Has a truly Green Motorcycle arrived on the scene?
ZERO Motorcycles from Scott’s Valley California has introduced a viable Electric Motorcycle powered by lithium ion batteries, that produce’s zero emissions and matches most gasoline powered machines in 0-60 mph acceleration.You also qualify for a Federal Tax Credit and if you live in California a rebate.
ZERO’s line [...]
It’s been a while since my last post, so I thought I would exhibit some evidence of life. I’ve just been busy trying to get personal chores done at the ranch that get neglected when I’m out playing. I have a few more rides under my belt, so I am working on the ride reports [...]
It’s that time of year again to Honor all those who have served us through their Military Service. Here is a tribute to this special day.
I will be celebrating Veterans Day with friends as we ride 700 plus miles to Deming NM for a Veterans Day BBQ.
http://www.deminggathering.com/
A stellar Motorcycle (Yamaha’s Super Tenere) which has been available World Wide for years, is finally coming to the U.S.. Honda’s release of the NT700V (Deauville) last year may have paved the way for truly useful machines. America’s use of motorcycles is strictly recreational so our market tends to cater to posers, who want the [...]
My friends from my Gold Wing Chapter in California went on a nice ride. Enjoy the virtual ride yourself. Photos by Sue Reynolds and Video Editing by Robert Hole.
The best Helmets in the world in my mind are coming back to the U.S.. Finally! I had a Schuberth C2 Helmet and wore it out 3 years ago and couldn’t get a replacement because Schuberth withdrew from the U.S. Market. I found it to be the most weather worthy helmet for me to date [...]
An interesting story from India as another joins the ranks of the Iron Butt Association. I think there are fewer than 5 Hindi Riders in the IBA.
I finished the Rally in 44th place. With the level of competition that was present, I am happy, had a great time and successfully completed my 5th Rally and my 10th IBA ride. All finishers got the same prize, self satisfaction and a commemorative glass.
Here is my glass and more on my take later. I [...]
Friday Oct 1st, 2010
The day started off great with a shower and fresh underwear. I got a good nights sleep and woke up around 0800 hrs. With only 54 miles to reach Los Lunas and a Rally Check In time at 1300 hrs, I had time to relax and mentally go through my check list [...]
Friday Sept 30th, 2010
I always enjoy Day 2, as it means a fresh change of underwear for Day 3. I awoke at 0815 hrs without the aid of the alarm and was quickly showered and packed and on the road in 30 minutes. I decided to forgo the complimentary breakfast and would eat and top [...]
Weds Sept 29th, 2010:
Well I am off again, this time to ride in the LOE (Land of Enchantment) 1000 for my third time. 24 hours and 1,000 miles of adventure and fun, along with seeing some familiar faces once again. It’s a 697 mile ride to Los Lunas where the Rally is being held and [...]
The HURT report concluded that being visible to Motor Vehicle Traffic is an important aspect of collision avoidance. Here is a novel way to illustrate that point.
Just a reminder that you should have your Medical Information Handy on you or your machine when you ride. Even if you don’t have any serious medical conditions, just having your Blood Type ready, can save minutes when seconds count.
Just click here to get started: Free Medical Emergency ID Wallet Card
I will be running this Rally for my third time. I am not a serious competitor but enjoy testing myself, being around other serious riders and most of all “The Ride”. I have managed to finish each time which in itself gives me a sense of accomplishment. Read about my ride in 2008 here.
I am [...]
If everyone rode a Motorcycle to work, it would reduce roadway congestion by 75% and save 45% on fuel consumption. Here is an example of how commuting on two wheels can set you apart.
California friends Jim Smith and Rich Sciacqua, members of GWRRA Chapter CA2Q are at it again for their third trip to Colorado together. The page will be update as Jim sends in his daily pics and prose.
Jim’s GL1800 and trailer.
If you like watching organized carnage, or watching a crazy rider tumble down the hill on his machine, or your just a plan lunatic this is for you.
Check it out!
This event is rapidly approaching and is a favorite of mine to attend in Luckenbach, Tx. For $30 you get a BBQ dinner, outdoor movie, vote on the entrants, watch Motorcycle Trials competition, enter to win a Ducati, a T-shirt and free camping!
I hope to see you there!
Can you imagine riding from coast to coast on a Pre-1916 Motorcycle? The Cannonball Run is always full of drama. Think of riding a Motorcycle that is 10 or 11 HP that holds 1.3 gallons of gas and adjusting your oil drip (no oil pumps) to 4-6 drips per minute.
