July 28, 2010

What d’ya wanna see Huggy do?

Hey Everyone!

You may recall that last season on A Motorcycle Experience, host David Hatch made a side bet with Yamaha “Scooter Sense” host, Bryan Hudgin.

Dave bet Bryan that he couldn’t ride his Yamaha BWS125 scooter from Montreal to Toronto – with stops in Ottawa and Kingston along the way – using only a $25.00 gas card, tent and sleeping bag for the 3-day trek. Well Bryan not only accepted the challenge but he also completed the journey in record time with gas money to spare. Bryan wisely used “Scooter Sense” t-shirts to barter for food and lodging was provided by the great outdoors. He was able to camp out on viewer Bruce Haskin’s lawn on the first night while sneaking into a provincial park for the second!

In the end, Dave lost the bet and was forced to wear a Yamaha motocross jersey for 7 days straight. Dave has nothing against Yamaha off-road apparel, but he certainly did stand out at a good friend’s wedding!

So, as the fall riding season approaches, Dave and Bryan are at it again. Dave wants Bryan to push the envelope and take on another challenge. Will it be a “Northern Lights” ride from Toronto to James Bay? A “Rocky Mountain High” cruise from Vancouver to Calgary? A “Maritime Mayhem” tour of the East Coast?

Neither man can decide. Instead they are throwing the challenge out to the loyal Motorcycle Experience TV audience….putting you in the saddle! Do YOU have a great idea for his challenge? We’d like to hear it. Post it here on the Yamaha motorcycle blog under the “Leave a Comment” section! Perhaps you’d like to invite Bryan and the Motorcycle Experience crew to explore your home town or favourite local back roads? It’s completely up to you. Just remember, Bryan must remain safe while executing the challenge. Beyond that, the sky’s the limit!

Please send us your suggestions by August 15th. Dave and Bryan will weigh the pros and cons of each submission and decide upon a winner – then they‘ll shake hands and it will be game on!

Stay tuned to the Yamaha motorcycle blog at http://motorcycles.yamahablogs.ca for updates on when and where the challenge will take place. Bryan will also be updating to the blog and Yamaha Facebook page as the challenge plays out. Finally, you can watch the tour in it’s entirety on TSN’s A Motorcycle Experience in the spring of 2011.

Don’t delay! Get your submissions in before August 15th! We may choose yours!

July 12, 2010

Part 3 of 3: Know it all

(Read Part 1 and 2)….. Day two was much more interesting. No more pushing and pretending to make engine noises (although I think that’s pretty fun). We had throttles cranked from 9 to 4 with only a few breaks for water and lunch. I think I even suffered arm pump at one point! By the end of it, almost everyone had greatly improved their skills and confidence; they could accelerate smoothly, brake BEFORE the pylons and switch gears.

I was proud of my fellow classmates and looked forward to seeing many of them on the outside … but what about me? I may have appeared poised on the outside, but my guts were still churning. It would all come down to the Final Test. Could I overcome the pressure?? Or would I find myself in the same situation as the DriveTest centre, pleading with the evaluator in a last ditch effort to salvage some dignity? Only the motorcycle gods knew my fate.

To much delight, our final practice drills would also be used (with slight tweaks) for our evaluation. The instructors assured us nothing would be new; we wouldn’t be surprised with a wheelie contest or ring of fire. We just had to keep our heads up, eyes forward and stay within the lines. Like lambs going to slaughter, Michael Michael Motorcycle had us line up one by one behind the first test marker.

I was positioned in the middle and had the opportunity to watch others endure each test first. It felt as though I was watching American Idol; I was glued to those who couldn’t carry a tune, or in this case, carry second gear. I kept my eyes on this one guy who was fumbling around like a wounded duck. He was popping the clutch, mis-shifting and skidding to a stop. It was time to end this poor sap’s misery and put him out to pasture.

