Recent Blog Posts

10 Tips for Your Baja Adventure

Jacob "Shaggy" Wisdom — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

This is a follow up to my last post on preparing to take a ride into Baja Mexico. These are some quick tips that will help you get around and find your way throughout the penninsula and beyond.

1. Be friendly. Locals want to help, they'll do what they can to get you on your way. Few people are as kind as the people you'll meet in Latin American countries, so be lighthearted and they'll most likely return the favor.

2. Be prepared to communicate. Have a small Spanish-English dictionary. Some basic phrases:

I need gas / oil / food / water / a mechanic / a new inner tube / you to help me / medical help

Necesito gasolina / aceite / comida / agua / un mecanico / un tubo nuevo / me ayudas / atencion medica

Please: Por favor

I would like: Quiero

How much? : Cuanta cuesta?

I would like a room for the night, how much? : Quiero un habitacion para la noche, cuanta cuesta?

Numbers: Look them up in your dictionary

3. Be resourceful. Often times things don't go as planned in Mexico. A gas station is often a guy with gas cans on the side of the road. Mechanics are often a guy working in his side yard. Be ready to ask around for necessities

4. Have a SPOT Tracker. It will be there when you really need it.

5. Carry your passport at all times. If you are ever in need of medical attention and must be flown out of the country, your passport must be on you. If it is not, they WILL NOT fly you across the border. When race accidents occur, serious injuries are generally flown to UCSD hospital in La Jolla, San Diego. The ICU there is top notch. If you want access, carry your passport.

6. Do not draw attention. True for Mexico as much as it is anywhere you travel. Do as the locals do. Don't break the rules, don't flaunt your money, don't pull attention. Act like you know what you're doing even if you're lost. Don't look like prey.

7. Don't leave your things unattended. In all my years traveling I have never been victim of violent crime, but if something is sitting around and a thief wants it, you can bet they'll take it. They may not be willing to hurt you for it, but they might not see any repercussions to the 5 finger discount.

8. Give yourself a buffer. When it comes to any consumables: Gas, water, food, money...always keep a buffer, avoid cutting it close.

9. Be cautious, ride conservatively. If you're racing the Baja 1000 you have all types of support provided. A hundred people know where you are at any one moment and helicopters are standing by to come pull you out in a pinch. If you're just down cruising Baja on any given weekend, don't act like you have all the same resources as you would as a racer. Take it easy, enjoy the ride and environment. Don't wreck your bike and yourself showing off to the cacti.

10. Don't go stag. It might sound like fun, but unless you're a seasoned rider with excellent spanish communicative skills, mechanical knowledge and resourcefulness, avoid the desolate deserts of Baja alone. A riding partner is the difference between something as simple as running out of gas being an inconvenience and a catastrophe.

That's it for my tips. In my next post I'll delve into my Baja trips, and maybe pass on some ideas for your own. Until then.

11th Annual Bigg's Harley Davidson May Ride, San Diego

Linda Corley — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Saturday May 18th marked the Bigg’s Harley Davidson 11th Annual May Ride. The ride is like most other Harley and motorcycle functions with the exception that the May Ride raises money for our military. Usually I’d be hesitant to pay $40 to register for a ride, but when it directly benefits our Armed Forces I’m more than willing. The ride was founded by two San Diego riders Clint August and Marc Baluch, two men passionate about charity and especially that which benefits the frontline defenders of our country.

Besides the two hour ride, those who took part enjoyed a barbeque, free pancake breakfast, over 60 vendors, street bike stunt shows, a raffle, live bands, a dunk tank, a mechanical bull and a car show. Oh, and the gorgeous waitresses from Hooters of Oceanside.

The ride started from Bigg’s Harley in San Marcos, through Harmony Grove, out to Escondido, passed Lake Wohlford and then back to Bigg’s. There were about five groups numbering between 50 - 100 riders, leaving in fine minute intervals. Each thirty minutes we would re-group at a pre-determined spot where we would receive a poker card stamp that was good for prizes to the winners. We even had “blockers”, riders blocking traffic at intersections to insure the whole group got through. If only we could always have blockers riding with us! I’m sure many the cagers didn’t appreciate the gesture, being forced to wait at a green light for 60 or more bikers to pass.

