Motorcycle Mojo Magazine August 2021

getting schooled

There are some things that are better accomplished in person. Case in point: attending the virtual press launch of a new model on one of the many available video platforms is a little like watching paint dry, and there is no way to report a riding impression to you. Another example is when our daughter Emily comes home to visit. Talking on the phone is okay for keeping in touch or talking business, but seeing her in person ensures far more interaction. There is a guarantee that there will be at least one late night with general conversation that always turns into something motorcycle-related. Emily recently made the trek to Ontario from her home in British Columbia. One particular early-morning conversation involved discussing the differences of wet and dry sumps in…

on any sunday hits 50

There are probably two films that most strongly shaped an entire generation of motorcyclists. The first, Easy Rider, was released in 1969, and it provided the mould for the free-riding, free-loving outlaw biker counterculture that went against the conservative societal norms of the time. The second, a feature-length documentary, captured the imagination of a much broader audience, and touched upon all forms of motorcycling. On Any Sunday turns 50 this year, and it’s a timeless classic you must see, if you haven’t already. On Any Sunday was written, produced and directed by documentary filmmaker Bruce Brown. Brown was known primarily for the California surf culture films he’d produced throughout the 1960s, culminating with The Endless Summer in 1965, which he produced on a budget of US$50,000. Known as the quintessential surf…

by the numbers

120 The number of years since the first Royal Enfield motorcycle was produced. The company had dabbled in bicycles and a quadracycle prior to the release of its first motorized two-wheel creation in 1901, which used a 1-1/2 horsepower engine mounted in front of the steering head, which used a long rawhide drive belt to the rear wheel. 29 The increase in horsepower of the new 2022 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS has over its predecessor. 300 The size, in cubic centimetres, of the Mahindra Mojo! Mahindra, an Indian motorcycle company, stepped into the streetbike world in 2015 with the Mojo. This bike, also known as an XT300, has a scaled-down version, the UT300. We know what we’ll be looking to ride when we tour India. 1960 The year that the first Wankel-powered motorcycle was released by…

say what?

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE Please extend my kudos to all the contributing writers of Motorcycle Mojo. I really look forward to the next issue of your magazine. I would like to give two thumbs up to David Booth’s recent column “Our Riding Future Could be in Your Hands” (May 2021). I couldn’t agree more that only us bikers can, and should, solve this problem, and hopefully put forward some feasible ways to find a resolution to this serious issue. Particularly since most drivers or pedestrians will tend to forget about the loud “cage” that passed them; however, many will remember and complain to anyone willing to listen about the loud bike(s) because we are outnumbered, and we stand out in the crowd. Thank you and keep up the great work. RESPECTFULLY, ATTILA BENYI VIA…

letting go

Parenting is hard. When you have children, your life changes a lot. Suddenly, all the decisions you usually make must be more carefully considered. Then there are a zillion other decisions you have to make regarding children and their wellbeing. There is parental guilt, parental stress, and parental fear — lots of fear. There’s fear that our kids might miss out, or get bullied, or have difficulty in school, or that they might do something dangerous and get hurt. Sometimes, fear prevents parents from allowing their kids to participate in certain activities, like riding motorcycles. I’ve had people question my morals because I let my children ride at a young age. They’ve marvelled at my ability to watch my kids race BMX, or launch big jumps on the dirt track. They…

keep filling your cup

What makes someone a safe rider; one who will hopefully enjoy a long riding life before deciding to hang up their helmet? I’ve sadly attended memorial services for friends whom I thought were expertly skilled riders, but unfortunately didn’t become old riders. I also know of a few chief instructors who had tons of rider training and skill, but succumbed to injuries sustained in motorcycle crashes. So, if expert skills and heaps of rider training won’t guarantee your riding safety, what can you do? How can a new rider hope to both enjoy and survive riding motorcycles? I have had more than a few close calls, ones where it was luck that saved me rather than my skills or experience. I believe that if you think of your riding skills as…