The Best from SEMA 2008

Back in 1999 a friend introduced me to Kevin Beard and told me about his new company called Piloti. I of course would be yet another to help correct people's pronunciation of the company's name for well into the future.

While the name may confuse some, once you wear a pair of these shoes you are certain to become a fan. In fact I have worn them on the show floor of SEMA and CES since 1999 because due to their design they are the most comfortable shoes I own.

I wear my various styles of Piloti's everywhere, well everywhere except riding because Piloti has never had motorcycle boots.

Since 2003 I've asked Kevin every year when he would be making motorcycle boots and finally last year he said. "Well we have been getting a lot of requests for a boot that could be worn while riding and would be good to then wear all day at work, so we will see."

This year as I walked up to the booth Kevin was talking with Bob Bondurant, so I spoke with Kristin Z who pointed me to the new Moto Boots. Once Kevin was done with Bob he turned to me immediately and said "Did you see!" to which I smiled and golf clapped.

So, the best thing this year from SEMA is the introduction of the new Piloti Motorcycle Boots which should be available in January of 2009.

I'll post up all the in depth details about these boots soon, but for now drool over the styles shown including a Ducati Red! (I call them Honda Red.)

See the Photo Gallery - Click Here!

Heated Grips

Today we had another tech day at my garage and it was centered around heated grips.

Dean from the South West Rides website was on hand and personally helped install about 5 sets of grips. I think a total of 8 got installed and several more folks bought a setbto install later.

It was fun times for all, motorcycle talk and plenty off cool bikes on hand. I don't think it could have been a nicer day. Much better than
hanging out at pre-Super Bowl parties anyway!

Arrggghh!!!

Yes, that is a broken tail lamp.

Sometimes it doesn't pay to do things yourself. Putting the Uly on a lift proved to be a lot more difficult than it should have been tonight. I didn't take a picture of my poor beauty laying on her side, buy there she was.

Lucky for me she did not hit my other bike and the damage is minimal. I guess I'll ride her to get new tires next week instead of taking the wheels.

Still Sick - But, Look At THIS!

Yea, I am still getting hammered by whatever this Virus is that has been running around, but I am getting better.


Meanwhile the rest of the world is rocking right along and check out what Buell Brought to the dance yesterday!!

Yes, a lowered version of the Ulysses with a fender. Something that the Buell forums have been begging for.

Of course, one day later and they are all posting how they would have made the bike differently and what Buell did wrong.

I just love how people get what they want and then they don't want it. Will wonders never cease?

Reality VS Retail

So, I saw this bike a couple weeks ago.



The bike was a BMW F800S, piloted by Christian Pfeiffer in Las Vegas. He display on the bike showing it and his capabilities got me a little excited about the bike, so I thought I would go try it out.

Today I stopped by Victory BMW my local BMW dealer to give the little sucker a spin.

Well......the bike we get to ride and Christian's bike are a little different I think. The F800S is an awesome bike, well mannered, has good throttle response and is very flickable, but not the hooligan bike that I was hoping for. Oh well, we can always dream, right?

By the way, the BMW F800S is quite possibly the perfect commuter bike. It is agile, responsive and sized in a manner perfect for getting around town and through traffic.

Best Of CES! (And notable others)

First of all let's talk about the most exciting product I saw on the show floor this year. It is not a huge product in size, but that is what makes it so special.

Over the years the one fear that stands out above all others for motorcycle riders is the theft of their bike. True, you can spend a lot of money on alarms and you can even add LoJack, but the fact of the matter is that if you are out of range of hearing your alarm and your bike gets stolen the criminal has the jump on keeping your bike. Heck, LoJack only works after it has been turned on and we all know it is a short 4 hours to the border.

So, what we all want is a device that we can track in real time and something that would alert us if our bike was moving when it shouldn't be, right? Well in a nutshell that is what ZoomBak claims their device does. Not only does it cover my wish list of protection, it does it at a very affordable price.

The ZoomBak costs $199 for the Dog unit or $249 for the car unit. Additionally you will buy tracking services at about $10 a month in bulk. It works off of both GPS and Cell/Paging networks so coverage should not be an issue. The system uses a web interface and also can work via text from a cellphone. The system allows for Geo-Fencing, which is an electronic way of creating a zone in which you define that you would want alerted if the device (on your bike of course) leaves that area. You can make the Geo-Fence very small and you can also create one on the fly. That's the key to this product, because for the first time ever you could feel safe leaving a bike in the parking lot.



