Rider articles from January 2005

Rider archives from January 2005

Happy new year!(One trackmind)
January 1, 2005... We're kicking off 2005 with an adventurous January issue. Greg Frazier takes us On the Road to Deadhorse, up the Dalton Highway in Alaska, and we have a full test (finally!) of a production BMW R1200GS adventure tourer. [ILLUSTRATION...

Power cruisers.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I must admit that I was genuinely hurt when I saw the cover of the November 2004 issue. I had known that it would only be a matter of time before the idea of taking the power cruisers for a ride would come about. For some reason I really...

Last in line.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Well said and right on about the Japanese sending much of their latest and greatest to Europe and/or other markets while we get only what they feel are sure things, market-wise (One-Track Mind, December 2004). You really picked a couple of "hot...

Justice.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Kudos to Grodsky for recounting a dark day for South Dakota justice (Danger Gets a Name, November 2004). While Grodsky is right that no amount of punishment can bring Randy Scott back, a 100-day slap on the wrist is a travesty of justice that...

Good memories.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... As I started reading Peggy Winkworth's Favorite Ride story in November's issue, my mind raced back to a 1987 trip I took to the Rockies. Part of the reason I took that trip was to ride the country described by that old country-western...

What's not to like?(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I enjoyed reading Mark Tuttle Jr.'s editorial about the Connie's 20th anniversary in the October 2004 issue. But I couldn't help wondering about Kawasaki's other 20-year-old--the venerable Vulcan 750. It also is essentially unchanged in the 20...

Common sense.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... In regards to Grodsky's Counting Mississippis in October's issue, I have enough trouble trying to ride, much less worry about counting Mississippis. I think a little common sense goes a long way: Slow down, give room and know that you are not...

Wise choice.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Wow! How great to see a Retrospective on my second-ever bike (October 2004), the wonderfully balanced and fun-to-ride Yamaha Radian 600! When I graduated from high school in the spring of 1986 I was outgrowing my Suzuki GS450E, and my indulgent...

Can't wait.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I decided at the beginning of the summer that I would not even so much as open one of your Rider magazines to which I subscribe until I put the bike away for the winter. The winters in Wisconsin are long and cold. Having good reading material...

2005 KTMs.(Kickstarts)
January 1, 2005... AUSTRIA-BASED KTM SHOWED OFF A 2005 PRODUCTION 990 SUPERDUKE NAKED SPORTBIKE AND PREPRODUCTION 950 SUPERMOTO MACHINE BASED ON ITS 75-DEGREE, FOUR-STROKE V-TWIN AT THE BIG GERMAN INTERMOT SHOW LAST SEPTEMBER. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Touring Enduro: 2005 BMW R1200GS.(RIDER TEST)(Cover Story)
January 1, 2005... I wonder if BMW Motorrad's top brass at the time ever imagined that the GS series would become its best-selling models worldwide after they were launched with the gangly R80G/S in 1980. Even they wouldn't argue that in German the words...

Monster fun: Ducati Monster 1000S i.e.(RIDER TEST)
January 1, 2005... Just about every engine that Ducati produces seems to find its way into the tried-and-true Monster series eventually--and that's a good thing! By coupling the relatively new DS1000 dual-spark engine with the popular and long-running Monster...

No pulse.(Andy's Answers)
January 1, 2005... Q: I HAVE A 1985 HONDA GOLD WING INTERSTATE 1200 WITH 108,000 MILES ON IT. LAST WEEK ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK, THE BIKE JUST QUIT RUNNING. I TRIED TO START IT BUT IT JUST BACKFIRED. I LET IT COOL FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES AND THEN IT...

Sextuple time.(Andy's Answers)
January 1, 2005... Q: My 1997 Honda GL 1500SE has one intermittent electrical glitch (I know how you love that expression) that has us all baffled. At times the clock keeps perfect time--sometimes for days. Then, usually within a minute of firing it up, the clock...

Spongy clutch.(Andy's Answers)
January 1, 2005... Q: I have a 2001 Aprilia 1000 Falco that has a hydraulic clutch problem. I can bleed the clutch and get a nice, firm lever with full disengagement when pulled in. Within 300 miles the lever is really spongy and I only start to get clutch...

