January 2013

Transcription

January 2013

January 2013
brat
Cele ing
2013
Res
m
1984
li s
p o of Mostly a
n sib
le Jo u r n
News, Clues & Rumors
Volume XXX, Issue 1
Publication Date: December 17, 2012
On The Cover:
Original Dirtbag Poll Brown sharing a
smoke with model Katherine Kwid, captured
on camera by Bob Stokstad’s long and
voyeuristic lens.
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
we’ve got enough room for Leo Vince USA
President Tim
Calhoun to write
his own correction,
which also has info
local riders and
racers will want to
know.
Contents:
“LeoVince
USA will be
streamlining
our operation to
better serve our
core customers.
We will continue
to offer most of
our products, but
some, like our X3
ATV line, will now
become special
order only. We
will eliminate
Titanium fullrace systems
completely, with
the only exception
being a limited
number we will
build for race
teams.
NCR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
New Stuff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Dirtbags! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Honda NC700X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Off-Road Survival Pt . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Maynard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Hertfelder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Tankslapper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Coupons for free erotic massage . . . . . . 25
CityBike Staff:
PO Box 10659 Oakland, CA 94610
Phone: 415/282-2790
E-mail: info@citybike .com
Find us online: www .citybike .com
News ‘n Clues: Staff
Editor-in-Chief: Gabe Ets-Hokin
Senior Editor: Robert Stokstad
Contributing Editors: John Joss,
Will Guyan
Courtney Olive
Chief of the World Adventure
Affairs Desk: Dr. Gregory Frazier
Staff Photographers:
— Robert Stokstad
— Gary Rather
Art Director: Alan Lapp
Advertising Sales: Kenyon Wills
Contributors:
Dan Baizer, Craig Bessenger, John Bishop,
Blaise Descollonges, Joanne Donn,
John D’India (RIP), Dirck Edge, Mike Felder,
Dr. Gregory Frazier, Will Guyan,
Joe Glydon (RIP), Brian Halton,
David Hough, Maynard Hershon,
Ed Hertfelder, Harry Hoffman,
Otto Hofmann, Gary Jaehne (RIP)
Jon Jensen, Bill Klein, David Lander,
Alan Lapp, Lucien Lewis, Ed Milich,
Larry Orlick, Jason Potts, Bob Pushwa,
Gary Rather, Curt Relick, Charlie Rauseo,
Mike Solis, Ivan Thelin, James Thurber,
Adam Wade.
CityBike is published on or about the third Monday of each month.
Editorial deadline is the 1st of each month. Advertising information is
available on request. Unsolicited articles and photographs are always
welcome. Please include a full name, address and phone number
with all submissions. We reserve the right to edit manuscripts or use
them to wipe our large, fragrant bottoms.
“We will focus our
off-road exhaust
Motion Pro’s Chris Van Andel captured by Uncle Krumple enjoying a
offerings on our
guilty pleasure during Tracker Night this summer past. Stop pretending
Ti-tech (stainless
you can read...
header / Titanium
sleeved silencer)
GREYDOG CORRECTION
slip-on and full systems. These are very
We wrote “GrayDog Guzzi” on last
reasonably priced with our full system
month’s cover when it should have been
MSRP at only $599. We will grow our
“GreyDog.” Honest mistake, but you
adventure-bike offerings both in exhausts
should check out Patrick Bell’s website
fitments available and through expanding
to check out lots of cool stuff anyway:
our off-road and road carbon fiber
greydogmoto.com.
protective pieces. These will include skid
plates, sprocket covers, disc guards and
LEO VINCE CORRECTION
newer pieces such as our BMW head
Last month, in this space, we shared
protectors.
some news about Leo Vince exhaust...
“Our street product will continue
which
would be great if
to grow but we will begin to
we had been
eliminate many
just a teensy
older fitments
bit more
that represent
factually
minimum
accurate.
Luckily, sales. If these
continue to
©2012, CityBike Magazine, Inc. Citybike Magazine is distributed
at over 150 places throughout California each month. Taking more
than a few copies at any one place without permission from CityBike
Magazine, Inc, especially for purposes of recycling, is theft and will
be prosecuted to the full extent of civil and criminal law. Yeah!
CityBike magazine is owned by CityBike Magazine, Inc and has
teams of sleep-deprived, coke-addicted attorneys ready to defend
it from frivolous lawsuits, so even if you see Lucien Lewis doing
one of his wheelies on the cover and decide you want to do that too
and then you hit a parked car and your bike is wedged under a van
and it catches fire and the Vallejo FD has to come and extinguish
the resulting blaze and four cars and your bike are melted into
slag and you suffer permanent trauma including a twisted pinkie,
sleeplessness and night terrors, it’s not CityBike Magazine Inc.’s fault
and we don’t have any assets so just suck on it. You know better.
990 Adventure Baja looks
ready for anything.
January 2013 | 3 | CityBike.com
be produced they will be made available
by special order. We will expand our
LeoVince Carbon Fiber products such as
engine, clutch and alternator covers to fit a
multitude of new motorcycles and will also
introduce a new heavy duty Corsa carbon
piece for the race track.
“We will open up LeoVince Performance
Center Jan 2, 2013. It will specialize in
track and race-prepared motorcycles.
We will not be working on street-going
machines that are ridden on California
highways. We will offer such services as
engine and performance mods, (Fuel /
Ignition / Traction control unit tuning
and installations, exhaust installations)
full suspension tuning (shock adjustments,
cartridge inserts, suspension adjustments
and set ups) and installation of race pieces
such as windshields, body work, wheels,
rear sets, clip-on handlebars etc.”
CityBike regrets the error or any confusion
caused when we implied Leo Vince’s new
performance center would perform work
for street motorcycles.
POLARIS BUYS KLIM
You may know Klim (we just learned it’s
pronounced ‘climb’—who knew?) as a
producer of some of the nicest dirt and
adventure-riding apparel you can’t afford.
It’s a small brand of obsessively detailed
technical gear, doing about $30 million
in business annually, but it’s attracted the
attention of snowmobile, quad and cruiserbuilding giant Polaris industries. The big fish
swallowed the little fish for an undisclosed
sum, and will maintain it as a separate brand
and keep its Rigby, Idaho headquarters and
product-development center.
KTM 2013
If you got all excited by the news
of KTM’s new RC8-powered 1190
Adventure or India-built
390 Duke (“News, Clues,”
December 2012), it’s
time to take another
Darvon and relax—
neither of those
models seems
destined for
the USA this
year. Instead,
the 690
Duke makes
a comeback,
pepped up with a
new
kilowatt motor and its top speed is 95. It
must be frickin’ awesome streamlining.
cylinder head, ride-by-wire
throttle and slipper clutch for
its return. Also being rolled into
orange containers for the trip
here: a North America-only
limited edition 990 Adventure
Baja. It’s based on the standard
bike but gets special graphics,
accessories and standard
waterproof luggage. Pricing is
top secret, apparently, but if
you call your KTM dealer and
ask nicely, maybe he or she will
tell you.
The reason the story is so hot is how great
this looks to non-motorcyclists. A huge
number of Americans would like to ride
a motorcycle, but probably never will
because of the perceived danger, the need
to learn how to balance, and yadda yadda.
A self-balancing moto with what looks like
a protective shell (so long as the vehicle has
two wheels the Federal DOT will consider
it a motorcycle and exempt it from real
crash-safety standards) is seductive. But
is this a viable thing? Or just some guys
burning start-up money so they can design
cool shit in a SOMA garage?
690 Duke gets a 70-hp
motor for 2013.
The Lit Motors
FAQ page says the
battery will be just
We’ve been getting lots of news stories
8 kilowatt-hours,
and videos about Lit Motors forwarded
much smaller than
to us, so we would like to respectfully say:
the 11.4 kwh Zero
please stop doing that. Yes, an electricpowered, fully enclosed electric motorcycle S—and that bike
will only go 140-ish
that balances itself with gyros and can go
miles at very slow
100-plus mph, do 200 miles on a charge
and sport a $12,500 pricetag sounds really speeds, and it weighs
half the theoretical
cool. However, although the story has
800-pound Lit.
spread far and wide to seemingly every
Lit also says it uses
large media outlet on the globe, nobody is
20 kilowatt hub
asking how that kind of range and speed
motors—the Zero
will be possible for such a cheap price.
uses a single 40
GET LIT
CityBike does commission some
journalism, and Señor Editor John Joss
took some time to find out what’s going on
in the Lit Motors skunkworks—only to get
skunked out. Requests for interviews were
turned down. A test-drive story we read,
written by Wired writer Damon Lavrinc,
told of a barely functioning prototype that
malfunctioned and couldn’t turn or even
stay upright very well. We don’t want to
use a pejorative term for what we think all
this is, so let’s just say we’ll be surprised
when we can walk into a Lit dealer and test
ride one. What this looks like is an attempt
to publicize some impressive engineering
innovations, pumping up the value of a
start-up so it can
be sold for millions
(hey, why not
billions?) to a larger,
established company
with deep pockets—
the 21st-century
American Dream.
SHOW AND
TELL
The International
Motorcycle Show
in San Mateo has
come and gone—
maybe you missed
it this year because
the weather that
weekend sucked. But either way, it was, in
the words of Ed Sullivan, “a really great
shew.” Many of the show’s visitors are of
the generation who still remember Ed
and, fortunately, they’re still riding and
buying bikes. It’s a treat to watch an ample
couple sitting double on a big cruiser that
makes them look small, or a middle-aged
dude crouched forward on a sport bike,
explaining traction control to his wife.
Wide-eyed little girls riding on their
daddies’ shoulders enjoy the spectacle, too.
Seriously, if you’re looking to buy a bike of
any kind, this is the place to be. Fourteen
major brands, from BMW to Zero were
there to display their product line. Not
needing a new one just yet? Well, you could
buy something to bolt on the old beater,
or acquire some gear that you didn’t know
existed (or that you needed) until today.
To be honest, though, I walked around
the two large halls for hours, enjoying
myself and, at the end of the day, the only
buck I’d spent was the one that went
into the donation can at the Christian
Motorcyclists’ free gear check.
Repair & Service
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Salvaged & New Parts!
Tue–Fri 10–6 Sat 9–5
The collection of custom bikes was
extensive and dazzling, the girls at the
motorcycle attorneys’ booth inviting, and
the stunt show one of the best I’ve seen in
a while. These guys were not only riding
bikes covered with road rash, they were
demonstrating in real time how the scars
got there. (There’s a reason why there’s
a double fence separating spectators, all
of whom were filming the scene on their
smart phones, from the motorcycles in the
stunt riding competition.) Besides the beer,
‘wurst, barbecue and other good-smelling
stuff, there was brain food, too—seminars
on everything from adventure riding to the
science of suspension.
Next year
this time
when the
show comes
around
again, take
it in—even
if it’s raining.
You’ll be glad
you did.
— Bob Stokstad,
words and
photos. For more
great photos of
IMS action, go to
jstokstad.com/
IMS_2012.
GAO WTF?
Seriously,
Government
Accountability
Office—what? The hallowed,
oxymoronically named institution
published the snappily titled “Motorcycle
Safety: Increasing Federal Funding Flexibility
and Identifying Research Priorities Would
Help Support States’ Safety Efforts” last
month. What with the Fiscal Cliff looming
and all that, you’d think the folks there
would have better things to do, eh?
Digging into the report, there are
some interesting nuggets. The
GAO recommends a graduated
licensing system, for one, even
though it can’t really say why
(there aren’t any studies that
show it’s an effective way to
decrease fatalities). Oh, and
motorcycling is about 30 times more
dangerous than driving. There’s also a
finding (culled from a literature review)
that rider training programs may change
crash rates but do little
to decrease fatality
rates. After 51 pages,
the recommendation
is to allow states to use
the $4.6 million a year
in grants (enough to
employ 1.1 person
per state, we guess)
in a more flexible
manner. Is that
code for “we don’t
think rider training
and public service
announcements
are doing much to
reduce fatalities?”
MUNROE AT
BONNEVILLE
Remember the
story we did on the
Ducati Panigale (“Not a 916, But Who
F-ing Cares?” July 2012)? Did you notice
there are only photos of the right side?
That’s because some dizzy 20-something
suburbanite woman knocked it over with
her daddy’s VW the night Contributor Ed
Milich picked it up at Munroe Motors,
doing something like $8000 worth of
damage to the $23,000 motorcycles.
Luckily, it didn’t affect things too much, so
we continued with the test.
Munroe Motors took it in stride, and after
the bike was repaired, did some mild prep
work and took it to break some world
land-speed records at the Bonneville Salt
Flats in August. The prolific record-breaker,
San Franciscan Andy Sills, volunteered
for riding duties, and Munroe tech Todd
Chamberlain did some light prep work (but
the bike basically remained stock).
