Moto Adventurer

Appalachian foothills in the Bluegrass State

Posted on March 30, 2016 by MotoADVR

It’s been a crazy week, and it’s only Wednesday. If I’ve not already mentioned, I do a little writing during the evening on rainy days, but for the most part the vast majority of my blogging is done on my lunch break at the office. I don’t know if it’s the early spring or what, but things have “just come up” all week, throwing off my rhythm. I imagine quite a few the regular readers are familiar with that problem. That, combined with the fact my neck and back have kept me from riding the past few days, I’m just totally out of sorts. At any rate, considering the suddenly slow riding cycle, I figured I’d share a few photos from good Friday while I finish editing photos from the Chicago IMS.

I’ve previously mentioned my love for eastern Kentucky, and much like last year, my first trip down that way this year was to see family. The weather was less than ideal for riding last Friday (36F with rain), so I drove the Jeep, but I did dedicate some time to take a walk and enjoy the scenery.

I realize that I’m actually quite sheltered considering what little time I’ve spent west of the Mississippi River, but I can’t say enough about Appalachia and general. Moreover, while the Blue Ridge and the rest of the Smoky Mountains have majestic views, I’m still partial to the cliffs hidden in and around the Red River.

I originally had intentions of walking around the entire ridge line on my folks’ property, but considering that time with Grandma is precious, I stuck with a short walk around the cliff face taking in the sights. The rain held off just long enough for me to capture a few shots of the cliff face from the far side of the “holler”, but ultimately the light mist really set the tone for “smoky mountain” imagery.

Posted in Opinion | Tagged Appalachia, Bluegrass State, Cliff, Hiking, Kentucky, Nature, Outdoors, Red River Gorge | 2 Comments

Moto Guzzi, the other Italian Motorcycle

Posted on March 24, 2016 by MotoADVR

The Saturday before last (3/12) I decided I wanted to check out another motorcycle dealer in Cincinnati; I’d seen several of their Craig’s List ads and it really wasn’t that far from home. As it turns out, Cadre Cycle in Blue Ash is actually a Moto Guzzi dealer. Prior to that Saturday, the extent of my knowledge about Moto Guzzi was that they were Italian… and made bikes with transverse V-twin engines.

Pulling into the lot, I grabbed a space next to a used Triumph Trophy I had seen on craigslist. Several other used bikes were parked out front, including a recently traded V-Strom 1000. Across the lot I spotted a fleet of other European bikes, including a couple Triumphs, vintage BMWs, and even a 1000 cc Sportster; from what I could tell, they appeared to be the Saturday afternoon service backlog. Stepping inside I was greeted by friendly faces and asked if I had any questions or if I needed help finding anything. Just browsing, I wanted to see the imports up close. Next to the front desk was a 1200 Stelvio, a bike that one of my customers had spoken to me about a while back. While I’m normally all over an adventure bike, I couldn’t help but be lured into the other room by group of “neo-retro” V7 II’s.

Unmistakably, the V7 is a direct competitor to the Bonneville, a bike I want to take home someday. Prior to writing this post, I knew very little about the V7, other than it being a 750, and that it was featured in a Scrambler shootout last year. After doing a little research, I’m actually pretty impressed with the V7. Admittedly, a 750 doesn’t do a whole lot for many seasoned riders; first I feel like a standard bike is nearly impossible to find these days, moreover, it goes without saying most bikes are in the pursuit of more power. A 750 V-twin is most certainly not a power house, but weighing in at under 450 pounds, Moto Guzzi definitely edged out the portly Bonneville (over 500…). Without engaging in an argument about the definition of a “entry level bike”, I will say that the V7 seems like a good alternative for newer or returning riders, along with throwback enthusiasts like myself of course. The light weight, retro styling, copious amounts of matte paint (on the V7 Stone), combined with shaft drive are all valid selling points. That said, looking at the price tag, I suddenly see the words “import” flashing in my mind after seeing that the V7 Scrambler is nearly $1500 steeper than its British rival. Admittedly, the Scrambler also has Arrow exhaust along with Shaft drive, which is certainly expensive. Shaft drive a serious consideration for “road-only” commuters, but I question if those items are truly worth the premium, while accounting for the displacement discount. The V7 Stone on the other hand is competitively priced against Triumph’s new Street Twin.

