Sensei Says Grasshopper Sucks

Sensei Phil was talking about our ride up the Snake to a friend, not knowing he was on speakerphone (dontcha hate when that happens?). The gist of it is I need to get on the throttle and go. Apparently I also need to get on the brakes and stop, so I have some work to do.

On that short ride up Mulholland, I was slow but I was in complete control, ready to stop at any moment. I stayed to the inside of my lane. I looked through every turn and kept the RPMs high (easy enough on a 250 Ninja). Was I overly cautious? In his opinion, yes. And he is a fantastic rider, very experienced, puts safety first, and his Buell is signed by Shawn Higbee, OK? He's Sensei.

Still, the road is dangerous. No, let me restate that -- the road is fun, but people on it ride dangerously, as though it's their private race course. Sports cars, bicyclists, motorcycle riders, so many people push the limits on this twisty stretch. And last Sunday was a black day: 3 notable crashs, 1 death, on Mulholland and vicinity.

Sensei says I'm too cautious, like I'm preparing for an earthquake that may never happen.

Athena "Chickie" Ransom - The Full Interview

Earlier this season, I had the opportunity to interview Chickie Ransom. We had a great conversation - she's generous, thoughtful, and just as spirited as her bikes! Part of this interview has been published in an online magazine, but we believe Chickie deserves full exposure -- she's not a shy woman! So here it is:

Athena “Chickie” Ransom Talks about the Chicks Rule and Boys Drool Tour

Athena Ransom, AKA Chickie, is a superstar in the world of custom built bikes. After building her first bike at 16, she rose through the ranks of her profession, gaining respect for her dedication to her craft and her passion for the motorcycle lifestyle. Today she owns her own shop, Vagabond Choppers, where she sells her custom bikes, along with rebuilds and restorations, to riders all over the country. Recognized in the industry as a top bike builder, Athena has appeared on the reality TV shows "Miami Ink," "Corbin's Ride On" and "American Thunder." Chickie is a member of the Motor Maids (www.motormaids.org), America’s first all-women motorcycling club. True to the vagabond spirit, this year Athena and the Vagabond Chopper crew are taking it on the road with the 2010 “Chicks Rule and Boys Drool” tour. Twelve national stops are planned for the tour, an ambitious program designed to showcase some of what’s available for women riders today. Several of Chickie’s hand-crafted motorcycles, with their signature styling, will be on hand to tantalize visitors. We asked Chickie to fill us in; as you can imagine, she’s a popular and hard-working woman, but she took some time out of her crazy schedule to talk with us:

NR: It looks like this is the first year of the traveling tour -- how did the idea of a tribute tour come about?

Athena: I personally have seen women riders who are searching for someone to explain their questions in a manner they can understand with the proper analogies in chick terms. Then I have found that there is no platform for women to come together, have their questions answered and voice their concerns. Learning some key things that will make the riders relationship with their motorcycle and technician cannot hurt either. On site seminars and featured guests will fill that need. And in my personal experience, knowledge creates confidence and to ride you must be confident that you are researching all options and making the best choices for you. So with that said, I wanted to provide that platform and it also ends up being great networking for all women. Motorcycling is about the relationships that you build during your time on the road.

NR: What are your expectations for the tour, if any?

Athena: I would like to get to meet as many people as I can (gender doesn't matter ). We all can learn something from one another. I learn about people and the riding habits of others by the feedback I get when on tour or doing seminars.

NR: How much of your business currently is to women riders?

Athena: 30%

NR: Is the women-buyer part of your business is growing, and do you know by how much each year?

Athena: I would say that part of my business is growing on an upward scale, about 15% a year. 2 years ago I only had guys for customers.

NR: Will featured clothing and accessories be for sale or display only?

Athena: We are going to promote and display the items available and discuss the pros and cons to all of it- even the apparel end- not just parts, tires and brake pads. But we are not selling for the most part, unless we have a book signing or a guest/myself has merchandise on a small scale. Bikedezigns.com has parts and Vagabond has parts and we will have some with us; so yes, I would like to have this grow into a viable shopping experience also. The fashion shows will not be just for women’s merchandise either.

NR: What other artists do you have scheduled to appear on the tour?

