November 2016

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November 2016 | 2 | CityBike.com News, Clues & Rumors

Volume XXXIII, Issue 11 Publication Date: October 17, 2016 Join Us For The 2nd Annual Fuck We really hope you’ll join us in spite That's it: Black Friday Charity Ride of our antisocial language and general On The Cover: misanthropy—it’s a great time with some $2000 (you don't have to spend it all) Fish unchained. 200 mile (minimum). Because the V9 is shaft drive, see? It’s funny—we’ve had a couple people great folks (we’re assuming some of those Photo: Bob Stokstad tell us we shouldn't 2 days riding (bring your bed roll). swear so much, or The inaugural RFGB. Still one month to build (stop your crying). Contents: maybe just swear less Still no Harleys (don't hate). NCR ...... 3 in the first couple Pitstops ...... 5 Get your shit together and be ready.” Uneasy Rider ...... 6 pages of NCR, or New Stuff ...... 9 some such fuckin’ Go ahead and poke fun at us for covering Events ...... 11 shit, and yet it seems a social media post in a print mag, but hey, Santa Rosa Mile ...... 12 V4? How About A V9? ...... 14 that every month if it’s good enough for the mainstream AFM Race Program ...... 16 there’s a straight- papers, it’s good enough for us, all right? Sporty McRoadsterson ...... 19 up requirement Actually, that’s not true, but it sounds Ghosts & Machines ...... 22 Maynard ...... 24 for f-bombs and defensible so we’ll just leave it. Hertfelder ...... 25 assholes as soon as Anyway, while the editorial boards of all Doc Frazier ...... 26 we get going. This Devine ...... 27 those mainstream papers were holding month for example, Classifieds ...... 28 meetings to determine who they ought we gotta talk about Locals Only ...... 29 Photo: Sam Devine to endorse for president (Seriously, you Slap. Tank. Done...... 30 our upcoming need a meeting to decide to endorse the Last Page Photo ...... 31 charity ride, the second annual Ride Roadster Handlebar Torque Specs . . . 33 will show up—it sure ain’t us) on some sketchy, experienced one over the fuckin’ Friday Give Back ride. great roads. Just please don’t be the guy bombastic whackjob with zero skills Find us online at: “But wait, why do you have to be such a that complains about signing a waiver and beyond being an asshole?), the CityBike CityBike.com pottymouth to talk about that? Seems then crashes. editorial board met to discuss this Dirtbag /CityBikeMag innocent enough. The RFGB is a charity development. /CityBikeMag Dirtbags Go Upmarket ride, after all.” Seems like it ought to be just about that On the surface, it seems reasonable, and /CityBikeMag We hear ya. But we only called it Ride Dirtbag time of year, right? This year, it’s the two-day, camping on the ground Friday Give Back so that Alameda County a little hard to say when it’ll be, what with component (presumably you can’t Contact CityBike: CASA wouldn’t be embarrassed to accept Head Dirtbag Poll Brown currently riding substitute “credit card for a hotel” for PO Box 18738 our money, and so regular people could the Trans-America Trail on a hardtail “bedroll”) ought to further discourage Oakland CA 94619 tell their friends about the ride without kinda-chopper thing with some of the the art-bike posers, although it seems that Phone: 415.282.2790 blushing. In our black little hearts, it’ll riding 100 miles or so has already done a Editorial: [email protected] usual ‘Bag suspects. Advertising / Business: [email protected] always be the Fuck Black Friday Ride. pretty good job of that. But we have mixed But we do have this tidbit posted on the feelings about the increase in available Why? Because fuck Black Friday, that’s CityBike Staff: Dirtbag Challenge Facebook page on budget. Editor in Chief & Jackass of All Trades: Surj Gish why. All that blatant consumerism when October 7th: Master of Puppets & Layout: Angelica Rubalcaba people ought to be sleeping in, or at least One of the hallmarks of the Dirtbag has “It's gettin to be late in the year and we know Senior Editor: Robert Stokstad riding motorcycles is what’s wrong with always been the necessity of creative America. you're all gagging to know when Dirtbag 2016 resourcefulness bred by the lack of budget. Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk: is going to be announced. Dr. Gregory Frazier We hope that doesn’t go away, because Last year’s post-Turkey Day ride raised $2,000 will get you a lot Staff Photographers: Robert Stokstad, $700, and we’re really hoping to break Angelica Rubalcaba, Max Klein With all that extra budget, maybe Justin Martens will of bike and bolt-on shit. $1,000 this year. As with the first year, all Illustrations: Mr. Jensen, Sam Devine be able to afford a sidestand this year. money will go to Alameda County CASA. We fully expect that Operations: Gwynne Fitzsimmons We’ll kick off with coffee at Cornerstone Poll and Co. will ignore Road Scholars: Sam Devine, An DeYoung, Jeff Ebner, Fish, in Castro Valley, ride the East Bay hills and our position on this, Max Klein end up at Lanesplitter in Emeryville for as they should, just as Contributors: post-ride pizza. we’d ignore Poll telling Dan Baizer, Craig Bessenger, J. Brandon, Blaise us in that jaunty British Descollonges, Julian Farnam, Alonzo Fumar, $20 gets you in, caffeinated at the accent, “Hey fuckers, you Will Guyan, Brian Halton, David Hough, Maynard beginning and fed at the end, thanks shouldn’t swear so fuckin’ Hershon, Ed Hertfelder, Otto Hofmann, John Joss, to generous support from our sponsors Bill Klein, David Lander, Lucien Lewis, Larry Orlick, much.” Poll would never TJ Noto, Courtney Olive, Jason Potts, Bob Pushwa, Cornerstone Coffee and Lanesplitter Pizza. say that, of course, but Gary Rather, Charlie Rauseo, Curt Relick, Mike someone else might, and Solis, Ivan Thelin, James Thurber. Since in addition to occasional critiques of Photo: Surj Gish we’ll show them the same Alumni (RIP): our gutter-y language we hear that we need John D’India, Joe Glydon, Gary Jaehne, to be better at sharing dates and locations, Well it's gonna be just a little longer as some of middle finger. Adam Wade we’re going be extra-clear that this ride us are still out riding our homebuilt hardtails Anyway, the short version of all the For back issue and archive requests, email [email protected]. Back is on Black Friday, which is the day after across the USA on mostly dirt roads. issues (if we have ‘em) are five bucks a pop. No, we will not mail you meandering musing above is this: if you’ve our last copy of an issue from the ‘80s for free, just because your buddy th was on the cover. We can find stories (maybe) and send you scanned Thanksgiving, which is November 25 . images for $5, too, but please know what you’re looking for and the year However, to whet your appetites we do have been thinking of building a Dirtbagger, of publication… at least! If you say something like, “Well, it was about We’ll start drinking coffee at 10 AM, and this cool bike I used to see at Alice’s and I think it was in 1988... or maybe some news of the changes we're making this now you can spend more. And it’s coming 1994, or maybe it was in Urban Moto” we will buy a cheap latex adult start riding at 11 AM. novelty and mail it to your grandkids. year. soon. Get your shit together and be ready. 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 But since we’re bad listeners and also request. Unsolicited articles and photographs are always welcome. Please Seeing as how times and economics have We’ll see you there, dirtbag. include a full name, address and phone number with all submissions. We just jerks, we’re gonna ignore that bit reserve the right to edit manuscripts or use them to wipe our large, fragrant changed in the last 14 years we've decided to bottoms. about “you guys needs to be clearer about Hipsters Ride Out ©2016, CityBike Magazine, Inc. Citybike Magazine is distributed at over up the allowable budget for Dirtbag builds. 200 places throughout California each month. Taking more than a few addresses" and not include the address copies at any one place without permission from CityBike Magazine, Inc, D'ya think ya can build a rideable streetable Press releases are funny. They often use especially for purposes of recycling, is theft and will be prosecuted to the of Cornerstone Coffee here. You can get full extent of civil and criminal law. Yeah! chopper for two grand. present tense language for things that CityBike magazine is owned by CityBike Magazine, Inc and has teams of that information and RSVP (please!) at sleep-deprived, coke-addicted attorneys ready to defend it from frivolous don’t exist yet, which at times can lead to lawsuits, so even if you see Lucien Lewis doing one of his wheelies on facebook.com/CityBikeMag/events or on $2000 dollar budget until further notice. the cover and decide you want to do that too and then you hit a parked car hilarious statements that when considered and your bike is wedged under a van and it catches fire and the Vallejo FD page 11 of this issue, where you’ll find our has to come and extinguish the resulting blaze and four cars and your bike in current context are actually outright lies, are melted into slag and you suffer permanent trauma including a twisted events calendar. We gotta make you work Seeing as you'll be able to build a much more pinkie, sleeplessness and night terrors, it’s not CityBike Magazine Inc.’s like the latest from BMW: “Liberated from fault and we don’t have any assets so just suck on it. You know better. for it! serious bike for two grand, you should be able to ride it for real, say at least two hundred the need to wear a helmet and protective miles, maybe over two days. clothing, the rider is able to enjoy the November 2016 | 3 | CityBike.com a tiny cup of artisan pour-over. I wish between the loudmouthed moronic someone would solve this problem for me." madman and the eminently experienced politician with some skeletons in her Good news, friend! If there’s one sure closet—the two candidates that actually way to make an motorcycle authentic have a chance of becoming president— event, it’s gotta be for one of the tentacles then maybe you should stay home. Is it a of “a multichannel media conglomerate “lesser of two evils” situation? Maybe, but operating in 15 countries” to take the in this case the greater of two evils is so evil reins. Hell, they even quoted Bonnier that the choice ought to be obvious. Motorcycle Group’s Consumer Engagement Director in the press release, so you know But on other issues, in other races, the it’s gonna be good. choices are often not as clear—and the AMA is here to help. Their Vote Like Here are the details: “The three-day A Motorcyclist website can help riders adventure, planned for June 9-11, 2017, be more informed on the records of will be based at China Peak Ski Resort in incumbents and new candidate positons Coffee at the start, pizza at the end, East Bay twisties in between! California’s Sierra Nevada mountains and on issues important to motorcyclist, like will include opportunities for camping, We raised $700 last year—let’s make it $1,000 this year! “ethanol in our fuel supply, motorized wilderness riding and motorcycle access to public land, distracted driving, demonstrations, as well as feature live Meet at Cornerstone Coffee, 20991 Redwood Rd, Castro Valley, CA 94619 lane splitting, federal exhaust regulations music, films and bike shows.” for competition-only bikes, vehicle-to- $20 per rider Wait… adventure? Like ADV? Or vehicle communication technology and ALL money goes to Alameda County CASA scramblers? The two are waaay different, many others.” or at least require different outfits. What’s Get your learn on at an image-conscious real rider to do? Coffee time: 10 AM VoteLikeAMotorcyclist.com. At least there’ll be opportunities for Kickstands up: 11 AM camping (but everyone will stay in hotels) Riding High Pizza: whenever we get there! and wilderness riding (be sure your GoPro You may recall Douglas Knowlton’s story is turned on when you turn down that fire about riding Nepal with Wolfgang Taft of Get more info and (please!) RSVP: CityBike.com/RFGB road). And when you’re all tuckered out Dubbelju Motorcycle Rentals (“Adventures from 45 minutes of riding and 6 hours of in Shifting: Riding Nepal” – June 2015) photography, you’ll be able to wind down last year. If you don’t, go read it on our back with your brothers and sisters, enjoying issues page at CityBike.com/back—it’s “microbrewery wonderful story offerings” accompanied (hopefully by striking, not like… beautiful sacrifices to the photography. microbrewing That tour was gods?) and facilitated by painfully trendy forces.” That might lead you to believe that are gonna be announced next year. Himalayan food truck eats that BMW is currently (or ready to start) There’s no website yet that we can find, just Roadrunners, and watching producing a motorcycle that somehow this: who have films (not to removes the need for safety gear—as if partnered with “Fans of scrambler motorcycles will now be confused such a thing is possible—but they’re just  Dubbelju to have a dedicatedPresents event all to themselves, with movies) at talking about a hypothetical machine that raise funds for thanks to the inaugural HighPipe festival, this wonderful doesn’t exist, that they might build in 100 Hwy 121 & Hwy 37 the Ride High which was today announced by Bonnier “new format of years. Yeah, right. foundation, Motorcycle Group.” a motorcycle AnotherThe press 16threlease that Annual was recently RKA / Sonoma Raceway Food Drive Ride which provides Oh man, that’s great! I bet all the scrambler lifestyle event.” thumbtacked toFUN the very / Donate top of / theRide “Hey, / All motorcycles / Laps around the track / FUN / Lunch / New friends / Drawing / FUN assistance to guys and gals have been talking about the we should mock this” corkboard isn’t quite Vote Like A Motorcyclist victims of the need for such an event, since they’re so as fantastic, but contains some equally Gorkha earthquake of April 2015, which Saturdaymarginalized. November 19thAs you may have heard, we’ve got an ludicrous statements. th killed nearly 9,000 people and injured Starts at Gate 1. Ends at Gate 1 election coming up on November 8 —or One rider we spoke to said, “Last weekend, th almost 22,000. The foundation hosted a Bonnier Motorcycle Group, “the largest November 28 , according to that one idiot Bring food, bring friends,as be I wasready gearing to meet upnew with people, a bandana be ready around for fun, be ready to win prizes. fundraiser at Dubbelju on September 23rd, enthusiast publisher of its kind” announced running for president. While we here are For complete informationmy face visit and RKA’s open Schedules face helmet, page andI realized click on the Food Drive link. which raised thousands of dollars thanks to that it will be launching its High Pipe CityBike aren’t going to officially endorse www.rkaI had -nowhereluggage.com to rideOR Call to. IRKA ended at 707 up 836just 7659 a successful auction featuring a variety of Festival in 2017. That’s what it’s come to— a presidential candidate, we will point out Drawing prizes willriding be continuallyto the coffee updated shop around and listed the on corner the food drive page items from hotel vouchers to custom-made pre-announcements of announcements that if you’re having a hard time deciding from my flat to ponder this tragedy over tank badges. The event featured guest speaker Fred Stockwell of Eyes to Burma, who gave a presentation that was eye-opening for people who haven’t been to a third world  Presents country. The Ride High Foundation gave 25% of the money from the fundraiser Hwy 121 & Hwy 37 (about $2,200) to Eyes To Burma. The 16th Annual RKA / Sonoma Raceway Food Drive Ride Wolfgang tells us that there are still FUN / Donate / Ride / All motorcycles / Laps around the track / FUN / Lunch / New friends / Drawing / FUN openings on the next tour, from Rishikesh, India to Kathmandu, Nepal. On this tour, the foundation will deliver some of the Saturday November 19th donations to a town near the Nepal-Tibet Starts at Gate 1. Ends at Gate 1 border, and you can get a couple extra days Bring food, bring friends, be ready to meet new people, be ready for fun, be ready to win prizes. of riding by donating $500. For complete information visit RKA’s Schedules page and click on the Food Drive link. Learn more at RideHighFoundation.org www.rka-luggage.com OR Call RKA at 707 836 7659 and EyesToBurma.org. Drawing prizes will be continually updated and listed on the food drive page

