I am an ordinary guy who enjoys riding motorcycles. I love riding all makes and models. I love short rides, long rides, and multi-day road trips. I lead an annual summer tour in various parts of the USA. I post reviews about motorcycle gear, motorcycles, roads, restaurants, sights, gadgets and more. Check out the "Motorcycle Facts,Trivia and History" page, the "Oz on Pods" page and the other pages for other useful and fun information. Ride carefully and Prayerfully, Oz.
Showing posts with label Yamaha FJR 1300. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yamaha FJR 1300. Show all posts

Saturday, September 27, 2025

Half A Million and the Top 5

 

I am fully aware there are many publications and blogs that have had millions of eyes/readers peruse their websites and blogs.  However, for a motorcycle rider that is not a professional writer the thought of having 500,000+ click on a simple blog is startling and humbling.   



An early post about Wheels Through Time museum and the same model my grandfather owned back in 1915.

 When I started the blog I just wanted to be an "ordinary biker" providing useful and straightforward information for other riders.  I did not want to use strange and unnecessary phrases just to be different, "original" or condescending.  Often the similes used in publications are just silly, for example, one author stated "the engine fired up with the sound of 10,000 angry wasps."  That description did not provide me with any useful information. 

Here are some of the bikes I have had over the years, but not all, with links to reviews and/or videos.


2012 Honda VFR1200

2009 Suzuki VStrom 650

I am so glad the blog has been so well received and I want to thank everyone who has visited, read a post or left a comment.  I greatly appreciate past and future feedback, comments and subscribers.   

Here are the five most read blog post.  Some were posted years ago and some only months ago.  If you missed one of these maybe now is a good time to read it.

The Five Most Read Posts

5) An Epic Museum Featuring an American Icon is A Must Visit!

4) Texas Hill Country

3) Honda VFR 1200 Review

2) Yamaha FJR Review

1) V Star 1100 Review

Ride carefully and prayerfully!    
  
Connect and follow Biker Oz on the following:

        https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009663932095

Ordinary Biker Oz YouTube Channel has video reviews and more
Please visit the following great companies:

 

* I have personally ordered from and/or visited these businesses and based on my experiences I recommend this company.  I have an affiliate relationship with the businesses, which means if you follow this link and purchase, I will receive a small commission and will get to ride more!
 
Feedback on these businesses is appreciated.  You may comment below.
 
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6 

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

A Scenic Road and A Great Meal:: CO 165 and Max’s Place

 

Heading west on CO 165 from I25 - the view is awesome
 

After a satisfying ride, a hearty meal seems almost essential, and when you're riding through Colorado, you're never short on breathtaking roads. With their twists, turns, hills, and stunning landscapes, the state offers some of the best routes for motorcyclists. While finding a great road is relatively easy, discovering a local eatery that serves up fantastic food can be more of a challenge. But when you do find that perfect spot, it’s definitely worth sharing.

Max's has plenty of parking and outdoor seating with a view
 

One such place is the 36-mile stretch of Colorado 165, which runs from Colorado 96 near North Hardscrabble Creek to I-25 in Colorado City. This stretch of CO 165 is a true joy to ride, featuring a mix of sweeping curves, tight bends, and changing elevations.

CO 165 is a fun and scenic road

Co 165 also will lead you pass Bishop’s Castle—an intriguing stop that’s well worth a visit. And after enjoying the ride, be sure to end or start your journey at Max’s, located in Colorado City.

Bishop's Castle is a fun and interesting stop along the way

Max’s sits on the north side of the road as you head east into Colorado City, with plenty of parking available. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating options. If you opt for the outdoor area, you’ll enjoy a lovely southwest-facing view of the mountains.

The service at Max’s Place is quick, friendly, and filled with that classic country hospitality. Although the menu highlights breakfast, burgers, and dairy treats, I couldn’t resist trying the Green Chili—a dish that’s hard to come by in Texas.

The green chili is tasty and satisfying

The bowl of Green Chili arrived hot (but not too spicy), topped with shredded cheddar and accompanied by a soft flour tortilla. The first spoonful was a revelation—no need to add anything. The blend of ground meat, beans, spices, tomatoes, and green chilies created a rich, flavorful dish with just the right amount of heat.

The tortilla complemented the chili perfectly. Savoring each bite while taking in the view made for a memorable lunch. And to finish the meal, I couldn’t resist the fresh-baked blueberry pie à la mode.

The pie was served warm, with a generous scoop of soft-serve ice cream on top. The flaky crust and rich blueberry filling made it a standout—one of those rare pies that could stand on its own, even without the ice cream.

