The Motorcycle Times - April 2018 by The Motorcycle Times

Canada’s

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Re a d

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Community

N ews p ap e r

issue 03

APRIL 2018

Sprockets

New Harley-Davidson Dealer Now Open

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The Policaro Automotive Family is adding the Harley-Davidson® brand and two world-class dealerships to their dealer group: Policaro HarleyDavidson Oakville, which opened March 17th, and Policaro Harley-Davidson Brampton still under construction. “We are truly honoured to be representing such an iconic and historic brand,” said Francesco Policaro, of the Policaro Automotive Family. “The diversification into the motorcycle business with Harley-Davidson will allow us to offer our customers a broader range of products with the sale and after-sales experience they have come to expect from us.” We are open 7 days a week for your convenience. Stop by and see what our qualified team can do for you and your motorcycle. Visit us at https://www.policaroharleydavidson.ca for more information

Modified Hayabusa To Attempt SteamPowered Land Speed Record

The steam-powered land speed record will be challenged by a modified Suzuki Hayabusa, which will attempt to become the fastest steam-powered motorcycle. Built by Chris Wedgwood of Isle of Man, the steam-powered bike will attempt to set a new world record. The heavily modified Hayabusa is powered by a contraflow monotube steam generator that uses kerosene as fuel to produce 2000 psi at 510 degrees Celsius. To beat the current land speed record, Wedgwood has to go faster than 129.39 kmph, a record set by American rider Bill Barnes in 2014. Wedgwood isn’t just planning to break the record. In fact, he intends to attempt riding the bike at 193 kmph at the Straightliners World Record Weekends this year in Elvington, York. He has already hit 117.4 kmph in test runs last week at Elvington. The donor bike for the steam-powered missile is a Suzuki Hayabusa, but only the bike’s front end and chassis indicate the modified bike’s origin as the Hayabusa. The rear end is completely new and fully customized with an elongated swingarm which mounts the rear wheel. And the bike is paired with a complex electronics system to take care of pressure control, and temperature to ensure it runs at optimum power and efficiency. Wedgwood has been developing the bike for a few years now, and Keltruck, the biggest retailer in the UK of Scania is sponsoring Wedgwood in his latest record breaking attempt.

The new Wing is a huge leap forward in technology and dynamics. For four decades the Honda Gold Wing was a staple of Honda’s range. It provided smooth, sophisticated but heavyweight transport to almost an entire generation of bikers. It was a nice bike, but there’s no getting away from the fact it was in desperate need of an upgrade. BMW, Harley-Davidson and even Indian were all leaving the mighty Wing in their wake. But, finally Honda has answered the prayers of dedicated Wing riders with an all-new Gold Wing. And, after our first ride in Texas we can reveal the Wing is

2018 Honda Gold Wing

back on top with a super-smooth engine, great comfort and a new, fun-filled attitude that makes it a joy to ride. We rode the new Wing for two days and hundreds of miles and can’t remember such a large transformation between a new and previous model – the 2018 bike is a revelation. Capacity has remained the same at 1833cc, but that is where the similarities end – it’s a completely new bike. There hasn’t been a huge hike in power, which some had expected, but instead it’s more compact, lighter and smoother than ever. In total 48kg has been saved from the bike – the engine alone is 6.2kg

lighter. Just removing the old starter motor in favour of an Integrated Starter Generator system (ISG) saved 2.4kg. The new engine is available as either a conventional 6-speed manual or 7-speed DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission), which automatically changes gear or gives you the option to change gears electronically without a clutch. Honda first introduced us to DCT on their VFR1200F, we are now onto their latest third generation. One of the criticisms of DCT is the lack of rider control at slow speeds, due to the lack of clutch. However, Honda has created a smart solution with a new continued on PG. 03

