January 2013

January 2013

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News, Clues & Rumors Volume XXX, Issue 1 Publication Date: December 17, 2012

On The Cover: Original Dirtbag Poll Brown sharing a smoke with model Katherine Kwid, captured on camera by Bob Stokstad’s long and voyeuristic lens.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

we’ve got enough room for Leo Vince USA President Tim Calhoun to write his own correction, which also has info local riders and racers will want to know.

Contents:

“LeoVince USA will be streamlining our operation to better serve our core customers. We will continue to offer most of our products, but some, like our X3 ATV line, will now become special order only. We will eliminate Titanium fullrace systems completely, with the only exception being a limited number we will build for race teams.

NCR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 New Stuff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Dirtbags! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Honda NC700X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Off-Road Survival Pt . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Maynard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Hertfelder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Tankslapper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Coupons for free erotic massage . . . . . . 25

CityBike Staff: PO Box 10659 Oakland, CA 94610 Phone: 415/282-2790 E-mail: info@citybike .com Find us online: www .citybike .com News ‘n Clues: Staff Editor-in-Chief: Gabe Ets-Hokin Senior Editor: Robert Stokstad Contributing Editors: John Joss, Will Guyan Courtney Olive Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk: Dr. Gregory Frazier Staff Photographers: — Robert Stokstad — Gary Rather Art Director: Alan Lapp Advertising Sales: Kenyon Wills

Contributors: Dan Baizer, Craig Bessenger, John Bishop, Blaise Descollonges, Joanne Donn, John D’India (RIP), Dirck Edge, Mike Felder, Dr. Gregory Frazier, Will Guyan, Joe Glydon (RIP), Brian Halton, David Hough, Maynard Hershon, Ed Hertfelder, Harry Hoffman, Otto Hofmann, Gary Jaehne (RIP) Jon Jensen, Bill Klein, David Lander, Alan Lapp, Lucien Lewis, Ed Milich, Larry Orlick, Jason Potts, Bob Pushwa, Gary Rather, Curt Relick, Charlie Rauseo, Mike Solis, Ivan Thelin, James Thurber, Adam Wade. CityBike is published on or about the third Monday of each month. Editorial deadline is the 1st of each month. Advertising information is available on request. Unsolicited articles and photographs are always welcome. Please include a full name, address and phone number with all submissions. We reserve the right to edit manuscripts or use them to wipe our large, fragrant bottoms.

“We will focus our off-road exhaust Motion Pro’s Chris Van Andel captured by Uncle Krumple enjoying a offerings on our guilty pleasure during Tracker Night this summer past. Stop pretending Ti-tech (stainless you can read... header / Titanium sleeved silencer) GREYDOG CORRECTION slip-on and full systems. These are very We wrote “GrayDog Guzzi” on last reasonably priced with our full system month’s cover when it should have been MSRP at only $599. We will grow our “GreyDog.” Honest mistake, but you adventure-bike offerings both in exhausts should check out Patrick Bell’s website fitments available and through expanding to check out lots of cool stuff anyway: our off-road and road carbon fiber greydogmoto.com. protective pieces. These will include skid plates, sprocket covers, disc guards and LEO VINCE CORRECTION newer pieces such as our BMW head Last month, in this space, we shared protectors. some news about Leo Vince exhaust... “Our street product will continue which would be great if to grow but we will begin to we had been eliminate many just a teensy older fitments bit more that represent factually minimum accurate. Luckily, sales. If these continue to

©2012, CityBike Magazine, Inc. Citybike Magazine is distributed at over 150 places throughout California each month. Taking more than a few copies at any one place without permission from CityBike Magazine, Inc, especially for purposes of recycling, is theft and will be prosecuted to the full extent of civil and criminal law. Yeah! CityBike magazine is owned by CityBike Magazine, Inc and has teams of sleep-deprived, coke-addicted attorneys ready to defend it from frivolous lawsuits, so even if you see Lucien Lewis doing one of his wheelies on the cover and decide you want to do that too and then you hit a parked car and your bike is wedged under a van and it catches fire and the Vallejo FD has to come and extinguish the resulting blaze and four cars and your bike are melted into slag and you suffer permanent trauma including a twisted pinkie, sleeplessness and night terrors, it’s not CityBike Magazine Inc.’s fault and we don’t have any assets so just suck on it. You know better.

990 Adventure Baja looks ready for anything.

January 2013 | 3 | CityBike.com

be produced they will be made available by special order. We will expand our LeoVince Carbon Fiber products such as engine, clutch and alternator covers to fit a multitude of new motorcycles and will also introduce a new heavy duty Corsa carbon piece for the race track. “We will open up LeoVince Performance Center Jan 2, 2013. It will specialize in track and race-prepared motorcycles. We will not be working on street-going machines that are ridden on California highways. We will offer such services as engine and performance mods, (Fuel / Ignition / Traction control unit tuning and installations, exhaust installations) full suspension tuning (shock adjustments, cartridge inserts, suspension adjustments and set ups) and installation of race pieces such as windshields, body work, wheels, rear sets, clip-on handlebars etc.” CityBike regrets the error or any confusion caused when we implied Leo Vince’s new performance center would perform work for street motorcycles.

POLARIS BUYS KLIM You may know Klim (we just learned it’s pronounced ‘climb’—who knew?) as a producer of some of the nicest dirt and adventure-riding apparel you can’t afford. It’s a small brand of obsessively detailed technical gear, doing about $30 million in business annually, but it’s attracted the attention of snowmobile, quad and cruiserbuilding giant Polaris industries. The big fish swallowed the little fish for an undisclosed sum, and will maintain it as a separate brand and keep its Rigby, Idaho headquarters and product-development center.

KTM 2013 If you got all excited by the news of KTM’s new RC8-powered 1190 Adventure or India-built 390 Duke (“News, Clues,” December 2012), it’s time to take another Darvon and relax— neither of those models seems destined for the USA this year. Instead, the 690 Duke makes a comeback, pepped up with a new

kilowatt motor and its top speed is 95. It must be frickin’ awesome streamlining.

cylinder head, ride-by-wire throttle and slipper clutch for its return. Also being rolled into orange containers for the trip here: a North America-only limited edition 990 Adventure Baja. It’s based on the standard bike but gets special graphics, accessories and standard waterproof luggage. Pricing is top secret, apparently, but if you call your KTM dealer and ask nicely, maybe he or she will tell you.

The reason the story is so hot is how great this looks to non-motorcyclists. A huge number of Americans would like to ride a motorcycle, but probably never will because of the perceived danger, the need to learn how to balance, and yadda yadda. A self-balancing moto with what looks like a protective shell (so long as the vehicle has two wheels the Federal DOT will consider it a motorcycle and exempt it from real crash-safety standards) is seductive. But is this a viable thing? Or just some guys burning start-up money so they can design cool shit in a SOMA garage?

690 Duke gets a 70-hp motor for 2013.

The Lit Motors FAQ page says the battery will be just We’ve been getting lots of news stories 8 kilowatt-hours, and videos about Lit Motors forwarded much smaller than to us, so we would like to respectfully say: the 11.4 kwh Zero please stop doing that. Yes, an electricpowered, fully enclosed electric motorcycle S—and that bike will only go 140-ish that balances itself with gyros and can go miles at very slow 100-plus mph, do 200 miles on a charge and sport a $12,500 pricetag sounds really speeds, and it weighs half the theoretical cool. However, although the story has 800-pound Lit. spread far and wide to seemingly every Lit also says it uses large media outlet on the globe, nobody is 20 kilowatt hub asking how that kind of range and speed motors—the Zero will be possible for such a cheap price. uses a single 40

GET LIT

CityBike does commission some journalism, and Señor Editor John Joss took some time to find out what’s going on in the Lit Motors skunkworks—only to get skunked out. Requests for interviews were turned down. A test-drive story we read, written by Wired writer Damon Lavrinc, told of a barely functioning prototype that malfunctioned and couldn’t turn or even stay upright very well. We don’t want to use a pejorative term for what we think all this is, so let’s just say we’ll be surprised when we can walk into a Lit dealer and test ride one. What this looks like is an attempt to publicize some impressive engineering innovations, pumping up the value of a start-up so it can be sold for millions (hey, why not billions?) to a larger, established company with deep pockets— the 21st-century American Dream.

SHOW AND TELL The International Motorcycle Show in San Mateo has come and gone— maybe you missed it this year because the weather that weekend sucked. But either way, it was, in the words of Ed Sullivan, “a really great shew.” Many of the show’s visitors are of the generation who still remember Ed and, fortunately, they’re still riding and buying bikes. It’s a treat to watch an ample couple sitting double on a big cruiser that makes them look small, or a middle-aged dude crouched forward on a sport bike, explaining traction control to his wife. Wide-eyed little girls riding on their daddies’ shoulders enjoy the spectacle, too. Seriously, if you’re looking to buy a bike of any kind, this is the place to be. Fourteen major brands, from BMW to Zero were there to display their product line. Not needing a new one just yet? Well, you could buy something to bolt on the old beater, or acquire some gear that you didn’t know existed (or that you needed) until today. To be honest, though, I walked around the two large halls for hours, enjoying myself and, at the end of the day, the only buck I’d spent was the one that went into the donation can at the Christian Motorcyclists’ free gear check.

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The collection of custom bikes was extensive and dazzling, the girls at the motorcycle attorneys’ booth inviting, and

the stunt show one of the best I’ve seen in a while. These guys were not only riding bikes covered with road rash, they were demonstrating in real time how the scars got there. (There’s a reason why there’s a double fence separating spectators, all of whom were filming the scene on their smart phones, from the motorcycles in the stunt riding competition.) Besides the beer, ‘wurst, barbecue and other good-smelling stuff, there was brain food, too—seminars on everything from adventure riding to the science of suspension. Next year this time when the show comes around again, take it in—even if it’s raining. You’ll be glad you did. — Bob Stokstad, words and photos. For more great photos of IMS action, go to jstokstad.com/ IMS_2012.

GAO WTF? Seriously, Government Accountability Office—what? The hallowed, oxymoronically named institution published the snappily titled “Motorcycle Safety: Increasing Federal Funding Flexibility and Identifying Research Priorities Would Help Support States’ Safety Efforts” last month. What with the Fiscal Cliff looming and all that, you’d think the folks there would have better things to do, eh?

Digging into the report, there are some interesting nuggets. The GAO recommends a graduated licensing system, for one, even though it can’t really say why (there aren’t any studies that show it’s an effective way to decrease fatalities). Oh, and motorcycling is about 30 times more dangerous than driving. There’s also a finding (culled from a literature review) that rider training programs may change crash rates but do little to decrease fatality rates. After 51 pages, the recommendation is to allow states to use the $4.6 million a year in grants (enough to employ 1.1 person per state, we guess) in a more flexible manner. Is that code for “we don’t think rider training and public service announcements are doing much to reduce fatalities?”

MUNROE AT BONNEVILLE Remember the story we did on the Ducati Panigale (“Not a 916, But Who F-ing Cares?” July 2012)? Did you notice there are only photos of the right side? That’s because some dizzy 20-something suburbanite woman knocked it over with her daddy’s VW the night Contributor Ed Milich picked it up at Munroe Motors, doing something like $8000 worth of

damage to the $23,000 motorcycles. Luckily, it didn’t affect things too much, so we continued with the test. Munroe Motors took it in stride, and after the bike was repaired, did some mild prep work and took it to break some world land-speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in August. The prolific record-breaker, San Franciscan Andy Sills, volunteered for riding duties, and Munroe tech Todd Chamberlain did some light prep work (but the bike basically remained stock). Judging from the Facebook page about the effort, (facebook.com/PP2Hproject) it was a challenging attempt. Rain meant the salty surface wasn’t optimal and the bike developed mechanical problems. Still, after repeated runs and a four-hour round trip to Salt Lake City for repairs, the Panigale S became not just the fastest dealership demo bike probably ever, it also broke the record for “Group A1, Division B, Naturally Aspirated, Twin Cylinder up to 1350cc” motorcycles at 192.68 mph (although the team claims it clocked 196 on some runs), shattering the 179-mph previous record. Seeing as CityBike’s road-test department clocked most of the break-in miles on the record-beating bike, we should be listed on the trophy. Munroe, please let us know if you need a referral for a good engraver. A side note: Ducati North America claims it has sold 7500 Panigales this year, a large

In its defense, the Office says it looked at the issue of motorcycle safety to figure out the impact of motorcycle crashes on the economy ($16 billion a year, if you’re curious), why we’re crashing and dying, (drunks, untrained and scofflaw riders, inattentive motorists and lack of helmet laws) and what the money spent by the Federal Government on moto-safety—about $46 million in the last six years—has bought us (not a lot!). January 2013 | 5 | CityBike.com

number that probably rivals any other openclass sportbike (OEMs are usually very tightlipped about sales numbers, especially any single model), remarkable when you consider the model has only been on showroom floors since June.

