Stone Mountain

I took my bike up to Stone Mountain this weekend, which is about 30 minutes east of downtown Atlanta. The total time of the trip was about 2.5-3 hours. There where some nice curvy roads that had a 35 mph speed limit on them, of which I broke the law the entire time. As we all know it almost harder to go around a curve at a slow speed. It messes up your timing and your lean. Hopefully, you'll notice that the bike is a little cleaner from the previous picture that was taken right after I got it, rust knocked off, chain adjuster replaced, and new back tire. It's actually not a bad looking bike now. It still needs a thorough cleaning which I plan to do this weekend.

It was a fun trip, the first thing I noticed was the smell of the trees as your driving through them. Robert mentioned this to me, and we've talked about our professor mentioning the same sense. You realize very quickly that riding a motorcycle is a full sense experience. With all these senses popping I find myself kind of letting go of everyday stress and life's annoyances. Almost like your brain doesn't want to think, it just wants to enjoy the experience. It's safe to say that I'm addicted to this drug.

Buell Blast

This is the bike that I took the course on. Single Cylinder, 4-Stroke, 492cc By no means would I ever buy this bike, it had lots of vibration and seemed a little cheaply made. BUT! I will say the bike was a blast to ride. It was actually very fun to do the courses on this bike, almost like it was made for it, maybe it was? Whatever bike you picked first was the bike that you kept throughout the entire course, so that each rider could get accustomed to their bike's little nuances e.g. clutch lever, throttle response. I think the Blast are known for very clunky transmissions because it seemed like all of them took time to fiddle with. I have to say by the last day I was very attached to my bike. The riding portion of the course was from 7:00am until 5:00pm for 2 days, when I woke up the last day I just couldn't wait to get on my bike. It's amazing how quickly you can get attached to a machine. A motorcycle seems to have a overwhelming feeling of connection. In just 2 days I felt very connected with this bike. I started to like the feel of the overly vibrating engine, I began to embrace it's flaws. This is partly why Harley's have such a huge following, and they have people that love there bike. I hate to compare this to a relationship but its very much like that. You have a connection with this bike and even though it breaks down and cost a ton of money, you deal with all the flaws because of the connection you share. In saying that, my Ninja 250 purrs like a kitten and has little to no vibration, yet also very reliable and cheap parts. It's a entry level sport bike, that's how it should be. I still share the same connection with it as every Harley guy shares with his Hog. MY relationship is just not as high maintenance as there's :).

Anyway, if Buell still made bikes, I would seriously consider buying one. Just not the Blast. But it was a great bike for the course.

Rider's Edge

I took the Rider's Edge Course a few weeks ago. I was one of three people in the class to get a 100% on the riding portion of the test. There were around 20 people in the class. I got a 98% on my written, missed two really easy questions that I second guessed myself on. Anyway it was actually a great experience, the first day I thought it would be tough and annoying, but everyone in the class was actually pretty cool. I didn't really talk that often, it was all business, hence why I got the award at the very top. Here are some pics of my stuff.

Got it!

It needs a little TLC but the fairings and paint are in good condition. Here is a list of possible things to do.

1. New rear tire (ordered should get it tomorrow)
2. remove passenger foot pegs, knock off the rust
3. remove muffler and install new clamp, old one rusted.
4. remove rust from muffler, paint over if needed.
5. remove rust from bolt on swing-arm
6. Needs a good wash and degreasing.

BEFORE and...

for those who fight for it, life a has a flavor that the sheltered will never know

This is it. I leave in just over 1 week. Only a few more things to finalize but otherwise I am finished planning and preparing. This will be my first solo trip (of any great distance). The anxiety is growing every day, but I know, just like always the moment the bike starts rolling it all melts away. The scale of this trip has grown far larger than I ever dreamed. I will talk about the basics of the trip here and share my rough map below, but this blog is meant for R+R so further posts and comments, pictures and maps, will be posted in my solo blog, My Violent Heart. R+R is meant for OUR adventures together, but before we even get to that point, Ryan and I both have some stepping stones we must achieve first. So it is only natural that we both post (briefly) our solo events leading up to our eventual first R+R ride.
Have a gander at the map (some of the map is cut off in this view) and the details are below the map.


