Cardo Scala Q2 Fubar

I have been somewhat disappointed with the volume on my headset. Dont get me wrong...I love it. It just needs to be louder. I found a guy on advrider.com who did a mod to put a female plug in so you could use earbuds. I used to listen to my mp3 player on long trips, and I like the way it gave me good volume plus insulated me ears from wind noise too. I checked it out and it like it was pretty simple, so I tried it. Well, I had my mp3 player plugged in to test and make sure I was getting sound, but when I got everything soldered together...no intercom between helmets and no sound from phone or FM radio. The ONLY thing that was working was the mp3! I looked into asking my friend Steve for help with this a while back but he was reluctant to do it because he might mess it up. (I guess there is always that possibility even with somebody who really knows what they are doing) Now that it was no longer an issue, I asked him to see if he could fix what I had torn up! He said he would look at it, so I took both sets on the Tuesday night ride and gave them to him to work at. He sent me an email earlier that said he was able to fix it! Steve is pretty darn awesome! I really have some pretty kick-ass friends! I picked up the headsets, and it works perfect!

My initial review of the Metzeler Feelfree Tires

.

REGARDING WEAR:
-------------------------
I had the stock IRC tire on the front of the bike. The odo tells me I
got ~16,200 miles on the original IRC front tire. I changed the stock
IRC tire on the rear at 9,200 miles to a Birdgestone Hoop. The Hoop
has been on now for 7,000 miles which is not as good as the original
IRC, but I have been riding a lot more 2up with Kat.

Friends and I removed the front and rear wheels on the Yamaha Majesty.
They went to Yamaha-Suzuki of Louisville for mount and balance. I
put the 120/80-14 Metzeler Feelfree tire on the front, and the
150/70-13 on the rear.

Recap:

Front: IRC Stock tire 16,200 miles.
Rear: IRC Stock tire 9,200 miles. Bridgestone Hoop 7,000 miles

We shall see how the Metzelers do on wear. Only the future will tell that.

.

REGARDING PERFORMANCE:
------------------------------------
My friend Ralph who usually rides a Piaggio MP3 had some comments that
the rear felt "loose" and seemed to indicate a general sloppiness.
Coming from my own experience with this specific bike, I feel like the
Metzeler tires have a good response. When you lean in to turn, it
does drop into the turn quickly, but once I get used to it, that will
be a very good thing. If they are exceptionally good or bad on wet
road, I will report this, but I must admit my main concern has been
wear and how long the tires last.

Interview - Jerome from Philadelphia

Jerome was born and grew up in the Philadelphia, PA area and still resides there. He's been married for over 30 years, and teaches Computer Technology at a local college. He is a member of a local scooter riding club, and also rides with several local motorcycle clubs.

KSC: How long have you been riding? How long on a scooter?

Jerome: I rode when in college and then again afterwards for several years until the child bearing years hit full gear. I returned to riding in 2005. I rode a Vespa GS 160 Scooter in my youth (late 60's) and graduated to a Yamaha RD200 "pocket rocket" (early 70s). Upon my return I purchased a 1986 Honda Elite 250, which eventually gave way to a 2005 Kymco People 250, 2006 Burgman 400 and finally to my current 2006 Yamaha Majesty, which I have had since November of 2007.

KSC: Aside from the breaks, it looks like you've been on scooters most of your life. What inspired you to get the RD200? Did that experience steer you back to scooters?

Jerome: The breaks were pretty long, but I definitely have ridden scooters much longer than motorcycles. The RD200 was a great bike, and I went to it because it had more speed, a bigger gas tank, and got good gas mileage. I went back to scooters because I like the protection from the weather (I ride all year round), the underseat storage and the belt drive instead of chains (I could never afford the shaft driven motorcycles). The other reason I went back to scooters was I saw a local rally and thought that the 100+ scooters riding down the road look cool. I am a rebel at heart and like the idea of riding something different. If I had ran into a motorcycle group I like I might have went that way. The final thing that made scooters the logical choice was I had been riding mini-electric scooters and electric bikes from 1999 to 2005. I put over 35,000 miles on little vehicles whose top speed was usually 15-20 mph. Being very secure, the fact that I am almost 6' 5" tall at 235 lbs and that I looked ridiculous riding the little electric scoots, was not a deterrent. Getting a "big" gas scooter almost seemed like cheating. KSC: From your 158cc Vespa up to your Burgman and now Yamaha 400 you have steadily went with bigger bikes. Do you think you may continue on to a Silverwing or Burgman 650?Jerome: Up until 2007, I never thought I would every use a scooter or motorcycles larger than ~ 250cc. I moved-up "only" because I got interested in endurance long distance riding via the Iron Butt Association. I didn't want to just do a single Saddle Sore 1000 to join the organization, I wanted to do numerous and more difficult rides. A 250cc scoot would not be suitable, so I went one step up to 400cc. I have no interest in going larger unless a model comes out with a large gas tank that makes 200 miles a certainty even in difficult situations (head winds, mountains, etc). The mileage per tank of the Majesty is at least equal to that of the Silverwing and Burgman 650, so changing offers me nothing. KSC: I see you have owned both a Suzuki Burgman 400 and a Yamaha Majesty. Can you give us your observations on the differences between the two?Jerome: I owned a 2006 Burgman 400 on which I did my first SS1000. I loved it and it held up well until a really minor fender bender broke a lot of plastic on it and the replacement cost was ridiculously high. I traded it in at great loss on my current 2006 Majesty. The Majesty is superior in every way to the 2006 Burgman, but I believe they have caught up with the 2007 and later models. The 26k interval between valve checks still keeps the Majesty on top in my mind.

KSC: I really like my 2008 Majesty. What, in your opinion, is better about the Yamaha?

Jerome: Better is relative, but for me: I wear a XXXL HJC helmet that will not fit under any other scooter seat I have tried, including the Burgman 650, The passenger seat is split such that one can mount luggage there and still have easy access to under the seat storage, and its power band is made for highway riding. This will seen as a weakness by others as it gets poorer mileage in city driving than the Burgman. KSC: Can you tell me a bit about the local scooter club?Jerome: The EZriders is a riding club that incorporates a lot of socializing into its riding schedule. It is a "riders" club, however; meaning the ride distances are as great or greater than any of the local motorcycle clubs. There is one other IBA member, and we hold training rides with ever increasing distances for other hopefuls.

