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         NOVEMBER  2008

 

 

Places we ride

As a member of the inaugural class of US highways commissioned in 1926, Covering 2600 miles from San

 

Diego to Atlanta , US 80 WAS THE FIRST ALL-WEATHER COAST-TO-COAST ROUTE AVAILABLE TO AUTO TRAVELERS.  For a time known as the “Roadway of America “, its legendary history is second only to Route 66 in American Highway folklore, as several significant

 

historical events have occurred on or near Highway 80.  Bonnie and Clyde were  ambushed 4 miles south of US 80.  Lee Harvey Oswald was captured at the Texas theatre which was on a business spur of Highway 80.  A section of US 80 t

 

hrough central Alabama was made famous by its use in the Selma to Montgomery marches.   T

 

he portion of US 80 that passed through the City of San Diego is now called “El Cajon Blvd”,  and you will see portions of the concrete roadway from El Cajon to the Imperial Valley that is the original concrete highway that was poured 80 years ago in 1926.

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CELEBRATE!  The 2008  Yosemite Trip!

Who is the tall dark-haired guy standing in the back ? 

Is that a friend of Steve’s ????

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“THIS BABY CAN STOP ON A DIME” !

( and Other Urban Myths )

by John Del Santo

 

Here are some braking distances to consider…. How many feet will it take for that vehicle that is behind you to come to a full stop ?  If it can “stop on a dime”,  will the dime be the one that is in your  pocket ?

 

BRAKING DISTANCE IS THE TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELED FROM THE TIME THE RIDER OR DRIVER TOUCHES  THEIR BRAKE, UNTIL THE VEHICLE COMES TO A FULL STOP.  These tests were conducted

 

on vehicles with better brakes a

 

nd operated by experienced drivers and riders.    60 MPH – 0

 

3-AXLE SEMI.........................................210 – 249 feet

3-AXLE SINGLE-UNIT TRUCK……………………………………………………184 – 252 feet

2-AXLE SINGLE UNIT TRUCK Weighing less than 1

 

0,000 Lbs…………..155 – 170 feet

STAND

 

ARD SIZE PASSENGER CAR……………………………………………  159 – 165 feet

THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS FROM THE “LAWYERS AND JUDGES PUBLISHING

 COMPANY  ’VEHICLE SPEED AND STOPPING DISTANCE COMPUTER’.

 

LARGE SUV’s & LIGHT TRUCKS (weighing 8,000 – 10,000 pounds.                               

                                                  Must be able to stop within....................   280 feet

SUV.s & LIGHT TRUCKS WEIGHING LESS THAN 7700 pounds

                                                    Must be able to stop within…………….204 – 218 feet

ALL NEW VEHICLES WEIGHING LESS THAN 7700 POUNDS

                                              Require a minimum braking distance of……… 230 feet.

THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS FROM THE “NEW VEHICLE EFFECTIVENESS 

 

DEPT, U.S. DEPT OF

TRANSPORTATION”     NHTSA.

 

MOTORCYCLES :

BMW 1220GS...........................................................................................125.2  feet

 

HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER………………………………………………….114.1  feet

HONDA VALKYRIE....................................................................................114.8  feet

THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS FROM THE “MOTORCYCLE CONSUMER NEWS”

04/05 PERFORMANCE INDEX REPORT.

 

 

MOTORCYCL

 

E-TYPE TRIKES   Ray, who owns a trike dealership in Washington State and who worked with the Evergreen Safety Council preparing their “Trike and Sidecar Course”, said that a motorcycle-type trike ( NOT  a car engine made into a trike ) should be able to stop in a slightly  shorter stopping distance than a 2-wheeled motorcycle of the same brand and  mod

 

el.  Even though the motorcycle weighs about 350 pounds less than the trike,  when a motorcycle is braked hard, the weight shifts toward the front of the bike, and 75-80 % of the braking is done by the small patch on the front wheel………Whereas in their tests, when the trike was braked hard, the back end seeme

 

d to settle in so that all three tires were braking, with the back wheels doing more of the work.

 

Braking distance is like money….You can never have too much.  But if you have a little less than you need……. you can be in trouble.

