Rider articles from October 2004

Rider archives from October 2004

The Connie's 20th: an envelope just arrived from Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA with some images and lovely verbiage about its first wave of new models for 2005.(One TrackMind)
October 1, 2004... Well, not new, really--these are the "Early Releases," or "MMCs" as we affectionately call them. Minor Model Changes are bikes that are returning for the new model year with little more than "BNG," or Bold New Graphics. (We use a lot of...

Retro Rollers.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... Regarding Retro Rollers in August's issue, if the latest Yamaha Venture had the "most power" Lord forbid I ever ride the Harley-Davidson or the Beemer. Those of us who owned the first generation and the latest generation Ventures are still...

Emilio's feat.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... All hail the god of circumnavigation. What a kick in the iron butt to all the pavement rompers! Emilio has accomplished the most amazing feat of perseverance in the face of conventional wisdom since Sir Isaac Newton died a virgin. JIMBOB...

Proud to be a Kansan.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... Alan Paulsen's Midway USA article in the August 2004 issue was great; nice to hear about a ride across Kansas that didn't include the usual "only at midnight on Interstate 70." However, his photo of "tallgrass prairie" on page 64 is really just...

Torn over T-shirts.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... Clement, my dear old kindred spirit! How many times have I looked through my overstuffed T-shirt drawers with the same dilemma you faced (T-Shirt Memories, August 2004)? Well, actually, about once a week, since that's how often my wife finishes...

Enchanted land.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Dick Fish's epic journey (The Longest Ride by Jerry Smith, August '04). I can appreciate what Fish must have been thinking after leaving Manic 5 for the far reaches of Labrador. Having travelled Newfoundland /...

Sense of direction.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... The maps by Bill Tipton that accompany your travel articles always add to the enjoyment of reading the article. Following the route on the map while reading the story gives a better feeling of being along for the ride. ALAN GREER SAN...

Adolescence.(Response)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... Thanks for the article on the SS125 Honda. This was the first new motorcycle I owned. I bought it in my junior year of high school and it was a wonderful ride. A 200-pound friend and I took a 350-mile round trip on it with sleeping bags tied...

2005 Harley-Davidsons: Harley's regular lineup has grown to 31 models for 2005 with the introduction of four new models. V-rods get more color choices, and a number of Softail, Touring, Dyna Glide and Sportster models are available with a new slick-looking chrome aluminum profile laced wheel option.(Kickstarts)
October 1, 2004... All 2005 models are equipped with new clear-lens, reflector-optics headlights that Harley says offer increased lighting intensity and an enhanced beam pattern (and there's a cloisonne H-D Bar & Shield smack in the center of the headlights just...

Screamin' Eagle: six-speed transmission.(Riding Around)
October 1, 2004... Have you Harley Big Twin owners ever noticed your left foot reaching for a higher gear when you're already in fifth (top) gear--or wished you had a taller ratio for highway cruising? Now you can add an overdrive sixth gear to many Dyna, Softail...

Taking it easy: the 2005 Suzuki Boulevard C90.(Ridden & Rated)
October 1, 2004... Earlier this year Suzuki announced plans to revamp its entire cruiser line, which includes the Intruder, Savage, Volusia and Marauder models. We've chewed our nails down to the quick in anticipation of what would take the place of these...

Backfiring Beemer.(Andy's Answers)
October 1, 2004... Q: I OWN A '91 BMW K75 WITH 42,000 MILES ON IT. MY BIKE BACKFIRES A LOT WHEN I'M SLOWING DOWN, BOTH EASING BACK ON THE THROTTLE OR DOWNSHIFTING. IT DOES IT WHEN IT'S COLD OR WARMED UP. I'VE BEEN USING SUPER UNLEADED FUEL AND THAT HASN'T HELPED....

Electrical draw.(Andy's Answers)
October 1, 2004... Q: I ride a '97 Honda Shadow Spirit 1100, which, by the way, is a great-looking, reliable-as-your-mom, woefully overlooked mount. I've added a Cobra lightbar, but no other electrical accessories. I'm mulling over heated grips and maybe a port...

Concours cams.(Andy's Answers)
October 1, 2004... Q: The age-old question of pitting camshafts has arisen on my '95 Kawasaki Concours with 35,000 miles on the clock. Maintenance schedules have been done to a T. The number-three cylinder intake cam lobe is pitted, with 35 percent of the surface...

Regular or super?(Andy's Answers)
October 1, 2004... Q: I recently read that the new Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 has a compression ratio of 9.7:1, and needs high-test fuel. Another article states that the Suzuki DL650 V-Strom's compression is 11.5:1, and the author said 87 octane was fine. Is...

