Kevin Ash Dies in Accident at the 2013 BMW R1200GS Press Launch

Posted on January 24, 2013 by cesardagord

[Last edited December 21, 2013]

I’d rather be riding. But when I’m not riding I spend a good amount of my free time  reading about motorcycles.  I read informal accounts from fellow enthusiasts in motorcycle forums and blogs.  I read specialized “official” articles in magazines, blogs and books. For stories with and about motorcycles, my favorite writer has been Peter Egan and his column “Leanings” that I get monthly on Cycle World (and which have been compiled on his books titled “Leanings”). For official reviews and technical articles about motorcycles one of my favorite writers was English motorcycle journalist Kevin Ash (motorcycle reviews on the Daily Telegraph, technical reviews at the Motorcycle News (MCN), and of course, his many writings in the Ash on Bikes blog).

Just recently I read Kevin Ash’s review of the 2013 Ducati Multistrada on his Ash on Bikes blog. I also read his excellent technical review of the 2013 Multistrada’s Skyhook semi-active suspension. On that technical review he used the official images provided by Ducati and he explained this technological innovation using his engineering background combining it with his excellent rider’s perspective and writing skills. If you read these two articles you get an idea about the dimension of his success as a motorcycle journalist and perhaps why he was universally liked, even if you managed to disagree with his opinion on something. If you already know about him I know I’m preaching to the choir and you know the dimension his passing represents to motorcycle journalism. And how much a loss it is to our riding community! If you have never heard about him until now, and you enjoy reading about motorcycles, check his writings on the Daily Telegraph, on the Motorcycle News (MCN) Techwatch feature, and the Ash on Bikes blog.

So it just happened that Kevin Ash was one of the selected motorcycle journalists and top adventure riders of the world that were flown to the town of George in South Africa for the long awaited water cooled 2013 BMW R1200GS launch. This was meant to be a major event, considering the changes to the motor, including water cooling, a major evolution to this important motorcycle in the adventure riding world.

This was not the first time BMW went to South Africa for a motorcycle launch. As described on a local motorcycle outfit’s website, George is a perfect location for BMW’s event:

[George is] the perfect base from which biking enthusiasts can put the new motorcycle through its paces, providing ready access to a myriad of both tarred and dirt roads. These wind curvaceously through the dusty mountains for an off-road riding experience whereas well-surfaced streets offer the perfect cruising conditions as they dissect the luscious tropical coastal countryside.

The launch was scheduled to start with a presentation of the motorcycles on the weekend of January 19-20. Journalists would ride the machines starting on January 21st.  It is common practice on the motorcycle industry to set a location or a track (when is the case for sport bikes), bring a large number of bikes and let motorcycling journalists ride the bike at their own pace. Many of these journalists already know each other and have ridden with one another on previous press launch events.

As was reported to a fellow contributor to the ADVRider forum (www.advrider.com), another British journalist that was on site for the BMW launch in George in South Africa mentioned about the incident:

(…) I’ve been getting more than a little spooked lately at press intros. Or should I say “the journalist GP”. I’ve been at a point of not wanting to click into the mode needed to run with the pack. It’s been invading my confidence and I’ve spent a lot of days thinking “I don’t want to ride this fast on a public road anymore”.  I’ve seen them fall before. Kevin was a great guy. Mild mannered, polite, one of the boys. Good at this job, always with a good word. He will be missed.

Kevin was riding the 2013 BMW R1200GS on a gravel road just north of George when the incident occurred. People from the group of riders who arrived at the scene were not able to see anything as the area had already been isolated. As far as I know, Kevin Ash died at the accident. BMW released an official statement indicating that in respect to Ash’s family, details of the incident would not be reported at this time.  BMW did the best they could at this point, considering the circumstances, by cancelling the press release of this iconic motorcycle.

Someone from RawHide Adventures was also invited to the BMW event and was reporting his participation on the event on RawHide’s Facebook and on the ADV forum as well. Before the RawHide rider went to South Africa he reported on the forum that he had been explicitly advised to be careful and to ride at his own pace:

You will be riding with people who do this for a living. These folks are right up there with professional racers… They are extremely good at what they do, and know how to ride very, very well. You would be wise to avoid trying to keep up. Check your ego at the door, ride at your own pace and enjoy the experience.

Both these remarks serve as reminders and a lesson for all us:  Always check our egos at the door, and we should always ride at our own pace! But having mentioned these thoughts, it should be clear that the circumstances of the incident remain unknown to me as I write this. Therefore, it is not fair for me to speculate the circumstances that lead to the incident, especially at this moment.

Furthermore, we should know that according to accounts from people close to Kevin Ash, he was not the type of guy to have an ego problem, or someone to blame something else for an accident where he was involved. In Kevin Ash’s view a motorcycle rider had to ride taking everything into account, had to be in tune with the surroundings, it was his/her responsibility to ride in a way to avoid incidents, with awareness to road conditions, road surface and what you may find on the road that would affect grip.

Based on these accounts, one could consider Kevin was not on a “Journalist Moto GP” mode or that some similar type of attitude was part of the contributing factors to the incident. Which could be confirmed by this account from German’s Motorrad magazine (www.motorradonline.de), translated to English:

Motorcycle journalist Ash was riding with a group of other British motorcycle journalists on the new BMW R 1200 GS on a straight gravel road. The gravel road was flat, but dusty, so that the riders had to hold a good distance from each other. Ahead of the group there was a BMW guide setting the pace. The group rode to a maximum of 100 km/h, which was perfectly adequate to the road conditions. The accident, as reported by Motorrad-chief editor Gert Thöle happened on the open road, for no apparent reason.

Apparently there were deep ruts on both sides of this flat road and Thöle stated:

Kevin, who was a careful rider, was probably inattentive for a moment, perhaps focused on something about the new bike and may have overlooked ruts that ran left and right of the road, hit them and lost control of the motorcycle.

Motorrad continues:

BMW’s own accident specialists were flown to South Africa, it is clear that Kevin Ash’s bike had overturned. The 53-year-old motorcycle journalist was killed instantly.

Heavy dusty conditions were reported as well, so that may have been a factor on this as well. I will assume something really out of the ordinary caused the incident. At least that is what I want to believe at this point.

Here is more information, this time from the Oudtshoorn Courant, a local as in South Africa, on-line news site:

Known for his enthusiasm and in-depth reporting, The Telegraph motorcycling correspondent, Kevin Ash (53), lost control on the gravel road leading from Willowmore through Baviaanskloof towards Patensie and died after crashing his motorcycle last Tuesday evening. It happened too fast for the motorcyclist behind him to swerve out or stop and he collided with Ash, injuring himself as well. The second rider sustained a dislocated shoulder and minor injuries and was discharged from hospital last Friday. After the accident a team of engineers and technicians from BMW in Germany was flown in to investigate the motorcycle for any mechanical defects, the outcome of the investigation is not yet available.

This sheds some light on reasons why he could have died from an accident where the speeds were not so high. Although it is not confirmed that the description above is accurate or the interaction between the two riders really happened as the Oudtshoorn Courant reported. Alun Davies of Adventure Riding Magazine is possibly the motorcyclist who was riding behind Kevin Ash at the time of the accident.

A potential mechanical defect or design flaw is certainly something that remains on the back of people’s minds. Other journalists that were on the launch wrote about their experiences with this motorcycle and published them on their respective channels. I read several of these reviews. I did not read reports from any of them in which they made a connection between what I will present and quote now and Kevin Ash’s accident.

Four journalists reported a problem with the bike that could characterize a scenario for an unprovoked accident (a Canadian from Canada MotoGuide.com, an Italian from Motociclismo.IT, an American from Motorcycle.Com and an English journalist from Bike Magazine). Below is the account from the American journalist, Kevin Duke of Motorcycle.Com where he reports this problem at 45 mph (72 km/h). The three other journalists reported this happened at higher speeds, one reported it at around 75-85 mph (120-140km/h). Accounts indicate it was related to riding the bike while standing up, bikes that were set up on Enduro Pro mode, with tires for off-road, on straight gravel roads with washboard sections or when encountering a bump on the road or something that disturbed the front wheel.

