Geeklog Site

Saturday ride to Cashmere

Fri, 18 May 2012 14:32:16 -0700

Just a quick reminder that we are invited to join the CMA ride this Saturday to Cashmere for a great BBQ lunch at Country Boys. We will be circling up at the McDonald's at Maple and the freeway, kickstands up at 8am sharp. The weather is supposed to cooperate with 68 deg and a good portion of sunshine! Bring a friend and a camera, as there should be a few (a hundred or so) bikes coming from the west side of the state. After lunch, Matt has a great route picked out for us to ride home on.

See you at McD's,

Tim
CMA Area Rep - Fast Lane
Washington

Tuesday Rides

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:49:10 -0700

Check out the calendar tab (top right of page) to see if there is a "Tuesday Ride" and where the group will meet and ride to on that day.

Facebook Site

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:32:25 -0800

We are now on Facebook.
Did you know our club now has a Facebook page? Look us up under groups @ INBMW Riders. We use this for quick up to the minute rides or just to chat and stay in touch. Join in today.

Updated Website

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:29:17 -0800

We are back up and running again.
Now that we are up and going again, we need your input to make our website a success; please feel free to contribute articles and pictures. We will do our best to keep the site updated, however, you are all more than welcome to make your own contributions (pictures, rides, etc.) as this site belongs to us all...just click the CONTRIBUTE link at the top of the page.

A Safety Talk for the New Riding Season

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 17:37:03 -0800

Jurgen has put gether some great information for us. "A safety talk for the new riding season - YOU manage your ride." Click on "read more" for the full article.
Spring Training
A Safety Talk for the New Riding Season: YOU Manage Your Ride
I work in mine safety. We find out how mine workers get injured on the job and develop engineering interventions to prevent that from happening again. Other accidents can be prevented through better management: Housekeeping is a good example to eliminate slipping and tripping hazards.
Motorcycle safety has a lot to do with engineering interventions: We have lights on our bikes to make us visible, powerful engines, equally powerful brakes (some with ABS), highly engineered tires, shocks to keep these tires in contact with the road, and so on. However, many more accidents are prevented by good management: How do you manage your ride?
As you prepare for that first ride of the season, and anytime you plan to ride a motorcycle that has not been ridden for a while, take the time and check out your ride.
Here are my top 25 tips I'm sure you all have heard and read them many times, but you have to remind yourself about safety all the time, especially if you expose yourself to the hazards of riding motorcycles.

Do a series of pre-op checks with the bike in your garage:
1. How's your tire pressure? Yeah, BMW riders check it religiously before every ride, right? Right! Seriously, after your bike has been sitting for weeks or months, you need to check! Even if you have the fancy electronic pressure indicator, do a manual check every so often.

2. Are your tires in good shape? Carefully inspect the running surface and the sidewalls for cuts, bumps, cracks in the rubber (especially on older tires), runout (spin the wheel to check), tread wear (look for the letters TW on the sidewall that mark the tread wear indicator locations), cupping, flat spots, nails (some nails can live in your tire for weeks and you won't see a drop in air pressure) etc. Remember, car a can usually be controlled to a safe stop if one of the four tires slips or blows out but on a motorcycle, if one of two tires loses pressure or grip, this usually ends in a crash.

3. Wheels: Are all you spokes tight? When you ding them with a screwdriver they should all have about the same pitch. If one is loose, you should tighten it but then have the wheel inpected by a professional. Same with replacing missing or broken spokes. Are the wheels straight (spin them to check runout). Any dents in the rim? On the centerstand and with the wheel in the air, grab it at the 3 o'clock - 9 o'clock locations and jiggle it check for bearing play. Same at 6 o'clock - 12 o'clock - if you feel play, take the bike to an expert to check.

4. Controls: Are all the brake and clutch levers working and feeling fine? Are they hard to pull or hesitate to go back? Does the throttle return without sticking? Can you shift through all the gears by hand (you may need to turn the real wheel and pull in the clutch)? Do the handlebars move freely but without play in the steering head bearings? Check your brake pads get a friend or expert to help if you're not sure how.