Athena: We will have me, Gypsy, Joann Bortels, Laura Klock, Jayme Gray, Cris Sommer Simmons, Yvette and Kenisha of BikeDezigns.com, and a few others that are on our TBA list. I am reaching out to my female colleagues and friends to participate whenever possible, to promote what we do and who we are as well network with others and provide and gain knowledge for each other.

NR: The tour will hold workshops. What kinds of workshops will be offered on tour? Oil changes and tire fixes, or more advanced projects, like suspension work or modifications?

Athena: We are going to concentrate on the fit of your motorcycle, leverage when maneuvering, key safety issues and what to look for when something crazy happens, some maintenance issues and safety concerns. We will even get into some things with regard to fabricating, technician talk and most importantly, doing what’s right for you. I want to make sure everyone gets their answers to any question, any concern and even helpful hints. In addition to all this, we have special guests planned that will talk about insurance, riding, racing, the history of women & motorcycling.

NR: Whew! Very impressive. You’re best known for your hand-crafted bikes. How long does a "typical" custom chopper take from first design to completion?

Athena: Depending on how elaborate the build is, it can take anywhere from 4 months to a year.

NR: What kind of budget does a woman need to have a custom bike?

Athena: My specialty is giving the customer what they want within their budget- A cool chopper with some cool paint starts at $24,000 to 25,000 and can go upwards from there.

NR: Chickie, will you personally be at every stop on the tour?

Athena: Yes I will, and I am looking forward to it immensely.

NR: Who influenced you, as a chopper designer?

Athena: That is a loaded question! David Mann, Guy Glover, Donnie Smith, Bandit from Bikernet.com, and my wonderful husband Don.

NR: By any standard, you’re a success. That’s especially impressive in the traditionally macho custom bike world. Who were your role models growing up?

Athena: My Dad, my brothers from other mothers - Clutch, Gangster Bob, Billy The Kid - all guys I grew up with. And also, my dad’s club brothers.

NR: The traveling tour is such a great concept; you’re offering something for everyone who loves to ride. And it’s exciting that your bikes will be on display - your work is awesome!

Athena: Thank you for the kudos. I love what I do and I am fortunate that I get to work with my family and do what I love. Thank you for doing a piece on this tour and I look forward to providing feedback to all who have interest on what women riders do & want.

Be sure to check the tour schedule and visit when it’s in your neighborhood. It promises to be worth the trip. Any opportunity to meet this inspirational and talented woman should not be missed – and the bikes will be cool, too!


To learn more about Chickie, visit:
Vagabond Chopper Company www.vagabondchoppers.com
Chicks Rule & Boys Drool Tour www.chicksruleandboysdrool.com
The Vagabond Chickie Athena www.vagabondchickie.com

Leaving Harley to Lead

I don't ride a Harley, I don't want to ride a Harley, and none of my friends ride Harleys (OK - 2 Buells among us). But I love Harley-Davidson. Why?

Well, they sponsor a Women's Rider Month, they have garage parties, they have women's only Rider's Edge courses, and now they have this seemingly-cool mentoring program, "Share Your Spark":

I watched the short video on their site and was simply directed back to my local Harley dealer to ask about it (not high on my list of things to do -- maybe when I've finished watching paint dry). Why won't the site tell me more? Ugh.

I think the mentoring program is an outstanding idea. My hubbie is an MSF instructor and I know he's passionate about helping new riders get more instruction than the Basic Rider class. Wouldn't it be fun to be a mentor or have a mentor?

I'm always struck by the fact that Harley is left alone to undertake these initiatitives and all the other bike manufacturers are silent.

I'm going to investigate this further (I think it's open to riders of all bikes) but I'm curious if y'all have more info.

Dominator Touring Pipes Installed on My Bonneville SE - Can You Hear Me Now?

The FedEx guy brought my new Dominator pipes from South Bay Triumph last week -- in black, of course. The polished stainless steel shown here is a photo from the Triumph Performance USA site, but I'm a black fan (I now have black shocks, pipes, bars, mirrors...very svelte). You can see mine pictured in a previous post and featured in the video below.

