I found the car I want, a Honda Grace

but just like the Honda NC750X motorcycle I want, you can't get that here.

The motorcycle is everywhere else in the world but the US where it only comes as the NC700X.  An honest bike that would be another step up with the slightly bigger engine.

The Honda Grace on the other hand is the car I have been looking for.  A simple hybrid car with lines that make it look like a sized down Accord.  A simple hybrid car that domes at a simple price, around the 20K range.  A simple hybrid car that can return 80 mpg and still pack the safety features that so many cars seem to need these days.  A simple hybrid car that is currently only sold in Japan.

This is probably sour grapes but I am a big fellow and this is a Japanese car so I probably wouldn't fit so it is all just as well.  Of course this is a Honda and they can do magic with interior space if the Fit is any indication.



As they say, one size does not fit all.  So why is it all must fit one size?

Oh, and China gets the Supirior but that is another story.

I dream on.
This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farrwest.

The case for/against motorcycles

First off is the obvious, motorcycles are dangerous.  Or at least that is what everyone that doesn't ride tells me.  Everyone, it seems, has a story or knows of someone with a story of someone that has had a motorcycle accident.  There are also many sayings that go along with the motorcycle experience such as what do you call a biker that doesn't wear a helmet? a donor.

It is true that motorcycles are less forgiving of inattention and carelessness, not only from the rider but from the fellow drivers that they must interact with on the street.  Defensive driving and situational awareness at all times is the bare minimum standard by which each cyclist must dedicate themselves in order to continue to enjoy their sport each and every day.  It isn't always the rider that is the danger but those they share the road with that are more interested with who they are chatting on the phone or texting their bffs without regards to the world around them.  You have to deal with that whether on a bike or in a car, truck or bus but the consequences are greater for those on a bike.

So why would anyone ride a motorcycle?  The fun factor.  Motorcycles are a great source of fun.  It is a wonderful way to explore the great outdoors while being exposed to the elements of sights, sounds and smells.  It is the sensations that come with operating a machine by developing skills that satisfy the senses and reward patience and practice with increasing confidence and accomplishments.  When riders talk about freedom, it is a feeling that comes with the reliance on self and the control of machine combined with the biker community that contains an immediate shared connection for fellow riders that always seem ready to provide a friendly wave to the rider passing in the opposite direction.

Being exposed to the elements also brings challenges.  Weather extremes from cooking temperature heat, to shivering steering cold.  Rain, snow, wind, ice, animals and all the various obstacles that happen to find their way along your path are daily occurrences rather than the minor inconvenience it would be for one ensconced in a metal cage.

Another consideration is the fact that most of the bikes like so many cars are capable of much greater performance than is legally allowed even if it is prudently applied.

And the argument that you will save money is pretty weak.  Gas mileage on most bikes is much less that it should be given the improvements in technology but most riders where more interested in bigger, and more power and that is what was selling and that is what was provided.  Fuel economy is very much an afterthought in most motorcycle design.  It can be had but with compromises attached that make the average rider think twice.  (I have been thinking twice.)

Even though there are only two tires and they are smaller than a cars they cost every bit as much as a car if not more and often times only last a quarter as long.  Maintenance in general is more frequent and more expensive and unless you have some mechanical savvy you are going to have to rely on a dealer with dealer prices.  Also, because riding is so seasonal in nature you may find that getting any work done can take many days and sometime weeks due to the fact that everyone else wants to get their bike tuned up at the first sign of spring, just like you.

So why with all the hassles would anyone ride a motorcycle in this day and age?  After all I did mention that I quite riding some time ago because I find a car that got better gas mileage, had air conditioning, heat, stereo, carrying capacity and kept me dry when it rained.  I could go farther and see more with my time off and not be quite so worn out at the end of the day and that is exactly what I was doing with that car when I got it.

So what am I thinking?  If I were to go on a long ride I would still opt for the car.  If I were to take someone with me I would opt for the car.  If there was the remote chance of facing weather I would opt for the car.  So what am I thinking?

I am thinking that I am missing the fun factor that a motorcycle can provide.  I don't need a cross country machine, I don't need a big Harley cruiser, I don't need a motocross racer, and I don't need a cafe pocket rocket.  I would be happy with a commuter, city explorer, visit the next town, occasional buddy hopping, extreme gas mileage runabout.  Something that isn't a production to pull out every time or any time.  Something simple, dependable, reliable and most of all affordable.

The market is not great for this kind of motorcycle action.  Once again I fall outside of the one size fits all.  There are a few interesting machines but they continue to include compromises as so much of life does.  Maybe I would be better off just renting a machine for a day every now and again to get my taste refreshed.  That almost seems to make sense but motorcycles are something that has always put logic in the back seat.

This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farrwest.

Thinking bout cars and bikes again

I have been looking at cars and motorcycles and bicycles a lot lately.  It must be my time of the ...

