My Leathers - A Bikers Poem

My Leathers

My leathers have been with me since I started motorcycling,

I tend to wear them whenever I’m riding.

They are faded from the elements, stretched and saggy from use,

but they still keep me from taking abuse.

My leathers bare the scars, scrapes and abrasions from a few slips and some spills,

and my leathers still keep me warm from those morning chills.

Despite them being my body guard we have become old friends,

going on long rides together taking on hills, valleys and bends.

My leathers have sheltered me from the rain and from the fog,

they even have blocked the bite of an angry dog.

They have protected me from flying rocks and from bugs,

and have been on the receiving end of many hugs.

My leathers have shaded me from the blistering sun,

on a long, dry and hot Texas run.

Over time they have become supple and comfortable like a well broken in boot,

as a bonus, there’s a place for my gun in case I need to shoot.

My leathers are getting old, wrinkly and are slightly tattered,

but they continue to protect me from getting battered.

They have screened me from the wind,

and they will stay with me to the end.

But at the end of this long ride,

it’s not just a cows hide,

It’s my skin.

© 2012 - Torch

Ride on,

Torch

Bates Boots Revisited

Bates Boots Revisited

I wrote a review in June of "09 of Bates E02264 5" Defender Tactical Boots. Well they have served me well for quite some time and as many miles at work, and for riding. I finally wore the tread just about clean off of them. They are a little worse for wear but the zippers and everything have held up just fine. So fine, in fact, that I went out looking for a new pair. Here are some photos of the worn out boots:

I could not fine the same model at the local Academy Sports & Outdoors around my area. So, last month, I went with the Bates Men's 8" Tactical Sport Side Zip Boot. They are a little taller and don't have the composite toe protector, but have all the same features:

So far, the new pair have been holding up just fine. Some of the best features of these boots are that they  increase your machismo and sex appeal. They also have fantastic traction. The best feature, however, is their easy on and off with the side zipper. These Bates boots definitely was made for ridin'!

Ride on,

Torch

BikersExpressway.com

MeanStreet Riders

You have probably already read several motorcycle blogs talking about the MeanStreet Riders. Yes, there is a new band two wheelin’ onto the music scene and their making sparks and soon to be rising up the charts. The MeanStreet Riders, whose members are made up of motorcycle riders, enjoy making music about all aspects of riding.

MeanStreet Mary, the bands Social Media Publicist, contacted me and asked if I would be interested in listening to a pre-release demo of their up and coming new album being released June first. I love music so I jumped at the opportunity. The CD arrived in the mail in a few days.

You can read how the band was formed and their bios on their websites see the links at the end of this article. I would like to take the time here to talk about their music.

You cannot pigeonhole there music into one safe genre or make a comparison to one other single popular band. The closest I could come up with to maybe compare them to would be the Eagles.  Some of the songs have a definite Classic Rock style & sound and others have a more Modern Country or Americana type sound. You can hear all kinds of instruments in the MeanStreet Riders music from electric guitars to banjo. The vocals are solid with lots of harmony.

It’s hard to put the feelings of riding into words, let alone song, but the MeanStreet Riders manage to pull it off.  The first song on the CD, High on the Hog, starts off with a Classic Rock style guitar riff that propels the song to the finish like a hard twist of the throttle. I’m reminded of .38 Special while listening to the lyrics about living the good life and enjoying life and friends as well as the ride to the fullest. The song ends with a snort that left me laughing.

The MeanStreet Riders second song, Kiss it all Goodbye, is my favorite. It has a real catchy chorus and I found myself humming it later on my ride down to Bikers Bay to get the state inspection done on my bike. They have managed to bottle the feelings and emotions of wanting to leave your troubles behind and just ride. You know the feeling. Like when you are on your commute to work on a beautiful day and when you are getting closer to your exit you just want to hit the throttle and drive on by and keep on going. Maybe one of these days….

The third track, 129, is about hitting the road and seeking out the twisties while leaving your troubles and cares behind. It has another addictive chorus and is specifically about Deals Gap, a section of US129 in Tennessee nicknamed the Dragons Tail. You may not have three hundred and eighteen curves in eleven miles near your house but listening to this song definitely catches the spirit of riding the curves, draggin’ the pegs and pushing the limits. There are no chicken strips on this tune.

I’ve had a good ride, track number four, captures the mood of riders everywhere after the ride is over and the kickstand is put down. It ain’t all about if you get their fast, the lyric sys it all. The song itself is not slow by any means but the inclusion of the banjo almost gives the illusion of a lazy day ride out in the country. At the conclusion of every ride I hope everyone can say, “I’ve had a good ride.”

