Just got back from the 29th annual Cycle World International Motorcycle Show at the Dallas Convention Center. Absent this year were Triumph, KTM, BMW and a few others, but the attendance looked much better than last year and demo rides were offered in Dallas for the first time.
We got to talk to quite a few factory reps and get the lowdown on some of the hot machines for 2010.
For those not familiar, this is a series of events held at large venues across the country where motorcycle manufacturers show off their new bikes. In addition to factory displays there are also gear vendors, vintage bikes, stunt shows, demo rides and a series of lectures on various topics. The full schedule and locations can be found at motorcycleshows.com.Here are a few highlights- in no particular order:
Harley-Davidson For me the most interesting thing here was the XR1200. According to the Motor Company's brochure it was "brought stateside as a result of U.S. consumers lobbying for its availability." Too bad more consumers didn't lobby for a Buell.
Ducati There were several new treats on display at the Ducati exhibit in Dallas, including a couple that preempted the EICMA Show in Milan. The new Streetfighter and Multistrada 798 were the highlights of the booth.
The updated Hypermotard 1000 EVO has shed 15 pounds and copies of the 1198S and 1198R Corse was fresh off the boat from Italy in the new red and black racing colors. What... no tricolori?!? I'm surprised there's not a law in Italy. No, seriously- I really am surprised there's no such law in Italy.
Here's more about Ducati's 2010 models from Jeff Brooks of Ducati NA...
Honda The big news for Honda was the all-new VFR1200F. I overheard quite a few negative comments regarding the styling. But technically it claims to be revolutionary. While the word "revolutionary" gets thrown around a lot at shows like this- Honda may have truly delivered. Consider...
The new VFR offers an optional double-clutch system that works the six-speed tranny like a paddle shifter. A shaft drive system uses a rigid swingarm that manages to eliminate the dreaded "acceleration rise" without pivot points. Plus sundry niceties like a phased crankshaft, throttle by wires, ABS and such.
We're looking forward to a test ride.
Also on display was the new (to America) NT700 which looked like a very spiffy sport-touring machine, and the Fury which boasts the longest wheelbase ever offered on a production Honda. Is that a good thing?
Kawasaki The folks at Kawasaki wanted their new Concours 14 to be the buzz. But the bug-eyed Versys attracted just as much attention. They parked it on the back side of the booth but it didn't help much. I think a lot of people had the same reaction when they saw the Z1000, but I personally like it.
Kudos to Kawi for offering such a wide selection of bikes for the demo rides. We made the 1/4 mile trek to check it out on Sunday, only to find a slew of bikes parked and waiting for eager riders to flog them. Maybe next year the organizers could locate the demo ride area in the same county?
Bartlesville a Haven for Architecture Buffs Most people hear Bartlesville and think Phillips Petroleum Company. Even though the company merged with Conoco in 2002, and subsequently moved their headquarters to Houston, the impact of Phillips on the city and its skyline is unquestionable.
Old and New The petroleum industry brought wealth to Bartlesville beginning with the first gusher in 1897. Since then a steady flow of people and money has followed the oil business. With the wildcatters came a flood of new construction- commercial and residential. Oil companies sought out the finest craftsmen and architects to create their corporate headquarters. The homes of these early oilmen must have seemed like palaces to the local Osage. Oil money is responsible for much of the distinctive architecture found in Bartlesville today.
Those boomtown days are long gone, but Bartlesville remains quite cosmopolitan for a town of 35,000. Public arts such as the Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra and Civic Ballet are well supported by the city. Annual events like the National Biplane Association's fly-in and OK Mozart attract visitors from the world over.
Architourism Yes, there really is such a thing. Bartlesville is home to buildings designed by many famous architects including Frank Lloyd Wright, Bruce Goff, Edward Buehler Delk, John Duncan Forsyth and a proposed expansion of the Price Tower Arts Center by Zaha Hadid. Visitors can easily find interesting buildings built in the Teens and Twenties, right up through the Seventies.
