It's Springtime in the Rockies... and Time to Get Our Motorcycles Ready for Summer!

Pulled the trigger on a Bitchn Stitchn motorcycle seat and made an appointment for mid April. They actually build the seat right there and then... while you wait!... at least, I suppose, as long as what you want isn't too radical... and hopefully what I have envisioned, won't be.

But... I like the idea of how they do things... Other places... You order what they have. This place... they take the person who's gonna sit on the seat... sit 'em on the seat. Then, carve and whittle on that seat, with the person there to test out what they've done. They actually fit the motorcycle seat to the butt that's gonna occupy it.

Now That is a custom motorcycle seat! :o)

Heidi is gonna take a Motorcycle Riders Course in either April or May... Not sure how much she actually wants to "Ride her own"... but wants to give it a go... so I started 'familiarizing' her on the V Star, last fall.

I don't intend to teach her myself... at least at first... I just want her to be fairly well familiarized with a bike, before she takes the class... I think she'll be able to get more out of it that way... and avoid the lil' "battles" you can often have between "Him" and "Her" in such matters. :o)

I'm not pushin' one way or the other... It's my belief, that's an un-smart thing to do. Riding a motorcycle is way too personal and intense a choice. A person has to want to ride, and answer the question; "Why Ride?" in their own way and for their own reasons... If I Talked her into it and anything bad happened... I don't want to be the one that badgered someone into something...

That said... I'm looking forward to Splittin' the Wind... Together! :o) Two Stars, Rolling on Freedom Road?... SWEET!

I'm also looking into Bohn Armor... for the both of us. Anybody have any experience to share? I like the idea of it... mostly curious 'bout the durability and long day comfort of it... words from someone, not, connected to their site would be good!

Have to get to work on the V Star for Heidi... She (the bike!) needs some maintenance... 32,000 miles and the forks seem a lil' soft... along with an engine leak that's developed this winter... See! HD's aren't the only motorcycles that need some TLC once in a while!

Still haven't settled on Saddlebags for the Raider... I like the Corbin Fleetliner bags... just can't choke up the price just now... So... and when I think about what 'fits' me... not just the bike, I always seem to come back to a Leather covered, hard bag. I just like that style...

... so... I'm snoopin' 'round for such a bag... and likely ghost type brackets to mount 'em... They'll have to be a smaller size bag... and likely mounted a mite higher than usual, to fit over the stock pipes... That's Ok... I'm a 'smaller' type guy... So my jeans are littler and need less packing space! :o)

Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian

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It Ain't over... Till It's Over... Choosing a Motorcycle Seat

Hmmm... I'm still cogitatin' on the Motorcycle Seat change on my Star Raider.

The factory passenger pillion just ain't gonna get it done... Momma ain't comfortable on that sucker... and... if Momma ain't happy... you know the drill!

What I'm wantin' is a quick change... solo/two up seat set up... A solo seat with a classy fender rack for the majority of my riding... and a passenger/back seat for when the Boss Lady rides with me... all made to be "Quick Change" using the ability to do that already built in by Star Motorcycle...

Heidi was talking to a customer of hers that rides a big scooter... a Yamaha... some variety of a Star I believe. The gal had good things to say 'bout Bitchin' Stitchin' down in Lakewood, Colorado.

So... I'm planning on takin' a close look at what kind of a custom Motorcycle seat arrangement they might could build for us... They'd been recommended to me by a dealership in Denver, and that's fine... but... I like to hear the same recommendation made by folks on the Road... who have put their butts on the seat for a few miles!

Maybe they can take my "idea" and create us a one of a kind seat that'll keep the Queen happy... so we can spend a lot more miles... Splittin' the Wind!

... and I'm wafflin' on my Motorcycle Saddlebags as well... I like the Corbin Fleetliner design... but... I like plain, leather covered, hard bags as well. I just haven't found any, yet, to fit the Raider... so I'll keep on scoutin'.

Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian

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My New Raider is Riding Even Better than I Expected!

I took Heidi for her Virgin ride on the Raider yesterday morning. We rolled up Highway 85 from Nunn to Cheyenne for breakfast/lunch at the Egg & I downtown.

Unlike the day before, it was overcast and cool...

Starting out kinda cool, it got a lil' cooler the more North we got... and goin' into a 20 mph or better headwind helped keep us from gettin' overheated too!

