NRR September 2014 - Northern Rockies Rider

Transcription

Serving Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, So. Dakota, B. C. and Alberta
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Northern Rockies Rider
Volume 3, Number 6 • September 2014 • A Continental Communications Publication • [email protected] • 406-498-3250
bigger, older, tamer than 32 years ago
From left, the author, Joe Moma, Tater and
Pappy, all old silvertips, at the Stoneville
Saloon in Alzada, Mont., about noon.
Sturgis is still a carnival and circus for about 10 days
every August. The best people watching in the world.
By Cole Boehler
Back in April, beer buddy and fellow
rider Joe Moma began bugging me to ride
with him to Sturgis. I told him I’d think
about it.
He kept it up and around the first of
May I told him I’d let him know within
30 days. I was waiting for some crisis to
intervene. None developed.
By the first of June I told him, “I’m in,”
and the stage was set for a reprise of my
last ride to Sturgis – 1982!
I often wind up leading group rides.
Not this time! I was going to be “JAFTR”
– “just along for the ride.”
I would take my cues from Joe who is
a two-decade veteran of the Sturgis scene.
Joining us would be another of our beer
buddies (Unnamed), as well as a friend
of Joe’s from over in the Beaverhead
Country, Tater.
Unnamed and I were to meet at
my place at 8 a.m., then ride over
Homestake Pass to hook up with
the other two at Whitehall. This was
Thursday, July 31. The official rally didn’t
actually begin until Monday, August 4.
The unofficial rally, however, was well
underway. Booming bikes had been
rolling past on I-90 for a couple of days.
At 7:30, as I fiddled with a few
details, Unnamed rolled into my
driveway...in his truck! He owns and
runs his own start-up business and said
final analysis of workloads, shipping
deadlines, pending requests-forproposals piled up on his desk, and
being short a hand, made him conclude
this trip had to be a no-go...30 minutes
before departure!
He made the right decision. Given
the circumstances, ridden with worry
and guilt, he would not have enjoyed
himself anyway.
See Sturgis, Page 2
From Kamloops,
the best riding
in B.C. is within
reach
Observed Trial
riding calls for
honed skills,
finesse, agility,
control
Page 8
Page 22
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Northern Rockies Rider - 2
September 2014
Sturgis
from page 1
We rendezvoused and headed
southeast toward the Black Hills, and
Sturgis at their northern fringe. Broadus,
Mont., 400 miles distant, was the night’s
terminus. We made it there in good order,
after observing a temperature sign in
Ashland that read 100 degrees.
We mostly used two-lane so the ride
through the rugged hills of southern
Montana was quite enjoyable.
As we pulled into the motel parking
lot, Joe was eyeing a ratty but potent
Harley already slotted in. “I think I know
that bike,” he said. “Washington plates... I
wonder if...”
The owner of the bike stepped out of
his room and Joe strode over. “Pappy!” he
yelled. “Damn good to see ya. It’s been...
what, six years?”
This scene was to repeat itself
throughout our Sturgis odyssey. Joe has
regular Sturgis cronies and he knows
where to find them.
Turns out Pappy is a real-deal biker
from Seattle who’d met Joe many years
ago, and the two had hooked up for the
ride to Sturgis several times. As soon as
we were settled in, and had a bite to eat,
the revelry began.
It was clear Tater and I could not keep
up... certainly not with the non-stop lines
of bullshit, and not with the beers and
spirits going down either. We called it
good around midnight, Joe and Pappy
nearer to closing time.
Understand, a certain discretion is
called for when a reporter is allowed to
accompany other riders to Sturgis. The
phrase, “off the record,” was heard with
ever increasing frequency.
One outfit owns all the Broadus
lodging. A pity. A little competition
might make them remember who they
run these businesses for.
Instead, guests are treated like
imbeciles and are tongue lashed if
they break any of the myriad rules.
Signs posted everywhere warn guests –
customers – of the rules and of reprisals
that will be levied for rule breaking.
Good grief, I thought I was back in
Catholic School with stern and mean
autocratic nuns running the show. A little
less time spent making and posting signs,
and more time spent cleaning, could
enhance the guest experience.
We only had 160 miles to run to
Sturgis, so took our time loading. Next
stop, the Stoneville Saloon in Alzada,
Mont., just a stone’s throw from the state
line.
We rolled in about 11 a.m. and
the joint was hopping. Pappy and Joe
resumed their two-man show of freeassociation rap, “smokin’ ana jokin’,”
flinging faux insults while easily mixing
with the other couple of hundred bikers.
They were rolling as steadily as their old
Harleys.
Between Tater’s, Joe’s and Pappy’s
bikes, their machines had notched a
combined 57 years of service. Well done!
Pappy peeled off at the Full Throttle
Saloon just outside Sturgis while
we proceeded to the Buffalo Chip
Campground where we’d spend the bulk
of our Sturgis experience.
We cruised the grounds. Joe knew
where he was going and was looking for
a choice spot, which he found for us in a
tents-only area, bordered by a creek. We
were only a couple of hundred yards from
thousands upon thousands of them –
minds: partying and having a
good time ... for about 10 days! while an unending and creeping stream
In that light, the deaths, tickets, of moving machines and riders navigated
the space that was left.
arrests and hospital visits are
The intensity of the commotion and
shockingly low.
noise was awe-inspiring but wearing. Las
The City of Sturgis
Vegas may be the only venue where the
deploys a substantial police
people watching is of comparable quality.
force comprised of mostly
Tater asked me what I noticed had
temporary officers from all
changed since I’d last been to the rally
over the country. Yet the
in 1982. I said, “Well, it’s a lot bigger.”
event remains extraordinarily
Then I realized another truth: “The age
orderly, far more so than back
demographic has really gone up, too.”
in the early 1980s anarchy.
There were people of every age, of
The
Buffalo
Chip,
on
the
Joe Moma getting his tent erection underway. We had a
course, but the vast bulk of them seemed
other hand, with perhaps
nice camp spot, only 250 yards from the flush toilets.
to be 40 to 60 – empty-nesters back into
70,000 on the grounds, has
the entrance to the amphitheater where
bikes, riding and rallies. But, ho, these
almost no police or security
most of the Big Names would perform.
“old farts” can party!
force presence. Yet not once – not once!
Joe kept saying, “Where are all
Vendors were everywhere
the people?” though it seemed to
including all the industry
me the place was already packed
heavyweights: bike makers and
with RVs, bikes, tents and humans.
those who make everything and
“Hmmm,” he said, “looks like a down
anything for bikes and riders.
year. Maybe folks are waiting for
Harley-Davidson had their
the 75th anniversary next year.” Of
new electric bike there and it drew
course, within the next 48 hours, the
a lot of interest. We’d read of it
population of the place seemed to
and apparently this is a clear leap
triple...at least.
forward for practical electric bikes.
Derision toward the “wimps” who
Indian was showing off their new
trailered their bikes to the Black Hills
hardware. Give this company credit
was encouraged by the “hard cores”
The Buffalo Chip is in reality a self-contained city of 70,000 for charging ahead with virtually no
who actually rode theirs. One T-shirt with, yes, a laundry service.
said, “Nice Trailer Pussy!” Another
exclaimed, “I Rode Mine To Trailer
– did I witness an altercation
Week.”
– physical or verbal – of any
The scope and scale of the Sturgis
kind!
Rally must be witnessed. There is simply
Here you have tens of
no other way to fathom what actually
thousands of folks, most of
happens there. Experts at estimating
them drinking and carrying
crowds calculate around 500,000 people
on, plenty of opportunity for
in attendance.
relationship friction...and no
In 2013: Garbage collected - 594
trouble? Go figure! What does
tons; state sales tax collected - $480,000;
this mean?
vendor licenses issued in Sturgis and
I think it means people
Meade County - 964; Sturgis vendor
are here for a good time, not
taxable sales - $12 million; Sturgis vendor trouble. Universally people
H-D’s new e-bike on display at Sturgis. It doesn’t go potatofees - $323,000; marriage licenses issued
were in a good mood, smiling, potato...; more like a turbine spooling up.
- 71.
having fun.
On the downside: Rally related
It may also imply that it is understood track record behind. They are evidently
highway deaths - 6; Sturgis parking
confident of success and have the
trouble will not be tolerated – by the
tickets - 140; felony drug arrests - 8;
financial might behind them to pursue it.
participants themselves. Is this a selfmisdemeanor drug arrests - 40; arrests
They bracketed their existing line-up
policing venue? It would seem so.
for non-traffic violations - 185; traffic
with the new top-of-the-line Roadmaster,
Remarkable.
violations - 150; jailed in Meade County
starting at $26,999, and the “entry level”
We rode into the Sturgis zoo on
- 412; calls for sheriff services - 864;
Scout, listed at just $10,999.
Sunday and it was much the same
emergency room visits - 317.
More interesting to me was the Scout
as I remembered: rows and rows of
These figures may be shocking, but put motorcycles parked on both sides and
since it features a first-for-Indian liquid
them in context: this is a “city” of a halfcooled over-square 69-inch V-twin,
down the middle of the main drag,
million folks who have one thing on their and now filling the side-streets, too –
See Sturgis, Page 3
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You need both.
GPS is terrific for telling you where you are . . . and where you’ve been. But
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Butler Maps fills in where your GPS falls short. We show you every great
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September 2014
Sturgis
entertainment for
Friday, Saturday and
Sunday: $178. Prices
from page 2 for 2014 went off the
Chip website as soon as
the rally was over, but
dual overhead cams and four valves per
I believe I saw prices
cylinder, with a claimed output of 100
exceeding $100 a day,
HP and 72 pounds of torque through
depending upon the
a six-speed. This in a 558-pound “wet”
entertainment
line-up.
Of course
packages were
available and
pre-paying
will save
money.
I’d love
to just once
get a look at
that outfit’s
financials.
These
fees cover
admission
Tater seemed mildly interested in Indian’s game-changer
to whatever
Scout. The editor was fascinated.
music is on
The Cult, warming up the crowd for Queensryche. Yes, they do allow attendees to drive into the concert grounds on
hand that day, their bikes, and applaud with their exhausts. For the big show after dark, figure 5,000 bikes and 20,000 folks on the
mostly bands that were
package. That’s a recipe for serious scoot.
infield. It’s mayhem when the show is over.
big in the 1970s and
They haven’t even been producing
wouldn’t take mine through there,” he
which is scary.
1980s that apparently
bikes for a year yet! Talk about throwing
said emphatically.
Essentially,
we
were
only
there
for
the
still enjoy a strong following with certain
down the gauntlet!
Going back around would add 70
beginning of the rally. As we headed west
demographics. Most of these were guitar
There seemed to be a million T-shirts
miles or so and at least an hour delay.
and homeward the river of bikes heading
bands whose players had very much
for sale, and there probably actually was.
Hell with that, let’s go!
toward Sturgis was non-stop. It only
hair – do the follicley-challenged acquire
We noted last year’s rally shirts could be
That was the perhaps the least
thinned
when
we
were
several
hundred
wigs?
had four-for-$20. This year’s were $25
adventurous construction we’d ever
miles out.
You can also rent a wet or dry RV
and north of there....but would surely go
ridden through. Wet, yes; made a mess of
We took our time packing, then
space ($199-$600), or actually rent an
on sale as the rally wound down.
the bikes, nothing soft, slick, gooey or the
grabbed
a
leisurely
breakfast
in
Spearfish
RV ($1,200 for a pop-up to
least bit challenging. What planet was this
before
heading
for
Sheridan,
Wyo.
We
$2,550 for a hard-side) or cabin
guy from?
donned rain suits at Dayton (except Joe,
($1,650 to $1,750). It’s $40 to
whose suit sat where he
empty your septic tanks once,
forgot it at home) before
$95 for four dumps, or rent a
heading for the summit
porta-potty for your site for
of the Big Horns at 9,000
$250. Golf carts can be rented
feet. Down the west slope
for $280 to $770.
There are some flush toilets, and we settled in at a nice,
clean motel in Lovell, not
free and pay showers, food,
Sale Priced
an admonishing sign posted
beverage and merchandise
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headed
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Scenic Byway and
Tater’s had enough, packed up, headin’ home. But he said
Above: Yep, that’s four big H-D mills crammed
How
yearto
fororder:
the 75th anniversary!
Beartooth Highway he’s going back next
into that frame. At right: “I took this little pill
• E-mail: <[email protected]>
and the next thing I knew, I had painted my
due to probable rain
• Phone us: 406-498-3250 (for shipping information outside of U.S.)
bike!” Below right: “When I tried it again, I
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914 Holmes
59701 to
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andButte,
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set a spell and enjoy
refreshments. I had
Bear Creek for a fine
breakfast,
paint, but what’s with that big bicycle hoop
a hankering
to push
home so we split up
once again, at the Hungry Bear. Included
with book
purchase:
on the back?
and
made
our
separate
ways.
Curiously, when we
reached
Free copy of “Top Tours” magazine, most
recent issue
I
would
agree
with
Tater
and Joe:
the
couple
miles
of
construction
Everything was
of Northern Rockies Rider, and Montana Highway
Map.
Maybe
the
ride
to
and
from
the rally is
just
before
Absarokee,
the
expensive. Bottled water
best part.
flagman advised in strong terms
FREE
- $3, though some with a
Don’t
Miss
a motorcycles
Single Issue... Haven’t seenNorthern
either ofRockies
them since,
as
against
taking
Rider
conscience were offering
we
were
all
backed
up
at
our
jobs.
through.
It
had
been
raining
for
about
an
it at $1; a hamburger
The Lochsa...
We will soon, though, and
that’s
when
hour, he said.
One of the
top three routes
in
approaching $10; beer
the U.S.? Most would agree
If you would like direct home mail delivery, send your name,
weand
can begin swapping the stories and
“It’s
really
greasy.
We hadnumber,
two bikes
mailing
address,
telephone
e-mail address
- $5. At “The Chip,” we
$25 to: Northern
Rockies
Rider,
914 and
Holmes
MT
memories
from another Sturgis Rally.
go down
yesterday.
I have
a bike
I Ave., Butte,
paid $15.50 for a flimsy
59701, or contact us at <[email protected]>. Canadian
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styrofoam cooler and a bag
Black Hills Motorcycle Show draws near 2,000
of ice.
Features 20 top routes reviewed
We paid for Buffalo
in Northern Rockies Rider.
Chip camping and
$29.95
First Edition
ve Guide to
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Volume 2, Number 2 • May 2013 • A Continental Communications Publication • [email protected] • 406-498-3250
150 miles of curves, good pavement, magnificent scenery
By Cole Boehler
It was already greening up when this idyllic U.S. 12 scene was captured April 3 this year.
Dani Rollison-Collins photo.
By Dottie Rankin
NR Rider Wyoming correspondent
Northern Roc
2014-2015
$3.95
Top Tours
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20 favorite mo
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Take one home!
For dedicated riders there is something
compelling about a motorcycle show,
and there is something magnetic about
the Black Hills, so when you combine a
motorcycle show with the Black Hills you
can’t resist going.
April 13-14 was the 25th Anniversary
of the Black Hills Motorcycle Show.
It promised to be the region’s premier
display of iron artwork under the roof
of Rapid City’s Rushmore Plaza Civic
Center. Highlighted were the “original and
nostalgic” as well as the “contemporary
and cutting-edge” motorcycles.
The Black Hills Motorcycle Show
was conducted in Barnett Arena at the
Perhaps the most famous and
most photographed highway sign
in motorcycling is posted just a
mile east of Lowell, Idaho. It is
along the Lolo Pass-Lochsa River
route on U.S. Hwy 12. It says,
“WINDING ROAD NEXT 77
MILES.”
I first posed there for a photo
in the late 1980s. Over the years
a bunch of friends have also
had pictures taken with their
machines and the sign in the
background. Years later those
pictures evoke powerful and crystal
clear memories of the epic rides that
ensued.
That sign designates what most
regard to be one of the three best
motorcycle roads in the U.S. It is known
as U.S. 12, Lolo Pass or “The Lochsa.”
This incredible route traverses 28
miles of Montana and, depending upon
what you regard as the Idaho end – in
our case, Orofino – another 135 miles
of superb mountain riding down the
Lochsa (pronounced like “lock-saw”)
and Clearwater River Valleys.
By the way, a few years ago we
Top Tours
www.northernrockiesrider.com
2013-2014
$3.95
Top Tours
Favorite motorcycle routes
as featured in
Dakota
> British Columbia > South
> Washington
> Idaho
> Wyoming
> Montana
See Black Hills, Page 2
riding and the show.
Enjoy first edition of ‘Top Tours’!
To our wonderful Northern Rockies Rider distributors
and readers: This issue carries our first annual edition of
“Top Tours” magazine. We hope you enjoy it.
NR Rider distributors may sell the magazine at the $3.95
cover price, or for a lesser sale price, or may simply give it
to their best customers as a way of showing appreciation.
Please note the “Top Tours” supporting advertisers:
they purchased a presence in the magazine because they
cater to riders and want more of them through their doors.
That, in itself, is a good reason to patronize these fine
businesses.
We promised we would print 5,000 copies, a reasonable
amount when the project was first conceived. Because
of growing demand, we wound up printing 6,750, a 35
percent circulation bonus for advertisers! You’re welcome.
We are already planning our 2014 edition of “Top
Tours.” With the increased distribution, the 2013 rates
cannot remain in place, but we will maintain them until
July 1 this year. Book your space now for next year at this
year’s low rates.
Change service requested: 914 Holmes Ave., Butte, MT 59701
PRSRT STD
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vendors galore.
Joe told me, “Bring $500
cash and your credit cards.” I
took his advice and returned
home with some bills still
in my wallet. But I did not
purchase any souvenirs or
merchandise, either. Still
haven’t seen the credit card bill,
See Lochsa, Page 8
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center located
in the heart of downtown Rapid
City, right next door to the Journey
Museum.
Show hours were from 9 a.m. to 7
p.m. Sat., April 13 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sun., April 14. Awards were presented
at 3 p.m. Sunday. It was estimated just
under 2,000 enthusiasts attended the
show.
There were 25 classes of
motorcycles and awards went to
first, second and third place in each
category. The most sought after award
was the Best of Show Award which
was voted by those attending the
show.
The 36 vendors lined all four
Black Hills Motorcycle Show’s 25th Anniversary was an appropriate celebration of
Axmaker:
It’s all about
Corner Control
Culture Clash?
‘Odd Couple’
initiates cultural
exchange
Page 15
Page 22
• 6,750 copies in print on glossy
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ockiesrider.com
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• This one is a “keeper” that will be
savored, shared and saved by riders
• Comprehensive review of our
area’s extraordinary motorcycle
touring routes: British Columbia,
Idaho, Montana, South Dakota,
Washington & Wyoming
Editorial
Opinion
September 2014
Those who do not ride admire, or disdain, those who do
By Cole Boehler
Editor and Publisher
What is a “motorcyclist” or “biker” or
“rider”? Obviously, anyone who rides a
motorcycle.
