Endurance and motorcycle riding

Before I took up motorcycle riding I remember years ago as I was watching a motocross race on my boob-tube one time and was fascinated by the answer that a racer gave when asked how he'd kept in shape for competition: he rode his mountain bike!

Why a mountain bike? Seemed simple enough to sit on the seat of his motorcycle and twist the throttle, right? How much work could motorcycle riding be?

Back to the present... Just a little over a month ago as my brother and I were on our way to the Mammoth Lakes area on a long stretch of highway I remember thinking to myself "we've gone past 170 mile mark on the odometer, almost time to gas up the motorcycles..." when I remembered that motocross racer. While what we were riding was probably not as rigorous as what he did, it was still a lot of miles covered. The amazing thing I noticed was that I didn't even feel tired (my derriere, on the other hand, was a different story). Thinking back, I attributed my motorcycle riding endurance to my continual outings on my mountain bike.

Before the trip, I had ridden 2 to 3 times a week at 8 to 12 miles per outing. But from my experience mountain biking it's not always the distance that builds your endurance, it's the consistency in your exercise routine. Bicycling is great because it's also low impact and all you have to do is sit and "spin." If you can't get out on a bicycle, a stationary bike would also do.

My recommended routine is to ride 2 or 3 times a week (the more the better), keep your rpm (revolution per minute) between 70 - 90. You could gauge your rpm by simply counting how many times one of your feet passes an arbitrary fixed point that you choose on the bike frame in 10 seconds, then multiply that number by 6. Moderate push on your pedals is the key and not a heavy load since you're trying to get your heart rate up. The distance is not important, just try to maintain within my recommended rpm for 20 - 30 minutes (20 minutes minimum but more is better) and you're all set.

By the way, the 70 - 90 rpm regime is also the fat burning bracket so you could essentially loose weight while building up your endurance for those long motorcycle tours.

Riding and the motorcycle wave

There's an interesting article over at The Lonely Rider that I would like to comment here. It's about how we, as motorcycle riders, acknowledge one another by the friendly gesture of waving, or showing the "V" sign of peace as our motorcycles cross one another on the road.

I admit when I first started riding it was a curious thing. After all, when you walk past a stranger on the sidewalk sometimes you don't even acknowledge them and they're only a few feet away. But when I'm on my F650GS motorcycle the world is a bit different... a different plane perhaps. Sometimes friendly, sometimes not. One thing that I started noticing: that the farther I'm away from civilization, the big city, like the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the more motorcycle riders tend to wave or acknowledge one another.

So... Are motorcycle riders in big cities such as LA too occupied with fighting traffic, or are they too much into the "brand loyalty" or image that they don't acknowledge as our motorcycles cross paths. Curious.

At any rate... "V"... Peace! And safe ride!

The Lonely Rider motorcycle article

Motorcycle riding and camping

As of today it's officially 2 weeks until our motorcycle tour of Arizona. The plan is to cover 309 miles on the first day, 244 miles on the 2nd day, 306 miles the 3rd, and 143 miles the 4th day and home. We'll be camping at the end of each day's ride. The campsites are first come, first serve except for the last one which we had to reserve.

Originally I had planned to travel light (to push the gas mileage on my BMW F650GS motorcycle - a topic I will cover another time) but my girlfriend will be taking my F650ST and joining the pack so it changes things a little bit.

I'll probably be outfiting my F650GS motorcycle with my Touratech side paniers and leave my Givi trunk at home. This should give me the room to carry a larger tent, sleeping bags, etc., across the back.

Since we're not doing any off-roading I probably won't overdo it with tools. Plus I'll be with a larger group so we could all share some of that responsibility in case of mechanical problems. I'll likely pack my tire levers, spare inner tube and patch kit just in case of flats, along with water and oil to replenish our F650 motorcycles' reservoirs. These should all fit in one Touratech panier.

My other Touratech panier I'll use for clothing. The weather in California is currently warm right now but we're traveling in October and higher elevation in Arizona so I'm planning some warm gear. I'll pack both mine and my girlfriend's things in this panier that way her F650ST motorcycle will be lighter, easier to manage for her (she's 5 ft in stature and 100 lbs). One thing I will suggest her carrying is my extra 2-gallon gas can. The F650ST motorcycle is carbureted and the extra gas will help it get more miles, just in case.