November 2016 | 4 | CityBike.com the general public was. We talked about difference, especially compared to the attendance this year versus last year during national numbers.” lunch after this year’s meeting, and she Look, I agree that the previous program remembered it as “3 or 4 people, other (run by the MSF) was pretty weak, and I than the committee and other official CMSP Advisory Committee Fall got a chuckle out of Lee’s frequent jabs at attendees.” ’16 Meeting: Good, Bad, & Ugly the old program. I’ll also say that in my This year, I was able to wrangle eight riders informal discussions with instructors who My goal in putting together a formal to join me for the enjoyable run up 80 for are now teaching the new curriculum, ride—at least as formal as CityBike can the meeting, and three more joined us at almost all of them believe the new program muster—to the Fall 2016 CMSP Advisory CHP headquarters, including An. Of our is more effective. But claiming credit for Committee meeting at CHP HQ on crew, five were instructors: three from 2 the 2015 reduction in fatalities, even in a October 5th was twofold. First, I wanted to Wheel Safety Training, one from Monkey roundabout way, is extremely dubious— expose more regular riders to the goings- Moto School, and one from Z2 Trackdays. so dubious in fact, that Assistant Chief on at the meeting, and thereby engage Of the non-industry, non-professional, non- Costigan disputed Lee’s interpretation of more people in the process. Second, committee attendees, I think “friends of the data after Lee had finished speaking. I wanted to impress upon the CHP / CityBike” constituted about half. CMSP that regular riders care about what Second—and this is a big one for me, as goes on in this meeting and moto-safety So imagine my extreme levels of stokeage someone who has been vocally critical of programs in general. In making that point, when Assistant Chief Chris Costigan how the CMSP has not spent money on I hoped the CHP (which administers the kicked off the meeting with these words: safety programs, instead letting it stack CMSP) would realize they must do more “Bigger turnout that we’re used to. up, resulting in the fund increasing by half to publicize the meeting beforehand, and Usually it’s just committee members, and a million dollars of more each year. The also more to make the meeting content a couple—and by a couple I mean two CMSP is more than doubling media spend accessible to riders that can’t take the day or three spectators. So, obviously there’s to $800k, and also earmarking $250k for off to attend or just live too far away. a peak in interest on something, so we’ll projects suggested by the CMSP Advisory figure that out.” Committee. Can I get a “hell yeah” please? If you’re a regular CityBike reader, hopefully the acronym Third, while the for California Motorcycle Safety Lee Parks talks about the Total Control programs. participation of the Program rings at least a few CMSP Advisory bells. Just in case, here’s some Committee in the background: the CMSP is a creation of the next handful of people of CHP staff version of the lane that are responsible for motorcycle splitting guidelines safety programs for the entire enabled by AB 51 state of California, headed by was confirmed, State Coordinator for the CMSP, the creation of Sergeant Larry Starkey. New rider those guidelines training is a big part of the focus won’t happen until and expenditure, but the tiny team sometime next also works on things like events, year. Costigan said, media buying and safety literature “After January, once meeting, he was engaged, friendly, and and videos. Photo: Surj Gish it becomes a law. obviously passionate about his role in The Commissioner motorcycle safety—it’s less clear what The CMSP Advisory Yow. They noticed! at that point will decide what course of Assistant Chief Costigan thinks about all Committee is a group of representatives The agenda for the meeting can be boiled action he wants to take, and then that will this. Not only is he a classical bureaucrat, from organizations concerned with down into a few important areas: be assigned to Special Projects and the with seemingly more focus on timelines, motorcycle and general road safety. The CMSP, and then we’ll make it part of this permissions and approvals than goals riding community has pretty strong 1. Overall program review committee, once we have that approval.” and actions, he also comes across as a representation on the committee: Budman 2. Update from Lee Parks on the MTC The wheels of bureaucracy turn slow, combination of stereotypical “cop” and from BARF, Nick Haris from the AMA, (Motorcycle Training Course) folks—remember, it took us years to Baptist Minister: suspicious, disapproving, and James Lombardo from ABATE, along program increase spend on safety programs. The and confidently righteous. When I spoke with a couple of MCs, DMV, insurance 3. Review of planned expenditures good news is that the voice of the Advisory with him after the meeting, I felt like he interests, and others. It’s a good mix, and 4. Other safety efforts Committee will be able to influence the was sizing me up and getting my number, the committee provides a strong voice for 5. Roundtable new guidelines. instead of having an honest, friendly our interests. As the meeting went through these topics, discussion between two people with the It’s not all great news, though, and this is If you haven’t been to a CMSP meeting, there were several big points. same goals. a little confusing. While Sergeant Starkey, here’s what it takes to attend: you have who leads the CMSP, is a rider and clearly When I commented on a proposal by Nick to provide your personal information via First, during the presentation on MTC status, Lee Parks made a convoluted a good guy—in conversations after the Haris of the AMA to track and analyze a phone or email beforehand to request the effectiveness of motorcycle-specific access, which will presumably be granted. statement that sounded an awful lot like Then, you have to be in Sacramento during Total Control claiming credit for the drop the work day—this year’s meeting was at in motorcycle crash deaths in 2015. “In 10 AM. For those of us in the Bay Area, 2014, which was the last year before we or just about anywhere other than the took over, that ended about a ten-year span greater Sacramento area, this means you of increases in fatalities, where we had need a full day off, between the two-hour 60 more fatalities from the previous year. meeting period and travel time. It’s easy to 2015, that number went down eleven and a see that unless you’re a retiree (or currently half percent, so we had 60 fewer fatalities in enjoying a period of funemployment) and the NHTSA FARS data. What’s significant you live in our around The Sac, attending about this is at the same time, according this meeting isn’t exactly easy—and that’s a to the National Safety Council, total big part of why no regular riders show up. traffic fatality rates in California went up four percent. So for the first time, I think I couldn’t attend last year, so An covered in the history of CMSP, motorcycles the meeting for CityBike (“Let’s Talk actually helped the total numbers, instead About California Motorcycle Safety This of hurt the total numbers compared to One Time Each Year And Not Really Tell the previous year. And at the same time, Anyone” – Pit Stops, December 2015). nationally motorcycle fatalities went up It was her first year attending, and she ten percent, so it was really nice to see the was struck by how underrepresented California program actually making a real November 2016 | 5 | CityBike.com This isn’t a company I had much love for Built not bought is actually relevant here, anyway—it’s just not my thing—but then but not in the way these wannabe Easy I’m also known for being a hater—and Riders would like. Authenticity, street legitimately so. cred, and let’s not forget actual riding skills—these are things that are built One of the many things I do hate is how over time, not bought, not trappings to Illustration by Mr. Jensen straight-up theft of ideas and designs has be donned for a Saturday morning ride. become de rigueur. I’ve lost track of all the Imitation is often called flattery, but I call Ride Fast Take Chances – Accept No Substitutes moto-clothing companies whose entire it uninspired, disingenuous bullshit. thing is based on swapping their name brake, which is required for the bike to be Ride fast take chances has been a part into someone else’s logo or graphics, and This kind of thievery has been going a “real” chopper. of CityBike since the early nineties, that’s not even touching on things like on forever, and of course it’s not just the coined by the original paperboy himself, The second company is Roland Sands the major brand essentially reproducing motorcycling world—from clothing to Brian Halton. It’s a simple phrase with Designs, a brand that is right the iconic metal-shin Hi-Point boots furniture, popular design has long been a complex meaning behind it, one that everywhere now—the darling of the scene, with a couple extra buckles or the about ripping off someone else’s work in we’ve defended against milquetoast moto- working with multiple overpriced, not-so-well-built hope of stealing a piece of market share, mediocrity. It’s our way. OEMs on “factory Bell Star knockoffs. assembling borrowed pieces instead of custom” projects creating something new. But anecdotally, Recently, I’ve been made aware of two The retro market to pimp new it seems that the rip-off rate has increased companies using our motto. Not just in segment is arguably models and in recent years, and I knew we’d jumped passing sense, a hashtag or a shout-out, but the worst offender, selling things the shark when knockoffs of Poll Brown’s on products they’re selling. cribbing from a like vintage-y iconic Dirtbag Challenge sweater started variety of themes One of these companies, Lowbrow looking riding showing up in hipster havens like See See in a Sailor Jerry- Customs, specializes in—you guessed jackets that Motor Coffee. inked attempt it—“custom” parts for the new breed of mysteriously to create a If you know Poll, you know he’s the real chopper enthusiasts, the ones that whisper don’t include sense of real- deal, and attempts to buy into his level of “built not bought” with a strange kind of armor. Ride ness, because if cool are laughably misdirected. There’s reverence, even though all the parts on the fast take chances you’re gonna ride just no costume you can put on that’ll get bike were bought at online retailers like has shown up on a vintage-looking you there, but years of doing your own thing the shop in question, making it more of a at least one of their bike, you’d better be might. “bought then built” scenario. These guys custom bikes, and dressed “right”—even if are selling ride fast take chances t-shirts and their van showed up at the Similarly, ride fast take chances is an ethos, your idea of right is actually stickers with stereotypical hot rod skull art Santa Rosa Mile with our motto a belief inherent to CityBike and its readers, wrong, a marketing persona foisted upon on ‘em, complete with goggles. Because emblazoned on its tires. Most recently, people who responded passionately last you to drive maximum revenue from authentic riders wear goggles. Never mind RSD bandanas with our world-famous year when we opened up discussions young white dudes that think it’s cool to that the typical new school chopper isn’t on them showed up at a local about the meaning of the phrase. It’s not raison d'être play dress-up with motorcycles in this even capable of fast, and the only chances shop. a product slogan, it’s not even relevant to particular way. you’re taking are due to the lack of front companies that are more about fashion than function, and its ours. checkpoints, he retorted with, “I’m sure did say that the next meeting should be So we’re done now, right? Well, not really. to Nexx North America, 2 Wheel Safety, DUI drivers feel like we target DUIs.” three hours long, to better accommodate But after two legislative sessions on AB Monkey Moto School, Moto Guild, Helite, discussion and public comment. 51 and years of work on awareness and Reach Air Medical, D-Store SF, Aerostich, I was flabbergasted. In Costigan’s eyes, previous legislation and guidelines and RKA and ABUS, a lot of attendees went That meeting will be April 12th management of the “motorcycle problem” , and you such, we really needed to celebrate a bit. home with some seriously cool stuff. The and the DUI problem are similar. That’s a know CityBike will be there. I hope you will highlight of the evening, other than the surprising and disappointing attitude in a be too. We, as in all us riders. So we, as in whole “AB 51 passed” thing, was probably meeting about motorcycle safety. CityBike, teamed up with BARF the real-world crash test we subjected Fish - Surj Gish (BayAreaRidersForum.com) and threw a He also balked at suggestions from me to with the airbag vest contributed by party at DNA Lounge in SF on October 8th. and committee members that the CMSP Party In The US AB 51 Helite. meeting should be easier to attend or at We the people of motorcycling put And what a party it was, thanks to We had a bunch of speakers, too: I basically least access via audio or video, falling a lot of work into AB 51, the bill by generous sponsorship from companies emceed the event and swore at people, back on security concerns—CHP HQ is Assemblymembers Quirk and Lackey that and organizations both large and small, Budman of BayAreaRidersForum. obviously a secure location. For example, puts a definition of lane splitting on the national and local. Entry was 100% com told the “birth of the guidelines” this year, there was to be a conference line books in California and formalizes the free. Cycle Gear, local moto-centric law story that more readers need to hear, so people who couldn’t attend could at ability of the CHP to develop “educational firm Choulos, Choulos and Wyle and Assemblymember Quirk talked about why least listen in, but that was nixed just days guidelines relating to lane splitting in the American Motorcyclist Association he authored AB 51, James Lombardo of before the meeting due to equipment and a manner that would ensure the safety pitched in with cash to cover costs, which ABATE gave a brief rundown of the history logistical issues. I asked if I could record of the motorcyclist and the drivers and got us a bitchin’ venue, blocked-off street of moto-advocacy in California, and Nick video of the meeting and was told that was passengers of the surrounding vehicles” parking for bikes, and custom, event-only Haris of the AMA closed things out by not permissible due to privacy concerns, by working with DMV, DOT, OTS, commemorative bumper stickers. SF talking about some other issues that riders which is counter to the Bagley-Keane Open “motorcycle organization focused on Moto got the banners for the event, and ought to be paying attention to right now. Meeting Act covering all state boards motorcyclist safety” and others. a multitude of companies contributed a and commissions. However, Costigan big pile of awesome door prizes. Thanks

How many moto-rights advocates AB 51 Photos: Angelica Rubalcaba does it take to read a raffle ticket? Assemblymember Bill Quirk.