Blueberry pie and ice cream was a perfect end to the meal

What really made the meal special, however, was the value. The old-fashioned service and cooking were matched by equally old-fashioned prices. It’s hard to find this level of qualityfor the same price.  It was a great value.

So, if you’re ever riding through the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, make sure to check out Colorado 165, and don’t miss a stop at Max’s in Colorado City.

Ride carefully and prayerfully!    
  
Connect and follow Biker Oz on the following:

        https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009663932095

Ordinary Biker Oz YouTube Channel has video reviews and more
Please visit the following great companies:

 

* I have personally ordered from and/or visited these businesses and based on my experiences I recommend this company.  I have an affiliate relationship with the businesses, which means if you follow this link and purchase, I will receive a small commission and will get to ride more!
 
Feedback on these businesses is appreciated.  You may comment below.
 
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6 

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Update



Page changed to "Motorcycles Facts, Trivia and History" from Tuesday Trivia after two years of posting.

The Ordinary Biker Oz Motorcycles Facts, Trivia and Historypage is now 1 year old!  The first entry was made January 14, 2020 concerning a German engineer named Gottlieb Daimler. A new installment has been added each week, except for the week of June 30th (I was leading a week of riding in the Rocky Mountins of Colorado for some friends) and the week of Thanksgiving (I was in rural Mississippi visiting the in-laws and eating great country cooking).

I have learned a lot and learned I have a lot yet to learn.  The history of motorcycles and the men and women who have help to advance motorcycle technology, riding, racing, usage and enjoyment is interesting and creates a spirit of thankfulness to those who have ridden ahead of us.
The number of "failures" and disappointments are far greater than the successes and exuberant moments which make it to the "history books."  I often wonder how many versions of the first KTM motorcycle failed before the R100 was released (see September 22 post).  

How many riders died before T.E. Lawrence's death and Sir Hugh Cairns decided to develop safety motorcycle helmets (See July 14th's Trivia) and the development of rider safety gear that followed.

I look forward to learning, sharing and adding more Tuesday Trivia in 2021.  I hope you enjoy it and learn something new and interesting. 

It has also been a year of my affiliate relationships with Dainese and Duke Cannon.  As an affiliate, if a reader follows a link from here to the affiliate site and makes a purchase I get a small commission.  I have ordered and used products of both companies before becoming an affiliate and I still am a customer to both.  I enthusiastically recommend both companies and would even if I wasn't an affiliate partner with them. 

Thank you to the readers who have followed a link and made a purchase!  

Be safe and enjoy the ride and when not riding visit Tuesday Trivia, my most read review posts, my recommended venders page or the latest post at Ordinary Biker Oz.      Be sure to leave a comment and/or question.  I love hearing from you.
       
Connect and follow on social media

         https://www.instagram.com/ordinarybikeroz/?hl=en       https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009663932095
 
Please visit the following great companies:


https://dukecannon.com/?rfsn=3578014.7da392
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Ordinary Biker Oz YouTube Channel has video reviews and more


* I have personally ordered from and/or visited this business and based on my experiences I recommend this company.  I have an affiliate relationship with this business, which means if you follow this link and purchase, I will receive a small commission and will get to ride more!

# Based on reviews, word of mouth and discussion with others I recommend this company.  I have an affiliate relationship with this business, which means if you follow this link and purchase, I will receive a small commission and will get to ride more!
 
Feedback on these businesses is appreciated.  You may comment below.

Friday, January 3, 2020

Why a Motorcycle Blog - Revisited

My son and I in North Carolina in July of 2011
Original Objective
Why did I start the The Ordinary Biker Oz blog?  I began the blog in September 2007 with the goal of being useful to both new motorcycle riders and experienced motorcyclists.  One of the original objectives was to provide straightforward and honest reviews without crazy, absurd and/or silly comparisons. As I stated in the introduction post "I read several motorcycle magazines and websites. I especially like the product reviews, except for the unique descriptions (which are often silly) that journalist sometimes use to try to sound clever".  I actually heard a comparison between the sound of a sport bike motorcycle to a million mad hornets - how does that help?

Although the blog has evolved and hopefully improved, the founding purpose remains "to give straightforward reviews of items that I have personally used, places I have eaten, roads I have traveled, and/or bikes I have ridden."  Occasionally I did share some more personal post with one of my favorite was about my dad and our trip with Honor Flight to Washington DC for World War II veterans.
Wendell Osburn PFC, Purple Heart recipient talking to some brave American soldiers. 
2020 and Beyond
With the beginning of 2020 I want to renew the goal to provide useful information and reviews.   Encouraging and helping bikers to ride safely, comfortably and often, is part of that goal. 