VECTRIX GETS SMART Actually, it’s the other way around. Smart—Daimler’s minicar brand—is “cooperating” with electric scooter manufacturer Vectrix. The smaller company with a troubled past is going to help Smart develop its electric scooter

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lot of resources to send somebody to prison. Initially, the CoCo county DA didn’t want to pursue the case at all, but because of pressure from online Bay Area Rider’s Forum (BARF) members and the CHP’s recommendation, a reckless driving charge was sought. After 10 months and much back-and-forth between the various parties, the defendant pled guilty to PC 415 (a), Disturbing the Peace. It carries a maximum fine of nine months in the clink and a $400 fine, but in this case, according to a pissedoff and disappointed Carabiner, Angry White Man will have to take an eight-week anger management class, pay $200, make restitution to the victim (no details on this, though) and two years of probation. It’s not the years in prison we’re sure Carabiner wanted, but not bad considering our carcentric culture. Job well done, sir!

I am Mike Padway, and I ride motorcycles. I prefer to represent motorcycle riders who have been injured because I like working with motorcyclists. We are slightly different than the rest of the population, in a way that makes us just a little more engaged, realistic, and a lot more enjoyable to be around. I am proud of the fact that I protect the interests of motorcyclists because it can seem at times like the deck is stacked against us. Insurance companies often attempt to use “car logic” to settle a motorcycle case, and as you and I both know that is not fair. Furthermore, it is explicit that your desire to have your losses compensated is in direct conf lict with an important goal of the insurance industry: to pay out as little as possible to you, and maximize their profit! That is where I come in. I have decades of experience navigating the legal and insurance hurdles, have lectured nationally for the American Bar Association, and have represented riders across the country. Of course, nobody can guarantee any outcome of any case, but it is always better to have representation that is experienced in your type of case. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, please do not hesitate to call for a phone consultation or to set up a meeting in person. Oh, and unlike other lawyers you can talk to me and I will return your phone call. If you have been injured on a motorcycle and need a lawyer, call:

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(the eScooter, on display at the 2010 Paris Motor Show ), expected to go into production by 2014. We asked Vectrix Marketing Manager Jeff Simpson what his company was getting from this, and he told us Vectrix would get “increased credibility in and outside the industry (both EV and Powersports/Automotive) about who Vectrix is, and it demonstrates the strength ANTHONY ALONSO: GROWING and value of Vectrix core technologies to the OEM market.” He also wanted to make UP FAST clear that “Daimler/Smart did not purchase He’s barely 14 but he’s been riding since Vectrix nor retain any ownership stakes.” age five and racing for four years. Fremont’s Anthony Alonso is getting it done on the COCO JUSTICE track, in this era of few U.S. riders in world classes, much like King Kenny, Colin and Readers may remember the saga of Michael Carabiner, victim of a road-rager’s Ben. Like Casey, he has his parents’ full support. assault on Highway 24, just east of the Caldecott tunnel in late 2011. Carabiner Fremont Honda Kawasaki’s Bill Keys had the presence of mind to chase the believed in Anthony from the start: “I hybrid-driving miscreant long enough to put him on his first motorcycle. Now I’m get a plate and description of the driver, watching him grow up—fast!” resulting in the arrest of the middle-aged Contra Costa county man driving a white How good is Alonso? He stared to race a Honda Civic hybrid. Witnesses said the Honda 50 at age seven. When the AFM man repeatedly and deliberately swerved denied him at age 11 he went south and into Carabiner with the intent of knocking the bike off the road—attempted murder is what every motorcyclist would call it. Carabiner had two witnesses, an arresting CHP officer and his own recollection— slam dunk case, right? Well, our criminal justice system doesn’t really work like that. A county DA behaves more like a small businessperson than an aggressive arbiter of justice. They’re all about dollars per conviction, and since attempted murder or assault with a deadly weapon require so many elements proved—beyond any reasonable doubt—you need a


raced WERA/West at Willow on his RS125, garnering podiums and impressing everyone. In 2012 he won both the Moto3 and Formula 2 class championships there. Allowed in, finally, by the AFM, he won two classes up north in 2012. Our own local BARF Racing sponsored him at the last two British Superbike rounds, at Silverstone and Brands Hatch— both difficult circuits to learn—and he got on the podium in the 125 class. He’s now on the 2013 Red Bull team, in Spain, riding a Moto3 four-stroke for the first time. He wore #46 for years in honor of his hero Vale, but at world levels he now carries #64. Anthony was guest of honor at the December American Sport Bike Night, celebrating its 14th anniversary. Bill Keyes was there to see his protégée. ASBN is quite a group. It has never missed a Monday night in all its 14 years. Also there: Jim Doyle, who knows a racer when he sees one (he discovered King Kenny Roberts, among other memorable exploits). Check out Anthony Alonso at alonso.tv and see him run, in excellent videos. Who else believes? His sponsors include big guns Pirelli, Suomy, GoPro and Motul.

NEW STUFF

Happy Holidays

Last Century’s Tire Change Prices

Museo Ducati by Chris Jonnum, photography by Peter Harholdt

and a Great New Year!

David Bull Publishing, 4250 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix AZ 85108.

- Jennifer, Kirk, Ray, Zak and family

Hard bound, 9” X 11”, 144pp, 106 color photos, no index. $39.95 Want to visit Museo Ducati? Terrific idea. Round-trip plane fare to Italy from the U.S.: $1000-plus, depending on where you start and how much luxury you crave. Bologna, five nights: another $1000. Meals and wine, Italy’s response to the most demanding palate: think $1000, if you do it right.

RaCiNG & RePaiR siNCe 1994

Werkstatt is Closed for the Holidays December 22 - January 7 Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 am - 6 pm 415-552-8115 | werkstattsf.com 3248 17th Street San Francisco, CA 94110

Including expenses, you’ll likely to be north of five big ones, per head. The alternative: Museo Ducati, just $39.95, a magnificent publication from David Bull Publishing, an organization that is creating books every genuine enthusiast needs. As usual, the production values are dazzlingly fine. This is Bull’s third major Ducati book. As before, he has created a memorable contribution to the literature. Ducati Corse MotoGP press officer Chris Jonnum built the words and internationally respected photographer Peter Harholdt provided the pictures. Twenty-five race bikes are featured, from the 1946 Cucciolo (“puppy”) motorized bicycle to the Nicky Hayden GP10 MotoGP machine, including many iconic winners—Hailwood’s 250 Twin Desmo and IoM TT 900SS, Smart (Imola 750 Desmo), Luchinelli (BOT 750 F1), Roche (851 SBK), Polen (888 SBK), Fogarty January 2013 | 7 | CityBike.com

(916 SBK), Capirossi (Desmosedici GP3 and GP6), Hodgson (999 SBK), Bayliss (Imola 996 and SBK F08) and Stoner (GP7).

intercom functionality. Sena tells us that “a rider can call hands free on a mobile phone, listen to stereo music or voice instructions of GPS navigations by Bluetooth wirelessly, and have two-way intercom conversations in full duplex with a passenger or another motorcycle rider.” Intercom range is 750 yards and it’s priced at $159 for the solo, $299 for kits. Call your favorite brick-andmortar dealer or go to senabluetooth.com for more info.

The format: show the whole machine in side view, provide a paragraph of descriptive data (in English and Italian, as is the whole book), and add detailed shots, well captioned, showing some of the most compelling engineering details. Specifications boxes, hard to read because they feature reversed type or black-on-grey, provide basic technical data.

ANY GLOVE

Anyone who knows and loves Ducati— what’s not to love?—will find Harholdt’s luminous photos compelling, showing levels of motorcycle technology, unfolding over six decades, that delight the eye. There isn’t a dull page, though gearheads might want more fairing-off stuff. This is not a technology book, as were Bull’s earlier volumes, and Jonnum’s prose is spare, leaving the reader thirsting for more. We get the basic facts, but layout and space considerations prevented longer discussion of the machines and their histories.

From 3:14 Daily Valencia @ 25th

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The museum holds only race bikes. So, no Monsters (reportedly accounting for half of Ducati’s revenues) or Motards, and—sadly—no MH900E. Indeed, one of Ducati’s most remarkable machines, on display, is not even mentioned: the 100cc streamliner that took 44 world records at Monza, including 171.9 kph speed and 1000 kilometers in less than six hours. David Bull explained that extracting this marvelous machine for photography was not possible. A few minor historical errors could have been avoided. Fiat made a 600cc ‘Topolino’ (Little Mouse) car back in 1936, long before WWII, far predating the 1957 Fiat 500. And Peugeot used desmodromic valves in 1912 (based on the Indy-winning L76 motor), decades before the 1955 Mercedes-Benz W196 Formula 1 car that supposedly inspired Ducati to ‘go Desmo.’ And if you wonder what the building looks like, you’ll have to go there, since no photo is included. (it looks like a red-and-white Ikea but you should go anyway—ed.) —John Joss

SHOCKING NEWS

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High-end cars have had reactive and electronically adjustable suspension for years, and now manufacturers like Ducati

Be SmArT!

Gotta love that interior pull-down, popback-up sun visor. It works so smoothly, with a small section cut out for my schnoz, that I find myself playing with it while riding. Lowering the visor with one of the sliders compresses a spring, which flings the visor back into its recess when a return button is pushed—great when you’re entering a tunnel.

and BMW are equipping their top-of-theline models with it as well. So when will the aftermarket get in on the act? How about now? Öhlins is offering a “Mechatronic” version of the TTX36 Mk II road-race shock for the 2011-2013 Kawasaki ZX-10R.

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ZX-10R’s ECU, where it uses data inputs such as rpm, throttle position and wheel speed to continuously adjust damping settings to suit the rider’s style. It even adjusts the settings according to the rider’s choice of engine mapping (adjustable on the ZX-10R). Pricing is $1625.

The shock is actually a complete system. Brave new world, eh? Call your favorite The TTX36 (upgraded for 2012 with twin dealer to find out more or go to ohlinsusa. steel tubes and a redesigned piston band com on your computer thingee. for improved bump absorption) uses electronically controlled actuators wired to NOLAN’S N104 MODULAR an Öhlins ECU that in turn plugs into the

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Your suffering may be over—a product called “Any Glove” (available on Amazon for $15 per 7.5 ml bottle) makes fabric or leather conductive and useable with a touch screen. It’s a liquid polymer of some sort that you drip onto the glove fingertips and allow to dry (a couple of hours, or a few

Werkstatt is Closed for the Holidays December 22 - January 7 Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 am - 6 pm 415-552-8115 | werkstattsf.com 3248 17th Street San Francisco, CA 94110


HELMET

It was high time for a new lid. During the last seven years the old one had accumulated its share of scars from two kinds of drop—the more frequent slip of the hand and the rare but more consequential crash. Out of the box, my new Nolan N104 modular helmet looked virginal. Because it has the “micro-lock” feature on the chin strap, as does my old N102, it felt immediately familiar. But then the big differences showed. The lens opening is much larger and offers a more panoramic view of the road and sky ahead. And the pressure of the cheek pads gives a sense of security, like having one’s face packaged for a UPS shipment. Within a day I was fully enjoying the new feel.

The vents at the chin guard and on top of the helmet really work; you can feel the internal breeze when they’re opened. The ergonomics for the sliders that control the vents or position the sun visor and the raising of the chin guard are superb. They are easy to feel and manipulate, even with winter gloves. It’s also quieter inside than my other helmets. If I decide to add Nolan’s communication system, N-Com, this helmet is designed especially for it.

preferred plain-Jane silver model is $450— 50 bucks more will get you graphics. Buy one through a local dealer and you may come away with a slightly better price. I’m very happy with my Nolan N104 and, wouldn’t you know, its virginity is already gone – dinged the top on my overhead garage door yesterday. It’s the first of many to come in what will be a long and satisfying relationship.

