Hero Honda Karizma ZMR - Click above for picture gallery

Bike tested: 2010 Hero Honda Karizma ZMR

Price OTR Mumbai: 1,01,569/-

MotorBeam rating:

With the launch of the original Karizma back in 2003, Hero Honda, in those days, had established . . . → Read More: Hero Honda Karizma ZMR Test Drive Review]]>

Hero Honda Karizma ZMR - Click above for picture gallery

Bike tested: 2010 Hero Honda Karizma ZMR

Price OTR Mumbai: 1,01,569/-

MotorBeam rating:

With the launch of the original Karizma back in 2003, Hero Honda, in those days, had established itself as the maker of the best, the fastest and the most powerful bike in the country. It had an almost legendary status that is the same to this day, stunters, tourers, posers, racers, all loved this bike beyond bounds. A close look at the machine reveals that a lot of ingredients have contributed to this hugely popular mix of power, style and efficiency. The amazingly reliable engine from Honda, upright, comfortable seating position and power enough to do an all India tour with the utmost ease. With such acclaimed credentials to its name, making it better was in no way, an easy job.

In theory, creating a sequel was simple; make it bigger and better while retaining its essence. This wasn’t Hero Honda’s first attempt at a creating a successor to an established and reputed bike, the old CBZ was re-invented and bought into the market as the X-treme, sadly though, they never quite managed to re-create the magic; when the time came for Hero Honda to take up the task of re-inventing the hugely popular and much loved Karizma, rumors spread around like wild fires, 250cc with liquid cooling, mono suspension and the usual outrageous predictions, but, it wasn’t too much to ask for, since the old Karizma had set the bar for performance bikes in its time and even after so many years, its performance hasn’t ceased to impress, with the competition scaling new heights, nothing made Hero Honda fans happier than the thought of a new Karizma that could topple the bike that had taken its crown as the performance king- The Pulsar 220. Those were the pre-launch expectations, when the bike was finally launched, the spec sheet seemed frankly disappointing, a minor 0.7 bhp increase in power over the old machine despite an addition of 10kg of body mass, also with the addition of fuel injection, the final price crossed the Rs. 1 lakh mark, it wasn’t all frowns though, the bike seemed better with the full fairing. The cool new all – digital instrument console, rear disc brakes, fuel injection and oil cooling did at least make it seem like a better option than the other bikes in the market. Inch for an inch, we take a really close look at the machine, and ask ourselves if Hero Honda have done justice to the Karizma brand.

Looks and Features : -

The first impression we had of the bike, through the photos were that it was un-inspiring, same quite goes to what it’s like in person, it’s just big, not very handsome to say the least, the headlight looks like a blown up version of the Suzuki GS150R’s. From the rear too, the bike seems disproportionate, a big wide tail light with indicators hovering over a comparatively puny bottom, not what we would like especially considering the price. The front fairing also seems to have received inspiration from another Suzuki bike, the Hayabusa, the ZMR logo has a striking resemblance to the logo on the same. The Panther black paint job on the bike looked good from a distance, but upon close inspection we could find flakes on the surface which was good until we noticed the ripples on the painted surfaces, not a glass like finish as expected. In terms of looks, it is definitely bigger, the ZMR looks good from certain angles especially from the front sides.

The most attractive part though, is the cool new instrument console, it looks great and the whole front fairing, from a riders point of view, is designed around this very object. Numbers are large and clear and does a good job of representing what’s important. The speedo and the odometer glow in amber, while the tacho glows in a light blue shade, it really looks great in the dark. Another cool feature that the bike features is the welcome message, when the key is turned to the ‘On’ position, the following message is displayed ‘Hi, welcome aboard the Karizma ZMR, fasten your helmet and fly safe, Bon Voyage’ an 8 – digit name can also be stored by turning on the ignition while holding the ‘Reset’ button. This name would appear just after the ‘Hi’, Even when turning off, it displays ‘Bye <name>, C U Soon’, we think it’s a nice touch of customization. There’s also the Real Time Mileage Indicator (RTMI) that was first seen on the Glamour Fi, what it does is, based on the last 10 seconds of RPM, throttle, speed and fuel used, the screen displays the approximate achievable mileage. During our tests it usually hovered around 30 – 40 with occasional spikes taking it to 100 and down to 15. This can be a good tool for the conservative tourer. The LED tail lights are also very bright, housing a total of 15 LED’s.

Feature wise, in comparison to the older Karizma, the addition of rear disc brakes and oil cooling will help serve the touring needs better. But the full fairing, while making the bike heavier, simply adds to the effort of cleaning up the insides especially after a long drive through muddy roads, more-over, the lack of a crash guard and the almost unified structure of the fairing means that, in case of it getting damaged, the only option would be to replace the entire thing which is not exactly wallet friendly. Hero Honda should have taken a look at the design of the Yamaha Fazer and R15, both of which have replaceable and inexpensive crash panels on the sides. The addition of fuel injection is also welcome since it eliminates the need to retune the carburetor during high altitude adventures, something that can save a lot of headache.

Overall, the features are quite good, if it wasn’t for the slightly thoughtless design of the faring, we would have highly appreciated it, also the fact that Hero Honda have retained the time display in the instrument console shows that they had the old Karizma in mind while on the drawing board.

Engine and Performance : -

The engine has been one of the favorites of a Karizma owner, the way the power is delivered all the way from the bottom to the top of the rev counter and its eagerness, all have been highly praised in the old Karizma, with the new fuel injected version, Hero Honda have turned up the level of refinement. The engine has its origins in the CRF230 motocross bikes but comes in a more detuned fashion for Indian riding conditions, also the unit has proved its worthiness on the track and on the roads so far by being outstandingly reliable and cheap to maintain. One of the key features is that it is an undersquare engine, meaning that instead of producing maximum power, the torque is made to spread across the entire rev range, effectively making it hassle free to ride around at low speeds.