The sound is really deep and growly -- not obnoxious at all. It's hard to compare to another bike or exhaust system; the Triumph engine (a parallel twin) has a unique sound, so I shot a video and you can hear for yourself. They are leaps above the stock pipes, and I love the black.

I also love the weight savings -- exchanging them from stock took maybe 15 pounds off the bike and my mileage has gone from an average of 35 mpg to 45+ mpg. I'm not sure why my mileage has improved so much, but I'm not complaining.

Installation was really simple (especially for me, since I supervised). Designed to be plug and play, the whole job took about 10 minutes and the perforated core mechanical baffles guarantee no repacking for life. I have yet to bring in the bike for a reflash, but the guys at South Bay Triumph Performance promise I'll find a great increase in torque and RWHP -- up to 11 RWHP increase at sea level -- I live 33 feet above sea level, so I'm psyched! Truthfully, I haven't found the Bonneville missing in the horsepower department, but the bike is lighter, looks better, sounds better and gets better mileage.

I've lusted for these pipes since I bought the bike last year, but knowing I'd have to make the 200+ mile round trip visit to South Bay for a reflash, I wanted to be closer to the 6,000 mile service. Ladies and gentlemen, I am now ready for my reflash! I'll update y'all soon....TBC

Ninja Ryder Rides the Snake with her Sensei

On Friday, Donatella and I braved Friday Los Angeles freeway traffic and rode to the Rock Store. From Santa Barbara, we took the 101 to Kanan Dume, then rode back roads into Cornell, California. Once there, we visited with friends, had a much needed Diet Coke, and prepared to be schooled by Sensei Phil. He wanted to take us through "the neighborhood", AKA Cold Creek Road (our teaching road off Mulholland), but we were too wiped out. So he settled for following us up the Snake, a twisty area of Mulholland Highway, with a debrief at the top of the hill. From there, we went down Encinal Canyon and took the Pacific Coast Highway home. We passed Danica Patrick's GoDaddy car on Highway 1! That was perfect timing -- maybe we'll appear in a GoDaddy ad. Keep your eyes open for a little black Ninja....

Being a safety conscious motorcyclist, I always wear my Big Ear ear plugs. Between the ear plugs and the sound of my pounding heart, I had difficulty hearing Sensei Phil during the debriefing, but the gist of the conversation was that my riding needs help. I did hear something about a "chick thing", accompanied by a shaking of his big Shoei MultiTec. Once home, I followed up with him by email. Here's our conversation:

Ninja Ryder:

Thanks so much for riding with me today, and for the helpful advice. I focused on the relaxation thing all the way home. I also thought about your comments, and I have a question for you:

I get what you were saying about how I didn't use the whole lane going up the Snake. And it's true, this time, that no one was coming down the hill so there was no need to stay so far right. But what about Keith Code and the "tight inside line"? My speed (or lack of speed) is another issue, but even when I'm more relaxed and confident, I mentally divide my lane and try to stay to the right side. I still strive to handle a curve by "outside - inside - outside", but try to leave a good margin of safety for whatever is coming at me (whatever I can't see....). Am I missing something? Too conservative?

Another thing:

You know how I'm going to learn so much about myself as I work on becoming a better rider? And one of those issues I face might include self-esteem? Well, I had earplugs in during our debriefing at the top of the hill. And I could have sworn you said I had certain "proficiencies". It wasn't until half-way down Encinal Canyon that I realized you said certain "deficiencies". I laughed in my helmet all the way home. (Laughing is relaxing :-) )

That was a really fun day and I look forward to doing it again. Thanks for being so generous -- I take all your words to heart and your help over the past year or so has made me a better rider (even if you can't tell yet!)

It's about 154 miles round trip -- not bad!



Sensei Phil: Good, we got your attention today. When we get together next time, the earplugs come out and go in your pocket. None of my bikes are noisy so you don't need them for such a brief time. The only thing I want you to remember about Friday was to "relax" and we will go over lane usage and the relative factors of safety and riders view around corners next time. The word "deficiencies" was used to describe how Rob used to ride (like you were doing today regarding lane useage). I think he feels he owns his lane now, just like he should.
I may want to expand our next ride to include some parking lot maneuvers besides riding the Neighborhood. Think about it, and get excited not scared.--Phil


To be continued....