Who is a motorcyclist or biker or
rider? What characteristics define this
species?
This one is a little trickier.
First, a rider is a person who enjoys
the outdoors. That’s self obvious. Their
is no “inside” when it comes to riding a
motorcycle.
True, there are plenty of fair weather
riders, but the more serious are
prepared to ride relatively comfortably
in almost any conditions.
We are acutely conscious of
air temperature, humidity, wind,
precipitation, smells, wildlife, and
scenery. We are attuned to all else
in our environment, particularly other
moving bodies and objects in our
vicinity.
A rider enjoys mechanical
propulsion and often, as an extension,
things that are mechanical, particularly
internal combustion engines, the
mechanical systems that convert fuel
and air into rotation and ultimately
motion.
We also are attuned to the visceral
feel of the machines, the sensations
such as vibrations and sounds and
smells they produce, the feedback they
transmit from the road surface.
Many of us also appreciate the form
and style that constitute how these
mechanical systems are packaged;
their visual appeal – utilitarian, sporty,
classy, classic, luxurious, highly
purposed, rolling art.
Motorcyclists ride mostly for the
pleasure of it – moving your body
through open space. Some, though,
ride for practical reasons: it can be
economical and fun transportation.
Still others ride competitively, to
go faster on closed road courses, dirt
ovals or in straight lines, or fast, or
slow and with great finesse, through
obstacle courses.
Some ride to get to remote places
few others will ever see. Others ride
to test their – and their machine’s –
endurance, covering thousands of
miles in a few days.
To truly enjoy motorcycling, a
participant must be a risk taker to some
degree, though many riders focus on
minimizing risks. Motorcycling can be
dangerous and is far more dangerous
than driving a car.
This willingness to accept risk, even
thrive on it, sets riders apart from the
vast majority of the population, which is
risk averse.
Motorcyclists are adventurous, for
there is no true adventure without a
present element of risk. These factors
make us truly alive!
Many of us are explorers as we cast
our riding net wider and wider seeking
new roads, communities, places,
people and experiences.
Motorcycle riders must appreciate
developing certain skills where body
and machine will function as one unit;
where reflexes and muscle memory
come into play more often than
conscious thought.
We are serious students of road
conditions: surface quality and width,
available traction, corner radius and
camber, debris and other hazards.
Riders enjoy the sensations
experienced when the forces of gravity
work upon our bodies, pulling and
pushing us up and down and side
to side. Some other humans merely
become ill when they experience these
forces.
Serious students of motorcycling
are enamored of the cerebral aspects
of doing it well, understanding the
physics of how these machines work
and handle, what physical laws are in
play when calculating available traction
and executing a turn well given the
lateral G-forces related to centrifugal
force and inertia; how to maximize
traction with optimal tires and air
pressures and suspension settings.
It becomes a science and we are
motorcycle scientists...well, maybe just
scholars.
All the above characteristics
combine to make riders more outgoing
and social than most. Non-riders
seem to understand this so find it
easy to approach bikers to initiate
conversation. We experience this
continuously.
Ninety-eight percent of the
population does not ride. The 98
percent have reactions regarding
we 2 percent, even though they lack
fundamental understanding.
They recognize our skill and
reflexes, willingness to accept risk,
our adventurousness, mechanical
aptitudes, hardiness, independence
and love of “the freedom of the road.”
In many cases, the 98 percent itself
does not have these qualities.
Thus, we may earn their respect...
or disdain.
Many people who do not possess
these traits are in fact envious of
those who do. But envy is difficult
to acknowledge. It is far easier to
transmute envy to derision.
“Motorcycle riders are crazy and/
or stupid. They ride ‘murder-cycles’
and ‘donor-cycles.’ Ha ha, bugs in your
teeth. Ignorant thugs who brawl, deal
drugs, mistreat women, get drunk and
crash; a social burden for their accident
costs; anathema to the peace-loving,
responsible, intelligent citizenry. They
are dangerous and therefore scary.
Never let your daughter date one.”
Others who are more secure find
motorcyclists interesting.
“Uh, I’d never do it but I admire
those who do. I wish I had the personal
attributes required to do that and do it
well.”
I know these people. I have met
and conversed with hundreds of them.
These are the ones who approach
when we are stopped and start asking
questions.
“Where ya from? Where ya going?
How comfortable is that? What kind of
gas mileage do ya get? What make is
that? Is it expensive? Is it fast? Can
you haul a passenger and gear? How
long ya been doing this? What do ya
do when it rains (or gets cold, dark,
etc.)?”
You know what’s going on in the
back of their heads... “I wonder...really
wonder...if I have what it takes to do
that. Man, that looks like such pure fun!
Just get out there on the road on a bike
and head for the horizon... ‘Easy Rider.’
‘Then Came Bronson.’
“Such freedom! I know the old lady
(or old man, kids, parents) would be
a real obstacle... And it’s not really
a responsible thing to do... But, just
once... Sometimes I wish I could break
out of this ‘straight’ life. What would
my co-workers think?; either that I’m a
free spirit or crazy... Maybe I’ll stop by
the local dealer this week... Naw, hell!
What am I thinking?!”
The 98 percent will continue to think
of us what they will. We 2 percent will
feel sorry (or not!) for the 98 percent
who do not get it.
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. Collins-Rollison
<[email protected]> 406-490-8472
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If you would like direct home mail delivery, send your name, mailing address,
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at <[email protected]>. Back issues are available for $5.
Postmaster: Please send address change requests to Northern Rockies Rider,
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All rights reserved by the publisher
September 2014
Personal column
Opinion
The ultimate spectacle, Sturgis must be experienced to be believed
By Cole Boehler
out Sturgis, though, with up to 3.5
million attending.
I think the bikers at Sturgis are
more reasonable and behave with
more common sense. There has
never been a Sturgis stampede,
such as the one that killed 1,426 hajj
pilgrims in Mecca in 1990, though
annually five or 10 bikers will die in
Black Hills crashes during the rally.
on her bikini bottom: “Get
me drunk, then we’ll see...”
I like things taken to the ultimate –
Yes, the Sturgis Rally is
maybe ridiculous – extreme.
centered in Sturgis, S.D.,
That’s why I like the idea, and
but actually encompasses
spectacle, of a 9,000-horsepower
all of the Black Hills area
top-fuel dragster launching for a
and even beyond. A half3.7-second 300-meter run WFO,
million or so folks descend
getting to 100 MPH in .8 seconds.
on the Hills in early August
Unlimited 3,000-horsepower, 200
and overwhelm the area
for close to 10 days. The
population of the state
doubles during this time.
Almost unfathomable...
unless you’ve been there.
I attended the Sturgis
Rally in 1980 and again
in 1982. It was a “small”
event then, just a couple
hundred thousand folks
and perhaps 150,000
bikes. It is three times
the size today. There are
literally bikes and people
everywhere. You cannot
escape the mayhem, a
hard adjustment for a
Montana boy whose home
state hosts just six people
Symphony Tidwell of the Living Deads, a talented and
per square mile.
entertaining maniac.
I recollect there was
more openly outrageous
rhythm and added worthy vocalese.
From left, Tom “Tater” Bloksie, Joe “Moma” Suzor and the author, after breakfast at Bear Creek
– and lawless – behavior back in the
But it was the bass player –
on the return leg.
early 80s. Much more nudity and
a flamboyant female in fishnet
inebriation. I saw more bare breasts
stockings, school-girl skirt, blue hair
MPH-plus hydroplanes, or landSpeaking of thunder and
in an hour back then than I did during and monster eyelashes – who stole
speed racers who break the sound
horsepower, I heard what must have
my three days at the 2014 rally.
the show. Not only an accomplished
barrier, are as inspiring.
been a couple thousand big-inch
See, like all things successful,
wash-tub-type bass slapper and
Some military hardware handled
H-D twins revving near the limiters
the rally has been co-opted by
singer, she was a performer! Just
well has this effect. Those of you who in appreciation of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s
commercial interests, not necessarily a mass of pure energy in human
have witnessed the Blue Angels or
“Free Bird” encore at the Buffalo
a bad thing, but with the implication
form, all over the stage with the
Thunderbirds know what I am talking
Chip campground August 3. That’s
that, rather than anarchy, more order
upright acoustic (green) bass in tow,
about.
something no one would ever forget!
and respectability will prevail. In
sometimes almost her surrogate lover
For the same reasons, I always
...the ridiculous extreme.
2014, women who dared bare their
– an abused one, perhaps, as she
yearned to see a Space Shuttle
I would guess there were 20,000
breasts were promptly treated to a
beat the shit out of that thing.
launch; talk about horsepower! My
people along with 5,000 motorcycles
citation or, at best, a stern warning.
If you enjoy raw rock-a-billy –
first look at an SR-71 Blackbird
(4,999 of them H-D, one Gold Wing)
I attended with a couple of Sturgis/ maybe psycho-billy – I urge readers
produced a similar thrill.
on the concert grounds infield.
Buffalo Chip regular veterans. Yup,
to check them out. I caught their
GP motorcycle racers who touch
Another guess: 30 percent were
tolerant H-D guys. That helped
show twice.
the tarmac with their elbow at a 160
females, 69.9percent males and .1
with the socializing and learning
Another speck of Buffalo Chip
miles-per-hour full lean astound me.
percent questionable.
the ropes. Just navigating the
musical gold was a band of young
I even appreciate it when nature
Just how many people, tents,
campground and Sturgis area entails
men out of Oklahoma City called
puts on a full-throttle
a steep learning curve.
Nicnos (strange name). While
demonstration: wind, rain,
I had no H-D emblem on my
performing a number of original
hail, lightning, thunder,
person or bike. I had no tattoos. compositions, they also paid (and
forest fires, floods,
I was not warmly embraced, but played) homage to rock classics –
earthquakes, volcanoes...
neither was I shunned; merely
songs and musicians.
Nothing man can do, with
treated with indifference, and
Guitar (Gibson SG), bass, drums,
the possible exception of
that was okay, how it should be, violin (fiddle?) and a vocalist, all
detonating a 150-megaton
and welcome.
highly accomplished even as they
nuclear warhead and
Like gold miners of old, it
have yet to pass their 25th birthdays.
flattening one-third of
is tempting to seek that big
Tight, fine players who also put on a
the Earth’s surface, can
nugget, rather than thousands
show with their stage antics – plenty
compare to a good nature
of tiny flakes. There was plenty
of movement and feeling.
show.
of Big Name entertainment
Each and every one impressed,
In this pursuit of ultimate
and, like a big nugget, these
but particularly the drummer. He was
extremes, in the world of
were a valuable entertainment
busy, in a tasteful way, and used
motorcycle rallies there
commodity: Loverboy, Cheap
heavy strokes. He drove the rhythm
is just one ultimate: The
Trick, Skynyrd, ZZ Top,
with sharp and forceful percussion. I
Sturgis Motor Classic, run
Zac Brown, John Mayall,
was reminded of Ginger Baker and
for 74 consecutive years.
Queensryche, Motley Crue,
Keith Moon, and asked afterward if
The author’s “un-Harley,” one of several that made an appearance
It still gains momentum
Alice Cooper, Buckcherry and
these had influenced him. He said
at Sturgis. Tank bag, side panniers, top box, then add bag chair,
and some speculate next
yes, and John Bonham, too. Of
pillow, blanket and sleeping bag, tent and tarp with poles and rope many more.
year – the 75th anniversary for shade.
Ah, but collect enough
course.
– will supersede all other
little flakes and you’ll have an
I sought out this band twice, too.
years. That could mean well over
motorcycles and RVs can be
equally rich experience.
I like these upstart acts, maybe
600,000 folks, perhaps 400,000
crammed into 580 acres? Impossible
I was flat floored by a rock-a-billy
because they lack the polish and
bikes, in attendance. By comparison,
to say, but I’d estimate 5,000 RVs,
outfit called Living Deads. Just a trio
slick production of the old-school
the Indy 500 may draw 400,000 and
35,000 tents, 45,000 bikes and
– guitar, drums, bass – they amped
rockers who’ve been doing the same
that’s only for a couple of days, about 70,000 people.
up the crowd with their raucous,
set – with plenty of money behind
the same as Woodstock in 1969.
This is not a “family” venue. Leave frantic performance. The guitarist is
them – for three or four decades. The
The Islamic hajj to Mecca (the
the kids at home. I saw one scantily
a fine Telecaster player and singer,
big names play their shows by rote.
comparisons are irresistible) beats
clad young thang with this imprinted
while the percussionist drove the
See Spectacle, Page 6
Guest Editorial
Opinion
September 2014
Not sure you need to hire an attorney? Consult with one for free
By Charles T. “Chuck” Conrad
Attorney, Spokane
least two attorneys before hiring a
lawyer.
How do I decide which attorney I
When should I hire an attorney?
should hire?
You want an attorney who
I believe this is the wrong question.
specializes in injury cases. For
The question should be, “When
example, you should not hire an
should I consult with an attorney?”
attorney
Consulting
with an attorney
who mostly
handles
and hiring an
divorces
attorney are two
Charles “Chuck” Conrad
different things.
or criminal
Guest Columnist
Most lawyers
law. I
who specialize
would want
an attorney
in injury cases
who only
will meet with a
prospective client
handles
injury cases.
without charge. The general rule is a
Serious injury cases are legally
consulting appointment is free.
The more serious the accident
– and medically – complex and
and the more severely a motorcyclist
insurance companies tend to fight
is injured, the greater the need to
these cases every step of the way,
mostly because of the potential for
consult with an attorney.
large losses.
Some accidents are life-altering
events where the motorcyclist and/
Once you have consulted with
two attorneys who specialize in injury
or passenger will never fully recover
cases, how do you decide which one
from their injuries. With severe
to hire?
injuries, you should consult with at
The answer is “the one you trust.”
You trust your doctor and you must
trust your attorney. If an attorney
“does not feel right,” don’t hire him
or her. There will come a time when
your attorney will advise you to either
settle or go to court. You must have
complete trust the attorney’s advice is
sound and in your best interest.
Never hire an attorney solely
because he or she has the most spiffy
office or wears a designer suit. You
are hiring the attorney, not their office
space or their apparel. However, if
an attorney does not have enough
pride to maintain a professional
deportment, you may want to look
elsewhere.
I think the easiest way to decide
which attorney you hire is the same
way you decide which doctor will be
your family physician.
My doctor has the following
characteristics:
– He is board certified in family
medicine
– He dresses appropriately
– He takes the time to listen to me
– He is interested in my welfare
– He is responsive when we need
to consult
– Most importantly, I trust his
advice.
– His office is clean and
appropriately furnished
– His staff is courteous
I believe you want the same
characteristics in your attorney.
Remember, you can consult with
an attorney for free. My question
is, “Then why wouldn’t you see an
attorney before you decide to handle
your case on your own?”
Ride Safe.
The preceding may deal with general
legal concepts. It is not legal advice.
A person should always contact his/
her attorney for specific legal advice.
However, motorcyclists need to be
alert to these important matters,
which should be further evaluated
with an attorney and insurance agent.
Charles Conrad can be reached at
509-924-4825. His web address is
<www.lawshark.com>.
Old School
Let us be guided by spirit, not driven by ego
By Steve Kelley
NR Rider Columnist
motorcycle culture than this phenomenon. I mean
anything – anything – you can imagine, and a whole
lot more, shows up there.
“What’s puzzlin’ you is the nature of my game,”
My wife has papered our fridge door with a
Mick Jagger sang in the rock-and-roll anthem
plethora of stuff for years.
“Sympathy for the Devil.”
Among the
That little fridge quote just colored
many layers
all the personal Sturgis posts I looked
of photos of
at. It seemed to be a fine line between
grandkids
spirit and ego for some; it was hard to
and family are
Steve “Big Daddy” Kelley
call. But some were obviously all about
motivational
NR Rider Columnist
quotes aimed at
their place in the show.
To me, the spirit of motorcycling is
keeping us (me)
freedom. That’s a wide open subject
on track.
and thus hard to define, just like most
One of them
of us.
caught my eye
as I was going for a PBR yesterday. It said, “Be
It is mainly, and this time I quote Popeye, “I am
what I am and that’s all that I am.”
guided by spirit, not driven by ego.” It stuck with me
So I don’t give a rat’s ass what anybody thinks of
for some reason, like a jingle you can’t get out your
head.
my lifestyle. And frankly, I won’t give much thought
As the media coverage of Sturgis bombarded the to theirs.
That’s pretty much old school doctrine. The pure
social sites this week, the little quote stuck in my
fun of building a bike, or riding someplace totally
brain began to surface as I perused all the photos
new, and the experience of being one with the
and videos. I can’t imagine a bigger Mecca for
Spectacle
from page 5
Those working to break out, on the
other hand, play their butts off and
guts out while they learn and grow
and mature.
The Sturgis Rally simply must be
experienced for anyone to appreciate
what a true spectacle this all is. And
if you want to see it in full flower,
plan to go next year, the event’s 75th
running.
For me, the best part was the
ride there and back: From Butte
to Broadus, Mont., then Sturgis to
Lovell, Wyo., over the Big Horns,
then to Red Lodge and on in.
No group ride is fun if your
machine, like a rider and horse, is what it’s all about.
Ego, on the other hand, is the Devil’s playground.
Words like “better, tougher, faster, cooler,
smarter,” etc., all seem to season and color the
conversations and actions of this ilk.
I admit, I have slipped to the “dark side” more
than once and usually pay a price for doing so.
“Watch this” is usually a red flag indicator.
There was plenty of this displayed at the Sturgis
Rally, which is part of the attraction for sure, but
entertainment value aside, it lacks substance. They
are “Posers” as we say, fringe dwellers trying to
latch on to what we have, but don’t quite “get it,” like
Japanese country music singers.
Such is life at the biggest biker rally in the world.
The greatest show on earth, amazing spectacles,
death defying feats, time machines, freak show,
rock and roll and a half million folks doing whatever
the spirit moves them to.
Editor’s note: Steve must have seen images of
the half-million-dollar motor homes pulling trailers
loaded with $100K worth of gleaming Milwaukee
iron. “Let’s ride into Sturgis. It’s only five miles
further.”
when it came
to brand
loyalty; they
are more
interested in
motorcycling
loyalty...as it
should be.
Joe offered
good advice:
“Bring $500
and your
credit card.”
