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So after the first ride after suspension repair, I noticed a hole in the radiator, which I ignored too long and blew the head gasket.  After repairing the radiator, I also ignored a few signs – discolored water in the radiator, until I noticed water in the oil – game over.  I needed a head gasket.  So after a month of struggling with parts, and head removal, I finally was able to swap out the thin, Teflon-coated aluminum membrane that separates the head from the block.

After years of research and development, Harley has come out with what may be a real contender, not only in the electric motorcycle market, but perhaps a contender in the overall motorcycle market.  The idea that you can compete in a traditional market – cruisers, is an amazing concept, but I believe that this revolutionary machine may be the Internal Combustion Engine Killer – ICE-K.

Why would I say something this extreme?  Simple.  This motorcycle, looks, sounds, and FEELS like a traditional ICE machine, yet out performs and weighs less than an ICE machine, and requires a small fraction of the maintenance.  Crossing the barrier and stigma of GREEN conveyance, and less-than-manly machine between your legs is more than a small thing.  If this motorcycle is able to cross the chasm, it will truly become the ICE-K, and there will be nothing to stop it.

After watching the video below, you may change your opinion, like I have.

This video was shot in 2014 at a gymkhana event known as Top Gun, held at the Montevallo Safety Center.  The event was free, and meant to help riders improve their skills.  It was quickly apparent that a few riders did not need any improvement, so WHY were they there?  It was very obvious that these same riders had mastered the graceful movement of motorcycles around the course, weaving between the cones like dancers in a ballet.  All skill levels were present, from new riders, to confident and experienced, and finally the experts.  The question remains, why were the experts there?  The answer is simple – They are EXPERTS!  They did not become experts at birth, or at some random point like the flip of a digit on the odometer.  They become experts by practicing their skills.  The experts are separated from EVERYONE else by the possession of a few traits.  The primary trait should be the absence of the idea they were experts.  These people would call themselves “decent” riders, and they are confident in their skill level.  A second and very important trait is the knowledge they can always improve, and the more they practice, the more confidence they collect in return.  Third, these experts are willing to put the time and work in to improve their skill level, and spend time every year doing “silly circles in a parking lot”, or something similar.

Occasionally, they will knock over a cone.  Sometimes they may even drop their bike – especially if they are running a timed event, competing against other riders for the best time.  They are on display every time they go out to an event, so they are very vulnerable bone-headed moves, and embarrassment in front of hundreds of people.  Yet they still go.  They go because they know the value of an event like this, and the dramatic affect these drills can have on skills.  They know they may screw up, right next to everyone else, and they laugh it off with everyone else.

Everyone else laughs, EXCEPT the folks that need the most help.  You may see a few of the folks on the side, watching in disbelief.  These WallFlowers are quite aware that the turns are difficult for the un-practiced.  Most of them don’t even believe they can execute the turns.  Many even blame their machines for the impossibility of turning at a reasonable angle.  Not many people want to admit they cannot execute simple low-speed turns on the machines they should know how to ride.  It is a major problem in America, a lack of basic skills held by most riders.  These skill events are not designed to create experts.  They are designed to illuminate gaps in your skill, and offer a pathway to improvement.  American Gymkhana was designed as a free, fun, and easy path to quickly(1-2 hours) improving your skills.  The results are visible in the experts, the advanced riders, and event the beginners.

I love the video below because it illustrates well the two extremes of adventure motorcycles and gear. The whole idea of having a perfect bike for adventure is ludicrous, and hopefully after watching, you will agree. From my experience, there so often seems to be a reluctance to ride without proper tools (bike, gear, tents, etc.) and silly things like a perceived need of all-or-nothing solutions. This video perfectly points out many aspects of each choice that weighs in one direction or the other.  The conclusion the guys come to is that the “perfect bike” is probably somewhere in the middle, while my conclusion is always Run what ya Brung.

The clear illustration presented is that you can have an adventure regardless of the chosen tools, your budget, time or distance.  So the takeaway is get on your bike and ride this weekend……to somewhere new or cool, with what you have.

Since the first time I heard the phrase “Loud pipes save lives” I wondered where someone gathered the data needed to make the claim.  After discussing the concept with several of it’s advocates, I quickly realized the concept was a PR/marketing device – designed to persuade normal citizenry that the outrageous behavior had a positive benefit.   In other words, the narrative is a prima facie example of the stereotypical, narcissistic biker.  Yet no one seems to ever challenge the concept, for some reason?  The lack of challenge motivates me to create my own spin, and develop an equally absurd assertion – Loud Pipes Kill Puppies.