KSC: What kinds of things do you go over in the training rides? How many miles do you cover?

Jerome: We just ride. The first ride was 300 miles, the next will be 500 miles and then perhaps 750 miles.

KSC: Do you find that you enjoy group riding a lot?

Jerome: When I came back to riding, group riding was one of the main attractions. I am pretty tired of it now, and it is a dangerous proposition. I do it with local motorcycle groups in addition to my scooter group, when they are heading to a destination that interests me, using back roads. I normally don't ride backroads on my own, as I prefer the open space and safety of the interstates. Riding to Hooters or some other restaurant bar, ice cream stand, etc. doesn't do it for me.

KSC: I find, to the contrary, that I agree with William Least Heat-Moon, author of Blue Highways when he says "Speed corrupts travel far more than bad Chinese food." meaning of course that off-interstate travel gives you more opportunity for a wider range of experiences. You see a great variation of scenery, people, and places. Do you disagree?

Jerome: I don't disagree, but I don't ride to see the "real America". Interstate scenery is fine for me, but I do sometimes ride special roads like RT 50 through WV, the "Dragon" and nearby roads, the Chesepeake Bay Bridge, etc. All scenery is okay with me. If I want to see scenery or certain areas, I ride the interstate to that area, and then ride local roads. I ride for the pure enjoyment of riding "Destination is only an excuse". Unless a particular area or backroad route is exceptionally interesting, I usually am bored and tired after spending all day and going only a couple of hundred miles. Backroads are also second to city and suburban intersections for danger to two-wheel riders. Most of the top touring veterans I have known or have heard of that died on the road, where on backroads, often at night. The IBA has more than 40K US members who travel the interstates doing all kinds of crazy endurance rides and very, very few die on the interstates. Those that have trouble are usually on backroads (granted usually at night).

KSC: If you really do like to explore America and see different things, then I agree that it is handy to not waste time on slow roads when you can get there on the interstate quickly, then do your exploration when you get where you're going. But doesn't this really goes against your idea of "Destination is only an excuse"? I find it to be a conundrum. I too want to go places and get there quickly. We gain safety in this mode of riding, but what experiences are we throwing away at the cost of speed?

Jerome: I don't think some all day backroad riding is boring because of the time-to-distance ratio (slower speed). I don't travel the interstates to ride fast or even to arrive somewhere quickly, unless I am doing a certified ride that requires such. I ride the interstates because they are more exhillerating, and I don't find the backroads to necessarily be more intersting in terms of scenery. In the backroads you ride among the trees, but you can't see the forest. On the interstates you see the forest, but you aren't among the trees. Its a matter of perspective and preference. I reject the idea that backroads are more interesting by their very nature. I meet a diaspora of people at rest stops, gas stops, motels, etc., including many of the people who live in those backroads. It is not either/or for me, as stated earlier. There are some areas that I want to be "among" and others that I am fine with seeing from a far as an landscape.

KSC: You say you also ride with motorcycle clubs. With my Majesty I feel like I fit in both with modern scooterists, and also motorcycle riders. Some feel like they belong in neither group and tend to ride only with other maxi-scooters. What are your thoughts on that?

Jerome: I like to ride only with scooters or bikes that are highway capable. I do not identify with smaller scooters anymore, though when I first started, that is who I rode with. I rode to the big rallies like Philly, NYC, and WKRP, WDC, Baltimore, Three-mile-Island, etc., and it was blast for a while. I don't plan on riding behind a bunch of old two-strokes ever again. I do believe that neither traditional scooter riders or motorcycle riders feel I belong. Only other maxi-scooter owners truly accept me. This doesn't deter me from riding with motorcycle groups on their Harley's or other big cruisers, of course, as I can ride most of the local motorcycle riders into the ground, which become apparent after time.

KSC: I see this a lot too. Motorcycle riders often underestimate the capability of a maxi-scooters. They sometimes view them as toys. Do you find that motorcyclists take it well when you disprove their preconceptions?

Jerome: Most motorcycle riders barely ride. They are more interested in posing and playing out some bad-boy fantasy in their minds. They are scared to ride on the interstates so they claim it is boring, and cling to secondary roads where their big 900 lbs of iron are the worse possible choices for doing twisties. They like to use motorcycles as another social status tool, or chance to have a social life. I am not knocking any of my description above, its just that that isn't why I and many other endurance riders, and flower sniffing people have motorcycles. I could care less how non-riders take me. Serious riders be they endurance or just leisurely tourers see me as an novelty, which I am, and don't feel threatened in the least and have no problem riding with or being in the same organization.

KSC: What exactly is your definition of "flower sniffers".

Jerome: The creed for endurance long distance riding is to see how far one can ride in a given period of time. Flower Sniffers may also like to ride long distances, but it is the tour, the scenery, the relaxed pace that interest them. In other words, they want to have time to stop and smell the flowers. Endurance riders are driven to stop as little as possible. I am a flower sniffer at heart, but finances and my wife's lack of interest in two wheel travel have guided me more towards being an endurance rider. I won't be so selfish as to go on a 21 day ride across America while she sits home and twiddles her thumbs. A 3 day trip across, however, is tolerable and that way I get to ride across America (or wherever) and not be away from home too long.

KSC: With all your LD riding, and the fact that you said you'd like to get at least 200 miles between fuel-ups, have you considered a aux fuel tank?

Jerome: Actually I want my bike to be able to do at least 200 miles between fill-ups, but I personally stop every 150-180 miles. I just don't like running the tank to near empty every time, it is nerve racking. I should get an aux tank, but hate the concept. Rallies are the only time you can't carry extra gas, and I am not willing to get an aux tank just for the 3 rallies I am likely to do. It probably will cost me a finishing spot in the IB5000, but I will take my chances with the "stock" Majesty.

KSC: Do you feel that the uniqueness of the maxi-scooter is one of the reasons other riders see you as a novelty?