Wind? What wind? That Star Raider didn't notice a thing!. Riding two up @ 70 Mph into a 20mph+- headwind She pumped out 37.15 mpg. So I have no complaints! :o) Last week, rolling solo to the "day job"... averaging 'bout 65 mph on Highway 85... goin' south instead, she pumped out 45+ mpg...

Now... that's also with a couple... triple digit MPH "events" that came out of nowhere! :o) I just couldn't help it! That Yamaha Raider is an AWESOME Motorcycle!

I've read several places where fellas complain about mileage in the low 30's... ??? I don't know what they're doin'... I'm running at 5,000 feet altitude... and higher up to Cheyenne... and with that motor under me I've found it impossible to not twist the throttle a good bit ... every lil' bit! :o) So I've not been making any special effort to ride for 'economy'...  On top of that, it's still winter, so kinda cool... The bike currently has 4600 miles on her... Maybe I've got a good one? ... or maybe they're cipherin' wrong... But I'll not complain about the fuel economy, especially considering the performance she pumps out on request!

Yesterday, riding in the wind, the bike was stable and solid. With the torque available the wind was only something for the riders to deal with... the bike couldn't care less.

I've read where some guys don't believe the Star Raider is a machine fit for Motorcycle Touring... I guess you go with what you need... but... so far, what I need is sittin' right there in that Big Red Yamaha! What Heidi and I did find out for sure (and I already knew and expected) is that we'll have to upgrade the passenger seating with a better touring seat and a back rest...

Along with some proper bags...

I've only got to decide... Corbin Dual Tour? ... or Yamaha Back rest and a Butty Buddy Seat?... Hmmm...

I'm leaning toward the Yamaha/Star back rest and the Butty Buddy Seat... would make converting back to a solo touring machine pretty sweet and easy!

... and for the saddle bags... I'm mostly decided I want to spring for another Corbin piece... Their Corbin Fleetliner bags... I've not seen anything better designed to create a Suh-Wheet! Bike! :o)

One other thing I have found... at my 5'7"... the bars are a mite far forward... I think I'll likely change out the handlebars for something with just a lil' more pullback... just an inch or two would make a big difference.

... Now... all I've got to do is wait for Spring to really open up Freedom Road... or... get my Two Wheelin' butt... SOUTH!

Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian

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When It Comes to Motorcycle Safety, Do Loud Pipes and Bright Colors Save Lives?

I'm one who doesn't hold with that view of Motorcycle Safety... It's OK if You do... It's your ride, but I think it just don't work. I mean, these cagers out there try to run over Semis and claim; "I didn't see him!"

If they can't see 80,000 lbs of steel, on eighteen wheels, gettin' shoved down the road by the 500 thundering horsepower of a Caterpillar Diesel... they ain't gonna see your 800 lbs of bike and body on Two Wheels!... even if you got Vance & Hines pipes and battery powered chartreuse underwear!

Maybe I'm just a closet control freak, but I don't like doin' things that are all hung up and dependent on somebody else doin' their part. When it comes to keepin' my hide in one piece out on Freedom Road... I ride so I control whether I'm safe or not.

In just a few words; I ride like I'm invisible.

Just Monday morning, rollin' that new Yamaha Raider, runnin' up Hwy 1... bright sunny day, straight road... little traffic... and a fool in a Ford truck turns out from a stop sign, right in front of me...

IF I'd been depending on that bozo seeing the bright Red Paint of that Raider (he didn't)... or hearing it's not real noisy pipes (but rumbling just the same - & he didn't)... I'd be a hood ornament now... as it was... I was watchin' him... assumed he'd be an idiot... SAW his wheel startin' to roll... and adjusted for his stupidity... waited for the room... rolled on the power and left him behind.

That's one nice thing 'bout my new Raider... I loved that Ol' V Star... still do... but this Raider... Lordy... by the time You realize you twisted the throttle, You're already gone! :o)

That's how I keep the paint from gettin' dented... I assume those cagers are gonna be stupid... I assume they can't see me... I ride my Motorcycle Like I am Invisible...

That philosophy has a nice side benefit to boot... Riding a Motorcycle that-a-way, you get in the habit of really looking... it becomes second nature... So, when you're out on Freedom Road, in Far Country... you SEE so much more than you ever did... or ever will... lookin' through a windshield...

