Motorcycle

Two wheels and a motor ... or mobile life

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CDT = Continental Divide Trail. This is a route across the United States of America that stretches from Canada to Mexico along the geographic Continental Divide as closely as possible. And, I decided to ride it on a motorcycle.

On the trail near the CO-WY border

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Important CA Vehicle Code Topics

Here are some sections of the California Vehicle code that relate to topics important to motorcycles. To look-up or read any section of the code, go to the CA Vehicle Code site. Below are some interesting sections to motorcyclists.

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Near Valemount, British Columbia

Another successful motorcycle tour is part of history. We traveled more than 3,700 miles experiencing smoke from fires all around the west.

A group of seven riders--including my 11-year old grandson--set off from Paso Robles, CA headed for the Canadian Rockies. Our group also included my wife on (in?) her Slingshot. After two fun days of backroad riding, we added two additional passengers flying into the airport in Boise, ID.

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The following principles for sane street riding were written by Nick Ienatsch and originally published in Motorcyclist Magazine in November, 1991. Their relevance and importance is undiminished by the passage of time.

  1. Set cornering speed early. Blow the entrance and you'll never recover.
  2. Look down the road. Maintaining a high visual horizon will reduce perceived speed and help you to avoid panic situations.
  3. Steer the bike quickly. There's a reason Wayne Rainey works out - turning a fast-moving motorcycle takes muscle.
  4. Use your brakes smoothly but firmly. Get on and then off the brakes; don't drag 'em.
  5. Get the throttle on early. Starting the drive settles the chassis, especially through a bumpy corner.
  6. Never cross the centerline except to pass. Crossing the centerline in a corner is an instant ticket and an admittance that you can't really steer your bike. In racing terms, your lane is the course; staying right of the line adds a significant challenge to most roads and is mandatory for sport riding's future.
  7. Don't crowd the centerline. Always expect an on-coming car with two wheels in your lane.
  8. Don't hang off in the corners or tuck in on the straights. Sitting sedately on the bikes looks safer and reduces unwanted attention. It also provides a built-in safety margin.
  9. When leading, ride for the group. Good verbal communication is augmented with hand signals and turn signals; change direction and speed smoothly.
  10. When following, ride with the group. If you can't follow a leader, don't expect anyone to follow you when you're setting the Pace.