Australia's best motorcycle roads. Snowy Mtns via Mt Panorama

To the Snowy Mountains via Mt Panorama.It was difficult to decide if I should post this as a 'best ride' or not try string things together for people wanting to visit Bathurst. Most motorcyclists I have met want to visit and ride the famous Mt Panorama either on the way to or from the GP or Superbikes so here is my take on how to see it and tie together riding Putty, the Bells line of Road and

Australia's best motorcycle roads. Bells line of road.

Bells Line of Road (The Blue Mountains) NSW.After the Putty Road one option is to head west via this road to Lithgow and then make you way to the Snowy Mountians region. My suggestion is try via Bathurst, Cowra, then Lachlan valley h-way, and via Harden on to Tumut - excellent scenery and not unpleasant road. I will post more about this route elsewhere.So leaving the putty you may have bypassed

Pictures of the Week - Kelly (K-man)

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Web site. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery.

See Kelly on his Honda Gold Wing.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

Grow old, ride safe....enjoy the ride

Here is some scans of a superb brochure I picked up from the cafe in Walwa on the Murray River Road, Victoria (post for this road coming up) produced by motorcyclists for motorcyclists. Its not saying the usual speed kills dribble just to ride within your limits and has some excellent advice that will have you nodding your head regardless of your riding skill.This is the sort of thing I would

Australia's best motorcycle roads. Whitfield

Mansfield to Whitfield.Here is another great ride in the north east highlands of Victoria. This road has plenty of variety for a motorcyclist to enjoy, its almost like 4 roads in one. I will describe the road from south to north.Mansfield is a town servicing the snow resorts you are spoilt there for choices when it comes to good food and coffee. Along with Bright it would make an excellent base

Australia's best motorcycle roads. Murray valley highway.

Murray Valley HighwayVictoria really has one thing over the rest of the east coast - roads with great sweepers. This is yet another Vic road with those rare sort of magic sweeping bends enjoyed by all on any sort of motorbike.You will ride this either having just come over the snowy Mtns or heading towards them. Either way it flows just as good and the scenery in this part of the country is right

Australia's best motorcycle roads. Putty Road.

Revised 29.12.2007Putty Road.This is probably the first interstate road that I read was a popular motorcycle ride. Now days we have the top 100 rides atlas and internet forums its all too easy to find where to ride however when I first thought out some roads I wanted to ride I was relying more on things mentioned in motorcycle magazine, sometimes places where a road test had been done.I have

Australia's best motorcycle roads. Bulahdelah.

Bulahdelah - the other "Old Road"It's a magic bit of tar..Here is a road that you would never find if not for local knowledge.The Pacific highway in it's older form was a far more interesting road than it is now. Twisting and turning its way around every mountain and valley road surveyors sure earned their money in those times. I recall as a lad my parents with caravan in tow cursing the

Polar Bear Grand Tour in the Pine Barrens

Another rainy day! This is supposed to be the Polar Bear season. Even though it's now officially winter, it continues to be more like spring with 58 degree temperatures.

This was our first run to the Sweetwater Casino. It's located in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey in the middle of nowhere right next to the Mullica River. The place is big enough to hold the Polar Bears when we show up in force. They even have motorcycle parking up front on concrete -- this works fine except when the Polar Bears show up.

Here are pictures and videos from this rainy run.

Big Dog Motorcycles Recalls Bulldog, Chopper, K-9, Mastiff, and Mutt for Fender Defect

Big Dog Motorcycles has issued a recall of certain 2005 and 2007 Bulldog models, 2005-2007 Chopper models, 2006-2008 K-9 models, 2005-2008 Mastiff models and 2008 Mutt models.

On certain motorcycles, the rear fender strut attaching bolts can fail allowing the rear fender to detach from the motorcycle. This could occur without prior warning and could result in an injury or a crash.

8061 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Honda Recalls 2006-2007 CBR1000RR for Fuel Leak

Honda has issued a recall of certain 2006-2007 CBR1000RR motorcycles.

Certain motorcycles have an improper welded vent pipe in the bottom of the fuel tank. Due to vibration the improperly welded tanks may crack and drip fuel. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.

25422 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Top 8 Motorcycle Views Blog Posts for 2007

The top eight Motorcycle Views Blog posts have been selected from a total of 150 posts made in 2007. These eight blog posts were chosen for a variety of reasons.

If you haven't been a regular reader of the Motorcycle Views Blog, you may be missing important information about motorcycling. You might also be missing some of the personal aspects of my life that may give you a chuckle or an insight into my take on motorcycling.

Check out my picks for the Top 8 Motorcycle Views Blog posts for 2007.

Top 10 Motorcycle Pictures of the Year for 2007 from Motorcycle Views

The top ten motorcycle pictures were picked from pictures submitted to Motorcycle Views in 2007. The pictures are not ordered.

They include four pictures of women on motorcycles, four pictures of men on motorcycles, and two pictures of motorcycles only.

The pictures were chosen for a variety of reasons. I looked at each picture, read each description, and picked those pictures that held my interest.

Check out the Top 10 Pictures for 2007.

Australias best motorcycle roads - Kangaroo Valley

Revised & reposted 20.12.2007Kangaroo Valley NSWThis is a really beautiful area. It reminds me a little of the Numinbah valley in QLD I ride often, but only in passing as both are unique places.I have updated this post with some new info and photos.From Nowra NSW there is a superb ride from what is basically sea level straight up the side of the two mountains that lie to the northwest. The first

Triumph Recalls Sprint ST and Tiger for Luggage Rack Problem

Triumph has issued a recall of certain 2004-2008 Tiger and 2005-2008 Sprint ST motorcycles.