5. Check your clutch play. With mechanical clutches, the manual usually tells you how. Walk the bike back and forth in first gear with the clutch pulled in: You should not feel any drag, if you do, the clutch is not separating properly.

6. Suspension: As you sit on the bike with both wheels on the ground, can you feel the forks or rear shocks sticking when you bounce up and down in the seat? Is the damping working? (If not, you can rock the bike into a steady bounce up and down, you likely will need to properly dial in your suspension or replace the shocks.)

7. Lights: All working (test both brakes), no condensation behind the glass, all clean and visible? Is the headlight properly adjusted (usually, you can check this with the help of your manual.) Do the bulbs appear dim?

8. Do all the switches work? Check the function of the engine cutoff switch and the sidestand switch (Check your manual: With most bikes, the engine will cut off if you put it into first gear with the sidestand down. This is a lifesaving function so no compromises here.)

9. Fluids: Check engine oil, coolant, brake and clutch reservoirs and of course, fuel in your tank (you did remember to fill up your tank before putting it away for the winter and add fuel stabilizer, didn't you). Also, check engine, transmission and final drive for fluid leaks. Any leak should be cleaned up and fixed before you ride, you don't want oil or coolant lubricating your brakes or tires and turn your road ride into a sled ride.

10. Chassis walkaround: Are centerstand and sidestand moving freely without sticking or feeling? Are your panniers mounted tightly? Is the seat locked? Anything rattling or loose? Bolts or nuts missing anywhere? Finally, is your registration and insurance current?

Now that your bike is ready for that first ride, here are a few riding checks that you should conduct during a special test ride before you go out with your buddies for the first group ride:

11. Brakes: Test both brakes independently. Find a clean, straight, empty road or parking lot and practice full stops from 15 to 20 mph with front, rear and finally, both brakes. Check you manual to understand if you have linked brakes, your bike will respond differently depending on how the brakes are linked. On some BMWs, using the front brake will also apply the rear brake. Be careful not to lock up the wheels. If you have ABS, you can check its function by braking really hard but this is not without risk: If the ABS malfunctions, you will likely crash.

12. Steering: Is the bike steering with easy, does it right? Do a weave at slow speed to check your steering head bearings. No thunking noises, wobbles, funny feelings? Riding straight, if you hold your grips very lightly, can you feel a wobble? Do you have to lean your bike over to ride in a straight line?

13. Are your throttle, clutch and gear shifting working properly? Test your clutch on an open road by shifting into a high gear and rolling on full throttle from about 2000 rpm without touching the clutch: Observe that the speedometer and the tachometer go up in sync. If the tach rises much faster than the speedo or you hear your engine suddenly revving out of control, your clutch may be slipping.

14. Are your instruments working (speed, tach, indicator lights, odometer, brake function indicators)

15. Noises and sounds: Any rattles, unusual sounds, does the engine run well or does it need a tune-up? Does it feel the way it used to? Does the transmission shift with ease and without noises?

Manage your riding skills by practicing basic riding skills and maneuvers:

16. The best way to refresh your riding skills and learn some easy practice exercises is by taking the MSF Experienced Rider Course or the equivalent in the Idaho or Oregon programs. Classes are offered starting in March. In Spokane, call Spokane Motor School (Rachel Oxrieder) 509-326-6181 or Westside Motorsports (C. Barkhuff) 509 747-1862 to schedule a class!

17. Braking and emergency stops. As you come to a standstill, you should be in first gear, right foot stays on the brake, left foot down to support the bike. Every time!

18. Slow speed maneuvers such as U-turns or 90-degree right turns from a stopped position.

19. Weaves and swerves. You can cut old tennis balls in half and set up a weave course in an empty parking lot. Even better, use an MSF training range (there is one in the parking lot at Rt. 2 and Hawthorne just north of the "Y") when there is no class.

20. Practice awareness skills: Ride defensively and expect others to make stupid moves that compromise your path and create a hazard for you. Think about the what-ifs and the “what happens next” and plan your reaction. Awareness skills are trained by practicing on every ride!

