March 2013

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Volume XXX, Issue 3
Publication Date: February 18, 2013
On The Cover:
On the Cover: CityBike master photographer
Bob Stokstad snapped these photos of lanesplitters on the San Mateo bridge, c. 2012.
Is that you? Prove it! You’ll get a Ride Fast
Take Chances t-shirt for your troubles. And
we won’t tell your mom you do that. It looks
so dangerous! You maniacs!
Contents:
NCR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
New Stuff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Supercross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Shooting the ‘cross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Lane Splitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
KTM Duke 690 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Brammo Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Off-Road Survival V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Maynard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Hertfelder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Tankslappy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Lane-Shtupping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
CityBike Staff:
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
FOR 36 MONTHS FOR
%
QUALIFIED BUYERS
APR
*AS LOW AS
1.9
Art Director: Alan Lapp
Advertising Sales: Kenyon Wills
SEE YOUR LOCAL KYMCO DEALER FOR DETAILS
PAYMENTS AS LOW AS $59/Month
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IL MOTORINO
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916-448-6422
VERACOM MITSUBISHI
790 NORTH SAN MATEO DR
SAN MATEO, CA 94401
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209-832-3400
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OAKLAND, CA 94618
510-594-0789
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69 DUBOCE STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103
415-621-7223
REVOLUTION MOTO
307 D STREET
SANTA ROSA, CA 95404
707-523-2371
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111 TENNESSEE STREET
VALLEJO, CA 94590
707-644-3756
1.9% for 36 Months [3.53% APR*]
*Example: On a purchase where the Amount Financed is $1,999 your Down Payment is $0 with 36 monthly payments of $58.60 each. Interest Rate is 1.9% [ANNUAL
PERCENTAGE RATE is 3.53% (E)]. For other Amounts Financed, the payment would be approximately $30.03 per $1,000 financed.
$0 DOWN
1.9% INTEREST RATE
$30.03 PER $1,000 FINANCED
Note: The above financing programs are offered by Sheffield Financial, a Division of Branch Banking and Trust Company, Member FDIC. Subject to credit approval. Approval,
and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. Other financing offers are available. See your local dealer for details. Rate advertised is based on debt to income ratio of 45% or less. Minimum Amount Financed $1,500; Maximum Amount Financed $50,000. Other qualifications and restrictions may apply. An
origination fee of $50 will be added to the amount financed in the above example. Financing promotions void where prohibited. Offer effective on all new and unused KYMCO ATVs, Side X Sides, Motorcycles and Scooters purchased from a participating KYMCO USA dealer between 1/1/2013 and 3/31/2013. Offer subject to
change without notice. [“E” means estimate.]
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 (RIP).
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.
©2013, CityBike Magazine, Inc. Citybike Magazine is distributed
at over 150 places throughout California each month. Taking more
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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.
EDITORIAL FROM THE EDITOR
W
elcome to the March issue,
and thanks for lowering your
reading standards for a few
minutes. I’m writing to you in the first
person and everything today because it’s
been a weird couple of weeks. The CHP
and California Office of Traffic Safety
(OTS), in a historic
move, posted guidelines
for lane splitting on
their websites. These
guidelines triggered
a Hurricane Sandy
of media coverage:
Sacramento Bee, S.F.
Chronicle, L.A. Times,
plus websites, T.V. and
radio and a zillion other
publications. And the
talk-back sections on
websites have been
packed with very
negative comments
from irate car drivers—a
clue as to why this
coverage is so popular
and widespread—media
outlets know it gets folks
riled up.
Those virtual 150-mph
winds and torrential
rains battered my
poor little editorial
sensibilities as I did my interviews,
Googled feverishly and typed up my own
story, “Splitting Headache,” which you
can read in this issue. The noise this issue
generates is incredible, and if you’re a
motorcyclist, you have to wonder what the
fuss is about.
I have been lane-splitting for most of the
25 years I have been riding motorcycles
in the Bay Area (my current part-time gig
as an MSF RiderCoach means I can no
longer openly practice or preach doing it,
as that organization holds it is contrary to
maintain the space cushion needed to ride
safely), and have rarely been frightened
or felt unsafe. My pace was usually about
25-30 mph in stopped traffic, or 15-20
mph over the pace of a slow-and-go. I
was faster than some of my lane-splitting
brethren, but slower than many of them,
too, especially in the L.A. area (20 miles
splitting stopped traffic at close to 60 mph
behind former World Endurance racer
Doug Toland on I-405 was terrifying).
Even at this level of aggression, lanesplitting crashes are relatively rare.
it “startles, surprises or scares me” as the
two main reasons why they disapprove.
The first reason is just plain wrong.
Splitting, in and of itself, is not unsafe, and
just the act of slowly riding in between
cars rarely causes damage or injury to
motorists. At least, there’s no scientific
evidence it’s unsafe—see the article for a
discussion of that fact. What is unsafe are
behaviors like following too close, making
improper lane changes and riding too fast
for the conditions, which we all know are
illegal and have probably already been
cited for, maybe more than once. It’s the
second reason, then, that is really the issue.
We scare the crap out of the inattentive
and distracted drivers stuck in their
self-imposed misery. The hell with them,
right? Well, no—they are ill-informed and
hysterical, but they write letters to their
politicians and they vote when they’re
scared enough.
Art Director Lapp and I have argued
about the legality of lane splitting. I
contended that it wasn’t legal, but it
wasn’t illegal, a silly distinction, Big Al
pointed out. “There is no ‘gray area,’ we’re
not exploiting a loophole. Lane splitting
is legal because there’s no law expressly
So why the kerfuffle? Why the shrieking
comments like, “it is insane to allow the
lane splitting they come out of nowhere,
and I have come so close to hitting them
on many occasion.” or “lane splitting
is dangerous and should be illegal.” A
survey done last year by U.C. Berkeley
revealed drivers who don’t approve of lanesplitting—about two-thirds of them, by the
way—give “because it’s unsafe (or might
cause me to have an accident)” and because
© KYMCOUSA 2013 KYMCO vehicles meet all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety and EPA standards. Take a riding skills course. For the course nearest you, call the Motorcycle Safety Foundation at 1-800-446-9227. For your safety, always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Never operate under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Avoid excessive speed and stunt driving.
March 2013 | 3 | CityBike.com
KYMCO USA Ad...............KYMCO Scooter - CityBike MAR 2013
Color..................................4-Color
prohibiting it.” But that can change very
quickly: for instance, a couple of highschool students got a bill passed and
signed into law to require motorcycle
training and a six-month waiting period
to get your motorcycle license if you’re
under 21—as a school project. Given how
unpopular the practice is with car drivers,
Adolf Hitler could probably get elected
to the State Assembly on an anti-lanesplitting ticket.
So slow the fuck down (sorry, Larry). Read
the guidelines. Try to follow them. Fit
quieter mufflers to your bike. Wave at the
cars you pass. Stop hitting and breaking
mirrors, even if it’s deserved.
Lane splitting isn’t a right—it’s tolerated.
For now.
—Gabe Ets Hokin
DUKE, DUKE, DUKE
Definition of fun: a lightweight singlecylinder motorcycle with good brakes and
sticky street tires and a little more oomph
than a 250. There’s kind of a hole in the
market; Suzuki has the DR-Z400SM, but
there isn’t much else between that and the
big European SuMos.
Luckily, KTM has partnered with India’s
Bajaj Auto. That company will start
building KTM’s Duke 390, which we
told you about last year (“EICMA 2012,”
December). The little sucker weighs in
at 335 pounds filled with gas, and makes
40-44 horsepower—compare that to the
35-ish a stock DR-Z squeezes out. Sounds
like fun, especially when you consider
KTM builds very sporty tackle; expect a
free-revving engine and good brakes and
suspension. But here’s the best part: the
390 will be sold for two million Rupees in
India—about $3700. European pricing is
about $7000, but that’s out the door. Adjust
for the base sticker price factor, and it’s
possible the Duke 390 will be priced under
$5000 in the USA.
Oh, did we mention it’s coming to the
USA? Well, it is—KTM’s CEO, Stefan
Pierer said as much in an interview with an
Indian newspaper. Bajaj will build 100,000
KTMs in its Chakan, India plant a year
by 2019, doubling KTM’s build capacity.
The little orange men have already passed
BMW as Europe’s largest motorcycle
manufacturer (Piaggio does still build
more scooters, though), and a $5000 entrylevel ride like the 390 could be the numberone selling non-cruiser model if they play
their cards right. We can’t wait to ride one.
its way back to health,
with a 15-percent growth
in sales last year (up to
10,751 units) globally,
but it’s still not much of a
player on the world scene.
It makes even less sense
for KTM to purchase it
than BMW, but Pierer
must have gotten a
good deal. Incidentally,
the deal is just for the
motorcycle part of the
Husqvarna brand, which
moved to Italy from its
native Sweden some
years ago. The chainsaws
and other stuff are still up
in Svenska.
ROSY NUMBERS
Well, that was a shitty recession, no? But
it seems we are in some kind of recovery.
The Motorcycle Industry Council
reported a small 2.6 percent gain in all
1939 RS255 “Kompressor,” owned by racer Walter Zeller sold for $480,000.
motorcycle sales in 2012: 452,386 units
sold in the United States. The biggest
growth area? Scooters and Dual-sports,
with a 7-plus percent bump to both
segments. Streetbikes saw a laconic 1.8
percent growth.
Twenty-twelve was a year punctuated by
press releases from Harley-Davidson and
European manufacturers about how well
they were doing. Ducati, Triumph and
BMW all had great showings, and HarleyDavidson’s numbers grew 6.6 percent.
In fact, if you subtract these brands from
the streetbike total (318,105), you’re left
with around 120,000 units—not a lot
of pie to split among the four Japanese
manufacturers. It wasn’t long ago that
Honda was dai ichi in the U.S. market.
Look for lots of new product from these
guys over the next decade as they try to
regain market share.
TRACKSIDE
You know what’s actually pretty cool? An
open-session trackday, that’s what. A track
that’s open all day long, with no speed or
passing restrictions, closed only for lunch
or emergencies. Trackside Services LLC
is offering five such days at Thunderhill
Raceway in Willows, California this year.
They’re 50 rider maximum, which means
you can ride and ride and ride ‘till your
kneepucks wear thin and your engine starts
smoking. Suspension specialist Dave Moss
will be there to help out, and ForTheTrack
will provide tire-support services. Sign
up at trackside-signmeup.com or email
[email protected] for more
information.
VEGAS (AUCTION), BABY
Bonham’s auction house hosted its most
successful auction to date in Las Vegas
in January, ringing up more than $2.6
million. BMWs were the big news, with
a 1939 RS255 “Kompressor,” owned by
racer Walter Zeller (and which may or may
not have been raced by Georg Meier at the
Isle of Man in 1939) selling for $480,000
and a 1954 Rennsport 54 sidecar fetched
$167,800. There was also a ‘52 Vincent
($134,800) and a 1920 Mars A20, by way
of the Otis Chandler collection, went for
$86,250. Also of note was a 1929 Harley
“Peashooter” racebike, found 55 years after
San Francisco racer Frank Duckett tucked
it away in a family garage. Malcolm Barber,
Bonhams Group CEO and auctioneer at
this year’s sale noted, “now in our third
year here in Las Vegas we have witnessed
year-on-year growth and particularly this
year many new attendees and registrants.
The international motorcycle market shows
strength at all levels.”
POPUP
AEROSTICH
Aerostich has always
been a factory-direct kind
of thing, and though the
30-year-old purveyor of
fine motorcycle apparel
and equipment has
outstanding customer
service, expert alterations
ability and a generous return policy, some
riders just don’t like doing business sight
unseen and have held off from buying an
Aerostich riding suit for years.
Well, no more excuses: Aerostich will
actually open a ‘popup’ store in San
Francisco for nine days only, March 16-24.
The company will occupy a large space at
655 Bryant--close to rental shop Dubbelju
and catty-corner to S. F. BMW—and be
BRITBIKES ATTACKING
HILSBOROUGH
The world’s longest continuously running
Concours d’Elegance (hint: it’s not Pebble
Beach!) wants Britbikes for 2013. The 57th
Annual Hillsborough Concours comes
July 21st on the beautiful 18th fairway of
the Crystal Springs Golf Course, off 280
in Burlingame. They’ll feature 200-plus
cars (right, those things with four wheels)
but they want 20 or so British motorcycles,
As EBR moves toward
volume production of
its three models, its
relationship with Hero
becomes more interesting.
Hero is massive, and is
controlled by one of the
wealthiest families in
India (including Pawan
Munjal, its Managing
Director and Chief
Executive Officer).
According to EBR’s press
release, “Hero MotoCorp
is the world’s largest
motorcycle manufacturer
in terms of unit volumes
by a single company in
Husqvarna’s 900cc Nuda Twin
a calendar year. Hero
sold over six million
buddies and come join the fun anyway…
motorcycles and scooters
It’s a great show. Bikes rule, eh!
in the calendar year 2012.”
—John Joss
Hero started as a joint venture with Honda
Motor Company in 1984, as part of an
MASS-PRODUCED BUELLS...
effort by Honda to take advantage of low
FROM INDIA?
manufacturing costs in India. The Munjal
Erik Buell Racing announced today that
family purchased Honda’s interest in 2010,
Hero MotoCorp will continue to sponsor
gaining majority control of the enterprise.
the two teams fielded by EBR in the AMA
2013 YW125D Zuma
HUSQUA-GONE-A
Yep, that’s right: BMW managed to unload
its Husqvarna division after almost six
years of investments and improvements
to the brand. KTM purchased it for an
undisclosed sum, as BMW wants to focus
on its core brands and customers—sounds
a lot like Harley-Davidson and its Buell and
MV Agusta sagas, no? Husqvarna was on
open 10:00 am-8:00 pm every day.
Drop by for fitting, alteration and
purchase with actual Aerostich
experts (including the mysterious Mr.
