Black Motorbike

At speeds over 100 mph they suggest using the airtight, waterproof backing on the camera case. I am not sure what to say about that, “ummmm…”! So the new GoPro camera is rated for speeds over 100 mph and good for depth 180 feet below the sea; neither of which the Royal Enfield Motorcycle can do. Although this sets my imagination running wild. However, I am not prepared to attempt any of this after dropping a large sum of money to prepare the motorcycle for adventure and routine maintenance.

But I will allow my imagination to run wild thinking of ways to mount the GoPro Camera. So far I decided on the typical helmet mount once I get a new one that is not falling apart. I am also planning to mount the GoPro on the Royal Enfield’s crash bar too. This position will give view of the number plate, the suspension working, the mechanical drum brakes, and the view of the road ahead. I think I will also mount it on the bottom of the steel saddlebag for the same reasons in reverse. I am sure there are a million other amazing options and I welcome your input.

About the GoPro Camera… The camera works as like a regular point and shot at 5 mega pixels and can also be set to take photos every 2 – 60 seconds. But it gets better! The GoPro camera will also take video in high definition at some speed I don’t quite understand, remember I am riding a Royal Enfield. There are a slew of other features I have yet to learn about. The GoPro also came with a bunch of mounts for just about anywhere.

With three batteries and memories card I hope to capture a lot of video on any upcoming adventures. Stay tuned…

If you would like to receive current updates please send an email to jonathan@blackmotorbike.com titled ‘sign me up’.

I am a firm believer that adventures are always right around the corner. However, for today’s adventure I did not even make it around the corner. It started at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMOCA). I spent some time wandering a collection of musical devices from LP’s and eight tracks to I pods with my friend Shari. It was amazing to see what new things are out there like digital bubble wrap and also reminisce about all the LP’s I have stashed away in closets at my mother’s house. Anyway the bike adventure started when I left the Museum.

Shari dropped me off at my motorbike and I threw on my jacket and kicked over the bike to her vintage musical groan. I hoped on the bike and took off down the street to the intersection. As I pulled up behind Shari she went left and I slipped the clutch to go right. As I slipped the clutch there a snap, thud, and then nothing… I found myself stalled in front of Scottsdale’s premier biker bar The Billet. I pulled in the clutch shifted to neutral and kicked her over quickly to realize the cable had snapped and she stalled going into first so pushed to the side to figure out what was next.

What does one do now? Never having lost control of the clutch before I was not sure. So what I did do was pull out the cable from the sheath and string it through the saddlebag. I wrapped it around my hand for some leverage thinking I could just pull it by hand. This attempt at bypassing the lever did not get me to far. At least I saved myself some embarrassment in front of the bar. The rest of the trip was spent slamming the bike through gears to get her home. Going into first from neutral was tricky and took a lot of gas often sending me sliding to the back of the seat. Leaving one stop I hit first gear so hard the Royal Enfield pulled a small wheelie. When the front tire returned to the ground there was enough force to see a small amount of oil pushing out of my upper most fork seals.

The motorcycle ride home was full of such small events. At one point it started to rain, not unusual for my type of luck. I just imagined myself trying to slam the bike into gear and sliding across the road. For a second I swore at the gods above and gave them a word or two. “If I Slide out and end up in blacked for a moment or two, I am going to personally come up there and tell what I think of you!” The rest of the ride home was spent trying to time each traffic light as the rain slowly dissipated.

Next step… fixing the clutch!

This site is currently under construction.

More to come soon…