Speaking of Bluetooth and cellphone moto-use: yes, we know it’s distracting and you shouldn’t try to use your cell phone while riding, but have you experienced this situation: you pull over and work your smartphone out of your pocket to check directions or send a text message—and now you have to pull your gloves off to work the screen, and then you drop a glove, and then you try to reach down and pick it up and your phone starts to slide off the tank and your hand shoots out to grab it and you lose your balance and the bike falls over and you wrench your knee and wind up spending $63 on a clutch lever and your turn signal lens breaks but screw it.

minutes under a hairdryer). Any Glove says it will provide weeks or months of functionality before you’ll need to reapply and it works on (wait for it!) any glove, be it wool, leather, Nylon or whatever. Good for using GPS and other devices, too, we’d bet.

— Bob Stokstad

SENA SMH-5 FM After reviewing many different models of wired and wireless helmet-audio systems, the one Editor Ets-Hokin prefers is the Sena SMH5. It’s small, light, easy to use and delivers terrific sound clarity for phone calls and bike-to-bike communications alike. One flaw is the lack of an FM radio, which the Sena and other headsets do have.

This high-end, made-in-Italy helmet has more nice features, which you can read Flawed no more: Sena’s new SMH5-FM about at nolan-usa.com. The MSRP for my offers a built-in FM stereo tuner as well as

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First Monday of each month (January 7, February 4):

Doc Wong Clinics!

Events at Motoshop

2:30 – 10:00 pm: Northern California Ducati Bike Nights at Benissimo (one of Marin’s finest Italian Restaurants), 18 Tamalpias Dr, Corte Madera. NorCalDoc.com

CityBike says if you haven’t done a Doc Wong clinic, go do one ASAP. It’s fun, free and will make you a better/safer/ happier rider. Register by emailing [email protected] or call Full Motion Chiropractic at 650/365-7775.

Moto Shop : 325 South Maple Ave #20, South San Francisco. 650/239-6686, Thursday, January 10, 5:00 pm: Brakes bayareamotoshop.com Clinic

More info: docwong.com

Saturday, December 22, 10:00 am: Tire Sunday, January 13, 10:00 am: Basic Change Clinic Moto Maintenance

6:00 pm: American Sport Bike Night at Dick’s Restaurant and Cocktails, 3188 Alvarado Street, San Leandro. Bring your Buell and hang out with like-minded riders. All brands welcome! Our meeting of Buell and Motorcycle enthusiasts has been happening the first Monday of the month for the last 12 years, without ever missing a meeting. We have had many local and national celebrities from the motorcycle

Thursday, December 20, 5:00 pm: Brakes Clinic

Sunday, January 6, 10:00 am: Ducati Valve Adjustin’

DirtBag Challenge 2013

Saturday, January 12, 9:00 am: Valve Clinic

world grace our meetings. It has been fun and exciting. americansportbikenight.net

Sunday, December 23, 10:00 am: Basic Moto Maintenance

and Sprockets

First Wednesday of each month (January 2, February 6)

Thursday, January 3, 5:00 pm: Intro to Welding

Thursday, January 17, 5:00 pm: Oil and Coolant

6:00 pm: Bay Area Moto Guzzi Group monthly dinner at Vahl’s in Alviso (1512

Saturday, January 5, 10:00 am: Tire Change Clinic

Saturday, January 19, 10:00 am: Tire Change Clinic

4:00 pm: Chains

Smoke ‘em if you’ve got ‘em...

Clinics and classes start at $40. El Dorado Street, Alviso, 410/2620731). Members, interested Guzzi riders, and all other motorcycle riders always welcome. More information, contact Pierre at: 408/710-4886 or [email protected].

and interested Guzzi riders meet for breakfast and a good time. The Putah Creek Cafe is located at Railroad Avenue. More information contact: Northern California MGNOC Rep, Don Van Zandt at 707-5575199.

Second Tuesday of Each Month (January 8, February 12)

Evenings: Moto-Sketch at Tosca Cafe: come and sketch a live model draped over a custom bike. $7 to sketch, free to just watch. Tosca Cafe, 242 Columbus Ave. in S.F.

6:30 pm to 10:00 pm: East Bay Ducati Bike Night at Pizza Antica (3600 Mount Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, 925/299-0500) Bike parking on the street right in front of the restaurant, indoor and heated outdoor seating, excellent wine list. All moto brands welcome. Bring your appetite and a smile, be prepared to make new friends. Third Wednesday of Each Month (January 16, February 20) 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm: Emeryville Ducati Bike Night at Hot Italian (5959 Shellmound Street #75, Emeryville, 510/652-9300) A fun, social atmosphere for Ducati owners, folks that want to become Ducati owners, and folks that don’t yet know that they want to become Ducati owners, to sit, eat, talk, walk around and look at other Ducatis. All brands and models of motorcycles are welcome, so please don’t be put off by the event name. Third Sunday of each month (January 19, February 17): 9:00 am: California (Northern) Moto Guzzi National Owners Club (MGNOC) breakfast at Putah Creek Cafe in picturesque Winters, California (Highways 505/128) MGNOC members

Thursday, January 10 Bonham’s Third-Annual Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction (Bally’s Las Vegas, 3645 South Las Vegas Boulevard Las Vegas, 877/603-4390) Bonham’s returns to the Las Vegas strip with an impressive list of exceptional motorcycles already consigned. The auction moves to a new, more spacious venue inside Bally’s, conveniently located right in the heart of the action. Consignments are now invited for this highly anticipated premier motorcycle auction. Contact a motorcycle specialist today for more info: 323/4365470 or 415/391-4000, motorcycle.us@ bonhams.com. bonhams.com/vegas Sunday, January 13 7:00 am-1:00 pm: Sacramento Cycle Swap Meet (Sacramento 6 Drive-In, Highway 50 at Bradshaw Road, 9616 Oats Dr. Sacramento) SELLING SPACES AVAILABLE! “All Brands” event with over 100 vendors and over 500 bikes for show and sale. Riders and collectors from all ends of the bike hobby, including Harley, cruisers, choppers, vintage, British, race, OffRoad, Japanese, Euro, and bicycles get together to buy, sell, trade, show off, and talk about new, used, and vintage parts and accessories. From professional shops and manufacturers liquidating excess inventory to the hobbyist selling off leftovers from his latest project, you can find smokin’ deals on hardto-find parts and accessories.Ride out and park your Bike in the Bike Corral or get a vendor space and unload those old parts from your garage. Visit SacramentoCycleSwapMeet.com or call 800/ 762-9785 for more info. Send your FREE event listings for your organization, club or business (please no sale events) to PO Box 10659 Oakland, CA 94610 or email [email protected].


By Gabe Ets-Hokin Photos by Bob Stokstad

Brown), so the next year the event moved to San Francisco.

ou and your buddies, hanging out in your shop, have probably come up with some pretty good ideas. Have you had any that turned into a 10-year tradition, an iconic event that’s imprinted on your local motorcycling scene?

It was now a thing, and as most things do, it took on a life of its own. The next year there were six entries, and more each following year. Rules evolved—Brown’s original partners quit the event, and as he believes motorcycles are meant for riding, not posing, he added the requirement that the bikes get ridden on a 100-mile loop before the judging. Entrants complained about the $500 rule, so that was bumped up to an extravagant $1000. Two weeks turned into 30 days, and the final rule—no Harleys— was added when “a guy came in saying he would ‘put the riders to shame’ by building a V-Twin with donated parts.” Since Brown says Harleys, with their distinctive shapes and glittering chrome, gobble up the attention at shows, decided to “level the playing field” by excluding the brand even though he likes them.

Y

Poll Brown has. Ten years ago, the impish Englishman and three of his buddies were “standing around, bullshitting” about the thencurrent crop of biker buildoff shows on cable TV, shows where the average chromeencrusted V-Twin build started around $50,000. They challenged each other to a bike-building duel, and at first, there were only two rules: you can’t spend more than $500 and you get just two weeks to finish it. The deadline came around, and about 30 of their friends showed up to celebrate the results. The resulting party was somehow too raucous for Oakland (“the OPD was not user friendly,” says


Brown has used social media to massively grow the event. “I like Facebook because it takes very minimal management. Attendance has increased at least tenfold.” The 2012 iteration, held in a grubby space between some warehouses in the Hunter’s Point neighborhood of San Francisco, attracted hundreds and hundreds of motorcyclists, artists and curious hipsters from the nearby Mission District. As the 16 motorcycles that finished (of 28 entries) the 100-mile ride rolled in, hyper-amplified bands played death metal, beer-slingers poured cheap brew and spectators gawked at the scantily-clad “alternative model” in attendance. In fact, there were too many people there to get good photos of the bikes—I arranged a photo session several weeks later so I could have some quiet and order while photographer Bob shot and I could interview participants. But that backfired—put Dirtbags into a space with their bikes, and as soon as they get bored they start doing burnouts and stunts with their machines, making interviewing difficult but the photography more fun. The bikes have taken on a certain distinctive look over the years. Generally, they tend to be ‘70s and ‘80s Japanese UJMs, with modified hardtail frames and creative use of cast-off parts like gas tanks, seats and wheels. The $1000 doesn’t include old abandoned projects or parts the participants (or their friends) may already have had in their garages and sheds, nor does the 30-day rule apply to stuff that you may have already started but had failed to finish. The event is well attended and sells a lot of beer, burgers and t-shirts, but still barely breaks even, according to Brown. But he wouldn’t quit doing it for any price. “Every year I question doing it,” but he continues because it makes his friends— and himself—so happy. “Some of my best friends I met through the DBC and the response I get from the community is enormous. People I don’t know stop me on the street and tell me what a great time they had—they say it’s like Christmas for grown-ups. It makes me feel good.”

Julian Farnam and his RD400 Livermore, California’s Julian Farnam is a product designer by trade, and has

method most Dirtbaggers utilize. “I spent two hours a day commuting on BART, so I did 50 pages of sketches, which turned into CAD models, and then individual part drawings and then finished pieces, so when the go-date hit, there was no guesswork involved; all I had to do was go into my shop and start.” He wants to keep this bike— it’s not the balls-to-thewalls kind of sportbike he’s been building for years, and “it has its quirks—but it is fun to ride!”

Guido Brenner and his Guzzi-Ford Trike

always been obsessed with building championship-winning frames and alternative front ends—plus he loves two-strokes, especially RD and RZ Yamahas. This low-riding RD400 is his second Dirtbag entry, and it’s amazing he accomplished it under $1000, especially when you see the “Öhlins” label on the four shock absorbers. Actually, they are just Öhlins springs with cheaper Mulholland dampers. He saved money in other spots by reselling the unneeded components of the $175 RD200 donor bike that’s the basis of the project. One-and-3/4-inch steel tubing fit perfectly in the GSX-R600 triple clamps, and Farnam developed the leading-link springer front end himself—”I added my own design twists.” A friend had a ‘79 RD400 Daytona Special tank, another friend donated R5 wheels, hubs and brakes, the motor’s bottom end and crank turned up on a two-stroke forum. Exhaust comes from an RZ350 and the seat is off a GSX-R600. Julian’s process was definitely more involved than the Sawzall-and-blowtorch

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back wheel, and the gas tank appears to be a pony keg. The seat looks more like a photograph of a seat, and the seating position is more akin to the Big Wheel I owned when I was six. A beautiful piece of artwork, but the first motorcycle I’ve ever encountered that I have absolutely no desire to ride.