Subjective) and to see the range of
products the Duluth, Minnesota-based
company offers, including two mystery
suits called the “Roadcrafter City” and
“Roadcrafter Tactical.” There will also be
daily events and activities as well as door
prizes, snacks and coffee. Drop by to just
hang out and bore everyone to death
with your travel stories. They’ll bore you
right back with lectures about seamsealing and zipper construction.
This H-D Peashooter is a rare 500cc speedway machine, recovered after a half-century in a
dusty garage. It sold for $69,000.
March 2013 | 4 | CityBike.com
Pro Racing American
Superbike Series,
including Team Hero
(with returning rider
Geoff May) and Team
AMSOIL/Hero, with new
rider Aaron Yates, a very
experienced superbike
racing veteran.
More info: aerostich.com/popupsf or call
800/222-1994.
at least 25 years old (pre-1988)–road,
race, off-road, as long as they’re mint. The
honored car marque is the Brit marque
Aston-Martin, celebrating its centenary,
plus 25-plus makes from all over the world,
making for astounding spectator appeal.
A couple of great Britbikes are already
registered (both are racers) so you’re
vying for 18 slots at a spectacular event.
There’s even a 60-mile tour the previous
day that you can join. To register
(there’s a small fee to defray costs), go to
hillsboroughconcours.com after March 1st.
Questions? Call Senior Editor (and curator
of the motorcycles) John Joss at 650/9629590 [email protected]. Entries close June
1st. Don’t want to enter? Well, get some
“Big Fun” at 89 mpg!
Always wear a helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing.
Please respect the environment, obey the law, and read your owner's manual thoroughly.
BERKELEY YAMAHA
March 2013 | 5 | CityBike.com
735 GILMAN STREET
BERKELEY (510) 525-5525
www.berkeley-yamaha.com
Tues.-Fri. 9-6, Sat. 9-5 — Sun.-Mon. Closed
E15 SAGA
CONTINUES
As we reported way
back in December,
2012 (“Carb Saves
us from E15”)
E15—that is,
gasoline blended
with 15 percent
ethanol to burn
(tax subsidies
to agribusiness)
cleaner—won’t be
sold in California
It is understood that Hero has used its
for the time being,
alliance with EBR to gain knowledge about but the EPA really wants Americans to burn
both high performance engine design and this stuff. So the agency published new
racing. Hero is establishing its own racing
rules which require gas station operators to
efforts in India.
have at least
This all points to the likelihood that EBR is one E10-only
tooling up production of its bikes in India at pump, and
one of the three plants owned by Hero. Hero then label its
E15 “blender”
could conceivably vault EBR into a strong
(those are
manufacturing position quickly. Coupled
pumps that
with the financing announced by EBR
recently, it is not unlikely that we will see the dispense more
new EBR production units available for sale than one
grade of gas)
in the U.S. in the not-too-distant future.
pumps with
—Dirck Edge
a notice that
consumers who can’t burn E15 must buy a
minimum of four gallons of fuel to be sure
the E15 is diluted to harmless levels.
What’s weird about Ethanol is that liberals
and environmentalists don’t like the
industrial methods (which require vast
amounts of petroleum) required to grow
the corn for Ethanol, Conservatives don’t
like the idea of the government telling
you how much fuel to buy (some of us
don’t even have four-gallon fuel tanks!),
and gearheads don’t like what the crap
does to our fuel systems—plus some say
it reduces fuel mileage. So why do both
political parties support putting perfectly
good corn likker into our gas? The answer,
of course, is lobbyists with briefcases full
of campaign cash.
Luckily, we’ve
got lobbyists
too. Action
taken by the
AMA and
other groups
compelled
the EPA to
add the rule
requiring the
separate E10
pumps—will it make it too inconvenient
for retailers to stock the E15? Or will they
have to do it anyway? Again, not a problem
for Californians, but it could be, eventually.
ELECTRO-TOURING
Last month, in this space, you read about
electric moto enthusiast Terry Hershner
and his cross-country electric ride. He
actually contacted us and we invited him
to meet us at Munroe Motors for a recharge
and quick chat.
Hershner told us he’s a day trader, so he
has no reason to go back to his native
Florida on his 2012 Zero S. He’s still
out here, several months later, riding
around Northern California on his very
enhanced e-bike.
Charging time has been fantastically
reduced from the stock setup. Hershner
likes to “opportunity charge” when he
sees a public charging station, but even a
level-two station can take a while. So he’s
Like any gearhead, Hershner wanted less
weight and more power. He binned the
stock 420-amp control unit for a 660-amp
size-six Sepcon, which can send 50 percent
more juice to the motor. Combined with
stripping bodywork and lowering the seat
and bars, that has raised the bike’s top
speed
from the
low
with high fuel
economy),
the styling is...
unusual.
Follow
Hershner’s
adventures at
facebook.com/
lifeoffthegrid.
You can go
to CityBike’s
Facebook group
to see the video
interview.
TRIUMPH
ROCKET UNLEASHED
Is that a Rocket in your pocket? Well,
at least you can ride a Triumph Rocket
III, which is the biggest-displacement
mass-produced motorcycle around, as
far as we know (yeah, yeah, Boss Hoss...
have you ridden one of those things? Not
convenient.). For 2013, Triumph made it
more exciting to ride by de-restricting it,
making the full 160-plus ft.-lbs. of torque
available in the first three gears, probably
because tires are cheaper now then when
the bike was first introduced.
mounted five separate chargers—three
Zero items as well as two much more
powerful aftermarket devices. He actually
can plug the bike into both the big J-1772
plug and the regular 220 outlet most
stations feature as well. That means he
can bring his new range-extended battery
(installed by Zero at the Scotts Valley
factory) up to a 90-percent charge from
zero in 45 minutes.
March 2013 | 6 | CityBike.com
90s to 110-plus.
He also added
an extended
subframe and
an extra set
of passenger
footpegs—he
says he likes to
give three or
more people a
ride at a time.
Florida is an odd
place.
MAX APRILIA
Aprilia is offering a special RSV4
exclusively for the U.S. market
commemorating Max Biaggi’s world
superbike title in 2012. The SE, actually
known as the RSV4 Factory APRC ABS
SBK SE (a mouthful), gets a bump in
horsepower and torque (up to 182 and 86
ft.-lbs, respectively), as well as a slightly
larger gas tank and all of the delectable
electronic aids, including traction control,
wheelie control, launch control, three
engine maps and a quick shifter. No word
yet on pricing or availability date.
—Dirck Edge
V-FOUR-DABLE
More Aprilia V-4 news: Tuono and RSV4R
fans rejoice: Aprilia is discounting the
remaining RSV4 models by up to $4000.
Yep, the Tuono V4R (that we loved) is now
just $12,999, the RSV4R APRC is $13,999
and the RSV4 Factory APRC is $18,999.
CTX700N
Sam Hokin, CityBike’s Midwest Desk, filed
this report from the Chicago International
Motorcycle Show:
CTX stands
for ‘Comfort,
Technology,
eXperience.’
It has a feetforward ‘urban
roadster’
style – meant
to be “better
handling than
a cruiser,” like
a “lightweight
Goldwing.” It
features a low
28.3-inch seat,
plenty of low
and midrange
torque, and
2013 Honda CTX700N
with the DCT
(Dual Clutch
Technology)
option on the CTX700D and CTX700ND,
there is no clutch or shift lever—you ride
either fully automatic or switch gears
with handlebar-mounted paddle shifters.
(There is an optional shift lever that allows
the rider to operate the electronic paddle
shifters with her left foot.) The DCT
models also come with ABS. Mileage is
claimed to be better than 60 mpg, although
it has yet to be officially measured (CityBike
returned similar numbers with the manualequipped NC700X).
On Friday, February 8, Honda pulled the
covers off its new entry-level bike, showing
us the two first-edition models in the new
CTX Series—the naked CTX700N and
the touring- equipped CTX700. Honda’s
objective with these bikes is to bring new
riders into the market, especially shorter
riders that might like to transition up from
a scooter and, with the DCT automatic
transmission option, avoid learning
annoying things like clutching and shifting.
I’ll say right off that I’m a huge fan of
mid-sized Twins. I think the parallelTwin Honda NC700X, which is aimed at
the dual-sport market, really hits a great
spot. I think it’s a very tasty alternative
to the BMW F700GS, a bike I’d love to
ride regularly. But while the CTX models
share the NC700X’s outstanding and
appropriate 670cc engine (low-end torque
March 2013 | 7 | CityBike.com
The CTX700N/CTX700ND is the
naked model, listing at $6999 and $7999
respectively. It is comfortable to sit on,
and that’s pretty much all you do on the
ND model. (Well, okay, you still have to
use the throttle and brakes.) It is definitely
a cruiser, and probably does remain very
comfortable on long rides, as Honda
claims. The CTX700/CTX700D is
equipped for touring, with the same ergos,
but with added fairing and side cases. It
lists at $7799 and $8799 respectively.
I’m glad that Honda is producing a
mid-sized starter bike. I’d like to see
more people riding motorcycles, and
if clutching and shifting puts them off,
I’m happy that Honda is providing an
alternative. I just wish Honda had chosen
a more standard-bike styling, rather than
a plastic minicruiser. And I dare say that
entry-level folks will care about how a
bike looks. But perhaps my Midwest
sensibilities have got the best of me, and
folks will dig this new offering from
Honda—we’ll find out this season.
Z300: NAKED NINJA
Available in Indonesia: the Kawasaki Z250,
a naked-ish version of the Ninja 300. Will
it come to our shores? That seems possible,
as Kawasaki likes to introduce multiple
models based on the same engine (and the
300cc version is already DOT and CARB
compliant). However, dealers may not
want another similar model to confuse
customers, especially if the pricing isn’t
significantly different—and we don’t see
how this bike could be much cheaper than classic cruiser. Chrome and other special
the $4799 Ninja. If they do introduce it, it’ll cosmetic touches are complimented by
be a while until we hear about it.
a Garmin GPS unit, XM radio and four
premium speakers for the stereo system.
CAFE ENFIELD
Additionally, a Black Blade windscreen is
unique to this model, which also comes
Yes, we enjoyed tooling around on the
Royal Enfield we tested last month (“Made with removable saddlebag and trunk liners.
Suggested MSRP is $29,999.
like a Gun, Goes Like a Bullet”), but
nobody’s going to mistake one for a high—Dirck Edge
performance ride. That may change later
this year, when the new Cafe Racer model SIDECARS DOWN UNDER
arrives in dealerships.
Local raconteur, racer, welder and manWe told you about the bike last year, but
about-town Wade Boyd sent
here are more details: the motor will be
us this race report from the
pumped up to 535cc and fitted with a
20th Annual International
freer-flowing reverse megga, which may
Island Classic. The only
give us as much as 37 hp. Weight looks to
problem is Wade’s writing
be trimmed a bit, and it will have adjustable style, which, while colorful,
Paoli suspension and adjustable rearsets,
reads like Japanese that’s been
too. Pricing will be around $7500, about
translated first to Dutch and
$1000 more than other Royal Enfield
then to English using Google
models. Looks good to us.
Translate. The effect is like
when you were a teenager
VICTORY
watching scrambled Cable
T.V. porn—something good
This is the 15th anniversary of Victory
is happening, you’re just not
Motorcycles, and Victory has unveiled a
sure exactly what.
15th Anniversary Cross Country Tour
Still, we’ve got the
room this month
and the more you
read it, the more
it makes sense.
Wade’s Dadaist
use of punctuation
must have driven a
generation of San
Francisco grammarschool teachers (and
regional motorcycle
magazine editors) to
alcoholism. We have
left it in unedited
form because you
wouldn’t believe
it was from Wade
otherwise.
Limited Edition model in New York to
kick off its celebration. Production will
be limited to 150 units, each featuring a
Sunset Red over Gloss Black paint with
gold pin-striping, inspired by the first
Victory built 15 years ago, the V92C
annual International Classic - Jan. 25 27th. With 20 riders & 1 Sidecar #88. On
Team North America - Team Captain Gary
Fisher* - And it was a Real Gun Fight, in all
classes & Everyone had their battles on the
track or in the pits. each Team had blown
motors & some crashes - Team North
America took 4th in The Challenge after a
hard fight.
Wade Boyd & Christine Blunck* --> Race 1
- #12 Doug Chivas gets the Hole Shot, The
Vincent hangs a left... WB out top ends #12
lap! - #12 gets by in turn 5... WB #88 Passes
again on top end. But #12 Local Legend down under, gets by again & Wins!
with Subculture Racing in 2nd. & The
Team & Fans go Wild - The call was, Purple
is out in front...!
Race 2 - #12 is missing & #88 gets the Hole
Shot! & We Lead wire to wire! #88 Wins
& #888 The Vincent gets 2nd - race 3 #12 gets the hole shot
followed by #888... #88
had to work their way
thru & got into 2nd,
before a Red Flag. So
there\’s another 2nd
place* - Race 4 - Again
#12 & #888 get out into
the lead, So We Stuff
#888 going into turn 4(
up the inside) - & they
come back around, for
the Drag race to the
kink & turn 6...! But,
at the Kink we had a
\”Christine Sandwich\”
Above: Our heroes showing the competition the fast
as
we
bumped
(it was a soft bump
way around the Island. Purple mohawks provide
Christine;\’s
shoulder
- so it was
valuable mid-corner stability.
OK)... They won the Battle But we
Below: Christine doing some pre-race stretching.
Won the War! - & we picked them
off on the straight, & went after
#12 Doug & Mathew. We got close,
but followed them in for another
2nd Place! & Our team went Wild
upon our return every time! Big
Handshakes & hugs all around! We
also made friends with everyone &
all of the Sidecar Teams too. - & At
the Awards Banquette, The Place
roared for Subculture Racing when
we found out #88 Won the overall
Sidecar Win \” 1st Place\”--- > &
that means----> #88 is The New
Sidecar World Champions!!!***
Go #88 Go!!***
Phillips Island Race Report
We also shot videos from & back,...
coming soon to youtube.