However, the GS did disappoint me during a casual ride down an open dirt road. I was standing up to get cool air through my riding gear, traveling about 45 mph, when I encountered a washboard section. In an instant and with seemingly no provocation, the bike went into a wild tankslapper that threatened to throw me from the bike. It was a very panicked second before the steering regained its composure.

We can’t yet say for certain this is a problem with the bike, but another journalist reported a similar experience when he was riding while standing. This is quite unexpected considering the chassis geometry is essentially unchanged from the previous model, plus there were no stability issues whatsoever during high-speed road riding.

Here is the account from Bike Magazine:

The only unpleasant shock during the whole 280-mile ride is a tankslapper so violent it snaps the lockstops off the frame. BMW chassis engineers seemed shocked to hear of it, claiming they never experienced anything of the sort in five long years and one million kilometers of testing. It does seem that I just happen to have stumbled on exactly the wrong combination of speed and road surface at the wrong time. Assuming it really is just a one-off – which, in all fairness, would appear to be the most likely explanation – then the new R1200GS is a remarkable machine.

Again, I did not read anywhere that these journalists connected their incidents with head shakes / tank slappers with what happened to Kevin Ash.  And I’m not here establishing a connection or parallel between their reports of head-shakes leading to tank slappers and Kevin Ash’s accident. But I would not have here a complete account of the situation if I did not report these incidents as well.  And I did not come across an official analysis of the crash nor heard of the results of the investigation. In other words, everything is possible and multiple reasons could be related to what caused Ash’s death. When I come across the results of the investigation, I will make sure it is posted here.

In the end the specifics will not be relevant in the context of the larger scheme of things, except for the lessons to be drawn from it. What really counts is that the worldwide community of motorcycle riders lost one of our leaders, an excellent journalist, enthusiast and a fellow rider. Someone that was liked by many. One lesson we already know when we learn that probably the most careful of all riders in the event crashed and was killed in the crash, and not at high speeds either, is that it can happen to any of us at any time. We should always be aware of the risks involved in our sport or hobby. Second, there may be a lesson here for the situations for when we ride too close to each other and something happens with the rider in front of us, making the situation more critical if because of close proximity we can’t avoid a crash. Third, well, who knows, these machines are powerful and technologically advanced. There is always something that can go wrong. Finally, we should always ride our own ride. Let us all be careful out there and enjoy our sport!

To end this post, I really like this account from Shawn, the Raw-Hide rider who was in South Africa for the press launch, he sums things up about Kevin Ash very nicely:

I have received a number of questions regarding the tragic death of Motorcycle Journalist Kevin Ash in South Africa, posted on his Facebook account. I did not know him personally, but have come to know that Kevin was a well known and loved member of the motorcycle industry. The people close to Kevin have described him as charismatically friendly, witty, and wise. Suffice to say, the feeling of loss is palpable. I am unable to find words that will appropriately describe my heartbreak for Kevin, his friends, colleagues, wife and 3 daughters. I am certain the how’s and why’s in regards to the accident are forthcoming. In the meantime, please raise a glass in homage to a great man. He will be missed.

Good on you Shawn! I didn’t know much about Kevin Ash’s personal life either. Up to now I had only paid attention to what he wrote in his excellent motorcycle reviews and technical reports. Since then I’ve learned Kevin leaves behind a wife and three daughters. I can not imagine their pain, except to think it must be enormous and at this point insurmountable. The best writing about all writings about Kevin Ash was from his older daughter:

He loved his job. But he loved his family more.

In case you are someone from his family or a close friend and you come across this post, I offer here my deepest sympathies to you.

Rest in Peace Kevin Ash.

Edit (December 21, 2013)

I’ve been researching the web, looking for a report from BMW or others regarding conclusions from examining this high profile accident and its causes.  I believe such report, if it exists, it will never be available to the public. It was an accident with more than one potential contributing cause, bringing layers of liability, including the important involvement of another rider in the accident.  Although a triggering point could be assigned to a technical fault on the motorcycle, even that technical fault could involve more than one issue. And these separate issues could be dependent on a dynamic interaction among themselves and a very particular riding circumstance, potentially difficult to be replicated, making it difficult to be identified as once isolated technical issue.

Irrespective of that, and aside from some evolutionary modifications to the 2013 model, the model year 2014 of the liquid cooled BMW R1200 GS is made available with a set of modifications (from a BMW press release, dated 7/11/2013):

2014 BMW R 1200 GS.

As of model year 2014 the BMW R 1200 GS will be available with the following altered standard features and options:

  • The two modes “Rain” and “Road”, along with ASC as standard.
  • New “Pro” mode with three additional riding modes “Dynamic”, “Enduro” and “Enduro Pro”, including harmonised ASC and ABS as an optional extra.
  • Dynamic ESA can now be ordered separately, independently of the riding modes.
  • The existing five modes are no longer available as an optional extra.
  • Steering damper as standard.
  • White-coated coil springs with the option Dynamic ESA
  • Altered features for the package options “Dynamic Performance”, “Comfort” and “Touring”.
  • All options can now be ordered separately except for the on-board computer Pro.

Whether BMW modified the riding modes software and added the steering damper to correct a 2013 R1200GS actual technical problem that could be associated with a steering wobble that could lead to a tank slapper as it has been speculated by some, and experienced by a few, or whether it was to simply quench the perception of a technical problem as has been speculated, we will never know, I suppose.

I tested this motorcycle and thought it is an excellent motorcycle, and that it continues to be the best of the large adventure motorcycles available in the market, a vast improvement from the previous models of this motorcycle, I believe.  I did not buy it because I don’t get along with large boxer motors. That personal issue of mine doesn’t preclude me from recognizing how well built this bike is and how great it is for adventure riding.  If it weren’t from how boxer motors feel to me,  I would certainly buy this motorcycle. And if I bought the 2013 model year, I would install a steering damper, as a just in case safety feature.  I would favor the 2014 model which comes with a factory installed steering damper and other software changes that could be critical improvements to this great motorcycle.

Posted in Random Thoughts | Tagged , | 21 Comments

122112, Not the End of Times

Posted on December 21, 2012 by cesardagord

Before I catch up with my normal operations in this blog, and who knows what can be considered normal operations, I had to take care of two more job assignments before year’s end: Honolulu and Olympia. But most importantly, I had to take care of the end of the world business.

Sunset in Waikiki. December 11, 2012

Sunset in Waikiki. December 11, 2012

As a consultant I always think I get more out of a job than what I bring to it. Sometimes the learning is part of the particular job itself, sometimes it is what I learn from others along the way during my travels including people not related to the task at hand. I particularly like to learn about different cultures and their perceptions of the world or simply what are their day to day tasks. Even the watered-down Hawaiian culture counts. If it helps me be a better person at the end of the day, great. And in that case it eventually becomes part of what I consider my job experience. Personal growth matters and I have lots of room to grow in this department.

Happy Hour and Sunset at the Halekulani - House-without-a-key. Waikiki, December 12, 2012

Happy Hour and Sunset at the Halekulani (House-without-a-key). Waikiki, December 12, 2012

Sometimes the learning has a lot to do with helping me see richness out of what I could one day had seen as something ordinary.  Or it could be about making sense out of what could be interpreted as chaos.  If traveling means going out of the comfort zone then it becomes that nudge that brings opportunities for learning. In the end it can simply be about renewing or raising my awareness overall for what it means to be alive. How good that is and how thankful I am for that.

Waikiki. Honolulu, December 15th, 2012

Waikiki. Honolulu, December 15th, 2012

And no better time to talk about life than today when we all awoke to the realization we are still alive on one more of the many dates predicted to be the end of times. Are we all here still? And what a beautiful set of numbers it is: 12/21/12.  The Mayans didn’t see this coming in such a nicely arranged set of numbers. They did not predict the end either.