Oh sure, it sounds ridiculous when first read, but in reality, the idea is just as valid.   Saving Lives vs. Killing Puppies.  The numbers do not speak for themselves, but the propositions, spoken often enough, might actually make a difference in perception.  So to counter a ridiculous notion, I present one of my own.   My hope is that a bit of rational thought *gasp* might reverse the trend of Louder-Is-Better mentality.  Perhaps we can reverse the trend and the effect ridiculous noise-makers have on on your ears.  Maybe we can return a bit of the tranquility of living without daily explosions.  So I think the new narrative might discourage rattling the world’s cage, especially when they consider, only for a moment, their impact of destruction – Think About the Puppies!

After years of observing attempted sales on Craigslist, I have been able to compile a list of critical considerations to help you quickly sell your used motorcycle on the worlds largest FREE marketplace.  So here it is, a TOP TEN List of tips to help exchange your motorcycle for cash.

3. Farkles add value – we all know that adding stuff to your bike adds value.  It may have been a nice bike when it left the factory, but now it is an AWESOME bike with the American flag bracket, BillBoard LEDs, and Ear-Crusher StraightPipes.  Not only do your farkles add the value you paid for them, your time to install them is worth Big Bucks too.  Always figure in:  What you paid+shipping+and hourly rate equivalent to a certified mechanic.

4.  Use keywords and phrases to sell – you would never know it, but fancy keywords and phrases really do work to get the most money for your bike.  Be sure to use phrases like:  “Never seen rain” |  “Barely broken in”  |  “Never been down” | “Never raced”  | “Pussy Magnet”  |  “Real head-turner” | “Never ridden below 75 degrees”  |  “Rare”  |  “Custom Factory Chopper”  Using phrases like these will sell your bike faster than anything else.

5.  Stand your ground – don’t be intimidated by folks offering what they call a “fair price”, they are all liars trying to cheat you out of your money.  You should always be upset because they are STEALING from you.   They just insulted your manhood by offering you less than you were asking.  You might even consider hunting them down for an ass beating, teach these crooks a lesson.

6.  Don’t take pictures – everybody knows what your bike should look like, and if they don’t, you can send them some pictures if they ask for them.

7.  Be cryptic in the description – everyone loves a mystery, so the less description, the better.  Make them come check it out, so you can close the deal (or assault them if they offer less)

8.  Post several ads every day –  if you want to rise to the top, always post several ads every day so you can beat those other idiots by selling your bike first.

9.   Sending pictures – never post pictures in the ad (#6 above), but be ready to send pictures when asked, even if you have to take the pictures in the middle of the night.  Use your phone to take the pictures, turn off the flash, and smear ear-wax on the lens so nobody can see the bike unless they come to look at it.  Trust me, the suspense will drive them to your garage.

10.  Never tell the truth – if you want to sell your bike, never tell the truth.  Bait buyers with promises of extremely desirable bikes at giveaway prices, and switch them to your bike.  Never tell them what is wrong with your bike, or what has happened to them.  Bad things are never good to reveal to a buyer.  In short, lie.  Lie your ass off till that crap bike is out of your garage.  Once it is gone, it is THEIR problem, let them deal with the broken shit.  You got your money.

Is it for real?  C’mon, this can’t be for real, unless it is a bunch of old rednecks in a

cornfield?  Dirt track racing died out in the 70’s did it not?  I picture the old-timers drifting sideways on the old Harleys and Triumphs, smacking into those old wooden fences and tumbling into the crowd.  So I always assumed it died out because all the riders died out, from crashing or old age.  Sanity prevents newer riders from engaging in this activity – right?

For the last year or so I have been hearing rumors, seeing pictures and even had a few invitations to attend some flat track events in Alabama.  Well the stars aligned Saturday – it was an amazing, cool spring day – prefect for the ride to Toney Al, to attend my FIRST ever dirttrack event at Beaver Creek Speedway.

As I roll into the gate, the kid’s cart racers are coming out, just having finished their events.  I see the bikes are already lined up under ease-ups, and it looks like a smaller version of the Barber Vintage Festival paddock, sans oil-drip-pans.  I feel I am flashing back to an earlier time.  I hear The Stones, and Led Zep playing in my head, a cloud of Turkish drifts in the air.  Then I park the bi ke, and snap back into reality.