In this same Touratech motorcycle panier I'll also pack some camping dried foods and MRE's (military meals ready to eat) and water so we'll have something to eat when we camp. That's about rounding out my preliminay packing list.

Motorcycle touring Yellowstone 2010

Well my level of motorcycle touring excitement is definitely ramped up another notch! We've just finalized plans for Arizona and happily counting the hours until the launch and I've just got words about a motorcycle tour to Yellowstone next year! This would definitely be a great ride!

Apparently one of the guys in our group had already pre-planned a route. Though the plan and route are not in concrete it's pretty exciting to see the possibilities. I'm stoked!


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BMW F650GS windscreen spoiler (update)

I was in the San Joaquin Valley over the weekend for the annual family gathering.

It was a trip I was supposed to travel with my brother and his family via automobile, but as luck would have it his car was making lots of strange noises so he canceled the car trip, left his wife and kids home. The kids were disappointed but we figured there's always Thanksgiving...

At the last minute my brother decided that we'll make the trip on our motorcycles. Being of short notice I slapped together a few things (it helps having prior experience packing for long trips) check over my BMW motorcycle and head out. I figure it'd be a good test ride with my new spoiler also since I haven't touched my motorcycle after I've mounted it.

I have to admit this new spoiler is much better than the old one. It's much quieter and seem to be able to keep the wind off of me a lot better. As a test, at one point while passing a line of cars I took the BMW to 90 mph and it worked beautifully. Kudos for the new Laminar Lip! It is a marked improvement over the older design.

BMW F650GS motorcycle windscreen spoiler

About a month ago (August 2009) I took my BMW F650GS motorcycle off road in the Mammoth Lakes area in California. The deep pumice on one of the trails did a number on me and my F650GS motorcycle, after taking about 4 spills on separate occasions my motorcycle suffered a broken mirror mount and I lost my spoiler/deflector that was attached to my windscreen.

With a new trip looming, I replaced the broken mirror mount and a few days ago order a new windscreen spoiler from Laminar. My last spoiler was from this same company, but over a period of several years since then it looks like the design had evolved somewhat.

This particular design (both the old and current) uses adhesive backed Velcro for attachment. the Velcro is already attached to the spoiler, just peel off the backing, line up and stick it to the windscreen. If you're worried about the wind spoiler coming off, you have nothing to fear. The Velcro that is used is industrial strength stuff and I can testify doing 90 mph without any problems.

Before attaching be sure to note where the attachment points are going to go. You could essentially attach the spoiler lower or higher as you wish, I like to have mine roughly 1 1/2 to 2 inches as measured from the spoiler's (air bypass) opening to the back edge of the windscreen.

After removing the old Velcro and cleaning up the windscreen I simply line up, remove the adhesive backing and attach the "Lip" to my F650GS' windscreen.









What I noticed with this new Laminar Lip is that it still has the same width across but the lower portion of the new design has been cropped a bit... not a bad idea since I had always found it annoying to have to reach into such as tight spot to try to clean the space between it and the windscreen from behind (without having to remove the spoiler that is). In addition, the cropped spoiler looks like it allows more airflow to the rider.



I was meticulous and took my time with the work so it took around 20 to 30 minutes to complete. Truth is it's actually pretty easy and anyone can do it fairly quickly.

Can't wait to try it out to see if it functions better.

BMW F650GS motorcycle Laminar Lip

Motorcycle touring Arizona 2009 (pre-planning)

Alright, this is the pre-planned route for our motorcycle tour of Arizona 2009. Does anyone with prior experiences have any recommendations with regards to sight-seeing around or near this route ?

Motorcycle touring Arizona 2009

Since my blog is such a new thing and as everyone could see how I like to discuss my gear and past motorcycle experiences... but I just got word that a ride is in the planning for Arizona this October that I have to interject a word or two here.

This would be my 7th motorcycle adventure touring ride... but this time it'll be a bit different since I have this blog and I will try my best to document the trip from planning to full stop. So far we're in pre-planning phase and the route will cover 1000 odd miles and riding time will be around 25 hours, covering a period of four days. Doesn't sound too bad... but a lot things could happen on the way (as usual). It'll be interesting that's for sure.

Our route will take us from Los Angeles to Flagstaff, Arizona as the mid point, hopefully with plenty of scenic views in between. So far it sounds like this motorcycle tour will have a lot of time on the back highways. Stay tuned!