“Okay, Daniel, you’re turn!” barked Michael. Mind you these are extremely simple tasks, especially if you have any riding history, but at this point in time, it was like climbing a mountain. I needed everything I had. I don’t really recall the next 20 minutes of my life. I was so focused and determined to beat Michael Michael Motorcycle, the ministry and this damn test that I shut off my brain and just rode.

“Congratulations, you’ve passed,” she said.

“What? I passed?!” I replied.

“You did.”

I couldn’t believe it. I did it. As I let out a huge sigh of relief, it felt as though my motorcycle manhood had been reborn. I thanked the motorcycle gods, and vowed I would no longer be so boisterous of my abilities. Oh and Tab passed too….

So, did I learn anything? You know what, I did. I learned that riding a motorcycle is complicated. Not that I ever thought it was easy—and often I’m forced to defend the difficulty of racing motocross—but I’ve been riding bikes for 24 years and didn’t realize how much of it has become automatic. Like when you see a $20 bill floating across the sidewalk; you don’t ask who it belongs to, you pick it up, stuff it in your wallet, and run.

From now on I promise not to be so critical of those who don’t evolve as quickly as others. I’ve also learned to keep my head up. I’ve developed a bad habit of looking right in front of me, rather than being aware of potential dangers further ahead. That’s probably why I sometimes end up hitting the wrong lines on the track—you gotta look where you want to go! Plus, no matter how skilled you are at something, it never hurts to take a refresher. Just because you’ve been doing something forever, doesn’t mean you’re doing it right.

Now I know it all … right?

July 5, 2010

Part 2 of 3: I know it all

…. (If you missed part 1, click here). A week or so later we signed up for an M1 exit course at SSF. I figured it would be a good opportunity for Tab to improve her skills and it would help lower our insurance rates. As I mentioned above, I’ve tried sharing some riding tips with Tab, but that was met with less than stellar results—especially after not passing my M1 the first time around.

“What do you mean it’s easy?!? You’ve been riding all your life… I haven’t, so back off!”

Sorry, babe. It was in Tab, and my own, best interest to let somebody else offer direction.

(Notice how I didn’t say that I need to learn anything?)

Due to my struggles with the M1 test, I was nervous leading up to the course. Regardless of my riding ability, I couldn’t help but think I would mess up or forget how to ride. Yamaha’s event coordinators, Andre Harris and Aaron Dowden, assured me I would be fine. Andre works with the Humber College program and tried helping me relax by sketching out the course drills. Tab was nervous too. So here I am telling her she’ll be fine, meanwhile, inside, I’m more nervous than a 14-year-old in a game of spin-the-bottle. I know once that bottle turns to me, I’ll puke and start crying.

Unlike the supposed “quick and easy” M1 test, the M1 Exit course would be drawn out over an entire weekend. It begins with a 3-hour classroom session followed by two solid days of practicing drills in a parking lot, culminating in one final, winner-takes-all, evaluation. Thankfully, if you are unsuccessful, you’re eligible for a second try on a later date. I kept telling myself to stay focused, I wouldn’t need a second try, but I still couldn’t shake my prior failure … “you’re gonna fail again…” “you don’t know how to ride…” “don’t screw this up!!” it continued to haunt me.

The classroom portion went okay. It felt kind of cool to be back in school, because this time around, there weren’t any muscle bound jocks waiting to steal my lunch money or wedgie me against the lockers. I even sat in the back of the class and doodled pics of the teacher like I used to. I thought that they were pretty good, but Tab thought that it was “immature.” And like high school, there were a few characters for me to pick on, like the older fellow who thought he was the teacher, sharing his opinion every chance he got and making sure everyone knew he owned a Katana. Wait a tick, wasn’t I the fool who failed his M1??

In came our chief instructor, “Michael Michael Motorcycle.” He tried gaining our confidence with his lively, outgoing personality and compassion towards those who had limited to no riding experience. He reminded us that as long as we listened and did what they asked, we’d be fine. I was on to Michael though; he didn’t care if we passed; he wanted our money, and he especially wanted to fail some cocky so-called “pro” like myself.