Follow the daily progress of these [...]
I found this European commercial to be visually stunning, well filmed with a flare of the surreal. Enjoy!
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I’ve been busy working on several projects, including taking over as the Webmaster for Chapter 30, of The Blue Knights of Texas Law Enforcement Motorcycle club. You can go here and check out my work.
I also need to complete my Blog/story of my ride to Alaska and back.
Don’t foget you can get your KratzMC paraphernalia [...]
I will be heading to Denver for the IBA National Meet next week, following my attendance at the “Ruckus on the River”, sponsored by Blue Knights of Texas Chapter 21. I will be riding to Denver in leisurely fashion and will be flying in my Co-rider Cecilia, who will meet me in Denver. Plans are [...]
“Watch Out For The Other Guy” was a traffic safety slogan which came out in the 60’s and it still holds true today. But sometimes, you have to watch out for the Good Guys too! Here in my neck of the woods, an Austin PD Officer ran a stop sign and hit a 74 year [...]
I have done the Utah 1088 Rally twice and it is always a challenge. I love reading the Rider’s Reports to get a flavor of a rally from a different point of view and they are usually full of humor, drama and extreme pontifications.
Here is one riders report from the 2010 Utah 1088. RENO JOHN’s [...]
This is a great presentation and educational to a specific Genre of Riding.
This is an interesting site with good information. Although it centers around VTX tires, the principles are the same and can be applied to any Machine.
Just click on the picture of the Tire.
Monday June 19th, 2010…..Bandon, Oregon to Fort Bragg, California……326 Miles
I awoke excited to show Merritt downtown Bandon. I use to frequent Bandon and loved to catch Dungeness Crabs right off the pier and relax with the harbor as my backdrop, while sipping on the brew of the day. First stop was a view of the [...]
I am on my final leg home, just one fuel tank away. As I swing my leg over my machine one last time, I will reflect on the last month and the Vistas I leave behind.
Come back over the next week, when I have to time to sit down and finish chronicling my month long [...]
Sunday, June 6th, 2010……Clear Lake Resort Hwy 126, Oregon to Bandon, Oregon……..210 miles
We awoke on the Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion and it was raining. We packed our bikes and it was raining and when we left the Resort it was raining. Did I mention it was raining?
The resort had no cell phone service but [...]
Saturday, June 5th, 2010…….Redmond, Oregon to Clear Lake Resort, Oregon….53 Miles
We awoke this day to partly cloudy skies with threats of more rain moving in later in the day. As we left Redmond on Hwy 126 and fell in amongst the holiday camping traffic, we slowly ascended towards the Deschutes National Forest. As we neared [...]
For all you folks who still have to work for a living, “RIDE TO WORK DAY” is fast approaching.
“Ride To Work Day” was created to promote using Motorcycles as an alternative and efficient source of transportation. Motorcycles put out less pollutants, burns less fuel and take up less space than Cages (Automobiles). That’s why they [...]
I am in Salt Lake City, Utah. I just got new tires and front brake pads yesterday from Monarch Honda in Orem. Cost $642 dollars. That’s a few bucks more than my No-Mar Tire Machine cost me and which has already paid for itself.They didn’t have my Meztler Road Tec tires but they had some [...]
“FiFi” and it’s new engines going through ground tests. Click on the pic to see more and a video of the engine tests.
“FiFi” is the name of the last flying Boeing B-29 Bomber, which belongs to the Commemorative Air Force. She epitomizes the height of Modern Airpower from the “Greatest Generation”. “FiFi” has been going [...]
Bob Shelton is a friend and he and I attended the MSF Rider Coach School together. Bob still teaches for the MSF in the S.F. Bay Area. Bob was a big influence on me in changing from riding a Gold Wing into the ST class. I purchased my first ST1100 with Bob’s guidance and later [...]
AP News-Wendover, Utah, Monday June 14th, 2010.
Mark Kratz poses by his 2005, Honda ST-1300 ABS with Uni-go Trailer at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Mark was returning from a 31 day long ride from Austin, TX to Hyder, Alaska when he decided to make the World Record Attempt.
Mark Kratz of Georgetown, Texas set a groundbreaking land [...]
I arrived in West Wendover, Nevada last night and am heading to Salt Lake City, Utah. There I plan to get some new tires and front brake pads.
Rolling into West Wendover, Utah on I-80. You can see the Bonnevillle Salt Flats up ahead.
