Rant Archive - August 2007

August 26, 2007 - A RIDE JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT

It was only 92 degrees...woohoo! And the sunset was beautiful.

It has been so hot in Middle Tennessee this August that even the die-hard riders are not getting out all that much. I participated in a group ride last Saturday but other than that most of my riding has been limited to the commute to the office and back… which has been interesting. I'm good in the mornings but the ride home in the afternoons has been brutal. I've been commuting on the SV since I got it and when I ride the SV, I wear a full-face helmet and armor-wear jacket. As you can imagine, those two things don't mix well with 100+ temperatures and I have been pretty fried by the time I get home.

But this evening we had a little "cold spell" (yeah right) and when temps dropped to the lower 90s, I had to get out and take a ride, just for the fun of it… and it felt great, both emotionally and physically. The backroad twisties cleared my mind and satisfied my riding addiction (for now anyway) and I accomplished it without melting away! It was awesome, and of course, I got a couple of pics.

Nothing like a few twisties to clear your mind!

For those who are interested… here's a look at what we have been enduring here in Nashville this month:

• 32 consecutive days of at least 90 degrees, breaking the record of 31 set in 1952.

• 24 straight 95 or more degree days.

• Average temperature over the last 32 days has been 98.2 degrees.

• 15 days of triple digit readings.

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August 23, 2007 - BY NOW I HAD HOPED TO ENTER A RACE OR TWO

Lately it seems like time is getting away from me. I am so busy that a lot of the things I have intended to get done have fallen through the cracks. And some of them are pretty important things too... others are just things I want to do... like off-road riding. By now I had hoped to have ridden enough laps at the local track to be ready to enter a race or two. But, the fact is I haven't been on the CR since May, the day the picture above was taken. Now obviously I am not going to get my "race legs" underneath me when it is three months between rides, and I am pretty bummed about my lack of progress.

Part of the problem is that the weather here in the mid-south has been unbearably hot... but honestly I just have not had all that much time to load up and head for the hills. Today I am resolving however that things are going to change. The hot weather has got to break soon and I am going to MAKE time to get some riding in at least once a month. Maybe I can be ready for the old-timers (40+) indoor races that are coming up in January.

BTW... I added a hat to my collection today. My dad gave me this one as a gift and I'm now up to 14 hats.

CLICK HERE to check out my "growing-at-a-turtle-pace" collection.

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August 17, 2007 - THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 2007

The September 2007 issue of Thunder Roads Magazine will be on the shelf in just a few days. My column this month reflects on a childhood motorcycle memory of mine... I won't spoil it for you here... pick up a free copy of Thunder Roads Tennessee at just about any bike shop in the state or... my out of state friends can grab it on-line in .pdf format HERE.

But the question of the day is... Can you believe it's almost September?

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August  13, 2007 - COMPARING THE SV650S TO THE SV650

Well, I've had the SV650S for two weeks now (see my RANT from July 29th) and so far, so good. After putting over 500 miles on it and using it for everything from commuting to leading a group ride, I've come to the conclusion that I really like it and feel like it is exactly what I needed. If you happen to be in the market for a middle-weight, I would highly recommend that you check out the SV. It's just a nice little all-around bike that covers a pretty wide spectrum of riding needs.

Also, you may not know it but the SV comes in the "S" version like mine as well as a "Non S, Naked" version that doesn't have the faring and offers a more upright riding position. As it happens, I had the opportunity to test ride the 2007 Naked version pictured here on Saturday. I was curious to see how it felt compared to my "S" model and was particularly interested in checking out the ergonomics and overall riding comfort.

Now, I know that nobody is going to believe me... but after riding the "Naked" version with the more upright riding position, I believe that the "S" version, though it looks like it would be a lot less comfortable, is indeed more natural and easier on the back. No joke... in a short 10 minute ride on the "Naked" version I could already feel it in my upper back and my arms started to go numb. Neither of these things have happed on my "S" in two weeks!

The only thing I can figure is that the more bent over position is actually a more natural position to ride in. Hard to believe I know but go check it out for yourself and you'll see what I mean. One thing I did really like about the 2007 was the instrument cluster. I've included a pic here for you to check out. I love the digital Speedo that includes a clock! Why don't more manufactures include a clock?

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August  8, 2007 - "HOT ROD" A MOVIE REVIEW

Every time a movie comes out that has anything to do with motorcycles, of course, I have to see it. So in keeping with tradition, last night a friend and I made our way to the local Theatre to check out Hot Rod (PG-13).

The movie stars Andy Samberg as the "goofy" yet likeable Rod Kimble who fancies himself a stuntman. The bad news is that Rod is a really bad stuntman and often ends up hurt and/or embarrassed. With a crew of misfits at his side, Rod presses on in his effort to become the great stuntman he knows he can be… in hopes to make his late father proud and to hopefully gain the respect of his step-father. In an unexpected turn, Rod's step-father is diagnosed with a heart problem so Rod takes it upon himself to raise the $50,000 needed for a transplant by selling tickets to his greatest stunt to date… a motorcycle jump over 15 school busses. I won't spoil it for you but I'm sure you can guess how it comes out.

The cast works well together and the characters are developed nicely. Rod's bumbling crew members are likeable as well and the terminally cute Isla Fisher brings some sanity to the otherwise "goof-ball" cast as Rod's muse, Denise. And… in a "what the heck is she doing here" move, Sissy Spacek plays the role of Rod's mother.

If I had to sum up the movie in one word it would probably be…"goofy". Chocked full of stupid-humor, Executive Producer Will Ferrel and Producer Lorne Michaels give the movie a definite Saturday Night Live Skit vibe and one can't help but be reminded of 2004's Napoleon Dynamite throughout. It's really stupid… but that's what makes it funny… and like Napoleon, despite poor reviews, this movie is probably destined to become a cult classic.

As for the motorcycle part… well, let's just say there is a definite motorcycle presence but don't see this movie expecting a motorcycle movie. The bottom line is… it's a wacky kind of funny movie that a lot of people won't get but the cult few will be talking about Hot Rod for years to come and wearing it out on DVD.

Oh… and for you music freaks like me out there...the soundtrack composer is none other than guitarist Trevor Rabin of YES fame.

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August  4, 2007 - YOU GIVE AWAY A FATBOY, THAT'S HOW!

Question: How do you draw hundreds of bikers to your dealership on a rainy Saturday afternoon?
Answer: You give away a FatBoy, that's how!

Bumpus Harley-Davidson, one of our local Harley dealers here in Middle Tennessee celebrated their ten-year anniversary this weekend and they did it in style. There were live bands, free food, super-deals and... the BIGGIE... the give-away of a brand new FatBoy! You had to be present to win so as you can imagine, turn out was massive. Despite pretty crummy weather conditions, there were at least 1,000 bikes there and shoulder-to-shoulder people all over the dealership, inside and out. I didn't win... but it was a lot of fun and a nice event by one of Middle Tennessee's finest H-D dealers.

CLICK HERE for a few pics of the event.

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