Posts tagged blog
Portland: Moto Galore
Portland is a great town. I start my post with this for a couple reasons. First, I’ve gotten about five emails in the last week asking if I live in Oregon/Portland. To clarify… I live in Portland. I was born and raised in the Portland metro area. I wanted to move up until I actually could, and then I realized this place was all too awesome to up and leave.
Boy am I glad I stuck it out. As I’ve taken up motorcycling and started frequenting events here, I couldn’t be more happy with the motorcycling community in which I live. I’m currently working on the planning stages of a cool [big] project and because of this I am visiting people and shops around town, talking ideas and getting feedback for what I’m doing. Some colleagues and friends pointed me in the direction of some shops I’d never actually been to. One of which being the aptly named Moto Galore. Long story short this spot further reinforced how many cool people and places there are in this small town.
Hahaha. I’m sorry, I can’t help but laugh at the panic in which you asked this. Take a breath. Ducati Monsters aren’t rally or camping bikes in my minds eye, but I’m sure there are options. Firstly, without information about where your exhaust sits (high, low mount) and such, I don’t really know what to tell you!
Look into getting hard case side mount saddle bags that have a bracket. This might be hard to find for older Monsters, but I’m sure you can peruse ebay and the Ducati Monster Forums for help. Sign up, post an advice thread… people are usually pretty helpful and will have more experience with this than I will.
My Monster has no tail, so I’ll be unable to mount any saddle bags. My tank is so fancy I won’t be mounting any top boxes either. So, everything I take anywhere with me will be trapped to my back.
[post script] jack455 wrote me and said: “Tell your follower with the ducati monster panic to google search ducati monster luggage or panniers on images for an idea. I was looking at monsters and did some searching myself”
Check out the facebook post of this for other replies from readers »
I finally witnessed it in real life… a dog on a motorcycle.
![Ray Gordon is stylin’ on his new ride, rockin’ the Biltwell Gringo helmet. He recently traded his Triumph for this 1990 Harley FXR, now named “Ron Burgundy”.
Read my interview with Ray Gordon here »
[ more tagged Biltwell | for the ladies ]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/994355684b29f0c4f6e9668053a627a0/tumblr_mn4mijiRjL1qgolyao1_400.jpg)
Ray Gordon is stylin’ on his new ride, rockin’ the Biltwell Gringo helmet. He recently traded his Triumph for this 1990 Harley FXR, now named “Ron Burgundy”.
Read my interview with Ray Gordon here »
[ more tagged Biltwell | for the ladies ]
The GasMask Bandanas are now available at See See Cofee & Motorcycles on Sandy in Portland, OR.
For those of you who can’t make it there, you can purchase them through the website with paypal, click here!
Lanakila MacNaughton’s beautiful medium format photographs of Stormie’s Wrench Night last wednesday.
The topmost photo is definitely my favorite from the night, Stormie, Jada and I all kicking it being the überdorks we are.
See/read more:
More of Lanakila MacNaughton’s photographs
More tagged Jada Noriyuki / Stormie Ray
Writeup on Stormie’s Wrench Wednesdays
SFRC Alley Sweeper 2013: “GET OFF MY LAWN!”
Alright, it may be slightly delayed… but I finished my video from the 2013 Sang-Froid Riding Club Alley Sweeper Urban Enduro. After the event I did a mini status update with photos of the damage to the bike and myself after wrecking it twice. Now it’s time to answer the question posed to me via instagram, facebook, AND twitter: “Can you explain to me how that’s fun?”
Sure… riding through mud, potholes, gravel, grass, and whatever else you happen upon is not for the faint of heart. It’s for the motorcyclists who like to get dirty, like to feel their back tire lose traction. Those of us who enjoy those “oh shit moments” and riding with other friends.
The Alley Sweeper is not about property damage or disrespect to neighborhoods and communities. Motorcyclists are ALL ABOUT community!
Not motorcycle related, but very motolady related… here’s to all the Moms out there who ride, taught us to ride, support our decision to ride, and raised us motorcyclists all over the world!
I know I wouldn’t have grown up to be my headstrong self if it weren’t for my equally strong willed mother.
Happy Mother’s Day, Momma!
PS. Yes, that is a young bratty me in the above photo. I also wish I could locate a photo of my mom riding the little Honda around the ranch, but alas I can’t.