Hopefully we will have a review unit in hand soon so that we can validate the claims. The promise of the ZoomBak device is something if true, would make me personally encourage its purchase by every rider who wants to keep their bike.

You can check up on the product and its stats at Click for ZoomBak Once we get a unit in hand we will let you know how the product claim line up to reality.

Also, for more photos check the gallery at Click for Gallery

Oh, and the best thing....ZoomBak is shipping now!

Other than the ZoomBak there were a few things that peaked my interest, although unlike that product most were not yet shipping.

While walking around I saw this little camera.


Not a real looker this product, but it certainly is feature packed. It shoots at the resolution needed for YouTube type posts and it is actually motion activated, oh and for $199 they say it will come with a remote. They were also showing it as a personal protection device, but what it shows me is that video capture devices will be getting smaller and even more affordable down the line. Good news if you want to hang them off your forks.




I had mentioned that everyone is getting into Nav and this is an example. Yes, that is a PSP, with a Nav module. Is it shipping? Of course not, but hey it could, right?

One thing is for certain, things are getting smaller and a whole lot cooler!

CES Roundup!

Well, better late than never, right?

I was doing great after CES until Sunday night when I developed a cough after the Supercross event. Well, after a few days in bed I still feel like crap, but it is thing I do to bring you breaking information. Just feel my pain!!

CES 2008

I've been attending the CES show for just over 20 years now and the one thing that struck me about this year (and several others in attendance) was that there was nothing that earth shattering at this year's show. I mean yeah, Panasonic showed off a plasma screen larger than a truck, but big deal it is not really usable.

On the whole I've gotten a lot better at looking at products and not getting too excited until I get the answer to the ever important question. When will it ship? as in years past the answers varied, but the vast majority started with one of the following.

"We are shooting for..."
"Should be around..."
"Spring time delivery..."

All meaning of course....not now.



With that understanding in mind I usually don't even bother with stuff that isn't shipping yet, but even looking at those products, nothing exciting really stood out. Heck, even the booth babes were lacking this year, and I mean if you don't have any exciting product, the least you should do is have good looking women to talk to, right?

Anyway, of the categories that matter to us the motorcycle riders I can say this.

Navigation -

Garmin is still king, both in product design and how the mapping interface works. If you want to look for an alternative you can find one as I think I saw about 10 new companies that were showing Nav systems. The only real motorcycle specific units were Tom-Tom and Garmin.



Digital Media Players -

Holy Crap! There are a ton of these, in all sizes and shapes. In you are not on the iWagon I would suggest looking at Creative or SanDisc as both have player options that are small and well suited for motorcycle use.

Best Of Show

I scoured the halls looking for a products that would stand out above all others and believe it or not one stood out far above all the rest. So much so that I will write another entry just to explain.

The product? It is a little active tracking device called the ZoomBak. And it is unequivocally the best product shown at CES for the motorcyclist.

Phoenix SUPERCROSS!

Supercross came to Phoenix and put on quite a show. While the
main event was all James Stewart, the Superlites stole the show. Good times, with good friends and $40 for beer and some food.

Do Cars Make People Rude?

Yesterday I had a great day, but one particular bad part of that day was dealing with a downed rider.



The rider's name is Josh and how he came upon his misfortune that day it not really of concern, he ended up off the side of the road injured.

As riders, if we see someone down we stop, it is simple as that. There is no thought process other than , get off the road safely and get to the downed rider to make sure they are OK, or help them.

Yesterday, I had something that I never really thought about brought firmly into focus. Drivers of cages (cars and trucks) when they see a downed rider must not give a shit. I saw a least 30 vehicles drive by as we were helping Josh (probably more as I was not looking and counting them all.) I guess they were thinking, "Oh, stupid guy" or "Those things are dangerous." Who knows.

One thing is for sure, not a single person in a car or truck stopped to help, nor did anyone even bother to stop and ask if we needed help. I had to send one rider 5 miles down the road to get my wife in my truck to take Josh a mere 3/4's of a mile to the town of Tortilla Flat. Maybe people in this day and age do not realize that there still are areas that have no cell service or even telephone service, but for 10 miles in either direction of the one road to Tortilla Flat, there is none.

So, if ever find yourself driving by an accident scene and you think maybe you should ask if all is OK, stop and ask!


BTW, Josh is doing well, I say this for the rider's....who always care.

New Year's Resolutions

In the final hours of 2007 there will be many people making resolutions. Some will be the normal, lose weight, eat better, drink less and of course visit family more.


