Once again it is time to break  the bikes out and get ready for another season.

I have already heard of some of our fellow riders going down.

This time of year is very dangerous for riders.

First off we have not had as much saddle time and some of the reflexes may be a bit rusty.

Second, there is a ton of salt and sand still on the roads from all the snow we had.

Third, our four wheel friends have not seen us out much lately.

So as you get your bike all ready for the beautiful weather give yourself a reminder that is is a little risky out there and to be as safe as you can.

For me a ride is the best way to get the head clear.

If I have had a bad day or just need to escape that is the means in which I choose to do it.

But on the same hand nothing will jack up your day worse that a wreck!
So please be careful as you go out for your ride and for those of you on four wheels  please give us a little bit of space.

We may be able to miss you if you pull out in front of us but me personally…I dont want to have to.

And for those of you on two wheels…Be smart when you ride.

That is my dad speech for today.

Now get out there and have some fun!
Ill see you on the road!

M

Well it has been a while since I have been able to get out and do a “100 Mile Radius” for you.
I’m chomping at the bit and was really wishing the weather would hold out for a good one this week.
I’m not one to park the bikes up for winter but I do have a few things to make it easy to jump out for a spin on that 40 degree late December day.
First of all make sure you have most of the gunk and grime off your bike.
Even if you are just going to park her for a week or two the rust can really get a bite into your ride quick.
On my Springer with a carb I usually park it with the gas off and run the motor till the bowl is empty.
This cuts back on the amount of varnish that can build up and always make sure that you park them with a full tank of gas.
With the change in temps we have in here in Kansas City you can get allot of condensation in your tank.
Most importantly go out and blow the thirty bucks on a battery tender.
I have a little “pig tail” that comes out under my seat so I don’t have to do anything but plug it in when I park.
I also keep a thin strip of wood under my kickstand so there is no metal to garage floor contact.
Not sure how important that is be have not had a dead battery since I started doing it.
Nothing sucks more than waking up to a sunny beautiful winter day and finding out that your battery is dead.
If you are going to park your ride for the season make a run up to your dealer for all the good winterization info but remember we live in a mild climate here and when it is sunny and nice in the middle of winter Ill be on the road loving every minute of it.
Till next time!

M

I hope everyone had a good weekend. It was a beautiful weekend, so hopefully you spent some time outside enjoying it! I finally came up with a Halloween costume at the last minute…I went to Westward’s party as Hunter S. Thompson, taking a cue from Johnny Depp’s portrayal in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. I think for a last minute costume it turned out alright. Maybe I’ll put more thought into it next year. Hell, I could start thinking about it right now…Ah, who am I kidding.

I didn’t make it on the Cassoday breakfast run Sunday morning. I had every intention of doing it, but I just couldn’t get to it after my shift. Saturday, I picked up another accessory for the bike, cleaned the apartment and started demo work on the new house’s bathroom…Not to mention spending a little too much time at a neighbor’s Halloween party (basically, it consisted of a fire pit in the driveway…one of the best parties I’ve been to!). So, come Sunday morning, I needed a little rest. BUT, I didn’t get it. Continued the demo on the bathroom. It’s always fun knocking walls down.

I couldn’t let the day get away, though. I was disappointed I missed Cassoday, so instead, Moose and I hit the road to Topeka to a killer biker bar right off of Highway 24 called Kickstart Saloon. Moose had been there before, and a couple of friends talked us into riding along with them Sunday…It didn’t take too much convincing, and since it was so nice, we decided to bring the cameras along and shoot another installment of 100 Mile Radius. If you don’t know what this is, hop on over to Moose’s blog and check it out…Click here for the list of 100 Mile Radius rides so far.

Looks like the week is going to be beautiful…if I can snag some free time away from working on the house, I’ll definitely be on the road.

–F ‘Em Up

With the beautiful weather we’ve been having, we figured it was time for another installment of 100 Mile Radius!

So, basically, there are a million different ways to get to Topeka. We decided to take the beautiful route on 32 and hook up with Highway 24, and ride that into the capitol city. Turn right on N Kansas Avenue, and look for the big, beautiful red building on your left (it used to be a brothel!), and roll into the awesome biker bar, Kickstart Saloon.

As I write this, it’s pouring outside. The past few days, it has been beautiful and has given many of us some great riding time…But today, not so much. It sucks, but oh well, it is October after all…and we’re in the Midwest. I’ll take a day like today if I can get a weekend as beautiful as what they’re predicting for this weekend.

I’m not sure what my plan is right now. We got the infamous Ryan Westward Halloween Party Friday night…Halloween itself on Saturday, and of course turning the clocks back on Sunday. Other than some maintenance on the house (that’s right, I’m moving from Downtown to the ‘burbs…I’m a home owner…Nivens, don’t hate me!), I’m thinking and hoping I can tack some miles on the odometer of my Heritage.

Not quite sure where I’ll be headed. Sunday is the last Breakfast Run for Cassoday, Kansas until March…The first Sunday of every month, the small town of Cassoday opens its arms to thousands and thousands of bikers who roll into town for the famous breakfast buffet, and to tour the numerous vendors who are set up. Click here for info on the run. I’ve done this ride once before, and it’s a lot of fun…It’s pretty cool to take the ride through the small towns of Kansas…and even cooler to roll into Cassoday and see bikes and bikes and bikes and bikes and, well, you get the idea.

