I have the pleasure of instructing a lot of motorcyclists each season.
One of the most common questions I get is "What bike should I buy?"
I can not really answer that question. I can tell people what bike I would like to buy, and how come, but we are all different--physically, riding styles, riding preferences, etc.
The only real advice I give newer riders is I recommend that their first bike be a used bike, and a standard bike.
A used bike because they will probably only keep it a couple of seasons, and as their riding skill improves, their comfort level improves, and they develop their tastes, they will replace it with something else.
A standard bike for a couple of reasons. 1) it has a good riding position that encourages proper riding posture for level control, eye lead, balance, breaking, etc., so that the rider does not lose the riding posture skills I have taught them, and they become habit that will transfer to their next bike. And 2), lack of body work/fairings/plastic/fiberglass, etc. New riders almost inevitably will drop their bike--in the garage, the driveway, wherever, pushing it around, as they adjust to the weight and balance of their motorcycle. Less things to break, less things to repair or replace.
I always enjoy reading the motorcycle buying guides that come out each season.. As I kids/young rider, I waited in anticipation each spring for it to be sent in the mail. Nowadays, there are a plethora of online buying guides.
Here is a link to one from Canada MotoGuide.com
Ride Safe,
-D
Friday, July 19, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Dainese BMW Riding Gear
Looks like two of my favourite motorcycling companies--Dainese & BMW--a partnering up to develop riding safety gear.
The plan is to build new protective gear based o the Dainese D-Air Protect system. First they plan to build a new BMW DoubleR RaceAir one-piece leather suit with the D-Air inflatable technology. Designed for the racetrack, a street version, the Dainese D-Air Street System for BMW Motorrad should be available to customers for the 2015 riding season.
Apparently, BMW is also working on an airbag system for some of their bikes, similar to the system that Honda has done for their Goldwing touring bike. The partnership with Dainese makes sense since Dainese has been working on air systems for over five years now.
In the meantime, check our the MotorAirBag Canada. A vest your wear over your geat, that inflates to protect your entire spinal column--from tailbone to top of your neck, should you leave your bike. Their facebook site. I love it!!!
A few of questions for you:
1) Does the gear your wear while riding vary at all: trip, weather, bike, etc.?
2) What do you replace most often?
3) What do you consider your most important gear?
4) What is your favourite gear/equipment?
Thanks,
and Tell Your People,
-D
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
New KTM Sport Bike?
I am a big fan of the KTM Duke. Great bike, easy to ride, handles great, looks good. etc.
I also love sport bikes--handling, braking, power, etc.
It’s no secret that KTM is working on a fully-faired sport version of their Duke 390. It’s no secret that the bike will be based on a race machine.
But we were waiting until EICMA to see that machine, which we assumed would be based on their Moto 3 bike, until now. Now we have some pictures of KTM’s RC390, giving us a good idea what the street-based machine will look like. Add in some lights, a license plate, passenger pegs and some other odds and ends, and you’ve got KTM’s future offering.
The specs for the new street machine look interesting. The bike is supposed to weigh a bit over 306 lbs wet, with 43 hp (the KTM 390 Duke’s specs). Those numbers are very close to the two-stroke 250 cc race replicas of the 1980s that many pine after. An ’86 Suzuki RG250 Gamma, for instance, put out around 45 hp, with a 337-lb wet weight. Although, we doubt KTM will offer the RC390 in Walter Wolf colours.
Interestingly, the track version of this bike will actually be detuned from the street version, putting out 38 hp instead of the mid-40s. Of course, it’ll also be lighter than the street bike, since you can pull off a lot of lights and other bits for track work.
KTM has announced a spec series (ADAC Junior Cup) based around the track bike. Whether or not they’ll have regional spec series, similar to Honda’s CBR250 series that runs in Canada, is another question – we don’t know for sure whether or not the bike is coming here yet.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Events this weekend
A couple of motorcycling competitions this weekend.
If you are in the Montreal area, be sure to check out Round #2 of the Canadian Superbike Championship at L'Autodrome St. Eustache.
8-time National champ Jordan Szoke looks for the repeat win after last year's win on his way to the title.
CBR125 & CBR250 champ Stacey Nesbitt will make her debut in the Am 600 class. Definetely one to keep an eye on:
If you are in the Prince Edward County area, be sure to stop by Shannonville Motorsport Park for the Vintage Road Racing Association Summer Classic.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Eye Contact and Traffic Behaviour
Had a minor incident on my ride home that reminded me of the importance of eye contact in traffic.
Picture this: riding along a quiet residential street, preparing to make a left turn onto another residential street. The street I am on has no stop sign, it is a through street, the street that I am preparing to turn left onto has a stop sign.
