Saving Motorcycling, act two!



The Euro Divvie 600 at the Brandenburg Gate Berlin 2008

I was reading the Bike Bandit online newsletter this past week and wrote a bit about it in this Blog.



VTR 1000 new in '98, background, The Rockies

Well, well, well... it seems this is a bit of a hot button topic, with lots of opinions.  Some suggest better training for new riders (I myself taught the CDN program for nearly 2 decades) others suggest various things like ad campaigns to promote riding, hiring firms that specialize in image building (do we really need to do that?!) (I think Trump must have used one of those) and reduced pricing. 

One thing that came up several times in comparing Motorcycling in North America with places like Japan, Europe and developing countries (China and India for example) is how the population in general views motorcycling.

It's true that we over here have, always seen motorcycling as a sport or in some cases, a work of the devil! 

My silver Citi 300i amid the wild lupins on PEI

Having ridden extensively in Europe a few years back, riding over across the pond is far better accepted and very diverse.  It doesn't hurt that Europe in general has a much higher standard of living than say... Bolivia or Viet Nam where riding bikes is cheap and common and often a necessity.



The question seems to hinge on bikes as a necessary mode of transit (everyone has seen the pics of a family of 17 riding a Honda Cub in Thailand or San Salvador or in wealthier countries, more of a fashion statement or testament to MotoGP! 

In the USA and here, riding is very much profiling as a sport. 



My last uncle, John and his wife sitting on my Little Red;

 

Szolnok HU



It was nearly closing time way back when I worked for Bow Cycle in Calgary and an older (55 ish remember I was younger then) gent whom I'd been talking to, was leaving via the front doors.  He was tall, dressed in black leather head to toe including chaps and shorty helmet, and was riding a vintage looking Honda Shadow with a short seat height, forward mounted pegs and loud pipes.  Just as we were shaking hands a CBR 900 R pulled up and parked next to the Shadow.  The rider was a 30 something, dressed also in leather but this time bright colors, full face helmet and pre curved Castre gloves, looking like he'd just come from the Isle of Man or maybe the GP at Donington! 

They got a little tangled up with who was coming through the door first, but the Sports bike rider stood by my side as the Shadow rider fired up his VT, causing the windows to vibrate  from his exhaust.  He pulled away and the fellow in the GP gear said almost under his breath...

"Damn Posers"  (actually he said F__ng Posers but you get it right?


Honestly I did a double take, okay maybe a triple.  Sure the guy on the Shadow was likely a working stiff maybe even a professional but the CBR rider certainly could be said to be a poser too... I don't think the he was a top finisher at a local GP race. 

XT 225 Serow well travelled.  This is overlooking the Sea of Cortez Baja CA

At least if the road racer replica actually lived in England or France or Germany... he was probably a very good rider and quite possibly been a regular on track days or in the stands at a local event or GP.

While on the other hand it's no wonder that Honda has sold (let me get this right) 100 million step through's.  That's 100,000,000! I myself have two.  One in the basement adjoining the TV room and the other on my book case in the living room.

I own two of the 100,000,000 sold since '54

Countries like India and China are the new burgeoning markets.  In fact India Enfield is now the fastest growing mark in the world!  Never mind that scooters and micro engine bikes thrive over there. 

Consulting with my GPS, err, map.

While the US and of course on a much smaller scale, we are suffering with dropping sales (well under 100,000 units  in Canada for example), those former poor third world countries, are selling tens of millions of motorbikes and I would venture to say, very few are Fat Boys, or 200+ bhp hyper charged Sports bikes!  I would also guess that there is NO National motorcycle training program in any of those countries.  You get on, you learn, hopefully, judging by the myriad of crash videos on U-Tube, you survive! 

This is Athens, even Holly, my well travelled daughter thought Dad had lost his mind

I clearly remember riding through Athens in '08 on my European Diversion 600 which I called Kis Piroska (Little red 'riding' hood)  It was utter chaos to the tenth power!  I stopped for directions at a local COP shop, parking on the sidewalk like the other 500 cycles/scooters of various incarnations, and asked two police officers (jokingly)  if there were any traffic rules in the city.

 

 

Refused to pose for a photo but I did get their bikes

One cop said, 'of course we have traffic rules'.  The second cop then added very quickly, 'but don't follow the rules, follow the other moto's and you'll be alright.' 

From Slovenia to Italy on the way to Portugal and the Atlantic coast

That meant splitting lanes at traffic lights, crossing the center line to get to the head of the traffic... anything but obeying basic traffic rules.  It's got to be common knowledge when even the cops are telling you to break them. I learned in Athens that riders cut their handlebars down to ease the passage between rows of cars!  But that's another story.

Obligatory cat photo, hanging around the café Gradac Croatia

Anyway, as I said at the beginning, this topic is at least for now, getting some airplay. 

1975 Me at 20, already had 7 years in.  Heading across Canada '73 R 60/5

Me, on the other hand will be starting my 50th year of continuous riding in just a few days and I can tell you this...

