“To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.” – Freya Stark

Although I have many interests, women and motorcycles, tend to the top of the list.  I celebrate them both in this series entitled; “Women and Motorcycles”.  Today’s photo is amazing!  I love the setting, the cycle, and the sightly woman.

photographer unknown

I love long term touring and have discovered that proper packing is crucial for a safe and hassle free trip.  The photo below is a perfect example of how not to pack your motorcycle.  A few infractions are…

• Too much mass.
• Relying on bungee cords alone for restraints.
• Center of gravity too high

Seriously people, if you need to carry this much crap on a trip, take the damn car!  Improper packing is not only dangerous to the rider, but to other motorist as well.

How about sharing some of your packing tips?

This Sunday will be slow and easy.  A day of coffee, cigars, and childlike daydreams.  Hours spent envisioning the places I have yet to see.  Then with the simple tools of pencil and map, forming these reveries into reality.   Happy Sunday.

I spent the morning at Competition Accessories, one of the largest motorcycle dealerships in the country.  Today’s mission was to review the 2010 Honda NT 700V.  This bike has been manufactured in Europe for nearly a decade, but is now available here in the states.

Honda is advertising this model as both a tourer and a daily commuter, I think they might be on to something.

Tourer

• The fairing of the NT 700V offers good rider protection from the waist up. The lower section leaves the rider more exposed and the legs will experience some wind buffeting.
• A manually adjustable windscreen offers the rider 5 varying positions.
• Storage compartments include 2 glove boxes, one on each side of the handle bars.  Integrated locking bags have decent storage with a unique pass through for storing longer gear.  I found the storage bag doors to be a little less sturdy than I would like, and they are not removal-able.  A top case is offered as an accessory.
• The riding position is upright and comfortable especially for smaller individuals, I found the seat to be a bit firm.
• I think this motorcycle would be a great choice for a weekend get away.  I am not convinced I would want to take any extended travels on it.

Commuter

• As I already mentioned the Honda NT 700V is equipped with plenty of storage this is an added advantage.
• The motorcycle has a low seating height of 31.7 inches and weighs just 562 lbs.
• It’s power plant is the Honda 680cc liquid cooled V-twin engine, with a 5 speed transmission.
• Shaft drive
• The fuel capacity is 5.2 gallons with an estimated 50 miles per gallon.
• The Honda NT 700V is available in Metallic Silver and Metallic Red.
•  An ABS version is available ( Metallic Silver only).
• The price for the Honda NT 700V is $9,995 and $10,995 for the ABS model.

I liked this motorcycle from the moment I saw it.  The lines were pleasing as was the silver color.  While seated on the bike I thought of many smaller and older riders who constantly struggle with the size and weight of their current beasts and am confident the NT 700V would be a great alternative for them.

The storage on the bike is good and the locking glove box is one of those things you will wonder how you lived without.  The fit and finish on these models is excellent and the reputation of the Honda V-twin engine is legendary.

If you are tired of struggling with a heavy motorcycle or desire a low maintenance steed that would allow you to extend your riding boundaries in comfort and style.  Perhaps you should take a look at the Honda NT 770V.

With some of the longest winter days ahead, I thought this would be a great time to share a good read with you.    Matt Stone, executive editor of Motor Trend magazine, has written a book on the “King of Cool”;  Steve McQueen.  “McQueen’s Machines” allows you to peak into the fast and furious world of this man whose passion for automobiles and motorcycles was contagious.  The book is filled with some 200 photos, some of which have never been seen, as well as family stories and several  behind the scene glimpses into the filming of the super 1971 movie, LeMans.

I have had this book around for a while and find myself going back to it time and time again.  I can’t tell you how often I catch myself re-telling some of the anecdotes from the book with my buddies, as well as many of the amazing photos.  The book is published by Motorbooks and you can pick up your copy here.  Be sure and check it out.

Every once in a while I will do something so incredibly imbecilic it amazes everyone except my wife.  When these situations occur it usually ends up costing me a measure of pride and a lot of cash.  “Note to self,”  is what I say after cleaning up the mess to serve as a reminder and hopefully keep me from repeating the foolish act in the future.

Note to self…

• put the kickstand down before getting off the bike.
• unlock the front forks before riding out of the Burger King parking lot.
• exhaust pipes heat up quickly.
• before adding fresh oil, screw the drain plug back in.
• never drain antifreeze into a Mountain Dew can.
• helmet goes on then the sunglasses.

Hopefully I am not the only one to do such mindless things.  Anything you could add to this list?

Good Sunday morning to everyone!  A rainy, but mild day here in Ohio, means a light jacket and rain gear is all that is required for this day to be a fantastic riding experience.  My wife is out of town, and the dog has been walked, so I guess I will see you on the road!  Happy Sunday!

My plans to take a full day off didn’t turn out as I had envisioned.  Instead I spent the better part of my day convincing a middle aged gentleman he should shell out $9, 347 for the SUV his darling daughter desired.  Once this mission was completed, I was out the door, ready to enjoy the remaining daylight hours on the bike.

Daytime temperatures had risen to the mid-twenties and road conditions were clear on the main thorough fares, with secondary streets requiring much more attention as patches of snow and ice abounded.

My ride was mostly uneventful until the sun beginning to fade and I decided to make one last detour to visit Ferncliff Cemetery.  Ferncliff, is a 20 acre cemetery dotted with historic trees and gently rolling hills.  It lies within the Springfield City limits and is a desirable setting for landscape photos.  The cemetery’s narrowly winding drives however, were mostly shaded and blanketed with snow and ice, navigating them was treacherous, and all a rider wanted to handle and then some.  In fact, while riding down a slight incline, the RT began a slide to my right that didn’t conclude until I ended up off the road and into a snow filled ditch with the ole’ girl on her left side.  Neither of us were injured and with a little coaxing and ingenuity we were soon back on the road.  Here’s a few photos of the day.

See more Pics here.

“A ship in a port is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.”