Judging from the Facebook page about the
effort, (facebook.com/PP2Hproject) it
was a challenging attempt. Rain meant the
salty surface wasn’t optimal and the bike
developed mechanical problems. Still, after
repeated runs and a four-hour round trip
to Salt Lake City for repairs, the Panigale
S became not just the fastest dealership
demo bike probably ever, it also broke the
record for “Group A1, Division B, Naturally
Aspirated, Twin Cylinder up to 1350cc”
motorcycles at 192.68 mph (although the
team claims it clocked 196 on some runs),
shattering the 179-mph previous record.
Seeing as CityBike’s road-test department
clocked most of the break-in miles on the
record-beating bike, we should be listed on
the trophy. Munroe, please let us know if
you need a referral for a good engraver.
A side note: Ducati North America claims
it has sold 7500 Panigales this year, a large
In its defense, the Office says it looked at
the issue of motorcycle safety to figure out
the impact of motorcycle
crashes on the economy
($16 billion a year, if you’re
curious), why we’re crashing
and dying, (drunks,
untrained and scofflaw
riders, inattentive motorists
and lack of helmet laws)
and what the money spent
by the Federal Government
on moto-safety—about
$46 million in the last six
years—has bought us (not
a lot!).
number that probably rivals any other openclass sportbike (OEMs are usually very tightlipped about sales numbers, especially any
single model), remarkable when you consider
the model has only been on showroom floors
since June.
VECTRIX GETS SMART
Actually, it’s the other way around.
Smart—Daimler’s minicar brand—is
“cooperating” with electric scooter
manufacturer Vectrix. The smaller
company with a troubled past is going to
help Smart develop its electric scooter
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
lot of resources to send
somebody to prison.
Initially, the CoCo county
DA didn’t want to pursue
the case at all, but because
of pressure from online
Bay Area Rider’s Forum
(BARF) members and the
CHP’s recommendation,
a reckless driving charge
was sought. After 10
months and much
back-and-forth between
the various parties, the
defendant pled guilty to
PC 415 (a), Disturbing
the Peace. It carries a
maximum fine of nine
months in the clink and a
$400 fine, but in this case,
according to a pissedoff and disappointed
Carabiner, Angry White
Man will have to take an eight-week
anger management class, pay $200, make
restitution to the victim (no details on this,
though) and two years of probation. It’s not
the years in prison we’re sure Carabiner
wanted, but not bad considering our carcentric culture. Job well done, sir!
I am Mike Padway, and
I ride motorcycles.
I prefer to represent
motorcycle riders who have
been injured because I like
working with motorcyclists.
We are slightly different than the
rest of the population, in a way that
makes us just a little more engaged,
realistic, and a lot more enjoyable
to be around.
I am proud of the fact that
I protect the interests of
motorcyclists because it
can seem at times like the
deck is stacked against us.
Insurance companies often attempt to use “car logic” to
settle a motorcycle case, and as
you and I both know that is not
fair. Furthermore, it is explicit
that your desire to have your
losses compensated is in direct
conf lict with an important goal
of the insurance industry: to pay
out as little as possible to you, and
maximize their profit!
That is where I come in.
I have decades of experience
navigating the legal and
insurance hurdles, have lectured
nationally for the American
Bar Association, and have represented riders across the
country. Of course, nobody
can guarantee any outcome of
any case, but it is always better
to have representation that is
experienced in your type of case.
If you have been injured
in a motorcycle accident,
please do not hesitate
to call for a phone
consultation or to set up a
meeting in person. Oh, and
unlike other lawyers you can
talk to me and I will return
your phone call.
If you have been injured on a
motorcycle and need a lawyer, call:
1 (800) 928-1511
www.michaelpadway.com
(the eScooter, on display at the 2010
Paris Motor Show ), expected to go into
production by 2014. We asked Vectrix
Marketing Manager Jeff Simpson what his
company was getting from this, and he told
us Vectrix would get “increased credibility
in and outside the industry (both EV and
Powersports/Automotive) about who
Vectrix is, and it demonstrates the strength
ANTHONY ALONSO: GROWING
and value of Vectrix core technologies to
the OEM market.” He also wanted to make UP FAST
clear that “Daimler/Smart did not purchase He’s barely 14 but he’s been riding since
Vectrix nor retain any ownership stakes.”
age five and racing for four years. Fremont’s
Anthony Alonso is getting it done on the
COCO JUSTICE
track, in this era of few U.S. riders in world
classes, much like King Kenny, Colin and
Readers may remember the saga of
Michael Carabiner, victim of a road-rager’s Ben. Like Casey, he has his parents’ full
support.
assault on Highway 24, just east of the
Caldecott tunnel in late 2011. Carabiner
Fremont Honda Kawasaki’s Bill Keys
had the presence of mind to chase the
believed in Anthony from the start: “I
hybrid-driving miscreant long enough to
put him on his first motorcycle. Now I’m
get a plate and description of the driver,
watching him grow up—fast!”
resulting in the arrest of the middle-aged
Contra Costa county man driving a white
How good is Alonso? He stared to race a
Honda Civic hybrid. Witnesses said the
Honda 50 at age seven. When the AFM
man repeatedly and deliberately swerved
denied him at age 11 he went south and
into Carabiner with
the intent of knocking
the bike off the
road—attempted
murder is what every
motorcyclist would
call it.
Carabiner had two
witnesses, an arresting
CHP officer and his
own recollection—
slam dunk case, right?
Well, our criminal
justice system doesn’t
really work like that.
A county DA behaves
more like a small
businessperson than
an aggressive arbiter
of justice. They’re
all about dollars per
conviction, and since
attempted murder or
assault with a deadly
weapon require
so many elements
proved—beyond
any reasonable
doubt—you need a
raced WERA/West at Willow on his
RS125, garnering podiums and impressing
everyone. In 2012 he won both the Moto3
and Formula 2 class championships there.
Allowed in, finally, by the AFM, he won
two classes up north in 2012.
Our own local BARF Racing sponsored
him at the last two British Superbike
rounds, at Silverstone and Brands Hatch—
both difficult circuits to learn—and he got
on the podium in the 125 class. He’s now
on the 2013 Red Bull team, in Spain, riding
a Moto3 four-stroke for the first time. He
wore #46 for years in honor of his hero
Vale, but at world levels he now carries #64.
Anthony was
guest of honor at
the December
American Sport
Bike Night,
celebrating its
14th anniversary.
Bill Keyes was
there to see
his protégée.
ASBN is quite
a group. It has
never missed
a Monday
night in all
its 14 years.
Also there:
Jim Doyle,
who knows a
racer when he
sees one (he
discovered
King Kenny
Roberts,
among other
memorable
exploits).
Check out Anthony Alonso at alonso.tv
and see him run, in excellent videos. Who
else believes? His sponsors include big
guns Pirelli, Suomy, GoPro and Motul.
NEW STUFF
Happy Holidays
Last Century’s Tire Change Prices
Museo Ducati by Chris Jonnum,
photography by Peter Harholdt
and a Great New Year!
David Bull Publishing, 4250 E
Camelback Rd, Phoenix AZ 85108.
- Jennifer, Kirk, Ray, Zak and family
Hard bound, 9” X 11”, 144pp, 106 color
photos, no index. $39.95
Want to visit Museo Ducati? Terrific idea.
Round-trip plane fare to Italy from the
U.S.: $1000-plus, depending on where
you start and how much luxury you crave.
Bologna, five nights: another $1000. Meals
and wine, Italy’s response to the most
demanding palate: think $1000, if you
do it right.
RaCiNG & RePaiR siNCe 1994
Werkstatt is Closed for the Holidays
December 22 - January 7
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 am - 6 pm
415-552-8115 | werkstattsf.com
3248 17th Street San Francisco, CA 94110
Including
expenses, you’ll likely to be north of five big
ones, per head.
The alternative: Museo Ducati, just
$39.95, a magnificent publication from
David Bull Publishing,
an organization that is
creating books every
genuine enthusiast needs.
As usual, the production
values are dazzlingly fine.
This is Bull’s third major
Ducati book. As before, he
has created a memorable
contribution to the
literature. Ducati Corse
MotoGP press officer
Chris Jonnum built the
words and internationally
respected photographer
Peter Harholdt provided
the pictures.
Twenty-five race bikes
are featured, from the
1946 Cucciolo (“puppy”)
motorized bicycle to the
Nicky Hayden GP10
MotoGP machine,
including many iconic
winners—Hailwood’s 250
Twin Desmo and IoM TT
900SS, Smart (Imola 750
Desmo), Luchinelli (BOT
750 F1), Roche (851 SBK),
Polen (888 SBK), Fogarty
(916 SBK), Capirossi (Desmosedici GP3 and
GP6), Hodgson (999 SBK), Bayliss (Imola
996 and SBK F08) and Stoner (GP7).
intercom functionality. Sena tells us that “a
rider can call hands free on a mobile phone,
listen to stereo music or voice instructions
of GPS navigations by Bluetooth wirelessly,
and have two-way intercom conversations
in full duplex with a passenger or another
motorcycle rider.” Intercom range is 750
yards and it’s priced at $159 for the solo,
$299 for kits. Call your favorite brick-andmortar dealer or go to senabluetooth.com
for more info.
The format: show the whole machine
in side view, provide a paragraph of
descriptive data (in English and Italian,
as is the whole book), and add detailed
shots, well captioned, showing some of
the most compelling engineering details.
Specifications boxes, hard to read because
they feature reversed type or black-on-grey,
provide basic technical data.
ANY GLOVE
Anyone who knows and loves Ducati—
what’s not to love?—will find Harholdt’s
luminous photos compelling, showing
levels of motorcycle technology, unfolding
over six decades, that delight the eye. There
isn’t a dull page, though gearheads might
want more fairing-off stuff.
This is not a technology book, as were Bull’s
earlier volumes, and Jonnum’s prose is
spare, leaving the reader thirsting for more.
We get the basic facts, but layout and space
considerations prevented longer discussion
of the machines and their histories.
From 3:14 Daily
Valencia @ 25th
415-970-9670
SERVICE
SPECIAL
The museum holds only race bikes. So,
no Monsters (reportedly accounting for
half of Ducati’s revenues) or Motards,
and—sadly—no MH900E. Indeed, one
of Ducati’s most remarkable machines, on
display, is not even mentioned: the 100cc
streamliner that took 44 world records
at Monza, including 171.9 kph speed and
1000 kilometers in less than six hours.
David Bull explained that extracting this
marvelous machine for photography was
not possible.
A few minor historical errors could have
been avoided. Fiat made a 600cc ‘Topolino’
(Little Mouse) car back in 1936, long
before WWII, far predating the 1957 Fiat
500. And Peugeot used desmodromic
valves in 1912 (based on the Indy-winning
L76 motor), decades before the 1955
Mercedes-Benz W196 Formula 1 car that
supposedly inspired Ducati to ‘go Desmo.’
And if you wonder what the building looks
like, you’ll have to go there, since no photo
is included. (it looks like a red-and-white
Ikea but you should go anyway—ed.)
—John Joss
SHOCKING NEWS
All Brands
During your service, we will
include our $90.00 Winter
Hibernation special
FREE OF CHARGE
High-end cars have had reactive and
electronically adjustable suspension for
years, and now manufacturers like Ducati
Be SmArT!
Gotta love that interior pull-down, popback-up sun visor. It works so smoothly,
with a small section cut out for my schnoz,
that I find myself playing with it while
riding. Lowering the visor with one of the
sliders compresses a spring, which flings
the visor back into its recess when a return
button is pushed—great when you’re
entering a tunnel.
and BMW are equipping their top-of-theline models with it as well. So when will the
aftermarket get in on the act? How about
now? Öhlins is offering a “Mechatronic”
version of the TTX36 Mk II road-race
shock for the 2011-2013 Kawasaki ZX-10R.
rACing & rePAir SinCe 1994
get your Bike Worked on
in the Off Season
(see our website for details)
Call us today to set up
your appointment.
10% Off
All Tune Ups
through 1/31/13
913 Hanson Court
Milpitas, CA 95035
(408) 945-0911
www.nicholsmfg.com
ZX-10R’s ECU, where it uses data inputs
such as rpm, throttle position and wheel
speed to continuously adjust damping
settings to suit the rider’s style. It even
adjusts the settings according to the rider’s
choice of engine mapping (adjustable on
the ZX-10R). Pricing is $1625.
The shock is actually a complete system.