I have not had nor ridden with any regularity motorcycles but they have been frequent on my mind.  I knew this time would come when I sold my old bike.  It was a nice bike but it had been sitting for a long time and would need some serious attention to get it road worthy as well as trust worthy.  It was a tripping bike but just couldn't compete with the tripping car that came into my life.

The car was enclosed meaning no bugs, or weather issues.  It carried more stuff, which means I could take more with me or pick up more along the way.  It had a stereo which means that I had some accompaniment me when I was singing out my rock anthems.  It had air conditioning and a heater to give me better control over the elements.  It had a bigger tank and got better mileage meaning I could go farther without worries.  It was also more comfortable when it came to going farther so I did.

All of those things made it easy for me to find myself spending more time with the car than on the motorcycle.

But that does not mean I didn't still like the motorcycle.  It just means that for long trips the motorcycle played second string.  At this point, long trips would involve multiple 500+ mile days across many state lines.  I could do one 500+ day on the motorcycle but would be walking funny the next.

The motorcycle I had was a full dresser meaning side bags and fairing.  It was a few years ago and not near as fancy as the bikes you see today but it was a dream bike come true for me when I got it.

Sadly a big bike takes a little more effort to take out and ride around with though some might argue that fact.  Before the big bike, I had an entry level bike that was wonderful and I would ride it every bit as far as I would the big bike yet it was light and relatively easy to take out at a moments notice.  It had a windshield, highway pegs, and a back rest with luggage rack.  All the needs were met.

And that is what I have been thinking about.  I don't need a big bike.  I don't think I would get the use out of it that I would like to.  When it comes to big trips, I have a big trip car that fills that role nicely and then some.  What I want is a fun, simple, run around bike that doesn't take a lot of thought, cares or worries.  Doesn't cost a lot to own or operate.  Gets great gas mileage, (not many bikes do sad to say).  And still has the fun factor.

All bikes have a fun factor. Period.  Some are designed to deliver that fun in a more focused way.  The motorcycle business in America has become overly focused on about three different types, dirt, cafe racer, and over-sized V-twin cruiser.  That leaves a lot of us with too little choice.

I am going to visit this topic some more in the days to come so you are forewarned.  I told you that it has been on my mind a lot lately and it is time for me to get it out.

This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farrwest.

Pleae start seeing bikes.

If there is one thing I have noticed since this latest gas price crunch, and you should have too, it is that there are many, many more bicyclist and motorcyclist on the roads these days. This requires extra care in looking out for them as well as for the others sharing the road. In some parts of the country where the weather is fine year round, you have probably just noticed an increase in volume, but then there are other parts of the country that have a winter and will notice that the volume of riders is affected by the seasons. There are a lot of fine weather riders who only come out on the good days, I know as I tend to be one of those kind.

Speaking of seasonality, bicyclists tend to have a strong upsurge in volume around this time of year, in part thanks to the popularity of the Tour de France bicycle race. Many a biker has been inspired by this yearly event, which can easily be seen thanks to the marvel of television, and that inspiration leads to an increase in biking activity as we try to bring out the Lance Armstrong in all of us.

The fact of the matter is there are as many different kinds of riders as there are people in this world. Everyone is represented in some form or rather from the youngest of children to the oldest of uprights. There are the ultra serious road racers training for the next big race, there the mountain bikers always hungry for that next great section of single track. There are casual cruisers that are less concerned with how long it takes than just making sure they take a ‘stroll’ around the neighborhood. There are adventures that have loaded up the packs and headed out for a major cross country tour that most would never even dream of. There are basket bikers that are looking for thrown out pop cans to put into the baskets attached to their handlebars. There are buddy riders that have the weekend jaunt out with the gang and there are the solo riders that put the miles down as they seek the quiet solitude of meditation and reflection that only a solo ride can bring. There is also the common commuter that has replaced at least some of his transportation requirements with his beloved bicycle.

That makes for a whole lot of different riding styles just as there are different driving styles you’ll see on the road around you and you need to be looking out for those differences. Good or bad, right or wrong they are all out there.

My personal preference is that a bicyclist should ride the rules of the street just as any other vehicle. This means using the road as any other would along with proper hand signals, lane choice, right of ways at intersections, and obeying stop signs. Sometimes traffic and speed differences do not allow for this to happen and adjustments must be made. Some creative riding is necessary to insure safety for all those involved. Sometimes it is easier to cross the intersection with the flow of traffic then back track and join up with traffic flowing 90 degrees the other direction than to try and cross two lanes of heavy traffic in order to use the left hand turning lane, but this is only sometimes as use of the left hand turn lane is what should happen.

You see if the biker and the motorist are using the same rules of the road they will know what to expect of each other and they can more easily play together. If one or the other does something that is unexpected, then adjustments need to be made (and sometimes quickly) or problems happen. This is true of all things that happen on the road and in all cases with our interaction with other vehicles we share the road with.