The F650GS, my new BMW motorcycle

Just about middle of 2008 I switched to a more capable BMW motorcycle, the F650GS. The F650GS that I got is another used motorcycle. I guess I really don't mind used motorcycles as long as I know their backgrounds. This one is a 2005, a bit newer than my BMW F650ST.

Still a "650" but there is quite a big difference between the 1997 F650ST motorcycle, a road species, and the 2005 F650GS, a more "all around" motorcycle series. I must admit the BMW F650GS is a totally different "animal." It rides very differently than the older ST with its center of gravity being lower thanks to the fuel tank being positioned under the seat instead of located between the rider and the handle bar (as in standard motorcycles). This newer 650 series also has a "Dakar" version that is more capable off road, and some of these motorcycles had taken part in the Paris-Dakar races.

Needless to say I was ready to try out my BMW F650GS motorcycle and take it touring.

My first lessons in motorcycle adventure touring

I've was riding for almost 1 full year in the Los Angeles area before I actually took the big plunge. My local rides were around 22 mile commute (round trip). The trip, on the other hand, was a 740 odd mile (round trip) up the California central coast to Morro Bay (spring 2008) where the group has reservation at a campsite. I didn't think anything of it having made the same span in about 4 to 5 hours in a car, how bad could it be? This was what I learned:

1. Motorcycles and cars are very different with regards to long distance travel: cars are relatively comfortable whereas on a motorcycle one has to contend with wind, noise, lots of vibration, the elements and putting up with... cars and trucks!

2. In motorcycle touring where your destination is a campsite you literally ARE going camping... on a motorcycle! You have to pack enough gear, including cold weather gear and camping related equipment such as tent, sleeping bag, etc. Asking others in the group that had prior experience is a must. Most of all plan ahead and be prepared.

3. Even though we had breaks in between checkpoints (typically 70 miles) there were long durations where one's "derriere" gets very numb because of vibrations and sitting in one spot. One would learn how to alternate "cheeks" to help with the hotspots and legs stretched while riding.

4. My wrists hurt badly, especially for the right one, for being on the throttle and the other on the clutch constantly. I would later learned how to do a couple of simple stretching exercises to help alleviate the problem.

5. The weather during this ride was cold and with windchill became unbearable at times. Plan ahead with the correct clothing for weather is a must.

What I did correctly:

1. I thoroughly checked out my BMW F650ST motorcycle before the trip: battery water level, oil level, coolant, etc., basically all the regular maintenance stuff and suffered no mechanical problems. However, I learned something about the BMW F650ST motorcycle... it tended to overheat when I'm in low gear (1st, 2nd, 3rd gear-going slow) too often and for long durations (as it happened when we were in the mountains). I learned to watch that temperature overheat light!

2. Before the trip my brother and I decided on an intercom system, one set of radios each. It worked beautifully! And were the savior when people in the pack became separated. I rode tail while my brother rode lead and we stayed in constant contact. Besides that, the radios helped kill boredom on those long stretches when you have someone to talk to, keeping you alert and not fall asleep. Sure better than hand signals.

It was definitely a motorcycle adventure (and endurance) tour (lasted one weekend) and was extremely fun. Learned a lot about myself and my BMW F650ST motorcycle in the process.

Arai XD3 helmet

Since I'm going over a number of my equipment, I wanted to mention my Arai XD3 motorcycle helmet. I have ridden with the XD2 helmet and have to admit that it could be a bit noisy at higher speeds even with my earplugs in. That, however, has been remedied with the Arai XD3 motorcycle helmet. It is a lot more quiet even with the peak visor attached!

That brings me to the next point... the new visor on the XD3 has been re-designed new vent openings for better airflow over both the face shield and helmet. It looks even more integrated to helmet than the prior version and the proof is that there are less whistling noises, hence making a more comfortable ride.

The helmet vents for Arai XD3 are in the same positions as that for the XD2, but this time around Arai included fairings that allow more airflow into and out of the helmet. The result is a slightly different look and better efficiency. I have ridden with this helmet up to 85 mph, only then did I actually feel that wind tugging. Mind you, I do have a tall windscreen... for a rider exposed directly to that slipstream the wind resistance on his motorcycle helmet may prevent him from reaching such speed. Nevertheless, I feel the new Arai XD3 motorcycle helmet is a good improvement over the old XD2 for its comfortable and noise quieting features.

