motociclista

You sound like me. Ten reasons you need to do a track day. @pista: Don't worry about showing up on an FJR among a sea of sportbikes. There will be a sea of sportbikes, as well as some racebikes, but mostly that's intermediate and advanced. I've seen just about everything in novice, from a woman on a small cruiser to a guy on a DR650 with street tires to a vintage CBX. A full-blown dedicated school is a little more advanced in the instruction, but the novice class at Mid-Ohio is not bad. And you don't have to worry about holding up faster guys. In novice, you're grouped into smaller sub-groups of similar skill level and speed. If you find out you're too fast or too slow for your sub-group, they'll move you up or down. No worries.

Since okeefe01 asked, here's something that I didn't include in my article. Not only are there no limits on how long anyone can be CEO, but the board of directors also pulled another fast one when it changed the rules about who could get on the ballot to run for the board. They instated term limits for members of the board of directors, but they exempted themselves. So there are term limits for anyone else who gets elected, but not themselves.

Please note, folks, that I am a member, too. Have been for nearly 22 years. I'm not arguing you shouldn't be a member. I'm just asking whether it's right that 1,125 members should have to pay dues just to cover the CEO's pay bonus at a time when the association is losing money and members. Since someone asked, regular dues are now $49/year, as mentioned in the article.

You won't read about this in the motorcycle magazines. How the AMA lost millions of dollars and 28% of its members. http://www.theridesofar.com/2014/02/the-decline-of-the-ama/

Glad they fit ya.

Sold to Isaac's Papa. Thanks all.

Thanks, Tonik. Like I said, if it fit me right I'd keep it myself.

If you're tired of the cold, here's a Gerbing heated jacket and pants set. I am selling this for a friend who moved away and didn't want to move it. I'd probably keep it except that it doesn't really fit me right. This is an older model of Gerbing gear but it has only been worn a few times. I hooked it up to my bike and the heating elements work, and I can find no sign of wear, tear or damage. Almost like new. Note that this is the older style Gerbing gear that does not have integrated armor. Asking $150 for the set. The jacket is a 3/4-length jacket with a non-removable quilted liner with the heating elements between the shell and liner. It's black but has some reflective material. It's a size large, but it seems to run a little big. Keep in mind that with heated gear you don't want to put a lot of layers underneath the jacket because that will just insulate you from the heating elements. For reference, I am 5-11, 175 pounds, and the jacket is loose on me. If you were an inch taller and 20 pounds heavier, it might fit you just right. The pants also have a quilted liner. You could wear them as overpants or by themselves. There is a lot of elastic in the waist. I have a 33 waist and they fit me fine, but I measured the waist and I think someone up to 36 inches could wear them, no problem. The side zippers on the legs come up to about the middle of the thigh so it's easy to put them on, even if you have your boots on. The jacket connects to the pants and to your bike with plugs like these: I do not have the battery harness but it's the same one used with a Battery Tender, if you already have that. If not, you can get one at Iron Pony for $8. http://www.ironpony.com/ironponydirect/product-info.asp/ImageName/battendqkdis.jpg/Brand/Battery%20Tender/Class2/Electronics/Class3/Battery%20Chargers/Class1/STREET%20PRODUCTS/KitKey2/Accessories%20For%20Battery%20Tenders

To hijack this thread back to the original topic (just for a minute, I promise ): John Ulrich tries to add three more Superbike races. http://www.theridesofar.com/2014/01/filling-the-superbike-gap/

Saw this R6 on Ebay. Thought someone here might need a track day bike. Sounds like it's probably fast. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-Other-YAMAHA-R6-Sam-Lowes-Yakhnich-Motorsport-SUPERSPORT-BIKE-/121251442012?forcerrptr=true&hash=item1c3b262d5c&item=121251442012&pt=US_motorcycles

I would be hesitant to buy an eight-year-old bike that has LESS miles on it. Since when is 2,000 miles a year a lot of miles? As for the price, no comment. GLWS.

As a fan, I appreciate your support of the sport. We may or may not have nine great races in 2014, but here's the key thing that a lot of people, including the so-called experts in Daytona, don't seem to grasp. Having tight, close racing is not enough to ensure success. Just about any summer weekend, somewhere in the U.S. there's a club race with a real dogfight and a close finish. Nobody sees it. If there's no TV coverage for AMA Superbike, how long will sponsors keep paying to expose their brand? A fan in California (I hear there's a few people who ride in California) would have to travel two time zones just to see a Superbike race, as the schedule now stands. Why would a sponsor be willing to accept zero exposure in two thirds of the country? It takes more than close racing, which is why 10 or 20 times as many people pay to see Ryan Villopoto win a Supercross race by 20 seconds than pay to watch flat-track racing that is known for close finishes and tight racing. 2014 may be a building year for Superbike. I'm just worried about what it's building toward.

No television package (yet, at least). The title sponsor bailed. Michael Jordan has bailed, Buell has bailed. The defending Superbike champion is fleeing to Moto2. And now the AMA announces the 2014 Superbike schedule will consist of five rounds (maybe six) which is less than half of what we've had in most recent years. The AMA press release, which does a great job of trying to cheerfully pad the limited news of a five-race schedule with wordiness, is here. My less cheerful take on the topic is here, if you can stomach reading more. *Sigh*

I hear that was going around on the first, for some reason.

I hope somebody other than me got out on New Year's Day for a personal Polar Bear Ride, because it doesn't look like any of us are going to be riding anytime soon (ice racers excepted, of course).

