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Ducati Motorcycle

2012 Ducati

2012 Zero MX

2012 New Motorcycle

New Motorcycles

BMW R1200

2012 Honda Crossrunner

Honda Moto GP

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Yamaha YZF 250

Yamaha Modification

Suzuki V strom 650

Modification

2012 Honda Gold Wing

Modification

All It Takes is Motorcycle Maintenance

I ran across this article in the New York Times. It has to do with the two authors' attempt to find people who have uncovered simple solutions to world problems. In this article they found that medical workers could greatly extend their relief efforts by utilizing motorcycles to get to outlying areas of Africa. In addition, they found a way to keep the bikes maintained on a regular basis. Here's an excerpt from this excellent article by Tina Rosenberg and David Bornstein:

"Until 2008 Kotelo could visit only three villages a week, because he had to reach them on foot, walking for miles and miles. But in February of that year, Kotelo got a motorcycle ─ the best vehicle for reaching rural villages in Africa, most of which are nowhere near a real road. Just as crucial, he was given the tools to keep the bike on the road: he received a helmet and protective clothing, he was taught to ride and trained to start each day with a quick check of the bike. His motorcycle is also tuned up monthly by a technician who comes to him. Now, instead of spending his days walking to his job, he can do his job. Instead of visiting three villages each week, he visits 20. Where else can you find a low-tech investment in health care that increases patient coverage by nearly 600 percent?" -- Tina Rosenberg and David Bornstein

Read the rest of the story.

Harley-Davidson Could Move out of Wisconsin

In a story by the AP, it's suggested by Harley-Davidson that the company might have to move manufacturing out of Wisconsin to help contain rising costs. Here's an excerpt by Dinesh Ramde:

"Motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Inc. warned its employees Thursday it could move its Wisconsin manufacturing operations to another U.S. state if it can't cut millions of dollars in costs.

A recent analysis found a number of significant 'cost gaps' that must be filled for the company to remain competitive, Harley spokesman Bob Klein said. The largest gaps involved labor costs and scheduling flexibility, Klein said.

'We'll be talking with the unions about how to close those competitive gaps,' he said." -- Dinesh Ramde (AP)

Read the complete story.

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Black Cat

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Black Cat on her 2007 Harley-Davidson Sportster 883XL Low. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

Switchblade Vehicle is Both Motorcycle and Airplane

Scientific American reports today about a new vehicle that may soon travel equally well on the road and in the sky. Here's an excerpt from an article by Jim Nash.

"It is safe to bet that a flying motorcycle will never be a practical transportation option, but that has not stopped Samson Motorworks, a small engineering firm in northern California's Sierra Nevada foothills, from playing the long odds. The company is building a prototype of its Switchblade Multi Mode Vehicle, or flying motorcycle, and hopes to sell a $60,000 do-it-yourself kit as early as 2011 (engine and avionics are sold separately, for about $25,000 total)." -- Jim Nash

Read more.

AMA Announces Motorcyclists of the Year - Kids

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced the 2009 Motorcyclist of the Year award. Here's an excerpt from their press release of yesterday:

"The AMA today announced the 2009 AMA Motorcyclist of the Year with a departure: This year's recipients are a group, rather than an individual. The winners? Kids who ride motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). America's youngest riders were at the center of the biggest story of the year in 2009, as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) enforced a ban on selling youth-model off-highway vehicles (OHVs)."

Read more.

Modular Motorcycles - New Obama Energy Plan

A joint statement released today by Steven Chu, Energy Secretary, and Ray LaHood, Transportation Secretary, unveiled a bold new plan to make future motorcycles out of modular components and to also enlist new renewable energy sources for their propulsion. This plan has become the latest stimulus package from the Obama administration. This time it directly affects all motorcycle riders. Read more.

Will Shiftless Motorcycles Become Mainstream?

An article in the New York Times by Stuart F. Brown examines why shiftless motorcycles may bring new life to motorcycling. Consider the fact that many potential riders have never even driven a car with a stick shift. Riding a motorcycle without an automatic transmission becomes a daunting task. Here's an excerpt from the article:

"CAR sales, already in a deep funk, would probably be slower yet if automakers decided to offer no alternative to manual transmissions. Makers of street motorcycles have largely painted themselves into that corner. And with the effects of stalled credit markets flattening out a 14-year streak of steady growth — despite the allure of good gas mileage in a wobbly economy — it’s no surprise that manufacturers are mounting an effort to introduce more rider-friendly bikes." -- Stuart F. Brown

Read the full story for all the details.

