Rider articles from February 2007

Rider archives from February 2007

Rider needs you! Taken a great ride lately? Why not write about it?(One trackmind)
February 1, 2007... One of the best parts of my job is reading your touring stories for possible publication. In those months when the ol' ball-and-chain (the office) keeps me pinned down, I still get to live and ride vicariously through the pages of your...

Touring scooter.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... I have been an avid reader of your magazine for the past 13 years. I like the article you published in the December 2006 issue on the new Suzuki Burgman 400 scooter (I call them step-through motorcycles). I purchased an '06 Burgman 650...

Two-lane America.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... I have been reading Rider magazine for almost a year now, and I like it so much I recently decided to purchase a year's subscription. When I first read Clement Salvadori's articles, his style caught my reading eye. A few more months and issues...

Getting no respect.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... Mr. Salvadori hit the nail on the head in his December Road Tales column. More than 8 million motorcyclists are in America, but less than 1 million of them belong to the AMA. If more motorcyclists would join up, there wouldn't be injustices...

Some similarities.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... December 2006's Retrospective on the Honda Hawk GT brought back some fond memories. When taking vacations to Sarasota, Florida, I look forward to visits with my old high-school buddy Mitch in Venice. I pack riding gear as he usually has two or...

Electrified.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... Recently, I noticed a distinct chill in the air that reminded me I need to check out my winter riding gear and get it in shape now, so I'll be ready when it gets cold and stays that way. Usually some fleece under my jacket is sufficient for the...

Bling, bling?!(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... Please, for the love of Pete, stop saying "bling." You don't sound hip or urban. You sound silly, like Grandpa Simpson trying to fit in. For a minute I thought I was reading Motorcyclist. What's next: "This Month: We Test the New ZX-10R. It's...

Little River Canyon.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... I was most exited to read Warren Renshaw's Favorite Ride about Little River Canyon in Northeast Alabama in the November 2006 issue of Rider. I have a cabin across the canyon from this well-kept secret route and have had the opportunity to often...

Riding rigs.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... I was delighted to read the article Riding the Santa Fe Trail in the November 2006 issue. Kathleen Kemsley's well-written and informative article tells much about the trip, but doesn't dwell on the fact that she and her husband were riding...

Considering a Guzzi.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... I have read several articles on the Moto Guzzi Norge 1200 and to date Rider has provided the best information with the review in your November 2006 issue--enough for me to give the Guzzi serious consideration. Good work on being up front and to...

H-D Sportster prototype and Buell Super TT.(Kickstarts)
February 1, 2007... Harley-Davidson revealed a prototype Sportster XR 1200 motorcycle at the INTERMOT International Motorcycle Show in Germany last October. The V-twin prototype places an emphasis on performance and handling, with styling seemingly inspired by the...

Victory news.(Kickstarts)
February 1, 2007... Within the last couple of years, Victory has partnered with S & S and Lehman Trikes for "future development considerations," although the extent of those deals was not publicly known, nor how and when they might be exercised. The wait is...

3's a charm.(Kickstarts)
February 1, 2007... Following up on our Ridden & Rated in October 2006, we recently got to ride the Piaggio three-wheel scooter during its official U.S. launch. Auto manufacturer Mazda holds the rights to the MP3 name in America, and at press time Piaggio had yet...

Errata.(Correction notice)
February 1, 2007... In One-Track Mind, Rider, December 2006, the Eagan to which the author refers should be Gary, not Peter. And in the previous November issue's One-Track Mind column, the Cleveland A2 was used for dispatch duty in World War I, not II. Find the...

Hrca member protection.(Kickstarts)
February 1, 2007... Worried about having an accident and being stuck far from home with an injury? The Honda Rider's Club of America recently announced a new partnership with Medical Air Services Association (MASA). With the prepaid medical air transport services...

Pound it out! 2007 Victory Hammer S.(Riding around)
February 1, 2007... Victory had the look of a loser when it took a chair at the table of the well-established and entrenched players of the booming cruiser market in 1998. Suffering from balky transmissions and chronic blandness, the company had to rethink its...

Little big cruiser: 2007 Yamaha V Star 1300 tour.(Cover story)
February 1, 2007... I must have a screw loose. I told some friends that I would meet them near the local twisties for a breakfast ride. They all ride sportbikes and assumed that I would be riding one as well. Imagine their surprise when I made my entrance on...

Cruiser Spirit: 2007 Honda Shadow Spirit.
February 1, 2007... Depending on when you start counting, Honda has reason to celebrate the 25th year of its Shadow line. The first Shadow 750 cruiser arrived on the scene in 1983, so technically, 2007 would qualify the line for silver-anniversary status. In the...

