September, 2015 Volume 16, Issue 9 G.W.R.R.A., REGION H, TEXAS DISTRICT, CHAPTER W Chapter TX-W Directors Vern & Suzanne Neal Happy September to all. We had a good number of bikes & trikes from Chapter W make the trip to the GWRRA Huntsville Alabama Wing Ding. Some took 2 days coming and going to get there, others were gone the whole week. We had a birthday dinner for Rick. One group visited the Barber Motorcycle Museum. It seemed everyone had a good time and we all have new stories to tell. Many bikes and trikes received SAFETY CHROME or CUSTOM MURALS along with other accessories. I believe everyone made it back safe and sound. Ride Safe. Vern & Suzanne Neal Chapter Directors Our Meeting Place and Time GWRRA Texas Chapter "W" will holds its chapter meetings on the first and third Thursdays of the month. The first currently at Rudy s BBQ, 21799 Katy Freeway, Katy, TX 77450 (I-10 just east of Mason Rd.). The second will move month to month so see our calendar. The first is our regular chapter meeting while the second meeting
VOLUME 16 ISSUE 9 SEPTEMBER, 2015 PAGE 2 NORTHWEST HONDA 10102 North Freeway (I-45 @ West Road) Houston, Texas 77037 YOUR ONE STOP TOY SHOP HONDA DUCATI Tuesday thru Friday: 9am to 7 pm Saturday: 9am to 5pm Parts: Service: Sales: Fax: (281) 447-6337 (281) 447-0316 (281) 447-3476 (281) 447-9532 www.lunsfordshonda.com
VOLUME 16 ISSUE 9 SEPTEMBER, 2015 Tips For Riders Of Big Bikes The balls of your feet will tell By: Cash Anthony PAGE 3 Most altitudinally-impaired riders learn to ride a motorcycle on something smaller than a GoldWing. Assuming you are thinking of moving up to a bigger bike, these 10 points may help you enjoy the move. No matter how many miles you have behind you on a smaller bike, don't assume you can ride a bigger one on the street without practicing on a parking lot first. Moving up to a bigger bike is almost like starting over. (Most little riders going up to a bigger bike don't have to be told this, but you never know. Some 'little people' still have 'big brass ones'...or else they wouldn't be trying to ride a big bike to begin with. ) If you can flatfoot one side and have 'ball of the foot' control on both sides of a big bike, you can probably ride it safely under most circumstances. [Most bikes can have their seats cut down about an inch to improve your ability to control it at the expense of some comfort Since the fear of dropping a big bike needs to be overcome early, assuming your bike has sufficient guards on it to prevent damage, you may want to take it onto a grassy area and practice dropping it gently from a standstill a couple of times in order to learn the art of standing on the high peg and stepping away from the bike with your other leg, in the event you ever do. This, in order not to end up underneath it. You also may need either a reverse gear (if such is available for your model) or to ride with accommodating friends in order to get your bike out of incline trouble, now and then. Most of your fellow riders will be so impressed with your 'big brass ones' for what you're riding that they're glad to help. If not, find riders who are. Before you take your big bike on the road for the first time, sit on it and learn where all the controls are, even the ones you don't think you will need (your 'mute' button, for example.) It can be so exciting to ride one of these beasts that should you forget to learn some of the basics early on, it may be too late when you're out there in traffic and too terrified to even move around on the seat. When you stop a big bike on an incline across your lane, put your foot down on the HIGHER side only at first, and reach very carefully with your foot for the lower side. If you have to, you CAN hold that big bike up with one leg for a very long period - after all, its weight is on the tires, not carried by your leg. Shortlegging a big bike (and dumping it) is usually a matter of absent-mindedness... but in some groups, you'll be wearing that pacifier for a while if you forget.
