Northern Colorado IMRG Informer Newsletter (August 2023)

NORTHERN COLORADO IMRG UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, August 13th—Snowy Range-Walden Loop Ride. We will meet at Ted’s Place (gas station at corner of Hwy 287 and 14; 6511 US-287 Laporte, CO) @ 8:00 a.m. (KSU 8:30 a.m.). We’ll be riding along the Poudre River to Walden and then over the Snowy Range. This is a a beautiful ride. We will ascend the Poudre Canyon, which is a narrow, winding canyon with towering cliffs and gradually climb up Cameron Pass where the views are incredible, then descend toward Walden. The Snowy Range mountains straddle the border between Colorado and Wyoming and are known for their stunning views and alpine meadows. This ride is a bit challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. he views are stunning, the scenery is varied, and the riding is fun. We will be stopping along the way for lunch (location to be determined).

Saturday, August 19th—Chapter Meeting & Post Meeting Ride. Our regular monthly Chapter meeting
(every 3rd Saturday of the month) @ 9:30 a.m. at the Indian Motorcycle of Fort Collins dealership. We will do a
short ride after the meeting (destination to be determined).

Friday/Saturday, August 25th & 26th—Realities Ride & Rally. The 22nd Annual Realities Ride & Rally
will be at The Biergarten in Fort Collins (2685 Busch Drive). For more information on the rally and event visit
the Realities website. Indian Motorcycle of Fort Collins is one of the sponsors for the event, and will host the
Indian Motorcycle Demo Days on both Friday and Saturday. The Northern Colorado IMRG will lead and sweep
the demo rides both days.

Saturday-Tuesday, September 2nd thru September 5th—Thermopolis Grand Adventure Ride. This is a four (4) day, three (3) night, and 1,080 mile excursion. Note that we will stay overnight in Thermopolis on Saturday 9/2 and Monday 9/4. Be sure to make your reservation for these two non-consecutive nights. Our Sunday night will be in Red Lodge, MT. Hotel Rooms are $140 to $200 per night. Mark will Lead this ride with Randall as Sweep. This ride is classified as a Level 5 (1-easiest, 5-hardest) for winding mountain roads, switch backs, ride duration, wind.

• Day 1. Saturday, September 2nd. Meet at Ted’s Place (gas station located at Hwy 287 & Hwy 14; 6511 US-287 Laporte, CO) @ 7:30 a.m. (KSU 8:00 a.m.) Laporte, CO to Thermopolis, WY. 343 miles, 7 hours. Preferred hotel: Hot Springs Hotel & Spa. NO INTERSTATE RIDING!
• Day 2. Sunday, September 3rd. KSU 9:00 a.m. Thermopolis to Red Lodge, MT. 200 miles. We have all
  day and will make extra stops per request. Spending the night in Red Lodge, MT. Preferred hotel: Quality
  Inn Red Lodge Gateway to Yellowstone.
• Day 3. Monday, September 4th. Red Lodge, MT back to Thermopolis, WY. 200 miles. Extra stops per
  request. Spending the night again in Thermopolis, WY. Preferred hotel again: Hot Springs Hotel & Spa.
• Day 4. Tuesday, September 5th. KSU 8:00 a.m. Thermopolis, WY to Laporte, CO (back home). 343
  miles. Ride will end at Ted’s Place.

Sunday. September 10th—Progressive Dinner Ride. Our Progressive Dinner Ride is where we make
multiple stops at various member homes for a portion of a four-course meal. 1st stop appetizers, 2nd stop soup/
salad, 3rd stop main course, 4th stop dessert. This is usually a pretty popular ride so if you have not been on one
this is a great opportunity to do so, and to socialize and get to know fellow Chapter members a little better
(Friends-Food-Fun…. it’s some of what we do!). More details to come!

For up-to-date information on all Northern Colorado IMRG rides and events, visit our Events Calendar.

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE SPECIAL OFFERS

The “Special Offers” webpage on the Indian Motorcycle website lists a variety of current promotions and deals on motorcycles, parts, accessories, and gear. Stay current and in the know regarding these available deals by navigating to https://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/special-offers/.

Offers generally include:

• New motorcycle financing with favorable terms such as delayed payment and low interest
• Credits or trade-in allowances
• Referral programs
• Parts, accessories, gear discounts
• Clothing, apparel discounts and coupons
  Be sure to bookmark this location and check back in occasionally.

LAME EXCUSES FOR NOT RIDING

While it may be baffling to someone who’s always eager to get in some two wheel wind therapy, there are funny or lame excuses for passing up the opportunity to experience the open road on two wheels. Of course there are many genuine reasons why a person can’t go on a motorcycle ride, but there are plenty of ridiculous and lame excuses for leaving the bike parked in the garage gathering dust. Let’s dive into the world of lame excuses for not riding a motorcycle.