View Here we go. in a larger map
I could write 10 pages on the details so I will try to keep it brief here.
24 days. Around 4,000 km by bike. About another 4,000 by boat (I think, hard to measure). I will be traveling during typhoon season. I will pass through not only the hottest parts of Japan (during the hottest season) but also one island I will go to (Yakushima) is the rainiest place in all of japan. I will visit (with my motorcycle) around 12 different islands. I will drive by 3 active volcanoes (and ride to the top of one). I will visit 12 new prefectures by bike including Okinawa. I will visit all four of the most extreme cardinal points on both Shikoku and Kyushu Island. I will visit the 2nd atomic bombing site. The Japanese Space Agency's "Cape Canaveral," the island and forest that inspired Princess Mononoke (which also has the oldest ceder trees in the world). I will attempt to catch a "Sumo Bullfight" as well as try to witness some of the dog-fighting (not to the death) they offer in Kochi. I will also visit the island that holds the worlds records for most densely populated place on earth (it has since been abandoned for 40 years, but that is why it is such an attraction!). See a few temples a few castles a few gardens. On the 2nd to last day I will (try) to catch the largest and most famous dance festival in all of Japan (it is the equivalent of Brazil's Carnival. It is 3 days long but I will only see the first day) Hopefully like my Honshu trip 1 year ago, the best parts are the surprises along the way.

Going to look at a bike today

2002 Kawasaki Ninja 250R $1500

Honda Trip Planner

Motorcycle trip planner from Honda.

http://tripplanner.honda.com/

FEEL the VOID

I been feeling somewhat laggy lately. It's summertime, I'm getting married next year, I'm working my ass off, and I really want to get a bike and start riding. Life is good, but I still feel like something is missing. In one of Robert's comments he talks about filling a void that he once had with an experience of riding and touring. That's how his motorcycle journey began. Somehow I feel the same is true for me. I do feel a void in my life, that I have possibly created, but nevertheless is there. I unlike Robert had a little experience riding dirt bikes. That was quite some time ago, and I never had money to think about buying myself a motorcycle until about 4 years ago. I came really close to purchasing a CBR600 back then (which would've been a terrible idea). I studied the manual and was ready to take the test. Things happened between then and now, I can't really even pin point it, mostly life just happened. Life sometimes get's in the way. I had somewhat forgot about the entire idea of buying a bike, thinking that I would just wait until I had a little more disposable income to spend on a bike. A year or so went by and then Robert told me he just passed his driver's course and is going to circumnavigate Japan. I was immediately surprised but also turned back onto the idea of getting a bike. Robert being my best friend I couldn't imagine not being able to experience a journey like that with him, so I decided to start this blog and plan a trip. Everything else has somewhat fell into place, so I definitely feel like I am going in the right direction.

I realized that the title INTO THE VOID has a bigger meaning then just what's on the surface. I feel like both Robert and I filled a void in our lives with this hobby, so our first trip, along with hopefully the many trips after, will be journeys into our own voids with the goal being to fill them up with great experiences and friendships. I feel lucky to have a good friend like Robert to experience this with, and I'm counting down the days until we began.

-Ryan

Suzuki M50 for Robert

Thought this fit your taste, I don't know... I think it looks badass too! I know it's not a Honda, but I do like some of Suzuki's designs.

This is somewhat me

Suzuki SV650S

If you really don't want a beginner style motorcycle because you have some dirt bike experience, then look no farther than the Suzuki SV650. The great thing about this bike is the power delivery is very friendly for new riders, but still torquey enough to give the veterans their moneys worth. This means that there really is no telling if a rider on an SV650 is a experienced or not because it is very popular with both crowds. Also the larger SV1000 looks nearly identical to the 650, the only aesthetic difference being a small fairing below the engine.

beginner motorcycles that don't look like beginner motorcycles

Recomended 1st bike

I HIGHLY recommend you do NOT buy a 600cc sport/naked/sportster bike for your first bike. I recommend the above bike for you first bike. Brand new its only $3k. You should be able to find a great condition model for $1.5k. Suzkuki GZ250.
Its not me. trust me. MOST level headed bikers will give you the same advice.
check it: http://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com/why-600cc-motorcycle-not-good-beginner-bike-updated

and

http://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com/top-5-reasons-start-250cc-motorcycle

Check out #1 on this list....
http://motorcycles.about.com/od/howtostartridin1/tp/Ten-Beginner-Bikes.htm

Really Good Bikers Vblog

This guy lives in Taiwan and has tons of vids on motorcycle. Some are just plain dumb, but most of the time he has some really interesting or funny stuff to say. He is the number 1 most subscribed motorcycle Vblogger in the world but is about our age. He does what I do in Japan except in Taiwan, teach Engrish. For the most part he is a level headed biker with good advice and often good stories and vids.
this is his channel.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?p=PLF3C42F94AC53D6E3
for example here is a vid about a Honda Briefcase Motorcycle. say what? yeah! just watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLxqkvfMsQQ&list=PLF3C42F94AC53D6E3

Good Motorcycle Review Website

http://www.bikez.com/

they don't have every year of every model, but you can get a genral idea of most makes and models.