November 2016 | 6 | CityBike.com It’s always a little disappointing that more From carefully groomed facial hair, to • Porting • Polishing • people don’t show up for these things, vintage suits, stylish boots, and extra whether “showing up” means general swank ties, the fashion was as impressive involvement or specific events. We had a as the motorcycles—and there was no Cylinder Head good crowd and shortage of cool Specialists a good time, but machinery. In Business Since 1978 it’s telling that The variety of a lot of riders machines in All Makes continually attendance was All Models choose to go staggering: rat All Years riding instead bikes, customs, of getting modern sport involved. Where bikes, exotic does that leave Italians, us long-term? timeless BMWs, ENGINE DYNAMICS, LLC It’s hard to say, even Vespas and Phone 707-763-7519 but it does make Lambrettas. Fax 707-763-3759 • Valve Seat & Guide Replacement • Race Prep • • Flow Bench Testing • Competition Valve Jobs • the hill steeper Many riders www.enginedynamics.com for those of us that are putting in the work. chose modern classics: Triumphs, retro- 2040 Petaluma Blvd. N.Petaluma, CA 94952 Guzzis, Ducatis and BMWs, but there So I’d like to extend a heartfelt thanks were a lot of exceptional vintage bikes on better than to argue that riding city streets to those that helped along the way, and the ride too. Café racer Honda CBs were those that came out to celebrate, is safer than strafing canyons, so I just including the people that rode in accepted that at least I’d be well dressed from other states. And we owe a if the meat wagon came in my service. I huge high five to our sponsors for did wear my iconic Barbour International helping to make this happen, and waxed cotton jacket over my suit, of course to Assemblymembers providing at least a modicum of protection. Quirk and Lackey and their teams. On any other San Francisco day neither And if you’re asking, “Great party, my attire nor my choice of ride would have been completely inappropriate, but what comes next?” Well, th check out the previous piece on but September 25 may have been the the CMSP Advisory Committee hottest day in San Francisco in years. It Fish about to hit the floor was very warm at 9 AM as riders started meeting, and stay tuned for more testing Helite’s Airnest airbag vest. information as we get it. to assemble in the parking lot across from Red’s Java House, and hot by the time - Surj Gish plentiful, along with Harleys. My two we began to roll out an hour later. By the faves: a stunning CB550 wearing Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride Cal Crutchlow’s number 35, and a 2016 pristine Vincent Black Shadow. th On Sunday, September 25 over 50,000 I rode my beloved ‘86 Ducati F1 but it didn’t take that long for me to realize riders in 500 cities in 90+ countries (read more about that bike in that the F1 was a poor choice of dance participated in one of the largest motorcycle “Ghosts and Machines” starting partners for this party. charity events in the world, the Distinguished on page 22) which would prove Gentleman’s Ride. The DGR is the creation to be a poor choice for reasons After the 500th time I had to pull the of Mark Hawwa, and was first run in Sydney, that are obvious in retrospect. clutch in to shift from 2nd down in to Australia in 2012. The goal is to raise Fortunately, I’d hauled the F1 up 1st and then up to neutral for just a few awareness for men’s health issues, specifically in my truck—I live 65 miles from seconds before dropping back in to 1st prostate cancer and suicide prevention. Since the city and the F1 is a veritable Sactown An and Eric Kondo and feathering the clutch again, my left its inaugural year, participation has increased torture rack of a motorcycle with “working” the door at our AB 51 party. hand was cramping. Trawling through city significantly, from 2,500 riders in 64 cities occasionally temperamental traits. streets with little to no rearward vision, the to 37,000 in 410 cities in 2015. Riders solicit That decision was a smart one as the F1 time we hit our first stop at Civic Center heat, and the herculean effort required to donations from friends and family, but there would not carry me across the Golden Gate Plaza it was scorching. On its own the heat squeeze the clutch lever all took their toll is no entry fee. The 2016 would not have been an issue, even on a on rider and machine. It was fitting then DGR raised almost $3.5M, that my snarky “ok, all of you with modern a bit short of its $5M goal, but still a very respectable amount. Photos: TJ Noto In The City The DGR had been on my radar for the last couple of years but for some reason I never committed to participating. After my experience this year, I Someone needs to talk to that guy in the am hoping it will part back about the dress code for this thing. of my September riding plans for years to come, because it was an extraordinarily fun Bridge with the nearly 400 others on the experience. ride—but more on that later. recalcitrant mount like the old What makes the DGR different from F1, but nearly 400 motorcycles and San Getting dressed for a ride by putting on clutches, ‘eff all y’all” after dismounting other planned rides is that participants, Francisco traffic on a warm Sunday in early a suit, dress shirt, tie, and nice shoes felt at Civic Center would be the last cocky male and female, are encouraged to wear autumn do not mix well. Our route took strange, but I had to set aside my strict comment I made that day. Soon it was time their finest clothing—the ride’s motto us up Embarcadero to Bay Street, then ATGATT credo for the day. I didn’t even to head on to our next destination and after is “Ride Dapper.” The vast majority of down Columbus through North Beach. try to convince myself that just because suiting back up and swinging my leg over the riders take this suggestion to heart, We headed south to Market and then up to I wasn’t out for a morning blast up the the narrow F1, I pushed the starter button donning vintage clothing as well as gear. Civic Center Plaza where we stopped for a backside of 9 I wasn’t in harm’s way. I know break. That short ride took at least an hour, November 2016 | 7 | CityBike.com only to be greeted by the sound of a battery In The Sac I know, I’m not a fan of doctor’s Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273- or starter unwilling to continue the ride. appointments either. But given the 8255. If a life is in danger, call 911 or go The forecast for weather in the Sac was alternative, I think it’s worth a cold, gloved directly to the ER. “Enough, I give up. I wasn’t meant for this around 100 degrees the day of the 2016 hand where the sun don’t shine once in a - An DeYoung kind of riding,” she seemed to say. Another DGR. Do you know what thrift store while—regular check-ups catch prostate rider waiting for his own machine to cool tweed smells like in 100-degree heat? I cancer early. off (another Ducati) offered to push me wore it anyway, strapped a giant mustache Pie With Dave Moss and we made one feeble attempt to start it, to my bike, pulled on my boots and headed You know what else those mustaches Back in December 2013, I but the high compression and lack of speed for the meet up at Scooter City. This year’s are bought my 748. One month resulted in nothing but a new darkie on the ride was the biggest later, I rode it out to Cycle concrete. Gear to have Dave Moss adjust the suspension because, well, that’s just what you do. It was my first true “sport bike” and I admit after going out on Photos: An DeYoung a couple different settings that morning, I couldn’t really tell the difference between them. Of DGR on the River Road. course I’d never say that, because I didn’t want to look like I was some kind of amateur. Gentlemen in the Sac. Which I was. raising awareness of, aside from the Over the course of the next couple years existence of mustache wax? Mental health. I’ve had Dave set up my 748 a handful of one yet in Sacramento, with 140 registered According to the DGR, suicide is the 10th times at trackdays, still trying to feel the riders lining both sides of the alley outside It’s never fun being on a ride and watching leading cause of death in the US. Men die difference, still trying to figure out which Scooter City. the rest of the group roar off in the distance, from suicide nearly 4 times more often tire pressures I was most comfortable with, but when you ride a vintage motorcycle Luckily the ride this year would take us than women, though women attempt it 3 still trying to fully understand the bike that possibility is always part of the deal. along the levee roads of the Sacramento times as often. An average of 117 people itself. Each time, he’d ask questions: what I waited in the shade with a newly found River, which would certainly be at least 2 commit suicide daily, though many go pressures are you running? Uh… What friend aboard a modified CB550 for my degrees cooler, right? Our destination this unreported. wife to arrive in our truck, which offered year was the sleepy riverside town of Locke. I could keep spewing Photo: An DeYoung not only transport back home for me and We roared in and took the place over, statistics, but you can my F1, but also my trusty battery pack, although our dapper duds made it more of a Google that shit. If your which helped get his old Honda started and Mild than Wild One scene. I’m pretty sure life hasn’t been touched back on the road. the townsfolk are used to bikes, though, by cancer or suicide in given the number of Harleys I always see The F1’s finicky behavior aside, my first some way, you’re one on the river roads. DGR was a lot of fun. No, it’s not about lucky motherfucker. Go riding motorcycles the way most of us We raised over $15,000 for the cause. buy a lottery ticket, then dream of riding, but the camaraderie and What’s the cause? The Movember donate some of your atmosphere are unbeatable. Everyone Foundation, the world's largest men’s millions to the Movember is friendly, regardless of the kind of health foundation. You know all those guys Foundation. If your life motorcycle they’re riding, and the reactions growing facial hair for Movember? This has been touched by these from the people lining the streets of the city is the group that started it. Why? Because terrible things, join us in Dave Moss doing his thing with an S1000RR. that day were great. men are dying too young. 1 in 7 men will honor of a loved one at next be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his year's ride. - TJ Noto time are you going to check your pressures? lifetime. I’ll wrap up my PSA with this: if you need Uh… morning? What time? Uh… 7 AM? to talk with someone, contact the National No, do it earlier. Uh… 5:30 AM? Better. A couple of months ago I got an email from A&S Motorcycles with the news that Dave Moss would be offering a suspension class Clearance Sale ON SALE NOW at the shop. Not just a setup session, but Visit us for a wide selection an actual four-hour class where he’d teach of clearance items. $359 Only $149! a little of that black suspension tuning Johnson Leathers Textile Jacket magic. We stock a large selection of heavy duty jackets, with Force eld Body Armour I told my Mr. that maybe I’d sign up if I pants, chaps, & bags. could pull the cash together. A few days In Stock Only later, two suspension books arrived in an Custom garments and accessories. Carried in San Francisco by Amazon box, along with an email from We repair, alter and clean leather products. SF Moto and in Dave himself confirming my spot in the San Jose by Road Rider. morning class. OK then. Our leathers are guaranteed against I joined a few others in the parking lot defect for life. We make custom 1 & 2 piece leathers! the morning of the class. Notebooks out, one by one Dave called out our current settings. Fork height, preload, rebound, ride height, and so on. Then into the 1833 Polk St. (@ Jackson) San Francisco - johnsonleather.com classroom we went for an intro. (800) 730-7722 • (415) 775-7393 We were told there he’d reset all our bikes and we were going out first with no preload. That was interesting. Force eld Body Armour, e worlds leading “So armour technology” We did three sessions of riding: out on one Body protection system specialists. setting, back in for a change, out again, back in for a change, and so on. In between

November 2016 | 8 | CityBike.com we were in the classroom, also known computer-generated crap we get fed so engage kids early on and create mechanical as “time for pie,” where we talked about often these days, like the wonderful work curiosity and investigative desire. each session and what we noticed with the of a certain Mr. Jensen, only slightly less We don’t all have to grow up to be different settings. frenetic and more colorful—How To mechanics or engineers, but the lack of Build A Motorcycle is printed on luxurious I still wasn’t noticing big differences, aside understanding of how stuff works and the matte paper with a hard cover (!) so the from the initial rides with no preload, but desire to learn these things for ourselves is now I could say it. Now I know it’s ok. Bikes certainly one of the symptoms of a society are different, people are different, and you that waits to be given information, rather can’t always feel a difference—each ride is than seeking it out and learning different. for ourselves. While Dave didn’t give away all his secrets, Books like How To Build A the discussions between rides made me Motorcycle are important in lighting more curious and left me and wanting to that fire, making “built not bought” know more about what’s happening with an inherent part of our young the bike and why. Time to read those people’s thought process instead of books that are still sitting on the table and just a slogan, a sticker slapped on an maybe buy some more tools. overwrought, mostly-bought-anyway project bike bolted together by a shop - An DeYoung as part of some post-IPO entrepreneur’s search for something real. New Stuff It’s also a fun book, an obvious labor of love. It’s got a place on my bookshelf How To Build A Motorcycle between Maurice Sendak’s We Are All – If You’re A Small Woodland In The Dumps With Jack And Guy and Creature illustrations are can really shine, Felicity Price’s Britten Motorcycles: The John Britten Story. By Surj Gish while Mr. Jensen’s work is condemned to languish on these short-lived newsprint $14.95 hardcover, 64 pages, 8.75” x How To Build A Motorcycle, An Off-Road pages. 8.75”. Learn more and get your own at Racing Adventure of Mechanics, Teamwork QuartoKnows.com. and Friendship is a children’s book written Lacey’s narrative matches this “good From 3:14 Daily by Saskia Lacey and illustrated by Martin old days” style: playing out the story in Moto-Skiveez Technical Riding a lighthearted, conversational manner, Sodomka, and chronicles the latest project Shirt of the “Scrap Pack,” a motley crew of making for an enjoyable and engaging read Valencia @ 25th creatures that have previously built a car for both children and adults. You guys and gals know the word skiveez, right? Max says chonies, I tend to say and plane together. Sounds like a pretty Once the bike is built, testing begins, and drawers, and in the typical weekend for us gearheads, right? you probably Well, sort of—the Pack is made up a mouse olden days, skivvies 415-970-9670 know what was another way named Eli, a sparrow called Phoebe, and “testing” means: to talk about your a frog (or tiny martian) who goes by the crashing. This name Hank. The rest of their pit crew— underthings. Anyway… MotoSkiveez offers three types unfortunate turn of drawers for dudes—sport, adventure this is a racing motorcycle—are Luke, Fritz of events offers Shawn Lupcho and Mara, all of whom are also mice or and cruiser, each with specifically-shaped an opportunity created high tech padding placed to accommodate maybe rats, although clearly not of the East for discussion of MotoSkiveez to give Bay variety. that type of riding. There are also Lady safety gear and riders of motorcycles Skiveez, presumably with padding The story goes like this: Eli, who’s known examination of the same levels designed for Sportsters and Ninja 300s. as “the marvelous mouse mechanic,” how riding differs of comfort and wants to build a super-fast motorcycle for from driving a functionality in Since I’ve recently been on the receiving an upcoming race. The story details the car. riding underwear end of a barrage of “old white guy that isn’t that riders of no- inclusive enough” bullshit, I’ll clarify that build, from frame to engine, running gear The team motor cycles have I’m gently nudging against the concept to bodywork. It’s intended for children, ultimately does long enjoyed in their that we need different dude drawers for but the book does a nice job of explaining go racing in spite cycling shorts. different types of riding, while the ladeez the concepts along the way. For example, of the crash, as the Pack builds the frame, the reader have to make due with one choice of chick and they rejoice chonies, no matter what kind of riding learns about steering head bearings, together at the as well as how the front fork and rear they do. Of course, if more women rode, result. The book small companies like MotoSkiveez would suspension work. There are also simple then closes but informative illustrations of how a be able to justify the investment required out with more to develop and produce more versions. two-stroke engines and mechanical drum technical diagrams: transmission, clutch, brakes function, along with a simple wiring and so on. Anyway, before I get myself in any more diagram. trouble, I’ll shut up and talk about the So why is CityBike reviewing this book? shirt. Wait… two stroke? Drum brake? When First, Beverly Cleary’s The Mouse And did these little guys and gals build this The Motorcycle has a permanent place MotoSkiveez has expanded their lineup to thing? It’s all fictional or course (what?!) in my blurriest, earliest childhood include compression socks and a technical but the imaginary motorcycle looks to my memories, before I actually rode a riding shirt, which they’ve dubbed eyes to be from the fifties or maybe early motorcycle myself. That book was one Technical Riding Shirt. sixties, and the animals’ outfits match of the things that planted the seed in I hate when brands confuse us with that time frame—looking almost like a my brain that eventually turned into a these meaningless product names. It’s so wardrobe from Leave It To Beaver, except lifelong love for riding. there’s no beaver. Just mice, and a sparrow perplexing! But more importantly, we need these and frog. Photos: Angelica Rubalcaba On the surface, the TRS (which is the kinds of books, these sorts of stories. In abbreviation I just made up for Technical The layout of the book includes a lot of an era when young children are spoon Maybe I should rephrase… not in their Riding Shirt, in case I lost ya there) looks graph paper patterns and faux grease fed mindless drivel via seatback-mounted shorts like Craig Ferguson and his robot like a pretty standard base layer. Short smudges, virtually bringing the reader DVD players and idiotic apps from an sidekick used to say in your pants. I mean zipper, Mandarin collar, couple different into the Pack’s workshop. Sodomka’s early age, we need words and pictures that illustrations are lush with linework and the shorts themselves. You get me, right? types of fabric. Fish is always lecturing me texture, not the quick, flat, and boring about how I should wear a base layer under In your pants! my ‘Stich and not just a t-shirt, how that’s November 2016 | 9 | CityBike.com his stays so flowery fresh and not funky at Max rode the press launch in the Corsair-X and all that. But I lost count somewhere all. (“Corsair-X: Arais To The Occasion” – around a thousand—there are a lot of vents New Stuff, October 2015) after receiving in this thing! Accordingly, it flows air really My initial test of the TRS was during a custom fitting by Mr. Akihito Arai well. a day-long black ops minibike test that himself—yes, that Arai—then immediately It’s surprisingly quiet though, in spite of all involved a lot of questionably legal rode to Utah and back in the X. Max that airflow. Actually, I probably shouldn’t riding (as in, “you know that shit ain’t eventually concluded he barely noticed say quiet, but rather not loud. Especially in legal, right?”) in even more questionable he was wearing a helmet, what with the clean air, it’s impressively not loud. locations. Because I wear my ‘Stich even excellent ventilation, crystal clear optics, when I’m Gromming it up, I was sweating and perfect fit. Like the V, the Corsair-X—fancy paint or like an old fat guy in a ‘Stich, which no—is designed to fit an intermediate oval would normally greatly increase the head shape. It fits me well, just as the last funk factor of my suit in short order. version did and is comfortable for hours at a The TRS did its job. My ShittyBike time, but there’s a distinct difference in the t-shirt was sweat-soaked, but feel of the fit compared to other helmets—it the plush interior of my ‘Stich feels a bit more “open” around the bottom. was nearly unaffected by my This is partly due to the overall shell shape perspiration. and the neck roll is less substantial than a sport-touring helmet that’s intended to be It uses two types of fabric to as quiet as possible, but with the X I found accomplish this. The main body myself wondering if I didn’t need thicker of the shirt is “Hydro-Sport” cheek pads. Maybe it’s just the additional fabric, which wicks moisture away space in the chinbar area—Arai added 3 from the body and accelerate mm of space, presumably because modern evaporation, with “5K” fabric in the motorcyclists need more room for their sleeves and other areas, to allow beards. for maximum airflow and cooling. I can’t throw a bunch more jargon Photo: Angelica Rubalcaba The “entry level” Corsair-X in solid and acronyms at you because that’s white costs $839.95, and the Manx paint basically it—but the shirt works. adds $210 to that. There’s a part of me I was jealous. My last experience with (the part where my wallet is) that thinks an Arai street (or track) helmet was the I discovered a couple very minor oddities. paying more than a grand for a helmet is Corsair-V I reviewed a few months before The collar does a great job of protecting ridiculous. I know, I know… how much Max’s new hotness at T-Hill junket, but my neck from chafing, but the zipper is a is your head worth? Maybe you’ve got a oh was it a special helmet—the 2015 Isle little tricky to zip up all the way—it just thousand-dollar head, but I’m not sure I of Man Limited Edition Corsair-V (“The gets a little fiddly in the last inch or so. The do… I'm thinking six, seven hundred bucks Most Beautiful Helmet In The World: sleeves had thumbholes in them, that I max. On the other hand, the cost limit for initially thought to be intended for general Arai Corsair V—Isle Of Man TT Limited use. I figured that might be uncomfortable Edition” – New Stuff, July 2015). inside gloves but gave it a go anyway, So when I saw the 2016 version of and it was fine. Later, I looked at the Arai’s annual Isle of Man helmet, MotoSkiveez website and discovered that I was instantly hooked. I really they’re only intended to keep the sleeve dug the 2015 design, but this from bunching up when gearing up, not year’s version is just so bold, with for full-time wear. I don’t recall reading iconic, striking shapes in red, that on any of little tags that came with black and white. the TRS, but honestly, I also don’t recall reading those little tags. So, the issues Once in hand, the helmet looks really are that the zipper is a little fiddly, even better—each of the colors and I’m a dumbass. has a subtle, deep metallic effect that really sparkles when the light It’s hard to get real excited about a garment hits it just right. that could be dismissed as “basically an expensive long sleeve t-shirt.” Even this It’s gorgeous, for real, and if you dumbass can see that MotoSkiveez’s think a helmet with lesser paint is Technical Riding Shirt is much more suitable for public wearing, well effective than that, and I’m sold on the you may as well sell your bike Photo: Angelica Rubalcaba whole dedicated base layer thing now. now, son. The only down side is that Fish will The X is also a pretty good advancement the Dirtbag Challenge has increased from probably add “You like that base layer, over the V—maybe that’s why they skipped $1,000 to $2,000, so I guess all bets are off. don’t you?” to his repertoire of jibber the W. The helmet continues Arai’s firmly Do you need one? An sure thinks so… jabber, along with “Hey, was that tank bag held commitment to smoother, round shell last year, we fought over who got their Isle made specifically for your GS?” shapes that let the helmet glance off objects of Man helmet first, and I’m going to go in a crash, but the sometimes-maligned on the record right now to say it was me. $59.95. Learn more and get your own at shield mechanism has been updated to MotoSkiveez.com. That’s not technically true, but now that it’s M make it easier to switch shields. officially on the record, who cares? When Things Go Arai: 2016 Isle I was skeptical, but it’s legit. Lift the shield, This year, I legitimately beat her to it, and GARAGE Of Man Limited Edition Helmet push the little levers just rear of the eyeport when I messaged her a photo me wearing Late last year, we got invited to the press on each side, and the side covers pop off. my new hard hat in my luxurious corner Vintage / Modern launch for Arai’s Corsair-X, the more Rotate the shield down, pop it off, and office here at CityBike World HQ , she excellent successor to their already pretty reverse to pop it back on. Hook the side responded with this: Motorcycle & Scooter covers on the top and click ‘em into place. damn excellent Corsair-V. I wanted to ask @÷×$%×&€!&€/:×! £;! $!@÷^#. Service Specialists “What about the Corsair-W?” but figured Easy peasy, front brake squeezy. dumb questions might turn our invitation The up and down of the shield mechanism If that’s not a ringing endorsement, I don’t (Pre-1975? Come on in!!) into an un-vitation, and I managed to is just smooth, too, and the new shield latch know what is. keep my mouth shut so Max could go up seems unnecessarily large at first but is just $1049.95 for the 2016 Isle of Man version, to T-Hill for some laps with some dude Moto Garage as easy to use. $839.95 and up for solids and graphics. named Nick, or maybe it was Nicky. Learn more and find out where to buy at 415-337-1448 Something like that. Venting is extensive. I was gonna count the 112 Sagamore St, SF, CA. 94112 individual vents, you know… journalism AraiAmericas.com. November 2016 | 10 | CityBike.com EVENTS Perkins H-D, 333 Corey Way, South San November 13, 2016: Steam Donkey November 25, 2016: Ride Friday Francisco, CA 94080) Enduro (Stonyford, CA) Give Back (Cornerstone Coffee, 20991 November 2016 Meet at DPCHD for coffee at 9 AM, Hosted by the Valley Climbers Redwood Rd, Castro Valley, CA 94619) October 25-26, 2016: Dainese Custom kickstands up at 10 AM. Ride goes Motorcycle Club. More information at Also known as the “Fuck Black Friday Works (D-Store SF, 131 South Van Ness through the Presidio and into Marin facebook.com/ValleyClimbersMC or Ride,” our apparently annual, post-Turkey Ave,San Francisco CA 94103) County. Run pin in exchange for gift ama-d36.org Day ride will benefit Alameda County If you’ve been eyeballing our November 19, 2016: 16th CASA—we raised $700 last year, and man Max Klein’s sweet custom Annual Sonoma Raceway we’re hoping to hit $1,000 this year. We’ll white Dainese suit, you can Thanksgiving Food Drive kick off with coffee at Cornerstone in get your own when Dainese’s (Sonoma Raceway, 29355 Castro Valley, ride the East Bay hills and fifth annual North American Arnold Dr, Petaluma, CA end up at Lanesplitter in Emeryville. $20 Custom Works Tour stops in San 95476) gets you in, caffeinated at the beginning Francisco. There are four levels and fed at the end—all money goes of customization available and in Ride with Richard and to Alameda County CASA thanks to addition to racing suits, custom Kathy from RKA for a good generous support from our sponsors leather jackets and pants are cause! Donations of food or Cornerstone Coffee and Lanesplitter available. DaineseCustomWorks. money get you a nice ride Pizza. Learn more and RSVP at facebook. com. along the coast and through com/CityBikeMag/events wine country to Sonoma rd November 4-6, 2016: Engine Raceway for lunch and a December 4, 2016: 33 Annual Dudley Rebuild Class (Moto Guild, 849 Perkins Toy Run (Dudley Perkins H-D, Photo: Surj Gish few laps ‘round the track. 13th St #62, San Francisco, CA Mandatory riders’ meeting 333 Corey Way, South San Francisco, CA 94130) 94080) or cash donation to Unit CJTR-OIR. at 8:15 AM, kickstands Learn to rebuild an engine in one DPCHD.com up at 8:30 AM. RKA-Luggage.com/ Meet at DPCHD for coffee at 9 AM, weekend by rebuilding a Ninja 250 mill. A15%20Events/2016%20Food%20Dr/ kickstands up at 10 AM. Breakfast at th November 11, 2016: Two Wheels Class is three sessions total: Friday the 4 , fooddrive2016.html Mariposa Yacht Club after caroling at SF th Only (Moto Guild, 849 13th St #62, San 7-10 PM, Saturday the 5 and Sunday the November 20, 2016: Richmond General Hospital. Run pin: $7 in advance, th Francisco, CA 94130) 6 , 10 AM-5 PM. $350. motoguild-sf.com Ramblers Bearfoot Family Enduro $10 day of ride. Run pin + breakfast: $20 November 5, 2016: 70th Annual Friday night rider hang time at Moto (Fouts Springs, CA) in advance, $30 day of ride. DPCHD.com Cowbell Enduro (Middle Creek Guild on Treasure Island. 6-9 pm. motoguild-sf.com The AMA-District 36 Bearfoot Family Campgrounds, Upper Lake, CA 95485) Enduro takes place the weekend before Hosted by the Hayward Motorcycle November 12, 2016: Hare Ball 2016 Thanksgiving at Fouts Springs in Club, just as it’s been for the last 69 years. (Hollister Hills SVRA, 7800 Cienega Mendocino National Forest, also known ama-d36.org Road, Hollister, CA 95023) as Stonyford. RichmondRamblersmc. [email protected] November 6, 2016: Dudley Perkins The Hollister Hills Offroad Association org/events.html PO Box 18783 “Support Our Troops” Run (Dudley hosts their annual family-friendly, closed- Oakland, CA 94619 course hare scrambles. hhora.org