The most renowned building in Bartlesville has to be the Price Tower. The only Frank Lloyd Wright skyscraper ever built, the unusual design was cutting-edge for 1956. The 19-story tower featured retail, office and residential space anchored by the headquarters of the H.C. Price Company. Today the building is home to Price Tower Arts Center, a boutique hotel and the Copper restaurant/bar.
Across the street from the Price Tower is another unusual building. Some people have compared it to a circus tent, but I've always called it the hat box. The Bartlesville Community Center was designed by William Wesley Peters, a student of Wright's. Begun in 1979 the 94,000 square foot facility has been recognized for its excellent acoustics.
Other notable buildings in B'ville include the streamline Bartlesville High School designed by John Duncan Forsyth, the Santa Fe Depot, and the original Cities Services headquarters (now known as the Reda Building).
More To explore more of Bartlesville's architecture you can download walking tours from the Bartlesville Area History Museum. Enjoy!
South on Highway 10 On our third episode we visited Fort Gibson, Oklahoma then turned south and explored OK-10. We discovered that no matter who you are, you'll probably find something to enjoy on Oklahoma State Highway 10.
Greenleaf State Park is located near Braggs, Oklahoma and is one of the seven original Oklahoma State Parks. The centerpiece of Greenleaf is a sparkling 900-acre lake. The lake and rustic rock cabins were originally built in the Thirties by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Later renovations were performed by German POWs housed at nearby Camp Gruber. Another unique structure is the Gruber Group Camp building which once served as the officer's lounge, and is still used occasionally by the National Guard and Reserve.
In addition to 15 cabins, Greenleaf offers visitors an 18 mile hiking trail, bike trails, a heated fishing dock, more than 200 campsites and a nature center offering year-round programming. A special “cabin in the lake” is an award-winning facility reserved for handicapped visitors. The group camp is also available for family reunions and groups. Boats and canoes are available for rental, but personal watercraft are not allowed on Greenleaf Lake.
Just a few miles up Highway 10 from Braggs, Oklahoma is the Gruber ORV area. This is a popular off-road vehicle riding area known for its rocky terrain and wooded trails. The park was created in 1990 when a 455-acre sliver of Camp Gruber was deeded to Muskogee County. The property is bounded on the east by Oklahoma Highway 10 and the Arkansas River on the west.
Regional competitions are held at Gruber including enduros, observed trials and cross-country races. But lots of folks like to just come out and spend an afternoon putting around. There are plenty of challenging trails that twist through these woods and over rocky ledges.
You may have seen me wearing this jacket in a couple of recent episodes. It's a comfy textile jacket with lots of pockets and includes a quilted liner. The Series 2 GX Sport is touted for its advanced ventilation system, but even with all those vents it doesn't make this a summer jacket.
Under that 600 Denier Carbolex® shell and reflective piping is a waterproof liner. Unfortunately it also blocks a good deal of airflow- even with every vent wide open. Now that might not be a problem if we lived in Seattle, but if it's August here in Oklahoma you do have a problem! I also found the Shock Cord feature (a system to hold the shoulder vents open) difficult to deal with while wearing gloves.
Otherwise it's a great jacket.
It has a very nice fit and lots of great features. I like the neck closure, easy to find even with heavy gloves, and the removable quilted liner will keep you warm even when the mercury dips pretty low. The removable armor is substantial and includes a back pad. Sizing seem to run pretty accurate, and tall sizes are also offered which add about 2" to the length of the sleeves and torso. The GX Sport 2 is offered in blue (shown above), black, yellow, silver and red.
So if you're looking for a well made waist-length jacket, look no further. The fit is one of the best I've ever worn and the weather protection is top notch. But if you're hoping to find a year-round jacket suitable for Oklahoma summers don't let all those vents fool you.
