NRR September 2013 - Northern Rockies Rider

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Northern Rockies Rider
Volume 2, Number 6 • September 2013 • A Continental Communications Publication • [email protected] • 406-498-3250
Okanagon, Kettle River Valleys host
roads that exceed our riding criteria
By Cole Boehler
Riding an intimately
familiar road close to home
is like having Wednesday
night beers with your regular
cronies.
Heading out to run a
more distant segment that
you’ve neglected for four or
five years is akin to becoming
reacquainted with an old
friend – the fine memories
come flooding back.
Running worthy routes
and loops you’ve never been
on before is like meeting
new folks with whom you
immediately hit it off; you
greatly enjoy their company
and eagerly anticipate your
next rendezvous.
We are delighted to know
that we haven’t ridden it all
in the Northern Rockies
Between Oroville and Chesaw, nothing but remote curves, good pavement and no traffic, all with the right tool:
yet; that there are new-to-us Ducati Multistrada “S” Touring.
roads to meet and become
acquainted with, roads that
will be added to our let’s-doit-again-real-soon list.
Spokane is under five
hours from our home if
pushed straight through on
I-90 – just 315 miles. On a
bike, given our propensity
for backroads and our usual
motorcycle pace, it’s most
of a day. That’s comforting
to know since there is so
much fine riding to be had
surrounding that regional
“metropolis.”
We rode as far as St.
Regis, Mont., Thursday
night and stopped at the
Little River Motel (thanks
for the good room and great
company, Linda!), then
pushed into Spokane the
next morning to arrive at
Westside Motorsports by
See River Valleys, Page 2
Ducati Multistrada ‘S’ Touring:
Ideal long weekend
backroad ripper?
By Cole Boehler
Stopped for road construction north of Reardon, we found the nearly ripe grain fields to make
for a fine photo backdrop. Dealership personnel had wisely covered easy-to-scratch surfaces with
protective plastic.
I remembered well Scott
Schmidtman’s words from last
January: “We’ll have a Ducati demo
bike. Come over and ride it.”
He uttered that memorable line
during an interview we conducted
prior to publishing a feature profile
on the motorsports business he
operates in Spokane, Westside
Motorsports (NR Rider Feb./March
2013). The dealership had just
acquired a Ducati franchise.
Well, here it was in late July and
we were planning a tour of some
new-to-us Washington routes. We
dialed Schmidtman and asked if he
still had the demo machine. When
he responded in the affirmative, we
Change service requested: 914 Holmes Ave., Butte, MT 59701
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Permit No. 93
Livingston, MT
launched the coup d’ main: “Could
we take it out ... er, for two days?”
There was a brief, but significant,
hesitation before Schmidtman
responded in his typically cool and
collected manner, “Yes, I suppose we
could make that possible.”
We rolled up to the front dock
at Westside at 9:05 a.m. Friday, July
26. And there it was, a silver and
black liveried Ducati Multistrada
“S” Touring, idling noisily away as
Associate General Manager Stephen
Lay and Assistant Sales Manager
Tyler Oas puttered with machine
set-up.
That was my first impression: the
steady and almost frenetic bup-bupbup-bup thumping of the 90-degree
See Ducati, Page 9
Prepping for
the ITU longdistance rally
Rankins ride
to west coast
and back
two-up
Page 22
Page 26
Northern Rockies Rider - 2
September 2013
River Valleys
That’s a formula for a couple of very
memorable days of sport-touring.
We dealt with two problems on day
from page 1 one: our late departure from the Spokane
metro area (no big deal) and 98-degree
temperatures (a fairly big deal).
9 a.m. (you “gain” an hour crossing from
It was already climbing toward the
Mountain to Pacific time).
upper
80s when we headed west on Hwy.
There we picked up a 2013 Ducati
2.
We
had
originally planned to explore
Multistrada “S” Touring demo bike to try
the little county roads zigzagging northwest out of
Spokane toward Long Lake
and Little Falls Dams on the
Spokane River but, given
time and temp, decided
to notch these on the way
back.
At Reardon, we headed
north on 231, but 14 miles
later near Little Falls Dam,
we cut west, north, west and
north to cross the Spokane
Indian Reservation, through
Wellpinit, then up to Hwy.
25 just below Fruitland on
the Columbia River. This
was Little Falls/Wellpinit
Road.
The asphalt out of
Reardon was pretty rough
with some traffic, straight
stretches and sweeping
turns, but soon enough
we stopped for a chip seal
operation that signaled an
improvement once it’s swept
This is on “Old Highway 22” near Porcupine Bay of the
clean. We added a patina
Spokane River. Fruitland was just a few more miles of
of fine dust, fitting for the
excellent riding up the road.
out, courtesy of the dealership. (See bike
review beginning on page 1.)
We had lashed together a fairly loose
idea of a route, ultimately leaving it open to
some improvisation, which was fortunate
because we didn’t clear Spokane until after
11 a.m., about an hour later than we had
hoped.
We were intending to explore the upper
Okanagon and Kettle River valleys, but we
had no idea such fine sport-touring was
available on the backroads getting there, or
how much pure fun it would be pushing
a Multistrada along these serpentine
secondaries.
Wow! This stuff is world class!
In most cases, surface paving
was excellent, roadway engineering
was acceptable, traffic volumes were
exceptionally low and the scenery was
diverse and magnificent. Now factor in
the fine quality of people residing in the
region, pretty little towns and villages,
excellent dining and lodging facilities with
reasonable prices ...
At the foot of the
Flowery Trail!
Ducati adventure-tourer.
The reservation stretch from Hwy. 231
to 25 was superb and about 25 miles. It is
all lonesome curves with many marked
down to 30 and 35, with the general limit
at 50 mph. We wouldn’t suggest this be run
faster, but it could be done...easily.
“Bordering on technical,” our notes
read, and this is where we began to give the
Multistrada a bit of rein, allowing it to lope
through the straights but applying a light
quirt through the turns.
Though running ADV rubber, the
long-legged ‘Strada was impressively
sure-footed, never once hinting its shoes
were close to losing grip. Its “Skyhook”
suspension keeps the contact patches stuck
to the surface as wheels comply creamily
with any pavement irregularities.
Be judicious with the throttle as the
Ducati is capable of simply exploding out
of corner exits, which makes the Ducati
Traction Control system a worthwhile,
perhaps necessary, feature.
After an excellent lunch at the Hunters
Inn and Tavern in Hunters, astride Hwy.
25, and several big glasses of ice water,
we were somewhat rejuvenated but the
temperature was nearing 100 and our
fortitude was bound to wane quickly.
We set our sites on Kettle Falls 40 miles
See River Valleys, Page 3
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7807 E. Sprague Avenue,
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www.empire-cycle.com
(509) 892-6368
Pizza after 4:00 pm
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Hunters WA 99137
509-722-3631
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www.nordlig.com
509-935-6704 • [email protected] • 101 W.
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GPS is terrific for telling you where you are . . . and where you’ve been. But
what about “the best” way to get to where you’re going? The twistiest,
most dramatic roads . . . the roads you brag to your buddies about!
Butler Maps fills in where your GPS falls short. We show you every great
road and rank them based on how good they are from a motorcyclist’s
perspective. We also know that ending your ride in a neat town with a
cold beer and hot meal is important so all of
our maps have QR codes to hook you up with
our recommendations. The next time you
want to explore the best roads in America . . .
don’t ask your GPS.
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BUTLERMAPS
butlermaps.com
September 2013
Northern Rockies Rider - 3
River Valleys
from page 2
to the north on Hwy. 25, running the
distance along Roosevelt Lake which is the
dammed Columbia River. The highway
surface was in good condition. It hosted
Coming up Hwy. 25 toward Hunters along
the Columbia River-Roosevelt Lake. A
picture says more than words – fun!
And, oh, did we enjoy topping Sherman
Pass on the way west to Republic! Only 78
degrees at 5,575 feet! That was according to
the onboard ambient temperature sensor
in the Ducati’s instrument package. We
had some fun toggling between all the
functions: instant and cumulative mileage
readouts, trip meters, trip time and average
miles per hour, remaining fuel range ... all
kinds of cool info.
One thing we noticed about the
Multistrada: at our first fill, we were
averaging less than 39 mpg. By the end of
the trip, it registered over 45 mpg, probably
the result of break-in miles increasing
engine, transmission and drive-line
operating efficiency, in combination with a
more practiced throttle hand.
Hwy. 20 to Republic is all well
engineered constant radius turns, some
marked down to 30 mph and easy to run
at suggested speeds plus 20. It was a pure
delight and a very fine end to a pretty
good day. Plenty of other riders were out
dissecting the curves, too.
At Republic we found no motel with
a pool and may have been lucky to find a
room at all. There was an annual BMW
owners confab in town so the area was
crawling with bikes, many of them exotic
sport machines or ADV purposed.
All motels had motorcycle contingents
filling their parking lots. We got a very nice
room at the Klondike for about $75. The
owner was most accommodating and even
brought us our own coffee pot and coffee
for our planned early morning launch. And
the air conditioning worked! Yes!
In our parking lot we had BMWs,
Triumphs, Suzukis, Hondas and Harleys
– ADV, dual sport, naked street fighters,
cruisers, full dress tourers ... almost
marginally more Friday traffic but also
featured numerous, good, constant radius,
sweeping turns.
Up through Cedonia, Gifford and Rice
and into Kettle Falls, our bodily fluids were
cooking away through our hides. I wore
an Olympia armored mesh jacket that was
relatively cool, but Marilyn had on her
Frank Thomas textile and even with the
vents open and liner out, she was being
slowly sautéed.
We topped up
the Multistrada’s
tank in Kettle Falls,
then guzzled a liter
of water and another
of Powerade, trying
to top up our own
fluids. I was thankful
the “Duck,” though
producing 150
horsepower, was not
a furnace between
my legs, instead just
slightly grilling my
right boot.
We spent the night in quaint and friendly Republic, Wash.,
By now we
which has a good craft brewery. We enjoyed the suds. We also
were thinking of:
had a very nice room at a good price. Nice town! We’ll be back.
swimming pool,
air conditioning, T-shirt and short pants,
everything, but just one Ducati.
sandals, soft chairs, cold beers, a sandwich
I have to say, that Multistrada drew a lot
and good bed. So we decided Republic, just of attention, even from the guys running
43 miles further west, was going to be the
the most exotic sport equipment (there
end of the line that day.
was a fully farkled BMW S1000RR in the
Author watching a bald eagle while taking a break along Hwy. 20 between Republic
and Tonasket. We were at it early in order to avoid the day’s coming heat.
lot). Everyone was curious and asked a lot
of questions, as though the possibility of
owning one of these models had settled in
the backs of their minds.
Cleaned up and in lightweight lounging
clothes, we hiked just a couple of blocks
down the main drag. We homed in on the
Republic Brewery; we have our priorities.
I enjoyed an excellent locally made
porter while my wife found a tasty lager
that suited her pallet. With the pints, add a
big unit of peanuts, comfortable chairs on
an open-air rear patio, friendly staff and
patrons ... That’s just about Heaven after
a day like ours. And good reason to stick
around and have another pour.
We then opted for some grocery deli
sandwiches and headed back to the room.
The next morning, with a flip of the
switch the coffee brewed and we showered,
packed and geared. At 6:45 we were ready
to roll. Other riders had the same idea: beat
the heat. Some had already left and the rest
were loading. We enjoyed the easy banter
with new biker friends.
In fact, one of them helped determine
our Saturday route.
We’d been eyeing a road from Oroville
to Curlew, but our dated map indicated
a stretch of it was gravel, which the
Multistrada was designed to handle with
aplomb. However: $20K loaner bike...? We
were strongly considering the risk when we
were informed that road was now paved all
the way. That settled things.
We headed east out of Republic toward
Tonasket along Hwy. 20, 41 miles of pure
riding pleasure! The 4,310-foot Wauconda
Summit was blessedly cool, almost cold!
The Duck’s instruments indicated 51
degrees and I was wearing my mesh jacket
without the liner. Despite the ‘Strada’s hand
guards, my fingers actually got a little chilly.
The pavement was excellent and the
road even had ample shoulders, all lined
with heavy timber. There was virtually no
traffic...and no critters. We had the sun at
our backs so we could easily see through
the dozens of curves.
Since we were heading into unfamiliar
and remote country, we fueled at Tonasket
See River Valleys, Page 8
CHESAW TAVERN
Full Menu
Beer & Wine
“Locally Famous Bison
Burgers and Brats”
Ice Cold Craft Beers on Tap
Pool Table
Outdoor Seating
Come by and
check out our
“Rider Approved”
Biker Breakfast
Hours: Tuesday through Friday “noonish”
Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 a.m. for Breakfast
CHESAW TAVERN
2045 Chesaw Road
Chesaw, Washington
Tavern 509-485-2174 • Store 509-485-2999
Northern Rockies Rider - 4
Opinion
September 2013
Both specialization and versatility characterized moto market
Some folks equate “diversity” with
“political correctness.”
Maybe so when it comes to race,
ethnicity, gender and so on.
When it comes to motorcycles, we
at Northern Rockies Rider believe
diversity is what brings joy and
passion to the sport.
Over time, we all tend to fall into
our own preferred style niche, the
broadest of them being cruiser,
tourer, sport, standard, dual-sport
and dirt.
Then there are all the hybrids,
refining the main genres: sporttouring (S-T), naked street-fighter,
bagger, adventure-touring, grantouring (G-T), super sport, roadster,
super-moto, cafe, moto-cross, enduro
and trials. Anyone care to take a stab
at defining what is a “super-sport
touring” (SST)?
Then there are the mini-trails,
mo-peds, scooters. Trikes qualify,
whether sporting two wheels up front
and one behind or the opposite.
A truly broad and highly
specialized category is “custom,”
which encompasses anything any
designer or fabricator can dream up.
“Classics” probably deserve their own
category which will be, and should
be, defined by the individual.
We live in the Golden Age
of motorcycling: We can select,
purchase and ride a bike suited
and specifically designed for any
specialized riding mission. And all
these designs perform better than
ever before.
Design, engineering, technology
and reliability are superb. Materials,
components and performance
improve, no matter the niche.
Some production motorcycles
have advanced to the point where
99.9 percent of the human species is
no longer capable of fully controlling
them without on-board electronic
brains helping out. Super sport
bikes, for example, may weigh
under 400 pounds and produce
180 horsepower, capable of 90
mph in first gear with a top speed
approaching 200 mph.
Diversity is good, though, and
versatility is better.
For those who enjoy several
specialized types of riding, the option,
if feasible, is to own several types of
specialized bikes.
For those with limited budgets
(purchase, maintenance, license,
insurance), more versatile machines
with cross – or compromise – designs
might be a better option.
How about if you want to cruise
poker runs, but also tour? Maybe a
“bagger” fits the bill.
You want to ride some improved
gravel, but have to ride asphalt to
get to it? How about a dual-sport or
adventure-tourer? More off- than ontarmac? Go with the dual-sport. More
on- than off-asphalt? The ADV bike is
the better choice.
You want some creature comforts
and carrying capacity for your 400mile touring days, but love to run the
twisties hard? A sport-tourer will fit
the bill.
Okay, you want a highperformance street rod for Saturday
night stoplight-to-stoplight action,
but want to run to the other coast,
too? Check into a G-T set up with
aftermarket hard panniers or textile
bags.
How about a commuter you can
tour on, or a tourer that works as a
commuter? Yes, there are scooters
that are big and powerful enough to
go cross-country. How about a bike
for your 12-year-old daughter as a
learner? They are available.
Want to spend $40K on your new
factory ride? That’s quite doable.
How about $4,000 new, right off the
floor? Sure.
What bikes the market doesn’t
provide, you can create using
the after-market. And even when
a manufacturer provides almost
precisely what you want and need,
you can customize it for yourself
individually.
Say you’re six-feet five inches.
Need a taller seat with more room
to slide back? Need handlebars
further forward? Want foot pegs
lowered or further forward? Need
a taller windscreen to direct air
over your head? All this can be
obtained as factory options from
the manufacturer or from the aftermarket. Small-stature folks will find
the same sort of options available.
Want more decibels from the
exhausts? Want more power from
the engine? Want a wider tire?
Brighter headlight, louder horn,
intercom, XM radio, GPS? Modern
motorcycles are better than ever
straight from the factory, but an
owner can make them close to
perfect.
Dig the whole retro scene? Many
manufacturers have introduced
models with modern engineering
but retro style. Some companies
specialize it in it.
All of this came into focus recently
when we rode a Ducati Multistrada
in late July. The Multistrada model
is Ducati’s adventure-tour platform.
But, behold, it is available in four
versions: 1200 Sport, “S” Touring,
Pikes Peak and “S” Granturismo.
Talk about splitting already fine hairs!
So you have a compromise
platform that is designed for two
basic functions, pavement and
improved unpaved roads. However,
the four available iterations further
refine the basic adventure-touring
niche: (1) Sport, a naked version for
street shenanigans or light off-road
work; (2) “S” Touring with removable
hard bags, for longer-distance
travel with a sporting edge that can
handle gravel when need be; (3)
Pikes Peak, a more competition/high
performance/sport oriented naked
bike with high-end components
and (4) the Grantourismo, more
geared toward long-distance touring
with comfortable ergonomics given
priority, even has a top case.
Niches within niches.
Perhaps ideally, every
manufacturer would have something
to fit every consumer need. And this
is the direction manufacturers have
been heading and still are to an ever
increasing degree, while striving to
maintain the distinction that defines a
particular brand.
Harley-Davidson, BMW, the
Japanese Big Four, Triumph and
Ducati: each brand is noted for doing
what it does, exceptionally well. Yet
each brand is doing better and better
what it has done well all along.
Perhaps the only downside to
today’s motorcycle market is the
difficulty entailed in making a choice.
That starts with defining the kind
of riding you’re anticipating, then
matching the models, accessories –
and budget – to your needs.
The range of choices and infinite
opportunities to refine our rides has
never been better.
Let’s celebrate diversity!
Time to ride!
Northern Rockies Rider
Published ten times annually - Jan./Feb., March-Oct., Nov./Dec.
A Continental Communications Publication
914 Holmes Ave., Butte, MT 59701
406-498-3250 • <[email protected]>
Editor and Publisher - Cole D. Boehler • <[email protected]>
Business and Sales Manager - Dani M. Rollison-Collins
<[email protected]> 406-490-8472
Wyoming Correspondent - Dottie Rankin
<[email protected]> 307-660-5171
Western South Dakota/Wyoming Representative - Earl Rankin
<[email protected]> 307-660-3581
Graphic Design - Rocky Mountain Inspired - Joel & Steph Martens
406-333-2824 • <[email protected]>
If you would like direct home mail delivery, send your name, mailing address,
telephone number, e-mail address and $20 to Northern Rockies Rider,
914 Holmes Ave., Butte, MT 59701, or contact us at <[email protected]>
Back issues are available for $5.
Postmaster: Please send address change requests to Northern Rockies Rider,
914 Holmes Ave., Butte, MT 59701.
All rights reserved by the publisher
September 2013
Opinion
Northern Rockies Rider - 5
Want to be club president? Not this club, you don’t
By Cole Boehler
Editor and Publisher
Northern Rockies Rider
The revs came up but the speed
decreased until the bike stopped,
first gear still engaged and the motor
running.
