Tilted Horizons

Nothin' to see here; move along please!

It's difficult to get photos of oneself in motion on a motorcycle. Below are some from the last few years, mostly shot by event or roadside photogs. You don't really need to see them; I just decided to catalog them in one place for future reference. Yeah, I know a couple are just me standing around...

This and the 2nd below were taken at nearly the exact spot 3 years apart.

Too much civilization; get me outta here!

T'was a slow news day obviously. Posted at my American Legion hall.

Photo by Rod Don

Don't distract me with your camera; I'm trying to not ride into that stream.

Can you can spot the error in this image?

Labels: ADVtouring, Americade, Commuting, Ephrata, Events, Rallying, Ride Reports, Ride-Ins, Sport-Touring, Touring, Vendors

Dealer Enthusiasm

About 150 miles into yesterday's ride, I was looking for a suitable rest and hydration stop when I passed a large Harley dealer with a lot full of motorcycles and people, and a BBQ vendor going full blast. A quick 180 and I parked up. I've passed Chesapeake Harley-Davidson in Maryland dozens of time previously, and these weekend gatherings always seem to be happening. There were picnic tables under a tent, rocking chairs on the shaded front porch, food and drink (non-alcoholic I'm happy to report), and a mobile stage for the band that I imagine followed later. The dealership is impeccably clean and the employees were friendly without feeling the need to put on the sales pitch. Large flat parking lot that even had a roundabout to keep traffic flowing in and out. Quite the oasis for riders. I was there for about 45 minutes and watched 40-50 bikes come and go. And I know this isn't all that unusual for H-D dealers. Which had me wondering why none of the Big Four Japanese or Euro dealers near me do anything similar. Sure, most dealers have an open house or a special event or two each year, but nothing consistent, nothing I know I can count on during any given ride for a little break. All it would take are clean restrooms and drinking water. I'm not a "lifestyle" rider, and I know that's a little part of it, but c'mon man, show a little enthusiasm for motorcycling and motorcyclists! And as I'm sure the H-D shops well know, having more riders hanging out, walking by those shiny new machines on the sales floor, leads to a few more sales. Know ye of such shops?

"One of these things is not like the others..."

Labels: Eats, Heady Stuff, Ride Reports, Ride-Ins

2015 AMCA Meet, Oley, PA

This past Saturday I rode up to the Antique Motorcycle Club of America's annual meet in Oley, Pennsylvania. Two days later, my legs are still sore from repeated crouching down to shoot photos of so much great vintage iron; everything from Concours-quality restorations to bikes that looked as if they were just unearthed from the back of a barn that morning. More than you may think were ridden to the meet, too. Below is a mere sampling; click here to see many more from 2015, and click here to see motorcycles from 2013's meet.

Don't see this brand every day.

Liter bikes aren't new; this model was Lawrence of Arabia's favorite ride.

Beverly Hillbillies meets The Munsters?

This had a number plate autographed by Jack Penton, too.

Labels: History, Orgs, Rallying, Ride Reports, Ride-Ins, Vintage

Ride Report: Union Hotel, Port Deposit, Maryland

Last Sunday I was invited to join three Americade friends to a ride-to-eat event at the Union Hotel and Tavern near the old Susquehanna River town of Port Deposit, Maryland. The hotel dates to the late 18th century, and has been a weekend favorite of local motorcyclists for years. I've ridden past the event many times but never stopped because it seemed too "biker" for my tastes. However, though 98% of the bikes there on Sunday were cruisers, the crowd was mellow and the staff very friendly. The blues band was excellent (though louder than a set of open pipes) and the BBQ was top-notch. Alcohol was sold, but so was a variety of beverages for those of us who need every brain cell when riding. Looks like I've found another RTE to add to the ol' ride calendar; it would also make a nice early afternoon rest stop on the way home from strafing some of my favorite roads in the PA/MD Susquehanna areas. Brunch is served beginning at noon Saturday and Sundays.

Labels: Americade, Eats, Events, History, Ride Reports, Ride-Ins, Union Hotel

Cool motorcycles: Ephrata ride-in July 2014

July's ride-in event in Ephrata, PA was its typical self: motorcycles of every type, from ADVers to race bikes to rat bikes to vintage to the bizarre. Here's a tiny sampling of the thousand-odd bikes that grabbed my attention.(Click to enlarge.)

One doesn't often see this treatment applied to sportbikes.

Nice detail.

Keeping with the military theme.

I'm a sucker for any R90S.

Every CB400F I've ever seen was in pristine condition.

10 point penalty for the swastika at an American Legion event, but "interesting" nonetheless.

First Place, Most Tomahawks category.

Great '80s GP theme on a modern bike.

The "79" reference may be obvious to someone hipper than I.

Unidentified Furry Object?

Best scooter I've seen for maybe...ever.

I bet people try to put him down.

I hope the rider wears a long, oiled flight jacket.

There's a rumble in Brighton tonight.

Labels: Ephrata, Events, Ride-Ins, Vintage

Ephrata Under Surveillance?

Snapped this pic of a quadcopter (please don't call it a drone; this Air Force vet recoils at this common misnomer; it's an unmanned aerial vehicle or a remotely piloted vehicle) at yesterday's ride-in at the Ephrata, Pennsylvania American Legion post, and today found some video online that it shot. I can tell it was early in the day because there were 4-5 times as many motorcycles by the time I headed home. There was a RPV at Americade this year, too. I think we'll soon find this to be very commonplace at large sporting events and other large gatherings. (To watch the video in larger format, click on "vimeo")

Labels: Ephrata, Events, Ride-Ins, Video

Last Ephrata Ride-In of 2013

November marks the end of each year's "First Sunday" ride-in series at the American Legion in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Last Sunday the crowd numbered in the few hundreds rather than the usual thousands; I suspect the low 30s temps and gusty winds had something to do with that. I still had a great ride, some engaging conversations with fellow (fool?)hardy riders, and saw plenty of cool motorcycles, a few of which are below.