Event Mailing List

Recently I began an event mailing list from our Ride Oklahoma Calendar. Each week I send an email listing the upcoming motorcycling events across Oklahoma. This goes out to all Ride Oklahoma Magazine subscribers, as well as web forum users. You can either sign up for free in the web forums, or purchase a subscription to Ride Oklahoma Magazine, or just drop me an email and I will add you to the weekly mailing list.



Whether you like poker runs, off-road racing, or cruising on your sport bike, the Ride Oklahoma calendar of events is the most comprehensive place to find out what is happening in motorcycling across Oklahoma.

Ride Oklahoma Magazine Update

Boy, it has been a very busy month since we launched our first issue of Ride Oklahoma Magazine. I have been to Tulsa more times than I can count. Luckily yesterday the weather was nice enough I could ride there rather than "cage" there. I have also been all across Oklahoma touting the magazine, from Sayre in the west, Ardmore in the south, and Poteau to the east. Still gotta get up north to Enid and Ponca City.

I made Bike Night at K&N Motorcycles in Tulsa

Reception from the readers has been fantastic. We have sold quite a few subscriptions, which is really nice. Reception from the advertisers, who are crucial to our success, has been pretty decent but could be better. I get a lot of potential advertisers say "yea, love the magazine, yea, love to advertise" but then when it comes time to send their ad in, they just don't get it done for whatever reason.

Bill Dragoo has been working a distribution deal that hopefully will see the magazine in over 300 convenience stores in Oklahoma. We also have them in select Barnes & Nobles stores, again thanks to Bill.

We are switching to a monthly format beginning in April, so you get more magazine more often. We have lots of cool stories working. The next issue will just blow your socks off as to the quality and writing and photography. I can't wait to get it out to everyone.

The McDonald family, who own K&N, treat the Tulsa motorcycling community just like their own family

As I travel around the state I see a ton of "motorcycle magazines" that are trying to hit the market. Ours is uniquely positioned in that we are not the typical "biker" magazine. Instead we cover all facets of two wheeled motorcycling in Oklahoma - from dirt bikes to Harley's to dual sport, sport bike, and soon even scooters. I had someone yesterday in Tulsa say they were VERY happy that we were not another "party" magazine - i.e., a magazine about people riding cruisers and going party to party, with pics of people who are at the party.

Our goal is to bring you in-depth coverage of motorcycling in Oklahoma, with outstanding photography and high quality articles.

An example of things we are working on for upcoming issues:

-Alley Cat - Dual Sport Riding in downtown OKC
-Okies do Terlingua - You guys know about that story (he he)
-Heartland Heat - about fireman who ride Harley's and raise money to help fire victims - this is one cool story
-We have an upcoming issue mostly dedicated to women riders, including rider profiles, how to get started, places women enjoy riding to, and how to sell to the growing women motorcycle population
- I have found a number of people with old motorcycles, some with historic significance, that we will be photographing and profiling
-A profile on Crossbar Ranch
-Coverage of the fast-growing OCCRA race in Tahlihina
-More stories about particular motorcycle riding roads and destinations
-The growing supermoto movement in Oklahoma
-profile some stunt bike riders and their cool skills
-review of the drag bike scene in Oklahoma
-A look at flat track racing

I have so many story ideas it is hard to narrow them down for each issue. I have had great response from potential writers for the magazine. I probably have 30 stories or story ideas on my hard drive right now. Still could use a few oustanding motorcycle photographers to help out, especially in Tulsa.

How we could really use the help is in both distribution of the magazine and in ad sales. If you are interested in either please drop me an email or pm. To bring you all these cool stories takes money, which primarily comes from advertising sales. Be sure and talk to your local dealer, eatery, bed and breakfast, etc., and encourage them to advertise and support our effort. Also be loyal to the ones who do advertise. Without them we couldn't do all this.

The next issue is due April 1. The ad deadline is March 1. The first issue of the magazine I did about 80% of the layout, while Emily came on late and tweaked the design. For this upcoming issue, Emily has done 100% of the layout, and let me tell you, it is WAY better than what I produce. I guarantee it will knock your socks off. I look at what she has done and just go "damn" - it looks just like something you see competing for space at Barnes and Noble - which it is. I cannot wait to get it out to our readers!

