So Cal Track days Memorial Day weekend

Finally back to the track after nearly a year and what an epic weekend it was. I took Friday off and was able to head for Pahrump Nevada early. My bike was sporting a fresh set of Pirellis and I stripped off the mirrors and license plate. This would be the first time I put the R6 on the track and I was unmistakably excited. The rest of the corner workers showed up and we set the race trailer up for what would turn out to be a fantastic track day event.
Saturday morning came early yet I felt ready to relearn the lines of the track. I alternated with other corner workers and was able to get in some sessions in the morning. My pace was definitely slower than I have ran before but I felt smooth and controlled as I made my way around the track.
It was a blast to be back hanging with some great friends and riding together. Tom Day and Clif Sands really helped me tighten up my lines and was able to pick up speed. The R6 was really in it's element on the track, that bike loves to be pushed hard. Compared to the 01 GSXR 600 I rode before, the biggest difference was quicker turn in and stable in the corners. The bike is like a scalpel.
Changing the gearing will make a big difference as I felt the stock gearing too tall for the track.
Working the corners is enjoyable I love watching the other riders thread there way through turn 8, 9, and 10. The weather was on the warm side but very nice and conditions were optimal for tire grip. I can't say enough how much fun I had. Seeing my friends, and riding motorcycles on a track made for a memorable Memorial day weekend. Life is good!

Let the good times roll

My 47Th birthday was spent enjoying a fine day with friends and riding motorcycles. Feeling very rested and prepared, I met John and we headed east to meet up with the rest of the crew.

I was fairly generous with the throttle rolling out on the 52. We expected the turn out to be light on account of Mother's Day, but we ended up with 7 total. Rumbling through El Cajon was fun with a group of bikes, seven bikes and riders with a single purpose. In a short time we were roaring up Wildcat Canyon. The weather was conducive for riding despite a little fog. In Ramona we filled our stomachs and gas tanks and made our way up to Mt. Palomar. A new guy joined our group this Sunday and he really had a rough day. Outside of Rincon he clipped a mirror of an Excursion and luckily recovered without going down. The South grade is tight and you need to be focused. I rode smooth and felt relaxed as I chased John up the grade.

Rather than head to Julian three of us broke off and headed toward Warner Springs. The plan was to meet up with my friend from the desert, Nick. He was waiting for us at the 371/74 junction. The 74 into Hemet is a fun stretch of pavement, however it was late morning and traffic held us back. After a break at The Lookout we continued on the Ortega Hwy. to the coast.

Hanging with my riding buddies and getting in some turns was Birthday to remember.

Arai profile helmet review

I recently sold all of my street helmets. There was an issue with everyone of them, either too big or too small. I purchased a KBC helmet online and it fits great however the excessive wind noise is unsatisfactory. My riding buddy John suggested I try on his extra Arai profile and it fits perfect. We struck a deal and I was off to test the best helmet made at highway speeds.

The first thing I noticed was the overall fit and finish of the helmet. The face shield fits very flush and the interior padding is plush. The Arai is a quiet helmet for sure. Compared to the KBC it wins by a wide margin. A Quick turn of the head to check traffic at speed, this helmet doesn't move or whip your head around. I have always known that Arai makes exceptional products I just haven't been willing to cough up the big bucks. I now believe it is worth every penny!

Roll with the changes

It seems like forever since I rode last or posted a blog for that matter. Truth is it's been only 3 weeks, so it is time to update the bike journal. The regular Sunday morning ride was a mixed bag of weather and routes. I awoke at 5:30 am determined to beat John to Von's gas station, our usual meeting place. He is always there before me but today I was earlier. Things were looking up and I was feeling rested and ready to head to the East county.

We barreled down the 52 in pre-dawn darkness. There would be no sunrise today since the clocks sprang forward.The group was going to be light with only 2 others joining us for a ride to Mt. Palomar. Instead of the usual breakfast stop in Ramona it was decided to try a place in Lake Wolford. We encountered light drizzle as we wound our way up to the Lake. I figured it would burn off and not hinder our plans for Mt Palomar. By the time we got outside of Rincon and to the base of the South grade it was obvious we would avoid the slippery conditions and head to Borrego instead. I struggled most of the day to stay on pace and focus on smooth riding. My new helmet was distracting me with excessive wind noise and a less than snug fit. Despite the wet conditions and distractions I was glad to see the familiar Borrego Valley again. The Desert is blooming and we could see fields of yellow on our way to Yaqui pass. Even with the less than ideal conditions I still felt a sense of accomplishment. I am looking forward to next Sunday!