My approximation is that around 90% of the riders rode Harleys, 5% sport bikes, and 5% dual sports…there was even a scooter or two. The crowd consisted of many chapters, clubs and various other groups. Most had on their full cruiser gear and almost all patches I saw were for supporting our military. It was awesome, and when the national anthem began, we all stopped what we were doing (whether it was talking or staring at the Hooters girls’ butts), removed our hats and listened with just the ripples of the American flag waving in the wind to interrupt the music. In this moment I couldn’t help thinking to myself that bikers might have a bad rap for being too loud, too dangerous, too obnoxious, too hillbilly…but those who ride are a proud people, and aren’t afraid to show that they support our country at all costs. It’s times like this that I have never been more proud to be an American, or a motorcyclist.

6 Steps to Riding in Baja California

Jacob "Shaggy" Wisdom — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:45:00 GMT

Growing up in a family of off-road racers, I've been going to the deserts of Mexico for racing since I was quite young. In 2004 at age 14 I completed my first leg of the Baja 1000, riding with my dad in our 2/1600 buggy. I'm not here to talk about off-road racing though, rather this will be kickoff to a series of posts about riding in the deserts of Baja California. This post, my first, will be about preparation. My next post will offer some tips and following that I'll show you some of the places I have gone, to give you ideas for your own Baja adventure.

During one of my rides down in Mexico, I took this photo of my then riding partner south of San Felipe on the morning of our third day. We had the thought to bypass some boulders on the shore via the ocean. Finding the waters too deep, we turned back and went around them via a jog inland.

Step 1: Get the Bike: Easy, if you're planning to ride down in Baja then chances are you already have a bike and are familiar with riding it. For dirt riding I prefer the Honda XR650R, as a budget rider I can appreciate the reliable horsepower of the bike. If you'll be sticking to the streets, anything will suffice, from a Vespa to a Hayabusa.

Step 2: Prep the Bike: Change the oil, clean the air filter, lube the chain (and re-apply chain lube each morning of the ride). A solid foundation for having your bike ready for Baja. Depending on age, replacing tires and chain/sprockets can be considered. This is basic stuff, remember that while you'll be out of your element, the bike will be happy perfectly within its' own. If your bike has been reliable in the deserts of California, there is no reason to think it won't be fine south of the border. This is of course, assuming you have kept your bike well maintained. If you haven't given it much love over the course of your ownership, give it a full prep: greasing axles and suspension linkage, adjusting valves, how deep you go depends on the condition of your bike.

Step 3: Outfit the Bike: Another easy one, if you allow it to be so. For dirt luggage I use Dirt Bagz. The most bang for your buck, these are great bags. They will last a lifetime and offer great customer support when your rear tire sucks up one of the buckles because you left it undone, and need a replacement. Stray away from hard luggage cases when doing serious dirt riding. For the street, again, almost anything will do. I use ebay.

Step 4: Buy a map: Plan your route and duration A great map for planning your route and navigating Baja is the Baja California Almanac available here. It includes both dirt trails and paved highways. Understand the basics of your route. Will you need a larger capacity fuel tank? Will you be camping? Will you be staying in towns? This is only important insofar as your next step, putting together your gear.

Step 5: Compile your hardware: Pack a small bag full of tools that will be necessary on your bike. Don't go overboard, obviously a lightweight, comprehensive kit is best. Purchase two tire irons, and a front tube. If necessary, a front tube can be used in the rear until you get a replacement. Be sure you know how to change a tube with your tire irons before you rely on them in the middle of the peninsula. If you're on an XR650R, purchase a spare countershaft seal.

Buy a Spot Tracker. If you're like me it will pay for itself over and over again, following you across borders and continents for years to come. Pack a minimum amount of clothing necessary. Don't overdo it. You have riding gear, and you have one pair of non-riding gear max. That's it, move on. You'll be dirty, clean when you can, don't over pack. Bring cash, most of your trip will be paid for in cash, bring enough to get you through without relying on seeing an ATM. Have at a minimum some basic first aid.

Step 6: Head South: That's it, you're done. You're going to mull over gear, rethink routes, reconsider the trip for as long as you delay going. There comes a point when you just need to grab your passport, your riding partner, get on your bike and go. Tell some friends and family where you're headed, have them follow you on the Spot Tracker to keep an eye on you. Though bringing a truck down is nice (if you have somewhere to store it), I have in the past chose to ride from my house in Orange County, through my entire trip and then returned home the same way.

While this is a very brief guide, it covers the basics of what you'll need to conduct a successful multi-day ride down in the Baja Peninsula. Bottom line is, have fun and enjoy the incredible ride! New Baja riders should also consider taking a guided tour of Baja, through some very reputable companies such as Baja Off-Road Tours or Wide Open Baja. The advantages of this direction are numerous, not limited to having seasoned riders show you the best places on the peninsula in a group of other riders.