On certain motorcycles equipped with an optional accessory luggage rack, undersized washers were used which prevents the sliding carriage from moving as intended. Reduced stability can occur if the motorcycle is ridden with the fitted accessory, exceeded maximum weight, and at speeds far in excess of the 80 mph limit warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

3698 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - VaRyder

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Web site. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery.

See VaRyder with his Victory Vision Tour.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

Little joy on bus-lanes in Birmingham

The BMF put out a release yesterday stating that the Brimingham City Council is to extend the trial of allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes, saying the previous trial was inconclusive.

How much convincing do they really need?

As the BMF state motorcycles have operated in bus lanes - "over ten years of successful operation in Bristol and over eight years in Reading, not to mention Bath and Northern Ireland where bikes in bus lanes have been the norm for several years"

You can read the BMF's full press release on http://www.inter-bike.co.uk/ by clicking here.

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Tweed valley revisit

Ride reportI went back to one of my favourite areas on Sunday for some more exploring and enjoyable motorcycle riding.I had two ideas one was to take a look at a new way to ride from Mudgeeraba to Tallebudgera Valley without using the highway. Via Old coach road is what I do now but there is another way looking at Google maps however I got lost on the day in an lovely area called Bonogin. I did

Motorcycles, Medical Problems and Christmas

I've always worn a full face helmet when riding my motorcycle. Of course, living in New Jersey kinda forces you to have this mindset since it's the law here. The only time it gets to me is when I have medical conditions that don't allow me to put the helmet on in the first place.

The first time that happened was when I had a basal cell carcinoma on my right ear that required mohs surgery to remove it. That was a major deal for me that took months to heal. I had to forego riding all that time.

Now, I found out that I have two more basal cell carcinomas, one on my forehead and one behind my left ear. All this occurring during the prime Polar Bear Grand Tour riding season. I happen to run their Web site and I go to all the runs to take pictures for the site. Needless to say, I will probably go another two months without being able to put the helmet on again. Worse than that is that the healing of the one on my forehead is slow with a big black scab that is quite unsightly in public. And, of course, I have so many functions to go to and I have no way to hide the healing. I'm either embarrassed when people see me or find myself constantly trying to explain the medical problems. I seem to be cursed to have all these maladies so prominent on my head and also unable to hide them with a helmet or even to ride my trike. I guess all those years toiling in the sun while I worked in the corn fields nearly 50 years ago have finally come back to haunt me.

Now I find out that after the surgery on the left ear that the pathologist's final report indicates that they may not have got all of it and I have to undergo radiation -- perhaps as many as 20 visits. Turns out that one of the members of my Gold Wing chapter heads a team at my hospital that does the treatments. At least I have someone in my corner.

All this is going on right now but still the Polar Bear pictures have to be taken and I need to be at the runs. I do have a couple of backups who can take pictures and they have come in handy in the past. But, I like to go to the runs as much as I can. This week the run was to Snydersville, PA to Schoch's Harley-Davidson and I was determined to go.

Turns out that many family events were also going on this weekend. On Saturday, we drove to our son's home for a combined birthday party and tree trimming party. I heard that there would be about 10 little kids there to celebrate the second birthday of my granddaughter. I think it was actually closer to 20 kids. After that we drove farther north to my other son's home where we ended up babysitting for the other five of our grandchildren (all under 10) and then staying overnight. The next day, we had breakfast, said our good-byes to all the kids and grand kids and headed down route 80 to Snydersville, PA for the Polar Bear run.

It was a day that was overcast, cold, and threatening rain or snow. We were in the car so we didn't much care. When we arrived, there was a smattering of bikes in the parking lot. As I walked around the parking lot with my camera, I didn't notice as many bikes coming in. Apparently, the threat of bad weather had reduced the attendance. Maybe we got 100 bikes. Normal would have been 400-500. Anyway, I did get some pictures and three videos. Check out the Polar Bear Grand Tour - Schoch's Harley-Davidson/Buell Run for pictures and captions.

After the run, we drove home and had a couple of hours of free time before we had to attend our Gold Wing Chapter's Holiday party. It was fun as usual but I did have the usual set of medical questions. At least I was with friends. I spoke with the member who heads the radiation team at the hospital and he offered me his personal help. That was very comforting and appreciated.

I also had to part company with my 1994 Chrysler today. It's been sitting in my driveway most of the time for the last two years since I bought my new Honda Accord. It was time to use it as a donation to one of my favorite charities, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. I had arranged with JDRF.org for the auto donation and the big flatbed arrived this afternoon to cart it away. The end of an era. Getting to be too many of those recently. At least I won't have to worry about hitting it every time I back my car out and I also won't have to move it so I can get my motorcycle trikes out of the garage.

I guess I'm a rambling man today but that's what's been happening. The calendar is almost completely filled with events for the next month. My wife is having physical therapy while I'm going to be busy with radiation treatments. Christmas is coming and I haven't been out doing much shopping or even leaf raking. I was told that retirement meant I would be busier than when I was working. I'm getting that in spades.

