Rider articles from August 2005

Rider archives from August 2005

A hunting we will go: if you have a GPS receiver, here's a twist you can add to your next ride.(One trackmind)
August 1, 2005... A friend recently turned me on to a quiet but entertaining sport for enthusiasts of the out-of-doors like you and me. It's called geocaching (gee-o-cashing), and all you need to participate is a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and a...

Enthralled.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... I received my first issue (June '05) of Rider yesterday and could not put it down until I had read it from cover to cover. I enjoyed Scott Williams Favorite Ride about riding the Berkshires. It brought back nice memories of an overnight trip I...

Standard equipment.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... I was just reading my new Rider mag and saw the new Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad. Since I ride an older one I was interested to see the new parts. Imagine my surprise finding that now it comes with a windshield and passenger floorboards! Uh, so did my...

Back in the saddle again.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... I bought your Rider magazine today for the first time in over a decade, as I hope to start riding again on my '85 Kawasaki Eliminator. It has sat in my garage since '93! I had purchased it brand spanking new in '85. It's a still-beautiful,...

Old favorite.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... Really enjoyed the special article on the 1965 Honda Super Hawk by Margie Siegal in the July issue. Good to see and read about some of our old favorite Japanese bikes. I invite you and Margie to visit my club's Web site the Vintage Japanese...

Windy Ridge Road.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... Regarding The Monster about Mount St. Helens by Bruce Hansen in your July issue, I know I won't be the first, or the last, to tell you that Windy Ridge Road (AKA Beth's Favorite Road as some of my friends call it) had been closed due to the...

Doing it right.(Response)
August 1, 2005... Rider must be doing things right as you continue as my number-one magazine. You have a great balance of bikes and material. I still like to know a bit about the exotics that come along but other magazines seem to be hung up on exotics that no...

Motorcycle grandma.(Response)
August 1, 2005... I was cruising around today and stopped at a local emporium for a coffee and some reading. As I placed the bike on the center-stand, two older ladies crossed the street and offered a hello. The older of the two, 82 to be exact, said that she...

Different directions.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... As a long-time loyal reader I thought I should point out that the map on page 96 of the June issue in the Favorite Ride section shows Route 90 running its normal east/west route from New York across Massachusetts. However, in Springfield it...

Department of Homeland Signage.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... I feel I must correct a misconception that was reported in Larry Grodsky's June Rider column, Department of Homeland Signage. I speak from over 22 years experience with the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) of which 15 years...

Remembering Hunter-Liggett.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... Boy that column in your June 2005 issue (A Beautiful Day) by Clement Salvadori sure brought back memories. The year was 1973 and I was a 19-year-old spec-4 with the 82nd Airborne Division. My unit was on temporary assignment at Fort Ord,...

Star Roadliner.(Kick starts)
August 1, 2005... As Yamaha heads into its tenth year of producing cruisers with the Star logo--the Royal Stars, Road Stars and V Stars--it's taking the line to the next level by creating the Star Motorcycles cruiser brand. Yamaha says that Star will focus...

Legends posters.(Kick starts)
August 1, 2005... At this writing Dunlop Motorcycle Tires was offering a series of collectors-edition Legends posters from its recent advertising campaign, with the net proceeds benefiting injured riders through the Clayton Memorial Foundation. Printed in black...

On Any Sunday's 34th.(Kick starts)
August 1, 2005... More than 1,100 motorcyclists filled the largest movie theater west of the Mississippi last May in Newport Beach, California, to celebrate the 34th anniversary of On Any Sunday. The event was organized by Larry Langley with assistance from...

Arai tops again.(Kick starts)
August 1, 2005... For the seventh consecutive year, Arai has ranked highest in customer satisfaction with motorcycle helmets, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2005 Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Study. Arai received an overall satisfaction index score...

Trace completed.(Kick starts)
August 1, 2005... Centuries ago the Old Natchez Trace was a discontinuous group of paths worn into the wilderness by American Indians, settlers, explorers and traders. Over the years the paths were linked, turning the Trace into one of the most important avenues...

