Rider articles from March 2005

Rider archives from March 2005

Packing it in: sometimes you can take it with you, if you're willing to wear it.(One trackmind)
March 1, 2005... The last few weeks I've been riding a Buell Lightning CityX (Citycross), a stubby new urbanassault vehicle complete with handguards, a headlight protector and no-frills styling suitable for missions behind enemy lines. The enjoyable little bike...

Trikes.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... I really liked Clement Salvadori's brief history of trikes (January 2005). I have been a member of a trike organization called Brothers of the Third Wheel (BTW) for about 20 years and I was state director for California for 15 years. The...

Touring Beemer.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... Just read the test on the '05 R1200GS; thank you much for waiting for a production unit for evaluation. Though not in the market for a GS I am very interested in purchasing BMW's replacement for my 1999 R1100RT but only if I'm assured they've...

Helmet removal.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... I read with interest Jerry Smith's article entitled Rider Down! I was somewhat taken aback, though, when I read that Harry "Doc" Wong recommended removal of the helmet if CPR is required, even if back/neck injuries are suspected. I've taken a...

Shoei helmets.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... Thanks for the recent review of the Shoei TZ-R helmet (December 2004). I just purchased one to replace my old Shoei RF-800. The way to significantly reduce the bottom edge wind noise on Shoei helmets, especially on an unfaired bike, is to use...

A favorite scoot.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... Any magazine that devotes nine pages to a 19-year-old bike just because it happens to work is my kind of publication (20 Years Later, December 2004)! As you may have guessed I am a Concours owner and a long-time member of COG. The Concours goes...

Slippery mess.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... The Road to Deadhorse by Dr. Frazier sure brought back some fantastic memories. Back in '95 I quit my job and hit the road, traveling around most of North America. By far the most memorable were the three weeks in Alaska and the Yukon. I hit...

Noddy bike.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... Clement Salvadori's Retrospective column is the first thing I read every month. The article about the Velocette L.E. in January's issue was, as usual, interesting and enjoyable, but I think that Clement may be mistaken in his etymology of...

For any season.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... In the Concours sidebar on page 34 in December 2004's issue, several aftermarket items are shown. In the lower right corner photograph, beside the auxiliary lights, there is a Baker Air Wing (www.bakerbuilt.com) plainly visible. Not a safety...

State equipment requirements.(Kickstarts)
March 1, 2005... MANY THANKS TO THE MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING US TO REPRINT ITS 2004 GUIDE TO STATE MOTORCYCLE EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS ON THE FACING PAGE. TEAR IT OUT AND SAVE IT FOR YOUR TRAVELS! FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE MIC SEE WWW.MIC.ORG. ...

Bleustein to retire.(Kickstarts)
March 1, 2005... Harley-Davidson recently announced that Jeffrey L. Bleustein, 65, has decided to retire as Chief Executive Officer, effective April 30, 2005. Bleustein will continue as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board announced that his successor...

Hammer time: 2005 Victory Hammer.(RIDER TEST)
March 1, 2005... Apparently, new motorcycle companies are like fine wine--they take a number of years to mature and tempt the palate. Following this paradigm, Victory motorcycles have come a long way in the first seven years of production. In the beginning the...

Monster in Monte Carlo: 2005 Ducati S2R.(RIDDEN & RATED)
March 1, 2005... As I turned onto Boulevard Louis II and rolled into the dimness of the famed tunnel, it sent chills down my spine. I tried to imagine what it would be like to roar through this 1/4-mile-long black hole at nearly 250 kph. I had just sampled part...

How do you make a great Nolan modular helmet better?(Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2005... (1) HOW DO YOU MAKE A GREAT NOLAN MODULAR HELMET BETTER? You accessorize it with the new Vision Protection System (VPS). All those who wear eyeglasses know that changing to sunglasses can be a hassle--which the VPS solves. When the sun comes...

The new Lil' B camper from B & F.(Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2005... (2) THE NEW LIL' B CAMPER FROM B & F is a smaller version of the popular Bunkhouse Camper and is designed for the single rider. The Lil' B is for folks who want a lighter, more compact and economical unit, yet with the same quality for which...

Tour Portugal with Motocadia.(Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2005... (3) TOUR PORTUGAL WITH MOTOCADIA. Ride the fabulous Estrella mountains, the Duoro Valley, Porto, Obidos, Batalha, Alcobaca and Lisbon. Stay in comfortable manor houses and enjoy the beautiful countryside in this historic country on a variety of...

Dunlop's new Elite 3 (E3) motorcycle touring tire.(Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2005... (4) DUNLOP'S NEW ELITE 3 (E3) MOTORCYCLE TOURING TIRE delivers the long-wearing mileage of the storied Elite model and adds significant load and handling improvements in both dry and wet weather. Available in radial, bias and custom wide tire...

Motodiscovery returns to Turkey for 2005.(Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2005... (5) MOTODISCOVERY RETURNS TO TURKEY FOR 2005. MotoDiscovery, formerly Pancho Villa Moto-Tours for 23 years, announces that Turkey will again be on its list of motorcycle tour destinations. A two-night stay on a wooden gullet cruiser in a quiet...

Take a virtual tour of Americade 2004 on DVD.(Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2005... (6) TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF AMERICADE 2004 ON DVD. This new 60-minute-plus DVD (also available on VHS) contains exciting new coverage of the event's five popular MiniTours as well as amusing and interesting interviews with Americaders and resort...

Tour master has introduced completely new versions of its classic riding jackets.(Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2005... (7) TOUR MASTER HAS INTRODUCED COMPLETELY NEW VERSIONS OF ITS CLASSIC RIDING JACKETS. Called Tour Master Advanced Jackets, both the three-quarter-length and waist-cut Sport versions combine 500-denier Dupont Cordura, 500-denier nylon and...

Not enough room for your motorcycles?(Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2005... (8) NOT ENOUGH ROOM FOR YOUR MOTORCYCLES? Loft-It, the first-ever garage elevator, can create an extra 192 cubic feet of garage space by lifting motorcycles up to 1,000 pounds 6 feet in the air with just a turn of its lockable safety switch....

Dust to glory is an all-out action adventure documenting the tecate score Baja 1000 race.(Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2005... (9) DUST TO GLORY IS AN ALL-OUT ACTION ADVENTURE DOCUMENTING THE TECATE SCORE BAJA 1000 RACE. The race combines motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles in an unpredictable, grueling and dangerous around-the-clock event. To capture the intense...