There were 15 students in our class, and only 3 or 4 of us had any riding experience. I was relieved he didn’t ask about our riding backgrounds; that would only give him and the others more ammunition when I failed. I was actually quite surprised to hear some had already purchased bikes, yet didn’t know the clutch from the brake. Talk about putting the horse before the cart! Nonetheless, I was glad to see new people joining the fold. For those who hadn’t purchased a bike, I was sure to mention Yamaha makes the best bikes and has the best deals. (What? A guy’s got to put food on the table!)

Day one started slow but progressed quickly. The session began with everyone gearing up and choosing a bike that best suit their size and ability. There were all types of bikes to choose from, TW200s, DR200s, KLX140s, Sherpas, and these little shoebox Hondas called Titan 150s. Tab and I went with the KLX140 (I would have chose a Yamaha but they weren’t available!).

Sadly, we didn’t get to fire up the bikes until lunch. Before letting the rockets loose, students learn to balance, control and turn a bike without the engine started. It felt strange being pushed and pushing people all over a parking lot, but it was a smart, safe way to ensure some control before changing gears. I wish I had thought of that before letting friends try out my dirt bikes, it would have saved me a lot of levers and handlebars. Once everyone was comfortable, we progressed to the clutch or as one of the instructors, Wild Bill, calls it, “the boss of the motorcycle.”

Most of what was being taught was quite mundane to me, but honestly, I’m impressed with the logic behind their madness. I was amazed to see how quickly most inexperienced riders picked things up. For some of us veterans, we take for granted how much skill is really involved in riding motorcycles.

Put yourself into the shoes of a grown man or woman and imagine never having turned a throttle, let alone using the clutch, changing gears and then coordinating them together. There’s an art to it, for sure, but the instructors somehow transform a Picasso into paint-by-numbers. As is the case with most things though, there were a few stragglers still going outside, over and around the lines.

I started thinking that maybe Michael Michael Motorcycle and his posse weren’t such bad people, maybe they did want us to pass. That wishful thinking quickly faded as he slapped the back of my helmet, and screamed at me to keep my eyes forward and fingers off the clutch. “This ain’t no motor-cross track!” he added. Well, that might not be exactly what he did or say, but it didn’t matter, I knew his objective…

June 28, 2010

Part 1 of 3: Know it all

I like to believe that I know everything, or close to, when it comes to riding motorcycles. I’ve been riding two wheelers steadily since I was 3 years old. Certainly most of my experience has been on motocross tracks, but I’ve also bumped into rocks and trees in the woods and I’ve even put some miles on the open road, in the limited time I’ve had my M1. I’m quite confident in my abilities. I’m a “been there, done that” type of rider, for the most part. There’s nothing you could tell me about riding a bike that I don’t already know … or is there?

Last weekend my fiancé, Tabitha, and I completed our M1 exit course at Sir Sandford Fleming College (SSF) in Peterborough. I’ve got to admit: it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. “But Danny, why would an expert, handsome two wheeler like yourself be so relieved for passing a simple motorcycle training course?” you ask.

Let me explain.

Danny and Tabby MX

One bright, sunny day in April Tab and I decided to skip a day of work and complete the first step of Ontario’s motorcycle graduated licensing program: the M1 written test. (I still can’t believe all a person needs to do is pass a WRITTEN exam to legally ride a motorcycle on public roads. Doesn’t matter if you’ve even sat on a bike… you pass, you ride. Crazy!) Tab’s always trying to come up with … er, I mean, we’re always trying to come up with different ways to spend time together, and what better way than by sharing the joys and freedom of motorcycling.