Lane Splitting Saves Lives (Sometimes)

Sy Nazif — Sun, 19 May 2013 21:33:00 GMT

I was in an automobile accident yesterday. I was on the 405, driving from the Riderz Law headquarters in Newport Beach to my home in Redondo, when I was rear-ended at about 30 mph. The girl who slammed into my SUV "just looked away for a second." Really, she must have been texting or tweeting or otherwise her phone, because there was no other explanation for her hitting me. I hadn't stopped fast. In fact, I hadn't even come to a complete stop. I was slowly slowing down, and was probably traveling at 2 or 3 mph when she walloped me. Now I'm not trying to pick on this guy, but remind all of my readers that the roads in California are treacherous, and there are plenty of people driving their cars, and doing everything BUT paying attention to the road.

To change rants for a moment, a couple of my friends (and my mom) immediately responded "thank God you were in a car and not on your motorcycle." (I had my infant son in the back, otherwise I would likely have been riding.) But, in this instance, I strongly disagree with the notion that I was safer in the car. Why? Because I would not have been hit on the bike. When traffic is at a crawl, it is my practice to lane split (slowly and carefully), or if I am, say, at a red light, to go between cars. This girl "didn't see me" and I was in a big white SUV. Had I been on a bike, sitting behind a stopped car, she would have squished me. And believe me, we see motorcyclists who have been rear-ended all the time. Believe it or not, it is far rarer for us to see motorcyclists who get hurt while lane-splitting -- and invariably, they were going fast (60+) at the time. So I believe in the safety of lane-splitting (when done safely). I believe that it has saved countless motorcyclists from getting squished. We'll just never know how many.

Wheel Repair: Reducing the damage to your wallet.

Jay Koblenz — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:15:00 GMT

Bang! and it happens. You hit the granddaddy of all potholes. If you’re lucky, you’ll ride on and not find out about the damage until later. Worst case: You’ve done enough damage that your tire quickly loses its air pressure.

There are many other ways to accomplish essentially the same, sad destruction. Our roads are littered with hard objects or we foolishly fail to see that curb. Wump. It doesn’t take long.

The result is a bent wheel. Today’s aluminum alloy wheels can tolerate a fair amount of abuse. But push past a certain limit and the result is an unattractive and often dangerous ding. Often, the net result is wheel replacement. With motorcycle wheels costing several hundreds of dollars (or more) apiece, this can be one major financial setback.

Depending upon the extent of the damage, however, there might just be a more affordable and effective solution. Aluminum alloys are malleable metals. They are used because they can easily be shaped into strong and attractive designs. Not only can they be shaped, they can also be re-shaped. What is bent can be bent back.

Basically, the wheel repair is done by putting the wheel in a jig and using a hydraulic press to push the metal back into place. The machine itself is similar to one that would be used for frame straightening, a somewhat related black art. A torch is used to heat the metal to allow it to bend more easily without breaking.

Simple dents don’t take too long. This is basically hand labor that requires time, experience and a perfectionist attitude.

There is a lot of variety in wheels and different brands vary in repair-ability. Some alloys are softer than others, although soft wheels aren’t necessarily easier to repair. Sometimes the surface can just push in without the dent pushing out. It then takes more time and effort to get the dent out. A soft wheel can become wavy if you’re not careful, not a good situation for strength or aesthetics.

A good repair person won’t fix any damage. If a wheel is badly cracked, the metal has been compromised. If the damage is over too large of any area then it’s is rarely repairable. Small cracks and notches can sometimes be fixed by welding, but it requires someone both expertise and experience to make the call.

There is always a question of safety with any wheel repair. While it’s even possible a repair can be made stronger than the original wheel, there is also a chance of smacking a wheel exactly where it was repaired and causing catastrophic failure. Just be sure you go over the issues with the person doing the work. With a good repair costing around one or two hundred dollars, that can be a major savings over a thousand dollar replacement.

A Rider Named Kat

Linda Corley — Fri, 17 May 2013 05:06:00 GMT

Fellow riders, most of you know a female rider with her own bike, or one who enjoys riding on the passenger seat. Katherine is a rather new girl on the block; beautiful, talented and an R6 owner to boot! Having purchased the bike after learning to ride on a Kawasaki Ninja 250. She feels the sport more or less chose her, as she has always admired street bikes and their rebellious image. So when she had the chance to buy a bike, she jumped on it and didn’t look back. If needed, she would give her left kidney to have the bike she has come to love. When asked how riding makes her feel, she responded “words cannot describe it; you have to experience it yourself, and it beats a convertible ANY day!”

