Rider articles from May 2004

Rider archives from May 2004

Moty brain dump: spring is busting out all over here at the palatial Rider offices, a sign of more enjoyable (and warmer) rides to come.(One Trackmind)
May 1, 2004... It also means the imminent arrival of the June issue and our pick within for Rider's Motorcycle of the Year. Some years choosing one bike from the list of eligible candidates is a no-brainer for our group of erstwhile scribes, other years it's...

Competing cruiser.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... What a coincidence! Kawasaki comes out with a screaming 2,000cc, 120-lb-ft torque V-twin motor at the same time it discontinues its 18-year-old run on the Voyager touring bike (Stroker Ace, March 2004). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Looks...

Feeling left out.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... I must say that I was sorely disappointed to see that you did not include the Triumph Speed Four in the Three for All article in the March 2004 issue of Rider. It features better suspension, better brakes and more claimed horsepower, all for...

For beginners.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... I want to thank you for your article about the Honda 750 Aero (Riding Around, March 2004,). I have ridden mine for about four months and love the smooth ride and easy handling. I have been riding for less than a year, my first bike being a 600....

The queen.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... I really enjoyed Genevieve Schmitt's interview with Debbie Evans (Queen of Motorcycle Stunts, March 2004). She's such an inspiration! ANNA MAURO VIA E-MAIL Thanks for a great article on Debbie Evans. However, three paragraphs from the...

No longer a secret.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... OK, now I'm really mad... if you don't quit telling the whole world about B.C. and Vancouver Island (Favorite Ride, The Road Back, by Olaf Wolff, March issue), I'm going to start telling everyone else about California. Oh, wait, everyone...

Keeping the weight "on".(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... While I do agree in theory that there is room for improvement in motorcycle helmets (Stayin' Safe, Putting a Lid on the Bull, March 2004), I do not agree with Larry Grodsky that helmets are way too heavy. I have worn a helmet since I was 16 (I...

Who's profiting?(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... I am floored at Clement Salvadori's Profit Margins in the March issue! For him to suggest that we as consumers just suck it up and pay the outrageous prices that dealerships charge just because a dealer has a mortgage and kids to pay for is...

AMA, FAM and M&ATA.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... Thanks for the connection to my rider roots! In his February '04 column Quieter Anniversaries, Mark Tuttle explained the historical origins of the AMA, sprouting from the FAM to the M&ATA. Upon my grandfather's death I was given a medal that he...

Boycott South Dakota.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... I suggest that riders of all marques boycott riding in South Dakota for the next two years in response to that state's "special" sentence on Bill Janklow, January 22, 2004. The boycott would include the festivities at Sturgis, South Dakota....

New 2005 BMWs: in addition to the all-new 2005 R1200GS (see ridden & rated, page 62), BMW will release four upgraded bikes this spring as 2005 models.(Kick Starts)
May 1, 2004... As part of its new custom ordering program, the K1200LT series will be reduced to a single model, the K1200LT Custom, upon which buyers can heap both dealer-and factory-ordered accessories to their heart's content. For 2005 the big LT gets a 15...

More '04 Suzukis: the Suzuki SV series of motorcycles was mysteriously absent from the company's initial wave of 2004 models, but now the veil has been lifted and it was worth the wait.(Kick Starts)
May 1, 2004... Both the SV650 ($5,899) and SV650S ($6,299) have reshaped rider seats, and their subframes have been lowered 40mm for more passenger comfort. The sporty 2004 SV1000S ($8,599) has a 20mm lower rider's seat, and its subframe has been lowered 40mm...

Harley museum.(Kick Starts)
May 1, 2004... Harley-Davidson plans to build a $95 million motorcycle museum, restaurant and office complex on 20 acres in Wisconsin's Menomonee Valley. "This is going to be a destination, one of Milwaukee's gems," said Jeff Bleustein, company chairman and...

Ridin' the web.(Kick Starts)
May 1, 2004... WWW.MOTOEQUIP.COM HELMET FACE-SHIELD PROTECTORS AND REFLECTOR KITS. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WWW.SPORTBIKERENTAL.COM ... SAYS IT'S THE ONLY RENTAL COMPANY IN CALIFORNIA THAT CATERS TO THE SPORTBIKE ENTHUSIAST. WWW.ROKON.COM...

Rider at Americade.(Kick Starts)
May 1, 2004... Headed to the Americade Rally in Lake George, New York, this June 7-12, 2004? If so, don't miss Rider contributor Clement Salvadori's featured seminar Thursday evening from 8-9 p.m. at the Roaring Brook Ranch. And if you don't get a chance to...

Light heavyweight: the 2005 BMW R1200GS.(Ridden & Rated)
May 1, 2004... The Japanese were aggressively honing their new liter-class sportbike weapons for 2004, and Harley-Davidson was busy celebrating its centennial. Meanwhile, BMW was quietly revamping its motorcycle factory near Berlin to prepare for a new-model...

Euro. scoot: the 2004 Aprilia Scarabeo 500.(Rider Test)
May 1, 2004... When we last visited the world of mega-scooters with the Honda Silver Wing and Suzuki Burgman comparison in the October 2003 issue, Italian-based Aprilia hadn't yet introduced its latest scooter offering, the Scarabeo 500, into the American...