There were also several larger displacement V-twins on the showroom floor. I recalled the California 1400 from the moto-news articles when it came out a couple years back. Since I’m currently under the belief that forward controls are hurting my back, I didn’t dedicate a whole lot of time to looking over the 1400 cc cruiser range, but there are several options for folks interested in that type of bike; per usual, shaft drive may be worth the premium for some riders. I did however spend a few moments looking over the Stelvio, Guzzi’s take on the Adventure bike. The Stelvio is adorned with the usual ADV farkles, hand guards, spoked wheels, etc., and at 1200 cc, the Stelvio seems to line up pretty well against the 1200 GS and the Tiger Explorer. The Stelvio does come fitted with hard bags standard and a 8.5 gallon gas tank, pretty nice freebies at $15,990 when shopping against the competition. While not certain, I believe the Norge GT 8V shares the same 1200 mill with the Stelvio (tuned more toward performance?). For folks looking to stick to the pavement, I’m told the Norge is a viable Sport Touring alternative. Priced at $16,290, again, shaft drive, hard luggage, and at 566 lb. dry weight, there appears to be some advantages to choosing the Norge over the more hefty ST options available. However, I suspect that like the Stelvio, the Norge also lacks electronic cruise control, which is becoming more and more standard on touring bikes.

Speaking of touring bikes, had it not been for the Triumph Trophy posted on Craigslist, I probably wouldn’t have discovered this Moto Guzzi dealer. After perusing the Italian “wares”, I spent a few moments looking over the condition of the Trophy. As luck would have it, I somehow managed to take it for a spin around the block. While I don’t know if I’m ready to commit to a full blown touring bike, I unquestionably see a the allure; electronic everything, wind/rain protection, even heated seats (which is what I call “excess”)… Yeah I think I can live with one of these.

DCIM111GOPRO

Posted in Bikes | Tagged Italian, Italy, Moto Guzzi, Motorcycle, Norge, Stelvio, Triumph Motorcycles, Triumph Trophy, V7 Stone | 4 Comments

Progressive International Motorcycle Show, Chicago: Indian Motorcycle Highlights

Posted on March 21, 2016 by MotoADVR

While I’ve often said I’ve never met a motorcycle I didn’t like, I’m probably a certified Indian fanboy. Admittedly, I’m a little disappointed in the Thunderstroke 111 performance I’ve seen up to this point, but I assume it’s very similar to the anemic performance of the Victory Freedom 106 fitted with EPA compliant stock equipment. I rode the Chief last year at a demo event in Cincinnati; I found the Chief mill to be a bit more stalwart than the Victory 106 at higher RPMs, but honestly neither hold a candle to the new Scout power plant. I’m told there’s no replacement for displacement, but I’m a firm believer that lighter is faster; to each his own.

At any rate, it goes without saying that the Scout has been all the rage for custom builds over the past year, many of which were featured at the show. I don’t know if any of these builds are nearly as dirt worthy as the tires might suggest, but I like the aesthetics anyway.

Indian put together another good booth this year, with quite a few demo models to sit on, along with various customs. Indian’s lineup was mostly “paint and stickers” for 2016, without an major new models or changes, aside from the Scout 60, which I don’t qualify as “new”. Considering the size of Polaris, and the “youth” of (the new) Indian, that’s understandable; I’m very excited to have another competitor in the U.S., even if they only make cruisers. I took a few photos of the Thunderstoke 111 Engine cutaways last year in Cleveland, but it was nice to get new close-up shots this year with a better camera. It was even better to get some photos of the Scout cutaways as well; I’ve been curious how labor intensive the valve adjustments would be on the Scout. From what I can tell, I am again spoiled by Triumph twin as it appears to me that you may need to fuss with the cam chain in order to adjust the valves in the event they need it.

Considering the breadth of the Indian Chief line, I’m hoping to see additional variations of the Scout mill in coming years. Hopefully Indian will produce a sportier package with improved suspension and maybe even dual front disk.

Back to the IMS Chicago

Posted in Events & Rides | 4 Comments

Progressive International Motorcycle Show, Chicago: Ducati Motorcycles, Highlights of Desmodromic Supermodels

Posted on March 17, 2016 by MotoADVR

Right or wrong, I can’t fight the perception that Ducati is the epitome of (street) motorcycle performance. That being said, I can picture myself on an R1, but I don’t foresee myself in the saddle of a 1299 cc, tire ripping, Panigale; I just can’t fathom shelling out $20K (or more…) to own one, but I certainly wouldn’t turn down a test ride at a track day! Like KTM, there must be some mythical fairy dust sprinkled on these bikes that makes them ultra-light, ultra-fast… and consequently ultra-expensive. Maybe it’s all material lust on my part, maybe I’m just a fanboy, either way, I still think I appreciate them for what they are: imported performance machines that demand a hefty price tag… and probably some heavy maintenance. Or maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about?