This biker chick can often by found riding with friends or her boyfriend, whom owns a Honda RC51 and CBR 1000.

"I love riding side by side with him, when you ride with someone you love, the two are in sync, they know each other’s pace, each other’s movements, they reach a climax when things go fast… kind of like sex… hahaha”.

When asked what her family and friends think about her riding, her dad’s response was “It’ll be the day that hell freezes over before I touch one of those things”. An understandable response, given his brother's life was lost on a bike. Katherine’s mother was more supportive, she initially reacted with “Ah! That’s a cute girl bike!”, followed by inquiries as to whether Kat had been eating and sleeping well...fearing apparently that she might be losing her mind.

Katherine understands that riding has affected her life in positive ways, "throttle therapy" she calls it, and requires a daily dose at minimum. Getting on the road and out of the concrete jungle is her way of staying sane, anywhere with fewer stop lights, stop signs and cops...whom tend to hinder her ability to do things she enjoys, such as ballet. Pushing her fear thresholds to their limits, Kat stands with one foot on the seat and the other outstretched into the air while doing a comfortable 50 MPH...yes you could say she likes finding new ways to get her adrenaline pumping.

This is not to say however that she hasn’t had some close calls. Recently, someone ran a stop sign and barreled straight into the intersection as Kat was entering. Luckily no collision occurred when they met in the center. Once more she tells of a time while pulled up behind a vehicle waiting to exit a parking lot, the cager abruptly selects reverse and without looking back drives right smack into her bike. Kat was knocked off but got away with only bruises and cosmetic damage to the R6.

As they say, never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly!

ATTORNEY'S NOTE: Oh my. Well here it is, me getting to sound like the square old parental figure. It is our general policy not to censor our bloggers here, but good lord, our newest blogger, Linda, is gonna push the limits of that policy it seems. Welcome to the team Linda! But (at least for now) we will refrain from redacting her post, but instead just provide this heartfelt caveat: We here at Riderz Law do not condone "standing with one foot on the seat of your motorcycle" with the other "outstretched into the air while doing a comfortable 50 MPH." Indeed, we do not condone that kind of riding at any speed. We are big proponents of motorcycle safety. We encourage riders to wear full safety gear, including DOT-approved helmets, and to obey all traffic laws. And I cannot urge my readers strongly enough to take a motorcycle safety course. The roads are dangerous enough for us out there thanks to careless and negligent drivers. As a motorcycle accident lawyer, I get reminded of that every day. So let me remind you: Ride safe! -Sy

Do It Yourself. At Least Once.

Jay Koblenz — Thu, 16 May 2013 04:34:00 GMT

Motorcycles break and require maintenance. It's a matter of what you do yourself versus hiring a shop or mechanic.

In my early days of riding, it was an easy decision. Like so many riders, I couldn't afford to have a professional repair my bike. I became good friends with the guy behind the parts counter.

There was a lot of trial and error. Mistakes were made. Yet it was one of the most thorough and valuable forms of education available. By taking an interest, then getting my hands dirty, I learned a lot about how motorcycles work.

As technology progresses, things change. People who know how to clean and rebuild a carburetor might be dumbfounded by fuel injection. Instrumentation was once a matter of checking to see if a mechanical cable was connected or broken. Now there is a computer inside that requires either replacement or a firmware check with a device only the dealership can obtain or afford.

Yet motorcycles by their nature will always have a mechanical aspect. Engines require oil changes, brakes need pads and fluid checks. Even with the most electronically advanced machine, there is still plenty of opportunity for the rider to get involved. Do it.

Like a lot of riders, I no longer have as much free time and patience to do some mechanical work. I'd rather just hand the bike over to a qualified expert, pay the fee, and get my bike back in perfect working order. That's a great convenience and something most of us will do at times. But it shouldn't always be done that way.

My most recent motorcycle acquisition is a sport bike with lots of bodywork that hides the engine and most of the underpinnings. When it needed an oil change, I looked at all the panels, screws and nuts that needed to be removed just to get to the drain plug and filter. It was daunting. Instead of making a service appointment, though, I resolved to get in there and see what my bike looks like beneath its svelte attire.

Next oil change I just might hire out. I can be too busy with work and family to bother taking things apart, getting dirty and worrying about proper disposal of old fluids. Whether I choose to do it myself next time or pay someone else, I'll never be sorry I did it the first time. Now I know where things go, what's underneath and exactly what I'm asking someone else to do for me.

Every bike, every repair and each maintenance item is simply another opportunity for an education. Whether it's about motorcycles or everything else in my life, learning is something I hope never will never cease.