On the ZMR, the engine has been improved even further, mainly by the addition of fuel injection and oil cooling, with these new additions, Hero Honda have addressed the concerns of the really adventurous and long distance traveler. During high altitude climbs, the old carbureted engine had to be adjusted for the right air-fuel ratio in order to avoid the risk of stalling the engine. The FI system uses several sensors all over the engine to gauge the oxygen level, engine temperature, throttle position, air flow and fuel flow among others, these sensors feed data to the ECU ( Engine Control Unit ) which then sets the appropriate air-fuel ratio. This ensures that the performance and fuel efficiency stays constant under all kinds of riding conditions, the addition of the oil cooler further re-enforces the Karizma as India’s best sports touring bike as it helps keep the bike cool under really harsh, high speed, long distance riding.

As soon as its fired up, the engine settles with almost the same engine note its younger brother, it revs very easily up to the red line. Slot it into first, get moving, twist the throttle at just 2,000 Rpm and you could feel the under-square engine doing its magic, the torque just kicks in from as low as 1,500 Rpm, pushing you back, rev harder and you could feel the wave of power coming your way as the front wheel just looks for a reason to point at the sky. Acceleration at low speeds was so good that after repeated tests, my wrists felt like they were going to get detached from my arms. On the roads at steady speeds of 70 km/h, the ZMR feels just as ready as it was while standing still, twist the throttle and it just shows no signs of hesitation, twist the throttle all the way in 5^th gear and it would climb upto 110 without as much as the slightest hesitation and from there on a little crouching down would let you witness 124 kmph after which the bike shows signs of giving up.

The important thing is not how fast it goes, but how it gets there, shifting down is merely an option if you would like to make some noise while going faster, otherwise, in any gear, as long as the meter shows 2,000 rpm, the ZMR is ready for the kill at even the slightest twist of the throttle. It just demonstrates how good the engine really is, yes it’s not the fastest bike around, but who cares, it is really relaxing to drive more so because, as an example, if you were to find a slow moving truck in front, just twist the throttle, move over to the opposite lane, no worries at all and a few seconds later, voila, the truck appears in the rear view mirror, turning into a dot within a few seconds, at cruising speeds, the wind becomes louder than the engine which really overshadows the real fact that it is like a tiger waiting to be unleashed.

In terms of power, we believe that the old bike was faster, mainly due to the 10 kilos of additional weight that this bike has come with, refinement though is much better now, under hard riding, cold and hot weather, the throttle felt consistent unlike the minor fluctuations in power and feel the old bike had especially in cold weather.

Ride, Handling and Ergonomics : -

This is another area where the Karizma’s have managed to stand out and carve a niche for their own, these bikes are essentially sports tourers, bikes that have been designed for long journeys. Even with the addition of the split handlebars, the seating position of the ZMR remains upright as ever, the really wide and low seats surprisingly managed to hide the mass of the machine as soon as it was sat on. It’s comfortable, the new front fairing does help in deflecting the wind to a certain level. Despite the focus on touring, the ZMR manages to be equally sporty around the twisties, the slightly rear set foot pegs, the peg feeler all work together to give this bike some great lean angles. Though it’s not as nimble as, say an RTR, it feels planted and secure. It is definitely wider than before which means zipping through traffic isn’t exactly as easy as it used to be.

The new tubeless tyres go a long way in providing safe and better stopping power, doing justice to the Nissin 276mm front and 240mm rear discs. In effect, at 80, Km/h, at full braking force, the twin discs work like anchors thrown from a ship, a huge ship to be precise. The front end dives in and feels really firm while the rear stays on the ground without skidding at all. Applying the front brakes alone shows how the tubeless tires have improved the entire feel of braking over the older generation. Under hard braking, tubeless tires form a slightly flat surface where the tyre touches the road, this increases the contact area just when its needed, thereby providing more traction. The old tires remained stiff under hard braking causing skids quite easily. We also felt an improvement in tyre tread quality especially when braking on muddy roads where it required a little more effort on the brake levers, than its predecessor, to lose grip.

The suspension was also tuned on the ZMR, most notably at the rear where an inverted gas charged unit sits in place. Inverting the shock absorbers help reduce un-sprung weight thereby increasing damping, we believe this was done to make up for the added weight of the disc brakes on the rear wheel. The ride comfort also depends on the pre-load the shock absorber is set at, going from soft to hard, at the factory – medium setting, the ride was slightly bumpy at the rear when ridden alone, the front forks kept the bike stable and steady across a variety of roads, but it was the rear shocks that needed some tweaking to get the best out of it. Set it at the softest setting and you instantly realize that this bike can actually glide, the ride changes from that of a tractor to a sail boat, across most roads. Overall, the ride, handling, seats and riding position feels good enough for really long journeys across a variety of terrain, we couldn’t find a reason to complain about.

Ownership Experiences and Problems : -

We never expected to hear a niggles about this bike from Lejo Joseph, the owner, but we listened, after all no one knows the imperfections of a bike better than its owner, to begin with the bike has already covered around 1,200 KM and the first service was just completed at the time of our testing. Here are his findings:

The right side rear-view mirror fell off one day while riding, apparently, the screws had come loose due to fairing vibrations. The folks at the service center fixed it by using a bigger, different scew.

The engine jerks during shifts between 2^nd and 3^rd gear, this was identified to be a problem with the engine mounts, which we think, could be a one-off case.

Mileage, on an average hovers around 35 kmpl and is said to go up to 40 by the time the 3^rd service is done.

The bike is also heavy and the rider may tip the bike over if he leans beyond a certain angle while standing still. The scratches on the silencer and fairing are the results of an attempted wheelie, it was this crash that revealed to him that the whole front fairing had to be replaced in case of fairing damage.

