my newest one as an MSF RiderCoach.
I will continue to live life to the fullest and be thankful for each and every day God allows me to wake up and breath!
Mike Kincaid of Rampant Racing
I bought an engine stand from Mike a about 3 or 4 years ago when my friends and I were really getting into the Ninja 250’s. It was very high quality and adjustable for many small (under 500cc) engines.
He later sent me a tire rack he designed, which is what my small garage really needed. I also use it to hang my jackets and leathers:
Mike has kept in touch with me and recently shared some pictures of his Yamaha XS650 Flat Tracker. This is his story on this beautiful motorcycle:
“
If you would like to email Mike about his Yamaha, his engine stands, or tire racks, you may do so at rampantracing@sbcglobal.net . He is one of the nicest motorcycle enthusiasts I know, and is probably more of a motorcyclenut than I am!Update on my 1993 Kawasaki EX250
Today I put on new tires, new brake pads and changed the oil and filter. I was amazed that I got almost 9000 miles on this last set of tires. They were Dunlop GT501’s. (as in the picture below) I put some Kenda K671 Cruiser tires which are supposed to be as good as the Dunlops at 1/2 the price. I had previously had Pirelli Sport Demons but those tires lasted less than 2000 miles. We shall see how long these Kenda tires last. I did take it for a quick spin tonight and it felt nice to be on new rubber!
My Very Good Friend, Benji
I met Benji in Kingsville, TX when he was 16 years old (1977). When I got my laydown Honda drag bike, he became the rider for my Kawasaki 500 triple drag bike. He was really good and very consistant. Always cut a good light and never missed a shift. As I was in the Navy, I eventually left the area. He came out to San Diego when he was 18 and worked a while at San Diego Motorcycle Salvage and then eventually went back to Texas. Fast forward to a few years ago, he finds a mutual old friend at the Edinburgh drag strip and gets my email address and we have been in touch ever since. Today, he sent me these pictures and I asked if I could put it on this blog and he said okay.
And here he is a long time ago! Very cool (in more ways than one)!
My Sons (Patrick & Franklin) on an Italjet 50
This picture was taken in Texas around 1980. The Italjet was an automatic and pretty pipey. Both my sons still ride, but not as avid as I, as they are raising families of their own now. My older son, Pat, was a victim of a left hand turn accident 3 years ago and nearly died, but has recovered and just recently rode a motorcycle for the 1st time since the accident and he says it felt as good as ever.
Featured on Motorcycle Classics Weekly Shop Talk
One of my photos made it to “Photo of the Week”. I didn’t even know they picked from the upload site for this. One of my XS650 buddies from Houston emailed me about it.
My Yamaha Trio
1972 XS2, 1978 XS650E and 1979 XS750F all cleaned up and ready to ride!
XS2 & XS650E
Here is a picture I took this morning of both my Yamahas together. Looks like today is going to be a beautiful day for a ride after I go to our local CMA meeting. Hmmm, which one should I ride today?
MSF RiderCoach Class of Saddleback’08
We finally made it today! There are now 9 more RiderCoaches in Southern California. We all worked hard and made good friends in the process. Thanks Gerard!
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My Dad in 1947
My “Pops”, who taught me to ride, was an avid motorcyclist when he was young. This motorcycle, called a Rikou, was a Japanese copy of the Harley flathead 45 and is very rare. I think there are only 3 in the US.
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