Waikiki views from soon after take off from HNL. December 16th, 2012

Waikiki views from soon after take off from HNL. December 16th, 2012

Flying involves risk and flying is somewhat a part of my job. Is it less of a risk than riding a motorcycle? I don’t have an answer to that question, but overall I like it better when I’m in control of a situation (even if that is a lie). That is, I feel it is safer to ride my motorcycles than to fly on commercial airlines. Even if riding statistically speaking involves more risk. Knowing the risk means I’m never oblivious to it. But I’m never stressed about it either. It is just about being ready for the unknown. On my flight from San Francisco to Eugene on Sunday evening (12/16) the winds were really strong in the valley. Just past 1:00 am (now Monday), when we were supposed to land in Eugene, the captain of the Skywest regional jet I was flying, after circling for a while around the Eugene airport and after one botched attempt to land diverted us to Portland (we were about 50 ft from the ground, on a very very bumpy descent when he changed his mind and took off again). All other flights in that same evening landed safely in Eugene. I guess the pilots on our flight thought it better not to risk circling one more time and run out of fuel eliminating the option for the alternate airport. Maybe that was a vital decision. This is a good time for me to disclose my approach to life: life is eternal, for as long as I’m alive. After landing in Portland at 2:00 am I spent the night at the airport waiting for United to provide alternatives for us to be brought back to Eugene. I flew to Eugene the next morning. So my learning can continue.

Landing in Eugene, December 17th, 2012

Landing in Eugene, December 17th, 2012

Landing during daylight hours gave me a chance for a birds eye view of the crossing of Praire Rd. and Hwy. 99, where Praire Rd becomes Hwy. 36 (Low Pass Road), which is my gateway to my Pacific Loop. How long till I will be riding those roads again? And what bike will it be? [But I digress from the subject at hand – each thing at its time.] After half a day of rest I found myself flying again, this time towards Seattle.

Seattle Airport, December 18th, 2012

Seattle Airport, December 18th, 2012

At the SeaTac airport I rented a car and drove south towards Olympia. First snowy day of this winter season for me.

I-5 South of Tacoma, towards Olympia, Dec 18th, 2012

I-5 South of Tacoma, towards Olympia, Dec 18th, 2012

A few years ago on one of my trips to Olympia I had dinner at an Italian restaurant called Basilico, right in the old downtown area of Olympia. It is one of those small restaurants where the owners are either in the kitchen or serving you. Or both, as is the case for this restaurant. An authentic Italian restaurant serving freshly made pasta. I was so glad when I found out they do not use ricotta cheese on their lasagna. That is proof of authenticity for an Italian restaurant. If they use ricotta on their lasagna, they are something else, but not Italian. On that first visit to Basilico in Olympia, years ago, I met the owners, one of them Italian, the other Italian-Brazilian like me. Each time I return to that restaurant I get to talk more with them and get to know more about the owners and we have a great time talking about several topics, from soccer to life in Italy to life in the Pacific Northwest.

Downtown Olympia. December 18th, 2012

Downtown Olympia. December 18th, 2012

This time was not different. I had been a year since the last time I was there but we continued the conversation right from where we had ended it the last time. And from there we went further and eventually talked about life. I mentioned motorcycles and how riding can be viewed as a form of meditation and the conversation escalated from there. We talked about Hinduism and Buddhism, two of the oldest religions there are. It is incredible how old these religions are and how in so many aspects they can be viewed as contemporaneous evolved religions when compared to the Judeo-Christian religions that dominate our political discourse of today. I’m no expert on religion, but I’m willing to learn more about these older religions, about self improvement, and improved awareness and consciousness of our role in nature and in society. Although I know a thing or two about these religions, I had forgotten about their existence. Having that conversation at this time of my life was a new learning experience to me. I left Olympia with more in my bags than what I had when I arrived.

Downtown Olympia, December 19th, 2012

Downtown Olympia, December 19th, 2012

There are many things we as humans and as a society need to improve.  How can some of us live with such primitive beliefs as thinking the world will end today because it is the end of the Mayan calendar?  We can do so much better as a civilization and at this point of our civilization history.

But yes, although I recognize the need for improvements in my life, I have to say these improvements will not mean I will get rid of my motorcycles. Major flaw, right?  I’m too tied to that part of the materialistic world. I thought about some explanations that would justify the three bikes I currently have (well, two at this point), but they are all no more than lame excuses. For example, I can’t reasonably claim I need three motorcycles to reach a meditative state that I could claim would eventually help me with my life improvements. No, I can’t claim that. But I genuinely look forward to learning more from you and from all others who I will encounter on my day to day ventures. As long as it doesn’t involve selling my motorcycles.

And since we are talking about all of this today, Happy Solstice! It is a good time for renewal. You can read my thoughts about it on my last year’s post entitled “Happy New Year“. And here goes my Happy New Year to you as well, in true pagan tradition! I’m looking forward to longer days ahead and many many motorcycle trips that will take place in this new year that starts fresh when days get gradually longer. I hope our paths may cross on the trail, the road, or in our story telling.

Posted in The Book | 4 Comments

Have I lost the thread of the story?

Posted on December 8, 2012 by cesardagord

If you are one of the three or four (on a good day) regular readers of this blog you must be wondering where have I been and why have I been so quiet. Has he dropped off of this earth? Well, not really, but I’ve been to a far away corner of the earth and back and then to another corner and back again. Except for a very short and significant ride in terms of motorcycle decisions, I have not ridden at all since my last post.

Last ride of the year, so far. October 2012

Last ride of the year, so far. October 2012

I went on a series of work related trips. From Eugene to Chapel Hill and from there to Hawaii and then to the Majuro Atoll, one of the most threatened places from global warming and the raising sea level. The Majuro Atoll is where the capital of the Republic of the Marshall Islands resides.

Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. November 8, 2012

Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. November 8, 2012

It literally is a narrow 30 mile long ringlike coral island and reef that does not completely enclose a lagoon. Quite a place to visit, and I will prepare a post only about it. From there I went to Guam, in the Marianna Islands area, before coming back home.

Tumon Bay, in Guam. November 10th, 2012

Tumon Bay, in Guam. November 10th, 2012

A few days later I went to my home town of Porto Alegre where I stayed for several days before once again returning to the Eugene headquarters.

Porto Alegre, November 22, 2012

Porto Alegre, November 22, 2012

I’ve been back to Eugene for a few days now.  On a next post I will tell you about the one important decision that will change 1/3 of my motorcycle stable. Actually phase 1 of this change has been implemented already and phase 2 will be completed at some point in March or April. I will prepare a post about the Republic of the Marshall Islands and I have some other post ideas brewing. Meanwhile I just wanted to say hello! Hope everyone is doing fine and enjoying fall as much as a motorcycle rider in the Pacific Northwest can.

Posted in The Book | 10 Comments

Canon G1 X and a trip to Lincoln City

Posted on October 13, 2012 by cesardagord

I’ve been looking for an upgrade to the Canon S-95. My ideal camera has the S-95 size, an about 5x zoom lens, and an APS-C sensor, such as what we see on DSLRs. But I know that is virtually impossible without some compromise in size. That’s why the S 95 was my camera of choice at the time I bought it – smaller than the Canon G-series cameras but with their same sensor (1/1.7″) size.  The 1/1.7″ sensor is far smaller than a DSLR sensor, but larger than the regular point and shoot cameras, allowing for some quality on low light shooting on a very compact package.

But now I was searching for better quality and I’m willing to compromise some on size. Canon has the EOS M (or it will soon be available) with a sensor that is of APS-C size (Canon DSLR size).  But what people see as an advantage (having interchangeable lenses), to me it defeats the purpose of portability. The EOS M camera and lens size is fine when with the 22 mm lens (pancake style), it may even fit in a large jacket pocket. It makes it smaller than the most common Micro Four-Third interchangeable lens cameras. But when you want the versatility of a zoom lens,  and attach the available zoom lens to it (what is available now is a 18mm to 55mm equivalent I believe), the camera and lens becomes the size of those four-third cameras, almost at the size of entry level DSLRs from Canon and Nikon.

Then I heard of the G1 X and read some more about it. The sensor is about 90% of a DSLR sensor (see comparison chart above). Larger than the sensor on the Four Third Cameras, larger than the sensor on Nikon’s 1-series cameras.  And it comes with a zoom lens, fixed, but with enough flexibility. On the other hand, the lens is bit on the slow size, does not offer a decent macro capability and focus can be an issue.

The Canon G1 X and the Canon S95, side by side.