Window pain.(Tech Q & A)
May 1, 2004... Q: I HAVE A 1984 HONDA VF750F THAT I HAVE NOT RIDDEN IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. IN THE PROCESS OF GIVING IT A GOOD GENERAL CLEANUP AND REBUILD, I NOTICED THAT THE FLUID LEVEL WINDOW IN THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER HAD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT...

Get your bearings.(Tech Q & A)
May 1, 2004... Q: I am the very satisfied owner of a beautiful 1987 Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager. The problem is that I need to have the steering head bearings replaced. I have called multiple Kawasaki dealers within an hour's ride of my home here in south central...

Fuse upgrade.(Tech Q & A)
May 1, 2004... Q: The stock fuse box under the seat of my 1981 Yamaha 750 Maxim is showing its age, particularly when starting. I want to switch from the old-style glass tube fuses to the more modern blade type. Do you think there would there be a noticeable...

Sabre rattling.(Tech Q & A)
May 1, 2004... Q: I have a 2000 Honda Shadow Sabre with about 15,500 miles on it. During the last couple of weeks, the engine has been making some odd noises when it's hot. If you stop for gas or such, and start the bike back up, for the next five to 10...

A tale from the trenches.(Tech Q & A)
May 1, 2004... The other evening after we closed the doors to the shop, the boss and I sat down and had a conversation that was all good news, at least in our neck of the woods. But I pray it's a trend that's occurring everywhere. It used to be an accepted...

Michelin Pilot Power tires.(Gear Lab)
May 1, 2004... BIBENDUM--AKA THE MICHELIN MAN--AND HIS MERRY ELVES (AS WELL AS CHEMISTS AND ENGINEERS) HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK DEVELOPING A REPLACEMENT FOR THE PILOT SPORT LINE OF SPORTBIKE MOTORCYCLE TIRES, ESPECIALLY FOR YOU KNEE-DRAGGERS OUT THERE. IN...

(1) reflective Arrow Head lane-change indicators.(New & Cool)
May 1, 2004... (1) REFLECTIVE ARROW HEAD LANE-CHANGE INDICATORS When the traffic in your lane slows or comes to a quick stop and you have an opportunity to change lanes, there's barely enough time to signal your intentions and get the attention of the drivers...

(2) Ride-On tire sealant for Motorcycles.(New & Cool)
May 1, 2004... (2) RIDE-ON TIRE SEALANT FOR MOTORCYCLES Now available in motorcycle-specific packaging, Ride-On for Motorcycles is a specially formulated tire sealant for speeds up to 160-plus mph. Ride-On is a preventive gel that's injected into the tire...

(3) Eagle One's new Wax As-U-Dry.(New Cool)
May 1, 2004... (3) EAGLE ONE'S NEW WAX AS-U-DRY Waxing your bike doesn't have to be a chore anymore. Just wash it and leave it wet. Then spray on Eagle One's new Wax As-U-Dry, watch the water sheet away, then simply dry with a chamois or towel. That's it. The...

(4) Dowco Rally Roller soft-sided luggage.(New & Cool)
May 1, 2004... (4) DOWCO RALLY ROLLER SOFT-SIDED LUGGAGE After a day's ride the last thing you want to do is haul luggage from the bike to your hotel room. Dowco has introduced motorcycle storage with wheels to its Rally Pack line of soft-sided universal...

(5) Adirondacks and Beyond Motorcycle Tours.(New & Cool)
May 1, 2004... (5) ADIRONDACKS AND BEYOND MOTORCYCLE TOURS Marc and Margie Connelly of Adirondacks and Beyond Motorcycle Tours, LLC, in Lake George, New York, have been hard at work creating another season of motorcycle adventures in the northeast and beyond....

(6) CycleVault, the only fully encapsulated, anti-corrosion motorcycle storage system.(New & Cool)
May 1, 2004... (6) CYCLEVAULT, THE ONLY FULLY ENCAPSULATED, ANTI-CORROSION MOTORCYCLE STORAGE SYSTEM available today, has been refined to include a woven and laminated poly-base section that will withstand years of abuse from rolling your bike onto and off...

(7) Heads-Up Voltage Monitor by Signal Dynamics.(New & Cool)
May 1, 2004... (7) HEADS-UP VOLTAGE MONITOR BY SIGNAL DYNAMICS With the new Heads-Up Voltage Monitor by Signal Dynamics, voltage problems can quickly be identified. The single, multicolor LED (red-amber-green) visually indicates the state of your motorcycle's...

(8) Spiegler brake rotor.(New & Cool)
May 1, 2004... (8) SPIEGLER BRAKE ROTOR Spiegler's newly redesigned brake rotor uses a proprietary high-friction, high-heat blend of stainless steel. This new alloy provides the performance advantages of iron without limiting pad selection. The design of the...

(9) Fast By Ferracci X-Pipe for Moto Guzzi V11.(New & Cool)
May 1, 2004... (9) FAST BY FERRACCI X-PIPE FOR MOTO GUZZI V11 Fast By Ferracci offers a new X-Pipe for Moto Guzzi V11 models. Made from high-grade stainless steel, this pipe helps smooth out flat spots in the power curve, and provides a significant midrange...

(10) Nelson-Rigg CTB Cruiser luggage.(New & Cool)
May 1, 2004... (10) NELSON-RIGG CTB CRUISER LUGGAGE Nelson-Rigg continues to win the confidence of avid riders with its CTB Cruiser luggage line. Made of top-quality UV treated Tri-Max polyester, eight popular models are loaded with great features including...