They were
good to, and
patient with
Nicnos out of Oklahoma City are going places, namely The Big Time.
and concerned
for, this oldcompanions aren’t. Mine, Joe
timer
who
hadn’t
been
to The Big
Moma and Tater, were excellent
Show in more than 30 years. Thanks,
travel companions, full of spirit and
guys.
veteran riders who can handle their
Am I glad I went? Hell yes!
machines. Nor did they discriminate
Will I go back? Probably not (but
you never know). Big, noisy crowds
and constant action just aren’t my
thing at this point in my life. I’m more
into solitary riding with my wife or
maybe a few companions out on
the Northern Rockies deserted back
roads for a day or two or four or 10.
But I would certainly recommend
that anyone interested in motorcycles
and the motorcycle lifestyle,
especially members of the HarleyDavidson tribe, make the hajj to
Sturgis. It simply must be done...at
least once, if not every year. It is a
spectacle and event that absolutely
must be seen, and experienced, to
be believed.
There is nothing else like it. It is
the Granddaddy, the real deal.
It is over the top, the ultimate –
maybe ridiculous – extreme.
Opinion
September 2014
From NR Rider readers...
Editor Cole,
Home about 10 days and finally catching up on
what needs to be accomplished yet this summer;
you know, the home upkeep routines. Much of my Montana trip stills seems
surreal. The roads, the kindness of people, that
strange sound my bike was willingly sharing, and
certainly your and Marilyn’s hospitality. Thank
you! Say hi to Marilyn for me. have gone through all my inbox and
trash and my copy is nowhere to be
found. My last laptop was so virus infected I
couldn’t use it. So it is history and this month’s
digital copy was probably in it.
Please ride safe and keep up the good work.
Guy McDonald
Bismarck, N.D.
Note: The PDF has been sent. Sorry to hear
about Roger’s health challenges. Would like to see
him under the Big Sky again.
Guy toured Montana in mid-July and wound up
sitting still in Butte for several days while a failed
rear wheel bearing was replaced. We managed to
meet up at the Montana Folk Festival for some fine
music, then at a local tavern for a few brews. Too
bad we didn’t get to do any riding together. Next
time...
d
Dear editor,
Bob Bushmaker recently pointed
me in the direction of Northern
Rockies Rider. I believe he has
visited with you at a favorite local
saloon. I enjoy your website and ride
descriptions and have done almost all
of them myself with the exception of a
few of the South Dakota routes.
We just returned from a monthlong two-up trip to Alaska. We took
the ferry from Bellingham (Wash.)
to Haines (Alaska), rode in Alaska
for two weeks, then hopped back on
the ferry at Skagway, then back to
Bellingham.
Our first full day riding after
departing the ferry included the Yukon
stretch of road from Burwash landing
to Beaver Creek which was under
construction – torn up gravel, mud
and rock with some serious roller
coaster humps – and it was raining
r
l fo you!!
Shelby
Butte
Dillon
Regards,
Chip Walter
Iowa City, Iowa
Don “Chip” Walter and wife, Julie, during their recent Alaska tour.
Biker
Friendly
Hotels
E pErfECt
th
h
tE
o
ME to
AN
fiN
SC
Cole,
I just received the August issue of NRR
newspaper. I just don’t know how you do it. It gets
better every time I read it and I read all of it.
Marilyn (Irey) also does a great job with
her articles on the women’s perspective of
motorcycling.
I just wish I could ride back up to Montana but
with my health problems it doesn’t look like I will be
able to again. I will finish my 75th year the 8th of
October and it’s hard to admit I am slowing down. I
tried to get my wife, Jackie, to drive up with me but,
again, she is now in her 74th year but doing much
better than me.
A request: Would you get someone to email me
a digital copy of this month’s NRR newspaper? I
Roger Caron
Katy, Texas
and cold. Bad start.
But after reaching the Alaska border the roads
improved and the next day so did the weather.
If you ride Alaska, I highly recommend going to
Seward and taking the Kenai Fjords National Park
cruise, at least if the weather is decent. Wondrous
marine wildlife viewing topped off by an enormous
calving glacier. It was the highlight of the trip.
Helena
Idaho Falls
Miles City
Big Timber
Columbus
Conrad
Great Falls
Hamilton
Havre
www.townpump.com or download tHe town pump app
NOW
OPEN
SCAN ME
Toll Free Reservations • 1-800-442-4667
Belgrade
September 2014
From Kamloops,
the best riding in
B.C. is within reach
By Cole Boehler
in central Washington.
Numb feet and hands and hypothermia
setting in as I ran in the wheel tracks of
semis through four inches of slushy snow
ascending and descending Lolo Pass; the
warm slippers and robe, the hot stew and
shot of brandy served me by my Uncle
Hank and Aunt Elsie when I reached their
refuge in Missoula.
The summer-like weather that ensued
as I toured though a mostly deserted
Yellowstone Park; the reluctance to return
to North Dakota and a job that was
driving me mad (I changed jobs a monthand-a-half later).
See what I mean?
These things, and memories of later
trips through the area, were streaming
Many life-long riders use their bikes
and ride histories as mileposts for their
lives. I am one such rider.
I can place my whereabouts and
circumstances over the last four decades
depending upon what bike I was riding at
the time and where I rode it to.
For example, as I thought about our
early July 2014 ride in the Kamloops, B.C.,
area, I distinctly recalled my first visit
there.
It was in mid-September of 1983. I was
in the midst of my then-longest tour ever
– 4,000 miles in 12 days coming out of
North Dakota, across Montana, north into
B.C., across the province to Vancouver,
then south into Washington,
across the state and back home
via Yellowstone Park.
I have other recollections
regarding that trip: I had done
it too late in the year. Work
prevented me from launching
the tour in July or August as
originally conceived. I ran into
cold and rain and, coming back
over Lolo Pass, heavy snow.
I blew the zipper out of
my rain suit (it was blue)
and replaced it with another
(green) in Golden, B.C. I still
have the green one, now used
for camping only. It, too, has a
blown zipper but the snaps still
work.
Yes, the utterly amazing
mountain scenery of the
Canadian Rockies; fantastic
and remote winding roads
along rushing rivers; watching Somewhere west of Pavillion on Hwy. 99.
a stupid fellow fry the engine in
his Lancia as it leaked coolant,
ran dry and began smoking heavily in a
through my head as our small group
long line at a border crossing.
of riders – three bikes, five people –
The fear of riding on heavily packed
approached Kamloops from the west last
freeways through Seattle; the sneaky
July.
patrolman who clocked me from behind
We were just past the half-way mark of
and issued a citation; the smell of onions
our 2,750-mile tour from Montana, across
Everything in Canada is big.
Descending toward Ashcroft on
Hwy. 97C west of Kamloops, past
the Highland Valley Copper Mine.
Washington, out to the west coast of
Vancouver Island, and then traversing the
very best roads in southern B.C.
My 1983 mind’s-eye picture of
Kamloops remained fairly accurate: a
bustling and prosperous city in beautiful
and verdant south-central B.C., an
area of abundant lakes and rivers and
low, forested mountains, orchards and
intensive agriculture. The city’s population
in 1983 was around 65,000; approximately
25,000 more residents now call it home.
The name “Kamloops” is an anglicized
derivation of an Indian word that
means “meeting of two rivers,” in this
case, two branches of the Thompson.
Fishing enthusiasts may think first of the
Kamloops variety of rainbow trout, known
for their strength, stamina and bulk.
But we were there for the riding, not
the fishing or the culture.
Special
Motorcyclist
Rates
• Bike wash facilities
• Free wifi
• Free Continental breakfast
• Indoor pool and hot tub
Tim and Mary Miller, cruising north on the Cariboo Highway. Irrigated hayfields looked healthy at
first cutting.
176 Comazzetto Road
Kamloops BC V2C 6L6
Tel: 250.374.7222
Toll Free: (800)-213-6673
[email protected]
www.countryviewmotorinn.com
Tourism Kamloops invited us to
explore the area from a motorcycle rider’s
perspective and we obliged them to the
extent our schedule could allow. Visit
<tourismkamloops.com>.
This outfit values touring riders and
targets them with relevant information.
Check out <http://www.tourismkamloops.
com/motorcycle-and-driving-circle-toursin-kamloops-british-columbia>.
You can order their motorcycle
route maps and brochures: a Kamloops,
Cariboo, Chilcotin and Thompson regions
“Multi-Day Circle Tours Map Book” or
the “Kamloops Motorcycle Circle Tours”
brochure, both also available in PDF at the
web site.
The Kamloops regional hub serves
to allow access to some of the very best
riding in B.C., especially to the east and
west. In addition, there are numerous local
September 2014
On the shore of the Fraser River, little Lillooet sits astride some of the best riding in B.C., Hwy. 99,
easily accessible in a day’s ride from Kamloops.
on your bucket list!
Day Six we left Lillooet in the morning
and we stretched the ride into Kamloops
by taking Hwy. 99 to Canada Hwy. 1
just north of Cache Creek, where we
embarked north to 100 Mile House, then
east on Hwy. 24 to Little Ford, then south
on Hwy. 5 into Kamloops, 367 kilometers,
or just 228 miles. A shorter day was due.
The last bit of Hwy. 99 from Lillooet to
routes that make for fine day-rides, as we
rediscovered.
Day Five of our tour, we’d come off
Vancouver Island at Nanaimo and ferried
into North Vancouver at Horseshoe Bay.
We’d been though the drill several times
before so knew we wanted to hustle
north to clear people, towns and traffic as
rapidly as possible.
This put us through Squamish and
Whistler on crowded four-lane in high
temperatures, en route to Pemberton and
Lillooet, where we called it a night.
Lillooet to Kamloops, via Cache
Creek, is just 165 kilometers, or 102 miles.
That’s a good thing because Kamloops
makes a sensible launch pad to run
west for the fabulous riding along Hwy.
99, particularly from Pavillion through
Lillooet to Pemberton.
In the July 2014 NR Rider, we listed
and rated our eight favorite segments
from this 2,750-mile tour. We were
running many truly world-class roads.
Pemberton to Lillooet ranked number
two. It is extraordinary.
We described it thus: “Steep grades and
all curves, many of them tight, through
stunning country on decent pavement,
almost qualifies as ‘technical’.” Put this one
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• July, 2012 • A Continenta
Volume 1, Number 4
ry Figure
Yaak and Kootenai Count
The Best Loops
in Montana?
By Cole Boehler
and
“The best laid plans of mice
men often go awry.”
Who
Poet Robert Burns was right.
a tour to find
hasn’t carefully planned
hours or a
the plan on the rocks within
8
Canada 1 was also exceptional as you pull
a twisty and steep grade up and along the
Fraser River.
Canada 1 is a major north-south
corridor and thus is a modern, amplyshouldered mix of four- and two-lane
accommodating significant traffic. We
nevertheless enjoyed the run up to 100
Mile House, so called as it was a waypoint
See Kamloops, Page 10
RIDE IN
KAMLOOPS
Jeff Topham
Explore our vast, rugged landscape! Located midway
between Vancouver and Calgary at the junction of British
Columbia’s major highways in Southern B.C., Kamloops
is easily accessible and a great place for a riding adventure.
Take a self-guided driving or motorcycle tour where you’ll
see magnificent silt bluffs, towering hoodoos, 100+ sparkling
lakes and the spectacularly diverse landscape. Come let
loose and just play in Kamloops!
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tourismkamloops.com/ridekamloops
Canada. It is wild and remote
and sparsely populated with
is
never much traffic. Scenery
and
stunning: rivers and lakes
trees
big mountains with big
including cedars, indicative
of the relatively high amounts
of moisture this high country
day?
receives.
wife
Such was the case when
Elevations vary from the
to ride one of
feet
Marilyn and I headed out
state’s lowest point (1,880
– perhaps
our favorite Montana routes
at Troy) to well over a mile
the favorite.
hundreds high.
We have been visiting with
Wildlife thrives where
Rockies
best-ofof riders from the Northern
Excellent roads add to this
are few people. Both
there
we are based
from the people and traffic.
are
region. When we mention
It’s all about getting away
508.
whitetail and mule deer
Troy and Yaak on Hwy.
“Oh yes,
observe:
most
and
Montana,
numbers
in
Montana experience. Between
present in large
to) the
distant.
bears
for any
I’ve ridden (or always wanted
we have seen numerous
the Yaak
But these routes are suitable
in Glacier
We have a saying about
one- or
would suppose
Going-To-The-Sun Road
meant to be
e Park” and moose. We
style of two-wheeled machine,
were
on and Kootenai that is
easier
Park,” or substitute “Yellowston
and
slower
it
wolves are present and probably the
take
some truth: “If
two-up; just
humorous, but contains
here, as in
or the “Beartooth Highway.”
never totally wiped out
parts, the
those
the bigger and heavier varieties.
ya go off the road in them
We always respond, “Yes,
these
rest of the state.
before search
Marilyn and I have soloed
but have you
be
bears are likely to find ya
are extraordinary rides,
but I would
Some of the pavement could
routes numerous times,
Kootenai
and rescue does.”
since it can be
ever ridden the Yaak and
another
described as “primitive”
recommend going with
Indeed, ride with some friends.
Country?”
most of this
and rough and lacking striping
In
broken
ticket, eh?
several.
or
bike/rider
is
But, sounds like just the
“Huh? Where’s that?”
service.
and signage. Corner engineering
country there is no cell phone
“blind”
are
many
Well, let me tell you...
away.
and
hours
unpredictable
See Loops, Page 9
Medical facilities may be
timber and
This region represents Montana’s
be 100 miles
due to heavy growth of
Motorcycle repair could
where
roadside.
extreme northwest corner
underbrush right up to the
and close to
you’re not far from Idaho
Subscribe
Today!
Proof that motorcycles
create lasting memories
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delivery, send your name, mailing
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address and $25 to: Northern Rockies
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or contact us at <[email protected]>
Canadian Subscriptions are $50
Wayne Raasch, aching to
Dottie Rankin.
get his hands on some Harley
grips just once more. With
daughter and author
MT 59701
914 Holmes Ave., Butte,
Change service requested:
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Permit No. 93
Livingston, MT
made of.
and I have proof.
It’s not a cliche’. It’s true
was diagnosed with
My dad, Wayne Raasch,
See Memories, Page 2
Alzheimer’s in 2009.
Two aspects to
Motorcycle
Safety
Page 15
Riding the
Ho Chi Minh
Trail
Tyler Meade
and
Dad, Alzheimer’s disease
This is a story about my
s.
the powerful effect of motorcycle
might think. Well let me
A strange combination you
a
this is not a story filled with
tell you before we begin,
his
personal story of my dad,
lot of statistics. This is my
all.
it
all
s fit into
illness and how his motorcycle
the hype: if you own a
No doubt you have heard
are,
part of you, it is who you
motorcycle it becomes a
a
ridden
have
you
if
matter
it is how you live. It doesn’t
s get in
or a lifetime. Motorcycle
month, a year, 10 years
and
and head and soul. You
your blood and your heart
truly lasting memories are
your bike and rides are what
Jeff Topham
By Dottie Rankin
For Northern Rockies Rider
1800 662 1994
tourismkamloops.com
Page 17
#EXPLOREKAMLOOPS
September 2014
Kamloops
from page 9
along the old Cariboo Road gold rush
trail, 100 miles from Lillooet.
The easterly leg across Hwy. 24
was more satisfying and the narrower
roadway exhibited more character in
the way of turns and elevation changes.
Beautiful lake country with pine cloaked
ridges and higher elevations kept the ride
cool and comfortable.
This is where we stopped at a resort
for iced lattes and one rider paid $4.75 for
a can of Coke. Wow, that must have been
fine Coca-Cola!
The leg south along Hwy. 5 from
Little Ford to Kamloops was equally
pleasant though carried a higher traffic
volume. Again, pretty lake country and
fertile valleys hosting orchards ... which
means fresh fruit at roadside stands. We
enjoyed the most wonderful plums and
other goodies at one such outlet. How
refreshing on a hot day.
When we rolled into Kamloops,
Route taken on:
Day Five
Day Six
Day Seven
a swimming
pool (very
welcome after
the heat we had
ridden in), was
within walking
distance of
several good
restaurants
and, very
importantly,
had a guest
laundry. Three
Highway 24 between 100 Mile House and Little Ford is lake country.
loads had our
group back in
clean clothes. The rooms were spacious,
a riding companion’s ambient temp
clean and comfortable.
indicator read 97 degrees. No wonder
Day Seven we were ultimately headed
fruit orchards thrive in this country.
to Riders Retreat at Nakusp for the
We stayed at the Canada’s Best Value
night, a comfortable and welcoming tent
Inn in Kamloops. We understood our
camp, but wanted to see more of the
reservations called for ground-floor
Kamloops...ahem...loops, so we headed
rooms, but upon check-in were told we
for Lac Le Jeune Road running south
along the Hwy. 5 fourlane. At 25 klicks, we
picked up Hwy. 97 D,
aka Meadow Creek
Road, and 97C, aka the
Highland Valley Road,
west to Logan Lake and
Ashcroft.
While the Highland
Valley Copper Mine
between Logan
Lake and Ashcroft
Lake vistas are plentiful and serene along Hwy. 24 north of Kamloops. isn’t “scenic,” it
is nevertheless a
fascinating spectacle
were booked on the second floor. When I
of gargantuan scale. We wondered how
mentioned the discrepancy, the managers
well the watershed and other natural
went to the reservation computer, and
resources are being protected from the
with a few keystrokes presented our
environmental consequences.
group with three ground-floor room
The roadway was fine, traffic was light,
keys. Well done!
The prospect
of hauling our
four pieces
of heavy
motorcycle
luggage, plus
helmets and
jackets, up and
down flights of
stairs when hot
and exhausted
was one we
wanted to
avoid.
Canada’s
Best Value
Heading south along Hwy. 5 and the Clearwater River toward Kamloops. It
Inn also had
was getting hot!
The imaginative visitors center at Logan
Lake. A 7,848 cubic-inch two stroke? Wow!
scenery (excluding the minescape)
was satisfying. We thoroughly enjoyed
the cooler morning temps.
Just past Ashcroft we located and
picked up the Evans-Walhachin Road
for a serene and pretty ride back to
Savona along Canada 1 just east of
Kamloops.
That little Logan Lake loop
amounted to just 177 klicks or 109
miles so we were ready for more,
always in pursuit of the best, least
used pavement around. As such we
See Kamloops, Page 10
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September 2014
Kamloops
from page 10
blitzed through Kamloops to locate the
Shuswap Road east out of town along the
South Thompson River opposite Canada
1. Here is where we stopped to observe
and photograph a band of Bighorn
mountain sheep.
At Pritchard we crossed the river to
Canada 1 where we headed northeast to
Sorrento, then dropped down to gorgeous
exhibited a beat up surface, paving crews
were out laying a new asphalt mat. We
can’t wait to get back and run that new
stuff with some zip!
