Featured Articles - Page 1
(Copyright 2011cc media)
Posted May 22, 2011
The Skinny On...Michigan Spring
By Pedro Gregorio
Today is Sunday, March 27th. According to the calendar it’s spring. All over the country riders are going out and enjoying the spring weather. Most people associate spring with temps in the 50’s and 60’s but I’ve lived in Michigan over 20 years now so I know that we have about two weeks of that right before summer. Early spring in Michigan means highs in the low 40’s if we’re lucky. Today there isn’t a cloud in the sky and the digital thermometer outside my house reads 37 F. It’s time to find out my comfort limit on the naked Speed Triple.
If you ride in Michigan or anywhere in the upper Midwest and don’t own any electric gear, you’re
either a masochist or you only ride between June and October. Getting geared up for my ride makes me feel like Neil Armstrong getting ready to blast off the pad at Cape Canaveral. It’s all about layering, wind-proof outer gear, and electricity. I found Damart (www.damartusa.com) many years ago and still have some of their thermonuclear-strength long johns. Jeans, a turtleneck, and the warmest socks I own take care of the basics. A heated jacket liner under my insulated BMW Gore-Tex jacket and the Aerostich overpants that survived the deer attack finish things off. Heated gloves keep my digits toasty and a fleece neck gaiter keeps the wind from stealing precious heat. I can barely walk but once I’m on the Triple everything gels.
My goal is to find out if I can last through my 60-mile summer loop through Saline, on to Manchester on Austin Rd., north on M-52, and back home on Pleasant Lake Rd and I-94. The air is crystal clear under the bright sun as I enjoy the rural scenery west of Saline. Traffic is light and the few cars I meet up with are easily dispatched by the Speed III without having to downshift. This is only my third ride so I’m still getting used to
the instantaneous throttle response and light weight. I don’t know who coined the phrase “light is right” but whoever it was was right on the money. If you’ve never ridden a bike that weighs less than 500 pounds, you should try it at least once. The Triple’s light weight combined with the total lack of plastic around me makes me feel like I’m flying just above the ground.
The sun feels warm as I stop in Manchester to take some photos of a multicolored shop front. I’ve had the bike for a month now and I’m still struck by its raw design and color that screams attitude with a capital A. One thing I’ve learned about myself is that I need to have a bike or a car that I can stare at all day and the Speed III fits the bill. By the time my fuel light comes on near home I’ve been out for over an hour. I’m ready to get out of the cold but still feel comfortable in my artificially heated cocoon. Good to know that riding a naked bike in Michigan is not a problem if you have the right gear. Plus when we get to those sweltering days of summer, I won’t have any windshield or bodywork blocking the cooling wind. The sticker on the back of my helmet says it all, “Ride Naked!”
In mid-June 2011, our long-time friend and sometime contributor, Henry Gerst traveled to Chicago for the annual Mods vs Rockers motorcycle show.
Over the years, it has evolved into much more than a simple bike show. These days, ride-ins from Triumph motorcycle dealers in the Chicago area and southern Wisconsin, a pig roast, live music, a Triumph fashion show with burlesque performers as the models and a Battle of the Bands fill out a complete weekend.
As you can see from these photos, Henry captured it all for you. If you have never attended a cafe racer, ton-up, mods vs rockers, rocker's reunion or Rockerbox, there are events in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Chicago and Milwaukee each summer. Make a mini-vacation of the trip. You'll be glad you did.
On this page:
BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids Vintage MC Show Pics (Posted 8/30/2011)
Inaugural Mods vs Rockers Bike Night at Lucy in the Sky (with Diamonds) (COMING SOON)
Vintage Motorcycle Days Bike Show at the Reinert Farm Photos (Posted 8/30/2011)
2011 Chicago Mods vs Rockers Pictorial
The Skinny On...Michigan Spring
2011 Chicago Mods vs Rockers Pictorial
Photos by Henry Gerst (Posted 7/7/2011)
BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids Antique MC Meet Pics(Posted 8/30/2011)
Grand Rapids, Michigan - BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids held their annual Antique Motorcycle Meet on Saturday, August 20. Despite threatening weather, bike restoration specialists, custom builders and vintage bike enthusiasts made it out to the dealership for the event.
Among the motorcycles in the show were vintage BMW motorcycles, several BMW and Yamaha cafe racers, a couple of BMW motorcycles with side cars and vintage Japanese motorcycles As is always the case at this event, the parking area had almost as many vintage motorcycles as did the show. An immaculate R100 G/S "Bumble Bee" and a 60s-era Triumph are just two examples of beautiful bikes not in the show.
"We were happy about the turnout," said Blane Kamp, owner of BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids. "The cloudy, cool day didn't seem to impact the show much if at all. We appreciate the fact that so many exhibitors and spectators came out for the show."
In addition to the motorcycle show, a jam session by some of the delaerships customers showed off their musical talents and entertained the crowd. As usual, Mr. Kamp provided hot dogs, tacos and soft drinks. Door prizes demo rides were other highlights of the day.
BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids is located at 5995 South Division. For more information, visit the store, call (616) 530-6900 or go to their web site at www.bmwmcgr.com.
Vintage Motorcycle Days Bike Show at the Reinert Farm Photos (Posted 8/30/2011)
Owosso, Michigan - The BMW Touring Club of Detroit (BMWTCD) held their annual Vintage Motorcycle Days at club member Jim Reinert's farm in Owosso, Michigan on August 27 and 28, 2011 The event is a combination non-judged vintage motorcycle show for all brands, a camping weekend and great party for all in attendence
It is not an overstatement to observe that there were some exquisite motorcycles on site for the weekend. During our relatively short visit, we saw two R90Ss in burnt orange, a 1954 R51/3 (owned by the host),. a 1952 R68, a 1938 R51 (owned by Patrick West), a 1962 R69S (owned by Ed Rossen , required two kicks to start), a red R60 US, a 1966 Norton cafe racer, two other Nortons and many more too numerous to list Check out the adjacent photos to see a few of the bikes you missed if you didn't get to the show.
For more information about their vintage motorcycle days event, visit the BMWTCD web site at www.bmwtcd.org. The primary sponsor for the event was BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan (BMWMCSEM). For more information about BMWMCSEM, visit their store at 39933 Ford Road in Canton, Michigan, call the store at (734) 981-1479 or go to their web site at www.bmwmcsem.com.