I was shocked to learn that the ministry wouldn’t award me a license based on my impressive riding resume. Never one to honk my horn, but I’ve qualified for motocross races at the professional level, rode across mud, rock, sand and snow, and I’ve even raced on the ice in Quebec (that alone warrants some serious merit). Apparently all of those accomplishments don’t mean much to the “Man.” So like everyone else, I would have to suffer through a simple, mind numbing written test. Aw well, no biggie.

As for Tab, she’s a relative newbie when it comes to motorcycling. She’s ridden off-road here and there but not much else. Tab was very nervous waiting in line at the DriveTest centre. I assured her that it would be a cakewalk. In fact, with everything I had taught her, she would ace this thing. No sweat. During the test, I lifted my head and was surprised to see that Tab had already left the room. Did she get frustrated and say to hell with it? I hoped not because that meant an extra-long car ride home. Moments later I spotted her at the teller and, judging by her smile, I could tell she had passed. Good job, honey!

I, however, was a little more patient; I wanted to not only pass but ace this test. It would prove to Tab that I knew what I was talking about. As I approached the teller, I politely waited until she was done lip synching along with Lady Gaga before handing her my test. I noticed something was wrong as she marked my test; she wasn’t placing checkmarks beside my answers, they were Xs!

“Sorry but you’ve failed,” she said.

“Naw, that can’t be right. I know how to ride a motorcycle. Check them again,” I replied.

“Please move along sir, you’ve failed. Neeeexxxtt!!”

“Wait!” I stopped her. “You mean to tell me, my fiancé, who has spent less than 10 hours on a bike, passed, but me, Danny Brault, a professional MX racer has failed? Heck, I could jump this building if I wanted to!!”

That wasn’t working, so I tried impressing her with my swank job at Yamaha, hoping she’d bend the rules. Not a chance. She rolled her eyes and once again asked for the next person to step forward. My ego bruised, I handed her another $10, wrote the test once more and passed … barely. Needless to say, my family, friends and co-workers had some fun with this. “Oh, but Danny, I thought you were a pro?!” Go ahead, laugh it up … I would.

It was a dark day for Danny MX but I did my best to swallow my pride and bury my embarrassment, way down deep inside….

May 14, 2010

What’s cool?

Who doesn’t want to be cool? Whether it’s new shoes, jeans, a shirt or whatever, it feels great when someone takes notices and says “Now that’s cool!” And it’s okay to feel that way… I still light up when my mom tells me I’m cool.

When it comes to coolness, scooters often get lost in the shuffle. In the old days, cool was driving a big, heavy steel boat of a car that pumped out big power and pumped-in even more gasoline. What made your car even cooler was if you cut the tailpipe short and let your car rattle, bang and snort all over town like a wounded pig.

That was then, this is now.

Scooters are creeping to the frontline of coolness—especially with ballooning gas prices. No longer are people searching for the biggest, baddest thing on the market. Most want small, affordable and easy to use. (If you don’t believe me, look at the increase in sales of compact cars.) You get all that and more with a scooter. Scooters certainly don’t produce the ground shaking power of a cruiser or pure speed of a litre bike, but they have a unique character of their own that anyone can appreciate.

At Yamaha we have many scooter lovers. I surveyed a few of them to see what make scooters so cool and narrowed down their responses into a top-5 list here for you folks. Take a read and let us know if we missed anything….

TOP- 5 REASONS SCOOTERS ARE COOL

5. They’re cheap.
Might as well hit you with the high, hard one right away: Scooters are relatively inexpensive to buy, cheap to maintain and cheap to fill up. As stated on Yamaha-motor.ca, our BWs 50 gets up to 52kpl/147mpg. Its fuel capacity is 5.7 litres. Multiply that by today’s average regular fuel price  and you could travel approx 300 km’s for only $6. In fact, the cost of filling up is the same price as two rides of public transit!