Manage the road hazards

21. Wear your protective gear. All the gear, all the time (ATGATT). Full-face, snug-fitting, DOT-approved helmet with a clean visor (get a new one if it's scratched), jacket with protectors in shoulders, elbows and back, pants with protectors in hips and knees, sturdy, over-the-ankle boots that won't come off in a tumble, full-fingered motorcycle gloves (not ski or construction gloves), sunglasses and earplugs.

22. Watch for the typical spring problems: A sudden, unexpected snow, icy bridge decks, or slippery ice melt solution on the roads, oily grime that has not been washed away by rain in months, potholes, debris in areas where the snow finally melted, rocks falling on the road from freeze-thaw, wet leaves left over from last fall, the list goes on and on! Slow down and examine your path far enough ahead so that you have plenty of time to stop or make an evasive maneuver.

23. Treat gravel, snow and ice with the utmost respect: Slow down and maintain the bike upright, keep a steady throttle, neither accelerating nor chopping back. No brakes either, if you must brake, carefully use only the rear brake. ABS can save your bacon but only if the bike is going straight and not leaning.

24. Remember that car and truck drivers haven't seen you around all winter. The don't remember us motorcyclists, and even if they did, they still tend to not see us and be surprised by our presence. Be visible, be conspicuous, wear a reflective vest. Biker black looks cool but you are not visible to those that need to see you!

25. Weather can be a road hazard: Dress for it, stay warm and dry. Heated gear, heated grips and windshields provide comfort and protection, but hypothermia slows down
your reflexes and control skills.

Prepare to Ride

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 17:20:46 -0800

Rob Brown has put together some great tips for us. Click on "read more" for the full artilce.
Thanks to Rob for his expertise.
Prepare to Ride

During the winter months I like to read and sometimes re-read books and articles about riding skills and techniques. This article is intended to share some familiar concepts and themes with you. You should recognize many of these as fundamental to your riding knowledge, if you don't, ask questions and share ideas with your riding friends.

Equipment:

Since many of us have had little or no riding time since the winter weather set-in we should verify that we're ready to go.

Now would be a good time to get that annual service completed. If the annual service has been done then take some time to check the condition of the following items each time you get ready for a ride.

- Brake controls

- Throttle control

- Tire condition and pressures

- Lights

- Fluid levels

- Helmet

- Riding gear

Environment:

At the beginning of the season there are a number of considerations to be given to the spring riding environment.

- Weather conditions can change quickly and it can include that cold white stuff.

- There will be residual sand and dust on the roadway.

- Trash will remain on or near the roadway.

- Potholes and damage from freezing and snow removal.

Operator:

Some of these are common statements that many riders readily share but now you need to acknowledge they are serious and give them the appropriate priority in your thoughts.

- Consider yourself invisible be aware and conspicuous. Drivers are not used to seeing motorcycles on the road.

- Many first time drivers will be on the road.

- Keep your eyes up and scanning, 360 degrees.

- Get familiar with your bikes controls.

- Wear all of your gear all of the time.

- Be 100% focused on riding and watch your speed as you approach corners.

- Take a rider training course such as Idaho Star or MSF.

Finally, practice these riding control activities to help build your confidence and develop muscle memory for that time when you need it.

- Slow speed maneuvers

- Throttle control

- Front and Rear braking control

- Cornering and counter-steering

Let's ride!

Here are a few excellent reading references.

Proficient Motorcycling, Hough

MSF Motorcycling Excellence

Sport Riding Techniques, Lenatsch

Riding in the Zone, Condon

Smooth Riding, Pridmore

President

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:25:25 -0800

Club President - Shannon Millard.

Currently rides a K1300S.

Vice President

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:24:18 -0800

Club Vice President - Holger Caban

Currently rides an R1200-RT

Secretary

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:20:49 -0800

Club Secretary - Evelyn Felton.

Currently rides an F800ST

Treasurer

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:20:11 -0800

Treasurer - Gene Tanzey.