With my goal in mind I have recently made some improvements and additions to the blog.  Please notice the tabs below the blog description.  The "Recommended" page provides links to numerous other sites including my own personal YouTube Channel, The Moto Oz webpage (I am a co-owner and will say more about Moto Oz products below) and affiliate businesses.  I want to be honest and upfront with you about my affiliate business relationships. If you use the link to visit one of the affiliate business and make a purchase I get a small commission, but your low prices are not affected.  Any purchases are greatly appreciated and will aid in fuel fill-ups :) .
Standing by 1909 HD which Dale at Wheels Through Time Museum told me based on the photo of my Grandfather, is probably the same year & model.
The tab for "Top Review Post" will display the seven most read reviews on the Ordinary Biker Oz blog.  The V Star 1100 Review is the top review and it has been read over 57,000 times while the Arai Helmet review has been read over 1,200 times.  These reviews have been used by a lot of riders to gather information.  The page will change when other reviews have more views.  I will update 2-3 times a year as needed.

Feedback Appreciated
I am always open to suggestions, questions and comments.  If you would like more information on a review, or would like to see some specific reviewed or discussed I will try my best to help out.  You can follow the blog via email, just enter your email address below.
Enter your email address:


Moto Oz the side business


2019 Beat The Heat tour in Colorado, stopped at a reservoir on the Highway of Legends - CO 12.
Another aspect of our Moto Oz venture is the Beat The Heat summer motorcycle tour.  We call it Beat The Heat because we leave Texas for a week during the hot summer and spend a week in a cooler climate.  The Rocky Mountains in Colorado and New Mexico or the Smoky Mountains around Tennessee and North Carolina are the favorite riding spots.  There are many great roads to ride.  We have been doing the summer trip for 12 years and it has changed into the Beat The Heat tour.  I plan and organize the trip and lead the rides each day.

In 2020 we will be going to southwest Colorado where we will ride the Million Dollar Highway (aka US 550) and The Silver Thread Scenic Byway (aka CO 149).  We will stop at the small on of my favorite bakeries in Lake City, CO.  We will spend time in the historic towns of  Ouray, Silverton, Durango, Telluride and Ridgeway.  I am planning to add more trips per year in the future.  Once I retire I would like to conduct 4 to 5 tours a year and several long weekend trips.

Be safe and I hope to see you on the road
I hope you find some of the posts useful, informative, humorous or at least mildly entertaining all the while being honest and straightforward.  As stated above, comments, questions and suggestions are always welcomed.
Connect and follow on social media

         https://www.instagram.com/ordinarybikeroz/?hl=en       https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009663932095
 
Please visit the following great companies:


https://dukecannon.com/?rfsn=3578014.7da392
Logo 468x120

Ordinary Biker Oz YouTube Channel has video reviews and more


* I have personally ordered from and/or visited this business and based on my experiences I recommend this company.  I have an affiliate relationship with this business, which means if you follow this link and purchase, I will receive a small commission and will get to ride more!

# Based on reviews, word of mouth and discussion with others I recommend this company.  I have an affiliate relationship with this business, which means if you follow this link and purchase, I will receive a small commission and will get to ride more!
 
Feedback on these businesses is appreciated.  You may comment below.

Friday, December 20, 2019

Motorcycles and Merry Christmas


Merry Christmas to all our friends, family and readers!  We are hoping you all have a Merry Christmas and a safe adventurous 2020 full of.smiles, curves and miles of great smooth roads.
Breakfast meet up before IMS in Dallas
Mrs. Oz and I have several events and rides planned for the new year as well as my annual summer trip out of Texas to some cooler area of the United States.  We will start the year off by attending the Progressive International Motorcycle Show again this year. It will be held in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas on January 3-5 which is a Friday, Saturday and Sunday.The show will feature motorcycles, motorcycle gear, motorcycle tools, communication systems and informational sessions just to name a few.

Free motorcycle parking for IMS sure is nice and in Texas we can ride in January most years
I am looking forward to checking out the new Yamaha FJR, the Indian Scout, Ducati's Multistrada 1260 S Grand Tourer and the Triumph Tiger 900.  Of course there will be a lot of other new models to look at.  We also want to look at the new Sena S30 bluetooth communication system.  We currently have the Sena S20 and it has been reliable and clear.  We are not really looking to change, but it is always fun to compare.  Helmet manufacturers will have booths showing off new models and making deals.  Gear vendors will have everything from boots, doo-rags, gloves, sunglasses and more to examine.  

