FROM THE BEAR

Now that I don’t have to write the editorial any more, I can spend my time on something funny instead. Well, I can try for funny, anyway…

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

One thing that has worked well for me over the years is simply asking you, the readers, what you think about stuff. I know that my attempt to compile the ultimate motorcyclist’s bucket list was well received, so I’m resurrecting it. Drop me a line and let me know your choice.

To start the ball (or rather the bike) rolling, I’m putting together a story about the unknown and unexpected side of Route 66. There is no doubt that this is the road that comes to most motorcyclists’ minds first when they think about the ones they’d like to ride.

I’m going to honour that, and believe me – even if you thought you knew everything about the “Mother Road”, there will be something here that you don’t know.

With a bit of luck it will encourage some of you to bring your own bucket list roads into the open and let me know about them. I’d still like to someday produce a guide book to everyone’s Bucket List!

WHAT GOES ON IN VEGAS…

Where were you on March 20th and 21st? Like me you were probably not in Las Vegas, where “the largest and most significant collection of motorcycles ever auctioned at one time [sold] at ‘no reserve’, according to my old mate Mike Hanlon in e-magazine Gizmag (you should subscribe, it’s a lot of fun).

Mike points out that “only 27 motorcycles have sold for more than $300,000 at auction,” but that the auctioneers putting the E. J. Cole Collection on the block expected that five of the bikes will sell for at least that much. At least one, the 1915 Steve McQueen Cyclone Board Track Racer, was expected to make more than a million dollars.

Geez, Steve McQueen must have owned every bike in the US at one stage or another!

Note that the Australian dollar is up there on the board – we’re obviously keen collectors.

COME ALONG!

Here’s a reminder about that Bear’s Best of the West ride in August. Come on, I know the Aussie dollar is dropping faster than Tony Abbott’s popularity rating, but as a result there are some rally cheap flights to Los Angeles.

The tour is an adaptation of Great American Motorcycle Touring’s Best of the West, a 16 day tour with 14 riding days from LA to LA by way of some of the American West’s most spectacular – and my favourite – roads.

Milestones along the way include well-known attractions like a stretch of Route 66, the Grand Canyon, Monument and Death Valleys and national parks like Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Zion and Sequoia. All linked by superb roads in weather that should be wonderful – although I obviously can’t guarantee that.

Cost is very reasonable, starting from $5,995. Price includes Harley Davidson rental; you get a first and second choice of model. Other brands may be available at an additional cost of $40 per day. Mention my name when you book and you’ll get a discount of $300 per motorcycle.

The tour starts on the 15th of August and ends on the 30th. Absolute deadline for booking is the 15th of June, but I would obviously suggest you get in before that; the maximum number of participants is 20.

For more information and bookings, please email Skip at skip@gamct.com, and copy me in at thebear@ausmotorcyclist.com.au

Peter ‘The Bear’ Thoeming