Errata.(Correction Notice)
August 1, 2005... We left out a couple of digits in the phone number for Motocadia Portugal motorcycle tours in the June 2005 issue. The correct number is 011-351-262-950006 and can also be found at www.motocadia.com

First '06 Hondas.(Kick starts)
August 1, 2005... American Honda recently revealed some of its best sellers that will be returning to dealerships mostly unchanged (below) for 2006 except for paint and graphics. Stay tuned for a potential parade of all-new machines in the coming months. ...

Ridin' the web.(Kick starts)
August 1, 2005... WWW.DUCATICLUBS.COM FOR DESMO FANS WORLDWIDE WITH INFO, EVENT DESCRIPTIONS, PICTURES FROM DUCATI OWNERS CLUB DUCATISTI AND MORE. WWW.INNATSNOWDEN.COM A MOTORCYCLE FRIENDLY B&B/INN NEAR THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, KLICKITAT RIVER,...

Muscle mover: 2005 Suzuki Boulevard M50.(RIDER TEST)
August 1, 2005... Suzuki has bulked up its Boulevard cruiser line by adding two muscle-styled motorcycles for 2005. There's the M95--essentially a lightly restyled Kawasaki Mean Streak 1600--and a new welterweight called the M50, which is loosely based on the...

Super sport-twin 2005 Suzuki SV1000S.
August 1, 2005... Ever since it was first introduced as a 2003 model, Suzuki's SV1000S sportbike has been an under-appreciated bargain blaster, with great performance and an excellent price-to-pleasure ratio. And now for 2005 the SV1000S has received a number of...

200 Highway: riding the heart (and soul) of Montana.
August 1, 2005... A whole lot of nothing. That's what we expected to see on our journey across eastern Montana--flat and drear, sagebrush and maybe the occasional bovine chewing its cud with a bored expression. After all, we'd heard predictions to that effect...

Split personality 2005 BMW R1200RT ABS: we've been fans of the long-running BMW R-RT series since the major redesign for 1996 transformed it from a utilitarian workhorse into a sleek thoroughbred, with swoopy bodywork and the Telelever front end, an electric windscreen and an adjustable seat.(RIDER TEST)
August 1, 2005... I rode one of those R1100RTs back to SoCal from the intro in Kalispell, Montana, in fact, with another journalist on an identical bike, and I couldn't have been more comfortable. Along the way we were pulled over twice for riding 10-15 over the...

Rockin' roadster.(RIDDEN & RATED)
August 1, 2005... Recently, BMW has been popping out new models at a seemingly faster rate than Barbizon. We just got finished sampling the latest one (motorcycle, that is), the K1200R, which is a naked version of the K1200S that Editor Tuttle evaluated at an...

Land of the long white cloud: New Zealand with Edelweiss bike travel.
August 1, 2005... If an extended motorcycle tour in the prime spring and summer months is difficult for you--your career is busiest then, perhaps--and you can't change careers, just change hemispheres. Fall and winter in North America are New Zealand's spring...

Top cop skills: the other side of the radar gun.
August 1, 2005... Who decides to become a motorcycle police officer? What skills are required? How are they taught and tested? To find out, I attended the Arizona Highway Patrol's motor officer training school. Phase I is a seven-day track experience at Phoenix...

Pirelli Diablo Strada (EMS) radials: finding a tire with a balanced combination of grip and longevity is perhaps the closest thing in motorcycling to the quest for the holy grail. Recently we came a little closer to the coveted chalice, thanks to this new tire from Pirelli.(GEAR LAB)
August 1, 2005... According to Pirelli, the new Diablo Strada EMS (Extended Mileage Sport) offers both a high level of traction for sport riding and extended mileage beyond that of the typical sportbike tire. The Strada radial was specifically developed for...

Chase Harper CR2 soft luggage: with their high-mounted exhausts and passenger foot-peg locations, finding the right soft luggage for an occasional overnight trip on a sportbike can be a real challenge. You could ride wearing a backpack, but there's probably already enough weight on your wrists.(GEAR LAB)
August 1, 2005... Chase Harper, long known as a source of motorcycle luggage and accessories, recently introduced a line of soft bags called CR2 that fit and work well on sporting machines, or others for that matter. Chase Harper's CR2 series consists of a...

