It's going to be a long summer

So I got my first taste of summer riding yesterday. Of course, it's only going to get worse. Riding home from work yesterday, heading down the 17, decided to pass the exit to get to the 202 and just continue on to the 10 East. I'm just coming up on the 19th Ave exit and I see it. The line of cars, truck, 18-wheelers. Sitting. Not moving. Of course, I was in the far left lane and couldn't hop off the freeway in time so there I sat. Oh, I'd move about 6 feet every thirty seconds or so but the only other thing I could think to do with my time was stare intently at my temperature reading. It was like learning to count all over again, saying out loud how hot the bike was getting with every change in number.

I decided that it would be best to head to the shoulder and let the bike cool down a bit. This was after it had reached about 30 degrees in excess of normal. I got onto the right shoulder, shut her down and hopped off the bike. It was hot. That 105 degrees felt like 117. There were no bridges, no signs, nothing from which to seek shade. About 5 minutes after I stopped, a trucker driving by handed me a bottle of water out of the cab of his truck. It was so cold, so delicious and definitely a life saver.

Time to re-enter traffic, I suppose. I hopped back on the trusty SV, edged my way back into traffic but the guy behind me didn't like that much and thus felt the need to get right up on my rear wheel with every stop. I had enough. Despite knowing that the shoulder is not to be traveled on, I hopped back over and began cruising at a responsible 10 miles per hour, almost as a way to apologize to the motorists I was passing. I decided that this would be a better option since 1) I didn't want to either break down or get hit, thus causing more traffic issues on the freeway and 2) I figured running the bike at 10mph would at least allow it the chance to cool down a little.

This plan took me about 3/4 of a mile until I saw the moto-cop in front of me, about 50 yards up the shoulder. I figured that would be a good time to migrate back into traffic and luckily, we finally passed the accident and I was on my way.

Lessons Learned:

• Buy a hydrating vest. Now.
• Always bring water no matter where I'm going.
• The shoulder is a viable escape route from tailgating cagers in a stand-still.
• Truckers are awesome.
• Water is awesome.
• Motorcycles overheat quickly when just sitting.
• Cagers hate it when you try to get in front of them, even if they're sitting perfectly still.
  

Becoming a MSF Riding Coach Part 2

Well this is the final part for this blog. I decided to withdraw my application to be a MSF Riding Coach. After I read the enrollment agreement I had several concerns; once signed the enrollment agreement is a formal contract that I would be bound to. I felt if things happened that were out of my control, I would be required by the contract to pay additional funds or may find myself on Judge Judy.

I want to express my appreciation to Team Arizona and Earle Lloyd for their support and providing me the opportunity to become a MSF Riding Coach. 

Also a special thanks for Dean Rachwitz for his support.

I encourage anyone who is interested in becoming a MSF Riding Coach to go for it.

Some insider financial advice

If I could give one piece of advice to a new rider, it would be "buy stock in whoever makes gear shifters". Honestly, I've had my '03 Suzuki SV650S for all of 5 weeks and already have the third gear shifter on there ... that I know about.

Okay, okay so it's my fault but still. They don't make these things very strong. I laid my bike down on day 2 of ownership. The nub on the gear shifter busted off so I had to replace it. Understandable enough. Once my buddy and I put the new one on, I got this crazy idea that "hey, I should know how to pick up my own bike, or at least know I can do so, in case I lay it down and no one's there to help pick it up" so ... yeah, you can see where I'm going with this. We lay the bike down as slowly and gently as possible and I pick it up without a problem. Good times, I can do it. Good to know. Except now the gear shifter is bent all the way in to the frame. Awesome.

We bent it back out but it was never straight. Well yesterday, while I was in a little maintenance clinic at a friend's place, we attempted to straighten it out when ... SNAP! So we made a run to the Suzuki dealership, bought the last one they had in stock and installed it. The plus side is that the gear shifter is now completely straight and works like a charm. The down side is that my bank account doesn't like gear shifters one bit.

So yes, do your research. Buy your stock. At this rate, I'll be contributing to your children's college fund oh, maybe 18 more times this year.

