[Ogre]

I was way into WOW for a while but I go through phases of work from 14 hour days to no work for 2 weeks. So I get into it then cant play for a few weeks then get back into it. Right now I am not playing, I guess I should be, I currently have no job, but I have been reading a lot instead.

Please don’t feed the animal.

[Ogre]

Here is the link to the blog I posted about my experience in the MSF class, and a lot of peoples input about their classes.

https://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com/forum/forum-topic/1666/so-much-fun-msf-class

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[Ogre]

What kind of bike was that? I paused and enlarged the video, and the engine is tiny! i couldn’t even see the engine for most of the video. I thought he was riding a bike and doing fancy editing.

Please don’t feed the animal.

[Ogre]

I am a tech junkie. one of my favorite things is my amazon kindle e-reader. One of the features is asking a question and they send answers back to the kindle. Last night I asked “Which motorcycles are involved in crashes more often, Sport style bikes or Cruisers?

The answer was what I expected, but some of the figures seem a little to impressive, Here is the answer I got.

Answer from NowNow:
Sports Bikes

Sport bikes have the highest death rates among all types of motorcycles, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute. Drivers of these high-performance racing motorcycles are being killed nearly four times as often as people who drive Cruiser models, a new insurance study shows. Motorcycle deaths in general have skyrocketed from 2,116 in 1997 to 4,810 in 2006, and now account for 11 percent of all traffic fatalities, U.S. Transportation Department figures show. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety blames the popular super sport motorcycles in part for the dramatic increase. Sport bikes made up less than 10 percent of registered motorcycles in 2005 but accounted for over 25 percent of rider deaths. Super sport bikes are built on racing platforms but modified for the highway and sold to consumers. They are very lightweight and have powerful engines. For example, a 2006 model Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R produces 111 horsepower and weighs 404 pounds. In contrast, the 2006 model Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide produces 65 horsepower and weighs 788 pounds. We know that a lot of the people who get into sport bikes are adrenaline junkies with a daredevil mentality. They’re not out to take a cruise to enjoy the countryside. They want to get a rush by pushing it to the limit.

They always give a source. Here is the website —>http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2007/10/10/motorcycle-accidents-sport-bikes-versus-cruisers/

The link takes you to a blog. It sites “The Highway Loss Data Institute” It took a while to find their website, but I finally found the information and here is the HLDI website study that had the information from the Blog post above

.—> http://www.iihs.org/research/fatality_facts_2006/motorcycles.html

Interesting stuff, but i don’t think it relates well to the licensed, non drinking, respectful folk who frequent websites like this.

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[Ogre]

They call it a chopper because they chop off all the unnecessary parts. The concept comes from post WWII when servicemen returned home, bought surplus army motorcycles, and using their new mechanical knowledge, removed weight from the bike in effort to make it lighter and faster. Things like the saddlebags and other military necessities were simply chopped off. The bikes had relatively small engines but weighed next to nothing. Todays choppers are much heaver (because of the huge engine) but follow the same basic idea of seat, wheels engine and handlebars.

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[Ogre]

I love the look of that thing. It is so minimal. I am hugely drawn to the chopper scene because of the minimal sleek nature of the bike, but I am loving this bike. I even shy away from the looks of saddlebags. I love it.

I still love this more
http://www.arlenness.com/images/NEW_BIKE_PAGE/bike_low_back.jpg

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[Ogre]

From http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/Rpts/2001/809-360.pdf

Findings from FARS data provide insight into possible reasons for motorcyclist fatalities
in single vehicle motorcycle crashes and could aid in the design of crash prevention
programs:

-More riders age 40 and over are getting killed;
-More motorcyclist fatalities are occurring on rural roads;
– High BAC levels are a major problem among motorcycle operators;
– Half of the fatalities are related to negotiating a curve prior to the crash;
– Over 80 percent of the fatalities occur off roadway;
– Undivided roadways account for a majority of the fatalities;
– Almost two thirds of the fatalities were associated with speeding as an operator
contributing factor in the crash;
– Almost 60 percent of motorcyclist fatalities occur at night;
– Collision with a fixed object is a significant factor in over half of the fatalities;
– Braking and steering maneuvers possibly contribute for almost 25 percent of the
fatalities;
– Helmet use among fatally injured motorcyclists below 50 percent; and,
– Almost one third of the fatally injured operators did not have a proper license

Please don’t feed the animal.