From Kamloops to Nakusp via
Salmon Arm is 225 miles. Add in the
109 miles of our early Logan Lake loop,
and we logged about 335 miles, a very
comfortable touring distance.
Of our eight favorite segments ridden
during the 10-day, 2,750-mile tour, five of
them were in B.C. Two were very directly
accessible from Kamloops in a day’s ride:
Pemberton-Lilloet, and Vernon-Needles.
Unwind for an evening in the
peaceful and shady nook
overlooking the Valley!
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• Laundry
• Picnic/BBQ Area
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Monashee Pass on Hwy. 6 is exquisite and ranked highly on our tour. There was new asphalt
being laid here the first part of July.
Salmon Arm, then ran down to Vernon.
This is all pretty country on good roads
but traffic is a factor. We perhaps should
have taken Hwy. 97 more directly from
Kamloops to Vernon via Monte Lake.
At any rate, we were highly
anticipating the run from Vernon
through Coldstream and Lumby on Hwy.
6, over Monashee Pass to Needles where
we would take a little cable-drawn ferry
across Lower Arrow Lake to Fauquier,
then north to our evening’s destination in
Nakusp.
In the July article in NR Rider, we
rated “The Monashee” as fifth best in the
entire tour, characterizing it thus: “Light
traffic, nice country, surface quality
varies, dozens of excellent corners.”
It winds between and through
the heavily timbered Monashee and
Okanagon Highland mountain ranges.
The dearth of traffic allows for the fun
quotient to be ratcheted up. In one of
the twistiest sections that had previously
If you like touring out of an urban
center, Kamloops makes perfect sense.
Incidentally, here are our favorite B.C.
routes, in order:
– Crawford Bay to Creston - this
depends on getting off the ferry before all
other traffic; splendid curves and scenery
for 52 miles; watch for patrols.
– Pemberton to Lillooet - steep
grades and all curves, many of them
tight, through stunning country on
decent pavement, almost qualifies as
“technical.”
– New Denver to Kaslo - ditto the
above comment.
– Vernon to Needles (Monashee Pass)
- light traffic, nice country, surface quality
varies (some being repaved), dozens of
excellent corners.
– Port Alberni to Tofino/Ucluelet
(on Vancouver Island) - dramatic,
challenging and rough, traffic was light
considering we ran this was just prior to
Canada Day.
Bikes on the Needles Ferry crossing Lower Arrow Lake heading for Faurquier, then north to
Nakusp.
September 2014
Everyone has one
The always subjective ‘Top Ten’ list of best motorcycle roads
By Cole Boehler
rides in the U.S. I haven’t
had the opportunity
Northern Rockies Rider readers sent
to ride Cabot Trail,
us another recent compilation of “best
though I have heard it is
motorcycle roads” based on a “readers’
really good. My list is as
choice” survey conducted by USA Today.
follows, though not rated
Any such list is only as worthy as the
in order, rather just 10 of
sample surveyed. If the sample contains
the best roads:”
inherent biases, so does the list of Top
– Beartooth
Roads.
Pass (Montana and
See what you think:
Wyoming)
1. Cabot Trail (Nova Scotia)
– Going-To-The-Sun
2. Pig Trail Scenic Byway (Arkansas)
Road (Montana)
3. Beartooth Pass (Wyoming and
– Mount Washington
Montana)
Auto Route (New
4. Tail of the Dragon at Deal’s Gap
Hampshire)
(Tennessee)
– Mattole Road, Lost
5. Blue Ridge Parkway (Virginia and
Coast (California)
North Carolina)
– Hwy. 95,
6. Cherohala Skyway (Tennessee and
Bicentennial Hwy.
North Carolina)
(Utah)
7. Three Sisters or “Twisted Sisters”
– Hwy. 191, “The
(Texas)
Devils Hwy.” (aka
8. Pacific Coast Highway (California)
“Coronado Trail”)
9. San Juan Mountain Skyway
(Arizona)
(Colorado)
– Whitebird Grade
Look like a good ride? Know where it is? This road only made two of the four Top Ten lists presented here. Take a
10. U.S. Highway 101 (California,
Road (Idaho)
guess. Send it to <[email protected]>. One entry per person. The first winning entry will receive a copy of
Oregon and Washington)
– Hells Canyon
“Motorcycling Montana,” a $29.95 value. We’ll come up with something for a second and third correct entry, too.
At NR Rider, we have ridden six of
Scenic Byway (Oregon)
these, or parts of them, and do agree
– Hwy. 2, Angeles
– Idaho City to Stanley (Idaho)
her “Top Ten” list, also confining it to the
they are superb. But it seemed to us that
Crest Trail (California)
– Lillooet to Pemberton (B.C.)
NR Rider circulation area. She said, “My
these “best highways” were closer to
– Mount Evans Scenic Byway
– Crawford Bay to Creston (B.C.)
rankings likely have a lot more to do with
major population centers, and thus more
(Colorado)
– New Denver to Kaslo, (B.C.)
scenic qualities, which is my advantage as
familiar to more riders who reside in
Ironically, ButlerMaps just brought
To put these in order would be a
a passenger.”
these areas, perhaps skewing the sample.
out their newest map, the “Southern
daunting task suitable for a cold, snowy
Here’s what she came up with, also not
Appalachia” map (see related
day in January over a good pint of Ale.
in order:
article) where three of the USA
My runners up, also not in order:
– Chief Joseph Scenic Byway
Today top ten roads are situated.
– Inchelium to Nespelum
(Wyoming)
We replied to Court, “I also
(Washington)
– Palouse Country (Washington)
agree with your high ratings for
– Vernon to Needles (B.C.)
– Going-To-The-Sun Road (Montana),
Devils Highway, Hells Canyon,
– Port Alberni to Tofino/Ucluelet,
– Big Horn Mountains Hwys. 14/14A
and probably Mount Evans.”
Vancouver Island (B.C.)
(Wyoming)
I think in our coverage
– Iron Mountain Road/Needles
– Beartooth Highway (Montana and
area of western South Dakota,
Highway, Black Hills, before or after
Wyoming)
Wyoming, Montana, Idaho,
tourism season, definitely NOT during
– King’s Hill (Montana)
Washington, B.C. and Alberta,
Sturgis (South Dakota)
– Crawford Bay-Creston (B.C.)
I would choose, subjectively
– Hwys. 14/14A through the Big Horn
– Lolo Pass-Lochsa River (Idaho)
according to my personal
Mountains (Wyoming)
– Vernon to Needles (B.C.)
criteria, not in order:
– Stanley to Lost Trail Pass (Idaho)
– North Cascades Highway
– Beartooth Highway/Chief
– Oroville-Chesaw-Curlew to Hwy.
(Washington)
Joseph Scenic Byway, always
395 (Washington)
So all four lists include the Beartooth
run in tandem (Wyoming and
– North Cascades Highway
Highway and three include Going-ToMontana)
(Washington)
The-Sun. It is safe to say, these are world
– Going-To-The-Sun, but only
– The Palouse Country back roads
class.
very early or very late (Montana) (Washington)
The four lists together comprise a
– Yaak/Koocanusa (Montana)
– White Pines Byway (Idaho)
fantastic resources for those compiling
– St. Joe River Road (Idaho)
– Banks to Lowman, if they’d raise the their North American riding bucket lists.
– Harpster/Grangeville to Elk speed limit (Idaho)
“Top Ten” lists can be fun. We
City (Idaho)
– Pioneer Scenic Byway (Montana)
encourage our readers to share theirs
– Lolo Pass on U.S. Hwy. 12
Court Butler of Butler (motorcycle) Maps whipped up a
I asked my wife, Marilyn Irey, an avid
with us. Send them to <nrridercole@
“Top Ten” for NR Rider.
(Montana but mostly Idaho)
motorcycle touring passenger, to build
gmail.com>.
We contacted Court Butler, head of
ButlerMaps, the premier motorcycle map
maker, certainly for the western U.S.,
if not the whole country. The company
rides, then rates roads for states and
regions. Their current library contains
at least 18 maps on waterproof, tearresistant materials and feature high
production values (<butlermaps.com>).
We asked Court what he thought of
the USA Today survey. He responded, “I
hadn’t actually seen that, thank you for
bringing it to my attention. While I agree
with some of these rides, some of them
seem biased. “The user group that rated these were
<Motorcycleroads> members so they
are predominately cruiser riders, thus a
couple of the relatively mundane rides on
a few (Twisted Sisters, The Pig Trail, etc.).
“I would be happy to create (a list of)
what I would consider the 10 most iconic
September 2014
Anitcipate and avoid
Common roadway hazards can ruin your day...or your life
By Cole Boehler
and gooey tar snakes (crack repairs) that
can put a leaning bike and rider down
We logged close
pronto. We’re also talking about slick
to 6,500 miles of
paint striping, manhole covers, bridge
fine riding in the
expansion joints, cattle guards, railroad
Northern Rockies
crossings and more.
June-early August.
And please fix the potholes that will
During those miles
bend a wheel, rupture a tire and kill a
we encountered
rider.
many potential
Road construction can be a hazard
hazards that could
to motorcycles and their riders. These
have ruined the
may mean dangerously grooved milled
trip...or our lives.
pavement, but also mud, ruts and deep,
Which got us
loose gravel, all of which can put you
to consider listing
on your side in an instant. Twice I have
the hazards we
come oh-so-close to going down in
have personally
construction zones with deep, loose
encountered while
gravel. Even the heavy dust can impair
out on the bike,
vision and visibility.
while adding other
Construction zones can also be hard
common hazards
on drive belts.
that may result
Other manmade hazards include
in a wreck. We
debris that has fallen from other vehicles.
encourage readers
We have personally dealt with a ladder,
This is a “two-fer:” deteriorating surface and roadside whitetails.
to contact us with
shovel, firewood, folding chairs and tree
others we may have
branches. In some of our farm country,
was seriously injured when knocked off
missed.
riders may have to dodge sugar beets and
his
bike
by
a
pheasant.
Clearly, other vehicle operators who
hay bales.
Some of our favorite roads are “open
don’t see us can kill us.
Drivers out there: secure your loads
range” where livestock may be present.
Most common among these are
for godsake!
Especially stealthy are Black Angus
distracted drivers, now especially cell
Some grave motorcycle hazards are
hidden by roadside shadows.
phone yakkers and texters. Others are
self-induced.
Motorcycle contact patches – the tire/
just plain careless, as in they don’t care
These include mechanical failures
road interface – are small and so very
about you or your safety. Some vehicle
due to poor maintenance or mechanical
critical. We must maintain traction at
operators who don’t see you may be
condition, i.e. worn out tires or failed
both ends at all times or we risk going
dealing with impaired vision caused
brakes. A blowout at speed carries a high
down, either low-siding or, worse, highby poor eyesight, a sandblasted, bugrisk of a serious crash.
siding.
encrusted windshield, or glare.
A worn out or poorly maintained
Sand and loose gravel are probably the suspension can result in a loss of control,
Our own inconspicuousness can
most common reason we lose traction
contribute to being invisible to other
more likely as speeds increase. Worn or
(other
than
excessive
speed
or
braking).
drivers. That is easily mitigated with
poorly adjusted steering head bearings
To a rider, sand on the surface is the
high-viz lighting and apparel.
and other chassis components can also
equivalent of oil. It takes practice to spot
Aggressive and reckless drivers are
mean poor control and an accident
this sometimes fatal hazard far enough in
another matter. When you encounter
Good, clear vision is essential to safe
advance to deal with it safely.
one of these, get out of their way and
operation of a bike. Rain, dust, fog and
Speaking of oil, any fluid on the
go the other way, for we will never win
glare can diminish our ability to see.
surface can cause a loss of traction, but
a battle with a car or truck. Twice we
So can a fogged or scuffed windshield,
oil
and
diesel
may
be
the
worst.
Glycol
have seen very aggressive pickup truck
helmet face shield, goggles or glasses,
coolant is very slick, too. And, yes, our
drivers dangerously, in an attempt at
especially at night. If it’s blurry, get rid of
favorite: emulsified manure spilled from
intimidation, tailgate a fellow rider to
it!
the cattle truck trailers, usually spread in
within less than a vehicle length...at
In fact, night riding entails a whole
a corner, often on an uphill grade. Even
highway speeds. Scary!
set of hazards all its own. Make sure your
plain old H2O will reduce traction by 30
Alcohol or drug impaired drivers are
headlights, running lights, turn signals,
percent, 99 percent
a serious hazard to riders, themselves
tail lights and
if
it
is
frozen!
and everyone else on or near the road.
brake lights all
Of course the
Alcohol and drug impaired riders are
work.
“fallen rock” signs
a serious hazard to themselves as well!
A rider’s
are common,
Almost one-third of motorcycle crashes
physical
but they need
involve an operator who is impaired.
condition can
to be taken
Speeding or riding too fast for
be hazardous.
very
seriously,
conditions or skill levels is a common
If you’re not
especially after a
cause of motorcycle crashes and injuries.
used to a 400major rain event.
Excessive speed is often the result of
mile day (or
We hit a damaging
riders who lack training, skills and good
1,000-mile
one in Idaho that
old experience. Most single-vehicle
day), just
bent both wheels.
motorcycle crashes result from a rider
don’t do it, or
We have seen them
blowing a curve.
work up to
of
all
sizes,
even
A conscientious, trained, skilled and
it gradually.
up to the size of a
experienced rider can be ready for, and
Rider fatigue
small refrigerator,
thus, avoid most road hazards. But the
is a major
in the roadway.
one that can get us, regardless of skill, is
cause of
We have also
wildlife. It is everywhere, unpredictable
wrecks.
encountered trees
and often very fast!
Recently,
hanging over the
Here in the Northern Rockies,
when
road and some that
experienced riders constantly search
returning
have actually fallen
the roadsides for lurking deer that may
from several
spook and bolt into our path. But moose, to the surface.
grueling and
Fresh cow poop is akin to a nice moly grease – down
As motorcycle
elk, antelope, lions and bears – even
physically
you go.
traffic continues
dogs – have been the causes of serious
draining days
to increase,
motorcycle crashes, too.
at the Sturgis
road
engineers
and
maintenance
crews
We have dodged eagles that swooped
Rally, riding in the heat, I found myself
simply must become more cognizant of
into our path and a fellow rider hit
snapping alert after what must have been
manmade hazards to riders.
a crane last year that snapped off his
a momentary nod.
Here we’re talking about the very slick
windshield. We know of one rider who
I needed a rest break and a refreshing,
hydrating drink. I also munched a candy
bar for a sugar jolt and accepted an
energy drink from a riding companion
(the first one I ever tried). It seemed
to work as drowsiness stayed at bay
thereafter. (My passenger, though,
frequently grabs quick naps.)
Tough riding conditions – big winds,
all high-stress and technical roadways,
extreme heat or cold – can add to
dangerous fatigue.
Dehydration or hypothermia
can radically reduce a rider’s ability
to perform safely. Reactions will be
impaired, as will thinking processes.
Fatigue can be a symptom of either. Heat
prostration or heat stroke can cause
debilitating illness and even death, as can
extreme hypothermia.
Speaking of weather related hazards, a
number of motorcyclists are killed every
year by lightning (see a future NR Rider
article on the subject). Know how to get
out of its way. High winds have been
known to knock a rider off the road as
well. Hail can injure an unprotected rider
and build up quickly and dangerously –
fatally – on road surfaces.
Here’s an easy one: if you are ill, you
are impaired, period. Stay off the bike!
Also beware of, and avoid, medications
that induce drowsiness, such as
antihistamines and some pain relievers.
The old saying, “you can’t fix stupid,”
applies to these next two: distracted
riders and aggressive/reckless/
exhibitionist riders – both a crash waiting
to happen.
Many modern bikes are equipped
with every sort of gadgetry and
communications device, and many
operators are enamored of constantly
fiddling with the stuff, including the cell
phone! Please! Use some common sense.
Keep yourself, and the rest of us, alive.
Finally, the bikers who intentionally
ride dangerously ... well, Darwinism
applies. The sooner you are off the road,
the better.
So, if you don’t like your current ride
and want to pay for another one, if you
like pain and long hospital stays, if you
wouldn’t mind seeing your widow(er)
head to Costa Rica with your best friend
and all the insurance money, ride with
oblivion. What hazards?!
On the other hand, if you want to
keep you bike and body intact, and enjoy
your current family situation, anticipate,
avoid and survive.
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September 2014
A smoother engine and better economy?
Dobeck SAFR points to V-Strom rich fueling under top gear cruise load
By Cole Boehler
have left the combustion chamber on the
exhaust stroke. Unfortunately that added
air distorts true AFR exhaust gas values.
Also consider, most conventional
AFR probes are merely inserted into
the tailpipe. Exhaust systems produce
both outward and inward pulses so a
reading at the tailpipe may be distorted
by additional air being drawn into the
exhaust system – “reversion,” especially
likely with the short, open pipes favored
by some.
Thus, it is most accurate to read the
AFRs in the header pipe four to 10 inches
downstream from the exhaust port.
See Dobeck, Page 15
Dobeck Performance, out of Belgrade,
Mont., a company whose principals
have decades of engine fueling solutions
and diagnostics under their belts, has
developed a new analog air-to-fuel-ratio
(AFR) gauge for the do-it-yourselfer or
the commercial mechanic’s shop. (See the
August 2014 NR Rider for more details.)
We traveled to the Dobeck facility
August 8 to explore an actual installation
and use of the tool, called a “SAFR” for
“standalone air-fuel ratio.”
Our test mule was a 2003 Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom, an early iteration of the
brand’s big adventure bike. It is known
to suffer some drivability issues, namely
rough running below 3,500 RPM where it
lugs, chugs and shudders, euphemistically
described by owners as “chuddering.”
In fact this bike was geared down with Patented Dobeck Performance exhaust chamber with reed valves to prevent “reversion” is
tapped into the exhaust header.
a larger after-market final drive sprocket
Comprehensive 500+ Page
to run at higher RPM in all gears,
to catch or “scoop” exhaust gases coming
verify what you suspect – and decide
allowing the rider to more readily stay at
from
the
upstream
exhaust
ports.
upon modifications that can improve
higher revs and out of that rough zone.
Find a spot to mount the gauge using
drivability, performance or fuel efficiency,
Often riders may be seeking improved
the
suction
cup
provided
(top
of
fuel
tank
maybe some combination of the three.
“performance” – that is, “power.” In the
usually
works),
or
the
new
handlebar
When you’re done, reverse the
case of our V-Strom, it makes about 98
mounting
clip.
Plug
the
gauge
into
the
installation,
threading the provided screw
crankshaft ponies and that is plenty for its
wideband
sensor
and
power
it
up.
into
the
nut
insert
to seal the exhaust
intended mission – an “80/20” (or maybe
You
can
now
see
your
AFR
values
system.