By Wade Boyd
- Big Thanks to all of our Fans &
Helpers ->(Elves*) - Phillup Island
is now our Favorite Track! & The
people are like the Best! The Auz
Tour was the Best & we where the Stars
of the event...! Subculture Racing Sidecar
World Champions America!*
Team North America had its debut at
Phillip Island Down under for the 20th
KYEE SAYS GOOD-BYEE (TO
CALIFORNIA)
We Ship Worldwide
CALL
US
FIRST!
Salvaged & New Parts!
Tue–Fri 10–6 Sat 9–5
March 2013 | 8 | CityBike.com
Schact Racing sent us news of a local kid
making good:
Schacht Racing is pleased to announce that
young racer American Brandon Kyee will
be joining them for the 2013 season.
The 16 year old from California will
be returning to the world stage for
the 3rd straight season competing
in the European Superstock 600cc
Championship on a Honda.
The talented American has previously
competed in the European Junior Cup
achieving podiums at Assen in Holland in
frustrated we have to take a hand off the
bar to work the controls to answer calls,
pause music or talk to our disembodied
friend Siri.
Blue Infusion Technologies has a solution:
the BEARTek glove. It’s an armored blackSMART GLOVES
leather motorcycle glove with conductive
Many of us have an
touchpoints on the thumb and fingers
unhealthy and obsessive
which send commands to a removable
relationship with our
Bluetooth module. Touch your left finger
smart phones—we can’t
and thumb together to play, pause, fastbear to be away from them,
forward, rewind, jump to next track—all
even when we’re riding. We
without taking your hand off the grip or
use Bluetooth headsets or
your eyes off the road. BIT’s Willie Blount
earbuds, but are
says you can pair it to a headset and a
smartphone, or you can just use it
with your earbuds. Battery life
is around 20 hours.
But, \”The inspiration of the Team\” was
our Local Hero\’s of Subculture Racing
& the Sidecar on the Team, Sidecar #88 -
*The asterisks don’t actually connote
footnotes, by the way. Wade just likes how
they look.
Repair & Service
March, with a $250 MSRP.
Claimed weight is just over
3 pounds. See more photos
and details at bellhelmets.
com/powersports.
2011 and at the British round at Silverstone
last year.
which illustrates the unpredictable cruelty
of our sport.
“It is going to be another great experience
and an amazing season of learning. I got a
chance to meet and talk with Team Schacht
last season and am super grateful to be a
part of their team for the 2013 European
Superstock 600cc season. Support from
Michael Hill, Donna Parodi , Mach 1
Motorsports and donations from friends and
family is making this happen” said Kyee.
Ash had a 23-year history of
motojournalism and published several
books. An interview on the Bike Exif
blog (bikeexif.com/kevin-ash) from
November 2011 showed a passionate
and straight-talking guy (his reviews are
brilliant writing as well: ashonbikes.com).
When Bike Exif editor Chris Hunter
asked, “what is your idea of perfect
happiness?” Ash replied,
Brandon still needs sponsors for his 2013
campaign. Interested parties can contact
him via his Facebook page, Brandon
Kyee Racing website or directly at
[email protected].
Michael Hill Promotions / MPH TV will
be tracking and reporting on Brandon’s
results as well as providing TV interviews
and video features of Schacht Racing
throughout 2013.
Contact phone number: 650/438-9969
GODSPEED KEVIN ASH
In addition to not being particularly
lucrative, we must also remember that
motojournalism is a pretty dangerous
profession. We sadly note the passage of
one of our own—English freelancer Kevin
Ash died January 22 after a crash in South
Africa, riding BMW’s new liquid-cooled
R1200GS on a straight stretch of gravel
road. BMW hasn’t released details of what
happened, but Cycle World’s Mark Hoyer
(who is also a volunteer fire fighter) was
on the scene to provide first aid and said
he looked like he had some broken bones,
but looked like he was going to be okay—
There are moments on bikes when you’re
concentrating so intently on the moment, the
rest of the world, life, worries, memories are all
pushed out of your mind as you focus on the
now. That can happen while hustling a sweet
handling bike up a sinuous mountain road or
a powerful, communicative superbike around
a really great race track. There’s no such thing
as perfect happiness, but on two wheels, these
can get close.
Enough said.
NEW STUFF MARCH 2013
NOT-SO-LOVEABLE ROGUE
Meet Bell Helmet’s new Rogue. It’s a new
kind of animal entirely—the convertible
half-helmet. The detachable vented
“muzzle” is made of polyurethane and
includes a removable fleece liner. It’s
attached with Bell’s “FidLock” magnet
connection system and ratcheting plastic
straps. It’s adjustable for perfect fit—but
probably doesn’t provide much crash
protection, unless you feel looking sinister
is protection enough.
The helmet itself has a few
innovations as well. The EPS
foam extends below the shell,
into the neck roll—Bell claims
it’s actually a 3/4 design, not a
half helmet. Also, the liner is
removable for cleaning, there
are integrated pockets for
headset speakers and the shell
comes in three sizes for better
fit. Your local Bell dealer will
start stocking the Rogue in
March 2013 | 9 | CityBike.com
The module sits in a
waterproof pocket, so
you can transfer it
to BIT’s BEARTek
Winter glove, which
may or may not be
good for motorcycling.
We’ve asked for a pair
of the moto-gloves—
we’ll let you know
how they work.
The complete
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.
motorcycle glove is $200 ($130 without
ZIPPMAG
the Bluetooth), the winter glove kit is $150
Here’s a cool idea: it’s called Zippmag.
($80 without BT). The module is $80 on its
It’s a reusable cable tie attached to a
own. Order via beartekgloves.com or email
magnet with a 10-pound strength.
questions to [email protected].
Use it to hold your tools while you’re
working, hold pieces in place for
LAMINAR SHLAMINAR
welding, attach f lashlights
We here at CityBike knew
to your car hood while
that despite
you’re fixing something
the Honda
at night (Ed Hertfelder
NC700X
could use these every
being a
month, we’re sure), secure
touch
wiring harnesses, attach a
bland
hidden key somewhere—we
and
can think of hundreds of uses.
slow,
Cool item—and would do well at the
it
parts counter next to the register, shop
owners. Five bucks each: call 507/369would 6013 or email [email protected]
do very (yes, that’s a hell of an email...)
well as a
commuter/
tourer/
urban
ride. It’s
light, fun,
fast enough
(up to 90 or
so, at least)
and gets great
fuel economy. And so it
has—Honda’s sales numbers
have been strong the last few
months, thanks in part to the
bike’s success.
So there are more than a few of
you out there who have ponied
up and bought one, so now the
accessorizing fun begins. How about
more wind protection? The airmanagement guys at Laminar have
already stepped up with their new
Lip for the NC700X. It’s just $84,
($94 for the bigger Touring sheild)
and if it works as well as other
Laminar products we’ve used, it’s
well worth it. It attaches in minutes
with adhesive snaps, and Laminar
promises it will reduce noise,
windblast and helmet buffeting. Get
yours by visiting laminarlip.com or
calling 714/540-8006.
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:
1 (800) 928-1511
www.michaelpadway.com
March 2013 | 10 | CityBike.com
EVENTS FEBRUARY 2013
First Monday of each month
(March 4, April 1):
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
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 world grace our
meetings. It has been fun and exciting.
americansportbikenight.net
First Wednesday of each month
(March 6, April 3)
6:00 pm: Bay Area Moto Guzzi Group
monthly dinner at Vahl’s in Alviso (1512
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].
Doc Wong Clinics!
Spectators may be repeatedly and
embarrassingly injured. Kids ride free!
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.
6:00-Midnight
6:00-Midnight: Nude ride n’ swim.
Meet at Larry O’s PleasureDome, 1647
International Boulevard, Oakland. Please
wax your shins before the ride this year.
Bring amyl nitrate—we ran out before we
reached Mount Diablo last year! Safety
first: no Husqvarnas or pre ‘97 Suzukis.
More info: docwong.com
Events at Motoshop
Moto Shop : 325 South Maple
Ave #20, South San Francisco.
650/239-6686,
bayareamotoshop.com
Thursday, February 28, 6:30 pm:
Engine Rebuilding
Saturday, March 2, 10:00 am:
Tire Change Clinic
Saturday, March 9, 10:00 am:
Basic Moto Maintenance
Wednesday, March 13, 5:00 pm:
Brakes Workshop
Saturday, March 16, 10:00 am:
Tire Change Workshop
Saturday, March 23, 9:00 am:
Valve Workshop
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.
Sunday, March 24, 10:00 am:
Basic Moto Maintenance
Third Wednesday of Each Month
(March 20, April 17)
Saturday, April 27, 10:00 am:
Tire Change Workshop
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.
Clinics and classes start at $40
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
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 707-557-5199.
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.
Saturday, March 16
Saturday, April 6
6:00 pm: An Evening with MotoGP
Photographer Andrew Wheeler
(D-Store SF, 131 S. Van Ness Ave.,
San Francisco, 415/626-5478,
dstoresanfrancisco.com)
San Jose Indoor Pro Short-Track Races
(Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344
Tully road, San Jose)
MotoGP photographer Andrew Wheeler
will be giving a review of the 2012 season
and some insight into the upcoming and
exciting 2013 season. Andrew is now in
his 12th year as a freelance photographer,
and having covered every major series
including AMA, WSBK and now
MotoGP, will be bringing his own unique
view with a very special evening. Last
year’s event was extremely successful
and fun, and we hope to improve and
enlighten those who come to this year’s
gathering. Snacks and refreshments
provided. Free admission!
Monday, April 1
Sunday, March 17, 1:00 pm:
Chains and Sprockets
Second Tuesday of Each Month
(March 13, April 9)
Third Sunday of each month
(March 17, April 21):
Photo: Nic Coury
11:00 am: High-speed lane-splitting
race on fully enclosed self-balancing
electric supermotos. Register with Lit
Motors by placing a $1000 deposit.
Saturday, March 30, 10:00 am:
Tire Change Workshop
Monday, April 1, 1:00 am:
Blinker fluid and butt-dyno
calibration
Saturday, March 9
8:00 pm-Midnight: Charlie’s Place
Send-off Party, SFMC (2194 Folsom
St. San Francisco, 415/863-1930)
Charlie O’Hanlon is closing up shop and
moving to the promised land—let’s send
him off right! Food, music, friends and
fun. Bring money.
Saturday, March 16-Sunday March 24
10:00 am-8:00 pm: Aerostich Rider
WearHouse Popup Store in S.F. (655
Bryant between 5th and 4th, S.F.)
Drop by for fitting and alteration with
actual Aerostich experts (including
the mysterious Mr. Subjective) and to
see the range of products the Duluth,
Minnesota-based company offers. There
will also be daily events and activities as
well as door prizes, snacks and coffee.
More info: aerostich.com/popupsf or
call 800/222-1994.
March 2013 | 11 | CityBike.com
Indoor motorcycle racing at the Expo
Building, come check it out, ONLY $20
gets you a GREAT SEAT! Motorcycle
New service customers, please
accept a $50 voucher on any service
work on your Jap/ Euro bike as an
introductory gift from us.
510 594 0789
http://www.rockridgetwowheels.com
925 938 0600
http://www.vespawalnutcreek.com
For all your Bay Area
Vespa / Piaggio / Aprilia needs
Racers: Open Practice 2:00 pm-6:00 pm
Friday, April 5th. Bring your AMA cards
to sign up.
April 6-7, 2013
26th Annual Clubman’s All-British
Motorcycle Weekend Featuring the
Vincent Motorcycle
Motorcycle. Santa Clara County
Fairgrounds, San Jose. Saturday, April
6. 8am - 4pm. 150 Show Bikes. 80 Swap
Vendors. $5 admission Children under
12 free. Win a 1979 Triumph Bonneville
T140E, tickets $1.
Sunday April 7
10am “Morning After Ride”
70 British Bikes on a ride in the Santa
Cruz Mountains. Information and entry
forms: BSAOCNC.org
Dana Perri slides his vintage racer on the polished concrete at the 2011 indoor race.
Photo: Karen Gould, Checkered Flag Photography.
racing is back at San Jose on polished
concrete. Experience handlebar bashing,
elbow-to-elbow racing “in a cage” on flat
track bikes. Top National and localranked Pro racers and their “teams” will
make up the field of competitors.
There is not a bad seat in the bleachers;
they surround the cage and make you
feel you’re part of the action. When the
bikes fire up, you feel the “goosebumps.”
So race fans, come early to pick your
seat. Come experience Pro Racing at
its BEST! More info: 418/249-4336,
sanjoseindoor.com.
Get Your Fix
4052 Watts Street @ 40th
Braking Bad?
Sunday, May 19
Memorial Ride for Gary Jaehne Save
the date! Stay tuned for more info as the
summer approaches.
May 23-27, 2013
BMW Club of Northern California
41st Annual 2013 ‘49er Rally (Mariposa
Fairgrounds, 5007 Fairgrounds Rd.
Mariposa, 209/966-2432)
Join us in Mariposa, California, the
gateway to Yosemite, in the Sierra Nevada
Foothills. Includes four nights flat
grassy camping and hot showers (early
bird camping on or before Wednesday
available--$10 tent / $25 RV per night).
Poker Run, GS Ride, English Trials,
Skills and Safety Clinic, Children Events,
Seminars, CHP Officer Greg Peart,
Vendors, Bier Garten, Door Prizes.
