In a recent video I was dropping my bike and lifting it a lot. I received plenty of comments and emails about my poor technique when lifting the bike. “OMG your spine is going to turn into a slinky!” So this video is to set the record straight. I really do know and understand the proper way to lift a fallen motorcycle. I’m posting this to help new riders learn how to handle the situation.
I’ve heard people say, “I don’t dare get the bike I want because if I drop it I won’t be able to pick it up.” Well friends HalfThrottle is here to remind you that with enough profanity anyone can lift any motorcycle big or small.
For this video I developed a scientific test which will help you figure out which dual sport motorcycle is right for you. It’s called the, “Can you kick it over and not want to commit suicide” test. If your going to buy a dual sport bike, and use it like it should be used it’s going to fall over. This will help prepare you for when that happens.
Really this is about making a budget, figuring out what cost of ownership will be for your bike and making a decision about how you want to use the motorcycle. Everybody loves shiny flashy motorcycles, but buying a shiny dual sport is probably a mistake. Get something a few years old that you can beat on and not feel bad about dropping. Price will go down, and enjoyment will go way up.
Next: How to properly lift a fallen motorcycle:
Coming soon
Recently I was interviewed by http://www.allaboutbikes.com/ and they asked if I had any good photos of me and the bike to run with the article. I didn’t, so today I was doing a photoshoot with a friend. The Photographer said that when I was in front of the camera and not talking I looked sad. So I started talking about anything that came to my mind. Just trying to look interested in being a model, something I’m not very interested in. We were doing some shots of me and the bike, and my camera. So I decided to switch it on just in case there was anything I wanted to use.
The Airhawk seat cushion is something I love and use every day. Airhawk may not like me for joking about their product, but this was to funny not to post. So I hope they have a sense of humor.
I’ll let you know when the interview with All About Bikes is online. And if you want to see some of the great work my friend John has created check out his blog. Some amazing photos of Panama there, and you might even see some of me.
http://escapetoboquete.tumblr.com/
No more tasting the rainbow for me. Time to get to the fruit stand. This place is just up the street from my house. Really handy to run up the street and get great, cheap produce. Today unfortunately there were no pina’s. So back to the rainbow.
Quick rant about the road that I suspect was air lifted out of a war zone in Bosnia and installed in front of my house. A KLR650 should be required to live on this street.
The little guy on my head is a howler monkey named Google. He lives at a rescue shelter in Panama called Alouatta Lodge (http://www.alouattalodge.com/alouattalodge/Alouatta_Lodge.html). He got the name google because he was very malnourished when he arrived at the shelter, and had a little skinny body and big googley eyes.
While I was giving Google a ride he peed down the back of my shirt. In the video I don’t seem to mind much, this is because I had already been peed on by another monkey, and pooped on by yet another. Of the 3 monkeys that sat on my shoulder today felt the need to relieve themselves on my shirt.
Besides being turned into a walking toilet I did have a good time at Alouatta Lodge. I have a lot more footage of the lodge that I need to edit, but wanted to post this quick video because it isn’t every day that I give a howler monkey a ride on my motorcycle and he says thanks by destroying my shirt.
This is a vlog about 4 videos I made trying to find Cerro Banco Waterfall in Panama. I guess I just wanted to clear up something I had said at the end of part 4. “Today sucked.” It didn’t. It was a great day of getting lost, making new friends, and exploring Panama. Someday, hopefully soon I will return and find that waterfall. Even if it means I have to do some walking or hijack a horse to get there.
Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kl3-rVUC1o
Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SkWhv-mnEc
Part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5oezAq6O9s
Part 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1e3hwai5Pk
Following the map, and the more directions from locals I ended up at this river. On the other side the road became very muddy and somewhat steep. I knew I was screwed, but went for it anyway. I’m not exactly a master of riding in conditions like this. The key to making it up a hill like this is momentum, but when you have to stop and set up a camera you loose all that momentum, and in mud like this it’s almost impossible to get going again. When my bike does fall down gasoline leaks out of the tank. So there I was to tired to keep my bike on it’s wheels, and when it would fall I had to get it back up as quickly as possible, no chance to rest for a bit before lifting it. I was breathing so hard fighting with the bike, at one moment I bent down to lift it back up and sucked in a big breath of gas fumes. I began dry heaving, to the delight of the Ngöbe’s who had gathered to watch the crazy gringo trying to ride his motorcycle up the hill. The Ngöbe’s assured me that once I was passed this little part the road flattened out and I would have no problem reaching the waterfall. (Always remember rule number one.) Once I got going I reached another hill filled with ruts, only this one was much longer than the previous one. Like a dummy I tried it anyway and dropped the bike a few more times. I just had no strength left to fight with the bike. I had been sweating like crazy all day and knew I was dehydrated. I rode the slip and slide back to the river and headed for civilization. When I made it home I was so happy. As beat up and tired as I was it really does feel great to get outside once in a while and just get your ass kicked. I believe doing crazy stuff now and then keeps me sane. This is part 4 of my trip to the waterfall, or attempt anyway.
Today I decided to visit another point of interest on the crappy tourist map. Cerro Banko Waterfall. It looked easy enough just a few turns off the Pan-American highway according the map, but I quickly became lost and began asking for directions.
I did find one small waterfall near the road, but was told it wasn’t Cerro Banko. The road I had been on finally dead ended in a small rural village. Very poor but very beautiful area. I stuck around and made friends with some of the locals and you can see that in the next episode: “HalfThrottle Gets A Job.”
Song: Hopeful After Hospital
Artist Fireproof Babies
I followed a tourist map filled with more advertisements than information to this river near Gualaca, Panama. There is a nice paved road that leads to the main swimming hole in the river. It gets really deep in these narrow canyons and is the perfect place to jump in and cool off. Gualaca is only about 45 minutes from David, there is a bathroom nearby and changing rooms next to the river. During my visit I had the whole place to myself, but I’m sure on weekdays there are more people there.
Once you park there is a nice trail that follows the river and you can hike for 2 hours along the shoreline. There is more than just the one spot that is great for swimming. Should you take the hike you will find many more narrow canyons that make for great swimming holes.
There a few spots where the water gets a little rough, but if you knew where to jump out and walk around taking an inner tube or boogie board up and floating down would be pretty damn awesome.