From the Beach to Borrego and back

We changed our normal ride to Mt. Palomar are account of the bicycle race last Sunday. As much as I admire Lance Armstrong, avoiding the traffic snarl was more important. John and I left at 7 a.m. and planned on having breakfast at Potrero. Otay Lakes is a fun section and we enjoyed mild temps. in the 60's. After coffee and gigantic breakfast burritos we were back on the bikes and heading east on the 94. The ride through the Laguna mountains was refreshing. Still plenty of snow from the last storm. Moderate to heavy traffic coupled with debris in the corners slowed our pace as we wound our way to Julian. Pointing our bikes east on Hwy. 78 we headed down the Banner grade. This stretch of pavement is filled with sharp turns, ideal for sport bikes. Blasting through Ranchita in triple digits I was keeping fingers crossed we would not encounter the law.

Aw Ha, there it was! Montezuma grade. I was looking forward to attacking this twisty two lane all morning. John and I matched each other turn for turn and quickly arrived in Borrego Springs.

We took another route back to the beach. In Descanso we topped off the tanks and headed to Japatul road. Other than the annoyance of slow traffic, we enjoyed this Sunday ride.

Mid-week solo ride to the Desert

I needed to bid on painting project in the Coachella Valley today. Rather than be stuck in a "cage" for several hours, I decided to jump on the bike instead. The warm Santa Ana weather is a distant memory and has been replaced with more seasonal temps. Heading out at 8a.m. in low forty degree weather would require some layering. I broke out a mix of snowboard apparel and warm riding gear. I was surprisingly warm rolling up the Interstate 5. It felt good to sneak in a ride when normally I would be spreading paint on a Wednesday morning. Last weekend we got rained out on our usual jaunt to Mt.Palomar so I was eager to get in some saddle time. The freeway portion is monotonous but before I knew I was back on two lane pavement at Temecula. In the back of my mind I was a bit anxious knowing that it snowed several inches in the local mountains. I figured by 9:30 a.m. it would be warm enough to avoid icy conditions. Anza was blanketed with the white stuff and made for a picturesque view on both side of the road. The clean air, light traffic, and scenery was exactly what I needed to clear away the clutter in my mind. I stopped at the top of Hwy. 74 and snapped a quick shot before heading down to the Desert floor. After conducting my business I enjoyed the trip back to the beach. Having an alternative to driving a car will always be a good thing!

Product review: Hein Gericke Hiprotech gloves

Finding a premium racing glove under a hundred dollars can be next to impossible. I stumbled across a rare deal on these racing gloves last week. Browsing around the parts department at Quinsey Motorsports I spotted a few pairs of Hein Gericke gloves. Luckily one of the pairs was a medium.

Hein Gericke is a German company that has been manufacturing riding gear for over 30 years. I was impressed with the overall quality. Pre-curved fingers, carbon fiber knuckles, and dual wrist enclosures are some of the features found in these moto mitts. Break in time was almost non-existent.

The combination of kangaroo and cow hide allow for a supple, comfortable fit. After one 250 mile ride the finger and palm areas stretched into perfect form. Iam a fan of Hein Gericke. I feel like I got great deal on a serious racing glove.

Desert riding memories

The majority of my motorcycle riding experience has been of the off road variety. Living in the Coachella Valley for the past 8 years allowed for some epic desert riding. I quickly met several like minded desert rats. Most Sunday mornings we would gather at places with names like "The Shovel, Squid filter, and Long Canyon. In addition to the usual 30 mile local loop, we would often load up and head to Ocotillo Wells or Glamis. Traveling across the desert landscape with my riding buddies was never dull. We would take turns leading or find a fun track and start pounding out laps. The picture above was taken at S-22 portion of Ocotillo Wells. That particular day was simply outstanding. Our riding group was getting larger, probably 10 regular riders. One of the guys Dad came out and took some photos. We criss-crossed the off road park several times. Nothing compares to a full day riding under the warm desert sun. Right now I have dedicated myself to street riding, somehow I know my dirt days are not over.

Solo ride to the Desert

Every now and then I take a trip alone. I needed to meet with a client in the Coachella Valley today and decided to ride out on the bike. Southern California is still enjoying unseasonably warm temperatures, perfect for two wheel travel. With a fresh Michelin mounted on the rear wheel I rolled out of Pacific Beach at 8 a.m. After getting the freeway portion out of the way I headed East through Temecula. Fairly light traffic meant I was able to click off some fast miles on the 371. After a quick stop in Anza I was anticipating the ride down to Desert floor via Hwy. 74. This particular two lane is among the finest in So Cal for sport bikes. The pavement is uniform and twisties are abundant. With only a few cars to pass I enjoyed the road to myself.

Heading back I stopped at the Vista point to take in the view and chat with some fellow bikers. Absolutely stellar weather accompanied me throughout the day. I arrived home a bit stiff from 2 hours in the saddle. Closing the garage door, one word came to mind. Gratification.