Featured speakers: Carla King helps
celebrate women riders and Rick Klain
talks about cellphone photography. Also,
Sat. BBQ Dinner with vegetarian option
(PRE-REGISTERED ONLY). Rally
costs $45 adult / $15 child under 12 years
pre-registered, children under 6 admitted
free; $55 adult / $20 child under 12
years at the gate. For information or
registration write: BMW Club of NorCal,
2012 ‘49er Rally, 2540 Maywood
Dr, San Bruno, CA 94066. Email:
[email protected] or check
our website for the latest news, info, and
online registration at:
bmwnorcal.org/49er
A
t 100,000-plus miles, my
old-nail but serviceable
1999 VFR stopped
poorly. After testing a new
machine with excellent brakes
for CityBike, riding the VFR
aggressively scared me witless.
Like middle-aged spread, the
braking had deteriorated slowly,
undetected. Not to mention the
VFR’s ’90s brake technology.
Braking takes 12 elements—
part human, part machine:
eyes, brain and hand/foot, then
levers, master-cylinders and
brake lines, to calipers, pads and
disks, finally tires, road and weather.
Decision: Galfer
rotors and sintered
pads, $500,
installed. Wavy
disks are not bling.
They improve heat
dissipation and
resist warping and
fade.
Plus, it’s a friendly place...swing
by on a Saturday for a cup o’
coffee and some bench racing.
Nichols Sportbike Service
913 Hanson Court
Milpitas, CA 95035
(408) 945-0911
For Ducati product info, please go to:
www.nicholssportbike.com
March 2013 | 12 | CityBike.com
The Galfer Solution:
brake lines, rotors, pads
Send us $14.99 + $5 for
shipping and we’ll send you
a shirt... really! Email us:
[email protected] or mail a
check. Let us know your
shirt size (S-XXL) and
shipping address*
City Bike Magazine
PO Box 10659
Oakland, CA 94610
[email protected]
* if your primary business model revolves around
recycling of paper, unwanted appliances, or beverage
containers, this shirt might not be right for you.
Email: [email protected]
After
Interim fix. Braking is barely improved.
While we are well-known
for our work on Ducatis, we
provide outstanding service
on all brands and all models!
Readers: what are your brake fixes? A prize
to the winning solution, as we judge it.
Steel shoes excluded.
Before
Fresh brake fluid, bleed, clean calipers:
marginally better. Glazed disks? Check
to ensure they’re not warped, apply
sandpaper, 800 to 1200 grit, on flat blocks,
then wire pads, clean the disks with brakecleaner fluid? Done.
This is Tom. See Tom Run.
Doubt your brakes? Your life is on the
line. Nothing personal. Just reality.
Note: when replacing disks, the
manufacturers (motorcycle, brake
systems) recommend new mounting
bolts. Torqued on original installation,
they cannot safely be retorqued.
much help: the
shop estimates five
hours to install that
Technically, front brake lines must
transmit lever pressure efficiently, calipers kit, pro-rated, so
must close firmly, pads must have bite and that if it takes less
disks must be clean and true. The rear? Less time they charge
less—mostly
important, 15 percent of stopping.
removal of stuff for
We make scores or hundreds of braking
line replacement/
decisions on typical rides. But everything
routing. Bay Area
must work, end to end. Lives are on the line. shop rates average
$100: add $500
Solutions? Bucks?
labor to the $250
New OEM pads? Tried that. Meh. Rethink. parts.
Radical measures? Replace the front end
with Great Stuff—Öhlins forks (I installed
a rear Öhlins shock last year—$1000),
radial Brembos, junk the VFR’s linkedbrake system? Estimate $2000-plus,
including used parts, plus labor, on a
bike not even worth double that. Lousy
deal—you rarely recover such investments
beyond original spec.
Service & Repair
Result: progressive,
effective brakes. CityBike
cannot measure brake
pressures or stopping
distances, but braking is
transformed, subjectively,
from marginal to safe. The
VFR should go another
50,000 or more miles, so
my fix to date cost a penny
a mile. Braided lines?
Maybe, later.
By John Joss, Senior
Editor
Enter The Motor Café, aka Honda/
Ducati/KTM/Kawasaki Peninsula in
Sunnyvale (“Shop Stop: the Motor Cafe,”
February 2011). Parts genius Dan takes
a new tack. “Your stuff is 100,000 miles
old. Go Galfer.”
How much? Braided steel lines, $250
before installation? Whoa. Typical
400-plus-pound motorcycles have three
lines for three brakes: two front, one rear,
one hydraulic line per. Not VFRs. Galfer’s
VFR kit takes nine separate lines, one
double-banjo bolt, 14 single banjo bolts, 36
washers, a bleeder bolt and brain-surgery
instructions. Okay, $250 is fair.
Purists dislike the VFR’s linked brakes,
created to help riders stop better. Now—
perhaps like VTEC, Honda’s VFR
‘improvement’—they’re attacking my
billfold. Honda’s factory manual isn’t
March 2013 | 13 | CityBike.com
Villopoto on a Roll in Oakland
D
efending Supercross Champion
Ryan Villopoto soloed in front
for all 20 laps before a crowd of
46,896 fans in the Oakland Coliseum
in January. After pulling the holeshot
he was never challenged and soared to a
ten-second lead over the next rider (Davi
Millsaps) for the remainder of the race.
Above: The starting grid. Below: James Stuart
after the big first-lap pile-up. Photos: Alan Lapp
Soft dirt, two sand sections, and quickforming ruts during the initial laps made
for a challenging track in which getting the
holeshot was a critical factor in winning the
race. Staying in front is never easy (though
Villopoto made it look that way) but
making up for lost time and passing other
riders on a such a track is even harder.
From 3:14 Daily
Valencia @ 25th
415-970-9670
Davi Millsaps, winner of the first race of
the season, has shown the most consistent
performance so far by taking a third, fourth
and a second place in his subsequent races,
with the result that, as of Oakland, he is
still the series points-leader (85), followed
by Canard (78), Villopoto (77), Dungey
(68) and Reed (65). James Stewart, who
had the fastest qualifying time in Oakland
this year (and won it last year), languishes
in 11th place with 38 points.
At the pit entrance, waiting to start the show with gestures of faith and patriotism.
In the 250 class (Westcoast Lites), threein-a-row winner Eli Tomacs crashed out in
Ryan Villapoto wins the 450 race. Photo: David Duffin
the main event, handing the series pointsleadership to Oakland winner Ken Roczen.
A second place at Anaheim-III and an
amazing start-to-finish, 20-lap in-the-lead
In the two 450 races following Oakland
win at San Diego have put him 19 points
- Anaheim-III and San Diego - Millsaps
ahead of second-place Ryan Dungey and a
has proven that his win in the first race
whopping 27 points out front of third-place
of the season was not the luck of the
Ryan Villopoto. Millsaps has stood on the
underdog, it was the product of drive,
podium five out of the six races so far.
talent and, yes, consistent performance.
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82
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NO
When our regular lens man, Bob
Stokstad, was unable to attend the
Oakland SX at the Coliseum, I
was tapped to stand in. I’m a fair
photographer, but I’m not experienced
with action sports. Bob makes it look
easy, but it’s really not. Add in the fact
that I’m a big SX noob, and it makes for a
true challenge.
SX is big-time, very different from
most events we cover. The parking lot
and stadium were full of fans throwing
elaborate tailgating parties, replete with
gas grills and Ez-Up awnings. The track
map on the back of my photo pass shows
massive red areas which are verboten and
slim green areas in which photographers
are allowed. I immediately make a
wrong turn and find a firm hand of a
black-clad, radio-equipped staffer in
the middle of my back giving me the
bum rush. I realize later that I must
have inadvertently wandered into an
area covered by the dozens of remotely
controlled TV cameras.
Reliable, timely service at
reasonable rates on all
makes of motorcycles
EL
Shooting the
Supercross
101
RE
AL
Ken Roczen wins the 250 race. Photo: Alan Lapp
March 2013 | 14 | CityBike.com
As I try to come to grips with the
technical challenges of shooting such
high contrast and fast action, I begin
to notice the fine lace of interconnected
tasks necessary to pull off this fabulous
show. There’s the cast of characters
one would find at any well-run race:
in addition to the racers and their
mechanics, there are corner workers,
medical staff, and security.
However, elevating a race into an
entertainment event requires many
additional layers: lighting technicians to
run the laser light show; pyrotechnicians
in charge of the massively impressive
balls of fire; a team of lovely trophy
girls; TV anchor types to announce and
interview the racers... and of course a
cadre of technicians and stage managers
to mix the dozens of video feeds into
a coherent visual presentation for
broadcast. Then, think of the small army
that works for months promoting and
advertising the event, seeking sponsors...
working the deals for the dollars that fuel
the show. SX is big-time, big-money, and
big-business.
The magnitude of the show makes me feel
very insignificant and out of place. That
unpleasant sensation lasted several days
like a hangover from a strong drug, but
I’ll admit: in the moment, it is thrilling to
be part of the spectacle.
—Alan Lapp
March 2013 | 15 | CityBike.com
areas—that may seem the height of
recklessness.
Splitting Headache
Reading between the lines
By Gabe Ets-Hokin
Photos by Bob Stokstad
“Are you one of those guys that zips past me in
stopped traffic?”
“That looks so dangerous! Aren’t you scared?”
“One of these days, I’m just going to open my
door...”
We’ve heard that crap a million times,
haven’t we? Car drivers have a real problem
with us lane-splitting, don’t they?
Here in the USA, that’s another story.
Only in California is it both legal and
culturally tolerated. But why? That would
take a legal historian to determine, but
the CHP energetically denies it has ever
maintained the position that it advocated
to keep lane-splitting legal so air-cooled
motorcycles wouldn’t overheat in traffic
jams, so stop telling people that. The CHP
also states it has never come out either for
or against lane-splitting. My guess is since
most of California never gets too hot or too
Why do we lane-split? And should we be
doing it? We do it because...well, because
we can. The space is there, we can do
it safely, and the benefits are manifold.
Besides the obvious joy that comes with
leaving traffic slowdowns and jams in
our dust, we also expose ourselves to less
risk, argues Livermore P.D. officer and
motorcycle safety advocate John Hurd.
“The worst feeling in the world is being a
sitting duck, (exposed to cars approaching
stopped traffic from behind). If you get
Europe, England and Australia—show
lane-splitting either slightly reduces or
slightly increases the crash rate—or it’s a
wash. Even when studies show a significant
portion of motorcyclists were involved in
crashes while lane-splitting, it’s not clear
that the act of riding between cars—and
not some other factor, like excessive speed
or road conditions—wasn’t the cause. An
in-depth study of lane-splitting crashes by
U.C. Berkeley is expected to be completed
this year.
Sucks to be them. Not only
can they not bypass stopped
and slowed traffic—and spare
themselves hundreds of hours
a year stuck in the endless jams
that snarl Bay Area roadways—
they can’t stop us from doing
it. After all, despite the fact that
we’re in America, where if ‘what
I’m doing isn’t affecting you,
so mind your own business’ is
supposedly a way of life, we still
like to punish those who are
having fun we can’t (or won’t)
have, whether it’s assault rifles,
heroin, gay sex or riding on two
wheels. Unlike some of those
other activates, lane-splitting* is
legal in California .
“Lane Splitting” is the
commonly used term for
riding a motorcycle or
scooter between two lanes
of slow or stopped traffic. It’s not a
legal term—it appears nowhere in the
California Vehicle Code (CVC), nor do
terms like “white lining,” “lane sharing,”
“Botts Dotting” or “Moto Oreo-ing.”**
Motorcyclists have probably been
doing it since there were two cars and a
motorcycle, and in most countries, it’s
not just tolerated—it’s expected.
So: it’s safe, but is it truly legal?
You could say it’s not illegal,
but why? Isn’t that the same
as saying something is legal?
There are millions of activities
not expressly prohibited by
the CVC or other state law,
and yet nobody says French
kissing is in a “grey area,” or
feeding Mallomars to your
dog is “technically legal.”
California trusts our Thin
Blue Line to decide what
behaviors are safe and what
aren’t. Hurd told me he uses a
trinity of VC sections—Unsafe
Speed (22350), Following too
Closely (21703) and use of
Laned Roadways (21658)—
to cite riders he deems are
lane-splitting in a dangerous
manner.
cold to ride in, and it’s constantly jammed
somewhere, there are always riders lanesplitting, and they’re hard to catch. Rather
than try to enforce the unenforceable,
the CHP focuses on behavior that’s
actually dangerous. How states like Texas
and Florida banned it is actually more
mysterious to me.***
rear-ended in a car, it’s not the end of the
world, but on a motorcycle, you’re the
crumple zone, so the ability to choose lane
position is important.”
While there are few (if any) studies on
lane-splitting itself, crash data from major
reports—the aged “Hurt” report from
the USA, the European Union’s MAIDS
study and other, smaller studies done in
Uh-oh: subjectivity.
Governments and other large organizations
don’t like the ambiguity of leaving it up
to guys like Hurd—he’s been riding since
he was six years old, and to a veteran Bay
Area rider, cruising in between stopped
cars at 15-20 mph may seem safe. But to
somebody who hasn’t ridden—or spends
more time riding in lightly trafficked
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3248 17th Street San Francisco, CA 94110
March 2013 | 16 | CityBike.com
That’s why the members of the California
Office of Traffic Safety (OTS)’s
Mission-12 Safety Committee, a group of
motorcyclists, law-enforcement officers,
safety experts, government employees
and other stakeholders developed a set
of guidelines for lane-splitting (among
other safety initiatives). The guidelines
were developed over many months of
meetings, both in the large committee
and subcommittees. A number of Bay
Area riders, including Hurd and Bay Area
Rider’s Forum (BARF) owner Bud Kobza
contributed, and see the posting of these
guidelines on the CHP and OTS websites
as a major victory.
The guidelines do several things. First, they
inform other road users that “lane splitting
in a safe and prudent manner is not illegal
in the state of California,” and also tell
drivers to not try to block motorcyclists
from doing it. That’s important—according
to a U.C. study, almost half of California’s
drivers either think lane-splitting is illegal
or don’t know the law, and many of them
even turn vigilante, attempting to block
riders. The guidelines also tell riders what
they “should” do when lane-splitting: keep
the speed differential under 10 mph, stay
between lanes one and two, be respectful
and reasonable. I wish they also could tell
motorists to stay in the center of their lanes
and not drift right or left. Oh, and maybe do
something about those giant truck mirrors.
