RoadRUNNER March/April 2008
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Shamrock Tour
Shamrock Tour®: Western Maryland
The Appalachian Mountains, once reaching Himalayan-scale heights, are among the oldest on earth. Erosion-resistant sandstone sustains their rounded green shoulders, while limestone undergirds the verdant valleys. Yes, there are many attractive features in the western highlands of Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia; but the most appealing of all...
National Tours
Maine
The biggest, wildest state in New England, Maine is also the first state in the union to catch the light of the rising sun. As a September dawn wakes me in Kennebunkport, the nearby routes along this storied coast exert a very strong pull – nearly 3,500 miles of beaches, bays, inlets, and harbors – but I have other intriguing plans for the...
In Arizona and New Mexico
It's hot, an "airless" afternoon, when I park the K1200R and hike across bus-sized boulders to Spider Rock Overlook at Canyon de Chelly. I snap my camera onto the tripod to take a self-timer shot, set the shutter and pose near the edge. Just then, caprice whips up a solid gust of wind – and the tripod falls. The camera slams into the rock like...
Eastern Kentucky Round Trip
The wondrous back roads of Eastern Kentucky unravel in crazy-quilt complexity. Hewn from time-scarred mountains and rising and falling along creek bottoms and ancient hunting trails, they wriggle in madcap fashion through boundless forests and hidden hollows. To a motorcyclist, it's country like this that represents the finest form of intoxication there...
International Destinations
Edmonton to Alaska
Joining a band of motorcyclists on an annual run to Hyder, Alaska, we rode north from Edmonton to celebrate Ron Ayres's 1998 feat of smashing the Iron Butt record (riding to 48 states within 10 days) in what is now called the 48 Plus! Iron Butt Ride. Making it to 48 states plus Alaska in a time of 7 days and 20 minutes, he received an assist on the...
Mexico, Part 1: The South
Traveling northwest from Guatemala, we reach Chiapas. Mexico's southernmost state is referred to as "Mundo Mayas," the gate to the world of the Mayas. At 6,900 feet, in a densely forested valley in the mountains of the Sierra Madre, lies San Cristóbal de las Casas. This lively town is a unique mixture of Spanish and Pre-Columbian architecture...
Riding Impressions
BMW's New Enduros
BMW Motorrad starts out what promises to be an exciting year by unveiling a new range of enduro bikes in various classes for different purposes....
2008 Can-Am Spyder
Looking more like an imaginative prop from a sci-fi movie than a product you can buy on the spot from your nearby dealer today, the new Can-Am Spyder strikes a radical pose....
Honda ST1300
Being able to have the best of both worlds is a tough proposition when you're out on the road in unfamiliar territory. Two cases in point: the difficulty of finding clean, comfortable rooms for reasonable sums or restaurants that still serve tasty and wholesome fare. Sometimes you don't have any control over situations. However, the bike used is all...
2007 Triumph Tiger 1050
Since its founding in 1883, the Triumph marque has seen good times, bad times, and many of its UK neighbors, such as Norton and BSA, unceremoniously ushered off into the shadowy abyss of moto-history by the auctioneer's gavel. Without getting too misty-eyed over recent developments, it really does cheer one's spirits to see Triumph delivering a series...
Chronicles
BMW Motorcycle Training Classes
Last fall, I was invited to join the BMW Motorcycles new on- and off-road training program for motorcyclists at the BMW Performance Center near Spartanburg, South Carolina. The facility, located behind the BMW manufacturing plant and used successfully by car drivers for many years, was recently expanded for motorcycle training. The off-road area is...
6th Annual Femmoto Track Event
Created in 2002 by Bonnie Straswer, co-owner and organizer of Sportbike Track Time, Femmoto is a women's track day weekend that was born from the need for a safe environment where women could push their limits and test their skills in a focused way. The event has paralleled the growing number of women embracing the sport of motorcycling as riders. The...
The Legend of the Motorcycle 2007
Unofficially billed as "Pebble Beach for Bikes," the Legend of the Motorcycle is a celebration of motorcycles intended to rival the best concours d'elegance for cars....
Storm Watch 101
Three of us rode out of Palm Springs on a coolish March morning – me, the Electra-Glide and Doris, my chatty Garmin GPS. Cool is 70 degrees in Palm Springs, so I'd dressed in Draggin' Jeans, an Olympia leather jacket and summer gloves. I was heading for Idyllwild, the hippie town in the San Jacinta mountains, and then on to the Anza-Borrego Desert....
Product Reviews
Touratech Photo Tank Bag "Photo-Digital"
This innovative concept addresses the subject of where and how to safely store camera gear on a bike. The padded inner bag – with several dividers for the organization of lenses, camera bodies and flashes – is roomy, easily accessible and quickly removed. The zipper and inner-bag material are dustproof and water-protected. Offering various...