Becoming a MSF Riding Coach Part 1

Not sure how many parts this might be since I have not yet been accepted. It is my understanding there are over 30 applicants to TEAM AZ for their 12 openings. I have tried to do everything I can to properly put myself in contention for one of those 12 spots. I have secured the days off needed for the two 4 day training sessions, replied to all emails promptly and professionally. I received the application today, filled it out and took it immediately to the post office as the post-it note on the application said " Need this back ASAP for consideration".

I've been riding sport bikes for 28 years I've learned the hard way about how to ride the corners with 3 accidents in the mountains, I've also learned the easy way by taking a Keith Code Superbike School class in 1982, reading books by Keith Code, Lee Parks, Reg Pridmore, Nick Ienatsch. During my daily commutes to work I try to work on my riding skills. I even think you can learn some things by watching the professional roadracers on TV or DVD. Learning how to ride smooooooth is the key to riding well.

The reason I want to be a Riding Coach is riding a motorcycle "safely" is not something that comes easy, you have to work at it to become good. People need to understand that there is considerably more concentration and involvement needed to ride a motorcycle than to drive a car. Additionally, to ride safely, maintenance of one's motorcycle is extremely important along with wearing the proper safety gear.

I enjoy riding motorcycles and helping people. I am involved in training and educating people in my present position and those I teach say I am a good teacher, as I don't just answer their question, I provide the details so they understand the concept. I can present the same information in different ways to connect with different individuals to ensure they understand. I also listen to them and try to read their expressions which can tell you things they might not want to say.

Once I become a properly trained and certified instruction it will offer me the opportunity to help a wider audience and it will give me the opportunity to be a better rider. 

So from here, the next step is to wait until I hear, if accepted the first training is April 22nd - 25th. So hopefully part 2 will be about that experience.

He's on the Road to the MotoGP Championship

In my prior blog I wrote that the road for American Road Racers to get a MotoGP Championship will require them to start out in the 125cc GP Class. Well there just so happens to be an American that has taken that road, Stevie Bonsey. Stevie joined the 125cc GP class in '07; Stevie is the first American since Alan Scott in the '80's to ride a full season in the 125 class. Stevie is also the first American  Jason De Salvo in '99 to ride in the 125 class.

Like many American World Champions before him Stevie started his racing career dirt track racing. After attending the Freddie Spencer racing school he was hooked on road racing and soon after caught the attention of the Red Bull KTM bosses. Successful testing with Red Bull in '06 put him on the Red Bull KTM team in '07 where he finished 25th in his first season.

In '08 he is riding #51 for the Degraaf Grand Prix team, his standings after the first three races is 7th with 23 points, 36 points out of first. His season started out badly in Qatar with a DNF, in Jerez he placed 6th and in Estoril he qualified on the front row in P2 and went on to finish 4th after a terrible start that put him back to 13th.

I watched the Estoril race and Stevie did a awesome job but did have a few bobbles. At one point he had just taken over 4th place with 3 other riders behind him. He must have missed a shift and went from 4th to 7th, but was back in 4th within one lap. I believe if he had gotten a better start he would have been battling for the lead as his lap time were right there with the leaders.

I look for great things from Stevie this season and as he moves on to 250's and eventually MotoGP. He could be the next American MotoGP Champion.

The Road to a MotoGP Championship.

MotoGP (Formerly known as Grand Prix Motorcycle Championships) has come a long ways since the days of American domination with Kenny Roberts 78 - 80, Freddie Spencer - 83 & 85 , Eddie Lawson - 84, 86, 88 & 89 , Wayne Rainey - 90 - 92, and Kevin Schwantz 93 Champion. 

All these riders had 1 thing in common, dirt track experience. On the dirt they learned how to slide a bike controlling their cornering and steering the bike with the rear tire. They transfered that knowledge and experience to the extremely difficult to ride TZ750's and 500cc two strokes. Futhermore they had Kenny Roberts to mentor them, he changed the style of GP racing forever being the first to hang off the motorcycle.

Then in '94 Mick Doohan hit the Grand Prix scene and won five consecutive championships 94 - 98 with his own unique style and the use of a hand controlled rear brake, which some say gave him an advantage. Mick too had experience with motorcycle in the dirt, but his was off-road racing in Australia. 