I’d buried the rear wheel in the
We all do dumb things. For most
loose and apparently bottomless
of them we pay a price.
sand. I stepped off the now quite
My family has even formed “The
low bike and it stood there securely
Dumb Club.” Being elected president
upright without the side-stand
is no small feat but a dubious honor.
deployed, resting comfortably with its
For example, my late father was
belly in the sand.
elected president once when we’d
I did not appreciate my brother’s
been canoeing and fishing a local
river and had gathered a nice stringer laughter, and did not appreciate it
when he
of trout for
showed
our dinner.
others the
Dad landed
pictures
another dandy
Cole Boehler
he took.
and, after
Editor and Publisher
Neither of us
attaching it to
Northern Rockies Rider
appreciated
the stringer,
having to lift
tossed the
and drag a
mess of fish
650-pound
back over the
bike
side of the
boat...without reattaching the stringer sideways several yards to firmer
ground. Dumb Club!
to the gunwale.
Recently a friend, out on a dayBye-bye stringer of fish. Byerun, stopped to top up his tank.
bye trout dinner. Hello Dumb Club
Shortly the bike began to run badly,
President!
coughing and choking and belching
Of course, induction into the
black smoke. He feared he’d burned
club depends upon whether you
a piston or valve as the bike had no
are observed in the act or not...
power and seemed to be missing.
or are dumb enough to actually tell
someone about the ridiculously stupid Best case was a load of bad gas.
The bike was retrieved and hauled
thing you did.
to the shop. The tech called the next
I used to watch for bargain
day to confirm...yes, bad gas. In fact
motorcycles for sale during winter,
the gas was so bad it was diesel.
perhaps for sale by a student
Do not use the green-handled
strapped for cash. If worthy and very
cheap, I’d acquire it, then keep it until nozzle! Dumb Club!
It was in Sturgis in, I think, 1981.
the weather warmed, detail it and sell
This was when the main doings were
it at a substantial profit.
I picked up a fully faired Japanese in Sturgis Park.
As a sort of “right of passage,”
sport bike one February. The streets
anyone who entered the park in a
were icy so I loaded it on my trailer
car was halted by a big group of
and brought it home. The ramp
beefy bros. They’d gather around the
was narrow and as I eased the bike
rear of the car, lift it off the ground,
backward and down using the front
then yell to the driver, “Hit it!” As the
brake, the front tire locked, skidded
engine revved and the tires spun,
and went off the ramp. I didn’t drop
they’d drop the rear and watch the
the bike but its belly landed on the
burnout. Haw, haw, har, har!
ramp and broke the fairing where it
A good looking blonde pulled
buttoned underneath in the middle.
in
driving
a Cadillac, and the ritual
I’d owned the bike for 30 minutes
began. As “hit it!” was hollered, about
and had done $279 damage! Dumb
eight big fellas went sprawling to the
Club!
pavement, dirtied and skinned up
I remember my first motorcycle
badly. They’d miscalculated.
well: a two-stroke street twin. I was
See, this Cadillac was an El
really green...and stupid.
Dorado, one of those rare-at-the-time
I was using one of those heavy
front-wheel-drives. Haw, haw, har, har
rubber tarp straps to secure jackets,
indeed! Dumb Club!
a six pack, whatever to the rear seat.
My brother and riding partner
At about 80 miles an hour one day,
acquired the nickname “Wrong
it suddenly seemed as though I was
Way.” See, as we left our camp one
standing on the rear brake! The bike
morning, we all turned right...except
rapidly decelerated, than began a
Brother. Ah, I best let him tell “the rest
rear wheel skid. I managed to keep it
of the story.” Dumb Club!
upright until it stopped.
I could relate many stories from
Of course, the tarp strap had
my youth where profoundly poor
worked loose, then fallen into and
judgment was exercised. But I’ll only
wrapped up around the rear disk
reveal this one:
brake. Dumb Club!
I rode on the passenger seat of
Touring in New Mexico with
my
buddy’s 750 Kawasaki H2 – yes,
my brother, I was in the lead and
searching for a frontage road I’d seen one of those squirrelly, scary twostroke triples – backwards. I was
on the map to escape the four-lane
waving at the traffic to the rear. I’m
drone. My “alternative” ended in sort
glad he didn’t think of it or he might
of a crude dead-end cul-de-sac. My
have executed one of those 60 mph
brother wisely held back and waited
wheelies the Mach IV was known for.
for me to execute the U-turn. There
Dumb Club!
was some sand so I took it easy.
Back in about 1982, a friend spent
About two-thirds of the way
several hundred dollars on a brand
through the maneuver, the bike
new set of Hein Gericke leathers –
began to bog so I gave it some gas.
jacket and pants. About three days
later he had a tank slapper and lost it
at about 85 miles-an-hour, resulting
in a long slide. He’d left the leathers
at home. Sadly, painfully, Dumb Club.
Of course there’s getting the
shoelaces or pants cuff caught in the
foot peg when you go to put your foot
down, and there’s forgetting about
the disc lock when you go to leave...
With luck, no one will observe the
consequences. Dumb Club!
Any time you drop your bike:
Dumb Club!
Not long ago I was photographing
an appealing set of mountain pass
curves.
The situation was fairly typical:
pull to the shoulder just beyond a
rise, whip camera out, check mirrors
for traffic bearing down from behind,
shoot, toss camera in tank bag, move
forward a hundred yards, watch
mirrors for traffic, whip camera out,
shoot, toss camera back into bag,
move forward another 100 yards...
etc.
This time the traffic menace was
profound so in order to hurry the
process I was returning the camera
to the bag without shutting it off.
This meant the protective aperture
was not closing over the lens; no
big deal as I would quickly finish the
photo series, then stow the camera
properly.
However, a glitch developed.
Somehow a zipper that closes a
pouch in the tank bag lid had worked
open just a hair. That pouch always
houses a light-weight cable with small
padlock we use to secure jackets,
helmets and so on to the bike when
we are away from it temporarily.
In this case, I’ll be damned if the
padlock didn’t work its way through
the opening and was hanging down
into the interior of the bag.
What are the odds that (a) the
zipper would work open, (b) the
padlock would dangle out, (c) the
camera was inside the bag with its
lens exposed and... (d) the padlock
would contact the lens and badly
scratch it...several times?
What a nasty set of coincidences
(induced by my own carelessness)! I
like this current Canon Powershot GX
1 (paid $500 for it) so will cough up
the $226 for new optical glass... and
will pay attention to tank bag zippers,
and will shut the camera off every
time before resuming the road. More
lessons learned... Dumb Club!
The life of a journalist’s camera is
a precarious one.
I have damaged company
cameras before, even lost one
entirely. What is left of it is still at the
bottom of the Yellowstone River, just
into North Dakota, as the result of a
canoe capsize while covering a raft
race for the local newspaper in 1975.
Spectators enjoyed it. Dumb Club!
Believe it or not, about two
years later, a different reporter/
photographer working for the same
paper lost another company camera
in the same spot, covering the same
event, capsizing the same canoe!
The spectators really enjoyed the
repeat performance. Really, really
Dumb Club!
The ultimate personal Dumb Club:
Leave the keys in the bike ignition,
garage door unlocked. That one cost
me $thousands!
That deserves a club of its own.
How about: Brain Dead Idiot Club?
Oh yeah, I almost forgot: I gave
my approval when my wife suggested
she (we!) get a cat. I’m definitely in
the running for Brain Dead Idiot Club
president.
•••••
From the strange and bizarre file:
According to the Bozeman
Daily Chronicle, two people were
hospitalized after their motorcycle
struck and killed a young black bear
at 5:15 p.m. Sunday, July 21, in the
Gallatin Canyon south of Big Sky,
Mont.
The newspaper reported people
in a nearby car and a second
motorcyclist riding behind the couple
witnessed the accident.
The riders were flown to Bozeman
Deaconess Hospital. Their names
and conditions weren’t known.
Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists
picked up the carcass of the black
bear, which was younger than two
years old.
Correction
In the August, 2013 NR Rider review of
the KTM RC8R, it was implied the bike is
equipped with traction control and ABS,
whereas it is not.
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Northern Rockies Rider - 6
Opinion
September 2013
Two-up: you may give up freedom but gain intimacy
By Dottie Rankin
NR Rider Wyoming Correspondent
“Honey, you are supposed to be sitting back there
bike and I am comfortable trusting my safety to him.
going whee! whee!” I was thinking of the other wee- Yet it doesn’t mean that it was easy for me to get
wee.
over “myself” and feel at ease behind him on the
After riding solo for the last three years I have
When you are riding two-up on a motorcycle,
bike once again.
formed some definite new opinions, having just
it isn’t like riding in a car, having dinner or seeing
It was a challenge for the first half-day or so
returned from
a movie with him. It is not something
but then I settled into enjoying the trip as a “fender
a lengthy,
anyone should take lightly. You are
lizard,” as my friend calls the one on behind. I
long distance
entrusting your safety to another
prefer to think of myself as the goddess on the back
(3,900-plusperson. It is gambling your life on the
of our bike!
Dottie Rankin
miles)
skills of the one
Hubby and I enjoyed
Gillette, Wyo.
motorcycle
who is driving.
riding together. We
Wyoming Correspondent
vacation riding
For me, it
found a level of intimacy
two-up with my
was letting go
that only riding two-up
hubby.
of some of my
can offer. Being inches
Sure, riding
control issues. I
apart on a bike, being
solo has
hope my hubby
surrounded by the best
its definite advantages: you can ride faster, ride
understood just how big a
that Mother Nature has
harder, lean a bit more and I love the “holy moly
thing this was for me after
to offer and being among
that was fun” moments.
good friends... How can it
However, for a few complicated
get better than that?
reasons that I don’t care to go into right
Riding pillion allowed
now, I decided to ride with hubby on
me to take breathtaking
this trip. It wasn’t a spur of the moment
photos and gave me a
decision nor did it come lightly.
little more freedom to
There is nothing better than enjoying
Dottie and Earl Rankin, closer than ever, after relax and enjoy myself.
a common passion with the one you
It was nice not to have
4,000 miles two-up. At Multnomah Falls and
love and for us it would be riding our
to navigate new territory,
Crater Lake.
motorcycles.
new roads and heavy
Hubby and I found a certain intimacy
traffic on my own bike.
and connection being on the bike
Though being a passenger
together for such a long distance. It
has responsibilities and there
was extremely nice being close behind
are certain rules to be followed,
him with my arms around his waist,
being the driver of your own
legs nestled next to his, my face so
bike brings a whole other level
close to his neck and completely trusting my safety
riding solo for a few
of responsibilities.
to him.
years, and exactly
Did I like riding pillion with
That is where part of the trouble came for me –
what it meant about
hubby? You bet I did! It is an
trusting and letting go of some control.
our relationship.
experience I will cherish forever.
Two people on one bike, both control freaks; it
Riding with him
Did I miss riding my own
can be a bit uncomfortable.
again (my idea, not
bike? No, not at all ... until
Example: At one point I thought he was going
his) was a huge
the roads got fun and I was
a bit too fast for the road and I leaned up and
compliment to him
stuck on the back instead of
said into his ear, “Honey, when the sign says slow
and a gift of trust. It meant that I do trust him –
navigating them on my own!
down, you are supposed to slow down.” He replied, totally, that I am comfortable being on back of his
Don’t worry, Glitter, next time we go together!
Guest Column
Long-distance rally riding can become an obsession
By Bob Torter
“Into The Unkown” Rally Master
NR Rider Guest Columnist
motorcycle riders who want to remain
sane.
A word of caution is warranted
here: do not read this book unless you
Like most Northern Rockies Rider
have more self control than we do, or
readers, I have owned and ridden
are willing to dedicate a large part of
motorcycles for
your life to
many years.
competitive
In 2003 my
longwife, Sylvie,
distance
and I became
rally
Bob Torter
interested in,
competition.
NR Rider Guest Columnist
and purchased,
After
a BMW 1200
reading this
GS Adventure.
book by
This very
Ron, who is
capable dualnow a good
sport machine is intended for serious
friend of ours, I became obsessed with
riding on all sorts of roads and in all
riding the 11-day 11,000-mile Iron Butt
sorts of conditions.
Rally. Many readers have undoubtedly
Our first ride was from Miami, where heard of the Iron Butt Association.
we purchased the bike, to Las Vegas
The most frequent Iron Butt
in January of 2003. We had no idea
comment we have heard is, “Oh
what we were doing and learned a lot
yeah, I did an Iron Butt Rally. I rode
through mistakes. Nevertheless we
1,000 miles in 24 hours, but did not
loved the freedom and adventure of
document it.”
long-distance riding.
Our answer is, “OK, but what did
Shortly after this ride, I made
you do for the next 10 days?”
the mistake of reading a book by
Four years of practice later, after
the legendary endurance rider Ron
riding countless rallies ranging 24
Ayres. The book, “Against the Wind: A
hours to five days, we were qualified
Rider’s Account of the Incredible Iron
and picked to ride in the 2007 Iron
Butt Rally,” is pure poison for sane
Butt Rally. We became the eighth
couple in the rally’s 25-year history to
finish. We are the 362nd and 363rd
persons to have finished the rally. Most
competitors ride solo.
Crazily, to prove it wasn’t a fluke,
we did it again in 2009. (See remark
above about “obsession”.) Prudently,
the Iron Butt Association, which is
dedicated to safe long-distance riding,
does not select riders who are not
battle proven by successfully and
safely completing a variety of shorter
rallies.
This experience and our desire to
give something back to the Iron Butt
Association prompted Sylvie and me
to develop our own rally. We selected
a 32-hour time frame which is the
longest time we think it is prudent for
us to ride without a period of serious
rest ( defined as four or more hours).
Every rider will have his or her own
limits which may be more or less than
32 hours.
Our first rally where we served as
rally masters was held in 2011 and
was called “The Good, The Bad and
The Ugly.” It was won by Matt Watkins
who was featured in the August edition
of NR Rider. Matt is most definitely
considered one of the Iron Butt
Association’s “big dogs.”
We are now preparing for our
second rally, this one called “Into
the Unknown.” Our rallies are based
out of the Big Sky Resort. This one
commences Aug. 23 and ends Aug.
25. The actual rally run launches at 5
a.m. Saturday and winds up at 1 p.m.
Sunday.
NR Rider has decided to enter the
rally and we welcome their participation
(see related article on NRR bike prep
beginning on page 22). Bravado or
something else caused them to sign up
for the Experienced Class versus the
New-To-Sport Class. This means NRR
will be competing against Matt who
road 1,980 miles in his 2011 “Good,
Bad and Ugly” victory, and against
other rally-hardened riders.
We wish the NRR rider, Sam Park
of Butte, Mont., safety and success in
his first rally “Into the Unknown.”
We are told NR Rider will also
provide coverage of the event in their
next edition, as well as a series of
evaluation articles on products and
accessories they used in the rally. We
look forward to reading the reports.
Editor’s note: Bob Torter has offered
future articles focusing on how to
prepare, ride, and conduct a longdistance rally event. Sounds interesting
and informative. We look forward to his
articles.
Opinion
September 2013
Northern Rockies Rider - 7
Letters to the editor
Editor,
Hi, from Lava Mountain Lodge on
The Togwotee Trail to Yellowstone.
I have just given out our last copy
of the July issue of NR Rider. If you
have more copies we would like to
give out more of them even though
it’s getting late in the month. There
is a lot of info for our guests in that
issue and it’s a great biker travel
resource for our area.
The feedback we have received
already from the July issue of NRR
has been great. We cannot give
enough thanks for the July issue and
the combined articles. We would
also like to receive more copies for
August and (coming) September
if possible. Thank you so much for
doing the business profile for Lava
Mountain Lodge, the timing couldn’t
have been better.
We will be hosting a ride during
the “Rockin’ The Winds” Wounded
Warrior events and rides in August
and we would like to make sure the
riders get at least some extra copies
during their visit to LML. It might
also be a good idea to provide some
copies to this event. Please send
them if available to Lava Mountain
Lodge, attn: Rockin’ The Winds so
I know to take them down or have
them delivered to the event. I think
this may be a great opportunity for
the publication.
By the way the (All Roads Lead
To) Sturgis map insert is great, too,
and certainly worth the price.
Thank you so much for doing what
you do and keep up the great work.
James Jackson, Owner
Lava Mountain Lodge &
Wilderness Boundary Restaurant
Dubois, Wyo.
Editor,
I live at the mouth of the Grand
Coulee on Soap Lake in Washington
State. I thought I’d send you a few
pics from my Mt. Rainier, White
Pass, Wash. motorcycle ride from
July 14-15. (Editor’s note: the pics
are spectacular!)
I have ridden over 250,000
certified miles (my local dealer
certified my mileage) on motorcycles
since 1997 in Washington, Idaho,
Oregon, Montana, Wyoming and
B.C. For the last year I have been
riding a custom-built (Honda) Fury
motorcycle chopper with an 1800CC
engine.
I picked up several of your
Northern Rockies Riders and sent
them to friends of mine in B.C.
This (attached picture) is Silk
Creek Road out of Packwood, Wash.
It goes around the south side of Mt.
Rainier National Park. It is 40 miles
of twisty, overgrown, 20 to 25 mph
curves – one of the finest roads that
you’ll ever ride.
The valley is narrow and the
road and river wind through it over
to the west summit of the park. The
vegetation along the sides of the
road is so overgrown that it brushed
against me in most of the turns. It is
so quiet and peaceful as one seldom
meets or sees another vehicle.
Dave Hoffman
Soap Lake, Wash.
Editor’s note: Thanks, Dave!
Maybe we can get these pics from
you in high-resolution and maybe
we can get you to share your
experiences on these roads with our
readers.
Hello editor,
My name is Matt Hill and I am
the owner of the Evergreen Motel
in Libby Montana. I have had quite
a few customers say they use your
website and
(publication) frequently.
I would like to know if the
Evergreen Motel could be listed as
a place to accommodate your bikers
on their way through beautiful Libby,
Montana. Please check out our
website <www.LibbyMotel.com>.
We love to cater to motorcyclists
by offering them rags and a cleaning
station upon check-in. They can also
park their motorcycle right in front of
the room.
We are centrally located in the
heart of Libby Montana close to
shopping, bars, restaurants etc. We
offer impeccably clean, remodeled
rooms and outstanding service!
For any other questions please
give me a call or email.
Thank you and have a wonderful
day!
Matt Hill (Owner)
Evergreen Motel
Libby MT 59923
Editor’s reply: Matt, we’ll let you
get by with this blatant commercial
since you give us such nice
compliments! The fact is we stayed
with you back in 2011 and found all
to be satisfactory. And, yes, we’ll let
you advertise!
Editor,
Getting the check in the mail
today. Did I tell you (hear: brag) that I did
a solo trip on my 1200 Sportster for
eight weeks around the country? Put
8,000 miles on it. My butt hurt so much that I bought
a 2004 Softail Heritage within a
month! Considering that I started riding
September of 2011, I am very proud.