PS - Today I will post a video of my Bonneville SE Dominator pipes...I don't think there's anywhere to hear them online, and the video will be a public service to all you Triumph lovers and Matt Capri fans.

How I Came to be Ninja Ryder - Motorcycles for the Smaller, Lighter Female Rider

Motorcycles are beautiful machines, and anyone can find a style to love. But unlike a car, a motorcycle has to fit the rider. If you're under 5'5", have an inseam less than 30" or 31", and weigh under 150 pounds, you'll find your options limited when you shop for a motorcycle -- that is, if you want to put a toe on the ground (recommended when you need to stop!) For a new rider with beginner's skills a small, light bike is the safe and fun way to go.

There's a lot of advice out there about best bikes for women (as if such a thing existed!) It's easy to find advice on lowering bikes, changing seats, stacked boots, shorter shocks and other ways to fit your bike. Often, the advice doesn't hold water for me. I'm not saying they're lying, but when a guy tells me he knows somebody who gained 2" wearing Daytona Ladystars, or when a tall woman tells me her 5' 1" friend can flat foot a BMW with the BMW low seat option, I'm just saying I haven't shared those experiences.

Here's what I know is true for me. I'm 5' 2" with a 28" inseam, and I weigh 110 pounds. I go to the gym, so I'm not a total weakling, and I've been riding for a year and a half. I am not a Harley-Davidson or cruiser fan (I'm not anti-social about it -- I'll still wave to ya!) but I admit Harley does offer several models with comfortable, low seats. The catch is that they weigh a ton and don't seem to handle our southern California twisty roads very well. At least, not the Harleys I get stuck behind.

My first bike, my trusty Donatella, was a 2006 (3rd generation) Ninja 250. I bought her with 920 miles for $3000.00. I still wanted to lower the Ninja, so I chose a Soupy's adjustable lowering link, then a custom Corbin seat with their famous nose job, and some bar risers. On the advice of the fantastic Ninja 250 Riders Club, I changed the tires to the lower profile Pirelli MT75s (love them). I also sprung for the Frey Daytona Ladystars and gained a little extra height over my Oxtar boots. Of all the things I did to ride more comfortably, the biggest investment was the Ladystar boots.

We did all the work in our own garage with no special tools. Over the next few days, I'll detail the steps I took to modify my Ninja, and then explore the customization of my Triumph Bonneville SE. (You didn't think I'd stop at one bike, did you??)

Int'l Female Ride Day - Who Wants to Ride with Me?

This year, the Motoress International Female Ride Day falls on May 7th (it's always a Friday).

On the one hand, I love how loosely it's organized -- all you have to do is get out and ride. You can ride whatever you want (Scooteristas count!), and go wherever you want (your work commute counts too). No registration is required.

On the other hand, I'd like to find new women to ride with. It would be awesome if there were organized events that we could locate on the Motoress site. Here in the US, maybe they could partner with Starbucks (since it seems there's a Starbucks on every corner in this great caffeinated country of ours). Any woman who wanted to participate could be in the parking lot at a designated time, and share International Female Ride Day with another local female rider. Starbucks could print a supportive message on their thermal cup sleeves, and offer free coffee to participants. Am I'm getting carried away with the Starbucks thing? Sorry, that's the marketer in me... The point is, I'd like to find local women to ride with on International Female Ride Day, and I'm having difficulty.

Here's some basic information on the event:

Created in 2007 by Vicki Gray, and started in Canada, the aim of International Female Ride Day is to highlight the numbers of women riding motorcycles and inspire more of us to get on a bike. It’s simply a day to celebrate the fun of riding; and all women, on any kind of motorcycle, are invited to participate.

In the first year of Female Ride Day, 2007, the organizers weren’t sure what to expect. Their goal was to have a synchronized day where women from all over the world would simply ride. But as Vicki Gray remembers, “When you introduce a unique and new concept…you really don’t know how or if it will be received. The success was overwhelming and not just within Canada! Women riders of the United States jumped at the idea and provided unexpected participation as they too rode on Female Ride Day!” The following year, women from Australia, Greece, England, the Netherlands and Russia joined the party. And each year the numbers grow. Last year about 50 Kuwaiti women rode, making Kuwait the first country in the Middle East to participate. That’s remarkable considering that Kuwait didn’t allow women to vote until 2005!

