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Motorcycle Ride Inspiration

March 28th, 2011 |

Riding is a creative outlet for me. It takes creativity to come up with new places to explore. Sometimes it takes a bit of planning to get the wheels turning, but then something unravels the best laid plan and real adventure begins. Other times riding without a plan is the ticket to new discoveries. I often open topographical and road maps for inspiration. The roads that I enjoy discovering are ever changing. Some forest service roads change so quickly that even a two-year old map is now out of date. New gates aren’t always present on old maps. That is why, even well thought out rides can become sans plan.

Inspiration for motorcycle rides can come from seemingly odd places. Recently, I have found inspiration for motorcycle rides while flying. The flights out of Seattle’s SeaTac airport typically fly past Mount Rainier and over the Cascade Mountains. Upon take off, I scan the ground below for possible roads and trails. This allows a very broad picture of the road characteristics below. The amount of corners, elevation changes and even possible water crossings can be seen from the window seat of a jet liner.

A work trip had me in Las Vegas recently. The morning flight with a window seat had my eyes tracing possible paths out of Sin City and quickly onto lustful mountain roads that may even lead to snow-capped mountain peaks just a short distance from the strip. Perhaps a winter motorcycle trip through the Nevada and Utah deserts is next year’s cure to the socked-in Pacific Northwest winter. Yes, we can ride year round, but a sunny ride through the mountains with temperatures in the 60′s and 70′s sounds perfect to me. A work trip suddenly inspired me to daydream about possible rides through the Sierras, Reno and on to Las Vegas.

As my flight out of Vegas climbed high into the sky it revealed the vast beauty of mountains meeting flat desert valleys over and over again. The mundane sections of this region would heighten the pleasure of each mountain crossed. Excitement built up inside me as the possibilities presented themselves from 5,000, 10,000 and 30,000 feet. My nose was pinned to the plane’s window as the strip faded from sight and a more rural, enjoyable playground presented itself. Oh yes, a winter ride through the desert might be just the ticket next year.

Shoot, I hope this inspiration doesn’t lead to too much planning. I do believe there are ample discoveries to be had, if I can resist studying too many maps in the next several months. In fact, work may have me in Vegas again next winter. A ride to and from may just be in order. You never know from where inspiration for the next great ride will come. The trick is to open the mind and let the daydreaming begin.

Where do you find ride inspiration? Can you resist the urge to plan the “perfect” ride in order to actually find adventure and new discoveries?

Pick a direction and let’s ride.

Posted in Thoughts on Motorcycling, Washington State |

Tags: best scenic routes, Desert Motorcycle, LA Motorcycle, Las Vegas Motorcycle, motorcycle roads, scenic byways, scenic routes, Sean McDermott, Seattle motorcycle, Winter motorcycle |

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Nearly 40-Percent of Washington State Motorcycle Deaths are Unendorsed Riders

February 14th, 2011 |

Author: Sean McDermott

Are you riding dirty without an endorsement? You’re not alone. BestScenicRoutes.com investigated motorcycle crashes in Washington State to find out how many unendorsed motorcycle riders are being killed in crashes. The facts are astounding.

According to Washington State Patrol records, during the five-year period from 2005 to 2009 (complete 2010 data is not yet available), crashes killed 364 motorcyclists in Washington State. Those records show that during that period, nearly 40 percent (141 riders) did not have a proper motorcycle endorsement. The 141 unendorsed riders may have had a permit, but had never completed a motorcycle skills test to ensure that they had the minimal skills to operate a motorcycle on Washington roads.

A motorcycle permit is rather easy to obtain in Washington. You go to a Department of Licensing office, pay a $5 application fee, pass a basic knowledge test and upon passing the test pay $15 for an instructional permit. The permit is valid for 90 days and can be renewed as many times as you’d like.

Edit: Please note that Washington State law is now revised to limit persons to two 90-day permits, with a third possible only with proof of enrollment in a motorcycle safety course per RCW46.20.510.

Nearly 40-percent of riders killed in crashes only make it this far in the licensing process. They find it more convenient to renew a permit than to finish out the process by passing an approved motorcycle safety course or riding test at a DOL office. Many riders opt out of passing a very basic riding skills test and instead ride on the street unlicensed, sometimes for years. At the same time, these riders are opting themselves into a grave – statistically speaking.

The ability to infinitely renew a temporary motorcycle permit may be changing.

Sen. Phil Rockefeller (D-Kitsap County), recently introduced 2011 Senate Bill 5141 limiting the number of times a motorcycle instructional permit can be obtained. The bill limits riders to two permit renewals and a third is possible with proof of enrollment in a motorcycle safety course. The bill passed 44 to 2 in the Senate on February 9, 2011 and was referred to the House Transportation Committee the next day. (Edit: Bill 5141 passed and is now RCW 46.20.510.)

DOL records show that more than 127,000 new motorcyclists received endorsements from 2005 to 2009. Of all newly endorsed riders, 64-percent took a motorcycle safety course. These riders took a single weekend out of their busy schedules to learn motorcycle skills. These skills are very basic, but they are the building blocks to enjoy a lifetime of motorcycling.

Motorcycling can be a high-risk activity. There are many ways to reduce that risk beginning with actually passing a motorcycle riding skills test.

The Washington State Patrol says that riding without a motorcycle learner’s permit or violating the provisions of a permit could result in a $124 ticket.

Don’t get caught riding dirty. It may not be a police officer who catches up to you. Beat the dark being with a sickle to the punch and enroll now in a motorcycle safety rider course at one of the locations listed below.