Rider articles from November 2003

Rider archives from November 2003

Hitching a demo ride.(One-Track Mind)
November 1, 2003... Whew, that was exciting. I love it when we get the scoop on some of the coming year's new motorcycle models into an issue, even at the last minute, as was the case with the nine manufacturers in our special section this month. It occurred...

VTEC.(Response)
November 1, 2003... Nice article on the Sport Bagger VTEC Honda Interceptor by Clement Salvadori in September's issue. Now if only Honda would get rid of that messy chain and replace it with a clean, virtually maintenance-free belt the bike would be a perfect...

Harley appreciation.(Response)
November 1, 2003... In Bill Stermer's King Kong Cruisers comparison (September issue) he called the Harley "the most expensive bike in our test by far." I think that due to the fact that a Harley will retain more value than the other bikes, and may even...

Braking techniques.(Response)
November 1, 2003... Having just trashed my BMW R1150GS, I, for one, can appreciate the wisdom of "slow entry, fast exit" (Grodsky's Stayin' Safe, in September). Better braking technique may have saved my bike. I certainly plan to train harder in that area... when...

A scholar's misfortune.(Response)
November 1, 2003... In response to Clement Salvadori's September column, Continuing Moto-Education, for 35 years I, too, thought that there was no way I could not maneuver around trouble. On a beautiful clear day on a two-lane country road, a straightaway, I was...

Recognition.(Response)
November 1, 2003... I am writing to express my admiration and appreciation of the fine photography of Kevin Wing. It's easy to take some things for granted after you get used to excellence being the norm. Tim Stubbs Minneapolis, Minnesota

Scooting along.(Response)
November 1, 2003... Mark Tuttle's One-Track Mind in September on the so-called megascoots starts fine but quickly flames out in an absurd put-down. To conclude one of these machines is like "a car with two wheels" is as ridiculous as proclaiming a Corvette is like...

Still grinning.(Response)
November 1, 2003... Few things tickle me more than blitzing Ortega, The Crest or Palomar in Southern California on my "scoot" and seeing the amazed expressions at the next stop on the lean-angle-impaired cruiser jockeys that I cruised by in the twisties. I'm the...

The ultimate trike.(Response)
November 1, 2003... I was wondering how long it would take. Rider came through. The T-Rex (reviewed by Ken Freund in September's issue) is the ultimate trike for those who have mega bucks and great weather, unlike here in New Jersey. I stumbled across the Web site...

Saddle up.(Response)
November 1, 2003... I looked forward to reading Clement Salvadori's article on Rick Mayer Saddles. A Mayer saddle turned my Kawasaki KLR650 from a Saddam Hussein torture rack into an adventure tourer. Now that saddles have caught your attention, why not try a...

Enjoying the challenge.(Response)
November 1, 2003... August's issue struck a special chord with me, as it had a couple of great articles about motorcycle restoration. A little over a year ago, I bought a '73 Suzuki TX750, with only 11,000 miles on it. Since then I've thoroughly enjoyed the...

Styling.(Response)
November 1, 2003... I noticed a letter from Dennis Gregory regarding the '04 Triumph Daytona 600 in September's Response. There's no such thing as Euro or Japanese styling anymore. Sportbikes are influenced by racebikes and they've been evolving to the same...

Rider course.(Response)
November 1, 2003... I'm an MSF-certified instructor, and teach the BRC (RSS) and ERC courses. Several years ago, two associates and I contacted Larry Grodsky. We took his instructor course, and about four months later, put in place an on-street course. To our...

World record.(Response)
November 1, 2003... I read an interesting article in a New York newspaper recently. A local Long Island couple sold their Upper West Side Manhattan apartment back in 1999. They purchased two brand-new BMW GS models and decided to travel the world for 15 months....

Covering Harley's 100th.(Kickstarts)
November 1, 2003... We're saving some space for your stories from the Open Road Tour, The Ride Home and Harley-Davidson's 100th Anniversary Party alongside our reports coming in a future issue. If you've got a unique, emotional, exciting, interesting, fascinating...

Corner tour.(Kickstarts)
November 1, 2003... The art of motorcycle touring and the art of motorcycle cornering have come together with a special promotion co-sponsored by the California Superbike School and Edelweiss Bike Travel. Students who receive instruction at U.S., U.K. and...

No comment.(Kickstarts)
November 1, 2003... Our thanks to Joanne Peterson of Wisconsin for submitting this photo of a BMW North America-sponsored billboard off the Interstate 94 in Racine, Wisconsin.

Motorcycle equipment requirements.(Kickstarts)
November 1, 2003... Thanks to the Motorcycle Industry Council (www.mic.org) for providing this handy list of state equipment requirements on the facing page. It was updated last June. Among other things, look how many states only require brakes on one wheel!

