OfirMX

The Yamaha TW200 Scrambler (a TWambler?)

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 14:57:36 -0700

Last year I posted about the two beater TW200s that I had restored with my kids as a fun project for them to learn mechanics, learn to ride, and become responsible for their own vehicles.With lots of love and a few pounds of elbow grease, we took them from this to this But now one of them just went through a major TWansformation (see what I did there?) for my daughters birthday!

I was a racist

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 09:45:16 -0700

I was a racist. I thought it was ok. I thought it was normal.I was wrong. I hope you can forgive me.I grew up in a society where labeling and humiliating others based on the color of their skin and the shape of their body was expected and applauded.I was also raised in a racist religion that, from a young age, brainwashed me by telling me I was part of a chosen kind, that good people from old were white and exceeding fair and delightful and that people with a dark skin were descendants of lazy and evil people...

Riding a motorcycle between lanes is legal in California (lane splitting)

Sun, 14 Oct 2018 14:48:54 -0700

If you drive a car or truck in California, please read the following: Lane splitting (motorcycles driving in the space between traffic lanes on public roads and freeways) is legal in the state of California. CHP recently stated very clearly that just as it is expected from motorcyclists to lane-split responsibly drivers of cars and trucks have responsibilities too. Its illegal to intentionally block or impede a motorcyclist from lane splitting, including by opening a vehicle door...

The 3 ingredients

Thu, 14 Jun 2018 08:39:20 -0700

The 3 ingredients for a safe, successful motorcycle rider are: 1. Situational AWARENESS to know where trouble is.2. Good JUDGEMENT to stay away from trouble.3. Sharp SKILLS to get out of trouble when 1 or 2 fail.

Proper motorcycle training is like wearing a helmet

Mon, 05 Jun 2017 13:46:26 -0700

Proper motorcycle training is like wearing a helmet. You can ride for 40 years without one and make a case that you've never needed it.Until you do.But by then it's too late to make that decision.

Maximum braking on a motorcycle

Sun, 20 Nov 2016 12:17:09 -0800

Practicing quick stops for emergency situations Whether you have an ABS-equipped motorcycle or not, it's always a good idea to practice quick stops regularly on your bike to keep your skills sharp in case you need them during an emergency situation.

The cookie is right

Tue, 04 Oct 2016 12:45:07 -0700

Be wise, get trained, ride safe.- Ofir

Fixing the Vee, Part 2

Thu, 21 Apr 2016 18:33:17 -0700

Ever since I rebuilt the Vee and its broken engine using spare parts from two blown motors in 2012, it had been running nice and strong until a few days ago when it started stumbling and hesitating, specially during take offs. So I took the tank off and inspected the throttle bodies; It turned out to be a clogged injector which was pretty easy to clean.

Braking vs Engine-Braking before entering a corner - Part II

Tue, 07 Jul 2015 11:19:21 -0700

So I got quite a few emails after my last post Braking vs Engine-Braking before entering a corner from people wanting to know a bit more of the whys using both brakes before entering a turn is better than using engine braking or ever front braking alone. So, these are the reasons:1 - By using BOTH brakes smoothly and gently before entering the turn, BOTH front and back suspensions compress and BOTH tires gain more traction the bike settles and stabilizes from front to rear...

Braking vs Engine-Braking before entering a corner

Wed, 01 Jul 2015 21:52:54 -0700

I ride two different bikes with plenty of engine-braking power each (SV650 and Vstrom 1000) so for the last few years I became lazy regarding the use of my actual brakes to set my entry speed before entering a curve; I would just roll off the throttle enough to slow down and dive into the turn. (I live at the foothills of the central Sierra Nevada so I spend lots of time in my "backyard", which is full of amazing twisty roads)...

RIP, Mr. Spock

Fri, 27 Feb 2015 14:38:31 -0800

Leonard Nimoy March 26, 1931 February 27, 2015

Pinnacles Range, a December Ride

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 00:19:33 -0800

So today I made the most of this week's nice weather and went on a 280-miles solo ride along the Pinnacles Mountain Range here in California. To get there, I had to ride across the whole Central Valley under a very dense fog. Needless to say, I had a real blast.The Route (https://goo.gl/maps/fJGbP):- CA180 from Fresno to Mendota- Little Panoche (J1) from Mendota to Tres Pinos- CA25 then CA98 to Coalinga- CA145 and CA180 back to FresnoI'm ready to cross the San Joaquin Valley (70 miles) in heavy fog...

End of year run to Kings Canyon with Tim and Sean

Sun, 19 Oct 2014 21:16:23 -0700

End of year run to Kings Canyon with Tim and Sean.

Sat, 16 Aug 2014 13:17:08 -0700

Full map here: https://goo.gl/maps/teGrZ CA190 from 100 Giants Trail to Balch Park Pack Station