Shining Times! Yes Sir!

Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian

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It's Done... a Red 2008 Star Raider is What I'll be Motorcycle Touring on, into the Future!

I just couldn't 'Do' the Stratoliner right now! :o) I've been wantin' this Star Raider for so long... I just couldn't pull back and go the other way just yet.

My Bad! :o)

Picked this ride up (my 'New' Best Touring Motorcycle!)  down in Brighton yesterday evening and brought her home in the dark...

and she's still settin' on the back of the truck due to a lil'... a bit unexpected issue... A Dodge flatbed is a mite too tall for the low clearance of a Star Cruiser.

The Bike high centers at the break over point... I'm gonna have to find a dock or some such to git her down off the truck!

... and then, set to conjurin' up a 'new' ramp to deal with the 'high center' issue... ( I need to haul her when we load the 5er and go to yondering) ... otherwise... It'll be her tires carryin' me Splittin' the Wind on Freedom Road! Hoo! Ya!

But all that is just 'stuff' to deal with...

'cause sittin' out there in the sun is the Finest Motorcycle this Ol' Cowboy has ever owned... and HE is one gigglin' happy son-of-a-biscuit! :)

Much to do with her... many plans... a new Corbin seat... and hopefully, Corbin Fleetliner bags... a few other touches...

Bottom line? It's Shinin' Times! For sure and for certain!

Not long ago Heidi and I were sinkin' fast... Times for us were as tough as they are for anybody  around... and all you hear these days are how "Hard Times are"...

I've decided that "hard times" often turn out to be a choice. "Times"... are what YOU make 'em... if you quit tryin'... you Decide to make 'em tougher. If on the other hand... you grab on and just LIVE... You make 'em Shining Times... no matter what the rest of the people are doin'.

I sometimes feel a lil' guilty how spine quivering happy I'm gettin' this year, considering what's goin' on around the country, and around the world... but you know what?... I can't waste any time worryin' 'bout that... The Boss gave us the power to put our own lives back together...

He helped me find a good replacement truck... and yesterday... I got nudged in the right direction to find a Righteous Star Motorcycle! Hoo! Ya!

... So... I just can't waste any time worryin' 'bout whether some folks are gonna get all butt hurt 'cause I have found the way to LIVE a joyous life in Shining Times!

Though... I'm hopin' it don't get any better... don't know that I can handle any Brighter Times! :o) 

Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian

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What Kind of Motorcycle?

I've been planning, for quite a while, to upgrade my ride to a Star Raider... but... I think that may be seeing a pretty good change...

After 30 years, the Boss Lady suddenly found a desire to ride with me, late last summer... and I'm finding it pretty sweet!...

Now... let's face it... if she and I were 19... I might get away with her all folded up on the tail of a Raider...

But... 19 we ain't... might be that we're refusing to "act our age" :o) ... but our Ol' carcasses ain't gonna see it that way... So... I'm tipping on the edge of compromising and have started lookin' at Star Stratoliners... and Roadliners.

I'd like, sometime in the near future... to still put a Hot, performance cruiser in my Outfit... but just now?... I'm thinking that the best choice for me/us... all things considered, is gonna be a Road Bike... built for two up...

... and it's not like a Stratoliner or Roadliner is some sort of a pup... they are 113 cubic inches of Sweet Touring Motorcycle!

We were joking yesterday that maybe what we need is Three Suh-Wheet! Touring Motorcycles! Hers... Mine... and OURS! :o) Now That there is something that can sure tickle my fancy...

Can you think of anything sweeter than pullin' the door of your Motorcycle Shed open and having three, Sweet, Cruiser Motorcycles sitting there, beggin' for a ride?

Don't know 'bout you... but the last few weeks have become unadulterated Shining Times for this Ol' Motorcycle Ridin' Cowboy! :o)

If they ain't... I'm hopin' they turn that way for you... soon!

Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian

Return to the Home page of Motorcycle Touring on Freedom Road
Visit our sister site goin' RV Boondocking

Share your stories and opinions;
*Tell us Which you think is the... The Best Touring Motorcycle
*Share...  Your Personal Motorcycle Philosophy with us!
*Tell us about your...  Great Motorcycle Roads