 This post is sponsored by the Colorado State Patrol’s MOST program. The Scarlet Headers is a social club in Denver, Colorado. Our main goal as a women’s riding group is to allow a space for women to relax and feel comfortable about where they are at with the sport of motorcycles. This is no competition. There is no judgment. Everyone is welcome to join in, ask questions, learn from and support one another on two wheels. This year, some of our members wanted to brush up on techniques like braking, managing curves, U-turns and overall confidence on a bike, so we participated in a MOST (Motorcycle Operator Safety Training) endorsed class. Seven women signed up for the Basic Rider Course 2 together at the Motorcycle Rider Training Center in Lakewood, Colorado. MRTC has been teaching from this location for more than 40 years, with different generations earning their endorsement from Bill Souder and his instructors. Here’s what our riders had to say about their day on the asphalt:  What was your personal experience with taking the basic riders course 2? Abby Anderson, Triumph Tiger I personally like to take long, multi-state trips, over unknown terrain, and wanted to sharpen basic skills to be more confident in other states, come what may. My next trip is crossing the state of Oregon to the border of Idaho and back and after that I’m going to southern California for an MC bachelorette weekend. I wanted to ride better than ever on group trips in unknown territory on borrowed bikes! Kelly Moore, Honda Superhawk What was unique about this course from the Riders Course 1, which I took 16 years ago, was seeing the information from an experienced perspective. With the riding portion, it offered new challenges doing slow riding skills on my own much bigger bike vs. the 250cc provided in the class previously. It was humbling and pointed out the areas I would like to give more attention to to become a better rider. Kendall Wilson, Triumph Bonneville My personal experience was that it was very challenging, but also extremely rewarding. I have new skills now that I need to practice until I feel confident I can do them under any circumstance.  What about the skills that you practiced hit home? Caroline Westwood, Triumph Bonneville This would be a great class for someone, like me, who has about two years on the bike and is looking to build upon those skills. My main objective for the class was to conquer the U-turn. This didn't happen, however, I feel I gained more confidence in the maneuver through the guidance of teachers. It was also very impressive to watch the teacher perform a U-turn on his massive BMW motorcycle. Kendall Wilson, Triumph Bonneville Practicing slow moving skills on your motorcycle is more important than I thought. Going fast is easy. But, slow maneuvers, not so much. What was said about stopping way back when you're behind cars at a stop light was something I hadn't thought about a whole lot. Giving yourself an escape route even at a red light behind a car means that you literally need to be aware of your escape routes at all times. I'll definitely remember that next time I ride. Sam Wolozynski, 1978 Honda CB 400 Feeling solid about something as simple as a tight U turn (not a frequent maneuver of mine on the road) will ensure that when I do have to do one, I can spend less mental energy worrying about controlling my bike and more on what's happening in my surroundings. Practicing these skills without pressure and with instructor feedback makes me feel more confident. Abby Anderson, Triumph Tiger I just could not conquer the U-turn. I want to practice, using six parking lot spots, when I can. We always talk about getting out into a lot and setting up cones, but should really make it a part of one of our annual events. Hand out prizes, make it fun. Other than that, I brushed up on braking into corners, where to lean when, and felt good about it all.  What are your thoughts on the Motorcycle Riders Training school? Nikole Strickler, Ducati Scrambler Sunday's class was my fifth riding class and frankly, I always learn something new. There's always room to improve my skills and try and let go of some of my bad habits (like two-finger clutching!). I especially enjoyed challenging myself to decrease my turning radius with each attempt in the box. I’ve been riding a bike of some variety for almost 19 years, and truly believe you're never too advanced to slow down and work on the basics. Sunday’s Basic Rider 2 was a perfect way to start the riding season. Kendall Wilson, Triumph Bonneville The teachers were helpful, patient, gave good insight, made you laugh, and made the overall experience more enjoyable. The demos were super helpful because they'd leave you with tips on how to make each skill a little bit easier. Sam Wolozynski, 1978 Honda CB 400 I loved taking the course with my new bike and putting valuable hours into getting in sync with this particular machine. It doesn't hurt that I got to hang out with a ton of awesome biker friends all day either. The BRC2 course was easily a worthwhile investment into my skills, safety, and enjoyment on the road, and something I'll consider repeating for many riding seasons to come.  Once you decide to ride, searching out an endorsement class is the next step to getting on a bike. And as a lifelong rider these classes add layers to a rider’s knowledge base, season after season. You can find a MOST class near you by heading here!
2 Comments
As we sat down for our second tech night, you could look around at an amazing group of women and see the common denominator you always see at Scarlet Headers gatherings: smiles on smiles. Women brought together by gasoline culture and a love of two wheels…and wine. There was also wine. Our second night was geared toward learning how to buy a project bike, or any bike for that matter. Although we had already picked up the 1973 “Scarlet Red” Honda CL350, the idea behind #TSHProjectBike is to learn about the project bike process from beginning, middle, back to the drawing board if need be, and to the end.
Winging It, How to Buy a Project Bike
Once you’ve decided that you want to take on the project of working on a vintage bike, some people have specific makes and models in mind. Some people, like Justin, one of our fearless, or perhaps acting fearless, teachers is winging it. As he says, “sometimes when the right project bike opportunity comes along, you will be winging it as well.”