Cargo netting

Elastic cargo netting is something that's actually pretty handy to have with your motorcycle. I picked up one of these at the local motorcycle superstore not too long ago. They cost around $12-$15, came in a plastic pack and have 6 nylon coated hooks that are connected to the net. The net itself is made of the same material as bungee and is very elastic.

Since they're elastic you could strap down anything, even items that are oddly shaped. Really handy for the commute to keep your backpack on the back of the motorcycle instead of having to wear it, or for those motorcycle touring trips to strap down loose items that you can't seem to pack anywhere.

EMGO trunk

To increase my ability to carry extra clothing, tools, etc., I decided to go with the EMGO motorcycle trunk for my F650ST. The trunk that I bought was at a very affordable price, around $60. The kit came with an ABS plastic trunk that's 16.5"W X 12"D X 11"H (large enough to fit my helmet), an adaptor plate, 2 rails, fasteners (screws and nuts), keys for the trunk and instructions.

The instructions that came with my kit were a bit lacking with regards to adapting it to a BMW motorcycle... as you can see here. The fasteners and adaptor plate gave me a bit of trouble when trying to mount it to my BMW F650ST motorcycle but with a little bit of playing and reversing the screws, I was able to get everything to work. Even with the "finagling" the whole process took about 30 minutes, not too bad.

Looks pretty good too! The last step I did was to add Solas reflector tapes to my trunk for cars to be able to see me better at night.

F650ST windscreen

...Or the lack there of.

The stock BMW F650ST motorcycle does not have a windshield. What it has is a front instrument cluster cover that serves as wind spoiler, so to speak. What I found was that at higher highway speeds the rider is exposed directly to the airstream and for me that caused a lot of fatigue from noise and buffeting because I wear a helmet that has a visor.

Fortunately, AeroFlow offers their F650 AeroScreen. I'm 5 feet 5 inches and their standard height windshield (16 1/2 inch high) is perfect for me. The windscreen came with instruction, screws and washers. Installation was relatively easy. I just removed the 4 screws from the instrument cover and line up the holes to that of the windscreen. Since the holes are located on the lower portion of the windscreen, when the first screws go on, the AeroScreen tended to tilt backward making things a bit difficult. But a bit of tape to hold it down did the trick. I also found the longer screws that were provided by AeroFlow better than the original screws in this case since the thickness of the windscreen necessitate their use.

Riding with the AeroFlow f650 AeroScreen is very good at high speeds. Wind is deflected right over my helmet while the contours on the windscreen's sides deflect the airstream around my hands when they're on the handle bar. I found myself being not as cold riding in the winter time, while in the summer there was enough air diverted between the windscreen and instrument cover to keep me cool.

Preparation

The first long touring ride on my motorcycle didn't happen until six months after I got my motorcycle license. Even then, in the intervening months before that motorcycle trip I did a lot of local city street riding and had lots of frequent hops on the freeway, trying to get fully acquainted with my F650ST mount. At Edwards Air Force Base where I used to work, they called this "currency." Only in staying current with a vehicle and mentally thought out procedures could you minimize mishaps.

I developed my own set of procedures. 10 years observing what worked for jet planes I figure should also work for my motorcycle and me. So I tried to put in as much "cockpit" time as I could, learning all of my BMW motorcycle's quirks. When I rode I picked out "escape routes" mentally, in case cars cut me off, be it by shoving me out of my lane or boxed me in... I even memorized where the fuel switch is located and which way to turn it if I need to switch to reserve, etc. Too anal with safety and procedures? Not for me, because I wanted to make this a lifetime endeavor.

During one of those months, while parking the motorcycle and at slow speed, I dropped it! Yeah, if you think you'll never drop your motorcycle? You will. It's an inevitable thing for two-wheelers.

A couple of things are in my favor though. First, my BMW F650St motorcycle is used. Nothing broken, only scratches, no problem. Sure, it had some marks from previous owners, so what's a few more? Plus, now I could truly call it mine. Second, I had watched a video on how to pick up a BMW F650ST motorcycle not too long before this... so knowing the procedure really helped. Within a few minutes and a leg-press later my BMW was up on its kickstand. The engine was flooded but that was remedied with a wide open throttle start.

There's something to be said about being prepared.