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November 2016 | 11 | CityBike.com The Triumphant, Tragic & Temporary Return Of The Santa Rosa Mile sustained aural abuse. Long after a two- the track stayed pretty well groomed, stroke race is over, the raw-raw buzzing of although it was a bit dusty for practice. cyborg bees chasing around the arena rings in the ear drums. The poppity-clack of the Saturday was a Pro-Am event featuring big four-stroke twins rumbles around the some of Friday night’s amateurs and subconscious as the bikes cool in the pits. Sunday’s stars banging bars under the And, oddly, there’s the power-drill wail lights. It was nonstop entertainment, even of Wade Boyd’s lone inline-four cylinder when they were doing track prep. In a scene screaming across the dusty course. Not to directly out of the Dirtbag Challenge, mention Dave “The Destroyer” Deveau soapbox “drag” racing took place in the racing in the open class on his 2015 KTM infield while the heavy machinery got the Adventure 1190. track ready for more racing. It’s easy to see why flat track racing is Not familiar with the concept? Well if you still unchanged and even experiencing a can picture a lowrider shopping cart and a resurgence. It’s honest and elemental. It’s heavily modified Radio Flyer, both laden steak and potatoes. It’s lemonade on a hot with adults and being towed behind a day, salt and pepper, oil and vinegar, bread couple of DR650s, you are going to be mad and butter. It’s turning the last bolt on a that you did not see it in person. The fact build and deciding that there’s nothing else that any non-blurry photos of this exist is a worth changing. It's going faster than the miracle, as I was doubled over in laughter other bike. And it’s a blast to watch. the entire time. Sam gets excited any time there’s potential for The rest of the racing on Saturday a motorcycle to slide sideways. Check out his maintained this high level of awesome. latest column on page 27. With a pro-am lineup in nine classes there was truly something for everyone. Kids on The Long Weekend two-wheeled leaf-blowers? Of course! Flat By Max Klein trackers? Duh. Super Hooligan Indians and Harleys? A given! KTM Adventure By Max Klein, intro by Sam Devine Davidson on the map and got the ball Confession time. I used to live in Santa bikes? Yeah, ok… I guess? An R1 with dirt Photos by Max Klein rolling for the Sturgis rally. Rosa. I was there for about eight years bars? Maybe we should think this through and in that time I never went to the Consider The Noise Brung There’s debate over how it got started, a bit… Oh, Wade Boyd is riding it? Why fairgrounds. Sure, I drove past it conjecture that fields were leveled for By Sam Devine almost every day for a few years, racing after board-tracking became too and yeah, I went to the car mart She’z Moto brings all the umbrella t’s hot and confusing, this amazing damn dangerous. But consider the fact that hosted in their parking lot on the boys to the yard. chaos, this ridiculous flat tracking America has had horse tracks farther back weekends, but I had not set foot thing. It’s a convolution of classic than we’ve had two-wheeled conveyances AmericanI motorcycling, street riding, dirt on fairground soil proper. (late 1800s San Francisco had at least two biking, horse racing and rodeo, a simple tracks) and it’s not hard to imagine how I picked a good time to finally form of racing so straightforward, it’s been things might’ve played out the first time pay a visit when I traveled back to basically unchanged for a hundred years. two gas-powered velocipedes showed up at my old stomping grounds for the And while a century of turning a horse track. CFTA and AMA Pro flat track left may sound like hell to weekend. Now this is drag racing. some, it’s pure heaven for The festivities kicked off on others, motorcycling racing Friday with round eight of the boiled down to its barest bones. California Short Track Series. Go faster than the other rider. They were running in the bull Keep the rubber side down ring next to the big track and around a flat oval of dirt. Two the event brought in some of the wheels and a determined rider. best talent in the state. It also No more. No less. brought in a record number of Shelina takes a back seat for someone Well, ok, there’s a lot more. race entries: 256 racers, from kids else’s victory lap. Nachos for instance. Cheap, on minibikes to vintage riders watery beer for another. A on old bikes (or old riders on jam band and no shortage of vintage bikes?) and everything in flashy riding attire—although The purity of it is palpable and between. I have been to quite a a surprising dearth of gloves. The Dames the excitement easy to grasp. The few short track events (even raced Don’t Care Motorcycle Collective is commentator keeps the puns coming a handful) and I don’t remember entertaining between heats, sporting their (“These guys are tougher than a two- there being more than 150 racers trash-bag costumes and providing soapbox dollar steak!”) and the riders keep the rear at any of them, much less 200- derby karts pulled by DR650s. wheels spinning. The best of them drift plus. There’s a fantastic history to flat track almost completely around the course, To accommodate the racing that goes back almost as far as straightening out only momentarily. multitudinous riders they reduced motorcycling. Considered the oldest form And the noise. The noise is something else. the number of laps. “Victims of of organized bike racing, it put Harley It shames the loudest demolition derby and our own success,” as head of the is bested only by a Motörhead concert for CFTA Randy Kremlacek put it. Even with the additional riders, November 2016 | 12 | CityBike.com A.J. Kirkpatrick slides through the outside of the top gear to set up water bottle he was handed was pour it I got a patriotic tingle when I heard about CFTA Open Pro Main. a corner. There in his eyes. Those ruts caused more than the name change to American Flat Track. was going to be a couple pucker moments as riders were nothing left on the bucked off their seats and off line on the Changing the name of the series is majorly table. entry of the first corner. significant. To me it is symbolic of turning a corner, sideways, throttle pinned, and Before the first Prior to any red flag, I’d noticed that the rocketing into the future. It is the first step bikes hit the track, air fence seemed to be a little short. There in getting American motorcycle racing I’d been hearing were plenty of hay bales in the area where as noticed again. It does not try to hide our a lot of talk about a rider I would have preferred air fence, and pride behind an acronym. A couple issues how much more bare rail where I would have liked to have back, I said that in order to get full grids awesome the seen hay bales. Racing a motorcycle in even in MotoAmerica we need to have strong 2017 season was the most perfect conditions is extremely club racers show up (“We Sent Max To going to be. I’d dangerous, and the riders that participate at WSBK & All We Got Was This Lousy heard about the this level both know the risks and have the Tangent About American Road Racing” – name change of skills to mitigate them. I do not know if the Pit Stops, August 2016). But where do you not! This was seriously some of the best, track conditions contributed to either crash develop strong club racers? Joe Kopp spins the first closest racing I have seen in a long time, or if the additional safety barriers would public laps on Indian’s have lessened the lethal forces—I am Flat Track. and the track was in great shape all night new Hog Hunter. with a cushion more comfortable than a simply making sharing observations based Flat track is arguably the most accessible Willows hotel mattress. on my experience both from the stands and form of racing, and the direction that behind the controls. AMA Pro Flat Track, now American Flat Both days featured a She’z Moto class Track is going next year is arguably the which was organized and promoted by Racing continued on Sunday with riders flying around the mile course in a strongest move to develop American She’z Racing’s own Shelina Moreda. racing in general. About two and a half years ago, Shelina delicate 120 mph dance, often bar to bar. was asked by Colin Edwards to come As the final checkered flew it was Brad Yes, we do need more than a name down to his Texas Tornado boot camp Baker taking the GNC win for the race, change. We need to bring in full factory to instruct a women’s group. The with Bryan Smith taking his first GNC support (hello, Indian) and we need combination of knowing first hand championship with the most impressive to get racing off the internet and onto that female riders don’t always get the riding I have seen in a long time, regardless television again. We need to expand the same level of instruction as their male schedule and kick off the 2017 season with counterparts and seeing the excitement the organization Smith dodges roost in the GNC semi. something badass, you know, like a TT in her students’ eyes had her hooked. She and felt a sense of event in Daytona (round 1). We need to started calling them “girls’ moto camps” national pride. I got take a good, long, look at the rule books at the beginning, but people assumed it wind of the new and address any and all potential safety was for only little girls. Since she does expanded schedule issues (being revised as you read this). not discriminate on age, the name was and that there was Unfortunately, according to an email from changed to She’z Moto. Same camp, the potential for AMA Pro Racing CEO Michael Lock different package. television coverage published by Roadracing World, the Santa and got chills. I Rosa Mile won’t be on the calendar in Shelina understands that there is a stigma heard about the 2017. surrounding female-only camps—many hired guns Indian I have no doubt that everyone involved people think that keeping the males away was bringing in with the new organization has nothing will result in sissy la la events. If the racing to pilot the new but the best intentions, and are unified I witnessed both days is any reflection of Hog-hunter they’d in the goal of providing an outlet for the camps, I’d say that there is nothing debuted the night unmatched entertainment with unrivaled sissy or la la about her camps. There were before and might competition and unparalleled levels of women at the event that approached have drooled a bit. of conditions. Watching Smith adjust his safety. Shelina to tell her that they wished they’d There was also a buzz about other brands lines as the track deteriorated was as close signed up for the race after seeing how bringing their big rigs out to support their to a religious experience as I’ve ever had. Camps like Shelina’s feed the river of hard the ladies were riding. teams. 2017 could very well be the dream talent, and American Flat Track is the After the racing ended, there was some season for American racing. manmade lake generating the electricity Her goal is to not only build confidence criticism of AMA Pro Flat Track for the that powers this country’s future world on the track but in life as well. Watching Unfortunately, the 2016 season was condition of the track; some saying that champion racers. Teach the skills, harness Shelina talk to her riders before they hit tarnished by a nightmare. the event should not have run with the the passion, and get out of the way. the track motivated me, and I wasn’t even track surface as loose as it was. Some On the first lap of one of the GNC2 semi riding. “If you crash, you better pull that were grabbing pitchforks and lighting Max is the SF chapter Director of the AFM, races, 50 feet behind me, Charlotte Kainz clutch in, get back on the bike, and get torches before the race had even finished. I and swears he’d race more flat track if it was involved in a fatal crash. Two hours back out on the track as soon as possible. If overheard “They better do something more didn’t get his white leathers so dirty. Also, later another racer, Kyle McGrane was you don’t, you will not be welcome at my than change the name,” more than once. he keeps asking us to cover the cost of a flat involved in an incident that would also cost camps.” track racebike. Indian, a little help here? him his life. I understand where the vitriol is coming She’s not only teaching riding skills, but from, and some of it may be justified. Look, I’m not trying to put on my hindsight also how to be a good sport who knows Two people lost their lives, families bifocals on for armchair quarterbacking The only thing more American than flat how to leave it all out there on the track. bonded by both blood and sport with a bunch of woulda, shoulda, coulda track is wheelies during flat track. She walks the walk, probably even better were forever changed. But in order to solutions for this horrific situation. than she talks the talk. After getting advance the sport—safely—we need Nothing is going to bring either rider beaten by one of her camp instructors to move ahead. Let’s mourn, but let’s back, but as a photographer and racer who (awkward!) Shelina hopped on the back also take what we’ve learned from has been on the receiving end of a racing of the bike and rode the victory lap with this tragedy and use it to improve the incident and photographed a quite a few her. No pouting, just praise for the better sport. rider… and I’m sure some plotting of race more, I have some observations. A common starting point for revenge for next time. The track was extremely loose and dusty. internationally successful motorcycle The rooster tails being produced on certain After two days of short track, I was very racers is flat track. Because of this lines looked like they belonged behind a stoked to check out the big dogs off the secret is out across the pond. thousand horsepower speedboat, and the leash in the park next door. After all, a Europeans that were using the sport ground was left with long and wide ruts championship was being decided that day, as a cross-training exercise are giving after even a single pass. It was so dusty that and there is nothing quite like seeing the the best we have to offer a run for the first thing season champion (spoiler best in the business use the rev limiter in their money on the short track—why alert) Bryan Smith did with the post-race