The roads less traveled: Wisconsin's Rustic Roads Motorcycle Tour.(FAVORITERIDE)
February 1, 2007... Most of us don't need a reason to go riding--especially when the riding involves some of the most beautiful roads in the Midwest. But what if you could ride those same roads and earn a prize for doing so? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Well...

Shoei Multitec helmet: not long ago I wouldn't ride anywhere without wearing a full-face helmet, but at times would pass up a chance to eat or hydrate because I didn't feel like taking the helmet off and strapping it back on again.(Product Evaluations)
February 1, 2007... Call me lazy, but I'm like electric current--I follow the path of least resistance. So when the modular helmet was introduced I was in heaven. You mean I can ride and eat (not at the same time, of course) and never take off my helmet? Where do...

Aerostich Roadcrafter suit: these days the world of riding gear can be a confusing jungle. There are so many companies making everything from summer gloves to heated jackets it's nearly impossible to figure out what to wear.(Product Evaluations)
February 1, 2007... A while back I settled on a leather racing suit for everyday wear, even off the track. Partly because of a pre-Rider ignorance of other products, but also because I felt--in the event that I went down--that leather would protect my hide against...

Motorcycle art on a shirt.(Product Spotlight)
February 1, 2007... (1) MOTORCYCLE ART ON A SHIRT. If a picture is worth a thousand words, this one's worth 10 million and now it's on a T-shirt. It's Rollie Free on the back spine of a Vincent breaking the land-speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1948....

Get the right battery for the job.(Product Spotlight)
February 1, 2007... (2) GET THE RIGHT BATTERY FOR THE JOB. Power-Sonic Corp., with more than 36 years of experience behind it, has broken into the powersports market with its complete line of superior quality, yet competitively priced "Super Sport Series Brand"...

Need to transport a vehicle? Look no further.(Product Spotlight)
February 1, 2007... (3) NEED TO TRANSPORT A VEHICLE? LOOK NO FURTHER. Founded in 2003, www.uShip.com is the first and largest online marketplace for shipping services. Members list anything they need shipped, from household goods to motorcycles, and receive bids...

BMW motorcycles: the evolution of excellence.(Product Spotlight)
February 1, 2007... (4) BMW MOTORCYCLES: THE EVOLUTION OF EXCELLENCE. Frequent Rider contributor Kevin Ash's new book tells the story of BMW Motorrad, from its early beginnings building airplane engines to its race-winning motorcycles. BMW learned how to make...

Another new seat from Sargent.(Product Spotlight)
February 1, 2007... (5) ANOTHER NEW SEAT FROM SARGENT. The new World Sport Performance Seat for the 2005-present Triumph Speed Triple is built on Sargent's Carbon Tec base pan for superior fit and can accommodate the Triumph cowl. Knurled screws are included for...

Get a grip on your bike's gas tank.(Product Spotlight)
February 1, 2007... (6) GET A GRIP ON YOUR BIKE'S GAS TANK. If you've ever had the unpleasant experience of sliding too far forward on your bike's seat and "kissing" the gas tank, you know how painful that can be. Thanks to TechSpec's motorcycle tank grips, you...

Keep your toys tied down.(Product Spotlight)
February 1, 2007... (7) KEEP YOUR TOYS TIED DOWN. Featuring durable 1 1/8-inch, 100 percent nylon webbing and revolutionary locking safety clips, EK Motor Sport's new Ratchet Cat tiedowns will keep your motorcycle, ATV or other vehicle secure. With a tensile...

Focus on the road.(Product Spotlight)
February 1, 2007... (8) FOCUS ON THE ROAD. Or lack of it with Fulmer Helmets' new AF SIX "Focus" off-road helmet. The AF SIX has the most aggressive, complex styling in Fulmer's 37-year history. The new Snell- and DOT-approved AF SIX is available in five...

Protection for your lower body.(Product Spotlight)
February 1, 2007... (9) PROTECTION FOR YOUR LOWER BODY. Spidi's new Teker pant is constructed from premium Italian top-grain leather and Teflon-coated Cordura and nylon. Flex panels in the hips, lumbar area and above the knee are combined with high-tenacity nylon...

Take your motorcycle wherever you go.
February 1, 2007... (10) TAKE YOUR MOTORCYCLE WHEREVER YOU GO. The OverBilt SportLift III allows one person to load or unload a motorcycle, scooter, power wheelchair or other cargo onto the back of a motorhome. The lift lowers flat to the ground and can support up...