Brave new world, eh? Call your favorite
The TTX36 (upgraded for 2012 with twin
dealer to find out more or go to ohlinsusa.
steel tubes and a redesigned piston band
com on your computer thingee.
for improved bump absorption) uses
electronically controlled actuators wired to
NOLAN’S N104 MODULAR
an Öhlins ECU that in turn plugs into the
Last Century’s Tire Change Prices
Nichols Sportbike Service
Your suffering may be over—a product
called “Any Glove” (available on Amazon
for $15 per 7.5 ml bottle) makes fabric
or leather conductive and useable with
a touch screen. It’s a liquid polymer of
some sort that you drip onto the glove
fingertips and allow to dry (a couple
of hours, or a few
Werkstatt is Closed for the Holidays
December 22 - January 7
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 am - 6 pm
415-552-8115 | werkstattsf.com
3248 17th Street San Francisco, CA 94110
HELMET
It was high time for a new lid. During
the last seven years the old one had
accumulated its share of scars from
two kinds of drop—the more frequent
slip of the hand and the rare but more
consequential crash. Out of the box, my
new Nolan N104 modular helmet looked
virginal. Because it has the “micro-lock”
feature on the chin strap, as does my old
N102, it felt immediately familiar. But
then the big differences showed. The lens
opening is much larger and offers a more
panoramic view of the road and sky ahead.
And the pressure of the cheek pads gives
a sense of security, like having one’s face
packaged for a UPS shipment. Within a day
I was fully enjoying the new feel.
The vents at the chin guard and on top of
the helmet really work; you can feel the
internal breeze when they’re opened. The
ergonomics for the sliders that control
the vents or position the sun visor and the
raising of the chin guard are superb. They
are easy to feel and manipulate, even with
winter gloves. It’s also quieter inside than
my other helmets. If I decide to add Nolan’s
communication system, N-Com, this
helmet is designed especially for it.
preferred plain-Jane silver model is $450—
50 bucks more will get you graphics. Buy
one through a local dealer and you may
come away with a slightly better price.
I’m very happy with my Nolan N104 and,
wouldn’t you know, its virginity is already
gone – dinged the top on my overhead
garage door yesterday. It’s the first of
many to come in what will be a long and
satisfying relationship.
Speaking of Bluetooth and
cellphone moto-use: yes,
we know it’s distracting
and you shouldn’t
try to use your
cell phone while
riding, but have
you experienced this
situation: you pull
over and work your
smartphone out
of your pocket to
check directions
or send a text
message—and now
you have to pull
your gloves off to
work the screen, and
then you drop a glove,
and then you try to reach down and pick
it up and your phone starts to slide off the
tank and your hand shoots out to grab it
and you lose your balance and the bike falls
over and you wrench your knee and wind
up spending $63 on a clutch lever and your
turn signal lens breaks but screw it.
minutes
under a hairdryer).
Any
Glove says it will provide weeks or
months of functionality before you’ll
need to reapply and it works on (wait for
it!) any glove, be it wool, leather, Nylon
or whatever. Good for using GPS and
other devices, too, we’d bet.
— Bob Stokstad
SENA SMH-5 FM
After reviewing many different models of
wired and wireless helmet-audio systems,
the one Editor Ets-Hokin prefers is the
Sena SMH5. It’s small, light, easy to use
and delivers terrific sound clarity for phone
calls and bike-to-bike communications
alike. One flaw is the lack of an FM radio,
which the Sena and other headsets do have.
This high-end, made-in-Italy helmet has
more nice features, which you can read
Flawed no more: Sena’s new SMH5-FM
about at nolan-usa.com. The MSRP for my
offers a built-in FM stereo tuner as well as
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
325 South Maple Ave #20, South SF
First Monday of each month
(January 7, February 4):
Doc Wong Clinics!
Events at Motoshop
2:30 – 10:00 pm: Northern California
Ducati Bike Nights at Benissimo (one
of Marin’s finest Italian Restaurants), 18
Tamalpias Dr, Corte Madera.
NorCalDoc.com
CityBike says if you haven’t done a Doc
Wong clinic, go do one ASAP. It’s fun,
free and will make you a better/safer/
happier rider. Register by emailing
[email protected] or call Full Motion
Chiropractic at 650/365-7775.
Moto Shop : 325 South Maple Ave #20,
South San Francisco. 650/239-6686,
Thursday, January 10, 5:00 pm: Brakes
bayareamotoshop.com
Clinic
More info: docwong.com
Saturday, December 22, 10:00 am: Tire Sunday, January 13, 10:00 am: Basic
Change Clinic
Moto Maintenance
6:00 pm: American Sport Bike Night at
Dick’s Restaurant and Cocktails, 3188
Alvarado Street, San Leandro. Bring your
Buell and hang out with like-minded riders.
All brands welcome! Our meeting of Buell
and Motorcycle enthusiasts has been
happening the first Monday of the month
for the last 12 years, without ever missing
a meeting. We have had many local and
national celebrities from the motorcycle
Thursday, December 20, 5:00 pm:
Brakes Clinic
Sunday, January 6, 10:00 am: Ducati
Valve Adjustin’
DirtBag
Challenge
2013
Saturday, January 12, 9:00 am: Valve
Clinic
world grace our meetings. It has been fun
and exciting. americansportbikenight.net
Sunday, December 23, 10:00 am: Basic
Moto Maintenance
and Sprockets
First Wednesday of each month
(January 2, February 6)
Thursday, January 3, 5:00 pm: Intro to
Welding
Thursday, January 17, 5:00 pm: Oil and
Coolant
6:00 pm: Bay Area Moto Guzzi Group
monthly dinner at Vahl’s in Alviso (1512
Saturday, January 5, 10:00 am: Tire
Change Clinic
Saturday, January 19, 10:00 am: Tire
Change Clinic
4:00 pm: Chains
Smoke
‘em if
you’ve
got
‘em...
Clinics and classes start at $40.
El Dorado Street, Alviso, 410/2620731).
Members, interested Guzzi riders, and all
other motorcycle riders always welcome.
More information, contact Pierre at:
408/710-4886 or
[email protected].
and interested Guzzi riders meet for
breakfast and a good time. The Putah Creek
Cafe is located at Railroad Avenue. More
information contact: Northern California
MGNOC Rep, Don Van Zandt at 707-5575199.
Second Tuesday of Each Month
Evenings: Moto-Sketch at Tosca Cafe:
come and sketch a live model draped over a
custom bike. $7 to sketch, free to just watch.
Tosca Cafe, 242 Columbus Ave. in S.F.
6:30 pm to 10:00 pm: East Bay Ducati
Bike Night at Pizza Antica (3600 Mount
Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, 925/299-0500)
Bike parking on the street right in front of
the restaurant, indoor and heated outdoor
seating, excellent wine list. All moto
brands welcome. Bring your appetite and
a smile, be prepared to make new friends.
Third Wednesday of Each Month
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm: Emeryville
Ducati Bike Night at Hot Italian (5959
Shellmound Street #75, Emeryville,
510/652-9300) A fun, social atmosphere
for Ducati owners, folks that want to
become Ducati owners, and folks that
don’t yet know that they want to become
Ducati owners, to sit, eat, talk, walk
around and look at other Ducatis. All
brands and models of motorcycles are
welcome, so please don’t be put off by the
event name.
Third Sunday of each month
(January 19, February 17):
9:00 am: California (Northern)
Moto Guzzi National Owners Club
(MGNOC) breakfast at Putah Creek
Cafe in picturesque Winters, California
(Highways 505/128) MGNOC members
Thursday, January 10
Bonham’s Third-Annual Las Vegas
Motorcycle Auction (Bally’s Las Vegas,
3645 South Las Vegas Boulevard Las Vegas,
877/603-4390)
Bonham’s returns to the Las Vegas strip
with an impressive list of exceptional
motorcycles already consigned. The auction
moves to a new, more spacious venue inside
Bally’s, conveniently located right in the
heart of the action. Consignments are now
invited for this highly anticipated premier
motorcycle auction. Contact a motorcycle
specialist today for more info: 323/4365470 or 415/391-4000, motorcycle.us@
bonhams.com. bonhams.com/vegas
Sunday, January 13
7:00 am-1:00 pm: Sacramento Cycle Swap
Meet (Sacramento 6 Drive-In, Highway
50 at Bradshaw Road, 9616 Oats Dr.
Sacramento)
SELLING SPACES AVAILABLE! “All
Brands” event with over 100 vendors
and over 500 bikes for show and sale.
Riders and collectors from all ends of the
bike hobby, including Harley, cruisers,
choppers, vintage, British, race, OffRoad, Japanese, Euro, and bicycles get
together to buy, sell, trade, show off,
and talk about new, used, and vintage
parts and accessories. From professional
shops and manufacturers liquidating
excess inventory to the hobbyist selling
off leftovers from his latest project,
you can find smokin’ deals on hardto-find parts and accessories.Ride out
and park your Bike in the Bike Corral
or get a vendor space and unload
those old parts from your garage. Visit
SacramentoCycleSwapMeet.com or call
800/ 762-9785 for more info.
Send your FREE event listings for your
organization, club or business (please no
sale events) to PO Box 10659 Oakland, CA
94610 or email [email protected].
By Gabe Ets-Hokin
Photos by Bob Stokstad
Brown), so the next year the event moved
to San Francisco.
ou and your buddies, hanging out in
your shop, have probably come up
with some pretty good ideas. Have
you had any that turned into a 10-year
tradition, an iconic event that’s imprinted
on your local motorcycling scene?
It was now a thing, and as most things do, it
took on a life of its own. The next year there
were six entries, and more each following
year. Rules evolved—Brown’s original
partners quit the event, and as he believes
motorcycles are meant for riding, not
posing, he added the requirement that the
bikes get ridden on a 100-mile loop before
the judging.
Entrants
complained
about the
$500 rule,
so that was
bumped
up to an
extravagant
$1000.
Two weeks
turned into
30 days, and
the final
rule—no
Harleys—
was added
when “a
guy came
in saying he
would ‘put
the riders to
shame’ by building a V-Twin with donated
parts.” Since Brown says Harleys, with their
distinctive shapes and glittering chrome,
gobble up the attention at shows, decided
to “level the playing field” by excluding the
brand even though he likes them.
Y
Poll Brown has. Ten years ago, the impish
Englishman
and three of
his buddies
were “standing
around,
bullshitting”
about the thencurrent crop of
biker buildoff shows on
cable TV,
shows where
the average
chromeencrusted
V-Twin build
started around
$50,000. They
challenged
each other to a
bike-building
duel, and at
first, there
were only two rules: you can’t spend more
than $500 and you get just two weeks to
finish it. The deadline came around, and
about 30 of their friends showed up to
celebrate the results. The resulting party
was somehow too raucous for Oakland
(“the OPD was not user friendly,” says
Brown has used social media to massively
grow the event. “I like Facebook because
it takes very minimal management.
Attendance has increased at least tenfold.”
The 2012 iteration, held in a
grubby space between some
warehouses in the Hunter’s
Point neighborhood of San
Francisco, attracted hundreds
and hundreds of motorcyclists,
artists and curious hipsters from
the nearby Mission District. As
the 16 motorcycles that finished
(of 28 entries) the 100-mile
ride rolled in, hyper-amplified
bands played death metal,
beer-slingers poured cheap
brew and spectators gawked at
the scantily-clad “alternative
model” in attendance.
In fact, there were too many
people there to get good
photos of the bikes—I
arranged a photo session several weeks
later so I could have some quiet and
order while photographer Bob shot and
I could interview participants. But that
backfired—put Dirtbags into a space with
their bikes, and as soon as they get bored
they start doing burnouts and stunts with
their machines, making interviewing
difficult but the photography more fun.
The bikes have taken on a certain
distinctive look over the years. Generally,
they tend to be ‘70s and ‘80s Japanese
UJMs, with modified hardtail frames
and creative use of cast-off parts like gas
tanks, seats and wheels. The $1000 doesn’t
include old abandoned projects or parts
the participants (or their friends) may
already have had in their garages and
sheds, nor does the 30-day rule apply to
stuff that you may have already started but
had failed to finish.
The event is well attended and sells a lot of
beer, burgers and t-shirts, but still barely
breaks even, according to Brown. But
he wouldn’t quit doing it for any price.
“Every year I question doing it,” but he
continues because it makes his friends—
and himself—so happy. “Some of my
best friends I met through the DBC and
the response I get from the community is
enormous. People I don’t know stop me
on the street and tell me what a great time
they had—they say it’s like Christmas for
grown-ups. It makes me feel good.”
Julian Farnam and his RD400
Livermore, California’s Julian Farnam
is a product designer by trade, and has
method most Dirtbaggers
utilize. “I spent two hours a
day commuting on BART, so I
did 50 pages of sketches, which
turned into CAD models,
and then individual
part drawings and then
finished pieces, so when
the go-date hit, there was
no guesswork involved;
all I had to do was go into
my shop and start.” He
wants to keep this bike—
it’s not the balls-to-thewalls kind of sportbike
he’s been building for
years, and “it has its
quirks—but it is fun to ride!”