April Ride Oklahoma

We are hard at work here in the Ride Oklahoma corporate offices dungeon putting together the April/May 2007 issue. What with jetting off driving in my dirt jeep to exotic locations Shawnee to photograph supermodels Brian & Bill on motorcycles, to wining and dining with motorcycle industry executives begging for ads, to high level planning meetings Starbucks with Emily that shake the two-wheeled industry, our league of writers and photographers are pounding away to bring you the latest and greatest in Oklahoma two-wheeled adventure.

Upcoming we have several very interesting articles. One of my favorites is a story on the Heartland Heat chapter of the Wind and Fire Motorcycle Club. On first glance you might think these guys are hard core bikers with their worn leathers and club patches, but let me tell you they are some of the finest motorcyclists around. We should all strive to help others like they do. I went with them as they shopped for a family who had lost their home and possessions to a fire, and then as they delivered those gifts to the grateful recipients.

Another story we are working is about some Oklahoma dual sport enthusiasts who traveled to Terlingua TX to get away from the cold Oklahoma winter, yet ended up freezing their tails asses off in the desert.

We have a surprise rider profile that I really think you will enjoy. Nobody knows who it is except Emily and myself.

Another story is about a young girl in a family who races in OCCRA events across Oklahoma. This time her father and uncle sit out a race to help her with fuel stops.

Finally, our own Brian Hopkins is bringing you a side splitting tale about his ride last fall to the OK Dual Sport ride in Clayton. Be sure you are not drinking milk when you read his stuff, it might end up embarressing you spewing out your nose.

Harley Davidson

I have to admit it - I love Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Now I am sure my traditional motorcycle riding buddies will wonder if I got sick, or turned to the dark side, or got whopped up the side of my head in a recent crash.

Now don't get me wrong. I love light, fast, quick motorcycles. And it is hard to call any Harley, even the Buell's, light, fast and quick. To make matters worse, I have never even ridden a Harley, much less owned one. Not that I wouldn't love to, but they just never had one that fit my needs at the time.

But there is something to the mystique of Harley Davidson that tugs at riding heartstrings. Travel to the Barber Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, AL and you will see old Harley board track racers that look like toothpicks with engines and no brakes. The mean growl of an XR-750 flat track bike always makes my blood boil. Pictures of leather-helmeted racers of old makes me think of pioneers, always looking for adventure and more speed.

As a marketing company, Harley has no equal. They have built a loyal diehard following and the Motor Company has one of the strongest brands on the planet, right up there with Coca Cola. How many people have "Yamaha" tattoed on the back of their head?

My big wish is that Harley would get more involved in motorcycle racing. They have a long racing heritage and have had great success with their recent foray into drag racing. I would love to see them expand into road racing, dirt racing, and many other forms of two wheeled competition. I am sure they have the engineering and financial capabilities. Their effort with Buell have been well received, but it is still not the same has having the full weight of The Motor Company behind their racing efforts.

Some day I hope to own and ride a Harley Davidson. Most likely it will be some type of performance-oriented model, like their recent XR 1200 Prototype. Man, that thing gets my blood boiling and makes me want to go riding!

Motorcycle Swap Meets

Wonder where you can find a pushrod for a 1948 panhead? Or how about an original rear fender for a 1938 panhead? eBay is a good choice, some sometimes you might just want to wander through the aisles, touch the merchandise, maybe trade stories with the leather-faced Harley afficionado behind the crates of clutch baskets and drive gears?

Parts were stacked in hundreds of crates along the show floor.

One place to do that is the semi-annual Jeff Williams Motorcycle Swap Meet. This long running event, held in both the OKC and Tulsa areas, has been bringing together Oklahoma motorcyclists who are looking for just the right part to finish out their long-planned project bike. December 3 saw me at this event for the first time in several years. As I walked in the door at the OKC Fairgrounds building, I was treated to the site of rows used bikes quietly waiting for an eager buyer, gleaming chrome glinting in the sunlight, ready to be mounted on a sleek bike and polished to perfection, and a multitude of buyers walking the aisles, picking up parts for a closer examination, and discussing the merits of a particular bike with a welcoming vendor.

Jericho Sanchez from Austin, Texas works to help people find just the right part. He travels all over the country selling parts, including Sturgis and Daytona.

Ronnie and Janet Hudson from Noble browse a table for parts.

Nearly new bikes sat alongside much older bikes, waiting for a ready buyer.

I did see a wayward KLR 650 for sale on the floor, which looked quite out of place with all the American V-twin equipment around. Oh well, dual sport riders need parts too!

