Hey Kids,
The best part about washing your motorcycle is the drive afterwards to dry it off.
Day 138
Motorcycles
Love at Next Sight
Hey Kids,
I fell in love today.
My new love?
Huntsville, Utah.
In the midst of a Hell’s Hot Saturday, we decided to hop on the bike and head up into the middle of the mountains to the little town in the middle of a lake (on a peninsula). And in the middle of this town is a restaurant that sells pieces of heaven called Texas Barbeque (speaking of Hell’s Hot) in the middle of tall shade trees, large lawns, and historic buildings.
We sat outside under the tall shade trees, systematically trying every part of our Texas Sampler. The heat of the day disappeared with the cool breezes weaving their way to our table. We thought it couldn’t get any better. Then,
The store next store sells shakes. Need I really explain anything beyond that?
Huntsville is my new favorite place.
Again.
I’ve been before. But every time I go there, it’s like I fall in love all over again.
And I’m sure I will again.
Day 124
200 Mile Therapy
Hey Kids,
The job has been disappointing and stressful as a managerial decision has been made to appease a few, upsetting the many. It’s difficult to console the ones felt slighted by policy shift. It’s difficult to listen to an employee who feels that their work efforts and ownership in their workspace has been nullified in order to satisfy a check box.
Difficult especially because I agree with them. 
So to let off some of that built up frustration, I loaded onto the bike and put a little over 200 miles behind me this afternoon.
The hot temps of the daytime melted away the worries, even if temporarily, and the evening shadows cooled the soul.
The sticky bug guts on my arm will require a shower then I’m ready to get back to it tomorrow.
Day 122
Loud Pipes
Hey Kids,
The adage is: “LOUD PIPES SAVES LIVES”.
The idea is that as much as motorcycles are invisible to other drivers, the problem can be mitigated by utilizing the auditory senses and announcing a cyclist’s presence with authority. Even if they can’t see you, they’ll know you’re there.
I heard people talk of it on both sides of the issue, arguing about the effectiveness of the loud pipes and whether or not amplified exhaust overcomes tight cockpits, loud music, and driver indifference (or idiocy). I’ll admit, I haven’t looked up any citied studies and rely on my own opinion.
I have no doubt that making noise over being unheard makes a difference in some instances, maybe even more than not. But it’s not full-proof. The size of a motorcycle is the biggest issue. The ease that motorcycles can move in and out of lanes, accelerate and decelerate to new positions almost instantly, and the ability to blend into background images; is just too much to be “fixed” by simply being a noise ordinance violation.
With the age of self-driving cars around the corner, I’d bet the development of anticipatory software and computer reactions will have more of a difference than Vance and Hines. Anticipation and reaction are what we riders say saves us daily, right? The new “Anti-Crash” (my word) devices developed by Ducati will also give riders more options in avoidance as well.
The new battle cry may not be as macho: “MOTORCYCLE COMPENSATING COMPUTERS SAVES LIVES!”
Honda Gold Wings are not known for loud pipes but they can be gaudy. One version of the Gold Wing in particular comes in bright, bright yellow. On the back of one such motorcycle, the rider had placed a bumper sticker that is just as valid as any argument defending loud pipes. It read:
LOUD PAINT SAVES LIVES.
Leave it to a Gold Winger to cloud the issue.
Day 116
Look Twice
Hey Kids,
Motorcycle cruising today was awesome and other than one incident, the road was smooth, the curves were manageable, and the mountains were cool and refreshing.
Early on, before we left the city, a truck began to change into our lane while we were still in it. I had noticed that he might so I had already increased my speed and by the time he noticed me and swerved back into his original lane, we were already positioned to be perfectly safe.
The next sign spanning the highway was a highway alert reading “Look Twice for Motorcycles.”
UDOT Alert
The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) posted this message on many of the highway alerts throughout the state. It’s a nice gesture, especially with the increase of motorcycle fatalities this year, as I’ve noted on a previous post. I do appreciate it and I wondered what the driver thought when he saw it: lesson learned or just more curse words directed to those damn motorcycles.
Either way, I like the thought that maybe someone learned that it’s important to look before you change lanes, cross an intersection, or back up. And not just because of motorcycles. We all need to be more careful.
In addition, I’d add to the Highway alerts: Motorcycles, Look Twice.
Day 111
The Long Way to Work
Hey Kids,
Working on Saturday isn’t right. It just isn’t. At least not when it’s for someone else.
Looking over the needs for next week, I came to the conclusion, I needed to come in to work today so to avoid total disaster on Monday. It’s a grown up thing I think. I hate being a grown-up.
However, I learned last week that a working B-17 bomber from WWII would be in a town not too far from here.
Usually it’s a 10 mile ride to work. A quick zip around the hill, buzz by the Capitol building and straight up the hill to the University. Easy and quick.
Not today!
My commute on this day would lead me onto a beautiful morning drive up into the mountains, past Park City, one of the venues for the winter games, cruising past
WWII B-17 Bomber “Sentimental Journey”
lakes and rivers, and on to Heber City and its small private plane airport. About 60 miles total.