Now in its fourth year, the organizers promise to continue the tradition as an annual event. The ride is scheduled to occur every year on the first Friday of May. International Female Ride Day has been enthusiastically embraced by women riders and motorcycle manufacturers. Clubs organize events like dinners or midnight rides. Some ride to benefit a charity or local cause. But Female Ride Day was created with three main principles and continues to hold to these guidelines: “1) freedom to participate in any manner desired, uniting women riders of all disciplines; 2) Not to be conceived as a charity or fundraiser—the message remains undiluted and is clearly in celebration of the female motorcyclist. Women may elect to involve a charity or create their own cause on Female Ride Day. This campaign will not influence that preference ensuring women have the freedom to decide; 3) the day is not to be taken over by a single motorcycle manufacturer, ensuring women of all brand choices are equal participants.” By upholding these three tenets, International Female Ride Day stays true to the original intent of highlighting all women riders.

I’ll see you out there on May 7th. Hopefully, I won't be alone!

Trust My Motorcycle Speedometer? I Don't Think So

Why is a motorcycle speedometer always off? Both my Ninja 250 and Bonneville SE tell me I'm going REALLY FAST, but when we pass a roadside radar reader, it seems I'm really traveling about 10 miles SLOWER than I imagine. No wonder the cops don't give me any respect. Never pull me over, never even look twice. It's embarrassing, really. I've asked mechanics about this, and they say, yep, the speedometer is always off.

It seems I can fix it with a simple add-on. I'm not sure why I want to spend cash on this option when I'm consistently off 10 miles, but something in me just wants the inputs from my motorcycle to be correct. I found this Speedohealer for sale on Pashnit this morning:

CORRECT YOUR SPEEDOMETER

PashnitMoto is one of the top dealers in the USA for Speedohealers. These devices are plug-n-play. Simply plug into the speed sensor plug, program and done! Made a gearing change on your bike? Your speedo is 10 low or 10 high? If you're tired of being annoyed by a speedo that doesn't work, just let us know the model you need and we'll send it right out. Just $114.95 and free ship to USA address.

Click Here to ORDER one today
http://www.pashnit.com/product/speedohealer.html

Pashnit offers group buys at good prices, they ship fast and I've always been impressed with their customer service. You might have to join the site (free registration) to get the group buy price, but it's painless and they won't spam you so go ahead and join.

Lucky Devil's "No Hablo Espanol" Tour Ends

The Lucky Devil and her amazing Yamaha FZ6 are home from Mexico, recuperating from their long adventure. If you've followed their trips across the US and south of the border, you know it takes a lot to slow them down. Mexico's harsh conditions slowed them down. She chronicles the details on her blog, theluckydevil.net.

Before the "No Hablo Espanol" tour, Lucky Devil completed an amazing cross-country journey she dubbed the "Nowhere in Particular and Everywhere in General" tour. Earlier this year, she shared some highlights of her adventure with me. Our original interview is below:

For Keshau Henderson, the time had come to fulfill a fantasy. Calling herself “Lucky Devil”, in May of 2009 she rode her Yamaha FZ6 on the “Nowhere in Particular and Everywhere in General" tour. A talented designer and writer, Keshau blogged regularly as she traveled. By September, she logged over 27,000 miles, shot more than 30,000 photos, covered every contiguous state, AND raised $2000.00 for Riders for Health. I caught up with Keshau this week, as she was preparing for her “No Hablo Espanol” tour to Mexico.

NR: Keshau, I followed your journey on Twowheelfemales.com, but for those of us who don’t know, tell us about yourself and your riding.

KH: I’m a 37 year old woman with what many people consider to be an unhealthy obsession with motorcycling. I lived in San Francisco prior to my trip and I’ve been riding for 9 years. I always wanted to ride but never got serious about a motorcycle license until after living in San Francisco a few years. I was tired of relying upon the painfully unreliable bus system, but I didn’t want to have pay for car parking. A motorcycle was the perfect solution. I signed up for the MSF course, got my license and a bike, and my life has never been the same.