• I don’t want to get my bike dirty
• Tires are expensive, I don’t want to wear them out
• I have to wash my bike
• I’m not in the mood to ride
• It might rain, I don’t want to get wet
• I have to do yard work today
• I have to clean the house today, no time to ride
• It’s only supposed to be 65 degrees outside, that’s too cold
• I have do the laundry
• I need to go grocery shopping
• I have to watch my favorite TV show
• I’m worried that I’ll get too much sun and turn into a lobster.
• Gas is too expensive.
• It’s too sunny out, I don’t want to get a sunburn

While some may prefer to skip the wind and embrace the couch, those who seek adventure and the freedom of the open road will continue to embark on thrilling rides and create memories that will be cherished for a lifetime. Life can sometimes get in the way, and it’s easy to find reasons not to ride. But let’s face it – there’s nothing quite like the feeling of freedom that comes with hitting the open road on your beloved motorcycle. So why let those lame excuses stand in your way? Embrace the adventure – hop on your motorcycle today! After all, life is about seizing opportunities and creating memorable experiences, not making lame excuses.

METZELER TIRES

As unsung heroes, you most likely don’t think much about the tires on your motorcycle. Metzeler tires have been original equipment on new Indian Motorcycles for a couple of years now, replacing Dunlop. You can argue which brand is better and debate if it was a good move for Indian Motorcycle. The Metzeler tire factory is located in the relatively small town of Breuberg, Germany. Metzler started producing motorcycle tires here in the late 1970’s, though they have been manufacturing motorcycle tires since 1892. Metzler produces more than 300 different tires at this location.

The company was founded in 1863, and originally produced a variety of rubber and plastic products, expanding into aviation in 1890 and automotive and motorcycle tires in 1892. Metzeler’s factory was destroyed in World War II and rebuilt after the war. In the 1950’s and 1960’s the American distributor of Metzeler tires was Berliner Motor Corporation. After 1979, Metzeler focused only on motorcycle tires and was acquired by Pirelli in 1986.

As you would expect with any major motorcycle tire manufacturer, Metzeler tires are made with high-quality materials designed to provide reliable service. Metzeler uses advanced tread compounds that provide excellent grip and handling in a variety of conditions. The tires are built to withstand the rigors of everyday riding. They are also very resistant to wear and tear. Metzeler tires are designed to provide a comfortable ride, even on long journeys, and to help save fuel by reducing rolling resistance. Metzeler is the OEM tire provider to several other well-known motorcycle manufacturers.

Overall, Metzeler motorcycle tires are a good choice (in addition to Dunlop) for tire performance, durability, and comfort.

COLLECTION OF MOTORCYCLE-THEMED SONGS FOR RIDERS OF ALL STRIPES

The open road is a powerful symbol of freedom and adventure. For many people there is no better way to experience it than on a motorcycle. Motorcycle-themed songs capture this spirit of freedom and adventure and can conjure up the desire to take a motorcycle ride or to reminisce about a past journey.

Some songs feature driving beats and lyrics celebrating the thrill of riding a motorcycle. Other motorcycle-themed songs take a more reflective approach, exploring the meaning of freedom and the importance of the open road. No matter your taste in music, there is sure to be a motorcycle-themed song that captures your spirit.

Found recently on a motorcycle forum, someone asked to name songs that had a motorcycle theme or mention. Check out these songs that were commented on. The list certainly covers a wide range of genres. You might just find your new favorite song!

Roll Me Away | Bob Seger	Bad Motor Scooter | Montrose
Ballad of Easy Rider | The Byrds	1952 Vincent Black | Richard Thompson
Ride Free | Typhony	Motorcycle Mama | Doublewide Kings
Motorcycle Man | Saxon	Motorcycle | Tico & The Triumphs
Motorcycle Mama | Sailcat	Little Honda | The Beach Boys
Black Denim Trousers & Motorcycle Boots | The Cheers	Blues Theme | Davie Allan & The Arrows
Unknown Legend | Shovels & Rope	Ride | Wayne Hancock
Wanted Dead or Alive | Bon Jovi	Wheels | Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Bad Motorcycle | The Storey Sisters	Motorcycle Man | Sailcat
Ride On | AC/DC	Two Wheels | Alligator Stew
Motorcycle Blues | Jesse Colins Young	Motorcycle Bill | The Willis Brothers
Motorcycle | Jade Jackson	My Little Sister Gotta Motorbike | Crazy Cavan
Born To Be Wild | Steppenwolf	Motorcycle Irene | Moby Grape
The Wild One | Johnny Horton	Motorcycle | Colter Wall
The Motorcycle Song | Arlo Guthrie	The Other Kind | Steve Earle & The Dukes
Ride to Live, Live to Ride | Twisted Sister	Ezy Ryder | Jimi Hendrix
Leader of the Pack | The Shangri-Las	Iron Horse / Born to Lose | Motorhead
Motorcycle Cowboy | Jim Harding	Desert Plains | Judas Priest
Panheads Forever | David Alan Coe	Ride | Joe Santriani