Guido Brenner and his
Guzzi-Ford Trike
always been obsessed with building
championship-winning frames and
alternative front ends—plus he loves
two-strokes, especially RD and RZ
Yamahas. This low-riding RD400 is his
second Dirtbag entry, and it’s amazing he
accomplished it under $1000, especially
when you see the “Öhlins”
label on the four shock
absorbers.
Actually, they are just
Öhlins springs with
cheaper Mulholland
dampers. He saved
money in other spots by
reselling the unneeded
components of the $175
RD200 donor bike that’s
the basis of the project.
One-and-3/4-inch steel
tubing fit perfectly in the
GSX-R600 triple clamps,
and Farnam developed the
leading-link springer front
end himself—”I added
my own design twists.” A
friend had a ‘79 RD400
Daytona Special tank,
another friend donated
R5 wheels, hubs and
brakes, the motor’s bottom end and crank
turned up on a two-stroke forum. Exhaust
comes from an RZ350 and the seat is off a
GSX-R600.
Julian’s process was definitely more
involved than the Sawzall-and-blowtorch
Reliable, timely service at
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back wheel, and the gas tank
appears to be a pony keg.
The seat looks more like a
photograph of a seat, and the
seating position is more akin
to the Big Wheel I owned
when I was six. A beautiful
piece of artwork, but the
first motorcycle I’ve ever
encountered that I
have absolutely no desire
to ride.
Jason Pate’s 1979 Suzuki
GS1000 Bobber
Jason Pate, who does underground
construction and welding for a living, has
Guido Brenner is the prototypical
his shop in industrial, blue-collar Fremont,
San Francisco Renaissance
California, so his 2008 entry, a ‘79 GS1000,
Man—nightclub bouncer by night,
reflects the tough-but-stylish East Bay
quasi-industrial tinkerer and builder of
zeitgeist. The original build originally ran
cars and motorcycles by day. He’s also a
him just $850, with money saved by using a
photographer and in four bands, so it’s not ‘79 GS750 front end, chopping and welding
surprising 2012 was the first year he was
the hardtail conversion himself and
able to find the time to participate in the
making his own rear brake pedal. Points
DBC. “I’m the one usually doing a sideshow are replaced with the mechanism from a
Chevy V8—Pate was proud of the built-in
timing light.
The bike was finished off with the tank
from a ‘75 Triumph and the hubs and
wheels donated by Crazy Chris at
Wheelworks, the Bay Area’s go-to shop for
wheel lacing. The bike’s tidy, compact and
clean look was a crowd-pleaser, garnering
the “Clever Fucka’” and “Coolest
Chopper” trophies.
with a sidecar (Brenner is known for doing
burnouts and flying the chair of his old
sidecar rig during the DBC after-party),
but this time I decided to get off my ass and
build one.”
Pate insisted I ride the bike a bit to get
a feel for it. I was game—I don’t think
I’ve ever ridden a hardtail. I thought the
horrible ghetto pavement around Hunter’s
Point would destroy what’s left of my lower
spine, but it was actually not that bad, the
big back tire and mountain-bike shock
mounted under the saddle absorbing a lot
of bumps. What was great about the bike
was that smooth-running and torquey
GS1000 Four, which ran perfectly and
sounded great.
Since the 2008 event, Pate keeps the bike
as a regular ride, repainting and polishing
it to its present glory. Stuff occasionally
rattles loose on the freeway, but he still likes
it a lot: “it’s capable and fun...I like the 60s
chopper thing, the classic bare-bones.” For
$850, I’d call it a keeper.
Brenner was raised into a family of hotrodders, so it’s also not surprising he
selected the ancient front end of a 1930
Ford Model A to mate to the frame, rear
Two from The Turk: The
wheel and motor of the small-block Guzzi
he rode around in the ‘80s. “I bought it back Bulldozer and Slung-Low
Yamaha XT550
from a friend for $500.” Being a hot-rod
guy, he wanted to sit behind a steering
“What’s your name?” I asked the builder of
wheel, in front of the engine. “It’s the poor the two most unusual bikes in the group.
boy version of a Morgan.”
“Turk,” came the reply from behind his big
sunglasses.
It’s also a work-in-progress. The 80-yearold mechanical brakes, not surprisingly,
“No, what’s on your birth certificate?”
are marginal, making the pre-judging
“I don’t remember,” was the vaguely
ride “hairy.” Brown and other riders were
worried riding behind Brenner, but a team coquettish response.
of Christian Motorcycle Riders volunteers “How about your driver’s license?”
escorted him, keeping other motorists off
his tail. Still, he had a great time—he loves “’The Turk.’” I stopped asking questions
about his name (although I wonder if he’s
the comfy car seat and next year he wants
actually Turkish, or if he just acts Turkish).
to build a half VW Beetle/half chopper
monstrosity. I won’t want to ride that either.
The Turk is another product of San
Francisco’s industrial-artistic lifestyle,
the subculture that produced the Survival
Research Labs’ self-immolating robots
and Burning Man. His day job is with the
San Francisco Opera and Ballet, building
props and sets—he recently built a radiocontrolled chaise lounge for the annual
production of The Nutcracker.
designed the girder front end. The frontend geometry is copied from his neighbor’s
land-speed record racebike. The chromed
tractor seat is off an Excercycle from the
‘30s and the bike rolls on a pair of fat
Suzuki Bandit rear wheels. The Yamaha
Radian motor isn’t that interesting, but it
makes enough power for freeway speeds
and smoking the fat rear tire at the end of
the day. Big, hulking and incredibly built in
The unnamed large, silver thing is what
happened when Turk “wanted fat and
heavy, with big wheels” for his 2011 DBC
entry. The huge, curved main frame was
one of the easiest parts to source—an
industrial specialty shop rolled the
tubing and bent it to order for $160. Turk
then welded on the rigid swingarm and
just 30 days, the Bulldozer won the People’s
Choice award that year.
to,” Turk told me, so he
started out with $60 worth
of pipe and used hand tools
and a hand-held grinder—
”nothing fancy”—to make
the elegant frame and
swingarm that follow the
curves and angles of the
old thumper’s mechanical
parts. Some anonymous
‘80s Kawasaki cruiser
donated the front end and
In 2009, Turk went lower and slower.
“Slung Low” was the result of having a
good Yamaha XT550 dual-sport motor in a
badly twisted frame cluttering his shop. “I
wanted to make a frame any shape I wanted
Bikes and builders not mentioned because
of space restrictions but thanked profusely
nonetheless:
Felicia Chen and her “Size Matters”
Kawasaki Ninja 250R Hardtail, Alex
Verbitsky with his 1968 Honda CB450
Bobber, Jesse Silva’s 1976 Honda CB750,
Dr. Brian VanHorne’s Suzuki GS750,
Chris Suttles’ Suzuki GS650, Jesse
Silva’s 1976 Honda CB750 and Brian
Larimer’s 1981 Suzuki GS850. We’d also
like to thank models Ashley Russel (with
Mohawk) and Katherine Kwid for adding
so much fun to the shoot.
2012 Honda NC700X
Photos by Bob Stokstad
John Joss, Señor Editor.
Years Riding: Myriad
Favorite Complaint: Fuel Range
E
A motorcycle for the ages?
(NC = New Concept) line may offer a
solution: doing enough, affordably. It
represents an engineering/marketing/
accounting compromise built for thrift in
economically unstable times.
xperienced riders are asked
repeatedly: “What motorcycle
should I buy?” The rational
responses: “What kind of riding do you do? Honda’s solution: an ‘efficiency-algorithm’
power platform, the core fuel-to-motion
What’s your budget?”
converter. Honda’s engineers understand
The broader the needs, the wider the
design efficiency—they’ve created
choice—commuter or cruiser, sport bike
hundreds of cars and motorcycles (plus
or sport-tourer, off-road or adventure
off-road vehicles, generators, watercraft,
machine, and so forth. The fewer the bucks, and, and, and). Honda’s marketeers know
the narrower the possibilities.
world markets, demographics and trends.
Honda’s accountants can calibrate beans
Focused machines—say, sport bikes—
within Ångström widths.
may do a few things brilliantly, the rest
hardly at all. ‘Do-it-all’ models
may Stir these people and challenges in the
cover almost everything
motorcycle-design pot and—voilà—
badly. Ya pays ya money . . .
the NC700. For efficiency and
Motorcycle uses
and categories have
proliferated. Choice is a
conundrum. For most
of us, able to afford
only one ‘working’
motorcycle, and
considering
shaky world
economics,
Honda’s NC700
minimum internal
(mechanical
kills economy),
friction
friction
the
result
is an
under-square (73mm bore/80mm stroke),
SOHC eight-valve, 670cc parallel Twin,
conceptually a bifurcated Honda Fit car
engine with 270-degree crank. It delivers
modest power (47 bhp) at low revs (6250)
and plonking torque (44ft.-lb. at 4750rpm),
while emitting a hushed, throaty burble.
Power/torque vary slightly depending on
model—X (tested), S or D, described below.
NC700 series. Compromises, principally
in suspension, brakes and tube-steel frame,
slash that base sticker. Yet the package
is executed brilliantly, in typical Honda
fashion. Every detail works.
That motor, cammed for low- and midrange torque, performs well, making
the machine easy to ride, ideal for
beginners. It runs out of revs above 6000
but still delivers smooth, quiet power.
The hydraulic clutch engages smoothly;
gearshifts are Honda decisive.
Honda wanted economy. The NC
sips gasoline—70 mpg average,
more or less, they say, depending
on how hard one rides, offering
outstanding 200-mile (or more)
range from the 3.7-gallon underseat tank (that ‘tank’ is a big
storage locker, accommodating a
full-face helmet).
The power platform, cylinders
angled forward 62 degrees to
accommodate the storage locker,
powers three models: dual-sport
(the 2012 NC700X ‘adventure,’ introduced
in Europe in 2011—the U.S. came late in
Honda’s global release), naked (NC700S,
not sold in the U.S.), and scooter (NC700D
Integra, also not here yet). Optional
Honda technology is available—ABS,
VFR1200F-derived DCT (dual-clutch
automatic transmission). Other options
include a 45-liter top case, 29-liter bags,
crash guards, LED foglights, heated
grips and center stand. The dual-clutch
DCT and ABS on the NC700X adds a
whopping $2000.
Ride quality? Though rear-shock preload
is the only suspension adjustment, the X’s
almost 6-inch travel at both ends smoothes
the way, though severe surfaces push the
limits of comfort and confidence.
Brakes? The single, two-piston caliper
operating on the front 320mm wavy
disk does a workmanlike job. Ignore the
insensitive 240mm rear brake.
Handling? Bar effort is light. Corners track
neutrally. The low CG promotes easy lowspeed maneuvering, though at a claimed
451 pounds, dry, it’s no lightweight. The
Compromises: You can
seating position is comfortably upright
please some of the
but the firmish, slippery seat inflicts
customers all of the time discomfort around 200 continuous miles.
or all of the customers Wind protection from the stock flyscreen
some of the time. To is minimal. Doubtless the aftermarket will
succeed, you must address the seat and screen issues.
please enough of
Economy? Honda suggests 64 mpg but I
the customers
saw 58.75, measured, riding purposefully
enough of the
time. Thus (John rode the bike from Torrance to the
Peninsula in a day—ed.)—still notable. The
the
economy stems partly from the tall sixth
gear: at an indicated 75mph, the ribbon
LCD tach shows a mere 4000rpm.
its friendly base price. Life is compromises.
This one works.
Bottom line: does it work?
Second Take: Gabe Ets-Hokin,
Editor-in-Cheaply.
What can the NC700 do for you? Honda’s
engineers have managed the compromise,
satisfying the marketeers and bean
counters, meeting that ‘most-of-thecustomers-most-of-the-time’ criterion.
It’s versatile: commute, tour, strafe apexes
with reasonable agility. Will the S come
here? Dunno. Viewed on the Web, the
Integra’s man-sized wheels are safer than
competitors’ minuscule rubber donuts
front and rear. Will Honda bring it? One
hopes. But avoid tram tracks, bridge grids
and potholes, anyway!
A motorcycle for the ages? Yes, 17 to
whatever, rookie or returner. From every
indication, worldwide, Honda has a
palpable hit: enough performance at the
right time at sensible cost.
Will the NC cannibalize other Honda
models’ sales? Probably not. It has its own
niche, and faces down the competition at
Years Riding: Too Many and Yet Not
Enough, Favorite Complaint: Too
Much Fuel Range
Ol’ Raymond Blank, how we miss ye. The
visionary V.P. for Motorcycles at American
Honda Motors helmed Big Red’s motodivision in the
USA for decades
and now he’s
gone—retired?
Pasteurized?
Melted down
for seat foam?