I’ve seen a B-17 before, but I’ve never seen a working one. I watched it fire up its four engines, coughing out smoke and flames. I took in its sound and aviation fuel fumes as it taxied away from us and roared back down the airstrip, somehow lifting that big body off of the ground, I hung around to watch it circle the airport and land, setting down so gently it amazed me. I only wish I had the Mucho Denaro’s to buy a ticket to go for a ride.
I looked over the other aircraft they had and some old WWII vehicles on display- many if not all working, and boogied my way back down the hill after about 2 hours and got to work.
It’ll be a short day today, maybe 4 hours or so. Just enough to keep the alligators off my butt next week.
I wish every work day was like this one.
Day 110
Cycle Cycle
Hey Kids,
Cycles.
Life usually uses them to pass our time.
I volunteered to help Marshall a pedal bike event and today’s cycle was cycles.
The event is called Little Red. It’s a Lady’s only series of bike courses in lengths of 27, 35, 50, 70, and 100 miles. They are not races but set courses with break stops, lunch, repair crews, SAG trucks, and course Marshalls.
The event numbered 3500 participants and their bikes.
I showed up for the fulfillment of my duties as a ride marshall and found my Yamaha and me surrounded by curious glares from the group of BMW riders.
I have a cruiser that might to the untrained eye be confused with a Harley Davidson. BMW and Harley guys are not the friendliest to each other. I was somewhat accepted once it became claimed that I rode a Non-Harley. Then a Harley showed. Harley riders generally don’t like “Metrics” either.
One BMW guy admitted that they had a Gold Winger in the group. A tone of charity on his voice. I can’t explain the Gold Wing thing even with a blog post of its own. Let’s just say they’re like your odd cousin that you only see every 3-4 years and have nothing in common but a relation that you’re not sure how to explain to someone outside of your family.
A couple of Ducati’s showed. Most riders are kind of cool with the Italian bikes. It’s hard for me to see how they’re so different from other bikes but I get the impression that their owners think they do. “Duck” owners I believe don’t think much of non-ducks, but they never express it.
Somehow the ragtag group of Motor-cycles got it together and marshalled the ride of the Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, and various other types of pedal bikes used today.
The event ended, I packed up my bike and headed home.
On the way home I stopped for gas. Waiting to pull out of the gas station, a trio of bikes passed. There was something different about them. Obviously Harley, the three rode in a tighter formation than typical weekend warrior riders. I set out to investigate.
As I neared from behind, I noticed the three part patchwork on the back of their jackets. MC members. A real MC. The bad asses. The real McCoy. The ones the weekend group tries to dress like. I neared enough to see the name of the club and followed at a distance for a few miles.
The group slowed and I quickly caught up to them. I’d like to think they wanted to know who tailed them. I maintain my speed and passed them from the right lane.
As I passed I nodded my head to say hello to the two on my side. We made eye contact and I got nods back. I could sense their disdain but I got an acknowledgement and that was cool.
Despite our differences, we share a commonality- the two wheels under our machines. That was enough for that moment.
From pedal bikes to Milwaukee to Europe to Japan to MC Bikers. I think I ran the Cycle Cycle today.
Day 103
Ride Safe and Ride On
Hey Kids,
This year there has been an inordinate number of motorcyclist killed on the roads of Utah (45 in 2014).
Safe is not a word you immediately associate with riding a motorcycle. In fact, if you want to be safe, buy a 5-Star rated Volvo with full airbags and drive it only during non-peak traffic hours. And as little as possible. It’s still not perfect but it’s pretty safe.
Motorcycles put you out there, unprotected. Riders need to remember and admit that we are one uneven lane, one gravel patch, one deer, one dog, one car driver with one text, one phone call, one run stop sign, or one erroneous left turn, away from a serious accident and possible death.
Motorcycles are not safe. All the “Start Seeing Motorcycles” window stickers are not going to change that. Has “Free Tibet”, a more likely scenario, worked?
Motorcyclists, however, can minimize the chance of kissing the pavement and taking that one last ride to the Motorcycle Only Heaven we hope exists. Here’s a few of my thoughts on the matter. It’s not all-inclusive or original; and just my humble opinions.
- No one sees you; act accordingly. Pretend you’re the “Invisible Bike”, fighting crime and protecting the citizenry. No one knows you’re there but still, you keep people safe from causing a fatality thanks to your cunning skills and preventative positioning and anticipation. You’re alive and they never knew it.
- Learn how to ride. Riding bikes is cool, it’s even cooler when you know what you’re doing and have control of your machine. Take a class and stick with bikes you can handle. Know your limits and stay inside of them. And the best part- Practice. Get as many drive hours as humanly possible. That’s homework we all can live with.
- Wear some gear. It doesn’t really make you safer, but if you thinking less of, or riding scared of going down, you can concentrate on riding upright.
