The Cleveland Bike show was great! The boy and I got up there about 12:30 and found a long line to get on Rte 237 and all the way into the 6 or 7 parking entrance lines. There were long lines to buy your tickets (thank goodness we bought ours online), and the crowds were shoulder to shoulder. But not overly crowded.

As with these types of shows, there is usually plenty of eye-candy. Thankfully, this year was no exception. There were several booths that used beautiful young women, scantily clad, to draw crowds and increase sales. For me....nice to look, but no buying from those vendors - I am in a committed relationship! BTW, there were less clad beauties, but I was distracted and did not take their pics!


Talking to the vendors, they were happy with the attendance and their willingness to lay out cash. In looking at various bikes, I noticed that several were already purchased or "on hold" awaiting for the loan to be approved. While not a bike (or even close to that price point) I did pick up a leather trunk - a knockoff of Willie & Max by an offshore company called UNIK. Quality is not quite up to Willie & Max, but then I am not sure how often I will use it.




We spent time looking at dirt bikes with the hopes that the boy will begin riding soon. The delay is a combination of cash, mom's approval, and desire. We also checked out a lot of the new models, concept bikes, wild paint schemes, and some "gently used" bikes that some of the dealers brought to spur business. One of my favorite bikes that I saw is this yamaha with integrated hard saddlebags and a streamline paintjob that provides a single, integrated vision of a bike.




The boy, on the otherhand, pointed out this "in your face" power bike with huge air gulpers, megaphone exhausts, and flat black paintscheme that gives the feeling of stealth and meanness.






My favorite, hidden around a courner, was a display of antique bikes. These are three of my favorites.



After several hours of walking around, talking, and sitting, we finally gathered our stuff and headed off. The positives - great show, time spent with the boy, lots of learning, and a trunk for Kermit. The negative - did not run across a single GLVROC member!!!!

If its cold...

If its cold, it MUST be time for the Cleveland Motorcycle show! Saturday is the day (show runs Friday through Sunday)....got the tickets, got measurements for buying stuff, and the boy is excited.

And in Northern Ohio tradition, it is colder than heck and the snow is flying. So it MUST be the perfect time to go to a show, dream of warm weather, and highways of no cagers and no bears. Or that once in a lifetime trip to Sturgis. Why only one time? - I wont survive the partying...and the full body tatoo....

Anyway, hopefully will have a few pics when I return this weekend.

AAAARRRRRRGGGGGGgggghhhhhhhhhhh.....

Temperatures are finally hitting freezing, touch of snow, and cabin fever is striking. Only 2 or 3 months before cool riding weather again. So what is a guy to do?

Go to the Motorcycle shows. Yup, Cleveland show in just over a week, and headed there with my boy. Hoping to hook up with some of the GLVROC guys too.

But that is not enough. So what is next, you ask? Looks like the perfect time to put a few more gadgets on Kermit. Couple of ideas, but not sure yet.

• Add hazard lights circut and switch.
• Add some highlight and/or rear sidelights and switch.
• Replace Switchpod plate with a chrome (or chromelike) finish.
• Put in smaller switches

If I have a couple extra bucks at the show, would love to get the Isogrip helmet locks that go on the end of the Isogrip grips. And of course an MaxPax. Maybe by then I will have an idea if my year-end bonus and commissions will exceed my debt and I can have a buck or two to spend...

Radar Detector Mount

[note: click on the pictures for larger image]

I just mounted the Slipstream Radar Mount. Less than $30, made of anodized aluminum and plexiglass mount plate. Mounts on the handlebars (or anywhere there is a 1" tube) solidly. it has several adjustment points that allow you to increase/decrease height, angles, slope, etc. The base has a rubber band that connects under the plates and over the radar detector (ugly but effective). They also suggest velcro. I have some industrial velcro, covered the mounting plate with it (the radar detector already is covered over the entire bottom), and dont think I will need it at all. Infact I have to apply leverage just to get it off the dash, and now the bike.

The mount - without the radar detector - is to the right here. It is offered in multiple colors as long as you want black. It mounts clean and simple, and feels stable as a rock.



The radar detector simply lays ontop of the mount. With all the surface area of the platform and radar detector, it is a solid mount. You can see that the bar is slightly tilted to fit just in the right spot on the dash. I could attach the band to those protrusions on the bottom of the plexiglass, but again, just dont see the need. After the first trial run, I may change my mind!


This is how the cockpit looks. the detector will be highly visible, and may consider plugging the audio in to the chatterbox. But probably not, relying on the visual cues instead. My peripheral vision should pick it up.

Detroit Motorcycle Show

Went to the Detroit Motorcycle Show in Novi. Compared to the Cleveland show, it was pretty small but had all the major motorcycle manufactures there, unveiling their new model year bikes. Had to check out the Nomads - very glad I bought mine last year. I hate the new color schemes except the black ... but then everyone has black.

Got on a new Goldwing to show the people at the show I was with how small the legroom was. Remember, I could not get my legs into the fairings when I tried last year (but new and older models). With smugness, I had already shown the guys how I wont fit comfortably on several other bikes, and the Honda VTX was the last victim. So with a smirk, I got on the Goldwing and swung my leg into the fairing with a "see, it wont......" and my legs fit. In fact, it fit beautifully. My jaw dropped, and i was filled with humilation and awe.

But I have my Kermit, and he is really what I am happy with. In fact, I am glad it did not fit last year. I might have ended up with a Goldwing, and would not have been as happy as I am with my Vulcan Nomad.

I forgot my camera, but I had someone take some pictures for me. They even caught when I dropped a bike (ok, not really....). Come back soon and I will have them posted.