2Wheeltips

If you created a statistical average of every person in the world, the statistically "correct" person would have one boob and one testicle. Goes to show that just because the mathematical equation ads up, it doesn't mean it's correct.

The "science" of statistics is one fickle bitch that cant be trusted. Not to mention the fact that all statistical analysis dispose of outliers. The mins and the max'.



Back in the real world, we are overflowing with outliers. 9/11 was an outlier. Bill Gates is an outlier. Volcanic eruption in Iceland is an outlier. I guess what I'm saying is that in the real world, there is that one in a million that statistics cant (or doesn't want to?) account for which makes all the difference.

So is the case with shark attacks.



Oft cited statistics regarding sharks is that sharks attack in shallow waters. Really? Attack who?

The studies are made by people and so these studies are people centric. Sharks, according to statistical data, will most commonly attack in 3 ft of water. Now that you know this, you can finally take that swimming route to the other coast via the Atlantic.

How many people can a shark find 100 miles away from the shore? Or for that matter, 1 mile away from the shore?

People scarcity outside the shallows makes it hard for a shark to attack if there is nothing to attack. Er go, statistical data would have you believe that you are perfectly safe from shark attacks in case you find your self stranded in the middle of the ocean. Statistically speaking of course.

Another piece of statistical data is that most motorcycle accidents occur within a 12 mile radius of your home. Really?



Could this be another example of the shark tricking the statistician? I think so.

Every time you get on your motorcycle you will pass through the 12 mile radius of your house. The routes beyond that 12 mile point are likely to be different (or at least not consistent), er go, you will spend more time (statistically speaking) within the 12 mile radius than any one spot outside it. Do you think this will skew the results? Most definitely.

Moral of the story? Be careful. Both within the 12 mile radius and beyond and don't believe all the math all the time.

Dino Out

NHTSA has just released accident statistics for 2008 (it takes them 2 years to collate the data).

This info was brought to our attention by the great David Hough, author of Proficient Motorcycling  and other must-read titles

Note that the total motorcycle fatalities continued to climb, even though the fatality rate for 2007 dropped a mere 2%.

Read the details here http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pubs/811159.pdf

 

Riding an early motorcycle entailed a certain preparation that went like this:

1. Set the throttle at a very small opening (there would likely be no spring returning the throttle to idle position)
2. Set the choke at a position judged the appropriate one for the ambient temperature, and retard the spark timing manually by several degrees.
   
3. Then approach the kick-starter with due apprehension, bracing yourself for yet another blow to your chronically bruised shin.
   The thing about kick-starters is, they tend to kick back. This is especially likely if you don't retard the timing far enough, as then the motor backfires mechanically, as it were, through the kick-starter, sending your shin to its fated meeting with the foot peg.
   
4. With the bike balanced on the center stand, and you on one foot, use your whole weight on the kick-starter to ease the motor slowly through its power stroke and well into its exhaust stroke, judged by listening for air escaping from the open exhaust valve.
   
5. Having positioned the piston at the start of its intake stroke, you are ready to kick-start the bike. But first check to make sure there are not attractive women present to witness your display, nor any of your rivals, for it is likely to be a drama of strenuous impotence.

Before taking that first kick, it is traditional to light a cigarette and set it dangling at an angle that suggests nonchalance. While you're at it, send up a little prayer for fuel atomization. You woudln't be riding a motorocycle if you weren't an optimist.

Ten or twelve kicks later, sweat dripping form your brow, you might get to ride the motorcyle.

This is a rewrite from Matthew B. Crawford's Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work

It really makes you appreciate the level of sophistication we've achieved since then...or did we lose something in the process?

I've had the privilage (or misfortune -I guess it depends on one's point of view) of riding motorcycles that seemed like they came from 1930s. There is a certain sense of accomplishment in mastering an unwieldy stallion who is unwilling to submit to most.

What do you think?

There are few principals of motorcycle riding that should be everyone’s mantra this riding season. So here is a reminder that might save your ass this spring.



1.    Consider yourself invisible.
2.    Maintain at least 3 escape routes out of every situation
3.    Maintain 360 degree awareness at all times
4.    Leave enough room between you and everybody else
5.    Ride your own ride
6.    Be protected (I got my 9mm)
7.    Get to know your motorcycle…again (T-CLOCS)
8.    Ride sober, well hydrated and well rested
9.     
10.   

That’s it. What? You only counted 8? So what? You guys can add the remaining two :-)

Motorcycle are a great source for motivational inspirations, so here are 39 motorcycle posters I have found on the net, plus one that's not motorcycle related (the last one)... 

Some are funny, but no worries, the others are insulting ;-)

Enjoy 

If you think that the back-seat of your bike is reserved for your “old lady” alone, then get a load of this.

A company called Beast Rider (http://www.beastriders.com/) makes a specialized basket for your canine companion. It fits on the back of your bike and has straps for added security.