- Helmets. Wearing one can keep you speaking in complete sentences if you do go head over heels. I’m against helmet laws because I think we as motorcyclist should be smarter than that and do it on our own. Half, ¾, or full; just put one one. I’m also a free-will kind of guy- so if you don’t wear one, you’ll never hear a peep from me. But I might wonder about you.
- Riding gear. Ask yourself, what do I want between me and the road if I go down? Answers will vary and being a motorcyclist, I really don’t care what your answer is, so long you don’t care about my mine. Like helmets- it’s a choice and what you wear might depend on how you ride. I’m not the poster child for MSF when it comes to gear. I don’t always wear my riding jacket but when I do, I look styling. Just saying. Boots are a great idea and keep you from rolling your heel and supporting the bike at stops. But then again, Jax Teller looked pretty cool in his white tennies.
- Gloves. These are mandatory for me. Rocks and bees at 70 MPH hurt like a mother when they smash into your knuckles and can greatly distract you from staying on the straight and narrow as it pertains to your lane. Stray not, brothers and sisters. Wear gloves.
I love riding. I will ride as long as this body allows me. I love the feel of the road, the sound of the engine, and the roar of the wind in my ears. I open it up when I can. I ride year round if the ice and snow are cleared and I’ve yet to experience a day too hot to ride.
I wave to other riders but I ride for me. I know it’s dangerous and I’m OK with that. I’m just not a Volvo guy.
Day 101
Light It Up
Hey Kids,
It’s said that lightning doesn’t strike twice. I’m not really concerned with that. I’m really more concern with the first time.
Last night riding home, it seemed that all was well. The skies were a bit gray but not bad. I could see all the way across the valley so it wasn’t raining anywhere close.
Instead of rushing home like I should have, I stopped at the store and did some shopping for dinner. I took my time. Made some good purchases including a killer deal on some pork chops. Yum!
When I exited the store, the weather had changed dramatically. The sky had darkened to a black and the rain had begun to fall. No, more like tumble. In buckets, mind you. It’s ok I can take wet. I packed the saddle bags with my groceries and headed off for the short 8 mile ride home. It turned out to be a long 8 miles.
I took the route that wraps through a residential area, past the mouth of a canyon along a forested road, past the Utah State Capitol Building, and thru the Industrial section of North Salt Lake City. My home lies in just the next town, just inside of city limits. There really isn’t any cover to dodge under along this route.
The Lightening began as soon as I venture out of the store’s parking lot.
At first it was still a ways out. I was able to count a few counts before the thunder. That changed. By the time I got to the capitol, the delay had vanished and the crack of the thunder would nearly shake me off the bike. The flash became like spotlights and I thought it only a matter of time before one hit me. I guess it was good to be a moving target.
Similar storm, next day; and watching it from the inside.
I don’t have a death wish and had I thought of a really good place to stop, I might have, But I had another thought run through my head. If I got struck by lightning, it would be immediate and I wouldn’t know it happened. I would either be gone for good or wake up in a hospital some time later. If it wanted me, it would have me. It was just complete random; there was nothing I could do to stop or alter it. Riding in a serpentine would only leave me on the road longer.
I rode through and stopped thinking about it and enjoyed the ride, as miserable as it was. And I lived to tell about it.
If you’re in a lightning storm it’s probably best to stop. But if you don’t- you made your decision, accept it.
Harsh? Maybe. But it’s my harsh and I’m sticking to it.
Don’t ever ride scared.
On a bike or through Life.
There’s not a whole lot of difference.
Day 85
Birthday Week- Wednesday
Hey Kids,
Birthday Week continues into Wednesday and instead of wishing, I’m listing the things I’m thankful for and the things that make getting older, worth it.
Wednesday- Motorcycles.
I’ve been blessed with not one but now two motorcycles. I know this sounds materialistic. It is. But motorcycles give me a joy that’s worth being honest about it and saying I’m proud to be a motorcyclist.
Suzuki Boulevard
I bought the first one in April of 2011. My Boulevard. We’ve put many miles on the road together. It’s now approaching 46,000 miles on the bike, most of them mine. I’ve spent as long as 6 days on road. Just me and my sweetie, 1200 miles, and most of the National Parks in Southern Utah and the Grand Canyon. I road it to LA and back. The trip back, 700+ miles, straight shot, 12 hours, snow and rain most of the way. Ah, memories.
My Yamaha is a new comer, bought last fall. The 113 cid motor (1900cc) is all the power I need for now and it’ll be the long road tripper now. The Boulevard will maintain the daily work commute duties. The Stratoliner or “Strat” is a beautiful bike and its extra-long wheel base eats up the road with comfort. I can’t wait to see where we will go together.
I know that there are many people who look at me weird because I have two bikes and no operating four wheel vehicle, but it’s the choice I made. I may not be a “biker” but I bet I ride my bikes more than most. And I hope to stick around for a lot more miles and a few more bikes in the Garage.
Ride on, Brother. Ride on.
Day 79
Mike M Jensen 