Rider articles from March 2006

Rider archives from March 2006

Why?(One trackmind)
March 1, 2006... "I am a connoisseur of roads. I've been tasting roads my whole life. This road will never end. It probably goes all around the world." Mike Waters (River Phoenix), My Own Private Idaho After riding around the world for 10 years and...

Simply excellent.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I have to compliment the Rider staff on the recent issues, December 2005 and January 2006 in particular. You are outdoing yourselves! The magazine is beautiful--the artwork is superb. Stories like Slogging Through Siberia, Thrace and Anatolia,...

Classic styling.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I am a subscriber to both Rider and your sister publication American Rider, among many others. After reading the January '06 article on the Kymco Venox, I have to say it was really nice to see a road test on an inexpensive motorcycle. Although...

The lesson of gravity.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I've been riding on- and off-road for about 40 years now. Regarding Steve Larsen's MotoVentures article in the December 2005 issue, I am 100 percent confident that on my best day as a rider, four-time motorcycle world speed record holder Mr....

Ghost town switch.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... Just wanted to send a mea culpa. The photo of the bank building and the Spit-and-Whittle Club, referred to in my article, Favorite Ride, The Gila Loop (January issue) are located in Kingston, not Winston. Both are ghost towns in the foothills...

Budget beauty.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... In Clement Salvadori's Buying Used article in the January issue he addressed some of us in the real world. Returning to riding after many years, I could have afforded any bike I wanted. But I sprang for a '91 Honda Nighthawk for $2,500. I...

Diesel-powered motorcycle.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I picked up your December 2005 magazine and found an error on page 65 in Chris Sidah's Tech Q & A column. In the answer to the question "Diesel Good?" it says that "F1 Engineering makes a diesel conversion" motorcycle. This is incorrect--Hayes...

Not-so-fond memories.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... Clement Salvadori's Retrospective on the Honda CB750F Super Sport in the January issue brought back fond memories in the same way recalling my ex-wife does. I had the first model, a '75. It was definitely an improvement over my previous CL 360,...

Toasty hands.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... Back in the September 2006 issue you did a review on the Joe Rocket Nitrogen Gloves, and I'd like to thank you. Needless to say, it cools off considerably faster here in Nova Scotia than it does in Southern California, so the timing of the...

Hypermotard.(Kickstarts)
March 1, 2006... Ducati wowed Milan, Italy, showgoers last November and won Best of Show from the Motorcycle Design Association with its Hypermotard concept bike, a wild machine that--like many of Ducati's "concepts"--seems close to production and will likely...

Aloha!(Kickstarts)
March 1, 2006... Progressive Insurance says it has reviewed claims data on more than 2 million motorcycles insured over the past three years to determine the likelihood of a motorcyclist getting into an accident or having a bike stolen. The analysis focused on...

WIMA Image Award.(Kickstarts)
March 1, 2006... A hard-working friend of ours in Kawasaki's media relations department was recently honored with an award presented to women "who are dedicated to the sport of motorcycling, and pave the way for future generations with their positive...

BMW record run.(Kickstarts)
March 1, 2006... A 2006 production BMW K1200S set a world land-speed record in the 1,000-1,350cc stock, partially streamlined, naturally aspirated motorcycle class at Utah's famed Bonneville Salt Flats last September 2005. The motorcycle, piloted by 56-year-old...

Class of 2005.(Kickstarts)
March 1, 2006... Nine more names joined the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, at the 2005 induction ceremony held last October 2005. Seated, left to right, are: Clarence Fleming (nephew of Bill Johnson), Georgia Cates (widow of Tom Cates) and Jerry...

Rent-a-hog.(Kickstarts)
March 1, 2006... Harley-Davidson's Authorized Rentals program has five new rental outlets in some pretty cool places: Alaska (Soldotna), Vermont (Barre), Belgium (Dendermonde), Scotland (Glasgow) and South Africa (Cape Town). This brings the number of worldwide...