4. Easy Peasy
Riding a scooter is almost easier than a bicycle—you don’t even have to peddle! Most scooters are small, light, and maneuverable for riders of all shapes and sizes. No clutch, no gears, just gas and go. Unless you’re climbing onto a TMAX or Majesty (they feature beefy 500cc and 400cc engines) Yamaha’s 50cc and 125cc scooters feature slower revving engines, and their step-through design make it easy to get on and off. A scooter is an ideal segue into motorcycling for those with limited two-wheel experience or a great option for aging motorcyclists. Then again, they are a giggle to ride for anyone!

3. One size fits all
There’s no bigger pain (especially for a country boy like me) than trying to find a parking spot on a busy city street, let alone a free one. If I had a scooter though, my problem would be quickly solved. When it comes to parking, one size really fits all with scooters. You could park two, three, maybe even four scooters into a spot occupied by a bulky SUV. Fewer cars parked on the streets means less congestion. Major cities like Toronto are realizing these benefits, and now allow free meter parking to scooters. Cool, eh?

Mr. Scooter Sense, Bryan Hudgin, would like to see Canadian government take a bigger stand for scooters. Some provinces do allow 14 year olds and up to own and operate them, and Toronto features free meter parking for scooters. We’re getting there…

2. Age of minority
Teenagers rejoice, your freedom awaits … well, in most provinces anyways. Quebec, Alberta and New Brunswick allow 14 year olds to own and operate a 50cc scooter; in BC, Alberta, Quebec, New Brunswick and Manitoba you can ride one with a regular driving license. Sadly, the province featuring the worst traffic jams and frustrations—Ontario—is also the most difficult to obtain licensing to ride a scooter. You need a motorcycle specific license (written and two-wheel road test) before turning the key.

Obviously some are against allowing people as young as 14 to drive, but IMO, it’s a slow and steady way for them to build confidence and develop awareness and knowledge of the road before getting behind the wheel of much faster and heavier vehicles. As Don McKellar  said in a news article, “I rode dirt bikes and you fell down and skinned your knees. You get up, realize you’re mortal and there are consequences to bad decisions.”

1…..
And the number one reason why scooters are cool: they are an absolute hoot to ride! Seriously. Before you make any jokes, you’ve got to ride one first. I was guilty of teasing our resident “BeeWee Man” Aaron Dowden for riding his in to work everyday … that is until I got off my high horse and rode it around the parking lot. I didn’t want to get off the bike! And for you younger readers, scooters are cooler than walking, way cooler than taking the bus, and compared to getting dropped off by your mom—we won’t even go there!

DanBro

May 12, 2010

Good Reads

I was reviewing some web stats on Google Analytics recently, and came across two articles that peaked my interest:  “The Story of the VMAX” and “Birth of the XV1900.” Normally I’m not much of a tech guy, but our MC product manager John Bayliss does a wonderful job of taking readers through the stages of developing a bike (it’s not all done in Japan!) start to finish.

I’m trying to talk him into resurrecting these great articles with a new one on the history of the YZF-R1 …maybe you blog readers could help persuade him? Because my knowledge of motorcycles isn’t even comparable to that of a legend like Bayliss, I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking the reigns. However, I wouldn’t be against bringing you the story behind Yamaha’s YZF motocross machines …. if there were enough interest.

DanBro

April 30, 2010

Miss Vicki starts the day

The big day is almost here … nope, I’m not referring to my birthday (May 31!) but International Female Ride Day! On May 7, women around the world will be riding their bikes, celebrating our great sport. It’s no secret that women and motorcycles are becoming a much more common sight on the tracks, trails and roadways.

In my personal experience with motocross racing, not long ago I could count the number of Ladies’ racers on my fingers and toes—now there are separate classes for beginners and experts and the CMRC has been running a National Women’s Championship since 2006!

As far as street bikes go, I’m sure everyone has noticed the increase of women on the road. I think it’s great. To me, there is nothing more fun than riding a two wheeler and men and women deserve to share the experience together. (In fact, Yamaha’s Facebook Photo Contest winner was a woman rider, Katrina Bryant, who owns an R1).