Track five, Rollin’ On, slows down the pace a little. Rollin’ on stats off on a relaxed note with Kansas (the band) like violins and Indians chanting hauntingly. The vocal and musical harmonies seem the blend together nicely on this tune. There is something also real earthy about the sound of a guitar players fingers sliding down an acoustic guitars strings. This song is also about leaving behind your troubles and pain and rolling down the open road to clear your mind.

A Modern Country hit is what track six sounds like. Titled Where I was Born, it reminded me a little of Keith Urban. It’s all about exploring the country side freely on two wheels remembering the past and proclaiming allegiance to your roots. Musically it is very polished and sounds great like the lope of a fine v-twin.

Picking up the pace a little, Livin’ it Up is track seven on the up and coming CD by MeanStreet Riders.  With some smooth guitar and the addition of some brass and some synth, this song has a unique sound all its own.  The dreamy lyrics are about several different riders and rides and living it up.

Number eight, Long Road of Love, is a slow melodic love song. The love of the road can be compared to the love of a woman.  Fun, exciting, thrilling, mysterious, curvy, and dangerous can be used to describe both. If you love the road and have another companion in your life that you love, you will enjoy this song.

Eye of the Hurricane is a number nine on the demo CD.  It is about the love of speed and the consequences and dangers of the addiction. When life is in turmoil all around, you can find peace at speed on your bike, in the eye of the hurricane. The driving guitar chords mates well with the driving lyrics of the song carrying the listener to the somber story ending.

The last song on the MeanStreet Riders CD is the rocking Souls of Chrome. It’s about the long road of life and the fact that even when alone you are not by yourself. On the open road you are surrounded by the ones who have gone before you. This song has a driving drum beat and cool guitar licks with some nice vocal harmony thrown in for good measure. This tune is definitely one you will have to keep an eye on your speedometer when listening to it.   

MeanStreet Riders music is made by riders, is all about riding, for riders to enjoy. However, you don’t have to be a biker or even a motorcycle rider to enjoy the sounds of the MeanStreet Riders. There is a good musical mix on the demo CD with something for every musical taste. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for some new and interesting music to listen too. So, don’t walk, don’t run, ride out and get your own copy on the first.

Links:

http://www.meanstreetriders.com/index.html

http://meanstreetriders.wordpress.com/

http://meanstreetriders.wordpress.com/

http://www.myspace.com/meanstreetriders

http://airplaydirect.com/music/meanstreetriders/

Ride on,

Torch

Back in the Saddle Again !

Finished Getting Mistress put back together enough to ride today! It's been waaaay too long. Took her down to Bikers Bay in Bedford to get her Texas State Inspection back up to date, it was several months out. Inspection complete I took her for a real short jaunt on the freeway to make sure she was running alright. Got back and still had some minor adjustments to take care of.

I had to adjust the clutch lever back to its correct position and angle. Then tightened up and set the left rear-view mirror. Lastly, I tightened all the saddle bag bolts because one was real loose. Then I gave her a bath.

Now all is ready to start commuting to work again. Next I need to replace the damaged leather bags with some hard bags.....

Ride on,
Torch

Motorcycle Parking Lot Dangers

Motorcycle Parking Lot Dangers

I’m beginning to think that parking lots are just as dangerous, if not more so, than riding on streets or freeways. No, I have not been involved in any parking lot skirmishes, but I have seen the aftermath of several automobile parking lot crashes recently. So, when you turn off the main drag don’t relax and let your guard down. I think there are more dangers per foot in a parking lot than on the main road.

For one you have a lot of vehicles that have to be backed out of parking spots and a lot of them will be doing so blindly. It’s not that they just don’t see you like when riding in traffic, it’s that they can’t see you at all. Maybe those loud pipes will come in handy here. Parking lots can be more populated than streets or freeways. So, you have to be on your toes and proceed cautiously all the while being prepared to come to a sudden stop. Also, drivers tend to use their turn signals even less in parking lots than on the main roads.

Yes, you are (hopefully) slowing down but that also brings on its own stability issues you don’t have at higher speeds, losing the motorcycles gyroscopic stability. Slow speed maneuvering is an art form in of itself and is a skill if you are not proficient at I recommend hitting some empty parking lots and practicing before venturing out onto public bumper car lots. There are several good motorcycle books and DVD’s out on this very subject.