For me personally I am very happy sending into 2008. I have some personal goals that I have set for 2008 and some professional ones as well. Goals are important of course and when you set them you should make sure you have a plan to hit them and that they are realistic in the first place.

Whatever your resolutions may be I wish you luck in meeting them and please have a Happy and Safe New Year!

Making Things Right

Cleaning up a road is never a bad thing, right?



I know that I don't think that way. And neither do at least five other guys that helped me clean up one of our favorite road before the hordes of bikers were to hit it on New Year's Day.

Tortilla Flat, which is on AZ88 is a traditional spot to meet on Jan. 1 and being as such I was worried that the condition of the road in after the most recent storms would leave riders who are unfamiliar with the road in a bad way.

That bad way was lying in the road in the form of gravel and sand.

Well after today the road is a little better and a lot safer. I know that personally I will be happy for that!

Ready For More Riders?

Well, with assassinations (is it really an assassination when the person holds no office?) and all the other turmoil it seems we are headed for $4 a gallon for gasoline by Spring.



That means more people will be looking into better economy vehicles (read motorcycles.)

Hopefully as more people start riding, non-riders will start to see riders more often. Of course if we get a whole bunch of new riders maybe some day we can hope for a national lane splitting law, that will get us out of breathing fumes and off to cleaner air. I mean, that's the kind of green I am looking for.

As the year winds down, I am excited for 2008. I know, I have already stated that, but honestly if I could fast forward a few days, I probably would.

The Countdown Begins

Yep folks it is that time of year, things are winding down and the end is near.



Not the end of days, just the end of the year. Yup, it is time to hang a new calendar and start fresh with a new year.

2008 holds promise as all years do, but honestly 2008 should prove to be a stellar year for fans of motorcycles and riding in the US of A.

The coming year will have more racing here in the US and even better coverage from abroad.

Now, if I could just find the police stealth mode on my bikes, everything would be fine.

Christmas Rocks

The best gifts are the surprise gifts that you never expect. Things
that you think are totally cool, but would never ask for. This year I
got the coolest ever from my wife. Heck, she even gave it to me early
so I could use it at track day. Nothing beats a cool pit vehicle. Now
does it?

Track Day Fun

Sometimes riders take it off the street. They do it for a variety of reasons, to go fast, to have bragging rights and then my favorite reason, to practice skills.

Practicing in an environment that is void of other traffic, pedestrians and the police has advantages. Attention still needs to be allocated to road conditions, but since the path is repetitive it certainly is not at the level of normal street riding.

If you ever want to hone your skills, practice in a safe controlled environment such as a Track Day.

I spent Sunday hanging with some friends and support TEAM AZ's track day by providing a tent and chairs for a new rider clinic. Hopefully this will grow in the future, because supporting safe riding is never a bad idea.

Oh, and in case you are wondering, that is One Fuzzy from the SWR Forums railing through the corner!

Dab Nabit!!

If you ride enough you meet these guys, and they usually have their
hands out asking for money.

This guy was actually nice in the fact he gave me and my friend a "Wasting Finite Resourses" ticket. It is a way in AZ to collect cash without assigning points. They get revenue and we get no points. I wish all tickets were like this.

It was an awesome day for a ride, maybe just a little chilly, but awesome none the less.

Riding Does Have Risk

Practice practice practice and always ride within your limits, leaving extra space and time for any unforeseen complications or conditions....why?

Because you never know when you will need that extra limit to be able to save yourself. If you ride at the complete edge you'll never have a chance.

Take a look here as a friend follows me on a simple ride. I even warn the guys behind me of the road conditions ahead near the end and even knowing the road throws me a loop. If I would have hauled ass into this corner the outcome would have been a different film for sure.

Be aware, ride safe and live to ride another day!

Bike Night

Hanging out, shooting the shit and having fun. Sometimes riding is
about the destination.

And, the friends you meet on the way.

Tonight I stopped by the TT Roadhouse in Scottsdale, AZ just for a
different pace.

We never listen, do we?

I think sometimes being a rider has to do with going places that just
don't or won't go. I had to not go to one of my favorite spots today
just to get this shot. But hey, it is the little things, right?

848 Unveiled!

Chris Rice of Ducati Superstore in Phoenix, AZ unveils the new Ducati
848.

GoPro Motorsports Unboxed!

I just received a GoPro Motorsports for review, you can find all the photos at the link below.

Click for Photos

Additionally, I will be posting an initial review in the next couple day and a more intense review later.

