RoadRUNNER May/June 2008
Shamrock Tour
Shamrock Tour®: Helena, MT
My reward for hiking up the hill to Helena, Montana's timber-framed fire tower is a glorious view over the city in the warm light of late afternoon, encompassing the dome of the capitol, Last Chance Gulch, the twin spires of St. Helena Cathedral, and the minaret of the Civic Center....
National Tours
Stormin' Across Eastern Kansas
Quite a few people who haven’t been to Kansas have formed their impressions of the state by watching a movie made in 1939. The Wizard of Oz, filmed in a Hollywood studio, portrays Kansas as hot, dry, tornado-ridden and tabletop flat. While this may be a somewhat apt description of western Kansas, the state’s eastern region has a surprisingly hilly...
Nashville Roundtrip
I've grown "comfortable" with the wiggle pulsing through the big Bandit's bars as I transition from the banked front stretch on to the flat of the track apron. I tickle the front brake lever to scrub off some miles per hour that a mere second ago were probably surging past 130 or more. That's just a guess though. I taped over the speedo so I wouldn't...
Northern Indiana
Transportation has a rich history in the USA, and a lot of it can be found in northern Indiana museums. So pull out your maps and start planning a trip to the flatlands of northern Indiana. You'll even see a little living history too....
International Destinations
British Columbia - Pacific Rim Tour
There can't be too many places people travel to in order to watch the weather. But every winter patrons cram the hotels lining Long Beach on Vancouver Island's west coast and do just that. The next stop from there is Japan, and the 5,000-mile Pacific expanse between routinely unleashes much of its fury at the BC coastline. Howling winds and torrential...
Mexico, Part 2: The North
A Mexican in a white sombrero rides his donkey on the dusty gravel road in front of us. His appearance in this deserted region presents an unexpected opportunity to ask if he knows of a shortcut through the mountains of the Sierra Madre. Squinting, he scans the surrounding hillsides. Perhaps assuming that we are on the brink of light-headedly risking...
Riding Impressions
2006 Kawasaki Ninja ZX14
Apprehension and sheer curiosity were the sensations rattling around inside my head the first time I thumbed the starter on the Kawasaki ZX14 Ninja. Though we ride bikes of all different stripes, I was uncharacteristically anxious about this particular model. After all, this is a machine capable of sub 10-second quarter miles and a top speed electronically...
2008 Honda VTX 1300T vs. 2008 Yahama V-Star 1300 Tourer
At first blush, we expected these machines to ride and feel nearly the same, but after hundreds of test miles, their separate identities began to emerge more clearly. A multi-day trip up the California coast to scenic Morro Bay, with a diversion inland on snow-lined mountain roads, steep, twisty canyons, woodlands, broad plains and even hours of steady...
Ciao, Bella
Until the advent of the Vespa and Lambretta, most motorcycles were essentially heavyweight bicycles with an engine mounted in the middle of the frame. While perhaps the optimal arrangement from an engineering standpoint (the basic concept remains unchanged to this day), it left something to be desired in ergonomic terms. The rider was required to straddle...
Chronicles
2007 Tour de Pink
Inspired by the exploits of Tour de France legend Greg Lemond and other Americans racing in Europe, I was a rabid, but not very rapid, cyclist in the 1980s. It was exotic stuff to me – wiry cyclists battling over impossibly brutal Alpine passes, the frenzied crowds threatening to swallow them whole, and then in the last possible moment, a motorcycle-mounted...
Sport Bike Track Time
You don't have to be someone like Nicky Hayden to enjoy the racetrack experience. In fact, competition is not even on the agenda with Sportbike Track Time. The enterprise isn't a racing school, or even a venue for racing preparation. The goal of this Ohio-based organization is to allow individuals the opportunity to participate in a quality, closed-course...
2007 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction
Take one motorcycle museum, mix in a Hall of Fame induction ceremony and host a vintage motorcycle display, and you're all set for a weekend of motorcycle nostalgia, social networking, and reminiscence....
2006 KLR 650
I've never owned a car or motorcycle that didn't prompt me to "make it better" by modifying the original machine with a few – OK, many – aftermarket parts. Annoying as it sometimes is to others, it cannot be helped. This "I can't leave things well enough alone" compulsion probably took up residence in my psyche long before I could speak,...
Say what?