The Final Word : -

The bike is no doubt an awesome package, it is clearly not the fastest and Hero Honda had no intention of making it so, the bike shows what all sorts of people really wanted from a Karizma, big bad looks, and most of all, better features. The ZMR hasn’t broken any moulds like its younger brother, but it speaks volumes about what Hero Honda are capable of delivering and how they can improve an already outstanding product. They have surprisingly kept the Karizma DNA intact while making all the changes, Comparing it to the other bike in the segment, the Pulsar 220, the ZMR stands above in terms of features, handling, looks, class, reliability, refinement, brand name and technology, more than enough for it to take the crown from us as the best 220cc bike in the country today.

Whats Kool

• Quality
• Touring ability
• Handling
• Reliability

Whats UnKool

• Unproven FI system
• Costly spare parts
• Only 17.6 bhp
• Price

Summing it up : -

How does it Drive:

How does it Look:

How does it Ride:

How does it Handle:

How does it Go:

Hero Honda Karizma ZMR Fi Specifications : -

Displacement: 223cc
Engine: 4 Stroke, PGM-Fi
Maximum Power: 17.6 Bhp @ 7000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 18.35 Nm @ 6500 rpm
Gears: 5 Speed
Clutch: Multiplate Wet
Bore: 65.5
Stroke: 66.2
Cylinder Configuration: NA
Engine Block Material: NA
Chassis Type: Tubular Single Cradle, Diamond Type
Cooling Type: Air Cooling
Suspension(Front): Telescopic Hydraulic Shock Absorbers
Suspension(Rear): Swing Arm with 5 Step Adjustable Type Hydraulic Shock Absorbers
Brakes and Wheels
Wheel Type: Die Alloys
Wheel Size: 2.75×18 – 100/90 mm
Brakes: Front and rear Discs
Stand Alarm: False
Other Specs
Headlamp: 35W/35W – Halogen
Ground Clearance: 150.00 mm
Fuel Tank: 16.00 ltrs; reserve: 2 litres
Electrical System: 12V – 7 Ah – 188 W Alternator

Hero Honda Karizma ZMR Fi Dimensions : –

Length: 2125 mm
Width: 755 mm
Height: 1160 mm
Wheelbase: 1355 mm
Ground Clearance: 150 mm
Kerb Weight: 150 kgs

Staff Sergeant Tim Chambers Salutes Rolling Thunder Riders

The largest gathering of motorcyclists isn’t found among the sands of Daytona, nor in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

It is found on the Sunday before Memorial Day, appropriately in our nation’s capitol.

Police and organizers expect close to a million motorcyclists . . . → Read More: Rolling Thunder Rolls Into The Capitol This Sunday]]>

Staff Sergeant Tim Chambers Salutes Rolling Thunder Riders

The largest gathering of motorcyclists isn’t found among the sands of Daytona, nor in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

It is found on the Sunday before Memorial Day, appropriately in our nation’s capitol.

Police and organizers expect close to a million motorcyclists and their supporters to arrive in Washington DC for the 23rd Annual Rolling Thunder Memorial Day “Ride for Freedom” demonstration.

Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) will ride at the head of the procession and speak at the Reflecting Pool Program immediately following the ride. Forbes was invited to participate in the events by Rolling Thunder for his commitment to veterans’ issues in Congress.

At it’s heart, Rolling Thunder is not a rally, nor is it a charity run.  It was started by a small group of veterans  to bring attention to the plight of American POW’s and MIA’s still living in captivity, most notably in Viet Nam.

That small core, namely Artie Muller, Ray Manzo, John Holland, Walt Sides and Ted Sampley and a few others scattered across the country, organized the first ride which drew approximately 2500 riders.  The term Rolling Thunder was chosen because,

“Their arrival would be announced by the roar of their motorcycles, a sound not unlike the 1965 bombing campaign against North Vietnam dubbed Operation Rolling Thunder. Hence, they would call themselves “Rolling Thunder” a title that would endure time and be trademarked in 1990.” Rolling Thunder Website

A national organization has grown out of this protest ride which works 12 months out of the year advocating and/or co-authored legislation to improve the POW/MIA issue, veterans’ benefits, concerns and interests

The group says it’s major function according to its mission statement  is

to publicize the POW-MIA issue. To educate the public of the fact that many American prisoners of war were left behind after all past wars. To help correct the past and to protect the future veterans from being left behind should they become Prisoners Of War/Missing In Action. We are committed to helping American veterans from all wars. Rolling Thunder, Inc. is a non-profit organization and everyone donates his or her time because they believe in the POW/MIA issue.

Membership is not limited to motorcyclists.  For more info about joining or what you can do to help,  visit the Rolling Thunder National Website

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Taking on Harley in the US: the Triumph Thunderbird. Photograph: Jason Critchell

Triumph Motorcycles has ridden the recovery in UK manufacturing to a victory over key rival Honda and is now setting its sights on American adversary Harley-Davidson.

The Leicestershire-based bike maker has revealed that booming sales in April made its brand the . . . → Read More: Triumph rides high as UK bestseller takes on Harley-Davidson]]>

Taking on Harley in the US: the Triumph Thunderbird. Photograph: Jason Critchell

Triumph Motorcycles has ridden the recovery in UK manufacturing to a victory over key rival Honda and is now setting its sights on American adversary Harley-Davidson.

The Leicestershire-based bike maker has revealed that booming sales in April made its brand the best-selling in Britain in the over-500cc sector, overtaking Honda. it wants to make that ranking permanent this year as it continues to increase its market share following record UK sales in 2009.

Chairman Lord Digby Jones says part of the boost has come from a strong yen, which has raised the prices of Japanese rivals in the UK market.

While the recession knocked back overall sales of new motorcycles by 20% in Britain last year, UK motorcycle production actually grew, according to the Motor Cycle Industry Association.

But beyond currency effects Jones also cites Triumph's strong brand, new products and a big push at domestic and overseas sales. Of the 46,000 bikes Triumph will make this year, just 9,000 will be sold in Britain.