Exploring the Copperhead TrailHighway 20 was one of Oklahoma’s original state highways. A map from 1925 (right) shows Route 20 running from Claremore to the Arkansas state line, pretty much the same as today. Later it was extended west, through the Osage. Today OK-20 runs 144 miles from the western terminus just shy of Ralston, Oklahoma to the Oklahoma state line at Three Corners.
The stretch of OK-20 between Salina and Jay is known locally as Copperhead Trail. These twisties are legendary and attract motorcyclists from far and wide. The road, like its namesake, is twisty and has been known to bite the unsuspecting. No matter what you're driving- pay attention and watch your speed.
There are also numerous side roads along this route that are worth exploring if you have the time. We'll begin in Salina, at the junction where Highway 20 meets Highway 82...
Salina is on the shores of Lake Hudson. Long before the lake was built Salina was a trading post and Oklahoma’s first white settlement. Auguste Pierre Choteau, a trader from St. Louis, set up camp here and traded furs with the local Indians. But when we visit Salina today we usually trade at the Dairy Deal. Check out their sign and you can see who has a birthday coming up, and their malts are pretty darn good.
From the 20/82 junction we'll find our first side trip: Kenwood Road.
Head east from the junction and the road follows along a beautiful creek. Eventually you'll pass through the town of Kenwood, an old Cherokee town. If you continue east the road winds its way to OK-10/US-59. Alternatively you can turn north toward Upper Spavinaw- that turnoff is marked by a sign for the Spavinaw Wildlife Management Area.
If you continue eastbound on 20 from Salina you'll head north through gentle curves. A few miles outside of Salina the curves begin tightening up as you approach the ridge that runs along Spavinaw Creek. Watch your speed here, especially when you see an unusual warning sign- it marks a decreasing radius corner that has taken out more than few motorcycle riders.
Eventually the twists and turns descend into the valley along the creek and passes the Spavinaw State Park. The park is a great spot to pull over and watch the water roll over the spillway. Tulsans might recognize the lake as the source of their drinking water. A concrete flowline runs from this dam to Lake Yahola in North Tulsa. When the dam was completed in 1924 it created the first man-made lake in northeastern Oklahoma, and made Spavinaw an instant resort destination.
Just past the town of Spavinaw highways 20 and 82 part company. Highway 20 continues east toward Jay, passing the tiny town of Eucha and State Highway 28. Jay is the county seat of Delaware County and the limestone block courthouse marks the center of town. You'll also see a road sign for OK-127, our next side trip: Zena Loop
The Zena Loop, or the roller coaster as we like to call it, is a 12 mile stretch of twists and turns that pass through the tiny community of Zena, Oklahoma. But watch your speed, the curves aren’t marked and there is absolutely no shoulder! At the end you can turn south and return to 20, or turn around and do it again!
OK-20 continues on past Jay toward Arkansas and Missouri. This final stretch of Oklahoma 20 runs along the Arkansas border for about 5 miles. This is the only state highway in the United States that shares the highway signs of two states: Arkansas 43 and Oklahoma 20.
Just in case that isn’t confusing enough, the next road sign you’ll see is Missouri 43. That marks the end of Oklahoma’s 20 at Three Corners. There’s an Ozark Historical Society marker here that marks the spot where Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma meet. Well worth a photo stop!
From here you can keep going for a few more minutes and be in Noel, Missouri- ready to tour Missouri’s highway 90. But that’s a story for another day!
You may have seen Brad wearing Tourmaster's Flex 2 jacket on a few episodes. It's a unique jacket with a versatile design.
But is one jacket really all you ever need?
That's what Tourmaster is shooting for with their Flex jacket series. Off the rack you see a waterproof textile jacket. But unzip a few zippers (make that several zippers) and the outer shell comes off to reveal a full mesh jacket. But wait- there's more! Yes, that's right. There' s also an insulated liner underneath all that. The liner also uses more zippers and a few buttons with loops.