Jason Pate’s 1979 Suzuki GS1000 Bobber

Jason Pate, who does underground construction and welding for a living, has Guido Brenner is the prototypical his shop in industrial, blue-collar Fremont, San Francisco Renaissance California, so his 2008 entry, a ‘79 GS1000, Man—nightclub bouncer by night, reflects the tough-but-stylish East Bay quasi-industrial tinkerer and builder of zeitgeist. The original build originally ran cars and motorcycles by day. He’s also a him just $850, with money saved by using a photographer and in four bands, so it’s not ‘79 GS750 front end, chopping and welding surprising 2012 was the first year he was the hardtail conversion himself and able to find the time to participate in the making his own rear brake pedal. Points DBC. “I’m the one usually doing a sideshow are replaced with the mechanism from a Chevy V8—Pate was proud of the built-in timing light. The bike was finished off with the tank from a ‘75 Triumph and the hubs and wheels donated by Crazy Chris at Wheelworks, the Bay Area’s go-to shop for wheel lacing. The bike’s tidy, compact and clean look was a crowd-pleaser, garnering the “Clever Fucka’” and “Coolest Chopper” trophies.

with a sidecar (Brenner is known for doing burnouts and flying the chair of his old sidecar rig during the DBC after-party), but this time I decided to get off my ass and build one.”

Pate insisted I ride the bike a bit to get a feel for it. I was game—I don’t think I’ve ever ridden a hardtail. I thought the horrible ghetto pavement around Hunter’s Point would destroy what’s left of my lower spine, but it was actually not that bad, the big back tire and mountain-bike shock mounted under the saddle absorbing a lot of bumps. What was great about the bike was that smooth-running and torquey GS1000 Four, which ran perfectly and sounded great. Since the 2008 event, Pate keeps the bike as a regular ride, repainting and polishing it to its present glory. Stuff occasionally rattles loose on the freeway, but he still likes it a lot: “it’s capable and fun...I like the 60s chopper thing, the classic bare-bones.” For $850, I’d call it a keeper.

Brenner was raised into a family of hotrodders, so it’s also not surprising he selected the ancient front end of a 1930 Ford Model A to mate to the frame, rear Two from The Turk: The wheel and motor of the small-block Guzzi he rode around in the ‘80s. “I bought it back Bulldozer and Slung-Low Yamaha XT550 from a friend for $500.” Being a hot-rod guy, he wanted to sit behind a steering “What’s your name?” I asked the builder of wheel, in front of the engine. “It’s the poor the two most unusual bikes in the group. boy version of a Morgan.” “Turk,” came the reply from behind his big sunglasses. It’s also a work-in-progress. The 80-yearold mechanical brakes, not surprisingly, “No, what’s on your birth certificate?” are marginal, making the pre-judging “I don’t remember,” was the vaguely ride “hairy.” Brown and other riders were worried riding behind Brenner, but a team coquettish response. of Christian Motorcycle Riders volunteers “How about your driver’s license?” escorted him, keeping other motorists off his tail. Still, he had a great time—he loves “’The Turk.’” I stopped asking questions about his name (although I wonder if he’s the comfy car seat and next year he wants actually Turkish, or if he just acts Turkish). to build a half VW Beetle/half chopper monstrosity. I won’t want to ride that either.


The Turk is another product of San Francisco’s industrial-artistic lifestyle, the subculture that produced the Survival Research Labs’ self-immolating robots and Burning Man. His day job is with the San Francisco Opera and Ballet, building props and sets—he recently built a radiocontrolled chaise lounge for the annual production of The Nutcracker.

designed the girder front end. The frontend geometry is copied from his neighbor’s land-speed record racebike. The chromed tractor seat is off an Excercycle from the ‘30s and the bike rolls on a pair of fat Suzuki Bandit rear wheels. The Yamaha Radian motor isn’t that interesting, but it makes enough power for freeway speeds and smoking the fat rear tire at the end of the day. Big, hulking and incredibly built in

The unnamed large, silver thing is what happened when Turk “wanted fat and heavy, with big wheels” for his 2011 DBC entry. The huge, curved main frame was one of the easiest parts to source—an industrial specialty shop rolled the tubing and bent it to order for $160. Turk then welded on the rigid swingarm and

just 30 days, the Bulldozer won the People’s Choice award that year.

to,” Turk told me, so he started out with $60 worth of pipe and used hand tools and a hand-held grinder— ”nothing fancy”—to make the elegant frame and swingarm that follow the curves and angles of the old thumper’s mechanical parts. Some anonymous ‘80s Kawasaki cruiser donated the front end and

In 2009, Turk went lower and slower. “Slung Low” was the result of having a good Yamaha XT550 dual-sport motor in a badly twisted frame cluttering his shop. “I wanted to make a frame any shape I wanted


Bikes and builders not mentioned because of space restrictions but thanked profusely nonetheless: Felicia Chen and her “Size Matters” Kawasaki Ninja 250R Hardtail, Alex Verbitsky with his 1968 Honda CB450 Bobber, Jesse Silva’s 1976 Honda CB750, Dr. Brian VanHorne’s Suzuki GS750, Chris Suttles’ Suzuki GS650, Jesse Silva’s 1976 Honda CB750 and Brian Larimer’s 1981 Suzuki GS850. We’d also like to thank models Ashley Russel (with Mohawk) and Katherine Kwid for adding so much fun to the shoot.

2012 Honda NC700X Photos by Bob Stokstad

John Joss, Señor Editor. Years Riding: Myriad Favorite Complaint: Fuel Range

E

A motorcycle for the ages? (NC = New Concept) line may offer a solution: doing enough, affordably. It represents an engineering/marketing/ accounting compromise built for thrift in economically unstable times.

xperienced riders are asked repeatedly: “What motorcycle should I buy?” The rational responses: “What kind of riding do you do? Honda’s solution: an ‘efficiency-algorithm’ power platform, the core fuel-to-motion What’s your budget?” converter. Honda’s engineers understand The broader the needs, the wider the design efficiency—they’ve created choice—commuter or cruiser, sport bike hundreds of cars and motorcycles (plus or sport-tourer, off-road or adventure off-road vehicles, generators, watercraft, machine, and so forth. The fewer the bucks, and, and, and). Honda’s marketeers know the narrower the possibilities. world markets, demographics and trends. Honda’s accountants can calibrate beans Focused machines—say, sport bikes— within Ångström widths. may do a few things brilliantly, the rest hardly at all. ‘Do-it-all’ models may Stir these people and challenges in the cover almost everything motorcycle-design pot and—voilà— badly. Ya pays ya money . . . the NC700. For efficiency and Motorcycle uses and categories have proliferated. Choice is a conundrum. For most of us, able to afford only one ‘working’ motorcycle, and considering shaky world economics, Honda’s NC700

minimum internal (mechanical kills economy),

friction friction the result is an

under-square (73mm bore/80mm stroke), SOHC eight-valve, 670cc parallel Twin, conceptually a bifurcated Honda Fit car engine with 270-degree crank. It delivers modest power (47 bhp) at low revs (6250) and plonking torque (44ft.-lb. at 4750rpm), while emitting a hushed, throaty burble. Power/torque vary slightly depending on model—X (tested), S or D, described below.

NC700 series. Compromises, principally in suspension, brakes and tube-steel frame, slash that base sticker. Yet the package is executed brilliantly, in typical Honda fashion. Every detail works. That motor, cammed for low- and midrange torque, performs well, making the machine easy to ride, ideal for beginners. It runs out of revs above 6000 but still delivers smooth, quiet power. The hydraulic clutch engages smoothly; gearshifts are Honda decisive.

Honda wanted economy. The NC sips gasoline—70 mpg average, more or less, they say, depending on how hard one rides, offering outstanding 200-mile (or more) range from the 3.7-gallon underseat tank (that ‘tank’ is a big storage locker, accommodating a full-face helmet). The power platform, cylinders angled forward 62 degrees to accommodate the storage locker, powers three models: dual-sport (the 2012 NC700X ‘adventure,’ introduced in Europe in 2011—the U.S. came late in Honda’s global release), naked (NC700S, not sold in the U.S.), and scooter (NC700D Integra, also not here yet). Optional Honda technology is available—ABS, VFR1200F-derived DCT (dual-clutch automatic transmission). Other options include a 45-liter top case, 29-liter bags, crash guards, LED foglights, heated grips and center stand. The dual-clutch DCT and ABS on the NC700X adds a whopping $2000.

Ride quality? Though rear-shock preload is the only suspension adjustment, the X’s almost 6-inch travel at both ends smoothes the way, though severe surfaces push the limits of comfort and confidence. Brakes? The single, two-piston caliper operating on the front 320mm wavy disk does a workmanlike job. Ignore the insensitive 240mm rear brake.

Handling? Bar effort is light. Corners track neutrally. The low CG promotes easy lowspeed maneuvering, though at a claimed 451 pounds, dry, it’s no lightweight. The Compromises: You can seating position is comfortably upright please some of the but the firmish, slippery seat inflicts customers all of the time discomfort around 200 continuous miles. or all of the customers Wind protection from the stock flyscreen some of the time. To is minimal. Doubtless the aftermarket will succeed, you must address the seat and screen issues. please enough of Economy? Honda suggests 64 mpg but I the customers saw 58.75, measured, riding purposefully enough of the time. Thus (John rode the bike from Torrance to the Peninsula in a day—ed.)—still notable. The the economy stems partly from the tall sixth



gear: at an indicated 75mph, the ribbon LCD tach shows a mere 4000rpm.

its friendly base price. Life is compromises. This one works.

Bottom line: does it work?

Second Take: Gabe Ets-Hokin, Editor-in-Cheaply.

What can the NC700 do for you? Honda’s engineers have managed the compromise, satisfying the marketeers and bean counters, meeting that ‘most-of-thecustomers-most-of-the-time’ criterion. It’s versatile: commute, tour, strafe apexes with reasonable agility. Will the S come here? Dunno. Viewed on the Web, the Integra’s man-sized wheels are safer than competitors’ minuscule rubber donuts front and rear. Will Honda bring it? One hopes. But avoid tram tracks, bridge grids and potholes, anyway! A motorcycle for the ages? Yes, 17 to whatever, rookie or returner. From every indication, worldwide, Honda has a palpable hit: enough performance at the right time at sensible cost. Will the NC cannibalize other Honda models’ sales? Probably not. It has its own niche, and faces down the competition at

Years Riding: Too Many and Yet Not Enough, Favorite Complaint: Too Much Fuel Range Ol’ Raymond Blank, how we miss ye. The visionary V.P. for Motorcycles at American Honda Motors helmed Big Red’s motodivision in the USA for decades and now he’s gone—retired? Pasteurized? Melted down for seat foam? We don’t know, as we haven’t heard from him, but I have a very vivid memory of sitting at a bar in Birmingham, Alabama at

some press event or another and hearing him talk about Honda’s incredible engineering and design capabilities. “We can make anything we want.” Super-awesome V5 MotoGP racer-forthe-street? Sure. Electric dual-sport? Why not? But why would it build the perfect bike for you when Honda can build the perfect bikes for everybody? Because when you sell vehicles in the teens of millions, it doesn’t make sense to build exciting niche products a relative handful of well-heeled 50 year-olds might consider buying. Instead, we get...the NC700X. Don’t get me wrong. I really liked this motorcycle. The design is great, with eye-pleasing shapes and angles. The seat is low for

an adventurestyled machine, especially with an underseat gas tank (it really took 100 years for designers to figure out the best place for the tank is under the seat, freeing up storage space and improving handling?). It’s as easy to ride as any bike in this category, with great turning radius, quick steering (those bars feel higher and wider than they are, somehow) and smooth, light gearbox and clutch. John calling the 670cc powerplant half a Fit engine is very apt. Like a car, the NC bumps off the rev limiter at 6000 rpm, surprising the rider—up to redline, the motor is just a little buzzy, feeling the same at 5500 as it does at 1500. First gear is very short, but after that, the gears are wellspaced and the motor is flexy enough so that there’s enough guts for passing in fifth or even sixth. Cruising at an indicated 90 mph is fine, if that’s your thing—not too loud, okay wind protection, and just a little thrumming from the engine. I’m at a loss to imagine a better commuting bike. Sixty miles per gallon? More trunk space than a lot of scooters? Sign me up. It’s also just fun and satisfying to ride around town or on divided freeways, a product so refined and well-engineered it’s hard to believe it can be brought to market for under $7000. Downsides? It’s slow, there’s no getting around that. Suzuki made an honest 70 hp with a budget-priced, 649cc liquidcooled Twin 15 years ago. Honda took tuning-for-torque to a whole new level, lopping 40 percent off the top of this bike’s powerband—and though the bike is plenty fast to keep up with traffic, you’ll miss it. ABS without the extra 33 pounds and $2000 of the dual-clutch version would be nice, but isn’t available. The brakes and suspension are el cheap-o, even for this price range—I could feel the front brake juddering under heavy pressure, and bumpy freeways are less pleasant than they could be, although the spring rates and damping feel well-calibrated. So, you and I and just about everybody else you’ll meet would probably rather have this bike with 20 more horses, better brakes...but then again, we already have plenty of choices with that kind of spec sheet. This kind of refinement, economy, value and ease of use could open up new markets for Honda— and that’s what it wants to do.