I check my mirrors, put on my left turn signal, and flash brake light as I roll off the throttle and down shift. A small S.U.V. comes to a stop at the stop sign on my left, the direction I plan to go. Like make cars today, it does not stop before the limit line--in this case the sidewalk, but slows down to a crawl at the curb line, creeping ahead checking traffic.
As I look for eye contact from the driver, I realize that I can not see the driver's eyes as a golden retriever (dog) is riding in the passenger seat. So, if I can't see the driver's eyes, then she probably can not see me. I slow down even more than I would normally, predicting the car to pull out in front of me. Sure enough, the cars goes straight, directly in front of my path. Predicting that this was about to happen, and having already checked my mirrors, I know that there is nothing behind me and I apply the breaks firmly, as I get on the horn.
The car continues through the intersection, oblivious to me, like nothing happened. I am annoyed,but because of the defensive riding, and preventative steps that I have taken, do not need to do any sudden emergency maneuvers. If I had not made the changes, but continued at my original speed and path, there is no doubt in my mind that there would have been serious contact between me and the other vehicle.
If you have taken a CSC Gearing Up riding course, you probably remember the Traffic Behaviour lesson, where all the students were put on the same parking lot together to ride 4 simulated blocks. One of my favourite parts of explaining this layout is asking the students: "Who has the right of way?"
I get the expected textbook answers of "who ever got there first" or "the vehicle on the right", but I always respond, "NO, whomever is biggest."
The truth is, when riding a motorcycle, it does not matter if we have the right of way if we are dead right.
Riders, continue to ride safe, practicing the skills you have been taught, continue to improve the skills you have, and learn new ones. Continue to hire professionals to help you improve your skills, and improve your survive-ability. Always look for eye contact from other drivers at intersections.
And please, please, put your dogs in the back when going for a drive!
Ride Safe!
-Devin
Picture this: riding along a quiet residential street, preparing to make a left turn onto another residential street. The street I am on has no stop sign, it is a through street, the street that I am preparing to turn left onto has a stop sign.
I check my mirrors, put on my left turn signal, and flash brake light as I roll off the throttle and down shift. A small S.U.V. comes to a stop at the stop sign on my left, the direction I plan to go. Like make cars today, it does not stop before the limit line--in this case the sidewalk, but slows down to a crawl at the curb line, creeping ahead checking traffic.
As I look for eye contact from the driver, I realize that I can not see the driver's eyes as a golden retriever (dog) is riding in the passenger seat. So, if I can't see the driver's eyes, then she probably can not see me. I slow down even more than I would normally, predicting the car to pull out in front of me. Sure enough, the cars goes straight, directly in front of my path. Predicting that this was about to happen, and having already checked my mirrors, I know that there is nothing behind me and I apply the breaks firmly, as I get on the horn.
The car continues through the intersection, oblivious to me, like nothing happened. I am annoyed,but because of the defensive riding, and preventative steps that I have taken, do not need to do any sudden emergency maneuvers. If I had not made the changes, but continued at my original speed and path, there is no doubt in my mind that there would have been serious contact between me and the other vehicle.
If you have taken a CSC Gearing Up riding course, you probably remember the Traffic Behaviour lesson, where all the students were put on the same parking lot together to ride 4 simulated blocks. One of my favourite parts of explaining this layout is asking the students: "Who has the right of way?"
I get the expected textbook answers of "who ever got there first" or "the vehicle on the right", but I always respond, "NO, whomever is biggest."
The truth is, when riding a motorcycle, it does not matter if we have the right of way if we are dead right.
Riders, continue to ride safe, practicing the skills you have been taught, continue to improve the skills you have, and learn new ones. Continue to hire professionals to help you improve your skills, and improve your survive-ability. Always look for eye contact from other drivers at intersections.
And please, please, put your dogs in the back when going for a drive!
Ride Safe!
-Devin
Friday, January 11, 2013
CSBK 2013 Schedule announced
The Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship schedule has just been released.
 |
| 8-time CSBK National Champion will be breaking more records in 2013 |
Autodrome St. Eustache Quebec and Atlantic Motorsports Park in Shubenacadie Nova Scotia have changed spots on the schedule.
Round 1: June 7-9 Shannonville Motorsport Park, Pro Track, Shannonville, Ontario
Round 2: July 5-7 Autodrome St-Eustache, St-Eustache, Quebec
Round 3: July 26-28 Atlantic Motorsport Park, Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia
Round 4-5: August 9-11 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario
Round 6: August 23-25 Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Mont-Tremblant, Quebec
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