If that sounds like a lot for one jacket, it is. Brad has worn this jacket on several rides now and offered a few points to consider. First, the good things about this jacket:
With the jacket fully assembled, it is makes a weathertight, warm jacket with a zipper built in to the rear of the jacket to attach pants for the coldest riding that we would ever want to do. We have already had the chance to try it out in the rain and found it watertight, without a drop getting past any of the zippers or seams.
With the top cover and inner liner removed, revealing the mesh, it makes a perfect summer jacket for the warmer times.
The Flex II comes with hard, shoulder and elbow protection and soft back protection built in. It has enough pockets scattered throughout the layers that would make most similar jackets look bare in this department.
The quality is top notch with quality zippers, buttons and finish. It uses a mandarin style collar with soft material that touches the skin and enough adjustments on the cuffs, sleeves and bottom of the jacket to make fitting easy. And these adjustments are used on the top layer and underneath on the mesh base.
On the top layer, it uses two scoops, just below the shoulders that really do stay open and work and easily fill the jacket with air when using the top layer.
Now for a few downsides to this "do it all" jacket:
The Flex II is bulky and a fairly heavy jacket. Not much of any way around it with all three pieces put together. Of course, it lightens up as you start shedding parts when the weather warms up.
The removal and replacement of the liner is not an easy task. As the temperature and conditions change out on the road prepare for approximately 15 minutes. And that's laying it out on a flat surface in good light. Maybe we are just not practiced enough, but would hate to imagine trying to put it all back together in a hurry, at a gas station, out on the road, at night.
Another issue was noticed when the zippered scoops were opened up while the inner liner was removed. The scoops stayed open and really pulled in the air, filling the jacket with pressurized air. But once up to highway speed, the pressurized air that filled the jacket will also press the inner mesh to your body like a straight jacket. This was a strange feeling to be riding down the highway with the jacket blown up with air, but a constricting feeling. Like you were wearing a shirt that's two sizes too small.
Overall, we really like this jacket for both cold (all pieces in place), and the hot (mesh only) and look forward to wearing it through this Winter. And considering the typical Tourmaster quality, this one looks like it will be around for a while.
So does it replace the two or three jackets that you already have for different conditions? Well... almost.
Our First Rerun We're hot out of the gate, way out in front and heading for the first turn. Then WHAM... our first malfunction!
The response to the first episode of Two Wheel Oklahoma has been tremendous, and we planned to have another great episode ready for Week Two. Alas there are only so many hours in a day, and it looks like that won't happen after all. Retro Spec has done an amazing job on the video production and editing for Two Wheel Oklahoma.
Unfortunately we were not able to complete the editing and closed captioning in time to make the air date this week. So this Saturday, instead of showing you our trip up Highway 20, we are running an "encore performance" of the Route 66 episode.
Hopefully everyone will enjoy another visit with Mister Sam?
We will be back with a new episode next week.
Stroud, Midway and the Rock CafeLong before there was a Hard Rock Cafe- heck, long before there was hard rock, there was the Rock Cafe.
This popular roadside eatery in Stroud, Oklahoma has become sort of a local legend. The name describes the stone walls, made of local sandstone dug up during construction of Route 66. The brown stone walls have stood the test of time- and more recently fire.
This popular stop along Route 66 enjoyed a steady business from locals and travelers since opening its doors in 1936. Situated at the halfway point between Oklahoma City and Tulsa, the restaurant's location was a perfect stop for weary drivers.
Stroud was, and still is, known as Midway to many Oklahomans. That's also a reference to the Howard Johnson's that once stood on the Turner Turnpike near here. In 1955 a sleek modern bridge over the Interstate opened that allowed drivers going either direction on the Turner Turnpike to stop and have a HoJo. This was a companion novelty to the Glass House on the Will Rogers Turnpike.
