The author rides a 2008 Victory Vision Tour
Some more pics from the scenic motorcycle route described on 8/10 and 8/11 posts. These were taken in Mt Rainier National park, where you can't ride for more than a minute without passing another beautiful photo op. This is looking across one of many bridges spanning ravines high above sparkling creeks.
The pavement on Forest Road 25 is rough. There is a one-lane bridge over a washed-out section and lots of damage as you can see in the pictures. The good news is that they are clean...almost no loose gravel in the roadway. Cautionary speed signs are abundant. Although rough this road is absolutely brilliant to motorcycle. See the August 10 post for more on this road.
If you motorcycle between Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon, the I-5 corridor is familiar. Sure it gets you there quickly, but if the journey is what's important, then try going the back way.
The route from I-5 in Vancouver is SR500, SR503 to Cougar, Forest Road 90 and Forest Road 25 to Randle, then highways 12,123, and 410 into the Seattle area. See a googlemap here. The pavement is good until Forest Road 25. Winter breaks up the road every season, and there are patches, heaves, and cracks all along this stretch until Randle. As long as you take your time and heed the speed warning signs though you will be fine. Do not let reports of this road's condition keep you from riding it. It is motorcycle nirvana! 
At last my machine is out of the shop with new tires. What a difference in handling! Check your air pressure at least once a week.
This photo is looking west towards the Astoria-Megler Bridge in Astoria, Oregon. Read more!
Another view of the view from the road to Mist, Oregon. This time the view is partially blocked (or enhanced) by Tim's Harley. Read more!
The view goes on for miles from this high point on the ride to Mist, Oregon. See it while you can: in a few years the maturing trees in the surrounding clear cuts will grow and obscure the territory. Read more!
If you survive the twisties to Mist, take a right turn onto Highway 202, the Newhalen Highway. This leads you along 45 miles of farms, forests, and rivers as you wind through the coastal range to Astoria. Once you reach this town situated where the mighty Columbia River meets the Pacific ocean you will be looking for a place to take a break and get a bite to eat. Try the Rogue Ales Public House on Pier 39. The Kobe beef cheeseburger is highly recommended, and it's a great place to grab a growler of your favorite ale to take home. This trip takes about two and 1/2 hours each way from Portland plus stops.
Whoops I made a right turn in the Mist. Where does THIS road go? It ends up out over the water at the end of this pier in Astoria, the proverbial end of the road. Good thing they have food here!
Need to get those little knobby rubber pins off of the sides of your motorcycle tires? The turns on this short ride will begin to wear them down. On this motorcycle loop from Portland, Oregon ride through Longview (Washington), Clatskanie, Mist, and Vernonia, with more twists than a Stephen king novel.
Starting in Portland, ride I-5 North and cross over the Columbia River at Longview. US-30 West towards Astoria climbs steeply up the bluffs of the Columbia and into the forests of Oregon. Turn south on Highway 47 at Clatskanie and enjoy some of those turns...A good report on this stretch of the loop can be found at the Oregon Motorcyclist website. Finish off the ride by taking Cornelius Pass Road back towards Portland, but expect lots of traffic on sunny weekend days.
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The Hurt report is still the definitive study on motorcycle accidents, analyzing 900 motorcycle accidents and 3600 motorcycle traffic accident reports. Although completed in 1981, lessons can still be learned today from the findings.
1. Approximately three-fourths of these motorcycle accidents involved collision with another vehicle, which was most often a passenger automobile.
2. Approximately one-fourth of these motorcycle accidents were single vehicle accidents involving the motorcycle colliding with the roadway or some fixed object in the environment.
3. Vehicle failure accounted for less than 3% of these motorcycle accidents, and most of those were single vehicle accidents where control was lost due to a puncture flat.
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Construction season is starting, and this sign is a frequent reminder that motorcycle riders have additional challenges to deal with on the road.
There are over 4 million motorcycles registered in the United States. The popularity of this mode of transportation is attributed to the low initial cost of a motorcycle, its use as a pleasure vehicle and, for some models, the good fuel efficiency. Motorcycle fatalities represent approximately five percent of all highway fatalities each year, yet motorcycles represent just two percent of all registered vehicles in the United States. Motorcycle Safety Foundation
Does saving 3 cents, or 10 cents a gallon after you spend a bundle on groceries, steer you towards the Freddys or Safeway for your gas purchases?
How do you feel about those gas-and-groceries discounts offered by major retailers? Do they get you into their gas station, do you go somewhere else for convenience, or do you travel somewhere for the lowest price?
Or do you have lots of extra time, and go sit in the lines at Costco for 10 minutes or more in order to save a few cents per gallon?