Australias best motorcycle roads - Nymboida

Grafton's historic rail/car bridgeNymboida/Ebor.Grafton to Armidale, NSWOften refered to just as Nymboida on some bike forums, the whole road to Armidale via Nymboida and Ebor is very good as is the Waterfall way.Heading south you can obtain fuel at Courts Crossing if you wanted to skip Grafton. Depends on the times of travel but Grafton is about a lunch time stop from Brisbane if you leave at a

Australias best motorcycle roads - Thunderbolts way

Updated 08/12/2007 Thunderbolts Way.I am continuing to update my older posts on some of the best motorcycle rides in the country with some new photos and observations from my revisits on my recent Moto-Gp tour. In NSW this was the road I enjoyed most on my recent tour - yes more than the Oxley highway.I rode it in both directions and it does perhaps ride a bit better south to north, simply for

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Harleymike56

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Web site. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery.

See Harleymike56 on his Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200. Mike is also a member of my Motorcycle Views Forum.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

Motorcycle Santa - The Game

Recently, I mentioned in this blog that I had written five children's stories about a special character, Motorcycle Santa. I have just finished writing the sixth story in this series. It's based on a true incident in my life. I hope you'll enjoy this story of a little girl who is awakened by the arrival of Motorcycle Santa as he is placing gifts under her tree. Santa agrees to open one present for the girl to get her to go back to bed. The girl startles Santa by devising a game that uses the gift in a new way. I hope you enjoy "Motorcycle Santa - The Game."

Sense on daytime dipped beam headlights at last!

MAG has reported today that the European Commission has finally seen sense and has scrapped the plans to enforce all vehicles to have their dipped beam headlights on during daytime.

Finally some common sense from the European Commission and in no small part due to lobbying by MAG.

Thanks MAG!

So now motorcycles which now run with dipped headlights on, won't be lost in a sea of vehicles all with dipped headlights on!!

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

NEC Bike Show attendance figures!

So the 2007 International Motorcycle and Scooter Show at the Birmingham NEC is over for another year. Attendance was up 3% this year with 149,215 visitors during the ten day show. The show is the the only place in the UK to see all the new bikes from leading names like Benelli, BMW, Buell, CCM, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Hyosung, Kawasaki, KTM, PGO Scooters, Suzuki, Triumph, Vectrix, Victory Motorcycles, Watsonian Squire, Wuyang and Yamaha, all together under one roof.

The 2008 International Motorcycle and Scooter Show will take place in Halls 1, 2, 3, 3a & 4 at the Birmingham NEC from 27^th November (Press Day) to the 7^th December.

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Polar Bear Grand Tour Meets the Winter Head-on

A winter storm was approaching the PA, NJ, NY region this morning. Since I was still unable to put a helmet on owing to my two recent surgeries and I also had two of my grandchildren spending Saturday and Sunday with us, I was not going to the Polar Bear Grand Tour run to Montgomeryville, PA.

I had already made arrangements with my backup, Bill, to take pictures at the run. When I got up today, there was a quarter inch of snow on the ground in NJ and the temperature was about 36 degrees. It felt good not going out and attempting to travel the 60 some miles to Montgomeryville. But, I knew that many Polar Bears would be making the trek so I looked forward to receiving the download from Bill later this evening to see just what it looked like over there.

Bill tells me that eight bikes showed up and two were sidecar rigs. The rest were cars, trucks, and SUVs carrying other Polar Bears. See for yourself by viewing Bill's pictures and reading my captions. Check out the pictures from the Montgomeryville, PA run.

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Jeff

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Web site. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Jeff on his Harley-Davidson FXRS.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

Motorcycle Daredevil Evel Knievel Dies

The end of an era. Evel Knievel has died in Clearwater, FL.

According to Mitch Stacy, AP, "Evel Knievel, the red-white-and-blue-spangled motorcycle daredevil whose jumps over Greyhound buses, live sharks and Idaho's Snake River Canyon made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday. He was 69."

Makes me feel old. I'm also 69. I thought he was older. In recent years his son Robbie has carried on his exploits.

Read the complete story.

Here's a YouTube video of Evel pronouncing his faith -- a different side of the man who lived life on his own terms.

Congestion charging sense at last!!

The BMF (British Motorcyclist Federation) have reported today that Cambridgeshire County Council’s outline plans, exempt motorcycles from congestion charging schemes.

Hooray!!!

A council that recognises that motorcycles and scooters do not contribute to congestion; do not cause wear and tear on road surfaces; produce less greenhouse gases than other vehicles and don’t require massive parking facilities. To read the BMF great news on www.inter-bike.co.uk, click here.

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

The wait for the Ducat 848 is over!

Ducati UK have just announced that the Ducati 848 will be in Ducati UK dealerships this coming Saturday, the 1st December The stunning white coloured 848, boasts a power to weight ratio greater than even a 999. To read more details on www.inter-bike.co.uk, click here.










Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Polar Bear Grand Tour Visits the Hillbilly Hall

I awoke this morning to a 29 degree temperature on the thermometer outside my kitchen window. That was at 7:30 a.m. At 8 a.m. Jane and I were inside the local Old Country Buffet to have breakfast and participate in our Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) NJ Chapter F meeting. We are the treasurers of that group. Today we weren't on motorcycles. I couldn't put on a helmet because I've just had two surgeries to remove basal cell carcinomas, one at the top of my forehead at the hairline and the other just behind the top of my left ear. Wearing a helmet is impossible until healing takes place. That's why today was a series of motorcycle adventures without motorcycles.