“90/10”) bike intended for highway use
under a wide range of conditions –
My installation for the Suzuki went
and light sport-touring 80
well, with coaching help from Dobeck’s
percent of the time, and
Dillon Binstock. Thread, tighten, plug,
light “adventure” touring off
power up and play. Truly, any Joe
pavement 20 percent of the
Mechanic could do this at home himself.
time.
The PAIR system should be plugged
Seldom would more
to
make
AFR readings most accurate.
power enhance its real-world
“PAIR” means “Pulsed Air Induction
utility. Smoother engine
Reed” valve. This system, found on most
operation, however, certainly
modern bikes, allows additional air to
would.
be introduced into the exhaust header to
Our objectives would be
help fully burn any residual fuel that may
to first learn and understand
the bike’s factory fueling
characteristics by reading
AFRs, then contemplate
changes that would improve
drivability, hopefully without
a corresponding loss of fuel
economy.
WYOMING CENTENNIAL SCENIC BYWAY
Simply stated, the SAFR
is an analog gauge that,
PATH OF THE PRONGHORN
tapped into your bike’s
ICONIC SKYLINE DRIVE TO ELKHART PARK
exhaust, will read your AFR Bosch wideband exhaust oxygen sensor threads in and
values under a wide range
tightens with a simple wrench.
of conditions and load
modes such as idle, cruise,
acceleration and full throttle.
The SAFR system consists of a
Dobeck gauge and wideband controller,
a Bosch wideband exhaust oxygen
In the heart of the Wind River Mountains lies a scenic byway and gateway to
sensor, a patented Dobeck oxygen sensor
chamber and exhaust probe, and various
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installation bits.
Unique to the Dobeck sensor chamber
are reed valves that prevent any gases
from reverting – flowing backward – and
thus fouling accurate measurements.
The system can tap power via a
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The harnesses are provided.
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Installation of the SAFR is straight
forward and within the skills and tool
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exhaust header pipe (drill bit supplied)
and a nut insert is pressed into the hole.
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The exhaust probe is mated to the nut
insert and the oxygen sensor chamber
threads to the probe. The probe has a
“spoon” orifice that should be positioned
57 miles from Jackson Hole and 18 miles from Dubois
“Motorcycling
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Touring Guide
motorcyclingmontana.com
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September 2014
Dobeck
from page 14
One of the benefits of using the SAFR,
according to Dobeck, is dispensing with
expensive dynamometer shop time.
Instead, install a SAFR, then take your
or “knock,” where a too-lean air-fuel
charge ignites prematurely and creates
tremendous cylinder shock waves, is
another potentially damaging side effect.
Some, including the EPA, consider an
AFR of 14.64:1 to be ideal, theoretically
optimal for a well tuned, clean burning
engine.
Binstock explained that many engine
Then it’s just plug-and-play as the SAFR is attached to the exhuast oxygen sensor and powered
up.
bike out on the road to observe AFRs
in real-world riding conditions under
varying throttle demands and loads.
The SAFR will yield AFR readings
from 10:1 to 16:1, that is 10 parts of air to
one part fuel (very rich), up to 16 parts
air to one part fuel (very lean), based on
wide-band readings of the exhaust.
Overly rich AFRs result in an engine
that lacks power and wastes fuel. Too rich
and spark plugs can foul and the engine
may not run at
all. Fuel deposits
can build up in
the combustion
chambers
and on piston
crowns. Deposits
on valves can
lead to a loss of
compression and
valve damage.
Overly lean
AFRs can lead
to excessive
combustion
chamber
and valve
temperatures
causing serious
and expensive
engine damage.
“Detonation”
control units – ECUs – that run fuel
injection systems via computer code
“maps,” actually run several maps,
the choice of which is determined by
what the rider demands of the system
under differing circumstances: cruise,
acceleration or maximum throttle.
Binstock suggested I examine AFR
readings in steady cruise mode in several
mid-range gears, then under moderate
acceleration, then with the throttle
Handlebar-mounted SAFR indicates 1,100 RPM idle AFR is at 12:1.
So, it doesn’t pay to advertise?
“I placed a $35 advertisement on the “All Roads Lead to Sturgis Map”
and got 21 bookings at the Sage and Sand Motel in Saratoga, Wyoming.
Our next door neighbor,The Country Store, saw an increase
in their business, as well!”
- Kenneth Harper Finton Sage & Sand Motel, Saratoga, WY 888-860-8339
wide open. Fortunately, there are some
straight, light-traffic back roads near
the Dobeck shop where testing could be
conducted safely.
At idle the SAFR indicated an AFR for
the Suzuki in the range of 11.5:1-12.5:1.
Binstock said idle AFR in the real world
is somewhat inconsequential. Just tune
it for the smoothest idle, he suggested,
regardless of AFR.
The V-Strom, in stock form other than
the lowered gear ratio, seems to cruise
best between 4,000 and 5,000 RPM where
it is most smooth and responsive.
So I checked AFRs at steady cruise
throttle settings and saw in second gear
at 4,000 RPM an AFR of 12.5:1 to 13:1.
Cruising in third gear at 4,000 RPM,
the SAFR analog gauge needle settled in
the 12:1 range. It was much the same in
fourth, fifth and the top sixth “overdrive”
gear.
These AFRs would likely be
considered on the rich side, so fueling
at steady cruise throttle settings could
be leaned out, potentially achieving
smoother and more responsive engine
operation and additional economy as well
as cleaner emissions.
(Note: some ECU fuel mapping is
automatically adjusted depending upon
gear selection via a gear position sensor.
Thus AFRs may differ under similar
throttle settings and loads in different
gears.)
Under moderate acceleration –
perhaps half throttle – the picture
changed.
When the throttle was opened, we
saw the needle swing to 15:1, even 15.5:1,
hang there for a second, then drift down
toward 13-13.5:1 as revs came up.
This probably indicates throttle
See Dobeck, Page 16
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September 2014
Dobeck
from page 15
butterflies opening ahead of increases
in fuel flow, temporarily leaning out
the mixture until increased fuel flows
caught up to increased air flows. The 1313.5:1 AFRs are quite acceptable for an
acceleration condition – perhaps just a
little on the rich side.
At wide open, we saw the SAFR gauge
indicate an initial reading of 14-14.5:1,
then settle back to 12-12.5:1, somewhat
rich but what could be expected under
full throttle and, again, acceptable.
We saw problematic fueling under two
conditions.
First, at cruise mode in top gear,
3,000-4,000 RPM, AFR was hanging
at about 12:1 – quite rich for “cruise.”
This could be – should be – leaned out.
Fuel economy could be improved while
the engine could gain some snap and
smoothness.
We could also identify potential
improvements when the engine was
under acceleration at lower RPM ranges –
under 3,500 RPM where it currently runs
roughly. Here we saw AFRs ranging from
11.5:1 to 12.5:1.
The bike also exhibits some on-off
“surging” at steady throttle openings
in middle gears. This might be where
the ECU is “switching” back and forth
between maps, upsetting smooth fueling.
This condition may be addressed as well.
Inherent Suzuki V-Strom engine
architecture may be primarily responsible
for the rough low-RPM running – big
pistons hammering in big bores with a
light crankshaft and flywheel producing
the “chuddering”? But an overly rich AFR
at low RPM could also result in air-fuel
charges that are “wet” and resistant to
quick ignition and a full burn.
So, instead of adding fuel, in the
case of our V-Strom we would likely be
focused on leaning AFRs in zones where
the SAFR indicated they are too rich.
Is it possible we could achieve a
smoother, more drivable engine while
increasing fuel economy? We’ll see.
We are planning to use the SAFR
again, then attempt some AFR
modifications for improved drivability.
As a by-product, we may also get better
economy and more power in certain
conditions.
That would be an ideal outcome.
Look for our results in the October
edition of NR Rider.
For more information on Dobeck
Performance and the SAFR, check out
<www.safrtool.com>.
Getting your AFRs right will improve drivability;
better performance may be a byproduct
The company says there are three key differences between the Dobeck
Performance SAFR and all other AFR systems:
– The SAFR O2 chamber versus up-the-pipe devices avoids “reversion”
– when fresh air is sucked up into exhaust in between combustion pulses.
Reversion will skew AFR readings and, hence, tune-up results will not be
optimal.
– The SAFR can be used on any two- or four-stroke engine application:
carbureted or fuel injected, cars and trucks, motorcycles and anything off-road.
– The analog gauge readouts (needle and dial) rather than digital have been
scientifically proven to be easier and faster for the brain to process. This is why
airplane pilots prefer analog gauges with needles.
Dobeck Performance’s Binstock said, “So many consumers get caught up in
the performance gains and are misinformed until they believe they need to put
$1,000 into their vehicle to get it running right.
“If they knew all they had to do was get their motor running at the right
AFRs, the motorsports world would be a much better place and us enthusiasts
would not be throwing money out the door.
“Consumers like to read about the horsepower gains to be had, but Dobeck
Performance wants to give them a different way to think about fuel tuning. We’d
rather give them an unbiased lesson or education at how easy fuel tuning can
be. Knowledge is power; we want to put that power directly and economically
into the hands of the rider.”
You can rent the system, including shipping both ways, for just $46 per week.
When you’re done, send it back. Or you can acquire the complete system with a
one year warranty for $325. Rental fees can be counted toward a purchase price.
An EFI controller is separate.
and Custom Baggers
Dan Herstein, Factory-Trained
Technician, Sales & Service
406-458-4762 • 2705 Hwy 93 South, Kalispell, MT
[email protected] • www.trikeit.com
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This is a chart developed by Dobeck to illustrate what various AFRs under various load conditions
can mean for engine behavior.
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September 2014
Social aspects of touring: ‘you meet the nicest people on a motorcycle’
By David Fletcher
NR Rider Contributing Writer
There is a common thread that
connects people who travel: travel
broadens their minds.
In a recent article published in
the December 5, 2013 issue of Social
Psychological and Personality Science,
author Eric W. Dolan and his colleagues
at Northwestern University were
intrigued by a passage from Mark Twain
in his book “Innocents Abroad.”
In the book, Mark Twain states,
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and
narrow-mindedness, and many of our
people need it sorely on these accounts.
Broad, wholesome, charitable views of
men and things cannot be acquired by
vegetating in one little corner of the earth
all one’s lifetime.”
The authors wanted to test two
assumptions: 1) Does travel make people
more trusting? and 2) Does travel lead
people to have a more charitable view of
humanity?
Given the trend toward globalization
and the increasing popularity of travel,
both domestic and abroad, the authors
felt it was an important topic to explore.
And guess what? They found both
assumptions to be true. Not in one, but in
five separate studies.
Recently, I took a ride to Glacier
National Park and then into British
Columbia with a couple of friends.
Writing a review about the route would
have been fun, but this time around I
wanted to meet people along the way,
people who like to ride.
I intuitively understood there is a
common thread that stitches riders
together, be it someone on a “Hog” or
a Ninja. I didn’t test the researchers
assumptions cited, per se, but I was able
to confirm what I have felt for quite some
time: that there is a “trust” that binds
riders together.
Whenever I asked a rider for an
interview, there was never a moment’s
hesitation, likely because I, too, was a
rider.
The following interviews are with
some of those “trusting” people I met
along the way.
I’ll start with Daphne and Nicolle
whom I met near Glacier National Park.
They had stopped for lunch at St. Mary
Nicolle, left, and Daphne, touring Glacier Park.
and were getting ready to leave when they
agreed to talk and pose for a picture.
They’d been on the road for two days,
Daphne aboard a 650 Yamaha V-Star and
who has been riding since 2010, Nicolle
riding a pearl white 2011 Victory Cross
Country, a rider since 2008. Both live
in Spokane, Wash., and said they enjoy
getting out for weekend rides.
On this trip, Nicolle was taking
Daphne to see Glacier National Park
for the first time. Nicolle works as an
accountant and Daphne as an arborist,
a specialist in caring for woody plants,
especially trees.
Nicolle mentioned that a number of
years ago, on her first motorcycle trip,
she learned to ride. She bought a bike
in February of 2008 and was still on the
steep end of the learning curve when,
in July of the same year, she went on
a 10-day ride down Hwy. 101 starting
in Astoria, Ore., down the coast into
California and back.
She said by the end of the trip she
“definitely knew how to ride.” Way to go
Nicolle!
The next couple I met was Aimee
Arvan and William McCann. They were
taking a break at Glacier’s west entrance
and had not yet gone into the park.
They’d found a campsite and had wanted
to set it up before heading in.
I met them as they rested beneath a
tree at the Park’s entrance. It was a hot
day. Both Aimee and William looked
road for about three-and-a-half weeks
when I caught up with them. They’re
destination was Alaska via the ALCAN
Highway, with all kinds of stops along
the way including riding the “Top of
the World” road from Tok, Alaska, to
Dawson in the Yukon Territories. I’ve
ridden that road and it is awesome.
William works as a software engineer
and Aimee creates educational public
health documentary-style videos as
teaching aids on mental health issues.
Both took a leave of absence from their
respective work to make the trip.
I am anxious to send them an e-mail
to find out how the rest of their journey
went. I did a quick calculation and
without knowing their exact route, it’s
likely over a 10,000-mile round trip.
Shelly and Kent Moore on the ferry Osprey
crossing Kootenay Lake.
Aimee and William at
Glacier west entrance
with Bonneville ADV bike.
tired. They’d been
riding two-up on a
Triumph Bonneville,
which William
had converted into
somewhat of an
adventure-tourer.
They had come all the way from
Cambridge, Mass. They’d been on the
After Glacier, we headed up into
British Columbia and took the ferry that
crosses Kootenay Lake from Crawford
Bay to Balfour. It was on the ferry that I
met up with
Kent and
Shelly Moore
of Edmonton,
Alberta.
Shelly
was riding a
2012 HarleyDavidson
Switchback
and Kent a
2009 HarleyDavidson
CVO Ultra
Classic. They’d been on the road for
about four days and were headed to
Nelson for the night. After Nelson it was
on to Revelstoke, then home again to
Edmonton.
Kent has been riding for 30 years
and Shelly for five. The trip was Shelly’s
first long ride and you could tell she was
excited to be on the road.
Kent installs and repairs overhead
garage doors and Shelly is a regional
manager for a retail clothing company.
I noticed both their bikes were in
immaculate condition without a spot of
dirt. I looked over to mine, which was
covered with bugs and other foreign
matter, prompting me to consider
cleaning it up soon.
Kent and Shelly were having the time
of their lives and I could tell Kent was
glad to have Shelly along.
We, too, spent the night at Nelson and
that’s were I met Kevin Wolfe.
Kevin Wolfe with his 1150 RT.
He started riding in 2001 after he
picked up a used 2000 Yamaha V-Star 650
which he traded in for a new 2004 BMW
1150 RT. This past spring he added a 2011
KTM 990 Adventure to his garage.
Kevin rides about 5,000 miles a year
and likes to ride the Canadian Rockies
to Banff, Yoho, Golden and Revelstoke.
He also recommends the route from
Ketchum, Idaho, to Missoula, Mont., then
on up to Kalispell.
Kevin said he likes to ride because it
makes him feel like a kid.
He works for the U.S. Forest Service as
a GIS Services Supervisor in Kettle Falls,
Wash.
He accompanied me and my riding
partner, Lance, back to Kettle Falls. Kevin
is a good rider and he enjoyed taking
the lead along that stretch of wonderful
highway from Kaslo to New Denver.
Wow, does that 1150 RT fly!
See Social, Page 23
PRODUCT REVIEW
September 2014
Michelin PR 4s offer solid performance, extended mileage
By Cole Boehler
and May. Asphalt temperatures were
mostly moderate to cold. In addition,
We’d become a fan of dualabout half the miles were run one-up as
compound Michelin Pilot Road
my pillion healed a broken foot. Weight
tires, designed for heavy touring and
= more heat = accelerated tire wear.
sport-touring bikes; softer rubber at
The Michelin PR 3s weren’t on the
the shoulders for added grip in leans,
market that long before Michelin issued
harder compounds down the middle
an upgrade – the Pilots Road 4s. We
for longer wear running straight up.
spooned on a set at the beginning of
We’ve also consumed Dunlops,
June. As of August 18, we’d logged over
Avons, Pirellis (actually an emergency
6,300 miles on the 4s.
replacement that was unsuitable),
When comparing tires, it is always
Bridgestones (several versions) and
most beneficial to finish one set,
more, but found the Michelins to be the then immediately go out to ride the
top all-around workhorse when it came replacements. Usually the sensation is:
to quality handling and long wear.
“Oh my God, I had no idea how bad
We went though at least four or
the worn out tires had become! The
five sets of the Pilot Road 2s on our
new rubber is awesome!”
heavy sport-tour bike before we tried
As soon as the Michelin PR 4s went
the next-gen Pilot Road 3s. These were
on, we headed out to run the best of
a disappointment mostly in that they
the Wyoming Bighorns, Chief Joseph
were no improvement over the PR 2s,
Scenic Byway and the Beartooth
with the possible exception of better
Highway.
rain performance. They were louder
Our immediate impression was:
and wore relatively quickly at the tire
these tires are very quiet with almost
shoulders, through to the cords in the
zero hum. They are supple and flexible,
last application.
delivering a slightly smoother straightThen we tried a set of the Pirelli
line ride than the Pirellis. They were
Angel GTs. At the end of their life, we
highly stable so surface imperfections
pronounced them the best sport-tour
had little effect on tracking. They
tire we’ve ever run, performing well in
required more of a nudge to initiate a
all circumstances under all conditions
turn, but once tipped into the corner
while delivering 15 percent greater life
line, stayed planted there. In general,
than any other tire we’d sampled.
the bike felt slightly heavier but more
We reported the Angel GTs were
sure-footed.
quiet, light steering yet stable, held
The first 4,500 miles were all run
the cornering line with no effort at
two-up and loaded, perhaps 1,050
pounds under propulsion. This was
June-July and summer temperatures
were typical: 50 to 97 degrees with a lot
of miles at 70 to 90 degrees. We like 3940 pounds-per-square-inch of pressure
up front, 42 PSI out back.
We further abused them on
Montana’s technical Yaak River Road
and the high-stress west shore of Lake
Koocanusa while the PR 4s exhibited
characteristically pleasing qualities.
Not enough? Okay, then across
the northern tier of Washington
pushing the twisties hard, the North
Cascades Highway to the west coast of
Vancouver island, across the alpine and
serpentine roads of southern B.C., back
into Montana and through “The Yaak”
and Koocanusa again.
