• Gas Price Per Gallon: $2.419
• Gallons: 4.123
• Fuel Total: $9.97
• Tripmeter at fuel-up: 167.1 km/104 miles (approx)
• kpg/mpg (approx.) 42kpg/26.8mpg
• Odometer at fuel-up: 1788km/1111 miles
• Date & Time: Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
• Gas Station: Jacksons Food Stores, W. 7th Ave., Eugene, Oregon
• Fuel: Premium (92 octane with 10% ethanol)

Notes on mileage: Lost track on these, so not as keen on where Sveta’s efficiency is. This will help me get back on track. Seems to be holding around this 27mpg level for now.

“For women who ride”

Indeed – and for women who ride, but aren’t necessarily out for the leather look, Tourmaster’s Ladie’s Trinity Motorcycle Jacket is a great jacket to wear. Especially in a sidecar.

Jodie’s light blue Tourmaster Trinity came as a Christmas present from me. I’d found the jacket at Eugene’s Discount Motorcycle Parts (just off West 11th at Tyinn), and liked the color (perfect for Jodie) as well as the zip-out insulating liner and the removable armor. To top it off, the jacket was also on sale for $110, a quite reasonable price for a durable motorcycle jacket.

About the Women’s Tourmaster Trinity Motorcycle Jacket

Here are some features and specifications from the manufacturer’s website:

• The 400 Denier Nylon Dobby 3/4 length shell combines with a Rainguard® waterproof/ breathable barrier for a garment that protects from the road and rain
• The collar features a soft, microfiber relief panel
• Zippered chest vents, sleeve vents and rear exit vents provide flow-through ventilation
• Two-way main zipper closure with dual wind flap seals out the elements
• Phoslite™® sleeve piping and Tour Master’s signature reflective rear triangle help increase nighttime visibility
• The Microfiber lined collar and cuffs are soft yet durable
• Collar anchor snap eliminates flapping while the collar is open
• Adjustable sleeve take-up straps at the forearm and bicep help secure elbow armor and material
• Removable, CE-approved armor at the elbow and shoulder with an articulated Triple Density back protector
• Tour Master’s Ladies Z.O.Q. (Zip-Out Quilted) Liner features a comfortable iridescent taffeta liner
• Zippered chest map pocket, hand warmer pockets, internal pouch pocket and mobile media pocket
• Adjustable waist belts, with TPR pulls help to fine tune the fit
• Includes a jacket/pant zipper attachment with the pant side included
• Available colors: Black, Light Blue, Silver, Pink
• Available Ladies sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL

Jodie in her jacket

I have to say, Jodie looks good in her jacket. No, strike that. Jodie looks pretty damn hot. It’s a lot of fun to ride around in Svetlana, with Jodie sitting there in her blue jacket, returning waves and grinning big. She likes her jacket a lot, both for its warmth and versatility, and how comfortable it fits her. It’s been a good pick for her, and it just may be for you (or your riding lady) too.

More online: Tourmaster’s Ladie’s Trinity Motorcycle Jacket »

A red full moon rises over Eugene this evening, autumn setting in behind a clear, deep blue night sky. I’d been in the hardware store when the last of the sunset faded, and didn’t realize how long I’d been hunting up a few items for some projects, till I glanced up at the large windows and saw only darkness there.

I just grinned, thinking more of how it was going to be a little interesting securing an 8-foot-long apple picker to the sidecar. (Easy, by the way – just run it, or whatever long-handled item you’re hauling home, through a bar of the luggage rack and down into the tub, and then secure the picker to the luggage rack with something, such as a bungee cord. If you’ve got your tonneau cover on, fasten that over the handle too.)

Outside, the full moon was just getting into the sky. I was struck by the deep, dusty redness of its surface, the stark contrast of the red against the deep blue of the coming night. I put everything away in Svetlana, then swung up onto the back of the Ural. The moon was still low enough to where I could see a power line cut across the bottom of the moon. I focused my gaze on that, and marveled at how quickly the moon rose and within seconds was free of the power line, the view of the glorious red, round surface unbroken again.

It was only then that I started Sveta. She growled and grumbled into life immediately – no messing with the moonlight here. On the road, I changed my route from the more direct yet tree-lined way home, to one that would take me on roads where the moon would always be either to my left or right in front of me.

The only way the ride would’ve been better, is if I’d brought a camera. Figures. Don’t get me started on the overpass I climbed, riding east, the moon just above the surrounding streetlights. It would’ve made an amazing photo.

Back home, the moon was ever higher in the sky, just above the trees of our neighborhood. Since getting home I’d gotten in a few good rides on Sveta, but this was the best. The warm, clear night, one of the last of the summer, and a red moon that I would never forget.

It was a shame to putt-putt into the garage, and to know that soon the moon would eventually set.

But the memory never would.

• Gas Price Per Gallon: $3.969
• Gallons: 3.880
• Fuel Total: $15.40
• Tripmeter at fuel-up: 164.20 km/102 miles (approx)
• kpg/mpg (approx.) 42kpg/26.8mpg
• Odometer at fuel-up: 1446km/899 miles
• Date & Time: Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008, 7:31 p.m.
• Gas Station: Jacksons Food Stores, W. 7th Ave., Eugene, Oregon
• Fuel: Premium (92 octane with 10% ethanol)

Notes on mileage: Bit of a dip in mileage. Perhaps due to hotter temperatures and not as much riding?

This past Saturday, Jodie, Ella and I did a great day trip up Oregon’s Highway 126. The highway runs east of Eugene/Springfield, parallel to the beautiful McKenzie River towards the Cascade Mountains.

The trip went great, though we did have some issues with the bike stalling when we would stop.