We don’t know,
as we haven’t
heard from him,
but I have a very
vivid memory
of sitting at a bar
in Birmingham,
Alabama at
some press event or
another and hearing
him talk about Honda’s
incredible engineering
and design capabilities.
“We can make anything
we want.” Super-awesome
V5 MotoGP racer-forthe-street? Sure. Electric
dual-sport? Why not?
But why would it build
the perfect bike for you when Honda can
build the perfect bikes for
everybody? Because when
you sell vehicles in the teens
of millions, it doesn’t make
sense to build exciting niche
products a relative handful
of well-heeled 50 year-olds
might consider buying.
Instead, we get...the NC700X.
Don’t get me wrong. I really
liked this motorcycle.
The design is great, with
eye-pleasing shapes and
angles. The seat is low for
an adventurestyled machine,
especially with an
underseat gas tank
(it really took 100
years for designers
to figure out the
best place for
the tank is under
the seat, freeing
up storage space
and improving
handling?). It’s as easy to ride as any bike
in this category, with great turning radius,
quick steering (those bars feel higher
and wider than they are, somehow) and
smooth, light gearbox and clutch.
John calling the 670cc powerplant half a
Fit engine is very apt. Like a car, the NC
bumps off the rev limiter at 6000 rpm,
surprising the rider—up to redline, the
motor is just a little buzzy, feeling the
same at
5500 as
it does at
1500. First
gear is very
short, but
after that,
the gears
are wellspaced and
the motor
is flexy
enough so
that there’s
enough
guts for
passing in
fifth or even
sixth. Cruising at an indicated 90 mph is
fine, if that’s your thing—not too loud,
okay wind protection, and just a little
thrumming from the engine.
I’m at a loss to imagine a better commuting
bike. Sixty miles per gallon? More trunk
space than a lot of scooters? Sign me up. It’s
also just fun and satisfying to ride around
town or on divided freeways, a product
so refined and well-engineered it’s hard
to believe it can be brought to market for
under $7000.
Downsides? It’s slow, there’s no getting
around that. Suzuki made an honest 70
hp with a budget-priced, 649cc liquidcooled Twin 15 years ago. Honda took
tuning-for-torque to a whole new level,
lopping 40 percent off the top of this bike’s
powerband—and though the bike is plenty
fast to keep up with traffic, you’ll miss
it. ABS without the extra 33 pounds and
$2000 of the dual-clutch version would
be nice, but isn’t available. The brakes and
suspension are el cheap-o, even for this
price range—I could feel the front brake
juddering under heavy pressure, and
bumpy freeways are less pleasant than they
could be, although the spring rates and
damping feel well-calibrated.
So, you and I and just about everybody else
you’ll meet would probably rather have this
bike with 20 more horses, better brakes...but
then again, we already have plenty of choices
with that kind of spec sheet. This kind of
refinement, economy, value and ease of use
could open up new markets for Honda—
and that’s what it wants to do.
Off-Road Survival Guide Part III
Parental advice & selecting the right bike (one of two sub-parts)
challenge is to find one that fits your
o here you are, about to buy your first body, budget, and type of riding you
enjoy. Remember, this isn’t a “for as long
dirtbike. Excited but bewildered.
as you both shall live” commitment. Dirt
It’s bad enough trying to decide what bikes pass through many hands over their
to buy if you don’t know the difference
lifetimes. You’ll probably date more than a
between two strokes and four. But then
few before you find a keeper.
your ever-practical partner pops into
So here are a few tips to kick start your
Parent Mode and asks:
search:
1. How are you gonna haul it?
First, dirt biking is not for everyone. Some
2. Where are you gonna keep it?
folks sink thousands into bikes and gear
only to discover off-road is not where it’s
3. Who’s gonna fix it?
at. And that’s okay, because these are the
Tranquillo, my dear. These are not issues to
people from whom you buy hardly used
keep you stuck on the streets. CityBike has
stuff at deep discounts.
all the answers.
First of all, start
by dismissing
the romantic
notion that
you’ll buy a
dual-sport
street-legal dirt
bike and ride
to the trails.
The nearest
parks are over
an hour’s ride
from The City. No pickup? No problem. Transporting dirt bikes knows no limits.
Riding a dirt
Of course, you can’t go wrong buying a new
bike on the
bike, but you’ll pay more for that peace of
freeway is like driving a Yugo stuck in first
gear to Reno. Plus you’ll be out of gas when mind. Starting out with a well-maintained
used bike is financially practical and easier
you get there. Plus you’ll be stranded if
to part with if you don’t feel a match. Also,
something breaks (like your leg).
used bikes often come with hundreds of
But cheer up. If you don’t own a pick-up
dollars of aftermarket upgrades you’d
truck or have room for a trailer, you can fit need to add to a new bike, like skid plates,
your car with a 2-inch trailer hitch receiver radiator guards, and hand guards.
that will accept a single-rail carrier (parallel
Second, do your research. Websites and
to the bumper; $200 new) or a hydraulic
lift (MX Hauler; $400 new). If all else fails, motorcycle dealers can provide excellent
help in choosing a first bike. Walk around
dirtbikes can be stuffed into minivans,
the parking lot of a local riding area some
station wagons, big trunks, and back seats
Sunday morning and talk to people about
of old American convertibles.
their bikes and what they recommend for
Ideally, your bike should be stored in a
beginners. Some might even let you take a
garage where it’s safe and convenient to
test ride. Metcalf Park in Santa Clara and
work on. If you don’t have one, someone
Hollister Hills (around the store) are great
you know does. Or you can rent a storage
spots for this because they’re popular areas
space. Outdoor storage is the last resort.
for beginners and families.
Lightweight bikes which need no keys to
Third, forget love at first-sight. These are
start are easily pinched and parted. And
mass-produced machines. Take your time
although it’s built to withstand the worst
elements, a bike stored outside will rapidly and look at several bikes before you buy.
You’ll learn how to spot flaws and develop
deteriorate in insidious ways (rusty fork
tubes, dog pee on your rotors, mouse nests the ‘feel’ for a truly good deal.
in your air filter).
Fourth, negotiate. Ads state the asking
price. Research will tell you if the price is
Dirt bikes require more maintenance and
realistic. Mentally tally the costs to replace
repairs than streeters. So if you don’t have
mechanical skills, you’ll need the income to worn or broken parts and then explain to
pay someone who does. Normal upkeep is the seller why the price should be less than
asking. There are lots of used bikes out
fairly simple, like adjusting chain tension,
oil changes, cleaning the air filter, keeping there so don’t be afraid to walk and wait for
a better deal.
bolts and spokes tight. You need only a
basic set of metric tools, your bike’s owner’s
Fifth, bring a knowledgeable friend along
manual, and just one thumb per hand.
when you look at a bike. Two sets of eyes
If you don’t want to spring for new wheels, spot more flaws than one. And your
buddy can keep the seller busy while you
the good news is that almost any mid-‘90s
concentrate on inspecting the bike without
and newer off-road motorcycle delivers
being distracted by conversation.
outstanding reliability. So relax. Your
By Bill Klein
S
And while you’re at it, also pay attention to:
The Owner: Squirrely kid or stable adult?
Racer or occasional trail rider?
Do their own maintenance or rely on
a shop? All provide hints at how well the
bike has been cared for.
The Bike’s Home: Garage, backyard, or
living room? Also a clue to the care and
maintenance the bike has received.
The Story: What’s the bike’s history? Why
is it being sold? When was it purchased?
What repairs and maintenance have been
done? What are the typical problems with
this model? What kind of bike will the
owner buy next? Get the owner talking
about his bike and riding to learn how bike
has been treated. Then mentally compare
all the info with what you see to determine
if it’s a credible deal and what the seller’s
urgency or motivation to sell might be.
And if you call about a bike only to find it’s
already sold, ask the owner about reliability
and potential issues with that model. This is
a great way to get unbiased insider info.
Red or green sticker? Due to air pollution
regulations, the state issues green or red
registration stickers that determine when a
dirt bike can be ridden at state and county
parks. Green bikes can ride year-round.
Red riders, only between October and May.
The Extras: Another bonus with used
bikes is the possibility of getting added
goodies to close the sale. If the owner is
getting out of the sport, they may be willing
to toss in a stand, repair manual, gas bottle,
or even riding gear. Don’t be shy about
asking if anything else comes with the bike.
The Big Picture: Remember you are
buying a toy (or exercise machine, if you
need more justification). Don’t skip a
rent payment trying to buy the moment’s
hottest ride. Dirt bikes don’t stay pretty like
their blinker-blinged brethren. This is a
vehicle you’ll literally ride into the ground.
So start with the bike that has been cared
for and that you can afford while you decide
if this is the sport for you.
If you get hooked, you’ll eventually move
up the food chain of bikes. So buy smart,
The Paperwork: Is the seller the registered reserve enough cash for protective gear,
owner? Do the frame and engine numbers repair parts, and gas…then get dirty!
on the bike match those on the pink slip?
Next month: Secrets of used bikes exposed!
Does the owner have receipts for repairs, or
at least a dated log detailing maintenance?
at the “other” shop, and felt faint distrust
for them. Especially the guys at the Harley
dealer who might’ve been...who knows?
Space aliens?
maynard
would I waste column space to tell you
about it? Because it’s the end of November
and I’m still riding, not a thing to be taken
for granted here in Colorado. I’ve ridden
maybe 11 or 12,000 miles in 2012 and not
once has the fuel tank been off my bike.
HERSHON
Every year or so, according to the gurus on
the Kawasaki ZRX forum, a ZRX owner
should replace the tiny o-ring in his bike’s
fuel valve. I’ve always called a fuel valve a
petcock, and perhaps you do too. I’ll call
my bike’s fuel valve a petcock henceforth.
The last time it was off was when my good
independent shop re-shimmed a valve
or two and balanced my carburetors. I’m
guessing that was September of 2011. So
it’s been 14 months since that tank was
removed from the bike - for any reason.
If you’ve been riding less than 20 years
or never owned a pre-1975 British
You understand that a bike’s petcock
(they’re typically found on carbureted bikes motorcycle, you will not be shaking your
and may be manual, electric or vacuumactivated) is the device that prevents fuel
from running downhill from the tank to
the carburetor float bowls when the bike is
not running. What’s the harm, you ask?
We did our
best to stop oil
leaks. Prayer
was generally
ineffective.
Well, if one or more of the float needles
in one or more of the carburetors is stuck
open, fuel will dribble into the engine,
past the piston rings into the oil. The fuel
dilutes the oil and hampers its service as a
lubricant. Enough fuel and the oil level rises
sufficiently to lock the engine, to stop it
head in wonderment. Instead you will be
from turning over. No result of fuel-diluted thinking: So? What’s the big deal? What’s
oil is positive, trust me.
so remarkable about a fuel tank remaining
So...a maintenance-minded guy periodically in place for 14 months?
removes his fuel tank, probably when it
But if you rode British bikes in the ‘60s and
is not very full. He leans the tank against
‘70s and you’re still riding today, you’re
something soft, front end down, petcock end thanking your lucky stars that today’s bikes
up. He removes five tiny screws that affix
are reliable as they are, as they’ve been for
the petcock cover to the petcock body, lifts
two or three decades.
off the cover and replaces the tiny old o-ring
Hey, you used to have to work on your bike.
with a tiny new o-ring.
Can’t take an hour, even if he cleans up the
dusty surfaces that were shrouded by the
tank, and spray-lubes the newly accessible
throttle linkages and whatever else moves
under there.
Well, I suppose if you had money and you
were not sensitive about what your riding
buddies might say, you could’ve had your
bike serviced at a shop. Most of us, however,
did our own work, or all of it that we could.
Not very interesting to read about...and
frankly not very interesting to do. Why
We adjusted our own drive chains,
changed our own oil, adjusted our own
R
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T
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FREE
SE
A
C
P
O
T
LAP
chase
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alu
(Retail V
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ny Pur
With A er $500!
Ov
valves, cleaned and re-gapped or replaced
our own spark plugs. We tightened parts
and fasteners that persisted in loosening
themselves, even falling off and skittering
across the road.
We vigilantly watched fender stays and
assorted tabs and brackets that were likely
to fracture.
Even before manufacturers began
supplying timing marks, we adjusted
our own points gaps and ignition timing.
We tensioned our own primary chains
if necessary and dealt with oil filtration,
primitive as it was. We did our best to stop
oil leaks. Prayer was generally ineffective.
We did all that stuff ourselves. We did not
think of it as a ceremony, as the forming of
mystical bonds with our bikes.
We did not dream of a future when a rider
could pay a mechanic by the hour to do all
those time-consuming tasks. We did them
ourselves because they had to be done, we
could not afford to pay a mechanic and we
really didn’t want anyone else working on
our bikes.
We felt that our bikes needed us, that
each bike needed its owner specifically.
