The Wheelnerds Podcast

Third time’s the charm. I think Friday morning is going to be the new official publish time for the show. Apparently, I’m too old and soft to stay up late Thursday night anymore to post shows.

Breaking news: Britain says scooters are dangerous. Who knew? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16844525

Our guest on the show this week is:

Fred Rau and his Lucky Hat

http://www.fredrau.com

Fred’s new book is the Motorcycle Touring Bible. A great introduction to the topic of sport-touring, it’s loaded with pictures, stories, and tons of great info. Geared toward newbies to the topic, I think even experienced tourers will enjoy reading the anecdotes and frequent asides. It’s like a coffee table book, except one you’d actually want to read instead of listlessly leafing through while waiting. We got an Amazon affiliate link for you to use to go check it out (and maybe even buy. Wheelnerds need taco money!)

 Motorcycle Touring Bible by Fred Rau

In listener mail this week, Peter J sent us this pretty long one that we talk about on air. Here it is in its entirety. A passionate defense of latte-sippers everywhere! (just kidding)

Hi guys…

Feel free to edit this- after reading it I realize I tend to ramble a lot.

Dexter Ford’s recent interview prompted me to do a little thinking about the adventure bike market, and perhaps stick a pin in some of the over-inflated windbag nay-sayers.

We don’t all buy these bikes with pretensions of the African outback, or traversing the Nile serengeti.

Furthermore, not all of us polish them feverishly in hopes someone will notice them leaning rakishly in front of the local S-bux.

No, the heavy duty build quality and excessive suspension travel appeal to another breed of rider entirely. The motorcyclist.

I ride an F8GS. Yes, it has wide-ass aluminum saddlebags (NOT panniers – those go over the gas tank – lets all learn the terminology, people.) Yes it has crash bars, and hand guards, and looks like it could survive a class 5 rapids. But all these fripperies are to keep it from breaking in the event of an unplanned slide down the road, not give me “loads of cred”. I don’t have a skid plate – for the type of riding I do, it will not likely ever be required.  The saddlebags hold tools, lunch, and rain gear. I use this bike every day, rain, shine, sub-zero, 100F, anything short of snow and ice – although it’s seen it’s share of both. If I hit a pothole, or a dog, or a drive shaft lying on the highway (last year), I can expect it to behave with aplomb. Yes Glen, I do have a GPS. It’s for navigating to hotels in strange new cities. On the road, I rarely use it.

I’ve equipped it with a Mirage II fairing from Brittania Composites to keep the wind off me, and power outlets to keep me warm. I tried the TKC’s – they looked totally hard core, bro’. But they’re noisy, they vibrate – and they really suck if you have to stop RIGHT NOW. Off they came, and some Anakee II’s went on. Great street tires, capable enough off road if you need to go there. It’s a guerilla commuter and part time tourer, and if want an adventure too, it’s ready and willing.

It’s a working bike, and it shows. I wash it about 3 times a year, and other than routine maintenance, it gets ignored. Ridden hard, put away wet as the saying goes. It never complains. It’s built for it.

I agree with Dexter regarding the DR650. I had one, and sold it to a friend who prompty rode it to Tierra del Fuego. (This is her if you’re interestedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JW_1gUuuvc&feature=share ). Great bike. But a tourer it’s not, and she will back me up on that. Oh, you can do it… but it’s a bigger compromise than I’m willing to endure. My wife and I rode a few thousand miles around the western U.S. last summer, and I don’t think it would have been all that enjoyable on a DR. I also had a DR350 for the dirt, and an R1200R for the street. And then there were my wife’s bikes. I looked at that overstuffed garage and thought “what can I do the consolidate this fleet?”

I needed one bike (to rule them all), a jack of all trades, a man for all seasons if you will. I found it in the F800GS. Sure, it’s overkill on the street… or is it? Have you ever encountered road construction? Not a problem. How about a shortcut over a traffic island? Similarly non-dramatic. Can it happily drone on the superslab for 12 hours at a time? Yes, if you shave the seat a little. And lets say you are interested in what’s at the end of that dirt road – should I risk it with my chromed out v-twin behemoth – oooohh… better not. This bike? Pshaw. Go get the tent. This bike is what a Scrambler should be. The rugged off-roady bits are actually functional.

The ADVENTURE market has become a victim of it’s own marketing, and a bit of a laughingstock it seems. I don’t give a shit what people think. These bikes are the most practical things on two wheels. And the matching gear is practical too. It’s easy to poke fun at the GS type rider in the armored whale foreskin hazmat suit – but have you worn one? They are truly versatile. I don’t have to tell you guys, you know. You ride in more than sunny warm weather. They offer great protection from impact, abraision, and inclement weather. So we look like spacemen. Fuck you, you look like Blackbeard’s gay cousin Thtewart.

I think that despite all the negative press, adventure style bikes are starting to get noticed – not because of their ability to elude rampaging elephants, but in spite of it. People are realizing how good they are at being motorcycles. Even some of the die-hard sportbike crowd on a local Vancouver forum are swallowing their pride and buying a bike that will happily endure traffic jams without requiring physiotherapy afterward. I think they may have realized they had been underestimating dual-sports after getting passed on the outside by an old dude riding one on a couple of back road strafing runs.

This little rant is probably one of many similar you have heard, but I felt compelled to defend my trusty mount. I wish I had a clever name for her (him?), maybe you could suggest one.

Thanks for listening.
Peter J

Great feedback. We love hearing it!

Want to hear yourself on our show? Ridden a bike (like your own) and got an opinion? Got a cool piece of gear or farkle? Got a story? Know some jokes? Record an MP3 (or whatever) and email it to us at wheelnerds@gmail.com. We’ll throw it on the air and talk about it, too. That’s right, you can be the first on your block to be openly mocked by the Wheelnerds.

Or call our voicemail: (801) 917-4136

Or, leave us a voicemail via Skype! Our skype ID is wheelnerds.

Just go ahead, call, and leave us your story there! (We still read your emails, too, and will answer them on the show). If you got something really cool, shoot us a line and maybe we’ll talk to you live, too.

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Tags: ADV, adventure, BMW, Buell, Fred, motorcycles, podcasts, Rau, touring, triumph, Ural, wheelnerds