Check out my dog blog at http://dogandogs.com for other facinating dog bits.

I have a blog explaining why niche sites (like 2wt) will survive the fate of myspace, flickr, friendster, etc.

If you're interested in Social Net Media, check it out at
http://dino-dogan.posterous.com/3-reasons-why-social-networking-is-dead-long

I would love to hear your thoughts...

If we were to step into a time machine and transport ourselves to 2110, what would we see? How would the motorcycling landscape change in these 100 years? Well, let’s do some speculation, shall we.

Just as people have transitioned from hunters/gatherers into agricultural societies, then into industrial and eventually reached this technological age; 100 years from now, people would have realized that there is nowhere to go in terms of technology and that the next logical development level is internal. Allow me to elaborate.

I’m not saying that everything there is to be invented is already invented; far from it.
But to paraphrase what His Holiness the Dalai Lama pointed out in his book How to See Yourself As You Really Are .

Reaching technological heights and modern living standards did not make us any happier.

In fact, there is scientific research that points to the fact that people were happier 100 or even 1000 yrs ago than now, despite modern standards of living and other conveniences.

So now that I’m hanging out in 2110, and looking over the last 100 years of human development, I see that people have realized that internal development is supreme and the last frontier left to conquer.

I am purposefully avoiding words like “spiritual development” because of its negative or inferior connotations in some people’s minds. How do you view such phrases?

History books made 100 years from now will tell a story of unprecedented human collaboration, greater social awareness than ever before, and fearless exploration of the innerverse.

Street riding is faster and safer than ever since the roads are no longer congested (cars are now hovercrafts flying about 100-400 ft in the air, it’s pretty cool).
Of their own volition, bikers spend countless hours practicing their craft, and people are not in a hurry anymore since there are no corporations to dictate the pace of life.

The most famous biker is Condon Parks Hough. He is, to street riding, what Evel Knievel was to bone-braking. I have to point out however, that Condon Parks Hough does have an unfair advantage since he was grown in a lab from genetic materials left by the motorcycle greats, Lee Parks, Ken Condon and David Hough.

How do you see motorcycle riding hundred years from now?

There are many options and countless variables that make securing our bikes very difficult against a determined thief. With that in mind, this article will suggest some (in my opinion best) methods for securing your bike in public places. Other locations (like your own garage) will be saved for a separate article.

It would be very easy for an organized group of bike-thieves to load a heavy-ass motorcycle onto a tow-truck and drive off into the sunset leaving you stranded like a girl who refused to put out. What we can do to prevent that is to send them a message basically saying “move on, nothing to see here, pick an easier target”.

These methods should be used in combination and not considered enough all by them selves.

Here are few suggestions that might work for you.

Method #1



One easy and yet overlooked method of securing a motorcycle is to simply cover it up. Your bike will be insulated against heat, rain and other unfriendly elements, but perhaps more importantly; it will be hidden from the prying eyes. Bike thieves usually target specific bikes (Harleys are a common target since they can re-sell them in Europe for three times the selling-price due to incredible demand) but you bike - I am sure - could make their list as well. Not being able to see what bike is under the cover will – at the very least –slow them down. They would be required to lift the cover in order to see the bike which makes your bike less desirable then the one that’s not covered.

Method #2

While it may not stop a determined thief – but then again, nothing will – having your bike chained to something is definitely a good idea. Note that I said “chained to something”. Having a wheel-lock or a chain that’s not fastened to something can be quite useless in preventing theft when the bike can be picked up and loaded into a van.
Check out youtube link at the bottom of the article.

Method #3

Alarm.

Method #4

Low-jack

Method #5



Use some un-common sense. Always try to position your bike in such a way that it would be impossible for someone to pick-up the bike and toss it onto a truck. Some parking lots will have ample space between cars and a dividing wall, use it. At my job, there is plenty of room underneath the stairs leading out of the parking lot. There is enough room for a bike to get out and in but if someone tried to pick it up it would be a giant pain. Also, there is a lot of foot traffic in the area which means more eyes on your bike. Be friendly to people and they will keep an eye out for anyone lurking around your bike without you even asking them to do so.

That’s all folks. I have left out one very cool way of securing the bike – consider it a challenge - and I am counting on you to fill in the gap…add your ideas and suggestions to the comments and you get 100 points redeemable for absolutely nothing other then my love and devotion.

youtube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D96QM-lzLM8

Salute

Tony, Carol and I have a ton of interviews scheduled for this weekend at the Javits expo.

I was thinking though some possible interview questions for these motorcycle professionals (some of which are professional speed racers) and I think I came up with at least one good one. Here it is.

Which one is more dangerous…speed racing or street riding?

My guess is that most people will say that street riding is infinitely more dangerous then speed racing.

What do you think?

What other generic but good questions would be good for the show?