Come ride along.

If you're following us on Facebook you might already be a winner. If not, there's no better time to join Facebook and become a fan.

We've Got Free T-Shirts for Two Lucky Fans!

When our Facebook fan count hits 1000 we'll pick two lucky fans at random and send them each a stylish Two Wheel Oklahoma t-shirt of their choice. Choose from two logo designs and loads of great colors. You can see them all in the Official TWO Gear Store.

But you can't win if you aren't a fan- and nobody wins until we see the big 1K!

So tell all your friends, invite your Mom, sign up your uncle. The sooner we have 1000 fans the sooner you'll have a chance to win the TWO 1000!

Two Wheel Oklahoma

Labels: gear

Ever wish you had some riding pants that didn't look... well, like riding pants? 

You may have noticed me wearing blue jeans on some of the shows. Every once in a while I get asked about riding in jeans by fellow motorcyclists, "Don't you ever feel uncomfortable just wearing jeans?"

Yes and no. The jeans I'm wearing are Diamond Gusset Defenders and are reinforced with Kevlar. The Kevlar provides more abrasion protection than denim alone can offer. While they don't have the protection of full-on motorcycle pants, I feel they're safer than riding in regular blue jeans.

Diamond Gusset Defender jeans are made in Memphis, Tennessee and derive their name from a diamond-shaped panel sewn into the crotch. The idea is this gusset reduces the bunching and binding you get with most jeans when seated. It must work, because I have found them to be extremely comfortable, even on long rides.

DG takes their regular 14.5 oz. denim jean and adds Kevlar panels in the knees, butt and hips. You also get a watch pocket on the left-hand side, a small "knife" pocket on the right leg, a D-ring above the right pocket and Velcro closures at the bottom of the leg openings. These are well made jeans and come in blue or black. Unlike some riding jeans these are sized by waist and length, just like Levis.

Do I consider them equivalent to motorcycle riding pants?

No. They offer some protection from sliding along the asphalt. Proper riding pants with removable armor and/or leather reinforcements will always be a better choice.

Riding jeans like this provide more protection than standard blue jeans. But they do not offer the protection from impacts or severe abrasion that you'll get with "real" riding pants. So if you prefer the casual look, comfort and light weight of jeans these may be a good choice.

You can find more information about Diamond Gusset Defenders and their regular blue jeans at www.gussetclothing.com.

Labels: gear

Gift Ideas for Two-Wheeling Oklahomans
Every once in a while some poor soul asks us for advice on buying a gift. So with the holidays quickly approaching, now seemed like a good time to list some of our favorite gift suggestions- not just motorcycle stuff, but also cool gifts with an Oklahoma slant. So with no further adieu....

Gift Idea No. 1
Two Wheel Oklahoma Stuff
I'll be blunt. You really should buy our stuff.

Not only does it look really cool- it helps keep Oklahoma's fifth most popular motorcycle travel show on the air!

Choose from two images. There's the bold, clean lines of the simple TWO logo, or the sporty "headlight" design. Our partners at Zazzle will print you up a snazzy shirt or hoodie at the click of your mouse, and ship it to your door- or directly to your loved one. Imagine their delight when they unwrap a special gift featuring the logo of your favorite local TV show!

It's not just t-shirts- you'll also find coffee mugs, mouse pads, stickers and more. Oh, did I mention you can customize shirt colors and styles to suit your own very special taste? What's not to love?!?
www.zazzle.com/twowheeloklahoma

Gift Idea No. 2
Great Big Book of Okie Maps
All explorers need a map- and this here is one heckuva map. This is the state of Oklahoma laid out over 144 pages showing county roads, cemeteries, oil wells and more. Each page is 11" x 15" so you have our entire state before you in incredible detail. Plus, an index of over 1800 towns means Pyramid Corners is always at your fingertips!