Another problem to watch out for is vehicles cutting across the lot and not in the designated driving lanes, trying to beat someone to a cherry parking spot. This happens even on empty parking lots with vehicles driving through the parking spaces.

Crowded parking lots also present the problem with pedestrians, especially small children, stepping out from between parked cars right in front of you. Shopping carts can come from anywhere as well. Trash and debris such as glass and cans are hazards that can also be found strewn haphazardly around parking lots.

So, the next time your turn into a parking lot, don’t start to relax. It’s not the time to put your head in stand down mode, on the contrary, it is time to be more on the alert and put those slow speed parking lot maneuvers that you have practiced to use. Ride safe.

Ride on,
Torch

Riding in the Rain

Riding in the Rain

For the ease of writing this blog post I will refer to anyone who pilots a motorized two or three wheeled vehicle as a “rider”. This will include; scooterists, bikers, motorcyclists, motorcyclists with sidecars, trikes or three wheelers such as the Can-Am Spyder. If I left anyone out I apologize in advance. We all ride, so I group us all together as riders.

I have been commuting by motorcycle now for a couple of years and have noticed some interesting trends. One of these is that a lot of riders are fair weather riders. Don’t get me wrong, I am not bringing this up to tease or condemn you. I am just stating what I have observed commuting every day.

When it is freezing cold outside I usually do not see other riders on the road to wave or nod to. I remember one Saturday that I had to work last winter when it was 15 degrees out, (cold for us Texans) and I did not see one other idiot, I mean rider, out on the road. However, the first day of fair warm weather of Spring I see riders out everywhere and I wonder, where have they all been? It gets lonely out on the road by myself; get some cold weather gear riders.

The fact is I miss you all when you are not out there. I think the cagers miss them too and because of this they tend to start to forget that we are out there at all. This lethargic attitude is not good for us. I would much prefer cagers to always be on the alert for us riders.

It seems that only a very few riders like to ride when it is wet out or raining. I feel there are several reasons for this. One of these reasons is that they are not prepared to ride in the rain. They may not have rain gear which includes waterproof; jacket and pants or a one piece, anti-fog spray, boots, gloves, waterproof storage for other items, and a full-face helmet. Bright and reflective gear also helps visibility so people can spot you. Honestly, good gear is hard to come by and you tend to get what you pay for.

Another reason is that they may not be confident enough in their riding skills or in the capabilities of the machine on which they ride. When I took the MSF Basic Riding Course most of the riding part of the course was in the rain. I was a new rider, still am really, and one of the most memorable things I learned was just how amazing the motorcycles could grip the road surface leaning for turns, taking off, and when braking. That really bolstered my confidence in what motorcycles could do. I am still learning and I know the bike can handle a lot more than I am capable to do as a rider.

Still, one of the most common responses I get when asking fellow riders why they did not ride when it is wet out is that it is too slippery. I disagree, there may be less traction, but it is not too slippery to ride. Ever watch a MotoGP, AMA Superbike, World Superbike or similar race being run in the rain?

Another excuse I hear a lot is that, “I just washed my bike.” So let me go ahead and say this, a clean bike is not a ridden bike. There, I said it. Now I have an excuse for my Mistress not always looking like a Garage Queen. I feel much better now, thank you.

Here is some wet weather riding tips:

• Remember that it is going to be slicker when it first starts to rain, especially if it has not rained in a while.

• Avoid the center section of the road where most of the oil leaks are going to wind up.

• Watch out for road snakes, metal grates or covers, and painted lines or road markings because they are all slick when wet.

• Plan ahead where you are going to plant your feet, they can slip too.

• Try not to make any sudden moves taking off, stopping or turning.

•  Stay prepared and brace for strong wind gusts.

• Leave more of a buffer space when traveling behind other vehicles.

• Watch out for the spray from larger vehicles which can cause your vision to temporarily go away.

• Wait for any lightning to pass.

• Find cover if you encounter hail.

• Pay even more attention to what is going on around you.

•  Do not outride the view of the road in the rain; it is just like out-riding your headlamps at night.

• Lastly, and most importantly, just slow down!

How does one get proficient at riding in the rain any way? Get the gear and get out and practice. Yes, it is a little more slippery and you just have to adjust how you ride for it. Yes, it is more inconvenient, but the ride is always worth it. The sky is crying so I’ve got to go. See you out there. Have a safe Fourth of July and Happy Birthday America.

Ride on,
Torch