Happy to have found my bliss. Now off to Olympic Park with two
friends. Then Glacier Park in
September. Mette Elfving
Incline Village, Nev.
Mette, can’t figure out if you complement
the bike or the other way around. Either
way, looking good! –Editor
Editor,
Just got home from a trip to
Beartooth (Highway), picked
up a copy of your August paper
somewhere. Never opened it until
I got home. Great! Please find
enclosed my check for a subscription,
also $5 for the July issue.
My group is already in the
planning stage for Glacier next year.
John S. Harms
Valentine, Neb.
Editor,
I just discovered your publication
during a recent overnight stay in
Riggins, Idaho.
This is good stuff – thank you for
putting this together. Here is $40 for
two subscriptions, one for me and
one for my nephew, Ron.
Monty Nickle
Connell, Wash.
Old School
Progress: from a tarp to a pop-up camp trailer with bike bay
By Steve Kelley
NR Rider Columnist
Every festival campground
is peppered with bikes with the
most wonderful variety of camping
Blues and bikes.
gear. It is a testament to American
ingenuity.
Summer is blues festival time for
A common sight is the mini
me.
camper/pop-up trailer. I toured a
It’s my “other job” and means
few of these and was amazed at the
I am traveling the first half of
the week
amount of
room and
and either
stuff they
camping or
“moteling” the
can hold.
The
second half.
Steve “Big Daddy” Kelley
trailer
Unfortunately I
NR Rider Columnist
frame is the
can’t carry my
bed that
gear on my
bike, but I still
holds two
(if you are
get to talk to a
intimate)
lot of bikers at
the festivals and motels.
adults, with a cargo hold
underneath. The tent blossoms out
Of course I introduce them to
Northern Rockies Rider and that
to a full size stand-up-and-get-your
seems to be the magic key into their pants-on model with a floor.
Some of these also incorporate
world. After a few “howdy-doos” and
an issue in their hands, the stories
a covered bay for your bike. Who
would want dew on the scoot in the
start to flow.
morning? Amazing!
Another clever gizmo is a
hammock frame that uses the bike
as a counterweight and a couple of
steel attachments hanging off the
frame (no tools required) become
the fore and aft hanging points of
the hammock. No more sleeping on
the cold, hard ground!
The less spiffy but still functional
alternative approach is creative
tarp art. These range from single
one-man, old-school lean-tos, to
communal multi bike-and-pole
gypsy style camps. They could be
branded “The Sturgis.”
The biggest boon to bike
camping in my opinion is the “Taco
Bed.” It is an inflatable full-size
mattress with a built in 12-volt air
pump. Instant bed. Weighs about 10
pounds. That makes a tired biker a
happy camper.
Creative packing is another
talent I have come to appreciate.
Saddle bags and panniers, tour
packs, luggage racks, sissy bar
suitcases, tank bags, faring bags,
lower crash bar compartments,
swing arm bags and on and on. No
space left unpacked.
“Honey, where’s my sun screen?”
How much stuff do you really
need?
Well, that’s up to the individual
of course. But I have to say in
overview that a single man travels
a lot lighter, and doesn’t need a
calculator to figure his tire pressure.
See you on the trail.
Editor’s note: My passenger
always packs a hair dryer. Rule
of thumb: the amount of crap you
pack will grow to fill to the amount
of space you have available. More
space = more crap. I recall the days
of a week-long outing with a small
duffle bungied to the rear seat.
When you needed fresh underwear,
you turned the ones you were
wearing inside out.
Northern Rockies Rider - 8
September 2013
River Valleys
from page 3
before crossing the Okanagon River to the
west, then taking the old secondary north
along the west bank of the river to near
Ellisforde.
After just a few miles, we hooked west
toward Loomis on the Loomis-Oroville
Road and past Whitestone and Spectacle
Lakes, then north toward Nighthawk to
run along the pretty Similkameen River
and Palmer Lake to within just a couple of
miles of the Canadian border. Then it was
east past Enloe Dam to Oroville, situated
along Hwy. 97 back in the Okanagon.
This is rich fruit country and pear and
apple orchards and irrigated fields of alfalfa
were everywhere...and so were the forest
rats (deer).
The pavement was narrow and fairly
rough but the Multistrada, with its
electronic and programmable “Skyhook”
suspension, made the ride feel like a stroll
through the park: what bumps?
It was all tight curves, many posted
down to 25 and 30. My notes say, “Don’t
count on proper camber at all.” The ‘Strada
simply ate them up without breaking a
sweat or jangling a nerve. Traffic was light,
scenery was outstanding and the riding was
altogether wonderful as we dropped back
down into the Okanagon Valley.
We love it when the riding merit of each
new leg of a route exceeds the last. This was
that kind of day! Could it get any better?
Yes.
At Oroville, we found Cherry Street
which delivered us to Chesaw Road and
eastward 20 miles to the little village of
Chesaw, passing by Hee Hee Mountain
80 and we were sucking water as fast as
Reardon, closing our figure-eight loops.
little Ducati back-road ripper, it was close
we could to try to stay ahead of the day’s
We were amazed at the quality of the
to 4:30. We quickly transferred our cargo to
approaching dehydration curve, though it
country lanes just outside the Spokane
our S-T, thanked Stephen profusely for the
was predicted to be a few degrees cooler
metro area: plenty of turns, good surface,
opportunity, then jumped on I-90 east. We
than the previous day.
light traffic, picturesque rolling fields
had two hours more riding before we could
We found
of ripe grain, pretty and quaint little
call it quits for the day.
Boulder Creek farmsteads.
In contrast, my bike now felt low and
Road, which
By the time we hit Westside
long...and heavy. The hand grips seemed
becomes Deer Motorsports to reluctantly return this great positioned down and close together. But
Creek Road
it was familiar and it was mine,
as you travel
which eased some of the angst
eastward out
that comes from riding for two
of Curlew
days a $20,000 motorcycle that
toward Hwy.
doesn’t belong to you.
391 – about
We are delighted to know
20 miles –
that there are many more of
running much
these remote but paved county
of it along the
roads that can take good
north fork
bikes into the Washington
of Boulder
hinterlands. They simply need
Creek. Folks,
to be explored. We look forward
it just doesn’t
to that.
get any better!
To anyone else within range
All the usual
of the upper Okanagon and
attributes of
Kettle River Valleys, by all
Ducati Multistrada near the shore of Palmer Lake between Loomis
superb riding
means, check it out! We’re glad
(O.A.C.) On-Site test rides available!
Financing
Available
and Nighthawk. There
pavement wasn’t
exactly smooth• but
the route, were present.
we did and we’ll be back, next
Biker breakfast: The Chesaw Tavern did it up right.
including scenery, was superb.
It was
time with friends in tow.
We love finding little rural mom ‘n’ pops like this.
another 20
miles south on Hwy. 395 to Kettle Falls.
(love the name). We were told this little
We’re in the center of some of
This was good running on a modern
village hosts one big rodeo each summer.
highway, smooth and with shoulders.
My notes on this stretch read:
Traffic remained light but certainly heavier
“Wonderful; awesome! All curves.
than we’d experienced the previous four
Pavement rough, engineering negligible.
hours.
Almost zero traffic. Fun, fun, fun!”
Comfortable • Convenient
We cut east to Colville, then dropped
How’s that for a prelude to a fine
down
to
Chewelah
on
395
following
the
Economical
breakfast at a funky country roadhouse, the
Colville
River.
Traffic
gained
some
volume
Chesaw Tavern? Right, one of my favorite
• Park at your door
Spokane’s Largest Multi-Brand
• Kitchenettes available
but the ride was quite pleasant and the
late-morning “biker breakfasts”: chicken• Picnic area with barbecue grill
Motorsports Dealership
fried steak with hash browns all smothered scenery was excellent.
• Near: downtown Chewelah and good
Five miles below Chewelah we picked
restaurants, Chewelah Casino,
in country gravy, two eggs basted, wheat
I-90 at Exit 276
Chewelah Golf and Country Club
up Hwy. 231 south to Springdale and
toast and a big glass of cold milk. Ahhh,
Just West of Downtown Spokane
Ford, then to Long Lake Dam. The traffic
yes!
4201
S.
Grove
Road, Spokane, WA 99224
dissipated
once
again
while
the
road
From Chesaw we pushed southeast on
surface remained of quality as we rode the
Chesaw Road – more of the same fabulous
sweeping turns. The country was a mix
country lanes – to Toroda Creek Road,
of timber and cultivated fields. All very
then West Kettle River Road to Curlew:
enjoyable.
a distance of 33 miles. West Kettle was a
1-888-412-1994 • 49er-motel.com
Just below the dam we located West
hoot, following the west fork of that great
[email protected]
Long Lake Road, then navigated a series of
river and down into Curlew.
311 S. Park Street (Hwy. 395)
country roads back down to Hwy. 2 east of
Chewelah, WA 99109
The temperature was already above
The Best Riding
in the World!
509.747.1862
westsideracing.com
The 49er Motel
& RV Park
September 2013
Northern Rockies Rider - 9
Passenger perspective
Given its mission, Multistrada passenger accommodations are favorable
By Marilyn Irey
the wind. Okay, I thought, let’s compare
this to the Suzuki DL-1,000 V-Strom
The only specific thing I knew about
adventure bike that we own rather than
a Ducati Multistrada 1200 “S” Touring
our usual sport-tour ride.
bike when we arrived in Spokane was
I felt secure and had good hand grips
the luggage
above the
capacity.
mounted hard
That’s
bags. I suppose
because I’d
they’re really for
asked.
lifting the bike
Marilyn Irey
That was
and securing
Contributing Writer
a crucial
it on a trailer,
question
but I liked them
for me in
as hand-holds.
planning to be
This bike has
out overnight
a lot of power
when the forecast was for hot weather.
and is very snappy so a couple of times I
Was there going to be room for fresh,
really needed those grips!
dry clothes in the bags and room to stow
The fact that it has hard-sided
excess gear like riding pants and jacket
luggage is a real plus for me; however,
liners?
this isn’t the bike to take out on a weekThe issue was complicated by the
long trip as the capacity is limited unless
fact that we would have no tail pack and, you add a tail pack or tank bag. (The
further, when we found the magnetic tank “S” Grantourismo version has a rear
bag we intended to use would not work
top box.) Frankly, there are probably
with the plastic shrouding the Ducati gas
not a lot of people who would use the
tank.
Multistrada two-up.
We did find some under-seat storage
When we arrived at our motel Friday
capacity that was quite handy for small
night, there was a BMW gathering in
items.
town and several of them stayed at
Oh, and the bike looked great – in
the same site we had chosen. They
red – on the Ducati website. I liked the
exhibited a lot of interest in the far more
edgy angles and sparse form. I wasn’t
rare Ducati.
disappointed in the appearance in
I was watching men walk into their
person either, but I would go for the red
rooms with a bag the size of a shaving
paint rather than the silver and black
kit. Maybe I should have been envious.
scheme on the actual demo bike.
One guy was drying clothes (he had
First off, I had to get my mind in
evidently done laundry in his room) on
the right place: we were two-up on an
the shrubs.
adventure-touring bike, not a sportSorry, there is such a thing as too
tourer. Primarily for the passenger that
minimalist!
means taller and less protection from
I had trouble figuring out the latching
Ducati
from page 1
In mounting the ‘Strada, it was clear
the 33.5-inch seat height was going to
be a factor. I could not completely flatfoot at stops with my 32-inch inseam so
maneuvering on anything but bare asphalt
would warrant extra caution. Happily, the
tall bike stayed upright during its time
with us.
Speaking of tall, this bike has some
legs – Sachs inverted forks and singlesided swingarm, each with 6.7 inches of
travel, befitting its “adventure-touring”
mission, intended to be a potent,
proficient and sporty tarmac tourer with
“Testastretta” 1198CC V-Twin, clearly a
high-strung power plant derived from the
Ducati superbike development.
We got down to business.
Lay gave me a quick rundown on the
bike’s controls including the menu to
select operating modes for ABS brakes,
engine output management, automatic
(“Skyhook”) electronic suspension
adjustments
and much
more.
The chipped
key fob thingy’s
operation was
explained. My
Luddite self
thought, “Yeah,
but why?” It
was neither
convenient nor
inconvenient,
just “modern”
and “hightech” and
“sophisticated,”
I guess.
We knew
the Multistrada
came equipped Only half joking, there author lays a big smooch on the Ducati he was
with integrated falling in love with.
and removable
hard panniers
off-pavement aspirations. But let’s be
of 58 liters capacity, so we expected
clear: at 516 pounds wet, this is no trail
repacking our freight to be a snap.
bike, nor even dual-sport.
However, the magnetic tank bag we
Besides, do you really want to take
brought would not cling to the plastic
your $20,000 baby ripping up some dry
Ducati gas tank cover, so our carrying
capacity was reduced. We improvised.
See Ducati, Page 10
and locking system on the bags and
once when I finally figured it out, a sharp
protrusion stabbed me in the finger. No
harm, just a little blood, but I hate asking
for help with things that should be simple
and intuitive.
Although the bike is powerful it didn’t
have the buzzy V-twin feel that I get
on the V-Strom. And it only seemed
corrections and was not noticing any.
The seat was far too rigid. By the time
we had gone 100 miles I had real pain
and by day’s end was happy to get off.
Maybe the Grantourismo model is better
designed for couples.
I liked the serrated foot pegs – my
boot stuck firmly in place when I was
on and didn’t slide around. However, it
Author Marilyn Irey works out the logistics of repacking four days worth of gear from four
bags into two days worth in two bags.
intrusively loud a few times, sitting
practically right on top of those mufflers.
As far as wind protection goes, it
wasn’t too bad. The aerodynamics
were good so I didn’t experience a lot of
fatiguing blast.
Since this is also a very lightweight
bike for touring duty, I wonder how it
would react to cross winds, but suspect it
would be stable since there isn’t a lot of
bodywork to catch wind.
It felt as though the handling was
excellent. As a passenger I pick up
on things like jerky corner steering
seemed the pegs for the passenger don’t
snap into the down position. Several
times while mounting my toe would tap
the peg and fold it back up against the
bike. Again, a minor inconvenience.
Although this bike isn’t the longdistance platform for me, I could tell
Cole was having a ball and that he
enjoyed fiddling with the sophisticated
programmable rider modes. It did have a
very smooth ride.
If it were ours, I’d love the chance
to explore the back country on a Ducati
Multistrada.
Northern Rockies Rider - 10
September 2013
Ducati
from page 9
taut ride, just like we prefer.
Besides, in “touring” the throttle hit
was dampened as well, a good thing since
that engine delivers overwhelming wallop.
At pillion, Marilyn nevertheless found
herself occasionally grabbing with some
degree of panic when the twist grip was
applied injudiciously.
The ergonomics were initially strange
but functional: relatively high foot pegs
meant a slight cramping at the knees
but good ground clearance; foot pegs
and controls are well positioned below
the thighs for easy manipulation and for
standing when the going is rugged; and
a high and wide “motocross” bar with an
easy and comfortable reach yields plenty
of leverage for light-effort steering inputs.
The seat is a different matter. While it
allowed some air to come around and
ventilate the front of my mesh jacket.
I’d shop the aftermarket or Ducati
catalog for something about two or three
inches taller to cleanly send airflow over
my helmet crown.
The Multistradas come in four
configurations: the basic Multistrada 1200
Sport, the “S” Touring, the Pikes Peak and
the loaded Grantourismo.
The “S” retains 17-inch cast wheels
front and rear for enhanced highway
performance and handling. Indeed it
feels light and steers that way too, with
relatively small inputs yielding substantial
movement.
I found it exceptionally easy to select a
cornering line, slightly duck the shoulder,
hit it and rail it through with almost zero
creek bed strewn with sand and boulders?
Not me!
Incidentally, the Italian “mulit strada”
literally translates into “many roads.”
This bike reminds one of the dude in
the Dos Equis commercials: extremely
sophisticated but with a rough, tough and
adventurous aspect.
Ducati says this of its “Skyhook”
suspension:
“This system is characterized by active
suspension control that automatically and
continually adjusts damping to maintain
a steady attitude regardless of road
conditions, reduce the amount of vibration
transferred to rider and
passenger, and significantly
improves riding comfort and
stability.
“The name ‘Skyhook’
describes the feel of the bike,
which seems to be hooked
up to the sky and immune to
bumpy terrain.
“The DSS system instantly
processes the inputs from a
number of sensors (vertical
accelerometers) located
on sprung and unsprung
components and adjusts
compression and rebound
damping according to
selected Riding Mode so as to
minimize the vertical motion
caused by the road and
maximize riding comfort and
stability.
“In addition...the DSS uses
the inputs from the Ride-byWire system and the pressure
The ‘Strada in its element: twisty back roads in the west Okanagon. You can almost think the nimble
sensors of the ABS to adjust
machine through the turns.
damping continually so as
to minimize load transfers
during transition from
is firmly padded and quite comfortable
input at the bars. Gas it a little at the exit
braking to acceleration and deceleration,
at
the
outset,
it
features
a
scooped
bucket
and she’ll run wide and stand up, just like
with great benefits in terms of dynamic
that allows no room to move the heine
it ought to.
performance.
around
so
after
an
hour
a
burn
sets
in
that
Brembo ABS brakes are near perfect:
“Rear suspension spring preload
intensifies
throughout
the
day.
Still,
it
is
powerful,
progressive and predictable
adjustment is integrated with the Riding
no
worse
than
the
Corbin
on
my
current
with
more
than enough oomph to bring
Modes. The system enables the rider to
S-T
ride.
We’
d
guess
an
aftermarket
the
bike
and
load to a quick halt with no
select the different Riding Modes (Sport,
custom
seat
builder
can
supply
an
drama.
You
can
almost forget about using
Touring, Urban and Enduro), and to
improved
perch.
the
rear;
the
front
alone will do the job.
change setup conveniently and quickly
Besides, with the right roads, you’ll be
The Pirelli Scorpion Trail skins
to suit load conditions and type of trip:
having
too
much
fun
to
notice
the
little
appear
to have some off-road aspirations,
riding solo, rider and luggage, riding
aches
and
pains.
but
don’t
be fooled – this is exemplary
two-up or two-up with luggage. The DSS
The
‘Strada
“S”
features
a
petite
and
pavement
rubber that sticks well and does
recognizes customized settings and re-tunes
surprisingly
effective
windscreen
to
help
not
squirm.
They perfectly complement
accordingly before starting interaction.”
manage
airflow.
It
is
manually,
and
easily,
the
chassis,
suspension,
steering, brakes
Yadda, yadda ... it just flat works and
height adjustable while underway through and engine, making the package all quite
works splendidly.
perhaps three inches of travel. At its
seamless. Durability might be another
We kept the ‘Strada set mostly in
highest,
it
mostly
kept
windblast
off
my
issue and one an actual owner will have to
“touring” mode which delivered a
helmet
face
shield,
yet
its
narrow
waist
discern.
wonderfully controlled and compliant, yet
The clutch has a slightly heavy pull
(and a tiny hydraulic reservoir). A larger
master or slave cylinder would probably
help. It is Ducati’s newer “wet” version
whose plates run in oil, as opposed to the
more traditional dry clutch known for
producing that venerable and distinctive
Ducati rattle.