Several years ago an outlet mall opened also hoping to seize on Stroud's central location. It might have worked if it weren't for that darn tornado. Today on the turnpike there's just the Pike Pass toll plaza and a McDonalds between the highway lanes. But back on the Old Road, the Rock Cafe is still going strong.
A fire in 2008 nearly closed the Rock Cafe for good. Most owners would have walked away. It reopened one year later.It wasn't always. The brown stone eatery declined through the Seventies and Eighties until a resourceful girl from Yukon decided to give it a go. Dawn Welch set to work restoring the Rock Cafe, and listing it on the National Register of Historic Places. The original idea was to spend a year to get it up and running, then sell the business to finance a trip to Costa Rica. That was sixteen years ago.
Today the Rock Cafe is frequented by travelers from around the world, discovering America via the Old Road. But the greatest claim to fame came in 2006 when Disney execs working on the movie “Cars” visited the Rock Cafe looking for inspiration. They stopped looking for a burger, but left with a good deal more. Welch inspired the character Sally Carrera, otherwise known as the blue Porsche voiced by Bonny Hunt.
I often wear a black Tourmaster Transition jacket on the show. So far this has been the most usable jacket I have ever ridden with. It works in almost any weather condition, except extreme heat. But that kind of versatility is what makes the Transition a really great bargain.
The current version is the Transition II (right). It's s a 3/4 length jacket made mostly of 600 denier polyester with a water-resistant coating and clever reinforcing panels that are reflective. For protection you get a foam backpad and removable CE armor in the shoulders and elbows. Included with the jacket is an insulated zip-out liner. The main zipper is a heavy duty "double zipper" which means it's made to unzip from below for comfort when seated. You also get a pants zipper to attach this jacket to riding pants (they even throw in the pant side of the zipper).
Ventilation is provided by adjustable shoulder vents plus vents in the chest, sleeves and back to create what Tourmaster calls its "pipeline ventilation system." It seems to actually work despite the catchy name. The chest vents also have a double velcro strip to hold them open in hot weather. All of the vents on the front use waterproof zippers and/or flaps.
Tour Master is known for packing their riding gear with a lot of features at a reasonable price. This jacket is no exception. For example the collar and cuffs are lined with microfiber so they're comfortable— yet also durable. A pocket across the back offers extra storage, even if it isn't the most convenient to get at. Night visibility is enhanced by liberal amounts of Scotchlite. The adjustment straps for the cuffs and waist are infinitely adjustable velcro instead of snaps. Another nice touch is a snap to keep the collar from flapping around when you ride with it open. I have to admit- that one was a mystery to me for the first week I owned this jacket!
You Are Invited Two Wheel Oklahoma Sneak Preview Party Thursday, October 1, 2009 • 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm Stokely Event Center • 10111 East 45th Place • Tulsa
We'd like to invite you to celebrate the upcoming television premiere of this exciting new locally-produced television program.
Two Wheel Oklahoma will debut on KMYT-41 in Tulsa on October 3, 2009 at 9:00 am. We'd like you to join us for a private viewing and live music from the Kristen Goss Band at the Stokely Event Center (map).
Feel free to bring along a friend, but be sure to let us know how many are coming. We'll be providing hors d'oeuvres, light refreshments and a cash bar.
"You see things vacationing on a motorcycle in a way that is completely different from any other.
In a car you're always in a compartment, and because you're used to it you don't realize that through
that car window everything you see is just more TV. You're a passive observer and it is all moving
by you boringly in a frame."
The big news for Honda was the all-new VFR1200F. I overheard quite a few negative comments regarding the styling. But technically it claims to be revolutionary. While the word "revolutionary" gets thrown around a lot at shows like this- Honda may have truly delivered. Consider...
The petroleum industry brought wealth to Bartlesville beginning with the first gusher in 1897. Since then a steady flow of people and money has followed the oil business. With the wildcatters came a flood of new construction- commercial and residential. Oil companies sought out the finest craftsmen and architects to create their corporate headquarters. The homes of these early oilmen must have seemed like palaces to the local Osage. Oil money is responsible for much of the distinctive architecture found in Bartlesville today. 