Off-Road Survival Guide Part III Parental advice & selecting the right bike (one of two sub-parts) challenge is to find one that fits your o here you are, about to buy your first body, budget, and type of riding you enjoy. Remember, this isn’t a “for as long dirtbike. Excited but bewildered. as you both shall live” commitment. Dirt It’s bad enough trying to decide what bikes pass through many hands over their to buy if you don’t know the difference lifetimes. You’ll probably date more than a between two strokes and four. But then few before you find a keeper. your ever-practical partner pops into So here are a few tips to kick start your Parent Mode and asks: search: 1. How are you gonna haul it? First, dirt biking is not for everyone. Some 2. Where are you gonna keep it? folks sink thousands into bikes and gear only to discover off-road is not where it’s 3. Who’s gonna fix it? at. And that’s okay, because these are the Tranquillo, my dear. These are not issues to people from whom you buy hardly used keep you stuck on the streets. CityBike has stuff at deep discounts. all the answers. First of all, start by dismissing the romantic notion that you’ll buy a dual-sport street-legal dirt bike and ride to the trails. The nearest parks are over an hour’s ride from The City. No pickup? No problem. Transporting dirt bikes knows no limits. Riding a dirt Of course, you can’t go wrong buying a new bike on the bike, but you’ll pay more for that peace of freeway is like driving a Yugo stuck in first gear to Reno. Plus you’ll be out of gas when mind. Starting out with a well-maintained used bike is financially practical and easier you get there. Plus you’ll be stranded if to part with if you don’t feel a match. Also, something breaks (like your leg). used bikes often come with hundreds of But cheer up. If you don’t own a pick-up dollars of aftermarket upgrades you’d truck or have room for a trailer, you can fit need to add to a new bike, like skid plates, your car with a 2-inch trailer hitch receiver radiator guards, and hand guards. that will accept a single-rail carrier (parallel Second, do your research. Websites and to the bumper; $200 new) or a hydraulic lift (MX Hauler; $400 new). If all else fails, motorcycle dealers can provide excellent help in choosing a first bike. Walk around dirtbikes can be stuffed into minivans, the parking lot of a local riding area some station wagons, big trunks, and back seats Sunday morning and talk to people about of old American convertibles. their bikes and what they recommend for Ideally, your bike should be stored in a beginners. Some might even let you take a garage where it’s safe and convenient to test ride. Metcalf Park in Santa Clara and work on. If you don’t have one, someone Hollister Hills (around the store) are great you know does. Or you can rent a storage spots for this because they’re popular areas space. Outdoor storage is the last resort. for beginners and families. Lightweight bikes which need no keys to Third, forget love at first-sight. These are start are easily pinched and parted. And mass-produced machines. Take your time although it’s built to withstand the worst elements, a bike stored outside will rapidly and look at several bikes before you buy. You’ll learn how to spot flaws and develop deteriorate in insidious ways (rusty fork tubes, dog pee on your rotors, mouse nests the ‘feel’ for a truly good deal. in your air filter). Fourth, negotiate. Ads state the asking price. Research will tell you if the price is Dirt bikes require more maintenance and realistic. Mentally tally the costs to replace repairs than streeters. So if you don’t have mechanical skills, you’ll need the income to worn or broken parts and then explain to pay someone who does. Normal upkeep is the seller why the price should be less than asking. There are lots of used bikes out fairly simple, like adjusting chain tension, oil changes, cleaning the air filter, keeping there so don’t be afraid to walk and wait for a better deal. bolts and spokes tight. You need only a basic set of metric tools, your bike’s owner’s Fifth, bring a knowledgeable friend along manual, and just one thumb per hand. when you look at a bike. Two sets of eyes If you don’t want to spring for new wheels, spot more flaws than one. And your buddy can keep the seller busy while you the good news is that almost any mid-‘90s concentrate on inspecting the bike without and newer off-road motorcycle delivers being distracted by conversation. outstanding reliability. So relax. Your

By Bill Klein

S

And while you’re at it, also pay attention to: The Owner: Squirrely kid or stable adult? Racer or occasional trail rider? Do their own maintenance or rely on a shop? All provide hints at how well the bike has been cared for. The Bike’s Home: Garage, backyard, or living room? Also a clue to the care and maintenance the bike has received. The Story: What’s the bike’s history? Why is it being sold? When was it purchased? What repairs and maintenance have been done? What are the typical problems with this model? What kind of bike will the owner buy next? Get the owner talking about his bike and riding to learn how bike has been treated. Then mentally compare all the info with what you see to determine if it’s a credible deal and what the seller’s urgency or motivation to sell might be. And if you call about a bike only to find it’s already sold, ask the owner about reliability and potential issues with that model. This is a great way to get unbiased insider info.

Red or green sticker? Due to air pollution regulations, the state issues green or red registration stickers that determine when a dirt bike can be ridden at state and county parks. Green bikes can ride year-round. Red riders, only between October and May. The Extras: Another bonus with used bikes is the possibility of getting added goodies to close the sale. If the owner is getting out of the sport, they may be willing to toss in a stand, repair manual, gas bottle, or even riding gear. Don’t be shy about asking if anything else comes with the bike. The Big Picture: Remember you are buying a toy (or exercise machine, if you need more justification). Don’t skip a rent payment trying to buy the moment’s hottest ride. Dirt bikes don’t stay pretty like their blinker-blinged brethren. This is a vehicle you’ll literally ride into the ground. So start with the bike that has been cared for and that you can afford while you decide if this is the sport for you.

If you get hooked, you’ll eventually move up the food chain of bikes. So buy smart, The Paperwork: Is the seller the registered reserve enough cash for protective gear, owner? Do the frame and engine numbers repair parts, and gas…then get dirty! on the bike match those on the pink slip? Next month: Secrets of used bikes exposed! Does the owner have receipts for repairs, or at least a dated log detailing maintenance?


at the “other” shop, and felt faint distrust for them. Especially the guys at the Harley dealer who might’ve been...who knows? Space aliens?

maynard

would I waste column space to tell you about it? Because it’s the end of November and I’m still riding, not a thing to be taken for granted here in Colorado. I’ve ridden maybe 11 or 12,000 miles in 2012 and not once has the fuel tank been off my bike.

HERSHON

Every year or so, according to the gurus on the Kawasaki ZRX forum, a ZRX owner should replace the tiny o-ring in his bike’s fuel valve. I’ve always called a fuel valve a petcock, and perhaps you do too. I’ll call my bike’s fuel valve a petcock henceforth.

The last time it was off was when my good independent shop re-shimmed a valve or two and balanced my carburetors. I’m guessing that was September of 2011. So it’s been 14 months since that tank was removed from the bike - for any reason.

If you’ve been riding less than 20 years or never owned a pre-1975 British You understand that a bike’s petcock (they’re typically found on carbureted bikes motorcycle, you will not be shaking your and may be manual, electric or vacuumactivated) is the device that prevents fuel from running downhill from the tank to the carburetor float bowls when the bike is not running. What’s the harm, you ask?

We did our best to stop oil leaks. Prayer was generally ineffective.

Well, if one or more of the float needles in one or more of the carburetors is stuck open, fuel will dribble into the engine, past the piston rings into the oil. The fuel dilutes the oil and hampers its service as a lubricant. Enough fuel and the oil level rises sufficiently to lock the engine, to stop it head in wonderment. Instead you will be from turning over. No result of fuel-diluted thinking: So? What’s the big deal? What’s oil is positive, trust me. so remarkable about a fuel tank remaining So...a maintenance-minded guy periodically in place for 14 months? removes his fuel tank, probably when it But if you rode British bikes in the ‘60s and is not very full. He leans the tank against ‘70s and you’re still riding today, you’re something soft, front end down, petcock end thanking your lucky stars that today’s bikes up. He removes five tiny screws that affix are reliable as they are, as they’ve been for the petcock cover to the petcock body, lifts two or three decades. off the cover and replaces the tiny old o-ring Hey, you used to have to work on your bike. with a tiny new o-ring. Can’t take an hour, even if he cleans up the dusty surfaces that were shrouded by the tank, and spray-lubes the newly accessible throttle linkages and whatever else moves under there.

Well, I suppose if you had money and you were not sensitive about what your riding buddies might say, you could’ve had your bike serviced at a shop. Most of us, however, did our own work, or all of it that we could.

Not very interesting to read about...and frankly not very interesting to do. Why

We adjusted our own drive chains, changed our own oil, adjusted our own

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valves, cleaned and re-gapped or replaced our own spark plugs. We tightened parts and fasteners that persisted in loosening themselves, even falling off and skittering across the road. We vigilantly watched fender stays and assorted tabs and brackets that were likely to fracture. Even before manufacturers began supplying timing marks, we adjusted our own points gaps and ignition timing. We tensioned our own primary chains if necessary and dealt with oil filtration, primitive as it was. We did our best to stop oil leaks. Prayer was generally ineffective. We did all that stuff ourselves. We did not think of it as a ceremony, as the forming of mystical bonds with our bikes. We did not dream of a future when a rider could pay a mechanic by the hour to do all those time-consuming tasks. We did them ourselves because they had to be done, we could not afford to pay a mechanic and we really didn’t want anyone else working on our bikes. We felt that our bikes needed us, that each bike needed its owner specifically. Lord knows each of those bikes needed somebody, if not necessarily us. The bikes always needed something, some care or repair or maintenance. As it happens, my friends were Triumph riders. We thought we’d always be Triumph riders. Few of us could imagine that one day soon we’d buy a slash-5 BMW or a four-cylinder Japanese bike. We did eventually buy and ride those bikes—but we didn’t see it coming.

We depended on our shops to do jobs too ambitious or technical for us, like transmission work, or too mysterious, like magneto overhauls. We met at the shop for weekend rides and stopped by midweek to say hi and catch up on gossip. We wore the shop T-shirt. Part club, part shop, I guess. As you’ll have perceived, choosing to own a British bike, even a brand new one, was not a life decision to be made lightly. A Britbike wasn’t just a thing you owned, not if you rode it regularly. You were going to have to learn a lot about that bike to keep it alive. And you were going to be known at the shop, where you learned some of it, and to your riding friends, where you learned the rest. No way were you simply going to be an “owner” or a name on a work order. The bikes demanded too much of you, way too much to ask of someone else. Anyone else. That era, when I owned British bikes, represents a small segment of my riding life. But it looms large in my memory and in its effect on my attitudes toward motorcycling generally. I don’t expect my bikes to thrive on little or no fussing-over. I expect bulbs to blow and oil to seep from seams and fenders to fracture around their mounting holes. I expect to have to do nearly constant maintenance. So when I realize that my fuel tank has not been removed for a year-plus, I want to tell the world.

Our relationships with our shops were unlike those we enjoy today. We belonged to one shop or another, a Triumph store if we rode a Triumph, the rival BSA place if we rode a BSA. We barely knew the guys

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ed HERTFELDER

W

hen Norm, Bob Schmidt and I were out working on our section of the Sandy Lane Enduro, each of us had the feeling that ghosts were looking over our shoulders. This was to be the 55th annual running of the Lane, and as we stapled arrows to some of those lightning-struck trees, especially at a turn on the old stagecoach trail, we’d often find a nest of old rusted staples that had held previous Sandy Lane arrows. Usually we’d find more staples on the other side of the tree used when the trail went the other way. Some were the wide copper staples from the 1920s that you had to hold in place, then set with a hammer (afterwards you had to suck the sting out of your fingertips). Those old copper staples worked just fine for holding enduro arrows, but they were more useful as a quick and dirty way to add wiring to a previously gas-lit home.