Vendors are plentiful at IMS

We are hoping there is a stunt show this year.  Last year there was not a stunt show, but in 2018 the high flying motocross stunters put on a great show.  The stunt show is definitely a crowd favorite.

The MotoGP races will be at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin on April 3 - 5.  I have attended three of the MotoGP races at COTA including the year my son and I volunteered as Track Marshalls.  The MotoGP at COTA is truly an international event.  It is fun seeing fans from all over the globe.   A lot of fans ride up from Mexico and from all over the United States.  The vendor area has a lot of manufacturers and retailers with many running good sales.

I have become a big fan over the last seven years.  In June of 2017 I experienced the Italian MotoGP at Mugello!  The Italians love their racing and are so enthusiastic. I was there for the first MotoGP after American Nicky Hayden had died after being hit by a car while riding his bicycle in Italy.  The fans were so respectful and appreciative of Nicky's racing career.  It was moving and respectful tribute.  I greatly enjoyed the complete experience.


Two weeks after the MotoGP in Austin the Roads and Trails rally in the Texas Hill Country near Marble Falls, TX will be taking place.  We are hoping to make that rally, but have to work out some other issues. One of my favorite roads in Texas is FM 1431 east of Marble Falls and the rally is headquartered at Hidden Falls Adventure Park.  This rally includes street, dirt and dual sport riding.  It is a great mixture of people and motorcycles.  This rally is about getting out and riding.

FM 1431 between Cedar Park, TX and Marble Falls, TX provides great views of the Texas Hill Country
 At the end of June we will be leading the Moto Oz Beat The Heat tour (BTH) in Colorado.   This is an annual tour I plan, organize and lead.  There will be three couples and six individuals on the trip.  We will spend four nights in Ouray, Colorado and two nights in South Fork, Colorado.  We will ride the Million Dollar Highway (aka US 550) and The Silver Thread Scenic Byway (aka CO 149).  While riding the Silver Thread we will stop at the small Lake City Bakery and enjoy some delicious treats.  We will visit the historic towns of Silverton, Durango, Telluride, Ridgeway and more. I really love Southwest Colorado.  There is so much history and beauty in that area.  Old mines are still visible in so many areas, especially near Red Mountain.


One of the prettiest waterfalls in Colorado is Horseshow Falls near Lake City on the Silver Thread.
  

Leading the group over numerous passes including Monarch Pass, Molas Pass, Red Mountain Pass, Spring Creek Pass and Slumgullion Pass will provide breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains. The cooler temperatures, crisp air and scenic vistas make for days of great riding. We will also take one day and rent either a Jeep or ATV in the Ouray and drive over some unpaved mountain pass, possibly the 65 mile Alpine Loop and visit the ghost town of Animas Forks.  Animas Forks was a thriving mining town from 1873 to 1910.  In 1884 a 23-day blizzard buried the twon with 25 feet of snow.  There are still several buildings left to explore.
 
Animas Forks on the Alpine Loop is fun to explore

 In the third week of October we will attend the Christian Motorcyclists Association's Changing of the Colors Rally in Hatfield, Arkansas.  "Colors" as we call it, is a fun rally with vendors and a lot of great riding, including the Talimena Scenic Byway and Hwy 7 in northwest Arkansas.  The leaves in the Ouachita National Forest become very colorful at that time of the year.

2020 will be full of bike nights, charity rides, lunch rides, dinner rides, rallies and weekend getaways. I am pretty sure I will also do some test rides, especially on the Yamaha FJR.  I loved the 2010 FJR I had and want another one.

I am looking forward to sharing the rides with you, and posting motorcycle gear reviews , motorcycle accessories reviews, motorcycle reviews and more.  I am planning to post about planning, preparing and packing for mult-day trips, list of great roads to ride, a list of motorcycle related podcast I listen to and there will be some guest posts from fellow riders.  New motorcycle riders will find useful reviews and information.

We hope and pray you have a great Christmas and a fun and safe 2020.

Use the link below to subscribe and get notification when new posts are published.
Ride carefully and prayerfully!    
  
Connect and follow Biker Oz on the following:

        https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009663932095

Ordinary Biker Oz YouTube Channel has video reviews and more
Please visit the following great companies:

 

* I have personally ordered from and/or visited these businesses and based on my experiences I recommend this company.  I have an affiliate relationship with the businesses, which means if you follow this link and purchase, I will receive a small commission and will get to ride more!
 
Feedback on these businesses is appreciated.  You may comment below.
 
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6