To be honest (not that I’d ever lie to you ), I didn’t know much about International Female Ride Day, so I called up someone who does, the founder and extreme motorcycle enthusiast, Vicki Gray.

Bike Blog: What’s your background with motorcycles and what is MOTORESS?
Vicki: My background includes 27 years of riding, licensed back in 1983. I decided to get into motorcycling because I grew up as sort of a thrill seeker/tomboy. I’d climb trees, build rafts and ride snowmobiles. I really had an interest in motorcycling, but it wasn’t until I moved to the East Coast of Canada and was very busy with a corporate career that I took the opportunity to take the training. I needed an outlet to get away from the stress of work. I tried sailing as well, it’s nice and calm, but didn’t give me that kick I found from motorcycling.

Tell us about MOTORESS.
It’s a one-stop shop for women and motorcycling. MOTORESS didn’t just come out of the air; it’s a take-off from a brand that I had in the community called RaceGirl Motorsport in Europe. In Canada, I did a lot of riding and teaching here, but in 1989, I left and went to the Caribbean. I lived there for six years and within a year I opened my own training school. So this whole journey of MOTORESS is stuff that happened in between.

I think what spurred it on was when I started racing in Europe in 1998. Again, it’s a guy’s world there, especially in racing. I decided to start a brand and community called RaceGirl, which encouraged women into motorsports and through the non-profit organization, I gave higher skills training. I gave lessons to men as well and held track days. I worked with TT Circuit Assen during MotoGP and World Superbike. I was constantly interviewed when these races were in town, and I always spoke of women and encouraging them to get into motorsports. All of that and my passion seemed to grow like crazy! It was only a hobby but RaceGirl started to get so big. I was working in the telecomm industry at that time, which was having its up and downs. I kept changing jobs and then sat down and made a business plan for MOTORESS. To be honest, all along I searched for a way to make my passion my livelihood.

Vicki raced throughout Europe, and in the first ever European Women’s Cup, supported by the renowned Ten Kate Honda Team.

Now, you’re the founder of International Female Ride Day. What goes into creating an official “day?”
It was an idea … as you can imagine, in 1983, I was a woman riding a motorcycle and there were many women before me, but even then, I was part of the very small number of women riding. Of course, we have challenges keeping it in our lives but we really do have so many women riders out there. In North America—in Europe it’s not such a phenomenon to see a woman on a bike—yet it still gets a lot of response. I thought if we introduced a day, where women would just get out there, we’d show everyone first hand how many of us there are! The day also promotes women in motorcycling. Women are role models in themselves, and they influence other women. You have younger and older women, on cruisers, sport bikes, dirt bikes and it’s so diverse, I thought this concept, synchronized would show other women how wonderful and fun it is.

What’s your take on where women and motorcycles are at now?
It’s really evolved, just like women have. Social values and choices have changed; women buy houses alone now. The whole role of women has changed. Women go exploring other stuff, like motorcycling. Some women are terrified of them [laughs], and I meet some men who are too. I think it’s how we are brought up; generally women are not pointed in the direction of more dangerous “deemed male” activities, like the guys.

What advice do you have for those women who are shy and nervous about riding bikes?
[Laughs] Things are not as they appear. You know, that whole illusion theory and perception-motorcycling looks intimidating but once you’re sitting on a bike, have some good lessons and skills under your belt, you’ll see the other side of motorcycling that catches us all; it’s the same for racing.

Favourite bike you’ve ever owned?
I don’t have one because I love them all! They all bring something different to the road. Obviously my Ten Kate Honda race bike was exceptional, and riding that thing, on my God! Even Honda Japan would come to see how they tune their bikes. I really love the Yamaha R6. When I teach at F.A.S.T.  I often use that bike.

