With all the changes I’ve made to my Bonnevillle, I finally got around to solving the need for a cheap phone mount. I’d been planning on using the integrated mount system my iPhone case includes. It’s a Rokform case, but the mount is an adhesive type and I wanted it right on my handlebar beneath my dash/gage. They make a couple different moto mounts, but they’re kinda pricey. Continue reading
ACH in February? Why not? I’d been invited on a group ride to Julian, but it had to be postponed a couple weeks. I already had the time blocked out and the wife was expecting me to be gone so I took advantage and tried to exorcise my ACH demons. Such a beautiful day. Temp was great, not much traffic, but man Newcomb’s was pretty busy. Not like summer-time busy, but pretty busy for February (although I’m usually there on week days so my perspective is a little off). Continue reading
That magical day when it’s warm enough to wear your mesh jacket into work.
The other weekend my good friend David suggested a Saturday impromptu ride around Los Angeles. Adell hopped on the Bonneville, I mounted the Aprilia RSV and rode with David to pick up his riding partner for the day, Iris. We went from downtown LA to Griffith park Continue reading
Any bike can take you there if you want to go. Don’t let excuses or nay-sayers stop you. My girlfriend and I took my Bonneville from Los Angeles to Vancouver this summer for three weeks. Every bike is different, but as riders, we need the same things; comfort, protection, range, reliability and fun. My 2009 Bonneville SE had a few of those checked off, but it still needed a few things to make it into a bonafide tourer. Here is a write up of the parts I needed, how they performed and a few pictures that I hope you enjoy. Continue reading
Not as good as Sunday Fun Day
Riding a motorcycle for pleasure is a specially rewarding experience. Here, in SoCal there are many roads that provide excitement but are not without risks. A bad crash, to a simple breakdown or flat tire can leave you stranded out in the middle of nowhere for hours. A cell phone or personal tracking device are good tools of the trade, but I have been let down by low batteries or no cell reception. Why am I bothering to address this, you ask? Because we don’t have to accept these risks alone. When you get a flat or your bike dies unexpectedly stranding you hours from help and shelter, what would you rather have; a cell without reception or your best riding buddy?
I’ve been quite lucky to have met a friend who has earned my complete trust. The kind of trust that is forged over thousands of miles of riding and sharing the highs and lows of riding together. Our own Andy is this man. Andy contains the core characteristics you need in a riding buddy.
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The most dangerous times to ride are sunrise and dusk. The sun is low in the sky blinding people. People are either half awake or exhausted from a day at work. They’re anxious to get where they’re going so they make rash decisions.
Long shadows generally point towards the person who is sun-dazzled and won’t see you.
Use extra caution at intersections and driveway/pull outs when the shadows are long. These situations are fertile ground for a SMIDSY.
When I was getting ready for work yesterday I noticed the sky was warming up to give us a beautiful sunrise. The way the clouds and the mountains were lined up, I knew it’d be pretty but just for a short time. But I had to get to work, so I grabbed my camera and tried to get a shot from the commute. It was pretty dicey, but I think I managed to get a good one.
Red sky at morning, rider take warning
Since I had my camera I figured I’d grab a couple snaps through the work day. I don’t normally talk about work here, but I figure it’s what lets me keep my family happy and keep my bike happy. Work to live, not live to work. More below.
I followed custom this year again and fit in a solid New Years Day ride with Mike and Marco from work and my very good buddy Jon here at Two Slow. Jon and I rarely hook up because our schedules don’t match so it was great to see him after so long. The lovely Adell joined us as well, always good to see the both of them. The weather has been so frigid lately I was honestly thinking about cancelling but Mike and Marco’s enthusiasm convinced me to get out. We met up a little later than we usually do and headed up into the Malibu hills for the World Famous Rock Store (where we saw Jay Leno but I couldn’t get my camera out fast enough) and Neptune’s Net for lunch. Continue reading