Fullerton to Santa Barbara Overnight Trip

Matthew Schmalfeld — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:58:00 GMT

I always daydream about taking overnight trips on my old Honda. The feeling of freedom, the drone of the engine as it flies through twists and hills. I had never taken a trip longer than 150 miles, leaving home in the morning and getting home in the evening. I had been riding long enough and had enough mechanical knowledge that it was time to ride farther from home. A lot of modern bike riders probably laugh at my cowardly attitude towards leaving town, but if something goes wrong, or I need a part, it could take up to a week to get it shipped and replaced. I would be checking my oil level at every stop, and I would ride within the limits of the bike. Not stopped by the anxieties of breaking down, I started to plan out a route. I live off the 91 Freeway in Fullerton, and wanted to get to the coast as quickly as possible, so my route was simple, take the 91 West to Pacific Coast Highway, and make my way up to Santa Barbara!

The day I left, I woke up full of anticipation. My bike was all prepped for the trip with fresh oil, spark plugs, lubed up cables, etc. I was confident in my old machine and I was confident that my blanket and tent weren't going to come undone on the way there. I set out at a nice brisk pace and the Honda performed just as it should. It felt so good to be riding solo, just me, my gear, and my bike. The weather was great, probably 70 degrees when I reached the coast. I stopped for fuel and food in Santa Monica. There were plenty of motorcycles on PCH; choppers, sport bikes, bobbers, a few vintage British bikes. After a quick Red Bull with my tank full, I kicked my machine to life, gave the friendly nod to the other riders and happily pulled back onto the highway.

There are a couple really great twisty canyon roads off PCH in between Santa Monica and Oxnard. A great little road out there is Highway 23. Take that off PCH and have some fun scraping your pegs on those turns. That road ends up hitting Mulholland highway, and you can actually take that back to PCH. It was a great little offshoot, but I still had quite a few miles to go. Riding along Highway 1 between Malibu and Oxnard is one of the most relaxing and beautiful experiences a human being can have. As you continue north away from the pollution of Los Angeles, the water turns a brighter shade of blue. There are plenty of places to stop and enjoy the views and take a break from your bike's vibrations.

After topping off gas and oil in Oxnard, I motored up the 101 at highway speeds up to Santa Barbara. I was very happy with how my bike performed in the 65-75mph range. Santa Barbara came too fast, but I was ready for a little food and drink. It took me about 5 hours with stops to make it up there. I was able to get a campsite at El Capitan State Beach, where I drank a couple beers and fell asleep early. The next morning, I looked over the bike again, making sure it was ready for the journey back. I changed out the spark plug on the left cylinder; there was a little too much carbon build up for me to be happy. The trip home was fast and beautiful. Getting back to the smog of the LA basin, I immediately started daydreaming about my next trip. Maybe next time I'll just keep going north!

Tech Reviews: Tire Mounting in South OC & PartZilla.com

Jacob "Shaggy" Wisdom — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Hey readers, I recently changed a rear tire on my Honda Magna, and wanted to offer some info for those who live in or around the south Orange County area, Mission Viejo and Irvine specifically. First I'll offer a more general (geographically speaking) review of Partzilla.com.

I needed some starter clutch parts for my bike so I began looking for the cheapest prices around. Eventually I came to the rock-bottom lowest cost of any other website, and that was PartZilla. I'm confident that you can look up any parts on the Partzilla database that you have purchased in the past, and you'll find it cheaper on that website (as long as you didn't buy it off ebay). So review criteria #1 is price. Their grade is an A+, not only offering cheaper parts but their shipping also starts at $1.75 rather than the elsewhere standard of $9.95 or so.

But price isn't everything right? The functionality of website is great if you have part numbers, but no helpful at all if you don't. For this reason, their website will get a C. Not a single part fische to be found. Now let's talk shipping. PartZilla is notorious for being slow to ship, and for good reason: they are. I ordered my parts on April 23^rd and it wasn't until May 6^th or so that I received them. Some people may say that isn't horrible, but we're living in a different age. Generally speaking, shipments get out the same or next day on most consumer websites. Many sites offer free expedited shipping, getting your order fulfilled in a matter of hours. PartZilla, I have read, is largely aimed to business sales rather than private sales. That doesn't exactly excuse slow shipping times (but probably the lack of part diagrams) but hey, if you can wait then PartZilla is a great site! If you're in a rush, maybe look elsewhere. When the parts finally showed up, they were exactly what they were supposed to be, genuine Honda in OG packaging. No surprises there. For thrifty bikers (aren't we all?) with time to spare, find yourself part numbers using a different website, and then go over to PartZilla for ordering.

