Motorcycle Nation Podcast

I was guided to a blog the other day called Forty Years on Two Wheels where the author was on a rant about the quality of American motorcycle shows. His evaluation discussed the fact that most seemed low budget and revolved around the V-Twin motorcycles. He went on to point out that the coverage is focused at Daytona, Sturgis, and other traditional American Iron gatherings. And he even mentioned the hosts. The feuding Teutuls, the ex racers, and the well endowed, none of which he considers to be worthy.

I love my V-Twin. As a matter of fact there are two products of the Motor Company sitting in my garage. But, I have to agree with the author. The world outside of HD and V-Twins has so much to offer and we need someone to step up and produce a show. I personally would love to see a show on adventure bikes. Maybe a shootout to crown the champion. I have my eye set on the BMW F800GS and would welcome the opportunity for a full review of the off highway capabilities. A show profiling the sport tourers would be cool too. A Honda ST1300 or that old reliable Kawasaki Concours could hold a spot in my garage as well.

I don’t want this blog to be a Harley only blog. Invite all your friends here so we can talk all motorcycles. Maybe someone with some pull will see that there is a need for a TV show that focuses on every brand of motorcycle and every type of riding. If you know someone, put the bug in their ear.

Ride Safe

I have always had the desire to travel on two wheels. My dreams have taken me to the Cherohala Skyway along with Deal’s Gap and all up and down the Blue Ridge Parkway. In further REM states I have hammered across the Seven Mile Bridge and enjoyed the sunset, beaches, and nightlife of Key West. Many daydreams have found me out West running through Utah, Wyoming, and Montana. And I have heard that Oregon is perhaps one of the most beautiful states to ride in. Sign me up for all of them.

Some people are fortunate enough to be able to spend a major portion of their year on the road. Their tales have given me inspiration to take that next step and look into many more road trips than I have had the opportunity to take to this point. So far, my longest road trip to date has been to Milwaukee to visit the Harley Davidson plant. I have been to Daytona Bike Week a few times but our bikes were trailered down and back for that one so that is not a road trip.

I have drawn the inspiration to make a long trip from family and internet friends. In the relative area, I have a cousin and his wife that make an annual trip with 2 to 3 other couples. Ask them where they are going and you will get only the direction. West. South. Who knows. Their ride consists of each couple having the directional choice of the day. They rise early and get on the road and stop around 5 or 6 PM each evening. After finding lodging and getting a meal, they bed down and start over the next morning.The couple who has rights for the day leads off in whatever direction they have chosen. No planned stops and no agenda. That sounds like a plan to me. A trip a couple of years ago led them through sixteen states in nineteen days.

Then, we have some friends of the podcast that also have the opportunity to travel. Carla King, a motojournalist based in California, has taken a trip that she circumnavigated the border of the United States on a Russian made Ural motorcycle. This trip is chronicled in her book “American Borders” which is available from her web site. I am currently reading this book and will be doing a podcast with Carla in the near future.

Perhaps the freest spirit that I have stumbled upon in my motorcycle travel research has got to be Ara Gureghian. Click on his name, after you finish reading this of course, to be whisked away into a dreamland of free. Ara, who travels with his trusted companion Spirit in his sidecar, lives a fantasy day in and day out. Ara has an amazing past but the last few years are what draws me to his site. You will be met with amazing photography and well written posts about their current location and pictures. You can even follow the travels with a device called SPOT which is a satellite locator that will show you the most recent visited location and current location on a Google Map. There are various items available in his store along with the opportunity to purchase copies of his pictures. Trust me, you will see the beauty of our great country in a new light by looking at his photography.

If you want to read and see what freedom is all about, go ahead, click the link. You won’t be sorry!