There is a compromise on size as well. Although on the picture above it seems relatively small, it is not. Overall it is a tad smaller than the Four Third cameras, perhaps the same size as Nikon 1-series.  It won’t fit in my pocket. That has been my main issue when purchasing a camera: it has to fit in my pocket! So the G1 X did not make the S95 obsolete on general use. I still use it and will continue to use it until something else comes in the market, and I’m sure something eventually will happen.  But for motorcycle riding the G1 X works without the need of resorting to tank bags, which is something I want to stay away from acquiring.  But it didn’t fit the Otter box I had in the Triumph Tiger where I could fit the camera, the telephone and my wallet. So I went back to the non-water proof el-cheapo bag I originally had fitted on this bike’s handlebars. It works perfectly until I find an appropriate Pelican or Otter water proof box for the handlebars.

Canon G1 X barely fits in the old camera bag on the handlebar.

In the end, will it produce better results? I will let you be the judge. Of course, you will have to be able to filter out of this equation my inabilities in taking photos. And on top of that, I’m still learning about this camera. But I see a large gain in photo quality with the G1 X. And to test it properly, it goes on its maiden motorcycle voyage. We had rented a house at the beach and I would travel by motorcycle, of course, enjoying what could be the last of dry weekends for this year (this trip took place October 6th, 2012), and connect with the rest of the gang at the beach.

Getting ready for another trip to the coast. October 6th, 2012

First stop was to check the grapes in Benton County. Harvested! I was disappointed to have missed the action. Perhaps next year I could join the grape pickers and be a small part of the wine making process.

The 2012 harvest has been completed, the 2012 wine-making process has started. October 6th, 2012

While passing through Monroe I saw some kids selling freshly picked apples. Whenever I see kids putting an effort on something like this I feel like I should contribute. I bought half a dozen apples, 5 cents each. Would have bought more if I had the space. And these apples were good.

Kids selling freshly picked apples in Monroe, Oregon.

I stopped by the Philomath non-ethanol gas station and continued on 34 towards Waldport. Why use the most direct route if I could take the longer and most fun route, right? I made a quick stop at Seal Rock.

Seal Rock, Oregon. October 6th, 2012

I still need to figure out depth of field and manual focus. And I’m not sure you can see the quality difference when basing this on the manipulation made by the WordPress (this blog’s host site) photo compression process.  I can definitely see it on my moderate definition Samsung monitor.

The Triumph Tiger at the Seal Rock, Oregon. October 6th, 2012

I made it to the house, this is the second time we rented this same house this year. As the sunset approached I left the comfort of the porch, the great conversation, snacks and cold beer and walked to the beach with the G1 X.

The porch at the house in Lincoln City at sunset. October 6th, 2012

And here is where I started to notice the best results from the G1 X camera, and realized how much an upgrade it is from the S95.  The low light results are a major step up. Same with the details on landscape photos.

Beach at Roads End, in Lincoln City, Oregon. October 6th, 2012

The setting sun.

Another shot.

I took several other shots, all of them, when looking at the photos on the computer screen, show a substantial improvement on quality from what the S95 delivers.  Both the S95 and the G1 X cameras have the ability to shoot in RAW format. I have not explored what I can get from the RAW on either camera.

The next day, on the way back to Eugene I made a quick stop in Depoe Bay.

Depoe Bay, Oregon. October 7th, 2012

Further south, documenting the ocean’s advances on the Oregon coast.

The Oregon Coast. October 7th, 2012

Fisherman busy at the Alsea Bay in Waldport.

Fishermen at Alsea Bay, Waldport, October 7th, 2012

The clouds and fog approaching the coast in the mid afternoon.

View of the approaching clouds and fog from Heceta Lighthouse lookout. October 7th, 2012

Checking the Heceta Lighthouse renovation. They must be close to completing the job.

The Heceta Lighthouse and the forming low clouds. October 7th, 2012

I had filled the motorcycle tank in Philomath, with non-ethanol gasoline. And I’ve made a habit of filling again with non-ethanol fuel on my way home.  My motorcycles have practically no ethanol on their tanks. Does it really matter? I never had a problem with ethanol in the gasoline, even before I found the non-ethanol gas stations. But we hear lots of complaints about ethanol complicating fuel injection systems, specially with stored bikes in the winter, and also for being responsible for fuel tank expansions in the Ducatis. So I always look for the non-ethanol variety. But this time I almost payed dearly for it. The “miles to empty” had gone down to single digit and soon after it indicated I had 3 miles to go it went blank, showing three dashes. But I was just arriving at the gas station at that time. No more gasoline left?  The gas gauge had one bar left.

Fuel tank almost empty.

Although I made it to the Low Pass gas station I knew I could not go too far from that. I had never stopped by here past 4pm, and although the sign said “open” no one came out to greet me and operate the pump.

Low Pass Station and Market. October 7th, 2012

I walked towards the other building, looking for someone that could help me. I came across someone who told me that he had just been there and the person who operates the pump was inside.  I had not tried the door, it all looked dark inside the gas station. So I went back there, the door was open and I found her, she had been on the back and was just coming back to the cashier. Great! I told her of my predicament, and that I feared running out of gasoline. She told me not to worry, they are open every Sunday until 7pm, and are committed to it. Great to know this for future trips.  In the end, I could only fill the tank with just under 4.6 gallons. Tank size is supposed to be 5 gallons. But we all know manufacturers’ specs are more of a technical number than an actual figure, so I don’t quite know how much gasoline I still had in the tank. In theory, 0.4 gallons. The bike had run 231 miles and I got 4.55 gallons, 50.8 MPG. The 231 figure must be the actual distance the bike can run on one full tank. It is not a bad number. Now with a fuel tank filled with practically only non-ethanol gasoline, 26 miles later I was home.

Back home. October 7th, 2012

Total miles for this trip was 305 miles (491 km).  Who knows when I will be riding again. That certainty of good weather is no longer going to be here as we get deeper in fall weather. The rains are supposed to start soon (and they have actually started as I write this).

View of the I-5 Bridge from the McMenamins restaurant in Vancouver, Washington

I spent this week in Portland and had a chance to experience the G1 X a little bit more.  No questions about the quality of the camera. I can really see the difference. But I also know that outside of the bike, because it doesn’t fit in my pocket, I have to make a real commitment to have it with me, carrying an extra bag or something. It definitely isn’t a long term solution. I will be looking for something with better portability to carry with me at all times. Meanwhile the S95 has not become a back up camera. It remains my day to day, all occasions camera (I always have a camera with me).

Thanks for reading.

Posted in Product Reviews, Riding the Triumph | 4 Comments

What’s new for 2013 in the Moto World – Edited 10/5/12

Posted on October 2, 2012 by cesardagord

The 2012 edition of the Intermot, the motorcycle show in Cologne, Germany, brought some news about the 2013 motorcycle models but not all of what will happen in 2013 transpired. It looks like some manufacturers will wait for the 2012 EICMA in November in Milan, Italy, to unveil their new 2013 models.

From my Italian contacts I got a preview of what is new from Ducati, beyond the 2013 Multistrada 1200.  And we have been hearing rumors from the BMW and the KTM camps as well, besides Suzuki and others. There should be a few good surprises along the way. I’m mostly talking here about the bikes in the Enduro or adventure range – that is the slice of the market to which I pay the most attention.

Ducati

I have my eyes set of the new 2013 Multistrada 1200. Ducati has already released official information on this bike.  It is an evolution of the 2010-2012 models, a substantial evolution, I would say. Not much on the body, but mostly on the motor, suspension, ABS system, and electronics.  The fairing has increased in size, the headlights changed slightly and have LED low beams.  But the most important changes are in the motor and the suspension.

Ducati issued official photo for the 2013 Multistrada 1200

Ducati is calling this motor a second generation of the 1200 Testastretta 11 degrees motor. Or Testastretta DS.  Changes made it more useable and smoother on the lower RPMs, there is a small increase on torque, about 5%, and an increase in fuel economy, a 10% improvement at 60 MPH. These changes are small, but major, in my opinion, because it took care of that infamous lumpy cycle or hesitation or whatever people called what made those bikes difficult to ride at constant speeds at low speeds. To achieve this, there was a change on the angle by which fuel is injected in the motor, an extra spark plug was added per cylinder, now it is a dual-spark, hence the DS (dual-spark is not new in the industry, nor at Ducati. My 2006 BMW Dakar was a dual-spark motor).

Revised Injection Angle.