Jerome: Long distance and other motorcycle riders see me as a novelty because there aren't many maxi-scooter riders riding long distances, or riding with local motorcycle groups. There aren't many maxi-scooters period, compare to sports bikes and cruisers. Many people tend to be herd animals. Until the day comes that maxi-scooters make up a significant percentage of the riding public, they will continue to be a novelty. People are unaware of the capabilities of the maxi-scooters and have no desire to learn. They aren't going to ride one regardless of capability until "the cools kids" do.

KSC: What percentage of your riding would you consider endurance or long-distance riding? What specialized equipment do you use on your Majesty? Have you made any additions or modifications that allow for greater distance or more comfortable travel?

Jerome: About 80% of my mileage is from endurance riding, but only about 5% of my total riding time. I commute to work and around town and do small rides with local friends, groups, or ride solo most of the time. I don't believe in 3rd party modifications so I have made none. I have a gps and will be adding some extra lighting, and that's about it.

KSC: What type of GPS do you use?

Jerome: A Garmin 2720 and Garmin 2610 as backup.

KSC: About how many miles have you put on your 06 Majesty?

Jerome: I have put 27,500 miles+ in 30 months. I would have put a lot more (at least 8,000) but missed last July through September due to a accident. I also missed the Cape Fear rally this year because the dealer didn't service my bike right. Its an 2006 Majesty but it was a dealer demo and I didn't buy it until the end of November 2007.

KSC: Do you consider the YP400 a capable bike for something like the Iron Butt Rally?

Jerome: Yep, because I am going to do the IB5000 (~5,000+ miles in 5 days, this August). If I finish that rally I will be automatically accepted into next years IBR. Note, that if I make the IBR next year, that will probably be the end of my rallying, and there will be an extreme transformation of my riding from endurance (I will probably do 1 a year for a couple more years) to flower sniffin. If I don't make the IBR I will do a 10-10 as part of a 48/10, 50cc "Gold", and maybe a 100ccc, or perhaps create a new ride.

KSC: What do you like best about riding on two wheels?

Jerome: Exposure to the elements, small foot print, the need for greater skill and alertness, economical, therefore allowing me to travel the country, low cost of purchase and insurance, easy parking, and the closeness to the road at speed.

KSC: You speak about the small foot print...are you speaking of the fuel economy and smaller ecological impact of a scooter? Do you ever get questions about the gas mileage? What about the whole "green factor" of riding a scooter. Do you play into that or make a point of it?

Jerome: I just mean you can lane split (where legal), park where cars can't, etc. I don't think max-scooters are that much of a plus for the environment. They get crappy gas mileage in comparison to much larger vehicles. A 1200cc BMW motorcycle gets equal or better gas mileage than a Silverwing, Burgman, Majesty, etc at 75-80 mph highway speeds. A Prius and other small cars with 4-6 cylinders and hybrids do almost as well a single/dual cylinder maxi-scooter.

KSC: What is your all-time favorite stretch of road?

Jerome: The roads "around" the "Dragon" and I-81.

KSC: What do you feel like scooterist share in common with all riders?

Jerome: Danger.

KSC: What do you feel sets us scooterists apart from other riders?

Jerome: They probably ride for more utilitarian reasons rather than for social posing or the thrill of the ride.

KSC: Jerome, do you have any final thoughts for people who might be interested in endurance or long distance riding?

Jerome: Contrary to what many people would think, endurance riding is not a trial-by-fire. If endurance riding was painful or stressful, I wouldn't do it. I think I also speak for the LD endurance riding community. Select the bike that fits you best or make it fit you best. Stop and rest/stretch/sleep according to your most comfortable-productive rhythm, safety first, and always have a road service plan. My final comment is "for me", the Majesty scooter is the best all-around two wheel transport currently available.

Test ride

I let Ralph have the first test ride on the Majesty. He said it felt
like the back end was loose and suspected the bolts we took out. They
were corroded and threads were a little worn in places. I will get
new ones soon. The rest of the bike went back together no problems.
Ralph also said that the back end wobbled quite a bit when he got in
the 'groove' that is down the left third of each lane on Outer Loop.
I told him I thought that was probably just normal. He said it had
good pickup and didn't seem like there were any major problems. That
is good. I am not worried that the bike will do well for the next
several thousand miles just like it is.

Mount and Balance

Ralph is retired and is smart to know what a blessing that is! He has been kind enough to volunteer to take my wheels over to Yamaha/Suzuki of Louisville for me. They said that if they get them this morning, they will have them done to pick up by the end of the day!

Our friend Jim is going with him. I don't think he's ever been in that place yet. Who knows...he might see something Japanese that strikes his fancy! He rides a fabulous red Vespa...the kind of Vespa I would have if I thought they might be comfortable for me.

I think Ralph has the intention of asking them about the muffler also...about that bolt I snapped off that holds the muffler clamp onto the exhaust pipe. It seems like everything is going fairly close to as planned!! I may be up and running tonight!

Kathy and my kids have been really great also about being understanding of the time I need to take in order to get this done. HAMS is in two weeks, and it is mandatory before I ride all the way to St. Louis with Kathy for the rally.

Both wheels off

We got both wheels off with not too much problem. You can see how the rear tire is slick as hell. For the past week and a half I would not let Kat ride pillion and I was really babying it around curves. A couple days ago I just about lost it in a strip of gas some idiot laid down on Outer Loop. Tomorrow bright and early (9am) I have to call Yamaha/Suzuki of Louisville and try and get an appointment to get the tires rotated and balanced. If I can't get that done tomorrow then I will have to wait until Saturday to put them back on. Ralph is being extremely nice letting me use his garage.

Rear Wheel Removed

It was a bit of a deal getting the rear wheel off. First the muffler and airbox, then shock, then the whole bracket that holds everything together. Finally we took the axle nut off with Ralph's electric air wrench. The only thing that I had trouble with (beside breaking off that one bolt that holds the muffler on the exhaust pipe) was a couple of the lower bolts and Vince was able to break those loose. The front wheel was pretty cake.

Taking off the Wheels on the Majesty

I broke a damn bolt! This is the exhaust...should be easy.

