Mother nature must love motorcycle riders, for she gave us a perfect day for riding. There were some clouds, but it was mostly sunny and warm, warm enough for me to not wear my winter gear but the Klim jacket and the lightweight gloves. The temperature was around 65 degrees, and I spotted other riders out taking advantage of the gift of the day.
It is a quirk of mid-Atlantic life; earlier in the week, Bill brought the plants inside because of below freezing temperatures, and the water in the birdbath was frozen, but that same week, by Saturday, it was spring-like. These climate quirks are why we don’t have to winterize the motorcycles. Winterizing a motorcycle involves draining fluids, removing the battery, cleaning, covering, and possibly storing the bike. It makes sense if winter brings months of icy roads and unsafe riding conditions. But luckily for me, southeastern Virginia only sees large snowstorms once every few decades. And while the first ride of ’25 looks likely to be in the 30s, the weather stays moderate enough to allow for year-round riding.
And I really appreciate the opportunity to ride in all four seasons. Today’s ride brought sightings of osprey, an egret, Canadian geese in flight, and a flock of hooded mergansers on the lake. The bare branches on the trees filter the low sunlight into intricate roadway shadows, and the glimpses of pansies, roses, and the now-blooming camellias are more treasured because of the colors they add to the brown landscape. The opportunities to experience wildlife from the motorcycle might seem not dissimilar from that of a car, but in your car, can you look up to see a red-tailed hawk being harassed by two crows ten feet over your head?
I suppose I should reflect on what I’ve learned or improved this year during my rides. My stops have definitely developed the most. My understanding of engine braking expanded, and my work with the clutch has allowed me to effectively utilize engine braking to slow down the motorcycle. I have also been training my sudden stops, and I did have a chance to apply my training during one ride.
My feel for the BMW R Nine T also improved this year. I am constantly amazed at the balance of the bike on sharp turns, it revs with an old-fashioned gurgle and pop, and it has enough zip in the horsepower to keep Bill on his Triumph Rocket in sight. My only issue is with the slight forward lean in the riding position that puts some pressure on my wrists. I wouldn’t even mind that much except I think it causes numbness in my right hand.
Which reminds me to mention the BMW R1300 GS. In many ways that motorcycle would suit me better than the R Nine T—safety features and riding position to name a few. But for some reason, BMW went too conservative with the taillights; they are basically the turn signals. One thing Bill has stressed with me about being safe while riding is visibility. Motorcycles are already difficult for cars drivers to see. Why would I ride one with nearly negligible brake lights? Maybe in a few years when BMW has put that German engineering to work and perfected the 1300 I’ll get one. Until then, I’ll begin my fourth year as a rider on the R Nine T and love every minute of it.
Flutterby Biker 