Now for Tire Mounting

I compared prices at four different companies. All prices are for a walk-in with wheel and new tire in hand. Prices vary when you purchase the tire from the business. Here is what I found:

Cycle City Motorsports, Irvine, CA: $37

Cycle Gear of Laguna Hills, CA $35-45 ($45 includes new valve stem)

Mission Motorsports, Irvine, CA: $25

OC Motorcycle Shop, Mission Viejo, CA: $15

I have used Cycle Gear in the past when I bought a tire through them, but since I purchased and had mine shipped from Chaparral Motorsports they were going to charge me the inflated cost. I also like supporting smaller shops when possible so I opted for OC Motorcycle. My experience was great! All the other shops would require at least a full day for turnaround (drop off in the morning and pick up at night situation), whereas I was able to walk into OC Motorcycle and back out in a matter of 20 minutes with new mounted wheel/tire in hand. When I went back home and broke the valve stem during install, he even swapped in a new one free of charge when I brought it back in (I provided the part).

The shop at OC Motorcycle is overflowing with bikes, so apparently they aren't short of business. Next time I change a street bike tire I'll be back to OC Motorsports! Of course a couple tire irons and some muscle get my dirt bike tires swapped out at home. I'll use the money saved to buy some gas! Ride on my friend

Apathy: The Bane of Motorcycle Maintenance

Jacob "Shaggy" Wisdom — Sun, 12 May 2013 03:33:00 GMT

Sometimes as riders we are aware of a problem with our bike, but go on with the knowledge that we aren't doing harm to anything, so might as well put it off for a better time. Part of the way through my road trip up to Vancouver this last November, my bike began running poorly only at idle and deceleration (approximately the first 1/3 of the throttle range). As these things go it was somewhat random in manifestation, and being of dirtbiking roots my first thought was a bit of dust from Hwy 1 construction worked its' way into a jet, or something of that nature.

Not wanting to troubleshoot a 4 carb setup I put it off for a few months and by a few months, I mean from November until about a week ago. Granted I was in the UK for about one and a half of the last six months, but no less I put up with a nasty backfire and sporadic idle for far too long to be calling myself an overly meticulous garage mechanic (a title I once proudly bore).

Well the time finally came for me to transcend my apathy and get my hands dirty. After pulling some side covers, the seat, the tank…simple stuff…I began poking around. During idle there was an occasional "pft" sound followed by a quick drop in RPMs and recovery. I knew the previous owner had messed around in there, removing smog equipment, capping off some breathers, that kind of thing. With four carbs, the small space becomes extremely cramped, so I decided to watch at idle and see if I couldn't locate the pft'ing source. Feeling around between the carbs with the engine running I began to definitely detect air movement. I sprayed some carb cleaner indeterminately between the mess of carburation and what do you know, the engine began to race.

Great, now I know it's just a leak. So why didn't I do this 5 months ago? As the title states, unwillingness to just deal with a minor (though very annoying) problem will let bikes go for weeks, months and dare I say years with easy fixes just a simple diagnostic tool away, like a can of highly combustible carburetor cleaner. After understanding that my leaning issue had this whole time been an air leak, I tracked down the issue to improperly seated carb boots going to the intake. The fix was straight forward from there on, and a half hour later I had my snappy smooth Magna back.

A free fix for an aging issue, I'd say I learned a lesson but that might be an overstatement…more like I've bolstered the evidence in the case that I should be more progressive in paying attention to my Magna's problems. Sometimes I get so caught up in my own life I forget the poor thing is reliant on me in the most veritable way.

Embracing Tradition Versus Resisting Progress: The Clutch

Jay Koblenz — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Step One of any ride: Pull in the clutch.

As much as anything, that's what sets riding a bike apart from driving a car. This isn't about the difference between pushing on a clutch pedal and pulling in the clutch lever. It's a matter of having a clutch.

In recent years, new cars sales with manual transmissions amount to less than 5% of the market in America. A large portion of those are driven by price alone, inexpensive cars where an automatic is an expensive option. Many young drivers don't know how to drive a stick. In fact, some people consider a car with a manual transmission to be something of a theft deterrent since joy riders wouldn't know how to get the car moving.

Motorcycles, of course, are almost exclusively manual transmissions. Most automatics that reached the market languished in showrooms until the manufacturers gave up. In fact, many of us choose our rides based on whether there's that big Thunk! when the bike goes into gear versus that snick… zing… snick of throttling to redline between cogs.

