Hello! Last episode I said I was going to try to put out one a week while we’re all cooped up trying to avoid getting infected with covid-19 and so far so good. Not only do I have this episode ready for you, but I’ve got another discussion recorded and another one coming up I’m pretty excited about, so I’m on track for April. We’ll see how long I can keep it up before you or I go crazy.
Have you ever wondered where your motorcycle gear comes from? I did, so I reached out to one of the major gear distributors in the US – and they’re doing strictly gear, not tires or parts or trying to be all things to all people. Bill Berroth founded Motonation, which represents SIDI and Forcefield Body Armour in America, about 20 years ago.
Turns out that’s not Bill’s only cred in the motorcycle world – he used to be a competitive off-road rider, and in the incredibly challenging International Six Days Enduro to boot. Right now the ISDE is about the only motorcycle racing event that hasn’t been rescheduled or outright cancelled – it’s not due to start until 31 August; this year it’s being run in Italy, one of the hardest-hit countries in the pandemic.
I hope you are all well, and while it may seem like slight comfort, if anybody needs or wants to chat about whatever, you can always reach me by email ([email protected]). If it helps, I can curse in three languages well and two others at a passable level.
I’ve been joining Andrew “The Motelorcyclist” Beattie on his biweekly Facebook livestream Bedtime Stories to report a little industry news and give some tech tips. Please consider joining us on Wednesday and Sunday evenings at 8 PM Eastern US time (UTC -5). (He’s also posting the videos on YouTube after they run live). Andrew was our guest on Episode 47 and his book Sleeping Around in America is now available on Amazon in hardback, paperback and Kindle editions.
Please take a moment to visit our sponsors – the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America (digital memberships available for US$39) and Dunlop Motorcycle Tires. (PS A Dunlop engineer will be on the show in April to talk tech about tires!)
Be safe, be smart, wash your hands and I’ll see you out there on the road somewhere – or off it!