NOTGATT

Hope he don't plan on anything but literally "vegging out" if he goes down on that nice little red Honda Reflex Sport!

The ride!

We rode around the area east of Louisville in the area between I-71 and I-64. It was a pretty good ride, but my camera didnt work...it was aimed at the sky and treetops the whole time. Jim with his red Vespa peeled off for home and the rest of us ended at the Dairy Queen on Shelbyville road in Middletown.

The Whole Gang

Just about everybody showed up to hang out and chat. Ralph was not feeling 100% so he did not join us on the ride. I hope he gets better really soon! My friends Jan & Steve were a cool surprise. He was on his cruiser for a change, and Jan was riding his Burgman while her Reflex was having work done. You could see the smile beaming out from inside Jan's full face helmet! I think she likes the 400cc bike!

Marty!

Lo and behold, my old friend Marty showed up on his blue Majesty! I hadn't seen him in a long while or ridden with him. He is a very busy guy! It was nice to ride with him, even if it was only a couple blocks. He had to get home for Dad Duty. If anybody can understand that, it's me.

Heart Attack

We met at the Taco Bell/KFC out there and I couldn't resist trying the new heartstopping 'sandwich' that KFC has...the Double Down. It was very tasty!

Tuesday Traffic

I had a traffic jam last night trying to exit off of the Watterson Expressway in order to get to the Louisville Scooter Group meeting. It was in the east end of town out near Prospect.

Ball U!

It had probably been over 15 years since I'd been to Muncie, let alone the BSU campus. Now I can sport my pride! I think it looks good a background of Yamaha Vivid Red Cocktail next to my US-129/"The Dragon" sticker!

Slick tires

My new tires are supposed to be in today or latest tomorrow. This is a really good thing because yesterday on the way home, some jackass left the Thorntons leaving a one foot wide swath of fuel on the road behind him. When I got into that, I just about dropped my bike! What kind of moron wastes money, damages our environment and endangers other motorists like that? Can you tell I'm angry???

Metzeler Feelfree Tires

I wanted to try the Metzeler tires they make for my scoot. I looked
around and several places had them: Amazon, Bikebandit, Motorcycle
Superstore, etc. They make really good tires for motorcycles so this
is what I sort of had my mind set on. The best price by a couple
bucks was Bikebandit so I checked to see if they were in stock and
then ordered. About 12 hours after I ordered, I was in Home Depot and
got the email that the rear tire was on backorder. It gave the 800#
in the email so I called and cancelled. Later that night I checked
Motorcycle Superstore. These folks listed straight out on their web
site that they didn't have the rear. I found another company who
carried them called American Motorcycle Tire. They said they were in
stock, but I found out later that they weren't! Now Bikebandit and
American Motorcycle Tire have some money tied up on my credit card,
and I still have NO TIRES! That was the end of it for last week.

This morning I go back to Motorcycle Superstore and decide to order
the Metzeler for the front and will try a Michelin for the rear. I
order that (taking some money out of savings to cover it because the
other two companies still have my money not totally refunded yet!) and
then on the way out the door decide to check the price again on the
rear Metzeler thinking maybe I will order it in a month or so and have
it on hand. When I look....its in stock! I called the 800 number and
the CSR says "we have twelve of them in stock...looks like we just got
them in today." I can't believe my luck! I ask him to switch the
rear tires and he says no problem.

Now not only are they on the way, but since I stress I need them soon
he says "they are due to arrive on the 25th....hey, that's tomorrow".
He looks up the info and tells me that the warehouse they are shipping
from is in Louisville!!! How sweet is that? They should come in
tomorrow or latest Wednesday.

Now I just gotta figure out how to get them put on!

Home!

I made it home a bit after midnight. Not so great considering I only got about 4 and a half hours sleep the night before. I came home to a surprise...this time finally a GOOD one. Splott, my puggle had only went potty on his pads, and I had no big mess to clean up. I took him for a walk and he did his business OUTSIDE!

Leaving Indy

We got through Indy and off of 465 onto I-65. I had to stop asap to change from sunglasses to regular glasses. I gassed up but Vince is going to see how far he can get on a full tank and plans to run it dry. He is carrying an MSR fuel can so we'll be ok. Next stop: home!

16K on the Majesty

I clicked over sixteen thousand miles on Lois this trip. She is due tires & oil change before HAMS rally. This makes almost 25,000 miles scooting and reporting it all via this blog. I can honestly say I have loved every mile...sometimes not immediately, but everything has either been fun, an adventure, or a learning experience.

The sportsbike guy

It never fails... Many times when I'm out with Vince there always ends up being some poser who thinks he is a badass on his sportsbike or cruiser. They just never learn. This time it was another guy on a Honda CBR...with a passenger. Not exactly like this (I mean it's only Northern Indiana!)...but you get the idea. So anyway he's being (if only by his existence) an ass, so I lag back a little and signal Vince to do his thing. He gets up beside the guy at the light and when it goes of Vince just leaves him in the dust for about a block or two while the guy is bogging through the gears.

Finally he catches and overtakes Vince...on his 900cc sportsbike...duh. He's got the power of Vince's engine PLUS another Honda Reflex in there! At the next light Vince and I take off and leave him...again. He overtakes me first doing...well let's just say a good clip....and then finally overtakes Vince. The guy decides to prove a point and does probably 90ish down the road for a quarter mile. At this point we don't try to catch up. I'm sure our goal was obtained. Next time the guy looks at a "little scooter" he will have a bit more of an understanding of what they can do. Who knows...his girl might even go buy one!

UniversiTees!

The side-trip to Muncie was not in vain! This TIS Bookstore branch in the Muncie Mall had buy one get one free shirts! The only problem was (for like the umpteenth time) I had misread the GPS and it took us around to the back entrance of the mall. We walked to the entirely opposite side to get to this store. That's ok...with all the sitting today I need the exercise.

After this we are stopping for a burger then it's straight home!

Villiage Pantry to the Rescue

Vince was a little low so is adding a bit of oil to the Burgman... I did not know you had to take panels off to get to it! The VP did not have any funnels, and did not have the synthetic oil he wanted, but the little guy in the store (who was the one who told me about the TIS shop inside the Muncie Mall) gave us a paper bag to roll up and use for the funnel.