These changes, combined with a secondary air system, optimize fuel burning reducing the low RPM cycle to cycle variation that caused that hesitation when cruising at low RPMs. Actual reports from journalists who already turned a wheel on this new bike indicate that the infamous “lumpy” factor is finally fixed.

Secondary Air System

Another change is in the model line up. The “S” model is now the Pikes Peak. And a GranTurismo model was added to the line up.   The Pikes Peak gets the look of the official Pikes Peak racer, an accurate replica, they say, of the bike that won the 2012 Pikes Peak race. It comes with assorted carbon pieces, the very light forged Marchesini wheels, and Termignoni exhaust.  It is a beauty and… I have my eyes set on this bike.

2013 Multistrada 1200 Pikes Peak. Official Ducati photo.

The Grandturismo (will it be called a GT?) comes with engine protection bars, a taller windscreen and larger bags, among other amenities that make it a better tourer.

2013 Multistrada 1200 Granturismo. Photo from Ducati press release.

And the Touring model.

2013 Multistrada 1200 Touring. Photo courtesy Ducati

The most important change, and most controversial, and you may have observed it already just by looking at the photos, is the absence of the traditional golden forks. Yes, Ohlins is gone.  In its place, progressive Sachs springs associated with the Skyhook semi-active suspension system. In the Italian forums, this has been a controversial discussion item for weeks already. Ohlins is dear to many motorcyclists, despite of its high price (or because of it) and its reliability problems.  And if that is not enough, only one other motorcycle has a semi-active suspension similar to this, the just released BMW HP4. The Skyhook system is an off the shelf product and has been in Maserati cars for more than 10 years already. But for the motorcycle consumer’s perspective it is an unknown and untested technology. This controversy will last a while, the Ohlins widowers are crying foul already. They already miss the bling factor of the Ohlins, which is big in many sectors of the moto world, but most importantly, in the future as more bikes move towards semi-active suspension systems, we may look back and talk about missing the intuitive feel of passive suspensions.

Moto-journalists who have ridden the new bikes with the Skyhook suspension have made positive and negative comments, mostly positive at this point, some are not sure about what to say. For now I’m open to see what this technology will bring in terms of rider comfort, when comfort is wanted. I’m keeping a positive outlook on this new suspension. For one thing, the Multistrada may be targeting an older audience, making space for the younger audience to move to a smaller, entry level Multistrada (yes, that is part of the news from the Ducati camp!).

Another evolutionary change on this bike has been done to the ABS system, now operating in a two channel system. Also, changes to the system allows for the rider to change settings and allow front and rear brake action to be connected (linked) at different levels of connection according to the riding mode selected and level of ABS intervention desired.  For example, on touring mode you may have a connected level actuation, where pressing only the front brake will actuate also the rear brake.  But on Enduro mode the ABS will be present on front brake actuation, but will not intervene on rear wheel actuation, so the rider may be able to lock the rear wheel.

But the 2013 Multistrada news are old news, as these rumors have been discussed at length in the Italian forums already for a while and Ducati’s official release of these bikes took place more than a week ago.  What is really new today for Ducati and we will need to wait for EICMA to see them is what my Italian sources told me a few days ago. They say three new bikes will be out soon and are based on a new, water-cooled 90 degree V-twin 820cc motor, 115HP (unconfirmed, I also heard of 113 HP), torque at 66 ft/lbs, pre-set performance maps (just don’t know if it will be a four or three level map – might depend on the model) and other electronic aids. And this 90 degree V-twin motor may be sitting at a different angle within the frame as well.

The motor is an evolution of the 848 Testratretta, like the one on my Streetfighter.  And the other interesting part of this is to find out what these three new bikes will be. The rumors point to an entry level Multistrada, a HyperMotard (an obvious element here is that Ducati did not unveil 2013 Hypermotard bikes in Intermot, they only had the 2012 models there!), and a yet to be named Roadster, which could slot in the middle of the 20 year old Monster and the aggressive Streetfighter, or who knows, eventually replace one of the two, or could it be a smaller entry level Diavel style bike. We will need to wait for EICMA in november 13 to 18 in Milan to know more about this, about a month from now. It will be an interesting situation at Ducati, with the current line up of Hypers, Monsters and Streetfighters. All for the better, I would say, but Ducati could as well be in the process of cleaning up their motorcycle line up.

BMW

And BMW, well, people have been talking about the water-cooled upgrade to the old oil-cooled 1200 for a while now. The new 1200 GS, it turns out, is not 100% water-cooled. BMW engineers channeled water cooling only to the most critical areas of the motor where water cooling could be more effective. Several parts of the motor remain essentially air cooled. It seems like a strategic way to keep the weight of the motor down and the motor area smaller. Horse power has increased to 125 BHP.

The (semi) water-cooled 2013 BMW R1200GS (Official BMW Photo)

Although many changes were made to this bike, the essential GS look remains. Perhaps a bit more angular, with design features that match the already released 2013 F800GS. To be honest, I don’t quite like that beak and headlight assembly. It is not quite the transformer look. Not that I like the transformer look. But I appreciated that more industrial of the former 1200 GS.  But I like the small changes made to the F800GS.

Aside from the motor, major changes took place on the electronics, ABS, riding modes and electronic semi-active suspension, perhaps not unlike what Ducati has in the 2013 1200 Multistrada.

The 1200 GS is the most popular bike in the BMW line up, it is the most popular motorcycle in the entire “Adventure” segment.  I’m certain it will remain there with these changes that were not too radical. I don’t think the typical, more traditional, BMW R1200GS owners and potential owners wanted to see radical changes on this bike. Like we say in soccer, you don’t make changes in the line up of a winning team. Except perhaps you need to keep up with the evolutionary technological aspects that keep the bike competitive with the others in the segment. Everyone, including even KTM, are adding electronic aides to their Adventure bikes. And what about the F800GS? Is the 2013 model that are on dealer floors today all we are going to see from this mid-range bikes or does BMW has something up their sleeve?

KTM

The 2013 line up sees KTM raising the bar on their Adventure and Adventure R models. Motor displacement is now 1190 cc, with 150 BHP.  We are talking here Ducati Multistrada levels! But on a more off-road package, mind you, especially on the Adventure R model. This bike will also have traction control and selectable riding modes. You see, even KT makes an effort and blends in with the crowds in this sector, while remaining more off-road oriented than others, it seems.  I hear this model won’t be available in the United States until sometime next year, as a 2014 model.

2013 KTM 1190 Adventure

Suzuki

A concept for the V-Strom 1000 was available in Cologne. The concept shows a trend not unlike what we’ve seen in the DL 650 that moves towards a more off-pavement oriented idea.  I say “idea” because these bikes will probably remain more pavement oriented than the other bikes of these segment.

V-Strom 1000 Concept Bike

Triumph

Triumph released their 1200 Tiger Explorer XC. This bike has already been officially presented.

2013 Triumph Explorer XC

It certainly is a contender in this segment.

What about the others?

I don’t know if Yamaha made any changes to the Super Ténéré. It is not like these bikes are too popular with the public in the United States, despite its competitive price, and considering the equipment that is included in this price. It is a mystery. Certainly it is not related to the quality of that bike, as it has already a great proven record. And it has the Ténéré name to go with it.

Moto Guzzi made a few changes to its Stelvio line up last year, with the introduction of the NTX and the larger gasoline tank. It has not been aggressively marketed in the U.S. but it has a strong, although relatively small, group of followers. It is a great looking bike.

Other than that, I guess we will have to wait for EICMA in November for more news on all motorcycles in the Adventure segment!

Posted in Bike Reviews | 10 Comments

Triumph Tiger 800 XC, Alsea Falls, the Coast…

Posted on October 2, 2012 by cesardagord

You must be thinking how these stories have become boring and repetitive. And you are right. Sunday after Sunday there I go to the coast or some other place, showing off Oregon’s beautiful landscapes and most of the times spoiling the view with a motorcycle. Next year, I’m thinking about more action report. For now be happy with the same old, same old. I rolled the Triumph out of the garage today instead of the Yellow Ducati.  By the way, that Ducati is soon to become a collector’s item. But you did not hear anything from me on this matter… yet.