The asphalt on most of the routes
covered with the PR 4s is chip-sealed
– crushed (re:
sharp and jagged)
gravel glued to
asphalt with tar
The PR 4 rear at 4,000
miles, a slight flattening
for extra winter
down the center but tread
traction. Such a
sipes are still fairly deep.
surface is highgrit and tears
the bars, provided
away at rubber
ample traction when
compounds. We
heeled over, did not
never see mileages
cup or distort, retained
achieved by our
quality handling
southern or urban
characteristics
counterparts. In
throughout their life,
fact, we’ve never
and went to 7,500
gotten more than
miles, 1,000 more than
7,500 miles from
any other tires we’ve
any rear tire,
run on the 635-pound
whereas others
Yamaha FJR, a reputed
routinely report
tire muncher.
10-12,000 and
PR
4
rear
shoulder
exhibiting
some
rubber
In fairness, the
more!
loss and distortion in leading and trailing
Pirellis’ mileage was
By the end
edge of tread blocks at 4,000 miles.
accumulated midof July we were
August until the end of November, then seeing some familiar wear patterns
a couple of times in January, then April on the rear PR 4’s gummy shoulders:
leading
edge of
tread blocks
flaring into
paddle
wheels while
trailing
edges were
being
ground
away by
horsepower
applied in
turn exits,
though not
nearly to the
degree seen
with the
PR3s and 2s.
The tread
centers were
expectedly
PR 4 front looks almost
flattening
pristine at 4,000 miles, just a
and sipes
very slight center flattening
were
with a little rubber loss on
becoming
the soft-compound shoulder.
more
shallow, all
quite normal.
The front, meanwhile, exhibited
very little deterioration to the center
or shoulders and tread wear appeared
entirely stable and uniform – a slight
flattening down the middle but no
had much experience with.
In mid August we
looped Flathead Lake along
with other scenic drives,
bringing mileage to 6,300.
The steering now felt
decidedly heavy as we
pushed the bike off the
flattened center and up
onto the corner that was
forming between the softer
shoulder and harder center
compounds. Through the
curves, at that point, the
bike wanted to stand up
and go straight unless
countering pressure was
applied to the bars.
Once past that transition
At 5,800 miles, the PR 4 front looks like it could
go that far again, just a slight center flattening
and some minor rubber loss and distortion at
the shoulder edges.
At 5,800 miles, the PR 4 rear
has definitely flattened in the
center and a “corner” has
formed between center and
shoulder compounds.
cupping or strange
distortion at all.
However, as we piled
up the miles, at about
3,500 I began
to notice
more muscle
was called for
to get the big
sport-tour
rig to change
directions,
and now
found some
muscle was
required to
keep the bike
on line in the
sweepers –
all typical of With this lighting, the
the old PR 2s “corner” between
and PR 3s we compounds is easily seen.
spot, healed over onto the shoulder, the
bike tracked predictably and with less
effort.
As of our deadline, it looked like
the Michelin PR4 rear would need
replacing within 500 to 1,000 miles. If
it will go 1,000 more,
that would represent
a significant rear tire
mileage increase on
par with the Pirelli
Angel GT. (Our
previous best was
6,500 on a PR2, but
much of that was
early-season and just
two-up.)
The PR 4 front,
however, looks to
be in exceptionally
good condition
Shoulder of PR 4
considering it’s at over
rear at 5,800 miles 6,000 miles. Sipes
is exhibiting some
are still deep and
serious wear with
distortion of tread wear-bars a long way
from becoming flush
block edges.
with the tread. We
see no cupping to speak of, nor weird
distortions in tread block material.
Frankly, we think we could keep
this front through the life of a second
rear. That means up to 12,000 miles, far
better than any other front tire we’ve
ever run.
These Michelin PR 4s are good tires.
See Michelin, Page 19
September 2014
PRODUCT REVIEW
Bridgestone Trail Wings ADV tires work well, only yield average life
By Cole Boehler
Pirelli Scorpion Trails and are heading
for a 1,000-mile adventure tour covering
When we got back from an 1,100-mile about 200-miles of gravel in late August.
Idaho tour July 27, after running some
Read about how the Pirellis performed in
of the gnarliest and most fun pavement
our coming October edition.
in the state, it was clear our Bridgestone
But back to the ‘Stone Trail Wings...
Trail Wing 152 tubeless radial ADV tires
They are said to be a 90/10 or 80/20
were ready for their last rites.
tire: that is, suited for a rider who is off
The rear 150/70 R17 was about 90
pavement perhaps 10 or 20 percent of
percent done.
the time, and that
Another 500
better be improved
miles might be
gravel! Which
squeezed out,
pretty much
but I wasn’t
describes the near
about to try
5,000 miles we put
that while
on these – maybe
running gravel
750-1,000 miles
in Montana’s
of gravel, the rest
boondocks
on pavement, but
(coming Aug.
almost always two23-25). I’ve
up and loaded,
fixed nail
regardless.
punctures on
Beyond straight
the road, but
pavement rubber,
rock punctures
these will offer
are another
some extra grip in
matter! Nope,
gravel or dirt, but
it had done
not much. These
its duty and
are not “knobbies”
needed to be
so are not suited
put to rest.
for unmaintained
Bridgestone Trail Wing rear was close to smooth in
The front
roads or trails
the
center
at
just
short
of
5,000
miles.
We
did
ride
110/80 R19
where deep sand
these another 150 miles after the image was taken.
fared a little
or mud, boulders,
better. It still
ruts or washes
had perhaps 40 percent of its life left so I
might be encountered.
stored its used carcass on the garage shelf
In fact, running a set of these on a
for later use, or to help out another needy section of unmaintained road back in
rider some day.
2010, we hooked a rut and went down
The Bridgestone Trail Wings are the
when the wheels went left and we and
OEM-specific tire for my Suzuki DL-1000 bike went right. They have little in the
V-Strom adventure-touring (ADV) bike.
way of aggressive knobbed tread designed
That was the fifth set fitted to the Strom,
to grip the sidewall of a rut. Stick to
now with a shade over 24,000 on the
pavement or improved, graded gravel
clock.
only.
We’ve been averaging about 5,000
The V-Strom weighs 500 pounds fully
from a rear with some left on the front.
gassed. Now add 350 pounds of people
This pair covered 4,835 miles and had
and luggage, and that’s a lot of weight for
done so with no flats, no problems. They
a 150-width (rear) tire.
usually required a little airing between
Some of the wear and tear can be
uses, maybe two or three pounds.
attributed to relatively high speeds we
It is time to sample something
are allowed in Montana, and to my
different and new. We’ve sourced a set of
sometimes heavy throttle hand. And high
Michelin
from page 18
They are quiet and smooth running. They stick well in
all conditions and inspired confidence in the 500-or-so
miles of rain we ran them in. They held pressures and
we never experienced a flat or other problem. Steering
is a little heavy but the 4s tracked well and lent a stable
feel to the bike’s handling.
Steering began to require more effort at turn
initiation, and more pressure throughout the arc as the
tires wore in, beginning near the 3,500-mile mark.
All that makes the Michelin PR 4s excellent, rivaling
the Pirelli Angels. The Pirellis we finished off June 1
had a noisy front, but retained their light feel and sure,
precise handling characteristics even as we ran them to
the cords.
We’d give the Michelin PR 4 front a solid five-star
satisfaction rating; the rear scores a respectable four
stars. Thus...
Satisfaction rating
(for the set)
speeds usually mean heavy braking, too.
We did use the Trail Wings a lot on
winding pavement and the shoulders
were well scrubbed but still had plenty of
rubber and tread. The center of the rear,
toward the painted stripes.
In fact it took a full day of winding
Idaho pavement before we were correctly
gauging the proper tip-in point and lean
angle to navigate the corners smoothly.
The V-Strom has been used, too, as
our “loaner bike” (experienced riders
only, thank you). Those guest riders have
also found the Trail Wings to work well,
given the riders’ apparently confident
riding and cornering. One rider scrubbed
away all chicken strips and was touching
down pavement feelers on the second day
out.
Trail Wing rear still had ample rubber at the
shoulders where we scrubbed them hard in
the twisties.
however, had flattened and wasn’t far
from bald.
On our last outing, 1,100 miles in
Idaho where we sought the twisties, we
rode the Trail Wings into tight turns at
speed with maximum lean – we touched
“pavement feelers” on both sides – until
there were no chicken strips at the
shoulder edge (rear).
Their grip was reassuring. Never did
we feel anything loose or vague at the
tire/asphalt interface, indicating we were
at the edge of traction.
After several thousand miles on my
heavier, more stable and slower-turning
sport-tour bike, the Trail Wing-shod
V-Strom was surprisingly nimble and it
took some recalibrating of the muscle
memories to get cornering right. Steering
was quite light to the point where it was
easy to begin the arc with too much tipin, requiring a correction as we dove
Front Trail Wing looks like it may have about
40 percent left. It will be stored for a rainy
day. New Pirelli rubber goes on Aug. 20.
The Bridgestones deliver a fairly quiet
ride with minimal hum. The ride is also
more supple – comfortable – than you
might expect from an ADV-purposed
tire.
All things considered, the Bridgestone
Trail Wings perform satisfactorily,
although we’d like to achieve a longer life.
Satisfaction rating:
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PRODUCT REVIEW
September 2014
Long-term updates on NR Rider product reviews; impressions good and bad
By Cole Boehler
Firstgear Onyx saddle bags
In our March 2014 edition we
reviewed the Firstgear Onyx expandable
saddlebags, model 10-7237 in their
catalog (<www.firstgear-usa.com/
images/Spreads-2014FGCatalog.pdf>),
competitively priced at a manufacturer’s
suggested retail of $159.95.
We got to put them to a real-world test
July 25-27 when we took the adventuretouring (ADV) bike to Idaho for three
days and 1,100 miles of back-road
ripping.
We believe in being comfortable while
touring so bring plenty of amenities,
though we left the kitchen sink at home.
So, we wound up with a well-packed
tank bag and tail bag in addition to the
Onyx saddle packs. We released the
zippered expansion panel on one of the
panniers, no need on the other, proof of
this set-up’s versatility and capacity.
The bags were easy to mount and
equally easy to dismount and haul into
the room at the end of the day. The large
exterior side-pockets added additional
capacity while proving handy for quick
access to supplies wanted at roadside.
One idea for Firstgear designers
occurred to us.
The side pouches are fully
plastic-lined, advantageous in most
circumstances – rain for example.
However, we had to stow wet swimsuits
away from our other gear one morning.
The pockets were the logical place but
since they were plastic-lined, the suits
would not dry and came home damp and
funky.
Firstgear: consider incorporating one
pocket without the lining so it will breath
and damp gear may dry while underway.
We liked the over-the-top-of-the-bag
integrated and adjustable cargo straps
with their quick-release buckles. We
found this a convenient way to quickly
store light but bulky jacket liners and
other apparel. The straps also alleviate
some tendency for an expanded bag to
sag.
We had no opportunity to test the
bags’ (or rain covers’) rain worthiness.
Before we left, I added some light foil
heat shielding to the bike-side of the bags
since they would necessarily ride on the
muffler heat shields. I didn’t want to risk
a melt-down. In hindsight, that probably
wasn’t necessary as the bags nor heat
shielding exhibited any heat effects at all.
My passenger had little trouble
mounting and dismounting with the
bags in place, though she did alter the
gymnastics slightly. There was plenty of
room for her calf and foot forward of the
bags.
In our initial review, we gave the
Firstgear Onyx bags a 4.5-star satisfaction
rating. We stand by that rating after our
more intensive field testing. If the bags
had some heat shielding and paint-saving
neoprene, they would rate five stars.
Moto-Montana tank bag
We reviewed the Moto-Montana tank
bag, designed and produced by Helena,
Montana’s Kyle Bryant in the last edition
of NR Rider.
While generally enthusiastic about
the bag, we noted it was designed with
As noted in the
review, there are
swatches of faux suede
material covering
the upper palms and
the area between
the index finger and
thumb which is in
contact with grip ends
and switch pods. This
has worn through but
has no bearing on
functionality; rather
it’s merely cosmetic.
And speaking of
cosmetics, the black
leather has suffered
The Suzuki V-Strom adventure bike not far from Grangeville, Idaho,
July 26, loaded with Firtsgear Onyx saddle bags, plus the Motosome fading, almost
Montana tank bag. The tail pack is a River Road, a superb and highly to a light grey in some
functional piece of luggage (jacket liner strapped to the top). An
sections.
identical bag is now marketed under the Firstgear Onyx label.
We also noted
in the initial review
adventure-touring and dual-sport bikes
a small bit of stitching where the
in mind, so wasn’t an ideal fit with our
sport-tour bike. It is relatively wide at the liner meets the leather at the edge of
the gauntlet – perhaps an inch – had
forward end causing some interference
separated. Happily, it has gotten no worse.
with the relatively narrow and angledWe believe these same gloves are still
back handlebars of the s-t machine.
on
the
market for under $70, and that’s a
We mounted the Moto-Montana bag
good
thing
because, at nine years of age
on our adventure bike for the Idaho tour
and perhaps 50,000 miles of riding, they
mentioned above. Ahh, now it was in its
represent an excellent value and have
true element.
satisfied to the tune of five stars.
The bag is blocky, almost a cube
and so worked perfectly with the wider,
shorter fuel tank style found on most
Draggin Jeans riding pants
ADV and dual-sport bikes. Handlebar
My wife bought me a pair of Kevlarinterference was not an issue.
lined Draggin Jeans about six years ago.
In addition, the sloped contour of the
They have seen regular summertime use
bottom bag bottom – it is 10-inches deep
since then, protecting my lower half for
nearest the rider but just 7.5 inches far
perhaps 25,000 miles. (Reviewed in the
forward – matched the sloping contour of Sept. 2012 NR Rider.)
the ADV bike’s tank.
Marilyn was impressed enough by my
We also took more time to fiddle with
positive opinion that she acquired a pair
the mounting; we got it just right. The
for herself.
bag was snug and secure and did not –
would not – slide around on the tank. It’s
capacity was ample and adequate for our
needs.
One item we failed to note in our July
review: this bag uses some of the most
robust hook-and-loop material we’ve ever
encountered. It takes muscle to make the
mating surfaces part.
The 1000-Cordura textile, along with
Bryant’s meticulous stitching and the
The Kevlar-lined
stout zippers, indicate this bag will enjoy
Draggin Jeans
continue to hold
an extended life.
up well, having
As we wrote last month, as an ADV
even undergone a
bag the Moto-Montana rates 4.5 stars for
personal crash test.
satisfaction. Furnish or make available
exterior pockets (the bag is designed to
accept them) and we easily upgrade the
In 2010, running a stretch of
rating to a solid five stars.
unimproved dirt road, we crashed hard
Bryant did tell us recently he has
at about 25 MPH, landing on our right
designed some prototype exterior pockets side and sliding in the dirt and gravel for
and tried them out on an extended test
30 feet.
tour with very satisfying results.
When it came to the pants, the
only evidence of the crash was perhaps
two or three broken
Power Tripp
threads in the fabric
gloves
covering my right
We reviewed our
knee, hardly noticeable.
heavy winter Power
Marilyn’s were, and are,
Tripp gloves in the
unblemished.
May 2012 edition of
Just as promised,
NR Rider. Two years
the jeans protected our
later and after much
hides. I only had what
additional use, the
appeared to be a minor
gloves continue to
carpet burn on my knee,
perform in a most
evidently the byproduct
satisfactory way:
of skin/Kevlar friction.
Power Tripp Gloves, two years later and
warm, comfortable
Today, tens of
nine years-old, continue to perform. An
and waterproof.
thousands of miles later,
excellent value.
the jeans have held up beautifully, now
exhibiting the patina of favorite, often
laundered denim.
They were soft and comfortable right
out of the package and remain so today.
Draggin Jeans now retail near $100
but, in our view, are well worth it. Clearly
a five-star product.
Arai Quantum helmets
We reviewed the Arai Quantum
helmet we use in the June 2012 edition of
NR Rider.
The
helmet,
which
retailed at
just over
$400 five
years ago,
has held
The editor’s three-year-old
Arai Helmet.
up and
functioned
well. Even the face shield remains clear.
The excellent paint has a few nicks now,
but the vulnerable plastic air intake and
exhaust vents remain intact (I broke, then
lost, one of these with my first Arai).
The interior has been cleaned
thoroughly just once (needs it again) and
the fabric remains in good condition.
When the pads were refitted after the
cleaning, the fit was slightly different, but
not problematic.
Here’s the problem: My wife’s Arai
helmet strap has badly frayed, apparently
from constant contact with the Velcro
material in her jacket neck closure. It
looks like hell but continues to function.
It is quite possible it has weakened,
though.
Editor’s wife’s Arai helmet strap, perhaps six
years old, frayed by contact with the Velcro
jacket neck closure.
The strap on my Arai has also frayed,
but apparently not from contact with
the jacket, but rather because of poor
quality material. This has occurred at the
end of the strap where the male half of
the securing snap resides, rendering it
useless.
This is a shame and unacceptable from
a company with the reputation Arai has
earned. We are now working with the
company for some resolution. We’ll keep
readers posted. A such, we’re giving the
Arai pots a reserved four stars.
The editor’s own helmet strap, also fraying
because...why? Retainer snap no longer
functions.
September 2014
2014
Huge crowd
enjoying “Tim
Montana and
The Shrednecks”.
e go”
h
t
“
r
o
f
g
n
iti
a
Bike parade w
Street.
a
n
a
t
n
o
M
n
dow
~ headed
Raffle Bike: #37 of 50, Evel Knievel
Signature Model 1998 CMC Street
Rider, won by Rhonda Staten of
Butte, Montana.
“It’s better to take a chance in life, to win a victory or suffer
defeat even though scarred by failure...than it is to live in the
shadows of life as some do never knowing a victory or defeat
because they have not the guts to try either”. Evel Knievel
Photographer, Dani Rollison, spotted this
helmet before the bike parade, signed by
Evel and his family. Quite a collector’s item!
www
“Be a Little Twisted” booth, worth a gander...
.evelknieveldays.org
September 2014
Observed Trial riding calls for honed skills, finesse, agility, control
By Ben Getz
NR Rider Contributing Writer
The most recent statistics available
show that close to 2.5 percent of the U.S.
population rides motorcycles.
Though the number of people owning
and riding a motorcycle is still growing,
this is still a very small minority. Now,
cut that 2.5 percent deli-thin, and you
will have one slice that may represent the
number of motorcyclists who participate
in “observed trial” riding.
That is t-r-i-a-l, not trail. Think,
‘trial(s) and tribulations” if you will.
That is actually not far off from what
really defines and separates this facet of
motorcycle enthusiasm from the others.
Though small in number of
participants, trial riding has a high
number of loyal appreciators of the
sport, in and outside of the motorcycling
community.