Which leads to shifting.
I’ve got to chalk up the bike’s gummy
and hesitant shifting feel to the fact that
it had less than 100 miles on it when we
left Westside and just over 500 when we
returned.
It felt like the gear box was filled with
80-weight! I wound up finding false
neutrals a half-dozen times anywhere
in the gearing range, whether changing
up or down. It is disconcerting to find
yourself whacking the throttle in neutral
after what you thought was a third-tofourth up-shift.
Okay, there was another factor at
work here which influences all of our
impressions of any new bike we’re
piloting: that is what we are used to. In
my case, I am used to shaft-drive with a
silky and well used gear box that requires
a mere squeeze at the clutch and tap at the
shift lever to effect an effortless, clean gear
change.
The “Duck” shifted without any
crunching or banging, but it clearly
wanted an energetic manipulation of the
shift lever: throw it up or pop it down, just
don’t be gentle or hesitant.
Again, attribute this phenomenon to
lack of break-in miles and an operator
used to a different setup and lacking
a feel for this particular transmission
and clutch. As proof, our shifting was
improving through the miles and our
time with her.
See Ducati, Page 11
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September 2013
Northern Rockies Rider - 11
It’s clear the Ducati line is no
sideline at Westside Motorsports
Ducati
sky had we kept the twist grip pinned.
The water-cooled Testastretta “L”
engine
gets dual overhead cams, four
from page 10
valves per cylinder and two spark plugs
per jug. It is grossly over-square which
Now that we’ve got the complaints
implies big bores and short strokes
out of the way, let’s start heaping on the
which means high piston speeds, RPM,
praise.
See Ducati, Page 12
The engine.
What is
technicians.
required to take
Now
My, my. Yes, bad to the bone...
on – and make
calculate the
It’s a good thing engine response
very substantial
investment
and output can be modulated with the
investments
in an entirely
flick of a toggle, because this “L-Twin”
in – a brand
new parts
puts out prodigious gobs of grunt, just
new franchise
inventory
brute thrust with a crisp punch! Massive
in the depths
and all the
torque everywhere – 91.8 pounds-feet,
of the worst
specialized
not to mention 150 ponies in harness!
Most of the torque is available from
recession in the
tools and
3,000 to 8,000 RPM so shifting is almost
motorsports
equipment
optional.
business in
required to
Fuel injection calibration is nearly
decades? What is
service the
flawless
so power builds on a fairly flat
required to take
machines.
trajectory with no spikes or troughs, just
on two of them? Ducati company reps assisted Westside in
And consider
a steady onward rush.
Probably
the required
designing a space to best display the Ducati
Since this bike wasn’t yet fully
bikes and accessories.
a thoroughly
investment
broken in, and was not ours, we chose
Come as a stranger,
developed
to stock all
to not experience peak power at its
leave as a friend.
spread sheet to process the financial
the Ducati-branded accessories and
9,250 RPM redline. But we can tell you
scenarios, and a banker who believes
apparel.
at a nearly full-open throttle in third
Live Music on Weekends
gear, as the tach approached 7,000 and
in his client’s foresight and soundness
In addition, the dealership, with
the speedometer 80, the front tire’s
of judgment based on a track record of Ducati company design assistance and
703 Main Street, Spearfish, SD
contact with the pavement got a little
past success.
approval, remodeled the south end of
sketchy.
We’
d
have
been
looking
at
blue
605-642-2134
You’d be hard pressed to find a
the interior floor to properly capture
more coolthe modern, upscale sporting
headed,
flavor unique to the marque,
reasonable
and to suitably display the
Ph: 307-685-4452 or
and rational
Italian exotics.
307-685-8100
businessman
Finally, budget
than Scott
$thousands to market and
100 Ross Ave., Ste. A,
Schmidtman,
promote the new line: radio,
Gillette, WY 82716
owner of
TV, newspaper, outdoor and
marlinsmotorcycles.com
Westside
Internet.
Motorsports
Schmidtman and Westside
Ride in...Ride out Oil Changes. No appointment necessary!
in Spokane.
seem to be off to a strong
Scott Schmidtman, owner,
He wouldn’t
start, having sold nearly 20
Westside Motorsports, Spokane. Ducati units before summer’s
make these
investments
mid-point.
visit a complete and authentic mining camp rashly, and a masters degree in business
One other thing we noticed
buildings
with artifacts!
administration and a law degree surely
immediately about Westside that sets
Take a ride over
back50
inunderground
time... filled
mine
tours!
help keep his head on the level.
them apart: the staff smiles! They seem
visit a complete and authentic mining camp - over 50 building filled with artifacts! underground exhibits and tours!
Right: in 2010 Westside
Motorsports, already hosting Honda,
Yamaha and Kawasaki as well as CanAm, Polaris and Ski-Doo, added BMW
motorcycles. Then in the spring of
Take a ride back in time...
Take toaberide
in time...
having aback
lot of fun; it’s
visit a complete
and authentic
almost as though
they actuallymining camp - over 50 building filled with artifacts! underground exhibits and tours!
enjoy their work and look
forward to interacting with the
public.
We hate to say it, but that
attitude and disposition is
refreshing!
For about four million
of us living in the inland
Northern Rockies, Westside
Motorsports is the closest
Ducati dealer around and the
Ducatis are about status, class and caché –
only one between Seattle and
even sex appeal – and the department display
Minneapolis. We are fortunate
at Westside reflects that.
to have them.
2013, they launched a Ducati line, no
Check them out.
small proposition.
First, Schmidtman ordered 35
Westside Motorsports
bikes from Bologna, Italy, surely an
4201 S Grove Rd, Spokane, WA –
WHERE HISTORY TELLS A STORY.
investment in excess of a half-million
Exit 276 off I-90 on the west side of VISIT THEwww.miningmuseum.org
WORLD MUSEUM
MINING
/ 155OF
Museum
Way, P.O. Box 33, Butte, Montana 59703
dollars.
Spokane, (509) 747-1862
Phone: 406-723-7211
WHERE HISTORY TELLS A STORY.
Museum Way, P.O. Box 33, Butte, Montana 59703
Then he sent two staff to school in
<westsideracing.com> www.miningmuseum.org / 155Phone:
406-723-7211
Montana
St.north
Exit on
offMontana
I-90/I-15upatthe
Butte,
California to become certified Ducati
<[email protected]> Best route: Montana St.Best
Exitroute:
off I-90/I-15
at Butte,
hill tonorth
Park on Montana up the hill to Park
VISIT THE WORLD MUSEUM OF MINING
St., left
on Park
straight
the Montana
Tech
campus, then watch for the sign.
St., left on Park and straight
through
theand
Montana
Tech through
campus, then
watch for the
sign.
Northern Rockies Rider - 12
September 2013
Ducati
from page 11
horsepower and performance. Yes, the
bores – 4.17 inches or 106mm across
– exceed those found in a GM 396 bigblock.
This engine is happy to accept gulps of
high-octane once spun up to 3,500 RPM;
lower than that and it motors onward
though under chugging protest.
Unique to Ducati is the
“desmodromic” valve actuation whereby
valves are opened and closed with levers,
as opposed to the levers and springs on
conventional layouts. This adds to the
general cacophony emanating from down
in the engine bay.
Ducatis used to get slammed for overly
frequent service intervals. No more. Those
desmo-actuated valves can wait for 18,000
miles these days before inspection and
adjustment.
Ducatisti love to wax poetic about the
desmodromic motor’s audio character.
else as it climbs
through the rev
range with intake
butterflies open.
It does growl,
then snarl, then
roar, then howl! It
positively booms!
And the timbre
of that output
is nothing but
psychopathically
aggressive,
even menacing
and angry! It
is addictive,
too. One may
find themselves
wasting fuel just
Just west of Spokane as we were reluctantly hustling the machine back to Westside motorsports before closing
to hear that tune
time.
played.
The last leg
properly. The mounting fit was tight and
With a few minor alterations, it could be a
of our test ride I removed my earplugs
the bags sometimes had to be gently
long-distance contender.
to hear the beast better. With open ears
hammered into place with a meaty fist.
But that’s not what it is all about. The
the volume was surprising but not at all
Ducati reinvented this mounting
Multistrada series is about fun, whether
unpleasant or fatiguing.
system for no reason; they did not
behaving like an urban hooligan, carving
The big power pulses are fed into the
improve on the concept. They only need
canyons as Ricky Racer, running the
Specs
Year2013
ManufacturerDucati
ModelMultistrada 1200 “S” Touring
MSRP$19,995
Engine type
L-twin cylinder, 4 valve per cylinder,
desmodromic
Engine displacement
1198cc
Bore & stroke
106 mm x 67.9 mm
Compression ratio
11.5:1
CoolingLiquid-cooled
Fuel system
Mitsubishi electronic fuel injection,
Mikuni throttle bodies
IgnitionElectronic
Starting system
Electric
Transmission
Six speed
Final drive
Chain 5.30; front sprocket 15;
rear sprocket 40
Rake and trail
25 degrees / 4.33 in.
Wheel base
60.2 in.
Seat height
33.5 in.
Front suspension
Sachs 48 mm fully adjustable
inverted fork; electronic compression
Rear suspension
Electronic compression & rebound
damping adjustment
Front brake
2 x 320 mm semi-floating discs,
radial-mount Brembo calipers, 4-piston
Rear brake
245 mm disc, 2-piston caliper
Front tire
Pirelli Scorpion Trail 120/70 17’’
Rear tire
Pirelli Scorpion Trail 190/55 17’’
Fuel capacity
5.3 gal.
Weight
516 lbs. wet
Here’s what the company itself says of
that:
“A uniquely deep note coming from the
exhaust system. A constant symphony of
the engine. Music for all enthusiasts.
“The unmistakable Desmodromic ‘roar’
is the result of the particular configuration
of the engine, the famous L-twin cylinder,
as well as the intake and design of the
exhaust system: a real symphony for all
Ducati enthusiasts.”
Before I read this marketing-speak, I
listened carefully to that engine. On my
own I concluded that somehow Ducati
engineers had managed to tune and time
the intake and exhaust pulses to actually
create a sort of complementary harmony.
Strange concept? Maybe. But whatever,
it works. The Ducati sounds like nothing
chain drive, frame, pegs, seat, bars and
mirrors, rendering rearward images a
blur: you can see if something is back
there but not what. When you’re on the
gas, you can feel it throb; when at steady
throttle, the platform is pleasingly mellow.
As for further creature comforts, the
side bags are spacious but sacrifice some
volume on the right to accommodate an
exhaust cutout. There are three latches
per bag (why?) that we never felt handy
with; they were always a struggle but
with familiarity would no doubt become
routinely automatic.
And the way the panniers mount
and latch to the chassis seemed overly
complex and cumbersome, requiring a
lateral sliding motion for them to seat
to look at other, easier and more effective
mounting systems found on BMWs and
other makes.
Small stuff, indeed.
This exotic from Italy is simply a blast
to ride, and adrenalin is addicting. It
is also confidence-inspiring as, despite
belonging to someone else and scaled at
$20K, we nevertheless pushed it through
turns with some fairly serious lean and
zest. Never once did we experience a
pucker.
The rider can execute turns-withinturns with just a flick. It goes where
you point it and sticks. While it has no
pretense at being an all-day luxo-yacht, it
can be pressed into serious touring duty.
Continental Divide Trail or out for a long
weekend with your sweetie...it’s about
having fun. The “S” Touring delivers in
spades.
Would I go out and buy a Multistrada
today? No, I personally could not justify
the outlay, but plenty of others could and
will. However, if I had unlimited resources
and the space in my motorcycle corral,
there’d be a “S” Touring or Grantourismo
at the Boehler hitchin’ post.
Long live fun!
Warranty: two years, unlimited miles
NR Rider impression:
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September 2013
Rider Profile
Northern Rockies Rider - 13
Washington native says his life on two wheels is ‘wonderful’
By Cole Boehler
2013 when he passed through on the horse...”
Montana in the midst of a
He also wrecked his 900 Honda coming
A lot of motorcycle riders are
13,000-mile-plus, two-month
through Las Vegas from California when a
patiently waiting – hoping – for an
tour of the Midwest, West and car again was partially in the wrong lane in
opportunity to do what Eugene Kuhn
British Columbia.
an “S”-curve, Kuhn said.
does: ride as much and far as he
He rode five of those days
“I could go into the trees or lay it down.
wants.
in Montana, including two
I went into the trees. I hit a sand berm, the
Of course, aside from hitting a
days with this writer and wife, fork bottomed and the windshield put a
big lotto prize, these opportunities
Marilyn, Kuhn’s first cousin.
gash above my eye. I bent the handlebars
are earned, and Kuhn earned his
One of those days constituted
and broke the mirror... I think I was
by sticking with a union job in the
a 310-mile figure-eight
probably doing 80 when I went off; I was
elevator installation, service and
through some fantastically
wearing a T-shirt and shorts. It’s incredible
repair industry for over 30 years,
remote areas with every type
that I wasn’t badly hurt. I rode it away.”
retiring in 2007.
of paved surface and roadway
But the days of craziness, booze and
But his years haven’t been all
engineering...or lack of it.
bike wrecks ended that morning in 1982.
smooth sailing.
Kuhn has an easy riding
“Alcohol and motorcycles don’t mix.
Kuhn admits to his share of hell
style where you never shake
Bar hopping and motorcycles are a bad
raising in his youth. Despite the
him and he never crowds you; combination,” Kuhn says flatly.
statute of limitations, most of those
he’s just always “back there,”
He became very serious about traveling
episodes won’t find their way into this
riding fluidly, effortlessly, even on bikes with the acquisition of the Gold
article, but it will suffice to let Kuhn
in the most technical sets of
Wings and his wife, Denise.
summarize:
turns. And we’ve observed
“Once a year Denise and I would take
“It was 1982. I woke up (after a
him hustling his big Cadillac
a one-month motorcycle vacation, Seattle
Eugene Kuhn, living the life! He’s retired and was out on a
night of hard partying) and decided
of a Gold Wing through the
to Key West, that kind of thing. I did the
little 13,000-mile cruise, here at Yaak Falls in northwestern
I wanted to go for a ride,” he relates.
same type of routes, calmly
‘Four Corners’ (of the U.S.) – 9,750 miles
Montana.
“My ribs hurt so I thought I might
grinding away his floorboard
in 12-and-one-half days. I rode 4 a.m. to 10
have been in a fight. I went outside
sliders.
p.m. every day.
round, often with his new flame, Anita, as a
and my bike was there on it’s side-stand...
Through a dozen bikes and 400,000
“I’ve done a Saddle Sore 1,000 (1,000
passenger.
wrecked. My leathers and helmet were all
miles, Kuhn has had his share of mishaps,
miles in 24 hours) and a Bun Burner 1,500
Kuhn started riding bikes as a kid, first
scuffed.
especially back in his wild days.
(1,500 miles in 36 hours).”
on a Honda 50 Mini Trail. But he had
“I told myself, ‘You’ll never have
“Crashes? Oh yeah!
He currently works part-time on
bigger aspirations so moved up to a Honda
another drink’...and I haven’t.”
“I
hit
a
VW
microbus
head-on
in
1970,
”
contract
as a guard for Immigration
350 MotoSport, a Honda CB 500, then a
Along the way, he has been married
he
recalls.
She
drove
into
his
lane
and
and
Customs
Enforcement, which
Triumph 650.
four times – divorced three times and
was
cited.
“I
broke
a
hole
in
my
helmet,
allows
him
to
structure his own hours.
He soon went back to the Honda
widowed once – and is father to Karisa
knocked out six teeth and broke two ribs.
He characterizes his life these days as
marque, riding a CB 900 Custom...which
who is an aviation mechanic’s mate in
I did a number on the VW. It was maybe
“wonderful.”
the U.S. Navy,
a 50 mph impact. I had to get new teeth,
“Motorcycles are a part of my life; they
currently stationed
bridge work.
are my life. It’s what I do for entertainment.
in Florida.
“Five hours later I was out riding my
I’ve always had a bike – except for one year
Kuhn, 61, was
brother’s 350 Honda. I had to get right back ­– and always will.”
born in the Minot,
N.D., area where
his father worked
in the oil fields.
The family moved
to Butte, Mont., a
year later where
the senior Kuhn
worked for the
Anaconda Mining
Company.
Kuhn with his cousin, Marilyn Irey, discussing their backwoods
The Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel and Cody Motor Lodge invite
When he was
location along Wolf Creek Road between Libby and Fortine,
10, Eugene and
you to wipe off the trail dust with us in the Wyoming
Mont., in late June.
family moved on
town where history lives on!
to Seattle where his
father worked for a tool and die company,
got beat in a drag race by a 750 Kawasaki,
Irma Hotel - est. 1902
eventually locating to Kent, Wash., where
Kuhn says, and that would not do.
Eugene stayed for 28 years.
So he bought an XS1100 Yamaha, the
Kuhn says a neighbor across the street
fastest production bike at the time, and
The Irma Hotel is your “gathering place” before or
worked in the elevator trade, then his
then upgraded to the Yamaha 1100 Maxim.
after any event in the Cody area. Enjoy good times in
brother got into it, making “good money.”
In 1973 he sampled a Harley-Davidson
the Silver Saddle Saloon, fine dining in the restaurant
So at age 26, Kuhn decided that was what
Sportster, then moved up to Super Glide in
and a comfortable stay in cozy rooms. Step back in
he wanted to do, too, so he began to pester
time to the heart and spirit of Cody, Wyoming and see
1975, this one graced with an $800 custom
why everyone says, “Meet me at The Irma!”
every elevator company in the region for an paint job.
entry-level position.
He bought his first Honda Gold Wing
After six months of hustling, he got on
in 1995, a used 1,200CC four-banger,
with Westinghouse and entered a four-year which he quickly traded in for the new
The famed Cody Gunfighters perform nightly,
apprentice program. Schindler acquired the 1,500CC six-cylinder. He’s been a ‘Winger
Monday-Saturday, in front of the Irma Hotel at
Westinghouse business, then Kuhn wound
since.
6pm from June through September FREE SHOW
up with ThyssenKrupp AG, a German firm,
He currently owns a 2005 1,800 ‘Wing
the last two years of his career. He retired
with well over 100,000 miles on the
in 2007, moving with his wife to Sun Cove, odometer. In the interim, he owned and
Wash., between Wenatchee and Chelan.
rode a 2009 twin-cylinder 650 Kawasaki
His spouse of 12 years, Denise, was
purchased new in 2011 for commuting and
•Clean & comfortable rooms • Ground
diagnosed with cancer, beat it back, then
sport duties.
floor rooms with parking available for
lost the war to the disease in August of
Kuhn said, “I put eight miles on it,
motorcyclists • In room coffee
2008.
then put it on the ground. The tires were
•
In-house
laundry • Pet friendly
(Editor’s note: I was fortunate to get to
greasy; the shop may have put some kind
•Free Wifi •2 blocks from Irma Hotel
ride with Eugene and Denise once during
of preservative on the tires. I didn’t like the
her last struggle with the disease. She was a
twin anyway, so bought a (600CC) FZ6R
sweetheart and is missed.)