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2018 Honda Gold Wing ‘Walking mode’ that limits speeds to 1.1mph at the touch of a button. As like the old Wing, reverse comes as standard, and is easily controlled by the plus and minus buttons on the left bar. The chassis is completely new, too. The twin-spar frame is lighter and for the first time in Honda’s history features a rear top case holds 50L, slightly smaller cooned in a snug draft-free zone. Alterdouble-wishbone front suspension unit. than previously. All the compartments natively, on warmer days you can either The front is controlled by a single shock, can be locked via the keyless ignition and lower the screen or open the small flap rather than conventional forks. There’s a feature hydraulic dampers, which allow below to increase the cool breeze. conventional Showa single shock on the them to open and close with smooth, The bodywork is impressive, the mirready Forandetails) rear, both are controlled electronically effortless ease. There’s(see excellent view of the road bealso twoPowersPorts.com further rors give but are not semi-active. compartments up front, one centrally lo- hind. Although the bodywork is smaller Aerodynamically the new Wing is cated, and the other on the right side. The and narrower, it still provides impressive all 2016-2018 all 2016-2018 more efficient than before. *Vehicle TheLicense large and comfort and gives old rear fee (where applicable) and pillion Motorcycles compartments have been wind Moprotection torcycles screen is finally electronicallyHSTadjustable, the impression of a lighter, thinner, Wing. are extra. Vehicle(s) andremoved. accessories come e with with $proved the * The comcruise $ * for illustration The purposes geography which previous Wing ownersshown werearepraycontrol via the fly-by-wire of Texas 60 month sPP 60 month sPP includes factoryideal incentivesterrain to test the mile-munching throttle can be set and adjusted on the ing for. There’s also the optiononly.ofPricing increasas pillion follows: (DRZ70 ing the airflow to the rider and by$300/TU250X Wing.$0/ The long highways gave the op- move. Simply set your speed, adjust the SV650SA $1000/GSX250R $250/VZ800 manually opening a small flap below the portunity to6-2018 your required height, sit back play with the endless gad- screenall 201 Allto 2015 $1,200/GSX-R750 $100). All 2015/2016screen. The rider has been moved further gets in comfort andMocreature comforts. Motorcycles and listen to your tunes. The www.readysuzuki.com Motorcycles tocome with 48/60 months torcycles forward, whilst the pegs have2018 moved sound is spectacular and you The electronic screen is smaller, but still comclarity e with $ * $ * SPP included. See us for full details. Offers come with 430 Hensall Circle,only Mississauga wards the rear, slightly. don’t need to have the volume cranked offers superb wind protection and when 60 mo 48 month SPP nth sPP good until March 31, 2018. The and luggage is all new. it is upright you look through the screen, to the maximum. The small compartsalesbodywork direct: 866-819-4114 Each pannier carries 30L whereas the not over it. Behind the bubble you’re co- ment located just below the fuel cap is

noW oFFerIng air miles® reward miles on all PurcHases!

the perfect size for a smart phone or iPod, and comes with a USB connection. At cruising speeds you hardly notice the super smooth horizontally opposed six-cylinder, it simply glides along effortlessly. You have all the information you’ll ever need at your fingertips, including fullall 201 access to the Sat-Nav. 6-2018 Once moving, you are forced to use the Motorcycles mode and directional buttons on the left come with $ is de-activated * bar, the central console 60 moas nth sPP for safety. Honda deliberately reduced the amount of buttons, allowing the rider to allfocus 2016-2018 on the road ahead and not the distracting buttons. The only ‘active’ Motorcycles come with once on the move are those on switches $ * nth sPP the60 mobars. The fuel tank has lost the best part of a gallon in capacity. continued on PG. 13 *Vehicle Licence fee (if applicable) and HST extra on all offers. Sale Price on the New Motorcycles includes freight and P.D.E.,ECRF,LicenceAdministration Fee and OMVIC Fee. Pricing of the following include a limited time rebate of: www.readykawasaki.com • 430 Hensall circle, mississauga • 877-297-7446 mega casH credits EX300BGFA $850/EX400GJF $0/Versys X300 $0/Z800 $1,000/VN900DGF $1000/ZX6SE ABS $1,500. Motorcycle(s) and accessories shown are for 12 Months KPP 2017 2016 2016 vulcan 900 ZX6seaBs at no charge on il ustration purposes only. Actual colours may vary depending on availability. versys X300 2016 Z800 classic lt all ne Dealer trade or Factory Order may be necessary. Offers subject to change $ * w kawasaki $ * $ * mo tor cycles! without notice, see us for full details. Offers cannot be combined with any $ * other offers,programs or discounts and are good until March 31,2018.

suzuki: “springtime sales Event!”

2017 drZ70

2017 tu250X

22018 GSX250R

2015 sv650sa

2016 vZ800

2016 gsX-r750

2,369

5,179

7,769

5,129

8,669

13,269

“kawasaki’s Build your Bike event!”

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2016 ninja se-non-aBs ((EX300AGFA)

2018 ninja 400 ABS (ORdER yours now!)

