How to Spot Uncle Creepy

When a van has "Caution Transporting Children" on the back AND the windows are covered with newspapers, maybe something isn't quite kosher. And before you ask, this is a real picture taken by someone I trust, not some internet gag. Hey kids!! Who wants a balloon animal???

RIP Marco Simoncelli

Just read this morning that Marco was killed in a crash early in the MotoGP race in Malaysia. These guys have the heart and the courage to ride the most powerful motorcycles in the world and race at the very limits of man and machine. Sad to lose a young racer at only 24 years old, but I'm still inspired by anyone willing to put it all on the line for the thrill of competition and the glory of winning.

Angry Hornets

The sound that scares old ladies and thrills young ones.

I cleaned the end cap on the muffler. There's something good about a nice piece of hand polished aluminum, its got soul.

It's Friday, No Reason Not To Smile

Of course, when you're unemployed every day is Sunday, but I digress.....

Real Performance Art

No, not the performance 'art' put on by some hipster asshole standing on a stage and ranting about the gov't while beating on a garbage can lid. I mean the kind that propels you down the road at speeds three times faster than good sense would dictate. A very wise and capable man from Detroit once said that form follows function. For those of us passionate and foolish enough to try to build a motorcycle that you can't buy in a dealership, the real challenge is making form follow function without it seeming like an afterthought.


My long running Sportster project is an immediate example of this challenge. I started with a certain vision for the bike, and despite refining this idea over time, I've always had a focused image of a stripped down, sharp handling, fire breathing XL as the final goal. I'm light years from a high end bike builder, but I like to think I know when a bike looks right. The mechanical part of bike building is easy for me. It's the aesthetic aspect that remains the challenge. I keep chasing that vision and it's what keeps me excited to keep building bikes. It's the addiction that doesn't need a cure.

Man & Nature vs. Other Nature

I can't remember if I've posted this before, but it's worth it either way. Mongolian horsemen engaged in the ancient art of hunting wolves with golden eagles. The dedication it takes from these men to catch these birds and train them to hunt with their human master is awesome. If you thought there was no such thing as a badass bird, watch these giant eagles do their work.

A hundred times more real than a drunk redneck sitting in his pickup on the side of the road waiting for his dogs to chase a deer close enough to shoot at it with a shotgun.

Family Reunion III

FM3 is over and it was kick ass. Despite the weatherman's best efforts, we didn't get wet. In fact, the weather in the mountains was as close to perfect as you could ask for and we had an awesome day riding. Deal's Gap and the Cherohola Skyway were both great with nice clean runs on both of them with very little car or bagger traffic to get in the way.

Just as significantly, Jimmy took his first road trip since his wreck and other than a late start on Saturday he represented fully on his FXR. Along with the sweet riding, we mixed in a healthy dose of drunk/stoned Germans, hill people, and ruthless joke cracking. For the record, we got it on good authority that Hasslehoff is NOT a big star in Germany, despite what you may have heard. Thanks to Mo at the Kickstand Lodge for allowing us to camp there again this year and for being cool in general. Bottom line: Smokey Mountain riding rules.