Yamaha, a mild, small four-cylinder sportIrma Hotel Restaurant and Saloon est. 1902 Buffalo Bill’s Cody Motor Lodge
Not long after Denise passed away,
1192 Sheridan Avenue - Cody, Wy.
1455 Sheridan Avenue - Cody, Wy.
tour.”
Kuhn packed up and moved to Florence,
800-745-4762 • 307-587-4221
800-340-CODY • 307-527-6291
That commuter was traded in 2013 for
AZ, southeast of the Phoenix area where
www.irmahotel.com
www.codymotorlodge.net
the third-generation Yamaha FJR 1,300
he resides today, and where he rides yearwhich he was touring on in the summer of
The pathways have changed
to pavement but the
landscape is still the same...
Ride it!
Northern Rockies Rider - 14
September 2013
By David Fletcher
NR Rider Contributing Writer
Butte, Mont., is known for its festivals.
There’s the Montana Folk Festival,
Evel Knievel Days and the An Ri Rá Irish
Festival, not to mention its bacchanalian
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration.
They’re all fun, but for me Evel
Knievel Days is the best.
Perhaps it’s the awe factor combined
with the free-for-all carnival like
atmosphere that gets me going. I love the
allure of the raw and borderline madness.
I’m all anticipation weeks in advance
and I’m ready to go well before the event
swoops into Uptown Butte.
It’s temporal, here one moment and
gone the next, and like life, it’s not the
glitter and sounds of the moment that stir
the emotions, but rather the people.
The performers are a multitude of
oddities that arrive representing the crazy
and extreme. Of all the EK events the one
that leaves me with a smile and a rush
that just won’t go away is the “Wall of
Death.”
“The Wall of Death” is basically
a wooden drum structure 30 feet in
diameter that features 90-degree walls 14
feet high. It’s constructed of large wooden
board tracks that are held together by
nuts, bolts and cables. The structure can
withstand the three Gs of force put to its
inner wall while holding a crowd of more
than 180 people. The building is as much
a show as are the motorcycles and their
riders.
It takes an expert rider with real guts
and grit to navigate the “Wall.” The riders
ascend an initial ramped section at the
bottom of the drome until they gain
enough speed to drive perpendicular to
the floor, usually in a counter-clockwise
direction.
Once the G-force kicks in, the thrill of
physics takes over and the riders stick to
the vertical wall going around and around
parallel to the ground while the audience
watches from the top of the drome. Once
the rider scales the height of the wall, the
drome begins to shake, exhaust billows
up and the rider swishes by in a blur of
rattling noise.
The stunters delight you with daring
antics like riding with no hands, sitting
sidesaddle, snatching dollar bills from
your hand and even staging two-person
races speeding up to 50 miles-per-hour.
I had the opportunity to meet up with
the American Motor Drome performers
the first day of the EK Days.
I was met by Charlie Ransom who’s
been with the act since 2002. I’d sent
Charlie an e-mail earlier in the week to
set up the appointment. We sat in folding
chairs behind the Motor Drome.
When Charlie went into the trailer to
get more coffee I noticed he walked with
a slight limp.
Charlie joined up with the America
Motor Drome’s “Wall of Death” at a time
in his life when he was trying to recover
from a divorce. He said he didn’t really
give up on it, he just quit. He said he was
See Wall of Death, Page 15
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Northern Rockies Rider - 15
Wall of Death
from page 14
on a “non-responsibility mission” and
couldn’t get along and didn’t fit ... didn’t
motorcycles and the marketing of
motorcycles by the big time leather clad
biker events,” he said. “But the bond
that holds us together is that we’re doing
something no one else does. Lots of guys
come by and want to ride the “Wall of
Charlie riding an Indian 101 Scout, the undisputed best mount for trick riding on the
Wall of Death. These machines were built in Springfield, Mass., from 1928-31. This is a
1928 edition.
Death,” but when it comes down to the
nitty gritty of work – and that’s what this
thing is, it’s hard work – they split.
“It’s tough putting the drome up and
taking it down, then heading
off to next city,” he continued.
“For example, we got in
yesterday around 4:00 in the
morning from Ohio, caught
a couple hours sleep then
worked until 9:00 last night
getting the show ready.
“That’s why there’s no one
else doing this, because it’s
hard work and low pay. If you
do it, it’s because you have
the desire to make it go. My
friend here, Wahl E. Walker,
drives the tractor trailer and
he rides too. He turned 63 this
past June.”
Wahl E. Walker has been
riding “the wall” since the
80s. He was taught to ride
by the great lady trick rider,
Samantha Morgan. They both
joined up with Jay Bentley
Charlie taking a rest after the show. He looks beat, but when he built the American
content.
want to get along and didn’t want to fit.
Even before he met up with the
American Motor Drome he was literally
riding in circles.
Charlie was living in California at the
time and each morning he’d get on his
motorcycle and ride down this straight
stretch of road and turn around in a
parking lot. He’d then ride back the same
straight stretch of road and turn around
in a cul de sac at the other end. He’d do
this all day, he said.
One morning he came across the
Motor Drome set up in the middle of the
parking lot. He was fascinated by the
show and wanted to join. He was told to
leave. But Charlie stuck around to help
dissemble the Motor Drome’s Wall of
Death. Again he was asked to leave, but
again Charlie said he wanted to join.
His persistence prevailed and he
was allowed to tag along and help set
up and take down. Finally, he was
given the chance to ride. He said it
totally overwhelmed him and he’s been
performing ever since.
I asked Charlie about the future of
the Motor Drome. He said it’s been
floundering for years.
“What keeps the show alive is
age asking if he could come
along and hang out.
Charlie said that Jay
Bentley, the owner and
builder of the Motor Drome,
told Sparky to come back
when he was 18. At 19 Sparky
showed up at the door and
he’s been hanging out with
the old guys for over six years;
Sparky just turned 25. He’s
been learning to ride all the
equipment plus figuring out
what it takes to make the
show go from a commercial
standpoint. He can take the
whole thing down and put it
all up by himself.
I asked Charlie if the crew
Wahl E. Walker, 63 years of age and going strong.
had a lucky charm.
Without hesitating he
Motor Drome in 1998, the first new one
pointed
to
Mischief,
an aging dog laying
to be constructed since 1958.
Wahl E. wanted so desperately to be
a part of the show that he got his tractor
trailer license so he could haul the Motor
Drome. He’s been touring with the
American Motor Drome’s Wall of Death
for 16 years.
Wahl E. added to what Charlie said:
“Time on the wall is time added back
onto your life. It keeps you young. Last
year I had a heart attack, but today you’d
never know it. The Wall keeps me fit. It’s
physically and mentally demanding.”
Charlie mentioned that “Sparky,” the
youngest of the riders, is the future of the
Motor Drome. Sparky showed up at the
Motor Drome when he was 13 years of
Samantha Morgan’s dog Mischief, the
American Motor Drome lucky charm. The
spirit of Samantha lives on.
Sparky J. Lightnin’, said to be “the future of the
American Motor Drome.”
at our feet. The dog had belonged
to Samantha Morgan. Charlie
said Mischief keeps the spirit of
Samantha alive and close to each of
them.
Samantha was one of the most
accomplished Motor Drome riders
ever and was mentored by the great
Sonny Pelaquin.
She was a runaway at age 11 and
lived in several foster homes until
she met Sonny at the Dade County
Youth Fair. After seeing him in his
“Hell on Wheels” Motor Drome,
she asked if girls could do this.
At 15, pretending she was 18, she
became one of Sony Pelaquin’s crew
members.
Sonny became her quide and
taught her the most dangerous
tricks, like riding side saddle
See Wall of Death, Page 16
Northern Rockies Rider - 16
September 2013
Wall of Death
from page 15
(upward split).
Charilie told me Samantha often said,
“When I am on the Wall I feel free and it’s
the only time when all my pains and the
pains of this world go away”.
doing 50 miles-an-hour and the building
begins to move and you flinch when we
go by. It’s all adrenaline, it’s alive and
that’s something you don’t get from a
video game.”
If you didn’t make it to Evel
Knievel Days and see the American
Motor Drome’s “Wall of Death,”
their 2013 schedule can be found at
<americanwallofdeath.com>.
Try to catch up with them, if you can.
Imposing American Motor Drome’s “Wall of Death.” How would you like to be in charge
of tearing down and setting up?
Wall of Death from above. Notice the angled slats to get the riders up onto the wall.
In 2006 Samantha was inducted
into in the Sturgis Hall Of Fame. “Sam”
Morgan Storm passed away April 24,
2008 at 53 at her West Palm Beach
farm due to complications from the
numerous back injuries and broken
bones she sustained in her long illustrious
career. She was a pioneer and will remain
forever a role model for all motorcycling
women.
If you’d like to listen to Sam talk about
her career and her love affair with the
Motor Drome, go to the following site. It
will be time well spent. <youtube.com/
watch?v=1KSIIIzzJFg>
Charlie and Walh E. are not into the
digital age.
“I’m an analog man in a digital
world,” said Charlie. “The Motor Drome
is tangible, it’s all reality. The type of
entertainment people are looking for
these days is nothing but electronic flips
and bits. They want instant gratification
in the palm of their hand.”
Walh E. added, “The whole ‘gap’ of
this place (to use carney speak) is when
a 400-pound bike goes past your elbow
Motor Dromes are an
American original dating back
to the early 1900s and the
beginnings of motorcycles.
The board tracks came first.
Some of these ovals were
a mile in length with slightly
banked corners. Speed was
the name of the game and the
faster the motorcycles went the
banks became ever steeper
and higher. Racers would reach
speeds in excess of 90 miles
per hour on tracks made of twoby-fours laid out end to end.
The bikes had no brakes and
the spectators had no barriers.
Although the tracks were
usually used for motorcycle
racing, auto racing was quickly
added to the venue and by the
1920s most of the American
National Championship races
were held on board tracks.
With spectators looking down
onto the track from bleachers
at the top of the boards, any
loss of control in the turns
quickly turned disastrous. The
centrifugal force would send
both the rider and machine over
the top of the track and into the
crowd.
By the end of 1911
board track speeds had
noticeably spiraled upward,
due to refinements in engine
technology, and as a result
banking on the motor dromes
was repeatedly increased until
60 degrees became the norm.
Often these events were
advertised as, “Racing Neck
and Neck with Death.” After too
many fatalities, the sport was
banned.
With the demise of board
track, racers needed a new
challenge so, by eliminating
the straight-a-ways and making
the wooden track 90 degrees
perpendicular to the ground
within a wooden drum or barrel
shaped track, they began to
entertain the public with a new
attraction, the Motor Dromes or
“Wall of Death.”
Rather than racing, the riders
performed stunts and often
incorporated other acts into the
show.
By 1915 traveling carnivals
were a staple throughout
America and the rising
popularity of the Motor Drome
continued on into the 1950s.
With the dawning of the 1960s
the sport’s popularity began to
wane.
As of today only a few “Wall
of Death” shows survive. They
are the American Motor Drome,
the California Hell Riders, and
the World Famous Wall of
Death.
The “Wall of Death,” once
a vibrant part of motorcycle
history, has its heroes. Below
are a few names of ones whom
have passed on.
Tornado Smith, Iris Stewart,
Lucky and Sparky Thibeault,
Sonny Pelaquin, Viola Pelaquin,
Marjorie Kemp, George
Lessard, Cookie Ayers, Alice
Brady (the Mile a Minute Girl),
Allen “Speedy” Reece, Speedy
McNish, Terry Austin, Ronie
Decker, Johnny Rotten, Heather
Henderson, Samantha Morgan,
Patch MeCillicutty and Handle
Bar Hank.
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September 2013
Northern Rockies Rider - 17
Why I ride...
Honda Fury has plenty of
form but also ample function
By Dave Hoffman
NR Rider Contributing Writer
When I think about cars and
motorcycles, certain brands stick out no
matter what…and the name Honda is one
that does.
My first ride on a Honda motorcycle
occurred in 1992 when I took a used
1200CC Goldwing for a spin. I bought
it, put over 60,000 miles on her in three
years and got hooked on Hondas.
In my 50 years of riding, I have owned
and ridden over 30 bikes, 23 of which
were road bikes, the smallest being a 750
Norton and the biggest a 2400 Triumph.
I’ve owned and ridden a 250CC Italian
made Puch, a used Indian Chief, three
Norton’s, two Triumphs, a Harley Fat Boy
and two Harley Road Kings, two Honda
Valkyrie Tourers (rode them a total of
250,000 dealer-documented miles),
Honda VTX 1800 F Sport Tourer, and
now the custom Honda Fury chopper.
The Fury is a street cruiser bike that
has gotten a lot of attention from riders
and industry experts alike. Like most of
its siblings and predecessors, the Fury
is an incredibly well built machine with
plenty going for it in terms of engineering
and design.
In 13,000 miles of riding I’ve averaged
between 42 and 54 mile-per-gallon on my
Fury. That’s a good thing since you and
your Fury are going to have a great time
cruising the open road, but will need to
stop and fill up with some regularity.
I think we all remember those big,
long, stretched out chopper bikes of the
mid-2000s with weird handling, stupidly
raked-out front ends, ridiculously
oversized rear tires and ostentatious looks
that sold for the price of my house.
The Honda Fury is not one of those
things. It just happens looks like it is.
So it is surprising that Honda – one of
the most conservative of all motorcycle
manufacturers – has created an Arlen
Ness chopper-inspired Fury VTX and It
has been finding enthusiastic buyers all
around the world.
I’ve ridden and she will out pull most of
them on any hill and does just as well in
the corners.
At 71.1 inches, the Fury has the
longest wheelbase of any current
production Honda.
What’s the ride like,
you ask?
If you’re a shy, retiring sort of
motorcycle rider or person, then don’t
even think about buying the Fury! It isn’t
the bike for you!
I almost think I should give her a male
name, as this bike is the biggest “chick
magnet” I’ve ever ridden. Women of all
ages (from young
girls to 80-yearolds) are always
coming up or
rolling down
their windows
and saying they
love the look of
my bike.
Everywhere
I take my Fury,
people want to
talk about it, sit
on it, photograph
it or have me
take a picture of
them by it. Some
Any self-respecting cruiser dude
will dump the stock exhausts for
something with a little more...er, soul.
The stodgy factory units (right) have
been replaced with sexy Cobras.
It doesn’t have the heavy look that
so many other “cruisers” have and in
truth is very lightweight. Lay one on
its side and I believe even the smallest
and lightest female rider could pick
one up.
Honda’s design is intended
to visually draw your eyes to the
impressive and powerful V-twin engine.
The quantities of chrome sitting forward
and below the seat draws your eyes
straight to it. The sleek black gas tank
only helps to enhance the overall visual
appeal of the Fury.
The handlebars are set low enough to
allow for fast riding, while still providing
a very comfortable position for those long
drives. I have put 13,000 miles on mine in
one riding season.
The V-twin is paired with a smooth
five-speed transmission and shaft drive
that is able to handle anything that I’ve
ever thrown at it. The gas tank, which
only holds 3.2 gallons of fuel, adds to the
chopper look and feel.
The Fury, a factory chopper from across the Pacific, would look good just about
anywhere, so the beach is a suitable setting.
Author Dave Hoffman.
Combine this with its skinny front
Dunlop Elite III tire and it does feel a
bit vague at speeds below 10 mph so you
will need to watch your turning in some
parking lots.
The raked out front end will require
some time behind the bars for some
riders to learn low-speed maneuvering.
I quickly adapted and mastered the
Fury’s low speed handling in a couple
of short rides in an empty parking lot. I
recommend this.
Out on the open road, the rake and
thin tire combination gave me a little bit
of a vague steering feel at anything under
15 mph.
It gets into its stride between 15 and
110 mph. Beyond that and the front
end gets light unless you weigh over 200
pounds. It is one of the sweetest handling
bikes I have ridden in the last 50 years.
It doesn’t flop down in the corners like
you would expect a chopper-style bike to
See Honda Fury, Page 28
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even ask me to be in the picture!
I find most Harley riders will wander
over and talk for an hour about the Fury.
Their first remark usually is, “What the
hell is that?” or “Who the hell makes
that?”
Looks aside, the Honda Fury is also
a surprisingly nice bike to ride. The big
V-twin vibrates very little at idle and the
dual counter-balancers prevent vibrations
from becoming objectionable.
Once I swung my leg over and sat
down on the ultra low seat it actually all
made sense. It’s such an easy bike to ride
and slap into turns. It is the best handling
“chopper/cruiser” I’ve ever ridden. I love
the ride far more than any of the Harleys
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Northern Rockies Rider - 18
September 2013
Testy Fest: 31 years of fried testicles and fun
By Dani Collins-Rollison
NR Rider Staff Writer
“rumble”…”rumble”…down-shifting…
bikes to show up for the “Best Bike
Contest.” These riders rode in and paid
So here is the truth: I don’t ride a
their gate fee, simply to be in the contest.
motorcycle, I don’t get naked anymore
There were some damn nice bikes! The
(in public) – but I do go to the Testicle
event coordinators reserved an area this
Festival. I look at motorcycles and I watch year for motorcycles only. It helped keep
people, and I eat deep-fried testicles.
the active crowd from touching hardware
I love this thing!
and also helped the judges keep track of
Last year was the 30th anniversary of
what bikes were in the contest.
the Testy Fest. I spent three days at the
The one that earned the “Testy Festy
event, selling “Motorcycling Montana”
Best Bike” award was owned by Diane
books and handing out copies of
Muscroft from Grand Forks, British
Northern Rockies Rider. I also covered
Columbia. The first thing I heard this
many crazy activities and met some
energetic lady say was, “My husband
just got done
painting it!”
The Miss
Testy Fest
Contest was
interesting!
There
were many
participants
that had to
go through a
series of “unMiss America”
type of drills in
order to win.
One of
the most
interesting
parts of
this contest
were the two
beautiful
Testy Festy Best Bike winner 2013, Diane Muscroft on her 2011 H-D
young ladies
Street Glide. She wanted it to be noted that she always rides with
who appeared
gear; she was not riding on this day.
to be twins,
but maybe
people I am still in contact with today.
just sisters. One of them made it into the
This year I attended only as a spectator finals.
and photographer, and just for one day.
A gorgeous proud grandma almost
The 31st annual Testy Fest was conducted took the top honor but as it turned out
July 31-Aug. 4 this year.
a young lady from Hamilton, Mont.,
I showed up just in time for all the
Jill Godfrey, took home the “Miss Testy
Jill Godfrey with her proud husband,
Jason. She earned “Miss Testy Fest 2013.”
Festy” title this year.
In the background the DJ or music
could be heard at all times. The DJ,
“Bionic,”
keeps the
events
moving.
His clever
and witty
(sometimes
bawdy)
personality
and patter
keeps the
crowd
engaged
to the
maximum
fun level.
The
Ball
Eating
DJ “Bionic” entertaining
Contest
festival goers at the wet
T-shirt contest on Saturday this year
afternoon.
was won
by Matt Powers, one of the Testy Festy
coordinators and owners of the Rock
Creek Lodge.