Lord knows each of those bikes needed
somebody, if not necessarily us. The bikes
always needed something, some care or
repair or maintenance.
As it happens, my friends were Triumph
riders. We thought we’d always be Triumph
riders. Few of us could imagine that one
day soon we’d buy a slash-5 BMW or
a four-cylinder Japanese bike. We did
eventually buy and ride those bikes—but
we didn’t see it coming.
We depended on our shops to do jobs
too ambitious or technical for us, like
transmission work, or too mysterious, like
magneto overhauls. We met at the shop for
weekend rides and stopped by midweek to
say hi and catch up on gossip. We wore the
shop T-shirt. Part club, part shop, I guess.
As you’ll have perceived, choosing to own a
British bike, even a brand new one, was not
a life decision to be made lightly. A Britbike wasn’t just a thing you owned, not if
you rode it regularly.
You were going to have to learn a lot about
that bike to keep it alive. And you were
going to be known at the shop, where
you learned some of it, and to your riding
friends, where you learned the rest. No way
were you simply going to be an “owner” or a
name on a work order. The bikes demanded
too much of you, way too much to ask of
someone else. Anyone else.
That era, when I owned British bikes,
represents a small segment of my riding life.
But it looms large in my memory and in its
effect on my attitudes toward motorcycling
generally. I don’t expect my bikes to thrive
on little or no fussing-over.
I expect bulbs to blow and oil to seep from
seams and fenders to fracture around their
mounting holes. I expect to have to do nearly
constant maintenance. So when I realize
that my fuel tank has not been removed for a
year-plus, I want to tell the world.
Our relationships with our shops were
unlike those we enjoy today. We belonged
to one shop or another, a Triumph store if
we rode a Triumph, the rival BSA place if
we rode a BSA. We barely knew the guys
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ed HERTFELDER
W
hen Norm, Bob Schmidt and I
were out working on our section
of the Sandy Lane Enduro,
each of us had the feeling that ghosts were
looking over our shoulders. This was to
be the 55th annual running of the Lane,
and as we stapled arrows to some of those
lightning-struck trees, especially at a turn
on the old stagecoach trail, we’d often
find a nest of old rusted staples that had
held previous Sandy Lane arrows. Usually
we’d find more staples on the other side
of the tree used when the trail went the
other way. Some were the wide copper
staples from the 1920s that you had to
hold in place, then
set with a hammer
(afterwards you had
to suck the sting out
of your fingertips).
Those old copper
staples worked just
fine for holding
enduro arrows, but
they were more
useful as a quick
and dirty way to
add wiring to a
previously gas-lit
home.
Fifty Five
And
Counting
Or maybe the irascible Paul Brumfield,
who acted like a colonel with piles all the
time. It’s been said that Brumfield was
a man who really enjoyed a morning,
midmorning, afternoon, sundown and
evening drink before his nightcap, and
he laid out the Sandy Lane trail with
loops that passed suspiciously close to
roadside taverns. Riders still wonder why
he torpedoed the 1971 Sandy Lane trying
to cross Pope’s Branch Creek swamp, but
my guess is that
the creek was dry
when Brumfield
was laying out the
trail and felt himself
in need of a thirstquencher at the
nearby Woodshed
Tavern on Route 72.
Alfie flew thru
the woods like a
localized tornado
in a ricochet style
that was very fast
but also required
full Blue Cross
and Blue Shield
coverage, Band
Aids by the gross
and a real love for
picking scabs.
Assuming that the
Sandy Lane Enduro
covers a hundred
miles of trail each
year on the same
5500 square mile
forest, chances
are that the old
dead tree had been
leaned on by more
than one tank-shift
Harley 45 driven by a gent who long ago
went to the big enduro in the sky. Maybe
we sensed the spirits of Frank Bolton, Pere
Epely or Butch Brown, whose ashes were
scattered one more wheel turn each time
we rode over the top of Apple Pie hill.
This old Meteor Club member’s ashes are
destined to float to the sea on the waters
flowing under Quaker Bridge.
Butch developed a good system to curtail
littering: If he spotted someone dropping
anything in the forest, especially another
rider, he just might punch them in the
mouth for their carelessness, with a
promise that next time he caught them he
just might get mad!
Maybe one of those spirits looking over
our shoulders belonged to Richie Ragosa,
a shooting star who dropped behind the
clouds too soon, much too soon.
The Woodshed,
whose sign
promised “Lousy
food and warm
beer” apparently
attracts motorists
anxious to promote
truth in advertising.
It’s currently owned
and managed by
Alfie Henrich, a
local boy who rode
his 350cc Honda to
back-to-back overall
Sandy Lane wins in
1973 and ’74. Alfie
flew thru the woods
like a localized tornado in a ricochet style
that was very fast but also required full
Blue Cross and Blue Shield coverage, Band
Aids by the gross and a real love for picking
scabs.
In an effort to add some dignity to the 55th
Lane, we recruited Cale Davidson to join
the good looking, tuxedo-clad, competent
and cheerful Sandy Lane Start-Control
group (consisting of Norm White and Ed
Hertfelder in rented-tux finery).
grandmother as he considers “celibacy” to
be one of the filthiest words in the English
language. Cale is a fine example of the
benefits of dirt riding as a way of slowing,
or even stopping, the aging process.
One of these days rider 33C might invite
you to watch the video he made but here’s
a warning: If he shot any footage of the last
14 miles—the section that Norm and me
laid out—we sincerely advise you to wear
old clothes and bring along a barf bag and
maybe some Handi Wipes.
By all means make sure you’re not seated
over carpeting.
I’m getting nauseous just thinking
about it...
For a copy of Ed’s latest book, 80.4 Finish Check,
send $29.95 with suggested inscription to Ed
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Cale, who is eighty something, is the only
Meteor Club member who remembers the
first Sandy Lane of 1934; his brother Grove
won the ’36, ’38 and ’41 events . We were
pleased to see that Cale was standing by
nicely at key time marking scorecards, but
after rider 33C left the line (with a video
camera on his helmet) we discovered he
was gone.
We can only assume he was doing his
usual thing of hitting on some rider’s
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This is Racy Tracy Snyder at the Team Tracy pit, enjoying
a copy of CityBike between runs. She also delivered several
copies of the paper to fellow riders at the event.
By the way, thanks for promoting the Oakland
Motorcycle Club in your paper with the free ads for the
Three Bridge Run.
You guys are the best.
Brent Snyder
Oakland Motorcycle Club
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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
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
2004 FXDWG Wide Glide silver stock# C06538 4600
miles clean bike with pipes, air cleaner & windshield
$9,999 + Fees
2011 FLHTC black stock# U68121 18,800 miles very
clean classic $18,495 – OTD
2005 VRSCSE V-ROD two tone blue stock # 75216
18723 miles with wind shield, bub pipes, back rest $13,995
+ Fees
1999 FLSTF brown Stock #13104 48025 miles clean
with backrest, saddle bags, wind shield & mustang seat.
$8,900 - OTD
2001 FXSTD DEUCE blue/silver stock# 27768 7335
miles has pipes, air cleaner & tach
$8,999 + Fees
2012 FLTRX ROAD GLIDE Denim Blk stock # U66258
7871 miles clean bike with T-bars
$20,495 + Fees
2008 FLHTCU 105 ANN copper/ black stock #U04713
10800 miles clean bike with slip on pipes & air cleaner
$15,995 + Fees
2001 FXSTD DEUCE concord purple stock # U18151
35975 miles super clean with custom 21” front wheel,
Vance & Hines pipes, SE air cleaner, pull back T-bars, lots
of chrome. $8,699 + Fees
Save on 2012 Zero Electric Motorcycle S and DS with
“FreedomofChoice”promotions. Imagine where you
can go with up to 114 mile range and a top speed over 80
mph. Plug in and get charged with a standard household
outlet. Street models are eligible for the $900 CA Clean Air
Vehicle Rebate. Call for a Demo Ride and mention Citybike.
650-992-1234
2011 ZERO Electric Motorcycles Factory Authorized
Clearance savings available here at Mission
Motorcycles. Get Plugged In! The MX (Motocross) model
is $3500.00 OFF!!! The S (Street) and DS (Dual Sport) are
$4000.00 OFF!!! Plus, select ZERO Motorcycles qualify for
a $900 CA Clean Air Vehicle Rebate! Call (650) 992-1234
for a Demo Ride.
TIME TO GET DIRTY! Wide selection of new and used
motocross and trail bikes in stock now! 4-Strokes and
2-Strokes! It’s time to ride. Get your kids or significant
other riding! Easy to ride and fun for all.
2011 Honda CRF50 and CRF70 $250.00 OFF!!! Get
your kids riding with an automatic , 3-Speed, Mini Dirt Bike!
Training wheels available.
2012 CRF150R Big Wheel ON SALE NOW!!! Excellent
motorcross bike for teens or smaller adults.
2013 Scooters have arrived! Come down and check out
the new fuel-injected Metropolitan 50, redesigned Vino 50
and freeway legal PCX150!
2012 Honda Gold Wing in Black! Tour the country
in style and comfort with a Gold Wing! This bike has
everything but the airbag: ABS, Navigation, XM Ready,
and Comfort Package! This bike also has Reverse and is
$1000.00 OFF!!! Stock # H2995
2012 Demo Yamaha FJR1300 in blue and on Sale!
$1500.00 OFF! What a fantastic sport touring motorcycle!
This bike is fun, handles like a dream and has great styling!
It also has heated grips, an automatically adjustable
windscreen, saddlebags and two seat height options stock!
Y2732
2011 Kawasaki ZX-6R In Black for $9,499! New
Supersport Motorcycle! This bike has fully adjustable front
and rear suspension, excellent handling, and cornering
capabilities. K
2011 Yamaha FZ1 $9,999 Silver. Want a comfortable
ride, but don’t want to give up sport performance and
handling? This is the ride for you. Stock # Y2683
2010 Honda Sabre Candy Red and on sale! All stock
with a custom look. Arrive in style everywhere you go with
this super sleek cruiser that gets all the attention! H2935
2009 Honda CBR1000ABS in Red Spectacular engine
performance with solid, confidence inspiring, handling.
Feels like a 600cc in the tight turns, yet open the throttle
and feel the acceleration of a liter class bike. $1000.00
OFF!!!! Stock # H2898
PRE-OWNED VEHICLES
2011 Kawasaki KLR650 Orange, black and silver.
Includes Givi side boxes. 1986 miles, only $4999 Stock#
U1187
2010 Honda Fury in Burgundy Want a custom looking
Chopper? You gotta come check out this all stock, factory
1300cc chopper. $8,699 with only 5,805 miles. Stock
# U1174
2010 Triumph Bonneville Black, classic looking but
modern technology. $5699, 3,945 miles Stock #U1182
2010 KTM 450EXC Dual-Purpose w/ current CA
registration & PLATE! Has extra capacity fuel tank,
Akrapovic muffler, Pirelli Scorpion dual sport tires (comes
w/ stock tank, muffler and tires). 2,514 miles, $5999
Stock# U1186
2010 Yamaha WR250R Dual-sport bike with fuel
injection. Comes with a Sargent seat and ProMoto rear
luggage rack. 5639 miles, $5899 Stock# U1184
2010 Kawasaki Concours 1400 Dark blue, $12,699.
Loaded with features and comes with top box. 11,614 miles.
Stock# C488
2009 KTM 530EXC $6399. Looks great with race
graphics kit. Super clean with low mileage…only 111 miles!
Stock# U1177
2008 Suzuki GSXR750 in Orange/Black - GO GIANTS!!!
Excellent condition with 9806 miles! Comes with rear seat
cowl and rear seat. $8,299 Stock # U1169
2008 Honda CBR1000RR Black with full graphics kit and
only 2,261 miles!!!! Excellent condition! $8,888 Stock
# C487
2008 Yamaha Vino 125 Only $1,799 in Blue! Bop around
town on this cute, euro styled scooter! Easy to Park! Stock
# U1172
2007 Honda Goldwing 1800 $15999. Silver with custom
pin-striping. Equipped with priemium audio package,
navigation package, comfort package, ABS and optional CB
radio! 79001 miles, Stock# U1176.
2007 Kawasaki KLX110 $1,699 Take your kids riding with
this three speed dirt bike. Easy to ride, just twist and go.
Very low hours. Stock # C466
2006 Honda CBR600RR Orange/Black 666 miles and
only $5599. All stock, was stored for a couple years then
engine was reconditioned and is just broken in. Stock #
C490
2005KawasakiNinja250 $2299 Blue & Orange 3,416
miles. Great beginner bike at an easy price! Stock# U1189.
2002 Yamaha Warrior in Purple DRAG BIKE! Engine
built by Patrick Racing and has never been to the drag strip!