That is why it is important to teach good habits from an early age and unteach bad habits (if that is possible) in order to make things run more smoothly. One of the biggies is that bikes should ride with the flow of traffic, not against it. There is a lot of misinformed children out there who were taught to walk against the flow of traffic (so they could see and identify the car that hit them I guess although I would just as soon not know what hit me. Now that I think about it though we used to joke about what we didn’t want to get hit by or rather what we would prefer to get hit by such as a Mercedes versus a VW or a Rolls Royce versus an old Chevy pickup) and so by default they were taught to ride against the flow of traffic. Be aware that this is especially true in neighborhoods were kids have not learned or not permitted to ride great distances from home yet. In fact, in neighborhoods many kids will ride all over the streets and sidewalks and yards, they just aren’t as predictable.

Also most importantly, you do not need to sound your horn to signal a pass when approaching a bicyclist. This rule went out sometime around the turn of the 19th century and should not be reinstituted. Of course some riders bring it on themselves by riding three abreast at 15 mph on a road that cars are expecting to be doing 60.

Many of our roads out there just do not lend themselves well to bikes. Some roads have a good shoulder many have no shoulder as all. Be aware fellow motorist that just because there is a shoulder on the street you are driving, it does not mean that it is in any kind of condition to be ridden on. All that road debris and unused gravel gets pushed and blown to the side of the road and is seldom if ever swept up. Stuff that is a pain to walk on as a pedestrian is very difficult to navigate when riding a bicycle. The tires on some of your fancier road bikes as well as average everyday bikes are thin and susceptible to flats so most riders will try very hard to avoid running over things that will cause time consuming tube repairs. Also, just because the rider is on a mountain bike does not mean they wish to be riding of the pavement and in the weeds just so you can have the whole lane to yourself. Many bikers that are looking for efficiency will try to ride on the smoothest part of the road for the lowest rolling resistance. Many like to ride on the painted white stripe that defines the shoulder because the paint fills in the little valleys of rock in asphalt and provides just a little bit less friction. It is noticeable and I do it myself when I can, (especially if I am trying to keep up with someone).

Many people should take up biking, I strongly encourage it. It is good for your health, body, mind and spirit. If you are a thinking person it gives you time to think and ponder. If you are an adventurer it is a great way to explore. If you are a social person it is a great way to meet people and enjoy a common bond. If you are observant you will notice many things in your travels, things that would otherwise go unnoticed. There is a great deal of ways to enjoy things if you keep them from becoming a chore.

Now for motorcyclist I have a few things that need to be said. Some of what I say about bicyclist goes for motorcyclist as well but with some big differences. The biggest is that the power comes from the twist of a wrist rather than the twist of peddle. There is a weight difference as well as inertial mass so handling dynamics are different. The other major thing is speed. Motorcycles are not bicycles and bicycles are not motorcycles.

Because of the increase in gas prices there are a lot of new riders. If you watch closely you will notice that there are quite a few riders that are a little shaky starting off from a dead start, or don’t take the corner as smoothly as another rider might, or have a little trouble picking a line and staying on it. This is all part of the learning experience and they will get better with time.

Some riders might just be a little rusty after not having ridden for quite awhile. The price of gas is the motivator that brings their latent desires out of the storage shed and back to the street for a reawakened sense of freedom that a motorcycle can provide. It is important to remember that most motorcycles can accelerate faster and brake faster than most cars. The do not have the physical presence of a car and so they are sometimes harder to notice. Most riders with any experience are know this and are constantly on the lookout for the inattentive driver. Most accidents occur with the statement, “I just didn’t see them”. If you ever find yourself asking “Where did he come from?” then it is the first step to awareness. Take the extra time, take the second look.

A very common mistake that happens with all vehicles but especially with motorcycles and bicycles is that of someone pulling out if front of you. They may see you but that don’t take the time to truly judge just how fast you are traveling. So they decide to ‘go for it’ and this leads to frustrations because all too frequently they do not accelerate quickly enough and that means putting on the brakes and giving up momentum. That is just rude. If you discover that you have pulled in from of someone either by accident or on purpose accelerate quickly enough that they do not have to hit the brakes or even lift their foot off the throttle. Make sure that you speed up to the point that you are going at least as fast as they were or faster so that you do not become a hindrance. This is good motoring.

Every vehicle has blind spots; some have bigger blind spots than others. Be aware of what your blind spots are and what might be there. Be mindful of the blind spots in others. Try to spend as little time as possible in the blind spot of another no matter what kind of vehicle you or they are traveling in. Always be looking ahead, behind and to the sides to know what is around you and what others are doing. Some motorcycles and small sporty cars are very agile and that agility allows them to change positions very quickly and frequently which can be very convenient at times but also can catch other drivers off guard if they are not expecting you to be anywhere other than where you were when they last looked at you.

We all should be able to enjoy the road together and it really doesn’t have to be that hard. It is just a matter of being considerate of others as you would wish them to be considerate of you. It is because we are different that we come to different ways of answering our daily commuting needs. And it is exactly because we are different that the world is an interesting place to be.

This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.