"We really want to get hold of America," said Jones, former head of industry group the CBI. "We have launched the Thunderbird straight into the middle of Harley-Davidson's market and it has just been voted bike of the year in America, right in Harley-Davidson's backyard," he adds, referring to an award from a US magazine.

Twenty years since resurfacing from receivership, the manufacturer also has its eye on more sales in the Gulf, where the Prince of Bahrain has a Triumph, as well as in Asia more generally.

In Britain it is launching a string of upmarket dealerships, including one this month on home turf in Leicester.

"What we want to do is make Triumph number one in the UK market, year in, year out," says Jones.

Triumph rides high as UK bestseller takes on Harley-Davidson

Pee Wee and the Big Adventure in Sturgis

Pee-wee Herman Embarks on a BIG NEW ADVENTURE at the Legendary Buffalo Chip during the 70th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Legendary Buffalo Chip®, S.D. (May 25, 2010) – This past winter in Los Angeles, Pee-wee Herman came . . . → Read More: Pee-wee Herman Heads to Sturgis En Route to Broadway!]]>

Pee Wee and the Big Adventure in Sturgis

Pee-wee Herman Embarks on a BIG NEW ADVENTURE at the Legendary Buffalo Chip during the 70^th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Legendary Buffalo Chip®, S.D. (May 25, 2010) – This past winter in Los Angeles, Pee-wee Herman came back to life with a stunning new production of “The Pee-wee Herman Show” that met with rave reviews by critics and fans of all ages. Now, Pee-wee and many of the original “Playhouse” gang are getting ready to hit “The Great White Way” this fall bringing the hit show to Broadway at The Stephen Sondheim Theatre for a ten week run beginning October 26, 2010. And, with new movies in the works and a brand new role in the SMURFS- it’s no wonder Pee-wee has decided to first have some fun in Sturgis at The Legendary Buffalo Chip®.

Pee-wee’s visit on August 8th & 9^th will officially kick off The Chip’s festivities during the 70^th Annual Sturgis Rally in South Dakota where estimated attendance is over 650,000 riders. Rod “Woody” Woodruff, owner of the Legendary Buffalo Chip^TM, just can’t stop smiling at the prospect.  “When I heard Pee-wee loves bikers and wants to join our party, I go so excited- the laughter had tears running down my face!  I loved “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” and that classic scene at the biker bar, and I’m still laughing at Pee-wee trying to ride that bike into the sunset.  I just knew instantly that having Pee-wee at a real biker party presented a once in a lifetime experience for many of the hundreds of thousands of riders who will pass through the gates of The Buffalo Chip this summer.”

Pee-wee is pretty excited too. “Before I made Big Adventure I didn’t know much about bikers. During the filming of that movie I realized that bike enthusiasts are freedom-loving Americans with hearts of gold– and sometimes a lot of tattoos and leather! I am really excited about going to Sturgis and making lots of new friends at The Buffalo Chip. I mean, The LEGENDARY Buffalo Chip®.”

Pee-wee’s not attending just for the party, however.  He has generously offered to hang out with his fans, sign autographs and help raise money for various charities in South Dakota: The Black Hills Children’s Home Society, Kids & Chrome Foundation, and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame.

When Pee-first arrives at The Chip, he will be presented with a NEW RIDE at the Kid’s & Chrome Reception. From there, Pee-wee will use his new bicycle to “Captain” the Chip’s Annual star-studded Legends Charity Ride from Deadwood to The Buffalo Chip.

Woodruff said Pee-wee won’t be arriving alone, but will be accompanied by a television crew to record and post some of the spontaneous hilarity that will ensue while having Pee-wee at the Best Party Anywhere™. Woodruff said Pee-wee has asked the Chip’s campers to participate in “Pee-wee’s New Big Adventure at the Legendary Buffalo Chip”, which Woodruff believes this should be a lot of fun for the Chip’s campers.

Those “real” biker men and women over the age of 21 who’d be like to be recorded with Pee-wee during his stay at the Buffalo Chip may apply online at buffalochip.com Woodruff said pre-qualified applicants will be selected and notified to appear for a final audition at the Chip where Pee-wee Herman will hand pick the lucky winners himself!

See larger image Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (DVD) Starring: Susan Barnes, Simmy Bow, James Brolin, Luis Contreras, Lou Cutell Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) List Price: $19.98 USD New From: $7.59 In Stock Used from: $9.50 In Stock Release date November 4, 2008.

Settling into the sculpted and surprisingly comfortable stock seat on the Victory Crossroads,  I crack the throttle and the 106-cubic-inch (1731cc) 50 degree V-twin motor responds with immediate power and the bike almost jumps forward.  Quick and nimble is not quite what you expect from such a big touring cruiser like . . . → Read More: Down at the Crossroads, A review of the new Victory Touring bike]]> Settling into the sculpted and surprisingly comfortable stock seat on the Victory Crossroads,  I crack the throttle and the 106-cubic-inch (1731cc) 50 degree V-twin motor responds with immediate power and the bike almost jumps forward.  Quick and nimble is not quite what you expect from such a big touring cruiser like the Crossroads but satisfying nonetheless.

A few days later I’m heading East on Interstate 16, with my bride of 22 years on the pillion; our destination?  Savannah Georgia, the city that Sherman found too beautiful to burn.

We’d planned this weekend trip around her birthday, and initially the plan was to take the car and enough clothes and shoes for a 2 week stay.  You married men will understand what I mean by that.  Most women to have the innate ability to fill up whatever luggage space is available. Give them 12 cubic inches and they’ll want to take 13.  If the bag expands, they’ll test the limits of the zipper.    My wife’s motto is, “”I can make it fit.”  Truth is, she usually does.

I was sure she’d be in a foul mood after 90+ miles of worrying about falling off the back.  And you know when mamma’s not happy; she makes sure you’re not happy either!