NR: How did the "Nowhere in Particular and Everywhere in General" tour come about?

KH: I had fantasized about a cross-country trip for a very long time. I would calculate mileage to see what was possible to accomplish with two weeks of vacation. I was torn because I wanted to go cross-country, but it seemed the only way to do it in under two weeks would be to do high mileage days on the interstate -- not how I liked to travel. If I was going to ride clear across the country, I wanted to be able to stop and see things along the way.

One afternoon I was called into a meeting at work. They announced they were closing the San Francisco office and letting everyone go. The first thought to pop in my head was: “I’m going to ride cross-country.” I sat throughout the rest of the meeting with a Cheshire cat grin. Everyone around me was in shock and anxiety… we had been delivered very bad news, we were losing our jobs during the greatest economic downturn since the Great Depression. But I couldn’t help feeling I had won something…I had been handed an opportunity to fulfill a long time dream.

NR: How long did it take to plan?

KH: I started planning the day I learned I was losing my job, but the closure date was pushed out. The more time I had to daydream, the bigger the trip got. It evolved into a massive 49 state touring extravaganza. I had a year and a half to plan. It doesn’t take that long to plan a trip like this, but that’s how much time I had.

I knew that I didn’t want to pre-plan a route. Every other motorcycle trip I’ve taken has required that I return home by a certain date, and I wanted to go as far as possible, thus everything was planned in advance… right down to gas stops. I wanted to take full advantage of the unlimited time I had for this trip by striking a balance between micro planning and no planning. The first thing I did (and possibly my first mistake I made) was hang a large map of the USA on a wall. Staring at that large map felt more than a little overwhelming. I had no idea where to begin. I decided to plan one state at a time by creating a Garmin Mapsource file for each state. Then I used a book from the National Scenic Byways Program to map out every National Scenic Byway in Mapsource.

NR: Give us the vitals, please: miles traveled, number of days, longest mileage day?

KH: You’re going to laugh… but I don’t know! As soon as I stopped riding I went into prep mode for Mexico & Central America, so I don’t have complete stats for my USA tour. I know the mileage was around 27,000; I know I rode in 48 states & 2 Canadian Provinces. Probably the last day was my longest mileage day, when I had to ride home from Oregon so I would be home in time for my mom’s first chemotherapy treatment.

NR: You rode a Yamaha FZ6. Tell us about your bike.

KH: I bought it with travel in mind (I made sure Givi made luggage mounts for it, etc), but I didn’t buy it anticipating taking it on a tour of the United States… or to Mexico & Central America. Although it’s not designed to be a touring bike, it was fairly easily converted into great little sport-touring bike.

NR: You camped a lot.

KH: I would guess I camped 95% of the time. There are some amazing experiences I never would have had if I had not camped... but camping equipment can take up a lot of space, it takes time to set up and break down your campsite every day, and lets face it, sleeping on the ground will never be as comfortable as a bed.

NR: As a female traveling alone, did you feel safe out there?

KH: I felt perfectly safe. I fully believe that if anyone should ever lose their faith in humanity, all they need do is travel alone by motorcycle. I’m a big believer in listening to my “spidey-sense”. If someplace didn’t feel right I never hesitated to move on. Only twice did I end up leaving someplace based on a vague but strong sense of something being wrong.

NR: Any special tools or spare parts packed?

KH: I don’t know if it was naiveté, or faith in Yamaha products, but I didn’t carry any parts (besides fuses). No special tools either. Out of all of the tools I brought, I only ended up using a few, just what I needed to perform an oil change and to get my wheels on and off for tire changes.

NR: Any mechanical issues?

KH: I managed to dent my rear rim badly enough that the tire would no longer hold air, but that’s not a “mechanical” issue… that’s user error.

I did my own maintenance, which consisted of oil changes, checking tire pressure, adjusting the chain, filling and adjusting the Scottoiler, and taking the wheel(s) off to get new tires installed.