As secure as lane-splitting is in California,
it’s just as unlikely to spread beyond our
Golden borders. It’s explicitly banned
in most states, and states that lack laws
prohibiting it are culturally intolerant,
though motorcyclists report doing it in
places like Texas and Chicago. There’s
just no way politicians will sign on to
something that looks so dangerous to the
uninformed, and the Motorcycle Safety
Foundation doesn’t help, either—that
industry-funded organ doesn’t believe you
can maintain a space cushion while lanesplitting (actually a pretty good point), so
obviously won’t support the practice.
The AMA does not support legalizing
lane-splitting, though it isn’t against
it, either: “While the AMA does not
actively advocate for lane-sharing at the
state level, we approve of the concept
(saves gas and less wear and tear, says
terHorst) and commend California
for issuing reasonable lane-sharing
guidelines.” But as the huge majority
of the Ohio-based AMA’s membership
don’t do it—and probably never will—
the issue has a very low priority. ABATE
is another matter, and is trying to legalize
it in other states—both Texas’ and
Oregon’s legislatures have seen bills—
but efforts have so far been for naught.
Lane-splitting is an important part of the
lives of Bay Area motorcyclists, many of
whom commute 20,000 or more miles a
year, much of it in beige-and-silver canyons
of slow-moving cars, minivans and SUVs.
Some of us
Posting the
(this reporter
guidelines was
included) fear
big news—
the guidelines
websites, T.V.
could lead to
news stations and
more aggressive
radio programs
enforcement, or
were buzzing the
even a slippery
week I wrote this.
slope to everIt ran on newspaper front pages. Judging
tightening regulation until it’s effectively
by the comments from readers, viewers
outlawed. How do we keep it legal? Read
and listeners, lane-splitting does not make
the guidelines, be a good ambassador
motorcycling popular in the public eye.
(wave to drivers who pull over, eschew
When asked by the U.C. surveyors, car
noisy exhausts and keep the speeds down!)
drivers, by a very wide margin, disapprove educate your friends and family and get
of the practice. When asked why, the two
politically active. Maybe someday we’ll be
largest numbers of responses are either that in the checkout line and hear:
they think it’s dangerous (which it isn’t) or
that it’s scary (WTF? You’re in a car). They “I sure am jealous you guys get where you’re
apparently do not appreciate that every
going quickly and safely! Maybe I’ll learn to
lane-splitting motorcycle takes a car off the ride too.”
road and reduces congestion. Hey, we live
Send your feedback to [email protected].
in a facts-optional society, but ignorant and
silly people vote, too; should we fear for our Resources:
lane-splitting privileges?
ABATE of California: abate17.org
If somebody wanted
to outlaw it, it would
take a long time
“If somebody wanted to outlaw it, it
would take a long time,” Hurd told me.
Passing laws is a long process, with many
roadblocks—committees, lobbyists,
political parties and grumpy governors. To
get a law passed you need strong support
from the public as well as government and
other large organizations, and though there
have been bills like this in the past, right
now, Hurd tells me that “nobody wants
to start that process...not OTS, AMA,
DMV, CHP.” If they do crop up, ABATE’s
California chapter has already crushed
two and is ready for more, and AMA
spokesperson Peter terHorst said that that
organization will “work with established
clubs and groups in that area” to defend
motorcycle rights.
AMA:800-AMA-JOIN, americanmotorcyclist.
com
* I say “lane-splitting” because that’s what I—and
everybody I know—has called it for the last 20
years. Some motorcyclists argue we should say
“lane-sharing” because it sounds friendlier, or
because that’s a more technically accurate term,
and some get into this weird technical argument
about how lane-sharing and lane-splitting are
really two different things according to some
unnamed authority, but I am not one to encourage
twisting of the English language for political
purposes.
Motorcyclists who are competent
enough riders to lane split, should
follow these general guidelines if
choosing to lane split:
1. Travel at a speed that is no more than
10 mph faster than other traffic—danger
increases at higher speed differentials.
The Four R’s or “Be-Attitudes” of Lane
Splitting:
Be Reasonable, be Responsible, be
Respectful, be aware of all Roadway and
traffic conditions.
2. It is not advisable to lane split when
Note: These general guidelines are
traffic flow is at 30 mph or faster—danger
not guaranteed to keep you safe. Lane
increases as overall speed increases.
splitting should not be performed
by inexperienced riders. These
3. Typically, it is more desirable to split
guidelines assume a high level of riding
between the one and two lanes than
competency and experience. Every rider
between other lanes.
has ultimate responsibility for his or her
4. Consider the total environment in
own decision-making and safety. Riders
which you are splitting, including the
must be conscious of reducing crash risk
width of the lanes, size of surrounding
at all times.
vehicles, as well as roadway, weather, and
—CHP
lighting conditions.
We provide the tools, space &
resources for you to fix and
maintain your own motorcycle.
Take a class and learn how to
do it yourself or get 1-on-1 help
from a mechanic.
(650) 873-1600
** Okay, I made the last two up.
*** Yes, I know you think people in Texas and
Florida are crazier than here and will run you over
if you try it, which is why it’s illegal in those states,
but we have our share of aggressive crazies here, too.
5. Be alert and anticipate possible
movements by other road users.
325 South Maple Ave #20, South SF
March 2013 | 17 | CityBike.com
2013 KTM 690 Duke
Gabe Ets-Hokin: Give me more!
T
he Thumper—that’s slang for the
four-stroke Single—is an acquired
taste, like scotch, Post-Modern
classical music
or C-Span. But
if you get it, you
get it—what feels
like max torque
at idle, featherlight weight and
flexible, easy-touse, confidenceinspiring power
delivery. Still,
if you owned a
production-based
single-cylinder
streetbike, you’ve
always had to
put up with that
configuration’s
Photos: Alan Lapp
shortcomings, like
wheezy top-end
power and vibration that limits highspeed riding. Stay off the Interstate…and
dragstrips.
This last generation of KTM Duke has
changed that in my mind, and the newfor-2012 (but unavailable in the USA ‘till
2013) Duke 690 may move Thumper-ism
closer to becoming a mainstream religion.
It’s based on the older 690 Duke, but
This Duke’s the King
clutch, new cylinder head and
engine-management system
for improved economy and
improved 6000-mile service
intervals. Power matches the
prior “R” versions: a claimed
67 at the crank. And that’s
propelling about 350 gassedup pounds of Austrian alloy.
That’s right—as fun as a
Kawasaki 300 Ninja is, the
KTM weighs 20 pounds less
and makes almost twice the
power.
90 percent of its components are new:
the frame is reworked for a lower, wider,
more comfy two-piece seat (down to
32.8 inches), the motor is stroked to an
actual 690cc (from 654), the bodywork
and exhaust is revamped, the wheels are
new, and the WP suspension has been
dumbed down a bit—probably to keep the
price an affordable $8999. Other details:
radial-mount cast Brembo brake caliper,
switchable ABS, Adler-type “slipper”
We’re a long way from getting
brand-new demo units right
from KTM, both status-wise
and geographically, so bless
the nice folks at Scuderia
West. “Oh, you have to ride this!” squealed
Krystal, rolling a dealer-plated demo
unit out onto the
narrow sidewalk.
Don just gazed
his steely gaze and
nodded. We were
pressed for time—
we only had the
Brammo (see next
page) for a day, and
the KTM would
be gone by the
weekend—but how
could we say no?
If you’ve ridden a
modern Thumper,
the Duke is familiar
at start-up. But
twist the gas at
high speeds and it’s
more like a superlight twin-cylinder
racebike. The top-end hit is just sensational,
and the bike feels fast up to a buck-ten or
so. Not fast for a thumper, not fast for a
middleweight: fast. There are plenty of
bikes with more motor—much, much more
motor—but not a lot with this little weight
and 60-plus horsepower. Wheelies, stoppies,
2013 Brammo Empulse R
backin’ it in: it’s all on the menu, served
up on a stable, predictable, easy-to-handle
package. It also gets great fuel economy
(2012 and newer 690 Duke owners on
fuelly.com report 50-60 mpg) and it’s
cheaper to maintain than prior KTMs.
Yeah, this is a bike with huge appeal.
Experts and new riders alike will have a
good time on it. I just wish I had it long
enough for a full review.
Alan Lapp: I loves me a
single-cylinder motorcycle.
There is a saying in the SuMo community
that it is more fun to ride a slow bike fast
than a fast bike slow. The Duke blows holes
in this because it’s not actually a slow bike...
but it is a whole lot of fun to ride—in part
because it makes sixty-seven horsepower and
weighs only slightly more than a scooter.
Throw in the ridiculously competent
chassis, a slipper clutch, and delightfully
powerful Brembo brakes, and the result
is one absolutely lusty bike that is just the
tool for carpe-ing the living shit out of your
diem, genuinely
encouraging you to
live in the moment.
Throttle-only
wheelies exiting
turns in second
gear, chatterfree backing-in
at exit ramps,
and rear-wheel
lofting at every
stop sign, should
your little sociallyirresponsible heart
desire it.
However, the Duke
is not a hard-edged
thoroughbred that
is awful at less than
10/10ths, even with
its European racing
pedigree. It is docile and pleasant around
town, civil and smooth on the highway. It
only bares its teeth when you ask it to. This
duality makes for a very useful commuting
partner and weekend hooning instrument.
My 690 Enduro shares a motor with the
previous edition, so I could easily detect
the improvements. For instance, the fuel
injection works in a much more courteous
manner than my ‘08, thanks in part to the
new dual-spark cylinder head. Reliability
improvements have been made, most
noticeably the addition of an external
oil line to the cam cover to combat the
infrequent roller-rocker bearing failures
of previous years. Suspension damping
also seems improved, although I couldn’t
verify that.
I would recommend this bike to anyone
looking for an entertaining, do-it-all
bike, as long as your plans don’t include
single-track dirt riding or cross-country
touring. It has even gotten me thinking
about trading in my ‘08 on one. Just don’t
tell my wife.
March 2013 | 18 | CityBike.com
Gabe Ets-Hokin: Lost in
Transmission
U
sed to be, electric bikes were a
novelty. Lead-acid batteries meant
that silky-smooth power and plugin convenience was possible—for short
rides. Thirty miles was too far to venture
with an e-moto, unless your S.O. was
following with a very long extension cord.
And now it’s 2013. Electric vehicles have
come a really long way—which means
you can go a really long way. This Brammo
Empulse R, for instance, can go something
like 56 miles at a steady 70 mph—121 miles
at around-town speeds, and our actual
riding made me think the estimates (which
now have SAE guidelines) are fairly realistic.
Top speed is over 100 mph, and unlike some
of the e-bikes we’ve seen over the years, it
actually looks like a motorcycle, with an
Italian-built twin-spar aluminum frame,
conventional Marzocchi fork, Brembo
brakes and radial sportbike-spec tires. It
even has a clutch and six-speed gearbox.
Riding this bike is the most appliancelike experience you can have at 100 mph.
Smooth, silent, easy to ride—that’s a given
with an electric bike. But fast? Oh, yes;
the Brammo can whip past gas-powered
bikes with just a twist of the wrist. Riding
on a twisty road is a good time, as you
don’t have to worry about gear selection.
Your only worry is the little battery icon
on the instrument panel—if you buy this
bike for sporting weekend rides, you may
be disappointed. Until range gets longer
and charging stations become ubiquitous,
electric vehicles are best for trips of
defined range.
Shifting
Priorities
bodywork, along with higher-spec
suspension), but you do get some dough
back from Uncle Sam ($1700-1900) and
Uncle Jerry ($900) and you won’t buy gas
for this bike. If you ride 10,000 miles a year
on your commute, that’s $1000 a year saved
compared to a 40 mpg bike at $4 a gallon.
And it’s really fun to ride, giving up little to
any middleweight commuter I’ve ridden.
Would it be a rational purchase? Not really.
But what motorcycle really is?
Alan Lapp: Assault with a
battery
Which brings me to the gearbox. I don’t
get it. It’s adds little to the experience, if
you ask me. Neutral is in between second
With new bike releases, as in life, the key to
and third for some reason, but you don’t
happiness is to manage your expectations.
really need neutral—the bike rolls freely
I was weak in this regard: I had hopes.
in gear with the clutch engaged. Come
to think of it, you don’t really need the
clutch, either, although it does make
getting under way smoother, a role throttlemanagement software handles on other
e-bikes. I found myself shifting out of habit,
but it felt like I was playing a video game
r $150)
lue Ove
a
V
with a disconnected joystick. I’m sure if I
il
ta
(Re
rchase
u
P
y
was doing a trackday—or just spent a lot
n
With A er $500!
more time on the bike—I would start to
Ov
figure out how to best use it, but my quick
impression is Brammo should bin the
clutch, make the transmission a two-speed
(city and highway), and carve 40 pounds
off the bike—or use the extra space and
weight for more battery capacity.
HER
T
A
E
L
E
E
FR
SE
A
C
P
O
T
LAP
So I’m surprised I’m saying this, as I’ve
been champing at the bit to ride this thing
for years, but I found it to be too much like a
conventional motorcycle. It’s 470 pounds,
and though you don’t really feel the weight
most of the time—the CG is comically low,
like a scooter’s—you know it’s there, which
diminishes the playful character of the
electric motor.
It’s not cheap, at $16,995 (the R model
is $2000 more—you get carbon-fiber
It was disappointing how the motor
controller—the computerized brain that
examines rider input, and manages bike
output—steps in and nannies all the fun
out of having a clutch to play with. Should
a rider try to do a wheelie (the motor is
definitely powerful enough) by revving
the motor and dumping the clutch, all
that results is a lurch as the controller
compensates to eradicate this hooliganism.