But first, I’d need to tackle the luggage issue.  Having taken a Victory Vision on an extended road trip in 2008, I’d had some experience with Victory’s saddlebag setup.  The Vision’s saddlebags are deceptively small and I expected the same with the Crossroads.  But once I had time to take a  good look inside, I was surprised by how much storage these bags provided, as compared to the Vision and other bikes in its class.   The specs claim 21 gallons of cargo room.   By comparison the Harley-Davidson Road King offers 16.9 gallons cargo space.

Ahhh, the sweet sound of marital bliss!  I was mentally checking off the brownie points in my head.

The Crossroads styling remains true to the brand and shares some of the styling cues found on the Vision, but the  “Jetson” style is toned down quite a bit.   Beginning at the front, the HID (high intensity headlight) is housed in a sculpted chrome cover and dominates the 43mm inverted telescoping front fork.  The wide handlebars frame the aerodynamic but slightly less angular and graceful, sweeping curved backbone and rounded top saddlebags which flow the eye toward  the built-in long tail/brake light combination on the rear fender and LED turn signals.   The sculpted front fender hugs the tire and the drivers seat, as in other Victory models, is scalloped into the tank giving that “customized look” lacking in the competition.

Gearheads will understand that the overhead single camshafts and self-adjusting cam chains in the Freedom V-Twin’s  solid-mounted engine are more noticeable than the push-rod technology used by the others in its class, but to the average rider it’s indiscernible.

The backrest and luggage rack are engineered to work together but while you have to have a passenger backrest to have a luggage rack, you don’t have to add the luggage rack if you don’t need it or want it.  If you do, installation takes 15 minutes, maximum.  8 minutes spent reading the directions, 2 minutes for wondering if it can really be that simple and scanning the instructions again because you’re sure you must have missed something and then 5 minutes of actual installation.

Stopping this fully loaded two wheel limousine falls to Victory’s proprietary brake system.  Dual 300mm floating rotors and 4-piston calipers on the front and a single 300mm floating rotor, 2-caliper arrangement on the back.  Unfortunately the brakes are not linked, as is the Vision.  But, to be fair, neither do the Stratoliner S or the Road King, which are its directcompetitors.   In our tests, the front brake is more than adequate, but as you would expect the back locks up easily.

The instrument setup is clean and uncluttered with a single windshield mounted speedometer / tach combo gauge.  A finger switch behind the left handlebar grip rotates the multi-function display to indicate total mileage, rpm, fuel gauge, battery charge, time and resettable hour and trip meters.  If the wide handlebars and comfortable driver floorboards seduce you into long extended ride times, there is a light on the easy to read, soothing blue, backlit speedometer gauge to warn you when you reach a gallon of remaining fuel.

The battery is housed in the front, hidden behind a cowling and combine that with the lower wind deflectors and on a 95 degree mid-summer day, the heat produced by the engine will make for an uncomfortable ride.  Removing the lower wind deflectors would probably go a long way towards evacuating the heat buildup under your legs.

Available in solid black, MSRP $16,000 (CA  $16,249) and midnight cherry $16,599 and $16,849 in California.

If you were lucky enough to be in Portugal for the GP yesterday or watching on TV it was looking like KTM would once again rule the roost in both MX1 and MX2 classes but up popped a not fully fit Clement Desalle of Teka Suzuki and ruined the . . . → Read More: Desalle confirms KTM are not invincible]]>

If you were lucky enough to be in Portugal for the GP yesterday or watching on TV it was looking like KTM would once again rule the roost in both MX1 and MX2 classes but up popped a not fully fit Clement Desalle of Teka Suzuki and ruined the Austrian manufacturers party. Desalle rode brilliantly in the second moto even after dropping it near the final stages of the race the Belgium fought back to secure his first overall GP win of the season.

Tony Cairoli took second in the GP to maintain the MX1 red plate as team mate Max Nagl rounded off the podium in third. Xavier Boog and David Philippaerts rounded off the top five.

Jeffrey Herlings took second overall in the MX2 class as previous Championship leader Ken Roczen took third but handed the red plate back to Musquin.

MX1

Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1’s Desalle made up for the bitter dnf of Valkenswaard –where he dislocated his right shoulder- with his first Grand Prix victory of 2010 here in Portugal. The Belgian went on to take two second places and the overall. In race one Desalle cruised comfortably in second for the whole moto but in heat two he recovered from a crash to take another second place as well as the overall win.

Team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MX1 completed the podium with Cairoli and Nagl.

Championship leader Cairoli recovered from a bad start in heat one to take fifth. In heat two instead he dominated form the start to the flag but was snatched the overall win by Desalle – after the Belgian’s crash Cairoli was the virtual GP winner.

Nagl instead won heat one in dominant style but had to recover from a bad start in heat two and took a final fifth place – basically the same as Cairoli in heat one.

Kawasaki Racing’s Boog narrowly missed the podium to take fourth overall at the end of a solid Grand Prix. Two great starts and hard fights made it the best Grand Prix of the season for the French MX1 debutant.

Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross’ Philippaerts was fifth overall. He took third in heat one despite a crash but a strong pain to his hand slowed him down in the final moto where he was a final eighth.

Honda fellow riders Leok and Bobryshev ended sixth and seventh from Pourcel, Ramon and De Dycker. Home rider Gonçalves was 11th.