Aside from all the hype (or perceived hype), I can’t help but to appreciate the Ducati styling, unorthodox valve train, and copious application of red paint. The Monster may be the quintessential street fighter (after the Speed Triple of course!), the Hypermotard strikes me as a gorgeous amalgamation of a Supermoto and a Superbike, and the Multistrada is a bullnose illustration of premium “Sport-Touring-Adventure”. At the same time, I can’t help but ask the question, what is the Diavel? I know several pieces have been written on his topic by the prominent moto-media outlets, but I’m as guilty as they are. The Diavel is another sexy Italian V-twin, but I’m not sure if it’s a “power-cruiser”, a high-performance standard or what? Anyway, these are all bikes I’d love to have, but none of which I could justify with my current, single-stall, stable.

And then there’s that Scrambler…

Lots of folks have “attributed” the retro-café-racer-scrambler movement as some sort of hipster side effect. I can’t argue that it may contribute, but with my “high and tight”, I’m a long way from a hipster and I’m all over this throw-back scene (maybe I’m just a cafe racer junkie?). In my opinion, Ducati has arrived just in time with an upscale “standard” motorcycle with neo-retro styling. I don’t think I’d shell out the cash for desmodromic valves just to drag it through the mud like a true “scrambler” but I would gladly rip through the twisties on that sporty 800, and I certainly can’t help but climb on the Scrambler band wagon… but again, I digress…

Oh, what about the show? Ducati put together another excellent booth, but aside from the Scrambler Sixty2, it appeared to be more of the usual suspects… and a Multi wearing knobbies. Rumor is something new is coming next year… We’ll see.

Back to the IMS Chicago

Posted in Events & Rides | Tagged Chicago, Ducati, IMS, International Motorcycle Show, Monster, Motorcycle, Multistrada, Scrambler | 8 Comments

Hiking and Mountain Biking: Rediscovering an Old Hobby

Posted on March 10, 2016 by MotoADVR

If my wife is reading this right now, she might injure herself rolling her eyes so hard. I have a few hobbies… to say the least (golf, hiking, motorcycles, ice hockey…). As a salty Army Veteran, my rucksack is like my security blanket; every chance to put it on is like reuniting with a long lost friend. Family vacation left me with a few more pounds on the waistline than I can stand, so it was time to venture back outdoors to tighten the belt a notch or two. While hiking a few weeks back I came across some bicycle trails that were well within riding distance of my house. The weather as of late hasn’t been completely conducive to riding (the trails are excessively muddy), so I’ve elected to hike a few days, taking photos of derelicts on the property. After a couple sunny days, I did finally knock the cobwebs off the trusty mountain bike that’s been sitting in the cellar for the last… ten or so years. I’m hardly in fighting shape, but I’m enjoying the ride anyway; Just figured I’d share some of the highlights from the past few weeks.

DCIM111GOPRO

DCIM111GOPRO

Posted in Opinion | Tagged Army, Bicycle, Derelict, Hiking, Mountain Bike, Rucksack, Trail Riding, Trails | 5 Comments

Progressive International Motorcycle Show, Chicago: KTM, Highlights from Team Orange

Posted on March 8, 2016 by MotoADVR

Like Ducati, I can’t help but feel like KTM runs some sort of unicorn factory. What do I mean, unicorn factory? Take the 1290 Super Adventure for instance, the 1301 cc engine makes 160 HP, while the bike weighs 505 pounds (Dry), and has almost 8 inches of suspension travel; how is that possible? The Tiger Explorer (that I’m also lusting after) has almost 100 extra pounds on the KTM, and it certainly has lower performance with its smaller displacement. I don’t know what unobtanium these Austrian machines are made of, but I can’t help but want to ride one.

Beyond the stat sheets, I know virtually nothing about KTM other than what I’ve read. While I have a close friend with a 990 Adventure, I don’t know anyone else personally with any of the street faring variants. That aside, I can’t help imagining what a gas that little RC 390 has to be in the twisties.

Despite all the hype about the big bore V-twins from KTM, it’s really the 690 Enduro that really catches my eye. I’ve mentioned before, would a 690 Enduro with a good seat make the ultimate adventure bike? Better performance and obviously more dirt worthy than the KLR (so I hear at least; ready to race right?), the 690 could feasibly tackle harsh off-road conditions while still humming along the freeway when needed (a little buzzy maybe?). This is all theoretical I guess, but it goes without saying, there’s a lot of “lore” surrounding these mystical KTM off-road machines (Dakar Rally results certainly don’t help the matter).

