Motorcyclists Corner.....

[Fozzer]

I get confused by all you blokes up in the higher latitudes...

As I travel "higher" from Southern California to Oregon, Washington State, to Canada, the weather seems to get colder and wetter, or is it just my imagination?

Washington State, on the borders of Canada, always seems to be cold and awash with Rain!

I am locked into the idea that the nice hot weather can only be found around the Equator, and either side of that its going to be cold and miserable...

...like it is in England at the moment!

Paul...and my Central Heating has just clicked on.... as I don another warm jacket...(Summer-time).... ...!

Southern Cal, Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona are my Comfort Zones!... ....!

[logjam]

I get confused by all you blokes up in the higher latitudes...

As I travel "higher" from Southern California to Oregon, Washington State, to Canada, the weather seems to get colder and wetter, or is it just my imagination?

It's just the lack of basic education. It's not your fault Paul, most Geography teachers only read books written by people who never actually travelled. Whereas it's basically true to say that the NW pacific coast is rainy, due to the interaction between the warmer air currents and the colder sea currents, it takes eons of study to be able to analyze the data to understand the actual weather patterns. The coastal regions may well be wetter and cooler, but the interior of British Columbia, Washington and Oregon, really are extensions to California's Deserts such as Death Valley and the Sacramento valley. The depression seen from the Sea of Cortez in Mexico extends all the way north, giving a beautiful climate as far north as the Okanagan valley in BC. Crops such as Cherries, Peaches, Garlic, Apples, Pears and Plums grow in profusion. Indeed irrigation is necessary to sustain the crops, which is why the California crop for the next few years will be limited due to the draught conditions. Rule of thumb - Hottt in the south to warm in the north. You have to go past Vernon BC to get really cold weather.

[Fozzer]

An interesting video showing the construction of a Vee-Twin motorcycle engine.

In particular, the arrangement of the piston connecting rods mounted on a single crank pin, with a common big-end bearing, in a scissor arrangement, allowing the cylinders to be placed at 45 degrees, directly in front of each other, as in a typical Harley Davidson cruiser arrangement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S8nPc9jWko

Most other vee-twin motorcycle engines have each connecting rod off-set, and mounted on a single crank pin with their individual big-end bearings... This results in the cylinders being offset to each other, as in Japanese, etc, Vee-twin cruiser Motorcycles.

I often wonder if the "Harley" connecting rod arrangement results in the unique sound of a Harley Davidson engine at tick-over, and on the move?

All the connecting rods mounted on a single bearing, (master connecting rod), crank pin, can also be found on a typical aircraft Rotary and Radial engine, with all the cylinders in-line with each other!

I quite like the motorcycle vee-twin engine arrangement... lots of powerful low-speed torque!.... ...!

...and to prove the point.... ...>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdKqe0LdWwc

Paul...fascinated with engines!.... ...!

[Tug002]

I don't know about that video as I have owned a 90 cube Harley and presently own a 1000 cc Honda and I assure you the 90 would not walk away from the 1000 like that. You don't even have to shift from 1st gear in a short race like that as I doubt that they even hit 100 Km per hour. Some of the people I know have Fat Boys so I will see if they are game to a little sprint and let you know of the outcome. The Harleys do have crazy low end torque though.

Keep smiling
Tug

[logjam]

Reminds me of that scene in the "Fastest Indian" where the gang of bikers challenge the old guy to a burn up on the beach.

[Fozzer]

Video:

Tuesday afternoon, 1st September, motor bike trip from Coleford in the Forest of Dean, to Hereford, via Symonds Yat Rock and the River Wye!

Starting at Christchurch village just outside Coleford town, high up in the Forest of Dean...>>>

https://www.dropbox.com/s/er5pup45a42b5 ... ..mp4?dl=0

And the views of Symonds Yat!...>>>

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Symon ... 47&bih=837

I lovely ride in beautiful sunshine, though rather cool in the shade!

All on my speedy little Yamaha RX-S 100, 98cc two-stroke Motorcycle!

(Still waiting for my Honda Rebel Cruiser to arrive...)... ...!

Paul.... ...!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symonds_Yat

Video Camera: SJ Cam 4000.

[Tug002]

Thank you for the video and the photos Paul. Man you sure get to drive through some beautiful countryside. Wish that I could be there with you for the ride.

Keep smiling
Tug

[logjam]

Great ride Paul, although I had to turn the sound off after a while, sounded like my old 98CC James. The scenery around there is beautiful. Took my wife there on our honeymoon in 1959.

[Fozzer]

Ta Lads, for the replies!.... ...!

Log...there's nothing quite like the screaming howl of a 2-stroke motorcycle on full song, once it reaches its "power band".... ...!

I'm glad you like our West Countryside....lots of lush vegetation...Its all that bloody rain we get!.... ...!

Funny thing is though, mentioning "countryside", I envy you North America Blokes your breath-taking Mountain and Desert scenery, as in the West and Mid-West, which we don't get over here!

I spend hours watching videos of Harley's touring that magnificent scenery on You-Tube....

Bryce Canyon, Utah, etc, for example....

...and wish I was there!

The best I can do is fire up my FSX Cessna 150 and take a Sim tour around there, with Ultimate Terrain USA!

I normally fit my camera on my Direction Indicator stalk, which does result in some vibration from the engine. I also have a Chest Harness to fit the camera, which also shows my Speedometer, etc.
I have a camera fitting on my Crash Helmet (to view in all directions), but I always feel a right dork with the camera sticking out on top of my head!... ...!