Regarding the transmission, more oddness
ensues: neutral is between 2nd and 3rd.
The ratios are very closely spaced, and
launching the Empulse R in 1st gear
results in satisfying acceleration. However,
launching in 3rd or 4th gear does not blunt
the acceleration very noticeably. I suspect
that most riders will tire of the notchy,
clunky shifting and leave it in 3rd around
town, only shifting to
6th on the freeway.
Photos: Alan Lapp
I was eagerly awaiting the debut of this
model for one reason alone: it has a clutch
and gearbox just like a traditional bike.
balanced, therefore it does not provide
much feedback. Surprisingly, I found that
there is a rev limiter that stutters the motor
at maximum rpm, virtually identical to a
traditional engine.
What I wanted was an electric analog to
a traditional bike. What I got was an odd
mix of traditional-bike and electric-bike
behaviors.
The Empulse R is equipped with a tach:
the electric motor is very quiet and
I’ve previously
compared e-bike
performance to
mid-sized dual-sport
traditional bikes. This
comparison is less-apt
now: the Empulse
R is far, far nicer to
ride on the freeway
than any dual-sport,
and has confidenceinspiring chassis
stability, even over
grooved pavement.
The brakes are fantastic, and the design is
handsome. It seems to me that e-bikes are
maturing rapidly, but are suffering some
growing pains.
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March 2013 | 19 | CityBike.com
Off-Road Survival Guide Part V
By Bill Klein, Off-Road Editor
H
ang on tight! We’re taking
a ride back to a place more
scary than the 600-foot
“hill” (former Olympic ski jump?)
all your buddies are waving at you
to follow them down! We’re going
back to junior high school.
Of course, you don’t have to
worry about breaking levers if
you equip your bike with hand
guards. These are a necessity for
trail riding. They protect your
hands from flying rocks and
branches, and prevent clutch
and brake lever breakage when
you fall. Don’t waste your money
on the plastic guards. Buy the
stronger aluminum guards. Position them
to cover your knuckles without inhibiting
movement of levers or throttle.
The set-up:
Fitting bike to body
Remember those insecure days
when your body was sprouting in the most
obviously wrong ways? When little Mary
tossed out a careless comment about your
lanky arms, condemning you to hours
at the bathroom mirror wishing you had
someone else’s body? After all these years
you’ve adjusted to your 28-inch inseam
and 54L sleeve length. Now it’s time that
the world—or at least the dirtbike in your
world—adjusts to fit you.
make your body’s home base the centered
position on the bike.
Move in any direction necessary, but
always return home. Keep your torso
bent forward so your upper chest is
positioned over the triple clamp with
head up and elbows out. This standing
position takes some getting used to
Back to bike set-up. Initially support
your bike upright (on a stand or against
a wall). Now stand on the foot pegs and
reach for the bars, partner. Your hands
should naturally fall on the grips with
no stretching or yoga. If not, loosen the
mounts slightly and rotate the handlebars
until they are easily within reach. On some
bikes you can also move the handlebar
Off-roading is so much more safe and
simple when your bike’s controls—and
terra firma—are within natural reach.
Proper set-up of your bike will make it
easier to ride and reliable no matter how far
back in the boonies you ride.
Grips are also important to comfort and
safety. Everyone has their preferences,
but choose a style that is firm yet provides
adequate cushioning, and doesn’t get
slippery when wet. You tend to forget how
good new grips feel so treat yourself by
changing them before they get smooth.
Cut the old grips off with a razorblade or
knife, being careful not to damage the
plastic throttle tube. Clean any dried glue
off the bars and throttle and don’t use glue
inside the new grips. Shoot a little Aqua
Net hair spray inside the grip and quickly
slide it onto the bar. Then wrap two turns
of annealed stainless steel wire around the
grip in two or three places to prevent it
from turning on the handlebar.
Start with seat height. Dirt bikes are
necessarily tall to provide suspension
travel and clear all the obstacles you hope
to conquer. But you’ll take some lumps if
tippy toes are the only way to reach the
ground. Feet should be flat or nearly so
when you straddle your bike on the level.
Still too high? Get a lowering link for the
rear suspension, have a shop shorten the
shock absorber, raise the fork tubes slightly
in the triple clamps, and/or shave some
foam off the seat.
Sorry, platform boots look dorky and make
shifting difficult.
Time out. Before we tweak your scooter
any more, two words must be stated
about the proper riding position: Stand
up. One more time: stand up. All together
now: Staaaand Up! You ride a dirt bike
mostly while standing on the foot pegs.
This enables you to shift your weight to
maintain balance, maximize traction,
and instantly react to surprise moves by
your motorized bucking bronco. While
standing, your knees should be slightly
bent so your legs can act like shock
absorbers. Stay loose and limber. And
Handlebars on dirt bikes are wider than
those on road bikes. Don’t be afraid to
cut up to an inch off each end to obtain a
better fit. Don’t remove too much or there
won’t be room for the perches, hand guard
mounts, kill button, and starter switch (if
you have one). You can also buy bars of
different heights and bends to achieve the
perfect fit.
Adjust your bike for this riding position and you can go anywhere!
but enables you to rapidly shift your
weight from side to side, up and down,
fore and aft. Of course, there are very
appropriate times to ride on the seat of
your pants, but first-timers should make
standing a habit. If you want to go old
school, remove the seat when you ride.
A few booty bruises will remind you to
keep standing.
Now that we have the hand jive covered,
let’s move down to your feet.
Position the gear shift lever so you can
change gears without excessive leg
mounts forward or back on the triple
movement. Check out wider aftermarket
clamp. You want the bars positioned to
foot pegs if you feel stock pegs don’t
comfortably hold you slightly forward and support your size 17s, Shaq. And don’t
over the triple clamps.
ignore the rear brake pedal. You’ll find
After adjusting handlebar position, slightly it initially awkward, but lower the pedal
height so the brake doesn’t activate when
loosen the clutch and brake lever mounts
you land off a jump or shift your weight
(perches) and rotate the levers so they
forward. You may also find it necessary to
naturally rest beneath your fingers. When
in the standing position, levers should be a reposition the kick-start lever to clear your
leg. If you do so, be sure it still starts the
bit higher than inline with your forearms.
Occasionally you’ll need to sit and want the bike without hitting the frame or foot peg.
levers to be within reach when you’re on
Once you adjust the bike for your body, you
your duff.
may need to give it some extra protective
gear. A skid plate is mandatory to protect
Trail tip: Wrap one or two turns of Teflon
engine side covers and the water pump
tape around the handlebar beneath each
from rocks, logs, and crash damage. Buy
perch, then tighten the perch so it can be
rotated with just a bit of effort. This allows the most heavy-duty aluminum model
you to make single-handed adjustments to specifically designed for your bike. It
should shield engine parts but still allow
lever angle while riding.
you to change oil, filter, and coolant
It also permits the lever/perch to pivot
without having to be removed.
without breaking when you fall. Replacing
But more on bike set-up in the future. Until
levers and perches is costly. Worse, try
then, your homework is to study up on
riding up some tight switchback trail
radiator guards, fork seal savers, doublewithout a clutch lever! Some bikes come
thick inner tubes, suspension adjustments,
with clutch and brake levers that can be
and everyone’s favorite: Lubrication.
adjusted for reach distance, must-haves
if your pinkies are shorties. Adjustable
Next month: Miss CityBike’s guide to trail-riding
etiquette!
aftermarket levers are also available.
March 2013 | 20 | CityBike.com
maynard
I figured Grand Prix would stock a couple
of Zero e-bikes, a demo and one
or two un-serviced new bikes. But
the store must have had nearly a
dozen. Chance introduced me to
Dennis, my ride guide, and went
off to copy my papers. I asked Dennis
if anything about the e-bike would be
so unfamiliar as to cause me to “make a
mistake,” as the racers say.
HERSHON
I
’m not the guy you’d expect to hear
from about electric motorcycles.
I’ve read far too many articles about
e-bikes, bikes I’d never even seen. Like
you, I’ve been blitzed with gushing
press releases about the newest e-bike
developments, no matter how minor.
Never having wanted an e-bike
or even sat on one, I was tired
of hearing about them.
I’ve never thought of fossilfueled motorcycles as oldtech or environmentally
damaging. Fuel costs do not
overwhelm me. I like fossilfueled motorcycles. They’re
why I’m here on this page.
low-power mode, switched to Sport and
never thought about the choice again.
300 Kawasaki Twin or a 400 Suzuki Single.
Plenty adequate.
A Zero S is a small motorcycle, about the
size of a Suzuki DR400, I’d say, and styled
like a supermoto: narrow seat and tank,
nothing visible from the saddle above the
flattish bars but the gauges, footpegs under
your bottom. It’s a good-looking bike.
My left foot and left hand did not miss
changing gears. My ears did not miss the
roar and rattle of internal combustion and
a drive chain. I rode by dozens of filling
stations without ever wanting to turn in
and park at a pump. I was happy on that
little electric motorcycle.
Tentatively at first, I followed Dennis out
of the Grand Prix parking lot. The e-power
Nah, Dennis said, it’s easy. There’s no shift
is not sudden at all, even in Sport mode.
lever and no clutch lever. Your left foot does
The throttle is gradual in action and the
nothing. Your left hand operates the turn
response is soft, especially at walking
signals and horn. The front and rear brakes
or near-walking pace. It’s nothing like a
are operated like motorcycle brakes, by the
switch. I was immediately reassured.
Fuel range is in the area of 100 miles
depending on how hard you ride and
how much you use the brake, which
regenerates electricity and charges the
battery (on Eco mode—Ed.). If you had
access at home and at work to electrical
outlets, the Zero would make
a wonderful commute bike.
I know that an electric motor does not have a
power curve like an internal combustion motor.
I thought that full power at two miles an hour
might scare me a little. I need not have feared.
So when CityBike asked me to ride to
Littleton, south of my home in Denver, to
test-ride a Zero e-bike, I was pleased but not
ecstatic. I called Grand Prix Motorsports
and arranged a ride for the next morning.
I was told it’d be a 15-minute ride led by a
Grand Prix employee.
I told Chance at Grand Prix that I wasn’t
a potential customer. I said I worked for
two motorcycle magazines and would
be writing about my ride. I don’t believe
Chance cared much about the magazines,
the nearest one to Littleton being 1200
miles due west. I’m sure he’d never heard of
CityBike or Motorcycle Sport and Leisure.
But because Zero and Grand Prix
Motorsports want you to ride their
e-bikes, there was no problem whatsoever
scheduling the ride. I was to present (for
photocopying) my motorcycle-endorsed
license and my proof of insurance.
I emailed my editor to tell him about the
scheduled 15-minute ride. He responded
saying that I would want to ride far longer.
I couldn’t imagine why. I hadn’t decided
that riding the Zero would suck, not at all.
But I’m an internal-combustion kinda guy.
I figure you are too. Aren’t we all? Not that
we’ve had many attractive options.
right hand and right foot—not like a twist’n’-go scooter.
Being told that there is no clutch or shift
lever is one thing. Canceling the habits
of decades is another. I’d see a traffic
light ahead, and I’d want to downshift;
I’d start to extend my foot to the nonexistent shift lever and my fingers to the
invisible clutch lever.
Once the key is on, Dennis said, when
you kick the stand up, the bike is “hot,”
meaning the throttle will cause it to move
ahead. Remember, the bike makes no
sounds, nothing like an idling engine, to let
you know that it’s running. It isn’t running.
And—if you had a 3 ½ mile
commute, say, you would not
be abusing a gasoline engine
that holds two or three
quarts of oil, never getting
that oil hot, never clearing
the engine of condensation,
And reminded in those same few seconds never blowing all the corrosive moisture
that I really love little motorcycles. The
out of the exhaust system.
Zero is nimble and effortless to steer.
A Zero S is not an inexpensive choice,
You feel you could make a u-turn at 40
mph. The brakes are powerful, I thought, but the savings in fuel and (one hopes)
maintenance costs should offset that initial
smooth, easy to modulate. Nothing
outlay. Perhaps there is a rebate or tax
about the bike set off alarms in my
credit where you live that might help also.
head—nothing.
If I did more local riding—within 50
As you ride, the bike disappears under
miles of my home, or if I commuted by
you more than a comparable fossil-fuel
motorcycle or wanted to, I’d be looking for
bike would. There is no noise, not from
a way to own a Zero S. I don’t want one for
the motor or the belt drive. You hear or
feel the tires on the pavement and you feel my only motorcycle—because I like to take
long journeys by bike.
the suspension working a bit over bumps,
mostly in the rear.
The motor just spins up without effort or
buzz, making the smoothest conventional
bike you’ve ever ridden seem rough and
unsophisticated. The initial application of
throttle gets you across the intersection
at automobile pace but the acceleration
seems to build without fuss or any sense
I know that an electric motor does not have that it’ll ever end. I saw 70 mph briefly on
a power curve like an internal combustion the digital speedo.
motor. I thought that full power at two
I never rolled the throttle on completely.
miles an hour might scare me a little. I need I’d guess that the Zero is as powerful as a
not have feared. I rode a block or two in
small to medium conventional bike, like a
Dennis pointed out a mode switch
mounted near the speedo. You can select
either low-power, juice-saving eco mode
or Sport mode. Unsure of how I’d do while
getting used to the Zero, I switched to the
eco mode.
I did not search the ‘net for information to
prepare me for the ride. I went in cold. At
Grand Prix, a big, slick Polaris, Kawasaki,
Suzuki, Yamaha and Zero dealer, I saw that
there is an equally slick gun store upstairs!
By the way, U.S. news media tells us
that gun stores are empty of inventory.
Everything is sold, they exclaim, to frantic
Americans sure their right to own or carry
firearms is about to be infringed. Grand
Prix had showcases full of blue-steel
hardware. No shortage in evidence.
Maybe we can’t believe everything we read
or that we hear on the news. You can trust
me though.