We’ll see how the schedule works out. I know I’ll hit the road some this weekend, just not quite sure where my destination is…which is fine by me. Hell, the ride is more important than the destination, isn’t it? From one of my favorite books, well, probably my favorite book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, the narrator says, “Sometimes it’s a little better to travel than to arrive.”

Amen.

–F ‘Em Up

If you haven’t already, you gotta check out the 100 Mile Radius with Moose…Him and I hit the road and take a couple cameras with us. Check out the first one we did to Warrensburg and the most recent one to Atchison.

It feels so good to hit the road. Yesterday was gorgeous…the ride to Atchison was unreal. We took 435 south to MO-45, which was awesome, and then cut over to Leavenworth. Considering the weather we’ve been having, yesterday was absolutely awesome! It felt great to get out with Moose and just ride.

If you ever have an idea or suggestion for a place we should hit up for 100 Mile Radius, email Moose at moose@989therock.com or leave a comment on the blog…We’re all ears!

Looks like today is just as nice…In the seventies? Hell yes!

–F ‘Em Up

Alright, F ‘Em Up Chuck and I hit the road, this time, to the beautiful town of Atchison, Kansas.

We took 435 south to MO-45. After about 9 miles, you hit MO-45 Spur that crosses the railroad tracks, take that toward Leavenworth, and just stay on it as it turns into the Amelia Earhart Memorial Highway. That’ll cruise you past a big Wal-Mart and into Atchison. Go through the first stop light (when it’s green of course!), cross the railroad tracks, and at the next stop light turn right on Main Street. Take Main Street all the way to 2nd Street, turn left (North), and look for Mueller’s Locker Room on the east side of the street! If you hit Commercial Street, you’ve gone too far, but you can turn right on it and  check out the beautiful Riverfront Park!

Live by it.

There’s something about it. Something about throwing your leg over a motorcycle that liberates you. I’m not writing anything new to the average motorcycle rider, but it’s true. I was getting ready to leave on a daytrip yesterday, and even though the forecast was gorgeous for the afternoon, the morning was cold. I didn’t want to leave. But, I knew better than that. I put my coat on, I put my gloves on, and I took off.

And it felt great. The cold air doesn’t do much for me when I’m walking around, but when I’m flying down the road at 70 miles an hour, I love it. It exhilarates me. It wakes me up. It reminds me that I’m alive.

The trip yesterday was with a local riding chapter. About 40 bikes took off together and headed to White Cloud, Kansas, where there is a very unique view of four different states. You stand in one spot, turn around, and you can see Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. After that, we headed toward Hiawatha, Kansas, and then cruised back to Kansas City.

It was a great trip, a much needed trip for me. I’ve been riding a lot lately, but not a lot of miles…Just to and from work or a little ride here and there. Now, don’t get me wrong…250 miles isn’t a big trip, but it did my soul good. In October, with the weather the way it’s been, I’m going to take advantage of every chance I get.

Isn’t it great hitting the open road? Nothing between you and the asphalt except the two wheels you’re sitting on…Nothing artificial to block your concentration. It’s a unique feeling, and one that I love.

If you don’t ride, it’s hard to explain…If you do ride, I don’t have to explain. You know exactly what I’m talking about. Whether it’s getting on I-35 for just a few miles or heading out to Northeast Kansas via county roads, it feels good (obviously some routes feel a little better than others, though!).

If you ride, get out and enjoy this weather. Today is gorgeous. Tomorrow is supposed to be gorgeous. Don’t take it for granted! Moose and I are hitting the road here in a few minutes, and I can’t wait. We’re checking out Atchison to see if the wings there are as good as we’ve heard…Don’t worry, we’ll let you know what we find out.

Hit the road and live by it.

Here it is…The first, official 100 Mile Radius video! This time, we’re going to Warrensburg, Missouri to one of the best BBQ joints within 100 miles of Kansas City. Got an idea for 100 Mile Radius? Email me!

Basically, you need to find your way to Highway 50. We took 435 to 470 which then dumps us onto Highway 50. Take that all the way to 13, and head south! Cruise through town, pass Central Missouri State University, and just as the road turns a little, you’re gonna find the little joint that serves some killer BBQ, Perry Foster’s!

What a day!
15th annual March of Dimes Bikers For Babies was kick ass.
Once again you out did yourselves!
We had over 6,000 riders and raised over $660,000.
Thank you so much for coming out and helping to save some lives.
And yes you did do that.
I have to admit it take a bit for me to get choked up but there were many moments along the way that I would look ahead and behind me and see nothing but motorcycle lights and I knew that we were all out there for the same reason.
Going through the intersections that were being blocked off for us and getting the thumbs up, seeing everyone wave along the way, the support signs, and the kids and adults looking in awe as we rolled by.
It made me feel very proud.
If you were there you know what I am talking about.
If you could not make it this year come out next year.
I guarantee you will end the day with a great feeling in your heart!
Thank you very much Kansas City for all you do.
This is the best city in the country without a doubt.
M