MX1 Race 1 top ten: 1. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 40:37.687; ; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:14.633; 3. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:17.055; 4. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:18.870; 5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:20.685; 6. Tanel Leok (EST, Honda), +0:22.020; 7. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), +0:45.869; 8. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:53.096; 9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +1:04.235; 10. Marc de Reuver (NED, Suzuki), +1:06.660;

MX1 Race 2 top ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 39:57.508; ; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:02.809; 3. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Yamaha), +0:04.569; 4. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:06.537; 5. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:09.288; 6. Tanel Leok (EST, Honda), +0:12.826; 7. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:23.894; 8. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:28.727; 9. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:51.791; 10. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Honda), +0:52.578;

MX1 Overall top ten: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 44 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 41 p.; 3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 41 p.; 4. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 36 p.; 5. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 33 p.; 6. Tanel Leok (EST, Honda), 30 p.; 7. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 26 p.; 8. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 25 p.; 9. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 23 p.; 10. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Yamaha), 20 p.;

MX1 Championship top ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 179 points; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 161 p.; 3. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 133 p.; 4. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 124 p.; 5. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 123 p.; 6. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Yamaha), 114 p.; 7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 106 p.; 8. Tanel Leok (EST, Honda), 96 p.; 9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 79 p.; 10. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 75 p.;

MX1 Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 197 points; 2. Suzuki, 169 p.; 3. Yamaha, 156 p.; 4. Kawasaki, 118 p.; 5. Honda, 113 p.; 6. Aprilia, 63 p.; 7. TM, 37 p.; 8. CCM, 11 p.;

MX2

This Portuguese Grand Prix marked the comeback to victory of Musquin, who also snatched the red plate from rival Roczen. The French of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MX2 did it in dominant style as he went on to take both heats. Musquin dominated moto two but had a hard time to win heat one as he had to get rid of team mate Herlings, leading until three laps to go.

Herlings was second on the podium. The Dutch teenager dropped down to third in heat one due to a crash but a second place in moto two guaranteed the overall podium.

After finishing second in moto one, Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2’s Roczen was again in the runner up position in the second heat but a tangle with a lapped rider saw him crash and drop down to an eventual sixth. In both heats Roczen tried to keep up with Musquin but never managed to find an open door and move past. He finished third on the podium.

Bike-it Cosworth Yamaha UK’s Osborne was a solid fourth overall as he ended this GP with third in heat two. The result definitely made up for last year’s crash and wrist injury.

Kawasaki CLS’ Frossard instead had a weekend to forget despite he ended fifth overall. After a dnf in qualifying, the French also crashed at the start of heat one and was forced to recover in both heats.

After a solid fourth in moto one, Simpson crashed and ended 21st in heat two.

MX2 Race 1 top ten: 1. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), 39:09.201; ; 2. Ken Roczen (GER, Suzuki), +0:03.389; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:03.997; 4. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +1:02.518; 5. Zach Osborne (USA, Yamaha), +1:17.802; 6. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), +1:20.932; 7. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), +1:23.221; 8. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +1:24.333; 9. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Suzuki), +1:47.796; 10. Matiss Karro (LAT, Suzuki), +1:50.706;

MX2 Race 2 top ten: 1. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), 40:09.015; ; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:08.230; 3. Zach Osborne (USA, Yamaha), +0:14.284; 4. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:20.032; 5. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:32.628; 6. Ken Roczen (GER, Suzuki), +0:50.167; 7. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Suzuki), +0:51.004; 8. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +1:03.928; 9. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +1:05.055; 10. Dennis Verbruggen (BEL, KTM), +1:16.926;

MX2 Overall top ten: 1. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), 50 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 42 p.; 3. Ken Roczen (GER, Suzuki), 37 p.; 4. Zach Osborne (USA, Yamaha), 36 p.; 5. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), 26 p.; 6. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Suzuki), 26 p.; 7. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), 26 p.; 8. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), 22 p.; 9. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, Kawasaki), 21 p.; 10. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), 21 p.;

MX2 Championship top ten: 1. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), 179 points; 2. Ken Roczen (GER, Suzuki), 167 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 164 p.; 4. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), 133 p.; 5. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Suzuki), 116 p.; 6. Zach Osborne (USA, Yamaha), 114 p.; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 105 p.; 8. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, Kawasaki), 101 p.; 9. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), 83 p.; 10. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), 81 p.;

MX2 Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 200 points; 2. Suzuki, 167 p.; 3. Kawasaki, 135 p.; 4. Yamaha, 123 p.; 5. Honda, 40 p.; 6. TM, 9 p.;

Womens

Stephanie Laier made it two out of two as she collected victory at the second round of the FIM Women’s World Championship in Portugal. The German topped the podium from Livia Lancelot and Maria Franke as the duo complete also the Championship’s top three behind leader Laier.

After going down at turn one yesterday, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Laier took revenge today on the dry track. The German rode a flawless final moto after getting rid of holeshotter Kane. Once in first, Laier pulled away to win with an 18 second advantage.

The crash of KTM HDI’s Lancelot made things different for Laier. The French crashed when was in third and rejoined the race at the bottom of the top five to take a final fourth place. Courtesy of yesterday’s win, Lancelot could step on her first season’s podium in second and moved up to third in the Championship.

Diga KTM’s Franke grabbed another solid result with third overall. A second place from yesterday and a third place from today made it a third overall for Franke, who currently holds the second place in the Championship.
HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK’s Kane took fourth overall ahead of Fontanesi. Papenmeier instead was a bitter seventh due to yesterday’s crashes.

WMX Race 1 top ten: 1. Livia Lancelot (FRA, KTM), 26:27.355; ; 2. Maria Franke (GER, KTM), +0:11.781; 3. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), +0:17.730; 4. Elin Mann (SWE, KTM), +0:35.112; 5. Natalie Kane (GBR, KTM), +0:52.281; 6. Chiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:56.967; 7. Nicky van Wordragen (NED, Yamaha), +1:03.220; 8. Marielle De Mol (NED, Yamaha), +1:12.423; 9. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), +1:29.705; 10. Francesca Nocera (ITA, Honda), +1:43.795;

WMX Race 2 top ten: 1. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), 25:42.752; ; 2. Natalie Kane (GBR, KTM), +0:18.087; 3. Maria Franke (GER, KTM), +0:20.109; 4. Livia Lancelot (FRA, KTM), +0:25.757; 5. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Suzuki), +0:52.213; 6. Chiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), +1:19.608; 7. Marielle De Mol (NED, Yamaha), +1:31.132; 8. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), +1:48.162; 9. Elien De Winter (BEL, KTM), +2:28.723; 10. Shirley Verkade (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s);