The bad thing is I tore the end off the makeshift funnel to create the hole where the oil would flow out and put the new funnel in where you pour the oil. Well...a small piece of paper came off and went down in there! I worked for like 5 minutes to get the paper out with various tools on my swiss army knife!!

We were headed to the mall!

Muncie-BSU Campus

Our next real stop after leaving Michigan (besides gas stops) was Muncie Indiana. It has been a very long time since I have been on campus. Although there are some weird new things...

A lot was still the same. They still had Schmidt hall where I lived...

And Lafollette where I worked...


Plus some other non-BSU memories like Greeks Pizza

And Mugly's where I could never get served...

The bad thing is its after 6pm and nothing that sells Ball State junk is open except for maybe the Muncie Mall. There is a 2nd TIS bookstore location...

Batavia/Coldwater Michigan

Before getting back onto the interstate, we rode US-12 up to Batavia/Coldwater Michigan.

On a schedule

I dont remember how long its supposed to take for the next leg, but were done eating and gonna hit the road!

DaVinci's Italian Restaurant

Now we are having lunch in Sturgis, Michigan at DaVinci's. When I first got to town, I was going to mail my postcard. Each state I've been to, I mail myself a postcard as part of my "proof" that I have been to the state. We went to the post office intending to buy a stamp and mail the card. The post office was closed and they didn't have a vending machine!!

I went to CVS, and even Hallmark had no damn stamps!! I had to get an entire book of stamps which cost me $8.80! That is as much as a tank of gas! After we eat, I'm gonna mail the postcard! Sheesh!

Downtown Sturgis

Here is downtown Sturgis. It looks like the ones across the border. You can hear the Canadian accent in people's voices though...

Michigan!

We arrived unscathed in Michigan.

North Indiana little towns along IN-9

There were a few small towns like this one dotted along IN-9. This is the kind of little towns I like to see.

Gas in Gas City, IN

My gauge was flashing so had to stop for gas. The first exit only had one gas station which was closed so I had to go to the next exit seven miles away. Luckily I was covered because Vince carries spare gas!

Dude!

He has to go mow grass then he says he's gonna play the rest of the day.

Honda CBR 900

We met this guy going on a big poker run.

Maxwell Indiana

For some reason the gps routed us off 465 and went east aways. We still seem to be on schedule.

Gas Stop in Uniontown Indiana

We have stopped for gas in Uniontown, IN. Across the street behind Vince is the ADULT SUPERSTORE ALWAYS OPEN. They must not have too many women here...

Actually there were some people in the little shack across the road taking pictures of all the people who went in and out of the superstore!

...so of course we had to go over and wave at them!

Riding Partner

Today my friend Vince decided to come with me. Even though I screwed up my headset & we can't communicate. He's also being patient while I get ready because I'm running late. He tries to overcome it, but he's a nice guy

Going to Sturgis

I went to the Motorcycle Safety Awareness day on Wednesday put on by the Kentucky State Police. It was a good event. Louisville Scooter Group folks were over two thirds of the scooterists there. I only took a half vacation day, so Kat & I left Louisville at noon. My friend Jim joined us on his red Vespa. Generally the members of LSG are pretty laid back. We tool around on the state roads and county lanes. Because we had to get to Frankfort pretty quick, I had to take the interstate. A lot of scooterist dread riding at high speeds with the wind, buffetting from tractor trailers, etc. and I had become one of them. I would plan routes in my head taking five hours to get to someplace like Cincinnati or Indianapolis. I don't know why, but I was nearly dreading getting along at 65-75 mph! Well, once I got a few miles outside Louisville I remembered how much I like the simplicity and efficiency of quick travel...which led me down a different train of thought. Last year I completed my Saddle Sore 1000 mile ride to Montgomery Alabama and back to join the Iron Butt Association. I was starting to feel it had been a one-time thing... After jogging down to Frankfort and back, I realized that this weekend would be the perfect time to do a little jaunt. I have a dog who needs taking care of and gets medication so I didn't want to be gone overnight, so I came up with a route to visit my birth state, Michigan, then swing around Chicago to Kenosha, Wisconsin, then back home. The total trip would be almost 950 miles and take me 15 hours ride time. Add to this a lunch break and gas stops and it was starting to look a little grueling. I didn't want that. I settled on a route that takes me north through a little town called Sturgis, MI, then northeast to catch back up on I-90. From there, given enough time I would swing through Muncie Indiana to pick up some BSU stickers & such, then finally home. 12-13 hours ride time would make it workable for a Saturday. I plan to leave tomorrow mo

Interview - Bob Ray from Madison

Bob is from Madison, Alabama. He currently works for Jacobs Engineering in support of NASA at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. He has a wife, Julie, and two sons, Bobby and Ian. Bob is currently working on advanced reconfigurable computing and robotics. He has ridden in three Iron Butt Rallies, the last of which was in 2001 on a Honda Reflex Scooter on which he earned a gold medal finish!

KSC: Bob, what were the bikes you used to compete in your first two IBR's?
Bob: In 1997, I used a Honda Pacific Coast for a gold medal finish. In 1999, I rode a Kawasaki GPz1100 for a silver medal finish. The "gold medal" finishes aren't quite as significant as they may sound. I got the one in 2001 even though I had a lot fewer points than some others simply because I made it to Denali/Fairbanks Alaska and back. Everyone that went to Alaska that year and finished was declared a gold medal finisher. This is largely because Mike Kneebone wanted to tease Bob Higdon about it.

KSC: Do you still own your Reflex?
Bob: Nope. Bought it for the sole purpose of riding it in the IBR after seeing a press release photo of it in one of the magazines (Cycle World?). Modified the snot out of it, rode the Butt, and sold it a couple of weeks after the IBR. hear Ed Otto, who finished the 1995 Iron Butt Rally on a Honda Helix, now owns it.


KSC: How long have you been riding?
Bob: Since 1971. Hmmm. 38+ years. My dad bought me my first bike, a Honda CL175, a little while after taking me to see "On Any Sunday". Have had somewhere around 20 bikes since.

