Motorcycling Challenges

OK, let's face it.  Motorcycling is a blast....when it is in the 80's and it's sunny...like they say "you can always know a happy biker, lots of bugs in the teeth".
BUT, some days simply aren't as good.

A list of motorcycling challenges include the following:
1. thunder and lightning
2. hail
3. heavy rain
4. light drizzel
5. high winds and gusts
6. snow
7. hail
8. bad pot hole roads
9. transport trucks
10. temperatures over 100F

We have hit them all over the years of biking.  Now, dealing with ONE challenge is do-able.  Dealing with TWO challenges is no fun and THREE will take you off the road for sure.

This year we have encountered a lot of rain and wind.

Yesterday, while travelling from Milbank South Dakota to Willmar Minnesota, a distance of only about 190 km (40 of which was a forced road detour) we found ourselves battling INTENSE crosswinds.  In order to keep the bikes upright and on the roads you have to lean the bike into the wind.  The wind kept catching our helmets and pulling them to the side.

The pictures below illustrate the tire wear resulting from driving the bike on angle.  Sometimes you almost drop the bike because of a bunch of trees blocking the wind!!!