In Costco's case, it all boils down to what is worth more to you, time or money. If a Costco gas station is on your way to work or shopping, it takes no extra money to get there, just time spent waiting in line. If it's not on your way, it costs you gas to get there and back AND the extra time. That's why you see people fill up elsewhere, because it’s simply not worth it in terms of time, money or convenience to drive to the low-cost leader.
My family shops a lot at Freddys, so we take advantage of the 10 cents per gallon discount we earn after buying 100 bucks of groceries. That brings the price down to a couple of cents more or less than Costco. And at Freddy's it is extremely rare to wait for a pump.
Of course on a motorcycle, it seems it uses so little gas, and in the case of the Victory---premium gas, that worrying about price is secondary. When I am low, I simply pull into the nearest station and fill up. Enjoying the ride is too important to ruin it worrying about gas prices!
You should be familiar with the phrase "keep right, pass left" or something similar. Many states require that you stay in the right lane unless you're passing. This is likely one of my biggest pet peeves, and I've noticed that increasingly, the left lane is becoming the new right lane.
It's 5:30pm, and I'll be on my motorcycle on the highway, three lanes wide, sometimes clogged, sometimes medium traffic, when I'll be doing the speed limit and I come upon a vehicle doing at least 10mph slower, occupying the left lane. Usually I'll give the driver a chance to move over (a few seconds at least, if not more)- that way they have adequate time to check their rear view. If the lane immediately to the right is free, sometimes they'll move over, but more often, they won't.
Cell phones, food distractions, whatever the case, sitting in the left lane but to pass is illegal, and perhaps it's time we cut down on those who simply occupy the lane with no intentions of passing. At least you don't see a motorcycle rider talking on a cell phone on the road! I can't be the only one bothered, my local Department of Transportation has been adding signs that clearly state the left lane is for passing. We even have huge electronic signs that also request slower drivers to keep right, but do they work? Hardly.
I guess it's just something I'll have to deal with until people understand what the left lane is actually for. I typically just accelerate the motorcycle around these people and try to make them aware of whats going on. Many times, I'll look back and see the driver I just passed moving over. Great! I'm glad some get it.
At least we aren't in Europe where passing on the right is a pretty major offense. The huge difference is that people over there understand lane usage and passing on the right is not necessary. Here it's becoming more and more necessary. I don't think its too much to ask drivers to stay aware of their surroundings and move lanes if they find themselves holding up traffic.
So- are you a left lane addict, or do you only use it to pass?
This was originally posted on my favorite mpg website Gasbuddy.com
Every motorcycle rider has had cold hands at one time or another. Keeping the hands warm can make your motorcycle riding more comfortable (and thus more fun) and extend your motorcycle riding season. But which is better? Heated motorcycle gloves or heated grips? I've used them both, and the verdict is....
Heated motorcycle grips: Are they worth the bucks? I have heated grips on my Victory and swear by them. They have a low and high heat position: the high can be too warm but I just flex my hands and loose my grip and they instantly cool a bit. Typically I set the heat and go, no fuss when I stop and hop off the bike like I had with my Widder wired gloves. Heated grips beat heated gloves:Pros: No wires, batteries, connectors to mess with. Do not underestimate this advantage!
Pros: Easy to adjust heat while riding the motorcycle. Too hot, flex your hands open on the grips. Too cold, well most heated grips crank out more than enough heat to do the job.
Pros: No bulky wired gloves required for cold weather riding.
Cons: Hard to keep your thumb warm because the hand position on the motorcycle grips tends to keep one's thumb slightly off the heated surface. Adjustment while riding to touch my thumbs to the grip works.
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Every motorcycle rider has had cold hands at one time or another. Keeping the hands warm can make your motorcycle riding more comfortable (and thus more fun) and extend your motorcycle riding season. But which is better? Heated motorcycle gloves or heated grips? I've used them both, and the verdict is....
I've had heated motorcycle gloves from Widder for years. This was an excellent company, unfortunately they went out of business a couple of years ago so their products are getting increasingly harder to find. Other good brands exist, and you will find some of the same pros and cons with them. Pros: Lots of heat Cons: Fumbling with wires before riding, after riding, stopping for gas. Cons: uneven heat, backs of hands too hot, ends of fingers too cold Cons: limited adjust-ability of heat Cons: dangerous to fumble with heat adjustment while riding (IF gloves are adjustable) Next post will cover the pros and cons of heated motorcycle grips.
Today was one of those February days in the Pacific Northwest when the sun comes out, the mercury climbs to near 60 degrees, and we grab the chance to ride our motorcycles. The window was brief, from after work until sundown when the temperature plummets, but I saw dozens of motorcycle enthusiasts leaping through that window today. Here's to all of you who set aside some of your everyday chores just long enought to shake off a little of that cabin fever.
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