KSC: How long did you ride on a scooter?
Bob: The Reflex is the only scooter I've ever owned. I had it for about 6 months (approx. 20,000 miles). The Reflex was featured on TV a few times, largely thanks to Dave Despain of Speedvision. His show's opening shot had me leading him through a North Georgia corner on it (before he blasted by me on his superbike) for a while. That trip was a lot of fun. Another scooter fan, Bobb Todd, was on that trip. You may know of him through his involvement with the Mad Bastards Scooter Club of Toronto. They have a big ride every year, around Lake Ontario, I think. Bobb has finished a couple of IBRs, too.


KSC: What exactly did you do to the Reflex to make it worthy of the "11,000 miles in 11 days"?
Bob: It has been 9 years, but here's what I recall:

• A. I sent the seat to Rick Mayer for modification. He replaced/reshaped the foam which made a big difference.



• B. Givi shield and rack. Nice stuff.



• C. 3 gallon fuel cell on the rack. Jaz, I think. This gave me a 6.2 gallon total, which is under the 7 gallon IBR cutoff, meaning I didn't have to keep a fuel log for the rally. Still, I got well over 50mpg the entire rally and often ran well north of 300 miles per fill up.



• D. Throttlemeister. A great piece of metal, very useful.



• E. Radio Shack weather resistant CB radio (the old yellow one, got it on closeout). I mounted a whip antenna to the rack and tuned it with a SWR (short wave radio) meter a friend here in Huntsville built (yep, a homemade SWR meter, he's a geek, lol). It was absolutely useless once I got into Canada. But, it looked impressive I guess.



• F. HID lights. Very useful, great light, but the primary reason I put them on (replacing both high and low beam bulbs) was so that I could run an electric vest and gloves. The HID lights use less power than the stock bulbs, freeing up an extra 55 watts for the electrics. The two stock bulbs use 55 watts (low beam) and 60 watts (high beam). The HID bulbs use 35 watts each. This was very necessary in the Yukon and Alaska although I didn't know I was going THAT far North when I put them on.



• G. 2 BMW-type power outlets on the left with a rheostat for one and lighted switches for both above them (vest, gloves) and a cigarette lighter on the right (a nasty habit).



• H. Marine fuse panel under the seat (powered the radio, lights, power outlets, etc.).



• I. Garmin gps mounted on handlebar.

• J. Motofizz seat bag, ordered from England, great bags. This was before Andy Goldfine/Aerostich started importing them.

There was probably more that I did to it, but that's enough. Carried a spare belt and the official Honda shop manual with me. Needed both! You can get a lot of info from the Iron Butt Rally web page simply by reading the stories of the 2001 rally. http://www.ironbutt.com/IBR/2001.cfm

KSC: I have heard good things about Rick Mayer seats. Did you ever have them work on any of your other bikes?

Bob: Nope, but I haven't ridden an IBR since 2001 either. If I do ride another, you can bet I'll be sending the seat to Rick.

KSC: In the 2001 IBR you used a CB radio. What do you use for communication now?

Bob: Nothing. I'm trying to preserve what little hearing I have left. Nothing but ear plugs these days! Tell your younger readers to wear them every time. They'll thank you when they are older.

KSC: Then I take it you don't believe in-ear music, GPS, and communication on the road is a good idea either?

Bob: Not at all. I do believe in it and really enjoyed listening to, for example, The Allman Brothers Band (Live at Fillmore East) while crossing West Texas. I don't think people need a talking GPS, but that's probably just a personal thing. I used a Garmin GPS on the scooter during the 2001 IBR, where I rode the full length of the Alcan highway (Alaska Highway) twice in 8 days. You may recall that the road was carved out of the wilderness during WWII (as we feared the Japanese were going to attack the US mainland through the Aleutians). For most of it's length, it is the only road. My auto-routing GPS kept declaring that I was off-route and that it must recalculate. For thousands of miles, it would do this. I'm glad it didn't talk, and glad I didn't have it wired into my helmet. If it had been wired into my helmet, and kept declaring I was off-route, on the only road for miles and miles, where the only road had been there for 60 years, I probably would have shot it right then and there, on the side of the Alcan, somewhere in the Yukon, in the darkness in the middle of nowhere. For group travel, which you seem to do but I don't, CB radios are great. I listen to CBs to hear the truckers jabbering endlessly about upcoming law enforcement zones. Far more effective then radar detectors, especially in these days of instant on and LIDAR. I rarely use them to talk to others. I just don't hear as well as I used to, so to help preserve what hearing I have left, I don't put speakers in my helmet anymore. My TV already is too loud for my wife.

KSC: It's obvious that the Honda Reflex was up to the job in 2001. Do you think it would work in next year's IBR? What about something like the Honda Silverwing or the Yamaha Majesty, or the Burgman 400 or 650?
Bob: The Reflex would do fine. Although the rules since adopted (about being able to maintain speed up a grade) may prevent anyone from ever riding the IBR again on a 250 or smaller. The only power issue I had with it was trying to pass trucks on the interstate. It'd run at 80mph all day long, except when it encountered the wind coming off the front of a truck. Spent the better part of 100 miles trying to pass a truck in South Dakota. Would draft up the side, then hit the "wall" of air spilling off his front bumper. Driver would laugh at me, I'd shrug, and wait for another downhill to have another go at it. When I was in Canada, with their far slower speed limits, the Reflex was in it's element. A Silverwing or Majesty or Burgman would not have the problem with the trucks I had. Then again, they wouldn't get the fuel mileage I got either.

• 
• KSC: What was your general impression of competing on a scooter vs. a motorcycle?
  Bob: I thought it was the easiest IBR I'd ever done, and the scooter was very comfortable (thanks to the large Givi shield and Rick Mayer's saddle work). Of course, a lot of that is probably because I didn't have any checkpoints other than the finish which was an oddity of the 2001 rally. I just had to ride from Madison, Alabama to Denali National Park and back in 11 days. As they say, "Sit here, twist that." I did pick up some bonuses in Memphis. I didn't want to end up tied with someone who "only did Denali."
  