Habitat for Humanity Ride - I Ride for Jane

Since the death of my wife, Jane, just 49 days ago, I've received a "circle the wagons" type of protection that never seems to leave me. I receive telephone calls almost every evening from my three grown children wanting to know how I am, what has happened that day, and if there's anything they can do for me. Well, my family has tried to stay close in the past but this new communication blitz is different. I guess it is expected when a tragedy occurs that affects all members of the family equally. Before, telephone calls from the kids were normally short calls taken after the kids had already talked to their mother and just wanted to ask me for some kind of advice that only a dad can give. Now, the calls are very personal lasting from 20-60 minutes with all subjects fair game. In a way, this is kinda nice.

In addition, the motorcycle community has been providing me with a zone of security when I ride. For example, the members of my Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) chapter often go on dinner runs. They try their best to make sure that I'm getting out of the house on a regular basis and getting a decent meal so I get calls to remind me that an event is coming up. Such was the case when I got called to go to Big Ed's BBQ on October 2, 2008. Mike calls and says that they will be over to pick me up. That means that at least two motorcycle riders will show up in my driveway at an appointed time. I pull my trike out and fall in behind the lead rider while the second rider falls in behind me. I am now in the protected position. All moves in traffic are communicated over the CB radios we have on all the bikes. Lane changes are announced as the rider in back seizes the lane first and then notifies me and the lead rider to move over. We move as a unit with military precision. This is a very neat way to travel.

We had a great time at Big Ed's and on the way back to my house -- again in the protected mode -- Mike says over the CB, "You know, we'd really like to see you come out this weekend for the Habitat for Humanity Ride."

I knew about the ride. It was to be an escorted ride of up to 1000 motorcycles. Each rider had to register and make a donation or get sponsors to pledge money for their participation in the ride. The goal was to raise enough money to buy materials to build a new house for a disabled military veteran in the Freehold, NJ area -- a worthy cause, indeed.

I told Mike, "I'll think about it."

Mike came back with, "Well, listen Walt, this will be a great ride and you won't want to miss it."

The wheels in my head were going round and round as I arrived home and said my farewells and thanks for the escort to Mike and his wife as they headed back to their own home five miles away.

There were only two more days until the Habitat ride and I hadn't registered or donated anything yet. So I got an application by emailing another chapter member, "Just Bob."

I decided that I would ride my wife's white 1998 Honda Gold Wing Motor Trike with the pegs down in her honor. Jane was going to take this ride with me.

On Sunday, October 5, 2008, I rode Jane's trike -- without any security detail -- two miles to where we were to assemble at 8 a.m. This picture was taken just after I arrived at the chapter staging area. You can see the white trike on the right. Note my red helmet on the seat with special tiger ears and tail affixed. My chapter, known as F-Troop, often rides with these tiger ears and tail to attract attention and be seen better (and to just have fun). Jane always wore these so I wore them also for this ride.



One of the members of F-Troop, known as Blondie, likes to carry the tiger tail and ears to its extreme manifestation and rides with a full-size tiger character in the pillion position. Also, note the tiger ears and tail on her helmet.



After all the F-Troop riders had arrived, we rode over to the main parking lot at the local theater and parked up front so as to be near the beginning of the parade. Seen in front of the two columns of F-Troop bikes is "Just Bob."



There were several people who wanted to ride in the parade but were not motorcyclists. A few sidecar rigs were provided to give these folks a ride to remember. Here is another Bob with his sidecar top up, waiting for a guest passenger.



The parking lot quickly filled up with motorcycles. Riders registered, got coffee and donuts, and chatted waiting for the opening ceremonies.



Here's a closeup showing F-Troop members in red.



Here's a picture up front showing the mass of machines.



There were many beautifully painted motorcycles with military themes. The following two pictures show one such motorcycle.





The color guard formed and a young woman prepared to sing the National Anthem.



A local priest gave the invocation and blessing of the bikes and prayed for a safe ride for all.



Then the ride began. This was an escorted ride. That means that all traffic on the side streets is stopped and the police stand at all traffic lights and stop signs to allow us to pass without stopping.

The problem with parades of this sort is that the riders in front will get way ahead of the riders in back forcing the riders in back to speed up to extremely high speeds to keep up. Therefore, it's necessary for riders in front to go slower to keep the group together.

We proceeded on a route through western Monmouth County that covered approximately 70 miles before turning onto the Route 33 Bypass at Millhurst Mills. From there it would be a straight ride for 5-6 miles before leaving that road and winding around country roads to reach the destination at the Colts Neck Firehouse on Route 537.

But before that, we traveled over scenic, winding country roads past horse farms and protected farm land. F-Troop members had a great time chatting on the CB about various points of interest along the way and making jokes and side comments. It was a great way to spend a fall Sunday afternoon.