Listen to the playlist on Spotify

DOWDY LAKE RIDE

After our June Chapter meeting quite a few of us rode to Dowdy Lake. The motorcycle ride from Fort Collins Indian Motorcycle dealership to Dowdy Lake was scenic. We rode the outskirts of Fort Collins to get onto Highway 287. Soon we were surrounded by rolling hills. As we got closer to Red Feather Lakes, the terrain become more mountainous. We cutoff at The Forks onto Red Feather Lakes Rd. As we began passing through Red Feather Lakes, the final leg of the ride took us to Dowdy Lake. With exception of the wind, which I guess decided to come down for a visit from Wyoming, it was a relaxing ride.

The lake is located at an elevation of around 8,000 feet, so we were treated to stunning views of the surrounding foothills and the Rockies in the distance. Dowdy Lake itself is very beautiful and is surrounded by the Roosevelt National Forest. The lake serves as the boundary of the Dowdy Lake State Wildlife Area and is the largest body of water within the Red Feather Lakes network.

We arrived at Dowdy Lake and parked in a line near the entrance as we usually do. Our usual picnic table was available, which we were happy to see. So we grabbed our lunches and headed down toward the lake. Our picnic spot had a nice view of the lake. The water was clear, and there were some ducks hanging out at the shoreline.

In addition to our lunch that each of us brought, we were treated with some delicious deserts from Joni and Terri. Joni brought rhubarb pie, and Terri brought banana bread. We enjoyed our lunch, and each other’s company. It was nice to have so many NoCo IMRG family members come on the ride to the lake. It was a wonderful day hanging out with friends.

MOTORCYCLE SKILLS PRACTICE

On July 8th, we had a motorcycle skills practice session at the Timberline Church parking lot in Fort Collins. Becoming better and safer riders is a big part of the Northern Colorado IMRG. We practice these skills in a safe, controlled environment so that we can become more confident riders and be safer out on the road. At these motorcycle skills practice sessions there is never any judgement, only encouragement.

On this day, we setup several different cone patterns. We started the morning with 90-degree turns from a stop. In conjunction, we practiced moving at a slow pace using clutch and throttle (and a little rear brake) control. This proved beneficial as members gained more awareness of the clutch friction zone and were able to maneuver the 90-degree turn much better. Also practiced was a 45-degree pull out, which consists of essentially making a turn to go the opposite direction (imagine being backed in a parking space facing out 45 degrees toward the west, but needing to head east as you pulled out of that space). The biggest secret to these 45/90 degree turns is to begin with your handlebars already turning in the direction you want to go. Then give it a little bit of throttle and slowly let the clutch out, keeping it in the friction zone until you’re straightened out and use the rear brake to control your speed.

There was also a lollipop pattern where the rider had to weave through a straight line of cones followed by a tight circle at the end. Next was a figure eight pattern. Pretty much like all these slow maneuver patterns, it takes clutch and throttle control. You are pri-marily staying in the friction zone and using a little rear brake to control speed. But to master the tight turn and figure 8, you have to turn your head and look in the direction where you need to go (pretty much looking over your shoulder as you are circling around).

Thanks to those who were able to make it out and participate in our motorcycle skills practice session. Your willingness to learn, practice, and improve your motorcycle skills is inspiring. We encourage all Chapter members to come out and practice when we have these sessions. It doesn’t matter what your riding skill is. There’s no judgement–just support and encouragement. The only way to become a better and safer rider out on the street is to keeping practicing. A special thanks to Dawn and Mark for going above and beyond to provide us with a fantastic motorcycle skills practice session.

AFTER 17 YEARS, THUNDER IN THE ROCKIES RIDES OFF INTO THE SUNSET

Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson in Loveland announced in July that they are retiring their Thunder in the Rockies motorcycle rally after 17 years. The event was a popular Labor Day tradition for Colorado riders and surrounding states. It featured national entertainment that was not typically seen at local rallies. The organizers cited rising logistical challenges
as the main reason for the cancellation.

Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson will pivot their focus on supporting Realities for Children’s fundraising efforts for abused and neglected children at the Realities Ride and Rally on August 25th and 26th at the Anheuser-Busch Biergarten. They will be giving away a 2023 Harley-Davidson Sportster during the Realities Ride and Rally as well as selling merchandise, displaying 2023 Harley-Davidsons and will have the Harley-Davidson Pan America Demo Truck on-site for test rides.

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Ride. Seek. Explore.