[Ogre]

From the perspective of a former art major, this picture is surprisingly artistic. There are a number of elements here that add up to make a good picture.
1) the rule of thirds: if you draw a 9 square grid. you only want the focus to take up one third or less. The best places to put the focus (to the American eye)(because we start reading in the top left) Is the top left.
2) Lines/direction: Lines are a great way to draw focus.
3) Contrast: The black of the road vrs the white of the median bisected by our focus. The Rider.

It also speaks to human nature. The road is empty except for the bike; that is a dream compared to bay area traffic. This give a sense of serenity to the image. The picture also captures the movement of the moment, granted the bike is moving, but the picture is not. Overall this is an amazing picture for a machine.

Oh and thats a bummer about the ticket. Maybe sell prints of the picture?

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[Ogre]

This image will haunt my dreams. I am utterly terrified right now.

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[Ogre]

2000 Jeep wrangler. Orange flame sticker on hood, Orange spray paint on the fenders and random parts of the interior. I had a full top a few years ago, but I live in California and a top is really not necessary here. (anyone who says otherwise is soft from living here to long)

And here she is a little dirty cause no jeep should ever be clean.

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[Ogre]

I would recomend taking the course, I took it and really enjoyed it. However I see no harm in taking the DMV test first. If you can take and pass the test without the class I say go for it. But it may put into stark contrast that you need the class. One of the fellas in my class had taken the test a few times and could not pass it so he took the class and he was totally into it. He said he should have avoided the trouble of the DMV and took the class from the beginning. I would go for the test then take the class either way You get the license and the class.

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[Ogre]

At my class you had provide non woven and non fleece gloves. A number of people used gardening gloves and simple leather work gloves. They also required over the ankle boots. I wore my hiking boots and found the toe to be a little big and difficult to fit under the shifter. A few people had cowboy style boots and those seemed to work pretty well. For clothes I wore a thick pair of jeans and a turtleneck under my thick Carhart style waterproof Northface jacket. At the class it was recommended we bring sunglasses in the morning sessions, but it was overcast and i never used them. The helmets were supplied and were all full-face. we kept the visor cracked open a bit to keep it from fogging up. But if we forgot to close the visor before getting on the bike there was quite a bit of yelling form the rider coaches. We were also encouraged to get rain gear, because we would be riding regardless of weather. My jacket would have been fine, but wet blue jeans can give you hypothermia in a matter of minutes. Luckily weather was good. The best advise is to dress in warm layers and remove them as you warm up.

Please don’t feed the animal.

[Ogre]

Went to the DMV this morning and I got my license! I had to take one side of the class C test and both sides of the motorcycle (duh). I only missed one on the class C test, apparently you are not allowed to smoke in a car in California,who knew? And I missed none on the motorcycle test. Perhaps there is a motorcycle in my weekend plans.

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[Ogre]

I just got my official letter from MSF that I passed, and I am going to head to the DMV first thing in the morning (ah, the perks of being relatively unemployed) Then it is only a matter of my poor willpower failing before I get a bike.

I really do think the key to being successful in the Basic Rider course is trust. Trust that what the Coaches tell you is true and that it will work. And don’t Psyche yourself out. I saw everybody in class do it, but later they failed cause they lost the trust.

I cant wait to putt around at 20 mph in my neighborhood figuring out everything about a bike where my knees don’t touch my elbows.

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[Ogre]

Anything made by or customized by Arlen Ness

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[Author]

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