Lock stop.(Andy's Answers)
January 1, 2005... Q: Well, talk about dumb. Today as I started out from my parking spot on my 2000 Suzuki Bandit 1200 I came to an abrupt stop. I forgot to remove my Kryptonite disc lock from the rear chain sprocket. I use the lock there because it won't fit...

Sucking air.(Andy's Answers)
January 1, 2005... Q: I have been working on my own Suzuki DR-Z400 adventure dual-sport since reading the article in the April issue of Rider. I installed a Clark plastic tank on my '04 California model. Without the vacuum tube connected to the bike's plastic...

Lean king.(Andy's Answers)
January 1, 2005... Q: I have a 2003 fuel-injected Harley-Davidson Road King that to me runs so badly I'm thinking of getting rid of it. At city speeds, it bucks and jerks so bad I can hardly stand it. The dealer says this is normal for an engine with this much...

Sidi Vertigo Corsa boots: Italian bootmaker Sidi has thrown out tradition in developing its new vertigo series of motorcycle boots.(Product Evaluations)
January 1, 2005... Sidi's Vertigo line had an arduous gestation period of more than two years, mainly because the boot had to push technology to a higher level than the previous Vertebra series, while still being reasonably cost-effective to produce. Currently...

OSI Sports International has introduced a new soft luggage line.(Product Spotlight)
January 1, 2005... (1) OSI SPORTS INTERNATIONAL HAS INTRODUCED A NEW SOFT LUGGAGE LINE with several exciting new pieces, including saddlebags, tankbags, seatbags and a carry bag. Many recent changes have been made to the entire OSI Sports product line of covers,...

Beach's motorcycle adventures celebrates its 16th motorcycling season.(Product Spotlight)
January 1, 2005... (2) BEACH'S MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURES CELEBRATES ITS 16TH MOTORCYCLING SEASON in New Zealand with a new two-week tour, the South Island Scamper, which runs in late March and early April. This two-week addition thoroughly explores the country's...

Moto-pets accessories introduces its new line of road hound motorcycle pet carriers.(Product Spotlight)
January 1, 2005... (3) MOTO-PETS ACCESSORIES INTRODUCES ITS NEW LINE OF ROAD HOUND MOTORCYCLE PET CARRIERS enabling motorcyclists to safely share the riding adventure with their pets. Finally, a stylish pet carrier that you can be proud to have on your ride and...

Gerbing's new Dalby creek outerwear line starts with.(Product Spotlight)
January 1, 2005... (4) GERBING'S NEW DALBY CREEK OUTERWEAR LINE STARTS WITH this attractive jacket that uses Gerbing's high-density heating system to provide 77 watts of 12-volt power for plenty of warmth. The lightweight jacket comes in bluewater, platinum,...

Ride hard, ride smart.(Product Spotlight)
January 1, 2005... (5) RIDE HARD, RIDE SMART is a practical, hands-on survival guide for the average motorcyclist. It takes up where the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Guide to Motorcycling Excellence leaves off. That very successful book is aimed at beginning...

American legend's newest trailer, the Bandit.(Product Spotlight)
January 1, 2005... (6) AMERICAN LEGEND'S NEWEST TRAILER, THE BANDIT, has been designed for the cost-conscience customer who insists on a high-quality lightweight trailer with contemporary styling. One of the most notable features of the new Bandit is its overall...

Cee bailey now has replacement windscreens for BMW's R1200GS.(Product Spotlight)
January 1, 2005... (7) CEE BAILEY NOW HAS REPLACEMENT WINDSCREENS FOR BMW'S R1200GS. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The newly designed windscreen is available in varying heights up to 6 inches over stock, and up to 3 inches wider than the stock OEM screen. The...

Velocette L.E.: 1948-1970.(RETROSPECTIVE)
January 1, 2005... Here was the Little Engine that could, or at least that was how Veloce Ltd. Thought of this machine. The L.E. was basic transportation at its best, with large wheels for stability, good protection from the elements, a dead-reliable engine...