RoadRUNNER January/February 2008
Shamrock Tour
Shamrock Tour®: Sturgis and Deadwood, South Dakota
More than a half-million motorcyclists rode into the August, 2007 Black Hills Motor Classic Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota. Seventy-nine marriage licenses and 303 parking tickets were issued during rally week. Sturgis police recorded 143 traffic violations and 204 arrests – 57 for drug misdemeanors. The Meade County Sheriff's department answered...
National Tours
Williamsport, PA — Round Trip
Like most American kids, I had my baseball heroes. The exploits of Roberto Clemente and Brooks Robinson inspired me to pick up a glove and take to the diamond. Though the mitt eventually gave way to a soccer ball and dirt bikes, I always managed to tune in to ABC’s coverage of the Little League World Series from Williamsport, Pennsylvania....
Touring Southern West Virginia
The history of West Virginia, the only state established as a result of the Civil War, is defined by its location and geology. Allegedly split in personality, it has simultaneously been called the most southern Northern state, the most northern Southern state, and the most eastern Midwestern state. Seceding from Virginia during the Great Rebellion,...
Along the Trans-America Trail
After surviving the unexpected floods in the Utah desert caused by the most rain the area had seen in the last 60 years, Jeff and I are on to the next, and hopefully drier, state of our cross-country motorcycle adventure....
Burke's Garden, Virginia
Years ago, Kathy and I met a fellow rider while touring the Virginia mountains. As residents of Asheville, North Carolina, at the time, we thought one of his tales was unusually curious. It seems that the beautiful location of our city's crown jewel, the Biltmore Estate, was really tycoon George Vanderbilt's Plan B....
International Destinations
RoadRUNNER's Five-Country Europe Tour
The dog days of summer have slowed life to a crawl, with seemingly endless triple-digit temperatures scorching everything in sight. As I ride home after dark, even the sliver of moon hanging low in the early evening sky is on fire. Battling traffic, impatiently waiting for lights while inhaling hot fumes, I start daydreaming about my upcoming trip to...
East Africa
The horizon is pink and yellow and purple and we are airborne, high above East Africa. Our destination is close –Mombasa at the Indian Ocean. Some 200 miles south of the equator in northeastern Tanzania, we see the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. The rising tropical sun catches the flanks of the mountain, and glaciated Uhuru, Africa's highest peak...
Riding Impressions
Triumph Rocket III Touring
Back in 2004, Triumph rocked the motorcycle world with the christening of the shockingly large Rocket III. Even in a cruiser arena crowded with machines flexing motor muscles measuring 1600, 1800, and even 2000cc, this big bad Brit crashed the V-twin party with a titanic triple kegger that emphatically pounded the pavement with nearly 300cc more than...
BMW F 800 GS
With the long-awaited F 800 GS travel enduro, BMW Motorrad intends to continue their mastery of on- and off-road motorcycling. Power for this latest Bavarian offering comes from an 85 horsepower, liquid-cooled, vertical twin derived from the F 800 S/ST models. The high-revving engine provides immediate throttle response and excellent torque. Fuel economy...
2008 Kawasaki Versys 650
In dictionary terms, a system consists of a number of individual parts with particular attributes combined in appropriate relationships within a specific environment. The idea is that the whole will be greater than the sum of its parts – and once we got together to ride the roads in the hills above San Diego, I wondered if this definition would...
2007 Harley-Davidson VRSCD Night Rod
The term "power cruiser" seems an odd, oxymoronic descriptive. Cruising, by its general nature, implies taking one's time and embracing a heightened level of relaxation that allows for an in-depth exploration of the aesthetics of the ride, or a quick trip down to the local watering hole, whichever comes first. Whereas power (i.e., velocity) seems an...
KYMCO's Xciting 500 Scooter
The Kwang Yang Motor Company's roots in the powersports industry can be traced back to the Taiwanese company's founding in 1963. Today, it manufactures over 500,000 motor scooters, motorcycles and ATVs each year at five plants in Asia, and exports products to over 70 countries. KYMCO USA, headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina, serves over 600...
Chronicles
The 2007 BMW MOA Rally
Amid the farms in dairy land, nearly 8,000 motorcyclists and aficionados gathered for four days of motorcycle talk, seminars, and rides at the Washington County Fair Park in West Bend, Wisconsin....
Motorcycles – Hobby or Passion?