After the chapter meeting we drove to Hopewell, NJ for the fifth run of the Polar Bear Grand Tour. History was not kind to Hopewell. It was in Hopewell in 1932 that the Lindbergh kidnapping case occurred. In fact, Lindbergh's mansion is just a few miles from the Hillybilly Hall where the Polar Bear Grand Tour met today.

It was a perfect winter day. Clear skies and brisk temperatures greeted the riders as a seemingly endless stream of motorcycles rode into Hopewell. I got there early today and recorded in pictures and videos what I saw. Take a look.

Motorcycle Santa Stories

I started writing these original stories of Motorcycle Santa in 2002. My wife, Jane, had a large collection of POSSIBLE DREAMS® Santas that had to do with motorcycles. They seem to come out with a few new ones every year so her collection grew correspondingly. I wrote a short fantasy children's story illustrated with pictures of these Santas. I have added a new story each year.

Here are the first five stories. A new one for 2007 will be out soon.

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Dragon Rider

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Web site. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Dragon Rider on his Honda Gold Wing.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

Australia's best motorcycle roads. G.A.R

The Great Alpine Road.Top to bottom the Great Alpine road starts more or less at Myrtleford and runs all the way to Bairnsdale. If your heading south from Sydney or Brisbane then you may arrive on to the road just south of Bright having traveled across the excellent Tawonga Gap road. The lead in roads from the north are the excellent Murray Valley highway and even better Murray River road after

Cutting corners

Hey - its a bike not a Hummer.Soap box time...Whats the go with riders cutting corners on mountain roads? I saw some guys doing this on weekend for no good reason that I could fathom and it reminded me of how often I have seen this of late. Perhaps its just laziness however my first thought whenever I see this is ' don't do that you idiot I don't want you to crash and take me with you' . If

Good motorcycle roads #40 - Tweed Valley, Nunderi.

Dodging rain clouds






First ride today since my tour. Forecast was morning showers clearing, well it was not raining in the morning thankfully to cancel the ride however the rain clouds circled the Gold Coast and northern NSW mountains all day and my ride partner and I had to alter our ride plans accordingly to avoid getting wet. Good thing we have developed some reasonable skills on reading

A green motorcycle!

Want a motorcycle that can comfortably exceed 150 MPG and even archive 200 MPG. Then read the new feature news article on www.inter-bik.co.uk, entitled "A green miracle!"

Read how Trevor Williams has built a diesel powered motorbike that will return amazing mileage from just one gallon of bio-diesel!

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Hot Sexy Stars on Motorcycles

Glam.com has an article and pictures about seven well-known stars of TV, music, and the movies who also ride motorcycles. They have some of my favorites including Vanessa Marcil of the TV show Las Vegas. Read the article and view the pictures. I blogged about this three months ago but many may not have seen it. I actually had forgotten that Vanessa was in this gallery and I just saw Keith Urban on Good Morning America today.

Stars have always ridden motorcycles. Check out my article, Famous Motorcyclists, for a few more riders who are not in the news anymore.

Do you know any other famous riders and what they ride? Tell us by leaving a comment, below.

2007 BMW R1200 RT road test

Hi inter-bikers


























I've just published a on www.inter-bike.co.uk our motorbike road test of BMW's tourer the R1200 RT.
Its available to read on inter-bike at http://www.inter-bike.co.uk/roadtest_arch.asp?id=53

Read why we think its "Not your average tourer"
Also we've loads of other great motorcycle road tests to read on the site.

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Veteran's Day on the Polar Bear Grand Tour

This morning I woke up and realized that I didn't have my flag out for Veteran's Day. It was about 38 degrees as I retrieved the flag from my foyer closet, made my way down the front sidewalk to my flagpole mount, and affixed it to the mount. We usually have the flag flying every day but had brought it inside a few weeks ago while heavy winds and rain were trying to rip it to shreds. Anyway, the flag is now flying.

This is also the day for the third run of the Polar Bear Grand Tour here in New Jersey. The run was to go to Old Bridge, NJ. This is a short run for us -- 38 miles round trip. It was a bit nippy -- 40 degrees -- as we got on our heated clothing and headed up to get gas. The trikes were near empty from the Polar Bear trip last week to Lewes, DE.

When we pulled into the Knights of Columbus in Old Bridge, we were greeted with a sea of motorcycles saturating the parking lot. There was even overflow into the grassy, weedy, and wooded areas that are usually frequented by wandering animals. Once inside, we encountered lines for check-in, the food area, and even the restrooms. When I see lines, I find something else to do until they disappear. I went outside and took pictures. You'll find the pictures and my captions on the Polar Bear Web site: Old Bridge Pictures

Next week the Polar Bear run is to Port Jervis, NY.

Picture © 2007 Walter Kern

World's Largest Motorcycle Must Be Seen to Be Believed

I just had to display this YouTube video that shows the World's Largest Motorcycle. I'm not sure why anyone would want to spend $300,000 to create it but this guy thought it worth his time, talent, and treasure to bring it to the world.

Falling Leaves and Motorcycles

I have a great view out the window where I work at home. It's my view on the world. This time of year, the view is pretty spectacular as the final leaves continue to fall. Today, the leaves were falling rapidly and piling up on the grass. I decided that I needed to do a little raking.