Is a change on the way? Yes. And no. The old argument about getting better performance and fuel economy with a manual is over. Technology has given us rapid-fire dual-clutch transmissions that do a better job than is humanly possible. Most motorcyclists, however, enjoy being involved in such decisions as choosing a gear.

Motorcycle manufacturers, however, can't give up on the idea of bringing automated transmissions to market. The reason is simple: As noted earlier, most new drivers don't understand manual transmissions and — just as important — don't want to. An automated transmission is the key to eliminating one step of resistance towards bringing newcomers into the motorcycle marketplace. Without new customers, an industry cannot survive.

Beginner bikes isn't be the only arena for a new generation of motorcycle transmissions. Technophiles who want the highest possible level of performance see the advantage of electronically controlled shifting.

While the easiest machines for new riders and the fastest rides for serious racers may see new electronically automated transmissions soon enough, there are still many years left where pulling in the clutch will always be Step One.

AMA: Bill Introduced to Stop Motorcycle-Only Checkpoints

Sy Nazif — Fri, 10 May 2013 06:35:00 GMT

AMA Press Release:

A U.S. lawmaker has introduced a bill to not only end funding for motorcycle-only checkpoints but also to put more emphasis on motorcycle safety programs, the American Motorcyclist Association reports.

On May 7, U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) introduced H.R. 1861 to prohibit the U.S. Transportation Department from providing funds to state and local authorities for motorcycle-only checkpoints. The bill, called the Stop Motorcycle Checkpoint Funding Act, also has language to force U.S. transportation officials to focus motorcycle safety efforts on crash prevention programs rather than national helmet mandates.

“Current law states that highway safety plans must prevent accidents and reduce injuries,” Sensenbrenner said. “The Stop Motorcycle Checkpoint Funding Act would require highway safety plans to include programs that prevent accidents in order to reduce injuries and deaths resulting from accidents involving motor vehicles and motorcycles.

“This small change will make a significant impact because it highlights that preventing accidents is the best way to save motorcyclists’ lives,” he said.

For more information: www.americanmotorcyclist.com

The Saga of my CB450

Matthew Schmalfeld — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

I have been riding CB450's for almost 4 years now. It's a dual overhead cam motor with little things called "torsion bars" instead of valve springs. I became fascinated with the engine design, and the engine design has become fascinated with my wallet! I now am on my second CB450, since I was rear-ended while riding my first one. While these bikes were once considered big displacement bikes, many consider 450cc's a little underpowered for today's cars and highways. The speed limits are higher, and people don't even observe them anyway! Add over 40 years of time for poor maintenance, weather, and other outside effects, and it becomes apparent these old bikes need some love from their current owners. Luckily for my bike, I have a hole in my heart that's the shape of a Honda CB450.

As fate would have it, the previous owner of my CB decided to "rebuild the top end" without installing a new cam chain, new valve seals, and the starter skipped teeth, it was setup all wrong. Had these things been addressed and "rebuilt" properly, my little Honda would have happily purred past 20,000 miles without needing more than regular maintenance. These bikes are like anything else, treat them how you're supposed to, and they'll last forever. This was not the case, in fact my bike decided to scatter pieces of piston, connecting rod, cylinder wall, starter motor and engine cases all over St. College in Fullerton.

While at the time all I could think of was how my 3500 mile 1969 CB450 was toast for the summer, my wrench monkey hands started trembling in anticipation. I got the bike home, ripped the engine out, and dismantled what wasn't already destroyed. All I was able to keep was the cylinder head. Luckily, I found a parts bike from some weirdoes with a low-mile engine for 200 bucks. Last summer, Wiseco came out with high-compression forged pistons for the CB450. I decided to go for the pistons and got my machine work done once they arrived. I assembled it last August, and it was great fun for over 5000 miles. The pistons required the timing to be retarded about 3 degrees, but the bike ran great once again. But things can never be so simple, can they? The saga of the CB continues.