I am waiting for “Milky” and his son who are riding in from [...]
Thurs/Friday, June 3rd/4th, 2010…………Wenatchee, Wa to Redmond, Oregon…….308 Miles
We awoke to satellite images showing a major storm system moving into Central Oregon. We would have light rains on this day and I opted for us to try and make it to Bend, Oregon by night fall. We had been chased inland by continuously unseasonal weather, [...]
Weds, June 2nd, 2010………Wenatchee, Wa….0 miles.
Wenatchee, Washington.
We had arrived late the previous night and in the rain. I checked into the Best Western and Merritt chose a cheaper option across the street. I typically do not like to share a room and prefer traveling alone, especially on extended trips. I found this helps to maintain [...]
May 31st and June 1st, 2010…Burns Lake B.C. to Williams Lake B.C. to Wenatchee, Washington
For some reason these two days seemed to blend together and were devoted to getting out of Canada and the changing weather situation. Our initial plan to hit was Canadian coast was thwarted by threats of heavy weather systems moving in. [...]
Sunday May 30th, 2010, Stewart BC to Burns Lake, BC 292 Miles
With no schedule to adhere to, Merritt and I got a late start leaving Stewart B.C. around 1000 hrs. By that time most of the other riders had left, letting the town settle back down to its relaxed and peaceful pre-Hyder Seek existence. Our [...]
Are you tough enough to win $500,000. Here is a cross country rally from Key West Florida to Homer Alaska in 7 days, covering 7,000 miles of back roads. I just learned of this rally from an advertisement in the window of a business in Redmond, Oregon, while taking a break from the weather. Click [...]
Saturday May 29th, 2010, Hyder Alaska and “Hyder Seek”
View of the King Edward Hotel, Stewart, B.C.
Downtown Stewart, B.C.
Saturday was a day to relax, having reached our goal but we had to make our appearance in Hyder official. Merritt and I rode our motorcycles the 2.9 miles from Stewart to Hyder and the Sea Alaska Motel [...]
Friday May 28th, 2010, Prince George B.C. to Stewart B.C./Hyder, Ak, 436 Miles
Up at 0800 hrs, after a good nights rest and some Long Distance Rider Juice (Martini’s), I found Bob Hole and Bob Shelton gearing up. Another group of Canadian riders who were also headed to “Hyder Seek” had already left, on a mix [...]
There will be a break in my daily blogs as we leave Hyder and work our way south to Vancouver BC. We will be trying to camp or in small town with no cell service or wi fi. I will pick up where I left off as soon as possible. There will be more time [...]
Thurs May 27th, 2010, Canmore, Alberta Canada to Prince George, British Columbia Canada, 424 miles
Well I awoke to find out I hadn’t made it quite to Banff. I had stopped short just 12 miles from where my friend Bob Hole was staying. I didn’t realize that Banff was inside the Park Borders. In the rain, [...]
Weds May 26th, 2010 Billings, Montana to Banff, Alberta, Canada 603 miles
When I arrived in Billings last night, I found that the Best Western was located in the heart of downtown. I had an uneasy feeling with all of the indigents wandering around the streets. Typical of what I have found in established Mid-west cities [...]
May 25th, 2010 Cheyenne Wyoming to Billings Montana, 460 Miles
I slept in until 0830 hrs and did my Blog for day 5. I figured I could ride a relaxed pace leaving my 1030 hrs and make it to Billings by 1900 hrs. The weather was blue skies dotted with scattered small cloud formations. The route [...]
May 24th, 2010 Hays, Ks to Cheyenne,Wy
Day #5 was supposed to be a more relaxing day, slab riding from Hays, Ks to Cheyenne Wyoming with only 435 miles to cover. But then again, there is a thing called “Murphy’s Law”. Weather fronst were moving in to every state in my path, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and [...]
Saturday May 22, 2010
This day was uneventful with the exception of a short ride to Hot Springs Harley Davidson for a BBQ. I spent most of the day repairing and modifying my Uni-Go trailer hitch mount. I met a guy, Bob who has a machine shop at his home in Hot Springs. Bob fashioned me [...]
May 21st, 2010 (Blue Knights Conference) Hot Springs Arkansas
Our first full day at the Conference started after a good nights rest and great weather. I ran into a fellow long distance rider, David Guzman of the Border Patrol. I had met David a couple of years ago at the Veterans Day Gathering in Deming, N.M. [...]