WMX Overall top ten: 1. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), 45 points; 2. Livia Lancelot (FRA, KTM), 43 p.; 3. Maria Franke (GER, KTM), 42 p.; 4. Natalie Kane (GBR, KTM), 38 p.; 5. Chiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), 30 p.; 6. Marielle De Mol (NED, Yamaha), 27 p.; 7. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Suzuki), 26 p.; 8. Elin Mann (SWE, KTM), 26 p.; 9. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), 25 p.; 10. Nicky van Wordragen (NED, Yamaha), 23 p.;

WMX Championship top ten: 1. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), 95 points; 2. Maria Franke (GER, KTM), 80 p.; 3. Livia Lancelot (FRA, KTM), 76 p.; 4. Chiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), 72 p.; 5. Natalie Kane (GBR, KTM), 68 p.; 6. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Suzuki), 59 p.; 7. Elin Mann (SWE, KTM), 53 p.; 8. Marielle De Mol (NED, Yamaha), 47 p.; 9. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), 43 p.; 10. Elien De Winter (BEL, KTM), 41 p.;

WMX Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 100 points; 2. Yamaha, 72 p.; 3. Suzuki, 61 p.; 4. Honda, 49 p.; 5. Kawasaki, 3 p.;

GP OF PORTUGAL – QUICK FACTS
Circuit length: 1500 mt
Type of ground: hard pack
Temperature: 21° C
Weather conditions: dry
Crowd attendance: 14000

NEXT GP
The fifth of 15 GP’s will be held at Bellpuig, Spain, next weekend and will host also the third round of the FIM Women’s World Championship.

Related posts:

1. Jeff Goldblum Confirms Jeff Goldblum’s Death
2. Desalle says bye bye to LS Honda
3. High Fives with Clement Desalle

The rain pelted the ballistic nylon outer shell on my 2 year old Victory Platinum jacket as I eased off the throttle of the Harley-Davidson Electra Glide loaner bike and swiveled my head backwards so my eyes could confirm what I thought I’d just seen. There, in a field surrounded by . . . → Read More: Chasing The Colors Through New England]]> The rain pelted the ballistic nylon outer shell on my 2 year old Victory Platinum jacket as I eased off the throttle of the Harley-Davidson Electra Glide loaner bike and swiveled my head backwards so my eyes could confirm what I thought I’d just seen. There, in a field surrounded by sugar maples, elm and beech trees was a real live camel! Yup! There’s the hump, so mark that one down, I’ve seen a live camel, and in Vermont, no less!

Fifteen minutes into a four day adventure with three other moto-journalists and two representatives from Best Western and Harley-Davidson and I’d seen my first exotic animal!

They’re not going to believe this back on the farm! I thought as I settled back

Mike Morgan-HD Communications

into the seat of the loaner bike and re-focused my attention to the unfamiliar wet asphalt ribbon stretching out before me. I was on my way to the original Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory in Waterbury VT and eventually to an overnight stop in Ludlow Vermont.

As tempting as it was to turn around and snag a photo, I hadn’t paid close attention during the pre-ride briefing, and was unsure of the ground rules for this press junket. Note to self, Pay closer attention when the important people are talking.

The rain had all but quit as we pulled into the parking lot of Ben and Jerry’s, a virtual Mecca for ice cream aficionados. Even in late September, with the frost on the pumpkin and leaves changing colors, ice cream in Vermont continues to be a big draw.

I should back up a bit and relate how I came to be motorcycling around the northeast a few days before the peak of the fall color season. It began with an invitation from Meghan Lee, on behalf of Best Western International, to participate in their bi-annual FAM ride. FAM is their acronym for “familiarity” and the purpose of this ride is to expose Moto-journalists to great riding roads in the USA, and the Best Western properties that are found nearby.

Picture perfect

Since the corporate marketing partnership between Best Western and Harley-Davidson has been wildly beneficial for both, I wasn’t surprised that the trip would be made on Harley-Davidson rentals.

After the flight in, I checked into the Windjammer Inn and Conference Center, to rest before dinner. This is the Best Western in South Burlington Vermont and upon entering my room I found a large basket full of free swag with my name on it! I love my job! Since I knew we’d be consuming more calories than my current diet allowed over the next few days, I passed up the indoor heated pool, and hot tub and changed into my exercise gear

and headed out to see the downtown area on foot.

chasing the train

Supper the first night was in the historic Ice House Restaurant and Bar, and speaking of bar, this set the bar pretty high for the rest of the trip. But, no worries as Ron Pohl, Vice President of Brand Management and Member Services for Best Western, made sure the lunch stops were adequate and dinners were unforgettable and Mike Morgan, Communications Coordinator for Harley-Davidson provided the bikes and free stuff from the Motor Company. Meghan and Heather took care of all the details on the accommodations, drove the support vehicle, and got us to and from the airport. Heather even got in her first motorcycle ride, (and in the rain!) and was behind the camera on some of these pictures.

Crossbones and History

Before my encounter with the camel, we picked up our rentals from Green Mountain Harley-Davidson in Essex Junction Vermont; two Electra Glides, one Road King, one Heritage, one Sportster and one Crossbones. Over the course of the next 3 days’ riding, each of us rotated bikes for couple hours, or a half day. The least popular choice was the Sportster, as it had no windshield and we played tag ball with rain showers each day. Thankfully, Ron and Mike, both good corporate hosts, spent the majority of time on that bike, freeing us up to ride in luxury on those most suitable for touring.

The next least favorite ride for me was the Crossbones. I just didn’t fit its

Plymouth Notch Vermont

frame and was uncomfortable during my 6 hours on that bike. My favorite overall turned out to be the Road King.

Comfort levels notwithstanding, it was hard to find anything of merit to complain about during this trip.

After the tour of Ben and Jerry’s it was time to saddle back up and meander towards our eventual ending town of Ludlow. I’d done a little research and discovered that Ludlow was a few miles from the historic town of Plymouth Notch, the birthplace and boyhood home of our 30th President, Calvin Coolidge.