The Triumph Tiger 800 XC. September 30th, 2012

Today I was going to ride with Lisa, another local rider. When she arrived and upon checking her motorcycle’s tires we realized maybe it was not such a good idea to take her bike on a 200 mile journey. The tires look good still, but not quite. So why not try the Tiger 2-up? I’ve traveled with a passenger on my XL 250 many times. Those were good times, when I barely had money for gas, the bike was small, but everything seemed then as nice as today. And I also traveled with a passenger on my Dakar with the 650 cc single cylinder motor which has exactly half the horse power of the Tiger. The Tiger is very likely to handle it well. And on this Triumph you have the luxury and safety of adjusting rear suspension pre-load and damping.

Pre-load Adjustment “clicker” on the Tiger 800 XC

Still, we decided to go for a trial run first, we rode the 13 miles to Junction City to see how things worked. I checked with Lisa and she said all was good.  The first couple of miles I was extra careful and by the time we got to the gas station in Junction City things were looking good. Except whenever we stopped. This bike is tall and I don’t flat foot it. At one point I almost had to make another entry on my book of stupendous embarrassments. And I have quite a long list of those, mind you, but that is another story. What happened is that at some point we were stopped, getting ready to merge on Hwy 101 after one of our stops, and all of a sudden the bike was tipping to the right and it went very, but very close to the point of no return. I channeled all my soccer playing strength to keep my right leg firm on the ground and with the upper body and arms, and a grunt like that of a heavy weight lifter on his final attempt for a gold medal, I pulled the handle bars back up. What a relief. After that I was over careful when stopping this beast. When in motion, however, this bike was surprisingly good with a passenger, which probably was helped by Lisa being a rider herself, and a great passenger.  But I’m getting ahead of myself here.

Leaving Junction City we took 99W and turned west towards Alpine Rd just north of Monroe and from there to the Alsea Falls where me made a stop. Remember when I was in the Alsea Falls in June?

Alsea Falls in June, 2012

And below, this was now at the end of September.  Major change in water volume, of course.

Alsea Falls, September 2012

Still beautiful and it was nice to be there. We went for a short hike along the river, climbing rocks and balancing on logs over the water and that kind of fun stuff. A family was doing the same thing and they had a small poodle with them. All of the family, the parents and the kids, went over a log to cross a part of the river and the poor dog didn’t have the courage to do it and stayed behind. The incredibly smart little dog came to me and begged me for a lift by climbing on my leg. I had no choice against such a compelling request, I picked him up and balancing over the log the best I could I took him across the water,  reuniting him with his family. Does doing that for a dog count as a good deed?

A Balancing Beam Gymnast and the log in question. Alsea Falls, September 2012

One more picture of the falls.

Alsea Falls, September 30, 2012

From here we got on 34 towards Waldport. By now I was feeling the bike a lot more balanced and it was riding quite nicely.  I started to delay the turn entry-points to speed up the turn in and the bike did just fine. Well, a lot of it has to do with the passenger, of course. It makes a difference having someone who knows what they are doing while seating there on the back. The bike should get some credit as well. We continued on and made a quick stop in Waldport. Check the bridge over the Alsea river on the background.

The Tiger in Waldport, Oregon. September 30, 2012

When leaving this area is where I almost dropped the bike with both of us on board…  2-up, almost 2-down.  Continuing south we had lunch at the same restaurant I’ve been to many times already.  I need someone to help me kick this habit. Or maybe not.

That same restaurant. In that same town.

And another stop, this time to get a sea level view of the Heceta Light.

Heceta Light as viewed from the sea level.

It is behind the trees from this view and still under renovation.

The Heceta Light, Under Renovation. September 30, 2012

We checked a cave close to the water line. You can see another Hwy 101 bridge from the cave.  On some of my posts from last year I talk about these bridges. They are historical for their Art Deco design but also because the were built during a span of time that made them strategic as part of the Post WWI recovery in Oregon, the Roosevelt Military Highway (which became Hwy 101), and later the recovery act from the 1930’s depression. And now they are a known touristic attraction along Hwy 101 on the Oregon Coast. For more information on Oregon’s Highway 101 bridges, go here.

Caves and the Hwy 101 Bridge by the Heceta Light. September 2012

The entrance to the cave.  Check those trees, hanging strong on the side of the rock, surviving strong winds and storms.

The entrance to the cave.

And that was it. We traveled back home via Hwy 36.  I had a lot of fun riding the bike but always on the very safe side of things and being as smooth as possible. It was a bit windy on the last stretch home when already on the flat areas of the valley. Still the bike tracked fine just need some leaning adjustments into the side wind as needed. Overall, the Triumph did very well, the passenger seat could be better, though.  I thought the problem would be the down slope, instead it probably is the shape and hardness. For people who plan on taking passengers on long trips I would recommend trying the gel seat option.

Back Home. September 30th, 2012.

185 miles, 298 km, it was a great day overall, with very enjoyable company, a beautiful early fall day, a great motorcycle, and nice roads and riding. But wait, there is more! The icing on the cake is that in the evening I got to visit and have dinner with two motorcycle riders who I met here last year, who are from Switzerland and were riding through the area after a good tour to Colorado, Utah and California.  It was just another perfect day.

Thank you for reading.

Posted in Riding the Triumph | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The Ducati goes to Yachats on the Oregon Coast. Again!

Posted on September 24, 2012 by cesardagord

One of the fellow motorcycle bloggers in the Pacific Northwest, or maybe he would say Pacific Southwest since he is in beautiful British Columbia just north of the border, invited me for lunch on the coast. Bob and his wife Yvonne were traveling by car and were in this area Sunday, and suggested the Ona Restaurant in Yachats as a meeting place this Sunday at 12-noon.

Getting ready to go. September 23, 2012

I responded that if the weather was good I would be there. And Sunday came and the day was just beautiful. A perfect riding day, not too hot, not too cold, with temperatures below 60 degrees in the morning and never past 75 i the afternoon. I took my customary pacific loop route, the no-thrills version, no detours added to it, just stops for pictures along the way, of course. First stop, let’s check the corn.

Not ready yet. September 23rd, 2012

Later this same Sunday, when I was back in Eugene, I had a nice dinner and had some corn: I will let you in a secret here, just don’t tell too many people, but fresh corn from farmers in this area is so good that adding salt and butter spoils the experience. Next stop, let’s check the grapes. Same vineyard from last week, one week’s progress is noticeable.

A few more weeks and the wine making will start. September 23rd, 2012

Oregon wines are worth a try if you haven’t yet. If things keep going the way they are, I will be interested in tasting the 2012 wines a couple of years from now.

A few more weeks. September 23rd, 2012

Along the valley, more signs that we are in the first days of the fall. It reminds me that my parents’ wedding anniversary is on one of these days. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! How many years is that?

Fall is taking over. September 23rd, 2012

One picture without the bike, so you can really see what I’m talking about.

Fall colors in the valley. September 23rd, 2012

I stopped for gasoline in Philomath, at the non-ethanol gas station and from there I got onto Hwy 34. Now, if you ride motorcycles and don’t know this region, you should know this road has a nice set of 2nd gear curves on the way to the Alsea summit (where the road to Mary’s Peak starts).

Perfect curves. September 23rd, 2012

A quick stop for a view of the Alsea River, just before getting to Waldport.
It looks better with higher tides when the ocean dams the river water, but this will do for now.

Alsea River, near Waldport, Oregon. September 23rd, 2012

From here I got to the Ona Restaurant in Yachats in about 10 minutes. It was easy to locate Bob and Yvonne, as they were seating outside and he had his camera pointed at me as I rode into the parking area. I felt like I was a celebrity.

Parked at the Ona Restaurant, later moved the bike to the side of Bob’s red Corvette. September 23rd, 2012

That was the first time I met Bob and Yvonne. We had a great meal, with a pleasant conversation. Bob and Yvonne had driven their Corvette from British Columbia and this area between Yachats and Florence was as far south as they were going to be on this trip. And with this weather, with the top down on a nice Corvette, this must as good as riding. After the meal we went out for a photo shoot in front of the restaurant.

The Ducati side by side with Bob’s nice red Corvette. September 23rd, 2012

Here are the three of us. All looking good, happy and well fed. Thanks for the meal Bob and Yvonne, food was really good and the company better!