I went out to the garage where my two motorcycle trikes are parked and moved the car out so I could get at the electric leaf blower. I told myself that I needed to be careful how I handled the blower. Two years ago, I developed a severe case of arthritis right after I used the leaf blower to clear the front yard. I just over-exerted myself and developed shoulder, knee, and hip problems that caused me no end of grief for the next 18 months. I had only recently got back near normal and I didn't need a relapse.

I hooked everything up and started on the side yard. I grasped the blower with both hands keeping my arms close to my body so as not to put extra pressure on my arms. I had my ear plugs in that I use when I ride my trike. I blew the leaves out to the street and then started on the main yard where I can see the beautiful tree through my window.

I had noticed that the local leaf machine operated by the township was out and about and quite possibly might be by to pick up my leaves if I could get them all to the street. But, I was in no way going to push myself to get the leaves out to the street. I got about half of the remaining leaves to the street when I heard the machine approaching. Then it came into sight and started sucking up my leaves. Well, I still had lots more to do and if I missed getting them all picked up, well, the leaves would just have to wait at the curb until another day. Of course, it was also possible that the two workmen would show me some mercy and make another run around the block.

When they got to the end of my street, they turned around and came down the other side of my street and stopped in front of my beautiful tree. The driver headed across the street toward me and said, "I'd be glad to come back in 30 minutes and pickup the rest of your leaves if you'll show me your trike." That took me by surprise.

"Sure," I said. "You wanna do it now." Then the other workman came over and the three of us headed across the yard toward the garage.

The guy said, "I've seen that trike every year when I'm out on the leaf pickup runs, but this is the first time you had the garage door open so I could get a good look."

"Well, let me tell you all about my trike," I said. "Actually there are two trikes in there."

Thus began a 20 minute break for the two workers as we talked motorcycles. Turns out he had a bad motorcycle accident in 1993 and hadn't ridden since. He had thought about converting his bike to a trike though. I gave him my complete trike story. I think I got him interested in going back into motorcycling. He'll probably tell this story to his wife tonight and she'll try to discourage him. She's done it before, he said.

After he had looked over both my trikes and got all his questions answered, he and his buddy returned to the truck and headed off down the street. That was my cue to get back to leaf blowing and finish getting my remaining leaves out to the street. Just as I finished, he returned and removed the remaining leaves.

The leaves continue to fall outside my window. It takes awhile for the tree to drop all its beauty and then stand naked against the sky waiting for the snow to start falling. Meanwhile, I'm sure I'll be out there raking a few more times trying to stay ahead of the steady downpour of leaves.

Winter is coming. My tree's beauty is fading fast. But, my trikes will be getting used during the winter. The Polar Bear Grand Tour will take care of that. But, maybe the tree and the falling leaves have helped at least one motorcyclist to dream again of getting his own bike back on the road. The leaves have done their job.

Suzuki Recalls GS500 and GZ250 Motorcycles for Electrical Problem

Suzuki has issued a recall of certain 2004-2007 GS500 and 2002-2007 GZ250 motorcycles.

The rear reflex reflector on affected GS500 motorcycles and the rear and side reflex reflectors on affected GZ250 motorcycles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard No. 108, 'Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.' The reflex reflectors have a reflected light output at some measurement angles that is less than the minimum output required by the standard. It is possible that this could contribute to a motorist's not noticing the motorcycle in darkness, which may contribute to a crash.

28221 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Victory Recalls 2008 Vision Motorcycles for Electrical Problem

Victory has issued a recall of certain 2008 Vision motorcycles.

On certain motorcycles, the voltage regulator/rectifier assembly may have an overcharging condition. An overcharging situation in conjunction with the loose battery connection could cause a stalling condition. An unexpected loss of engine power could cause a loss of control of the motorcycle increasing the risk of a crash.

326 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Australia's best motorcycle roads. G.O.R

The Great Ocean RoadThis is Australia's most well known scenic drive and is a road every rider has probably thought about visiting at some point. I was told many times it was overrated but thats rubbish it is a superb road and wonderful ride On a fine day like I encountered the views are wonderful, something really uplifting.The road follows the ocean at first and later into the countryside a

First Yamaha Motorcycle 1955

The Yamaha YA-1 was the first Yamaha Motorcycle model ever produced. The 125cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, street bike had unique features including a cantilever seat, a plunger rear suspension system and a glove compartment in the fuel tank area.

In 1955 when Yamaha developed its first motorcycle, the Yamaha YA-1, there were about 150 motorcycle makers struggling to compete in Japan's young motorcycle industry, and Yamaha Motors was the last company to enter the fray. At this time, the company had 274 employees working in two single-story wooden buildings that served as factories where they produced about 200 motorcycles a month.

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First Yamaha Motorcycle 1955

The Yamaha YA-1 was the first Yamaha Motorcycle model ever produced. The 125cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, street bike had unique features including a cantilever seat, a plunger rear suspension system and a glove compartment in the fuel tank area.

In 1955 when Yamaha developed its first motorcycle, the Yamaha YA-1, there were about 150 motorcycle makers struggling to compete in Japan's young motorcycle industry, and Yamaha Motors was the last company to enter the fray. At this time, the company had 274 employees working in two single-story wooden buildings that served as factories where they produced about 200 motorcycles a month.

Australia's best motorcycle roads. The Oxley.