KSC: Was the Reflex experience just a fluke ride or would you consider owning a scooter 'full-time'?
Bob: I think about it from time to time. Especially when I'm in stop and go traffic and my knees start bothering me.


KSC: Would you ever consider other long-distance rides on a scooter?
Bob: I'd like to try the 100CCC on a Reflex. The 100CCC consists of back-to-back 50CC rides, where a 50CC consists of riding coast-to-coast in under 50 hours. The 100CCC is coast-to-coast-to-coast in under 100 hours. I failed in my first attempt at it in 1997, only completing a 50CC, Jacksonville to San Diego, on a Honda Nighthawk 750. I didn't have a fuel cell on the Nighthawk, so I had to stop for gas every 100-150 miles. Over the course of 2400+ miles, this means a difference of 12-14 fuel stops when compared to a bike with a 300+ mile range between fill ups.
Unknown to me at the time, but Colorado rider Brad Hogue was trying a 100CCC in the other direction, but he, also, was unable to pull it off. A little bit later, I suggested to Randell Hendricks that he give it a go (we were chatting in Vince Putt's speed shop outside of Dallas while Vince was fabricating a fuel cell mount for my Pacific Coast). Randell was the first to finish it (100CCC). Kneebone called him insane at the time. Many have since. After the IBR on the Reflex, I think it'd be a piece of cake - as long as one had a fuel cell.

KSC: Do you belong to a club? If so, what club? Tell me a bit about it.
Bob: No club. I used to ride with others until a guy crashed behind me on a group ride. He wasn't paying attention, I braked, he didn't brake, instead he "layed 'er down". Stupid. The rubber parts get a lot more traction than the metal parts. I swore then I'd only ride with truly experienced riders (IBR guys or AMA-licensed racers). Most of the time, I'm by myself and like it that way.


KSC: I recently had that same thing happen at a scooter rally, but since it was at low speed, I just got dinged and nobody got hurt. In my club we do a lot of group riding. We follow the guidelines of the MSF, and anybody who doesn't get in the right frame of mind usually doesn't ride with us long. You have to know people well to ride with them. Do you agree? Do you have any people you trust enough to ride on a regular basis?
Bob: MSF doesn't want you riding 1000 miles in a day, either! Knowing someone well and knowing how well they ride are two very different things. Even very experienced riders sometimes forget things such as "don't take your foot off the rear brake lever after the rear tire has broken loose while leaned over in a curve in North Carolina." Still, there are some l'd ride with whom I've never met (e.g. Valentino Rossi) and some people that I've known for 30 years around whom I try to not even mention motorcycling. About the closest thing to a riding partner I have is this crazy old Canadian named Bobb Todd (who, being Canadian, lives 1000 miles away).



KSC: What do you like best about riding on two wheels?
Bob: Not thinking about the rest of the world...


KSC: What is your all-time favorite stretch of road?
Bob: Highway 69 between Oakman and Northport, Alabama, before the state highway department straightened out the curves, making the road safer for the common folk (and spending all those federal dollars brought home by Representative Tom Bevill, the "King of Pork"). Oakman is South of my hometown of Jasper, Northport is North of Tuscaloosa. I went to undergraduate school at Alabama and dated a girl in Northport. I would ride very quickly down that stretch of road. Other than that, which doesn't exist anymore, at least not as I remember it, perhaps Highway 6 in Nevada, between Ely and Tonopah, or Highway 101 in California from Eureka North through the Redwoods to Oregon, or Highway 64 near Ducktown, Tennessee, or, or, or. There are a lot of good roads. All over the place. Just ride.


KSC: What do you think about the whole "green factor" of riding a bike vs. driving a monster SUV? Do you ever play into that or make a point of it?
Bob: Not really. Most people are terrified of motorcycles so the subject rarely enters the conversation. This is not to say that I'm not a "greenie" - I've already put a deposit down on a Nissan Leaf. OTOH, both my wife and I drool over the new 400+hp Ford Mustangs. We're conflicted. With the world having already hit "peak oil", it seems likely that I'll never own that Mustang. But, today's 600cc fuel injected sport bikes are faster, better handling, and more reliable than any bike I owned in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. I guess they'll have to do. LOL.


KSC: You say that "Most people are terrified of motorcycles". Can you elaborate on that? Why do you think they fear motorcycles?
Bob: Duh. Pain and death.



KSC: What is one odd, interesting, or amazing thing that has occured to you while you were riding?
Note: Bob has directed us to the Iron Butt Association's account of the 2001 Iron Butt Rally for our answer:

"Bob Ray was riding the newest bike in the rally, a 2002 Honda Reflex, to Denali National Park in Alaska. Although certainly an extreme distance and subject to all the vagaries of iffy weather along the Alcan Highway, he did have the advantage of traveling over all paved roadways. At least that's what the maps said. Along his journey he had to stop at Watson Lake to replace the scooter's drive belt. Later Bob came upon the buffalo carcass that was the handiwork of Phil Mann Jr. On his way back south through Canada the little scooter broke down once again. Bob was about to tear down the Reflex for a roadside repair when he noticed a grizzly observing the
process from the forest. Since the big bear was not as curious about the new 2002 model scooter and really more interested in doing lunch, Ray decided to call for assistance and have the Reflex towed to a nearby Honda dealer in Fort Nelson, British Columbia. Every rally entrant was rooting for Bob's timely arrival, as a finisher's party was scheduled at his home in Madison on Friday evening. It is always polite to be in attendance at your own dinner party rather than to BE the dinner at someone else's." (Used with permission from "Mind Game" © 2010, Iron Butt Association, Chicago, Illinois)

To see how Bob's 2001 ride ended and how the Honda Reflex became the only motorbike to finish the 2001 Iron Butt Rally twice read "It's Not Over 'Till It's Over"