Ride Oklahoma Magazine Update

We are getting close to the publishing date for our first Ride Oklahoma magazine. This is something I have wanted to do for years and finally began working in earnest on this project in spring 2006. Luckily I have gathered an excellent and entertaining group of writers that will put you in the seat of their motorcycle as they cross the state in search of adventure. We are busy doing the final advertising push to help pay for the printing and publication. We REALLY need help with advertisers. They are crucial to bringing you this high quality publication. If you know of a local vendor who would benefit from reaching a target audience of Oklahoma motorcyclists, tell them about our magazine and web site, and then drop me an email and I will follow up with them. Substantial discounts are available for the first year as we start publishing, so it is a great opportunity for them to reach thousands of readers and be associated with a high quality, local Oklahoma motorcycle publication.

I am also looking for stories, events, and interesting riders to profile on our web site and in the magazine. If you know of an event or person that you think would make a great story, again please drop me an email with contact information. Ride Oklahoma encompasses all types of two wheeled adventure, no matter how obscure or what part of Oklahoma you are from. I am always interested in attending events to gather a story and some good photographs. If you have your own story and pictures you would like to submit, either post them in the forums and notify me, or send me an email with a submission.

I hope you enjoy this long-nurtured labor of love as much as I have enjoyed putting it together!

Dirt Riding makes Better Riders

My favorite riding is off-road dirt bikes, especially jeep trails, fast fire roads, and places that are just fun and fast. I don't care for brutally hard rides, but I do like challenges.

My first foray into motorcycling was in 1978. A Yamaha XS650 Special was my bike of choice, a psuedo-chopper with a sissy bar and little power. After some butt-killing rides I quickly switched to sport bikes, with nice Honda 750 Supersport, a Kawasaki KZ-750E1, a Honda VFR, and others. In my mind I was pretty decent rider after 5 years, several track days and lots of miles.


But once my wife's uncle hooked me up on dirt bikes, I figured out how little I really knew about riding. I was hooked! A good old solid Honda XR250R was worn out at Draper, followed by a Husky 250 WR, a YZ-250, KX-500 and other. Dirt riding made me a MUCH better street rider by teaching me how to slide the wheels, wheelie at will, control the bike even though it was getting squirrelly underneath, and generally just be more comfortable in all conditions.

Flat Tires

It's 102 degrees outside. A thick, choking dust from 10 dirt bike riders hangs in the air like a San Francisco fog, except in the Bay area a fog like that means much cooler weather. We had just pulled over and were examing Tom Sawyer's flat tire. It looked like a wet noodle on the rear of his Suzuki DRZ, effectively saying "you guys are not going anywhere anytime soon - hope you got some water and tire irons".

With 10 very experienced off-road riders in the pack, it was no time before we had the bike propped over against a rock, the rear wheel off, and the tire ready to come off the rim. We could all help with this task, but once you start removing the tire and patching the tube, only two people can effectively pitch in. So like any good dirt bike rider, the rest of us stood around and gave advice. Since it was Tom's bike natually he wanted to be the one changing the tire. Who would be the helper, the one that would get bloody knuckles and sweat dripping off their nose while the others watched with impatience? Let's see, draw straws? Rock/paper/scissors? Indian leg wrestle? Adam Pratt, the youngest rider of the group, quickly volunteered - or did is older, more experienced, and lazier riders volunteer him? Either way, we now had the oldest rider and the youngest rider prying away like drunken sailors, while the rest of the pack gave advice, told tall tales about how fast we used to be, and snapped pictures of the pit crew slaving away. The nearest shade was a scrawny sapling 20 yards away, but with only enough shade for a lizard, this didn't do us much good. A cold Budweiser would have been a welcome addition to to the team.

In no time Adam and Tom had the tube patched and the tire back on the bike. The NASCAR-level pit crew slapped the wheel back on the embarressed DRZ, and in 15 minutes we were back on the trail, spitting rocks and dust on the southeast Oklahoma two-track.

But wait, only a mile down the trail, Tom was missing again. Backtracking like an indian scout, we found him once again on the side of the trail, the ingomious tire flat once again. DAMN!! We didn't even get far enough for a good breeze to drive the sweat from our bodies. I am guessing our world class pit crew pinched the tube in their rush to beat the clock and the heat. So this time we get to do it all again, but at a slower, more cautious pace.

Flat tires are a way of life for off-road riders. When you travel to the remote wilds of southeast Oklahoma, you better have tire irons, spare tubes, and a way to inflate the tire or it could be a LONG, slow, wobbly ride back to camp.