Speedworld in Surprise AZ is small town drag strip. Good place to meet, watch the races and for 20 bucks take your bike down the track. Every Fri and Sat nights with occasional special events that bring funny cars, top fuelers and Speed Channel show Pinks.

Also, on Aug 26th there is a first annual rider group party. Good time and place to meet and greet. It's not a commercial just an annoucement for an event. All are welcome.

There was a recent article in the local paper concerning the use of nitrogen in tires. According to the article, nitrogen is being used in place of ordinary air in many race car tires. Drivers claim it to be less vulnerable to heat buildup.It is also claimed that since nitrogen molecules are larger than ambient air molecules that they are less inclined to leak from the tire. In areas that provide the switchover to nitrogen for the average driver, the article says that the cost is about $5 per tire and future fill-ups can be had at no charge.
Altho it is an interesting concept, I doubt that I will be making this change. However many competition motorcycle riders may have already done so in the never ending for that little edge on the other rider.
What comments or further info do any of you have on this subject? Post your comments here.

There seems to be a proliferation of music devices some of which are designed specifically for use on motorcycles. Some are outboard systems while others are designed to pipe the music directly into the helmet.
While I have a fairly moderate interest in music (primarily jazz), I do have some reservations about the use of this accessory while riding a bike.
With the understanding that motorcycle riding itself is inherently a dangerous sport, it's vital that the rider must be fully aware of his surroundings and constantly looking for potential traffic problems.This means not only directly ahead but to the rear and both sides, constantly moving one's eyes and never looking in any one direction for more that ten seconds.
Where does all this fit into the music while riding, you ask?
Most any auditory device produces sounds of music, ocean waves, bird calls, etc, all of which are sounds intended to instill calmness or a soothing, relaxed mental state. This is counter-productive to the requirement of the heightened alert status of any rider. In fact one of the big advantages of riding motorcycles is the need for total concentration which blocks out the thoughts of work, family situations, finances, etc.
Therefore, adding the distraction of music or other auditory diversions would seem to cancel out the above concentraction.
Some would argue that music on long uninterrupted freeway rides tend to relieve monotony...possibly, but isn't it also just another diversion from the need to be aware at all times? Especially given the faster speeds used on the freeway and the need for even faster reactions to counter the quicker approaches to danger.
What are your thoughts on this subject? Post your comments here.

I read somewhere that a large percentage of accidents involving only a single motorcycle is simply running off the road in curves or corners. With that in mind I'd like to just refresh riders memories with the proper way (or at least MY way ) to negotiate curves & corners, especially at speed; Whenever possible I try to begin any corner or curve from the outside of the curve. (Of course, if the rider is on the inside lane of a four lane divided highway he can only go to the outside of the lane he is in.) This allows me to see the maximum distance thru the curve for any obstructions such as disabled vehicles, animals, etc.On entering the corner or curve, I try to see thru the curve as far as possible to the point where I want to be at the end..not at the shoulder or the yellow line because doing so will cause me to go in that direction almost without exception!
I find that in my case, I must make a conscious effort NOT to look at where I'm going, but instead look at where I want to be after the curve or corner; in other words I try to look THRU the corner as far as possible. At speed I find this especially hard to focus on, which means more practice is demanded. This practice of looking THRU the corner works especially well in making U turns on a two lane street. Turning the head as far as possible at the beginning of the turn and not looking at the edge of the road is what I want to do. I try to pick a marker such as a sign or other object 100 yards down the road in the direction of my turn. peripheral vision will allow me to see anything closer while turning.
I also find that these practices work just as well when driving a car or truck and also lessens the number of corrections one must make thru the curve.
Altho we all probably know all this but we possibly tend to get a little rusty in its application.

I imagine every rider has experienced the "tingles" in their hands at one time or another. Especially when riding in fairly long uninterrupted stretches. Removing the left hand from the bar in order to flex the fingers is certainly not a problem, but what about the throttle hand?
I'd like to suggest that you consider the Throttle Boss from Kuryakin. This little item is mounted on the end of Kurykin's ISO grip ( a major improvement in itself over OEM grips) by means of six small Phillips screws and consists of a small lever which extends about 1/2 inch from the grip. The lever itself can be mounted in whatever position in the throttle opening is most comfortable to one's hand. When riding the rider may place his/her palm on this little lever and thus relieve the fingers from the grip in order to flex the fingers. Also, the Throttle Boss may be used in the palm with the fingers on the grip, but with much less tension, thus lessening the tingling. I have had my Throttle Boss for a couple of years now & wouldn't be without it. I use it almost every time I ride, even in traffic. If you ever ride the highway at speed (70-80 mph) with crosswinds gusting to 25-30 mph you know about death grip on the bars.I just got home fron such a 25 mile ride and the Throttle Boss was a God send enabling me to prevent the "tingles". The only drawback is that the Throttle Boss fits only Kurykin ISO grips. Makes it a good excuse to get some new grips. I would imagine Mike at motoleather.com could take care of you in this regard. Click on either logo at the top of this page.

It was sixty-two years ago that the biggest assault in history took place on the beaches, in the air, and on the sea . It was the landing in Normandy which was the beginning of the end of Hitler's reign.
While in no way diminishing the losses we have suffered in Iraq, we sustained more losses IN ONE DAY in the D- Day invasion than we have currently suffered during the entire Iraq campaign! If memory serves, it was over 6000.
If you have a flag be sure to fly it today in honor of those young boys who never came home .
Proud former member of the "ALL AMERICAN DIVISION", The 82nd Airborne,

Hot_shoe_cv

I posted this on the forum also, but it certainly bears repeating. Today's newpaper barely made a comment on D Day and then only as a passing remark to another story...sad.