 

 

TRAVEL TIPS                                                                                                                        “RIDE,  RIDE,  RIDE ! !”

 

NATIONAL  PARKS - this info is from  (619) 557-5450 and (619) 445-6235.

You usually pay when you come in the front gate or door.  Most parks charge “per car”, which includes 2-up.  Some visitor centers charge “per person” to enter particular buildings.

When you reach age 62,  you may buy a pass for $10. that will get you into ANY national park anywhere, forever.  This pass is good for you and a spouse,  if you are in a 4-wheeler, but I have had it work for both even though said Spouse

 

was on a separate motorcycl

e.   Check above phone # or at park for disabled person discounts,  and camping info.  To get info about a wilderness “Adventure Pass”  ($30. for one year or $5. for one day) call  (619) 445-6235

CALIFORNIA  STATE  PARKS - this info is from  Park Headquarters (916) 653-6995. Some parks  (such as Silver Strand)  will allow you free entry for 15 minutes to use a restroom,  depending on the rules set by the manager of that park.    Check above phone # or at park for senior citizen (62) and disabled person discounts,  and camping inf

 

CALIFORNIA  STATE  PARKS - this info is from  Park Headquarters (916) 653-6995. Some parks  (such as Silver Strand)  will allow you free entry for 15 minutes to use a restroom,  depending on the rules set by the manager of that park.    Check above phone # or at park for senior citizen (62) and disabled person discounts,  and camping info.

 

 

SAN DIEGO  COUNTY  PARKS - this info is from Park Headquarters    (858) 565-3600.   The person at the park headquarters strongly stressed that the entry fee, was for “per parking space”.  Sometimes you pay at the front entry, sometimes the Ranger drives to your site.  The person that I spoke to at the Park Headquarters said that if you were going to stop by the restroom at the side of the road,  and use the restroom, then you should NOT be charged for a parking space.  She also strongly stressed that if you were going to stop and rest for a while,  and you could fit three bikes into one parking space,  then you should be charged for only one parking space.  Check at above phone # or at park for senior citizen or disabled person discounts, and camping info.

WHILE  TRAVELING  HERE  AND  THERE - Some gasoline stations will not accept  Your 

 

“credit”  card,   But will accept a  “debit”  card.     Your map may show a town twenty miles up the road, but there is no guarantee that there will be a gas station in that town. ( Follow Gary Steinwegs   Rule # 2 “Never pass up a perfectly good gas station”)   If you are g

oing to be on the road for a while,  and you will be out of state and away from your home phone, then it’s a great idea to call your credit card companies about a week before you leave and let them know that they should not be surprised seeing your purchases pop up in Arizona, Texas, and Georgia.   They have a watch on those things,  being prepared to protect you from card theft,  and if they have any doubt, they’ll shut your card down, and THAT can ruin your day.

 

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PLACES  WE  RIDE        ROUTE 163 RUNNING THROUGH BALBOA PARK winds around trees and rocks, and under the massive bridge built in about1915 for the Panama Canal Exposition.    Route 163 is a beautiful ride, but a  high-hazard road

 

with many crossovers,  collisions with trees and head-on collisions.  Plans were made a few years ago to straighten the road out and add more lanes and big concrete dividers….the “Save Our Heritage” group raised a healthy protest. The dividers now are made of wood, to blend in with the ambiance,  but back

ed with steel to be more effective.  the trees and the landscaping stayed and in 2003 this piece of Route 163 south of Route I-8 was designated THE HISTORIC CABRILLO PARKWAY.    

 

The land here, Balboa Park, was first designated as a City Park in 1868 and as a Wilderness Preserve in 1872.  An early park supporter quoted that “what lungs are to a human, supplying air to the body,  a park is to the

people of this city”.   The park has been under constant attack ever since by people and groups try

ing to grab pieces of the park for their own purposes including schools, an orphan’s home, a ladies annex park and gymnasium, a home for aged and ill Pythians, a Navy hospital,  The Panama Canal Exposition,  the 163 highway in 1948, a Normal School (teachers college), restaurants, uncountable real estate developers, and most recently the U.S. Navy wanting another big parking lot. The history of the park brings to mind the lyrics  “they paved paradise to put up a parking lot”   from the song “Big Yellow Taxi”  written and performed by Canadian Joni  Mitchell in 1970 .

