I’ve been riding my single cylinder BMW thumper a lot. My sidecar outfit is in a state of disassembly, with the tub and fender removed for painting and pin-striping. What a job! Incidentally, when you’re adding wiring to your ride don’t wire for the ages. Quick disconnect hook-ups rule. But you probably knew that.

I tried driving the hack with just the frame, but every right turn flew the hack tire like a  frightened bird. Fifty years of sidecar driving pretty much prepared me, but I think it gave pause to a following cage that hammered its breaks when I took off.

So I’ve been getting my two wheel skills back. There is a world of difference between two wheels and three…you can get out of practice if you spend too much time on the hack.

Putting on the two wheeled miles meant a gas stop or two. Shock-a -rooney! $4.09/gal for mid-grade gas at my local foothills station. Okay, it was the foothills and it was mid-grade gas. Also that price was an anomaly. The average price per gallon in Arizona on March 5th was $3.793. And if you shop around you can do much better than that.

But the handwriting is on the wall.

There are spots around the nation where four bucks is the rule rather than the exception: New York City, $3.99; California, $ 4.35.

I used to buy gas for cash. Now I use my credit card, but at my last fill-up I got 67 miles to the gallon—mixed city and highway—at that mileage I can still afford my transportation.

Smaller vehicles, smaller engines…there must be a lesson there someplace.

The Motorcycle Scene

The Scene hasn’t been around for some time and has disappeared as a separate TC.com blog. But gone is not forgotten and the Data Port still throws a leg over the scoot so It will appear here from time to time.

Sunday morning saw the traditional first ride of the year up Mount Lemmon. This is pretty much an undertaking by the SEAT (Southeast Arizona Touring) Riders. SEAT is a chartered BMWMOA club, but has a “ride what you got” policy so this year saw Honda, Ducati, Triumph and one Royal Enfield represented as well.

Mr. And Mrs. Data Port and Hack at Wind Point

On the subject of hacks and hacking, sidecar fans can begin to plan for the:

39th Annual Brass Monkey Sidecar Rally.

February 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th

Location: Fisher’s Landing and Resort

10882 Swede Way

782Yuma, AZ 85365

Phone: (928) 782-7049

Most rally-goers camp, but it’s not unusual for the comfort lovers to motel. Solo riders are welcome, too. More details to follow.

This video was sent to me by a riding buddy. I thought it might be of interest to any out-of-door adventure folks…even those who are not motorcyclists. I would be very hesitant to hike such a trail.

I’m sorry that I can’t identify these two adventure riders.