Where do you see women going in this sport? And what can dealers, manufacturers, anybody do to help promote women’s involvement?
I think you (the manufacturers/industry) are already doing it. You guys have ladies events, you have a great array of motorcycles that are available and you’re underlining these to women; the clothing is getting better. There isn’t much more to do, but it’s accepting the fact that women ride. For instance, when I see women at motorcycle shows, my mindset is that they are there because they ride. The goal of MOTORESS is to show women that motorcycling belongs in their life, and it should be placed higher on the priority list.

Unfortunately, for the average women, we have so much to juggle in our lives. There are big debates to that, but studies have proven, women, unlike men, can’t leave domestic duties alone for too long. After a day of work, arriving home, tending to say a partner, children, household demands … when all is said and done, if we have any time or energy remaining, what will receive the priority? With MOTORESS, we’re trying to bring it to an easier belonging, a lifestyle and make motorcycling that choice priority.

With that, what do you hope for International Female Ride Day, simply to get women on their bikes and ride?
Of course! There is so much going on around the world it’s unbelievable. I received an email from Cape Town, South Africa where women are organizing a ride day. Women riders just seem to take such pride in being a part of it. It’s awesome! This year, I even had to translate the logo into Hungarian so they could post it and use it. I would really like this to one day, similar to Mother’s Day, be recognized by the country as an official day.

Hey ladies (and guys) are you going to be out supporting In. Female Ride Day? If  so, please comment and let us know! Feel free to share your bike of choice as well!

April 13, 2010

What do YOU want?

We’re gearing up for a big, long, warm Canadian summer, and we want to share it all with all you Bike Blog readers! We also want YOU to share your summer with us. Whether it’s a fun story, quote, photo, video, or anything else related to motorcycles and something our readers might enjoy, please send it to me (danny_brault@yamaha-motor.ca). We’ll get it posted!

This Blog is intended for you, so please, take some time and send us some ideas of blogs you want to read about. Want to know the inside scoop on the development of a certain bike? Ask an expert a question? Find some sweet riding places/roads? Hear stories from the road? Feel free to tell us what you want.

Thanks!

DanBro

April 8, 2010

Destiny or coincidence?

Needless to say, our customer relations team receives some “interesting” feedback from past, present and  future Yamaha owners. It could be someone looking for general tech support, or someone is upset because the rear tire on their 1973 DT3 is already worn out … it’s never a boring job, that’s for sure.

More recently, one of our agents helped provide some tech specs to a then-and-now Yamaha rider named Lynn. As it turns out, Lynn endured some eerie coincidence on her new bike. (Looking at her pics, she’s also attained some wisdom in regards to proper riding gear )

Thanks for sending me the detailed tech specs for that DT200.  I am comparing it to what I currently have, the WR250R, which was the bike that replaced the DT200.  I never thought I’d be able to come close to replacing that beloved DT, and to be honest, when I bought the WR and was riding it home, I got goose bumps.  Not because I was on a flashy new bike (well, that was kinda part of it) but because of the day and time I took possession.  It’s REAL creepy.

I bought that old 1986 DT200 brand new in Penticton; I was 19 and had saved up from working a whole winter up at the ski hill in Kelowna.  I absolutely LOVED that little bike.  Roll forward to 11:30 AM, Oct 23, 1988.  I wrote off my poor bike after an old lady failed to yield and decided to cut in between me and the truck in front of me.  Bike was totaled.  All I have left of that memory is a picture of me on it when I was camping at Christina Lake in the Kootenays.

I had always wanted to get another bike like the one I had.  Life took me different places and I never got the chance to get another, even though I kept my eyes open for that year of bike.  Nothing.  I ended up with an old 1977 Honda XL 250 that was a heavy tank of a bike, and didn’t enjoy it near as much (I still have that old bike)…in fact it never even could be compared.  I had numerous street bikes, the last one being a 1995 Suzuki RF600R.  Stupid fast bike.  It was a scream to ride, but every time I’d go past a trail off the road I’d want to explore it.  NOT a good thing on a sportbike.

