Polar Bear Grand Tour to Bahr's Landing in Highlands, NJ on February 24, 2013

Check out pictures of the 18th motorcycle run of the 2012-2013 Polar Bear Grand Tour season to Bahr's Landing in Highlands, NJ on February 24, 2013.

Riding a Honda Gold Wing at the Age of 87 - Age Need Not Be a Factor

I thought I started riding very late. I was 51 when I decided to ride for the first time. I took a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) class to learn how to ride. I have met a few riders who are much older than me who are still riding. Leo, in the Polar Bear Grand Tour, is still riding at 97 although he switched to a trike about five years ago. Leo was riding before I was born. I eventually ended up in a Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) Chapter F in New Jersey. The Wingers are a pretty safe bunch with a lot of safety classes and riding rules with safety in mind.

For those of you wanting to know how older riders are doing in GWRRA, a chapter member steered me to a video from CBC.ca about Frank and Mary. Frank ran a machine shop before he retired. He had always wanted to ride motorcycles but work got in the way. At the age of 67, Frank learned to ride on a used bike and then worked his way up to a Honda Gold Wing. He and Mary joined a GWRRA group in Newfoundland and now they are the most respected members in their motorcycling community. Frank is now 87 and Mary is 84. Here's a 22 minute video that appeared on TV recently that lets you get to know the couple up close. Being a GWRRA member may not appeal to all riders but Frank and Mary are thriving in this community of riders. Take a look at the video and see where you may find yourself in a few years - enjoying retirement doing what you love and having more friends than you ever imagined. Watch the Video.

3 Playboy Models Help Victory Motorcycles to Create their 2013 Brochure

Victory Motorcycles wanted to create something different when they began work on their 2013 Victory Motorcycle brochure. That led them to considering shooting the pictures at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles. Of course, they had to pick three Playboy models for the shoot. Check out this video that describes how they created the brochure with the assistance of Playboy.

Wild Motorcycle Tales - Rawhyde Adventure

Here is a new story for your enjoyment. This one is about doing something that stretches the boundaries of your motorcycling experiences and skills. Imagine taking an off-road school followed by an actual camping trip into the Mojave Desert with your classmates. This is a set of experiences that I will probably never get to have. I took a vicarious trip with the author as I read the story. Read along, look at the pictures, and imagine yourself riding with Joel on his Rawhyde Adventure. Got your own motorcycle story? Send it to me.

Motorcycle Picture of the Week - Theresa Williams

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These pictures are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Theresa Williams' 2004 Harley-Davidson V-Rod Trike under Trikes Only. There are no Men on Motorcycles, Women on Motorcycles, or Bikes Only this week. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

Fulmer Helmets Recalls AF-80, AF-81, and AF-82 Helmets for Failing Testing Requirements

Fulmer Helmets, Inc. (Fulmer) is recalling certain motorcycle helmets, models AF-80, AF-81, and AF-82, sizes medium, large, XL, and 2XL.

During testing, the affected helmets fail to conform to the impact attenuation, penetration, labeling, and retention requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218, "Motorcycle Helmets."

5448 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Polar Bear Grand Tour to Hooters in Wayne, NJ on February 17, 2013

Check out pictures of the 17th motorcycle run of the 2012-2013 Polar Bear Grand Tour season to Hooters in Wayne, NJ on February 17, 2013.

You Won't Believe What You Can Carry on Your Motorcycle - Pictures

I just noticed a picture gallery on Bikes in the Fast Lane by Mike Werner that shows 31 pictures of riders carrying the most unusual cargo. Here's an excerpt:

"It has been a while since I've shown you photos of motorcycles and scooters in Asia, South America and Africa (and even Europe and North America) that carry almost anything, including the kitchen sink. In the mean time, I've found a lot more photos of overloaded motorcycles that I had to show you." -- Mike Werner, Bikes in the Fast Lane

Now take a look at Mike's feature and prepare to be amazed and to laugh a lot.

Motorcycle Picture of the Week - Grampa Phil Perry

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These pictures are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Grampa Phil Perry on his 2006 Honda Gold Wing 1800 under Men on Motorcycles. There are no Trikes Only, Women on Motorcycles, or Bikes Only this week. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

Yamaha Recalls 2009 Zuma 125 Scooter for Fuel Pump Problem

Yamaha is recalling certain model year 2009 YW125 (Zuma 125) scooters manufactured between July 2008 and April 2009 due to possible improper clearances in the internal fuel pump components.

These improper clearances may cause an inadequate supply of fuel.

