Kicking some motorcycle tires

The past couple of days, I have found myself looking at other motorcycles. Itโ€™s not that Iโ€™m dissatisfied with what I have, but that I am wondering what else is out there. Is there a second motorcycle in my future?

Brad, Clinton County Motorsports, called me to say, โ€œHey! Weโ€™ve got a new Yamaha Super Tenereโ€™ sitting on the floor. Theyโ€™ve discontinued the deposit program. Come on out and take a look.โ€

So I did.

Yamaha_Super-Tenere

Standing next to the bike, it looks big. Astride the bike, the tank and fairings look massive. It weighs 90 lbs. more than my V-Strom 650, but that 1200cc parallel twin will really get up and go.

Clinton County Motorsports is also a KTM dealer, and of course, they had a 990 Adventure sitting on the floor.

KTM_990-Adventure-1

The Adventure is not as large as the Yamaha, but itโ€™s V-twin engine will provide all the power needed for long distance dual sport riding. Frankly, I liked this better than the Super Tenere.

Whenever I visit Indianapolis on a Saturday morning, itโ€™s usually to have breakfast with my brother with the BMW club and then a trip to the Indy BMW/Triumph dealer. The dealerโ€™s inventory was full. It did not seem like there was anymore room for another bike on the showroom floor. Every model was represented including the one I really wanted to see. No โ€ฆ not a 1200GS, but rather the BMW G650GSโ€”a thumper.

BMW_G650GS-1

The 650 GS is approximately 30 lbs. lighter than my V-Strom 650, and is probably more of an enduro bike than mine. This bike is meant for back roads, gravel and fire trails. Can you picture this bike loaded with camping equipment headed to some remote wilderness campground? I can. And, oh yes. It comes in white.

See you on the highway.

Brent

Sights and sounds of cyclocross at GearFest

Dayton, Ohio

GearFest came to my attention via a mention by a Subaru e-mail. It sounded like fun, so I planned to attend with camera and digital recorder. I arrived early enough to get a fairly good parking spot, and by the time I left, I was glad I had come early. Parking was pretty far out and a good hike. Of course, hiking would be a good thing.

Occupying the most space was the cyclocross race, and course. I managed to get a few pics and a little sound.

GearFest-14

Listen to the sound as the cyclists race by.

[audio:Cyclocross.mp3]

GearFest-15

GearFest-17

In six years, GearFest has become such a big event that Daytonโ€™s Five Rivers MetroParks is changing the name to Midwest Outdoor Experience, and hoping to making it the premiere event in the Midwest. With sponsors like Subaru, Yakima, Keen, Eddie Bauer and others, it is well on its way. With the evolution of GearFest to the Midwest Outdoor Experience, organizers hope to โ€œestablish Dayton, Ohio as the โ€˜Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Midwestโ€™.โ€

More photos from Midwest Outdoor Experience can be viewed here.

See you on the highway.

Brent