Matt was the
“Ball Eating”
champion for
five of the last
eight years,
including this
year.
There were
many other
contests to
attend, but one
of the biggest
crowd pleasers
is always the
Undie 500.
This event
Matt Powers, 2013
is simply
winner of the “Ball
hilarious!
Eating” contest, now
Contestants
five-time winner.
must
participate
in their underwear (or a swimsuit),
ride tricycles with terrible steering
characteristics while chugging large cans
of beer.
Saturday they had two heats of the
Undie 500.
Once again, the live music venue
was very popular with the crowd. This
year’s bands were Midstokke, VooDoo
Horseshoes, My Fist Your Face, High
Voltage, Boston Tea Party and A Lein
Nation.
There was also a company called
“Think Piece Productions” at the
Testy Festy 2013. They specialize in
live event recording, music videos and
documentaries. Check out YouTube
and find the event when it is posted.
You may see yourself! (<YouTube.com/
ThinkPieceProduction>.)
The last activity I attended was the
Wet T-Shirt Contest(s). There were two
See Testy Fest, Page 19
Opinion...Protecting their customers and learning more every year
Dani Collins-Rollison
NRR Staff Writer
It is really too bad, but a lot
of events like the Testicle Festival
get a negative reputation simply
because of the nature of the
activities that make them fun to
start with.
This isn’t about whether or
not you agree with these types of
events. If you are offended easily,
don’t go. It’s pretty simple. Of
course some people are offended simply knowing others are
having fun.
I have been a part of numerous events in the past 30
years, whether as a spectator, organizer or reporter. I am
totally impressed with how the owners of the Rock Creek
Lodge and their organizers make every effort possible to
ensure the safety of everyone that comes through the gate.
I went by myself this year to cover the event and I had
complete and 100 percent confidence that I would be just
fine. I suffered no fear of being “raped or pillaged” or any
other horrid thing that people imagine could happen to me.
A lot of folks that are hosting motorcycle events could
learn from this venue, simply by attending it and observing it
themselves.
All weapons are checked at the gate and nobody is
allowed to bring in any outside alcohol. They do check
your whole vehicle, campers included. The weapon-check
is self-evident, but the restriction on outside alcohol is
important. Bartenders and waiters/waitresses need to be
able to monitor the amount of alcohol that somebody has
consumed.
A free shuttle back and forth from Missoula, 20 miles
west, is provided. There is absolutely no reason to drive
after drinking. People have the ability to plan ahead and not
have to worry about leaving their vehicle at the event if they
partake of a few or are simply too tired to be safe on the
highway.
Workers at the gate are happy to help folks get to
their campsite if they are staying across the road at “The
Airport.” I have personally witnessed and benefited from
this practice.
I think the most impressive aspect to me is the security
team. I really can’t say enough good things about these guys
in pink. They are not big, brooding, tattoo-covered bad
boys scanning the crowd with a scowl.
Each one of these young men train with Matt Powers
at the Dog Pound Fight Team in Missoula. (Matt and
his wife, Nel-Lani, own the Rock Creek Lodge where the
annual event is held.) They are trained to subdue opponents
without injury, unless unavoidable.
Each one of the security team members has a calm
demeanor, but they are always watching for the most subtle
signs that trouble might be brewing. If it starts, they are
right there and handle it with finesse.
They are never mean; they are firm but decent. They do
everything they possibly can to defuse a situation without
removing somebody from the event, yet sometimes they
have to...and they do.
The point is: there is no use having an angry bouncer
trying to remove an unruly patron. Nobody wins.
I have watched the servers suggest a switch to water,
instead of just handing over another drink. I have heard
them suggest it’s time to get something to eat. They really
are trying to take care of their patrons.
Have bad things happened at, or after, this event or
any other? Yes, they have, and there will always be the few
people that have to do the wrong thing no matter how
earnest of an attempt is made to save them from themselves.
But, bad things happen night after night in every town in the
world.
I visited with Matt Powers at the event and he was
pleased with how well things were going. He said, “No
fights in years...no major problems this year (and he crossed
his fingers), so far anyway. I am happy with it!”
When I sent him a message last night asking how it all
turned out, his reply was simply “Safe and well.” I like that!
I placed a call to Jared Spiker, who handles most of the
event organizing duties for the Testy Festy. He said he feels
good about all the progress they have made over the years
helping to ensure that the event is safe.
“We have not had a big fight in seven years,” he told
me. “Also, about 10 years ago there were 30, maybe 40
DUI’s given on the highway during the event. Now there is
maybe one or two, and we don’t even know if these people
were at the Testy Festy or traveling through. We are pretty
proud of the progress we have made.”
He also told me that they are also working with Montana
Rail Link to keep people off the railroad tracks. There are
many trains passing immediately next to the Rock Creek
Lodge grounds. People like to cross the tracks to get to the
river and cool off, but it isn’t safe.
The event is only insured for what happens on the
property itself, but they are glad to be working with Rail Link
to keep any accidents from happening.
And by the way, the motorcyclists seem to be some of
the most well behaved and friendly patrons there. They like
to say, “Bikers police themselves,” and it seems to be true.
This isn’t the old Hollywood myth where a bunch of bad-ass
bikers show up and trash the place. Just sayin’...
September 2013
Northern Rockies Rider - 19
Billings was 2013 destination for
27th Women on Wheels ‘Ride In’
What’s your definition of...
“a perfect ride”
Stunning mountain, forest, river and lake scenery?
Remote, peaceful riding with few cages? Good
asphalt with tons of turns? Roadways designed by
engineers who knew what they were doing? Small
communities with all the amenities? Businesses
with character run by characters? Affordability?
Women on Wheels (and some men) filled the banquet hall at the Billings Hotel.
By Cris Baldwin, President
Board of Trustees
Women On Wheels
all!
We came from near and far, 35 states in
Members of Women On Wheels, an
organization for female motorcycling enthusiasts, conducted our 27th International
Ride-In in Billings, Mont., July 9-11.
The Ride-In, the organization’s premiere
annual social event, travels to different locations around the country. This year was the
first time the event was held in Montana.
Nearly 300
women riders,
passengers, nonriders, future riders and their male
support members
enjoyed “motorcycle-friendly”
roads and ventured near and
far to the many
tourist sites and
Testy Fest
from page 18
categories again this year. There was the
34-and-under, and a 35-and-over contest.
This one always gets the crowd going,
Kermit welcomed the women,
and Schuberth helmets was
there to pitch their upscale hats.
breathtaking views before, during
and after the event.
The citizens of Billings were
wonderful hosts. The staff at the
Billings Hotel and Convention
Center made sure we felt well
cared for and welcome.
is Tareena Hardy and she is from Idaho
Falls, Idaho. She seemed a little shy
afterwards, but she definitely earned her
title.
Throughout the crowd, you can always
see flashes of pink.
These are the pink T-shirts worn by
the Testy Festy Security Team. These
guys are everywhere, fit and well trained,
Winner of 35-and-over wet T-shirt contest
Saturday, Tareena Hardy, pictured with
her man, Cody Storer.
Contestants in the first heat with one of
the Testy Festy security guys and the DJ.
especially the males that are there with
the well-worn chant, “Take it off!” Some
of the younger guys were especially vocal
in urging on their favorite.
They all did “take it off ” of course,
and the crowd went wild. Even the train
coming through on the Montana Rail
Link line shared in the enthusiasm and
the whistle was heard over the crowd.
Good job girls!
I managed to catch up with the winner
of the 35-and-older contest. Her name
preventing trouble before it gets out of
control. They are all decent guys and
helpful to anybody who has questions.
They are also “Tough Enough to Wear
Pink” and can handle any problem that
comes their way.
The bartenders and cocktail waitresses
were also crowd pleasers. They looked
fine and did an excellent job keeping up
with the many thirsty folks. There was
even a scantily clad male waiter this year
serving delectable concoctions to the
crowd.
There were many vendors and many
more contests at Testy Festy 2013. For a
full list of events and winners, check out:
<testyfesty.com>.
Kameron Messmer “mesmerized” us
with his magic at the opening ceremony.
Many members enjoyed a trolley tour of the
city’s landmark destinations offered by the
Billings Trolley and Bus Company.
Beartooth Harley-Davidson-Buell
hosted an exceptional Bike Night with a
barbecue, bike wash, boot shine and policeescorted parade ride of 149 motorcycles
through downtown Billings.
A dozen members even traded a few
hours on their “iron horses” for the scenic
horseback trail rides offered by Bitter Creek
Outfitters.
Guest speaker/seminar leader, Tamela
Rich, seminars, carnival games, raffle items,
door prizes, vendors and goody bag items
(donated by the Billings Chamber of Commerce, Montana Office of Tourism and
Friends of Beartooth All-American Road)
all came together to ensure that the event
was a huge success.
Thank you, Montana and Billings!
For more information about Women
On Wheels, visit <womenonwheels,org> or
<facebook.com/womenonwheels1>
Riders rounding a curve on
the Flowery Trail between
Chewelah and Ione, described by Northern Rockies
Rider magazine as “perhaps
the best motorcycle route in
all of Washington.”
Photo by Susan Swan, Ione, Wash.
Ahhhh...the Pend Oreille!
We have it all!
Northeast Washington’s finest motorcycling!
• Metaline Falls • Metaline • Ione • Tiger
• Cusick • Usk • Newport
Please be our guests. Come ride the Pend Oreille
Country. Bring your friends. You’ll come back
again and again. It just doesn’t get any better!
Sponsored by the Pend Oreille
River Tourism Alliance whose
purpose is to create a responsible
tourism economy in the Pend
Oreille River Community in ways
sensitive to the culture, heritage
and environment of the region.
www.porta-us.com
509.447.5286
Northern Rockies Rider - 20
September 2013
My crash: ‘I knew what to do, but I crashed anyway’
By Stacey “Ax” Axmaker, Director
Idaho STAR Motorcycle Safety
Program
boat handling techniques, and what to
do when things start to go wrong.
Again, much like a motorcycle riding
course.
People (riders and non-riders alike)
One of the “what to do when things
will often talk about a crash in a similar
go wrong” techniques was to move to
way: “Oh, that rider didn’t know how
the downstream side of the boat when
to corner/brake/balance/etc. That’s why
your boat gets stuck on a rock (and
they crashed.”
stops). This
The
keeps the
assumption
upstream
seems to
side of the
Stacey “Ax” Axmaker
be that if
boat light and
Director Idaho STAR
the rider
allows the flow
Motorcycle Safety
had more
of the river
Program
knowledge
to easily go
(how to use
under it.
the front brake
If you keep
assertively,
your weight
how to press on the handgrip to increase on the upstream side of the boat, the
lean, etc.), the crash would not have
flow of the river is likely to catch the side
happened.
of the boat, swamp it and flip it upside
In the following, I will suggest that
down, putting you in the water. We
this is not the case.
practiced this maneuver several times
Here is my story of a crash – a crash
until we could all do it correctly and
on the river in an
inflatable boat. In 2006, my wife
and I wanted to
spend some time
on the river. So,
we signed up for
a beginner level
kayak class.
The class was an
entire weekend of
time in the water.
We started with
some briefing, then we got in a very
quickly.
calm lake, then on a pretty calm river,
Think of it like learning how
then the next day progressed to more
to swerve to avoid an obstacle in a
challenging water.
motorcycle rider training course.
This follows a very similar pattern to
Overall, a good weekend that left us
motorcycle rider training in a “learn to
feeling comfortable and confident on
ride” class.
the water. Following the class, we went
It was a good class and the
on the river just a few times a year and
instructors did a fine job of covering
enjoyed very “event-free” times. safety apparel, safety procedures, basic
Fast forward to 2008.
It’s now been two years since we took
our training, and our boating time was
very calm and relaxing. Being calm and
relaxing, we hadn’t practiced any of our
“what to do when things go wrong”
techniques since we had finished the
class.
One day as we were floating the Boise
River past the county fairgrounds, the
boat started to follow a current toward
the river bank and right toward the
roots of a large tree!
We tried to paddle out of the current
and get back in the middle of the river
but the current was too strong and,
before we knew it, the boat had stopped
right up against the roots. Somehow,
my wife made it quickly off the boat and
into the tree.
I remember thinking to myself, “Oh,
I know what to do. When the boat gets
stuck, move to the downstream side of
the boat so it doesn’t flip upside down.”
The problem is that I had to think it
through before acting because I hadn’t
actually done it in over two years. By the
time I got to “When the boat…” in my
thoughts, I was already flipped out of
the boat and under the water, fighting
the current and stuck in the roots of the
tree.
See Crashed, Page 21
Learn how to “Ride your Ride” like a pro!
Take an Advanced RiderCourse
• Get the most out of your bike
• Maximize turning and braking
abilities
• Obstacle Avoidance
The problem is that I had to
think it through before acting
because I hadn’t actually
done it in over two years.
• Make safety a priority in your ride
Group and club rates available
For more information
1-800-922-BIKE
http://motorcycle.msun.edu
Registration opens
March 1, 2013
MSUN ARC Ad.indd 1
7/28/11 9:20 AM
September 2013
Northern Rockies Rider - 21
“Wyoming Whiskey “ bike unveiled
Wyo H.O.G. members converge
on Thermopolis for 20th rally
By Dani Collins-Rollison
NR Rider Staff Writer
Thermopolis was the destination
chosen for the 20th Anniversary of
the Wyoming H.O.G. Rally which was
conducted July 11-13. The Days Inn of
Thermopolis was the host hotel.
The event coordinators said they are
“extremely pleased” with the event this
year.
NR Rider talked to Jenni Dorman
from the Days Inn, who was also one of
the coordinators of the event. We asked
her for a wrap up on the rally.
Her first comment was, “The rally was
a huge success! We had two VIPs from
Harley-Davidson and oh my, were they
impressed! I have been asked to have a
rally every year now!”
It seems it’s true. This was the biggest
rally for Wyoming H.O.G. in the 20 years
they have had the event, NR Rider was
told. The numbers speak for themselves.
They had 306 register for the rally and
over 100 walk-ins.
Thermopolis Mayor Bill Maloy
welcomed everyone at the opening
ceremony. A biker parade preceded
the ceremony with about 200 bikes
Attendees of the Wyoming State HOG Rally
gather at the Wyoming Whiskey Distillery
in Kirby, Wyoming for a Meet & Greet. The
event included tours of the distillery and
sampling of Wyoming’s very own born and aged
bourbon. Inset, Kip Attaway performs for event
goers and locals alike.
Crashed
from page 20
Yep – if that were on a motorcycle,
it would be called crashing. Since it was
in the river, they just called it “being
strained.”
(In case you were worried, I did
manage to
get free.
I joined
my wife in
the tree.
I’d love to
tell you
how I did
it, but I’m
honestly
not sure
how it
happened.
Perhaps
it was my
lucky day.
Good thing
I got out;
if I had drowned down there, my wife
would have killed me!)
My point is, I had the knowledge
needed to prevent that crash. I got
trained, I did it right in class and even
passed all their tests. However, I did not
practice that skill, so when “the moment
Beginning of the parade headed to the
opening ceremony. Inset, raising of the
flag for the national anthem.
participating. Jenni presented the key to
the city to the Wyoming H.O.G. Rally
Committee President Eric Keys. This was
followed with the Bike Parade of Lights.
The event also had poker runs, a bike
show, the always-popular bike games
and a Kip Attaway concert. There was an
AMDA Bike Wash that raised over $900
for their cause.
Wyoming Whiskey, from Kirby, Wyo.,
was also involved, giving out free samples
of their “born and aged” bourbon, and
offering tours of the plant. One of the
biggest hits of the three day event was
when Chuck Deluxe (Deluxe HarleyDavidson) unveiled the “Wyoming
Whiskey” bike.
There were about 10 vendors present.
They offered lights, pin-striping,
tattoos, patches, bandanas, clothing,
jewelry and leathers. Vendors traveled
from Minnesota, California,
Texas, Arizona, Nebraska and
Colorado. Of course there
were also Wyoming vendors
in attendance and many
Thermopolis locals selling their
crafts.
Jenni said the people who
drove the farthest was a couple
that came all the way from West
Virginia. There was another that
of truth” came, I did not perform.
Many motorcycle riders have had
this same experience. They took a class,
passed all the tests, and then never
practiced. The moment of truth came
and they were not as prepared as they
could have been.
Now don’t get me wrong. My career
is in motorcycle safety and rider training
– I believe in it.
Taking a rider training course is not
a magic pill. It is also not the only way to
learn skills. However, it is a good start.
Whether you started by learning
from a friend, were self-taught or took
a class, please practice braking, serving
and cornering regularly. I don’t want any
of you to end up under the water stuck
in the roots.
Ride well, ride lots.
I also believe in exercise and
vitamins, but if you only exercise one
day or take vitamins for a week, there is
essentially no long term benefit. (On a
side note, the positive effects of bathing
don’t last either, but we still recommend
it daily!)
– About Stacey “Ax” Axmaker: He
is the director of Idaho STAR. He took
his first rider training course in 1991,
was teaching shortly after and has been
ever since. He has worked as a mentor
instructor since 1994 and served as the
Operations Manager for the TEAM
OREGON motorcycle safety program
from 1997 to 2002. He was one of the
four individuals who developed the
Basic Rider Training (BRT) curriculum,
and has been active in new instructor
training as well as designing and
delivering mentor/leadership training
for instructors. He also was the STAR
Program Training Manager from 2006
through 2008. “Ax” serves on the Idaho
Traffic Safety Commission and is chair
of the Idaho State Highway Safety
Plan Motorcycle Safety Committee. He
also holds a volunteer position with
Motorcycle Riders Foundation Awareness
and Education. “Ax” currently rides a
1997 Honda Valkyrie tourer.
traveled from Michigan to participate.
Jenni said, “Many people told me
this rally was going to be hard to beat!
The rally next year is in Alpine, but I am
proposing Thermopolis again for 2015.”
Watch the Wyoming H.O.G. website
for further details: <wystatehogrally.
com>.
Don’t ride like a kid!
Take a Basic RiderCourse
Quit Dreaming, Come Ride!
• For riders with little
or no
experience
• Refresh your skills if you
have experience • Motorcycles provided
• Helments provided
Group and club rates available
Registration opens March 1, 2013
For more information
1-800-922-BIKE
http://motorcycle.msun.edu
MSUN ARC Ad.indd 1
MSUN ARC Ad.indd 1
7/28/11 9:20 AM
Northern Rockies Rider - 22
July 2013
Learning curve
Long-distance endurance rally:
plan your work, work your plan
By Cole Boehler
Entering the Big Sky “Into The Unknown” 32-hour
motorcycle rally had crossed my mind. I had the right
bike, but I was the wrong driver.
Who then?
A young acquaintance seemed a good candidate:
he’s very bright and well educated, a techno-geek,
an engineer who likes to make things and owns and
operates a business which does this, was already an
extreme outdoors sports enthusiast in seemingly
prime physical condition, and rides extreme
motorcycles, in this case a Suzuki GSX-R 750
repurposed as a dual-sport running knobby tires.