Dowco now offers two Rally Pack luggage series.(NEW & COOL)
August 1, 2005... DOWCO NOW OFFERS TWO RALLY PACK LUGGAGE SERIES. The Rally Pack Value Series, a simple yet economical set of soft luggage, is an ideal choice for first-time bike buyers. The new Deluxe Series offers additional features not found in the Value...

Want even more power in your VTX1800?(NEW & COOL)
August 1, 2005... WANT EVEN MORE POWER IN YOUR VTX1800? Innovative Design & Concepts now offers a cast-aluminum dual-intake system for Honda's VTX1800 with a 50 percent airflow increase that provides extraordinary potential for more horsepower. All OEM sensors...

Wish you could wash your bike without lugging a heavy bucket around?(NEW & COOL)
August 1, 2005... WISH YOU COULD WASH YOUR BIKE WITHOUT LUGGING A HEAVY BUCKET AROUND? Eagle One has the answer with Bucket-Free Car Wash, a spray-on soap for cars and motorcycles that eliminates the need for a bucket while providing a faster, easier and better...

New Amsoil Synthetic Motorcycle Oils provide superior protection.(NEW & COOL)
August 1, 2005... NEW AMSOIL SYNTHETIC MOTORCYCLE OILS PROVIDE SUPERIOR PROTECTION. Amsoil's two new premium synthetic motorcycle oils have been re-formulated with high-performance additive technology that provides even greater multi-functional benefits for the...

Revving up for a summer trip, get-away or rally?(NEW & COOL)
August 1, 2005... REVVING UP FOR A SUMMER TRIP, GET-AWAY OR RALLY? Although the journey itself can be an adventure, sometimes the time, expense or inconvenience of riding to the final destination can make shipping a good option. More time at the rally, less time...

These tough, semi-rigid containers keep cargo low and secure.(NEW & COOL)
August 1, 2005... THESE TOUGH, SEMI-RIGID CONTAINERS KEEP CARGO LOW AND SECURE. Aerostich Hi-Viz Tank Panniers are handy for day-to-day use with or without a tankbag and fit a variety of unfaired motorcycles. Constructed of tough, water-resistant urethane-coated...

Keep your electronic equipment at hand.(NEW & COOL)
August 1, 2005... KEEP YOUR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AT HAND. The eCaddy (formerly Cell Caddy) mounts on the handlebar of cruisers, securely holds cell phones, GPS units, etc., and is easily viewed while riding. The slim, attractive eCaddy comes in two versions...

If you have a sportbike, check out Lockhart Phillips' 2005 catalog.(NEW & COOL)
August 1, 2005... IF YOU HAVE A SPORTBIKE, CHECK OUT LOCKHART PHILLIPS' 2005 CATALOG. The new 432-page full-color catalog lists a wide range of sportbike-oriented items, from headlight bulbs to license-plate brackets and everything in between. It also...

Do you feel like you're going to melt sometimes?(NEW & COOL)
August 1, 2005... DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO MELT SOMETIMES? For those motorcyclists who ride in hot weather, the improved Evaporative Cooling Sport Vest will provide enhanced cooling comfort. Its new Fluid Management Fabric enables users to achieve hours...

Need tires for your cruiser?(NEW & COOL)
August 1, 2005... NEED TIRES FOR YOUR CRUISER? Bridgestone has a new Z-rated cruiser radial tire line, the Exedra G851 front and G850 rear, specifically designed for high-performance cruisers. With a silica-enriched compound, the Exedra tires offer a combination...

Crud got you down?(NEW & COOL)
August 1, 2005... CRUD GOT YOU DOWN? New Oil Eater Cleaner/Degreaser eliminates the need for multiple cleaning solutions. The formulation safely accomplishes the cleaning that previously required strong solvent or acid-type cleaners. Oil Eater quickly and safely...

Look like a racer with KBC's Repsol replica helmet.(NEW & COOL)
August 1, 2005... LOOK LIKE A RACER WITH KBC'S REPSOL REPLICA HELMET. The helmet is based on KBC's VR-2 racing helmet has been completely redesigned for 2005, With KBC's Ultra Quick Visor Removal mechanism (no tools), a new fitment design for ultimate comfort, a...