Chronicles
Peter Calles's Magnificent Obsession
As a nationally and internationally recognized collector, former amateur racer, and daily motorcycle commuter, Peter Calles is living his dream. A total of 17 exotic Italian models and other vintage machines are on display throughout Peter's house, located in suburban Washington, DC, and another 10 timeless rides occupy the garage, turning his residence...
The Right Tools
Having cruised to the front of a line of cars waiting to board the Spirit of Vancouver Island, I instinctively kick the side stand forward and lean the Yamaha 650 Seca to the left to dismount – except this time my rain pant leg catches the side stand, collapsing it – and over goes the bike with me still on it....
And the Winner is…
In keeping with its progressive nature, the Victoria Police Department in Victoria, BC, Canada, set out to select a modern motorcycle for their Traffic Section. While fiscal responsibility has always been a consideration in selecting vehicles for the department, officer comfort and safety are primary concerns, as well as the desire to have a motor that...
The Rock Store
West of the San Fernando Valley, a slew of riders regularly head for a 1910 stagecoach stop that has become one of the most famous biker hangouts in the world. Nestled in the tree-lined canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains, on Mulholland Highway, arguably the most famous stretch of back road in the world, the Rock Store is about 35 miles from the...
Scooters to the Rescue!
If you ask the scooter faithful, they’ll tell you that their fun, hip, economical rides can go a long way toward making the world a better place by curing the social ills of traffic congestion and global warming. Now, there is some solid scientific evidence to back that contention. Data from a new traffic model released this past spring demonstrates...
Tired and Confused?
Unless you are lucky enough to live somewhere that escapes winter's icy grip, there is a special set of hazards everyone else has to deal with to keep rolling year-round: the cold, the dark, the precipitation, and changes in traction. And winter conditions are a potential hazard on high mountain passes all year. Put them all together, and make way for...
Is Motorcycle Camping For You?
Having covered a number of the "do's and don'ts" novice campers should be aware of in the last issue, we focus in this installment on 10 topics worth considering to enhance all of your motorcycle camping experiences....
Animal Crack-ups
I was still a good hundred yards away when the turkey started across the road. No problem, I thought: it'll see me and scram. It saw me alright, but decided it would try to outrun me instead. Turkeys aren't known for their swiftness, and it was up against 110 horsepower. By then it was too late to brake. I veered left, but so did the turkey. The only...
The Case For Camping
You see them at motorcycle rallies, state parks, and numerous other locations: motorcyclists camping out on the ground. Do you ever wonder what it would be like to pitch your tent under the stars, cook your meals over an open fire, let the rhythms of nature lull you to sleep in a cozy sleeping bag, and have a tree full of birds sing you awake in the...
The Flight of Davis and Lee
From the beginning of the American Civil War, "On to Richmond" became the rallying cry of Union troops. The Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 was a turning point in the war, and the bulk of both armies eventually entrenched and fought around the cities of Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia....