I did my part to encourage people to ride and tried to convince the public that NO, that guy on the Shadow was not a 'Hell's Angel or card carrying member of the Kings Crew' nor was the guy with the CBR and his race 4 into 1 pipe a professional road racer that had taken a turn at the local race track and somehow ended up on Bowness road!.

Victor441

My riding experience began in 1968 when BSAs and Triumphs and Norton's and Harley's ruled the streets. (and leaked oil profusely)

T Bolt 650

When 4 stroke Scramblers were on the way out and ring dings were beating the crap out of them everywhere on the planet.  I saw the rise of the Japanese domination of the sport as they still do, and I saw the threats posed by insurance companies and their "black lists"

As for 'Saving Motorcycles' ?  I'm passing that torch to the Trevor's and the Chris's. The  Melanie's and the Eric's of the world.  It's their turn.

As for myself, to quote Arlo Guthrie...

"I don't wan' a pickle... I just wanna ride on ma' moto-sickle!"

2002 T bird 900 Triumph, a little old, a little new!

Happy New year to all... heck, the days are already getting longer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We Need To Save Motorcycling"

 

Honestly... if I read another such article as this one, I am going to:

 

A)   Puke

B)   Play a round of Russian roulette with 5 full chambers

C)   Go on a shooting spree with my Ultimate Toy water pistol

 

 

I've just clicked on the Bike Bandit Blog and read this headline.  Now before I get on my soap box, I want to go on record as saying, I like dealing with BB.  Over the years especially since I've had my AZ home, I have bought many things from them.  They are fast and proficient and rarely don't have an item in stock. 

 

I like reading their online newsletter and have found it to be informative.  Granted, this subject has been in my 'craw' for decades and I have seen the gradual decline in the industry and if not flogging a dead horse (no offence to horses, I'm an animal lover) it's certainly getting the crap beat outta him. 

 

read on...

 

We Need To Save “Motorcycling”                                             December 24 2017

 

_{I’m just reading another "We need to save motorcycling" headline.  This one in a popular Accessory supplier’s Blog.  In the last 5 years, this type of stating the obvious has been on every website, every blog, and every dealer/manufacturer newsletter. It never ceases to amaze me.}

 

_{If you gave this puzzle to a room full of third graders, they'd be able to figure out the math in no time. The age of the average motorcycle rider in NA is getting older... not younger.  I constantly hear, see dealers, industry, magazine articles on this truth happening but rarely do I see any type of constructive answer(s)}

 

_{I think back to the early 80's when I first came to the Island after a couple of years of prep with Four Season's in Ft Mac,  I had left a mgt job paying 2650/mo (a lot of dough then) to work at my friend's (John Metcalfe's) dealership for $500/mo, just what I needed to put food in the fridge.}

 

_{Even back then, at age 20 I recognized that the future for me at least, lay in involvement.  Hence the effort I put into becoming the youngest Chief Instructor ever.  At the same time I was working like the proverbial beaver to keep the McMurray Dirt Riders functioning, and eventually with my contacts at Keyano College, I was able to acquire on the clubs behalf, the old gun range on which Keyano took the better part of a week to build a racetrack, which I suspect is still operational.} 

 

_{Taking hard earned overtime money with me to PEI, I opened Freedom Cycle.  In the 10 years of existence of this shop, I with the help of several other individual enthusiasts turned it into a million plus dollar business, ultimately selling three major brands and causing a huge surge in popularity in riders, both men and women.  I've often told the story of, okay.... I'm just going to say it, Suzuki Canada in the mid 80's, turning down my co-op advertising featuring women (in riding gear not lingerie) because 'Women don't ride bikes'  My simple answer to them then, 'but they're gonna!'}

 

_{Today women make up 4 out of 10 new buyers.  I don't imagine that individual lasted long in the industry, which I might add, has often buried their heads so deep in the sand as to hear Cantonese from the other end.}

 

_{While at FCI we did fun runs, poker events, treasure hunts, built and supported MX racing, put on MC events as well as restarting the National MC training program on the Island.  I clearly remember Rob (Harrell) and I on any (February) Sunday down at the Waterfront mall with pylons set out on the pavement and riding YSR 50's around dodging the ice puddles!  The YSR racing program in Canada began right here at Burlington's 1/2 mile 10 turn go cart track and eventually resulted in racing on closed streets in downtown Moncton NB as well as Summerside PEI and across Canada.}

 

_{I called Bill Whittle's reference when he had applied to work at FCI at 26 (the same age I was when I began the company) I was told they would not recommend hiring him because he was too much of an independent thinker.  That was good enough for me!}

 

_{My entire career riding MC's has been about spreading the word, and did it ever spread.  Recently having moved back to the Island, I ran across a guy that happened to be working doing some paving for me.  As often happens I was recognized and we had a swell chat in between his work with the back hoe and my cutting the grass.  He said to me and I will quote as best I can... "Freedom Cycle created motorcycling on the Island", and if the truth were told, this was not the first time I'd heard that.}

 