8700 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Polar Bear Grand Tour to The PIC-A-LILLI INN in Shamong, NJ on February 10, 2013

Check out pictures of the 16th motorcycle run of the 2012-2013 Polar Bear Grand Tour season to The PIC-A-LILLI INN in Shamong, NJ on February 10, 2013.

Makes and Models Expanded to Include Electric Motorcycles

My Makes and Models subject has now been expanded to include three electric motorcycle makes: Brammo, Vectrex, and Zero. There are other makes also attracting attention but most of them don't have production models yet. Take a look at my Makes and Models.

As you see in my last blog post, I have also added these three electric motorcycle makes to my Motorcycle Seat Heights feature.

As I create addition information regarding electric motorcycles, I will post here in my blog and in my Motorcycle Views Newsletter.

Motorcycle Seat Heights - Added Honda, Brammo, Vectrix, and Zero

I have a list of motorcycle seat heights that I developed for 2006 makes and models. I'm currently adding the 2013 models to that list.

The updated list of motorcycle seat heights now contains seat heights for 2013 Harley-Davidson, 2013 Victory models, and 2013 Honda models. In addition, I have added seat heights for some popular electric motorcycles: Brammo, Vectrix, and Zero. The data are arranged in a table from lowest to highest seat height. All motorcycle seat heights are given in inches.

Seat heights for other 2013 makes and models are currently being developed as I get to them.

Check out Motorcycle Seat Heights.

Motorcycle Picture of the Week - Aric

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These pictures are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Aric Bankston's 2001 Honda Shadow VT1100 under Bikes Only. There are no Trikes Only, Women on Motorcycles, or Men on Motorcycles this week. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

Triumph Recalls 2011-2012 Daytona 675 & Street Triple and 2012 Thunderbird and Thunderbird Storm for Wheel Bearing Problem

Triumph Motorcycles (Triumph) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Daytona 675 and Street Triple motorcycles and 2012 Thunderbird and Thunderbird Storm motorcycles.

The wheels were assembled with bearings of an unknown quality.

250 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Polar Bear Grand Tour to The Franklin House Tavern in Schaefferstown, PA on February 3, 2013

Check out pictures of the 15th motorcycle run of the 2012-2013 Polar Bear Grand Tour season to The Franklin House Tavern in Schaefferstown, PA on February 3, 2013.

1923 Matchless Motorcycle Stays in the Same Family

An article by Anna Edwards of Dailymail.co.uk shows a bike that has been in one family for over 90 years. It's a 1923 Matchless J Type. Take a look. This contains plenty of pictures to let you see it from all angles.

If you'd like to look at a 1951 Matchless motorcycle that was just placed in my Moto Pics Gallery, click here.

Rare and Expensive Motorcycles

Motorcycles can be rare, in perfect shape, and extremely expensive to buy. Take a look at 10 such motorcycles as displayed on the CNBC.com website. These are mostly old machines but a few racing bikes are also shown. There are three Vincents that you'll love.

If you'd like to look at what I have on old motorcycles, check out my Old Motorcycles subject.

I also have a large number of Antique Motorcycle Ads that show how early motorcycles were advertised.

Popping the Question on a Busy Highway

I saw a video today reported on by Amanda Pendolino of Twirlet.com that combines motorcycles, the road, and romance as two riders join 300 other riders to stop traffic on a busy LA highway. It was a 2-minute stop, not much longer than a long light in Florida. The purpose was for one guy, Hector, to ask his girl friend, Paige, that one important question. Yes, the motoring public was inconvenienced and maybe it didn't help the image of the biker, but it was romantic. Take a look and listen. Please leave your comments on this event.

KTM Buys Husqvarna from BMW

In this changing economy, motorcycle companies appear to be trying to figure out what their long-term markets are. Just who are their customers? What bikes will be popular? Some companies are getting rid of their assets. Others are eager to buy these same assets. The latest deal has KTM buying a much smaller company, Husqvarna, from BMW. Here's an excerpt from an article by John Burns of CycleWorld.com that gives the details:

"BMW and KTM each sold around 100,000 motorcycles in 2012, while Husqvarna moved almost 11,000 units. That 15.7-percent growth for Husky apparently was not good enough for BMW. From BMW’s press release: 'In the context of changing motorcycle markets, demographic trends and increasing environmental demands, BMW Motorrad will expand its product offering to exploit future growth potential. The focus of the realignment will be on urban mobility and e-mobility.' Translation: Maybe the company was wrong to think it could get yuppies to like dirtbikes?" -- John Burns, CycleWorld.com

Read more.

Motorcycle Picture of the Week - KENTA

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These pictures are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See KENTA on his 2005 BMW R1200ST under Men on Motorcycles. There are no Trikes Only, Women on Motorcycles, or Bikes Only this week. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.