KSC: When you were in the middle of Alaska and needed the belt changed, how exactly did you plan on going about that? Had you done it before? I know that generally it takes a specialized tool and/or a couple people to get that done. The clutch housing spins with the retaining bolt and you have to have somebody holding it with a specialized tool while you break the nut loose, or else an impact wrench. After I read the entire story, I was just thinking about that.
Bob: You can jam it with a wrench handle or screwdriver, just like most belts. The rest is just figuring out how to make a sufficient lever/breaker bar (a socket handle plus an adjustable wrench works). Or you could just angrily stomp on the socket handle when you get really tired of the damn thing not moving. You are right in that an impact wrench makes things a lot simpler. You are right in that Honda will gladly sell you a specialized tool. In my case, some people drove by and said they'd have a truck sent out. Nice people. Apparently, it is de rigueur in the Yukon to not leave anyone stranded. Good thing, eh? While I was waiting for the truck, Jeff Earls passed by heading North (I was already on my way back), saw me chain-smoking on the side of the Alcan, stopped, and asked if I'd seen George Barnes. It seemed really odd at the time. I didn't find out until I got back to Alabama that there was a second wave of riders heading to Deadhorse. A few minutes later, a pickup truck showed up and took me and the scooter back to a mechanic in town. Although the mechanic had never seen a scooter before, once I got the plastic off, he said, "It's just like a snowmobile!" When he was done (yes, he had air and an impact wrench), I put the plastic back on, paid the man $30 bucks Canadian, and was buzzing along back down the Alcan. Total time was about two hours from when the belt first disintegrated to when I was rolling again.



KSC: That's a personal insight I didn't get in the IBA writeup. Thanks for that! Bob, you said you've owned a lot of bikes. What were some of the bikes have you owned?
Bob: Telling you around 20 isn't enough, huh? You really want an exhaustive list? Sheesh. Here's 20: Ducati GTL500, Harley Sportster, Harley Road King, Honda CL175, Honda Reflex 250, Honda FT500, Honda Nighthawk 750, Honda Pacific Coast 800, Honda Goldwing 1500, Kawasaki 750 Mach IV, Kawasaki GPz1100, Suzuki GS400, Suzuki GS500, Suzuki GS500 (yes, two of them), Suzuki GS550, Triumph 750 (triple), Yamaha Seca II, Yamaha FZ6R, Yamaha YZF600, Yamaha FZ-1



KSC: That's a heck of a lot of bikes. Why do you think you've changed so much? Is it difficult to find the perfect one? Do you change automobiles as frequently?
Bob: Some I just wore out, some were lost to crashes, some were sold trying to keep the number of bikes in the garage to a level acceptable to my spouse, some never worked very well (e.g. 1975 Triumph 750, Ducati GTL500), some were sold or traded because I couldn't stand to look at them anymore, some were sold because I needed the money. Perhaps the dominant reason is that I keep being lured into the canard that one bike can serve as both a sport bike and a touring bike. Even though I know better. I do seem to change automobiles frequently, too. But some part of that is because I have two sons who, following in their father's footsteps, seem to destroy them with some regularity.


KSC: With regards to riding in the lower temperatures like they have in Alaska, do you find that the bikes (like scooters) with a good-sized fairing adds to the comfort level?
Bob: Fairings are blessed things in the cold and rain.

KSC: In that same vein, what about the various foot positions you can get on a scoot?
Bob: Not enough foot positions (compared with a motorcycle). At least, not if you are over 6'. Don't know how shorter people would answer that question. I've never asked them.

KSC: Do you see any advantages in the storage capacity?
Bob: Yes and no. I was able to carry a lot in the Reflex underseat storage and Motofizz seat bag. But, it is less than a Goldwing or anything with larger saddlebags. I currently ride a Yamaha 600. With Givi 35 liter bags and a Motofizz seat bag, I think I'd have more storage than on any of the scooters, although I haven't put any saddlebags on it. One thing I did learn through the three IBRs is that you need to carry far less than you think you do. I carried a lot more on the 1997 IBR than I did on the 2001 IBR and it wasn't because I was on a scooter - it was because by 2001 I realized I did not need all the stuff I thought I did in 1997.


KSC: You say that scooters do not have "enough foot positions (compared with a motorcycle)". I find a lot of scooterists who are previous motorcycle riders say the exact opposite. They also seem to agree that the comfort level is greater on a scoot, and attribute a lot of that to the various foot positions and body positions you can use. In fact I see older motorcycle riders convert to scooters for this very reason. Why do you think this may be? Do you ever wonder if you might end up on a Reflex, Burgman, Silverwing, or Majesty in your later years?
Bob: On the Reflex, wearing size 12 Aerostich combat touring boots, and being 6'2", there really weren't too many options as to where I should put my feet. With a motorcycle, I have the option of the rider pegs, passenger pegs, a crash bar (e.g. with the Road King), and all the variations there of (right foot on the rider peg, left foot on the passenger peg), etc. On a scooter, I cannot carry my weight on my feet. Everything is on the butt. Note that this is true for cruisers as well. About the only option is to shift one's butt from side to side. That is, sit on the right cheek for 100 miles, sit on the left cheek for 100 miles, relax and sit on BOTH cheeks for 100 miles, refuel, repeat [there's a little Iron Butt insider tactic for you].

I think a lot of older riders switch to scooters because of arthritis (degenerative knees and hips). I may be projecting, as both of my knees ache most days. I'll probably be back on a scooter before too long. I know of several Iron Butt veterans who have scooters at home. One old marine simply has bad knees. Another had a stroke which had left him barely able to hold a bike up at a stoplight.

Scooters are comfortable, especially the maxi-scooters, but they are not sport bikes. They cannot take the place of a sport bike no matter how vocal the enthusiast. They can supplement, in terms of capability, a sport bike in one's garage (spousal unit permitting). They may be able to replace a touring bike, or perhaps 80% of one (they need far bigger alternators, for example). I think I showed this in 2001.

KSC: Indeed. If anyone showed that a 'mere' scooter is a road-worthy touring machine, it would be you, Bob. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

[Photographs taken by Andrew Duthie, 2001 and used with his permission.]

The Motorcycle Safety Course

The course they are teaching from 6-9pm is book portion of the MSF.

Kentucky State Police Motorcycle Safety

Today was the KSP Motorcycle Safety Awareness day and LSG was in attendence!

LSG Tuesday Night Ride

We had a good turnout for the ride. The sky was very cloudy but we didnt get a drop. How lucky is that??? :)