It has a Racing transmission, GA power commander and
“will do 10 seconds on the quarter mile.” This bike looks
great with its chrome wheels (250 rear tire), chrome swing
arm, custom paint and a Corbin ostrich seat! This bike is a
steal for $12,999! Stock # C481
707-647-RIDE (7433) Ride-On-Motorcycles .com
1416 Sonoma Blvd
Vallejo CA 94590
Steve@Ride-On-Motorcycles .com
David@Ride-On-Motorcycles .com
Welcome to Ride-On-Motorcycles!
Our friendly associates will help you find the Motorcycle you want at a
price you can afford. Our years of experience and commitment to quality
have earned us loyal customers throughout the Ride-On-Motorcycles
metro area. Women riders are always welcome and yes, we listen to what
you want.
We are an Authorized Dealer for Cleveland CycleWerks offering brand new
quality, affordable production motorcycles. The Misfit is a full suspension
“Café” styled bike that can fit 2 passengers comfortably. The Heist is a
“Bobber” styled bike that will turn heads with lots of cool features.
Our experienced buyers select only the best values from trade-ins,
overstocked inventory and private party purchases. We stand by every
motorcycle we sell. Due to our low overhead, we can pass incredible
savings along to you.
We specialize in satisfying all our customers’ needs with your powersports
purchase. From what you want and keeping within your budget, we will walk
you through the entire process. We promise a hassle-free experience! Every
motorcycle we sell gets a service and has passed a comprehensive 38 point
inspection performed by our knowledgeable staff.
One-stop shopping!
We sell and service most makes and models. Including Harley-Davidson,
Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki to mention a few.
Trades are always welcome. We’ll buy your bike or take it on
consignment.
Warranties soon to be on the menu.
Parts & Accessories in stock.
We offer financing through multiple sources to qualified applicants.
Discounted no-obligation insurance quotes available for your scooter!
Our History:
Ride-On-Motorcycles was founded by two motorcycle enthusiasts and
riding buddies, David and Steve in 2009. Both David and Steve spent time
together at Harley-Davidson of Vallejo until the Dealership sold in 2008,
the new owners let the management team go so David and Steve partnered
up to start a new shop offering a wide variety of brands in a warm friendly
family environment.
About Steve
Steve is known in the motorcycle community as “Hollywood” Steve, a
handle that was given to him over a decade ago by riding friends that would
patiently wait for him as he got ready to leave on rides. In his younger years
Steve was influenced by the movie “Easy Rider”. After seeing the flick he
purchased his first motorcycle the very next day. Steve has been an avid
rider now for more than 40 years.
Steve held many positions in every department of a leading Northern
California Harley-Davidson dealership. As Sales Manager he learned
the value of offering quality motorcycles at a fair price. As Business/
Finance Manager it was important that the financing and warranties were
of the best value. The purchase experience needs to be hassle free and a
pleasure. He knows that the success of the business is a total commitment
to satisfy every customer’s need while fulfilling their dreams to ride at
Ride-On-Motorcycles.
About David
David’s entry into the motorcycle industry was more from necessity than
pleasure. Seemed like a good career choice. David began working in
the industry in 1981 and purchased his first motorcycle to commute to
work that year. His work experience includes managerial duties in parts
and accessory, purchasing and sales of motorcycles, and servicing
motorcycles. His passion for riding grew for 20 years before finally
heightening in 2007 with Steve and David’s first road trip together, the
epic ride to Daytona Beach for Bike Week. This was the foundation for
the passion that has grown ever sense. David’s primary goal at this point
in his career is to carry the message to others regarding the joys of the
motorcycle world.
NEW BIKES
12028 $2995+++ 2012 Cleveland CycleWerks Heist 250
Black 8 mi VIN-000931 Bobber
PRE-OWNED BIKES
12007 $7995 2005 Ducati MULTISTRADA Red
43443mi VIN-011036 1000 S DS
12013 $3495 1996 Honda ST1100 Red
37668mi VIN-600018 Sport Tourer
12015 $6995 2005 Ducati MULTISTRADA Red
9975mi VIN-009498 1000DS
12022C $10995 2005 Harley-Davidson FLHRI Red
55906mi VIN-709755 Fire Fighter Special Road King
12024C $5995 1988 Harley-Davidson FLHTC Black
65220 mi VIN-505226 Electra Glide Classic
12034C $6495 2006 Yamaha R-6 Blue
5758 mi VIN-002820 600cc
12035C $9995 2004 Harley-Davidson FLSTF Red
14264 mi VIN-031793 Fat Boy
12036 $2995 1986 Honda VT 1100 C Blk/Slv
17751 mi VIN-104259 Shadow
12051 $2795 2001 Honda VT750C Black
77306 mi VIN-500141 Shadow
12053 $4495 2004 Suzuki GSXR 600 Yellow
17940 mi VIN-110884 600 cc
12054 $5995 2005 Suzuki GSXR 1000 Yellow/Black
17251 mi VIN-101253 1000 cc
12057 $4495 2007 Suzuki C 50(VL800) Red/Black
1865 mi VIN-109841 800 cc
12058 $9495 2005 Harley Davidson FXSTI Blue
17968 mi VIN-027970 Softail
12060C $7995 1999 Harley Davidson FXSTC Red
13580 mi VIN-050895 Softail Custom
12062C $5795 2000 Buell X-1 Red
10645 mi VIN-201285 Lightning
12066 $4995 2000 Buell X-1 RRS Red
9859 mi VIN-203235 #599 of 800
12067 $3295 2009 Suzuki S40 (LS650) Black
14882 mi VIN-100854 650cc, 1cyl
12068 $3495 2006 Suzuki S50 (VS800) BLK
16677 mi VIN-101565 800cc
12069 $6995 2012 Suzuki C50T (VL800T) BLK/RED
8781 mi VIN-101069 800cc
12070 $2995 2002 Honda VT1100C2 ORANGE
47734 mi VIN-200436 SPIRIT
10205 $2995 1996 Kawasaki VN 1500-D1 Black
12025 $2995 2003 Kawasaki VN750A Red/Grey
24428 mi VIN-548843 Vulcan
2064 1999 Yamaha XV650 Black V STAR
120XX 1996 Triumph Trophy Green 49903 mi 900cc
Doc Wong
Riding Clinics
PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT
Come to the FREE monthly Doc Wong Riding Clinics.
www .docwong .com
Eighteen years, 40,000 riders!
SERVICE DEPARTMENT:
Learn Dirt Bikes
The service department is open from Tuesday throuhg
Saturday from 8:00am until 6:00pm. Direct service phone
line: 415-861-7196
Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) dirt bike classes at
Carnegie State Park, Tracy, CA.
Loaner motorcycles available.
www .learndirtbikes .com 925-240-7937
SALES DEPARTMENT:
- We buy used motorcycles and scooters. We can also help
you sell your ride with our no cost consignment program.
- Bring your bike, title (or loan statement), owners handbook
and keys.
- It’s OK if you still have a loan on your bike we can still take
care of you.
- We will provide the safest way for you to get cash for your
motorcycle or scooter. It only takes about 20 - 25 minutes.
- Sign up on our mail list to get NEW INVENTORY
NOTIFICATIONS in our weekly e mail newsletter at
www .sfmoto .com
WE HAVE THE FASTEST ROTATING SELECTION
IN SAN FRANCISCO:
$3,995 On Sale! 1980 BMW R65 7,942 Actual Miles
$4,295 2000 BMW R1150GS 83,748 miles
$5,995 2002 BMW R1150R 11,407 miles
$13,995 2005 Harley Davidson Roadking FLHRCI
6,881 miles
$3,995 2010 Vespa S150 537 Original miles
$5,995 2011 KTM 450 XS-F 56 hours
$8,495 2006 Aprilia RSV1000R Factory 13,509 miles
$8,495 2006 Triumph Rocket III 9,913 miles
$1,995 On Sale! 2003 YZ250 Yamaha 2-stroke Low Hours
$7,495 On Sale! 2008 YZFR6 Yamaha 8,978 miles
$3,995 On Sale! 2007 Yamaha Vstar 650 Classic 12,659
miles
$2,495 On Sale! 2005 Suzuki GZ250 13,775 miles
$5,495 2005 Suzuki SV650S 2,754 miles
$5,495 2008 Suzuki SV650 1,807 miles
$3,495 On Sale! 2006 Suzuki DRZ400S 7,176 miles
$5,495 2005 Suzuki SV650S 6,271 miles
$6,995 2009 Suzuki GSXR600 4,547 miles
$7,995 On Sale! 2009 Suzuki GSXR600 685 miles
$795 On Sale! 2003 Kawasaki KX60
$5,495 On Sale! 2007KawasakiEX650RNinja 241
actual miles
$5,995 2009KawasakiER-6NNinja 2,457 miles
Warranty
$5,995 2007 Kawasaki VN900LT Vulcan 6,489 miles
$3,795 On Sale!2010KawasakiEX250RNinja 2,027
miles
$3,795 On Sale! 2010KawasakiEX250RNinja5,768
miles
$3,795 On Sale! 2010KawasakiEX250RNinja5,578
miles
$1,495 2006 Honda CHF50 Metropolitian 2,188 miles
$2,995 2006 Honda CRF450R
$2,995 2004 Honda Shadow VT1100 Sabre 53,041
miles
$3,995 1998 Honda ACE VT1100CT Shadow 4,227 miles
$2,995 2009 Honda CMX250 Rebel 2,680 miles
$6,995 On Sale! 2007 Honda CBR600RR 7,704 miles
$9,495 2011 Honda CBR600RR 772 Original miles
$7,495 2007 Honda CBR600RR 7,482 miles
$18,995 2003 Ford F250 7.3L XLT PowerStroke
170,954 miles
USED MOTORCYCLES:
Scorpa trials motorcycle (French) Brand-new, zero miles
2005 model. 70cc 4-stroke, only 80 pounds. 3-speed
transmission. Call for details. $2000. 415/781-3432.
1978 BMW R100/7 for sale. This bike will become a
classic in January! With under 68,400 miles, hard side
bags, windshield, professionally lowered seat for more
comfortable ride for shorter person, and no dents we are
asking $3,200. OBO. Clear CA title in hand. Call Dan/
Monica for details (530) 544-8263 leave message and we
will call back.Can email more pictures too.
1952 BSA ZB 500cc - $3000
1965 Duca(ti?) Condor 350cc - $2500
1966 BSA Thunderbolt 650cc - $3000
1972 BSA B50 TR 500cc - $3000
1973 HD Sprint Aermacchi - $3000
Old Ed Meagor
San Rafael
415-457-5423
Yamaha with Sidecar - 650 Yamaha-Velorex / Leading
link forks / Color Matched Paint / Rack / Many spares
included. $3400 - PETE - 415-269-1364
PARTS AND SERVICE
Cycle Salvage Hayward = Full Service.
People are surprised to find out that we’re more than just a
salvage yard.
•Full Service - All makes: We have 3 lifts and 3 full-time
mechanics!
•Tire installation (even if you bought tires elsewhere)
•Plastic Welding (fairings)
•Oil Changes
•New Tires
We buy used/wrecked bikes
Helmets, jackets, leathers, gloves, and all other apparel
Fair prices and easy to deal with.
Used parts -> broke yours? Call us!
Cycle Salvage Hayward
510-886-2328
21065 Foothill Blvd.
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
e-mail:
MOTO TIRE GUY
ADDICTION MOTORS
Motorcycle & ATV
Hauling
Galfer Braking
Thank you for a wonderful year, San Francisco Bay
Area! On September 15th, we celebrated our first full
year in business and we are honored to have been given
the chance to share our common passion with you. We
look forward to seeing what happens next year - thanks,
Bay Area!
Addiction Motors is proud to introduce a brand new
service: Wrench It Yourself!
DIY Motorcycle Maintenance
Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday @ Addiction Motors
4052 Watts St, Emeryville
(510) 394-2WIY
Reserve your lift now: addictionmotors .com/wiy
Help us welcome our newest technician,
Pete Trevesian!
Addiction Motors is a full service motorcycle repair
cooperative in Emeryville, CA. We services most makes
and models of American, Japanese and European
motorcycles.
Rotors, Brake lines, Pads, Street, Race, Off-road, SuperMoto
PashnitMoto is one of the largest Galfer Braking dealers
in the USA. Colored brake lines, custom lengths, Wave
Rotors. 50 Pages of part numbers.
www .GalferBrakes .net or call 530/391-1356
Since 1956
Knucklehead
Panhead
Iron Sportster
Shovelhead
Evolution
Twin Cam
Multi Valve 450cc and up
Cyl. boring on H.D. only
21050 Mission Blvd. Hayward, 94541
(510) 581-5315
www .MotoTireGuy .com
Motorcycle Tire Services
San Francisco - Bay Area
(415) 601-2853
Order your tires online, Zero CA sales tax plus
Free UPS Ground, then have a Preferred Installer
in your local area do the installation and save!