 

 

ON OUR WAY DOWN FROM THE HIGH DESERT  Fran and I stopped and spent the afternoon in Lucerne Valley at  “The Wolf Mountain Sanctuary”.  It was a wonderful day,  in touch with nature.  Being with these wolves…..these rescued beauties…..gives you a different feel about parts of your life.

 

(760) 248-7818.  www.wolfmountain.com

 

 

 

 “A RIDE BUDDY”,  sdwanderers.org UNDER “RIDES” & RIDER PROTOCOL, (Training Material)  reads:  If riders are present who are not familiar with riding with the Wanderers, those riders will be assigned to a “Ride Buddy”.  The intent is to introduce the “new” rider with a member of the Wanderers who will be able to

 

answer questions, make the new rider feel comfortable, and serve as an example of our riding style.  During the course of the ride, the buddy and new rider will partner up on the road with the buddy in a lead position.  
 

 

 

 

A  GOOD  READ    The “ROADMASTER”  Large Scale ROAD

 

ATLAS  Completely up-to-date info,  Easy to Read large format maps,  Powered by “mapquest”.   Too big for the saddlebag, but Great for planning trips.  Climate maps, National Park System,   Detailed Urban Maps    $18 at Barnes & Noble    BN.COM                             ISBN 0-7607-7583-4                  **** FOUR STARS

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WHAT IS THE BEST ACCESSORY  that I ever got for my bike ?

 

 From GARY STEINWEG: 

three parts: Safety, Comfort, & AppearanceSAFETY FIRST.   

 To minimize the risk of connecting with another vehicle who's claim is

 they just didn't see me, I've installed a headlight modulator.  There's simply no 

way a car driver can "look past" a motorcycle with a modulated headlight and 

not see it.  It's a real attention grabber.  A distant second attention grabber from the       

other end is a modulated brake light to gain the a

 

ttention of following vehicles.  Then there's riding apparel.  Leather nose-to-toes.  It will protect you for many feet while sliding down the high+-way (ask me how I know).  With inserted armor, you can even gain a small amount of   impact protection.

COMFORT NEXT:  The single most significant improvement in riding comfort is a backrest for the motorcycle driver.  It neutralizes the effect of particularly importance on Intruder 1400's as 

the pull-back Buckhorn Bars  provide no "support" against wind blast, especially for taller riders.

If you ride a sport bike or a standard with drag bars that you have to reach for, a back rest is of no consequence (but you're already folded up like a jack-knife, and if you can ride any distance that way it just means you're still young).  Although I've never used one, I understand a windscreen also provides a significant improvement in long distance riding comfort.  Finally, forward controls or well placed highway pegs provide stretch-out comfort, again particularly for tall riders since most bikes are made to  accommodate almost anyone down to   5'-5".

APPEARANCE  LAST.   Anything chrome is always a crowd pleaser.  I like the minimalist look, but my bike does include aftermarket mirrors on shorter designer stems (which reduces my view to the back, but that's OK because every following bike looks like three anyway, and if I'm trying to maintain a count, I just count them all and divide by 3).  Also have a chrome drive shaft cover and a chrome starter motor cover.  An extension to the sissy-bar improves the chopper-esque look.  Those are my picks, and I'm sticking to them.

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MOTORCYCLES KNOWN BY THEIR INITIALS

DKW  Founded by JS Rasmussen in 1916. One meaning is DAS KLEINE WUNDER “a little marvel”.  By the 1930’s DKW was the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer.  The marque changed hands a number of times, and the engine was used in the Harley Davidson “Hummer” shortly after WWll and was used up until 1966 in the Scat, Pacer and Bobcat.  The DKW trademark is held by VW today. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DKW

BSA  The BIRMINGHAM SMALL ARMS Company was started in 1861 as a firearms manufacturer for the British Army

 

. At it’s peak, around 1951, the company included Triumph Motorcycle and was the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Small_Arms_Company

BMW     BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE (Bavarian Motor Works)   Started in 1910 manufacturing aircraft engines, some of which were in the planes flown by the Red Baron.  http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/

