Merry New Year!!!

If the Mayans taught us anything, it's that if you don't finish something, it's not the end of the world.

Feliz Happy New Sun Circling!

Merry Christmas!

I know it's a day late but...Merry Christmas!!!

The XB9s undergoing another metamorphosis

The XB9s is coming up on being 10 years old and with the amount of goat road riding and general hooliganism that the bike is put through, I'm surprised that the steering bearings have lasted this long. Since the front end needed to be removed to facilitate the replacement of said bearings, I decided now would be a great time for the bike to transition to its new phase, that of street tracker.

I replaced the bearings last week and I'm now mocking up the new front end. The clubman bars are gone and replaced by Renthal dirtbike fat bars. I currently have a cheap dirtbike headlight mocked up now but I'll be making a custom flat track number plate style flyscreen with built in projector headlights. I will retain the stock gauges but will be moving them to the top of the triple tree. I'm going to also be adding number plates to the rear quarters of the bike as a finishing touch. I'll be posting more pictures as the project progresses.

This is the temporary dirtbike headlights on the bike.

These are the Renthal dirtbike fat bars installed with my custom bar clamps.   All the control wires and cables seem to reach without issue. 

Cambria

These are pics from a tour to Cambria on the central coast of California.  It's a little beach town with the typical beach town shops and business.  Close by is San Simeon which is home to the Hearst Castle.  I recommend seeing it at least once if the opportunity arises.  But the real highlight of the trip is the stretch of Highway 1 known as Big Sur.  Nothing compares to the combo's of curves that that are laid out before you on this stretch of road except maybe the spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and California land that meets it.  That's where most of these pictures are taken.

My XB9s as my touring mount.

This is the waterfall at the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.  Although I prefer to call it Butt Crack Falls.

Here's just one of the many views of the ocean and the cliffs.

This is the girlfriend on her then bike at the time, a Kawasaki Z1000.  This was on a road just off of Highway 1, Nacimiento Ferguson Road.

This was taken from my bike of my girlfriend and her Z1000.  This was taken just south of Monterey on one of the few stretches of Highway 1 when it bows inland.

This is Bixby Bridge.  One of the bridges that help to arch over some of the gaps in the coastal landscape.

My Buell 1125CR

When people normally think of Buell's they of underpowered bikes with Harley Sportser derived and archaic aircooled motors, like the one in my Buell XB9s.  Not a lot of people know about the 1125 series of Buell's powered by an 11125cc liquid cooled V-twin with puts out 146hp at the crank.  With the bike weighing in at only 375lbs dry, it has one of the best power to weight ratios of any naked bikes ever released.  Add some agressive geometry, like the 21 degrees of rake and the 54.5 inch wheelbase, and you get a bike with some serious power in a 250cc GP racer package.

My 1125CR has been my most ridden bike in the last couple of years.  She's had commuting duties, piled on some touring miles, left other riders behind in the twisties, ran to the ragged edge at the track and of course posed for me in pictures.

Here she is atop Twin Peaks with custom top case installed.  I know the case is ugly but it's very useful and completely removable.

This is her just on Highway 1 near Tomales Bay.  This was taken with my old Nokia N82.

This is a pic I took on a rainy day commute.  Also taken with my Nokia camera phone.  I added the fog effect later on in Photoshop.

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San Francisco

Lest anyone thinks that I only take pictures of two (or three) wheeled vehicles, here is a picture I took of the city skyline last night.  The vantage point is from Telegraph Hill.  I wish there were more clouds or the moon in just the right spot but maybe next time.

Can Am Spyders

While not truly a motorcycle, the Can Am Spyder line of trikes do find a special place in my heart.  They 'drive' more like a small, agile, lightweight car than a motorcycle.  There is no counter steering involved and the electronic aids cut in too early if you want to break into the crazy hooligan territory but up until that point they are an entertaining, involving and gratifying ride that I would recommend to anyone that hasn't tried it.

These pictures are from a photoshoot I did for a Cam Am Spyder rental company based in Alameda, Spyder-Rentals.com.  The pictures were used on one of their Groupon deals.  I highly recommend keeping an eye out for one of those deals as not only is the ride a great experience, but the company itself is a wonderful place to rent from.

Took my other bike out

I went out of town this weekend and I had to take a car there, but somehow I still managed to take a bike with me.

This is said bike at Tomales Bay

It's an 1125R, similar to my 1125CR but this one is a little bit smaller.  Here she is at the town of Tomales.

Lasty, a stop at the Cheese Factory in Novato for a picnic.

Unfinished Projects

These are from the last Unfinished Projects Bike and Art Show at SF Moto.  They had a collection of vintage bikes in various states of undress for the viewer's perusal.