Columns - RoadRUNNER (Page 7)

RoadRUNNER

Columns

A collection of 159 posts

Keep Your Belt On!

Keep Your Belt On!

I’ll apologize before your eyes glaze over—this piece is about a technical subject. Specifically, why would manufacturers design engines that use timing belts as opposed to chains or gears? You likely already know that four-stroke engines have valves that are opened by camshafts. The cams turn at a

The Hill

Many of us began our love affair with motorcycles by riding in the dirt. Little did I realize what life lessons could be found in that. In 1973, at the age of 15, I was riding a Honda Elsinore 250. It’s hard to believe, but back then, there were

Zen Motorcyclist: What Do You Ride?

Zen Motorcyclist

Zen Motorcyclist: What Do You Ride?

> “Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many—not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” — Charles Dickens What do you ride? It’s such a personal choice. We ride what we choose, just as we love who we love, for reasons all

Stories From the Road: That Night in the Pyrenees

Stories From the Road: That Night in the Pyrenees

It was a dark and stormy night. No, seriously, it was a dark and stormy night. My lady and I had arrived at the end of a month-long motorcycle sojourn through Spain and were doing our best to prolong the experience. We had detoured up into the Pyrenees for one

Fouled Plugs: You Missed the Point of the Indian FTR1200

Fouled Plugs Premium Content

You Missed the Point of the Indian FTR1200

During a recent conversation with a friend at my local dealer, he told me they could barely move the Indian FTR1200 and I just can’t see why. It’s an epic machine! I feel like part of the reason it’s not selling is that it seems to be

Fouled Plugs: Nap Time for the Weary Traveler

Fouled Plugs Premium Content

Nap Time for the Weary Traveler

I can’t count how many times I’ve found myself exhausted and sleeping in the car at a rest stop for an hour or two before continuing my travels. That’s usually considered safe and is generally encouraged. Cool, but what about riders? I’ve stopped countless times at

Meet Dr. O

We all seem to have our roles in life. We either settle into a persona over time or are assigned one in a social context. Some people are born how they are. Me? I was born a crotchety old man. The get-off-my-lawn-kids-these-days sort of crotchety, but I couldn’t give

Riding in Comfort: Banishing the Aching Back

Riding in Comfort: Banishing the Aching Back

Touring motorcyclists are often on the road from dawn until dusk, and riding for days at a time. To maximize enjoyment, riders need a mount that is set up as ergonomically comfortable as possible. Since each person’s body is different, a bike fresh off the showroom floor may not

Getting Your Body Ready for Motorcycle Touring

Getting Your Body Ready for Motorcycle Touring

Much has been written and said about preparing a rider’s motorcycle for a new touring season, but relatively little is ever said about preparing a rider’s body for long motorcycle rides. As all serious riders know, it takes much more mental focus and physical stamina to ride a