RoadRUNNER January/February 2007
Shamrock Tour
Shamrock Tour®: Bardstown, Kentucky
In many places, life is governed by stressful, pell-mell routines. Rush-hour traffic, get it done yesterday, I need that on my desk by five – now move, move, move! No wonder there always seems to be an underlying need to escape. That's why many of us ride. Out there, somewhere down the road, maybe, just maybe, we'll find that special place where...
National Tours
Alaska: A Ride Under the Midnight Sun
The sign is in bold black letters, and reads: "Stop. Authorized vehicles only." So we stop. We are in an Indian reservation called Mentasta Lake. Riding on the Alaska Highway from the Canadian border, we were heading southwest from the town of Tok on Hwy 1 until we came across this turn-off onto a lonesome, narrow, side road. Promising! It's 10 p.m.,...
Conneticut: Cruisin' the Constitution State
Despite being one of the most heavily industrialized states in the nation and occasionally being derided as nothing more than a "suburb" between Boston and New York, Connecticut has plenty of attractions and sites of historic import, as well as some beautiful and scenic roads to offer the avid traveler, as I would discover on a meandering two-day trip...
Wyoming: Of Prairies, Peaks, and Pronghorns
Loneliness must have come to the rolling hills of southern Wyoming just to get away from it all. It liked what it saw and settled down. And we can feel it trying to grab hold as we cross the treeless landscape, rolling along over the smooth surface of Highway 191. The empty miles continue to spool away in easy bends that tempt my throttle hand to urge...
Around the Delaware Bay
Hot humid weather makes the conditions for this day trip less than ideal, but I hardly notice any discomfort. My 1989 Honda GB500 single is sending lovely vibrations throughout my body as I rumble through one of the most historic areas in America...
International Destinations
Iceland: Reykjavik and the Golden Circle
On the basis of its name, you'd expect Iceland to be swathed in snowdrifts and its shores locked in a frozen sea. But thanks to the warming influence of the Gulf Stream's ocean currents, the coarsely serrated coastline that looms through swirling clouds in the window of my Icelandair Boeing 757 appears mostly green....
Peru to Ecuador: In the Footsteps of the Incas
The cobalt blue waters of Lake Titicaca are dotted with fishermen in their reed boats. At an altitude of 12,628 feet, the air is crystal clear. White clouds hang low over the red and brown hills of the Altiplano, reflected in the mirror-like surface of the lake. Irrigated maize and potato fields line the shore. Low, mud-brick houses with glinting tin...
Riding Impressions
Suzuki's Six-and-a-half
In the 1960s, when I first got interested in motorcycles, 650 was a number heavy with significance. It had special connotations of power and speed. Royal Enfield's oddball 692cc Constellation notwithstanding, a 650cc was the biggest, most powerful bike you could buy in England. Vincent had gone to the wall, the side-valve, 1000cc, sidecar haulers of...
Breaking the Mold
The view from the top of the "steepest road in Texas" is, well, OK. San Antonio lies out there somewhere in the hazy distance, as an early October sun pegs the thermostat at 90+ degrees. Riders from similarly "mountainous" states – like Kansas and Delaware – may be impressed, but as soon as I've chugged down a bottle of water, I'm ready...
2006 Aprilia Tuono 1000R
In recent years, the Aprilia product line has been stacked end-to-end with truly inspired bikes such as the Tuono, the Mille, and the no longer domestically available Futura, that dominated the top slots of many an enthusiast's "if money were no object" list. This was no small feat considering many far larger entities fail to produce even one bike...
Conveniently Cool
There's something fascinating about the lore and lure of San Francisco. Think Steve McQueen catching air in his '68 Mustang and Dirty Harry demanding to know if luck is in the offing...Well, is it? And let's not forget about Alcatraz, Lombard Street, Chinatown, Haight-Asbury, and Coit Tower. Very few places truly exemplify the rigors of urbanity more...
2006 Triumph Scrambler
When you get away from all the facts, figures, and statistics, you have to admit that one of the most compelling reasons for riding a motorcycle is that it is just plain cool. Catering to this rationale, the new 2006 Triumph Scrambler is not going to win any performance contests or long-distance-riding awards, but it is without a doubt one of the coolest...
Chronicles
The Case For Camping
You see them at motorcycle rallies, state parks, and numerous other locations: motorcyclists camping out on the ground. Do you ever wonder what it would be like to pitch your tent under the stars, cook your meals over an open fire, let the rhythms of nature lull you to sleep in a cozy sleeping bag, and have a tree full of birds sing you awake in the...