7,019*

(see ready PowersPorts.com For details)

suzuki: “Time to Ride”tHe Only FaCtOry autHOrized all yaMaHa 2016-2018 all 2016-2018 retailer in OntariO tO OFFerall 20HOnda, 16-2018 One StOp SHOpping: KawaSaKi, KtM, SuzuKi and all under22018 OneGSX250R rOOF! 2017 drZ70 2017 tu250X *Vehicle License fee (where applicable) Motorcyc Motorcycles Motorcycles les sales Event! and HST are extra. Vehicle(s) and come with $ * come with $ * 60comomenthwith * Outboard Motors$ accessories shown are for illustration 60 month sPP 60 mo nth sPP sPP “It’s sprIng! sales event!” purposes only. Pricing includes factory

2,469

incentives as follows: (DRZ70 $200/ TU250X $0/SV650SA $1000/GSX250R 2015 Yamaha $0/VZ800 $1,200/GSX-R750 $1400). All R3 All 2015 2016 FZ7 Mo*torcycles www.readysuzuki.com 2015/2016-2018 Motorcycles come Black $with * us for full$ *come with $ Coloured www.readyyamaha.com• 430 Hensall Circle, Mississauga 48/60 months SPP included. SeeBody 100 48 month SPP add details. Offers good until August 31, 2017. 430 Hensall Circle, Mississauga

4,599

sales direct: 866-819-4114 866-819-4086

8,100

5,179

2015 sv650sa * $ $ 10,999* 16,969

all 2016-2018 2017 2018 Yamaha FZ-10aHg Motorcycleskodiac 450ePs atv $ *come with $ * 60 month sPP

2015 Fj-09

7,769

9,669

Generator all 2016-2018 EF3000iSEB Motorcycles $ * come with 60 month sPP

2016 vZ800 $$ * 1,155* 2,715 EF2000iS

8,669

5,379

4HP

1,490

15HP

3,088 2016 gsX-r750 $

12,869*

*Vehicle Licence (where applicable) and HST extra.Sale Price on the New Motorcycles includes freight and P.D.E.,ECRF,LicenceAdministration Fee and OMVIC Fee.Freight & PDE ($65/$75/$100/$65),all extra on the following on the other products:(EF2000iS/EF3000iSEB/F15SMHA/F4CMHA).Pricing of the following include a limited time rebate and discount of:(R3 $640/FZ7 $160/FJ-09 $0/FZ-10ANG $0/Kodiac $0/EF2000iS $120/EF3000iSEB $150/F4SMHA $50/F15SMHA $100).Dealer order/trade may be necessary,if we sell out of our inventory.Vehicle(s) and accessories shown are for il ustration purposes only.Offers good until March 31,2018 and are subject to change without notice,see us for full details.

*Vehicle Licence fee (if applicable) and HST extra on all offers. Sale ready to race sales event! www.readyktm.com 430 Hensall Circle, Mississauga Price on the New Motorcycles866-812-5582 includes freight and P.D.E., ECRF,

POWERSPORTS kawasaki’s across canada sales event! www.readykawasaki.com • 430 Hensall circle, mississauga • 877-297-7446

OVER 105 UsEd 104202017USED ninja 3000

MOTORCYCLEs IN-sTOCK! 20116 ninja 300 aaBs – winter non-aBs ttest edition 430 Hensall Circle, Mississauga www.readypowersports.com (EEX300AGF) ((EX300BHFB) $

900 2016 rc390 *Vehicle License Fee (where applicable) and HST extra. Some of the prices include 2016 390 duke2016 vulcan 2017 l i m i t ed ti m e Factory I n centi v es: 390 Duke $800/RC390 $800/450 SX-F $1,500/250 classic $ * $ * versysEXC-FX300 2016 Z800 $0/450 XC-F $0/690 Enduro $1,500.Offers good until March 31,2018.

* $ GaraGe Honda dream event! 55,329 66,479* SaleS7,079 transFer PumP

generator

9,269*

5,099

2017 CB300F $ *

5,599

vn900dgF

11,119*

2017 crF250l

5,879*

Licence Administration Fee and OMVIC Fee. Pricing of the following include a limited time rebate of: EX300AGF $750/EX300BHFB $500/ Versys X300 $0/Z800 $1,000/ZX6SE ABS $1,500.2016 Motorcycl e(s) and 690 2016 450sX-F 2017 250 eXc-F 2017 450 Xc-F enduro accessori e s shown are for i l u strati o n purposes onl y . Actual colours 2016 $ or Factory Order may* $ * ZX6seaBs $ $ ng on availability.*Dealer trade may* vary dependi $ * be necessary. Offers subject to change without notice, see us for full details. Offers cannot be combined with any other offers, programs or discounts and are good until August 31,2017. 2016 2017 CB500X cBr600rag $ $ * 2018 trX500Fa7 $ *