Whether you find an ad on craigslist or a connection through a mutual friend, questions to the owner are not the most important. People can fib (or straight out lie for a sale) or maybe they don’t even know the answer. Your initial inspection of the bike will provide most, if not all, the answers you need to make your decision to pull the trigger or keep looking. So where do you start? How will you diagnose catastrophic failures vs. minor routine repairs or needed adjustments? Well you need to make sure to bring your handy dandy tool kit! What’s in TSH Tool Kit? Basics – Sockets, ratchet + extensions, combo wrench, spanner (British ), Allen wrench, bit driver, mirror, extendable flashlight, safety wire, adjustable wrench, vice grips, box cuter, tire pressure gauge, voltmeter, and zip ties are some of the things you will find in our basic tool kit. PLAN TO GET DIRTY! Bring your gloves! Hope that you find the “one” – Bring Tie Downs! If you are looking for a specific bike, pull the shop manual, do some research, and know what you’ll need and what to look for. Harley takes a standard wrench, while a vintage Brit may need whitworth spanners. A compression tester is very important to bring along as well – if you aren’t buying project bikes regularly, it may be best to borrow one, or bring along your best GIRLfriend who has one! Let’s Get Down to Brass Tacks
When you start to diagnose problems, or parts that need to be replaced on your potential project bike, start with the “big things” and going from there is the best method. Look for catastrophic failures such as:
If you manage to get the bike started, check around the top and bottom of the cylinder for any significant leaking. If you’re looking at a vintage motorcycle, some level of seepage from old gaskets is to be expected. A steady stream of leaking oil is another matter, and could indicate warped heads. So far, if the bike runs, nothing is leaking too badly, and the price makes sense, finish up the deal and load the bike up. Don’t forget to get your signed Bill of Sale, Title, and remove the previous owner’s license plate.
Tips and Tricks
Trials and tribulations are the best way to learn, but it’s also great to keep in mind some tips and tricks. This way you can avoid overlooking a mechanical problem on your project bike.
#TSHProjectBike
After Bike Night II the Scarlet Headers diagnosed the project bike’s expensive fixes – the good sign is that our bike still runs, and it’s broken, giving us something to fix! The CL350’s right cylinder is running at 100 PSI, and the left side is at 85 PSI. This could be a symptom of bad rings, out of adjustment valves, or a bad head gasket. The fork seals will need to be replaced, as well as new rear suspension. We will need to replace the swing arm bearings, and have some electrical gremlins to tackle. All in all, we have a lot to work with, and a lot to learn! This winter season is going to be an epic adventure where we dive into the ins and outs of project bikes, beginning with this old Honda. Continue to follow our progress on Instagram #TSHProjectBike By Anna Hebert 
A Scarlet Headers Bike BuildThe Scarlet Headers meeting this month was a little different than usual. Instead of chatting about all the great rides we are planning, the motorcycles we are riding, and catching up on all the recent happenings in each other’s lives we were raving about TSH Bike Build. The dreams of OG members Shelby and Abby are becoming a reality right before our eyes. It’s an amazing time to be a part of a group of women dedicated to learning more, riding more, and supporting each other. So why do we want to rebuild a vintage motorcycle? The answer is more complex then we may have realized in the beginning. Of course we want to be able to change our own oil, fix a flat, clean a carburetor, and so on; but this is more than that. This is about dreaming of a bike fit for a woman. Maybe a seat more narrow, possibly the shifter in a spot suited for a female, what about a glove box? As a collective group of women we will be discussing over weeks, months possibly, about what we like and don’t like about our own bikes. With 20+ Scarlet Headers who have different tastes, riding styles, and preferences you can imagine that there will be a shit load of great ideas, even some that will be contradictory of one another. However The Scarlet Headers' dream is to create a classic bike, that appeals to many women. To learn how to build a bike from paper, execute those plans, and get a bike running. That’s our number one goal.
To Give Back Once we have successfully designed and built the very first vision of a Scarlet Headers motorcycle we want to share this with the community. The Scarlet Headers are independent, strong women who support each other, and this will be our way of bringing that attitude into our community. Though we have no timeline for when the bike will be completed, once we have, we intend to raffle The Scarlet Headers project bike for charity. Being able to support our community, and be involved has been a vision of OG Scarlet Headers since day one.  Follow the Project Bike status on our Blog, Facebook, and Instagram!!! #TSHProjectBike by Anna Hebert  Photo: Kate Rose Photo Dear family and friends,
This past year has given us stories to last us a lifetime. We wouldn't be here without our supporters near and far, so yesterday we had the chance to say "thank you" to all who have contributed to our community. We continue to have fun, ride with no limitations and remember moments such as this are special and rare to find. Thank you for all the love and support over the past year. We look forward for what's to come and hope you stick along for the ride. Love, The Scarlet Headers The Scarlet Headers had the chance to give back to the community today by volunteering for Urban Peak. Urban Peak is a homeless shelter for teens and offers housing, meals, education, employment training, laundry services and showers to kids ages 15 through 24. Their goal is to "meet youth where they are and to provide them with the assistance and support they need to become self-sufficient or obtain the necessary services they need to exit a life on the streets." With the help of Erico Motorsports we made breakfast and served food for 40 kids in need. Coming together for the greater good is always a special feeling, but the best part was how many of us realized this is something we want to keep doing. Not just once in a blue moon, but numerous times a year. Taking the time to give back and step outside of your own world is the best way to ground yourself. After we served breakfast, 30+ riders met us at the shelter and rode to Lookout Mountain (the Peak) with us. We couldn't have asked for better weather, views or company today. A big thank you to Erico Motorsports for donating breakfast items and helping us in the kitchen, all of the Scarlet Headers who attended the event, the riders who donated and rode with us, and to Urban Peak for your hospitality. I look forward to more volunteer opportunities this year and hope to see you then! Cheers, Shelby           |
RSS Feed