The most renowned building in Bartlesville has to be the Price Tower. The only Frank Lloyd Wright skyscraper ever built, the unusual design was cutting-edge for 1956. The 19-story tower featured retail, office and residential space anchored by the headquarters of the H.C. Price Company. Today the building is home to Price Tower Arts Center, a boutique hotel and the Copper restaurant/bar. 
Other notable buildings in B'ville include the streamline Bartlesville High School designed by John Duncan Forsyth, the Santa Fe Depot, and the original Cities Services headquarters (now known as the Reda Building). 
Greenleaf State Park is located near Braggs, Oklahoma and is one of the seven original Oklahoma State Parks. The centerpiece of Greenleaf is a sparkling 900-acre lake. The lake and rustic rock cabins were originally built in the Thirties by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Later renovations were performed by German POWs housed at nearby Camp Gruber. Another unique structure is the Gruber Group Camp building which once served as the officer's lounge, and is still used occasionally by the National Guard and Reserve.
Under that 600 Denier Carbolex® shell and reflective piping is a waterproof liner. Unfortunately it also blocks a good deal of airflow- even with every vent wide open. Now that might not be a problem if we lived in Seattle, but if it's August here in Oklahoma you do have a problem! I also found the Shock Cord feature (a system to hold the shoulder vents open) difficult to deal with while wearing gloves.
Highway 20 was one of Oklahoma’s original state highways. A map from 1925 (right) shows Route 20 running from Claremore to the Arkansas state line, pretty much the same as today. Later it was extended west, through the Osage. Today OK-20 runs 144 miles from the western terminus just shy of Ralston, Oklahoma to the Oklahoma state line at Three Corners. 
Salina is on the shores of Lake Hudson. Long before the lake was built Salina was a trading post and Oklahoma’s first white settlement. Auguste Pierre Choteau, a trader from St. Louis, set up camp here and traded furs with the local Indians. But when we visit Salina today we usually trade at the Dairy Deal. Check out their sign and you can see who has a birthday coming up, and their malts are pretty darn good.
Eventually the twists and turns descend into the valley along the creek and passes the Spavinaw State Park. The park is a great spot to pull over and watch the water roll over the spillway. Tulsans might recognize the lake as the source of their drinking water. A concrete flowline runs from this dam to Lake Yahola in North Tulsa. When the dam was completed in 1924 it created the first man-made lake in northeastern Oklahoma, and made Spavinaw an instant resort destination. 
OK-20 continues on past Jay toward Arkansas and Missouri. This final stretch of Oklahoma 20 runs along the Arkansas border for about 5 miles. This is the only state highway in the United States that shares the highway signs of two states: Arkansas 43 and Oklahoma 20. 
Unfortunately we were not able to complete the editing and closed captioning in time to make the air date this week. So this Saturday, instead of showing you our trip up Highway 20, we are running an "encore performance" of the Route 66 episode.
This popular roadside eatery in Stroud, Oklahoma has become sort of a local legend. The name describes the stone walls, made of local sandstone dug up during construction of Route 66. The brown stone walls have stood the test of time- and more recently fire.
Stroud was, and still is, known as Midway to many Oklahomans. That's also a reference to the Howard Johnson's that once stood on the Turner Turnpike near here. In 1955 a sleek modern bridge over the Interstate opened that allowed drivers going either direction on the Turner Turnpike to stop and have a HoJo. This was a companion novelty to the Glass House on the Will Rogers Turnpike.
We'd like to invite you to celebrate the upcoming television premiere of this exciting new locally-produced television program.
Feel free to bring along a friend, but be sure to let us know how many are coming. We'll be providing hors d'oeuvres, light refreshments and a cash bar.