I rarely go out for a ride just to go for a ride, but I ride almost everywhere I need to go. So I was out running some errands yesterday, less than 50 miles. Salt on the roads? Lots, which is why I took the old bike. One thing I was reminded of is that when the salt gets thick, it worsens the already poor traction due to the cold. I felt some slippage at really modest lean angles once or twice AFTER my tires were "warm." Well, as warm as they were going to get.

After watching that video, I feel a lot better about my tire changing abilities. , I have the HF tire changer and I have changed lots of tires over the years. Mainly, I use the HF tire changer for breaking the bead. It works well for that. I don't wank on my rims like the guy in the video, and I don't spend "hours" changing tires either, as someone else said. For me, like others, it's as much about convenience as money. Yeah, I save a few bucks by changing my own tires, but I also don't waste half a day getting to a dealer and waiting for them to do it for a hefty fee. Plus, it gives me the flexibility of putting new tires on my Daytona when I'm doing a track day and then switching the lightly used front tire to either of my other bikes for thousands more miles of street riding.

Hey everyone, I've got this MotoGP brand leather jacket which looks pretty sharp, I think, but I want to get rid of it for reasons I'll explain below. It has been used for a few seasons but is fully functional and has never been down, so I'm offering it up for $50 (plus shipping if you're not local) and if nobody wants it for that price, I'll just keep it for occasional use. Size: Large (I am 5-11, 175 and it fits me just right. With the zip-in vest, I can still get a layer or two underneath, so you could be a little heavier, but not a lot.) Features: Zip-in vest CE armor in elbows and shoulders, flimsy foam back pad A little reflective piping around the white section, which doesn't show in this photo One inside pocket, two handwarmer pockets Condition: You can see in the photo below that the leather in the arms has some creasing, typical of leather that has a couple of years of use on it. There's also one small scuff visible in the photo that looks like white paint or something on the sleeve. Minor, but I'm in full-disclosure mode. In the photo below that, you can see one spot on the inside of the collar where the liner has pulled away, about two inches wide maybe. The inside of the collar is a little worn. Other than that, no rips or tears and all zippers work smoothly. So why do I want to part with it? Two reasons. One, I just want to go all textile for the street, mainly so I don't have to carry a rain suit, and leave the leather for the track. But the other reason is that there's one thing I don't like about the jacket. As you can see in the photo below, there's a strip around the chest, front and back, that is perforated. It is about 4.5 inches tall all the way around. It is not enough perforation to make the jacket comfortable on really hot summer days, but it slightly reduces the usefulness of the jacket in the cold, and I ride year round. The vest blocks most of that breeze (and not much gets through the small perf area anyway), but it still annoys me. If you're not as easily annoyed as me, or if you don't ride in really cold weather, maybe this jacket is for you. I'd just rather it go to someone who can use it than have it take up space here.

I would probably go this route myself, though I shouldn't say for sure because it's been a while since I've been over on 26 and can't remember details enough to talk about the merits of staying on 26 vs. these detours. I do know 255 is a favorite of mine. One minor note: the bypass around Nelsonville is now open, so that should shave 10 minutes off the boring part of your travel time right there. You'll get on 78 without entering Nelsonville.

While it's true that a lot, probably most, Harley riders are fair-weather riders, there is another subset of Harley riders who don't fit that mold. I remember posting on here last winter after I made a 100-mile round trip between Mount Vernon and Columbus on one of those gray, 40-degree winter days when almost nobody is riding. In 100 miles I saw six other motorcycles: one KLR650, one Triumph Bonneville and four Harleys. There are plenty of Harley-riding posers, but some of the most hard-core riders I've ever known are also on Harleys. Can't paint everyone with the same brush.

yeah, you're not going to get much sympathy around here today with comments like that. We had a sleet flurry here today. yeah, that's right, I said a sleet flurry. I just invented the term. Don't know Lucas Valley Road. I was just reminiscing yesterday about riding Lockwood Valley Road because I saw a mentino of it in a car mag.

Paving is already done on that section and yes, it's nice.

I'm sure this won't be news to a lot of people, but I was out riding Saturday and by chance stumbled on Rt. 676, riding the section between 339 south of Beverly and 555 north of Bartlett. The first few miles near 339 were bumpy, but the rest has just been paved as they work their way east. I'd never been on that piece of road before. What fun fresh pavement, especially the last few miles before reaching 555, and zero traffic. It reinforced an old theory of mine: Wherever there is a famous motorcycle road, there are other virtually anonymous roads nearby that are just as good and aren't cluttered with squids trying to be heroes, cruiser riders admiring the scenery and trying to earn their "_______ Slayer" T-shirt, heavy LEO presence, etc., that such roads tend to attract. Of course Deals Gap is the ultimate example, and 555 is by no means anywhere near that bad, but the rule still applies. Whenever a road gets too popular, I find there's better riding nearby where there's the same topography but without the crowds.

If you don't have your own private race track, where would you be able to ride that XX-based four-wheeler? Seems like a lot of work just to sit and look at it.

Just a bump and a comment that I also rebuilt the master cylinder on the front brake on my 1997 Speed Triple, and in case anyone's wondering, it's an easy job. And I say that fully admitting that I'm no master mechanic. The engines in these things are stout. Mine has 92k miles on it, so I wouldn't worry about 41k miles. Just observations from another Speed Triple owner, no connection to the seller.