Alex Criville won the World Championship in 99 and was the first rider to come up through the lesser classes of the World Championship Circus. Falsifying his age at 15 (he was actually 14) he won the 1985  75 cc street bike Criterium Solo Moto. In '87 he moved up to the 80cc World Championship and placed 2nd in his very first race, in '88 he was second overall in the Championship. In '89 he moved up to the 125cc  class and won the title that year. He continued on in 125cc and 1 year in the 250cc Championship before moving up the the Grand Prix class in '92, winning his one and only Grand Prix Championship in '99. Little did anyone know at the time that Alex had laid out the road to a Grand Prix and now the MotoGP championships for the foreseeable future. The road was coming up through the other World Championship Classes. There were two exception Kenny Roberts Jr World Championship in 2000 and Nicky Hayden MotoGP championship in 2006.

The new road to winning a world title these days starts in the 125cc World Championship class and progresses through 250cc and then to MotoGP. That is the path that Valention Rossi (champion 2001 - 2005) and the reigning 07 Champion Casey Stoner took. 

I predict the '08 champion will also come from that same path. Although there are some great other riders like James Toseland, John Hopkins, Collin Edwards and Nicky Hayden, none in my opinion have a chance at winning the MotoGP title. I also think that Nicky was just lucky to win the title in '06 with only 2 victories in the entire season, but he did win and no one can take that away from him. Riders like Toseland, Hopkins, Edwards and Hayden can win a race and visit the podium but just don't have what it takes to win the title. 

If American wants to dominate again we have got to stop sending our good young rides to AMA racing which in my opinion is pretty lame compared to MotoGP and World Superbike and send them off to Europe at the young age of 15 to compete in the 125cc Championships to have any opportunity to win the MotoGP Championship.

I'm looking forward to the battles this year in both MotoGP and the 250 Championship. I think the last race in Estoril gave us a glimpse of the season to come with Lorenzo, Pedrosi, Rossi and Dovizioso battling for the race win. Once Stoner gets the Ducati problems worked out he will be up there also. All 5 have come up through the 125 and 250 series to challenge for the World Champion. 

Also if you really want to see some great racing watch the 125cc and 250cc races, you will be watch the future MotoGP champions. If you miss the races on SpeedTV you can buy access through the MotoGP.

Dupont Teflon Chain Lube

When I changed my chain for the second time at 23000 miles I made the decision to try Dupont Teflon Multi-Use Lubricant (DTL), I had read several positive posts and articles and wanted to give it a try. Using regular motorcycle chain lube on the stock chain got me 10K, I had the shop put on a new D.I.D. Professional 525 chain and got 13K out of that. 

I have always taken good care of our chains, cleaning, adjusting and lubricating them regularly. I felt that 10K out of the stock chain was acceptable but expected more out of the D.I.D. chain. 

So I put another D.I.D. chain on and switched to DTL, 17000 miles later and the chain is still in great condition, when cleaned looks like new and appears to have plenty of miles left in it.

If you are presently using one of the standard sticky chain lubes and want to change to DTL, I recommend using WD-40 and a brush to clean your chain of all the old lube. I also recommend removing your front sprocket cover and clean the heavy build up of old chain lube mixed with dirt, sand and other road grime. Rinse everything well with water and let dry, then spray on a good amount of DTL.  While the bike is on a rear stand, run the bike in gear at idle for a few minutes to work the DTL into the o-rings. Shut the bike off, take it out of gear and use an old rag to lightly wipe off the excess and any over spray. After that apply DTL in the usual 300 - 400 mile intervals. This is the process I did when I started using DTL on my wife's bike and it has worked well.

Pros of Dupont Teflon Multi-Use Lubricant (from my personal experience)

• Only cost $4.95 per 11 oz spray can at Lowe's
• Lasts a long time
• Is not sticky and does not attract dirt and road grime
• Does not create a heavy build up on the chain or around the front sprocket
• Reduced mess on the rear wheel and easy to clean off
• Increased chain life
• Eliminated sticking or hard to bend links that seems to be the norm as chains get miles on them
• Tight spots in the chain seem to be reduced

Cons of Dupont Teflon Multi-Use Lubricant (from my personal experience)

• The only place I have found it is Lowe's, I've checked Home Depot and Ace Hardware
• Can't find it cheaper on the internet