The crowd seems very laid back, and after talking to the guy with the microphone, it seems even cooler than ever.  Just a bunch of cool guys that like to race, they are all friends, that miss the days of racing around a banked oval track.  Pat Bedford, President of Tennessee Valley Flattrackers, gave me a short history of the revival of the sport, after a decade or more of absence.  He and some friends just decided to put something back together, and made it happen.

The Vintage racers

Lucky for me, we also were treated to the vintage machines with AHRMA racing on the same day.  It was great to see the modified machines, singles, twins, 4 stroke, 2-smoke, all fun to watch.  Talk about a flash back.  Even got to experienc

e legendary racer Dave Aldana show everyone how it was and is done in the hard-packed dirt.  Truly a cool experience, and a great way to spend an evening, and I highly recommend to anyone into any kind of racing.  Also a cool event if you just like bikes.

Accessible racing

One thing Pat stressed is how simple and affordable it is to get started in FT racing.  Drop the suspension, cheap road tires, and $20, and you can race too.  Besides the vintage bikes that were there, most others were dirtbike/motards that looked mostly stock – not a single $10k race bike in the mix.  In fact, he also stress

ed that it is SO affordable that even kids can race, XR100s with knobbies can run out there.  I really like the idea of accessible racing, and even better racing with your buddies.

This might also be the experience that all of our motard-crowd is looking for.  With cheap trackdays typically starting around $150, and don’t even get me started about WERA – this is accessible racing for just about everyone in the family.  Leave the GIXXER at home, pick up a cheap motard/dirtbike and get out there.  Man that looks like fun.

A few of you might remember I got a ticket July 3rd for “weaving” – No signal, a mile from my house, got it on video, and it was bullshit, I changed lanes 2x in 5 miles, but I wonder what the judge will say?  After talking to a few people, it appeared I had a good case.  The video showed there was a slim chance any video could have even seen my signals, since I could NOT see the Trooper’s signals in MY video.  So I decided to fight.  I put together a compelling case of the entire video, and some scree captures, with annotations and position of the vehicles in question.

What I was not really excited for the judge to see was the video of me passing the car in the left lane. It was fast. It was close. It was questionable. A judge might think it was reckless, and add another charge. That was my ONLY fear. But I decided to go for it anyway. I was charged with a crime I did not commit.

I showed for the date on the ticket. I told the judge I have video evidence I would like to present.

He set the date, and told me driving class would not be an option if convicted.
I told him yes sir.

While walking out of the courtroom, I mumbled “I would rather have my eyes gouged out than spend another Saturday listening to a driving professor again”

I hope he did not hear me.

I was in the courtroom for less than 2 minutes – I am looking forward to my day in court.

I like the judge.

I hate motorcycles

September 30 – my final appearance.
I got a nice parking spot. Confirmed bad form by B’ham’s Finest – I turn in and park on the sidewalk after receiving the thumbs up.

As I walk towards the courthouse, I notice my nemesis parked beside the building.  He is fiddling with something while he sits in AC comfort.

Maybe I should not have snapped this picture?

I walked thru the metal detectors and found myself inside the courtroom.

As I sat down I heard

 “Someone just rode in on a motorcycle……I HATE those things. Get you killed pretty quick.”

The statement roared from the bench. the judge noticed me, and he was NOT happy.

There were only 10 defendants in the courtroom so a giant clothed in moto-gear, carrying a back pack and a helmet stands out a bit. Yes, I guess he was talking to me – or at me.

I knew I was in trouble.

About 3 minutes later, the Trooper walks in. He looks at me, I give a head nod, and a big grin. The game begins.

Then as he walks past, I notice he is carrying a laptop….. A LAPTOP? You mean he actually has video footage?

What can it be? Is it any better than mine? I can’t see HIS signals in my video, how can he have any better evidence than mine?

The Trooper opens the laptop, and pulls up video. From what I can see at the back of the courtroom, the video is not any better than mine. But I am still worried. I did not expect him to have ANY video?

After 3 more minutes the judge says “You…. in the green shirt…..come on up!”

