Rider articles from April 2006

Rider archives from April 2006

Hacking it: if the Governor can have one on the side, why can't you?(One trackmind)
April 1, 2006... You've heard it before-unlicensed (and untrained) riders are overrepresented in motorcycle accidents and fatalities in this country. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation and various state and government agencies have been trying to turn that...

Plug 'Em up.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... I read with great interest February's Now Hear This! by Joe Michaud since I have hearing loss. I agree that wind noise is as bad as Joe says it is. I ride a Gold Wing and I submit that the wind protection on that bike is very good. The biggest...

Golden state fantasy.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... I really enjoyed reading Steve Larsen's Northern California Fantasy in the January issue as this is my favorite short multiday ride. Last fall my son, Kevin, and I, both on Honda ST1300s did almost the same ride, except we started from Morro...

Strict law enforcement.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... Just want to let you know how much I enjoy each and every issue of Rider magazine. The articles from both staff and outside contributors are first rate. Keep up the good work! One of my favorite sections each month is Favorite Ride. In the...

Low quality.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... There isn't much I don't like about Rider, and I usually have a problem wanting to read all the pages at once. Salvadori and Grodsky are must-read columns, but this time Grodsky rang my bell with his February column, If Safety Grew on Trees.......

Favorite ride fan.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... A few years ago Rider did a Favorite Ride that originated in Mount Airy, Maryland. I lived in Mount Airy at that time and had already ridden all of the roads you included. It was a great ride. Then you did a Favorite Ride that included Antietum...

Angels among us.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... Mark Tuttle Jr.'s February column, Angel on My Shoulder, hit home and I'd like to share why it did. My mother worked for Harley-Davidson in 1927 in the secretarial pool and would tell me stories about her noon-time rides after lunch and weekend...

Fresh thinking.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... As a re-entry rider and subscriber for the past five years, I would like to thank you for such a fine publication that I look forward to receiving each month. In that time frame I have owned many bikes (cruisers and touring). I am currently the...

CB750 Retro.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... Imagine my surprise and happiness when I saw the Honda CB750 featured in Retrospective in January's issue, since that is what I have as my first bike. Mine was rebuilt from parts from several years' models, plus some other stuff I know not from...

Radial calipers.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... Please enlighten me on exactly what radial calipers are. I've gotten few understandable answers. Now I see on page 46 of the February '06 issue that there are both radial calipers and master cylinders. I'm getting confused. STEVE VIA...

2006 MV Agustas.(Kickstarts)
April 1, 2006... Cagiva USA set the New York International Motorcycle Show on fire last January by unveiling its new naked Brutale 910R and F41000 Senna sportbikes at the show, seriously upgraded versions of the already exotic Brutale 910S and F41000/F41000...

Monster mash.(Kickstarts)
April 1, 2006... Rider contributor Larry Grodsky recently helped judge the Ducati Monster Challenge at the International Motorcycle Show in Washington, D.C., along with Imola 200 winner Paul Smart and Nick Nichols, owner of Nichols Motorcycle Product Evaluation...

RFK record.(Kickstarts)
April 1, 2006... The national Ride for Kids program has broken its all-time fundraising record for the 22nd consecutive year, raising $4.1 million to fund the medical research and family support programs of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF). The top...

H-D shipping.(Kickstarts)
April 1, 2006... Harley-Davidson's new motorcycle shipping service offers door-to-door pick-up and delivery from a business or personal residence as well as other shipping locations, with honored real-time quotes and multibike group discounts. Any bikes are...

BRAG Homecoming.(Kickstarts)
April 1, 2006... The Buell Riders Adventure Group (BRAG) will host its annual Homecoming Rally in East Troy, Wisconsin, June 2-4, 2006. Buell owners will have the opportunity to spend time with Erik Buell, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer of Buell...

www.motomark1.com.(RIDIN' THE WEB)
April 1, 2006... MOTOMARK1 LLC IN NORTH CAROLINA TRAINS RIDERS LIKE YOU AND ME IN POLICE MOTOR OFFICER TECHNIQUES--PREVIOUS EXPERIENCED RIDER TRAINING IS RECOMMENDED. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

www.californiabikenights.com.(RIDIN' THE WEB)
April 1, 2006... FIND BIKE NIGHTS, BIKE RALLIES AND OTHER GATHERINGS IN THE GOLDEN STATE.

www.hellscanyonrally.com.(RIDIN' THE WEB)
April 1, 2006... THIS RALLY IN BAKER CITY, OREGON, WILL ATTRACT ABOUT 1,500 RIDERS THIS YEAR, SAY THE FOUNDERS, TO THE DEEPEST GORGE IN NORTH AMERICA. ALL BIKES ARE WELCOME.

www.2dogsmotorcycletours.com.(RIDIN' THE WEB)
April 1, 2006... 2 DOGS MOTORCYCLE TOURS OF STOWE, VERMONT, OFFERS WORRY-FREE SCENIC TOURS OF VERMONT; NEW HAMPSHIRE; MAINE; THE ADIRONDACKS, NEW YORK; AND NORTHERN BERKSHIRES, MASSACHUSETTS.