Chips ahoy.(Andy's Answers)
October 1, 2004... Q: I have a 2002 BMW R1150R with ABS. This is my second fuel-injected BMW, and I appreciate that the system has both benefits and burdens. It seems like throttle response in the low- and mid-rpm range could be better. Right now, it feels as if...

Tech tips.(Andy's Answers)
October 1, 2004... I've never had any luck straightening bent, cast-alloy brake and clutch levers. I'd clamp them in a vice, slip a tube over them, yet no matter how gently I pried, the result was always the same... ka-snap! My buddy Mark Kingsley explained that...

Firstgear Speed suit: if you're an indecisive type who is having trouble choosing between leather riding apparel and textile, relax, you don't have to choose--you can have both.(GearLab)
October 1, 2004... Firstgear's Leather-Tex line combines the durability of leather with the flexibility and weather protection of ballistic nylon to create functional motorcycle wear at a somewhat lower cost. There are four Leather-Tex jackets in the...

Kendon stand-up bike lift: if you repair your own motorcycles, you already know what a hassle it is to bend down and clean or work on one when it's parked on the floor.(GearLab)
October 1, 2004... Full-size motorcycle work tables that lift the machine, like the ones at a dealership, require more floor space than it takes to park a bike. For most of us, if we had that much room in our garage, we would have another bike. So what's an owner...

Roadgear ready-to-go hi-tec digital tire gauge: every time we go for a long ride, it seems like we wind up fumbling with tire gauges that were designed for cars and either don't fit between the spokes on our motorcycles, or don't have the correct angle needed to clear brake rotors or alloy wheel centers.(GearLab)
October 1, 2004... Roadgear has recently added a new compact tire gauge (model TG102) that offers similar performance to the company's larger TG100, but comes in a more compact, travel version. It has a small 90-degree valve head that fits in tight spots, and...

Olympia Airglide jacket: if the ideal motorcycle day is a dry and sunny 72 degrees, and god told me that I had to choose between riding weather that was either warmer or cooler than that from now on, I'd take the latter.(GearLab)
October 1, 2004... While you can always add layers of insulation to stay warm, when it's hot you can only take so much off without peeling away the vital protective apparel that insulates us from injury. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Whether leather or textile,...

The scorpion EXO-700 breaks new ground for an under-$200 helmet.(New & Cool)
October 1, 2004... (1) THE SCORPION EXO-700 BREAKS NEW GROUND FOR AN UNDER$200 HELMET. With its fiberglass/Kevlar matrix shell, wind-tunnel tested aerodynamics and Snell/DOT certification, the design and construction of the EXO-700 rival much more expensive...

Wheeldock introduces a totally new concept in motorcycle chocks.(New & Cool)
October 1, 2004... (2) WHEELDOCK INTRODUCES A TOTALLY NEW CONCEPT IN MOTORCYCLE CHOCKS with the only easy roll-in motorcycle stand currently available on the market. It employs patent-pending technology to ensure your motorcycle is held safely in the upright...

With this set of KuryAkyn chrome valve covers for Honda Gold Wing GL1800s.(New & Cool)
October 1, 2004... (3) WITH THIS SET OF KURYAKYN CHROME VALVE COVERS FOR HONDA GOLD WING GL1800s, you can create a sleek, uniform look without compromising the integrity of the stock valve covers and risking leakage or less than perfect fitment. KuryAkyn's chrome...

Tour Master has introduced a ventilated version of its Cortech Coaster.(New & Cool)
October 1, 2004... (4) TOUR MASTER HAS INTRODUCED A VENTILATED VERSION OF ITS CORTECH COASTER leather jacket designed for maximum comfort. The new Coaster Air is made from perforated top-grain, aniline drum-dyed leather. Zippered chest and sleeve vents allow...

Gator Boxes GB-100 keyless remote saddlebags.(New & Cool)
October 1, 2004... (5) GATOR BOXES GB-100 KEYLESS REMOTE SADDLEBAGS are designed to replace your Harley's existing bags without any alterations. This unique luggage is designed to fit 1997-and-later Road King and FL Touring Bikes. The complete saddlebag package...

Staintune stainless-steel exhaust systems.(New & Cool)
October 1, 2004... (6) STAINTUNE STAINLESS-STEEL EXHAUST SYSTEMS are engineered to improve the overall efficiency, appearance and sound of a stock motorcycle. Staintune systems have removable sound restrictors and can be used on all types of bikes with excellent...

Powerlet products now offers powerbar.(New & Cool)
October 1, 2004... (7) POWERLET PRODUCTS NOW OFFERS POWERBAR, A CNC-machined aluminum bracket with Powerlet electrical socket to power your cell phone, GPS, radar detector, heated apparel or other items. Powerlet has a superior snap fit connection compared to...