Back to the IMS Chicago

Posted in Events & Rides | Tagged Adventure, Adventure Bike, Chicago, International Motorcycle Show, KTM, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Events | 9 Comments

Progressive International Motorcycle Show, Chicago: Yamaha Motorcycles Highlights

Posted on March 2, 2016 by MotoADVR

Stumbling into the Yamaha booth I was immediately taken by the DT-07 flat tracker display. Flat track is on my “to-do” list this year, hopefully I’ll get a chance to see this concept make its way onto the track for real.

Stepping around the corner, I was gripped by the sights of the new XSR900. I had seen various news blurbs about the concept, but I didn’t know that Yamaha was actually going to field this retro (yet very modern) naked bike. I was truly impressed that Yamaha had taken the FZ-09 chassis and threw in all the amenities of the FJ-09 (radial brakes, adjustable suspension, etc.) on an otherwise “throwback” motorcycle, i.e. the Triumph Bonneville. I suppose Yamaha took a page from Ducati’s book, following suit with Ducati’s Scrambler. Regardless, I love naked bikes and retro styling, I’m sold; with a $9,500 sticker, that’s a deal on a classy (and loaded) 900 standard bike. Suddenly I find myself asking… can I make this thing a Yamaha Scrambler?

Yamaha also brought a sweet cutaway exhibit of the new R1. Normally I fall asleep when the media starts touting the blistering speed and performance of the latest and greatest liter bike (The Panigale is beautiful, but for $26k… get real…) but for some reason the YZF-R1 has grabbed my attention ($16k doesn’t hurt either). Despite my Triumph leanings, there’s no doubt I’d ride home on a Yamaha; for the right price I’d even leave the Triumph at the dealership. I’ve said it publicly before, while Suzuki, Honda, et al are sitting around on their laurels, Yamaha is making the bikes that the market wants and for the most competitive prices (timing on the FJ-09 was nearly perfect, sporty yet affordable touring option, just as Triumph pulled the Tiger 1050 out of the U.S. market); I’m anxious to see how this plays out. At any rate, I don’t see myself parking a sports bike on the porch anytime soon, but there’s no denying I would take home an R1 if I had the space and the means.

Speaking of the FJ-09, it’s certainly not the dirt oriented adventure bike I really want, but it’s a viable, budget conscious, alternative. I think I would be overly uncomfortable on most naked bikes riding long distance, and many of the true sport touring bikes are well north of $15k, the FJ-09 is a deal at $10,500. If I could just convince Yamaha to drop the XT660Z Tenere into the U.S…

I also have a soft place in my heart for the FZ-07. While I love the sound of a triple (i.e. the FZ-09), the lower weight (and lower price tag) of the FZ-07 also deserves some airtime. Maybe that Yamaha Scrambler should spin off from that flat tracker concept?

Back to the IMS Chicago

Posted in Events & Rides | Tagged Chicago, International Motorcycle Show, Motorcycle, Progressive International Motorcycle Shows, Yamaha, Yamaha Motorcycles | 5 Comments

Progressive International Motorcycle Show, Chicago: BMW Motorrad Highlights

Posted on February 29, 2016 by MotoADVR

Right or wrong, in my mind, BMW is synonymous with quality; despite recent recalls, which are frankly rampant in the automotive industry as a whole right now for whatever reason. At any rate, while I don’t particularly care for most of the BMW styling, I cannot deny that often times “you get what you pay for”, which in this case typically means reliability and a motorcycle loaded to the gills with options (at least, that’s the perception…). I’m not chomping at the bit for a new Beemer by any means, but I wouldn’t pass up a good deal on a used one if the opportunity struck.

This year it appeared to me that BMW has made minimal upgrades to the GS line (maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about), but made big strides in the “Adventure/Sport Touring” category with the new S 1000 XR. True to form, I’m a bigger fan of the Triumph Tiger Sport (1050… not available in the U.S. for some unknown reason…), or the Ducati MultiStrada, but the press seems to love the sporty new XR. I can’t really speak for most of the other sport or naked bikes, so I’ll just post the photos…

I snapped a quick photo of the RnineT at last year’s IMS in Cleveland, but this year I couldn’t help taking a closer look. The clear coated, brushed metal tank looks fabulous on this throwback café racer. There’s simply no way I could justify the expense of the new RnineT ($16k…), but I cannot help drooling over the look, performance, and shaft drive; undoubtedly I’ll be even more enamored with the recently released RnineT Scrambler when I see it in the flesh.

