Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - August 2008 - (Page 26)

MONTHLY FEATURES TIP OF THE MONTH By Mike Brown To H**L with OPEC Ride Your Classic Bike to Work First it was sticker shock at $50. Rising indignation came at $60. But when it cost over $70 to fill the tank of my F-150 a major paradigm shift took place. With a garage full of classic motorcycles, all licensed and insured, why the heck wasn’t I riding one of them to work every day? Actually, there were some pretty good reasons, but after strategically working out previous reservations, trying the commute for a while, and then adjusting to the circumstances, I thought it might be a very good time to share the experience of commuting on a 35 year old Make sure Triumph. I think it’s a safe bet many your tires are u of us are now contemplating the wise p to the t as to run difference between 50 miles per gallon for re k. Many o gular f trans those on vs. 15, so what follows are a few lessons porta o tion. lder bike s aren learned, some a long time ago, but others just ’t recently. The first notion, though, is pretty basic. For the most part, it’s been a lot of fun. Practical Considerations My first specific consideration was the route to work. Although a modest 20 mile round trip, much of my previous travel was over two different urban interstates frequented by drivers I suspect are dead drunk and recently released from the state mental hospital. Drunk or sober these angry people duel aggressively with each You’ ll ne b other like Kamikaze pilots having a luackpack laesd a means to h nch, book ed to a si carry stuf bad day. I often found my normal s, etc s f to w . Trad sy bar in whic ork. My l itiona commute frightening enough when h I en ow b l sad are o dlebags, closed th uck soluti ther g is cas magn on w protected by a half-ton truck, so jousting as e ood o e ption tic tank b for things a ags, a with these nuts on a 400-pound motorcycle s. nd ca like rriers wasn’t my idea of a good time. Moreover, typi- pattern changes daily with cal life in the “fast” lanes here in San Antonio little way to predict what’s up in ranges from a slow crawl to bumper-to-fender advance. Actually, these issues were huggers at 75 mph, and the precisely why I hadn’t tried the two-wheeled commuter thing earlier. Some of you may have 26 AUGUST 2008 I WALNECK’S CLASSIC CYCLE TRADER® I WALNECKS.COM http://WALNECKS.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - August 2008

Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - August 2008 Contents American Bench Racing w/Mark Zimmerman Motorcycle Tips w/Mike Brown 10 Pieces of Advice for the Newbie Motorcyclist Events, Listings & Advertisements The Buzz w/Buzz Walneck Your Guide to the VMD Mid Ohio Show Guide British 1966 Velocette 500 Thruxton 1954 Vincent Black Lightning Biker of the Month European Bonhams 2008 Legend Sale Legend of the Motorcycle Japanese Competition Motorbikes & Scooters Memorabilia Now...You Tell Me by Buzz Walneck Antique Cycle Clubs Parts, Accessories, Want Ads How to Place a Word Ad How to Place a Photo Ad Area Code Directory How to Subscribe Let Us Help with Your Event

Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - August 2008

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