Yeah, Yeah East Coast, Laugh It Up!

I always say we have 360 days of riding in Arizona, and that is true.

The issue is that those 5 days usually fall on the weekend and on a day I could actually ride.


GRRRRRRR!



Image from weather.com

Bike Night Rocks!

Yes, I live I'm the best place on the world to enjoy bike night
outdoors in December!

This particular location is Hooters in Mesa, Arizona. The local Harley Dealership Chester's holds a bike night every Thursday and this one had the patio and inside packed.

Outside were a good 40 bikes of all sorts.

Wings, beer and Hooter's, does it get any better?

Happiness Delivered Daily

It is sight that brings glee to many a rider when thy are tied up
working and cannot ride.

Even though you are not riding at least you are getting new stuff!

Early Christmas!

About a week ago a friend of mine Dean asked if I could help hide a bike that he was buying for his wife Lisa and if I could also help clean it up before he gave it to her.

I of course had no issue, as I like to clean things and garage space I have.

So, Friday night he called up and even though it was pouring rain we headed over about 15 miles from my house to pick the bike up. Dean use the cover story that I would be helping him work on an electrical issue with his bike to geet away from the house.

The Bike was a 1998 Suzuki S1200 Bandit, not in bad shape, but very very dirty.

She spent the night and next day in my garage.



On Sunday Dean came over and we toiled away restoring the Bandit to her former glory. About 5 hours later the results were sparkling and Dean (being too excited to wait weeks more) took the bike home to his wife.

About 20 minutes later I got the text message that she LOVED the bike.

Since Dean had left his bike at my house he and Lisa returned later. She was beaming with the happiness of new ownership and I certainly can't wait for her to join us on some rides.

Merry Christmas Lisa!

Yuck!

Ok, so as much as I don't mind riding on the rain, it can kill a group
ride.

So, my day looks dark...if only I had a waterproof video camera....Hmmmm......

Riding and Rain

"If want to cure your fear of rain, take a trip across the US, that will solve the issue!"

That's what I said to a friend tonight when he commented that he didn't like riding in rain.



Rain strikes fear into the hearts of many riders, you and old and also those will little to a lot of experience. The real key to conquering the fear really comes down to simply riding in the rain. Lucky for me I got caught in a downpour very early in my riding career and although I will admit that riding in sunshine is much better, I will not hesitate to jump on a bike (properly prepared of course) and head out into the rain. I've had full 11 hour days in the rain. Once you understand your gear, it is really quite refreshing.

So, the next time you are worried about rain, jump on your bike, take it easy and take a ride around the block. You'll find it is not that big a deal and before you know it, you will be a rain rider as well.

New Parts Rock

There is nothing like a new part to get a motorcyclist's heart purring.



And if you take that part and customize it to match your bike, well all the better.

I can't stand to half-ass a job and I honestly like to making things like a factory would or better. I mean the cheap looking stuff is for others. I want strength and reliability.

Do it once and do it right!!

Repairs / Maintenace SUCKS!

I've had issues with my Honda and with my Buell. My Honda has spent a good 3 months in the shop at different times, basically sitting waiting for someone to decide something. My Buell about 3 weeks for the same thing.

Only once did I actually get something fixed that I did not have to do myself, but I thought I would post up why this happens.



I recently posted this response to a guy who is having an issue with a chaffed wire on his wiring harness. The quick and proper solution would be to replace the harness. Of course that would mean that someone would have to cover the cost and admit it was not perfect to start with....here is why.

The high level of seeming incompetence is in reality a mixture of indifference and our wonderful legal system.



Dealers want to sell bikes, do regular service and not deal with issues that require any thought. They think that any issues with design (even though they put bikes together) should be dealt with by the manufacturer. And if they didn't put the bike together or sell it to you, their attitude is one of a hurt child, who has to do their siblings chores while they are sick.

This attitude comes from years of consumers demanding cheaper prices, which has stripped a lot of profitability away from shops. That profitability used to pay for a couple extra techs, or allowed the salary of a really good one. That money is gone, and it paid for the time it takes to troubleshoot. Now, a bike that needs a few hours of looking at to isolate an issue has to wait, because without other work being done, the shop will not exist. That and what tech wants to work for free?

On the legal side we have the manufacturer.

They set up a repair guide and offer suggestions and a path for troubleshooting. If they vary from that, they must document it, and follow up to make sure it is not a widespread problem. IF it is a widespread problem, they must then issue a recall.