Looking good! September 23rd, 2012

We parted ways, and still saw each other a few more times on the road, as we crossed each other at a couple of photo stops along the way to Florence.

It is difficult to go wrong when taking photos here. September 23rd, 2012

It was a particularly good day on the coast, this is the time of the year when the coast is perhaps the best in terms of weather all year long.  The old Heceta Lighthouse, still under re-building work. It will look great again soon.

Heceta Lighthouse, Oregon Coast, September 23rd, 2012

And one with the bike, of course.

The Yellow Ducati and the Heceta Lighthouse. September 23rd, 2012

I had to be home by 4pm… so from the Heceta Lighthouse I just got on the bike and rode with only one stop for more non-ethanol fuel in Cheshire. The yellow bike brought me home once again. This thing is a blast to ride and each time I ride it I like it better, I tame it one bit more.

Back home, September 23rd, 2012

Total for today’s ride, 216 miles (348 km), the length of the minimalist version of the loop. It was another good day.

Thanks for reading!

Posted in Riding the Ducati | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Happy Hour in the Wine Country

Posted on September 20, 2012 by cesardagord

I’ve been mostly riding on Sundays.  But it is possible to organize work so that I can leave the office a couple of hours early and ride to nice places not too far from Eugene under plenty of day light, on a regular week day.

The Ducati, playing on a week day. September 18th, 2012

I connected with another rider via the local Triumph network and we decided to go for a ride.  After a quick back and forth we agreed the best time was Tuesday. She rides a nice Triumph Bonneville T100.

Triumph Bonneville T100

It was going to be a short ride, but I know routes that quickly take you out of town and places where you are not too far from town but which give you that complete country and farm perspective, and with roads that are perfect for a nice and relaxed ride.  And to me at this time of the year there are no better places to visit than wine country. Which is almost everywhere not too far from town. We ended up at one of the local wineries to drink some water and soda. The tasting room staff didn’t seem too puzzled by the fact that we did not taste their wine – this was an alcohol free Happy Hour to help keep safer odds on the ride.  This winery has a nice outside seating area, where you can enjoy the views of the valley.

A nice and perfect view. A taste of late summer in the valley. September 18, 2012

On the picture above you can see a bit of the road that goes through this area, one of my favorite roads in the area. It has a nice set of curves on the way in, it has great views of the country and the farms when it gets to the open areas, and only very few people travel through here.  Seating on this outside area, with this great scenery as a background, a nice conversation and company was great.  I would perhaps rate it even better if I could be tasting their wine, but then I would not be riding. Soon these vineyards will be harvested and a new cycle of wine making will start. We continued the ride. Next stop, King Estate winery.

The Ducati at King Estate Winery. September 18th, 2012

We continued on for  several more miles in that area before directing our bikes back to Eugene. On the way back her bike arrived at the 10,000 mile mark and we stopped to document it.

Document the Boneville’s 10K Marker. September 18, 2012

Soon we were back in Eugene and had a nice 10K mile celebratory dinner at Meiji’s.

Ending the ride with dinner at Meiji’s – the Ducati and her new Triumph friend. September 18th, 2012

In summary, it was a nice ride, at a nice time of the year. And a very good reminder of what makes Eugene so nice for riders in the summer. Although it was only a 72 mile (116km) ride, most of these miles were in beautiful landscapes, never too far from home and on a relaxed pace. After dinner I still had time to participate on my new soccer team’s league match, scoring my first goal for the team (even if it was on a 7 x 0 victory which potentially washes down the value of my goal).

I can only call this a very nice day. It included an alternate definition of Happy Hour.

And by the way, this is my 100th post!

Thank you for reading.

Posted in Riding the Ducati | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The Ducati, Oregon Vinyards, Mary’s Peak, Old Cars and the Pacific

Posted on September 17, 2012 by cesardagord

Even on my customary pacific loop rides I’m in search of something different and new to see or to learn or to capture with my camera. The pacific loop has a lot to offer: I can use alternate roads, for example, or take side tours. Sometimes it is the season changes, how the vegetation changes and what the farmers are doing at every point in time.  It can be a different color on the ocean, the wind and the waves or the tide.  There is the different weather patterns from valley to coast. And there is the riding of course, the motorcycle and its workings, those special curves that I already know well.  There is always something interesting to see and experience.

The Ducati Streetfighter 848 on Highway 101, Oregon, September 16th, 2012

It is Sunday. The plan is the ocean loop. The bike is the Ducati. The sky is clear blue. What will I find on today’s ride?

Blue skies and the Yellow Ducati. September 16, 2012

The temperature at the start of the ride, just before 10:00am, was a perfect 62 degrees in Eugene. It would probably warm up as the day progressed, but it could as well be even cooler by the ocean. A full tank of gas and let’s see what is out there. I was curious about the state of the vineyards as fall approaches, so my first stop was at a couple of vineyards in Benton county.

Almost ready for the “vendemmia.” September 16th, 2012

Oregon is the fourth state in terms of wine production in the United States.  California is a massive wine producer, taking care of 90% of the American wine production, so we need to take care of that when talking about wine production here. New York and Washington each produce between 3 and 4% of the total American production. Oregon still crawls on wine production, approaching 1% (these data are from the 2009 season, according to a 2010 report of the Department of the Treasury, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau).

Vineyard in Benton County, Oregon. September 16, 2012

But wine is a fast growing industry in Oregon and the state should have some 500 wineries now. And according to the same report cited above of the Department of the Treasury, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Oregon is known for good environmental practices in wine making:

According to industry sources, Oregon is an established leader in sustainable viticulture, committed to sustainable winegrowing and earth-friendly practices. Almost one-third of Oregon’s vineyards are LIVE Certified Sustainable, Certified Organic or Demeter Certified Biodynamic®. Currently there are 20 participating wineries and 2 million certified bottles.

Oregon has 16 viticultural areas, and the Willamette Valley is the largest of these areas in the state. This area’s mild temperatures makes it ideal for cool climates varieties, the most common in the Willamette valley area are Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Chardonnay and Riesling.

Vineyard in Benton County, Oregon, September 16th, 2012

In a few more weeks these grapes will be ready for the harvest. It seems to me that 2012 will be a good year for Oregon wine. If it is a good season for riding, chances are it is a good season for the grapes as well, so it could potentially be a good year for wine making.  Now we enter a critical period for the grape development, just before the harvest, where it is most delicate and on a faster curve in acquiring the desired characteristics, sugar content being one of them, for a great future wine. Let’s hope the weather will collaborate during this year’s vendemmia to confirm a great 2012 season for wine makers.  When in college I took an enology class (Enology: the study of wine and the making of wine). Unfortunately I don’t remember much from those classes. That course was very competitive among the optional courses offered; it was an easy “A” and the lab classes involved sampling wines, and it also included a tour of the local wineries (that was in Brazil, by the way). Have you ever drank wine out of a beaker or a test tube? I did very well on those “tests.” That part of the class I remember. Well, it was not quite that way. I learned something from that course, especially an appreciation to the complexities in the process of making a good wine.

A few more weeks. September 16th, 2012

Continuing north I made a fuel stop in Philomath, only because this gas station sells non-ethanol premium fuel.

Non-ethanol premium fuel. Philomath, Oregon, September, 16th, 2012

Since it was such a clear day, I thought it might be a good day to check the views from the top of Mary’s Peak. I continued on 34 towards Mary’s Peak when I sighted a row of old, classic cars parked on a side road to the left. I turned around and checked them up close.

Classic cars parked on a side road, off Hwy 34. September 16th, 2012

They told me they were waiting for the group was gathering there and once complete they would drive up Mary’s Peak for a lunch break.

Old and classic cars. Oregon, September 16th, 2012

When is it that an old car becomes a classic? Anyway, I wanted to get on the road before they did, otherwise it would be a slow procession to the top. I gave them a “see you later” and got on my way. If the timing worked well for me I would have time to get to the end of the road on Mary’s Peak, park the bike, hike up to the top of the mountain and hike down, and still have time to see the cars before they would start driving down the mountain. On my way to the top I realized third time was a charm. The views were the best yet today on this which is my third attempt.

On the way to the end of the road. Mary’s Peak, September 16th, 2012

I was just starting my hike up to the top when I heard far away the humble of the cars. Sounds travel well in the mountain. I turned around and saw the cars as they approached the parking area.