MZ     MOTORRA

 

D-UND ZWEIRADWERK (an acronym which stands for “Motorcycle Factory located at Zscopau).  A German company related to DKW. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MZ_Motorrad-_und_Zweiradwerk

MV (Agusta)__  MECCHANIC VERGHERA Released it’s first racing model in Verghera Italy in 1945.  A superior racing machine holding many world championships.  Released a number of small capacity roadsters in the 50’s and 60’s with medium success.  http://www.mvagustausa.com/

KTM  _KRONREIF

 

& TRUNKENPOLZ, MATTINGHOFEN  is an Austrian motorcycle manufacturer who put their first bike out in 1953.  Their motto,  “off-road and ready to race”.  On the leading edge of motorcycle technology….First to produce a liquid-cooled four stroke engine for off-road motorcycles,  first to include front and rear disc brakes for an off-road bike, and the first to offer hydraulic clutch mechanisms on all models,  and the first to offer a competition-ready supermoto  bike. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KTM

ATK__ ANTI

 

  TENSION  KETTENTREIB (Anti tension Chaindrive) Off-Road motorcycle ATK was founded by Austrian-born engineer Horst Leitner in the 1980’s  and is manufactured in Centerville, Utah. The motorcycle is named for his patented device to eliminate chain torque. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATK_motorcycleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATK_motorcycles

C Z_  Founded in 1919 in the Czech town of Strakonice manufacturing weapons, in 1932 CZ produced it’s first motorcycle.  During the 1950’s CZ joined forces with the “Jawa”.

http://paralumun.com/bikccz.htm

AJS__ ALBERT. JOHN. STEVENS & CO The  Stevens brothers built their first motorcycle in 1897 using a proprietary engine. Four out of the five British brothers started the AJS company in 1909,  merged with Matchless in 1931,  and Norton came into the AMC family in 1938.  Although the two-stroke Trials and Scr

 

ambles machines are still manufactured today under the AJS banner,  the well known four-stroke models became part of history

http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/Motorcycles/ajs.htm

NVT __  NORTON-VILLIERS-TRIUMPH  Ltd.  Out of the wild takeover battles following WWll, many companies changed hands numerous times.  In 1973 BSA was taken over by Manganese Bronze Holdings Ltd., which held Norton Villiers.  Norton Villiers and BSA were merged to form NVT Ltd. http://www.rifleman.org.uk/Birmingham_Small_Arms_Co.htm

NSU__    NECK

 

ARSULM  STRICKMASCHINEN  UNION      At the turn of the 19^th Century a small town in southern Germany was the home of a company that manufactured automatic knitting machines as well as bicycles.  Their first motorcycles appeared in 1901and was powered by a 1.5 HP Swiss built Zedel engine.  In 1910 NSU set a U.S. coast-to-coast “Cannonball” speed record.  In 1957 NSU sold the entire motorcycle facility to the Yugoslavians, who moved it all to Sarajevo. http://home.cogeco.ca/~rwbaxter/Motorcycle%20Online%20The%20Rise%20and%20Fall%20of%20the%20NSU%20Em

AND……probably some more names that you  can think of that Johnny Wang and Jon McDonald

 

-Gibson didn’t  add to my list.

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THE  TRIKE  CORNER

BY Ken Storm

Things to consider when riding near home and  touring across state lines

 

1)     Anytime you plan on taking a ride through more than one state, you should check to see what the helmet and lane laws are for those states.   The motorcycle law in certain states can have subtle differences between the law for a trike or a bike. Whenever you are in doubt, consult a motorcycle law or DMV manual for that state before riding there.  .  For instance,  California law requires you to wear a helmet if your trike weighs l

 

ess than 1500 lbs,  and does not require one if the vehicle weighs more,  but you would need to wear a seat belt if the trike weighed more than 1500 lbs. 

2) California law CVC 400 (a),  considers an “open”  trike to be a motorcycle    (An ENCLOSED trike, such as those used for parking control are NOT considered to be motorcycles per CVC 27315).     Local laws do not prohibit a single rider on a trike from using an HOV (CARPOOL) lane. Keep in mind that a motorcycle or trike pulling a trailer cannot use an HOV lane.  California law considers an  “open” trike  to be a motorcycle, But you can operate a trike, or sidecar-rig with a Class ‘C’ automobile license.