9,499 11,969 12,269 10,999 12,869

7,769 12,600 4,999 1 ,399 1,999 One StOp ShOpping: the Only FactOry authOrized retailer in OntariO tO OFFer hOnda, KawaSaKi, KtM, SuzuKi and yaMaha all under One rOOF! $ 11,299 EU7000iSC 529* EU2000iT1 ParallEl EG5000 Reduce this rate 1% 1.9% for for 24mths 24mths WB20XK2C $ * under the Honda loyalty Purchase Financing Purchase Financing $ * $ * 2016 2017 africa-twin 2015 CBR1000S Outboard Motors 389 589 999 Program: If you currently own Summer SaleS event! Available on All Available on All gl1800Bg crF1000larg rePsol www.readyhondapowersports.com HrS21665PKC a Honda Product with an mto 2015-2018 New 2015-2018 new Hrr216610PKC HrX21755HYC $ * $ * $ * Ownership (Honda/Acura 430 Hensall Circle, Mississauga $1,1999* Honda Motorcycles Honda Motorcycles 21,769 15,219 16,169 auto, motorcycle or atv). 4HP In-stock! 15HP in-stock! $

Sales Direct: 866-819-4116

4,779

2.3DK2SCHCHC

1,490

3,088

$ * Generator $ * 2015goodYamaha R3 31, 2018. Down payment or equivalent trade-in on purchase financing may be required 2017 *Licence fee (if applicable) and HST extra on all offers. Offers cannot be combined with any other offers, programs or discounts and are until March based on approved credit from Honda Financial Services Inc. Sale Price on the New Motorcycles includes freight and P.D.E., ECRF, Licence Administration Fee and 2016 FZ7 EF2000iS EF3000iSEB 2015 and v-star 250 FZ-10aHg $ * OMVIC Fee.Freight & PDE ($65/$65/$65/$65/$65/$65/$65/$600/$600),ECRF ($0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$18.50) LicenceAdministration ($0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$399/$399) are all extra on the following on the2015 otherFj-09 products:WB20XK2C/EU2000iT1/EG5000//EU7000ISC/2.3DK2SCHC/HRS2165PKC/HRR21610PKC/HRX2175HYC/TRX420FA6/TRX500FA7).Pricing of the power equipment may include a limited Black $ * Examples: $8,000 @ 1.9% per annum for 24 months equals $339.97 per month C.O.B. $ * $ * $ * time rebate and discount and the Motorcycles/ATV’s as follows: CB300F $1,000/CBX500H $500/CBR600RAG $2,000/CRF250L $500/CRF1000LARG $1,000/CBR1000S $4,000/GL1800BG $3,500. 1.9% Conventional Purchase financing for 24 month term applies to all 2014-2017 New Honda Motorcycle’ s . Financing $ * $ * Coloured $ * www.readyyamaha.com• is $159.28 Total Obligation $8,159.28. Dealer order/trade may be necessary, if we run out of inventory of selected models.Vehicle(s)Bodyandaddaccessories shown are for illustration purposes only. Offers subject to change without notice, see us for full details.

430 hensall circle, Mississauga

4,569

5,139 100

8,100

10,999

16,969

1,050

2,715

April 2018 , The Motorcycle Times – 4

twocents The Motorcycle Times is published 11 times a year from Feb thru December. Motorcycle Times distributes 15,000 free copies for pickup throughout Ontario from our network of Dealerships, Motorcycle related retailers, Motorcycle friendly locations and Subscribers. For more information about becoming a retail associate of The Motorcycle Times email the circulation Department.

scott macdonald EDITOR

Many years ago, before I began to ride, I was visiting a family member at a local hospital and had a few moments where I could sneak out, take a break, stretch my legs and have a smoke. I found myself surrounded by patients bundled up from the nippy April temps in order to have a smoke. Some were in wheelchairs, some just standing around with their hospital issue gowns on white knuckling their IV poles. I thought to myself what a ridiculous sight for anyone visiting the hospital to witness, but who am I to tell any one of them to give their situation a rethink. During my little break, I happened to overhear a conversation two of the patients were having. Like a scene out of some twisted remake of The Shawshank Redemption, here were these two aging inmates discussing what they were both in for. One had mentioned something about having to go through a gambit of tests but the one I remember most, almost word for word was the second gentleman’s response to the query. “My leg was crushed in a motorcycle accident” he said. According to his account of the accident, he was stopped at an intersection waiting to turn when all of a sudden a car tboned him and his motorcycle right there in the middle of the intersection. Next thing he remembers is waking up in emergency and having to endure countless operations with the hopes that one day he would be able to walk again - but no guarantees were afforded to him by the resident physicians or surgical team who worked on him. It was as he put it, a wait and see if my leg takes or not. Turns out - three cigarettes later - when he finally regained consciousness, the police were present to question him about his ac-

