Rider articles from May 2002

Rider archives from May 2002

Motorcycle mechanics: The pleasure and the pain. (Guest Editorial).(Editorial)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The four Keihin carburetors from my aging Honda CB750 Four are laid out across the workbench, a rebuild kit next to each one. I'm disassembling them in sequence--pulling out one slide, then the next. By anyone else's definition, this is a...

Response.(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2002... High-Mile Hot Rod Good review of the 2002 cruisers by Bill Stermer in the March issue. One little sentence about the Harley V-Rod in its long-term test, however, made me choke: "After 8,500 miles we're already on our third rear and second...

FJR for sure. (Kickstarts).(introduction of motorcycle Yamaha FJR1300 to American market)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Yamaha USA has confirmed that the FJR1300 sport-touring bike introduced in Europe for the 2001 model year will be coming to the United States in late summer 2002 as a 2003 model. And get this--it will be priced at just $11,499 with the hard...

Better Urals. (Kickstarts).(modifications to motorcycle design)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Ural America has made significant upgrades to its 2002 Ural sidecar motorcycles. These include increased engine displacement (to 750cc), Italian switches, wiring and electrical components, an improved crankshaft, new high-quality U.S. bearings...

Motor Co. Museum. (Kickstarts).(Harley-Davidson Motor Co.'s travelling motorcycle exhibit)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Harley-Davidson is taking its history back on the road with an all-new Traveling Museum. "A Highway Through Time" traces the history of the company with vintage motorcycles, clothing and memorabilia. Scheduled to make its debut at Daytona Bike...

Triumph centennial. (Kickstarts).(motorcycle tour to commemorate corporation's anniversary)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... If you count its seven-year manufacturing hiatus between 1983 and 1990, this year marks Triumph's 100th anniversary. The company plans to celebrate its centennial as well as a 40 percent increase in sales in 2001 and the expansion into a new,...

Electric Bullets. (Kickstarts).(Royal Enfield announces production of motorcycle Bullet 500 ES with electric starter)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... First introduced in Britain in 1949 as a 350cc single, Royal Enfield eventually added a 500cc model to its Bullet line in the '50s. Production later moved to India, and while some refinements have been made over the years, demand for the bike...

Aluminum goose. (Kickstarts).(introduction of motorcycle model variation California Special Sport Aluminum)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2002... Moto Guzzi has introduced yet another new model variation for 2002, this one called the California Special Sport Aluminum. The most obvious new feature on the familiar flying, V-twin platform (see page 44) is the color, with a luminescent...

All-Bikes: The motorcycle museum of the Southwest. (Riding Around).(All-Bikes Antiques Museum)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The Wright Brothers started out small. In 1893 they opened a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio, and we all know that they moved on to bigger and better things. I have to say the same about Ron Adler of Rye, Arizona. Back in 1970 he opened his own...

Fraternal twins: The 2002 Honda 919 and CBR954RR.(evaluation)(Evaluation)
May 1, 2002... In addition to having two wheels and a winged logo in common, the new Honda 919 naked sport and fully clothed CBR954RR sportbike can both trace their heritage back to Mr. Tadeo Baba, one of Honda's Large Project Leaders in Japan. His friends...

Off the beaten path: A Lander, Wyoming, overnighter. (Favorite Ride).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The idea was a natural, as living here in the Grand Tetons of Wyoming means that I'm close to some excellent motorcycling territory. So my buddy Brian shipped his Triumph Thunderbird up for a two- or three-day trip. Having done the Grand...

Alternator meltdown. (Tech Q&A).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2002... Q: Two years ago I purchased a 1992 750 Kawasaki. Since then I have had to replace the alternator twice due to it shorting to ground internally and burning up. Now it has shorted a third time. The first time I had just the alternator rebuilt by...

Moto-Sport Panniers. (Product Spotlight).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... If you're tired of bungee-cording your old high-school backback to your dual-sport to carry your odds and ends, Moto-Sport Panniers solves this problem with Dirt-Bagz--and we don't mean the group of bullies that used to stuff you into your...

Helimot European Accessories. (Product Spotlight).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... As a motorcycle rider, you need all the help getting noticed that you can get, as drivers whiz by in their cars, many yapping on the phone, reading or even shaving. Nothing screams "Look at me!" like bright neon colors. The Helivision belt by...

Two Brothers Racing. (Product Spotlight).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Two Brothers Racing introduces a stainless-steel service stand that's helpful for the whole family. The 2-in-1 All Stainless-Steel Rear Service Stand is made from 2-inch by .035-inch aircraft-grade stainless-steel tube for the main body, and...

Desert Dawgs. (Product Spotlight).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Help your boots and leathers live long and prosper by protecting them with Desert Dawgs for your Kawasaki Vulcan Classic 1500 or Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad 1500. Desert Dawgs soft lower water-repelling chaps snap on and off engine guard bars quickly...

COMPU-FIRE Performance Products. (Product Spotlight).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... It takes a whole lot of energy to keep all the doo-dads running on a Honda Gold Wing. COMPU-FIRE Performance Products makes it easy with its High Output 90-Amp Alternator for 1989 to 2000 Wings. COMPU-FIRE says the alternator allows the use of...

Saddleman. (Product Spotlight).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Saddleman has released a new line of solo seats to help you comfortably saddle up your metric cruiser. The first breed to buck out of the gate is the Studded Solo for the Yamaha Road Star. The Studded Solo features a comfy Saddlehyde covering...

Nelson-Rigg. (Product Spotlight).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... If you're tired of your luggage flying off your bike at high speeds, why not take a page out of the professional wrestling handbook and put your bags in a "Full-Nelson?" Nelson-Rigg introduces the CTB Cruiser luggage line featuring Full-Nelson...