One can almost think of this aspect
of the sport, which uses specialized
hardware for a special purpose, as the
“ballet” minority of the motorcycle world,
as opposed to the “flash mob” majority.
Trials really got its start in England.
The very first events were held there over
100 years ago. English riders ruled the
sport all the way up until the mid 1970’s
before a non-English rider won the world
championship. Up until the late ‘70’s they
still called it “English Trials” here in the
Northern Rockies.
In the U.S. at the time, the motorcycle
market was all about bigger, better, faster,
and for years any Americans who wanted
to compete seriously in trials had to travel
overseas.
As the 70’s and 80’s saw a rise in
popularity of this quirky aspect of riding,
however, almost every manufacturer
started making purpose-built models
for it, and people in the motorcycle
community pulled up a lawn chair and
took notice.
It would be fair to say that an offshoot,
or maybe more like an inbred cousin
of trial riding, can be seen in the now
popular stunting of high horsepower
street bikes wowing crowds at bike shows,
fairs, carnivals and other venues.
Observed Trial riding has remained
rather a more pure form of the sport – no
big money and few sponsorships to be
had in comparison to Moto-X. Most of
the participants’ time and travel expenses
are out-of-pocket.
We are fortunate to have the Inland
North West Trials Association (INWTA)
going now for a good 20 years, setting up
Observed Trial is less bone jarring than MX riding, thus making it appeal to a broader spectrum
of trans-generational riders. Here, Mark Palmer from the Seattle area, shows how, regardless of
age, trials riding still requires strength, concentration and finesse. their events right in the Columbia Basin’s
dusty back yard several times a year.
Based out of Walla Walla and
Spokane, Wash., the early spring events
in Connell include rounds for the larger
Pacific Northwest Trials Association
(PNTA), and the season continues with
dates and events throughout Washington
with an Idaho and Montana event added
to the mix.
As a matter of fact, U.S. Trials really
has its roots in the Pacific Northwest.
The start of the craze and most organized
events stemmed from the Walla Walla
region and west side of Washington, then
California, and it eventually spread across
the country. In the heyday of U.S. Trial
competitions, most of the top 10 riders
were from the our corner of the country.
What are these events like today?
The atmosphere in the early, dusty
dawn is like a large family camping
trip; dogs and kids shuffle around and
the smell of wood smoke fills the air
as huddled groups sip coffee around a
fire and try to drive off the early chill.
RV’s big and small, tents, trailers, or
folks camping out in their vehicles are
circled in small groups throughout the
sagebrush.
Everyone is friendly and there is a
low frequency buzz of excitement among
those facing the first day of competition.
Most know each other even though they
may have traveled hundreds of miles
from opposite directions to be here.
Some have driven for hours through
the late evening and are slow going in
the morning, so they try not to start the
mandatory riders’ meeting too early.
Another seasoned rider, Bellingham, Wash., resident Bill Thompson, whose age is north of 70,
shows some of the whippersnappers the correct line through the course at this spring 2014 event
in Connell, Wash. Thompson is a lifelong trials rider who holds several U.S. Trials Championships
in the senior division.
Dedicated volunteers from the
organization have spent many hours in
advance to lay out the course markers
– colored ribbons that demarcate the
different routes for novices, intermediate
and expert classes.
A trials motorcycle is unique and
purpose-built for only this type of riding.
As the machines of all ages fire to
warm up in the chilly morning, the air
combo pitches angles in mid-air to land
squarely...balanced all the while on the
foot pegs.
It is not about speed or outright
power, but finesse, agility, and control.
While overall cost to get into
Observed Trial competition is lower
than say, club racing a sport-bike, there
are some very specialized and expensive
consumables, like the tires for instance.
Gummy enough to adhere to almost
any surface, yet deeply treaded for
traction in the loose stuff, they are pretty
pricey for high-end ones. In the effort to
lighten the machine as much as possible,
elements such as aluminum, titanium and
carbon fiber are profoundly in evidence...
and that stuff is not cheap.
At this season’s second Connell event,
I met many interesting characters, true
ambassadors of the sport and some who
have been involved in U.S. Trial since
they began back in the 70’s.
They even have a vintage class of
competition where faithfully maintained
or restored bikes from the 60’s and 70’s
still compete, some older than the riders
themselves.
A few of them are real collectible
museum-quality pieces like Athena,
Oregon’s Nate Ewer and his ‘73 Hodaka
Combat Wombat. He competes on a 1975
Kawasaki KT-250 trials bike, but rides
Moving slowly and never putting a foot down would be hard enough if riding freely through
this terrain. However, to hew to the clearly defined course requires an additional skill set and
constant concentration, as demonstrated by Bill Thompson.
fills with a light blue haze and becomes
redolent with the unmistakable smell of
Castrol as it burns in these still mostly
two-stroke machines. The type of power
delivery needed to perform as they do is
aided by this form of combustion, though
four-stroke models are now being made
and sold.
The gear that many riders wear is not
much different than the dirt bike crowd,
though generally less restrictive as fluidity
of motion is required and the speeds
seldom exceed that of a fast walk.
Riders still face a serious fall or slide
down steep rocks, but even then they
may only be wearing a hoodie and jeans,
so the rules are fairly lax in this regard,
though a good helmet is always in place.
It is difficult to define in few words
what a trial rider attempts to execute for
the judges: smoothness, not too fast, not
too slow, do not put a wheel wrong, do
not put a foot down, balance on one foot
on the foot pegs, ride on one wheel ...
defy gravity!
Seriously, that is what seemingly
happens, especially in the expert
classes as sheer, vertical rock faces are
crept up or leapt up and the rider/bike
the old Wombat around to delight the
knowing onlookers.
Age has no bearing in Observed Trial
competition. In some southern states
there are practically toddler classes, but
the age range here is mostly from the
teens to near 70.
I talked with one of the oldest riders,
65-year-old Brian Sporleder from
Meridian, Idaho, whose wife, Leslie,
follows him around from course to
course on her own bike.
Though there are not many female
competitors, one is relative newcomer,
Jillian Neff, who does amazingly well for
only two years at this, and her famous
Northwest off-road racer husband, Paul,
is going to compete in the International
Trial event in Scotland later this year. (He
is several times a medalist in the Six Day
Enduro overseas.)
All are part of the interesting,
passionate, and eclectic crowd that make
up this unique sport. Check it out at an
event near you coming soon!
For more information contact Jack
Cosgrove at 509-520-3494 or Tyler
Cosgrove, 509-386-8892, <inwta@live.
com>, or visit <www.inwta.com.>
September 2014
Social
red Harley-Davidson Tri-Glide Ultra Classic
and it sounded great.
from page 17
At Kettle Falls, Kevin showed us his
KTM 990. You have to be “tall in the saddle”
to ride one of those, but given Kevin’s
ranginess, he had no trouble. Oh, for a
longer inseam...
Outside Nakusp, B.C., we stopped
for a break at a small quasi outdoor café/
restaurant. In the parking lot my eye caught
sight of a Honda CBR 1000RR, the envy of
the superbike crowd. Next to the CBR was a
Harley-Davidson Dyna Low Rider.
Sitting at table taking a break were Ray
and Sharon Koop from Surrey, B.C. Surrey is
a Vancouver suburb.
The CBR belonged to Ray
and the Dyna Low Rider was
Sharon and Ray Koop, and with
their rides.
Sharon’s. Prior to her current
bike, she owned a 1994 Harley.
Sharon said she prefers Harleys,
though she mentioned that they
can be a bit heavy.
Ray began riding back in
1966 and Sharon has been
riding for over 20 years. Both
now enjoy summer trips since
Ray is recently retired. Sharon and Ray enjoy
taking the back roads whenever possible.
They’d just come from Kelowna, B.C., and
were headed home.
Ray said he loves his CRB and said it’s the
nicest sport bike he’s ever owned. I nodded
my head and scratched my chin, knowing
what he said was true, but I knew I couldn’t
be trusted on one. I like speed too much.
Just as we were about to leave, up rode
a fellow on a trike. It was a beautiful cherry
convicted cocaine smuggler, and he sure
could use some of the original equipment off
the Ural like a DP-28 light machine gun to
mount on the side car.
His Ural was a 2010, 750 and he said
that Dave Hooker, “Mr. Cob” on Adventure
Rider and Soviet Steeds, who runs a web
page forum for Ural and Dnepr motorcycle
enthusiasts, helped him with modifications
such as a skid plate, bumper and a real twin
shift set up.
Gaétan with his Ultra Tri-Glide.
The gentleman was French and I couldn’t
get enough of his accent. His first name was
Gaétan. He said he’d been riding for over
47 years and his favorite rides were around
Nelson, B.C. He currently lives in Kelowna.
Gaétan said that
he rides a lot, and has
over 195,000 kilometers
(121,000 miles) on his
trike. He said he likes
it and that it handles
pretty well, but it’s a little
harder on the shoulders.
He rides a trike now
due to an injury and the
trike helps out with his
balance.
He was very proud
of the machine and it
was spotless. It looked
as if it had about 10
miles, oops, I mean 10
kilometers, on it.
In Republic,
Wash., I caught sight
of someone on a Ural
with a sidecar and I
just had to stop. The guy had just pulled up
outside of an ice cream parlor. He put the
bike in reverse and parallel parked.
He wore a green army coat that came
almost to his knees, leather gloves, blue
bandana and large dark blue sunglasses.
What an outfit!
The man’s name was Dave Orchard,
from Rose Valley, Wash., formally known
as Felony Flats. He said, with a grin, that
he lives between the drug dealer and the
Minnesotans Dan, left, and Don, touring on
their H-Ds.
Dave Orchard with a Ural side-hack.
A Dnepr is a Russian motorcycle that has
been manufactured in Kiev, since 1946.
Dave rides his Ural pretty much yearround and says that you need a tough
constitution to do so. In addition to the Ural,
Dave has owned a BSA 441, a 1937 Harley
ULH Flathead that was chopped, and 1942
H-D Army WLA model among many, many
others.
But, due to youthful indiscretion,
involving brown liquor and V-twins, he said,
he is now confined to a motorcycle with a
sidecar.
I mentioned I liked his coat and he said,
“You could say it looks pretty much like
something you’d see on the eastern front
during World War II.”
Dave was loads of fun to talk to and I
wish I’d had more time. I know I’ll give him
a heads-up the next time I’m going through
Republic.
Every trip comes to an end, so I stopped
at the truck stop in Rocker, Mont., just
minutes from home, to fuel up. That’s where
I met Dan Hughes and Don Lafferty from
Lake Park and New York Hills, Minn.
Dan is 71 and has lived in Minnesota
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his entire life. Don his lived there about
45 years. They met up five years ago and
realized they had a common interest –
motorcycles.
Dan rides a 2014 Harley Limited and
Don a Harley Road King. They’ve been
riding motorcycles about 50 years. Both Dan
and Don mentioned that they’d owned just
about every make of motorcycle out there,
but prefer Harleys.
After being on the road for six days they
were headed home. They averaged about
450 miles per day and said the trip had been
perfect, plus the weather had cooperated as
well – no rain.
I asked them how they were enjoying
their trip and both Dan and Don said that
Montana was about the best state to be on a
motorcycle and that Flathead Lake was the
prettiest lake in the whole country.
I learned that Dan owned a company
that does computer networking and Don
was a recently retired farmer who had raised
hogs.
I asked if they’d met many interesting
people along the way and their answer was
quite fitting; you’d think they had a hand in
scripting this article.
Dan summed it pretty well saying,
“There’s a camaraderie among bikers.
They’re all pretty friendly people, you don’t
run into very many that aren’t.”
Camaraderie is much like trust; it’s very
special, and we who ride don’t need five
research studies to figure it out.
I smiled and waved so long to Dan and
Don as they rode off for home.
has been a helpful
“Northern Rockies Rider
couple of years
business partner the last
and effectiveness
with our advertising cost
newly redone
but also in promoting the
gwotee Trail to
highway, known as the To
Yellowstone.”
James Jackson, Owner,
Lava Mountain Lodge
near Dubois, Wyoming
“The best advertising dollars we’ve
ever spent!”
Savanna Funk, Hotel Manager at
Kaslo Hotel in Kaslo,
British Columbia, Canada
ertis“NRR is the best resource for adv
of riders
ing to an isolated demographic
region.”
in the northern Rocky Mountain
Maps
Court Butler, Co-Owner of Butler
Colorado
BUTLERMAPS
Contact Dani at 406-490-8472
[email protected]
om
www.butlermaps.c
butlermaps.co
September 2014
‘Trouble ahead, trouble behind...”
Maybe Casey Jones had it right
Trouble ahead, trouble behind
Trouble with you is the trouble with me
Got two good eyes but we still don’t see...
– Grateful Dead, “Casey Jones”
By Stacey “Ax” Axmaker, Director
Idaho STAR Motorcycle Safety
Program
Cars and
trucks following
motorcycle
riders can be
a hazard –
especially when
we slow down
or stop and they
don’t.
It seems as
if drivers are becoming more and more
distracted in recent years with phone
conversations, texting, checking e-mail
or other distractions. This means that we
shouldn’t expect the drivers behind us to
quickly notice – see – that we are slowing
down.
Yes, I know…they should, but based
on actual experience in traffic, it isn’t
reasonable to expect it.
Here are a few tips for using your
lights to give those drivers an early
warning.
Normal slowing –
Many of us are in the habit of
slowing down with just the throttle or
downshifting to a lower gear and using
engine braking. There is nothing wrong
with these methods of slowing, but we
have to remember that neither of these
methods active our brake light.
When slowing (or even before you
begin to slow) without the brakes, tap
your brake pedal just enough to activate
the brake light. This gives a visual cue to
the drivers
behind you.
There’s
Stacey “Ax” Axmaker
still no
Director Idaho STAR
guarantee
that they’ll
Motorcycle Safety
see it and
Program
respond, but
a flashing
brake light
makes the
driver more likely to notice that you are
slowing down.
Comprehensive 500 Page Touring Guide
Now sale priced at $29.95
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Learn how to “Ride your Ride” like a pro!
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When preparing to turn, such as at
an intersection, into a driveway, etc., the
driver behind you may be unaware that
you plan to turn and your slowing may
take them by surprise.
Get your turn signal on before you
begin to slow down and use the technique
above if you don’t use the brakes to slow.
Again, there is no guarantee that the
drivers will notice the turn signal and
respond, but they are more likely to if you
signal early.
My goal when riding is to get in the
See Trouble, Page 25
• Get the most out of your bike
Slowing to make a turn –
• Maximize turning and braking
abilities
• Obstacle Avoidance
• Make safety a priority in your ride
Group and club rates available
For more information
1-800-922-BIKE
http://motorcycle.msun.edu
Registration
Now Open
MSUN ARC Ad.indd 1
7/28/11 9:20 AM
Don’t bet on
being seen.
Drive Aware!
http://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/dot_safety/motorcycle_safety_program.html
September 2014
Sept. 6-7 Montana 500 rally plans are finalized
The Last Chance Riders Motorcycle
Club of Helena, Mont., has finalized plans
for its first annual Montana 500 “Easter
Egg” Rally, but the date has been set for
September rather than April and the
“eggs” will be scattered all over Montana. Rally riders will have from 8 a.m. until
6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6 (in the case of
the one-day rally) or until 6 p.m. Sunday,
Sept. 7 (in the case of the two-day rally)
to collect as many eggs as possible, using
a camera for their “basket.” Eggs will have different values,
according to how far you have to travel
from Helena to find them and according
to how easily they may be accessed
(paved or dirt road), and it is up to riders
to devise the most efficient route to their
Jon Chacopulos, Montana 500 Rally Master.
objectives to maximize points collected. Finish pins will be available for the
first 100 finishers, and trophies will be
awarded to the top points earners in each
of the one- and two-day events. Rally registration begins at 7 a.m. at
rally headquarters on the west end of
Helena’s K-Mart parking lot on Cedar
Ave. Registration the morning of the rally
is $15, and preregistration is $10. To preregister, download and fill
out the registration form from the Last
Chance Riders Motorcycle Club website,
<lastchanceriders.weebly.com>, and mail
it in to the address indicated. For further information, contact
RallyMaster Jon Chacopulos at 406-4425730.
2014 Testicle Festival featured 1 WheelRevolution, much more
By Dani M. Collins-Rollison
NR Rider Staff Writer
from page 24
habit of “turn signal before brake lights.”
That way I’m hopefully getting their
attention before I’ve even started to slow
down.
If you are rear-ended in traffic, it
is almost always caused by the driver
behind. However, even if that kind of
crash isn’t your fault, it’s much better to
not have the crash at all.
In more general terms, the reality
is that “stuff happens” when you ride a
motorcycle. Rider’s fault, driver’s fault,
nobody’s fault… Things sometimes go
awry.
Prevention, good judgment and
avoidance skills are great (and we do
spend quite a bit of time on mental skills,
perception, early action, etc., in our Basic
I, Basic II, and Experienced Courses here
in Idaho).
But “stuff ” still happens. I, like
a lot of folks, work very hard to
prevent and avoid crashes. However,
I realize that even if all crashes
were somehow preventable (and I
am not convinced that they are),
it is unlikely that I will execute the
correct preventative actions 100
percent of the time for the rest of my
riding career.
So, I always have on my riding
gear and carry lots of insurance.
As I recall sliding down the asphalt
ng, British Columbia
Idaho, Montana, Wyomi
FREE
and Alberta
Take one home!
Serving Washington,
“Your Northern Rocky
Volume 1, Number 4
”
Mountain Riding Authority
al Communications
• July, 2012 • A Continent
250
qwestoffice.net • 406-498-3
Publication • contcom@
ry Figure 8
Yaak and Kootenai Count
The Best Loops
in Montana?
is
and
and
trees
Who
a tour to find
a
or
hours
within
the plan on the rocks
of moisture this high country
day?
receives.
wife
to ride one of
feet
– perhaps
the favorite.
hundreds high.
with
visiting
been
We have
Rockies
best-ofBoth
of riders from the Northern
people.
few
are
there
we are based
are
508.
“Oh yes,
and
in Montana, most observe:
present in large numbers
to) the
bears
for any distant.
the Yaak
in Glacier
one- or
would suppose
ne Park” and moose. We
style of two-wheeled machine,
that is meant to be
were
Kootenai
and
probably
on
and
easier
Park,” or substitute “Yellowsto
and
wolves are present
some truth: “If
two-up; just take it slower
here, as in the
parts, the
those
these
rest of the state.
before search
but have you
be
numerous times, but I would
Kootenai
and rescue does.”
since it can be routes
another
striping
Country?”
most of this
broken and rough and lacking is
ticket, eh?
bike/rider or several. In
But, sounds like just the
engineering
“Huh? Where’s that?”
service.