It was a beautiful late spring day. I had just crossed the border from California into Arizona, piloting a big, bad cruiser: Yamaha's Road Star Silverado. Riding toward me, a bunch of bikers, all bandanas, dark glasses, leather vests and chaps. Arizona has no helmet law, so I thought I'd give their look a try – the wind in my hair, that is. I...
Product Reviews
BMW Comfort Shell Suit
Touring the Alps for nine days with RoadRUNNER as chase rider and photographer, I knew the correct motorcycle gear was going to be very important. Though I knew I would need a rain suit, I really didn't want to take up precious saddlebag space carrying one along. After explaining my needs to Anja Kuechler at BMW, she suggested their Comfortshell suit....
Triumph Westbourne Jacket and Denim Jeans
Even before I noticed the sharp styling detailing Triumph's Westbourne Jacket, I couldn't help being taken aback by its sheer weight. This is one stout garment, a definite positive in a motorcycle-apparel world filled with "protective" gear that is far more style than substance. No worries on that count with the Westbourne. Constructed of 1.2mm cowhide,...
REV'IT! Monster Gloves
Thus far, I've been quite happy with all of my gear from the Dutch company Rev'It!, and the Monster Gloves are no exception. At first I was a little worried that I may have gotten a size too small, but after a couple of rides, the tough yet pliant goatskin broke in perfectly and now slips on like a second skin. But unlike my first skin, these Monsters...
Rain-Off Waterproof Oer-Gloves
When the weather takes a turn for the worse, my hands are the first to suffer. No matter what I've tried, keeping them warm and dry in adverse conditions has largely remained a challenge unanswered – that is, until now. New Zealand-based Rain-Off recently sent us a pair of their waterproof over-gloves that really do live up to their name. They...
Scorpion VX17 Burnout
Today's dirt lids actually rival their road-going cousins in comfort and quality. Case in point, Scorpion's VX17. From the moment this lid slid on my head, it's been nothing but smiles. Company specs claim that the Fiberglass/Kevlar™ Matrix shell is tough, and I can certainly vouch for that after doing my best lawn dart impersonation on the trails...
Outdoor Kitchenware
I cannot imagine a better way of ending a challenging stage of off-road riding than pitching my tent by a river, looking back on the day while sitting around a campfire with a riding companion, and cooking a hearty meal. With a tank bag full of fresh ingredients and a few practical cooking utensils, I can have my outdoor kitchen turning out some five-star...
Condor PS 1500 Pit Stop / Trailer Stop
A good wheel chock is one of those items I'd always wanted, but never got around to procuring. But having recently gotten a Condor® PS1500, I'm wondering how I managed so long without one. The first thing noticed during the simple assembly was the unit's adjustability. According to the company specs, the PS1500 can accommodate both front and rear...
The History of Choppers by R. Louis Wieland
Whether you're a fan of choppers or not, there's no denying their ability to turn heads and ignite emotional responses. In The History of Choppers, R. Louis Wieland explores the bloodline of the machines that today are often referred to as "rolling art." He touches on many of the pop-culture cues of the '50s through the '70s that influenced the early...
101 Road Tales by Clement Salvadori
Of the sage pronouncements issuing forth from the very select society of motorcycle travel gurus, we always pay heed to the words of the guy wearing the beret. Clement Salvadori has been regaling readers of Cycle magazine with commentary and musings from the road for over 20 years, and along the way he's made his ever-present Basque Cap a veritable...
BMW Motorcycles: The Evolution of Excellence by Kevin Ash
The BMW marque has won legions of faithful adherents, especially among the touring community, and for good reason. The company's obsession with reliability and quality workmanship has fostered a stellar reputation built around the production of virtually bulletproof machines that can go the distance and then some. In BMW Motorcycles: The Evolution of...
Touratech DVD Africa
In May 2007 when the world still speculated about whether or not BMW would launch the new F 800 GS, Herbert Schwarz was already on a secret mission in Africa with a preproduction bike. Accompanying him to photograph and film the adventure, Ramona Eichhorn rode a BMW G 650 Xchallenge. Herbert, the director of Touratech, also tested some of his company's...
Throttle Days Dual Sport Adventure DVD
The Stosh Brothers, two regular guys, both likely spinning the scale up to the 300-pound mark, grab their cameras, load up their Kawasaki and BMW dual sport singles, and attempt to tackle the nearly 4,800 miles of off-road riding known as the Trans-America Trail. And though the promotional material for this duo of rotund rovers claims that "They're...