![Lana (who does photography and runs the Women’s Moto Exhibit) and I went out today to shoot some photos for giveaways (keep an eye out). I snapped this one of her on the XS400 with my phone on the ride back to home base.
[ more photos tagged Lanakila MacNaughton ]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/67f03b5701e4d6605fd8a9426bcc159f/tumblr_mmnn0lPH9U1qgolyao1_400.jpg)
Lana (who does photography and runs the Women’s Moto Exhibit) and I went out today to shoot some photos for giveaways (keep an eye out). I snapped this one of her on the XS400 with my phone on the ride back to home base.
[ more photos tagged Lanakila MacNaughton ]
Rust Bucket Project: The Bondo Bike
At the Deviants CC compound in Vancouver, WA… I spent a few hours going at the BSA frame with an angle grinder yesterday. My mission was to remove the bondo from the frame so I could see what is really going on with the structure of the hard tail, where I need to cut and start over again.
The welds look pretty old judging by the wear and tear, and Wolf told me they were probably stick welds not something more fine tuned. Whoever built this bike must have fancied themselves a sculpter because they chose to use the bondo crap to shape it instead of metal. Seems silly to me.
Today was an eventful one!
Early start to go with Jada to buy her new motorcycle, home for some work, then off again to Two Wheel Tuesday at Tom Young’s motorcycle museum heaven! Rose City Motorcycle Museum is, as Tom calls it, “Portland’s best kept secret” where politics, religion, arguing and shitty attitudes are not allowed.
It was a good day in my lil world, and Jada’s too.
[ See Jada and her new bike ]
![Building a bad ass motorcycle community in your region is not impossible! I get lots of messages from people saying they envy living on the West Coast, in Portland, etc because we have such an awesome group of motorcyclists and throw cool events, rides and such.
Well, take it from Stormie Ray, you don’t need a huge shop or an epic ride planned. Stormie throws “Wrench Wednesdays” at her place where everyone can show up and work on their projects and put their heads together with other enthusiasts.
Try throwing your own wrench-fest, BBQ or potluck… start growing your community! And send me pictures. :)
[ more tagged Stormie Ray | event | goggles ]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/d7e78309d44540e71a0dc8f746609fe9/tumblr_mme69tcATP1qgolyao1_400.jpg)
Building a bad ass motorcycle community in your region is not impossible! I get lots of messages from people saying they envy living on the West Coast, in Portland, etc because we have such an awesome group of motorcyclists and throw cool events, rides and such.
Well, take it from Stormie Ray, you don’t need a huge shop or an epic ride planned. Stormie throws “Wrench Wednesdays” at her place where everyone can show up and work on their projects and put their heads together with other enthusiasts.
Try throwing your own wrench-fest, BBQ or potluck… start growing your community! And send me pictures. :)
[ more tagged Stormie Ray | event | goggles ]
The Difference Between an Engine and a Motor
The first installment of mini mechanical lessons and tales of terminology.
“The difference in a motor and an engine: A motor is converting electric energy into mechanical energy. A engine is converting energy into mechanical energy.”
- From MotoFactory PDX
Question: Protective Denim
Question from Rob Brooks-
Any recommendations on protective Denim for women? Wanting to get my girlfriend some, but no one seems to make any that would fit to a woman’s body. Kevlar doesn’t flex. Figured you would be the one to point me in the right direction.
This is a question I’ve been asked a few times, so I’m going to address it here. First, my disclaimer: For full protection you should ride in fully protective motorcycle pants with hip, knee and shin protection. Leather or abrasion resistant textile designed for protecting a rider from road rash, etc.
That being said, many of us like to ride in more casual gear that will still offer us decent protection so that we can be comfortable and more safe than in jeggings and flip flops. The level of your safety gear is your choice alone, and while I offer options… I am not going to claim I wear a race suit every time I leave the house. I’ve listed some good looking protective motorcycle pant options below.
Monster Project: Phase 18
So, last I left off in Monster Project blog updates… I couldn’t find all the important bits for the rear wheel and attaching it to the bike. Axle, spacers, etc. I ripped apart my garage and stayed up until 5a putting it back together and just couldn’t find them.
I called everyone who’s shop the bike had been at to double check I hadn’t left it somewhere, and finally caved and replaced the rear axle and spacer bits. I stopped by Cheshire Motorsports on Division in Portland and they had the parts I needed… used! Cost me $40 and I was back in business.
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Because ladies were born to ride. And motorcycles were made for riding.
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