Sometimes it was difficult to find a place to change the oil. I attempted to work on my bike at dealerships, but none would allow me to use their parking lot… even if I offered to buy all the parts there and pay for the disposal of my used oil. Dealerships only wanted me to pay them to perform my oil change for me.

I stopped going to dealerships and relied on fellow riders to help me out. On one occasion I contacted a friend about needing to find a place to do an oil change after visiting three dealerships. She went on the ADVrider forum and within hours found someone generous enough to allow me to use their driveway. Cycle Gear was always great about parking lot tire changes though.

NR: A couple of things you won’t leave home without?

KH: RideOn TPS in my tires, my Garmin Zumo , earplugs, LD Comfort riding shorts, and my Airhawk seat cushion

NR: What was the most important thing you really needed but didn’t have?

KH: Gear that lived up to its waterproof claims.

NR: You used a SPOT …how did that work for you?

KH: Great! I initially bought the device to ease the minds of friends and family who worried about me lying in a ditch, but it was fun have my location info on my blog and forum threads. People enjoyed following my journey throughout the day, and then seeing photos that night.

NR: Anything you packed that you wouldn’t now?

KH: I must have thought I was crossing the Sahara; I brought two Nalgene bottles along with my giant Omega 100oz Camelbak water bladder. The Camelbak was plenty; I shipped the bottles home.

NR: You raised money for Riders for Health.

KH: The idea for raising money for charity came from reading a ride report on ADVrider. A gentleman on a ride to Alaska had set up a Paypal account because readers were donating to help fund his trip. I was blown away that people were giving him money because they enjoyed his ride report. Since I had already planned on keeping a ride report during the trip, I thought I would do the same thing, but for a charity.

Never having fundraised before, I had no idea what to expect, but I figured raising $500 would be amazing. I ended up hitting that fundraising goal before I even reached the halfway point on my trip. I ended up raising $2000.

Fundraising was, in many ways, the most gratifying aspect of the trip. The Riders For Health organization is doing such important work; it was humbling to be able to assist them in any way I could. Getting notifications of donations inspired me to try to make my ride report better.

NR: Do you have one or two unforgettable moments?

KH: High points:
• Reaching my fundraising goal
• Meeting amazing people
• Dipping my feet in the Atlantic Ocean
• Getting Valentino Rossi’s autograph

Low point: I left my tent fly open while I did some laundry. It started to rain and by the time I got back to my tent it had filled with water. I found myself soaking wet sitting in a tent full of water. What followed was a series of unfortunate events that culminated into one very long, cold, miserable and sleepless night. To top it off, the following morning I slipped in mud while trying to leave and dropped my bike.


NR: You’re off to Mexico with “almost no” language skills. Where can we follow you?

KH: www.theluckydevil.net/blog

“…and when night found me, there I camped. I took no more heed to save time or to make haste than did the trees or the stars. This is true freedom, a good, practical sort of immortality.” ~ John Muir

Bonneville SE Birthday Present - Dominator Touring Pipes

My beautiful 2009 Bonneville SE turned 1 on April 10, and we celebrated with a new set of Dominator pipes from South Bay Triumph. Wow, did she grow up fast! She lost about 12 pounds too, all of it in the hips. Supposedly she gained 11 horse power, but I can't really tell. Maybe when I take her in for the reflash.

The sound is really nice -- deep, low and rumbly, but not obnoxious. I prefer it to the Arrow, and these Dominators are a lot less expensive than the Arrow. You can get them directly from Matt Capri and the guys at South Bay Triumph (the reflash is free). Matt designs and manufactures a lot of great upgrades under the Triumph Performance USA badge. I've also seen them for sale at New Bonneville Surprisingly, the Dominator pipes are a little cheaper on the New Bonneville site, but you'll have to pay a dealer to reflash your ECU.

Mine are black...totally awesome.

Basic Rider Course - Why You Want to Fail the Test

The motorcycle safety courses offered by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation are a fantastic way to learn how to ride. Learning to ride a motorcycle is a chicken and egg thing -- which comes first, the bike or the training? If you don't have a motorcycle of your own, it's hard to find a friend who will let you thrash their bike as you learn. And pretty much everyone thrashes their first bike.