The Oxley HighwayUpdated and reposted 8 Nov 2007Start of the mountain eastern sideHigh countryI now have some new photos of the Oxley after my recent tour so I shall kick off my posts of the best bike roads in Australia with a refresh of this previous posting. This is now a post I can look back at and see photos of the last three motorbikes I owned.The sign is now gone but gingers creek

'07-'08 Polar Bear Grand Tour - Lewes, DE

Yesterday (Sunday) was the second run in the Polar Bear Grand Tour season. The motorcycle run was to Lewes, DE, the destination farthest south of all our runs. Since this is a long run, many riders choose to come down on Saturday and stay for the night. There was a large coastal storm sweeping up the east coast on Saturday. The storm had high winds but was located off-shore. Some riders normally staying overnight chose to cancel their Saturday plans and make the complete round-trip on Sunday. I was in that group.

Jane and I rode our trikes with some new Polar Bear riders from our local Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) Chapter NJ-F group. The run started at 8 a.m. with six bikes in the group and ended for us at 6 p.m. in the dark on the first day that Eastern Standard Time (EST) became effective for the winter. All our communication was via CB radio and our lead and drag riders kept the group together with a minimum of difficulties.

Pictures and descriptions for the Lewes run are located on the Polar Bear Grand Tour Web site. Take a look. The picture, above, shows a bike that was at Lewes and has many special features including footpegs made out of old pistons.

Motorcycle Trikes Becoming Popular

I've been riding a motorcycle trike for seven years. My wife got hers before I got mine. I wrote an article about her experience in getting her trike.

In the beginning there weren't too many of us out there and we got a lot of attention on the road, in parking lots, and especially at gas pumps. I even wrote an article with standard questions I get and my answers.

I also wrote a How To about learning to ride a trike.

Then I created a Trike Picture Gallery.

I spent yesterday on the road traveling to Lewes, DE for the second Polar Bear Grand Tour run. I'll be blogging about that later today. As usual, I was asked at every gas stop about the trike and heard the same questions again.

Today, I see that the Wall Street Journal has a piece about trikes and it has a few pictures too. It's called The Easier Rider: Baby Boom Bikers Defect to the Trike by Jonathan Welsh. Maybe we are becoming mainstream after all. Take a look.

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Cat Ballou and Ian

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Web site. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Cat Ballou on her Hyosung Aquila and Ian on his Road King Custom.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

Win free tickets to the 2007 International Motorcycle and Scooter Show at the Birmingham NEC

Just a quick blog to let you all know we're running a competition to win one of four pairs of free tickets to the UK's leading mortorcycle show the International Motorcycle and scooter Show which is at the Birmingham NEC from the 23rd November to the 2nd December.

All you have to do is answer one simple question, the online competition entry is on the inter-bike website at http://www.inter-bike.co.uk/comp261007.asp
(only open to UK residents aged 18 and above)

So what you waiting for, get you competition entry in now!


Ride Safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

See the International Motorcycle Scooter Show for free!

BEN, the automotive charity are looking for volunteers to help at the International Motor Cycle and Scooter Show at the Birmingham NEC from the 22 November – 2 December.

So if you want to do some good and get into the NEC Bike show for free, now's your chance. Full details of how to apply can be found on the press release published on www.inter-bike.co.uk at
http://www.inter-bike.co.uk/tblnewspop.asp?news=2071

Ride Safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Transportation Secretary, Mary Peters, Wants to Lower Motorcycle Deaths

Today, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters has announced new initiatives to support motorcyclists. Peters is, herself, a motorcyclist. According to USA TODAY, she has proposed a new plan that includes:

• Training. DOT will develop national standards for entry-level motorcycle riders to achieve what Peters calls "a baseline of competency."
• Enforcement. DOT will create a training program to teach police officers about specific efforts to reduce crashes.
• Education. Public Service Announcements will feature Peters on the importance of helmets and other protective gear. A "Share the Road" campaign will remind drivers to be alert for motorcyclists.

Check out the complete story and offer your comments on this new plan, below.

2007-2008 Polar Bear Grand Tour - Cape May, NJ

Here are some pictures from the first riding event of the Polar Bear Grand Tour for the 2007-2008 season, the run to Cape May, NJ on October 28, 2007. This event was just before Halloween and some rode down in costume.

Take a look at all the pictures I took, including two short videos.

My riding group encountered a very bad accident on the Garden State Parkway on the way down to Cape May. I believe it was just before the Toms River toll plaza. Traffic was halted in both directions of the Parkway while rescue helicopters landed and transported the injured. We were within 100 yards of the accident and many people got out of their cars and off their motorcycles to observe. I took a few pictures of that too.

Pictures of the Week - Cindy and Michael

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Web site. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Cindy on her Softail Deuce and Michael with his Road King Custom.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

100 Years of Harley-Davidson: A Picture Gallery

Harley-Davidson began selling motorcycles in 1903. In 2003, the Motor Company celebrated its 100th anniversary.

We present here a look at Harley-Davidson models over these 100 years as provided by visitors to the main Motorcycle Views site. A gallery called "100 Years of Harley-Davidson" is provided that gives a picture and description for each model year from 1903 to 2003.

Some years are vacant and await your submissions. Take a look.

47 Years of Harley-Davidson Sportster: A Picture Gallery

Harley-Davidson began selling motorcycles in 1903. In 1957, Harley-Davidson introduced the Sportster. It has continued in production ever since.