November 2016 | 13 | CityBike.com he compact cruiser market is not new, but getting it right seems to be a tough job. Moto Guzzi is also anythingT but new to making motorcycles, and the Roamer demonstrates this fact. Who knew to look to Italy for such an Middleweight American feeling bike? Very few indeed, but riding it is a reminder that a bike can exist with no other purpose than to just be fun. Moto Guzzi In recent years, Guzzi had offered essentially two ranges: big and small, although saying it like it’s that simple would be ignoring the ancient, storied 2016 V9 Roamer Italian marque’s knack for creating confusion. But still, there were the 1200s Words by Surj Gish & Max Klein like the Griso and the Norge, which stayed Wheelies by Fish true to the quirkiness that so inspires Photos by Bob Stokstad the brand’s fans; and then there were the various V7s. More recently, big and small became small, big and bigger, with the addition of the 1400 line, including the return of the classical Eldorado name. These bikes all used Moto Guzzi’s signature longitudinal crankshaft V-Twin and shaft drive layout. An 853 cc version of that layout is the heart of the V9, which comes in both Roamer and Bobber versions. First and foremost, let’s talk about that engine. The Roamer’s “little” V-Twin is a fantastic rumbler. From the moment you start it, it’s just plain cool, with a growling, lumpy idle—as factory exhausts go, this one is right up there with the best of them. That joyful noise comes with a certain level of character, for lack of a better term. Put less soulfully, the bike has a very noticeable rock to the right under power, and the shaft drive has a pronounced jacking effect. These things are by no means intolerable, but the Wrecking Crew had mixed feelings on this, with some noting the shaft jack in particular as a black mark, since shaft drive geometry is now so well developed in other motorcycles. As a rider of motorcycles with similar afflictions, I don’t mind a little sideways rock with my roll, and found ‘round- towning on the Guzzi to be a blast. The V9 engine has great throttle response and really great power, in spite of stated numbers that are downright… we’ll say disappointing, at just 55 HP, with 45.7 ft. lb. of torque.

November 2016 | 14 | CityBike.com But in spite of those lackluster numbers, I’m not going to bitch (too much) about almost conservative and traditionally balance—although Fish rides an FXR, so his stoplights are nothing more than excuses to suspension and ground clearance. You get shaped from the sides and above, but opinions on V-Twins should be also taken with run through all six of the gears, and perhaps 5.1” of travel up front, and 3.8” out back, reveals radical contours when viewed from a grain of salt. the most shocking aspect is the way it never and that rear travel number is small enough the front of the motorcycle. gives up. Running up an onramp just goads that one of the nicest things I can say about Do We Really Have To Say None of us ride bikes as conversation you into adding more throttle. it is “well, it’s more travel than that damn “Authentic” & “Soul” In The starters, but the Roamer has that effect. Forty-Eight had.” The suspension is soft, It’s subtle, and can easily be dismissed as Same Sentence? The powerband is wide, with zero flat too, but who am I kidding? It’s a cruiser of just another standard or cruiser by the By Max Klein spots, and the bike settles in very smoothly sorts, it scrapes when you’d expect a cruiser around 80mph. Even with all this untrained eye, but anyone who strikes up to scrape. And besides… sparks! Here we go again: another authentic enthusiastic acceleration, we all got about a conversation with you either has an idea motorbike, or so Moto Guzzi says over, 40 MPG. Even if you aren’t pitching it over enough of what they’re looking at and can usually and over, and over again on their website. I to light up the night, the OEM Pirellis do a engage in a reasonable discussion—or went to v9.motoguzzi.com to check what This is a seriously good powerplant. great job of inspiring confidence and give they’re just entranced by the pretty paint the suspension travel numbers were for more cornering grip than you’d expect. job. The chassis and ergos are a bit more this machine because I wanted to make Again, this bike is nothing if not fun to divisive. The posture is almost reminiscent Editor Surj has owned (and ridden!) a bunch an al dente joke. I expected some simple ride, partly because it’s surprisingly light at of a scooter, with higher bars and a feet- of longitudinal crank motorcycles and longs to numbers. 439 pounds in running order according to forward peg position that is less than ideal. own a ’73 or ’74 Eldorado, so his opinion on Guzzi, which presumably includes things Nope. Coupled with the 2x12-esque seat and that the V9 may be suspect. Fortunately, Fish and like fuel and oil. torquey engine, you end up with a bike Max provided some objectivity and hopefully (continued on page 18) that’s kinda hard to hold on to—get too That’s 129 pounds less than the Roadster vigorous on the throttle with a loose grip you can read about starting on page 19 of on the bars and you could end up on the this issue. ground. Brakes are solid, your basic steel rotors Feature-wise, the Guzzi is a hit. The with less-basic Brembo calipers: one 320 speedometer is elegant in appearance, mm disc up front with four-piston caliper, but packed with useful information: and a 260 mm disc to the rear, squeezed by the integrated fuel gauge, fuel economy a two-piston caliper. information, and gear indicator are very helpful. The digital tach isn’t my thing, If you think I’m being harsh in my but at least there’s a tach, right? Controls description of the running gear, consider are intuitive, including traction control, that I encountered sixty pounds of which offers two levels plus good old likely-rabid dog on the Roamer, and by American off, which I forgot to tell Max “encountered,” I mean “hit.” That little about. Scrolling through the options on the bastard didn’t even touch the bike and display is quick and easy. nearly broke my left foot, but the Roamer provided enough stability and braking Along with traction control, the bike power that there was little drama, and no comes standard with ABS. I did find crashing. myself occasionally bumping into the TC when riding quickly on particularly But Guzzi isn’t marketing this bike to rough sections of East Bay “pavement.” wannabe “animal control” officers, they’re Nothing unmanageable, but it felt a little marketing to exceptionally handsome, too involved on “roads” that seem like a fit and fashionable gentlemen that know conspiracy to increase dual-sport sales. sweet selvedge denim when they see it. Accordingly, fit and finish are top notch. The ABS, however, offers a somewhat I suppose we’ve come to expect such bipolar solution when the rider overdoes it things in modern bikes, but the Guzzi is a on the brakes. The front functions about as cut above, at near-Harley levels—maybe expected, and we had no complaints. The minus some of the heavier metal. rear actuates slowly for a modern system, meaning you can skid the rear almost The bodywork is all metal, and the paint at will. We do like it when ABS can be on the Roamer is Giallo Solare, a gorgeous disabled, but that’s not the case here. The pearl yellow-orange that shows different, ABS can’t be turned off via the menus; it’s deeper beauty depending on whether the just that like a spineless politician, the rear bike is in shadow or direct sunlight. is something of a flip-flopper: both anti- The shape of the tank is something that and pro-locking. requires a look in person—it appears

November 2016 | 15 | CityBike.com AFM Round Seven | October 22 - 23 | Buttonwillow Raceway Park

8:00 Riders Meeting 8:00 Practice Groups 1-5 8:25 Practice Groups 1-5 RD 1 9:15 Riders Meeting 9:30 Practice Groups 1-5 RD 2 9:45 Race 1: 650 Twins 10:50 Practice Groups 1-5 RD 3 Race 1: 450 Production 12:00 Lunch Break Race 1: Formula II 10:05 Race 2: 750 Production 1:00 Practice Groups 1-5 RD 4 Race 2: Legacy Heavy 2:10 Practice Groups 1-5 RD 5 10:30 Race 3: 450 Superbike 3:15 National Anthem / Race 3: 250 Production Mark Grids Race 3: Legacy 250 3:30 Race 1: Formula III Sponsored by Spears Racing 10:50 Race 4: Open Production Sponsored by San Jose BMW Race 1: Clubman Light Race 4: Open Twins Race 1: Vintage 11:15 Race 5: 600 Production 3:50 Race 2: Formula 40 Heavy Sponsored by Keigwins@theTrack Sponsored by JPH Suspension 11:40 Race 6: Open GP Race 2: Formula 40 Mid Sponsored by Fastline Cycles Sponsored by JPH Suspension 4:20 Race 3: AFemme Race 6: Super Dino Sponsored by MCTechnologies 12:00 Lunch Break Race 3: Formula 40 Light 1:05 Race 7: Formula I Sponsored by JPH Suspensio Sponsored by Galfer Brakes Race 3: 350 Production 1:30 Race 8: Formula IV Sponsored by Feel Like A Pro Race 8: Legacy Middle 4:40 Race 4: Formula 50 1:55 Race 9: Formula Pacific Race 4: Clubman Heavy Sponsored by Dunlop Race Tire Services Race 4: Clubman Middle Winner's Circle Presentation 2:40 Race 10: 700 Production Race 10: Lightweight Twins Pit Rules: Sponsored by Spears Racing Speed limit in the pits is a walking pace (5mph). Race 10: Formula Singles 3:00 Race 11: 600 Superbike No intentional wheelies, stoppies, or other exibitions of speed. 3:25 Race 12: Open Superbike Kids under the age of 16 may not ride or be a passenger on any Sponsored by Pacific Track Time pitbike. 3:55 Race 13: 750 Superbike Pets must be leashed at all times. 4:20 Race 14: 250 Superbike Sponsored by Catalyst Reaction Please be aware of traffic in the pits at all times. Race 14: Legacy Light Riders are responsible for their pit crew and guests. Alcohol abuse and drug use is prohibitied. Catalyst Reaction Suspension CT Racing Pirelli Serious RnD Dunlop Race Tire Service Ocean Heat Sportbike Upgrades Fastline Cycles Pacific Track Time Texas Tea Oil Only entered riders and race officials may enter the racing surface. Feel Like A Pro Project Serenity Massage Trackside Massage Galfer Race Pace Motorsports VnM Motorsports GP Suspension Racer Gloves Zoom Zoom Trackdays

November 2016 | 16 | CityBike.com Special AFM Round 7 Program Insert AFM Round Seven | October 22 - 23 | Buttonwillow Raceway Park Turnworker Appreciation Weekend

There is quite a bit that goes into preparing for an AFM weekend. Is the bike running? Did I remember to pack my gloves? Why didn't I charge my transponder? Fortunately most of the time the race weekend goes off without a hitch even with all of the last minute hustle - but sometimes... Well, when things go sideways (and then snap back tossing you and your motorbike into a low earth orbit) your best friend suddenly becomes one of the AFM's world class turnworkers. They are out there from well before the first green flag drops and don't come in until after the final checkered flies for the weekend, hot or cold, rain or shine. Thank you turnworkers. Your efforts do not go unnoticed, and every rider appreciates your dedication to keeping us safe out there! We couldn't do it without ya! If you are interested in getting the best seat in the house and joining the AFM Turnworker family contact Phil Brown at [email protected].

Seat time makes you FASTER!!! It does not matter if you are a first year Keigwins@theTrack yellow plate or an expert class champion, November the only way to get faster is to spend time 1 Tues Laguna-Seca on the bike. While the AFM season might 2 Wed Laguna-Seca 14 Mon Sonoma be winding down, it does not mean that the 29 Mon Laguna-Seca track season is over. 30 Tues Laguna-Seca There are still days available at three of the Pacific Track Time best tracks on the west coast, hosted by two November of the best track day providers in California. 5 Thunderhill East 6 Thunderhill East

Special AFM Round 7 Program Insert November 2016 | 17 | CityBike.com Instead, I found what appeared to be spirit that brooks no compromise. A spirit engage but as Editor Surj said, while it may head was always in clean air. I’m counting hipster ipsum, line after line of statements that, with every choice, proudly states: I am be against locking, it’s a little lacking in that as a feature. like “Because the only thing that counts what I am.” action. I like the looks of the machine as well—its out there is what you are within,” and “A Whatever, Popeye. minimalist styling lives up to the sixteen uses of the word authentic on Vainglorious drivel aside, much the Guzzi website. There are a couple of the bike is not bad. Like Editor of trim pieces on there but nothing Surj and Fish, I enjoyed the low end excessive, and certainly none of torque from the new motor enough that “we’ll just cover this with black that I forgave it for not having more plastic” treatment. up top. Ripping through the twisties around CityBike World Headquarters But here’s the thing: bikes that look was invigorating, partly because of like this, feel like this, should not the fluidity of the motor and partly have traction control or ABS. This because the suspension was a little is a minimalist, torquey motorcycle overcooked, like that time you were that can do the ton—unless the road making pasta and the phone rang is bumpy, that is. You ought to be and your Aunt Mildred rambled on, able to do a smoky burn-out and then causing you to miss out on removing wheelie away from the scene of the your spaghetti while it was still al crime at will, shouting freedom over dente. While soft, the suspension is the roar of the dual exhaust. The much better than that joke. V9 Roamer (and even more so the V9 Bobber, the other flavor of the In actuality the suspension would V9 platform) are being marketed as Get CityBike have been perfectly fine if the MoGu fashion accessories, not the quirky delivered to your door would have left traction control off motorbikes that Moto Guzzi is of the bike. Rough roads engaged known for. The older bikes were less by the meanest, most the “safety bog” feature with enough psychotic, well-armed prohibitory, less mainstream, and yes, regularity that I thought I was I’m well aware of the hipster irony of branch the government running out of gas at one point. Even has to beat you with. that statement. I said it before it was worse, the motor wanted, nay, begged cool, ok? That’s right! We’ll send the man me to power wheelie away from to your mail hole once a month every stop, but every time I tried, the My point is, what could have been a electronic nun racked my knuckles reasonably rebellious roustabout was for an entire year delivering the I found the V9 to be fairly comfortable, and with her traction control ruler. shot down by motorbike evolution and latest issue of CityBike. I don’t mean standing next to it wearing tech-bro-ology. Excess ain’t rebellion. But while the traction control was doing skinny jeans and holding an espresso. Go to CITYBIKE.COM the Lord’s work, the ABS was heading the Seat height is low, bars are in a classic Max is the SF chapter Director of the AFM, to subscribe other direction, at least out back. I had “standard” position, and the pegs complete and we’re pretty sure this is the second time Or send a check for $30 to: no problem locking the rear up on dry the triangle in a relaxed, slightly forward he’s referenced Cake lyrics in an article. Free PO Box 18738 paved roads. I could feel the brake pedal position. Many of these authentic bikes are CityBike shirt to the first person who posts the Oakland, CA 94619 pulsating and probably could have even disgustingly painful after even a short ride name of the first article on our Facebook page. but I had no issues running through a tank be sure to include your name, heard it clicking away if not for the squeal No promises on whether it’ll be a new, clean address, & phone number! of the rear tire leaving a 30-foot dashed of gas on the V9 without discomfort, and one, or a worn-out shop rag. darkie behind me. The ABS is easy to the lack of wind protection meant that my

VESPA COPTeR HELMET ON 2016 Dealer Inventory No Sales Tax On Remaining 2015 Vespas Free Delivery To San Francisco! CalMoto Vespa 2490 Old Middlefield Way Mountain View, CA 94043 650.966.1183 / CalMoto.com Open Tue/Wed/Fri 9-6, Thurs 9-6:30, Sat 9-5 November 2016 | 18 | CityBike.com One Sportster, Extra Sport Please 2016 Harley-Davidson Sportster Roadster

By Max Klein & Surj Gish selvedge denim crowd demands, but it also cruisers. But the Roadster has some pretty Harley dealer that I visited, that chopped Photos by Max Klein doesn’t have “total shit” handling inherent capable 2-piston disc brakes (yes, two) fender that I like is actually one of the first fter the less than stable relationship in form over function tire choices. up front that didn’t seem to fade much things swapped out (for a longer fender) I had with the low-ridin’ Sportster at a spirited pace. I found myself braking before the rider even takes delivery of their Aiding the performance feel new machine. When I asked Forty-Eight, I was a little hesitant were the upside down forks. Ato start another affair with The Motor “even more popular than No they’re not adjustable, adding chrome skulls?” they Company. After all, the Sportster Roadster and yes they are paired with had the same first name, and the last time gave me the side eye and what look like the same directions to the parking lot. I had a fling with an ex of the same name I shocks as on the 48, but the almost wound up in the hospital. Roadster has a whopping But for this former “not a Fortunately for me, the Sporty Roadie 3.2” of rear travel, compared cruiser guy,” the Roadster let me know early on that things would to the character-building has the perfect amount of be different. First off, it did not have 1.63” of the Forty-Eight. chrome. A touch of bling the “Squatty Potty” riding position that The forks are also gifted here and there lets the world just didn’t work for me on the 48—the with 4.5” of travel and know that you are classy, but Roadster’s riding position was a bit more did not dive as much as I that dark custom attitude familiar and I was comfortably dragging anticipated. screams “I am the most hard parts before I left the immediate badass accountant in the “Of course the front end financial district.” vicinity of CityBike World Headquarters. didn’t dive,” I hear you Oops—I’ve been warned about pooping, say. “Harley brakes are not As always, even the bikes I aggressively or otherwise, where we eat. strong enough to make have a blast on are not quite While the pegs are still in the front end dip, much perfect. I know I sang the the standard “mid” position, praises of the riding position the bars are placed in a much later into corners than I had on Hogs past. earlier, but sometimes what is good for the more comfortable, borderline Again, they are not sportbike quality, but goose’s throttle hand is not always good aggressive, height. No, you they are on a Sportster not a sportbike. for the aging gander’s back. After an hour are not in full tuck, but you The 1200cc (73.4 cubic inches for us in the saddle I needed a handful of Advil, a are also not a leather vest sail ‘Mericans) motor is the same one as found hot bath, and another handful of Advil. But either. This bar position made in the ‘48 and had, oddly enough, similar again, compared to the 48, the Roadster is transitioning from corner to performance. It potato-potato-potatos out a Barcalounger—which is a really comfy corner as effortless as swinging 76 foot pounds of torque at 3,750 RPM. chair, in case your ass has been planted 570 pounds back and forth Horsepower remains a bit of a mystery as on one of those Euro-style popsicle-stick gets. The Motor Company doesn’t seem to want contraptions all your life. I’m not saying this is the that information out there for whatever The unladen seat height is about 30” sportiest Sporty of all time, reason. and even with the forward mid mounted but it is the closest that you are I’m going to say that it has somewhere pegs my 34” inseam was a little cramped. going to get to the XR1200 in between 1 and 2,000 pushrod ponies Halfway through a tank of gas (and Harley’s current lineup. that are spurred through a pretty decent remember, it’s a small tank) I found myself Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection somewhat uncomfortable, but having too The tires on the Roadster much fun to really care. were not sourced from some System. I never felt the power delivery get hipster’s spark-filled, black- confused whether I was doing my best to The pegs are also a bit wide, and find the and-white wet dream—in spin the rear up or bogging through corners ground with minimal effort. Harley says other words, they’re round in the wrong gear. the lean angle is 30.8 degrees to the right both ways—and are therefore The styling of the roadster is panty and 31.1 degrees to the left, but it felt like a much useful in the real world, dropping… I certainly threw my chonies at it took much less effort to plant a peg feeler a 120/70-19 up front and less dive.” That might be true on some it. Seriously though, from the chopped rear into the pavement. I took it as a challenge 150/70-18 out back. That normal sized other models, at least if you’re a heavy fender to the classically round headlight, to channel my inner racer, hanging off the front may not have the “authentic” look the rear braker—which actually works on big this machine is dead sexy. According to a bike more to keep the machine as upright

November 2016 | 19 | CityBike.com Wheelies? That’s right. This is a bike that begs for wheelies, burnouts, hopping curbs, trespassing… the list can go on for as long as you can stay out of jail—or until you run out of gas, which unfortunately won’t be all that far from home, given the 3.3 gallon tank. The only other built-in limitation worth mentioning is the five-speed transmission, but honestly, it ain’t much of a thang. Maybe we’ll make jokes about people saying it doesn’t need six speeds, like we did with Yamaha’s FJR1300, and eventually Harley-Davidson will put six speeds in there, and then we’ll make more jokes about how you apparently do need six speeds. We’re certainly not above re-runs. Anyway, we can dream of another gear to grunt into at extra-legal velocities, but we as possible. The result? The most fun I’ve a captive audience (Wait! Don’t go!) I’m Rider S (“Gimme The Sweet & Lowdown don’t really need to. Honest. While the had on a Harley, ever. gonna bore you with it. I’m not really a - Harley-Davidson Low Rider S” – July 1200 motor is considered by many Big Harley guy, but I’m a total Sportster guy, 2016), which spoke to me as an “alternate Twin devotees to be “small,” with power Although if I was to buy one, I’d keep the even though a good chunk of Sportsters take on the street fighter concept.” It was more suitable for children and Chihuahuas that shorty fender and add a chrome skull don’t do it for me, whatever it is. fast, tough, mean-looking…but the riding than men, the truth is that the mill is or two. position wasn’t right for me, meaning that torquey as hell, with balls the size of the Doesn’t make sense? I agree. But I still The text message Max sent Editor Surj after cruise the list o’ Craig once a week his first ride on the Roadster essentially (or more, depending on how much threatened to mortgage CityBike World HQ procrastination I need to calm my mind) to fund modifications to the bike. For a road for Sporties, particularly the dual-disc racer, SF chapter Director of the AFM even, ones. We even have one in the CityBike Max sure does ride a lot of Harleys. family—Fish has a lovely orange-n-black Sporty McRoadsterson, one, although it’s an 883 (girl’s bike!) and the fender and taillight are way too porky Reporting For Duty to my eyes, now that I’ve gazed lovingly, for By Surj Gish too long, at the abbreviated hindquarters of this here Roadster, with its shorty Sporty There’s some funny background here, or fender and lack of taillight in the middle. at least it’s funny to me, and since you’re As Max says, it’s sexy—I too was short a set of drawers the first time I laid eyes on its stunning burgundy paint, with its deep, HELIMOT GLOVES glittery metal flake. I’ve said this before, but the paintwork on Harleys—even though on our Roadie it’s only on two parts of the bike, tank and tail—is glorious.The rest of the bike is mostly black, from engine to fork to front while I lusted for the Low Rider, I couldn’t junk hanging on that blue ox up in the fender, with minimal chrome accents. see myself in a long term relationship with redwoods. Massive, if not that hairy. it. The HI-5 If you’ve read what I’ve said about other You can characterize the motor two ways. Terri c 3-Season Glove Harleys, you know that my take on the This here Roadster’s rider triangle is way The first is something like “fuck yeah, Especially Summer MoCo’s bikes is usually complimentary, better for my kind of riding, and I mean vroom vroom, trouble, woohoo!” You Also available in Black but based on difficult to quantify qualities riding, not just cruising. While it wasn’t ride from light to light, whacking the $289.95 like attitude, feel, and of course lovely exactly comfortable for long periods, it was twisty-grip like that poor bastard whose paint jobs. In some ways, the Roadster is well set up for hauling ass, even if the bars prom date went home with someone else, HELIMOT no different—but it’s also very different. were a little loose and slipped up a bit the thinking “this is awesome!” Then you 45277 Fremont Blvd #7, Fremont CA first time a wheelie was attempted. tear through the hills, leaving a trail of 510-252-1509 For me, the closest Harley-Davidson has www.helimot.com sparks from the footpegs that’d make any previously come to my heart was the Low hipster filmmaker start jibber-jabbering

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November 2016 | 20 | CityBike.com about authenticity and building instead of can ride too, something more than stupid the Distinguished Gentleman’s ride for buying. square tires at either end of a too loud, too us—we can’t stand dressing up. cool, too cantankerous old engine. The other is far less romantic. The 1200 Or, in spite of the Roadster’s painstakingly V-Twin is just a good lump—forgiving, The Roadster is your salvation, offering an specific styling, you could also gear up easy to launch, responsive… if it weren’t abundance of coolness, if unfortunately in a ‘Stich and modular, and ride to work so chunky, it’d make a great all-purpose bought not built, and a family-size helping with your laptop and change of shoes in engine, and guys like Jim Carducci see of proper rideability and reliability that your backpack. Would your outfit match enough potential in it to build dual-purpose you can’t get from that busted old brat, your bike? Not really, I guess… but you’d motorcycles around it. no matter how much you work with your be having a hell of a time, and you’d have a hands while sipping a tin cup of artisan bike that looks cool parked in front of your So the Roadster ends up being a cool pour-over while dragging on a whatever the favorite hangout on Friday night with one motorcycle that’s also a pretty damn kids are smoking these days. of those silly glittery helmets hanging off good motorcycle. Imagine this: you’re the bars. a conspicuously unwashed wannabe Your average non-rider won’t even know gearhead keeping it real in The Mission, you’re not riding one of the bikes from The Editor Surj has a thing for Sportsters, dreaming in black and white of sparks Wild One, especially since you’re gonna especially Roadsters, and especially this latest a-flying, rebar footpegs, and honest-to- be geared up in old timey-looking denim, incarnation of the Roadster. He has also good golly Miss Molly authenticity, the “work” boots and one of those dumbass recently been identified as the primary old kind of real that requires jeans that cost open face helmets with a bandana where white guy to blame for everything that’s wrong more than a lot of Americans make in a the rest of the helmet ought to be. We get it, with motorcycling. week. You’ve grown tired of CityBike’s and don’t worry—we won’t tell anyone as shit-talking, and you want a motorcycle you long as you wax up your ‘stache and handle

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November 2016 | 21 | CityBike.com “Unplanned maintenance stop.”

Ghosts & Machines

By TJ Noto had welds which looked like a trail of to it. He surely knew that human hands rider’s hands wear grips and switches, Photos by TJ Noto pigeon turds, rather than the desired row of built his new machine. It’s also likely that his boots polish through paint, and bugs he modern motorcycle is a nickels laid one over another with domino- he would soon be reminded that a human die on windscreens and fairings. Oil mist manufacturing marvel. While like precision. As with the hand-formed had engineered the engine in between his spritzes crankcases and chain lube builds human hands still do some of bodies of automobiles from the 40s and legs rather than a computer, for surely a on sprockets. theT work, the tools used by assembly 50s, such imperfections reminded us that computer—had such things been used to As the years of Sunday morning washing these machines were made by men and create motorcycles in the 60s—would have technicians are precision instruments built and polishing accumulate, the once-sterile women who were as imperfect as their calculated that the harmonic vibration to join components and torque fasteners to machine gains the kind of wear which creations. at freeway speeds would soon begin to spec without so much as a marred bolt head snobs like me call patina, that hard to loosen every nut and or scratch in the immaculately finished recreate sign of a human’s impact on an bolt holding his speedy engine cases. Paint finishes, otherwise inanimate contrivance. Some Triumph together, as well plating, and other cosmetic Early Ducati adventure bikes. of the best are those borne of dramatic as the fillings of its pilot. enhancements are computer moments on road or track. The scrapes on designed and robotically It was a lot easier to see a side stand foot, an exhaust header or foot applied. The fly in the gel the soul in machines peg ground down by kissing asphalt, or coat, once the hallmark of built in the past than the scratched crash bar on a big adventure 70s-era Ducati paint finishes it is today—they came bike from the time its rider descended a is no more. It’s hard to find straight from the factory steep, rocky mountain tell the story of a hand staked setscrew or both blessed and cursed challenges met and bested. A pristine sport hammered tab washer on with loads of it. bike is one thing, but none among us trusts today’s motorcycles—the an adventure bike without some properly closest thing you’ll find to the Thankfully any earned scars. “maker’s mark” may be the motorcycle that was witness marks on crucial nuts ridden properly—and Unless every motorcycle you’ve ever and bolts, such as the ones by properly I mean owned was purchased new (which would which hold fork tubes in triple broken in according be really boring), and unless you’ve never clamps and brake calipers to to the manufacturer’s owned, ridden and loved a motorcycle only fork lowers. guidance and then to sell it for some a reason which seemed promptly thrashed as if valid at the time (which would make you It wasn’t always this way. Some Jokes about Guido dropping the meatball its rider had stolen it rather than obtained really cool in my book), you’ve at some British engines of the 40s and 50s left the in the crankcase aside, the new owner of it legally—soon breathed with its own point ridden a motorcycle that was owned factory looking as if they were assembled a ‘66 Triumph Bonneville could see the life, and you can’t have life without a soul. and loved by someone else. Fact is, we with a hammer, screwdriver and pliers. differences in the one on the showroom Exhaust headers blue, brake pads throw are all just temporary custodians of these Even as late as the early 90s the tubular floor, between the bike he’d picked out dust into tiny crevices that no amount machines, and if the machine in question frames of a certain Italian manufacturer and another of the same model, right next of PS21 will ever be able to remove. The is a special one, like the one I’m about to tell you about, you have an opportunity to pass on something special to some future motorcyclist. Such is the case with my 1986 Ducati F1. Considered by many to be the “last no compromises” model to come from the Bolognese factory, it was described by Bob Guntrip of Two W heels magazine as “rude, crude, impractical, anti-social, and bloody uncomfortable. It’s a jewel beyond price.” The one I’m riding has the kind of history that imbues it with soul. Back in the early 90s, me and my buddies (known as the “Manky Ducati Squad”) spent every weekend riding too fast and taking too many chances on the mountain roads here in the Bay Area on our newly minted 900SSes. One of my friends had the good taste to purchase an F1. We knew

November 2016 | 22 | CityBike.com it was cool because it shared DNA with the Back in 2005 Nick was feeling strong TT1. The TT1 represented Ducati during and we went for a ride one Sunday, he on such prestigious races as the Bol d'Or and the F1 and me on my 916. I was much very few were made. more interested in spending time with him riding than I was geeking out on We also thought the F1 was funky (we his motorcycle, but I do remember him were right), finicky (again, right), stupidly gushing about how much he loved it. uncomfortable (yep) and of questionable use on public roads. My friend also owned I hadn’t seen it since that day but it was just a 907 Paso, but when we all rode to the as I remembered, albeit with more patina and much more mana. The paint is faded and flaking Euroshow! off the 16-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel. The fairing (old school fiberglass) is crazed and yellowed from exhaust and engine heat, and the black chrome on the and loud. The effort required to squeeze injuries makes us somehow less attractive Verlicchi exhaust is the clutch lever is stupidly, almost or less successful. prohibitively high. It’s not a machine for pitted. To the contrary, these marks are the trawling through city traffic, a lesson outward manifestation of the experiences But the sound that relearned recently when in a fit of mistaken and challenges that give meaning to comes from the nostalgia, I decided to ride it on the SF our life. So too is a properly used and beast has not faded. Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. In fact, it's louder. The engine whirrs, maintained motorcycle. AMA Superbike race at Laguna Seca in the On the right road spring of ‘94, he chose the F1, which never the clutch pack rattles in a much deeper tone than the later-style dry clutch in the however—like the made it south of Moss Landing before it back side of Hwy died due to some ignition-related failure. big bore Supersports of the 90s, and the exhaust emits a Godzillian roar. 9—the telepathic We were all late to the race because of the handling, that F1 and it soon became impossibly narrow known as “The Money tank, and the Pit.” combination of It seemed to always intake roar (air be in need of repair. filters? what air Continuing his record filters?) and exhaust of smart purchases, the note kick me in the Another unplanned F1's owner eventually ass and I have a maintenance stop on the way to Laguna Seca. bought a Laguna Seca hard time shifting Maybe that’s why the F1 came with a centerstand. and decided to sell the until the needle is F1, but by then it had hovering around been ridden thousands the 8,000 RPM of miles in some very redline. These vehicles unlikely situations. are meant to move us from one point to And when I do that I’m thinking about another, and in the case of the F1 there is Our group shared Nick, my friend Brad, and the small motorcycles like a hippie the added benefit of many thrills along number of people hanging on to a small, the way. While some might fawn over an commune shares wives, Deeper than this gearhead fetish there struggling factory in Bologna, who built immaculately restored vintage machine, and the F1 became the proverbial “village is for me a much stronger emotional motorcycles that had soul. Those who or one that has never been ridden, I find bike.” Another mutual friend rode it to attachment. Having this motorcycle in my were fortunate enough to own one new limited appeal in such gems. Reno and even went to The Joust on it one garage is a direct link to my past, and keeps understood how special they were, and year. I have photos of it, along with our two very dear friends close to my heart. their appeal has increased over the decades. Yes, it’s hard to restore vintage machinery other Ducatis, broken down by the side One is still with us, the other gone. The and obsolete Italian of the road, and some of it in the garage, F1 carries with it thousands of memories examples are especially bodywork off, living up to its “Money Pit” and moments from a simpler time in my difficult. Yes, low moniker. The F1 at this year’s life, before the universe rudely kicked us Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride. mileage, original The next owner was an equally dear friend, all in the crotch. Compared to modern owner motorcycles are a man of rare character, who presided over motorcycles, it is downright simple, almost interesting due to their my wedding ceremony. Nick was a federal vintage. It's a living mechanical movie scarcity, and because public defender, a husband, a father, and of some of the best years and best people they allow us to see a rabid fan of old motorcycles. He died I've ever known. It reminds me of being what these bikes looked in 2011 after fighting colon cancer for 6 a bachelor, when nearly every Saturday like new—even if we years. “He was hardheaded, argumentative and Sunday morning we'd meet at Brad's weren’t alive when they and opinionated; gentle, thoughtful, house and go for a ride. Before cell phones were produced. compassionate and kind,” says his obituary. in our pockets, before GoPros, before back protectors, and before we all got serious But the stories the Months after he left us, his widow called enough to start racing. ghosts of the restored me and asked me to sell his motorcycles. I machines might have told her that I wanted to own both of them Now, it’s perfectly aged, and I have never told us have been all had any desire to restore one inch of it. I been erased. Sadder (the other is a 1991 851). Honestly, I had The life of a motorcycle is not unlike the love sitting in the seat where Nick once sat, still is that the unridden motorcycle has not only ridden the F1 once, back in the early life of a human. Exist long enough on this 90s, and hadn’t been terribly impressed. holding on to grips which he once held, stories to tell at all. and appreciating its singular purpose. planet and you will incur dings, dents, and While I appreciated its purpose and scars. Neither your psyche nor your body Moto Noto started riding before Evel Knievel lineage, it didn’t have the vintage appeal I don’t ride it often, and when I do, I don’t will escape unscathed, although it’s the tried to jump Snake River Canyon, and of a bevel drive 900SS, and it was still new push the old girl too hard. The brakes are emotional damage that somehow lingers raced AFM Open Twins for 5 seasons in the enough that all I saw were its shortcomings, good up to about 6/10ths, and not much and haunts more painfully than a broken mid-90s. Word on the street is he’s thinking of including what at the time was incredibly good past that. The power is yawn-worthy bone or torn ligament. Let us not be fooled giving up the street for a track-only life. dated styling. below 5,000 RPM, and it’s uncomfortable into thinking that the evidence of life’s November 2016 | 23 | CityBike.com bolts will screw into it. bolts, the longer bolts are not QUITE long It works! enough to screw into the nuts. Battery installed Imagine my chagrin. except for the heated vest wires, I leave for When I tell my mechanic, he knows Bowling Green and big exactly what I’m talking about. Cut a fun at the Corvette factory segment of the round wire-end connector and National Corvette away, he says, and you can unscrew each maynardmaynard HERSHONHERSHON museum, bike working battery bolt just a little and slip the slotted just as Kawasaki intended. connector onto the bolt under the hex. You won’t have to unscrew the bolt all the way. I ride another couple of hundred miles in Kentucky and Indiana and head west Worked just as he said it would. rode due east from Nashville across for home. At home, all’s well: 3,400 About three minutes after he told me to Tennessee, then south to a piece of miles ridden, the three-year-old battery slot those connectors, I remembered that country road called (by motorcyclists) the only casualty. years and years ago, I would have known IThe Dragon. It’s about 11 miles Days later I decide to reconnect the heated that I should do that—without asking long, that section of road, anyone. and features for your riding vest (and gloves!) wires. I stop by a battery enjoyment 318 bends. I knew it… but I forgot it. I’d known it clearly and confidently and then forgot If you live in hilly country it so thoroughly. I began to think about you’ve ridden roads nearly my riding. Not only about my riding, but as persistently curvy mostly about my riding. as The Dragon, so it is noteworthy merely because How much stuff about riding my of its fame. It’s a destination motorcycle—stuff I used to know well— for thousands of riders, most of have I forgotten just as I forgot how to them on Harleys, bikes with Illustration by Mr. Jensen make a circular connector into a forked one? I used to know that. Where the hell so-so ground clearance. store. We search in a box of battery nuts did that knowledge go? And what’s gone As evidenced by the Wal-Mart, I’m pleased to and bolts and find a pair with the same with it? scrape-marks mid- say, has a battery and rectangular nuts and, marvelous to say, corner. consents to sell it to longer bolts! Hoo-ray! Maynard started a Facebook page for me. I get back in the motorcyclists and road cyclists that use The scars in the I root around again in the coalmine in cab and return to blood thinners, but have continued to road, laid end-to- which the battery is buried. When I the motel, poorer ride despite the added danger. If you ride end would reach replace the old, too-damn-short battery at this point by despite it all, please go to facebook.com/ clear to… well, bolts with the new longer ones, and slip the about $100, WarfarinRangers and post something: a Milwaukee. ring connectors for the vest wires onto the for the battery story or a photo. And be careful out there. I rode The and cab fare. I Dragon (Highway attempt to install 129) east into North the new battery in Carolina where the Deal’s my bike and realize that Gap Motorcycle Resort lies. I did not someone has lifted from buy a black t-shirt. I turned around and the box the bolts and nuts that attach rode west and north, again on 129, then the wires. I ask the motel desk to call the retraced my path back to Nashville. It was same cab. a 400 mile-plus day and hot, maybe 90 degrees. Upon my return to Wal-Mart, while my driver waits I search other battery boxes The next morning, I prepared to leave for the requisite bolts and nuts. In one Nashville and ride to Bowling Green, of the new battery boxes is someone’s Kentucky, only about 75 miles north. I put old battery. Nice. Eventually a Wal-Mart on all my gear, loaded my bike to leave, employee graciously finds and gives me a threw a leg over the seat, turned the key set of cable attachment hardware. and pressed the starter button. Nada. Not a click, nothing. After another cab ride back to the motel, now $115 poorer, I try to install the new Both batteries that have graced my ZRX battery. Should be easy, right? have failed after long, hot highway rides. I believe the heat kills them. I have a Stay with me here. The battery has two lovely brand new Yuasa at home that will posts, as we all know. Each post gets a probably never leave its box. Batteries don’t bolt and a rectangular nut that fits inside seem to fail at home. And they don’t take the cleverly slotted post. Some genius at their time about failing, either. the battery company has supplied bolts that are too short. They won’t reach deep I’m wearing all my gear. I go back in the enough in the slots in the posts to engage motel lobby to ask if anyone knows of a the nuts. I couldn’t believe it either. battery store nearby, perhaps somewhere I can walk to. No one knows a damn thing. At this point I am afraid I will not reach Someone suggests that I can go to Wal- Bowling Green in time to meet my Mart by taxi. I assess my situation and friend there. I am working forearm-deep ask the desk to call a cab. I take off all that in a lightless dungeon in my goddamn clothing, back protector and all, and leave motorcycle, trying to install a battery that it in the lobby. refuses to be installed. I remove my old battery from the dark I decide I have to lift the rectangular nuts tunnel where it lives in my bike. I take it in the battery posts. I find a piece of thin with me in the cab to Wal-Mart to make cardboard and fold it ingeniously. In the sure the replacement is the same size and dark I lift, with a tiny allen wrench, one of layout. The cab driver waits outside. the nuts to slide the folded paper under it, raising it enough so the too short goddamn

November 2016 | 24 | CityBike.com eded HERTFELDERHERTFELDER Illustration by Mr. Jensen Which proves that if you don’t have a Mike Borelli and I were helping a young child’s respect before they’re 30, you never fellow who had a stuck throttle, which is will. usually a carb slide. Normally, you’ve had That ramp is made of a length of pierced- the fellow ride for a while using the kill steel flooring and has served a succession button, hoping the slide would break of Greeves, Dots (Devoid Of Trouble, my free on a set of stutter bumps or a nice butt!), Sachs, Bultacos, IT Yamahas and railroad crossing. But we were in a WR Huskies. It was once given a torture tight woods section and running on the test with a Triumph Trophy, which it failed. button was beyond the boy’s ability. The quarter inch bolts which snagged me Mike and the rider thought I was o one with any sense at all can were holding two lengths of angle iron to holding the motorcycle, I thought deny that dirt riding is more reinforce the sadly kinked edges. Mike and the rider were holding hazardous than playing shortstop it, but the only thing holding Non a field that is 50% dirt and 50% broken The ramp is eight feet long, much shorter steel item that was a light breeze from the than the twelve footer that Stormin’ will withstand glass. southwest. Norman uses so as not to exert himself an enormous Most of us carry Band-Aids and some pushing his heavy Honda 125 into his van. The motorcycle fell on me amount of prying worry warts even carry tourniquets, but I pressure and Actually, the shortest ramp I’ve seen was and put another brand on my think the ratio of use is 950 Band-Aids to then suddenly a three foot length of four-by-four. A New hide. I think that made an one tourniquet—and that’s for tying down fly off at the Jersey rider used to prop the thing against even two dozen exhaust a loose headlight assembly. speed of light. the tailgate of his old GMC pickup and pipes that have gotten I know it’s the This season I used a Band-Aid before I ever literally launch himself and his motorcycle me. speed of light got on a motorcycle. First blood was drawn almost straight up and into the truck. I’ve read many books because I’ve never when I was pulling the loading ramp out Whoom, bam! And he’d be up in the truck, that advise the best seen one go. from under a ‘56 VW Beetle: The sharp which was wobbling on its springs, rattling treatment for burns end of a quarter-inch stove bolt caught the its windows and pouring rust flakes out of is to put ice on it. Neither has inside of my wrist and went in about a turn everything but the gas tank. Now what I need is a anyone else, and and a half. that’s how the He used to draw quite a crowd. Most of book to tell me where to clip got its name: After wrapping my wrist with a reasonably them were waiting for him to miss the get ice when I’m gritting my teeth “Jesus, where did clean wiper rag, I walked over to my ramp, but personally I was waiting to see in the woods two (and a tenth) miles it go?” daughter and asked, “How does it look, him drop right through the rusty bottom of from Ong’s Hat, and there’s no ice in Ong’s Hat either. Beth”? the bed when he landed. As I pulled out the last pin the staple gun simply exploded on my workbench, leaving “Like a suicide attempt,” she said. Second blood this season might better be Third blood occurred while peeling a smear of WD-40 and those spiders’ called “first burn.” off half a fingernail trying to outsmart a staple gun. household items marking the spot where it had been. Russ Hancock, the Meteor Enduro Club President, passed the word that the club Fortunately, I keep my workbench in such funds had paid for 1,716 staple guns in the a condition that the scattered pieces were last five years and would buy no more, ever. easy to spot—anything not covered in a layer of dust belonged to the staple gun. This meant that those of us who had left our guns stashed behind the spare tire Being fresh out of slave pins, I reassembled in our vans—where the rain splashes in the thing with big 10-penny nails, planning through slots cut by snow chains—would to grind the points off and push them out have to disassemble and fix the things. with the stock items later. Mine looked like a chocolate chip cookie Then Russ Hancock walked in, saw mildewed into the shape of a staple gun. A the staple gun apparently nailed to the blast of WD-40 got some of the mold out of workbench with 10-penny nails. it, along with two vicious looking spiders. “Good work,” he said, “They’ll have a hell This gun, an expensive model, was held of a time stealing that one!” together by slop pins held by Jesus clips. For those fortunate enough never to have Get Ed’s latest, 80.4 Finish Check on been exposed to these delightful devils, I Amazon.com! should explain that a Jesus clip is a circular Reliable, timely service at reasonable rates on all makes of motorcycles

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November 2016 | 25 | CityBike.com dr. gregory w. FRAZIER

Chief, World Illustration by Mr. Jensen Adventure for as long as she could remember, and paved service road gave my passenger a Affairs Desk each year his being wheelchair-bound taste of acceleration and braking. While swept those wishes away. I quickly related, doing so he was laughing with glee, his knowing Father Time had done the same small hands squeezing my lower jacket like to my annual requests for the return of my his deadened legs could not. youth. I saw a gravel road that went over a wooden While no offer had been made by me to bridge across an irrigation ditch. give the boy a motorcycle ride, his request Before turning off the pavement I om, can I go for a ride, to his mother seemed to assume I would do stopped and asked him, please, please? Can I, it if his mother said it was ok. Looking at “Do you want to try some please?” begged the boy my overloaded motorcycle, with no room dirt?” His “Yeah!” from“M his wheelchair. on the back of the seat for a passenger and yelled at me told me both rear foot pegs hidden under some he was up for that bit The mother looked at me, not shooting parenting daggers but with a raised eyebrow and more of a question mark in her eyes, seeming to ask if it The son was OK with me, but more smaller bags I had sitting on top of them of adventure, so we did piped up, possibly hoping I would give her an easy “Is that out by saying, “Sorry, no can do.” for carrying an extra gallon of gas, she about a mile bouncing smiled and said to her pleading son, “It’s in and out of several anywhere I had nearly completed a 4,000 mile loop ok, but it doesn’t look like the man has any potholes I purposely near where from Colorado, through Utah, Arizona and room for you on the back.” tried to hit or nick at we’re going?” New Mexico on a 2001 KLR650, when I slow speed and with I thought, “Nice out mom, making me the I laughed, suspecting stopped at a McDonald’s restaurant for a great care, giving bad guy,” so to switch to the good guy, I he was hoping for quick and inexpensive cup of coffee before him an experience replied, “If you’ll watch my luggage and another adventure out doing my last 600 miles. The motorcycle with motorcycle can find a helmet somewhere, I’ll give him of his wheelchair, on the was covered with red and brown dust and suspension. a short ride.” He started to rock wildly back on my motorcycle. I gazed mud—as was I, with three days of rough skyward, as if a Yoda-like answer to camping stubble on my face, helmet hair back and forth in his wheelchair as he said, Back in the parking lot “Mom, we can use your bicycle helmet in the anxious mother lifted his question might be in the blue sky mixed with sandy tent hair and an overall “I above. Elusively and poetically pretending don’t care what I look like” presence. the car!” her son off the back and down into his wheelchair some cosmic connection to a highest Ten minutes later we had my soft luggage The mother and her son were stopped after loosening the foot-bungees while level knowledge, I said, “For old lone wolf piled next to mom’s car and her son next to my motorcycle when I came out I held the motorcycle upright, both of motorcycle travelers like me, somewhere mounted on the back of the motorcycle of the McDonald’s, both looking at the my booted feet planted firmly on the might be anywhere and often in the middle seat. His floppy feet were affixed to the bug and mud-splattered motorcycle. As pavement. of nowhere.” passenger foot pegs with a pair of thin, I approached I jokingly said, “Careful, Twelve years after that short adventure some of that mud is really nasty cow flop easily-breakable bungee cords, and his While her son continued to stare at my hands covered by my spare pair of gloves. motorcycle I reloaded and strapped on the ride by a boy in a wheelchair, I received and many of those dead looking bugs are a handwritten letter from the mother. stunned bees that can still sting.” On top of his head, strapped securely, was luggage and gas containers. The mother mom’s bicycle helmet. read the business card I had given the She started by writing that I might not While the mother and I made son as a souvenir, after which she asked, remember her or the son, and then thanked My passenger and I did a ten minute ride, introductions I watched the boy closely “Where are you going today?” me for what she described was my “biker inspecting the motorcycle’s luggage, passing in front of the McDonalds several kindness.” handlebars, windscreen—and of course times while beeping the motorcycle horn I replied, “I’m not sure, but I’ll likely end up so mom could see her son was safe. A camping around somewhere?” Her closing sentence was, “He still talks stickers. Mom said her son had asked for a about meeting a biker who gave him a ride motorcycle for his birthday and Christmas snappy run up and down through the five gears to 55 mph on a 65 mph straight to somewhere on his way to nowhere that is anywhere. That day you gave my son a lust for playing with words which he does now as a blogger. At the same time, you gave him what he still calls his adventure of a lifetime.” I re-read her letter several times and then decided to hand-write a short note back assuring her I well remembered both she and her son, and thanking her for taking the time to snail mail her letter to me. In closing I wrote, “I’ve still not been everywhere, but often to somewhere Repair & Service We Ship Worldwide in the middle of nowhere. During my travels I am gifted with an automatic smile remembering your son’s adventure whenever I pass a McDonald’s, anywhere.” Dr. Frazier’s all-color coffee table book, DOWN AND OUT IN PATAGONIA, CALL US FIRST! KAMCHATKA AND TIMBUKTU, available at MototorBooks.com, is the first- Salvaged & New Parts! ever first-hand chronicle of a never-ending motorcycle ride by “the world’s most cerebral Tue–Fri 10–6 Sat 9–5 motorcyclist,” and is highly recommended by Grant Johnson of HorizonsUnlimited.com.

November 2016 | 26 | CityBike.com The left foot slips from the peg, then the samsam DEVINEDEVINE right. Somehow the left hand flies into the air and even the buns abandon the seat. A full on bucking bronco situation. Illustration by Sam Devine “Give up! Fall!” Cries the stomach. “Slow down!” But the hand stays on the throttle, perhaps intentionally, perhaps on accident. It happens so fast, it’s hard to say. The butt slams against the luggage, the left hand grabs the bar and the feet are miraculously back on the pegs like good little soldiers, ready for more. Ahead, two other riders are stopped by dilapidated dirtbike is chugging the side of the trail and the wide, flat area up Shuteye Peak in the Sierra seems like a good place to take a break and National Forest. The mellow fire ponder the fact that, Christ, we’re gonna Atrail has given way to a dusty, rocky path have to ride back down that. and solid granite flats, layered like massive stairs. Suddenly, three or five tracks pop Instantly the “steep rock hill” from the last out amongst the rock, dirt and debris and group ride springs to mind. “Never ride Artwork by Sam Devine the bike is aimed at up anything you don’t want to ride down,” a deep rut between blame. Perhaps the schools need a rotting tree trunk improvement or the job’s too and a gentle drop demanding. Perhaps there’s a pill off. flashes like an epitaph. Ahh… the best laid plans… Parts were purchased, oil weights that could make it all better for plans. considered, eBay auctions bid on. But then, only $1.95. The lizard brain says: “Danger, stop! No! after checking what little sand was left in And we run to these cure-alls without first All bad!” But it’s a glorious day: crisp, cold and clear. the hour glass and weighing it against the trying any internal adjustment. We get lost Valleys of trees, rivers and granite run for sand in the eyes and the skills in the hands, But the rider stays determined and guns and we pull up an internet map on a GPS the horizon while thin clouds scratch the a unanimous decision was made to run the the throttle, working the pegs and staying device. As a result, we're getting places light on the bars. eyeballs and scrape the sky. A wide and bike as is. easy fire trail waits ahead like a cigarette easier than ever, but the side effect is that Coming around the corner there are more after sex. Pull in the clutch and jam it back And it’s got the old craw pondering the nobody seems to know where the fuck they duffle bag boulders strewn across the route in gear. This isn’t the top yet. whole bike adjustment thing. are anymore. Take away the GPS and we’re lost like babes in the woods. and the front end starts dancing like a We live in this supreme moment in tweaker at an Insane Clown Posse show. There had been plans for suspension work before this ride. Ahh… the best laid motorcycling. Our throttle-twisting This need for external change, this reliance forefathers and mothers would gladly on technology, feels a lot like alcoholism. give their left what-have-yous to ride the An adult beverage or two is fine just so long ridiculous techno-two-wheelers we pilot as it’s something that brightens the day, these days. And us? Well we keep trying to makes it better. But the moment it becomes make them better, bolting on extras and a need—a requirement just to get through swapping exhausts. the day—is the moment it becomes a problem. The same rings true in bike And that’s all well and dandy. Jimi Hendrix adjustment. It should make the ride easier, didn’t play no Sears and Roebuck guitar, but it shouldn't be the first recourse. Maybe did he? No siree-bob, he played a Fender we should give it another try first, with our Stratocaster like the lords of rock intended. butt off the seat this time… aerostich.com/cb Nothing but the best. Improvements are a good thing. And there are some amazing That oily old dirtbike sure could have adjustments that that can turn a bike from climbed that peak a bit easier with better clunker to rocket at the twist of a wrench. suspension but even the best bike in the Mere tire pressure alone can mean the world won’t make it up a craggy mountain difference between a wobbly experience without a focused rider. There wasn't a and a butter-silk blast-off to galactic single difference in the bike since its last gliding. group ride and that failed attempt at a rocky hill, other than maybe tire pressure. But then we go and blame the bike when And here it was at the top of a harder, something doesn’t work out. The same longer trail. Something must have changed thing happens in kitesurfing, where there’s somewhere. a joke about poor performance that goes: “Blame the conditions, blame the kite, Perhaps the rider really tried to open up then blame yourself.” and listen. Perhaps some good people gave some solid advice and inspired some The truth is that a pro rider can fling a internal adjustments. Perhaps it was just backflip on a breeze that wouldn’t blow luck. Either way, further modifications out a birthday candle. And despite how remain to be made, both internal and we say, "If my bike was lower," or "If I had external. After all, some good people a few more horsepower," motorcyclists gave some solid advice about suspension know the old adage: “It’s not the bike, it’s adjustment, too. the rider.” So it's not the bike, it's the rider… but a Despite this knowledge, our species— better bike doesn't hurt. Does it? metaphorically—often decides that there’s something wrong with the equipment, Thanks for the tune-ups, y'all. something external that needs to be Sam is our SF-based columnist. He solved. Surely it’s not our fault as riders, motorbikes, kitesurfs, and picks guitars. as humans, as mothers, fathers, workers Get a copy of his book, “Fifty Rides,” at Photo - Jose Mejia ©2016 and lovers. Surely something else is to SamDevine.com. November 2016 | 27 | CityBike.com aero cb 10 2016.indd 1 8/31/16 9:55 AM 2015 Harley-Davidson VRSCDX Night Rod Special - $15,495 DEALER CLASSIFIED 2015 Harley Davidson VRSC V-Rod - $9,995 New Listing USED MOTORCYCLES: 2012 Harley Davidson VRSC V-Rod - $9,995 New Listing 2000 Aprilia Falco CLASSIFIEDS 2012 Harley Davidson XL1200V Sportster Seventy-Two - $8,495 New Super nice sport cruiser, only 2,500 miles on the clock, always garaged, Listing clean title. 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November 2016 | 28 | CityBike.com by The Motor Man Karl Krohn. Wheels, brakes and other hardware were done Locals Only: Terry Otton’s by James Banke of Banke Performance. The tank was hand built by “a friend of MOTO TIRE GUY Mulder-built Triumph Banke’s, all I know is his first name is www.MotoTireGuy.com Steve.” Motorcycle Tire Services San Francisco - Bay Area Flat Tracker The paintwork, including the “Built (415) 601-2853 by Eddie Mulder” and “Terry” on the 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! top of the tank, was done by similarly Please visit www.MotoTireGuy.com for details. mysterious individuals, “a guy named Jeff in Agua Dulce painted the tank, and Bob… what the fuck is his last name… well I know him by Bob the Pinstriper.” Carbs are Mikuni with K&N filters, cables are Barnett, grips, levers and MOTOR WORKS BMW PARTS lines are Motion Pro, and High Desert Take a European trip this year! Performance did the exhaust. There’s also Visit www.motorworks.co.uk custom primary case designed by Eddie, • Huge range of new and used parts and accessories for all models from 1970 onwards created to accommodate the ignition, • UK’s largest independent, 25 years experience which he also designed. • Competitive prices, fast shipping • Expert and friendly advice available Shocks are Works Performance and the • Trade customers welcome fork is Ceriani. Eddie is critical of the

Quality Motorcycles 235 Shoreline Hwy. By Surj Gish Mill Valley CA Photos by Jeff Ebner (415) 381-5059 We’re not afraid of your old bike If you read our piece a few months back on the return of the Santa Rosa Mile EVENT SERVICES (“Calistoga To Santa Rosa, Sliding front end: “Terry got the forks from Italy ANNOUNCING: “DUFFYDUZZ Sideways” – September 2016), you may or somewhere, brand new Cerianis, them Promotions” recall this bike. You might even recall motherfuckers didn’t work. Had to take If you’re planning a M/C event of any sort, whether an Open House, a Special Sale Event, a Competition Event or even a Rally, a “pleasant but gasping, perhaps exclaiming “Sweet them down to Pierre and have him redo not pushy” voice (and your choice of music) can make a huge difference Jesus!” upon seeing it for the first time— in the excitement and remembrance of your event. the damn… I mean, they didn’t work at Have P.A. / Will Travel... that’s what I did when SRM promoter all. Not at all. Fuck! So we got them all I have been “The Voice” of Ducati Island at Moto G.P. (‘98 - ‘06) the Terry Otton rolled it out of his garage dialed in, got it all fuckin’ done, and lit it.” Wilseyville Hare Scrambles (‘98 - ‘12) ...Most recently; La Ducati Day, La Honda, MOTORAMA Car Show, Lafayette, sub’ Announcer at after telling me I needed to see this bike Continental Sports Car Challenge Laguna Seca, Santa Rosa flattrack he’d just acquired. When I’d first asked Terry about his new for Circle Bell Motorsports... and more... References and resume available. Find me on FaceBook: “Duffyduzz Promotions” for all contact Triumph, he said he’d probably never ride info - or - call 510-292-9391 - or - E/M: [email protected] Terry’s got a lot of seriously sweet it—but Eddie did. Had to, really, to make motorcycles in that garage, including sure it all worked. GIVE BACK the previously-covered (“Hattar Moto’s “You know what’s cool about it? I’m the only guy that’s got to ever ride it… broke it in, changed all the oil, torqued and tappeted it, put some good fuel in it. I the headstock, said it was a custom live up in the high desert, got this fuckin’ Trackmaster frame, that Eddie Mulder road, probably a mile and a half up in the had built the bike for him. So I gave Eddie mountains, and ran the dog shit out of it. Coffee at the start, pizza at the end, East Bay twisties in between! a call. We raised $700 last year—let’s make it $1,000 this year! Maybe you’ve heard of Eddie… Meet at Cornerstone Coffee, 20991 Redwood Rd, Castro Valley, CA 94619 if not, he’s a former TT, flat track Terry and his Triumph. $20 per rider ALL money goes to Alameda County CASA and desert racer with a long list of wins and records to his name, Coffee time: 10 AM Kickstands up: 11 AM who now runs the eponymous Pizza: whenever we get there! Eddie Mulder's West Coast Get more info and (please!) RSVP: CityBike.com/RFGB Dirt Track Series and builds the occasional custom bike. Terry’s Triumph is one of three or four bikes Eddie build each year. “You know, street trackers, they take some time. Terry’s, I had NCR Leggera Special” – June 2010) the thing together probably… 300-pound, 116-horse NCR Ducati, fuck… three times? You know, a bike so crazy-awesome it makes with a mocked up motor… it’s a Bimotas look boring, even pedestrian. lot of fucking work, man. Terry’s But the Triumph’s chrome and polished took me about a year, but you aluminum sparkled in the sun in a such a know that’s not constant. I would glorious way that we all just stood back in work on it when I was into it.” awe. The bike was built around a When I asked for details about the brand new Trackmaster frame, bike, Terry pointed to the “TO” on with a Triumph 750 motor built

November 2016 | 29 | CityBike.com Tankslapper

Freedom’s Not Free, But an aspiring reader might get some. It also Easyriders Magazine didn’t try so hard to be Well, Mr. McDuck, we’ve been getting in CityBike Damn Sure Is makes us (and Baby Jesus) cry a little that hard a$$. some shit for swearing like that, so we were people aren’t adventurous enough to just go sorta afraid of printing your email—but You guys know what’s coming, right? “CZ,” presumably a human, and not a to the store to see what a magazine costs, your advice is solid. While some people motorcycle, sent us a question about… instead of sending an email. Look man, that’s just how we fuckin’ talk. have a hard time reconciling Ride Fast Take how much CityBike costs? We’re not fuckin’ to be hard ass, Chances with phrases So while we are “limited edition” in the trying we just are. Can’t fuckin’ help like “slow the fuck Is there a charge to buy city bike at sense that we can only ourselves. Fuckin’ A down,” real riders know. newsstands, or afford to print so many right, doggie! Ride on, LeQuack. are you a free, Frances liked the giant phallic copies, we give them all limited-edition symbol / rock at our campsite. Jim, away, even if you get one And if for some What The Tchell? monthly? Where Kodachrome Basin State Park. copy in SF and another reason our unique Max has been hard at work bribing people can I pick up a in Daly City. Well… brand of “humor” to send in “fan mail,” presumably with pre- copy in downtown ok. Not all of them. continues to offend censored copies of CityBike. Here’s one of SF and in Daly People that subscribe you enough to want those emails, from someone claiming to go City? We are a pay, because they’re your check back, let us by the name “Tchell.” group of new riders awesome, and postage know. We’ll understand. But if you’re ok who want to read ain’t cheap, even when with just crossing out the swearwords I’m a friend of Max Klein. He got me hooked the magazine, the you’re sending free stuff before reverently placing our latest issue on on your magazine. I always look forward to "wiley CityBike," to awesome people! your coffee table, we’ll keep ‘em coming. the next issue and the cool stories and photos. as you refer to it in Either way, thanks for subscribing! your vmail. A Before E, I wanted to share my travel the world with CityBike Magazine moment. I was on my So it seems CZ Except After Quack On way to the world record redhead festival held is more than one F-bombs LeQuack, whose last name we must every year in Belgium the first week in Sept. I person, a group assume is McDuck, was inspired to email One of our subscribers stopped in Bruges, Belgium for a few days and of new riders, by another reader’s email. We love it when (maybe a reader, snapped this photo. Hope to make it in the a collective, that happens! too!) sent us a check honorable Tankslapper section. perhaps… (to renew their I have to say that Collectors of Zines? subscription, not to 'Dead Man Riding' Anyway, we’re not CityBike in Belgium! fund our burgeoning struck enough of a sure how the CZ managed to send us this minibike racing team, unfortunately) and chord that I had to pen message from the contact form at CityBike. some gentle feedback. this letter. I have logged com without learning that CityBike is free over 100K on the and seeing the map that tells exactly where Address change and another year of CityBike. Please lose the “F” bombs. Even early Patterson to Livermore run over the past few years. Sure, I have done plenty of stupid shit on two wheels but when it comes to lane splitting slow and steady wins the race! I always try to step over to let the fellows in more of a hurry pass. Over the years I have noticed two things: One, the more in a hurry I included a pic of my bike, Big Red, so you they are the more likely they will tailgate know I’m not some fucking hipster poser. before you a chance to move, and Two, the LOL. ones in a real hurry you rarely see more than Keep up the great photos and articles! a couple months. Did they start driving car? Change work hours? Pull up stumps and Damn, Tchell. While we think maybe your move to Paraguay? Perhaps, but not likely. spellchecker somehow changed “horrible” More likely they met with car or, as I almost to “honorable,” we’ll let it slide and take the experienced recently, another rider. compliment. But we’re not gonna tell Max we heard from you—we can’t have his head Recently I was splitting lanes when two getting any bigger, especially now that he's fellows ripped past me at well over 70 mph. doing that Editor Surj bald-head-and-beard An adventurer and a hogger. The first on thing. It’ll just look weird. the right and the second on the LEFT! The second came within a mirror width of clipping my bars. I know how fast they were going Send Us Your Stuff because I, recklessly, followed them. Those two idiots, and the subsequent chase, could easily have gotten someone killed, either by crashing or by them stopping to talk it over. To all the would be racer commuters out there: SLOW THE FUCK DOWN because either a cager is going to reach out and bite you or a gun toting crazy is going to take [email protected] offense to you endangering his life. I am plenty good at endangering my own life, I PO Box 18783 don't need your fuckin help. Oakland, CA 94619

November 2016 | 30 | CityBike.com Bryan Smith leads Brad Baker in the GNC1. Baker would ultimately win the Santa Rosa Mile, but Smith won the season, his first Grand National Championship. Photo: Max Klein