At times, we were in open areas with curves both ahead of us and behind us. You could look forward and see 50-100 bikes winding left and right in front of you and you could look in your rear view mirrors to see similar movements behind you. There were no interspersed cars, just motorcycles for as far as the eye could see in front and to the rear. Quite a sight!

When we arrived at Millhurst Mills and turned onto the Route 33 Bypass, there was some confusion and slowness of the motorcycles ahead of me. When I turned onto Route 33 and headed east, it was a straight stretch of highway and since our speed was well under the speed limit, the bikes had bunched together in a mass formation. It was beautiful. A solid mass of machines tightly formed and moving with precision. I thought of Jane whose spirit was riding with me in the pillion seat. She would have loved this ride. She loved formations like this that displayed the beauty of motorcycling to non-riders. I had to wonder what the people in the cars on the other side of the road were thinking seeing a solid mass of motorcycles traveling in the other direction. Would they know that we were out raising $55,000 to build a house for a disabled veteran? Probably not. We were the ones who knew what we were doing and that's all that mattered. Did anyone know that I was riding with Jane's trike and Jane's spirit on the back. Not a chance. But I knew and many of my fellow riders knew. That's all I cared about.

When we arrived at the Firehouse and parked on the grass, we lined up for a great lunch put on by a local restaurant, The Cabin. Here's a few pictures of that scene.





It was announced that $55,000 had been raised by the ride and that was enough to buy the materials to build a house for a disabled veteran. Also, there had been 767 bikes in the ride -- a new record.

Here's a picture of that great F-Troop group that accompanied me on the Habitat Ride. That's me, second from the left. Jane wasn't riding with me this year but her spirit surrounded us for the whole trip and made her trike run the smoothest it's ever run.



Thanks Jane for 47 years of wedded bliss. It was quite a ride. Godspeed.

All pictures ©2008 Walter F. Kern

Wear a Motorcycle

What a concept! Just walk up to your motorcycle, strap it on, and move off at up to 75 mph.

One future-looking college student, Jake Loniak, has come up with a design concept and even has a realistic animation of how it might work.

Read the complete story by Annemarie Conte and Esther Haynes, view the animation, and glimpse into the future.

New Motorcycle Runs on Air?

A couple of university researchers from Taiwan have developed an air-powered motorcycle. Here's an excerpt from a report by Jessica Marshall from Discovery News:

"We may be driving on air in the next few years. That is, we may be driving vehicles powered by compressed air, instead of gasoline or diesel fuel.

Researchers Yu-Ta Shen and Yean-Ren Hwang of the National Central University in Taiwan have developed an air-powered motorcycle, which uses the energy in compressed air, rather than gas, to drive the motor." -- Jessica Marshall, Discovery News

Of course, the real benefits of such a system might best be achieved in an air-powered automobile that has more room to house the bulky mechanism necessary to pull this off.

Let the alternative fuel games begin.

Here's the complete story. Feel free to comment on this story in the Comments section, below.

Motorcycle Pictures by Year, Make, and Model

I have a lot of motorcycle pictures on my site. I've always had a feature that listed motorcycle pictures by year, make, and model. However, many of my motorcycle pictures were in sub-galleries and could not be reached by this method. That has just been revised so all motorcycle pictures can now be reached.

Take a look at the new Motorcycle Pictures by Year, Make, and Model.

If you have a picture of your motorcycle, please send it in along with a description of the motorcycle.

Piaggio Recalls Aprilia Tuono Models for Fuel Hose Defect

Piaggio has issued a recall of certain 2005-2007 Aprilia Tuono 1000 R and Tuono RSV 1000 R motorcycles equipped with Bitron Spa fuel pump/fuel filters.

The fuel hose connecting the fuel filter to the fuel pump/fuel filter mounting flange may come loose. If this fuel hose connection is loose, or has become completely disconnected, then there will be a drop in, or loss of, fuel pressure to the engine.

977 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

29 Years of Honda Gold Wing: A Picture Gallery

Honda began selling the Super Cub motorcycle internationally in 1958. In 1975, Honda introduced the Gold Wing. It has continued in production ever since.

We present here a look at Honda Gold Wing models from the first model in 1975 to the present as provided in pictures submitted by Motorcycle Views members. A gallery called "29 Years of Honda Gold Wing" is provided that gives a picture and description for each model year from 1975 to 2003.

Take a look at 29 Years of Honda Gold Wing.

Wild Motorcycle Tales - Motorcycle Stories to Remember

We've all heard motorcycle stories and wild motorcycle tales.