March 2013 | 21 | CityBike.com
If these e-bikes are the future, hey, I’m okay
with that future. I don’t necessarily want
to read about e-bikes, I want to read about
MotoGP bikes and WSBK bikes. But I
think I’d like to own an e-bike. If they get
cheaper to buy and their range per charge
gets longer, sign me right up.
Uncoveted Award
When will someone come up with a
plug-in, Indy-type electric starter
that we can use to start a big engine
then unplug the thing and use the
kickstarter the rest of the day?
When will someone come up with a plugin, Indy-type electric starter that we can
use to start a big engine then unplug the
thing and use the kickstarter the rest of
the day?
the trail then run ahead and tell Gary to
kiss his lady good-bye and get his lips back
here as soon as he could. Five minutes
later
Gary came humming back on his
XR250, lipstick still on his
lips and I asked him to keep
the still-shocked
Norm off the
trail because
other riders
were still
coming
and
Norm
was in no
shape to
jump out
of the way.
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which involves ink and paper.
The last time I saw a look like this was on
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The next two riders stopped and I asked
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The five of us rode on to the end of the
route sheet then turned back to cut the
course to ride more blacktop because it was
getting much colder and darker and snow
slurries were getting thicker. After his highside in the deep sand Norm rode 84 miles
with his left wing hanging down, shifting
without the clutch and not looking like he
was having a really good time. We loaded
his motorcycle into his van then watched as
he crawled into the driver’s seat at a speed
one notch up from death.
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My intention was to ride ahead to the next
blacktop, leave Bernice, come back to haul
Norm out then ask Gary to ride Norm’s
bike out. It was a good plan but not needed
as Norm rode up almost as soon as Bernice
stepped off.
separated to go to the bathroom then
kissed again when they reunited, acting like Mark Larsen, the fellow for whom the
Gary had just gotten a commuted sentence Mark Larsen Memorial Stump Field is
from the Governor.
named, did a good deal of the dual-sport
layout and is to be congratulated because
he did a nice job on most of it. My buddy
Norm might not agree as he had an
“incident” on one of the deep-sand sections
The next day Norm said he didn’t feel up
that always seemed way too long.
to snuff and the day after he got talked into
Bernice and I came around a bend
seeing his doctor who discovered nothing
reasonably quickly, which is necessary in
worse than one broken collarbone and only
deep sand, and there was Norm lying flat
two broken ribs.
on the trail at least 20 feet in front of his
motorcycle, which was well off the trail and The best part is that he qualified for the
still upright in the pine trees. I knew better prestigious Meteor Motorcycle Club’s
annual “Crash and Burn” award., his three
I’m Alan Lapp, a 25-year veteran designer & illustrator.
than to start hauling and lifting a downed
broken bones beat out four guys with only
rider and asked Norm what he wanted me
I’m a giant graphic design and art direction geek. I admit
two broken bones each.
to do. He rolled over slowly and shook his
it. I am seriously introspective about white space. I enjoy
talking at length about the varied emotional impact of
head to indicate “do nothing.”
Congratulations, Norm—I guess…
schedule, their ’92 dual-sport ride took
place in mid-November with expected low
temperatures, unexpected snow flurries,
and enough cold to freeze the appendages
off a brass monkey. I really couldn’t
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spread their trail work as far apart
as they can. They run their Curly
Fern Enduro early in the season and their
dual-sport ride late. As the last event
on the East Coast Enduro Association
We signed up for that dual-sport run in a
group, me with a nice lady named Bernice
on the caboose end of my XL600R. My
buddy Norm signed up with Gary and
Donna who’d recently became live-ins
(which are the same as newlyweds without
all the red tape, the arguments over
invitations and the closetful of toasters
and cheese boards). These two made me
want to barf; they kissed every time they
My big Honda Single had cold-soaked all
week in the back of my van at temperatures
below 40 degrees, so I roped in a young
linebacker type to kick it alive. I could have
done it myself but then I wouldn’t have had
enough energy
left to enjoy
the 120
mile
ride. To
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the 600
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must be
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at considerable rpm before letting a spark
reach the plug. This is no problem on a
warm day or with a warm engine but I need
40 dollars worth of quarters in my right
hip pocket to get it going, as the Brits say,
“from cold.”
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March 2013 | 22 | CityBike.com
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March 2013 | 23 | CityBike.com
CLASSIFIEDS
CLUBS
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
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
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/
Bay Area Sidecar
Enthusiasts (BASE)
•Whatdoesyourdogthinkaboutmotorcycling?(A:
Hard to tell without a sidecar!)
•Everdrivenintrafficwithafakemachine-gun
mounted to your rig?
•Wanttoknowhowto“flythechair”?
•Maybejustwanttofindoutwhatit’sliketobea
“sidecarmonkey”foradaybycatchingaridewithus?
We are a facebook-based group in the SF Bay Area filled
with sidecars and the people who love them, and we’d be
happy to meet you.
Email pej12378@yahoo .com for more information.
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
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!
OMC
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 .
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
DEALERS
.
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
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
2005 FLHRC ROAD KING black cherry stock# U28482
20420 Miles clean with fatty spoke front wheel, Corbin seat
, chrome front end & more $12,695 + Fees
2007 FXSTSSE SCREAMIN EAGLE SPRINGER copper/
red Stock# U52867 20800 Miles real clean bike with
custom exhaust ,wind shield, backrest & highway pegs
$17,995 + Fees
2001 XLH1200c black Stock# U55836 8784 Miles
clean sporty with pipes, air cleaner, wind shield & leather
saddlebags $4,995 + Fees
2008 FLHTCU Anniversary Copper/Black Stock#
U04713 10799 miles clean 105 Yr bike with exhaust
$15,995 + Fees
J&M Motorsports
1931 Old Middlefield Way
#201
Mountain View
www .jm-ms .com
650-386-1440
Good-used-motorcycle/Fair-price specialists—Sportbikes,
Cruisers, & Dirt Bikes
We are a licensed operation run by two brothers who love
motorcycles and specialize in newer, low-mile, affordable
bikes that are worth owning. We have in-house financing
and a wide variety of bikes all in one place.
Looking for your first bike? Your 10th? Come by and see
why people like us: Easy to deal with and we really enjoy our
work. J&M is not a giant dealership. When you call or visit,
you’re talking directly with the owner.
Come by and take a look! Open Tues-Sat - Closed Sunday
We buy (nice) used bikes. Trade-ins and consignments are
almost always welcome.
$3,995 2010 Vespa S150 537 Original miles
$3,195 2004 KTM 450 EXC 1,103 miles
$7,495 On Sale! 2006 Aprilia RSV1000R Factory 13,509
miles
$8,495 2006 Triumph Rocket III 9,913 miles
$5,495 2002 BMW R1150R 23,558 miles
$14,495 2011 BMW S1000RR 841 miles
$13,495 2005 Harley Davidson Roadking Classic
6,881 miles
$19,995 2007 HD Special Construction 12,835 miles
$2,995 2007 YZ450F Yamaha
$2,795 2006 YZ450F Yamaha
$4,995 2005 FZ6R Yamaha 4,520 miles
$5,995 2009 FZ6R Yamaha 1,561 miles
$5,495 1999 YZFR1 Yamaha 2,581 miles
$11,495 2010 YZFR1 LE Yamaha 2,832 miles
$6,995 2007 YZFR6 Yamaha 5,355 miles
$7,495 On Sale! 2008 YZFR6 Yamaha 8,978 miles
$7,495 2008 YZFR6 Yamaha 4,759 miles
$2,495 On Sale! 2005 Suzuki GZ250 13,775 miles
$4,995 2005 Suzuki SV650S 8,960 miles
$5,495 2005 Suzuki SV650S 6,271 miles
$5,495 2005 Suzuki SV650S 2,754 miles
$6,995 2009 Suzuki GSXR600 4,547 miles
$3,995 2007 Suzuki GS500 8,405 miles
$5,495 2007 Suzuki SV1000S 8,904 miles
$6,995 2008 Suzuki GSXR600 12,739 miles
$8,495 2009 Suzuki GSXR600 1,059 miles
$7,995 2008 Suzuki GSXR750 7,521 miles
$8,495 2009 Suzuki GSXR750 11,179 miles
$795 On Sale! 2003 Kawasaki KX60
$3,995 2009KawasakiEX250RNinja 2,918 miles
$3,995 2009KawasakiEX250RNinja1,254 miles
$5,995 2009KawasakiER-6NNinja 2,457 miles
Warranty
$5,495 2005KawasakiZX636RNinja 17,166 miles
$5,995 2004KawasakiZX10RNinja 7,725 miles
$8,995 2009KawasakiZX14RNinja 1,443 miles
$1,995 2006 Honda CRF230
$2,995 2009 Honda CMX250 Rebel 2,680 miles
$2,995 2009 Honda CMX250 Rebel 7,195 miles
$8,495 2009 Honda CBR600RR 2,752 miles
$9,495 2011 Honda CBR600RR 772 Original miles
$7,495 2008 Honda CBR1000RR 3,066 miles
$8,195 2008 Honda CBR1000RR 6,056 miles
$6,995 On Sale! 2007 Honda CBR600RR 7,704 miles
$18,995 2003 Ford F250 7.3L XLT PowerStroke
170,954 miles
$13,495 2002 Ford F250 7.3L Lariat PowerStroke
153,578 miles
Mission Motorcycles
6232 Mission Street Daly City, CA 94014 (650) 992-1234
www .missionmotorcycles .com
Mission Motorcycles is a dealership for new Honda,
Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha motorcycles, ATVs, scooters and
dirt bikes and the Zero electric motorcycles. Our factory–
trained technicians can keep your machine in top-top
running condition.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a green motorcycle.
Mention our CityBike ads and we will get you an extra
discount on any green motorcycle, ATV or scooter in stock,
new or used.
NEW BIKE SPECIALS
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. Was $13,999
– NOW $10,099 !!! Stock # H2898
COMING SOON 2013 Zero Electric Motorcycles.
Improvements for 2013 include a new Z-Force motor with
up to 70 ft-lbs of torque, top speed of 95 mph, range up to
135 miles, removable storage in the “tank” of the S model
and Bluetooth Smartphone integration. Select models
are eligible for the $900 CA Clean Air Vehicle Rebate and
10% Federal tax credit. 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!!! Plus, select ZERO Motorcycles qualify
for a $900 CA Clean Air Vehicle Rebate! Call (650) 9921234 for more information.
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.
March 2013 | 24 | CityBike.com
New Honda CRF50 and CRF70 $150.00 OFF!!! Get your
kids riding with an automatic , 3-Speed, Mini Dirt Bike!
Training wheels available.
NEW 2012 SUZUKI SALE Save up to $250 on GSXR600,
GSXR750, V-Strom 1000, Boulevard M109, Boulevard
C50 and Burgman 650 Executive. Special, low financing
available.
2012 CRF150R Big Wheel ON SALE NOW!!! Excellent
motorcross bike for teens or smaller adults.
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 Heated Grips
and Seat! 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 Yamaha FZ1 $9,799 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
PRE-OWNED VEHICLES
2012KawasakiNinja650 Black with only 15 miles!
$6699 for an excellent mid-size bike. Fuel-injected and
liquid cooled for ease of use and dependability! Stock#
U1201
2012 Kawasaki KLX250S Green dual-sport bike with 1st
service completed. Only 538 miles! Almost new for $4299
Stock# U1199.
2010 Honda Fury in Burgundy Want a custom looking
Chopper? You gotta come check out this all stock, factory
1300cc chopper. Price dropped from $8999 to $8,500.
Only 5,805 miles. Stock # U1174
2010 Yamaha WR250R Dual-sport bike with fuel
injection. Comes with a Sargent seat and ProMoto rear
luggage rack. 5639 miles, $5899 Stock# U1184
2009 Yamaha YZ450F White with black & red decals,
$3599. Fresh tires, new fork seals, and ready to ride!
Stock# U1195
2009KawasakiNinja650 $5299. Red. Comes with Arrow
exhaust, tall windshield, and rear seat cowl. 4,314 miles.
Stock# C493.
2008 Honda CBR1000RR Black with full graphics kit
and only 2,261 miles!!!! Excellent condition! $8,888 Stock
# C487
2007 Yamaha R1 $7099, Dark gray with red rim-stripes,
Vortex rearsets, new rear tire, 32,226 miles. Stock# U1181
2006 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic Dark Blue & Black.
In great condition, shiny chrome, shaft drive, only 8,357
miles. $3699 Stock# U1198
2004 BMW RT1150 $9099 Silver. Low mileage 5,025
miles. Great touring bike with side bags, heated grips,
adjustable windscreen and a passenger backrest! Stock#
C491.
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!
Ride On Motorcycles
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.
PRE-OWNED BIKES
11011 $4495 2008 Buell Blast Custom Blue 1178 mi
12007 $7995 2005 Ducati MULTISTRADA 1000 S DS
Red 43443mi
12013 $3495 1996 Honda Sport Touring ST1100
Red 37668mi
12022C $10995 2005 Harley-Davidson Fire Fighter
Special Road King FLHRI Red 55906mi
12035C $9995 2004 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy FLSTF
Red 14264 mi
12036 $2995 1986 Honda Shadow VT 1100 C
Blk/Slv 17751 mi
12051C $2795 2001 Honda Shadow VT750C
Black 77306 mi
12054 $5995 2005 Suzuki GSXR 1000
Yellow/Black 17251 mi
12057 $4495 2007 Suzuki C 50(VL800)
Red/Black 11865 mi
12058 $9495 2005 Harley Davidson Softail FXSTI
Blue 17968 mi
12062C $5795 2000 Buell X-1 Lightning Red 10645 mi
12066 $4995 2000 Buell X-1 RRS #599 of 800
Red 9859 mi
12067 $3295 2009 Suzuki S40 (LS650) 650cc, 1cyl
Black 14882 mi
12068 $3495 2006 Suzuki S50 (VS800) BLK 16677 mi
12069 $6995 2012 Suzuki C50T (VL800T)
BLK/RED 8781 mi
12071 $2295 2004 Honda Nighthawk CB250
Black 12508 mi
12072 $1895 1981 Yamaha Maxim XJ650
Silver 45941 mi
13002 $3995 2007 Suzuki Katana GSX750F
Black 20935 mi
13003 $5995 2007 Yamaha YZF-R6 600cc
Silver 7352 mi
13004 $10495 2002 HD Ultra Classic FLHTCUI
Blue 10495 mi
COMING SOON
10205 $2995 1996 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic
VN 1500-D1 Black XXXXX mi
12025 $2995 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan VN750A
Red/Grey 24428 mi
12064 $CALL 1999 Yamaha V STAR XV650
Black XXXXX mi
120XX $CALL 1996 Triumph Trophy 900cc Green
49903 mi
12073 $2595 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan EN500C
Black 9388 mi
13001 $2995 1984 Honda V65 Magna VF1100C
Red 34888 mi
SF MOTO
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.