 

 

“MOTORCYCLE  JOURNEYS   THROUGH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST”

Hansen’s enthusiasm for motorcycle exploration is contagious in this full-color, fully-detailed guide to the great roads of America’s Pacific Northwest. Up and down the coasts of Washington and Oregon and northern California;  around the volcanoes of Mt. Saint Helens, Mt. Hood, and Mt. Rainer;  across Northern California, and into Oregon;  out to the San Juan Islands, and even into parts of British Columbia.   A favorite for motorcycle travelers.   BRUCE HANSEN   $24.95                  ISBN1-884313-53-1   FOUR  STARS * * * *  AVAILABLE IN YOU WANDERER’S LIBRARY

 

 

 

READY TO ROLL

by John Del Santo

 

Most of us will get our bikes into pretty good mechanical condition  before a trip,  but how many riders consider themselves way too tough to worry about their own physical condition ?  Some possible results of starting a  trip with your physical condition less than it should be include:

SLEEP DEPRIVATION:  That sounds like a pretty fancy term,  but if I spent a lousy night on that lumpy mattress, but then ended up getting a few good hours of sleep,  and started out on a long days ride,  then that  is sleep deprivation !  Our body needs the down-time….and we did not get enough of it to last the day.

DEHYDRATION:  Is one that can sneak up on you.  Lower or higher elevation,  hot or cold temperature, Drink! Drink! Drink!  Gallons each day !  and not diuretics like coffee or alcohol drinks…they just make it worse.  Our body needs the liquid, and if we don’t get enough… our body will let us KNOW about it, sometimes with…

HEAT EXHAUSTION:   That can make us feel like just stopping and laying down next to the road in the shade and going to sleep…. Maybe Forever.  We can fall asleep as easy on a bike as we could driving a car…and “falling” asleep has a whole ‘nother meaning when it happens on a bike.   Drink!  Drink!  Water and sports drink…get in someplace cool, dump water on your head and down your shirt.  Rest…Because next in line comes the killer….  Which can worsen from heat exhaustion with little warning.   Our body’s temperature control stops working !  Hot dry skin,  severe headache,  exhaustion,  hallucination,  THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE POSSIBILITY OF DEATH……FIRST CALL 911 !!!  Move the victim to a cool place, douse with water, fan breeze onto the victim.  If we act quickly and correctly,  maybe we can prevent permanent brain damage or death. Once someone has suffered a heat-related illness, the chances of it happening again in the future are higher.

 

Do you feel like the road is beating you up ?  Take a day off ! !   Sleep late.  Sit by a brook with water running over your feet.  Look at some scenery.  Take a nap…Sack in early …and start the next day as a whole new person.  We may get there a day later,  but So What !  The Journey IS the goal.

 

And then as we climb up the mountains,  up to 12,000feet…It’s cool, it’s beautiful,  but if you don’t live at this altitude for most of the year,  then

ALITTUDE SICKNESS  may be the next thing to affect you.  From what I have been told, you can’t beat it,  you can’t stop it,  It’s just THERE until it decides to go away…..maybe in a couple of weeks.   There is a fuzzy kind of feeling…your timing is a little off…when you’re walking, the ground is just a little bit further down than you head thought it would be.  Your Perception and Reaction time is just a bit off,  and your Blood Pressure goes DOWN.  Follow the old rule found on medicine bottles:  “Don’t use any power tools or operate heavy machinery”.  The local pharmacist said that there is  an over-the-counter med that might help a bit.  Anyone of these maladies can affect us and be a serious health problem.  If we are traveling and we ignore the symptoms,  and these sicknesses double-up on us,  we can expect Big Time Trouble.

 

Make it a habit to take deep breaths….Drink, Drink, Drink,   Rest, Rest,  Rest……. How the heck are we supposed to get any riding done ???    We WILL get it done, and finishing the ride in good shape will make the Journey that much better.      BE WELL,  RIDE HEALTHY.

 

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