Please visit website for details.
Introducing
Marin Moto Works!
Aprilia, KTM, and BMW Service and Repair
Located at 44 Harbor street, San Rafael
Open Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm
(415) 454-RIDE
Max Moto, Inc
AMERICAN CUSTOM
MOTORCYCLE PARTS
Large Parts Inventory for American V-Twins
Full service on all American-made bikes
Machine Shop & Welding
925-689-9801
2395 H Monument Blvd, Concord
Bavarian Cycle Works
EXPERT Service & Repair
Bavarian Cycle Works specializes in new and vintage BMW,
modern TRIUMPH and select motorcycle models. Our
staff includes a Master Certified Technician and personnel
each with over 25 years experience. Nearly all scheduled
motorcycle maintenance can be completed within a one day
turnaround time. All bikes kept securely indoors, day and
night. Come see us!
Produced in the with European precision machines, using
European hardware, Melvin brings you quality custom or
OEM replacement brake lines.
Lines consist of Teflon center, stainless braid and PVC
covering in plenty color choices. DOT /TUV approved.
Please visit us at: www .melvinusa .com or
1365 63rd. street Emeryville, CA. 94608
510 595 3300
Michael’s Motorsports
BMW Motorcycle Service, Repair, Restoration
Air heads, Hex heads, K Bikes, F Bikes
880 Piner Rd. Ste 46
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 575-4132
HELP WANTED
Mission Motorcycles is looking for an experienced parts
& accessory counter person for immediate employment.
650-992-1234 ask for Wendy
Quality Motorcycles
235 Shoreline Hwy.
Mill Valley CA
(415) 381-5059
We’re not afraid of your old bike.
ADVANCED CYCLE
SERVICE
*Motorcycle Service and Repair*
• Tires • Service •Insurance estimates
Monthly bike storage available
Come check us out
1135 Old Bayshore Hwy
San Jose, CA 95112
(408) 299-0508
jim@advcyles .com — www .advcycles .com
DUCATI SUZUKI KAWASAKI YAMAHA
Sonoma, Marin, Napa & Mendocino Counties
24 hour Roadside Pickup
707-843-6584
Insured & Licensed
California Motor Carrier Permit
www .mcmotorcycletransport .com
mcmotorcycle@att .net
ROCKRIDGE TWO
WHEELS
Need new rubber? Rockridge Two Wheels is offering a $50
mount and balance with the purchase of two tires. Factory
techs. 40+ years experience. Full service facility.
510/594-0789
vespawalnutcreek .com
925 938 0600
rockridgetwowheels .com
510 594 0789
For all your Bay Area Vespa / Piaggio / Aprilia needs
Carmichael Honda Motorsports and Capitol Yamaha
of Sacramento are looking for Motorcycle Technicians and
Service Writers.
Must be motivated, reliable, and safety minded.
Must have motorcycle experience
Send resume to: chm .cap_phil@yahoo .com
Cycle Salvage Hayward
Now Hiring Experienced,
Honest People.
Do you have actual experience working on motorcycles at
a shop? Do you like solving problems and working with
your hands? Consider working at our salvage business in
Hayward on just about anything that comes in - scooters
to full dressers and everything in between. We offer full
service and an alternative to dealerships for bikes new and
old, and we’re growing. Please come by with a resume
10-6pm Tues-Sat. We’d like to meet good people with
experience and a good attitude.
WHEELS AND DEALS
ACCIDENT OR INJURY?
Call 415/999-4790 for a 24-hr. recorded message and a
copy of the FREE REPORT
EBAY SALES eBay sales. Specialist with vehicles, 12
years experience, and 5000+ positive feedback rating. Flat
listing rate. I can produce auctions with 20+ large format,
gorgeous, high quality pictures with my dealer account
and pro-grade camera. Dr. Hannibal Lechter reminds us
that “we covet what we see.” Let me show people what you
have and why they should pay top dollar for it! Interested
in larger lots of identifiable, good-quality motorcycle and
car parts to buy as well. imperialist1960@yahoo .com or
415/699-8760.
SCOTTS VALLEY
MOTORCYCLE SERVICE
SELL YER STUFF IN
CENTER
CITYBIKE!
ALL ASPECTS SERVICE AND REPAIR
SPECIALIZING IN AMERICAN MADE CYCLES
JUST OFF HIGHWAY 17 FROM EITHER SCOTTS VALLEY
EXIT
4865 SCOTTS VALLEY DR.
(831) 438-6300
OPEN: TUESDAY- SATURDAY 10A-5P SUNDAY NOON-5P
MOTORCYCLE TOWING
Yes, you can do that—it’s easy. Easier than calling your
grandson, having him post a Craigslist ad, then ask you for
$20, which you wind up giving him because you decided to
go riding instead of going to his high school graduation and
you feel guilty. We here at CityBike understand your guilt
feelings, so we will run your ad (25 words or less, please)
‘till sold for just $15. Add $25 bucks to run a photo of your
ride so people believe you’re really selling something and
not just lonely. Subscribers get a free ad every month!
Maybe you should subscribe, eh cheapskate?
Enter these contacts into your phone now,
while you are thinking about it, so that you
will have them when you need them .
MOTO GIO
Custom Design Studios
Mind-Blowing Custom Paint Since 1988
Visit Our Showroom!
V-Twin Service, Repair, Parts, & Fabrication.
Harley Factory Trained Tech.
Motorcycle Performance Parts, Accessories, Services.
Low price on Tires!!!
We will PRICE MATCH with any store.
Phone : 408-298-8887
1391 N. 10th St
San Jose CA 95112
Email: info@motogio .com
www.motogio.com
Please mention this ad and you will receive an additional
5% off on your purchase.
SAN FRANCISCO AND
BEYOND: DAVE’S CYCLE
TRANSPORT
The Old Man
The Old Truck
Dave is working
Dave’s Cycle Transport
San Francisco-Bay Area and Beyond…
24 Hour Service
(415)824-3020 — www .davescycle .com
FREE HELP WANTED ADS
In our ongoing effort to support and promote local
motorcycling businesses that we rely on, all motorcycle
industry help wanted ads will be listed in the CityBike
Classifieds Section for free.
Contact us via email: info .citybike .com
H
The Oakland Motorcycle Club is the fourth-oldest club in
the nation and celebrated 100 years of continuous operation
in 2007. The OMC is dedicated to supporting the sport
of motorcycle riding. We are a diverse group of male and
female riders with a wide variety of motorcycles, including
street, dirt, and dualsport bikes. We sponsor and organize
the following annual events to which all riders are invited:
Sheetiron 300 Dualsport, held in May; Three Bridge Poker
Run, held in July; Jackhammer Enduro, held in October.
Regular club meetings are held every Wednesday at 8:00
p.m. Guests are welcome. 742 – 45th Avenue, Oakland.
(510) 534-6222. www .oaklandmc .org .
NEW BIKE SPECIALS
Ride On Motorcycles
275 8th Street at the corner of Folsom
San Francisco - 415 255 3132
www .sfmoto .com
We are sf moto. Located on 8th and Folsom in the SOMA
(South of Market) area of San Francisco,we serve the bay
area with new SYM scooters and recent used motorcycles.
We sell Triumph, Ducati, Yamaha, Kawasaki, BMW,Suzuki
and other brands.
Here you will find anything from Street bike to cruiser and dual
sport bikes. All our vehicles have been thoroughly gone through.
Our used motorcycles come with our own 60 day warranty.
Reach thousands of Northern California motorcyclists. Just $15 for 25 words, 25¢
each additional word. Photos add $25. Industry classifieds are a higher price. Free
25-word listing for stolen bikes. Deadline is the 3rd of each month. Just fill out the
form, or copy and send it with your check, payable to CityBike PO Box 10659,
Oakland CA, 94610
Your local shop is an
endangered resource!
Proper care and support
is required, or they die.
OMC
6232 Mission Street Daly City, CA 94014
(650) 992-1234 www .missionmotorcycles .com
1st Saturday of the month is BROWN BAG SATURDAY! Get it
in the bag and get 15% OFF! Any Parts or Accessories in stock
are 15% off the marked price! One bag per customer, so get as
much stuff as you can and Have Fun while Saving Money!
Our factory-trained technicians in our Service Department
have decades of experience. Rely on us to keep your bike,
ATV, scooter or generator in tip top condition whether it’s
for regular scheduled maintenance, crash repairs, or for any
accessory installation you may be thinking about. We will
check your tire pressures for free.
Thinking about selling your bike? Still owe the bank for it?
Or have the title in hand? Bring it to Mission Motorcycles
and let us do all the work for you. No hassles with Craigslist
flakes or lowballers.
Cycle Salvage –
Hayward
SF MOTO
you buy doesn’t fit, you have to pay
for shipping to try a different size…
each way, every time. Plus, you meet
real, live people, not some keyboard
cowboy from another time zone.
Ride with other local sport bike riders in the Bay Area.
• Mostly sport bikes
• Routes go to ALL parts of the bay area and focus on the
“twisty’s”
• We set a quick pace and newbies may get left behind ;)
• Group riding experience is highly recommended, as is
proper riding gear
• We also do track days, drag races, motorcycle camping,
and attend motorcycle racing events
http://www .meetup .com/BayAreaMotoGroup/
The Northern California Norton Owners’ Club (NCNOC) is
dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of the Norton
motorcycle. Membership is open to all British Motorcycle
enthusiasts and is currently $25 per year, you can join
online. Our monthly rides, meetings and tech session and
events are open to all members and guests see our web site
calendar at www .nortonclub .com .
Now celebrating our 40th year!
Mission Motorcycles
Shop needs you, and you need them.
The Internet won’t change your oil.
The Internet won’t stay open an extra
20 minutes so you can buy a tire so
you can ride on Sunday. If the apparel
Antique Motorcycle Club of America
Yerba Buena Chapter of the
Antique Motorcycle Club of America
Motorcycle Enthusiasts dedicated to the preservation,
restoration, and operation of antique motorcycles.
To join or view more information about our club, visit us at
www .yerbabuenaamca .org
Homoto is a queer and queer-friendly motorcycle club based
in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our rides are sport-focused with
an emphasis on safety and camaraderie.
For more info: http://www .homoto .us
sanfrancisco@homoto .us
sanjose@homoto .us
CityBike Classifieds
ere at CityBike, we
strongly believe that
while the Internet is great
entertainment, it’s a terrible place to
buy stuff. Your Local Motorcycle
CLUBS
RIDING SCHOOLS
Screw The Internet. Support your Local Motorcycle Shop.
CLASSIFIEDS
1988 Honda Elite 250 Get going in the city and down
the Freeway with this classic Honda scooter! Only 10,265
miles and still going strong! $1,799 Stock # U1167
Prices do not include government fees, dealer freight/
setup fees (new vehicles only), taxes, dealer document
preparation charges or any finance charges (if applicable).
Final actual sales prices will vary depending on options or
accessories selected.
Check out and compare our bikes online at
www .missionmotocycles .com!
Enjoy The Adventure In Style
Forget about boundaries. The V-Strom 650 ABS Adventure
has the power to hlep you find adventure on any kind of
road imaginable. For 2012, we’re taking the adventure to
the next level with the new V-Strom 650 ABS Adventure. It
has striking accessories that include sleek aluminum side
cases large a rugged accessory engine bar and an
adjustable windscreen. Its new 645cc V-twin engine has
improved low-to-mid rpm performance and
its bodywork provides better wind protection. The V-Strom
series has come a long way since Suzuki created a new
category — the Sport Enduro Tourer — with the
introduction of the original V-Strom 1000 in 2002. The
following year Suzuki released the V-Strom 650 and the
ABS-equipped model in 2006. 2012 will mark the 10th
anniversary of the V-Strom series, and the V-Strom 650
ABS Adventure is destined to introduce a new generation of
riders to adventure touring.
At Suzuki, we want every ride to be safe and enjoyable. So always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Avoid
excessive speeds. Never engage in stunt riding. Study your owner’s manual and always inspect your Suzuki before riding. Take a riding skills course. For the course nearest you call the
Motorcycle Safety Foundation at 1-800-446-9227. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. © American Suzuki Motor Corporation 2012.
San Mateo Suzuki
Powersports of Vallejo
Vallejo
(707) 644-3756
Santa Clara
(408) 246-7323
San Jose
(408) 377-8780
Mission Motorcycles
East Bay Motorsports
Cycle West
Contra Costa Powersports
San Mateo
(650) 341-5867
Daly City
(650) 992-1234
Hayward
(510) 889-7900
Grand Prix
Petaluma
707-769-5242
GP Sports
Concord
(925) 687-7742

January 2013

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