Nathaniel Salzman

Chicago area designer, writer, maker and journalist.

Ride Log

November 4, 2014

Introducing Salzmoto

The Wrench Log and Ride Log have a new home. That home is now over at Salzmoto.com. Although Salzmoto is much more than just a new home for that blogging. Salzmoto is actually my moto-centric company. Salzmoto is also a destination.

December 2, 2013

Ride Log: My Year in Bikes 2013

Nearly two years ago, The Mrs and I embarked on an adventure to Chicago. We each had work opportunities too good to pass up, so we left the Twin Cities for Chicago and all the challenges that living in one of the world’s largest cities would bring. In short, it’s been fantastic. Our professional experiences have been terrific and we’re both thriving in our new digs. Beyond our working life, the move to Chicago meant getting to know an entirely new motorcycle and scooter community. It’s also meant big changes in my fleet of bikes and significant adjustments to when, how and what I like to ride.

November 30, 2012

Ride Log: A new bike and a bearded lady. Part three.

I hate riding a motorcycle with a full backpack. It’s uncomfortable and makes it tougher to scan the road quickly. On that muggy July evening though, I didn’t care. Atop my ’74 Honda CB450 Supersport, I was threading through the heart of south Minneapolis, quite literally riding into the sunset. I wasn’t alone either.

November 5, 2012

Ride Log: A new bike and a bearded lady. Part two.

In the heat of July, there’s one spot inside of BlueCat Motors where one can escape to air conditioning: the lobby. That’s where I was sitting, iPad in hand, trying to lower my core temperature back down into the upper 90s. While hot, I certainly wasn’t bothered. I’d been bombing around all day on my new ’74 Honda CB450 Supersport. Sitting on the lobby couch, I took in mouthfuls of cold water, holding each until the chill left my mouth before swallowing it down. A little radiant floor cooling for my excited brain.

August 30, 2012

Ride Log: A New Bike and a Bearded Lady. Part One.

July 19, 2012 — I had to pack light. No helmet. No armored jacket. No tools. I stuffed four pairs of socks and knickers down into the toe of a motorcycle boot. As many Under Armor shirts and black Ts went down the other. With both boots stuffed deep in my backpack I tucked the – Read More –

August 29, 2012

A question for regular readers

I have a question for you, my handful of regular readers. As many of you know, I write regularly as an automotive journalist for MotoringFile.com, BimmerFile.com, and ScooterFile.com. I also spent a year as BlueCat Motors’ official documentarian, writing a weekly story about what was going on at the shop and some of my own – Read More –

July 31, 2012

Ride Log: Vintage Bike Races at Road America

June 9, 2012 — Sometimes a journey is the destination. Sometimes it’s the road. Other times it’s surprises along the way that happen when I intersect other journeys I didn’t even know I was taking. This time, it was all of the above.

June 1, 2012

Ride Log: The Proving Run

May 20, 2012 — My thumb hurt. Somewhere between a cramp and an ache, my right thumb felt like it didn’t want to be part of my hand anymore. It was tired of squeezing the throttle on my ’83 Honda GL1100. It’d been about 90 minutes since I set off from Evanston, IL to intercept – Read More –

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