Ogio No Drag Backpack
Even when my ride has integrated saddlebags or cavernous, under-seat storage, I still grab the backpack, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. That's one reason I was excited when Ogio's No Drag pack arrived at the office. The unconventional, semi-hard shell design has the perfect look for riding, and it didn't disappoint me. Featuring a rounded, low profile...
Xena XN10 Disc Lock Alarm
Disc locks have been around for a long time and generally work quite well as theft deterrents. But if you're snoozing in a second-floor motel room, a skilled and determined thief could still have his way with your ride. However, unless you're an incredibly sound sleeper this isn't a likely scenario when your baby is secured with a Xena XN10 Disc Alarm...
Rev'It! Jade H2O Boots
Water is one of the key building blocks of life and yet something that we motorcyclists could gladly live without at times, particularly when it comes to the unique misery of riding with soggy feet. Jade H2O boots by Rev'It! solve for that dreary equation by deploying a waterproof zipper and Hydratex membrane to keep out the rain. Protection doesn't...
Aerostich TLTec Darien Line
I do not like to be cold! Fortunately, I was able to get my hands on an Aerostich Darien Fleece Wind Blocker Liner just before setting out on a recent trip under cloudy skies and fifty-degree temperatures. I donned the Darien under a medium-weight jacket and set off riding a standard style naked bike. The 100-weight, fleece-lined TLTec lived up to...
She-Moto Moto-Sleek Jacket and Moto-Cause Jacket
She-Moto is riding gear designed specifically for women. The goal is to be both functional and feminine. She-Moto uses excellent materials such as Italian leather and Betac Armor. I definitely felt safe wearing these jackets; the armor is sturdy and well placed and the leather is thick but also soft. There are zippers for ventilation and a removable...
Rev'It! Ignition Jacket and Classic Leather Pants
Traveling coast to coast in the month of May is truly an eye-opening experience. From fits of cold wind and rain on the California coast to winter-like conditions in the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the heat and humidity of Tennessee, any riding gear chosen for such a journey gets a real workout. Luckily, Rev'It's combination Dynax ventilated mesh and...
Icon Merc Short Glove
These gloves are made of thick durable cowhide and have carbon-fiber knuckle protection, which made them feel bulky and me clumsy at first. But after breaking them in, I found them to be very comfortable; I especially like the soft fleece-like interior. They feature strong grip material on the palm and fingers to help you hold on, and articulated fingers...
Fieldsheer Attack Glove
If you ever unintentionally part company with your bike while riding, there's a pretty good chance your hands will be the first body parts to touch down. So it makes sense to have them well protected. But in summer, heavy, clumsy gloves are just plain uncomfortable. That's where Fieldsheer's Attack gloves come in.Constructed from drum-dried cowhide...
HJC: FS-10 Helmet
After listening to my wife go on and on about how comfortable her HJC CL-Max helmet is, I jumped at the chance to get my noggin into an HJC lid. That opportunity arrived in the form of a brand-new FS-10. It's a sharp-looking item sporting a Fossil graphics package that grabs attention without going overboard about it. But even more noticeable is the...
Triumphant Transformations
Prior to the advent of the Rocket III Touring model we had already taken the plunge and converted an existing Rocket III into a super-tourer....
Outdoor Trends
Always on the lookout for the latest in trends and innovations, we recently visited the famous German tradeshow OutDoor in Friedrichshafen, on Lake Constance. Some 165 products made their world debuts there alongside the many displays of tried and tested gear upgrades and improvements presented by 731 exhibitors – and we can well envisage stowing...
Travel Time
In the course of intensive equipment testing over the past five years, Herbert Schwarz, founder and director of Touratech, travelled to exotic locations with various companions. In his new book, Travel Time, he invites you along on rides to the roof of the world in Tibet, through the Namibian Veldt up to the Angolan border, into the jungles of Bolivia,...
Kendon Modular Dual Trail Trailer
I know, a trailer sort of flies in the face of our "ride everywhere" mentality. But we have been known to hit track days, and some of us ride dirt bikes. That said, our Kendon Dual Rail Trailer has turned out to be one of the handier items we've acquired. Loading and unloading bikes, no matter the size, is quite easy thanks to the strong ramp that...
Eagle Creek Pack-It Sport
This duffel-style toiletry kit is the functional home for the toiletries you need for your personal hygiene on an overnight trip or an extended journey. With the swivel hanger it can be hooked onto almost anything. It is particularly convenient in that it stays open when it is hanging up, allowing easy access to all items. The main compartment opens...
Therm-a-Rest Trekker Chair
Who says that a comfortable outdoor chair cannot be carried on a motorbike? You might be thinking such an item would be big and heavy. On the contrary, this lightweight comfort can be had in the form of a compact and convertible chair sleeve that complements your Therm-a-Rest. How does it work? Insert the Therm-a-Rest mattress into the chair cover,...