Dolce vita!(Kickstarts)
March 1, 2006... Hurry--you've got until February 28, 2006, to buy a new 2004 or 2005 Ducati Monster S4R, Multistrada 1000 or 999 and get free service for up to two years. Ducati North America says the new "Dolce Vita" free service program applies to S4R,...

www.amsoil.com.(RIDIN' THE WEB)
March 1, 2006... AMSOIL SAYS THE 28-PAGE WHITE PAPER AVAILABLE AS A .PDF AT ITS SITE DETAILS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE MOTORCYCLE OIL TESTING IN HISTORY, WITH 26 OILS COMPARED.

www.koyoteranch.com.(RIDIN' THE WEB)
March 1, 2006... A CAMPING RESORT IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY THAT CATERS TO MOTORCYCLE RIDERS.

www.ferracci.com.(RIDIN' THE WEB)
March 1, 2006... DUCATI, MV AGUSTA, MOTO GUZZI, HUSQVARNA AND YAMAHA MOTORCYCLES AND PERFORMANCE PARTS.

www.ridetowork.org/blog.(RIDIN' THE WEB)
March 1, 2006... A DAILY BLOG CHRONICLING THE EXPERIENCES OF MINNESOTA WRITER AND MOTORCYCLIST GARY CHARPENTIER, WHO IS SCOOTERING 50 MILES TO AND FROM HIS JOB EVERY WEEKDAY THIS WINTER.

www.g-line-store.com.(RIDIN' THE WEB)
March 1, 2006... A NEW WOMEN'S APPAREL LINE FROM FAIRCHILD SPORTS, THE FIRSTGEAR FOLKS. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

www.yearroundriders.com.(RIDIN' THE WEB)
March 1, 2006... THE ROUNDERS ARE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ENJOY THEIR MOTORCYCLES SO MUCH THEY RIDE THEM YEAR-ROUND, EVEN WHEN THE TEMPS ARE FREEZING AND BELOW.

www.unicornadventures.com.(RIDIN' THE WEB)
March 1, 2006... MOTORCYCLE TOURS ON SOUTHERN EUROPEAN ROADS, STARTING FROM THE FRENCH RIVIERA. LUXURY SERVICES WITH TOP-NOTCH BMW MOTORCYCLES, 3- AND 4-STAR HOTELS OR CASTLE ACCOMMODATIONS.

www.rockymountainmotorcycletours.com.(RIDIN' THE WEB)
March 1, 2006... ORGANIZED TOURS IN COLORADO--RIDE YOUR OWN BIKE OR RENT.

Ready to ride: 2006 Victory Kingpin Deluxe.(RIDER TEST)(Cover Story)
March 1, 2006... When Victory launched its initial V92C cruiser model in 1998, it was an exciting moment. This was the first new American brand of cruiser motorcycles in 60 years, with a solid, powerful and proprietary V-twin engine design. The bike had...

A state of mind.(SPORT TOURING RIDER)
March 1, 2006... WELCOME to Sport-Touring Rider, our new magazine-within-a-magazine especially for Rider readers who fancy fast bikes, winding roads, long rides and a naturally elevated heart rate. The bimonthly focus here will be on the sportbikes, rides and...

Merciful Ninja: 2006 Kawasaki ZZR600.(LONG RIDE * SHORT TEST)
March 1, 2006... It's a phenomenon of the sportbike category that as the high-end models become ever more racetrack oriented, their predecessors begin to seem a bit tamer and better suited for sport touring, even when they haven't changed significantly. Such is...

Teknic Modular Tankbag System: packing it in.(SPORT TOURING RIDER)
March 1, 2006... The Teknic Modular Tankbag System we tried on the ZZR600 is versatile, rugged and easy to use. Made of sturdy 1,000-denier Cordura nylon, its small- and medium-sized compartments are interchangeable with the magnetic baseplate and can be zipped...

Dunlop Qualifier tires: riding new and old with the Dunlop guys at Spring Mountain Motorsports Park.(FEATURE PRODUCT REVIEW)
March 1, 2006... When you've already got the best-selling sportbike tire in the United States, how do you improve upon it? The successor to Dunlop's D208ZR would have to keep its consistent and predictable all-weather handling, yet raise every aspect of its...

Femmoto track day: a day the women ride and the men watch from the sidelines.(SPORT TOURING RIDER)
March 1, 2006... Need a good way to improve your sport-touring skills? How about test riding a manufacturer's demo bike around a racetrack for a day? Sounds fun, doesn't it? Femmoto is a one-day event that's part track day, part demo ride. There's one catch--no...

