You can ride in winter! Here is how

Firmly entrenched in the "Heartland" of America, I have finished my wandering and pretty much retired. Having almost every destination in the country within a couple of days riding is a good thing!

I posted my 50th review on my birthday last year, and this year for my 100th I returned to my motorcycle roots ! But I believe my review on CaringBridge could be the most important one I have written.

Reviews and Comments: Overall, I try to rate reviews using the epinions guidlines . I believe that manufacturers rarely sell any product that is total junk for everyone in the market place, and that it might have some value to some buyer. So if my rating is Somewhat Helpfull, Not Helpfull, or lower than others, and the published review reflects an honest attempt to write an objective and helpful review for readers, I believe the reviewer deserves a comment from me as to why I rated the way I did - I will try to do that because it is the right thing to do. If you want to discuss any rating, or would like to discuss your review, please send me an email and I will be glad to reply. And since I believe motorcycles and their riders are different from cars and their drivers, for my 75th review I have tried to pass on what I believe makes for the most helpful motorcycle reviews.

But again, if you have any questions about a rating, please email me and we can discuss it. I do sometimes make mistakes, and I also would be more than glad to provide advice.

Back To Me: Over half a century savoring the joy of fine transportation experience has led me through the power trips of American hot rods, 48 US states (and a number of foreign countries) on two wheels, and a garage full of German and British machines. I have ridden well over a quarter million miles on a single brand of motorcycles (and who knows how many on other marques), savored the love - hate relationships Italian and British cars have with their owners, and have learned that maybe we all do deserve the best! I have written feature and product review articles for a number of commercial and defense related magazines, and for almost three years authored a monthly column on volunteer management for one of the world's largest motorcycle organization's magazines. The past President of the 40,000 member BMW Motorcycle Owners of America, I can appreciate the need for honest communication. Once a professional muscian ( bass players do not get weekends off to ride motorcycles), most people accept that as the reason why I usually decline to dance in public. A recently retired career logistician and program management specialist for US Army Aviation programs, with some time as a Manufacturing Program Manager for a Defense Contractor, and now an independent consultant on Defense Program Management support, I know all too well that beauty is not skin deep.

Having moved back to my "original homeland" of Kansas City, I am better positioned to cover business demands and motorcycle destinations wherever they are in the US.

Working for myself has proven to support my improved lifestyle: One morning last summer I asked my new boss if I could have a couple of weeks off, it went like this:

Me: “Don, there’s a rally in Wyoming followed by one in Colorado coming up. Would it be OK if I took a couple of weeks off work?”

Boss (me) : “Don, that sure seems like a good business strategy. Go ahead. I think I’ll make you Employee of the Month for such innovative use of resources!”

Remember:

"The motorcycle is a constant challenge to the man; a challenge to experience the adventure of man's command over the machine - directly, unadulterated. Over and over again, wind, weather and road must be conquered and mastered anew." - from the BMW R75/5 Owner's Manual

AND

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

In My Garage:

2003 BMW R1150RT

2004 Jaguar X-Type

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Maybe my next one: 2007 BMW R 1200 RT

Where have you ridden your motorcycle?