Motorcycle Rider Education (MRE) offers state approved courses for brand new riders. They provide the motorcycle, helmet, and really big parking lot! Course details vary from state to state; in my state, California, the course includes a classroom session and two half-days of riding. For me, the most exciting benefit was the DMV certificate which allowed me to waive the dreaded skill test at the DMV.

This class is perfect if you've never ridden a motorcycle before. You get to duck walk, wobble, weave and stall, all under the watchful eye of a friendly rider coach. Then you take your test, you probably pass, and you go on your way.

But are you ready for the road? Honestly, probably not. You're ready to practice in a parking lot on your own. Here's a tip, and you won't read it anywhere else: if you're a really new rider, consider not passing the test. Give the classroom session and the two days of skill instruction your very best efforts, but hold back a tiny bit on the test. Here's why: if you don't pass, you can take the class again for free. (Check with your own location first, but this is pretty standard.) That means twice the riding, twice the instruction, twice the practice before you have to find a bike and be on your own.

FIM Women Ride Campaign

The FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) has launched a new campaign to promote women in motorcycling. Called “Women Ride”, the campaign showcases the achievements of Leslie Porterfield (FIM Speed World Record Holder), Livia Lancelot (FIM Women’s Motocross World Champion) and Laia Sanz (FIM Women’s Trial World Champion).
The aim of the “Women Ride” campaign is to increase the number of women who ride and to enlarge the number of women in FIM’s audience. By profiling well-known women riders, FIM is hoping to change perceptions of motorcycling. Through interviews with these three ambassadors, women who currently sit on the sidelines will be encouraged to see women riders as “normal”, (Sanz’s word) and get involved in our sport – whether WMX, speed, or trials.
Introducing the first episode of “Women Ride”, Olivier Godallier, FIM Marketing and Communications Director said: “Women are more and more present in the motorcycle world and the industry, aware of this phenomenon, is already developing numerous products for them. In 2010, the FIM is proud to put women in the spotlight with a new Enduro Championship and also for the very first time in an exclusive communication campaign, the first episode of which we have the pleasure to propose to you as from today.”
Episodes can be watched on the FIM YouTube channel, here, http://www.youtube.com/user/tvfim.
Watch the Women Ride video here: http://www.fim-live.com/en/

MCC International Women Riders' Congress

The MCC International Women Riders’ Congress and Festival is scheduled to take place August 11 – 15 at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario.

Presented by Honda, this is the inaugural debut for the Candian event. Other sponsors include Open Road, BMW, Arai and Harley-Davidson. Endorsed by the AMA, MCC, FEMA, Motor Maids and MRF among other organizations, the event has generated enthusiasm among women motorcyclists and organizations that support them. Tigra Tsujikawa from the American Motorcyclist Association says “Women motorcyclists are a vibrant and surging segment of modern motorcycling, and all interested riders should attend this dynamic gathering at the Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario”.

Chrysalis, a shelter for women and children in Huntsville, has been selected as the event charity.

The theme of the the August event is “One World, One Ride”. According to the IWCF, the festival plans to celebrate the achievements of women riders from across Canada and around the world. There will also be opportunities to enhance rider safety and enjoyment through skills training and educational seminars. With a focus on common ground, creating synergy and reinforcing women riders as leaders and role models, the vision of the IWCF is to continue making a positive difference in our motorcycling community and beyond. The festival promises to be both educational and entertaining – with networking opportunities, organized tours, a charity trail ride, skills challenges, demo rides and vendors - something for both novice and experienced riders from all disciplines of riding.

US residents will need a current passport to cross the border.

For more information, visit www.motorcycling.ca.

Unveiling of the Ducati Multistrada 1200

Ducati of Santa Barbara held a grand reopening party last night. Headlining the event was the beautiful Ducati Multistrada 1200, but the music was awesome and the food was great too (cupcakes and motorcycles -- who knew?)

The dealership has moved to 17 West Montecito Street, and while the location is less centrally located, they have tons more room. I saw more women's apparel - lots of Rev'It jackets and pants, along with Ducati riding gear and casual stuff. Very nice.

And of course, there's finally room to display all Trevor's and Carlin's trophies!

It was a fun night, they packed the house, and the place looked amazing.