Alpinestars Vector II Backpack.(GEAR TEST TRIAD)
March 1, 2006... Set up foremost as a laptop bag, Alpinestar's Vector II Backpack is probably overkill for commuting, but its big capacity, sturdy zippers and comfortable shoulder straps make it ideal for travel. In addition to a large main compartment with...

Edelweiss GP tours.(GEAR TEST TRIAD)
March 1, 2006... The first U.S. MotoGP in America in a decade at Laguna Seca last July created a wave of renewed interest in this exciting class of racing. Hungry for more? For the last 14 years Edelweiss Bike Travel has taken Americans on organized motorcycle...

Shark RSF2 Race helmet.(GEAR TEST TRIAD)
March 1, 2006... The Shark RSF2 Race is a cozy, street-oriented lid with a composite fiber shell that helps keep it light at just over 51 ounces. Shark also uses a multielement EPS liner of varying density, with deep channels that allow air flow and shave...

Flying South: Canada to Argentina and then some.
March 1, 2006... Dear Rider magazine, On November 22, 2003, I left my hometown of Williams Lake, British Columbia, with no more than a desire to get away from the winter cold and see and do as much as possible along the way. For six months I rode through...

Tour Master Winter Elite gloves.(Product Evaluations)
March 1, 2006... Tour Master has been making its Winter Elite gloves as long as I can remember, with regular refinements, and when it comes to keeping my hands warm without the benefit of electrons it's hard to beat them. See, while plenty of winter gloves...

Tell the gas-guzzling world how efficient your ride is.(Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2006... (1) TELL THE GAS-GUZZLING WORLD HOW EFFICIENT YOUR RIDE IS. These license-plate holders state clearly 40, 50 or 60 mpg, followed by the popular phrase "One less car." Perfect for adding your two cents to the daily commute or the mile-trekking...

Race Tech's kit improves Harley V-Rod forks.(Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2006... (2) RACE TECH'S KIT IMPROVES HARLEY V-ROD FORKS. Race Tech has developed two new Fork Suspension Kits that improve the handling, control and looks of Harley-Davidson V-Rods. The FLEK S49P20 is a complete suspension kit and includes Gold Valve...

Does your motorcycle seat feel like a pine bench after awhile?(Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2006... (3) DOES YOUR MOTORCYCLE SEAT FEEL LIKE A PINE BENCH AFTER AWHILE? Comfort Max Gel Pads are designed to offer unparalleled comfort on any bike. The gel pad eliminates painful pressure on the tailbone and helps your spine relax. At the core of...

Reduce wind turbulence on your new triumph sprint ST.(Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2006... (4) REDUCE WIND TURBULENCE ON YOUR NEW TRIUMPH SPRINT ST. Laminar's Touring LIP for the ST will make travel and adventure more enjoyable. It reduces the pressure on the rider's chest and arms. It also diffuses turbulence, greatly reducing noise...

Saddlemen's midnight express drifter saddlebags offer a new styling alternative.(Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2006... (5) SADDLEMEN'S MIDNIGHT EXPRESS DRIFTER SADDLEBAGS OFFER A NEW STYLING ALTERNATIVE. With a single-strap closure they are extremely easy to use and offer ample storage capacity at a great price. They have a yoke that adjusts for bag height and...

Learn to ride more safely in the Rain.(Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2006... (6) LEARN TO RIDE MORE SAFELY IN THE RAIN. Rain Riding Techniques is an up-to-the-minute, practical guide for novice and experienced motorcyclists alike. The book is loaded with rain-riding lessons, tips and personal stories to teach safe and...

Tired of the same old helmet liner?(Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2006... (7) TIRED OF THE SAME OLD HELMET LINER? Scorpion now offers a variety of replaceable helmet liners to freshen up your Scorpion lid. The liner's wild patterns and KwikWick material provide an extra dose of style and comfort. The washable...

Cold, wet hands are no fun!(Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2006... (8) COLD, WET HANDS ARE NO FUN! Alpinestars' WR-1 Gore-Tex gloves are great-looking, waterproof and insulated for the all-weather rider, Constructed with Gore-Tex membrane and Thinsulate insulation, the rain and cold just can't get through. For...

Pimp your ride with Bagster.(Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2006... (9) PIMP YOUR RIDE WITH BAGSTER. Bagster's unique line of tank protectors, tankbags, seat covers and soft luggage is made of durable vinyl to resist rain. Bagster tank protectors cover the whole tank, following the curves and unique shape of...