On Sunday we ride

A strong Santa Ana condition created ideal weather for our regular ride to Palomar Mtn. I awoke at 5:30 am feeling well rested and anxious to hit the road. We headed for East County at 6:15. John set a spirited pace down the 52 east. I looked forward to getting to El Cajon and grabbing a cup of Joe while we wait for the usual suspects. On the dot at 7am with all who are going we head to Ramona for breakfast. Wildcat Canyon is the back route to Ramona and a good warm up ride. After my usual spinach omelet we are off to Palomar Mtn.

Feeling relaxed, warm and confident I enjoyed the first half of our trip. We arrive at the Cafe at the top around 9:30. Nick rode up from the desert and continued with our group to Crest, CA. I really love to ride with these guys. It is a no nonsense affair. They ride a a quick pace and I never get tired of watching the bikes in front of me tipping it into the corners.

Arriving back where we started around 1:00 pm just in time to watch the Chargers lose to Pittsburgh. 250 miles added to the odometer, another great Sunday ride.

You meet the nicest people on a Honda

I borrowed the title from an ad campaign Honda used back in the 70'S. Seemed like a fitting title to share a little about one of my riding buddies. A motorcycle journal would not be complete without talking about the people that I meet riding bikes.

The picture is my friend Nick taken on a summer ride up to Mt. Palomar. Nick rides a beautiful Honda CBR 1000. Motorcycles are a common denominator we share among other things. He knows a decreasing radius from a double apex, and to put it another way he is a gearhead just like me. He is no stranger to the sport bike world and his experience shows in his smooth riding style. Safety and riding heads up was evident from the first time I rode with him.

I remember going to a track day at Spring Mtn. with Socal track days with Nick. Being a nubbie to sport bikes he was helpful and shared a book about fundamentals written by Keith Code.I'll never forget Nicks unintentional stoppie on the front straight. Upon down shifting for turn one, Nick hit a false neutral. Grabbing a handful of front brake I witnessed the rear tire come off the ground 3 feet! He quickly got off the binders, set the rear end down, and downshifted in time to make the turn.

We have enjoyed jaunts up Ortega Hwy and Palomar Mtn. as well Track days. I value the camaraderie and good conversations over coffee or a bottle of water at a rest stop. The dialog never goes flat with Nick. I look forward to many more excursions together.

A racebike with blinkers

My current motorcycle is an amazing example of Japanese engineering. It was purchased new from a local dealership around my birthday in May 2008. After pouring over test articles in several magazines and websites I decided on a Yamaha R6. I was able to save $1880.00 by settling on the 2007 model. Other than minor motor changes the bike was virtually the same as the 08. Figuring out how to put the bike in my garage took some maneuvering on my part. The short version is I had to let another bike go. I decided to sell my 06 KTM 450sx. Knowing that I would be relocating from the Desert back to the coast I knew my dirt biking days would be few.

So after plopping down a healthy down payment I was handed the keys and I rode a shiny red rocket home.

Nothing compares to a fresh new bike. No mystery to when service was done, bolts and nuts aren't stripped. The downside is signing up for payments and don't even mention the interest.

Regardless I love this middleweight. It handles with knife-like precision and has amazing top end power.I spent the late spring and summer getting to know the machine. Breaking it in per manufacture recommendation and riding it everywhere.

This is the first street legal bike I have owned since 1981 when I bought a used CB550. So getting used to traffic and riding defensively was top priority. I have been fortunate to have ridden my 01 GSXR 600 at several track days so I felt confident on this bike. I will write more about the track experience another time.

I have a little over 4000 miles on my latest steed. Two oil changes and I need a rear tire.

The bike is stock for the most part. I put a fender eliminator kit on to clean up the back. ASV levers, and GYRT slip-on. Rear sets and braided brake lines are on the wish list along with having suspension dialed in for my weight and riding style.

I love gearing up, rolling the bike out, and hitting the road. It is always a deeply satisfying experience. My Moto-vation.

New Years Day 2009

Running a bit late I arrived at John's garage at 8:20. After a quick adjustment to my chain we were off to breakfast at Kono's. Traveling toward the beach we could see the marine layer was starting to burn off. It was going to be very favorable for ride in the backcountry.
We topped off our tanks and headed South on I-5. I lead the way til the 54East, keeping a mellow pace of low eighties. Otay Lakes Rd. was a new experience, smooth sweeping corners were drawing me in. We wound our way east on Honey Springs Rd. another new twisty two-lane for me.

Descanso was our half way mark, so we topped of again and took a break to stretch our legs.I snapped a quick shot of John's Ducati and my Yamaha. Deciding to take Old Hwy. 8 proved to be worthwhile as we enjoyed light traffic and lots of fast corners. The odometer read 157 miles when I pulled in at home. It was a terrific start of the New Year. I look forward to many more travels on two wheels this year.