When we arrived at the picturesque Colonial Motel in Ludlow, our schedule allowed us some free time before supper. After being in the saddle all day, I was tempted to skip the ride and stay in Ludlow soaking up its Currier and Ives/ Bob Newhart small town charm, but history beckoned, so I suited up and headed north.

Plymouth Notch is a tiny Vermont village that’s just off the main highway. Frozen in time, the houses and businesses have changed little since the turn of the century. Admittedly Coolidge isn’t one of our more revered, or well remembered, leaders, and wasn’t very popular in the south. During his re-election, he did not carry any of the 11 Dixie States.

Ron Pohl giving Heather her first motorcycle ride!

Interestingly enough he has been our only President born on the 4th of July and the only President to have been administered the oath of the office by his father, a notary public.

I have no doubt that during February, Ludlow is hopping with winter tourists who flock to the nearby Okemo mountain ski area, but the night life on a Tuesday night in September was sparse. But after a few cocktails at dinner (we left the bikes at the room and rode in the chase vehicle) the suggestion was made we find a party so we set out to find the best local watering hole. We discovered Christophers, the

Lake George NY, Home of Americade

only bar open and we “blew it up” playing antique video arcade games and checking out the authentic stripper pole on the dance floor!

Did I mention I love these press junkets? I swear if the only party in town was the Methodist ladies quilting bee, moto journalists would find a way to convince those gals to put down their pins and thimbles and break out the karaoke machine and sacramental wine!

Kitschy Art at it's best

Leaving Ludlow behind on Wednesday, we headed into the Adirondack Mountains to our eventual destination of Lake Placid New York by way of a lunch stop in lake George.

It was during lunch where the short marketing pitch was presented by Ron Pohl. Ron explained that Best Western is the largest hotel company under a single brand with over 4000 properties! Each property is independently owned and operated. Each hotel owner pays dues to belong to the association. To protect the integrity of the name and to ensure standards are maintained across the board, each hotel is inspected every year! Ron said in the last two years, Best Western has pulled its name from over 500 hotels because they didn’t meet their tough standards. Wi-Fi is complimentary in every hotel as is continental breakfast.

Porta Potty outside a convenience store. For when the line inside gets really long. It was actually quite clean

For motorcyclists, it’s important to mention that Best Western hotel owners understand our unique wants and needs, because they receive special training and information from the corporate office. Best Western also uses press junkets such as this one to gather input from riders who spend a lot of time in the saddle. What that means for you, as motorcycle tourists is that when you ask for extra towels to clean your bike, or ask if you can park overnight under the overhang near the front door, the clerks understand your concerns and try to accommodate you.

Marketing pitch and brand history lesson over, we headed out to Lake George for a quick stop and photo opportunity. The schedule called for a tour of the lake, but we were running a little behind and with the threat of significant rain between us and Lake Placid, the group consensus was to hit the highway and reach our destination before dark.

Up to this point the leaf colors were soft and muted. Reaching the interior of the Adirondack Mountains, the colors began to “pop” with vivid hues of

The colors start to improve as we enter the Adirondacks

orange, yellow and reds, with just enough green for contrast. Once, as the sun broke through the rain clouds, I couldn’t help but think that this must be what motorcycle heaven is; a cool but sunny ride through a landscape colored by the crayons of God.

Hours later, but far too soon for most of us, we pulled into the historic village of Lake Placid. Oddly enough, the closest body of water to the village is actually Mirror Lake. A little bit of useless trivia just in case that question ever comes up during a game show you’re on.

Our overnight accommodations were provided by Best Western Adirondack Inn, located in the heart of downtown, directly across from the Olympic Center. Here’s a little more trivia. Lake Placid hosted the 1932 and 1980 winter Olympics. That might not mean much to some of you, but hockey fans will no doubt remember the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” when a group of American college kids, in the most memorable David and Goliath fashion in Olympic history, beat a group of Soviet Union professional hockey players to advance to the finals and ultimately win the Gold medal.

Overhearing a few of us talk about that game, Olga, the manager of the Adirondack Inn, offered us a tour of the facility. Four of us took her up on it, and she took us across the street and down to the rink, where we stood on the ice, just like kids on a Disney land tour, taking cell phone pictures and acting quite goofy.

Even though I knew next to nothing about ice hockey in 1980, I can remember that game because it was such a big deal to the entire nation.

Eric being slammed into the glass!

Because of the Cold War, this was more than just a game; it was a contest between Capitalism and Communism. We were the underdogs, but we firmly believed our society, our freedoms and our liberties gave us an advantage and made us better competitors and better people.

Our farewell supper at Nicola’s/ Grill 211 was the crème de la crème of the trip. This is a “must visit” restaurant in the Adirondacks, and be sure to sample the lamb chops. Did I mention I love my job? As we ate, the cold front we’d been outrunning most of the day, finally pushed through, dumping buckets of rain and ushering in temperatures in the low 40’s for our morning ride back to Green Mtn HD.

The Olympic ski jump is visible in the distance

After a hot complimentary breakfast with eggs and bacon, we headed out on the final leg of the trip. The highlight of which was a ferry ride across Lake Champlain. Using my camera’s zoom lens during the short 20 minute ride, I intently scanned the water for the lake monster the locals call “Champ” but he wasn’t showing off for the tourists. My dreams of being on CNN as the person with photographic proof of a prehistoric creature in the lake went sadly unfulfilled.

Late that night after three connecting flights, I arrived in Savannah, tired but mentally refreshed from having spent a wonderful three days riding in New England witnessing the beauty and grandeur of some of the best riding thiscountry has to offer. But, it was back to reality and the daily grind of a low brow moto-journalist. The next day I was scheduled to head to Panama City Beach for a weekend in the sun and sand at the Thunder Beach motorcycle Rally. Did I mention I love my job?