We present here a look at Harley-Davidson Sportster models from the first model in 1957 to the present as provided in pictures submitted by visitors to the Motorcycle Views Web site. A gallery called 47 Years of Sportster is provided that gives a picture and description for each model year from 1957 to 2003.

The gallery is not complete. If you own a Sportster, consider sending a picture and description of it to be considered for inclusion in the gallery.

Australian motorcycle tour - review.

Revised 24.10.2007Wow what a road trip!Back home after my sometimes challenging but enjoyable motorcycle tour. The weather and a lack of cold or wet weather experience on my part tested me on a few occasions however I overcame a number of difficulties to complete the trip and am very glad I gave it a go.This is a report on the ride, the road reviews will follow, but I have included a preview

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - CC Rider and Vicki Gray

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Web site. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See CC Rider on his Triumph Bonneville and Vicki Gray on her Ducati 1098S.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

Kawasaki Issues Recall of KL650 Models for Loose Muffler Bolts

Kawasaki has issued a recall of certain 2002-2007 KL650A and 2008 KL650E motorcycles.

On certain motorcycles, insufficient tightening of the muffler mounting bolts could allow the bolts to loosen. If the bolts loosen completely, it is possible for the muffler to separate from the motorcycle and create the potential for a crash.

33365 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Ducati Recalls 2007 Monster S4RS for Cooling Defect

Ducati has issued a recall of certain 2007 Monster S4RS motorcycles.

On certain motorcycles, the water impeller does not turn due to the installation of an incorrect layshaft. Improper operation of the water pump could occur causing overheating of the engine components and possibly engine seizure. If the engine stopped while the motorcycle was being driven, it could increase the risk of a crash.

Only eight (8) units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Women Riders Video

Here's a great visual and musical video called SHOCKING BLUE -HARLEY DAVIDSON/ GET IT ON (69/75). It's all about women on motorcycles. Not to be missed. (See other videos by the same author and read some details about the content of this video by clicking here.)

Be sure to also check out my own Women Riders subject that includes a Women on Motorcycles Picture Gallery.

Ducati Recalls 2008 Hypermotard for Electrical Problem

Ducati has issued a recall of certain 2008 Hypermotard motorcycles.

On certain motorcycles, the battery can move side to side inside the fuel tank mounting compartment. This movement could result in main wiring harness damage at the battery terminal. This condition could cause an electrical short consequently stopping the engine. If the engine stops while the motorcycle is being driven, it could increase the risk of a crash.

385 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Vintage, Antique, and Classic Motorcycle Pictures

The Motorcycle Views main site has created many galleries of motorcycle pictures. I'll be discussing a few of these over the next few days. To start off, I'll show you the Vintage, Antique, and Classic Motorcycles gallery.

This gallery contains pictures and descriptions of motorcycles manufactured up to and including 1953. Thus, all motorcycles in the gallery will be at least 50 years old.

I'm lumping antique, vintage, and classic motorcycles into this group without regard to the special distinctions that many people may have on what an antique, vintage, or classic motorcycle is. To me, it's any bike more than 50 years old. Add your own comments on the distinctions among these three classes, below.

The picture shown above is a 1929 BMW R63.

Take a look at Vintage, Antique, and Classic Motorcycles.

New Triumph Rocket III Touring

Yesterday Triumph motorcycles announced the launch of a touring variant of the highly successful, Triumph Rocket, the Triumph Rocket III Touring. Read the full details of this iconic new Triumph Rocket on www.inter-bike.co.uk by clicking here.




Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Pocket Rocket!

Just published a great new motorcycling article on www.inter-bike.co.uk by journalist Tammy Milsom all about the "Pocket Rocket" who is Sammi Tee. Young Sammi is a Scottish Moto-X champion and the 2004 Scottish mini-moto champion. Read all about this young motorcycle champion by clicking here.

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Demystify Motorcycle Specification Terms

On my old forum, people would constantly ask for the definitions of motorcycle terms used in typical motorcycle specifications found on the Internet and in motorcycle magazines. These were usually newbies but not always.

I decided to prepare a set of definitions that could be used by almost anyone to help decipher motorcycle specs.

These definitions of terms should be easier to understand by riders who would rather ride than learn the technical complexities of their machines. Bear in mind that whole books could be written about each term. We are only touching the basics.

Check out my Motorcycle Specifications - Definitions of Terms as contained on my Motorcycle Views Web site.

Go Daddy Founder Saved by Proper Riding Apparel

Somewhat old story but I just saw it. Bob Parsons, founder of Go Daddy, relates his recent experience riding his Ducati when he was forced to severely brake and went down. He attributes his minimal injuries to ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time). Read his account from his own Web site.

Also, be sure to read my Basic Gear for a Motorcycle Beginner for more information.

Motorcycle Road Tests Index

I just added 13 motorcycle road test entries to my Motorcycle Road Tests Index.

These give information about where you can find the actual motorcycle road tests in the major motorcycle magazines. Also given are links to online motorcycle road tests.

Check out the following links, just added:

2008 Models: H-D Rocker C, Kawasaki Concours 14 ABS, and Kawasaki KLR650

2007 Models: Benelli TnT 1130, BMW F800ST, Ducati 1098S, Ducati Multistrada 1100S, Kawasaki Z1000, KTM 450 EXC, Kymco Xciting 500, Moto Guzzi Norge 1200, Suzuki Bandit 1250S ABS, and Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Lots of Motorcycle News!

Yesterday (10th October 200&) seemed to be a big day for motorcycling news.



