The License Plate Game

Not just for vacationing children by R. Bruce Thomas When I was a youngster and my family went on summer vacations across Canada and into the United States, my siblings and I would play The License Plate Game. It gave us something to do as the seemingly endless miles rolled Read more…

Train Tracks

Good for trains, tough on motorcycles by R. Bruce Thomas Wedged wheels, mangled mirrors, pummelled panniers, and broken body parts. The more I read, the more I got freaked out. And I had many months through the winter of 2009 to remain in that state since Google Street View didn’t Read more…

Knowing when to Stop

A Cautionary Tale By: R. Bruce Thomas It was 4:30 AM and the smell of burning rubber had been hanging heavy in the cool, early morning air for about 15 minutes as Norm and I rode through the Kaibab National Forest in Northern Arizona. I mentioned to Norm that something Read more…

Pandemic Summer…

The Sequel By: R. Bruce Thomas Quick show of hands. How many have been out riding already this year? Spring came early and March had some very nice days, as did April, and here we are at the end of May. Well, let’s call it the start of June since Read more…

Hills…

And other slow speed maneuvers By: R. Bruce Thomas One of the young fellows at the office had purchased a Kawasaki Ninja 300 near the end of the previous riding season and had done a small amount of riding before winter. He was confident that his years of driving a Read more…

Target Fixation

Things that can kill you! By: R. Bruce Thomas A dozen years ago my wife and I enjoyed a few days of riding in BC’s Kootenay region before heading to Vernon for a visit with her brother and his family. To get from one region to another we had to Read more…

Pillions

Quality Time By: R. Bruce Thomas The screaming started almost immediately. One of the ladies who worked with my wife confided one day that riding on a motorcycle was an item on her bucket list, and she wondered if I would consider taking her for a ride. Mary came home Read more…

Bike Security

Lock it or lose it by: R. Bruce Thomas My wife was on the verge of crying when I answered the phone. She couldn’t find our van. With errands to run after work she’d driven to the transit station in the morning rather than walking. Once she got off the Read more…

Road Food

What’s in your pannier? by: R. Bruce Thomas Twenty-sixteen was the 100th Anniversary of the formation of the National Park Service in the United States and my buddy Norm and I thought it would be an appropriate year to tackle the Iron Butt Association’s (IBA) National Parks Tour (NPT) Master Read more…

Whiteline Fever

Increased safety through variable lane positioning By: R. Bruce Thomas One of the main points mentioned when it comes to motorcycle safety is the importance of being visible. Oftentimes the conversation is around wearing bright colors, attaching reflective striping to your bike and your gear, and modifying your lighting so Read more…

Be The Camel

Carry a good supply of liquid & use it wisely! By: R. Bruce Thomas The human body is made up of anywhere between 45-65% water, depending on your gender. For women it is between 45-60% and men range from 50-65%. The makeup of your individual organs also varies with, for Read more…

Snow

Not just a winter thing By: R. Bruce Thomas Ok, show of hands. How many are sensing a theme here? Full points if you guessed H2O. We started with rain, then water crossings, and now we have snow. But at least winter’s almost over and you’ll be riding soon. So Read more…

Water Crossings

Ferries are meant to be enjoyed! By: R. Bruce Thomas At some point in your touring adventures you will have to make a water crossing. I’m not talking about slogging your bike through knee deep water like the off-road guys do. I’m talking about ferries. My wife and friends and Read more…

Riding in the Rain!

It’s not all that bad. By: R. Bruce Thomas For many people, the only thing worse than experiencing PMS (Parked Motorcycle Syndrome) during the winter months is riding in the rain in the summer, so let’s fix that this time out. Close your eyes. Imagine it’s not February. Imagine it’s Read more…

Under Pressure

Toss the gauge for something better. By: R. Bruce Thomas There’s no easy way to say this so, just like ripping a bandage off, here goes. If you’re still using a tire pressure gauge before every ride you’re wasting your time and putting your safety at risk. I’ve ridden all Read more…

Gear Toe to Head!

Proper Fit and Quality are Key! By: Jon Watchuk Pictures courtesy of Motovan via Cycle Works The AMSS has always had a focus on good fitting, quality gear. As a last line of defense, when all else has gone sideways, gear may be the difference between walking away in disgust Read more…