Ridin' the Web.(Kickstarts)
November 1, 2003... www.chapparalmotorsports.com This big motorcycle, ATV, rider accessory and product retailer has a new Web site. www.firecreekacc.com/windbender.htm Interesting-looking alternative windscreen for Gold Wing GL1500s and GL1800s. ...

Hold the presses! New for '04.(Special Section!)
November 1, 2003... Your 2003 Thanksgiving turkey just starting to look nervously over its shoulder in the farmyard, but the 2004 motorcycle model season is already cooking. When nine manufacturers revealed their new bikes to the press within about a two-week...

2003 KTM 950 Adventure: the Austrian Wunderkind comes to America.(Rider Test Follow-Up)
November 1, 2003... In Rider July 2003, we shared our first impressions of KTM's new V-twin Wunderkind, the 950 Adventure. These were gleaned from a fairly brief opportunity to ride both models (standard and S) on the roads of southern Spain's Costa Del Sol,...

Coastal cruisin': riding a little-known New England playground.(Favorite Ride)
November 1, 2003... Fifty-five miles south of Boston and 30 miles east of Providence lies an area of southern New England that has escaped invasion by the teeming masses as they commute between these metropolises or head for the popular tourist destinations of...

Rider club connection.
November 1, 2003... Are you interested in sharing your enthusiasm for motorcycling with friends of like mind? If you are a Rider subscriber, you may join a club chartered by Rider magazine. The Rider charter allows no biases of any kind nor any restriction on...

The electrical connection.(Tech Q&A)
November 1, 2003... Q: I sold a 1981 Yamaha 650 Midnight Maxim to a friend who is now having a problem finding parts for it. He says the alternator is bad and none of the local shops can help him find a new one. Can you please let me know if there is any place...

IXS Sahara jacket and Pro-Back V back protector.(Gear)
November 1, 2003... The Swiss company named IXS (pronounced "icks" in Switzerland) offers a handsome selection of five textile and six leather jackets through its U.S. distributor Motorace. We recently tried out the Sahara jacket, which has a modern appearance...

CycleVenture has new applications for its unique and versatile Ventura Bike-Pack motorcycle luggage system.(Product Spotlight)
November 1, 2003... CycleVenture has new applications for its unique and versatile Ventura Bike-Pack motorcycle luggage system. The Buell XB9S and XB9R, XB12S and XB12R, Kawasaki Z1000 and Suzuki SV1000 can now be fitted with Bike-Pack Systems specifically...

Braking brand rotors.(Product Spotlight)
November 1, 2003... Braking brand rotors are CAD-CAM laser cut from a unique, proprietary, high-carbon-content stainless steel. They're heat-treated and lap-ground to assure perfect flatness. Wave rotors provide better heat dissipation and resist warping, and the...

Joe Rocket has introduced a new Alter Ego textile jacket which features panels that zip off to reveal a mesh jacket underneath.(Product Spotlight)
November 1, 2003... Joe Rocket has introduced a new Alter Ego textile jacket which features panels that zip off to reveal a mesh jacket underneath. It has a Rock Tex 660 breathable outer shell with a removable inner liner. Elastic adjusters allow the rider to...

Cobra offers this handsome license plate mount for use on the Kawasaki Mean Streak (2002 and newer).(Product Spotlight)
November 1, 2003... Cobra offers this handsome license plate mount for use on the Kawasaki Mean Streak (2002 and newer). It's made from solid aircraft-grade 6061 T6 billet aluminum that's triple-chrome plated for a long-lasting shine. The mount comes with complete...

Stop & Go's Deluxe Tube & Tubeless Motorcycle Tire Repair Kit.(Product Spotlight)
November 1, 2003... Since it was first introduced in 1975, Stop & Go's Deluxe Tube & Tubeless Motorcycle Tire Repair Kit (No. 1035 for short) is still the most complete repair kit on the market. Motorcycle enthusiasts can buy Stop & Go's 1035 from motorcycle shops...

Pancho Villa Moto-Tours' first month-long, Expedition-class event in the Euro-Asia theater will be held in May of 2004.(Product Spotlight)
November 1, 2003... Pancho Villa Moto-Tours' first month-long, Expedition-class event in the Euro-Asia theater will be held in May of 2004. Riders will bring their own motorcycles on the PVMT Turkey Expedition, though BMWs are available to rent. The unpaved...

Coleman Exponent F1 stove.(Product Spotlight)
November 1, 2003... The lightest single-burner back-packing and motorcycle camping is now available from Coleman. The new Coleman Exponent F1 stove is compact and efficient, weighing a mere 2.7 ounces sans gas cartridge. Yet it belts out 16,000 BTUs and can boil a...