First ride, first video

We’ve enjoyed an unseasonably early spring here, and with temperatures in the mid-50s I’ve been itching to get out for that first ride. Unfortunately, our laneway is still covered in spots with quite a bit of snow, ice, and greasy mud on which I have no intention of trying to keep the HD upright. But the XL? No problem.

Since the XL is currently unlicensed and uninsured (shhh, don’t tell anyone) I’m limited in where I can ride but fortunately, right at the end of our driveway, is California Road.

California Road has nothing to do with California, and little to do with being a “real” road. 10 kilometres (6 miles) long it’s a seasonal shortcut, barely maintained by the township in summer and used as a snowmobile trail in winter. At this time of year it’s still partly snow covered with the rest of it being large puddles, potholes, and greasy mud; in other words, a perfect road for thrashing around on a dirt bike.

And so I decided to go and get muddy, a mission I accomplished admirably even though I only got about half way to the end of the road before coming across a washout that stopped any further progress. I considered trying to ride across on the logs, then considered what the summer would be like with various body parts in casts, then I turned around (insert chicken sounds here).
I also took the GoPro and used the resulting video as an opportunity to play with video editing, posting to YouTube, etc. So here’s an abbreviated 3-minute video of my ride.

A 21st century ‘chopper’?

This blended motorcycle/helicopter was recently showcased by Wired UK (link).
Chris Malloy, the inventor and builder, is an Australian lad and he is currently looking for funding to take development from prototype through further testing and production. Pricing is expected to be in the $40K range, which makes it a pretty expensive toy, but commercially feasible where it might reduce the need for full-blown helicopters – checking transmission lines for example.
Unfortunately, even if he does get his invention into production, I expect that the various regulatory agencies and the insurance lobby will ensure it never hits the mass market. But I sure would love to get my hands on one.
For more photos and specs check out Chris’ website at  hover-bike.com.

Unnecessary complexity

Life used to be so much simpler for the average backyard mechanic hack. And I’m not talking about the electronic this and automatic that on the modern motorcycle. No, I’m talking about the basic mechanic’s toolset needed to do even the most basic maintenance.
Exhibit 1: my ‘07 FXDLI.

I just had new tires installed which entailed removing the saddlebags, front and back wheels, and brake calipers. By almost any measure this is a simple task well within the technical skills of anyone with even a modest interest in wrenching.  But the job is made unnecessarily complicated by the mix of SAE and metric-dimensioned bolts, heads, and tools required.
Not that long ago a decent, comprehensive toolkit would consist of a good 6-point socket set (SAE if you worked on US bikes such as Harleys or Indians, metric if European or Japanese, and British Standard Whitworth if your ride was vintage Brit iron) and a set of wrenches to match. A mechanics hammer, a few screwdrivers, and a mass of hex keys (again SAE or metric) rounded out the kit.
No more. Just to complete the relatively simple task of removing and reinstalling the front and rear wheels I encountered: SAE hex-head bolts, metric hex-head bolts, 12-point-head metric bolts, and Torx-head metric and SAE bolts. Four different sets of sockets/wrenches were needed.
There appears to be no obvious advantage to the use of one type of fastener over another, so one must question why the MOCO allows this degree of non-standardisation in its assembly processes. It certainly isn’t to make servicing their products any easier.

This is gonna hurt!

Hey buddy, I’d suggest you get those legs back together, real tight, before you hit the ground.

Individuality

Certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re a transvestite biking artist (Or is that biking transvestite artist? Artistic biking transvestite?) with a deep desire to take your 50-year-old teddy bear (Mr. Measles – in the glass box) on a pilgrimage to Germany in style, this custom knucklehead may be just the ticket.

There’s an interesting write-up on the artist and the bike here. Best observation: “While custom shops, tattoo parlors, and clothing outlets are busy selling 'individuality', Perry has taken a brave and lonely path, to BE an individual.” He sure has.