Quality Time

I think I may be about to say something a little more off-kilter than usual: spending some quality time in the parking lot with your bike can sometimes be more fun than hitting the twisties.

I know, I know, you're just going in circles and not getting anywhere. But, you are getting in some valuable practice and honing those skills in an environment you are less likely to run into anything unpleasant. Though we did see a few deer running around the lot. Obviously, the first order of business is to find an empty lot to play in. One the local wildlife (deer or neighbors) won't bother you in. My wife and I chose the Law School parking lot. She got her Buell out while I played with my camera. Here is the fruit of our labor (and my unsolicited tips).

On a hot day, take a break and relax a little, just like you would on a distance ride.

Just because you're in an empty lot doesn't mean you should skimp on your gear. Besides, you needed to ride it there, right?

Remember, when turning: look where you want to go.

And I do mean Look.

Finally, throw in a few quick stops. Especially if you're headed at your photographer.

I think that's it for now. Get out and ride. Have fun, in a parking lot or on the road, just stay smart about it.

Domestic Production

Probably most people, when you mention American motorcycles, think of Harley-Davidson or perhaps Victory and Indian (both owned by Polaris) as the only domestic manufacturers of motorcycles. Sure there are the custom builders popularized by the chopper craze over the last decade or so, such as Orange County Choppers and West Coast Choppers, and we'll toss the now defunct Big Dog in with that pile.

But if I ask you to name American sport bike builders, who comes to mind? No one major since the demise of H-D backed Buell, I'm sure. There are a couple of electric manufacturers, Motoczysz, Zero, and the like. Then there are just a handful of dino powered bikes, most of which are way beyond what I could afford, Roehr, Motus, Erik Buell Racing, and one that I can afford (and would love to have), Fischer.

I'm sure I'm leaving some out, but it looks like there is still room for anyone who wants to build a sporty, smaller displacement, motorcycle. So, if I were to ask what features a small displacement sport-tourer should have, what would you want?

After-market Modification

I looked at the Blast earlier this week and noticed something; the exhaust is starting to rust. The all steel construction of the system and the lack of a garage to protect it from the elements will do that. Seems like I now have a savings goal: a new after-market can for the bike. Too bad the two brands I would like to see put on it also add 5-10 HP. Oops.

Whenever it gets done (in the next 5 years, or so) I'll post up more about it.

Motorcycle History

So, I ran across an April Fools Day prank post today. It was good job of writing up a fake press release regarding a Harley/BMW merger deal. The references in it to developing a Road King with a Boxer motor reminded me that H-D once did make a bike with an opposed twin engine. The XA, produced for use during WWII. For you viewing pleasure, I have found a photo of the engine (courtesy of Wikipedia, hopefully they'll let me hotlink it.).

Scorpion EXO-700

So, as I said earlier, I have a new helmet. Yes, that is present tense; as in, it has arrived. This makes me happy.

The new helmet is a Scorpion EXO-700. The big brother, as it were, to the last two helmets I've used (EXO-400). Two things I noticed right out of the box. First, the vents are much easier to figure out than the ones on the -400 series.

As you can see, the vents are intuitive. They slide straight back to open and are well sized to easily operate while wearing gloves. From the looks of them, they will also let a fair amount of air through when I need them to. This assessment is not only from my impression, but also from my wife's experience with her -700.

The second thing I noticed about the helmet, as compared to the -400 series, is that the shell size and shape is slightly different. This means that a large in the -400s fits a little differently than a large in the -700s. The -700 is a tad bit wider in the cheeks and just a little shorter in the front to back distance. This will break in some, but it may also mean that this version won't be as comfortable for long hauls as my last helmet. Time will tell.

All in all, I'm still pleased with my choice, despite the difference in fit. I sometimes feel like a Scorpion salesman, what with the number of their products we own. But, it speaks well for the quality that we keep coming back to them. The only one of their products we weren't happy with were the gloves. Joe Rocket just makes ones both my wife and I find more comfortable. I hope to never test the integrity of this helmet the way I did the last one, but I'm happy to keep supporting the company.

One final shot, of the helmet's graphics, and I'll sign off.

P.S. I'm still working on the history of helmet technology, so stay tuned.

Forthcoming subject matter...

I don't have a full post, but I do want to let readers know of the few things I have rattling around in my brain, waiting to be written.

First, I have a new helmet on the way, a Scorpion EXO-700. Once that gets here I'll put up a quick post giving my initial impressions, to be followed by a longer review when I have the chance to try it on the bike. This is my third Scorpion helmet, but the two prior were -400s, so there are a few differences.

Second, in honor of getting a new helmet, I'm working on researching the origin and development of motorcycle helmets. A quick Google search has left me with a bunch of articles about the use of helmets, but no real information. (Short aside, law school has ruined my ability to read and accept statistics at face value. For example, motorcycle fatalities have decreased since 1973 while helmet laws have increased. What possible reasons for this correlation exist?)

Until my review and the history of helmets are completed, I leave you with the question: what state instituted the first mandatory helmet law in the US? (Answer in the comments.)

Vanity Plates

Vanity plates seem to be quite common here in Virginia and, while at Wal-Mart this morning, I saw one on an RX-7 that amused me. It read "INITAL D". For those of you who follow anime, you may recognize an abbreviation of the show title Initial D. A show about racing cars through the mountains of Japan in rather reckless manners. I wonder if the plate just denotes a fan or if the driver is trying to be self-descriptive? At any rate, that could be one more thing for wary motorcyclists to keep an eye out for to clue them in on driver antics.