In addition, he enjoys KettleHouse Brewing’s
“Cold Smoke” Scottish ale, a favorite of mine as well.
I made the proposition and he quickly said, “I can
do that.”
Both of us had second thoughts and misgivings,
but neither was going to back down.
It was clear we had the right machine: a 2005
Yamaha FJR 1300. Five of the top six finishers in the
2013 Iron Butt Rally – over 11,000 miles in 11 days –
were aboard FJRs, all 2005s and 2006s.
The first step, obviously, was to acknowledge that
we would have to work with a limited budget.
Step Two: identify all that we would need in the
way of supplies, accessories, expertise with wiring
and prep, software and so on.
Step Three: enlist help with procuring goods and
for bike prep.
Finally, with list in hand, we devised a timeline
working backward from the completion of the rally to
the present.
We grouped our list like this:
Necessary:
Fresh tires, tire repair kit and pump, tool kit,
documents case, seat pad, (revised/adjusted) throttle
lock, high-output bulbs for stock headlights, highoutput L.E.D. auxiliary driving lights, highway
cruising pegs, frame sliders, heated grips, heated vest,
GPS, tracking device/software, radar detector, phone,
iPod, laptop, USB chargers and wiring, cameras,
flashlights, spare keys, hydration system, clear plastic
cleaner and so on.
Then we added the following:
Bike service:
Clean and lube controls and cables, fresh oil, oil
filter and final drive lube, air and fuel filters, inspect
spark plugs and wires, test battery, inspect, lube and
adjust steering head bearings, and inspect/correct
weeping right fork seal.
Rider apparel:
Heated vest, helmet, boots, gloves (three weights),
armored leather jacket, armored mesh jacket,
armored pants with liner, balaclava/helmet liner,
riding-specific underwear, sunglasses (two).
Personal supplies:
Toothbrush/paste, prescription meds(?), sun
screen, skin lotions, eye drops, body powder,
vitamins, OTC pain meds.
Rider food/beverage:
Water, GatorAde, jerky, energy bars, granola,
peanuts, peanut butter, P & J sandwiches (more later).
Luggage:
Side cases, top box, tail pack, tank bag.
Then, this heading:
Desired (but not necessary):
Tire pressure monitoring system, 90-degree valve
stems, voltage meter/monitor, Baker Air
Wings.
Step Three meant talking to Matt Krsul who,
with his wife Kim, owns and operates Two
Wheelz, a motorcycle sales and service outfit
in Butte, Mont. Matt’s four decades of expertise
and work quality are well known and highly
regarded.
Before we did this, I drew up a two-page
formal proposal and set up an appointment
with Matt. I laid out our thinking regarding
supplies, accessories, service and installation
work required. Matt readily, enthusiastically,
agreed to all our concepts, including his
role in bike service and prep, accessories
procurement and installation. I don’t think the
beers I brought to the meeting actually helped
persuade him.
I also asked Matt if he could offer an
endorsement of the project when it came to
making an approach to wholesale suppliers,
seeking their help with acquiring accessories.
He agreed to this, too, and indeed put in a
good work for us with Dave Bunger, long-time Matt Krsul, left, the bike guru and owner of Two Wheelz, and Sam
Tucker Rocky rep for this area who was on the Park, the man who will ride the ITU 32-hour long-distance rally,
prepping the machine. Kim Krsul photo
verge of retirement, and with John Ellingson,
who would be filling Bunger’s shoes. Matt also
worked on our behalf with Western Power
bike prep and readiness for a launch at 5:30 a.m.
Sports.
Weather was predicted to hit a high of 92 ... and it
Our timeline commenced Tuesday, July 16, with
did.
an oil change for the rally bike (we had just put fresh
Saturday, July 20, I was pleased when I stepped
Michelin
out of my door at 5:10 a.m. that morning and Sam
Pilot Road
had just stepped out of his pickup. I was even more
tires on fore pleased when I glanced at the clock as we rolled down
and aft).
the driveway and saw ... 5:30 on the nose! Good!
Sam
The test run revealed what it needed to (we’re
picked the
being a little coy here) and was deemed a complete
bike up the
success. We were on the road for 16 hours. Sam said
next day,
he now felt suspension settings are dialed in ideally.
July 17, for
I met with Sam a few days later, July 23, to clean
some local
the bikes and do a close examination and refinement
test rides
to begin
sorting
and setting
suspension,
and to start
thinking
about
electronics
Matt Krsul remained calm and cheerful,
and their
even as time dwindled, the Internet
wiring,
went down for two days, and parts and
connectors,
accessories were arriving at the last
controls
minute. Kim Krsul photo
and
mounting,
and fabricating accessories mounts where necessary.
The second item on the timeline was to show it
to Matt to get his approval of our thinking, which
we did the evening of July 17. We downloaded a
toolkit list from the Iron Butt Association, which is
overkill for our baby 32-hour rally. We present the
Shortly after our 9:30 p.m. return. Editor Boehler, left, ran
list to Matt who said to leave toolkit assembly to him. 817 miles, rider Park topped 1K. Marilyn Irey Photo
Excellent!
We also ordered an Airhawk seat pad that day to
of systems and our thinking – a post mortem of our
augment the Corbin on the rally bike.
test ride.
July 18 frame sliders were ordered directly
Sam wanted better control of heat/cold airflow
from T-Rex Racing (they arrived July 22). Sam
surrounding the engine and operator. He ordered a
fabricated aluminum driving light mounts that will
set of Baker Built Air Wings. He’d seen them in use
also accommodate an accessories mounting shelf to
on another rally bike and figured they might be worth
reside above the bike’s instrument panel. These were
the investment.
installed using existing mirror mounts.
These attach to the fairing sides with screws or
July 19 Grip Puppies soft handgrip covers were
stout double-sided tape, with the potential to direct
ordered from California Sport Touring (they arrived
warm airflow from the engine bay onto the rider in
July 24).
cold situations, or direct cool air toward the rider
Sam and I met at my garage that night to load and
(and hot engine air away) during hot circumstances.
fiddle with the rally bike and one I would ride the
He ordered these directly from the manufacturer
next day in our first test run. We tried to simulate
which graciously offered our LD effort a discount:
rally conditions in terms of our packing, supplies,
$84 including shipping, whereas they would regularly
July 2013
Our first shake-down run, daytime, 12 hours and 1,021 miles, mapping courtesy of FollowMee.
Northern Rockies Rider - 23
we hit the bike’s high beam, we go to full power on
the stock headlights and the L.E.D.s.
We deliver the bike and accessories on hand to
Matt at Two Wheelz. Sam is there to discuss the
electronics array, connections and wiring.
Thursday and Friday, Aug. 8-9, Internet service
goes down at Two Wheelz, throwing the shop
schedule and usual efficiency into disarray. Parts
orders, work schedules, etc. are necessarily delayed. I
am not yet panicking.
Tuesday, Aug. 13, Sam meets with Matt afterhours to further refine accessories array connections
and mounting. Fabricated dash shelf is to be ready
the next day. Baker Air Wings are mounted.
Wednesday, Aug. 14, we take a few photos of
the work progress and accessories installations.
Matt reports bike service is complete, new Pirelli
Angel GT skins are on the wheels. L.E.D. lights are
connected and mounted, with the controller still to
be integrated.
The 12-volt sockets are wired to power a
radar detector, one will host a dual USB charger
connection. GPS is plumbed into the Battery Tender
pigtail.
Matt reports the leads provided for the First Gear
heated jacket liner are of insufficient length for our
purposes. He orders an extension. Will it be here in
time for our August 17 night test? I’m hit with a pang
of worry.
He is working on the project nights and now
during regular business hours, too.
See Long Distance, Page 24
sell at $102 with shipping additional. They arrived
Pirelli Angel GTs (single compound front, dual
July 25. Thanks to Baker Built Company!
compound rear) through Boise-based Western Power
July 25, we talked with our supplier allies
Sports, with the help of WPS representative Larry
regarding what, if any, help they
could offer. All necessary supplies and
accessories were to be on hand or ordered
at this time. Tucker Rocky’s Ellingson said
he thought he could help with the heated
jacket liner.
July 25-29, the bike is taken into
Washington for an 800-mile tour. I find all
is working well and like Sam’s suspension
set-up – no weave in hard, lumpy turns
and less front dive under heavy braking.
July 29, we heard from Greayer
Clover at Biker’s Choice, a Tucker Rocky
wholesale affiliate, who said he could make
available a First Gear-branded (Warm &
Safe-built) full heated jacket liner with
a “Heat-Troller” control unit and wiring
harness. This is a Cadillac. We sent them
Sam’s size requirements. The First Gear
liner and Heat-Troller arrived Aug. 5. It fit.
Thanks Dave, John, Greayer, Tucker Rocky
and Biker’s Choice!
The wiring begins: heated grips and switch, heated jacket liner and controller, L.E.D.
Sam picked up the bike July 31 to
begin design of forward highway cruising flood and spot lights and controller, power
sources for GPS and radar detector, two
foot pegs and mounts, and to fabricate
USB charging ports for phone, iPod, laptop.
and install the accessories dash shelf.
Still no answer as to help with accessory
L.E.D. driving lights. (Aug. 7 the notion of
forward foot pegs is abandoned – too much work, too Hamilton.
little time.)
We did the research and
WYOMING CENTENNIAL SCENIC BYWAY
Monday, Aug. 5, Matt e-mails and says he was
were assured the Pirellis
unable to source a set of “test/evaluation” Michelins
will work and work well.
PATH OF THE PRONGHORN
tires, but that he would be able to secure a set of
Thanks Two Wheelz, Larry
ICONIC SKYLINE DRIVE TO ELKHART PARK
Hamilton and Western
Power Sports!
Tuesday, August 6, we
have been unable to source
low-to-no-cost driving
lights so finally wrangle
a 10 percent discount
from ADVmonster for
a Cree L.E.D. Model 60
flood (3,600 lumens), a
Cree L.E.D. Model 30
spot (1,500 lumens), and
a rotary dimmer control
with high-beam bypass.
Bar Hours
(They arrived four days
Sunday Thru Thursday 10am-12am • Friday & Saturday 10am-2am
later, Aug. 10, from
Happy Hour Daily From 5pm to 6pm
Florida! Exemplary service!
Thanks, John Sanders, at
Buy 1 get 1 free
ADVmonster!)
With the rotary dimmer,
we should be able to run
the L.E.D.s at 25 or 30
New Pirelli Angel GT dual-compound rear gets balanced.
214 East Main Street • Sundance, WY 82729
percent power while on the
Park said the Angels were “sticky” and worked very well,
bike’s low beam, then when
even during three hours of nighttime rain. Kim Krsul photo
209 N Main
Buffalo, WY
307.684.7822
Mention this ad
and receive 15%
off room rate
Longhorn
Liquors
Bikers
Welcome
Etta’s Place - Lunch & Dinner Menu Available
307-283-3644
Northern Rockies Rider - 24
September 2013
Long Distance
from page 23
However, I am strangely confident Matt will pull
a rabbit out of the hat.
We are to pick up the bike Friday, Aug. 16 and
are planning a shakedown all-night ride Aug. 17 for
pit before a race and mechanics and pit crew are
working frantically to get all ready before race time.
We are no different, apparently. But I can see the
rabbit’s head peaking out of the hat.
We pick up the bike at 5 p.m. and Sam takes it to
his shop to install the shelf and mount accessories,
switches and controllers
Aug. 17, time for the night test run. Sam arrives
at my house at 7:30 p.m. I have prepared a route for
him with 22 waypoints with a “bonus” to document
at each one. He enters the coordinates in his GPS in
about 20 minutes. We mount hard side cases and top
box and secure a textile tail-bag to the pillion.
Sam rolls down my driveway at 8:30 p.m.
My wife and I have dinner and watch a movie
during which I fall asleep. But I’m up at 3 a.m.
checking Sam’s progress with the FollowMee app. It’s
Night test route - 726 miles from Butte to West
Yellowstone to Harlowton to Kings Hill and back.
The Cree L.E.D. flood lamp sourced from ADV Monster.
Factory mount and our design proved to need rethinking
as light pods would not stay aimed.
Sam. We must test all of our systems and especially
work on optimal alignment of the driving lights.
Aug. 16, I stop at Two Wheelz for a status report.
Krsul says all is wired. The accessories shelf won’t be
ready until tonight. Looks like all the switching and
accessories mounting will take place this evening
and tomorrow, just hours before our last window of
opportunity to do a night test run.
The extension for the heated jacket liner is
expected to arrive today. Fingers are crossed. (It
arrived and was put into service).
Anyone who competes in motorsports knows
this is the way it always happens. Why? Visit any
Sam Park prepares to mount for a night test: 8:30 p.m. to
11:15 a.m.
working well. I check again about 4 a.m., then 5, 6
and then every half hour or so until he rolls up my
driveway at 11:15.
He looks fairly fresh and alert: 726 miles in 14
hours and 45 minutes. The bike has been moving for
12 hours and 14 minutes. He tells me he attempted
sleep about 3:30 in a barrow pit but wind and rain
meant poor quality of rest. He also stopped for a
good “biker’s breakfast” about 8 a.m. The rest of the
“stopped” time was used in documenting “bonuses.”
Sam reported a “wild” three-hour thunderstorm
with lightning 360 degrees around and plenty of
wind and rain that lasted until sun up. He also said
the night was very black – “no stars, no moon... It
was like riding inside a pipe.” Good practice, I think.
Sam said on the roadway he saw a couple of
raccoons, many rabbits and just one deer, which was
after daylight and not a close encounter.
Fuel was not an issue, with one exception: he
rolled into White Sulphur springs about 8 a.m. with
perhaps a long quart of petrol in the tank, perhaps
10 or 15 miles of range before empty.
He said the Western Powersports-sourced Pirelli
Angel GTs worked very well –” sticky” – with the
bike’s handling sharp, even during three hours of
rain.
See Long Distance, Page 25
September 2013
Northern Rockies Rider - 25
Long Distance
from page 23
smoke blotted out the waxing moon and all starlight.
Winding down the hill into Ennis was like driving
down a sewer pipe.
“Later, I stopped to stretch my legs while reading
In all, another successful test. All the
equipment and installations worked well,
save for light mounting which will be reworked in the next couple of days, and the
Baker Air Wings, which departed the bike
within the first hour; a wrong mounting
decision.
I file this story and pictures, 56 hours after
deadline, as patient and understanding page
designers are ready and waiting. We’re on the
press in four days and the ITU starts in just
under six. We are ready and can hardly wait.
Sam e-mails some pictures and a note
shortly after noon:
the road side sign expounding on the myth and
naming of the Crazy Mountains, but beyond the
headlights of the bike, there was only blackness and
wind. Just beyond the white lines, on the left and right
shoulders, the world ended.
“The inky pipe didn’t end until I near the lights of
Harlowton, where the lightning began... and then the
sea of synchronized flashing red lights marking the
masts of the wind turbines just beyond Judith Gap.
“Blackness, then brilliant red lights in every
direction. I stand up (while cruising along at 70 mph)
to survey their eerie extents. ‘Everywhere’... ‘when did
“Hi, Cole,
“I apologize, when you were asking
questions I could have provided a little more
material ... A little rummy.
“Bonus” locations: (1) Bank Bar in Wilsall, (2) Kings Hill
“Just north of West Yellowstone there
Summit and (3) Fishtail Tavern in Townsend. Sam Park
was some kind of major wreck... lots of
photos
ambulances, police, fire apparatus and
road flares. It was hard not to think of my
mortality as I manually switched off the
auxiliary driving lights and threaded the bike through
a sea of flashing lights and road flares. No idea what
happened. “I took pictures from odd angles at the ‘bonus bars’
to avoid interacting with the patrons spilling into the
street 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. I had good music going in
my helmet, and was not interested in unplugging to
explain why I was documenting the Blue Anchor or
Bank Bar at night using a camera without a flash...
“With extreme care I was able to eat jerky and
dried apricots without munching my inner cheek. A
moment’s lapse of attention and it would take miles
for the bleeding to stop. A hard lesson I learned on
that first 1,000-mile (test) run.
“Just after Virginia City a light cloud cover and the
they build all these’... Then blackness.
The odometer rolls another tenth. Then
red dots... “
“’Focus on the road, dammit,” I
remind myself. The rain drops beading
on my face shield begin to run down my
neck. I sit back down. Turn up the heat
to the vest. ‘At least the turbines offer
some protection from the lightening,’ I
think...
“Not sure if that gets across what was
going through my head during bits of the
trip...”
Yes, it does.
Most scenic rides in the
Black Hills for
Custer Cruisin’
Iron Mountain Road
Needles Highway
Wildlife Loop Road
Hell Canyon
• Shopping
• Restaurants
• Lodging
Close to Mt. Rushmore, Crazy
Horse Memorial, Custer State Park
Night test was completed at 11:15 Sunday morning, another complete success. Sam, 25
feet from the end.
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Northern Rockies Rider - 26
September 2013
Trip of a lifetime was superb, even if two-up
By Dottie Rankin
NR Rider Wyoming Correspondent
They say you need a vacation to get
over your vacation. Right now I would
have to say that is true. Two weeks on
the road, six states, one bike and now a
deadline. I am exhausted but in a good
way.
Our route took us through Wyoming,
Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon
and California. We refined and perfected
the art of getting lost but it was perfect,
beautiful country to be lost in. It just
meant more time to enjoy good friends
and majestic surroundings.
In total we traveled 3,935 miles. We
had three other couples traveling with
us. It was interesting to get to know these
couples on a deeper level.
Our group
John and Faye McClelland are fellow
Harley Owner Group (H.O.G.) members
and were
in on this
trip from
the initial
planning
stages. They
have been
married 20plus years and
ride a 2010
H-D Ultra
Limited. They
are seasoned
two-up riders
and have
John and Faye
a history
McClelland.
steeped in
motorcycles.
John is an avid flat-track, vintage
motorcycle racer. He says he likes to slide
and races old farts on old motorcycles!
Their longest trip so far was last year
– they rode 5,000 miles round-trip to
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories,
Canada. He said that was a cool trip
because they went further than the road
did!
Bob and Debbie Welch are fellow
Christian
Motorcyclist
Association
members.
Bob is a long
time rider
but Debbie
is relatively
new to the
two-up
scene. They
ride a 2003
Ultra and
Bob and Debbie Welch.
this is their
longest
motorcycle adventure to date. Debbie
turned out to be our Beach Goddess; it
was hard to get her to leave the sandy
paradise!
My
good friend
and riding
partner
(some say
partner
in crime)
Vickie
Graham
was along
with us also.
She rides
a beautiful
Vickie Graham and Milt
2012
white
Glazzard.
Heritage Classic.
Her friend, Milt Glazzard, met us
in Newport, Ore., and drove our chase
vehicle and was literally a life saver when
we had mechanical problems with one of
the bikes. He rides a 2006 Ultra Classic
and is a veteran rider with 50 years of
motorcycle experience.
It was interesting to experience the
evolution of these relationships as we
spent time and rode together. New
acquaintances became friends, new
friends became true friends and old
friends became great friends.