I’ll be getting to all that soon. Not tonight though — I’m heading out to meet Jodie for a picnic dinner and then to see Garrison Keillor, who’s performing tonight for Eugene’s Oregon Bach Festival.

Stay tuned.

Highway 126/McKenzie River Day Trip, Oregon

• Gas Price Per Gallon: 4.599
• Gallons: 3.049
• Fuel Total: $14.02
• Tripmeter at fuel-up: 145.2 km/90.2 miles (approx)
• kpg/mpg (approx.) 48kpg/30mpg
• Odometer at fuel-up: 1282km/797 miles
• Date & Time: Saturday, June 28, 2008, 6:42 p.m.
• Gas Station: Pratts Leaburg Count., 42840 McKenzie Highway, Leaburg, Oregon
• Fuel: Premium (92 octane with 10% ethanol)

Notes on mileage: Definitely seeing better mileage with more consistent highway speeds and travel. No surprise there, but glad to see mileage in the 30s on today’s 100-plus mile road trip.

Highway 126/McKenzie River Day Trip, Oregon

• Gas Price Per Gallon: $4.659
• Gallons: 2.671
• Fuel Total: $12.44
• Tripmeter at fuel-up: 119.5 km/74.25 miles (approx)
• kpg/mpg (approx.) 45kpg/28mpg
• Odometer at fuel-up: 1136km/706 miles
• Date & Time: Saturday, June 28, 2008, 12:40 p.m.
• Gas Station: Santa Clara Chevron, 2785 River Road, Eugene, Oregon
• Fuel: Supreme (92 octane with up to 10% ethanol)

Notes on mileage: Tanked up before the McKenzie River/Highway 126 road trip. Off we go!

UDF and Fresh Strawberries

Jodie is out of town visiting family this weekend, leaving me to my own devices. With a beautiful, warm sunny weekend at long last upon us, I’ve spent most of the day riding my Ural Patrol, Svetlana, around our South Eugene area. (No pics today, I’m afraid, as Jodie took the digicam with her.)

After a hot breakfast and lots of coffee, I rode Svetlana over to the Southtowne Shoppes for a bit of shopping. Jodie and I get most of our produce and eggs from the wonderful folks at Sweetwater Farm. On Saturdays during the summer months they also run a farmer’s market at Southtowne, and I motored down to pick up a flat of strawberries and some wee artichokes, for when Jodie gets back on Tuesday.

“I’ve heard about these!”

Following a nip into the butcher shop, Longs Meat Market, for some ground buffalo, good ol’ Ural Delay Factor, or UDF, set in. After chatting with a woman about her Smart Car (45 miles to the gallon, in town!), another woman came out and said, “Everyone inside is talking about your motorcycle!”

Soon after a man came out (her husband, I believe), and said something I had not yet heard: “I’ve heard of these! I looked them up online!” Now, people are often intrigued by Svetlana, but they generally have not heard of the Ural brand.

We spend a fair few minutes talking about the bike. Another guy came over and joined the conversation too, and we talked about two-wheel drive, fuel economy and how Jodie and Ella fit in the sidecar.

“Nice sidecar!”

After visiting some friends (and agreeing to take a visiting friend for a ride in the sidecar later), I was on my way back home to eat an entire flat of strawberries freeze some strawberries for the never far enough away days when fresh strawberry season is over.

On the way back home, a great moment. I was first in-line at a stoplight. A teenage boy, probably around 13, was crossing the street. He noticed the sidecar, and when he got to the other corner turned, smiled and said, “Nice sidecar!”

The whole way home, and the entire trip around town, people looked and waved and grinned. I don’t know that I will ever get tired of that. And today I got to have some great conversations with folks I’d never know otherwise. And Svetlana did what she does best – bring smiles to lots of people’s faces.

• Gas Price Per Gallon: $4.419
• Gallons: 3.485
• Fuel Total: $15.40
• Tripmeter at fuel-up: 148.7 km/92.4 miles (approx)
• kpg/mpg (approx.) 43kpg/27mpg
• Odometer at fuel-up: 1017km/632 miles
• Date & Time: Saturday, June 7, 2008, 5:09 p.m.
• Gas Station: Jerry Brown CFN, 2690 Prairie Road, Eugene, Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
• Fuel: V-Power (92 octane with 10% ethanol)

Notes on mileage: Still in the high-20s. Will see what happens with mileage as bike continues to break in. Also need to do some highway riding, to see what consistently changes with mileage when doing 45mph-60mph instead of just around-town riding.

I like this gas station. Not only is it a quick ride, but one of the attendants is also pretty stoked to see the Ural.

Whether in your own state or when you’re planning a road trip, you gotta know the laws affecting you and your rig. Do you have to wear a helmet? Can you carry a child? Do you have to bag up that radar detector? Heck, some states even have restrictions around helmet speakers and handlebar height.

Makes me glad to be a motorcyclist in Oregon — from what I can see, we don’t have too much in the way of restrictive laws (FYI, I’m not getting into a helmet law debate). The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has a comprehensive state-by-state breakdown of road and off-road motorcycle laws. Here are some highlights for road motorcycling laws in Oregon, but remember, 1) I’m not a lawyer and ain’t playing one in the blogosphere, and 2) here’s the full AMA list of Oregon motorcycle laws:

• Helmets are required, but eye protection isn’t (I’ll still take both, thanks)
• Passenger seats and footrests required if carrying a passenger (crikey, they wanna be comfortable too? whine, whine, whine…)
• No passenger age restriction (get that newborn in the sidecar, honey, let’s go tear-arsing!)
• Two motorcycles can ride abreast in the same lane, but a motorcycle is not allowed to lane-split (or pass another vehicle using the same lane that vehicle is in)

AMA - Oregon Motorcycle Laws