Fifty Five And Counting Or maybe the irascible Paul Brumfield, who acted like a colonel with piles all the time. It’s been said that Brumfield was a man who really enjoyed a morning, midmorning, afternoon, sundown and evening drink before his nightcap, and he laid out the Sandy Lane trail with loops that passed suspiciously close to roadside taverns. Riders still wonder why he torpedoed the 1971 Sandy Lane trying to cross Pope’s Branch Creek swamp, but my guess is that the creek was dry when Brumfield was laying out the trail and felt himself in need of a thirstquencher at the nearby Woodshed Tavern on Route 72.

Alfie flew thru the woods like a localized tornado in a ricochet style that was very fast but also required full Blue Cross and Blue Shield coverage, Band Aids by the gross and a real love for picking scabs.

Assuming that the Sandy Lane Enduro covers a hundred miles of trail each year on the same 5500 square mile forest, chances are that the old dead tree had been leaned on by more than one tank-shift Harley 45 driven by a gent who long ago went to the big enduro in the sky. Maybe we sensed the spirits of Frank Bolton, Pere Epely or Butch Brown, whose ashes were scattered one more wheel turn each time we rode over the top of Apple Pie hill. This old Meteor Club member’s ashes are destined to float to the sea on the waters flowing under Quaker Bridge. Butch developed a good system to curtail littering: If he spotted someone dropping anything in the forest, especially another rider, he just might punch them in the mouth for their carelessness, with a promise that next time he caught them he just might get mad! Maybe one of those spirits looking over our shoulders belonged to Richie Ragosa, a shooting star who dropped behind the clouds too soon, much too soon.

The Woodshed, whose sign promised “Lousy food and warm beer” apparently attracts motorists anxious to promote truth in advertising. It’s currently owned and managed by Alfie Henrich, a local boy who rode his 350cc Honda to back-to-back overall Sandy Lane wins in 1973 and ’74. Alfie flew thru the woods like a localized tornado in a ricochet style that was very fast but also required full Blue Cross and Blue Shield coverage, Band Aids by the gross and a real love for picking scabs. In an effort to add some dignity to the 55th Lane, we recruited Cale Davidson to join the good looking, tuxedo-clad, competent and cheerful Sandy Lane Start-Control group (consisting of Norm White and Ed Hertfelder in rented-tux finery).

grandmother as he considers “celibacy” to be one of the filthiest words in the English language. Cale is a fine example of the benefits of dirt riding as a way of slowing, or even stopping, the aging process. One of these days rider 33C might invite you to watch the video he made but here’s a warning: If he shot any footage of the last 14 miles—the section that Norm and me laid out—we sincerely advise you to wear old clothes and bring along a barf bag and maybe some Handi Wipes. By all means make sure you’re not seated over carpeting. I’m getting nauseous just thinking about it... For a copy of Ed’s latest book, 80.4 Finish Check, send $29.95 with suggested inscription to Ed Hertfelder, PO Box 17564, Tucson, AZ 85731. Also available on Amazon.com!

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Cale, who is eighty something, is the only Meteor Club member who remembers the first Sandy Lane of 1934; his brother Grove won the ’36, ’38 and ’41 events . We were pleased to see that Cale was standing by nicely at key time marking scorecards, but after rider 33C left the line (with a video camera on his helmet) we discovered he was gone. We can only assume he was doing his usual thing of hitting on some rider’s January 2013 | 19 | CityBike.com

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This is Racy Tracy Snyder at the Team Tracy pit, enjoying a copy of CityBike between runs. She also delivered several copies of the paper to fellow riders at the event. By the way, thanks for promoting the Oakland Motorcycle Club in your paper with the free ads for the Three Bridge Run. You guys are the best. Brent Snyder Oakland Motorcycle Club CityBike is proud to support clubs with deliveries of papers for your meetings and free club and event listings—send yours to info@citybike. com.

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BSA Owners Club The BSA Owners’ Club of Northern California was formed to promote the preservation and enjoyment of the motorcycles produced by the Birmingham Small Arms Company in England. Founded in 1985, the Club now has over 500 members, and has produced the monthly newsletter, The Bulletin, since the Club’s inception. Rides and activities are scheduled each month in addition to two major activities: The Clubman’s All British Weekend in the spring, and the Northern California All British Ride in the fall. Membership is open to all BSA enthusiasts. For more information: www .bsaocnc .org

The Classic Japanese Motorcycle Club is dedicated to the celebration and preservation of the Classic and Vintage Japanese motorcycle. We have rides, meets, shows, swaps and can help you find and sell parts, bikes and motorcycle-related services. Members make the club function! www .CJMC .org .

Exciting women-only motorcycle group in the SF Bay Area. For more info visit www .curveunit .com

The Ducati Vintage Club was founded to assist vintage Ducati MC (1987 and older) owners with information and resources to preserve, resurrect and bring these MC’s back to the road! Owners and enthusiasts are welcome to join. We meet once monthly at the Ducati Bike Night event and we sponsor the annual European Motorcycle Show and Swap held in March at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, the La Ducati Day Concorso held in LaHonda each October and more. Visit us at www .ducativintageclub .com

San Francisco Motorcycle Club San Francisco Motorcycle Club, Inc., established 1904, is the second oldest motorcycle club in the country! Our business meetings are Thursday nights at 8:30pm, and guests are always welcome. Our clubhouse is filled with motorcycling history from the last century, a pool table, foosball and pinball games, and people who currently enjoy motorcycles, dirt riding, racing, touring, riding and wrenching. Check our website for events such as club rides, socials and events, and come visit us, no matter what bike you ride! San Francisco Motorcycle Clubhouse is located at 2194 Folsom St, @ 18th St in San Francisco. www .sf-mc .org 415-863-1930

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Dudley Perkins Harley Davidson 2006 FLSTC Green/Black two tone, Stock #U62264. 18,050 miles. $10,495 + fees Comes with one years extended warranty 2011 FLHTCU Vivid Black, Stock #U63148. 17,823 miles. under warranty until 5/2013. $20,000 - OTD 2006 FXSTI Vivid Black, Stock #C84626, 7,557 miles, Detachable backrest, bags and windshield. $12,750 - OTD 1994 FLSTN Birch White/Silver Stock #C30883 8626 miles real clean with chromed out motor thunder header $14,299 - OTD 2002 limited edition fxdwg3 Navy Pearl Stock #C50432 8869 miles very clean with T-bars and 103” motor $16,500 - OTD 2004 FXDWG Wide Glide silver stock# C06538 4600 miles clean bike with pipes, air cleaner & windshield $9,999 + Fees 2011 FLHTC black stock# U68121 18,800 miles very clean classic $18,495 – OTD 2005 VRSCSE V-ROD two tone blue stock # 75216 18723 miles with wind shield, bub pipes, back rest $13,995 + Fees 1999 FLSTF brown Stock #13104 48025 miles clean with backrest, saddle bags, wind shield & mustang seat. $8,900 - OTD 2001 FXSTD DEUCE blue/silver stock# 27768 7335 miles has pipes, air cleaner & tach $8,999 + Fees 2012 FLTRX ROAD GLIDE Denim Blk stock # U66258 7871 miles clean bike with T-bars $20,495 + Fees 2008 FLHTCU 105 ANN copper/ black stock #U04713 10800 miles clean bike with slip on pipes & air cleaner $15,995 + Fees 2001 FXSTD DEUCE concord purple stock # U18151 35975 miles super clean with custom 21” front wheel, Vance & Hines pipes, SE air cleaner, pull back T-bars, lots of chrome. $8,699 + Fees

Save on 2012 Zero Electric Motorcycle S and DS with “FreedomofChoice”promotions. Imagine where you can go with up to 114 mile range and a top speed over 80 mph. Plug in and get charged with a standard household outlet. Street models are eligible for the $900 CA Clean Air Vehicle Rebate. Call for a Demo Ride and mention Citybike. 650-992-1234 2011 ZERO Electric Motorcycles Factory Authorized Clearance savings available here at Mission Motorcycles. Get Plugged In! The MX (Motocross) model is $3500.00 OFF!!! The S (Street) and DS (Dual Sport) are $4000.00 OFF!!! Plus, select ZERO Motorcycles qualify for a $900 CA Clean Air Vehicle Rebate! Call (650) 992-1234 for a Demo Ride. TIME TO GET DIRTY! Wide selection of new and used motocross and trail bikes in stock now! 4-Strokes and 2-Strokes! It’s time to ride. Get your kids or significant other riding! Easy to ride and fun for all. 2011 Honda CRF50 and CRF70 $250.00 OFF!!! Get your kids riding with an automatic , 3-Speed, Mini Dirt Bike! Training wheels available. 2012 CRF150R Big Wheel ON SALE NOW!!! Excellent motorcross bike for teens or smaller adults. 2013 Scooters have arrived! Come down and check out the new fuel-injected Metropolitan 50, redesigned Vino 50 and freeway legal PCX150! 2012 Honda Gold Wing in Black! Tour the country in style and comfort with a Gold Wing! This bike has everything but the airbag: ABS, Navigation, XM Ready, and Comfort Package! This bike also has Reverse and is $1000.00 OFF!!! Stock # H2995 2012 Demo Yamaha FJR1300 in blue and on Sale! $1500.00 OFF! What a fantastic sport touring motorcycle! This bike is fun, handles like a dream and has great styling! It also has heated grips, an automatically adjustable windscreen, saddlebags and two seat height options stock! Y2732 2011 Kawasaki ZX-6R In Black for $9,499! New Supersport Motorcycle! This bike has fully adjustable front and rear suspension, excellent handling, and cornering capabilities. K 2011 Yamaha FZ1 $9,999 Silver. Want a comfortable ride, but don’t want to give up sport performance and handling? This is the ride for you. Stock # Y2683 2010 Honda Sabre Candy Red and on sale! All stock with a custom look. Arrive in style everywhere you go with this super sleek cruiser that gets all the attention! H2935 2009 Honda CBR1000ABS in Red Spectacular engine performance with solid, confidence inspiring, handling. Feels like a 600cc in the tight turns, yet open the throttle and feel the acceleration of a liter class bike. $1000.00 OFF!!!! Stock # H2898 PRE-OWNED VEHICLES 2011 Kawasaki KLR650 Orange, black and silver. Includes Givi side boxes. 1986 miles, only $4999 Stock# U1187 2010 Honda Fury in Burgundy Want a custom looking Chopper? You gotta come check out this all stock, factory 1300cc chopper. $8,699 with only 5,805 miles. Stock # U1174 2010 Triumph Bonneville Black, classic looking but modern technology. $5699, 3,945 miles Stock #U1182 2010 KTM 450EXC Dual-Purpose w/ current CA registration & PLATE! Has extra capacity fuel tank, Akrapovic muffler, Pirelli Scorpion dual sport tires (comes w/ stock tank, muffler and tires). 2,514 miles, $5999 Stock# U1186 2010 Yamaha WR250R Dual-sport bike with fuel injection. Comes with a Sargent seat and ProMoto rear luggage rack. 5639 miles, $5899 Stock# U1184 2010 Kawasaki Concours 1400 Dark blue, $12,699. Loaded with features and comes with top box. 11,614 miles. Stock# C488 2009 KTM 530EXC $6399. Looks great with race graphics kit. Super clean with low mileage…only 111 miles! Stock# U1177 2008 Suzuki GSXR750 in Orange/Black - GO GIANTS!!! Excellent condition with 9806 miles! Comes with rear seat cowl and rear seat. $8,299 Stock # U1169 2008 Honda CBR1000RR Black with full graphics kit and only 2,261 miles!!!! Excellent condition! $8,888 Stock # C487 2008 Yamaha Vino 125 Only $1,799 in Blue! Bop around town on this cute, euro styled scooter! Easy to Park! Stock # U1172 2007 Honda Goldwing 1800 $15999. Silver with custom pin-striping. Equipped with priemium audio package, navigation package, comfort package, ABS and optional CB radio! 79001 miles, Stock# U1176. 2007 Kawasaki KLX110 $1,699 Take your kids riding with this three speed dirt bike. Easy to ride, just twist and go. Very low hours. Stock # C466 2006 Honda CBR600RR Orange/Black 666 miles and only $5599. All stock, was stored for a couple years then engine was reconditioned and is just broken in. Stock # C490 2005KawasakiNinja250 $2299 Blue & Orange 3,416 miles. Great beginner bike at an easy price! Stock# U1189. 2002 Yamaha Warrior in Purple DRAG BIKE! Engine built by Patrick Racing and has never been to the drag strip! It has a Racing transmission, GA power commander and “will do 10 seconds on the quarter mile.” This bike looks great with its chrome wheels (250 rear tire), chrome swing arm, custom paint and a Corbin ostrich seat! This bike is a steal for $12,999! Stock # C481