Other states are available in the Roads Of series including Texas, Coloroado, New Mexico, Arkansas and many more.
The Roads of Oklahoma

Gift Idea No. 3
Clever Oklahoma Sayings Printed on T-Shirts
If you've watched our show then you may have admired our t-shirts. They're so stylish I hesitate to call them t-shirts- they're actually cotton pullovers from Louis & Cluck, courtesy of the friendly folks at Dwelling Spaces.

They have exploited our manly physiques to model several of their local designs- like Viva La Tulsa! and Don't Hate the 918. Or my personal favorite, Okie Doke. Here's Brad relaxing at Greenleaf State Park and styling the boldly simple OK! design. Shop Dwelling Spaces online or off for these and many more Okie designs.
www.dwellingspaces.net

Gift Idea No. 4
A Year of Cool Bikes
Who wouldn't want a wall calendar of the world's coolest motorcycles? Well... okay, I can think of a few people.

But even non-motorcycle people will find something they like at Calendars.com. They have a slew of full-color wall and desktop calendars printed on heavy, high gloss paper covering everything under the sun. Pets, cars, babes, movies and more.
www.calendars.com

Gift Idea No. 5
Pick a Pack of Pops
As seen on episode one! Drop by Pops in Arcadia and pick out six different sodas to make your own special gift pack. They even provide custom 6 pack cartons with the Pops logo.

They have over 500 different kinds of soda pop from all over the world- so you're guaranteed to find something unique. Just make sure to get something in a bottle you can open!
www.pops66.com

More?
We also have a Two Wheel Oklahoma bookstore page that features recommended reading, motorcycle videos and cool gadgets from Amazon. You get a great price on cool stuff and each purchase benefits the show.

Maybe you have some ideas of your own? Okay, wise guy.... post a comment and let's hear it!

Labels: gear

Advanced Jacket for Three Seasons

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.

Labels: gear

The Only Jacket You'll Ever Need

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.

Labels: gear

Versatile jacket for all seasons.

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!

Labels: gear

After receiving a couple communication devices that we could use from bike to bike, I thought we were doing great. They worked great, came through crystal clear and really made our job easier while filming. We even did a review on the Cardo Scala Rider Q2 here. What could possibly go wrong?!?

I found out exactly what could go wrong a few weeks ago while out road testing a bike on some country roads. Coming around a left hand corner at approx. 30mph, I lost the rear end, falling on my left side. First assessment: things hurt, I couldn't stand up, let alone walk and had the wind knocked out of me. Shouldn't be that big of a deal. In my 40+ years of riding experience, I have had my share of exciting get-offs, breaking a few bones along the way. To be honest, at that point, I was more worried about the bike than myself. I always wear the correct gear and this time was no different.

After getting checked out, I later discovered that I had shattered my left collarbone into many, many pieces, cracked a left shoulder blade, cracked my left hip/pelvis and broke a bone in my right hand. Hmmm... It seems that I can slide down the track at 100mph, but was not very good at this "falling over going slow" maneuver.

The collarbone is the reason I am writing this today. I always go back and figure out exactly what I did wrong to cause the crash and also how I broke my own body parts. I kept coming back to my collarbone and wondering how I could have broken it so badly just tipping over at that speed. I have broken collarbones before a few times, but I was only still moving at about 20mph by the time I hit the ground this time. Oh well, I just chalked it up to putting on a few more years.

That was until I was swapping out my communicator from my old helmet to the new one. As I looked down at the old one sitting at my feet, it hit me. It was the communicator that was hanging down below the helmet on the left side, almost a full inch and just happened to line up with my collarbone! Damn.

The helmet was relieved upwards on the side (possibly for that very reason) but I had attached this device in the exact spot that would contact my collarbone if I tilted my head far enough to the left side. I should have noticed it when I attached it to my helmet, but it never crossed my mind.

I have moved the mount on my new helmet up to the side and used Velcro to attach it instead of the brackets supplied with the Cardo kit. Besides moving it up, out of harms way, I'm hoping that the Velcro will let go in case of an emergency.

I take my gear seriously and would never ride without it. I know it won't save me from everything, but it sure increases my odds and I like that. This time I learned that I made the mistake of second guessing the design of a great helmet (Shark RSI) and I paid the price.