Corner
phone
and signage.
country there is no cell
are “blind”
hours away.
unpredictable and many
See Loops, Page 9
timber and
be 100 miles
where
roadside.
and close to
By Cole Boehler
Subscribe
Today!
By Dottie Rankin
Rock Creek Lodge’s annual Testicle Festival kicked off
this year with more bands and entertainment that ever
before. According to Jared Spiker, the Entertainment Director
for Testy Festy, conducted at Rock Creek Lodge 20 miles
east of Missoula July 31-Aug. 3, the highlight of this year’s
event (with the exception of the wet T-shirt contest, of
course) was a talented group from Spokane, Wash., called 1
WheelRevolution.
Rob and Pat from 1WheelRevolution “wowed” the crowd
with a variety of breath-taking stunts on crotch rockets...
until they switched to their V-twins. They did everything from standing on the bike, sitting
on the handle bars with their feet dangling over the front, to
burn outs and much more. They had the crowd going from 3
p.m. until 10 p.m., only taking a few breaks in between. 1 WheelRevolution entertaining the Testy Festy crowd on their V Twins. Jared
Another of the new events was gold fish racing. Just as
Spiker photo
it sounds, gold fish were sold and then raced. They raised
the best addition to Testy Fest since I have been there the past
over $1,000 for their favorite non-profit, “Testicular Cancer
eight years”
Society.”
Spiker concluded, “All in all it was a successful event with no
Again, emcee and Events Planner, Shawn Whitney from
incidents thanks to our wonderful security staff. Can’t wait for
Rockstar Radio, kept the crowd entertained with his constant
next year!”
banter and unique sense of humor. Spiker told me, “Shawn is
Trouble
Don’t Miss a
Single
Issue...
many years ago right after some “stuff
happened,” I knew the asphalt didn’t care
why I crashed, whether it was my fault
or whether I could have, or should have,
prevented it.
The asphalt didn’t care. It just kept
grinding into and tearing away at my
riding gear.
So, yes, each of us can keep learning
and doing better with our perception,
judgment, and prevention. We can keep
our emergency skills (maximum braking,
swerving, cornering) well practiced and
sharp. We can even take rider training
and refresher courses.
Even with all that, “stuff ” can still
happen…rider’s fault, driver’s fault,
nobody’s fault.
I don’t know when…I don’t know
where…and I don’t really even know if.
But I know it has happened in the past to
me (and to many riders that I know), and
know it can happen again.
So, I choose to gear up. That way, if
and when and where the “stuff ” happens,
500+ pages!
If you would like direct
home mail delivery,
send your name, mailing
address, telephone
number, e-mail address
and $25 to:
Northern Rockies Rider,
MT 59701, or contact us at
<[email protected]>
Canadian subscriptions
are $50.
Dottie Rankin.
Riding the
Ho Chi Minh
Trail
Two aspects to
Motorcycle
Safety
MT 59701
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Page 17
Page 15
Permit No. 93
Livingston, MT
Don’t ride like a kid!
Take a Basic RiderCourse
Quit Dreaming, Come Ride!
I have a better chance of walking away
instead of being hauled away.
It is my wish that you prevent and
avoid all crashes. And if some “stuff
happens” and you don’t avoid the
crash, it is my wish that you survive the
experience in the best condition possible.
Ride well, ride safe, ride lots.
– About Stacey “Ax” Axmaker:
He is the director of Idaho STAR and
publishes a web site and blog at <www.
RideMoreCrashLess.com> (“Ride More –
Crash Less”). 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 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. “Ax”
currently rides a 1997 Honda Valkyrie
tourer.
Comprehensive Touring
Guide
and
Dad, Alzheimer ’s disease
es.
the powerful effect of motorcycl
a
of my dad, his
story
personal
my
is
lot of statistics. This
es fit into all it all.
illness and how his motorcycl
are,
you
who
is
it
you,
part of
motorcycle it becomes a
a
matter if you have ridden
es get in
or a lifetime. Motorcycl
and
made of.
and I have proof.
was diagnosed with
2009.
daughter and author Alzheimer ’s in
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For more information
1-800-922-BIKE
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MSUN ARC Ad.indd 1
MSUN ARC Ad.indd 1
7/28/11 9:20 AM
September 2014
Passenger Perspective
In an equal relationship, a ‘boys trip’ to Sturgis ain’t free
By Marilyn Irey
NRR Contributing Writer
If I can’t find male dancers
performing nearby, I’ll just have
to call my cousins in Vegas. This
I started hearing hints a few
quality entertainment is always
months ago, things along the lines of,
playing Vegas and I will have many
“I’m thinking about going to Sturgis
more opportunities for shows, a little
this year. I
gambling,
should cover
work on
Sturgis for the
my tan,
paper.”
shopping...
Then one
who knows?
Marilyn Irey
evening when
Besides I can
Contributing Writer
I ran into
get a direct
crony Joe
flight for a
Moma, he
reasonable
confirmed the
fee.
plan. “I hope
As long as
you’re not mad the Old Man is going
I’m out of town I will need to check on
to Sturgis with us.” I knew from the
some things I’ve been wanting... Miata
start there was no “we” involved in
or a Mustang? Shelby Mustang? Our
this adventure.
credit is good, I think.
So, what’s a gal do when the ride
Also the furniture is getting a little
leaves home without you?
shabby so I’ll just order a few pieces
Steps one and two: put a spot
to be delivered before the Old Man
tracker on the bike and take out more
gets back. I like to patronize my local
life insurance on the Old Man.
merchants so I should probably get
The possibilities for me seemed
another room of furniture and look
virtually endless, but most important,
into that kitchen remodel. I’m going to
fun has to be on the agenda! Darn,
love that new professional range.
is he only going for six days? My
Being the ever practical person, I
developing plans needed waaaay more need all new motorcycle gear. Mine
than six days to accomplish.
doesn’t match so I’m getting all the
First, call in sick or at least take
same brand this time. I likely deserve
some vacation while the Old Man is
both Aerostich and leathers.
gallivanting.
As long as I’m at the bike shops I
How convenient, Paul McCartney
should sit on some of the bikes. I think
is playing in Missoula and I know
the saddle of that H-D Ultra Classic
someone with a ticket. So what if it’s
fits just right. Time to call the paper
in the $250 range and it’s on the night
and put the second bike in the “For
Cole is due home? I had offered tickets Sale” classifieds.
for his birthday months ago and can
Since I don’t want to look like the
enjoy this anyway. I can always call
“Old Lady,” I need some serious “me
one of our nieces for a bed if there
time.” A massage, body wrap, facial
aren’t any hotel rooms left.
and hair treatment should be nice.
Wow, maybe I need to check out
I’m worth it and deserve the makethe schedule for the Chippendales or
up make-over, too. He’ll be doubleThunder From Down Under. Be sure
checking that he has the right house!
to put on the to-do list: “Get plenty of
As long as I’m looking fine, I need
fives at the bank.” This is going to need to go out to the local biker bar. I think
some female companions so I need to
I should call Brandy to go with; Joe
call his sisters who love to have a good Moma wouldn’t mind if she had some
time. Maybe this should be my treat
fun, too. We could even get invited
to them. After all, they say they will
to go to Sturgis, especially if we flash
claim me in any divorce settlement.
credit cards!
Don’t Miss a
Single Issue...
Serving Washington,
ng, British Columbia
Idaho, Montana, Wyomi
and Alberta
All of this running around would
be exhausting. I really need to focus
on some easy things as well. I have my
ever-ready supply of maps and have
planned the next five weekends of
motorcycle trips for two. I also need to
research trips to New Zealand and the
Inside Passage cruise to Alaska.
I think I should rent “Easy Rider”
and invite my cooking pals over. Any
movie can be fun with the right people
and enough wine. Maybe we’ll have
some great tasting left-over food so I
won’t have to cook when he gets home.
If he knows what to do and wants
to try Sturgis again, there needs to be
some new Black Hills Gold jewelry in
the saddle bag for me!
Editor’s note: I swear! I didn’t have
any fun! It was all work... (heh, heh).
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
1–
.
g
Au
,
nfo
i
e
mor
c
s
@cu 2-9818
o
f
in
99
800-
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Take one home!
“Your Northern Rocky
Volume 1, Number 4
”
Mountain Riding Authority
tal Communications
• July, 2012 • A Continen
250
qwestoffice.net • 406-498-3
Publication • contcom@
try Figure 8
Yaak and Kootenai Coun
The Best Loops
in Montana?
is
and
and
trees
Who
find
to
a tour
hours or a
within
rocks
the
on
country
plan
the
of moisture this high
day?
receives.
wife
to ride one of
feet
– perhaps
the favorite.
hundreds high.
with
visiting
been
We have
Rockies
best-ofBoth
of riders from the Northern
people.
few
are
there
we are based
are
508.
“Oh yes,
and
in Montana, most observe:
present in large numbers
to) the
bears
for any distant.
the Yaak
in Glacier
or
would suppose
two-wheeled machine, onePark” and moose. We
meant to be
of
is
ne
style
that
“Yellowsto
were
Kootenai
and
Park,” or substitute
and easier on
wolves are present and probably the
some truth: “If
two-up; just take it slower
here, as in
parts, the
those
these
rest of the state.
before search
but have you
be
numerous times, but I would
Kootenai
and rescue does.”
since it can be routes
another
striping
Country?”
broken and rough and lacking
ticket, eh?
several. In most of this
or
the
just
like
bike/rider
sounds
that?”
is
But,
g
“Huh? Where’s
service.
and signage. Corner engineerin
country there is no cell phone
are “blind”
hours away.
unpredictable and many
See Loops, Page 9
timber and
be 100 miles
where
roadside.
and close to
By Cole Boehler
Subscribe
Today!
I Ride & I Understand
Call for a Free Consultation
509-924-4825
By Dottie Rankin
and
Dad, Alzheimer’s disease
es.
the powerful effect of motorcycl
a
his
personal story of my dad,
lot of statistics. This is my
es fit into all it all.
illness and how his motorcycl
is who you are,
it
you,
of
part
a
motorcycle it becomes
a
matter if you have ridden
get in
or a lifetime. Motorcycles
and
made of.
and I have proof.
was diagnosed with
2009.
daughter and author Alzheimer’s in
If you would like direct home mail
delivery, send your name, mailing
address, telephone number, e-mail
address and $25 to: Northern Rockies
Rider, 914 Holmes Ave., Butte, MT 59701,
or contact us at <[email protected]>
Canadian Subscriptions are $50
Dottie Rankin.
MT 59701
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Permit No. 93
Livingston, MT
Two aspects to
Motorcycle
Safety
Page 15
Riding the
Ho Chi Minh
Trail
Page 17
m
.co
n
i
s
i
crud.com
r
e
ust ters
For
t
visi
14
0
2
,
10
CHUCK T. CONRAD
9011 E. Valleyway Spokane Valley
www.LawShark.com
September 2014
We’ve been waiting...
Butler Maps production proliferating;
now new Southern Appalachia map
It had to happen... America’s
premier motorcycle map maker,
Butler Maps, has just released their
newest cartographical tour de force, a
Southern Appalachia map.
According to Court Butler, ramrod
at Butler Maps (<butlermaps.com>),
“This map highlights the best paved
roads in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee,
North Carolina and South Carolina.
Roads like “The Tail of the Dragon”
and Cherehola Skyway are just the tip
of the iceberg.
“The Butler Maps team rode into
every nook and cranny of the region
in search of not only the popular rides
but the obscure back roads that only
the most seasoned locals know about.
All of them are on this map.”
NR Rider, having toured much of
this country last fall, can testify as to
the superb quality of riding in that
region, but also as to the apparent
difficulty of mapping and grading the
best motorcycle roads there, simply
because there are so many of them.
Butler told NR Rider, “We exhausted
a bunch of bikes creating this one –
almost 50,000 miles ridden over the
course of one-and-a-half years. It’s our
most in-depth, comprehensive map
yet.
“There are more gold-rated rides in
this part of the country than any area
we have ridden to date. It’s been a long
time coming and now it’s available for
pre-order. Slap on some new tires and
make room in your fall schedule. It’s
time to ride!”
Events Calendar
National
Fame Weekend, Edmonton, Chateau
Lacombe Hotel, 10111 Bellamy Hill Rd. NW,
Mike Harwood, <[email protected]>
• Oct. 15-19 - American International
Motorcycle Expo, Orlando, Fla., Orange
Co. Convention Center, 855-527-4697,
<aimexpousa.com>
British Columbia
• Sept. 13 - Port Alberni Toy Run, Glenwood
Center, 250-731-4728,
<[email protected]>,
<members.shaw.ca/toyrun>
• Sept. 21 - Salmon Run MC Rally, Vancouver,
Trevor Deeley Motorcycles, 1875 Boundary
Rd., <[email protected]>
2015
• March 6-15 - Daytona Bike Week, Daytona,
Fla., <daytonabikeweek.com>
• June 13-21 - Laconia Motorcyckle Week,
Laconia, N.H., <laconiamcweek.com>
• June 15 - Ride Your Motorcycle to Work Day,
<ridetowork.org>
• July 23-25 - BMW Motorcycle Owners of
America national convention, Billings, Mont.
• Aug. 3-9 - 75th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle
Rally, Sturgis, So. Dak.,
<sturgismotorcyclerally.com>
Idaho
• Sept. 11-14 - Roads and Trails Rally Series
(Christian), Kamiah, Lewis-Clark Resort,
4243 Hwy. 12., <cmafastlanetalk.org>
• Sept. 12-14 - Big Nasty Hill Climb, Payette,
4933 Big Willow Creek Rd., Rob,
208-573-4255, <[email protected]>,
<bignastyhillclimb.com>
• Sept. 12-14 - ABATE of Southern Idaho Fall
Closer, Meridian, Legendary Custom Cycles,
6305 N Blackcat Rd., 208-495-3645
Alberta
• Sept. 6 - CMDRA Prairie Nationals,
Edmonton, Castrol Raceway, <cmdra.com>
• Sept. 7 - Vintage MC Swap Meet,
Calgary, Millarville Racetrack, Bobby
Baum, 403-230-9269, <facebook.com/
MillarvilleVintageMotorcycleSwapMeet>
• Sept. 26-28 - Canadian Motorcycle Hall of
Fame Weekend, Edmonton, Chateau
Lacombe Hotel, 10111 Bellamy Hill Rd. NW,
Mike Harwood, <[email protected]>
• Sept. 27 - CMDRA Season Finals, medicine
Hat, MHDRA Drag Strip, <cmdra.com>
• Sept. 26-28 - Canadian Motorcycle Hall of
Montana
• Aug. 26-27 - Night Time Hill Climb, Billings,
3630 Old Blue Creek Rd., 406-656-9960,
406-860-8001, <billingsmotorcycleclub.us>
• Sept. 6 - Last Chance Montana 500
long-distance rally, Helena, K-Mart parking
lot, Bob Walker, 406-461-0523,
<[email protected]>
• Sept. 6-7 - Fall Classic Motocross, Billings,
BMC Grounds, 3630 Old Blue Creek Rd.,
406-652-4230, <billingsmotorcycleclub.us>
• Sept. 13 - Four-Stroke Singles National
Owners Club Thumpercafe, Ingomar,
Jersey Lilly, Jack Robinson, 620-663-1869,
<[email protected]>, <fssnoc.org>
• Sept. 20-21 - Coyote Cros Country:
Montana XC Series, Billings, BMC Grounds,
3630 Old Blue Creek Rd., 406-930-1373,
<billingsmotorcycleclub.us>
• Sept. 28 - Fall Hill Climb, Billings,
3630 Old Blue Creek Rd., 406-249-7800,
• Oct. 5 - Four Hour Marathon Race,
3630 Old Blue Creek Rd., 406-855-9988,
• Nov. 21-23 - Progressive international
Motorcycle Show, Seattle, Washington State
Convention Center, 800 Convention Place,
<motorcycleshows.com.seattle>
South Dakota
• 2015 - Aug. 3-9 - 75th Annual Sturgis
Motorcycle Rally, Sturgis, So. Dak.,
<sturgismotorcyclerally.com>
Washington
• Sept. 6-7 - Highlander Iron Horse
Rally, Kelso, 208 Oak St., 360-270-4613,
<[email protected]>
• Sept. 13 - Speed & Sport National
Vintage Trials Series, Fairfield, Rattlers Run,
<[email protected]>, <dev.ahrma.org>
• Sept. 13 - Harvest Festival Run, Grand
Coulee, Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber
of Commerce, Peggy Nevsimal,
509-633-3074,
<grandcouleedam.org/harvestfestival>
• Sept. 13-14 - 30th Port Alberni Toy Run and
Poker Run, Little Qualicum Falls, Glenwood
Ceneter, 250-731-4728,
<[email protected]>
• Sept. 14 - AHRMA Vintage Motocross,
Fairfield, Rattlers Run,
<[email protected]>, <dev.ahrma.org>
• Sept. 28 - Oyster Run, Anacortes,
<oysterrun.org>
• Oct. 11, 25, Nov. 8, 22, 29, Dec.
13 - NW Extreme Flattrack Racing,
Puyallup, fairgrounds, 253-422-4263,
<mickeyfaysraces.com>
• Oct. 26 - Halloween Swap Meet, Spokane,
Humane Society, 6607 N Havana St.,
<nwclassicmotorcycleclub.com>
Wyoming
• Aug. 25 - Snowy Range Fire Ride, Rawlins,
1602 Inverness, Chad Brisk, 307-328-4596
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.
g
Motorcyclin
First Edition
Montana
sive Guide to
Comprehen
g Sky
Riding the Bi
Perfect gift for any motorcyclist!
A comprehensive guide to two-wheel touring of Big Sky Country
Sale Priced
$29.95
FREE shipping
in the
United States
Perfect for the motorcycle enthusiast...
• 512 full-color pages • Over 350 photos • 120 map excerpts • Spiral bound • Convenient, compact 8.5 x 5” format
How to order:
• E-mail: <[email protected]>
• Phone us: 406-498-3250 (for shipping information outside of U.S.)
• Write us: Motorcycling Montana, 914 Holmes Ave., Butte, MT 59701
• Online: www.motorcyclingmontana.com or www.amazon.com
Included with book purchase:
Free copy of “Top Tours” magazine, most recent issue of Northern Rockies
Rider, and Montana Highway Map.
Or go to www.motorcyclingmontana.com
September 2014
“May you have warm words on a cool evening, a full moon on a
dark night and a smooth road all the way to your door.” –Irish Blessing
Great rides start in Firstgear.
firstgear-usa.com
facebook.com/FirstGearUsa

NRR September 2014 - Northern Rockies Rider

Transcription

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