After a few months, I noticed a little blue smoke from the left exhaust on startup. Then I noticed it on deceleration and hard acceleration. It had a pretty high rate of oil consumption. Maybe a quart of oil per 300 miles. I expect a little oil burning in these air-cooled bikes to be normal, but something was definitely not right. The symptoms pointed to bad valve seals, which I must say is the weakest link on the CB450. The design is like a little hat that sits on the valve guide, instead of the widely used Viton type seal that mounts right to the guide. Perhaps due to the high compression, the seal was working past its operational limits and started to let oil down through the guides. My spark plug holes were also hideous and ready to strip, so I decided to tear it down once again about a month ago. This time, I'm doing it without any room for error. I've got a low mile cylinder head, all the valvetrain components are well within spec. The cylinders just need a light hone. I've got 2 new sets of rings, a new cam chain, a gasket set, and oil seals. My machinist has cut the valves for a tight fit. He also decked .002" off my pistons to reduce the compression to 9.5:1 instead of 10:1. What I am most excited about is the bronze valve guide set Schuman Motorworks has machined for me, which comes with Viton seals. Shouldn't have any more issues with the valve seals or oil burning. I can't wait to get it all assembled in time for the Summer. This is my most expensive build yet, and I am not going to let failure, or those pesky valve seals, get in my way.

Congratulations, You Live in Southern California

Jacob "Shaggy" Wisdom — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Recently I was researching the term 'motorcycle' for keyword trends, and discovered something I have had a hunch about before, but until now have not attained the statistical evidence to support...that is, that California is awesome.

Above is a graph for the number of times the keyword "motorcycle" has been searched on Google over the past 10 or so years in the whole of the United States. What's with the dips? Those are very neat, very consistent, very predictable seasonal trends. Every single one of those low points sits right in December, and conversely the high points sit around May, June and July. So why do I congratulate you for living in California? Because of this graph:

This is the same graph, but displayed specifically for Southern California, namely San Diego County. I'm going to take a leap here and say that the trending of the term "motorcycle" will be directly correlated with the trending of people actually riding a motorcycle. So in December when the weather is in the freezing temperatures throughout the rest of the US, people simply aren't all that interested in talking about motorcycles online. It's too damn cold!

However we don't get nearly the exaggerated dip here in California, and for obvious reasons. We can ride year round! What's more, we can use the same jacket, provided it has a zip in insulation layer for colder weather. Hence the title states, congratulations for being a Californian. From the perspective of a rider, you're living in just about the best climate imaginable. Conjunct this with our incredible riding scenery, from the Pacific coast to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and you've got yourself a riding haven.

So get out there and take advantage of it, because just about the only other place with a graph like ours is Arizona…and honestly, who wants to live in Arizona?

My former XR650R atop Saddleback Mountain

Living as a Female Rider

Linda Corley — Sun, 05 May 2013 23:30:00 GMT

Over 400 women turned out for the 2nd Annuel Harley Davidson Women's Day Ride

Hello readers, Linda here. I'm a new blogger to Riderzlaw.com so would like to introduce myself briefly. 15 years ago I began riding dirtbikes with my father. Like many of you, this was something we shared together in an otherwise strained relationship. For many years we enjoyed riding together, but at age 20 I did something that rocked our two-wheeled bond…I bought my first street bike. As is typical with old fathers, he tended to be extremely stubborn. From that purchase on I was forced to endure his constant barrage of disapproving remarks for my Ninja 250 and I being on the 'dangerous' highways of San Diego.

Of course, women are often stereotyped as bad drivers, but I feel I've always been alert and conscientious on the road and know how to ride defensively. I might even go one step further and say that women are often safer riders than their male counterparts as we tend not to show off or terrorize the roads at excessively high speeds. As years have gone by and I've proven my dexterity on the road, my father has begun accepting me as a street bike rider more and more every day…that is, as best a father could accept his daughter sharing lanes with other cagers on the road.

At first glance most people are unaware that I'm a female sport bike rider, and when they find out seem to be in awe of the miracle that is women riders. For example I once walked into a restaurant with my boots, jacket, gloves and helmet on. I placed them on the table next to me whilst a random guy walked up and asked if I ride! I responded callously "no I just carry this gear around to look cool".

Being a female rider certainly has its' advantages though. Getting pulled over isn't much of a concern. After being pulled over 3 times in my life for speeding, once for running a red light, and once for running a stop sign, I still haven't a single ticket or dollar paid.

On the flipside, I find myself frustrated to no end when dealing with shops, dealerships, and the likes. Often employees see me and instinctively assume I'm there with my boyfriend. When I was in the market for an FZ6R, my boyfriend and I went to a dealership together to scope out some bikes. Immediately a salesperson approached my boyfriend and asked him directly if he needed help. At the time my boyfriend owned an R6 so naturally answered 'no'. The salesperson turned away and left us. That was it! A second occasion I walked into a different dealership alone and not a single salesperson approached me. They simply watched from a back office window as I browsed the shiny new toys. Eventually I was sick of waiting for recognition. I walked out, and that dealership lost my business.

I'm curious, what experiences do the female readers on here have? What are the benefits and drawbacks as you have experienced them?