Posts under ‘Motorcycles’

Personally, 2008 wasn’t so bad. On the fitness side, I started a running program over the summer and enjoyed moderate success. In the martial arts, I earned my green and then purple belts in Shuri-ryu karate, and I read some great books on the subject. I may not have lost a ton of weight like [...]

The Rugrats Ride
Originally uploaded by MikeOliveri.
This right here is exactly why I always where a helmet.
I know people who feel helmets interfere with their vision and hearing, so they feel they’re safer without a helmet because they’ll have a better chance to avoid an accident. I also know people who think a helmet will save [...]

Most people don’t think of teachers as bikers, but as it happens five of us at the school district I work for ride. We’ve been talking about getting a picture since the school year started, and today we finally made it happen.
The Rocket is our school’s mascot, so we thought it would be fitting to [...]

I spun the motorcycle up to 40 miles an hour today. Yeah, I’m flying now! I best be careful before I break the sound barrier and piss off the neighbors.
Okay, in all seriousness, I’m finally putting in some real seat time after several weeks of storms, rain, trips, and projects, and my comfort level is [...]

My Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructors hammered a phrase home: “You go where you look.”
It reminded me a bit of the old saying “keep your eyes on the prize,” but the difference is you can actually feel the motorcycle maxim at work every time you turn. If you’re not looking at where you want to be, [...]

The family sat out on the porch yesterday, and we left the garage door open. The Squirt disappeared, and a few minutes later the Midget came and told me his brother was on my motorcycle. I went to check it out, thinking he’d just strayed a little too close or was fiddling with the grips [...]

Daddy’s Little Biker Girl
Originally uploaded by MikeOliveri.

Okay, maybe not quite that easy, but what little I do know about riding a motorcycle did come back to me.
The sun finally showed its shiny face this afternoon, so after a sausage and a burger off the grill I felt the urge to take Eve for a spin. [...]

Eve
Originally uploaded by MikeOliveri.
Let the mid-life crisis jokes commence: I bought a bike.
She’s a 1995 Yamaha Virago, a small cruiser with a 250cc engine. I’ve dubbed her Eve after learning what virago meant. Her previous owner took wonderful care of her and she’s got less than 3000 miles on her. Not a bad find at [...]

I’m giving serious thought to purchasing a motorcycle again. Specifically the Honda Shadow VLX.
The out-of-control gas prices are what made me think about bikes in the first place, and it’s become a stronger argument this summer as prices continue to creep upward. According to this chart, I should expect to get about 50 miles per [...]

I’m really, really glad I only have one car to pump gas into.
Bush is headed out to Saudi Arabia to beg King Abdullah to reduce oil prices because the US economy is suffering. What makes him think Abdullah — or any of the sheiks or princes, for that matter — is going to give a [...]