Grown-up beginner: 2006 Kawasaki Ninja 650R.(RIDER TEST)(Cover story)
April 1, 2006... Pity the poor motorcycle designer who has to come up with an entry-level or beginner's bike. Make it too big, powerful or heavy and potential buyers will be intimidated. Make it too small and light and folks will scoff and quickly outgrow it....

Middleweights on a mission.(RIDER TEST)
April 1, 2006... Look at the middleweight motorcycle class and you'll find a bunch of very serious sportbikes, adventure tourers, dual-sports, cruisers... and these four machines (five really, with the naked SV650 not shown). Call them what you...

Paradise found: Yellowstone to Glacier on Montana Highway 89.
April 1, 2006... Rubbernecking with the rest of the crowd at a pair of bald eagles glaring imperiously down from their nest, we were taken aback by the guy who rushed over with camcorder in hand and a face flashing excitement. "Did you see that wolf cross the...

Enchanted Circle Tour: memorable roads in New Mexico.(FAVORITERIDE)
April 1, 2006... Sometimes the roads are forgettable, but the destination is memorable. Other times the roads are memorable, but the destination is not. On rare rides, we combine unforgettable roads and a magical destination. The Enchanted Circle Tour in New...

Metzeler: Sportec M3 tires.(Product Evaluations)
April 1, 2006... WE MOTORCYCLISTS ARE A DEMANDING LOT. WE WANT STICKY TIRES THAT RELEASE THEIR TRACTION GENTLY INTO A PREDICTABLE SLIDE. WE WANT EASY TURN-IN, LATERAL STABILITY AND GREAT RESPONSE UNDER BRAKING. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We want all this...

Kuryakyn: luggage.(Product Evaluations)
April 1, 2006... EXTENDED MOTORCYCLE TOURING REQUIRES A LOT OF LUGGAGE CAPACITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN CAMPING OR TRAVELING IN A VARIETY OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. Kuryakyn, an established provider of premium-quality motorcycle accessories, offers the roomy and...

Does your Gold Wing need new sneakers?(Product Spotlight)
April 1, 2006... (1) DOES YOUR GOLD WING NEED NEW SNEAKERS? Michelin now offers the Pilot GT, a new tire designed specifically for Gold Wing GL 1500s. Pilot GT features the latest technology in rubber composition, carcass construction and profile. It's designed...

Need a new lid?(Product Spotlight)
April 1, 2006... (2) NEED A NEW LID? Scorpion's all-new EXO-200 open-face helmet design has an advanced wind-tunnel-tested composite shell for quiet comfort. The optically correct clear shield has a downdraft leading edge for even quieter performance. The...

Clean away winter woes with Boston SoapWorks.(Product Spotlight)
April 1, 2006... (3) CLEAN AWAY WINTER WOES WITH BOSTON SOAPWORKS. After a long winter in storage, or for those hardy folks who ride year round, there's nothing like a good spring bike cleaning. Boston SoapWorks produces a complete range of products designed to...

World's largest catalog of adventure-touring motorcycle accessories is now 770 pages!(Product Spotlight)
April 1, 2006... (4) WORLD'S LARGEST CATALOG OF ADVENTURE-TOURING MOTORCYCLE ACCESSORIES IS NOW 770 PAGES! There are new parts for BMW GS, Suzuki V-Strom, Triumph Tiger and KTM Adventure models, as well as accessories for the new BMW HP2 and R1200GS Adventure,...

Tour Master's Trinity jacket is designed for women.(Product Spotlight)
April 1, 2006... (5) TOUR MASTER'S TRINITY JACKET IS DESIGNED FOR WOMEN. The new Trinity has a 400-denier nylon Dobby 3/4-length shell with a Rainguard waterproof/breathable barrier to protect the rider. Soft microfiber lining in the collar and cuffs provides...

Improve your riding skills!(Product Spotlight)
April 1, 2006... (6) IMPROVE YOUR RIDING SKILLS! Reg Pridmore's CLASS Motorcycle Schools has just released its exciting 2006 school schedule at nine racetracks around the U.S.A. this year. Hundreds of riders of every level will have fun while learning to ride...

Do you love your bike but hate the seat?(Product Spotlight)
April 1, 2006... (7) DO YOU LOVE YOUR BIKE BUT HATE THE SEAT? Sargent's World Sport Performance Seat for the BMW R1150GS Adventure is built on a lightweight, durable, precision-molded PolyTec base pan and features a handy, built-in underseat storage area. The...

Take the ride of a lifetime.(Product Spotlight)
April 1, 2006... (8) TAKE THE RIDE OF A LIFETIME. West Virginia Riders is taking reservations for its Sea to Shining Sea Tour this June, a guided crossing of the entire continent, covering 4,000 miles in two weeks without using a single interstate highway. The...