I must experiment with fitting the camera onto various parts of my bike, to obtain some unusual views of the ride!

I may even do some "Selfie" views as I ride...Scary!.... ....!

Many thanks again Chums, for your interest!

Paul...Have Bike, Camera, will travel!... ...!

[Dave T]

I remember my little Yamaha was pretty agile and once in the powerband was quite fast for a 100cc bike.

[Tug002]

First bike that I ever owned was a 125 on off road when I was 14. Used it to chase my fathers cows around in the field He could never figure out why they were so long gaining weight. Got to the point that when I started that bike up if they were at the barn they would start running back into the fields They got a lot fatter quicker when I obtained my licence and quit chasing them.

Keep smiling
Tug

[Fozzer]

My uncle, (my Mother's Brother), always rode motorcycles in the 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, 1950s, and 1960's, and because of that, I became transfixed by them in the 1940's when he used to ride from London on his bikes to see us, having evacuated to Herefordshire in 1940 at the start of the Blitz!
On my 16th birthday in 1950 my dear old Dad bought my first bike for me, a Sun Motorcycle with a 2-speed 98cc Villiers 2-stroke engine.
This was quickly followed by my Royal Enfield 350cc Model G, and now I was on the road for all my following list of British and Japanese motor bikes of all sizes, Solo and Sidecar!
Even my Dad got the bug in the 1950's and got himself a BSA C15 followed by a fantastic Excelsior 250cc Talisman Twin 2-stroke!!
My two Sons even got the "bug" from me, and have ridden an assortment of Bikes ever since!

After a 65+ years of sports bikes and café racers, and realising now that I would dearly love a bit of laid-back comfort attached to my motorcycle rides in my old age, I am now in the market for a nice, touring, "cruiser" bike!

The ubiquitous Harley Davidson vee-twin models, although highly desirable, are ridiculously expensive, up to £20,000, (how anyone can afford them beats me!), so I am limited to the very much more affordable Japanese equivalents, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki models!.... Star, Dragstar, Virago, Shadow, etc, etc... ...!

Manoeuvring and garaging are always a problem for me, due to my small stature, 5'-7" 154 LBS, ..(and lack of physical strength!), so at the moment something like a 250cc Honda CMX Rebel twin, or Yamaha 250cc XVS Dragstar twin, seem to fit the bill for me!...
...something that's not going to fall over on me and trap me underneath, like my 1996 Honda CB500 RR twin did, a couple of years ago!... ...!

A nice UK model Honda CMX 250C Rebel is high on my list at present... I just need to find one locally...before the Winter comes!... ....!

How about a trip around Mulholland Drive, in LA, on a nice, shiny, Honda Rebel!...>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yajY-Ysmwg

Paul....Dreaming!.... ....!

[Fozzer]

Last Sunday's trip (Sept 6th) from Hereford in England, to Abergavenny in Wales, to meet up with all the bikers!
An assortment of all types of bikes, including an invasion of HOG riders from the South Wales Group...>>>














...The exhaust sound always guaranteed to remove the fillings from your teeth upon their arrival!.... ...!

I love it!

A fantastic ride, on a nice sunny day, although getting cooler in the mornings, as Autumn is on its way!.

Must make the most of the nice weather now, before the dreaded Winter arrives, and puts a stop to all my fun!

My little Yamaha 2-stroke did me proud...bless her!

I videoed the return trip on my SJ Cam 4000 Camera, attached to my Bike.

Paul.... ...!

[Fozzer]

Sunday 13th September.

Just got back from another fantastic Motorbike ride from Hereford (England) to Abergavenny (Wales), 56 miles all-round trip!
Met up with a lovely Harley-riding couple from South Wales (UK) , the lady wife wearing an "Eagle Riders" Jacket which immediately caught my attention, being very familiar with watching the Eagle Riders USA Harley Davidson Tours round America, on You Tube!
They had already completed the Route 66 ride from Chicago to Santa Monica on a hired Harley Davidson a while ago!
I told them that I was already familiar with every detail of their route, having "flown it" during my 15 years of Microsoft Flight Simulator!
They encountered some freezing, snow-covered conditions during their Arizona Route 66 road trip, which really surprised me!

We had a long discussion regarding all the fantastic sights to be had in the Western, and South Western USA, and I suggested their next trip through the south Utah National Parks for some new breath-taking scenery to be had!

It was lovely talking to a couple with similar motorbike touring interest as myself, in scenery which was familiar to both of us!

The World can be a surprisingly small and compact place with the aid of Microsoft Flight Simulator and Google Satellite Maps!

For any who are interested, my September 6th return journey from Abergavenny back to Hereford on the A465 trunk road, leaving the Welsh Mountains behind...46 minute video...>>>

https://www.dropbox.com/s/as5dmgmbckjvb ... ..mp4?dl=0

Paul...Sunday Dinner on the go now!

So much fun to be had on two-wheels!...>>> http://www.eaglerider.com/

[Tug002]

Thanks for the great video Paul. I always enjoy the scenery of your rides although the driving on the left side of the road freaks me out a bit still starting to get used of it though. Looks like you had great weather for your ride, sunny and dry The Harley test ride is coming to Ottawa on Sept 22nd and I might go try out some of their new bikes although it may not be a good idea as I would likely buy one and the wife would club me with a bat when I get home

Keep smiling
Tug