Our route
Our route took us from our home in
Gillette, Wyo., over Chief Joseph Scenic
Byway (Hwy. 296) and Beartooth Pass
(Hwy. 212) to Montana. We rode the
famous Lolo Pass/Lochsa River (Hwy.12)
into Idaho, continuing into Washington
on Hwy. 14.
We crossed the Columbia River at The
Dalles. Ore., and rode along the Columbia
River Gorge (Hwy. 30) enjoying the scenic
wonders there. We crossed the mighty
Astoria-Megler Bridge and hit the Pacific
coast at Astoria, Ore.
Beautiful Megler bridge.
We followed the coast south (Hwy.
101) to Eureka, Calif., through the
impressive redwood forests (that made us
feel quite small). Then we headed in an
easterly direction as we turned homeward
meandering through Oregon where we
were blessed and speechless with the
unparalleled beauty of Crater Lake (off
Hwy. 62).
From there we traveled through Hell
Canyon (Idaho side) stopping for the
night at McCall, Idaho, where Payette
Lake simply blew us away. From there
we crossed Craters of the Moon National
Monument (Hwy.20) in Idaho, eerie but
beautiful.
The last leg of our journey took us
back to Wyoming with the customary,
mandatory stop in Jackson Hole before
heading back home.
Our safety reminders
It must be said that the importance
of riding safely came crashing back fairly
early in the trip when we hit a corner too
hot coming into a roadside gas station. It
was in the mountains and snuck up on us!
We hit gravel and started sliding. If not for
Earl’s proficiency at handling a motorcycle
we would have tangled with a pole and it
would not have ended well.
I am sure it gave the others a few
heart-stopping moments. It happened so
fast I didn’t have time to get scared but
when I climbed off the bike I had to sit
down to get my heart rate back to normal.
Our states
Wyoming is our home and we love the
scenic diversity of the state. Montana and
Idaho offered some of the best motorcycle
roads we found, but in all fairness I have
by a canopy of trees that were lush and
green, or riding beside the majestic
splendor of the Pacific coast.
The northern California coast was,
well, frankly cold and foggy. We did not
like the cold but the morning fog with
sunshine breaking through here and there
cast a mystical beauty that I will always
remember.
Our dining
The food, oh the food!
We sought out the regional and local
favorites and were not disappointed;
surprised at times but not disappointed.
The Red Lodge Café in Red Lodge,
Mont., had the best homemade chickenfried steak (my favorite meal). I cannot
find homemade, hand-breaded chickenfried steak very often but I found it in Red
Lodge and believe me, I enjoyed it!
Perhaps the most famous sign in all of
In Astoria, Bowpicker Fish and Chips
motorcycling, U.S. Hwy. 12, Idaho.
is legendary. It is an old boat (and I do
mean old) moored on a grassy lot that
to admit that it is a hard choice because
doubles as a restaurant. There is no room
every day, no matter what state we
for seating inside but there are two old
were in, there was amazing riding and
picnic tables outside. The line is usually
incredible scenery.
long, at least an hour’s wait.
Montana and Idaho gave us the
Their specialty is deep-fried albacore
tuna and steak fries. There were two menu
options, a whole order of their specialty or
a half order. Soda is at the end of the line
in coolers. It was absolutely the best fish
and chips we had ever eaten.
The pecan pancakes at the Cowboy
Café in Dubois, Wyo., were to die for but
the best pancakes were the ones enjoyed
with good friends and a great view right
outside the window.
We stumbled upon a funky pizza place
in the upper level of the Fort George
Brewery in Astoria that boasted “pizza
like you’ve never had.” They certainly
had that correct. We tried a garlic/truffle/
cheese pizza and a potato/bacon/clam
pizza.
Let’s just say that some things don’t
famous Lolo Pass and, as the sign says, 99 belong on a pizza. It was a little “out there”
miles of exuberant excitement.
for our taste but the place was bustling so
Idaho offered more Scenic Byways
it appeared they had possibly found their
than any other state and riding there was
niche.
heaven.
Wet Dog Restaurant and Bar in Astoria
Washington had many orchards and
had the best bowl of Clam Chowder, and
vineyards and it was lush and green. We
we did eat a lot of clam chowder.
rode Lewis and Clark Trail Highway (401)
That brings us to the great lobster
from Astoria to the H-D dealership in
fiasco.
Nasalle, Wash. On the way back south to
I, being a fresh lobster virgin, thought
Astoria we rode Highway 101 along the
it would be super cool to eat a fresh
coast which was spectacular.
lobster while we were on the coast. We
To me, Oregon was my magical utopia. sought out the restaurant that had the
freshest of the
fresh and got the
gang together. I
ordered lobster
and was instructed
to go pick out my
meal from the
tank where all
the lobsters were
strolling around.
We were sitting
right across from
the tank and I had
been watching
the little guys and
honest to God I
think I bonded
Everything is beautiful at the beach, including a motorcycle
with
my meal.
parked there.
The waitress
grabbed him out
The coastline, the forests and the roads all of the tank and, as luck would have it, two
fit together to give us motorcycle vacation small children wanted to pet him. They
paradise. The bridges of Oregon were
ooo’ed and ahhh’ed over him and I was
astonishing and fun to cross. More often
feeling worse and worse about making
than not we were riding on roads crowned
See Lifetime Trip, Page 27
September 2013
Northern Rockies Rider - 27
Lifetime Trip
from page 26
definitely worth the stop, although I
liked the Lighthouse at Battery Point in
Crescent City, Calif., a whole lot more.
You can only get out to this lighthouse at
low tide and it was set in surroundings
that were truly breathtaking.
Redwood National Park just south
of Crescent City was populated with
him my supper.
The waitress took my little lobster to
the kitchen and that is about the time
someone at our table had to
tell me about the way they
cook lobsters: put them in
boiling water while they are
still alive. They also thought
it necessary to let me know
that lobsters squeak when
immersed in the boiling
water.
I am certain I heard my
little guy squeaking, “Help!”
I know I did!
I told myself I wanted
to eat this lobster, not be
his friend. “I can do this,” I
repeated over and over. After
all, there is honor involved
here. Then they served my
little guy to me –
­ not just the
tail, oh no, the whole dang
thing!
He was cooked and quite
dead but he was looking at
me through sad, dead eyes.
I looked at the waitress
and said, “Bring me some
Multnomah Falls.
chicken.”
We did enjoy amazing
fresh seafood all up and down the coast.
stunning and majestic giants. John and
You just can’t beat the combination of
Faye rode their motorcycle through a
fresh seafood and an ocean view.
tunnel in one of the redwoods.
Our lessons
Downsizing from two bikes to one
bike (his) made the trip a little more
challenging but we managed.
As long as I was buying new HarleyDavidson T-shirts from every state we
traveled through, I figured I might as well
wear my new shirts and ship the dirty
clothes home. Although hubby grumbled
and was shaking his head the whole time
he stood in the Post Office line, it seemed
perfectly sensible and logical to me!
The other big (okay, huge) deal was
to get comfortable being on the back of
hubby’s bike again and making peace with
leaving my bike at home. That is much
easier said than done when I also know
how to ride and we are both total control
freaks!
We learned (sort of) how to ride
two people on one motorcycle. I finally
relaxed and quit trying to control his
driving and just let myself enjoy the
beauty of my surroundings. It was a
great way to experience this journey and
strengthen the bonds that make us one.
(Editor’s note: We wonder why Earl
didn’t let Dottie drive and he ride bitch.)
Our attractions
The whole trip was packed with
attractions that we visited but there are a
few that stand out in my mind and will be
cherished memories.
Multnomah Falls on the Oregon side
of the Columbia River Gorge, located east
of Troutdale along the Historic Columbia
River Highway, was just another example
of the region’s natural beauty.
John, Faye, Earl and I attempted
to hike to the top of the falls. It was a
mile hike, straight up, and one by one
we fell out, all of us except Earl who, in
typical Earl fashion, disappeared up the
mountain.
The Riverfront Trolley in Astoria
was fun and informative. The Yaquina
Bay Lighthouse at Newport, Ore., was
Crater Lake was a definite favorite
stop and is located in the central region of
Oregon. It is a caldera lake with the most
striking blue, crystal clear water that I
have ever witnessed.
Our final goodbye
to vacation
There were several things
I planned for this vacation:
Motels booked ahead of time,
packing the bike and the
prettiest and best motorcycling
routes.
But the one thing that was
preplanned that turned out to
be quite important was slating
our last night in a location that
would give us some serenity and
rest, yet special enough to mark
the closing of this epic journey.
We kept a hectic pace the
whole 16 days of vacation and
I felt we would need this one
special night to downshift and
slide back into real life.
I think I accomplished
that objective with a stay Lava
Gang on the last day at Lava Mountain.
Mountain Lodge 18 miles
found this little place on the top of the
outside of Dubois, Wyo.
mountain.
We were exhausted and more than
a little road weary after 16 days on the
move. All we wanted was good food,
The best of the best
comfortable beds, friendly staff and
Imagine: Two weeks on the road with
restful, quiet and beautiful surroundings
continuous amazing motorcycle riding,
to aid the transition from a vacation state
great food, good motels, and unsurpassed
of mind to the real world that waited for
scenery we got to share with such
us tomorrow.
wonderful people, greatly enhancing the
We sat on redwood patio looking out
experience.
over the mountains, sipping wine and
There is only one thing that could have
sharing vacation memories.
made the experience even better.
Our peaceful respite continued
Next time I will ride my own bike!
through the most amazing prime rib
Though I loved riding with my
supper.
hubby and it was a positive experience, I
We then adjourned to our rooms
honestly didn’t think it would bother me
(which by the way are situated so that we
as much as it did to not be riding my own
could pull our bikes right up to the door), bike. Lesson learned. I love to ride and
and continued to visit our last night away
riding enhances every experience, even
on the adjoining front porches.
vacation.
It was an amazing way to end our
Get ready Glitter, next time you come
vacation and I feel fortunate to have
with me!
Events Calendar
National - 2013
• Aug. 5-11 - 73rd Annual Sturgis
Motorcycle Rally, Sturgis, So. Dak.,
<sturgismotorcyclerally.com>
National - 2014
• Feb. 28-March 9 - Daytona Bike Week,
Daytona Beach, Fla.,
<officialbikeweek.com>
• April 23-27 - Laughlin River Run,
Laughlin, Nev., <laughlinriverrun.com>
• June 14-22 - Laconia Motorcycle Week,
Laconia, New Hampshire,
<laconiamcweek.com>
• June 16 - Ride Your Motorcycle To Work
Day, <ridetowork.org>
• Aug. 4-10 - 74th Annual Sturgis
Motorcycle Rally, Sturgis, So. Dak.,
<sturgismotorcyclerally.com>
Alberta
• Sept. 8 - RMS Swap Meet, Millarville,
Millarville race track, Hwy. 549 W & 192
St. W, <[email protected]>
• Sept. 14-15 - Fall Classic Race, Thorhild,
<avfta.ca>
2014
• Jan. 10-12 - Calgary Motorcycle Show,
Calgary, BMO Centre, Stampede Park,
Laurie Paetz, 403-245-9008,
<[email protected]>,
<calgarymotorcycleshow.ca>
British Columbia
• Sept. 14-15 - Port Alberni Toy Run, Port
Alberni, Little Qualicum Falls,
250-731-4728, <[email protected]>,
<members.shaw.ca/toyrun>
2014
• Jan. 17-19 - Edmonton Motorcycle &
ATV Show, Northlands, Edmonton
Expo Centre, Laurie Paetz, 403-245-9008,
<[email protected]>,
<edmontonmotorcycleshow.com>
• Jan. 24-26 - Vancouver Motorcycle Show,
Abbotsford, Trade & Exhibition Centre,
Laurie Paetz, 403-245-9008,
<[email protected]>,
<vancouvermotorcycleshow.com>
Idaho
• Sept. 13-15 - Big Nasty Hill Climb,
35 miles NW of Boise, 208-573-4255,
<[email protected]>,
<bignastyhillclimb.com>
• Nov. 9 - Geico AMA EnduroCross,
Nampa, 16200 N. Idaho Center Blvd.,
817-243-9515, <endurocross.com>
<[email protected]>,
Montana
• Sept. 14 - MC Swap Meet, Missoula,
Grizzly H-D, 5106 E. Harrier,
406-721-2154, <grizzlyhd.com>
Washington
• Sept. 8 - Puget Sound Ride For Kids,
Carnation, Remlinger Farms,
32610 NE 32nd St.,1-800-253-6530,
<pbtfus.org/rideforkids/events/2013/
puget-sound>, <[email protected]>
• Sept. 8 - Union Ride and Charity Rally,
Suquamish, Patrick Town, 206-406-8139,
<[email protected]>,
<unionionhomebenefit.com>
• Sept. 22 - Oyster Run, Anacortes, 12th
and Commercial, 360-435-9103,
<oysterrun.org>, <[email protected]>
• Oct. 20 - Halloween Swap Meet, Spokane
Humane Society, 509-294-1249,
[email protected]>,
<nwclassicmotorcycleclub.com>
• Nov. 11 - Veterans Day parade, Oak
Harbor, Pioneer Way, Terry Lacey,
360-240-1125, <ohvetdayparade.com>,
<[email protected]>
2014
• Feb. 14-16 - Seattle International
Motorcycle Show, Washington State
Convention Center, 800 Convention
Place, <motorcycleshows.com/Seattle>.
• March 14-16 - Inland NW MC Show,
Spokane, Spokane Co. Fair & Expos
Center, Chris Cody, 509-220-4147,
<[email protected]>,
<spokanemotorcycleshow.com>
Wyoming
• Sept. 18 - Ladies of Harley Ride,
Cheyenne, High Country Motorsports,
3320 E. Lincolnway, 888-638-8307
• Sept. 21 - Leaf Peepin’ Ride to Estes,
Cheyenne, High Country Motorsports,
3320 E. Lincolnway, 888-638-8307
To have your event listed here for free, send the information to Dani Rollison at <[email protected]>. We only can list the days(s) and
name of the event, the city and location of the event, a contact person’s name, e-mail address, phone number or web address.
Northern Rockies Rider - 28
Honda Fury
corner you come to.
This is one of the most
fun bikes that I’ve ever
from page 17 ridden. It’s not fast but if
you want an interesting
do. The steering at higher speed is neutral looking motorcycle for
weekend cruising or just
with no surprises and there is good
running around town
overall feeling of stability.
doing errands, this would
But there’s not a lot ground clearance
not be a bad choice.
with that low-slung frame and you can
Here’s what’s bad:
drag your pegs, even in modest corners if
­– You’ll get a lot of
you push a little too hard.
attention riding this bike
Over 50 mph the Fury feels planted
and may have
to put up with
people asking
you all the time A bike can’t be all show and no go. Here’s the seat
if the Fury
reworked by Mean City Cycles.
is a Harleythe cheaper 10-pound factory foam with
Davidson.
22-pound memory gel foam. Hospitals
– Honda had to make
some cost savings and there’s only use 15-pound foam in their softest
abundant use of plastics
(front and rear fenders for
example) and chromed
plastic on the engine header
covers, but they are very easy
to clean and look nice. Most
people never suspect they are
plastic, and I clean & polish
The Fury ain’t no canyon carver but it makes for
her weekly in less then one
an excellent cruiser platform. Mount Ranier in the
hour.
background.
– The small gas tank is a
sacrifice in practicality for
the chopper look. While the Fury’s tank
on the road and with the five-speed
is nicely executed and suits the overall
transmission and shaft drive it rides as
“custom” feel, at 3.2-gallons you’ll have
smoothly and as seamlessly as you would
to make frequent visits to the gas station.
expect from any Honda cruiser.
I however, do not find this to be a major
No problems either with that big
problem.
fat 200mm Dunlop rear tire. I have
– The stock seat is adequate for an
13,000 miles on mine and expect to get
average
height and weight rider, but
another 2.000-3,000 more out of it. The
for
someone
six feet or more and over
big tire looks great and handles the road
190 pounds, you might want to look
well and enhances the rear suspension
into getting a custom Mean City Cycle
performance.
Saddle like I did. This company and their
This may not be a bike you would
want to do 500 or 1,000 miles on in a day. customized seats are plain awesome
(<http://www.meancitycycles.com>).
It’s a cruiser, a bar hopper, a weekend
They offer custom seat modifications
rider, whatever you want to call it. But
to
make
motorcycles as comfortable as
above all it’s a bike to get on the road and
possible without breaking the bank to do
have some fun with. I have no problem
so. They remove the OEM seat and reriding 300 to 500 miles on the Fury on
shape the foam to be more comfortable.
weekends.
Most standard seats have a lot of
Most custom choppers look
extraordinary but ride appallingly. Not so foam in them but nevertheless can be
uncomfortable.
with the Fury.
MCC modifications are inexpensive
Somehow Honda has managed to get
but offer the best seat to fit you
the balance right. You get the chopper
individually based on your size and your
looks and a lot of attention, but you also
bike.
get a motorcycle that cruises well, is
I had them do a gel pad and replace
predictable and won’t bite you at the first
Got a chopper? Then it needs bling
Velociraptor air induction system
Dave Hoffman, owner of the
which utilizes K & N filtering.
subject Fury, has been busy adding
Ah, Dave, you do know there’s no
custom bits. In addition to the seat, he’s
installed a Highway Hawk backrest,
end...?
Writer Dave Hoffman is a PhD in
Arlen Ness skeleton-hand mirrors and
astronomy and mathematics and lives
ultra bright deep-dish red L.E.D. tail/
at Soap Lake, Wash. He says, “I used
turn lights.
to be able to do...
He’s also added
Kuryakyn extending
many 500-1,000-plusmile weekends...on
“swing-wing” foot
my 1997 Valkyrie. I
pegs that fold up
and out of the way
even rode from Cody
through Yellowstone
when not needed.
Next were HID
to home (1,200 miles)
ultra bright white/
in one long day (never
again). I put 192,000
blue headlight
bulbs.
documented miles on
With the Cobra Chromed skeleton hands support her between 1997 and
the mirrors. Eye-catching, eh?
“Sweeps” after2002 but I totaled her
market exhaust, a
on Stevens Pass in
the rain (new tires). Two weeks later...
Power Commander fueling optimizer
I took off on a new 1997 red and white
was installed. A phat 240mm Dunlop
Valkyrie tourer for another 117,000 by
Elite III complements the newfound
2007.” He may be contacted at <dph@
power.
He says he’s got his eye on a
ifiber>.
September 2013
beds.
MCC was able to give me a seat with
more legroom and drop my seat height
a half-inch lower for only $115. You can
get one-day turn around not counting
shipping time.
Now instead of wanting to get off the
seat in 30 to 40 minutes of riding, I can
easily go in comfort until I run out of gas.
By the way, this is the third model of bike
and seat that I’ve had MCC’s Allen and
Chad give the same modification to.
Yes, I’ve tried them all – Corbin,
Ultimate, etc, etc. ­– and none compare in
price and comfort.
The Fury is, in my opinion, a real
production chopper that is fun to ride
and it is well worth the comparatively low
$13,000 price tag. There are a lot of bikes
that cost $15,000 and up that the Fury
will, and does, best in every way that you
could compare them.