I grab the backpack and laptop, as I walk to the bench, the Trooper moves over towards me. The judge looks to him and says “Begin”

Trooper: Blah, blah blah….Mr Redman this, blah blah that.  He changed lanes and failed to signal.
Me: But I did signal, and I have video evidence.
Judge: Trooper, can you see him not signaling?
Trooper: Judge I zoomed in and out, but I could not see him signaling.
Me: He is 200 yards in front of me when I make the lane change, he can’t even see my bike, as I cannot see his car in my video.
Judge: How do you have video?
Me; I was filming while riding
Judge; What? How were you filming while riding?
Me: I always film while I am riding.
Judge: But HOW do you film while riding?
Me: I have a camera attached to my helmet, and it films automatically while I am riding…always.
Judge: {Confused}

So I pull up the laptop and present it to the judge to illustrate the distance.

Judge: Does your video show you signaling?
Me: No sir, you cannot see the signals from the rear
Judge: {pause}
Judge: {pause}
Judge: {pause}
Judge: {looks me in the eye}

I realize things are not going well………………..

But I also realize the Trooper has not shown HIS video…………..

What to do? Think fast Redman!

The judge looks back at me, then the Trooper……

Uhoh, pull something out – QUICK!!

ME: I do NOT fight tickets. I would not be here if I was guilty. I take my punishment when I am wrong, but I am not guilty your honor, and that is the only reason I am here.
Judge: {Looks at his computers, mouses, as if to look at my driving record}
Judge: Well, today is your lucky day, I am gonna give you the benefit of the doubt
Me: {mumbling something that I do not remember}
DA: You should be quiet now, you WON!
Trooper: I was not even gonna write you till you started arguing with me. {grinning}
Judge: Today you get the benefit of the doubt
Me: Thank you your honor

Then I start talking to the Trooper like we were old pals, and reliving the day, when the DA tells me to be quiet and leave.

JUSTICE SERVED in Birmingham Alabama – 9:15am Sept. 30, 2014
As I walk to the back of the courtroom to collect my gear, the judge roared:

” I hate motorcycles!”

A few years back I visited Shelby Springs as part of the Alabama Ghost Town Project, but I never really found much information, or ruins, so I decided to go back and do it right this time.  The Shelby Springs Resort existed in 1839.  By 1855, a two story hotel was built.  During the Civil War, the facilities were used as a training center for the young Confederate soldiers.  Later it was converted to a hospital for wounded soldiers.  Many of the soldiers died at  the hospital, and were buried on the ridge overlooking the Springs.

The training facility was known as Camp Winn.  After being used to train Confederate soldiers, the hotel was turned into a 300 bed hospital.  From an account in Haunted Shelby County, the author describes the Sisters of Mercy having “turned the ballroom into a surgical ward.”  Over 900 soldiers were sent to the hospital at Shelby Springs and few spend eternity on the hilside above.  The next discovery I made was the Shelby Springs Confederate Cemetery.

The cemetery, just a few hundred yards above the springs on the hillside is very impressive.  Not as many headstones as you might think, but all are well taken care of an the grounds are manicured.  Most of the headstones I saw were “unknown”, but there were several granite markers that told the story.  In addition, it appears the graveyard may be haunted.  Certainly worth a trip.

For quite a few years I have listened to many owners about the conditions they face when making decisions about when and if they ride.  I always find it amusing when they talk about percentages and chances of rain, like it is fact, or determined that 30% means you are gonna get wet. Just keep the bike in the garage.  I try hard to be objective when making judgements about how others act.  So I did some research, for ojectivity’s sake.

What I found was that between 100-117 days a year in Alabama, there is measurable rainfall.  That means, most likely there was a percentage of rainfall for those days also.  The bigger number is 1/3.  One third of of the days had some rainfall, on average in Alabama.  That means, if you are afraid of getting wet, you may only be able to ride 2/3 of the year.  And if you only ride in summer, maybe even less than that?

So what is the answer?

My suggestion is that you adjust the way you think about weather, and specifically rain.  If you must prepare to ride in the rain, summer riding is simple.  Many folks do not even carry rain gear, other than possibly a ziploc or two for phone, your wallet, or other sensitive items.  A step further would be some light,  storable (on the bike) nylon rain-gear.  This is a nice addition to make the trip more comfortable if you do get caught in the weather.  But keep in mind, you may only see a sprinkle all day long.  In winter, or colder fall and spring day, your prep may need to be more involved to prevent hypothermia, or discomfort from being cold AND wet.  You will learn what is appropriate quickly, but find something that works.  The fact that you are missing some of the most amazing riding days simply because of some fear that you might get wet is like missing out on sex because you think there might be an awkward moment.  There WILL be an awkward moment, but dammit, it is SEX!!  Ride your motorcycle, don’t worry about the awkward moment of getting wet – you will dry off.