VOLUME 16 ISSUE 9 SEPTEMBER, 2015 PAGE 4 When turning a big bike at slow speeds, a tiny amount of pressure on the rear brake can help you maintain control of the degree of lean you want. NEVER forget to look through the turn! To get a big bike off the side stand when it is leaning so much you can't easily pick it up, grip the front brake and clutch levers securely (whether the engine is running or not) and push the bike FORWARD as you try to bring it upright in one smooth movement. (This modestly compresses the front suspension, making the bike a little shorter.) Be sure before you take your big bike on the road that you don't have pantlegs or chaps which will tangle on the peg as you put your feet down at a stop. Just because it's big doesn't mean it won't lean smartly. If your engine will dependably carry you through a curve with power, you'll be able to lean a bigger bike just as much as a turn requires, with normal skills, at prudent speed. This is a matter of confidence and parking lot practice. You can control it through the foot brake and the clutch. If the wind seems to be buffeting a big bike more than the little bike you used to ride, try to relax and know that your wheels are securely under you. The weight of the big bike will tend to keep the rubber on the road in the absence of crisis braking, even if you have to lean. If you increase speed somewhat in a strong crosswind, this may help to give you stability (and will get you to the next stop a little sooner, where you can relax your pucker string for a while). You will soon get past the feeling that you are 'flying a 747' or that the big beast 'wants to go faster', although those are common reactions when you get on a bigger bike. Big bikes tend to have smoother engines and a somewhat different gear ratio from your smaller ride. Once you do get the hang of it, and after that magic 'click' in the mind that tells you you're really RIDING this thing, remember to relax and enjoy yourself -- and now and then, when you feel comfortable, to wave at your admirers! Copyright 1992-2015 by The Master Strategy Group, all rights reserved. http://www.msgroup.org
VOLUME 16 ISSUE 9 SEPTEMBER, 2015 PAGE 5 October, 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 Upcoming Events for October 1st Chapter Meeting 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 15th-17th Oklahoma District Convention 15th Planning Meeting 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Check our web site calendar for last minute events. www.gwrra-txw.org 3 If you re a rider in Texas, motorcycle insurance from Suzanne Sansom Insurance Services Inc. can protect both you and your bike. At Suzanne Sansom Insurance Services Inc., we believe that good insurance is no accident and our dedicated agents will take the time to find you insurance products that are reliable and affordable. We are an independent agency and we will shop for the top carriers in the country to satisfy all of your personal insurance needs. www.sansominsurance.com/personal-insurance/motorcycle-insurance/ 3522 S. Mason Rd., Suite 260 Katy, TX 77450 Phone: 832-437-4180 Fax: 832-772-4325 Email: suzanne@sansominsurance.com Motorcycle ~ Life ~ Auto ~ Home ~ Commercial www.sansominsurance.com
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VOLUME 16 ISSUE 9 SEPTEMBER, 2015 PAGE 10 Gaido s Seafood, Galveston Only food pictures More from Barber Museum September Birthdays Rick Bartle, 4th Dan Vacek, 15th Anniversaries Lynn & Cindy Harris, 11th
VOLUME 16 ISSUE 9 SEPTEMBER, 2015 PAGE 11 Katy home of the 2015 Goldwing and the Can-Am Spyder RT 22515 KATY FWY Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon HOURS 9:00 am 6:00 am 9:00 am 6:00 am 9:00 am 6:00 am 9:00 am 6:00 am 9:00 am 6:00 am Closed Closed KATY, TX 77450 Phone: 281-392-8850 Fax: 281-392-6162 www.wildwestmotoplex.com About Us Located in Katy, Texas since 1983. Wild West Honda is an authorized dealer for Honda, Kawasaki, BMW, YAMAHA, KTM, Sea-Doo, & Can-Am. Click, Call, or Come on by! Chapter W Officers Position Name Phone Number Chapter Directors Vern & Suzanne Neal (713) 295-9150 Assistant Chapter Director Ed & Kerrie Johnson (832) 341-8802 Treasurer Cindy Harris (386) 846-8521 Membership Enhancement OPEN Newsletter Editor Steve Wilkening (713) 899-6855 Chapter Educator Open Chapter Historian Jim Vardaman (281) 495-2748 Ride Coordinator Roger Caron (832) 868-8976 Webmaster Steve Wilkening (713) 899-6855