_{We sold hundreds of XS 400's and GT 80's and LS 650's and Ninja's to make what would then have been the equivalent of a modern Mega dealership, and yet, we knew our stuff, were businesslike and professional, but everything we did was F_U_N for us.  Well, mostly everything.} 

 

_{If any of you remember back to the late 80's you may recall three young guys, that loved riding bikes, (Paul MacAusland lead singer for Haywire, and Rob Harrell), who after our first season racing YSR's, we rode all the way to T.O.}

 

_{That's 1400km folks and unknown to me, were introduced by Dwain McKeen, YMC's then National sales mgr, and were featured to kick off the 1990 dealer show.}

 

_{The theme behind riding 49cc "motorcycles" was simple... it stood for YOU SHOULD RIDE!}

 

_{Wanna change the numbers?  I'm fearful that it’s too late.  Making beginner bikes now may be too little too late.  And, if my visits to current dealerships including some here on the Island are any indication... the will is simply, "Not there."  Dealers that do nothing for the sport, personnel that if not joyful are not particularly enthusiastic and an industry of moto mags that cater to the few at the top of the $$ ladder, that report (and I use this term very loosely) only the baddest, meanest, fastest, most expensive model, who at the expense of the manufacturer are jetted all over the World to ride the latest while staying at the best hotels, eat in the best most expensive restaurants and somehow manage to produce reports that are barely believable and often end their road tests with something like...}

 

_{Pros: Massive power WSBK handling, stunning technology.}

_{Cons: The grips are too hard!}

 

_{Motorcycle journalism it ain't.  Brand endorsement, it be!}

 

_{At least I did my part, and continue doing it my way.}

 

 

       _{The good news... the days are already getting longer!!!}

 

PS  MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!  as for the NEW   YEAR...JUST NEVER MIND, and KEEP RIDING!

Here I sit broken hearted...

WHAT an ordeal this mess with my Phx home has been.  I can't begin to explain the frustrations, false starts, various people I have dealt with, explaining over and over, costs associated, and 10 months later... I still don't have a home to live in.

I'm a very patient guy, ask anyone that knows me.  I was a patient machinist apprentice in my younger days, a patient Chief Instructor for the Canada Safety Council operating the National Motorcycle Training program, had not only my own MC shop but ultimately three outlets.  Patient with a former wife that was serially promiscuous, money problems at times and of course... patient as a father to two now in their mid 30's daughters.

I miss this.  Prepped and ready for a day of adventure.

Patience could be my middle name!

This ordeal with my Southern home has beat me up more than riding two hundred laps on a MX track!

I do my best to stay on an even keel regardless of the obstacles life puts into my path.  Today, as I sit in my Phx hotel room wondering if there will be any progress on my home, I watch tv, feed the local feral cats and hope that before I head home I can leave on an up note.


ON another note... it's a very nice December day, temperature will be in the mid 20's (70's F) and I'll soon pop out on my scooter and have a visit with my stalwart friend, Judy.  I'll be stopping off somewhere for my 'healthy' fast food outlet dinner.  This isn't is bad as it sounds.  Here in the US of A the choices for fast food are infinite. Back home especially on the Island, there are a few of the typical places.  Burgers, coffee shops, but it is a small Island.  Choices are limited. 

From my hotel door to my home and back is a distance of maybe 9 miles round trip.  I wouldn't be fibbing if I guesstimated perhaps 200 eating places within that radius. There's McD's, Burger Kings, Subway's, of course, then the waffle places, the taco places, the pancake places, the Sushi places, the coffee places. 

Besides that, there are hundreds of independent restaurants. Lots of  Mexican, Italian, Greek, and then there's the Golden Corral!



I feel like I'm putting on weight!  It's not so much the burgers and tacos and pop... none of which help but I come down south so I can ride my XT!  How can riding a MC be an exercise you ask, after all there isn't much exercise riding your Fat Boy to the Bar and Grill.  For decades I have ridden off road ans I still enjoy it. 

On a typical day I'll fuel up in Phx then head out of town.  Maybe to the Castle Hot Springs road, maybe Crown King or the New River canyon.  I could be riding up the Senator highway to Prescott. On these trips I am standing on the foot pegs more much of the day.  Twisting, dodging dry washes, sand, rocks, climbing, descending thousands of feet.



By the time I am heading 'home' I may have covered a 100-150 miles without seeing another human being, up and over mountains, deep in valleys, and when the 350 engine stops... I am exhausted mentally and physically.  That, to me is the best exercize I do.  Sure walking to Irishtown road with my wife is good exercise but there is nothing that I do that works my body (and mind) more than riding a trail bike.

Beautiful scenery

Period.

Sitting here in the hotel, is not doing me any good.

I'm heading home in a week. 

At some point the repairs on my place will be completed and I can put this years ordeal behind me.

All my possessions in the POD

I'll get back to eating normally and during the winter I'll be getting exercise clearing snow, keeping vehicles running, perhaps walking the track at C.O.P. and using the staircase (the real stair-master)  to keep in shape. 

At least I can do a little cooking at my hotel.