The group of classic cars arriving at the parking area on Mary’s Peak. September 16th, 2012

The motor sounds increased as they gathered in the parking area and parked. Soon motors were shutting down and I was hearing doors opening and closing, and the joyful voices of the people happy to have arrived at a beautiful destination in such a beautiful day. It was interesting to hear these sounds and quite a sight to see the parking area taken by these cars all of a sudden.

The cars on the parking area. Mary’s Peak, September 16th, 2012

I got back to my hike. The views were fantastic today. But I have a feeling the views can even be better, but I should have to leave something for future aspirations, right? Here is a view of the Willamette valley, a south east view of it. The Cascades on the background.

The south area of the Willamette Valley. Cascades on the background. September 16th, 2012

And looking west there is the ocean on the horizon. It looks like low clouds are there. On a clear day on the coast the line between sky and ocean should be more defined.

The ocean in the horizon. View from Mary’s Peak, September 16th, 2012

As I reached the top I met a group of tourists from Ohio of all places. We exchanged our Ohio histories and had a brief conversation about the coincidence. I’m so far from Ohio in terms of time, it feels, although I only left it seven years ago. Time to go down, another view of the Willamette Valley, now looking north east.

The Willamette Valley. September 16th, 2012

I checked the cars for a little while. Here are some details. Chevrolet’s contribution:

Studebaker:

Cobra:

And lost in the middle of all the American iron, this nice VW cabriolet:

The Ducati decided to check it up close.

A few details of the work on this VW.

Not an original color, and not quite a manly color, not that there is something wrong with it. But it actually works and is not a bad result in terms of art. I liked it.

And the interior. Someone put some effort in building this car.

Time to move on. I went down to the coast and confirmed the clouds I saw from the top.

Low clouds on the coast. Yachats, September 16th, 2012

The relentless ocean carves its way on the Oregon coast.

Yachats, September, 16th, 2012

The bike kept getting on my way.

The Ducati and the Oregon coast at Yachats. September 16th, 2012

Continuing south, looking back at a barely visible Yachats.

Yachats barely visible. September 16th 2012

At some point I could see the fog just flowing down from the sides of the hills on the side of the road.

Fog on the road. Somewhere south of Yachats. September 16th, 2012

This road is something else. Traffic was not too intense.

Highway 101 on the Oregon coast. September 16th, 2012

The Heceta Lighthouse is not visible. It is there, I assure you, on the left area of this photo.

The Heceta Lighthouse. Or it should be there. September 16th, 2012

One final stop on the Low Pass gas station for another splash of non-ethanol fuel.

Last stop. September 16th, 2012

And I was home. I have not overcome the capacity of this bike yet. There is plenty to learn from it, and I know I will never get to the point where I reach its limits anyway. It has a lot more power than what I would be capable or interested in managing at its limit. But I got to a point where I feel confident tossing it on some corners, those mid speed corners and where I can see the apex and have a clear view of the exit and follow up.

Back home. September 16th, 2012

I’ve ridden several Ducati bikes (Monster 696, Monster 1100, Hyper 1100 evo, Multistrada 1200). Riding the Ducati, hearing its motor run, always gave me the impression of a clean canvas with a palette of colors, and no instructions for the rider to complete the picture. Although their design is visually finished and complete in my opinion, beautiful in its totality and in its detail, its performance requires a good level of interference from the rider. They are not “spazieren” type bikes. Even the Multistrada with its four-ride-mode system did not give me that impression of a finished product in terms of performance.  They have their quirks and there is a necessary learning curve or set of skills for managing them.

The beautiful Ducati Streetfighter 848. September 16th, 2012

I’m particularly enjoying the 6-8k band of the torque curve for a somewhat relaxed approach to the curves on the Streetfighter 848. And the rush of power on the 7-10k band. But I use that power only very, very rarely and under special circumstances. After all, I want to ride tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.

Today’s ride was 238 miles (383 km) of fun.

Thank you for reading.

Posted in Riding the Ducati | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

The Ducati at the Aufderheide Drive

Posted on September 10, 2012 by cesardagord

My plan for this Sunday was to simply go towards the coast again with the Ducati. After checking the weather forecast I learned about the probability of rain on the coast so I changed plans. A couple of people had mentioned the Aufderheide road, so it became an opportunity to ride it. Saturday I washed the bikes, the Ducati is clean.

The Streetfighter 848: clean and ready to go. Sunday, September 9, 2012

The Aufderheide connects Hey 126 to Hwy 58, along the west side of the Cascades. It traverses the McKenzie watershed on the north and the Willamette watershed on the south.  I fueled the bike and took the most direct route towards the beginning of the Aufderheide Dr., on its north side, off of Hwy 126, on Blue River’s area.

At the junction of Aufderheide Dr and Hwy 126. September 9, 2012

This road is on the series of Oregon roads officially considered Scenic Byways.

It is a Scenic Byway road. September 9, 2012

What will this day and this road bring to man and machine?

The adventure starts! A new road. September 9th, 2012

And soon we crossed the McKenzie. Good spot for fly fishing.

Fly fishing on the McKenzie. September 9th, 2012

Quickly from the McKenzie the road is climbing towards the Cougar Reservoir. I stopped to document some nice features along the road, only to discover I was already by the reservoir. I went past this curve carved on rocks and decided to turn around and document it. The bike is facing back towards Hwy 126 on this photo.

The Ducati on the Aufderheide Dr, just below the Cougar Dam.

And looking from another angle, behind the bike is where I was going.

The Ducati at the Aufderheide Dr., just north of the Cougar Dam.

I noticed I was on a canyon of sorts, so I climbed up some rocks to check it out and found the dam.

The Cougar Reservoir Dam. September 9, 2012

Looking toward the north, where this fork of the river will connect with the McKenzie.

Looking toward the north.

And looking back toward the road, there is the Yellow Hooligan Machine.

The Streetfighter 848 on the Aufderheide Drive. September 9, 2012

And one more, just for good measure.

The Streetfighter 848 on the Aufderheide Drive. September 9th, 2012

I crossed the dam to better see this McKenzie fork river.This is the direction the river goes to meet the McKenzie.

Running toward the McKenzie.

And here is a photo of the Cougar reservoir dam. A massive structure.

The Cougar Reservoir dam. September 9, 2012

And the reservoir, with end of the summer water levels. Perhaps, and this is a guess from my part, a lower level than usual, due to last winter’s below average snow precipitation.

The Cougar Reservoir, by the dam. September 9th, 2012

I continue my ride, stopped a couple of times for more photos.

Will it swim?

Found this waterfall.

And here is a photo of the South Fork of the McKenzie upstream from the Cougar Reservoir.

South Fork of the McKenzie river. September 9th, 2012

From here on, continuing to the south the road meanders into more forested areas.

Greener area towards the south.

And at some point I crossed watersheds: from the South Fork of the McKenzie to the North Fork of the Willamette.

The North Fork of the Willamette. September 9th, 2012

Another photo of the North Fork of the Willamette. After all, I had to hike down a few rock steps to get to take this picture. Might as well document it.

The North Fork of the Willamette. September 9th, 2012

This water will eventually go to the Willamette, by my house in Eugene.

The North Fork of the Willamette River. September 9th, 2012

Continuing towards the south, very close to Highway 58 I found this covered bridge.

Office Covered Bridge. September 9th, 2012

More photos of this covered bridge.

Office Covered Bridge. September 9, 2012

Office Covered Bridge. September 9, 2012

I think this town is called Westfir, Oregon. Just west of Oakridge.

Office Covered Bridge. September 9, 2012

One final photo of the covered bridge.

Office Covered Bridge. September 9, 2012

And from there I went home via the Jasper-Lowell Highway.

Back Home. September 9th, 2012

In total, this ride was 156 miles long (251km). As I write this today, the Monday after the ride, I looked outside and noticed it is raining. Although it is the sign of things to come, the end of the Summer nears, today’s rain is only a sprinkle and should clear quickly. Hopefully we will still have many good riding days ahead of us before the rainy season starts in full.  It has been a great summer for riding so far, I practically rode on every Sunday and I’m looking forward to more.

Thanks for reading.

Posted in Riding the Ducati | 10 Comments