I then went onto the Yamaha site and saw the WR on there.  I had looked at the WR250 years before, but because it wasn’t street legal I never took a second look.  I read up on the R that others own, and the responses were incredible.  A new bike, basically a dirt bike you can ride on the road right out of the crate.  I immediately thought of my old DT, and HAD to take a ride on one.  I had to wait for a demo day in order for that to happen, but once I rode it, I was hooked.  I felt I had finally found a replacement, even if the damned thing was so high I couldn’t touch the ground.  That was in July, 2008.  A month later I sold the 600.

Roll forward to Oct 23, 2009.  I’ve got the paperwork in my hands, my gear on and anticipating my first ride on my brand new 09 WR250R.  The salesman had managed to get in the very first ‘09 in BC, right after the dealer demo that was held in Whistler, just for me.  They hadn’t even been released to the public at that point, but he apparently knew someone and pulled a few strings.  So at 11:30, I am on my new bike and riding down the highway.  It was then that it hit me, and why I felt a cold shiver run the length of my spine.   When I got home, I found the paperwork from the accident on the old DT.  Check this out:

Oct 23, 1988  11:30 AM :  1986 Yamaha DT200S written off
Oct 23, 2008  11:30 AM : 2009 Yamaha WR25R ridden off the showroom floor.
Last 2 numbers on the VIN are 23.

20 years later to the exact date and time, I have replaced something I never thought I ever would.

Sorry if I’ve bored you with this, but what you’ve done really means a lot to me.  I’m going over the spec sheets for both bikes, and besides the difference of the DT being a 2-stroke, the two bikes are very similar in a lot of ways.

Again, I thank you for doing this for me.  I’ve sent along some pics, just for comparison.  One of me when I was on the old DT (well it was maybe 5 months old there), me on the new WR250R, and the WR after I went to work and modified it.

What do you think? Is this all coincidence? Or was Lynn meant to be back on a Yamaha dual sport?

March 24, 2010

Left or Right?

THE QUESTION:
Hugh Hutner: I ride with a number of other riders on various brands of bikes, but one day, at the cafe, we notice that the five guys who ride the R1 are all left handed. The other day we had a woman rider on an R1 join the ride from one of our affiliated social groups, and she is left handed.

So we have ages ranging from 30 to 60, both genders, all different years of R1, ethnic backgrounds are german, malaysian, chinese, african, thai and russian jew (hey, this is Vancouver, eh) and occupations range from low tech to professional. So the question is: what is it about the R1 that makes it the choice of lefties?

THE ANSWER:
Bryan Hudgin: Hello Hugh!! Since I’m the PR specialist, customer service sent me your email and what a great message it was! It actually got me thinking about the people who work here. You guessed it, I’m also left handed. Both VP’s and the President are as well. There seems to be a disproportionate number of staff that I talked to that are left handed.

I’m thinking we can put this to the test on our Facebook page and the 2000+ Yamaha fans we have on there. If you have Facebook, look for us at http://www.facebook.com/YamahaMotorCanada. We’ll ask the question later today and see what kind of response we get. Something like, “Do Left-handers prefer Yamaha?” and we’ll point to your informal data as the catalyst.

As a side note, I did come across this while looking for the breakdown of handedness amongst general populations. It seems like the intelligent choice is Yamaha?  Maybe it has something to do with right brained people preferring the colour blue? Maybe it’s because left handers are the only ones in their “right” minds?  [laughs]. Have a great day, Hugh.

Two Pakistani researchers explored the effect of handedness on the intelligence level of students. The sample included an equal number of left-handed and right-handed students drawn from various universities in Pakistan, altogether 150 subjects. Subjects were assessed for both handedness and intelligence.

The researchers found no significant difference in intelligence between subjects from various educational levels, but they did find that left-handed subjects were significantly more intelligent than right-handed subjects. Results were published in the January 2007 Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology