May 2017

So Good, We Started To Love That Color Scheme!

Fast in 5/5 · Rebel, Reborn · Black Beauty’s Back Again! · Dumb Legislation Last Of The Clubman's Show? · Extreme Risk Management: Quitting The Street News, Clues & Rumors

Volume XXXIV, Issue 5 Publication Date: April 17, 2017

On The Cover: Yamaha’s great, grey and green FZ-10 on the westernmost edge of Oakland. Photo: Angelica Rubalcaba

Contents: NCR ...... 3 Shop Rag ...... 4 Pitstops ...... 5 Uneasy Rider ...... 6 New Stuff ...... 7 Events ...... 9 Rebellion ...... 10 Goodbye, Cruel Road ...... 12 R(eal) 1 ...... 14 Fi5/5 ...... 17 Gee, Ese ...... 18 Maynard ...... 20 Hertfelder ...... 21 Doc Frazier ...... 22 We caught Renee Gardner of Broomstick Racing reading our Devine ...... 23 Classifieds ...... 24 April issue at San Jose BMW’s Open House on March 25th. Totally unposed, we swear. Photo: Surj Gish Locals Only ...... 25 Slap-happy ...... 26 AB 342 $afe $treets A¢t: All Oops, just kidding about the bribery. That a Grand Prix motorcycle racing world Last Page Photo ...... 27 About Revenue, Not Safety shit don’t fly in politics. championship, two-time AMA Grand CityBike Tax Tips ...... 29 National winner, one of only four riders

This isn’t moto-specific, but we’re opposed More On Moronic Legislation in AMA racing history to win the Grand Find us online at: to attempts to dress up bogus revenue- CityBike.com While we’re on the topic of bullshit special Slam: mile, half-mile, short-track, TT driving activities in the trappings of safety. /CityBikeMag interest bills, AB 1103 would allow cyclists and road race… we could go on, but just Assembly Bill 342, the “Safer Streets of to treat stop signs as yield signs. Wait… Google it if you’re like “Kenny who?”) and /CityBikeMag 2017 Act,” would establish a 5-year pilot with AB 342, we’re saying the streets aren’t his son Kenny Roberts Jr, a hell of a racer in program giving the cities of San Jose and /CityBikeMag safe, and we need robotic enforcement his own right, will be Honorary Co-grand San Francisco the authority to install to help with that, but with AB 1103 we’re Marshalls at The Mile In The Sac. Contact CityBike: automated speed enforcement (ASE) saying the streets are safe enough for 24/7 PO Box 18738 If that, along with the racing (and all the systems, “in order to protect the safety of cyclists to not stop at stop signs. Which HOTLINE Oakland CA 94619 vulnerable travelers, such as children, the other charms Sacramento offers) doesn’t Phone: 415.282.2790 would then presumably be renamed from do it for ya, they’ll also have 20+ legendary 800.707.0707 Editorial: [email protected] elderly, and bicyclists.” “stop sign” to “meaningless sign.” Advertising / Business: [email protected] racers and their personal vintage race bikes We don’t have room for all the bullshit in Look, if we accept the assumption that onsite for autographs and photo ops. CityBike Staff: this bill here—there’s a lot of it—but this vehicle operators—whether Editor in Chief & Jackass of All Trades: Surj Gish is not something we want, and by we, we they’re operating bicycles, Master of Puppets & Layout: Angelica Rubalcaba mean we the people. AB 342 is nothing more cars, or motorcycles— Senior Editor: Robert Stokstad than a bald-faced attempt to create revenue pay attention to their Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk: under the guise of improving safety. surroundings and never Dr. Gregory Frazier Automated systems like these have miss anything, this makes Staff Photographers: Robert Stokstad, total sense. In that totally Angelica Rubalcaba, Max Klein continually proven to be unreliable and Artwork: Mr. Jensen, Sam Devine costly, and a huge portion of our citizenry believable scenario, cyclists Operations: Gwynne Fitzsimmons simply cannot afford the outrageously will certainly check all Road Scholars: inflated fines that will be levied. It’s directions before legally Sam Devine, An DeYoung, Jeff Ebner, Fish, already so expensive to reside or work running a stop sign. Max Klein in San Francisco, and these fines will Nonsense. Even in the best Contributors: disproportionately affect the already- of circumstances, humans Michele Appel, Dan Baizer, Craig Bessenger, J. marginalized working class, struggling Brandon, Blaise Descollonges, Julian Farnam, miss things. If it were true Alonzo Fumar, Will Guyan, Brian Halton, David to make ends meet in a near-impossible that people could be trusted Hough, Maynard Hershon, Ed Hertfelder, Otto economic environment. to be 100% aware of their Hofmann, John Joss, Bill Klein, David Lander, KTM: Orange=Fire? Lucien Lewis, Larry Orlick, TJ Noto, Courtney The state must not disingenuously stoop surroundings and smart enough to make Olive, Jason Potts, Bob Pushwa, Gary Rather, to “gotcha!” electronic enforcement efforts good decisions about when to proceed Look, we love recalls as much as anyone, Charlie Rauseo, Curt Relick, Mike Solis, Ivan to generate revenue in the name of safety. into an intersection, no one would need perhaps more. Actually, more for sure, Thelin, James Thurber. It’s worth noting that opposition to the stop signs, regardless of their mode of because we’re lazy, and few things offer Alumni (RIP): transportation. such easy opportunities for crackin’ wise John D’India, Joe Glydon, Gary Jaehne, bill includes AAA of Northern California, Adam Wade the California here in NCR. The jokes practically write That’s obviously themselves. But come on, guys. We already For back issue and archive requests, email [email protected]. Back Association issues (if we have ‘em) are five bucks a pop. No, we will not mail you not true, and said it was getting too easy a few months our last copy of an issue from the ‘80s for free, just because your buddy of Highway was on the cover. We can find stories (maybe) and send you scanned this bill is images for $5, too, but please know what you’re looking for and the year Patrolmen back (“Ready To Race… Speedway?” of publication… at least! If you say something like, “Well, it was about obviously this cool bike I used to see at Alice’s and I think it was in 1988... or maybe and many – News, Clues & Rumors, February 1994, or maybe it was in Urban Moto” we will buy a cheap latex adult stupid. novelty and mail it to your grandkids. other groups 2017) when we poked fun at a recall for 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 potentially melted brake lines. BMW Motorcycles of San Francisco BMW Motorcycles of Walnut Creek request. Unsolicited articles and photographs are always welcome. Please that would King Kenny (and Kenny Jr.) All include a full name, address and phone number with all submissions. We seemingly be on board with actual 790 Bryant St 1255 Parkside Drive reserve the right to edit manuscripts or use them to wipe our large, fragrant Up In The Sac Yes, melted brake lines are a laughing bottoms. attempts to improve safety. San Francisco, CA 94107-1025 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 ©2017, CityBike Magazine, Inc. Citybike Magazine is distributed at over matter, Mr. Serious. 200 places throughout California each month. Taking more than a few The Sacramento Mile happens May 415-503-9988 925-938-8373 copies at any one place without permission from CityBike Magazine, Inc, th especially for purposes of recycling, is theft and will be prosecuted to the Not down with automated speed traps 20 at Cal Expo in Sacramento (duh). Anyway, we’ve been making jokes at www.bmwmotorcycle.com www.bmwmcwalnutcreek.com full extent of civil and criminal law. Yeah! and outsized fines being issued without CityBike magazine is owned by CityBike Magazine, Inc and has teams of To sweeten the deal (it’s in Sacramento, KTM’s expense since the flammable KTM- sleep-deprived, coke-addicted attorneys ready to defend it from frivolous the presence of an officer? Neither are we. lawsuits, so even if you see Fish doing one of his wheelies on the cover and after all—every bit of helps), promoter branded pajamas debacle of 2015 (“Buyer, decide you want to do that too and then you hit a parked car and your bike is wedged under a van and it catches fire and the Vallejo FD has to come Write, call, fax and bribe your legislator, SDI Racing has secured some serious Buyer, Pants On Fire” – News, Clues & and extinguish the resulting blaze and four cars and your bike are melted into slag and you suffer permanent trauma including a twisted pinkie, asking them to fight this nonsensical bill. personality. “King” Kenny Roberts, racer sleeplessness and night terrors, it’s not CityBike Magazine Inc.’s fault and Rumors, April 2015), also known as Pants- we don’t have any assets so just suck on it. You know better. extraordinaire (first American to win on-Fire-gate. This time, it’s leaky fuel lines,

May 2017 | 2 | CityBike.com May 2017 | 3 | CityBike.com isn’t surprising—we report on the struggles - A limited number of “key members” passion for motorcycling is matched by While the subject matter is undoubtedly Clara County Fairgrounds in San Jose local moto-businesses face in damn near will have 24 access to the space, for $250/ their compassion for the injured, and serious, the class is kept from being too on March 25th was lightly attended, with every issue. They also want to do business month. throughout the day-long course they dour by the wit and energy of the three around 85 Brit bikes in the show. Some in a no-sales-tax state, to better compete - A Tuesday night social & wrenching relat important lessons to direct personal talented instructors. Each MAY 20, 2017 with the internet and foreign companies membership will be available for $29/ experience—sometimes funny, sometimes woman possesses a wealth undercutting US distributors. And they month. All non-key members will be tragic. of experience, medically want to semi-retire. converted to this level. and mechanically, KINGS FAIRGROUNDS - Bike parking in the Clementina Annex The course aims to prepare riders with and could entertain HANFORD, CA So they’ll keep on making their kickass will increase to $189/month. four simple goals: prevent further injury, for hours with their gloves, just not here. They’ll also keep - The office portion of P&C will be sublet assess the situation, contact EMS, and treat stories from the road. Huge Motorcycle Show • Over 150 Vendors selling Daytona boots, and there’ll be no to Super Plush Suspension. the injured. The order of these goals holds Most importantly, they Food & Fun for the Whole Family change to warranty handling for Daytona speak with authority boots, or Helimot gloves. We here at CityBike hope these changes on proven life-saving The women of Wings of Safety, from Antique & Classic Motorcycle Show help to keep Piston & Chain a going strategies for the next We were in the shop this past week and concern in San Francisco. left: Roxanne, Michelle, and Kim. Vintage Parts Exchange & Sale Corral Helmut is still working on improvements time you come upon a Camping in Swap Space / RV Hookups to existing gloves, and developing new Zoom Cycles: Didn’t Sell, Now fellow rider, or loved details & registration info at : designs too. We’ve got our hands on Closing one, on the ground. a development pair of one of the new Photo: Surj Gish Classic Cycle Events. com Also under “bad shit we reported on last Jeff is our wandering designs, so stay tuned for more on that. moto-photojournalist. He’s gone through And if you’re thinking you ought to head month,” Santa Clara’s long-running Zoom Cycle is closing. We reported last month an SV650 phase, a 90s Japanese sportbike blamed the weather (which didn’t turn out instead of children’s pajamas. Apparently more, despite our best efforts at being over to Fremont for another pair phase, and has now entered what looks to too badly, after all). In the past, there have the fuel hose on the new Super Duke GT clear that it was just the end of Helimot of Helimots before the end of that the shop was up for sale, and that if a new owner wasn’t found, the shop would be a modern British phase. been 150 or more bikes and much larger tends to develop holes, and get this—when suits, not Helimot. June, we’re right there with you, crowds. It certainly wasn’t the ticket price, gas comes out of those holes, it can catch buddy. be shut down. So please pay careful attention to the Clubman’s Last Stand? at still only five bucks! And the Clubman’s fire. word movin’ in the title, cuz that’s what’s We’re heartbroken than Helimot Unfortunately, and not surprisingly, no By Andy Tallone Show is always indoors, so no matter the Seriously, KTM. Just start including orange happening here: Helimot is moving out won’t be right here in the Bay any new owner surfaced and Zoom will be shut For the past 30 years, the BSA weather, lookers can drool in comfort, and Nomex suits and a fire extinguisher with of state by the end of June. There will be more, but we’re happy that the down by the end of April, after 46 years of Owners Club of Northern California bike owners can display their bikes without your bikes already. no more retail shop in Fremont—again, best damn gloves will still be made business. (BSAOCNC) has been putting on worry. we’re not saying closing because some somewhere in the USA. Hey! If you’re a local shop and have new to Photo: Jeff Ebner the Clubman’s All-British Weekend, This year, as always, was one helluva show: numbnuts will run wild with that—but with what was billed as ‘the biggest D-Store SF: Happenings share with the Bay Area riding community, bikes organized into a myriad of classes, shoot us a note at [email protected]. And all-British motorcycle show in the West’ with legions of judges poring over them for Our friends at D-Store SF would don’t forget, we offer free help wanted ads for special importance, beyond the acronym on the last Saturday in March each year, hours. I’ve judged this show myself, and it’s (PACT). It is important, we learn, to wait followed by the ‘Morning After ride’ Photo: Surj Gish like you to know about the good all local moto-businesses! harder than it looks—both physically, and stuff happening over at their shop to dial 911 until we’ve first ensured a safe through the Santa Cruz Mountains on as a test of your bike knowledge. Helimot: Movin’ On on South Van Ness: scene, and informed ourselves about the Sunday. wherever they end up, they The bikes themselves were amazing. I You’re freaking out at that headline, injured. Despite all that, the Clubman’s show never won’t have a brick-n-mortar - MotoGP viewing every race weekend. In would say gorgeous, but some simply aren’t right? We get it, we did too. But read th st garnered the kind of media attention—or store. Helimot will be internet- May, that’s the 7 and the 21 . Moto2 starts Michelle tells a story to remind us of very pretty. Clubman’s attracts not only on, please. Don’t be that guy, the even the attendance—it deserved. This only from here on out. at noon, followed by MotoGP at 1 PM. the importance of moving only what’s fully-restored, concours-grade trailer knucklehead that reads the headline - Ken Hill Coaching seminar, May 7th at necessary at the scene of an accident. Her year’s 30th Anniversary event at the Santa Why? (Why God, why?!) and immediately posts on Facebook 10:30 AM. Call the store at 415.626.5478 husband was riding on Skyline when a According to Helmut and about how Helimot is closing. That for details. Stay Safe Out There: Wings Of friend collided with a car. After the rider Linda, California, and the Bay happened when we broke the news that - Italian Bike Night, 3rd Wednesday of was safe from further injury, still full of Area in particular, has become Safety’s ASM “Crash Course” Helimot wouldn’t be making suits any every month from 6 to 8 PM. Bikes of all adrenaline, he moved the rider’s bike from Photo: Surj Gish too business-unfriendly. This By Jeff Ebner Don’t Be a Statistic nationalities, but our recommendation is if beneath the other vehicle. Not only did Learn to be a safer, better rider now! you’re not riding an Italian bike, take a tiny It’s always an unwelcome sight: glittering moving the bike cause problems later when Our comprehensive Intermediate and Advanced espresso cup to set on the tank of your bike plastic and metal parts strewn across the police attempted to reconstruct the scene to make up for it. road, a bike and rider down. If you’re the to determine fault (ultimately denying the clinics help motorcyclists become defensive riders. first on scene, it’s up to you to figure out rider his due compensation), but he cut his Get more info at DStoreSanFrancisco. what needs to be done, and do it. That’s hand badly on the torn sheet metal of the com or facebook.com/ Golden Gate closed where Wings of Safety (WingsOfSafety. car, adding another injury to an already due to #motorcycle #SMIDSY DaineseDStoreSanFrancisco. org) comes in, preparing riders for this chaotic scene. crash #RiderDown Moto Guild SF: New Hours Beyond classroom discussion, students Report of are given hands-on instruction and They’re changing things up on Treasure Tristan Lewis plays (not) #RiderDown #motorcycle crash - Island! Starting May 1st, the OG MG will practice a variety of life-saving treatments. lanes blocked dead (yet). #RiderDown be open seven days a week for the first These focus on the most critical injuries: three weeks of each month and closed the breathing, blood loss, and potential #MC down #1 neck or head injuries. Practicing neck last seven days of the month. In May, that lane #RiderDown on st th immobilization, one student remarked at means from May 1 to 24 , Moto Guild Bay Bridge will be open every day from 2 to 10 PM just how heavy the head really is. Giving Monday through Friday and 10 AM to 7 rescue breaths to a realistic practice #motorcycle dummy, it becomes clear how easy it #crash Police and PM on Saturdays and Sundays. ambulance on is to overdo the capacity or pace of the scene #crash Serious crash, We also heard that there’s a new level of lungs. The groups apply different types of Motorcyclist injured #motorcycle motorcycle vs. car membership coming that’ll allow access tourniquets and practice their ability to on 880 #moto #RiderDown during the end-of-month down period, too. quickly stop blood flow. (“Ok, you can take #accident Stay tuned! it off now!”) All this hands-on, practical Piston & Chain: Carrying On exercise of new knowledge helps ensure Photo: Jeff Ebner retention of the information, and enough We reported last month on the dire practice to have confidence in a real world situation at P&C, representative of situation. the harsh realities of moto (and other) seemingly inevitable duty with a thorough California Motorcyclist Safety Program businesses in the Bay Area (see above, re: course in accident scene management In a survey of 2,000 ASM students, 3 Training Site of The Year - 2015 Helimot, for example). (ASM). years after they had taken the course, a full one-third of them reported they had used Learn Total Control at our three Bay Area The class is led by Michelle, Roxanne, We’re happy to report this month that the skills they learned in class—a testament to locations: Santa Clara, Newark and Gilroy and Kim, three nurses and riders. The folks at Piston & Chain have come up the tragically inevitable usefulness of the trio ride and instruct all across California, with a plan to keep rolling, a combination knowledge acquired. Call today! 510.784.8978 of cost-cutting and new revenue. These Oregon, and Washington, and are changes take effect April 16th: currently planning a trip to Alaska. Their 2wheelsafety.com/advanced-clinics May 2017 | 4 | CityBike.com May 2017 | 5 | CityBike.com queens, but also survivors, projects, and the like, and of course hats and T-shirts. least as they apply to old Brit bikes that are obviously being ridden Several British marque owners’ clubs set up bikes. And these guys were “Pick a winner, kid!” Ed Hertfelder’s Latest Book! regularly. That’s my kind of show! booths displaying bikes by their marque, out in force. and there’s a swap meet with more rusty Classic British street bikes usually make treasures and a bike corral with classic The trademark of the up the bulk of the show, but there are also British motorcycles for sale. Clubman’s show has always dirt bikes, flat trackers, scramblers, racers, been the raffle bike. Each choppers, bobbers, cafe racers, even drag One thing that is unique about British bike year the BSAOCNC bikes, from virtually every era, early 1900s nuts is their depth of knowledge on the finagles a classic British to the present. Yes, there was a present- bikes, at least on their bikes. I can attest motorcycle to give away, day classic in the show: a 2014 Norton to the fact that you need to know how to usually a bike in excellent 961 Commando displayed by the Norton work on British bikes if you’re going to own original condition or Owners Club. British bikes—they break down, often at restored to some degree. Photo: Andy Tallone the worst time, so you’ve got to be on your 80.4 Finish Check like them—but most members I’ve ever Hardcover, 356 pages, 67 stories, with 8 pages of photos The show also features vendors selling game. Years of that sharpens the senses, at Get this: raffle tickets are everything from new parts to rusty old just a dollar. While many tend to buy met seem to own several. For more info on the club, go to BSAOCNC.org. Available via snail mail (with suggested inscription). treasures, dented headlight shells and multiple tickets, even large numbers of Send your check for $29.95 to: them, over the years, many lucky winners Ed Hertfelder The Clubman’s All-British Weekend has PO Box 17564 can certainly split on that bitchass little day, in the shit, as they say, and my ratio have admitted to only buying one ticket. Tucson, AZ 85731 a big focus of the club for so many years, Or pick up a copy on Amazon.com of good and bad moments, and those on That’s a lot of motorcycle for a buck! bike.” and the wheels are already turning, by a Contact Ed at [email protected] the spectrum in between, is still extremely This year’s raffle bike was a 1970 Triumph new cadre within and outside the club, to I didn’t actually say bitchass, although positive. For some, that ratio gets too into 650 TR6. Too bad the winner, Tom resurrect the Clubman’s Show, at a new looking back I kinda wish I had—even the red and stays there—check out TJ’s O’Callaghan of Auburn, wasn’t there to venue, probably with a new format. though GS500s are pretty cool, for piece on quitting the street on page 12 and being bitchass little bikes. accept it. He gets it anyway—it’s just too Maynard’s column on page 20, for other Nothing is settled yet. But while this may CityBike Book Club: McQueen’s bad he missed his big moment. have been the last Clubman’s Show as we I went on my way, slightly pleased that sides of this story. Bonus: first person to Motorcycles I hadn’t been verbally abusive with the send me a note about the source of the title Motorcycle racing legend Eddie Mulder know it, it’s necessarily the last Clubman’s other rider, in spite of his clear need of Maynard’s piece gets a CityBike t-shirt. has been a Clubman’s regular for years. Show. These wonderful old motorcycles By Sam Devine He usually just shows up around trophy are an important Photos by Angelica Rubalcaba for a punch in the face. Maybe that In just the last couple of days, I’ve read time, walks on stage and starts presenting part of our history relatively pleasant and informative in the “real media” about a rider taking a McQueen’s Motorcycles: Racing awards. It’s a kick to watch—he’s a and culture, exchange increased the number of bullet in San Francisco (lived) and young and Riding with the King of genuinely nice guy who will stop and talk having bridged splitters using their goddamn mirrors rider in San Bernardino that was tragically Cool is a real hard read, not with you and look you right in the eye like the gap between by one, or maybe he’s made his own rant decapitated by a downed wire (definitely due to big words, complex he’s really listening, with his ever-present ancient steam-era somewhere about the ‘Stich-wearing didn’t live). Both of these events, on sentences or obscure toothpick. This year he brought a bunch technology and greybeard that talked down to him on top of the seemingly endless stream of references, but because it’s of his friends and all their flat trackers, the modern sport his commute, and someone else will #RiderDown notifications, put a very fine such a good conversation including some of Eddie’s personal bikes. bike. have to punch him in the face someday. point on almost any statement about the starter. At the bar after work, I don’t know, probably never will. the opening pages catch the dangers of riding on the street—even if After a wonderful day of looking at The old guard, eye of the woman on the next That evening, on the way home, also on you’re a skilled, mindful, highly-aware, incredible motorcycles, Mulder gave out the ones who barstool. A picture of McQueen the Bay Bridge, I passed a sedan with an highly-visible daily rider like I aspire to be. the umpteen trophies with great fanfare. grew up with on the title page garners the aging Golden Retriever protruding from But before wrapping it all up, the core these bikes, But I can’t imagine not riding on the comment, “What a babe.” crutch and used to break the ice almost its passenger side window. I say aging BSAOCNC leadership gathered on stage are standing street, from commuting to twisties anywhere. to announce that this would be the last down, and because he (just guessing) had as much to hittin’ the road for a few days. This triggers a conversation Clubman’s Show they’d be putting on. The if a new grey in his chin whiskers as I do. Unfathomable. about recently discovered cars Conversation starting is Santa Clara County Fairgrounds is closing generation of from his a nice bonus feature, but This fella was almost halfway out the Forget trite, “this could be your last down and won’t be available by next year, classic British motorcycle fans does collection… once you can actually find window, not in that crazy, hyperactive pit ride,” sentiments. My moments keep not take their place, then these undisturbed time to crack bull kind of way, but in a relaxed, “Man, calculating well into the black, on the great old bikes will go the way of The next day, at the into this volume, there’s I’m just enjoying the breeze,” kind of way. collected over the last several decades of serious awesomeness side of the equation: the Model T Ford. A Clubman’s cafe before work, a wealth of information Moments He was smiling like Retrievers almost riding clearly disproves any relationship sharing a smile with a gregarious Golden, Show that doesn’t just continue the book isn’t even and quality, quipable always are, and I grinned inside my open before a regular A couple weeks back, I was on my way into between riding a motorcycle and being a swimming with the whales, lifting the the name, but actually tales to be found. “It was helmet too, glad that I’d come across him asks, “Is that Steve SF, crossing the Bay Bridge mid-morning good person, or even just a person I want front a bit on my way out of a corner, introduces a huge new audience my first bike and I loved and whoever was chauffeuring him out of McQueen… oh! It as I always do. I'd split up behind a guy on to associate with. slowing down to inhale deeply instead of to these historic machines it,” said McQueen of the City. is Steve McQueen! a… GS500? Some middleweight standard just dashing across a fall valley… these would be a big step in the right his 1946 Indian Chief It’s just like having a lot of tattoos: if you’re I heard a story once thing, with one of those simple, classical, I wanted to slow down, match pace to pet are the things that keep my light burning direction. Stay tuned for more with sidecar. “But I was a dislikeable dipshit, that fact that we about him…” sorta-café-esque round-headlight fairings dig on the some of the same stuff doesn’t him, scratch him between the ears and bright. on the future of this important going with a girl who added to it. make you any less of a dipshit, doesn’t talk a bit, “Hey buddy…” or whatever. Bay Area motorcycle event. Still so notable and well- began to hate the cycle, But that’s tricky at speed, and you liked is Steve McQueen just hated riding in We’d just emerged from the tunnel, and make me want to be friends with you. Andy runs Classic-British- know… we’d just met. So I went on that this book could be the bumpy sidecar. the rider was taking it easy. I didn’t push Photo: Andy Tallone Motorcycles.com, an online To be fair, said dipshits would almost my way. carried around as a social She told me ‘either the him, but began to think he was unaware certainly say the same thing about me, catalog of—you guessed it!— of the rider behind him—me. This was maybe throw in something along the lines But I felt like I’d missed an classic British bikes. He currently owns two confirmed once we exited the bridge, of “maladjusted, antisocial asshole.” opportunity, and wish even now and this cadre of BSAOCNC stalwarts said classic Bonnies and an ’08 Dyna. where he just sorta wandered back and that I’d slowed my roll to share they were simply getting tired after their forth, in and out of occupying his lane and Anyway… this is so you can understand some quality time with the dog, like efforts over the last 30 years. Our heartfelt splitting, in a way that made me loath to why this knucklehead’s choice of I sometimes pretend to high-five thanks go out to them and the hard- share past him. I noticed he didn’t seem to transportation didn’t earn him a pass people who have their hand out the working BSAOCNC volunteers have mirrors, so I just waited. from me. But it did keep me from flipping window. The reasons behind this who have been instrumental in him off or talking any real trash. I simply are the same ones that drive me to putting on the show every year Eventually, I wound up next to him at a pointed at his uselessly-placed mirrors lightly drag my hand along the side for thirty years. It’s been a great light, and realized his mirrors were folded and waved my left hand in obvious of a bus when I split by. I’ve heard ride. in. Now, he didn’t have folding CRGs or exasperation. this likened to “swimming with similar mirrors that’re supposed to do The BSAOCNC is alive and whales,” and I think that’s about this, just the big OEM mirrors on his bike, He made a face indicative of confusion, or well and continues on. Rest perfect—there’s a brief harmony rotated inward. Seriously, guy? maybe of recent head injury, so I pointed assured, they’ll be riding as at his mirrors and said “Dude, I’ve been in that transient touch, a feeling long as they can kickstart As an aside, despite what a lot of riders behind you for a while, and you’ve just that everything is ok. those Triumphs and Beezers. seem to think, I don’t believe there’s some been weaving. Use your mirrors!” These moments matter. They While it’s called the BSA inherent camaraderie or fraternity or Owners Club, they welcome He still looked a little confused, so I add up, ultimately defining our Photo: Angelica Rubalcaba whatever between riders. Sure, we share all British bikes. You don’t added, “If I can split on this bigass GS, you riding experience. I ride every an affinity for a thing, but the data I’ve even have to own one—just Photo: Surj Gish

May 2017 | 6 | CityBike.com May 2017 | 7 | CityBike.com team together for the 1964 International McQueen dodged a young scooterist that that just about every moto-manufacturer for gloves that don’t look like degloved The gloves feel good and offer excellent Six Days Trials event. Bud Ekins was was inexplicably on the race course and is making these days means that while you Terminator hands. dexterity on the controls, but there’s an Steve’s stunt double in The Great Escape. pitched his Triumph into a ditch, totaling won’t catch me sporting swanky selvedge inherent tradeoff in such simplicity: less Cortech’s appropriately named He and his brother Dave Ekins ran a the machine. denim, brown “biker” jacket and “work” CityBike- protection. Additional coverage exists in Heckler gloves are just such an option. Southern California Triumph dealership boots, with an overpriced, under-vented just a few spots: light padding on the palm, In chapter four, “Desert Sledding and the Cortech calls the Heckler a “classic cafe that sold McQueen’s first bike in California retro helmet on my head, at the base of the fingers; heavier, small 1960s and early 1970s,” we see McQueen racer inspired design.” Understated in an (technically they sold it to a friend of his at least I’ve got options areas of more protective-feeling padding gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated. and McQueen purchased it when Ekins almost driving glove (gasp!) way, they’re on the back of the knuckles, at the heel Also included are reviews of several concurred that they would honor the suitably uncomplicated for this old man. of the palm, and at the knobby bone on bikes as written by McQueen. “I don’t set remaining warranty period if McQueen the outside of the wrist; and strategically myself up as an expert on either setting up I tried a size 11 / XL pair, and fit purchased the bike from his friend). Little placed bits of additional leather over the machinery for racing or the actual sport of was spot-on. The tricot-lined gloves did they know what it would lead to racing second knuckles. The Heckler offers more racing itself," wrote McQueen. "But after were snug to start, but quickly broke with the Hollywood star. protection than a typical dirt glove—a 2 ½ years of desert riding in Southern in nicely—the .7 - .8 mm goatskin common short cuff, summer glove solution California, TT Scrambles, Hare and leather is comfortable, and thicker “He put himself out there on the stage as an used by many riders—but not as much as a actor and also risked it all for the thrill of Hound, and a bit of racing in the wet in the than the leather used in some similarly pair of serious gloves. racing with a bunch of regular guys,” said Six Day Trials in Germany in 1964, I sure styled retro-gloves I’ve looked at. The

Dave Ekins, years later. “He was one of us.” hope I picked up a little about motorcycles Rubalcaba Photo: Angelica minimalist, pre-curved design means there So, not surprisingly, I can’t recommend and riding along the way.” are just a few sections sewn together—the these gloves for longer, faster rides. That’s The book continually reinforces that palm and fingers are one big ok—they’re style pieces, reasonably Chapter Five gives a peek behind the McQueen was a motorcyclist, through piece, with a second layer suitable for city riding at lower speeds and and through. He was respected and scenes of On Any Sunday and the final of leather for reinforcement well-priced for that use. And they’re great- • Porting • Polishing • chapters include rare glimpses at the pushed himself to be competitive, even in the area between the looking, classically styled gloves. prioritizing riding over his multi-million scruffy Steve McQueen, the bike collector, thumb and forefinger. A dollar acting career. In the second chapter, relaxing with his rides and family. It’s single hook-and-loop closure $54.99. Learn more and find out where to buy Cylinder Head which focuses on The Great Escape, Bud overwhelming how many bikes McQueen keeps the gloves in place, with at Cortech.net/moto. Specialists Ekins says: “McQueen was so much faster rode or owned. He had Harleys and minimal bulk for an easy fit that the local German stunt riders that in Hendersons, Husqvarnas and Hondas, inside jacket sleeves. In Business Since 1978 certain scenes he’s chasing himself; the Pierces and Popes. But more than anything All Makes cameras would capture McQueen in a EVENTS OnABike.com/national-coalition-of- May 20, 2017: Sacramento Mile (Cal All Models sequence, then bring him motorcyclists/upcoming-events.html Expo, Sacramento, CA) in, put him in a German May 2017 All Years uniform and reshoot parts May 20, 2017: Hanford Vintage American Flat Track action in The Sac. May 7, 2017: Moto Guild Spring Swap Motorcycle Rally (Kings Fairground, Take the river road to Sacramento to of the scene of him trying Meet (849 13th Street, Treasure Island, to catch himself.” 801 South 10th Ave Hanford, CA 93232) avoid the drone of 80. There’ll even be San Francisco, CA 94130) free motorbike parking! The third chapter Bikes, gear, parts, barbecue, Tickets start at $25; ENGINE DYNAMICS, LLC explains what the and bike demos! Anything kids under 12 are free. Phone 707-763-7519 Fax 707-763-3759 • Valve Seat & Guide Replacement • Race Prep • International Six Day motorcycle related is SactoMile.com www.enginedynamics.com • Flow Bench Testing • Competition Valve Jobs • Trial actually is. Bud welcome, including camping, May 20-21, 2017: 2040 Petaluma Blvd. N.Petaluma, CA 94952 Ekins describes the dirt and touring gear. If you Sheetiron DualSport event as “something have a lot to sell and would (Stonyford, CA) cycle goes or I go.’ Well, it was no contest: school in Chino Hills, CA. Even though like Olympic skiing, like us to hold a spot for you, she went.” McQueen would later credit the school but on motorcycles, running through the else, though, he owned Indians. These reserve here: MotoGuild-SF. The Sheetiron is a two- with “saving his life,” even supporting day, noncompetitive, ride In addition to finding out what McQueen’s forest behind the Iron Curtain, on a course last chapters also chronicle the stories com/products/spring-swap- the school financially, he didn’t stay in hosted by the Oakland first bike was—purchased while he was that was changed every day, on the worst of individual bikes, where they were meet school past the ninth grade. He enlisted Motorcycle Club. Starts taking acting classes in Manhattan—we surfaces you can imagine, and with ever purchased and when, who bought them SUBSCRIBE! in the Marines at age 17, and received an May 11-14, 2017: in Stonyford, breaks for get a solid but brief overview of how he had changing weather.” after McQueen and what they’ve fetched at honorable discharge three years later. 32nd Annual NCOM the night in Fort Bragg, come to be the highest paid actor of his day. auction. McQueen performed well during the first Convention (Silver Legacy ends up back in Stonyford. McQueen’s Motorcycles immediately two days, keeping up with the team. But There’s the tidbit that the TR6 McQueen Resort, 407 N. Virginia Photo: Surj Gish Riders of all abilities are McQueen’s father was a stunt driver, so it’s connects the dots between the King of simple to see where his gearhead tendencies on the third day, both he and Bud Ekins rode in the International Six Day Trials Street, Reno, NV, 89501) welcomed. Applications Cool and the Ekins Brothers, who he was th crashed out of the race. Ekins collided was sold to desert racer Frank Danielson. Head to the biggest little city in the world, Head to the 49 annual Hanford for will be accepted starting April 1st. come from. A rowdy kid, his mother close and longstanding motorcycling C’MON,C’MON, YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT. sent him to the Boys Republic boarding with a bridge parapet and broke an ankle. After mounting it with a sidecar, he raced in the name of a unified motorcyclist voice 150+ vendors of fun at one of California’s OaklandMotorcycleClub.camp9.org friends with. They were on the American it several times in the Baja 1000. Images premier vintage motorcycle events. at the National Coalition of Motorcyclists’ June 16-17, 2017: Fort Sutter AMCA from an auction booklet list a 1930 Indian 32nd Annual NCOM Convention. ClassicCycleEvents.com Visit Chief with U.S. Mail sidecar. Then there’s Chapter Annual Swap Meet & his 1934 Indian Sport Scout that sold for Motorcycle Show (655 South First NorCal AFM 2017 Street, Dixon, CA 95620) CityBike.com $177,500 at auction in 2006. and use PayPal Short Track Season The Fort Sutter Chapter of the Antique There’s not much in the way of McQueen’s Or kick it old school and mail us a check to: Summer Schedule Motorcycle Club of America hosts their personal life, unless it relates to PO Box 18738, Oakland, CA 94619 17th annual swap meet and motorcycle motorcycles. All in all, this is 160 glossy Season If you like racing, show. Bikes and parts for sale must be pages filled with pictures of bikes, detailed Nor-Cal put these dates over 35 years old. The show will include stories behind them and little if any Short Track’s on your calendar! June 24-25, 2017: Bungee Brent’s awards for best Japanese, European and supplementary BS. mission is Get more details at Backroad Bash (Long Barn, CA) British motorcycles, as well as best Rat, to encourage participation in flat afmracing.org/schedule. The CityBike Wrecking Crew goes to In short: all killer, no filler. Competition and others. Camping, track racing and nurture youth Round 2: April 29-30, 2017 the BBBB every year—it’s one of our showers, and RV hookups available at the Repair & Service We Ship Worldwide involvement, and to keep the racing Sonoma favorite events, and in addition to being a $35. Hardcover, 160 pages, 8.5” x 10.98”. FortSutteraMCA.org fun, family-friendly, competitive, fairgrounds. freakin’ blast, it raises money for A Song Learn more and get your own copy at Round 3: May 27-28, 2017 accessible and affordable. The racing June 19, 2017: Ride To Work Day For Wellness and the UC Davis Cancer QuartoKnows.com. Thunderhill happens at Lakeport Speedway (Everywhere, damnit!) Center. We’ll be there again in 2017, and Round 4: July 15-16, 2017 Glove Love: Cortech’s Heckler at Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Ride to work on the 26th annual Ride you should be too. Seriously. Stay tuned Thunderhill By Surj Gish Martin St, Lakeport, CA 95453. To Work Day (and hopefully some for details. NorCalShortTrack.com. CALL US FIRST! I’m a fan of simple, straightforward riding Round 5: September 2-3, 2017 other days too) to help increase public Round 4: May 7, 2017 Sonoma and governmental awareness about the gear—over-styled, “technical” gear Send Us Salvaged & New Parts! often leaves me cold. This penchant for Round 5: June 18, 2017 Round 6: September 23-24, 2017 benefits of moto-commuting and riding in pretense-free moto-wear often leaves me Thunderhill general. RideToWork.org Your Event Round 6: July 23, 2017 [email protected] Tue–Fri 10–6 Sat 9–5 with limited options, but the continuing Round 7: October 21-22, 2017 emphasis on retro-looking gloves, Round 7: August 13, 2017 (tentative) PO Box 18783 Buttonwillow Oakland, CA 94619 jackets and helmets made to match the multitudinous pseudo-vintage machines May 2017 | 8 | CityBike.com May 2017 | 9 | CityBike.com then zip around and skid the back tire. The traffic speeds fast enough. It’s not the After we get back to the hotel, I take off on flat track this bike. It jumps forward from Honda team leader asks me to settle down instant jolt of a sportbike by any means, but the 500. I’ve barely felt what it’s like. I get a stop and slows quickly when the brakes and then Mikura-san comes over, smiling. it’s not so slow that I feel out of my depth lost in a residential area, trying to recall the are pressed. It’s comfortable enough for the Rebuilt, Rebooted, Reborn... “It’s fun to ride slow and fast,” he says, then, or in danger of being rear-ended. Let’s just original route we took without using the price tag and it’s got an iconoclastic look. pointing at me: “Mostly slow.” We laugh say it gets on the highway with respectable app. My phone is dying. Haven’t found any evidence of sensors past and I agree. I do keep it reasonable for the chutzpah. the pipe, either… Finding Sunset, I spot Will Rogers Park rest of the day. Or so I think… Sam Rides The New Rebel After missing a highway exit and finding a and turn around to check it out. It’s a small In short order, we get to Venice Beach. The Mike Seate from Cafe Racer magazine and residential dead end, we stop in the shade park, but steep and the road winds back latest ridiculous thing holding up traffic is I ride together, me on the Rebel 300, him of a scrawny tree. It’s a hot day in the and forth through it before popping up into an impromptu music video shoot. There on the 500. Mike’s your classic gentle giant, Southern California sun. Getting our always seems to be someone shooting some At Honda’s Release Party agreeable when I get lost. We’re trying out bearings, we ride a few more minutes and video down by Venice an app called Rever as part of the release arrive at the lunch stop: Lucky Wheels Beach. Whatever. At “Well, uh, it’s really great,” I stammer. “It’s event. It’s a very straightforward and easy Garage, a DIY motorcycle repair club least it’s not someone got a lot of nods to vintage styling. The to follow guidance and route-sharing like Piston and Chain or Moto Guild. glued to their cell platform. I’m just darned good at getting phone, oblivious to the speedometer, the fenders, the tank. But Hiramaru-san, from the Kumamoto it’s kind of built into technology—water lost. honking. One fella was team, asks what I think of the bike. “It nearly swerving into cooled, the delta frame—that’s better, The 300 is a little ripper, sporty and has a solid front end feel,” I say, miming more reliable.” a bus repetitively and nimble. We turn off Highway 1 and up the everything. “A Nighthawk has a thin never heard a sound I “Correct!” hill on Sunset Boulevard, which I had no front end and when you stand up and made on my V-Strom idea was this long. It’s a fun, mellow, twisty put your hands out, it can wobble. But until I was gesturing in his Photo: Kevin Wing Putting the in-town route that sets the speed for the the Rebel, you stand up, hands out, driver’s side window. This teardrop tank on By Sam Devine day. Between traffic and stop lights, today’s sturdy.” has all attributed to our GenY-ers want choices, so the new the delta frame has Photos by Kevin Wing & Sam Devine route is an easy cruise around town. assessment of the Rebel’s Rebels are easy to customize. We get resulted in a unique He thanksMINIMUN me and DISTANCE gives me his card. exhaust note for lane anta Monica, Will Rogers Park 4:45 to see the Aviator Nation custom looking bike, We stop by the Rainbow Room and I try Photo: Kevin Wing Since the weather is more reliably splitting: “Unable to assess PM. The bike has to be back by Rebel 500. It’s a clean and simple rounded out at the to get a picture with the Lemmy statue in tolerable in LA, much of Lucky Wheels another residential area. I snap in LA environment—small five. There’s a little over a mile of arrangement: a nicely painted tank; rear with a tubular Lemmy’s Lounge. The bartender that tells is an outdoor courtyard ringed with cool a shot of a Wolverine1/3 B Pez dispenser and theB mortar fire unable to 1disturb/3 B local texting Sgridlocked traffic on Highway 1 between folded leather seat; bobbed fender swingarm, visually me to get my bike out of the bar is really bikes and shaded work stations. They have bike, entering it in the contest fully too late. here and the drop off site, a chic little with a bobber tail light; screen pretty nice about it, all things considered. drivers.” under-defined, that a weird and eccentric neighbor: a vinegar It had just been my silly intention when the boutique hotel in Venice Beach. Both across the headlight. Hey, it’s the Honda Rebel and we’re the disappears into the bottling plant. It’s odiferous but not contest started and I like to follow through Oh, and we got third place in the Instagram Honda America and the team from the alternative press. We’re s’posed ta do some Nice. Clean. Simple. Fun. overall impression. It intrusively so. You can climb the ladder to on silly intentions because it keeps life photo contest! Kumamoto factory in Japan are waiting outlandish stuff, right? Right? Hello? really makes sense as Lucky’s back roof and watch the cans run interesting. “Honda has the CBR 300 and Sam is our SF-based columnist, and Rebel upstairs to hand out prizes for today’s soon as you sit on it, down the long, outdoor wire races. Instagram competition. also 500,” says Mikura-san, the Photo: Kevin Wing though. From above, Hustling back to the hotel, the bike repeat offender. He’s owned a few, moto- lead engineer on the project. “This On the street, we’re treated to delicious messengered on both 250s and 450s, and “Part of the concept for it has that familiar becomes a reliable old friend. Dodging Kick up the stand on the Rebel 500. The new Rebel represents joy of life with the lunch bowls of the Pico House Food Truck. rode a 450 to New Orleans before drag racing Mikura-san, when he created the Rebel, cruiser teardrop through traffic, it does exactly what I key is on the frame, switch it on, check the motorcycle. I am part of Gen-Y, too, so Honda’s underlying message is coming it, like on an actual track. And you thought was it was going to be fun to ride slow shape. To convince Honda of his design, need it to do. There are moments when I gear and press the start button. Whoop- this new Rebel entertains a whole new in loud and clear: ride around, stop for a Rebels were just for noobs. Check out his latest and fast,” says Tony. “I just want to touch Eddy presented a series of silhouettes, mistake it for my sturdy old Rebel 450. I whoop-whoop-whoop-whoop-whoop. customer, who want it different looking coffee, and shop a little. Then get some column on page 23. on it again because I want you to think noting that it’s the outline of a bike that like this bike. I would buy this bike. I would It’s louder than the old Rebel 450 was, and a feeling of an extension of lifestyle. street food and hang out with your friends about that tomorrow when you’re riding… dictates what style it is. “If it’s got the stock. Sounds like a bigger bike until This new Rebel is very simple but tough at the bike club. Honestly, if any of that is Cruisers are fun to ride slow down main silhouette, people will understand it as a higher revs, when the volume fades back and cool.” wrong, I don’t wanna be right. and it loses some of its throatiness. It’s an street. It’s not about hitting the tail and cruiser,” he says. ornery exhaust note to be dragging the peg. That’s the fun to He’s proud of how he incorporated the rear The cruiser lifestyle is what first drew sure, though, but will it be ride slow aspect.” subframe into the fender, giving it a classic me to riding. I’ve since been bit by track enough to split traffic? The Rebel team. and dirt and performance riding, but After the presentation we walk look while shaving weight. He says he tries spending a day wandering around across the street to dinner, where to build value into vehicles he works on. The footpegs are further town, unencumbered by a car or the I have the tact to bring up the “I don’t understand why a cheap car has to back than the 450. It’s light bus is still one of my favorite aspects of Japanese demon, Tanuki. After look cheap,” he says. “I wanted to design and small but not cramped motorcycling. There’s no better way to dinner, I get to talk with the this so it felt like a big bike.” —at least for someone five get to San Francisco’s North Beach area designer, Eddy Birtulescu. Having foot, six inches. The handle He and the team worked inside of Photo: Sam Devine than by motorbike. In a chic, urban come to LA from Romania by way bars aren’t the goat-horned production tolerances, leaving wiggle environment, a small but stylish bike is of Minnesota, Eddy is a character. ape-hangers from the room for assembly to be simple, yet still not only easier than dealing with a car, but His accent sounds almost like Instead, for the Instagram contest, the eighties, but closer to drag produce outstanding bikes. A race bike or a holds the kind of instant street cred that he’s from Long Island but with bike gets lined up with the massive bars, coincidentally almost prototype can be vigorously precise in how the bus or bicycle can never offer. the same setup as the one in something different. He throws in Lemmy portrait in the alley way. While it’s put together. But someone takes hours I’m snapping pictures, Seate tells me a tale my garage back home. a couple words of Spanish during a tuning a single wheel on some of those We spend a good chunk of the afternoon phone call. About my height, he’s of Lemmy running into an old friend back Photo: Kevin Wing bikes. No one’s going to spend hundreds of doing a photo shoot. It’s a pretty cool The engine revs and the bike dressed in a white button down east and writing him a check for $30,000— location: train tracks by a warehouse takes off, curving down the hours tweaking the suspension on a Rebel paying off the dude’s mom’s house. I relate shirt with his tie tucked into the — nor should they. district with downtown LA shimmering hills, steady in the corners “The first thing that we started off was cut in the shirt. He speaks emphatically the tale of my uncle bumping into Lemmy and waving in the heat. We ride back as it heads towards the ocean. People with the engines,” says lead designer, Eddy and answers assertions with “Correct!” Honda Rebels are for cruising around at the Rainbow and asking for a hug. “Not and forth by brick buildings and graffiti are out walking dogs and the Rebel’s Birtulescu. “And my challenge was: how (Well, when they are.) town, cutting through traffic, and the gonna happen,” Lemmy had said, patting covered train engines. I do a couple rumble is enough to disturb their tranquil can you design the frame to accommodate occasional trip out yonder. They’re not my uncle on the shoulder and walking “burnouts” in the dirt. We’re ready to head He’s come to be the lead designer on the afternoon. I cringe and pull in the clutch. for both 300 and 500 engines?” high performance machines, but they’re away. to the last location when a motorcycle project after working for GM and Toyota. The boulevard at the bottom of the hill affordable, and funner than a Slip-n-Slide. police officer shows up and says, “Hey, you Yes, interestingly enough, the only real Before that he attended the College for When we stop at Powerplant Custom is wide and swift. LA has weird pockets At $4,399 and $5,999, they have entry level crazy kids, cut it out.” We assure him we difference between the 300 and the 500 Creative Studies in Minnesota. He glosses Choppers on Melrose, they offer the insight of fast moving traffic that ram right into costs and the reliable reputation of the will and then cut back towards the hotel. is the engine. Otherwise, they’re the same over how hard he worked in school. He that the Rebel tank looks sort of like the stopped cars. Gunning it, I race back into Honda name. (Was it ‘cause of the burnouts? Oops…) the “parking lot” three blocks away. bike. mentions that for four years he basically Frisco style chopper tank. It’s a style where they’ve taken a sportster tank and removed I ask if he referenced the Rebel 450 while didn’t sleep on Wednesday nights because Back at the hotel, Mikura-San and Eddy On the way back, I feel bad for Mike. The night before, we were given a short the backbone tunnel, mounting the tank RIDE TO designing. “I was given a blank sheet,” of all the work that was due on Thursday. say their goodbyes. You can tell they’ve We’ve traded bikes and his massive self is presentation led by Tony DeFranze of high up on the bike. High enough that most he says. “But we tried to keep the design “Cars are very simple,” he says as we stroll enjoyed working together. They both slogging down the freeway on the 300. I’m DAINESE SAN FRANCISCO Honda America. “With the bikes we’ve Frisco chops have a gas cap angled towards timeless and simple. We didn’t want to and talk about design. “They’re gestural. have an intensity wrapped in calm, kind loving the 500, but I offer to trade. “Nah, been releasing lately—a lot of 300s, one side to avoid gas spilling while parked. create a design that was super busy. I tried But motorcycles, everything is exposed. demeanors. “You’re the man,” says Eddy. it’s ok,” he says. “The suspension is killing DAINESE SAN FRANCISCO 500s—we’ve been focused on you youth You want every part related. So you have to “No, you’re the man,” says Mikura-san. me, though.” Indeed, the seats are a little 131 South Van Ness Avenue - San Francisco, CA 94103 and Gen-Y and growing our business from to make an iconic bike for the market, as We follow the little blue line on the Rever phone 415.626.5478 were the previous Rebels.” harmonize every piece of the bike to make They fist bump. Neat. app, getting on the highway and I open up rigid, but then again, an extra-cushy seat [email protected] dainese.com the ground up,” he says. it cohesive.” DaineseDStoreSanFrancisco agv.com In the morning, in the parking lot with the li’l Rebel. It definitely has more pep is something you expect to pay a premium Nice. for. He asks what I think of the bike. the bikes, I attempt some piddly burnouts, than the 250 Rebel and gets up to flowing May 2017 | 10 | CityBike.com May 2017 | 11 | CityBike.com I had deliberately chosen to take the blast, and when the car was finally next to with the many other negligent drivers have is universal for “what the hell?” to which I KTM in on a Tuesday morning, after the us I was certain it would hit us. Suddenly required that I change my relationship with received a forceful and angry middle finger. morning’s commute had subsided. I live in it was past and once I’d moved from the motorcycling. It won’t be a big impact, but After my initial irritation, I smiled and Next-Level Risk Management: the Santa Cruz Mountains, and due to road edge of the road I turned my head to see if it isn’t insignificant. I’ll miss rolling into laughed. Knowing that a distracted driver closures on Bear Creek Road and Summit, the driver would stop. She did not. I pulled the parking lot at Alice’s, telling stories will never flip me off again reinforces my my route required me to take Black Road to over, heart pounding, and just stared at the with other riders and gawking at cool belief in my decision. Saying goodbye to Skyline, and ride south on Skyline to Bear trees of the valley below, in shock. After a motorcycles, before heading down 84 to Quittin’ The Street riding on the street is a pleasant farewell Creek. That stretch of Skyline (between minute or so I asked my passenger if she the coast. indeed. Black Road and Bear Creek) is a tight, was ok. “The toe of my boot dragged along By TJ Noto motorcycle in my There’s a lot about street riding I won’t miss twisty one-lane road, with numerous blind the side of the car,” she said. TJ started riding before Evel Knievel tried to Artwork by Mr. Jensen garage that I can however, and most importantly I don’t need corners, and the recent storms left it in very jump Snake River Canyon, and raced AFM ’m a man of many interests and ride on the street. “That’s it,” I said. “I’m done.” to stop riding. I’ll just do it in a different bad condition. Trees, power lines, road Open Twins for 5 seasons in the mid-90s. pursuits: a husband, musician, writer, They’re all dry- environment, an environment that is safe, slippages, running water, potholes, and Word on the street…err, well not on the street armchair economist, and a lover and docked, registered I use Sena headsets for rider to passenger and a lot more fun. And if you think street mudslides all necessitated slow speeds and any more… anyway, word is, he might be restorerI of old cars. I can also whip up a “non-operational” communication but despite the flurry of rides are a great way to get to know fellow constant vigilance. Bear Creek had been racin’ again, now that he’s kissed the street’s beurre blanc of which Julia herself would with DMV, thoughts and emotions running through riders, spend a day at the racetrack, or at closed for a couple weeks and I’d driven sweet charms goodbye. approve. But the one thing I love above all without insurance. my and my friend’s mind the final few miles an SVRA—you’ll experience a level of this section of Skyline dozens of times, as others (except my wife), the one I’m most I’m not leaving home were silent. camaraderie and fellowship which can’t be it was the only way off the mountain for us. And don’t worry—the rest of us CityBikers passionate about, is riding a motorcycle. riding, just the beat. Now, as I picked my way along, feathering I travelled that section of road several are still fighting the good fight, between the I’ve been riding most of my life, on the pachinko pinball the clutch in and out in 2nd gear, I stayed as times in the coming days and weeks, and lanes, intersection to intersection, through the street from the age of 18. As a bachelor in pandemonium So I say to the driver of that green Honda, far to the right of the road I could, almost found the exact place where the near miss corners and beyond. my late 20s, riding motorcycles consumed that the Bay the one who almost killed me, “thank on the white line that marked the edge of occurred. I stopped and made photos from most of my time, energy, and disposable Area’s public you not only for saving my life, but for the asphalt. both directions, and analyzed sight lines income. It defined me, and I defined what roads have reminding me where I want to be. It ain’t and road conditions. In the end, there was on the street.” it meant to me: restoring old motorcycles, become. I still It was just before noon and we were about only one conclusion, that despite what most learning to ride ever more powerful and intend to spend half way between Black and Bear Creek would consider common sense caution, the As it turned out, that ride was not my last. capable new motorcycles, racing, dirt plenty of time when I came around a corner to find a driver of that Honda assumed that she was For simplicity’s sake, I decided to deliver riding, dirt track, adventure riding, and riding my green Honda Civic heading toward me, the only vehicle on that section of road. She the KTM to its new owner in the parking even vintage scooters. If it had two wheels track-only 848 having just exited a corner. The car was was counting on that being the case, else lot of the Los Gatos Lodge. It’s easier to at Laguna Seca, I’d try to ride the damn thing. I simply love riding my track bike at Laguna Seca, or commonly attributed to smartphone use, is travelling perhaps 35 miles an hour, and I she would not have been driving at a high find than our house, and well-suited to Thunderhill, and Sears Point, and my just about every aspect of two-wheeled spending at day in the dirt at Hollister Hills the culprit. could see that the driver was looking in the rate of speed and looking in the back seat as such transactions. That final ride was not KTM 450 XC-W on dirt and sand. vehicles. with my wife than I ever do riding on the back seat, with one hand on the steering she did. If I’d been a couple feet to the left, devoid of irony, for as I travelled north on Cite the NHTSA’s findings to your riding The road to me leaving public roads began street, and I simply do not want to go out wheel. I immediately moved as far right we’d have been hit head on, and I might not Highway 17, riding in the slow lane just I will always be a motorcyclist, but I will no buddy and she’ll say, “well, duh.” It’s in the early 90s, when my study of the art as hood ornament for a Lexus because its as I was able, which was only a foot or so, be alive; a few inches to the left my left leg a quarter mile from the Los Gatos exit, longer be one who rides on public roads. certainly not news to motorcyclists. We of riding a motorcycle began in earnest. driver was looking at a cellphone. for there was no road left, no barrier, just and that of my passenger would most likely a Lexus just ahead of me in the fast lane Despite averaging fewer than 15 days on see much more than we do when we are The more I rode, the more riders I met, and the side of a mountain. I subconsciously have been smashed. began to wander in to my lane. I moved a the street each year since about 2005, I believe motorcyclists who only ride on driving a car. We’re much more aware inevitably, the more accidents I witnessed, tried to make myself as narrow as possible, bit right and accelerated to get away from I’ve always loved the idea of going for a the street are missing the best elements of our space on the road and the minute My rage at the woman who came so close and friends I lost. In the past 10 years the threading a needle between the oncoming him, and as I looked over noticed the driver Saturday morning ride. But for the first of riding, and if they learned to ride on changes when a car infringes on it. Ride to having a very negative, potentially final level of negligence and distraction on the car and a steep mountain. I was aware that with a cell phone in his right hand, trying time in decades, I do not have one single the dirt, or on the racetrack they would on any stretch of road for more than a few impact on my life remains, for she, along part of drivers of cars seemed to increase I’d pressed the horn only when I heard its to type on it. I gave him a hand gesture that immediately reduce their street time. minutes and you’re likely to encounter a car exponentially, and as it did, the days I rode Back in my racing days I stopped riding drifting out of its lane, braking erratically, on the street decreased. on the street altogether—it simply did not or being driven inconsistently. I’m never A little over a year ago I had several very compare to the fun of riding on the track surprised to see the drivers of these cars close calls in just one month. The first (what? No corner workers?). with their cellphone in their hands when I involved a car heading west on 84, whose pass them. I always worry about friends who commute driver decided to cross 35 at the moment on two wheels. I know it’s faster, but Like all motorcyclists, I have witnessed, when my northbound ass was just about at you’re putting yourself in the highest endured, and been the victim of distracted the intersection. I had been watching him risk environment imaginable. Riding drivers for years. While my observations intently and managed to avoid a collision, “defensively” is neither fun, nor cool. are non-scientific, and there is certainly but I’m not sure a novice rider would have the possibility of any number of biases, my been so lucky. Cars and motorcycles have been at odds view is that the risk exposure has increased with each other since the beginning, My KTM 1190 had only got ridden when significantly, and that today’s motorcyclists so it’s nothing new to observe that the I was able to muster the enthusiasm for are in more danger than they have ever four-wheeled vehicles are a great threat to street rides, an increasingly difficult ask. been. the two-wheeled sort. Newton’s Law Of A ride through Big Basin Park one late Motion states that an object in motion will I finally decided to sell my 1190, but not summer afternoon proved to be the final remain in motion until it meets and equal before a letter arrived from KTM North straw. As I leaned in to a 180-degree uphill and opposite force. The motorcycle ain’t America informing me of a recall that left hand turn, an oncoming Subaru WRX equal to the car, and when the two meet, we required a trip to the dealer, in this case rudely greeted me. The driver had gone know who wins. CalMoto Moto in Livermore. I didn’t relish Get CityBike in to the corner too fast and was unable to the idea of riding it out there and back, but delivered to your door make the turn, drifting wide in to my lane. Until about 15 years ago a very large pushing a 500-pound motorcycle as tall by the meanest, most Fortunately I was riding cautiously, in the component of car versus motorcycle as a sasquatch into my truck was even less California BMW outer third of my lane, or I’d have been psychotic, well-armed crashes was due to a number of variables appealing, so I decided to ride it out for the 2490 Old Middlefield Way the black and orange fly on the Subie’s branch the government including but not limited to visibility, quick repair. I took a friend with me, and Mountain View, CA 94043 windshield. driver error, and rider error. My view has to beat you with. as we suited up she mentioned how she 650-966-8340 is that technology has helped mitigate Returning home with a mixture disliked being a passenger on freeway rides. That’s right! We’ll send the man some of those variables, but that cell www.calbmw.com to your mail hole once a month of frustration, anger, and despair, I phone technology and our addiction to it, I told her that I didn’t like them either for an entire year delivering the proclaimed to my always supportive (and has made riding a motorcycle on public but that at least they were safer than city latest issue of CityBike. motorcyclist) wife, that I was done with streets today markedly riskier than it has or suburban rides. Those words seemed the street. The “return home safely” sticker BMW of Tri Valley ever been. My opinion, based entirely on farcical when only an hour later. As the big Go to CITYBIKE.COM I’d made and affixed to my dash cluster on 952 North Canyons Parkway personal experience, is shared by those Austrian v-twin beneath us hummed along the big KTM may have reminded me that Livermore, CA 94551 to subscribe with a decidedly more empirical approach: 680 at 70 miles an hour in the middle lane, I had people at home who loved me, but it 925-583-3300 the National Highway Traffic Safety cars passed us on both sides swerving in Or send a check for $30 to: had no effect on those behind the wheels of www.calbmw.com Administration found that the largest and out of lanes at speeds upward of 80 PO Box 18738 automobiles. Oakland, CA 94619 increase (10.4%) in highway fatalities miles an hour. It reminded me of my racing be sure to include your name, I felt a great loss but my love of occurred in 2016, and researchers there days, and the dash to turn 1 after the green address, & phone number! motorcycling is not greater than my love believe that distracted driving, most flag had dropped at Sears Point. of my family, and I have much more fun May 2017 | 12 | CityBike.com May 2017 | 13 | CityBike.com Yamaha’s Frantic, Fun & Felonious FZ-10

fuel volume, ignition timing, and a whole Not only that, Yamaha must have obtained my first impressions were not kind. It’s very Fish: “At Least bunch of other stuff well above my pay my measurements from my Dainese angular and bug-eyed, very District 9. It’s Got A Good grade to keep you from experiencing the custom suit fitting and factored them into Then there’s the seat. It’s not results of doing something really stupid the design, as the ergos were perfect: just Personality” uncomfortable, but also isn’t exactly with your ham fist. With three modes (plus upright enough to be comfortable, just In my time here at CityBike, comfortable, either. I definitely found off, if you are a sadist, or maybe Fish), you forward enough to be aggressive. I’ve been handed the keys myself hopping off for a stretch each time can dial in a comfortable amount of rear to quite a spectrum of Stopping the FZ-10 is problem-free as the fuel light came on, which brings me to wheel slide and front wheel loft for just bikes. This was my first well, unless you’re stopping for Johnny the fuel consumption, again. about every condition. I suggest level 3 for “super naked,” however. Law, of course. Twin 320mm discs up wet conditions, level 2 for cute little floated In yet another example of a classical People have been crashing front and a single 220mm disc out back wheelies, and level 1 for cool slides and legitimate, fair comparison, 4.5 and stripping sportbikes provide plenty of ABS-assisted stopping CityBike wheelies that cause children to cheer and gallons will get me 250+ miles on my for a while, so the power. Sure, they’re not the same calipers mothers to weep. If you want to become KLR, and that’s if I’m riding hard. That’s concept is not exactly or master cylinder as the R1, and the lines a suborbital missile and land 50 yards about the distance that a tank of new, and I’ve done are rubber, but under normal to slightly 2.5 times away from your bike after your inevitable premium will take you on the Fizzy Ten, handlebar conversions aggressive street riding conditions I did not highside, go ahead and shut the whole although the Yamaha will still probably get on sportbikes myself, experience any noticeable fade. thing off. you there faster even with the extra fuel so I may have had some I can run through a full 4.5 gallon tank stops. forgone conclusions. But While the FZ-10 does not have all of the of gas in one sitting, through a mix of Yamaha had ideas of its fancy six-axis accelerometer gyroscopic It’s a naked bike, so city, highway, and grin own. mumbo jumbo—or the Master’s degree- wind protection is required display—like the R1, it does basically non-existent, Based on the latest and have something that the torture rack but remember: this greatest R1, a bike I lack does not: cruise control. I am of the bike wasn’t designed the flexibility or desire to opinion that all modern fly-by-wire for sport touring but subject myself to, the Ten bikes should come with this feature, rather to dominate takes hooligan enablement especially those that are a bit more commutes and crush to a new level. As Max upright, and Yamaha did not disappoint. canyons. If you were said, it’s not quite the The cruise control is simple to engage, to put a windscreen, technological tour-de-force held the intended speed, and did not custom seat, and that the R1 is, but the TCS accidentally disengage—something we’ve some luggage it package is still one of the experienced now and then on other bikes. probably wouldn’t best I have encountered: be half bad, if not quick to intervene, If you can keep the front end on the you don’t mind but capable of enhancing ground long enough to carve some stopping for tires my skillset instead of twisties, you’ll notice the inverted 43mm nearly as often as just awkwardly fixing KYB forks and matching piggyback gas—at least rears. my failures. It works in reservoir KYB shock work quite well I’m pretty sure harmony with the slipper together. Both the front and rear offer 4.7 Fish, founder and president of the CityBike that you will only clutch to allow heroic- inches of travel and are fully adjustable, Foundation for the Preservation of Front Tires. go through one feeling corner entries and making fine tuning as easy as… well, if front in the lifetime of the bike. limited-wheelspin exits. you’re me, taking the bike to someone who inducing twisties, without once even knows how to twiddle the knobs without When I had our R1 tester at the track, I got Not to mention kickass thinking about my back. I get off the bike, just making it worse. off it at the end of the day and thought, “I wheelies. walk into the house without limping, need this bike and its ability to brake later, At just shy of 200 pounds in gear, I didn’t groaning, or needing to immediately go to That TCS system is absolutely get on the gas harder, and save me from feel like I was too big for the suspension, the chiropractor. Glorious. necessary, as the de-tuned myself if I go too hard in the paint with and I never had a complaint about crossplane liter four still has By Max Klein, with Fish as unnecessary as it was in the slightly more The FZ-10 does not have all the electronics either.” But back on the street for Monday’s suspension performance, even when Compare that to the FZ-10’s Ricky Racer more than enough power to & Sam Devine powerful R1. of the R1, but Yamaha was nice enough commute, I hated it again. The throttle attempting to float over the latest and brother: I put down the same tank of gas completely overwhelm the rear Photos by Angelica Rubalcaba to incorporate their D-mode system, was too twitchy, and it was too fast and too After one commute on the R1, I was greatest potholes that have formed on the but stopped three times to stretch and slept tire in even the best conditions. ’m not getting any younger. I realize which allows you to tone things down furiously uncomfortable for the street. And positive that nobody needs that much top secret CityBike East Bay test track. on the garage floor because I could not And saying “de-tuned” doesn’t this every, single, time I get on a in foul weather, or if you’re hungover or there’s no way I can afford one strictly for power—ever—anywhere… ever. It pulled While it is the same suspension as on the make it inside. Admittedly, that last bit is really do the powerplant sportbike. It’s not the “if it’s too loud something. the track—even on a regionally famous hard up to redline and every gear above base R1 that I rode, the FZ-10 felt a little not true: I actually hobbled inside and slept justice. The R1 likes to live orI fast you’re too old” trope that gets me nd on the floor on the carpet, hoping the pain motojournalist’s salary. 2 must have been for fuel economy only. The power delivery modes range from softer and never caused me to get off the above 8k RPM on the track, though. would go away quicker. But I brought it to the track and of course Standard, which translates to “You are machine cursing father time, Yamaha’s The FZ-10, on the other hand, does not but the FZ is completely happy I like loud. I fucking love fast. everything made sense, once I figured out 15 minutes away so I’ll see you in 15 engineers—and Caltrans. Don’t get me For the record, you will rip through a tank require a racetrack to have fun on. I spent in the 4k-6k range. where a 160mph brake marker was. minutes,” A mode, which means “I’ll be wrong, it’s still a sport suspension—and is flawless. It’s rare that I ride an ABS- of gas PDQ. The fuel light came on around more time on it than I did the R1, and more Exponential speed multiplication What I don’t like is not being able to there in five minutes, even though you Caltrans still sucks—it just doesn’t feel as importantly, I spent more time smiling equipped bike that doesn’t intervene in With the FZ-10, it was as if Yamaha said 100 miles consistently for me—so not the happens with incredible ease—this bike uncork myself from the hunchback of a are 15 away,” and B mode, also known as harsh as the R1 in every day riding. a way that pisses me off, but trailing the best bike for distance riding. Plan ahead on and giggling than complaining. I want to is genuinely stupid fast. It’s almost useless moto-pain riding position that bikes like “Here, quit your bitching.” Power delivery “I’ll be there yesterday.” While the modes rear brakes doesn’t upset the electronic remote rides. go everywhere on it, not just the track, and for “real world riding,” although it’s light Yamaha’s fantastic R1 (“R1 Arr Won” – is big-bang on, giving me the goods at do not make the bike faster per se, they The chassis is damn near perfect as overlords, unlike a certain editor’s daily with an MSRP of $12,999 it isn’t as out of years beyond the R1 in that sense. But its August 2015) force me into. street-friendly RPMs, with less-frantic do allow the power to come on earlier (or well. The bike is laid out just like the So the motor rips, the suspension carves, ride. reach as the race replica R1 either. desire to goad you into triple digit speeds throttle response. Instead of a high-revving later), contributing to the time warp effect. phenomenal-feeling R1, plus you get wide the chassis is just as good as the R1, and it So I’m a big fan of Yamaha’s entire Fizzy is nothing short of sadistic. The active On this unintentional mission to find screamer, the Ten’s motor is tuned for low All modes do allow for maximum power bars to make the already razor sharp has cruise control? What’s not to like? With all that crying about sportbike lineup, the newest Fizzer being the FZ-10. exhaust system, which opens up at around every piece of muddy, wet braking zone and midrange torque, making third gear when the throttle is at the stop, so even in transitions even sharper. If you get into discomfort, you might be surprised to The flagship of the naked uprights, the Well, it isn’t exactly what most people 6k, doesn’t help. The noise is truly glorious: on my favorite escape routes, I found power wheelies damn near mandatory. Standard mode you might show up a couple a corner a bit too hot or need to make a know that Max is the SF chapter Director Ten has just about everything I loved mid-corner adjustment, you can change would refer to as classically beautiful, or I use the term “alternate reality” to describe myself in a very squidly position more Seriously. minutes early. of the AFM, and jealous to learn that the about the R1 without the contortionist directions without needing to worry much even not ugly. If it was a person it would be “commute” he mentioned is basically riding the effect, but I may be understating things. than once, at higher-than-intended speeds requirements. That 998cc crossplane The electronics don’t stop there. The about body position. Minimal muscling is Steve Buscemi, but as his character in Mr. due to the exponential rate of acceleration More than once I found myself wondering motorcycles around for fun, err… journalistic I spent more time than I should have motor is there, albeit with a bigger airbox, traction control is equally as awesome and needed, unlike some other naked uprights Deeds… and with like six elbows. The development the FZ offers. I may not have why the steering was so light at 80+ mph investigation, or whatever we’re supposed to experimenting with the Ten on some different cams, smaller intake ports and adjustable. In less time than it takes you we have reviewed in the past. biggest FZ’s styling grew on me—and on pulled off the recovery very gracefully, but only to find that the front tire was out of be doing. sketchy, scary, storm-thrashed roads, smaller steel (not titanium) valves. But to say, “hold my beer,” the brains of the all of the Wrecking Crew, actually—but I didn’t stack it or wipe the side off in a pile touch with the tarmac. and am happy to report that the ABS even with those changes, the motor is just FZ-10 can sort out the throttle opening, of wet leaves, so that’s a win. On the drier May 2017 | 14 | CityBike.com May 2017 | 15 | CityBike.com roads where I had a better handle on the the lack of versatility. There’s enough wind could love. That mechanical insect-looking On an icy winter afternoon, I aim the Catch him in the infield, watch him go on to be forced into this, clutching my change speed potentials I was dealing with, the management (I’m not going to go as far as face is out of sight and mind while I’m grey ghost north over the Golden Gate. A the straights and banking. purse, sun visor and magazines, and get in radial calipers offered incredibly drama using the term protection) that extensive lofting 80 mph wheelies, so I can forgive window opens and I twist. Holy shit—I’m line. Yeah, my first time running away with free stops over and over. Fade is not a freeway riding is reasonable. The seat it. And it houses a kick ass set of lights that there before I know it, with no jarring the circus left me with a deep appetite for Doug Toland, soon to be World Endurance factor, and feel is superb. serves the purpose of holding you until are capable of extending hoon sessions well rear end slip, no front end rise, just: there. more. Many more late night escapes out Racing Champion Team Member Doug the next turn, but it’s not really a place beyond sunset—assuming you’re not in There, in the place I had intended, thought of the symbolic back window, followed by Toland, came by us, came by all of us. Occasional stoppies are allowed without jail. turned into action at nearly the speed of symbolic lopey runs across the field to grab Looking like a plump juicy in season Coot, intervention as well. It’s as if someone thought. knew that owners would have Truth be told, I preferred riding the FZ that symbolic box car bottom ladder rung, or Moorhen, half loaded, in the regions nefarious intentions. The often- at night—to lower the chances of being Later, by a craggy drop-off near the took place in the years that have followed. surrounding its tail feathers, with close overlooked rear brake was even up spotted on the Michael Bay-inspired coast, I pull the grey and green rocket off Ontario again. Riverside. Willow Springs. range triggered 20-gauge buckshot. This to the task of supporting my parlor motobot. The armor gray color is perfectly the asphalt for a photo-op. The upright Daytona. With the Spinlads: Portland, fluttering, flailing skittering apparition of tricks while I experimented with the suited, but the high-vis accents are not my positioning allows for easy handling on Coquitlam, Seattle… Firebird. man and motorcycle scooted left, flicked turning radius in parking lots. I’ve cup of tea. Luckily this isn’t a bike you buy uneven terrain. Further down the road, right, snapped back over left, and zammed It's a litany of wonderment. The stories managed to inadvertently boil more to pose on. approaching Dillon Beach, water runs onto out of sight down the short chute through I could tell… Attack ships on fire off the than one rear brake’s fluid doing the road from recent rains. Then a deer the trees towards the button hook left that This super naked thing may have been shoulder of Orion. this—the FZ doesn’t even notice. pops up its head. The light is fading. The returns racers to the 1/2 mile drag strip started by the Europeans, but the Japanese Part Five: The Circus brake levers move, the bike slows. No sign So go. Remember this: race on two wheels. front straight… one moment he was there. My experiences with the suspension seem to be running with the idea pretty Long, long ago, on an island far, far away, British motorcycle racers dreamed of traveling of slippage, no shuddering, no falling, no You do not have time, or budget, for tickets. The next—feathers, swirling about. and chassis mirror Max’s. The bike well too. I have to admit, I’m struggling across the channel to compete with the big boys in The Continental Circus. In this final cussing, no bleeding, nothing to pick up I found, no matter how fast I drove, 55 is remarkably unremarkable in the with how much I like the silly 4-cylinder installment of his “Fast In Five Easy Steps” series, Peter Mars invokes East vs. West Next lap I did the same. And goddamn if and nothing to explain. miles per hour was how far I traveled. way it works so transparently. Not engine. This should be a world dominated rationalities regarding the pursuit of your moto dreams. it didn't work just like I seen Doug do it. Racing starts with a green much adjustment is needed to keep by sub-optimally-shaped V engines I putt the Ten around a dirt parking lot as Applied what I had learned near the the tires in solid contact, even with with finicky maintenance schedules, but the light fades as I watch a family flying By Peter Mars same bike, #71 on the front, escalator-accessed duck blind to my 200lb body. Spring rates are Yamaha built a bike that alters the space / a kite. It’s my birthday and I’m sitting on Artwork by Jim Serfass leaning on the same trailer other parts of the track… I dropped totally reasonable and even bumpy time continuum without breaking the bank one of the fastest things for miles—and Photo from the Peter Mars parked on a grass verge 4, then 6, then 9, then 10 seconds a goat roads leave the Yamaha unfazed. or punishing extensive miles. my back feels fine. Moments like these are Collection behind a row of cinder block lap. We won that one. First of the We have become accustomed to gifts. That’s why they call it the present. year, first of my career. Nice big Fish has recently founded the CityBike K. So maybe you won't make it garages. The next one, #71 expecting to upgrade suspension trophy. Wanna see the pictures? Foundation for the Preservation of Front Turning around without stopping, we head to the Continent. Not many can. on the grid, third row, my right off the dealer floor, but this one Tires. The foundation’s focus is bringing to back towards civilization, blasting into Not many do. Takes money, baby. first race, 1977 AFM 400 Box At County Fairs, Peter Mars gets is well-sorted. It’s quite refreshing. light the undue stress we motorcyclists place AndO deep, deep commitment. Stock Production, Ontario misty whenever he passes the Petaluma on Bodega Avenue. Warming I know I’m like some kind of broken you should plan on spending much time. on front tires. He believes that through proper up in a pub that used to share my family Motor Speedway, Ontario, little shooting range and hears Let's imagine you do. Gather up the money. California. So few entries in record with this subject, but the star of The handlebars seal the deal: your body training and education, we can prolong and name, enjoying a stew, my neighbors at the Buy a ticket. Pack your bike. Pack your plink, plink, plink. Read about the show here is the ergonomics. The Ten position is sporting enough for anything enhance the lives of front this first-time offered class that memory, and many more tools. Pack up your kit. Tell all your friends that the organization grouped is really one of the best street bikes I’ve you can find on the street, while still tires everywhere. you are going. Go. sensational episodes in the Mars ever ridden: certainly focused towards maintaining a good forward field of view. all of us together, from 250 to Saga, at FoxsWedding.blogspot. serious carving, but so good at that one Sam: “Gorgeous, It’ll be a lot like the first day at a new Open, and sent us off in one com. If you missed the first four I’m not one to rave about seemingly one- task that I’m not even a little bothered at If Unique” school. In a new part of town. Where wave. I don't remember how parts of “Fast In Five Easy Steps,” dimensional bikes, but I have to say that many of us there were. I do The paint-job is everyone there looks different, talks check ‘em out at CityBike.com/back. the FZ takes the naked streetbike thing different, rides different… remember being all by myself flag, and ends with checkered. Them boys to a whole new level. The sum of the instantly distinctive. very soon. may be local; but you have no barriers on aforementioned parts is Grey and green, huh? Or, maybe it won't. Maybe you will kick ass this track built up from repetition. You a bike that is truly insane, Beauty. One of the best, among the locals right off the couch, even Guess bringing a Box Stock 400 to a World have new eyes. Copy what they doing, do Make a Scooter as evidenced by the most understated paint while they all be being as strange as they Class Super Speedway was inadequate. it faster. innumerable times I found jobs in years. Gorgeous. are. But: if you don't go… how will you Your Commuter Coming down the front straight on the One time in Seattle, at a six-hour, I had 0% for 36 months on my vision blurred and my Not for everyone, know? If you have what it takes: The Right second lap I felt like I was on one of those figured most of the track out pretty good. 2016 Models* senses overwhelmed. And but hey, more super- Stuff. push-together balsa-wing, stick fuselage, But the end of the back straight had this I think I may have extended powered, evil-cool grey Let's take a moment here… if you think rubber band-powered, red plastic propeller, long-legged chicane that acted for me the front tire’s life by a ⅔:1 and green naked sport about this… just getting on the race track toy airplanes taking off on the Jumbo Jet like a broken escalator. Lap after lap I was ratio utilizing the TCS bike for me. And the bar ask, “What is that thing?” It’s one of the is a big deal. Not many can. Not many do. runway. It was like slow motion. At least get stacked up behind other fellas as they system’s ability to manage robo-styled headlights and cowling evoke great benefits of riding a new bike built by a And while I'm pretty sure none of you that until the leaders caught me on the banking shuffled back and forth at the bottom of my wheelies. Batmobiles and stealth bombers. company that tries to push things forward. did had to crawl out the back window in between Turns 1 and 2. the escalator, gently trying to nudge each *OAC The FZ-10 is actually kinda evidence of our the late of night, hop a freight to run off other forward like retirees getting on the Such a perfect real world fast After bracing for the remaining cold Z1s ruled that day. The expression paint progress as a species. The R1 has certainly with the circus in pursuit of a life of action bus to Reno. Thought my only choice was factor. highway journey, I find out the FZ-10’s sucked off me is adequate. I did rejoice in proven itself on the track but the FZ-10 has and adventure; what you had to do to get best trick. Its acceleration and braking are the second half of the race, dicing it Power is everywhere, in taken all that raw power and put it within there was similar. both so strong and smooth, it lets you do a out with a fella on a RD 400. obscene levels. Coming reasonable reach of your average Joe Blow. 2490 OLD MIDDLEFIELD WAY from a V-Twin streetfighter And at $2,000 less than the cheapest R1, quick assessment of the situation, twist the And therein lies the rub. Any journey, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94043 throttle, and a blink of the eye and—boom: in and of itself, has the qualities within 650.966.1183 background, I’m impressed never has this much ridiculous power been Vespa CALMOTO.COM with how Yamaha has 95 mph and rising. Moments later, nerves it to make the effort expended worth so easily accessible. Mention CITYBIKE for Free Delivery to San Francisco managed to build an I4 wear thin, apply the brakes and an instant the rewards received. For true value, the that doesn’t suffer the With an ease-of-use approaching that later the vehicle is traveling a respectable formula flows one way. Easy effort nets pitfalls that I find in of a microwave, this tuned-back street 65 mph again, as though we didn’t just easy victory. Real effort: dig it in effort, most of the 4-cylinder fighter doesn’t have to suffer the accidental approach warp speed. So you can ride at a spit on your palms, rub them together, lock HELIMOT sportbike world. The wheelies and wipeouts that tormented the speed you’re comfortable paying the ticket your knees and hunker down effort… The Buffalo Pro crossplane motor feels massive power plants of the past. No, this for, then accelerate to a rate that would get awards gained following this kind of Our Best Selling Glove thing is the kraken on a high-tech leash; you locked up and your license taken away, effort… well, sweet comes the water All Deerskin to me like some kind of wicked small block V8— the Hulk after Dr. Banner learned to keep then back it back off again. from the deep reaches below the fast- control (yeah, that’s a thing); Cerberus moving ripples. not what I’d call short Don’t do that, though, of course. It’s blah on torque, but incredibly soothed by electric lute. blah blah, disclaimer, responsibility… So go. Pack that bike. Pack those rewarding to wind up. And We’ve been making liter bikes since the tools. Pack your kit. Tell all your the chassis is well-suited But doing it repetitively can shave 15 early days of motorcycling. The 1913 friends you are going. Tell them you to handling that get up and minutes off the trip to SF from Petaluma. $229.95 Excelsior Auto Cycle had a 1,000cc V-twin are coming home with money and go. and was known to be quite a hoot, breaking Sam is our SF-based columnist and longtime trophies. Come home with money and We repair what we make. There has to be a caveat, 100 mph and whatnot. Displacement hasn’t holder of the “Most Impressive Facial Hair” trophies. And if you have fat hands and short right? Of course. changed, but our ability to harness, direct title amongst the men of the Wrecking Crew, fingers, or skinny hands and long My first trophies were pictures. One of and manage that power has progressed although recent developments see a couple of fingers, we can probably help you. Styling is subjective, so this the first, my '75 Honda 400 4 strapped by leaps and bounds. The Eff-Zed-Ten challengers in that arena. Check out his latest is a personal gripe: the FZ awkwardly into a rented U-Haul trailer is hands-down the most forgiving high- column on page 23. 510-252-1509 [email protected] sports a face only Yamaha powered machine I’ve gotten to play with. heading south on I-5. The next of the www.helimot.com

May 2017 | 16 | CityBike.com May 2017 | 17 | CityBike.com clutch’s engagement point is reasonably close to the bar, I can flip the little red lever While I was down on my knees installing You may be saying, “But Surj, even at 50% to give myself a little more to work with in the Fastways, I also installed AltRider’s off, Clearwaters are expensive!” True, and CityBike Project Bike: tight stuff, and finger it back to position Dual Control brake system, essentially there’s no way around it. This setup, an two for normal riding. a two-level rear brake pedal extension asymmetrical Erica + Sevina hybrid set designed to accommodate easy braking with a Billy brake light, mounting bar and Even though I didn’t need a shorty on whether seated or standing. CANopener, came in at a pre- BMW Triple Black Beauty, Part 2 the front brake, I got one, to match the discount $1,358 before tax asymmetry of the bike. The clutch lever is and shipping. In Which I Decide The GS Is Ok After All normal length. They’re made of machined billet 6061 T6 aluminum, and run $119.99 Ouch. Sure, you can save on shipping by riding up to Fortunately, the AMA saved the day, each as ordered. Installation was easy, and By Surj Gish was still too far out for proper control, Sac to get your lights, but that specifically Western States rep Nick Haris, took just a few minutes for each side. Photos by Surj Gish especially with that lightswitch-y action. still ain’t gonna make a set of & Angelica Rubalcaba who grew weary enough of my incessant Control Freak So despite pretty much everything else Clearwaters cheap enough to et me explain. I’ve gushed about complaining to take a break from listening about the bike being top notch (except the In addition to complaining about the slap on you rusty XL350. this long-termer, a standard (non- to Slayer on his Gold Wing for some buzziness of the liquid-cooled Boxer) I was clutch, I also mentioned last time that the These things are Adventure spec) 2016 Triple Black research. He pointed me to a typically starting to hate it. In my decades of riding, stock pegs—simple, narrow steel jobbies premium. LR1200GS, but I’ve also groused about the pedantic, prodigiously overly-documented AltRider says: “When in a seated on countless bikes, I’ve never encountered with rubber toppers—were worthless for clutch. That goddamned clutch. post on a BMW board, where it was position, a rider’s bent knee Like the Fastway a still-functional clutch that pissed me revealed that there’s a threaded pushrod anything other than making me wish for naturally puts the angle of the foot pegs, I went big. Look, I don’t have particularly presidential off so bad. I started thinking, “Man, we between the lever and the master cylinder, bigger, grippier pegs. I say were because pointed down 90 degrees from the lower Fuckin’ huge, in hands, which is to say they’re not tiny, or shoulda done an Africa Twin long term which can be adjusted. those pegs are now just filler in a box of leg, while a standing position creates a terms of lumens. The even medium-to-small (and they’re not project bike.” parts in the garage here at CityBike straighter leg and raises the angle of your big Sevina, on the throttle I would have eventually discovered this, World Headquarters. attached to a megalomoronic madman). I I’m not alone. Various BMW-specific foot to a more horizontal position.” side, is designed to throw a long beam of wear XL Helimots, thank you very much, as I’d already ordered some Pazzo forums, ADV Rider, and other websites My size thirteens now perch light way down the road. It puts 80% of its and you know what they say about large- levers—more on those in a In practice, the concept is pretty legit. are rife with frustration over the wethead atop a set of black Fastway light in a narrow, 8 degree “pencil” beam, ish, or even extra large-ish hands: they sec—in hopes that their It accommodates easy braking with the clutch. But multiple mechanics at multiple Adventure pegs by Pro Moto and Clearwater says it puts out 7,500+ generally don’t have trouble controlling adjustment range might be extended lower platform, and the riser- dealerships said it felt normal, that there Billet. They’re huge, with so lumens. your typical motorcycle clutch. a bit more realistic than mounted upper platform is well-placed wasn’t any adjustment other than the much support that standing on when standing, if a bit inboard for my taste. That’s right. Seven thousand, five hundred If you missed my opinion of the clutch from lever adjustment. “They’re all like that. the pegs feels about like standing on the lumens. It’s in spec. Nothing wrong.” I started with the 22 mm riser, reserving the first installment of this series (“CityBike the stockers. But the Pazzos didn’t solve the ground. It’s amazing and confidence- inspiring—not to mention comfortable the taller, 33 mm riser for potential The Erica, on the clutch side, employs Project Bike: The Return Of Triple Black So I’d hardly been riding the bike problem, so I went ahead with the pushrod Beauty” – February 2017), I’ll quote: “I and stable. off-road oriented use. AltRider includes a more typical pattern, with 75% of the in Dynamic mode—it was just too adjustment. instructions for adjusting pedal height, for light in a 15 degree cone. It puts out a Download the Catalog now! fucking hate the clutch lever.” jackalope-y off the line, thanks to the Hot damn! Despite there being “no way It took me about a month to decide on optional optimization of both platforms' comparatively moderate 6,000 lumens. instant-on, too-far-out engagement zone. aerostich.com/cb Why? First, it’s binary—pretty much to fix this,” it was fixed. I’m still figuring these pegs. They have adventure in the positions. I left Even in regular old Road mode, launching The hybrid setup gets you engaged, or disengaged. No in-between. out exactly where I want the engagement name, ferchrissake—might as well buy it in the stock was a matter of overly-gentle, slow starts, AltRider’s Dual Control brake a broad beam for the near Second, even with the lever adjusted to point, but now the reach from the grip a(nother) Ducati if I’m gonna go all Full position for now, its hypothetically most Trumplestiltskin- then riding fast and taking chances. Metal Douchebag. But try as I might, I and it feels pretty system with 22 mm riser. stuff, and a long beam to is reasonable. The bike was instantly light your way well into Photo of Michael Campos, by Clint Graves -2015 ©2017 esque minimum reach from the bar, it transformed from “fucking overpriced couldn’t find any others as compelling as right. the snowshoe-sized Adventures. The only the future. It works: riding piece of shit” to “fuck yeah!” Installation back from Sac late one contenders were Black Dog Cycle Works’ Skene’saero cb 3supplemental 2017.indd 1 LED brake lights, but that basically turned the road behind2/7/17 1:03me PM I guess that Africa Twin project will have Traction and Platform footpegs, and SW- of the Dual night, I left 80 for the 680 Control was straight that goes past opted for Clearwater’s Billy license plate into a burning red hell upon braking, and to wait. Motech’s On-Road / Off-Road footpegs, frame-mounted arrangement this time, even my love for overkill couldn’t justify it. which feature a removable rubber topper super easy, even Cycle Gear corporate, Leverage with extensive and with the Erica and because the CANbus integration enables for long street drones—desirable, given an active mode that flashes faster the What Next? Those Pazzos I the unfortunate buzziness of the liquid- time spent Sevina on 100%, I could threadlocking see all the way to Carnegie harder you brake. Our GS project is a pretty sweet street bike mentioned? They’re cooled vibrator, err… Boxer. at this point, from the commuter-style Givi and screwing SVRA. Installation of all this stuff is hypothetically Protection Parts and Accessories folding, adjustable topcase to the upgraded controls, from the in another easy, but time-consuming—nearly all for Adventure Touring Motorcycles levers; black, with red I’m not exaggerating… mobile daylight Clearwaters all the way million cleats. the bodywork must be removed, and I adjusters. much. The distance of down to the GS-branded valve stem caps The included was mindful of wire routing in hopes of The stock levers work well—apart from brake snake visibility enabled by these that Fish snuck on when I wasn’t looking. CRASH BARS lights is overwhelming, avoiding the need to track down a chafed the aforementioned, stupid-far-out I wanted big, so I sucked adds a level of Photo: Surj Gish I replaced the worn-out stock tires with a like that scene from the wire in the future. SKID PLATE engagement point. They’re ergonomically it up and accepted the adv-ness of the dirt cred beyond set of Michelin’s wonderful PR4s, for more Rambo reboot from a few comfy, and you can get enough two-finger Fastways’ moniker, and I’m glad I did. We gnarly pegs and a brake pedal extension. Once installed, setup of the lights, from confidence and grip on this winter’s wet SOFT LUGGAGE years ago, where there’s so much blood and action from the front brake lever to brake all love the Fastway Evolution III pegs on I’ve already had a couple conversations brightness to rate of flashing, is controlled streets. The PR4s improved the handling people just being vaporized, AND MORE... hard without scrooching down on your our really long-term CRF250L project about it, and they both ended with, “Wow, of the bike, too—they feel remaining two digits still wrapped around hardcore.” all you can do is laugh. rounder when heeling the bike bike, and the Adventures are even better. Sevina (left) and Erica (right), with yellow lens covers. the throttle grip. But like I said, I was into corners. At 4.75” long and 2.25” wide, they offer an Damn straight, son. It’s amazing, and incredibly hoping for additional adjustment, and it unmatched platform for standing. useful at night—if no one Next steps will be about more altrider.com didn’t hurt that the Pazzos are worthy of a The Dual Control setup, with both risers else is around—but also They’re adjustable, too. The angle of the off-road-oriented capabilities. spot on the ramp at the Guggenheim. and the snake, is $119.97, and is available in pretty much the definition pegs can be changed using spacers under After all, this thing is going black or silver. of overkill. Squared, maybe Yeah, they’re sexy levers, but this purchase the position stopper, and they can be to Colorado come summer, cubed. was more about function. Although they installed at stock height, or lower. They Let There Be Light for some rockin’ and rollin’ in look decidedly street bike-y, the hinge also come with two cleat lengths and tips The lights are wired up using the Rockies, and may even get The GS’s stock headlight ain’t bad. But th in the lever means that if the bike gets on various configurations of those cleats Clearwater’s CANopener, ridden on the upcoming 10 what kind of adventure bike project with tossed on its side, on pavement or off, and for different types of grip. I opted for longer a plug-n-play module that Anniversary Bungee Brent’s this be if we didn’t add overly bright, the handguards get twisted around or cleats at the back of the peg, and shorter (on modern BMSs) enables Backroad Bash. Stay tuned outrageously expensive LED lights? busted clean off, the levers have a chance ones up front and in the middle, for easier control of the lights without for the dirt our GS’s dirty behavior. of surviving intact instead of joining the shifting and braking. Also, Fish hates the false sense of additional switchgear, and remains of the handguards in whatever security that eye-burning LEDs give the lets the lights work with Like the Pazzo levers, installation was easy- Surj puts “Editor” in front of his afterlife busted-ass moto-parts go to when conspicuity crowd, and I’ve been giggling the bike’s onboard systems, peasy, even with the required installation Photo: Surj Gish name to remind him he can’t the fun’s over. at the possibility of lighting his ass up from by interfacing with the of the million or so cleats in each peg. just ride and wrench, and that behind with a brazillion lumens for months CANbus. For example, if I The adjusters are easier to work on the fly, They’re not cheap, at $274.95 with the by a combination of button presses and someone has to pull all this shit now. See, I won a coupon for 50% off a honk the horn, anyone looking my way is too. The star wheels on the stock Beemer required fitment kit, but the amount of grip twists of the wonder wheel on the left grip. together in time for the printer to spin up the set of Clearwater lights at the RKA Food now blind—Erica and her friend Sevina bits were tricky to turn while underway, offered is just superb, and they’re available I settled on 10% of light with the low beam, big rolls of paper that turn into CityBike. He Drive ride last Thanksgiving weekend, and wink at 100% with the horn. but the simple indexed adjustment lever in colors to match most bikes, including and 100% with the brights, reserved for late still loves the Boxers, even though this GS couldn’t resist. of the Pazzos makes it easy to change pink. Huh? The CANopener also controls the Billy night boonies with no one else around. I set project has tested his patience. the range of travel in a jiffy. Now that the brake light. I’ve been a longtime fan of the Billy at 40%—I wanted to go 100%, but May 2017 | 18 | CityBike.com May 2017 | 19 | CityBike.com eded HERTFELDERHERTFELDER

Artwork by Mr. Jensen

“It’s my neck,” he said. “I can’t turn motorcycle outright, or go a long way once and wanted to ride every year, of my head the way I used to. I suspect toward another Wing. homemade-pie-small-town cafes, marginal I’m not as safe on the bike now. motels where the desk clerk loaned him a I don’t believe Dale has been looking at maynardmaynard HERSHONHERSHON Time to stop.” hose, a bucket and a squirt of dishwashing Artwork by Mr. Jensen bikes of any size, and he may not, not liquid… He looked at me as he spoke. Sad commented that the run was tougher than eyes. Like a boy wanting me to You might have a different list but you the Blackwater 100, but I didn’t hear him say it ain’t so. know what I mean—all those people and say it myself. week ago, I went to a club meeting, places and experiences that make your the once-a-month meeting of the I told him I’d miss him on the ou say you missed the rides sparkle, and make the Ed Baker, perennial favorite of the East guys from the Tuesday rides and rides, that he’s my friend. Speedsville National rest of your life look Coast Enduro Association, came in looking folksA who can’t ride during the workweek. I asked him if he’d still Enduro and you feel bad? kinda gray by for a cyanide capsule because he went There were 12 or 15 of us at the meeting. I come to meetings and YCheer up—all you missed was trench comparison. over his hour by four minutes at the final sat next to my friend Jerry, a guy I like but maybe meet us for lunch warfare in crippling heat and humidity, checkpoint. have not mentioned in my pieces about on Tuesdays in his car. He When I think with some hail and freezing rain thrown in those rides. said that’s just what he about guys like to even things up. I scored the same as Russ Hancock, our intends to do. Dale and A heavy thunderstorm dumped its load club President, and he’s a good rider. Jerry told me he is going to quit riding. Jerry and He’s selling his K1100LT to his son, who I wrote about on the trail for five consecutive days. Dry He never made the first check and neither Bob, who creek beds became raging torrents, loaded lives in the southeast. Jerry still has the Dale a few decided did I. bike, but when winter is over, his son issues coal trains had to be parked on railroad one day bridges to prevent their being swept away. Is there a moral to this story? Well, I put will fly here to Denver and ride it home. ago. Dale’s that the Suddenly, Jerry will have nothing to ride. ankle was my wet riding gear in a trash bag, drove time had The riders qualify for a campaign ribbon off without it and called the next day to The spot where a bike always was: empty. damaged come, I think with a battle star for every checkpoint they badly in the “I wasn’t trying ask about it. It was no use: Speedsville Jerry is no kid. He’s probably late 70s. about all of reached. Those who never made the first crash I told to win. I was incinerates its trash daily. Nevertheless, I was surprised when he said us riders who checkpoint should get a family-size tube of you about. just trying to he’d decided to quit. He has no apparent are growing older. I Bengay. Get Ed’s latest, 80.4 Finish Check on Months later, survive!” problems and has been riding for decades. think about you and Amazon.com! he still has lots That year, to no one’s surprise, the top I’ve happily followed him for miles and I think about me. “When the of discomfort. Some scorer was Terry Cunningham with an miles through hundreds of curves. sweep crew lifted my bike off my days are better than others. He got a fine Is what has incredible 50 points down the drain. That’s leg I noticed the speedo had gained settlement from his insurance company, a happened to them as many points as he usually drops in an I asked him why now, in this winter of ‘16- ever. Maybe he’s like Jerry, a recent ex- a full tenth of a mile, and I was still at The joke was on me—it once part of a decent sum of money for a 200,000-mile bound to happen to us? Oh, man, I hope entire season and a fair indication of the was ’17, has he chosen to chuck it in. rider. Maybe the crash and long, painful the bottom of that greasy slope. Sliding Trials course! bike. It’s surely enough to buy a smaller recovery make riding seem not nearly so not… atrocious condition of the trail. TC’s score, backwards with the front wheel locked up attractive. Easy to imagine. by the way, includes a 10 percent penalty must have confused it!” Speaking of trials, just the day before the I really don’t want to quit riding. I could for damaging his score card in the slop. have set the word really in italics or bold, Speedsville Enduro, the club sponsored Dale, as I’ve told you, was our ride leader The Ithaca Dirt Riders’ President, George a stadium-type event right in the parking and to my mind a truly competent but I figured you’d know what I meant Following TC were Kevin Hines with 58, Marrer, had assured all hands that the without added emphasis. I’ll bet you don’t Dave Bertran with 61, Randy Hawkins lot. The contrast between the neat, clean motorcyclist. I would have bet the ranch event was what they call a “Timekeepers riders on the shiny motorcycles that day that he would never quit, never have that want to quit riding either. with 65, Jeff Russell with 69 and Drew Run,” one you could ride with a Chevy Smith, the prior year’s winner, with 79. and the filthy, mud-crusted enduro riders empty place in his garage and his life If we want, you and I, to keep riding, we Monte Carlo that needed a paint job soon. on Sunday was remarkable. Folks were where his motorcycle used to be. have to look after ourselves on and off the Apparently, TC got stuck in the mud only The club’s plan of attack was a reasonable backing away from the enduro riders as bike. We have to resist impulses to insert once all day—in his van in the parking lot. loop to give riders a chance to blow they came rolling in to the scoring tent. Bob, the guy who rode immediately some air up their noses, a second, more behind Dale on dozens of Tuesday rides, ourselves into perilous situations or ride We’ve told him not to carry all his trophies when we’re not at our best. around in his van, but he just won’t listen. challenging loop, and a third, hairball- For the most part, riders were sold his white Wing at the end of the style loop for A and AA riders only. I joked unrecognizable. Except for Cunningham, summer. He says he has no intention of We can’t let health problems linger and I understand he’s now looking for a pair of that the third section was part of a Trials who must have scraped most of the mud off replacing it. As he promised, he’s still grow worse. We can stay active and Trelleborg knobbies, size 8.25 X 16.5. course. at the final creek crossing. He supposedly active in the club. He shows up at lunch healthy. We don’t want the doctor to tell Any time they start 358 competitors at and comes to meetings, even organizes us to quit riding… and we don’t want that an enduro and more than 300 of them rides. little voice in our heads to tell us to quit don’t finish, it leads to a rash of war stories, riding. That little voice that Dale heard, Again: all three guys appeared to love excuses and some high-gear wimping and We stock a large selection and Jerry heard, and Bob heard. motorcycling. They were, I thought, creative whining. of heavy duty jackets , ON SALE NOW forever riders who intended to ride to their Maybe all of this is fear talking. Maybe I’m pants, chaps, & bags. “I spend a fortune on steroids and drugs and own funerals, as people say. I never saw whistling in the graveyard, braving myself the darn motorcycle lets me down.” $359 Only $149! quitting coming. up. Maybe waving goodbye to Dale and Custom garments and accessories. Johnson Leathers Textile Jacket But all these guys are in their 70s. Me Bob and Jerry was three glasses of ice- “I’ll tell you how late I was—I was going up too. I suppose, when a guy’s in his 70s, water in my face. this hill and the rainwater going down was We repair, alter and with Force eld Body Armour clear!” In Stock Only he can take the long view, weigh the joys I really don’t want to quit riding. clean leather products. and risks. He can balance a wealth of “There were 24 riders stuck on the side of Maynard started a Facebook page for experience against slowing reflexes and a hill about a mile out, I counted them. A Our leathers are motorcyclists and road cyclists that use physical setbacks. He can say to himself, couple of seconds later there were 25 and guaranteed against We now make custom blood thinners, but have continued to “Hey, maybe it’s time. There’ve been lots a guy on a four-stroke went past laughing defect for life. ride despite the added danger. If you ride 1 & 2 piece leathers! of great rides, lots of fine times with the like an idiot.” club or the guys or the wife. Maybe I’ll call despite it all, please go to facebook.com/ it quits.” WarfarinRangers and post something: a “Why did I quit? Common sense, man. story or a photo. And be careful out there. Common sense.” Maybe that’s maturity. Maybe that’s how 1833 Polk St. (@ Jackson) San Francisco - johnsonleather.com thoughtful individuals, folks who are not “I let so much air out of my tires, I was ruled by their passions, choose to give up running a vacuum!” (800) 730-7722 • (415) 775-7393 one thing and go on, one hopes, to others. “Boots are no good out there… You need Maybe that thoughtful individual in his snowshoes!” Force eld Body Armour, e worlds leading “So armour technology” 70s feels he’s already enjoyed a lifetime “We’re going to change our name to Team Body protection system specialists. of riding, decades of club day rides and DNF!” longer journeys, decades of roads he rode May 2017 | 20 | CityBike.com May 2017 | 21 | CityBike.com dr. gregory w. FRAZIER samsam DEVINEDEVINE Artwork by Sam Devine Chief, World existing medical conditions managed or Adventure delayed. Mike Seate from Cafe Racer magazine In the Bay Area, all the dirt riding spots are Affairs Desk told me that he was riding his GS through at least an hour away, from San Francisco, In the equipment category, there was the snow back in Pennsylvania when at least (life is much better if you live in San enough time to conjure a motorcycle Artwork by Mr. Jensen a pickup truck with a Harley sticker Jose or Pittsburg—at least for riding dirt). helmet specifically for use in Touristing? Like stopping, parking the yelled at him to “get a real bike!” We’re If you don’t have access to private land, Africa, the SAFARITOURO motorcycles and visiting an elephant park? really very fortunate, here in the Bay your options are limited. And once you get adventure helmet. A foreign Not for the Soft Butt Adventure Ride. Area, to be exposed to so many ideas there, you have to pay a usage fee—small orld’s Toughest Rider design team who were traveling A motorcycle and ways of thinking from around the though it may be, it causes an odd feeling license plate holder? the United States promoting tour company world. It’s an environment that incubates of disconnection from the land. They’ve 500 to1,000 miles in a themselves as two of “the world’s advertised the alternative thoughts, a place that make the got you. You were born in the city and you “day? PowerW napping on a roadside rest foremost adventure motorcyclists” were “Ultimate GS motorcycling lifestyle truly possible. have to work to live and pay for rent and picnic table splotched with some kid’s used as examples of Internet marketers t’s been a stormy noodle this Adventure in fees to drive and fees to access dirt and the upchuck, crawling with ants? Nah, let’s trolling for fame and fortune at the expense month, campers. So, to coalesce a South Africa,” We have an entire community alternative is go home and take the loud, ignore Budweiser beer world records and of inexperienced or ADV Wannabes. Their column worthy of your time, we’ve set that not only rides everyday and #7 and outI some paper in the brain pan and let the dirty bus to work. Or bicycle. stretched tales of perceived adventure, go prototype Africa helmet was eventually #9 had GS but also depends on bikes for the other direction, do Africa as soft butt rejected and offered for sale at $4,999.97, a thought worms trickle their trails across it. Perhaps electric dirt bikes will open up Adventure model their livelihood. Besides the motorcycle adventurists.” rumored buyer having been a Hollywood new riding opportunities. KTM is already motorcycles Space Marines mechanics, dealers and parts television personality known to collect people found worldwide, we selling their Freeride E-SX outside the US, To be one of the worlds softest butt riders and could cars, motorcycles and memorabilia. We wanna look like space marines. Maybe also have delivery riders, and San Francisco’s own Alta is building took detailed planning, starting a year have taken the not you, specifically, but with the rise of funeral escorts, bike builders, no-holds-barred electric dirtbikes right before the actual road riding began. Time Going against the marketing tide of long elephant adventure “Adventure Biking” has come that Space gear designers, electric bike here. had to be carved out of a personal work distance riders choosing big displacement but opted instead Marine look. It’s not a Star Wars-style companies, custom builders, schedule for one entrant, while the other motorcycles pimped as adventure models, observer to be tourists through a This & That Stormtrooper—you don’t see many folks bike flippers, boutique farkle timed his plug-pulling for retirement to the Soft Butt team of #7 and #9 chose knew nothing motorcycle museum. The on a KLR in a white leather onesie and a manufacturers, and moto- coincide with Africa riding dates. Plans for BMW F700GS models. When asked by about, like the 10,000 tour through The Motorcycle Know the difference between being peaked helmet, blaster by their side. messengers (who generally motorcycles for the Soft Butt Adventure another Africa motorcycle traveler on a steps one was trying to walk each day for Room (TheMotorcycleRoom.co.za) on wet and being cold and wet. Know the carried bank deposits and legal Ride had to be computed and compared 1200cc displacement motorcycle why exercise. With his priority for security, Thesen Island, Knysna, let the Soft Butt Hmm, maybe we should. Max? difference between being wet and cold and papers and were different than for shipping, buying, renting or borrowing. they’d chosen “small” motorcycles for safety, and daylight, he wanted not to be entrants inspect and touch a wide variety being in danger of dying. Know when to But for example, motorcycle gear was used delivery riders, who mostly ran Farkle, bling and electronic gizmo check their Soft Butt adventure, #7 (Richard outside of the hotels or sleeping places of motorcycles versus walking among freak out and when to just ride home to a as space suits in the SYFY movie 400 Days. food, though all of that is changing lists were compiled. Riding gear needed Livermore) replied, “I want something I after dark, so the steps usually had to be elephants, and let them tout, “We’re hot shower. with delivery apps). to be procured and tested. Acquaintances can pick up when it falls down.” done within their daylight riding days. To motorbikers, not elephant hikers.” Of course, we emulate a number of other, Sam is our SF-based columnist. He who wanted to join the two-rider team of insure daylight walking safety, short riding older styles as well. The Lumberjack. The Bay Area is changing, though. Upon receiving their Top Secret Soft Upon completion of the Soft Butt 7,000 to champion, we push ourselves to new motorbikes, kitesurfs, and picks guitars. #7 and #9 were interviewed, accepted and days were scheduled. For instance, one The Cowboy. The Sailor. The fifties era Everything is changing… we need to Butt Rider’s Kits in Cape Town from Paul Adventure Ride, Paul Blignaut and his levels. Get a copy of his book, “Fifty Rides,” at rejected. Money needed to be banked, bills day of motorcycling between Witsand and biker—the Fonz, if you will. What do these engage the younger generations coming Blignaut, proprietor of the well-respected GS Africa team put on a braai (barbeque), SamDevine.com. prepaid, airline tickets booked and pre- Heidelberg, South Africa, started at 10:30 archetypes show us about motorcycling? For example, every time I get to try a press up into motorcycling. If we don’t get them “Professional Southern African Motorbike congratulating the pair. High fives were AM and ended after 26 miles of macadam, (They know their knots. Perhaps it’s good bike, I ask myself if I’d trade my own bike interested, the future of motorcycling will Rentals and Tours” company (GSAfrica. given, swill flowed and tales were told. #7, giving the walker plenty of time to step to always carry some rope?) All these for this one. The answer has often been: suffer—check out my article on Honda’s com), the navigator of Team Soft Butt, #7 with the help of some wine, proclaimed off his 10,000 steps, and make up for a few characters are self-sufficient and adept at “Yeah, duh.” But I’ve recently purchased reborn Rebel on page 10 of this very issue happily applied his “E.T. phone home” that he was ready for the next segments of shorter days when sundown beat him to his mastering their element of nature. a vehicle that has changed my response for more on this. talents to the mapping of their projected 10,000 mark. the pair’s ride around the world, Europe mostly to, “Nah, I’d keep my bike.” It’s 7,000 kilometer route. When done, he and Asia, agreeing that he had overcome The Biker is supposedly one with the road. the biggest purchase in my life and the One thing we can do is promote riding noted that while their route was being While the Soft Butt hiker was logging his some of his risk adversity and the saying The Cowboy is at home on the range. The bike I’ve currently deemed most suited parks within or near city limits. The ridden over a five-week period, the Internet steps, the other one of the pair used the that seeking trouble sometimes created a Lumberjack bends forests to the mill. And to my goals. Its presence in the garage is arguments that bikes are loud and unsafe had told him it could be done in less than daylight hours to explore with his lightened capacity to handle it. the Space Marine? Well, the Space Marine built on purposes. Rides to faraway places, doesn’t hold up against the fact that kids 60 hours. motorcycle (luggage stored in the hotel lives and fights out in space. As the clock passed well beyond the usual campsites and beyond. are choosing to ride them in cities anyway. room for the night) unpaved roads and We can either choose to provide a safe To a less knowledgeable adventurist, the 8:00 PM “Do Not Disturb” time that Doesn’t motorcycling feel like being out mix with the locals. These deviations Recently, while trading press bikes, Surj place for them to ride, or not. It’s the same difference between 60 hours and five night, I reflected on our Soft Butt days, in space? Isn’t that one of the great things from straight line riding gave the pair and I were talking about life direction and thing we’ve seen with skate parks. Closeout Pricing weeks could seem WTFOT. One observer private time apart. One could phone home remembering years ago being told that to about it? There’s space out there, rushing how his wife, Angelica, had given him a said, “I could push my motorcycle over while the other rode gravel roads and find adventure one must look for trouble. past you all the time while riding. No one’s drive and focus that he hadn’t felt before. Hooligan, dirt bike, street riding has on 2016 Aprilias your route faster than you wimps from Soft contemplated how to respond to questions Africa the Soft Butt way had some weird sending you an email or knocking at the When we are confident and motivated, we become a common occurrence in cities like Very Limited Inventory Butt Land.” raised in the mainline press about fake adventures, far from the Ultimate GS type door. No sudden meetings are being called. are driven to make greater strides. Baltimore, New York and here in the Bay being marketed to the motorbike group No workplace drama playing out by the Area. Baltimore has proposed an in-city Neither Soft Butt entrant expressed any news and journalistic ethics, a newsworthy tourists. We were away from our hotel coffee machine. Nothing. Nope. Looking back on life-affirming moments riding park, while New York bulldozed CALL 510.594.0789 ego damage from the conjecture. They topic which had seemingly not missed the rooms, after dark, and being 2,000 steps sure is helpful. Some days I can’t tell if I’m piles of impounded motorcycles, even knew they had factored in some extreme jungles of Africa. It feels like a fight as well. Splitting lanes © Piaggio Group Americas, Inc. 2017. Aprilia ® is a U.S. and worldwide registered downhill to our hotel might be added to hitting the nail on the head or hammering some towed but legal bikes. trademark of the Piaggio Group of companies. Obey local traffic safety laws and always wear a through rush hour traffic. Passing big rigs helmet, appropriate eyewear and proper apparel. adventure elements the uneducated Another rule that was factored into daily the list of risk aversions. the crap out of my fingers. Perhaps distances was “No riding after dark.” This in high winds. Charging up a rocky road. It you know what that’s like. The plan’s often equated to finding Soft Butt quality The Soft Butt Adventure Ride has feels like a fight. working—but is it a solid plan? Who can been recounted in its entirety at bit. sleeping and eating places before 2:00 PM So there you have it. Fightin’ in space: tell? when rooms were generally available for ly/1QhmgA1, beginning with the April, Space Marines. Well, I’m enjoying myself, at least. I hope check-in. One of the pair liked to check 2016 “Planning.” As always, the scribe has you are, too. in to a Soft Butt hotel, go for an afternoon tried not to let facts fog a good tale of an Purpose adventure on the road around the globe. swim in a sanitary swimming pool, do his A certain outdoor equipment store sent The Rest of ‘Em E.T. phone home and then be at the hotel Dr. Frazier’s all-color coffee table book, Down me a piece of mail the other day that Reading the latest American Motorcyclist restaurant at opening time for dinner, And Out In Patagonia, Kamchatka And proclaimed: “Built on Purpose.” It’s cheesy and often breakfast. It was not unusual magazine, there’s a blurb about adventure Timbuktu, available at MototorBooks. but I knew what they meant. We build up riding. “Although it remains a relatively to find him locked inside his room at com, is the first-ever first-hand chronicle supplies and experiences to go accomplish 8:00 PM with a Do Not Disturb sign on small part of the national motorcycling From 3:14 Daily of a never-ending motorcycle ride by “the a purpose, climb some mountain or cross scene, adventure riding is among the fastest his door until 8:00AM. This schedule world’s most cerebral motorcyclist,” and is some desert. The experience, life, is built, equated to less than 10 hours of riding time growing segment of the lifestyle.” How Valencia @ 25th highly recommended by Grant Johnson of motivated, by purpose. strange to recall that the vast majority of each day. Some days no riding time was HorizonsUnlimited.com. accomplished when a hotel was found to Figuring out what we want in life is hard. motorcyclists in the US are cruiser riders, offer amenities like a safe beach, laundry, Steve Martin’s character in The Jerk fiercely loyal to a specific brand, often or high speed Wi-Fi, and the duo decided pondered: “What’s my special purpose?” riding only as a pastime and dismissing 415-970-9670 to layover for another day of 10,000 plus Ha, ha, but seriously, once we find a cause other types of machines, including steps and touristing. adventure bikes. 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May 2017 | 24 | CityBike.com May 2017 | 25 | CityBike.com Tankslapper

CityBike Is All Wet referencing pedal power bicycles, and even as We’ll send you some stickers, Dana, Getting kids outdoors, on two wheels and a former avid cyclist I was like WTF I don't in hopes that they help with the actual being coached is all very positive and it was Bart, one of our far away friends and a want bicycles in my CityBike! I grudgingly splitting someday. They’ll almost certainly shocking to read you bash the initiative. dedicated subscriber, emailed to tell us turned the page and ha ha you got me, good be more effective than Editor Surj’s of the dire situation that befell his March Frankly, it’s for us chuckleheads to one. upcoming two-wheeled, ‘tween-the- shocking copy: lanes civil disobedience in your state, in hear that our wisecracks about the Strider Adventure Zone (“American Flat Track: This weekend I did a little the name of spreading the gospel of lane Child’s Play” – News, Clues & Rumors, plumbing repair job under the splitting. April 2017) were perceived as “bashing,” bathroom sink only to find a Thanks for subscribing, and let us know never mind taken at all seriously. Does couple hours later everything how that Africa Twin compares to your anyone take the court jester seriously when including my latest CityBike KLR—once you get the milk crate he calls the president a dumber version of soaking wet. Since the nearest mounted up, of course. the devil? CityBike rack is a little over 3,000 miles away I couldn't just throw No Pedals, Plenty Of Scratch that last part. These are strange my water-logged issue out and go Triggers times. find another one, I had to salvage what I could. It actually worked An “industry insider” (who’s Back to the matter at hand—according out pretty well and I am now coincidentally married to a pretty to the press release that triggered this awaiting April's issue. I enjoyed the big-time moto-media personality) particular bout of jabberwockery, the Baja article and the write up on the emailed with what sounded to our “Adventure Zone” (does everything have to Africa Twin the most, keep up the carefully-calibrated ears like a classic be branded “adventure” now?) contained confusing language about kids up to ages good work. I did get out to San Fran That nearly two-week early April Fools’ case of butthurt. We’re gonna keep her last month and there really is a change from anonymous, purely because it makes the five or twelve. We’re gonna go out on a joke cover has been the source of more limb, which like a Strider, also doesn’t have way back when, it has definitely been “cleaned emails than anything in recent history, and whole thing more mysterious, and that up,” but still an awesome city. makes us chuckle. pedals on it, and say that if a five-year old we’re calling it a successful dose of much- still needs a weird pedal-less bike to get on Bart included a photo of his precious needed wackadoodle tomfoolery at a time Upon reading your disapproval of AFT for down the road, well… the ship on which CityBike drying out, leading us to applaud when we all need some innocent laughs. adding an element of fun for kids to its event, that kid might be riding motorcycles has his dedication to reading a dry copy of the We’d apologize for confusing y’all, but that probably sailed. Never mind twelve-year best damn moto-mag. We heard from him was kinda the point. Wait till you see what Mike sent in this shot of CityBike olds. again the very next morning: world travelers always take their CityBike in China. Smart we have planned for next year. We’ll continue along along! Hey great timing, after emailing you yesterday Which, to be honest, is nothing—we’re our pedal-less limb and I get home and the new edition of CityBike is waiting to see what we have planned too. also say that getting in my mail box. I open it and look at the cover an 18-month old on a Of Lane Splitting, Colorado, Strider and then on to a KLRs & Africa Twins PW50 by age four is pretty Another subscriber, Dana, out in exceptional. Y’all are Colorado, where we’ll be heading on our great parents, anonymous GS project this summer, sent us this note industry + media couple. M with a check for another year: And while most of us here at CityBike crew have GARAGE Check for another year of Ride Fast / elected not to curse the Take Chances. Like Max Klein, I ride a world with our potentially Vintage / Modern KLR and have anticipated the release of maladjusted, certainly the Africa Twin. I find it hard to fathom an troubled offspring, we can Motorcycle & Scooter AT doing better than a KLR in the dirt, but I do not feel you can relate to what it takes relate to what it takes for kids to learn Service Specialists as soon as I sell my 650 V-Strom for the AT, for kids to learn a sport like motorcycling. motorcycling: we all learned back when the reality will kick in. Hopefully without a My husband and I are both riders and got SOP for learning to ride was simple, and (Pre-1975? Come on in!!) highside! a balance bike for our son when he was just gloriously (sometimes painfully) free of learning to walk/run at 18 months. A few the overly-cautious restrictions and fears of Although lane splitting is illegal here in months later he was able to maneuver the modern parenting: you got on, got going, Colorado, some Share The Lane Stickers Moto Garage bikes down hills, through corners and have a and fell over until you got it right. would truly be appreciated. blast. At 3, he got his bicycle with pedals sans 415-337-1448 But our point was really that we’d like to 112 Sagamore St, SF, CA. 94112 training wheels and rode it with grace after 2 minutes of learning. see AFT and the industry doing more to really encourage and enable young riders Then two months shy of his 4-year birthday and racers, beyond synergy-charged, PR- Reliable, timely service at he pronounced he wanted to ride his PW50 focused co-branding opportunities. we had bought many months ago for a toilet reasonable rates on all training incentive. While it didn't work to lure him for that objective, this one random day he You decided he was going to ride. And did. It took r s S makes of motorcycles him no less than one stop and start to ride U t his motorcycle for the next two hours straight d u

with two minor tip overs.

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