Firstly Fowlers Honda of Bristol announced they have have commissioned ten limited edition replicas of John McGuinness' Honda Fireblade to commemorate his record-breaking win at the 100th Isle Of Man TT races. More info and how you can buy one is on www.inter-bike.co.uk by clicking here.



Ducati have announded that the stunning MotoGP replica race bike the Ducati Desmosedici RR production run will be limited to 1500 units. Read more from Ducati about this on www.inter-bike.co.uk by clicking here.





Aprilia UK have announced that there interesting new model the the Aprilia SL750 Shiver is now for sale in Aprilia dealer showrooms. To find out more about this new Aprilia model on www.inter-bike.co.uk, click here.

BMW Recalls 2005-2007 K1200R Sport Motorcycles for Front Brake Problem

BMW has issued a recall of certain 2005-2007 K1200R Sport motorcycles.

On certain motorcycles, during long periods of riding at sustained high engine RPM, vibration within the brake fluid reservoir can cause the brake fluid to foam. This could allow air to enter the front brake system which could lead to a loss of front braking efficiency. Air in the brake system can lead to a loss of braking capability, increasing the risk of a crash.

510 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Fastest, lightest, most advanced BMW Boxer of all time

As an ardent fan of the BMW Boxer engine I was delighted to read BMW Motorrad's recent press release that the new BMW HP2 Sport motorcycle will be available to buy in the UK from spring 2008.

This will be BMW's sportiest boxer engined motorcycle to date, boasting a power output of 128HP with a bike weight of only 178kg. You can read all the rest of the details of this milestone boxer engined BMW motorcycle by reading the full press release on www.inter-bike.co.uk by clicking here.

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

20 short rides

Revised 11.05.2008There are many short side roads I use that do not warrant a post of their own. I shall mention the ones that I feel may be of some interest to riders having nice curves or other features and repost this as it grows.Edit: Now retitled 20 short rides as this post has altered from listing a few side roads or short cuts to include many short rides that can be added on.NorthMountain

How to Start and Move a Motorcycle

Beginners can start and move a motorcycle.

This feature gives descriptions and pictures of the steps required to move a motorcycle or start a motorcycle. I'm not talking about shipping a motorcycle. I'm talking about simply moving a motorcycle a short distance. An example might be a case where the rider of a bike has parked it in the garage amidst considerable adjoining boxes, crates, ladders, and other accumulated stuff that might be contained in a garage. Let's say the rider is out of town or even serving in the armed forces and the spouse needs to move the motorcycle to complete a repair to the house. The rider cannot be reached. The job must be done. What is the spouse to do?

Another case might be a new rider who has just purchased a motorcycle and wants to get to know the motorcycle better. Now, bear in mind that I highly recommend that such a rider enroll in a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) course and learn the fundamentals the correct way. That's certainly the way I learned, but I did have my own motorcycle at the time which I did not know how to ride. I also wanted to get to know the motorcycle better before I took the course. I had all the basic questions all newbie riders have. I wanted to know how to start the motorcycle, get it in gear, and ride short distances in first or second gear -- at least to the end of my driveway and back.

This article gives you a 10-step procedure to move a motorcycle without the need to start it. The article also gives you a 10-step procedure to move a motorcycle by pressing the start button, putting it in gear, and moving it under its own power.

Remember at all times that a motorcycle is a machine that responds quickly to human commands made by the hands or the feet. You should learn basic operations slowly and safely. These are best left to the experts as they teach you in the MSF course.

Steps given here are done at your own risk. There is always the chance that the motorcycle will fall over or you will not be able to control it.

10-Step Procedure to Move a Motorcycle By Starting It and Putting It In Gear

10-Step Procedure to Move a Motorcycle Without Starting It

KYMCO KR Sport 125 road test

Have just published on www.inter-bike.co.uk my road test of the KYMCO KR Sport 125 and what a cracking road legal learner motorcycle this is. Read my test to see why this motorbike thinks its a supersports!

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Husqvarna Motorcycles now owned by BMW Motorrad

BMW Motorrad announced yesterday that their takeover of Husqvarna Motorcycles is now complete. Read their full press release on www.inter-bike.co.uk by clicking here.

With BMW Motorrad appointing thier own mangement to key positions in Husqvarna it will be interesting to see where they take this long established motorcycle brand?






Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Honda Takes Steps to Provide an Automatic Transmission for Motorcycles

Honda Motor Co., Ltd, Japan, has unveiled a new automatic transmission, the Human-Friendly Transmission (HFT), a new automatic transmission system for motorcycles using Honda’s own infinitely variable hydraulic mechanical transmission.

Motorcyclists have ridden with standard transmissions for over 100 years. Although there have been some automatics along the way, they never proved popular with riders who want to make their own gear changes. Scooters come with automatics and they seem to be popular with some riders.

Could this be the next big breakthrough in motorcycling? Read this news release from Honda for all the details.

More great motorcycle book reviews!

Just a quick blog entry to let you all know, I've just added four more great motorcycle book reviews all by Ian Kerr on www.inter-bike.co.uk today. Ian has reviewed the following books:-


The Laverda Twins and Triples Bible by Ian Fallon



Moto Guzzi Sports and Le Mans Bible by Ian Fallon


TT in Camera by Don Morley



The Official TT Review edited by Gary Pinchin



Hope you enjoy reading Ian's reviews.

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/