The (BMW) pinnacle of quality over aesthetics is probably the R 1200 RT in my mind. While I’m convinced I need a bike I can really get dirty, I realize that someday I want a hardcore (sport) touring machine, and the 1200 RT is unmistakably on that list. While I don’t find the styling emotional stirring in the slightest, the booth representative didn’t call the 1200RT BMW’s flagship bike for nothing. I imagine there are perks to the K 1600 GTL models, but I admit I find the opposed twin (and the price point…) of the RT more alluring.

Back to IMS Chicago

Posted in Events & Rides | Tagged BMW Motorrad, Chicago, International Motorcycle Show, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Events | 3 Comments

Progressive International Motorcycle Show 2016, Chicago: The Preview

Posted on February 23, 2016 by MotoADVR

Last year I wrote extensively about the IMS show in Cleveland. As I mentioned last week, I missed the Cleveland show this year while I was soaking up the sun in sandy, gulf side Florida, so I took my kitchen pass and headed over to Chicago for the big Midwest show.

In the course of about four and a half hours, I shot almost 600 photos; sadly, I know I missed at least one. I’m currently in the process of going through the photos and sorting out the good ones; I’ll have them posted as soon as possible, along with a few anecdotes about the booths and so on.

IMS Chicago: BMW Motorrad

IMS Chicago: Yamaha Motorcycles

IMS Chicago: KTM Motorcycles

IMS Chicago: Ducati Motorcycles

IMS Chicago: Indian Motorcycles

IMS Chicago: Triumph Motorcycles

IMS Chicago: Harley Davidson Motorcycles

IMS Chicago: Honda, Victory, EBR, Kawasaki, and Royal Enfield

Posted in Events & Rides | Tagged BMW Motorrad, Chicago, Ducati, Event, Harley Davidson, Honda, IMS, Indian Motorcycles, International Motorcycle Show, Motorcycle, Triumph Motorcycles, Yamaha | 12 Comments

The Harley Davidson Museum: The History of Milwaukee Muscle

Posted on February 19, 2016 by MotoADVR

I realized that I was going to miss the International Motorcycle Show in Cleveland while I was on vacation with family in Florida a few weeks back. After talking things over with the “boss” I decided to make the trip to Chicago to see the next closest show. What does this have to do with Harley Davidson? Looking at the map and the required drive time, I rapidly discovered that for an extra hour’s drive, I could also see the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee the same weekend. While not posted on the blog’s Moto Bucket List, I’ve had the Harley Museum on my Moto Bucket List Pinterest board for some time now. Love them or hate them, Harley Davidson plays a very key part in the history of motorcycles, especially in the United States. Despite the fact that I’d like to see a non-cruiser chassis come out of Milwaukee, I cannot deny that I love the old Harleys. I’m a sucker for vintage, I can’t help it.

From the freeway Milwaukee strikes me as my kind of town, full of industry, rich history, and street corner pubs; at least, that’s what it seemed like at 60 MPH. Arriving at the museum in Milwaukee, it was a whopping 14F outside. On a normal day I would have probably wandered the grounds and taken more photos of the museum and surrounding buildings, especially the rusty water tower in the parking lot. Out front, I snapped the obligatory photograph of the hill climb statue before diving indoors for warmth. I was greeted at the front desk with a smile and asked if I was a member of the Harley Owners Group (HOG). Clearly in the tank for Triumph, I am not currently a HOG member, so I paid $20 to tour the museum; however HOG members should note that free entry to the Harley Museum is included in the annual membership fee.

Without a long dissertation of my tour of the museum, I’ll say that I’m glad I went, and I would go again (although I think $15 might have been more reasonable, but things are CHEAP in Dayton). Again, despite my differing tastes in modern motorcycles, I love the old flathead’s; if I could (affordably) buy an old WLA tomorrow, I would, and you better believe it will end up Olive Drab, with a big white star on the tank and a rifle holster on the forks. The Harley history and museum displays are excellent (I assume every model they’ve made is in the building, although I know very few), and if you’re a true die hard, you can also take an audio tour for a little extra cash. In the end, I realized I didn’t take enough photos (lighting isn’t the best…), I imagine there will be another go round, hopefully even including a factory tour on a weekday.