Every motorcyclist has his or her motorcycle stories or wild tales to tell.

Why not write down your best motorcycle stories taken from your own personal experiences and submit them to Motorcycle Views. I'll pick the funniest, most interesting motorcycle stories and make them available on the site. It's your chance to get your 15-minutes of fame and give others a great motorcycle story.

Are you ready for some Wild Motorcycle Tales? See if you can top these motorcycle stories recently sent in by your fellow motorcyclists.

Here's a sample Wild Motorcycle Tale called Chicken Caper:

When I was in High School way back in the early '60s, I had a 175 Allstate. Back then motorcycles only had 2 speeds to me -- off or wide open. Of course that was only about 65 mph on the Allstate.

Riding along a country road one day, I topped a small rise in the road and found a flock of chickens covering the road. Too late to slow down so I plowed right through them. When I looked back, all I could see was a white cloud of chickens and feathers flying in the sky.

When I got to my friend's house he came out and said, "What's that on your muffler?" I looked down and found I must have caught one unfortunate hen with the foot peg and knocked an egg out of her. I had a perfectly scrambled egg splattered down my exhaust pipe. -- John

Now, read all the Wild Motorcycle Tales and then write up your own story and send it to me.

Learn How to Ride a Motorcycle

I receive a lot of questions from people who want to learn how to ride a motorcycle but don't know where to start or what steps they should follow.

There is no magic process to learn how to ride a motorcycle. Every rider follows a different plan to learn how to ride a motorcycle.

I have written a 5-part article that tells you what you have to do to learn how to ride a motorcycle.

Part 1 is an introduction to motorcycles.

Part 2 tells you how to get started learning to ride a motorcycle.

Part 3 discusses getting the training you need to ride a motorcycle.

Part 4 talks about buying your first motorcycle.

Part 5 discusses becoming a motorcyclist.

This article gives you my viewpoint on what it takes to become a proficient motorcyclist. Check out How You CAN Learn to Ride a Motorcycle

The Fourth of July and Motorcycle Haiku

I was watching the Millionaire Game on TV a few days ago and saw a question that I didn't think one in a thousand people would know the answer to.

"How many syllables are there in a Haiku?"

Well, that immediately got my attention since I knew the answer: 17. The first line contains 5 syllables, the second line contains 7 syllables, and the third line contains 5 syllables.

How'd I know that?

It's because I have a Haiku feature on my site that contains many Haiku poems submitted by motorcyclists just like you.

The feature is called Motorcycle Haiku Poems.

Here are three examples of Haiku poems. The first I just made up one minute ago to fit today's date and the other two are contained in the feature:

july 4th is here
motorcycles and the flag
summer brings freedom



summer calls to me
come ride your motorcycle
live without your cage



heartbeat thick inside
riding harley-davidsons
free as an eagle

Be sure to check out my Motorcycle Haiku Poems and maybe submit a motorcycle Haiku of your own.

21 Years of Honda Shadow: A Picture Gallery

Honda began selling the Shadow motorcycle in 1983. It has continued in production ever since.

We present here a look at Honda Shadow models from the first model in 1983 to the year 2003 as provided in pictures submitted by visitors to the site. A gallery called "21 Years of Shadow: A Picture Gallery" is provided that gives a picture and description for each model for each year from 1983 to 2003.

The gallery still has some models not represented. If you own one of the following models, send me a picture and description of your bike and I'll include it in 21 Years of Honda Shadow: A Picture Gallery.

1987 Honda Shadow 1100 VT1100C
1991 Honda Shadow VLX VT600C
1992 Honda Shadow VLX VT600C
1993 Honda Shadow VLX VT600C
1997 Honda Shadow 2-Tone A.C.E. VT1100C2
1998 Honda Shadow A.C.E. VT1100C2
1999 Honda Shadow VLX VT600C
1999 Honda Shadow A.C.E. 750 Deluxe VT750CD
1999 Honda Shadow A.C.E. 2-Tone 750 Deluxe VT750CD2
1999 Honda Shadow A.C.E. VT1100D2
2000 Honda Shadow VLX VT600C
2000 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe VT600CD
2000 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe 2-Tone VT600CD2
2000 Honda Shadow A.C.E. 750 VT750C
2000 Honda Shadow A.C.E. Tourer VT1100T
2001 Honda Shadow VLX VT600C
2001 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe 2-Tone VT600CD2
2001 Honda Shadow A.C.E. Tourer VT1100T
2002 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe 2-Tone VT600CD2
2002 Honda Shadow A.C.E. Tourer VT1100T
2003 Honda Shadow VLX VT600C