707-647-RIDE (7433) Ride-On-Motorcycles .com 1416 Sonoma Blvd Vallejo CA 94590 Steve@Ride-On-Motorcycles .com David@Ride-On-Motorcycles .com Welcome to Ride-On-Motorcycles! Our friendly associates will help you find the Motorcycle you want at a price you can afford. Our years of experience and commitment to quality have earned us loyal customers throughout the Ride-On-Motorcycles metro area. Women riders are always welcome and yes, we listen to what you want. We are an Authorized Dealer for Cleveland CycleWerks offering brand new quality, affordable production motorcycles. The Misfit is a full suspension “Café” styled bike that can fit 2 passengers comfortably. The Heist is a “Bobber” styled bike that will turn heads with lots of cool features. Our experienced buyers select only the best values from trade-ins, overstocked inventory and private party purchases. We stand by every motorcycle we sell. Due to our low overhead, we can pass incredible savings along to you. We specialize in satisfying all our customers’ needs with your powersports purchase. From what you want and keeping within your budget, we will walk you through the entire process. We promise a hassle-free experience! Every motorcycle we sell gets a service and has passed a comprehensive 38 point inspection performed by our knowledgeable staff. One-stop shopping! We sell and service most makes and models. Including Harley-Davidson, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki to mention a few. Trades are always welcome. We’ll buy your bike or take it on consignment. Warranties soon to be on the menu. Parts & Accessories in stock. We offer financing through multiple sources to qualified applicants. Discounted no-obligation insurance quotes available for your scooter! Our History: Ride-On-Motorcycles was founded by two motorcycle enthusiasts and riding buddies, David and Steve in 2009. Both David and Steve spent time together at Harley-Davidson of Vallejo until the Dealership sold in 2008, the new owners let the management team go so David and Steve partnered up to start a new shop offering a wide variety of brands in a warm friendly family environment. About Steve Steve is known in the motorcycle community as “Hollywood” Steve, a handle that was given to him over a decade ago by riding friends that would patiently wait for him as he got ready to leave on rides. In his younger years Steve was influenced by the movie “Easy Rider”. After seeing the flick he purchased his first motorcycle the very next day. Steve has been an avid rider now for more than 40 years. Steve held many positions in every department of a leading Northern California Harley-Davidson dealership. As Sales Manager he learned the value of offering quality motorcycles at a fair price. As Business/ Finance Manager it was important that the financing and warranties were of the best value. The purchase experience needs to be hassle free and a pleasure. He knows that the success of the business is a total commitment to satisfy every customer’s need while fulfilling their dreams to ride at Ride-On-Motorcycles. About David David’s entry into the motorcycle industry was more from necessity than pleasure. Seemed like a good career choice. David began working in the industry in 1981 and purchased his first motorcycle to commute to work that year. His work experience includes managerial duties in parts and accessory, purchasing and sales of motorcycles, and servicing motorcycles. His passion for riding grew for 20 years before finally heightening in 2007 with Steve and David’s first road trip together, the epic ride to Daytona Beach for Bike Week. This was the foundation for the passion that has grown ever sense. David’s primary goal at this point in his career is to carry the message to others regarding the joys of the motorcycle world.

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PRE-OWNED BIKES 12007 $7995 2005 Ducati MULTISTRADA Red 43443mi VIN-011036 1000 S DS 12013 $3495 1996 Honda ST1100 Red 37668mi VIN-600018 Sport Tourer 12015 $6995 2005 Ducati MULTISTRADA Red 9975mi VIN-009498 1000DS 12022C $10995 2005 Harley-Davidson FLHRI Red 55906mi VIN-709755 Fire Fighter Special Road King 12024C $5995 1988 Harley-Davidson FLHTC Black 65220 mi VIN-505226 Electra Glide Classic 12034C $6495 2006 Yamaha R-6 Blue 5758 mi VIN-002820 600cc 12035C $9995 2004 Harley-Davidson FLSTF Red 14264 mi VIN-031793 Fat Boy 12036 $2995 1986 Honda VT 1100 C Blk/Slv 17751 mi VIN-104259 Shadow 12051 $2795 2001 Honda VT750C Black 77306 mi VIN-500141 Shadow 12053 $4495 2004 Suzuki GSXR 600 Yellow 17940 mi VIN-110884 600 cc 12054 $5995 2005 Suzuki GSXR 1000 Yellow/Black 17251 mi VIN-101253 1000 cc 12057 $4495 2007 Suzuki C 50(VL800) Red/Black 1865 mi VIN-109841 800 cc 12058 $9495 2005 Harley Davidson FXSTI Blue 17968 mi VIN-027970 Softail 12060C $7995 1999 Harley Davidson FXSTC Red 13580 mi VIN-050895 Softail Custom 12062C $5795 2000 Buell X-1 Red 10645 mi VIN-201285 Lightning 12066 $4995 2000 Buell X-1 RRS Red 9859 mi VIN-203235 #599 of 800 12067 $3295 2009 Suzuki S40 (LS650) Black 14882 mi VIN-100854 650cc, 1cyl 12068 $3495 2006 Suzuki S50 (VS800) BLK 16677 mi VIN-101565 800cc 12069 $6995 2012 Suzuki C50T (VL800T) BLK/RED 8781 mi VIN-101069 800cc 12070 $2995 2002 Honda VT1100C2 ORANGE 47734 mi VIN-200436 SPIRIT 10205 $2995 1996 Kawasaki VN 1500-D1 Black 12025 $2995 2003 Kawasaki VN750A Red/Grey 24428 mi VIN-548843 Vulcan 2064 1999 Yamaha XV650 Black V STAR 120XX 1996 Triumph Trophy Green 49903 mi 900cc

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Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) dirt bike classes at Carnegie State Park, Tracy, CA. Loaner motorcycles available. www .learndirtbikes .com 925-240-7937

SALES DEPARTMENT: - We buy used motorcycles and scooters. We can also help you sell your ride with our no cost consignment program. - Bring your bike, title (or loan statement), owners handbook and keys. - It’s OK if you still have a loan on your bike we can still take care of you. - We will provide the safest way for you to get cash for your motorcycle or scooter. It only takes about 20 - 25 minutes. - Sign up on our mail list to get NEW INVENTORY NOTIFICATIONS in our weekly e mail newsletter at www .sfmoto .com WE HAVE THE FASTEST ROTATING SELECTION IN SAN FRANCISCO: $3,995 On Sale! 1980 BMW R65 7,942 Actual Miles $4,295 2000 BMW R1150GS 83,748 miles $5,995 2002 BMW R1150R 11,407 miles $13,995 2005 Harley Davidson Roadking FLHRCI 6,881 miles $3,995 2010 Vespa S150 537 Original miles $5,995 2011 KTM 450 XS-F 56 hours $8,495 2006 Aprilia RSV1000R Factory 13,509 miles $8,495 2006 Triumph Rocket III 9,913 miles $1,995 On Sale! 2003 YZ250 Yamaha 2-stroke Low Hours $7,495 On Sale! 2008 YZFR6 Yamaha 8,978 miles $3,995 On Sale! 2007 Yamaha Vstar 650 Classic 12,659 miles $2,495 On Sale! 2005 Suzuki GZ250 13,775 miles $5,495 2005 Suzuki SV650S 2,754 miles $5,495 2008 Suzuki SV650 1,807 miles $3,495 On Sale! 2006 Suzuki DRZ400S 7,176 miles $5,495 2005 Suzuki SV650S 6,271 miles $6,995 2009 Suzuki GSXR600 4,547 miles $7,995 On Sale! 2009 Suzuki GSXR600 685 miles $8,495 2009 Suzuki GSXR750 11,179 miles $6,995 2007 Suzuki GSXR600 6,272 miles $6,995 2008 Suzuki GSXR600 12,739 miles $8,495 2009 Suzuki GSXR600 1,059 miles $795 On Sale! 2003 Kawasaki KX60 $5,495 On Sale! 2007KawasakiEX650RNinja 241 actual miles $5,995 2009KawasakiER-6NNinja 2,457 miles Warranty $5,995 2007 Kawasaki VN900LT Vulcan 6,489 miles $3,795 On Sale!2010KawasakiEX250RNinja 2,027 miles $3,795 On Sale! 2010KawasakiEX250RNinja5,768 miles $3,795 On Sale! 2010KawasakiEX250RNinja5,578 miles $1,495 2006 Honda CHF50 Metropolitian 2,188 miles $2,995 2006 Honda CRF450R $2,995 2004 Honda Shadow VT1100 Sabre 53,041 miles $3,995 1998 Honda ACE VT1100CT Shadow 4,227 miles $2,995 2009 Honda CMX250 Rebel 2,680 miles $2,995 2009 Honda CMX250 Rebel 4,412 miles $2,995 2009 Honda CMX250 Rebel 7,195 miles $6,995 On Sale! 2007 Honda CBR600RR 7,704 miles $9,495 2011 Honda CBR600RR 772 Original miles $7,495 2007 Honda CBR600RR 7,482 miles $8,495 2009 Honda CBR600RR 2,752 miles $8,195 2008 Honda CBR1000RR 6,056 miles $18,995 2003 Ford F250 7.3L XLT PowerStroke 170,954 miles

USED MOTORCYCLES: Scorpa trials motorcycle (French) Brand-new, zero miles 2005 model. 70cc 4-stroke, only 80 pounds. 3-speed transmission. Call for details. $2000. 415/781-3432. 1978 BMW R100/7 for sale. This bike will become a classic in January! With under 68,400 miles, hard side bags, windshield, professionally lowered seat for more comfortable ride for shorter person, and no dents we are asking $3,200. OBO. Clear CA title in hand. Call Dan/ Monica for details (530) 544-8263 leave message and we will call back.Can email more pictures too. 1952 BSA ZB 500cc - $3000 1965 Duca(ti?) Condor 350cc - $2500 1966 BSA Thunderbolt 650cc - $3000 1972 BSA B50 TR 500cc - $3000 1973 HD Sprint Aermacchi - $3000 Old Ed Meagor San Rafael 415-457-5423 Yamaha with Sidecar - 650 Yamaha-Velorex / Leading link forks / Color Matched Paint / Rack / Many spares included. $3400 - PETE - 415-269-1364

PARTS AND SERVICE

Cycle Salvage Hayward = Full Service. People are surprised to find out that we’re more than just a salvage yard. •Full Service - All makes: We have 3 lifts and 3 full-time mechanics! •Tire installation (even if you bought tires elsewhere) •Plastic Welding (fairings) •Oil Changes •New Tires We buy used/wrecked bikes Helmets, jackets, leathers, gloves, and all other apparel Fair prices and easy to deal with. Used parts -> broke yours? Call us! Cycle Salvage Hayward 510-886-2328 21065 Foothill Blvd.

Name: Address: City:

State:

Zip:

e-mail:

MOTO TIRE GUY

ADDICTION MOTORS

Motorcycle & ATV Hauling

Galfer Braking Thank you for a wonderful year, San Francisco Bay Area! On September 15th, we celebrated our first full year in business and we are honored to have been given the chance to share our common passion with you. We look forward to seeing what happens next year - thanks, Bay Area! Addiction Motors is proud to introduce a brand new service: Wrench It Yourself! DIY Motorcycle Maintenance Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday @ Addiction Motors 4052 Watts St, Emeryville (510) 394-2WIY Reserve your lift now: addictionmotors .com/wiy Help us welcome our newest technician, Pete Trevesian! Addiction Motors is a full service motorcycle repair cooperative in Emeryville, CA. We services most makes and models of American, Japanese and European motorcycles.

Rotors, Brake lines, Pads, Street, Race, Off-road, SuperMoto PashnitMoto is one of the largest Galfer Braking dealers in the USA. Colored brake lines, custom lengths, Wave Rotors. 50 Pages of part numbers. www .GalferBrakes .net or call 530/391-1356

Since 1956 Knucklehead Panhead Iron Sportster Shovelhead Evolution Twin Cam Multi Valve 450cc and up Cyl. boring on H.D. only 21050 Mission Blvd. Hayward, 94541 (510) 581-5315

www .MotoTireGuy .com Motorcycle Tire Services San Francisco - Bay Area (415) 601-2853 Order your tires online, Zero CA sales tax plus Free UPS Ground, then have a Preferred Installer in your local area do the installation and save! Please visit website for details.