SERVICE DEPARTMENT:
The service department is open from Tuesday throuhg
Saturday from 8:00am until 6:00pm. Direct service phone
line: 415-861-7196
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:
Download a free QR code scanner from your app
store or google play . Then scan the following QR code
to see our current inventory including detailed specs
and images!
USED INVENTORY
- All used motorcycles at sf moto come with a 3
month warranty . We thoroughly go through our used
inventory:
- If we find brakes to be worn over 60%, new pads
are installed
- If we find tires to be worn beyond 60%, new tires
are installed
- If chain & sprockets are worn beyond 60%, we
install new chain & sprockets .
Aprilia RSV 1000 Bol D’Or, 2007, 15921 miles, Orange/
Lavender - $8998
Aprilia Shiver 750, 2009, 3698 miles, Blue / Silver - $7998
Aprilia Shiver 750, 2856 miles, Silver, - $7998
Honda 919, 2005, 14103 miles, Black - $5998
Honda 919, 2002, 17425 miles, Red - $5498
Honda 919, 2007, 13309 miles, Red metallic - $5998
Honda CB1000, 2011, 4124 miles, Black - $9498
Honda CBR250R, 2011, 1015 miles, Black - $4098
Honda CBR250R, 2012, 1811 miles, Red/White/Blue - $3998
Honda CBR250RR, 2007, 8078 miles, Blue/Silver - $6998
Honda CBR600RR, 2007, 9689 miles, Blue/Silver - $7998
Honda CBR600RR, 2009, 4993 miles, Red - $8498
Honda Shadow Aero 750, 2005, 14875 miles, black - $3498
Honda Silverwing, 2003, 23610 miles, red, - $3498
Honda VFR800 Interceptor, 2006, 15299 miles, - $5998
Honda VTX1800, 2003, 14257 miles, red, - $4998
KawasakiNinja250,2005, 4084 miles, Blue - $3198
KawasakiNinja250,2009, 7501 miles, green, - $3998
KawasakiNinja250,2009, 533 miles, green, - $3998
KawasakiNinja250,2011, 422 miles, green, - $4098
KawasakiNinja250,2012, 4618 miles, red, - $3998
KawasakiNinja250,2011, 1118 miles, green, - $4098
KawasakiNinja250,2010, 5308 miles, blue, - $3998
KawasakiNinja250,2009, 3409 miles, green, - $3998
KawasakiNinja250,2011, 103 miles, white, - $4098
KawasakiNinja250,2006, 4925 miles, red, - $2998
KawasakiNinja250,2009, 2050 miles, black, - $3998
KawasakiNinja250,2012,3472 miles, green met. - $3998
KawasakiNinja250,2008, 2585 miles, green, - $3998
KawasakiNinja250,2009, 1652 miles, black, - $3998
KawasakiNinja500,2007, 2468 miles, Orange, - $3998
KawasakiNinja500,2008, 7564 miles, Red, - $3998
KawasakiNinja500,2007, 8702 miles, Orange, - $3998
KawasakiNinja500,2003, 1958 miles, Blue, - $3998
KawasakiNinja650,2008, 4077 miles, green, - $5898
KawasakiNinja650,2007, 3986 miles, blue, - $5898
KawasakiNinja650,2012, 1479 miles, black, - $6998
KawasakiNinja650,2009, 12601 miles, red, - $5998
KawasakiNinja650,2009, 5095 miles, black, - $6198
KawasakiNinja650,2009, 3648 miles, green, - $5998
KawasakiNinja650,2011, 2547 miles, Orange, - $6898
KawasakiNinja650,2011, 4116 miles, Black, - $6798
KawasakiNinjaER-6N, 14297 miles, blue, - $5698
KawasakiNinjaZX-6R, 2284 miles, black, - $8498
Kawasaki Versys 650, 26495 miles, red, - $5298
Kawasaki Vulcan 900, 656 miles, blue, - $6998
Kawasaki Vulcan 900, 1648 miles, blue, - $6998
Kawasaki Vulcan 900, 4752 miles, black, - $6998
Kymco Xciting 250 i.e., ABS, 2007, 282 miles, black, $2998
Piaggio Fly 150, 2009, 266 miles, white, - $2698
Piaggio Fly 150, 2010, 608 miles, silver, - $1998
Piaggio LT150, 2003, 7289 miles, Black, - $1998
Piaggio MP3 400, 2010, 6154 miles, blue, - $6498
Piaggio MP3 250, 2009, 2059 miles, black, - $4498
Suzuki Boulevard S40, 2012, 49 miles, Orange/black, - $4998
Suzuki Burgman 400, 2008, 9575 miles, red, - $4498
Suzuki Burgman 400, 10158 miles, black, - $3498
Suzuki DR650, 2008, 3669 miles, blue, - $5498
Suzuki DRZ-400, 2011, 1271 miles, white, - $5898
Suzuki GSXR-750, 2011, 1351 miles, black, - $9898
Suzuki GSXR-750, 2007, 3084 miles, black, - $7998
Suzuki SV650, 2003, 11331 miles, orange, - $4498
Suzuki SV650, 2007, 28920 miles, red, - $4498
Suzuki SV650S, 2007, 5198 miles, blue - $5498
Suzuki SV650S, 2007, 11492 miles, red - $5498
Suzuki SV650, 2005, 9692 miles, blue - $4998
Suzuki V-Strom 650, 2009, 13332 miles, black - $6998
Suzuki V-Strom 650, 2007, 13160 miles, black - $6498
SYM HD125 scooter, 2006, 5390 miles, blue - $2498
Triumph Bonneville T100, 2011, 18347 miles, black - $7598
Triumph Bonneville T100, 2008, 1368 miles, red/
silver - $7498
Triumph Street Triple, 2011, 1906 miles, red - $8198
Triumph Street Triple R, 2010, 13538 miles, Silver - $8498
Triumph Tiger 800XC ABS, 2011, 1994 miles, white - $10998
Yamaha FZ6, 2007, 567 miles, red, - $5998
Yamaha FZ6, 2009, 7984 miles, yellow - $5998
Yamaha FZ6, 2012, 592 miles, white - $6898
Yamaha YZFR6, 2010, 6450 miles, black - $8498
Yamaha YZFR6, 2003, 27179 miles, blue - $4998
Yamaha YZFR6, 2008, 1271 miles, yellow - $8298
Yamaha YZFR6, 2009, 1271 miles, white - $8498
Yamaha FZ1, 2005, 10670 miles, blue - $5998
Yamaha V-Star 250, 1271 miles, black - $3898
Yamaha YZFR1, 2009, 26 miles, blue - $9998
Yamaha Zuma 125, 2009, 28 miles, blue - $2998
Yamaha Zuma 125, 2009, 2337 miles, blue - $2798
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
‘89 Yamaha XT350 Dualsport. 6.2k mi, new tires, chain,
sprockets. excellent condition, Mendocino Coast. $2150.
707/-962-0379, Mendocino Coast area - please leave
message.
USED MOTORCYCLES:
Yamaha with Sidecar - 650 Yamaha-Velorex / Leading
link forks / Color Matched Paint / Rack / Many spares
included. $3400 - PETE - 415-269-1364
RIDING SCHOOLS
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!
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
Name:
Address:
Custom Design Studios
Mind-Blowing Custom Paint Since 1988
Visit Our Showroom!
City:
Doc Wong
Riding Clinics
PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT
Come to the FREE monthly Doc Wong Riding Clinics.
www .docwong .com
Eighteen years, 40,000 riders!
Learn Dirt Bikes
Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) dirt bike classes at
Carnegie State Park, Tracy, CA.
Loaner motorcycles available.
www .learndirtbikes .com 925-240-7937
PARTS AND SERVICE
ADDICTION MOTORS
4052 Watts St @ 40th
Emeryville, CA
510.473.7247
www .addictionmotors .com
Monday-Friday 8am-7pm
Saturday-8pm-6pm
Do-it-yourself lifts available for rent By appointment.
Classes at Addiction Motors
Check out our new class schedule, two classes, every week
and every month @ Addiction.
First Wednesday: Complete Chain Service
Second Wednesday: Suspension
Third Wednesday: TBD
Fourth Wednesday: Fork Service
First Saturday: Making it Yours: How to Customize and
Accessorize
Second Saturday: Brake Service
Third Saturday: Experts Forum
Fourth Saturday: Changing Oil
Check out the large selection of showcased bikes for sale by
owner – we may have your next ride sitting in our shop!
Addiction Motors is a full service motorcycle maintenance
and repair cooperative in Emeryville. Our cooperative
includes the independently owned and operated business
of LG Moto, Mechanical Advantage, Spa Moto, ZBF, and
Wrench It Yourself, all supported under the umbrella of
Addiction Motors, LLC.
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
AMERICAN CUSTOM
MOTORCYCLE PARTS
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
Cycle Salvage –
Hayward
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.
Galfer Braking
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
Introducing
Marin Moto Works!
Zip:
SAN FRANCISCO AND
BEYOND: DAVE’S CYCLE
TRANSPORT
MOTO GIO
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.
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
MOTO TIRE GUY
Motorcycle & ATV
Hauling
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.
Quality Motorcycles
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
State:
e-mail:
V-Twin Service, Repair, Parts, & Fabrication.
Harley Factory Trained Tech.
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
1973 CB350 Four, 36k miles. Mild café racer with new bars,
taillight, stainless spokes, Bridgestone rubber, shocks, etc.
Original paint, chrome, seat cover. I have most of the takeoff parts (not exhaust).
Very clean bike with no damage history. Clean title, ridden
on weekends. Needs a few TLC items, call to discuss.
Asking $2550 OBO. (510)760-1986
1978 BMW R100/7
Bavarian Cycle Works
Yamaha XT350-Darius Chamran
NEW INVENTORY
–All SYM bikes come with a 2 year factory warranty–
SYM Mio 50 scooter, 2013, NEW, black - $1998
SYM Citycom 300i scooter, 2009, NEW, red or blue - $3999
SYM Fiddle II 125 scooter, 2013, NEW, sand, blue,
black, red, white - $2295
SYM HD200 scooter, 2013, NEW, Yellow, Orange, Black,
Red, Gunmetal - $3495
SYM Symba (aka Honda Cub), 2013, NEW, blue, red,
black - $2349
SYM Wolf (aka Honda CB150), 2013, NEW, Tricolor, red,
green, black, white - $2995
Hyosung Aquila 250 EFI, NEW, Black, - $3999
Hyosung Comet 250, NEW, Black, - $4098
CityBike Classifieds
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.
235 Shoreline Hwy.
Mill Valley CA
(415) 381-5059
We’re not afraid of your old bike.
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
Sonoma, Marin, Napa & Mendocino Counties
24 hour Roadside Pickup
707-843-6584
Insured & Licensed
California Motor Carrier Permit
www .mcmotorcycletransport .com
mcmotorcycle@att .net
HELP WANTED
Bavarian Cycle Works in San Francisco is seeking a
seasoned motorcycle technician. The ideal candidate
will have solid technical and mechanical skills regarding
work on BMW motorcycles, but we will also consider
those having mechanical knowledge and experience of
Triumph Ducati and Moto Guzzi or limited other foreign
brands. Clean shop with good work environment.
Additional MUSTS: Be detail oriented, Understand basic
motorcycle electrical systems, Be able to work with minimal
supervision,Maintain a positive working relationship with
rest of staff,Take pride in work, Have own tools,Be reliable
and timely, Please call 415-829-8235 for consideration.
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
Aprilia, KTM, and BMW Service and Repair
Located at 44 Harbor street, San Rafael
Open Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm
(415) 454-RIDE
EAT AT REDS JAVA HOUSE, SF.
“IT’S REALLY GOOD FOOD”
SAYS CITYBIKE MANAGEMENT.
Max Moto, Inc
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.
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
March 2013 | 25 | CityBike.com
SCOTTS VALLEY
MOTORCYCLE SERVICE
CENTER
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
Enter these contacts into your phone now,
while you are thinking about it, so that you
will have them when you need them .
SELL YER STUFF IN
CITYBIKE!
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?
Tankslapper
Hi CityBike,
Just saw the letter “A new low”
FYI the January 2013 cover melted my
snowman!
!
E
B
I
R
SU BSC
AWESOME!!! ;-)
Richard
RKA Motorcycle Luggage
Windsor
Send your letters to [email protected]. Authors
of noteworthy letters get free Ride Fast Take
Chances t-shirts!
C’MON, YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT.
Just send a check for $30 to:
PO Box 10650
Oakland, CA 94610
be sure to include your name,
address, & phone number!
or use Paypal!
[email protected]
A new
approach
to rider
training
Street & Dirt:
beginner through advanced
Mechanical
oil changes to engine rebuilds
Coming in
Spring 2013
March 2013 | 26 | CityBike.com
March 2013 | 27 | CityBike.com