The Flight of Davis and Lee
From the beginning of the American Civil War, "On to Richmond" became the rallying cry of Union troops. The Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 was a turning point in the war, and the bulk of both armies eventually entrenched and fought around the cities of Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia....
Snow Job: Riding in Winter
Unless you are lucky enough to live somewhere that escapes winter's icy grip, there is a special set of hazards everyone else has to deal with to keep rolling year-round: the cold, the dark, the precipitation, and changes in traction. And winter conditions are a potential hazard on high mountain passes all year. Put them all together, and make way for...
Product Reviews
GARNY™ - LeatherSpex™
Needless to say, proper ocular protection is a must when out on the road. Aside from the obvious hazards of dust, debris, and insects, the constant battery of wind can cause a degradation of vision. Needing a new pair of specs, I was excited to receive a new pair of GARNY™ LeatherSpex™. With frames constructed entirely of hand-rubbed leather,...
Marsee Day Pack Deluxe
If you ride, then you know that bookbag-style packs are easy to carry, practical, and can handle anything from lunch to gear for a few days on the road – if you travel light, that is. As my old favorite was in tatters, I was happy to grab the Day Pack Deluxe from Marsee as soon as it arrived on our doorstep. Ergonomically designed with the motorcyclist...
Santiago Boots
In combination with a dual-sport bike, these boots are a perfect fit. They come with decent shin protectors, an important feature for off-road use. Anyone who's been hit by a stone flipped by a front wheel knows the feeling. Heel and toe reinforcements help protect the foot from pain, and the sturdy ankle construction could prevent a visit to the orthopedic...
Gerbing Cascade Extreme Riding Suit
A late October ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway, with its explosion of reds and yellows, is one of the most beautiful rides imaginable. Yet, the higher elevations and the autumnal temperatures can conspire to make for a frigidly unpleasant affair. Such was the case several months ago. Thankfully, Gerbing's Cascade Extreme riding suit was along for the...
Triumph Hard Carbon Gloves
These gloves are among the most comfortable we have tested, in a category where comfort is sometimes sacrificed for aesthetics and protection. They feature full-knuckle, carbon weave Keprotec® abrasion panels, double leather impact panels, raised wrist padding, 3M® night reflective piping, and ventilated finger sections. The leather is very...
Fast Company Barracuda Jacket
The venerable black leather motorcycle jacket is justly revered as a fashion icon; but it could use a little updating, too. And rolling up at a top resort in a ratty old biker jacket doesn't cut it anymore. So for my Palm Springs Shamrock Tour® this year, I wore Fast Company's sharp-looking Barracuda jacket in black with green and white trim. As...
Retro Leather Jacket and Classic Jeans from Triumph
The Retro jacket from Triumph has a great vintage look, with numerous Triumph logos. However, what really sets this jacket apart is its quality construction, fit, and attention to detail. The leather is 1.2 millimeters thick, yet very supple, with all key stress points double-stitched. European craftsmanship abounds inside and out, with ample pockets...
Motonation Spidi Fjord H2OUT Touring Gloves
There’s only one complaint about Spidi regarding the Fjord H2OUT Touring Gloves. Their claim of “all weather” could be somewhat of an exaggeration if the gloves are used in warm weather. They are definitely more at home in cooler to cold temperatures than in a July, Atlanta rush hour. Now that winter has fallen across most of the country,...
Function & Comfort in a Long-Sleeved Shirt
I had always thought just a t-shirt would suffice for me until I put on BMWs high-tech fabric undergarment. It feels as good as cotton, but works much better. Very light, it kept me warm in Newfoundland and cool in Utah, wicking moisture from my body very quickly. The material of this shirt provides a boon for your traveling companion, too: the silver...
Scorpion VX-14 Flashback Helmet
Air-flow and good protection for the most important part of your body (the head) for $129.95 – what more could one want? This Scorpion Helmet is a great alternative to a closed, full-face helmet on a dual-sport bike, especially in hot climates. But I found it functional even on a spring trip to Newfoundland, except for those periods in heavy cold...
Slime Power Sport Tire Inflator
Flat tires happen, it’s one of those terribly unpleasant aspects of spending time on the road. Thankfully, most street bike tires are the tubeless variety, which makes a roadside plug job a fairly painless procedure. Thanks to the folks at Slime, an easy, quick method of reinflation is at hand. The Power Sport Tire Inflator is a very portable...
RATCO 3rd Brake Light System
To say that being visible to motorists in lower light situations is important to motorcyclists is an extreme understatement. While plenty of eye-catching options are available to boost our visibility from the front, not many have come along to protect the rear flank. Enter RATCO’s 3rd Brake Light System, a highly effective and easy to use device...