At a dinner party recently a friend introduced me to a woman sitting near me at the table."Dave's hobby is motorcycles," he said."Well, I wouldn't put it that way," I immediately replied, without thinking."Oh, how would you put it?" the woman asked as we shook hands.This had me stumped for a few seconds. I hadn't really given it any thought. It just...
Motorcyclist Down!
Every time I see a motorcyclist spread-eagled on the pavement or hear about a fatal crash, I ask myself whether this pastime I love so much is worth the attendant risks. There's no doubt that safe riding skills can substantially reduce the probability of having accidents, but they can't eliminate the risks. This is where protective riding gear comes...
Product Reviews
Cortech Mini Tank Bag
Cortech's Mini Tank Bag offers a great solution for storage, carry-on, and maps. Don't let its diminutive appearance fool you – this tank bag packs some serious features. Utilizing the 8-liter capacity and a zipper expansion pocket, light-traveling riders have room for all the necessities. The detachable, Clear-Vu snap map pocket is big enough...
Givi T449 Saddlebags
If you're addicted to sportbikes but like to go long distances, saddlebags are a necessary evil. Although compromising the lines of your steed, they certainly come in handy when you need to have a good supply of clean underwear on board. So, in order to preserve your aesthetic and hygienic dignity, Givi has created the stylish T449 Cordura® saddlebags....
Puma
Brutale and Desmo Boots Puma makes a great shoe, no doubt about it. Their craftsmanship and comfort are hard to beat. I was ecstatic when I found out I'd have the chance to test a pair of their motorcycle boots. The Puma Brutale is designed for aggressive road riding and is often referred to as the boot for Café Racer riders. The first thing...
Vendramini Marathon Steel Boots
After dragging my toe through one too many sharp, technical curves, my old boots finally gave up the ghost. With tennis shoes out of the question, I decided to give Vendramini's Marathon Steel Boots a try. At $399 these specimens aren't cheap, but they do have a load of enticing features. The first thing I noticed was the thick, 2.8 mm Italian leather....
Fieldsheer Adventure Jacket and Pants
"Wow! You really stand out," a guest on Edelweiss Bike Travel's Royal Tour of Scotland told me. It wasn't my sparkling personality she'd noticed but the Fieldsheer Adventure jacket's large Phoslite® reflective panels, just right for brightening my image in the rain-swept gloom of a Scottish summer day. Heightened visibility isn't the Adventure's...
Spidi Step In Road Jacket
Anyone who has put in some serious miles on a motorcycle has an opinion on the leather versus textile argument. And furthermore, garments like Spidi's Step In Road jacket are blurring the lines between the two. This model's tough, outer construction is a combination of Spidi's Hydro leather and a Teflon®-treated Tenax 440 nylon, both of which have...
Aerostich CBT Antibacterial Socks
Socks are things you really don't notice unless you have bad ones. A nasty case of sagging and binding inside the boots can put a kink in even the most stalwart rider's enjoyment. Thankfully, the long-distance specialists at Aerostich Rider Wearhouse have taken steps to alleviate this all too common discomfort. After sliding on a pair of their CBT...
Shoei RJ-Platinum R
While I'd rather see everyone wearing full-face helmets all the time, I will admit to feeling sporadic attacks of "in-the-wind-it is." Shoei's RJ series has long been a top option in the open-face arena and their latest addition to the family, the RJ-Platinum R, is no exception. Outside, the Advanced Integrated Matrix shell is lightweight and DOT and...
Scorpion VX-14 Stalker Off-Road Helmet
With its fiberglass and Kevlar® shell, the Scorpion VX-14 Stalker helmet is both lightweight and strong. The moisture-wicking liner and cheek pads bestow a snug comfortable fit and help keep the head dry when temperatures soar. The liner is easily removed for washing. The Stalker's chinstrap also has the QuickWhick™ material, making for a...
Nolan N84 Cosmo N-COM
The full-face street helmet has everything to offer for every kind of rider. From the quick-change/tool-free visor mechanism to the top of the line ventilation system, the N84 gives you the best value for your buck. The innovative top ventilation system is built into the shell for comfort and lets you channel the air through two deflectors inside....
Peet Multi PEET®Shoe Dryer
When it rains, it pours, especially at 65 miles per hour. No matter how waterproof the leather or textile may seem, a high-speed pelting of rain will eventually soak through nearly anything. And no matter what, it's always the boots and gloves that seem to take the longest to dry. But now, with the Multi PEET® Shoe Dryer, available with glove and...