Good news is, I learned something.

And I heal quickly.

Labels: gear

Checking out the Moto Guzzi Norge in Osage CountyLast week we began working on a new segment we hope makes the final cut. It will be a series of road tests of various motorcycles- new and used. We want to know what bikes you want us to shake down!

I realize there's nothing new about road testing a motorcycle- lots of magazines and TV shows do it. But we hope to put a different spin on it.

We had originally glossed over the idea because of the lack of "local content." But then we realized that road tests could be presented in a way that might add a little local flavor. Put a local spin on things that might be lacking from the Mainstream Media. Lemme'splain...

Ooops.

Road testing can get expensive.
Brad and Paul returned from Osage County with mementos from the local constable.
Damn.
First off, the bike being tested has to be provided by a local source, right? No point in testing a bike you can't buy in these parts. That one's obvious. But then you could also ride local roads to do the road test. It's cool to read about carving canyons on the latest hot rod- but carving hollers in Delaware County might be closer to real life. How does it handle cattle guards? Bet you won't see that on Steel Dreams! We decided to go for it and jump into the Motorcycle Road Test business.

Your Turn
We can use your input. Help us decide which bikes to put through their paces.

Here's the deal- we're going to shoot two kinds of ride reports, new bikes and "contemporary classics." We're open to nominations for both. Comment on this post to offer your two cents. Tell us one new ride and one old bike you'd like to see on the show. So easy.

I promise nothing- but we'll consider all your suggestions.

Labels: bikes, gear

There is an old saying with motorcyclists that have been around for a while. "There are two types of riders. Those that have crashed and those that will crash."

With the current rise in gas prices, I am seeing more and more people using motorcycles and scooters for their daily commute and general running around. I think this is great to see. The two-wheeled version of gettin' around is much easier to navigate through traffic, making your commute quicker, easier on the wallet and great for the environment. I welcome all the new riders to our two-wheeled "community". I honestly don't understand why more people don't choose the two-wheeled way of getting around.


What does concern me is seeing so many riders on scooters (as well as motorcycles) with no protective gear whatsoever (I know this is their right, so please, no e-mails explaining that to me).
Is there some unwritten rule that people do not change lanes into riders on scooters or turn left in front of them? I cringe, every time I see somebody zipping through an intersection on a scooter wearing no protective gear, no caution of even looking around as they go through their green light. I have learned long ago, that anybody can hit you at almost any time. Plain and simple, most drivers do not see you on the road and are usually doing many other important things than just driving (cell phone, makeup, eating, yelling at kids, etc.). I have survived as long as I have because I know that I am invisible and that everybody is trying to run over me. This may not always be politically correct to say, but it has worked so far. Most new riders would know some of these basic rules if they did their research and took some of the training classes available. The current MSF course is a great one that I highly recommend.

And this is where things get a little strange. I have talked to a few scooter riders that believe that they do not have to get an "M" (motorcycle) endorsement on their driver's license to legally operate a scooter on the public roads. Even heard rumors that some scooter shops have told this to their customers. I hope that is not true, but...
To put it simply, in Oklahoma - "Scooters which are built and designed for highway travel are recognized like motorcycles". This means that they are titled and registered just like any other motorcycle (and car for that matter) and must follow the same rules and regulations. In other words, you must have a motorcycle endorsement on your driver's license to operate one on a public road. And just as important, you must get as much training as possible. Just like anything else in life. The more you train or practice, the better you are at it. It is one thing if you can't throw strikes on the local softball team. End result; you walk a few batters. It is another if you aren't very good at riding a motorcycle. End result; at best, you crash and get to learn a lesson.

If you are a rider that doesn't have an "M" on your license, get one, it's easy. If you don't think you should wear any type of protective gear... well, I guess that is your choice. Although, you probably will, after you go down once and commence to sliding and tumbling down the pavement if you are still riding.



Brad

Labels: bikes, gear