The bottom line is, if they replace your harness, they are admitting (or would appear to be admitting in a court of law) to a widespread problem and would be liable for that repair on ALL ST1300s, not just yours.

In the long run, your potential lawsuit for death or injury would cost less....(Sad, but true fact or the US legal system today.)

It is not about doing the morally correct thing, it is about doing the proper thing to remain a business that supports hundreds of thousands of employees.

Getting Chilly

Yes, the shadows are getting longer and the days shorter.

It is that time of year when the mercury doesn't move to the top of the tube here in the Valley of the Sun and for those of us who have been here long enough, we know the season is upon us.

Winter you say? No, not that mere meteorological reference to cold and dry, but the worst type of season for riders.

Snow Bird Season!

Yes, the idiots that have no clue how to drive, where they are going or even what to do in a parking lot when they get there. Not only do they not see motorcycles at all while on the road, they don't see them in parking lots as they back up into them.

What your plates folks and watch your back as well.

Now is the season to know your enemy and understand their actions. Obviously out of state plates are a danger sign, but watch for those Red AZ plates as well. A sure sign of a car that sits the summer and gets used in the Winter.

Idaho, Iowa and Ottawa are the big 3 dangers, know them well!!

Another to watch for is the rental cars, you can tell them as rental by the FLT in the expiration location on the tags.

While being aware of these slow moving obstacles the real danger is in other drivers and soccer moms looking to road rage their way around them. Watch yourself and plan an escape at all times.

Also, as I said before, watch your back, or more appropriately your mirrors. These cotton balls like to bump you because they get chatting with the other cotton balls in their land yachts, drift forward and bump into you.

Let's be careful out there folks, its open season!!

Black Friday Ride

It is amazing how cold it can be in the morning here in the desert.

Today was yet another great day for a ride. A little chilly at 59 degrees in the morning, but things eventually warmed up.

Who wants to waste a day like this on shopping? Instead a group of us headed out to Tortilla Flat to have some good grub and chat a bit.

Then back to the house to set up Christmas decorations, a yearly tradition.

Hmm, Christmas is coming soon!

Birdman Gets Revenge!!!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Day Morning Ride

Nothing like a nice Holiday Morning for a beautiful ride.

Getting It Right

Today I continued working with Race Tech to get the Forks on the ST just right. I had been experiencing some pogoing and some instability in corners at speed. Lenny Albin the guru made some modifications after we fought with some of the Honda design shortcomings.



After a long day and rebuilding the forks about 5 times we think we are closer.


I did not get to do a full shake down ride as the day ran to night, but will give her a try tomorrow.






Can't wait!!

Superstores Announced

Steve Walker (pictured here) announced today that both Ducati
Superstore and Triumph Superstore are official. Look for stock in the
Phoenix location within the next 10 days.

www.ducatisuperstore.net or www.triumphsuperstore.net

Ducati & Triumph Superstore
5640 North 7th Street Phoenix AZ 85014
Phone: 602-864-1437 Fax: 602-274-4604

Look here for updates from the store.

Riding with Friends Rocks!!

Yes, it is true, riding by yourself can be fun, but add a great friend and you end up having even more of a blast.



Take my rides with this awesome woman, many know her as OneFuzzy (Stephanie,) she is not only a great rider but a blast to be around.



I mean how else would I get my very own Power Ranger Portrait!







Thanks Steph, can't wait for our next ride!

Tech Day Live

Raven is the first to show!

Coffee is on!

Mark and Chris arrive.

Dan (danyon_canyon) and Tom (Dr. Tom) arrive.

More stuff to buy!

Disasembly begins.

Start of throttle body sync.

Clutch fluid change.

Beginning of Valve check.

Valve covers off. Dace says the timing hole cover is a 6mm and the crankshaft is a 10mm.

Ready to troubleshoot idle issue.

Full house.

Drazil checks his TB starter sync.

Mark explains radiator flushing.

After the last photo I had to start getting my hands dirty. I put the camera down and help to balance Dace's throttle bodies and then we got to the task of putting the bike together.

All buttoned up somewhere around 7 p.m. Dace (the first to arrive) was the last to leave with Damion (DZSV) and Drazil. A full day of activity and lots of fun.

Everything is back to normal, so it is probably time to rest for a while.

See ya soon!!

The Beginning

Welcome to my Life!

Here I will chronicle my riding adventures in the best place ever for riding. With at least 360 ridable days a year the South West rocks!!

Check in daily for what I do and be sure to check out
www.swrides.com!
as well.

Look for me on the road and be sure to say hi!