Introducing Marin Moto Works! Aprilia, KTM, and BMW Service and Repair Located at 44 Harbor street, San Rafael Open Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm (415) 454-RIDE

Max Moto, Inc

AMERICAN CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE PARTS Large Parts Inventory for American V-Twins Full service on all American-made bikes Machine Shop & Welding 925-689-9801 2395 H Monument Blvd, Concord

Bavarian Cycle Works EXPERT Service & Repair Bavarian Cycle Works specializes in new and vintage BMW, modern TRIUMPH and select motorcycle models. Our staff includes a Master Certified Technician and personnel each with over 25 years experience. Nearly all scheduled motorcycle maintenance can be completed within a one day turnaround time. All bikes kept securely indoors, day and night. Come see us!

Produced in the with European precision machines, using European hardware, Melvin brings you quality custom or OEM replacement brake lines. Lines consist of Teflon center, stainless braid and PVC covering in plenty color choices. DOT /TUV approved. Please visit us at: www .melvinusa .com or 1365 63rd. street Emeryville, CA. 94608 510 595 3300

Michael’s Motorsports BMW Motorcycle Service, Repair, Restoration Air heads, Hex heads, K Bikes, F Bikes 880 Piner Rd. Ste 46 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 (707) 575-4132

HELP WANTED Mission Motorcycles is looking for an experienced parts & accessory counter person for immediate employment. 650-992-1234 ask for Wendy

Quality Motorcycles 235 Shoreline Hwy. Mill Valley CA (415) 381-5059 We’re not afraid of your old bike.

ADVANCED CYCLE SERVICE *Motorcycle Service and Repair* • Tires • Service •Insurance estimates Monthly bike storage available Come check us out 1135 Old Bayshore Hwy San Jose, CA 95112 (408) 299-0508 jim@advcyles .com — www .advcycles .com DUCATI SUZUKI KAWASAKI YAMAHA

Sonoma, Marin, Napa & Mendocino Counties 24 hour Roadside Pickup 707-843-6584 Insured & Licensed California Motor Carrier Permit www .mcmotorcycletransport .com mcmotorcycle@att .net

ROCKRIDGE TWO WHEELS Need new rubber? Rockridge Two Wheels is offering a $50 mount and balance with the purchase of two tires. Factory techs. 40+ years experience. Full service facility. 510/594-0789 vespawalnutcreek .com 925 938 0600 rockridgetwowheels .com 510 594 0789 For all your Bay Area Vespa / Piaggio / Aprilia needs

Carmichael Honda Motorsports and Capitol Yamaha of Sacramento are looking for Motorcycle Technicians and Service Writers. Must be motivated, reliable, and safety minded. Must have motorcycle experience Send resume to: chm .cap_phil@yahoo .com

Cycle Salvage Hayward Now Hiring Experienced, Honest People. Do you have actual experience working on motorcycles at a shop? Do you like solving problems and working with your hands? Consider working at our salvage business in Hayward on just about anything that comes in - scooters to full dressers and everything in between. We offer full service and an alternative to dealerships for bikes new and old, and we’re growing. Please come by with a resume 10-6pm Tues-Sat. We’d like to meet good people with experience and a good attitude.

WHEELS AND DEALS ACCIDENT OR INJURY? Call 415/999-4790 for a 24-hr. recorded message and a copy of the FREE REPORT EBAY SALES eBay sales. Specialist with vehicles, 12 years experience, and 5000+ positive feedback rating. Flat listing rate. I can produce auctions with 20+ large format, gorgeous, high quality pictures with my dealer account and pro-grade camera. Dr. Hannibal Lechter reminds us that “we covet what we see.” Let me show people what you have and why they should pay top dollar for it! Interested in larger lots of identifiable, good-quality motorcycle and car parts to buy as well. imperialist1960@yahoo .com or 415/699-8760.

SCOTTS VALLEY MOTORCYCLE SERVICE SELL YER STUFF IN CENTER CITYBIKE! ALL ASPECTS SERVICE AND REPAIR SPECIALIZING IN AMERICAN MADE CYCLES JUST OFF HIGHWAY 17 FROM EITHER SCOTTS VALLEY EXIT 4865 SCOTTS VALLEY DR. (831) 438-6300 OPEN: TUESDAY- SATURDAY 10A-5P SUNDAY NOON-5P

MOTORCYCLE TOWING

Yes, you can do that—it’s easy. Easier than calling your grandson, having him post a Craigslist ad, then ask you for $20, which you wind up giving him because you decided to go riding instead of going to his high school graduation and you feel guilty. We here at CityBike understand your guilt feelings, so we will run your ad (25 words or less, please) ‘till sold for just $15. Add $25 bucks to run a photo of your ride so people believe you’re really selling something and not just lonely. Subscribers get a free ad every month! Maybe you should subscribe, eh cheapskate?

Enter these contacts into your phone now, while you are thinking about it, so that you will have them when you need them .

MOTO GIO Custom Design Studios Mind-Blowing Custom Paint Since 1988 Visit Our Showroom!

V-Twin Service, Repair, Parts, & Fabrication. Harley Factory Trained Tech.

Motorcycle Performance Parts, Accessories, Services. Low price on Tires!!! We will PRICE MATCH with any store. Phone : 408-298-8887 1391 N. 10th St San Jose CA 95112 Email: info@motogio .com www.motogio.com Please mention this ad and you will receive an additional 5% off on your purchase.

SAN FRANCISCO AND BEYOND: DAVE’S CYCLE TRANSPORT

The Old Man The Old Truck Dave is working Dave’s Cycle Transport San Francisco-Bay Area and Beyond… 24 Hour Service (415)824-3020 — www .davescycle .com


FREE HELP WANTED ADS In our ongoing effort to support and promote local motorcycling businesses that we rely on, all motorcycle industry help wanted ads will be listed in the CityBike Classifieds Section for free. Contact us via email: info .citybike .com

H

The Oakland Motorcycle Club is the fourth-oldest club in the nation and celebrated 100 years of continuous operation in 2007. The OMC is dedicated to supporting the sport of motorcycle riding. We are a diverse group of male and female riders with a wide variety of motorcycles, including street, dirt, and dualsport bikes. We sponsor and organize the following annual events to which all riders are invited: Sheetiron 300 Dualsport, held in May; Three Bridge Poker Run, held in July; Jackhammer Enduro, held in October. Regular club meetings are held every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. Guests are welcome. 742 – 45th Avenue, Oakland. (510) 534-6222. www .oaklandmc .org .

NEW BIKE SPECIALS

Ride On Motorcycles

275 8th Street at the corner of Folsom San Francisco - 415 255 3132 www .sfmoto .com We are sf moto. Located on 8th and Folsom in the SOMA (South of Market) area of San Francisco,we serve the bay area with new SYM scooters and recent used motorcycles. We sell Triumph, Ducati, Yamaha, Kawasaki, BMW,Suzuki and other brands. Here you will find anything from Street bike to cruiser and dual sport bikes. All our vehicles have been thoroughly gone through. Our used motorcycles come with our own 60 day warranty.

Reach thousands of Northern California motorcyclists. Just $15 for 25 words, 25¢ each additional word. Photos add $25. Industry classifieds are a higher price. Free 25-word listing for stolen bikes. Deadline is the 3rd of each month. Just fill out the form, or copy and send it with your check, payable to CityBike PO Box 10659, Oakland CA, 94610

Your local shop is an endangered resource! Proper care and support is required, or they die.

OMC

6232 Mission Street Daly City, CA 94014 (650) 992-1234 www .missionmotorcycles .com 1st Saturday of the month is BROWN BAG SATURDAY! Get it in the bag and get 15% OFF! Any Parts or Accessories in stock are 15% off the marked price! One bag per customer, so get as much stuff as you can and Have Fun while Saving Money! Our factory-trained technicians in our Service Department have decades of experience. Rely on us to keep your bike, ATV, scooter or generator in tip top condition whether it’s for regular scheduled maintenance, crash repairs, or for any accessory installation you may be thinking about. We will check your tire pressures for free. Thinking about selling your bike? Still owe the bank for it? Or have the title in hand? Bring it to Mission Motorcycles and let us do all the work for you. No hassles with Craigslist flakes or lowballers.

Cycle Salvage – Hayward

SF MOTO

you buy doesn’t fit, you have to pay for shipping to try a different size… each way, every time. Plus, you meet real, live people, not some keyboard cowboy from another time zone.

Ride with other local sport bike riders in the Bay Area. • Mostly sport bikes • Routes go to ALL parts of the bay area and focus on the “twisty’s” • We set a quick pace and newbies may get left behind ;) • Group riding experience is highly recommended, as is proper riding gear • We also do track days, drag races, motorcycle camping, and attend motorcycle racing events http://www .meetup .com/BayAreaMotoGroup/

The Northern California Norton Owners’ Club (NCNOC) is dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of the Norton motorcycle. Membership is open to all British Motorcycle enthusiasts and is currently $25 per year, you can join online. Our monthly rides, meetings and tech session and events are open to all members and guests see our web site calendar at www .nortonclub .com . Now celebrating our 40th year!

Mission Motorcycles

Shop needs you, and you need them. The Internet won’t change your oil. The Internet won’t stay open an extra 20 minutes so you can buy a tire so you can ride on Sunday. If the apparel

Antique Motorcycle Club of America Yerba Buena Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America Motorcycle Enthusiasts dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and operation of antique motorcycles. To join or view more information about our club, visit us at www .yerbabuenaamca .org

Homoto is a queer and queer-friendly motorcycle club based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our rides are sport-focused with an emphasis on safety and camaraderie. For more info: http://www .homoto .us sanfrancisco@homoto .us sanjose@homoto .us

CityBike Classifieds

ere at CityBike, we strongly believe that while the Internet is great entertainment, it’s a terrible place to buy stuff. Your Local Motorcycle

CLUBS

RIDING SCHOOLS

Screw The Internet. Support your Local Motorcycle Shop.

CLASSIFIEDS

1988 Honda Elite 250 Get going in the city and down the Freeway with this classic Honda scooter! Only 10,265 miles and still going strong! $1,799 Stock # U1167 Prices do not include government fees, dealer freight/ setup fees (new vehicles only), taxes, dealer document preparation charges or any finance charges (if applicable). Final actual sales prices will vary depending on options or accessories selected. Check out and compare our bikes online at www .missionmotocycles .com!

Enjoy The Adventure In Style Forget about boundaries. The V-Strom 650 ABS Adventure has the power to hlep you find adventure on any kind of road imaginable. For 2012, we’re taking the adventure to the next level with the new V-Strom 650 ABS Adventure. It has striking accessories that include sleek aluminum side cases large a rugged accessory engine bar and an adjustable windscreen. Its new 645cc V-twin engine has improved low-to-mid rpm performance and

its bodywork provides better wind protection. The V-Strom series has come a long way since Suzuki created a new category — the Sport Enduro Tourer — with the introduction of the original V-Strom 1000 in 2002. The following year Suzuki released the V-Strom 650 and the ABS-equipped model in 2006. 2012 will mark the 10th anniversary of the V-Strom series, and the V-Strom 650 ABS Adventure is destined to introduce a new generation of riders to adventure touring.

At Suzuki, we want every ride to be safe and enjoyable. So always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Avoid excessive speeds. Never engage in stunt riding. Study your owner’s manual and always inspect your Suzuki before riding. Take a riding skills course. For the course nearest you call the Motorcycle Safety Foundation at 1-800-446-9227. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. © American Suzuki Motor Corporation 2012.

San Mateo Suzuki

Powersports of Vallejo Vallejo (707) 644-3756

Santa Clara (408) 246-7323

San Jose (408) 377-8780

Mission Motorcycles

East Bay Motorsports

Cycle West

Contra Costa Powersports

San Mateo (650) 341-5867

Daly City (650) 992-1234

Hayward (510) 889-7900

Grand Prix

Petaluma 707-769-5242

GP Sports

Concord (925) 687-7742