It’s Almost Time

count of what happened. The officers proceeded to tell him that the driver who hit him told police that they never saw the motorcycle until impact. Now, this all happened on a sunny day at an intersection, conditions apparently close to perfect, so, unless the sun was setting directly in the drivers eyes how was it possible not to see the motorcycle and Its rider. The bike that was hit was a Goldwing with the full tour pack and the rider was a larger set gentleman, which makes for a fairly visible target by anyone’s standards. Fast-forward a few years and I am sitting in a classroom taking the theory portion of the motorcycle safety course at Sheridan College. The instructors made sure to imprint on our brains the importance of visibility or as they call it conspicuity. As the course progressed they explained that statistically, the number one reason for motorcycle accidents were due to opposing driver saying they didn’t see the bike and rider. Most of the cases sited were under ideal conditions as well, almost echoing the experience of the gentlemen at the hospital. Statistics show that conspicuity has an impact on a riders visibility to other drivers, but it turns out that time of year also plays an important role on the safety of motorcyclists. Early on in the riding season and as the season concludes, drivers simply don’t expect to see us out there. Doesn’t matter how much we try to educate drivers, overhead messages on the busiest highway in the world reminds drivers early on in the season to be aware of riders and look twice. But the simple fact is no car driver really gives a crap unless it affects them directly in some way, add to that the proliferation of smart phones which have made us all

little more than minions on autopilot. Drivers barely take the time while driving to lift their numb heads to look forward, rather they keep one foot riding the brake while they see to the latest gossip and drama on Facebook or text endlessly to some other mindless numbskull they haven’t seen or spoken to in the last fifteen minutes. God forbid they use that flexible thing their useless heads are perched on to turn and look out a window or two to ensure they have some sense of what’s going on around them. It’s bad enough we have to deal with these road morons while we are in our cars going to and from work let alone while we ride. But this is today’s reality like it or not. We need to be prepared and arm ourselves with the knowledge that Spring and Fall are our most vulnerable times and be prepared to be on the defensive. Better yet, try to put off the urge to ride during those first few weeks of spring or last few weeks in the fall. But if you just can’t fight off the urge anymore, stick to roads less travelled, dress for the weather and temps, be as visible as possible and be prepared for the unexpected. That includes what the roads themselves have to throw at you like potholes, loose sand and some potential icy patches early morning or late evening when temperatures drop. Remember that the rubber under you is also not ready, cold temperatures mean less grip, so keep it cool in the corners and anticipate rear tire slippage if you get on the throttle to aggressively. Ultimately our safety comes down to the choices we make and the stats are not in our favour.

Editor Art Director Circulation Manager Distribution Manager Advertising Manager

Contributing Writers

David Heron David Rusk Scott Jackson Henry Hess Dawn Edmonds Rick Wang Johnny Hawkins - Cartoonist Kathy Milliken Ron Morgan - Cartoonist Paul Canuck

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5 – The Motorcycle Times, April 2018

What Moves Your Soul?

April 2018, The Motorcycle Times – 6

ridereport

Zero Motorcycles reveals DSR Black Forest Edition

An all-electric ‘bike with the touring rider in mind – the DSR Black Forest Edition. Capable of delivering 163 miles of range when travelling at city speeds or 78 miles at motorway speeds on a single charge, the Black Forest Edition is ideal for those who want to travel a little further without resorting to petrol power. Further still, the ‘bike’s battery can be replenished with up to 94 miles of range for each hour it’s plugged in, meaning that even short bursts of charging can add a considerable amount of travelling distance. Umberto Uccelli, Zero Motorcycles’ European managing director, said: “The Zero Motorcycles DSR ZF14.4 Black Forest Edition is the first model we’ve ever developed to meet the specific demands of touring riders. “Our customers have been asking for a model like this for years. Riding a Zero is the most connected way to move through nature. The Zero Motorcycles DSR Black Forest extends this to new, longer, and more fun adventures.”

The New Era of Urban Motorcycling Starts

Thanks to a direct drive powertrain, the Black Forest Edition can deliver all 146Nm of torque in one hit – though riders are able to edit the amount of performance provided via a smartphone app, allowing newer or more experienced riders to tailor the way the ‘bike performs to suit their needs. To better equip it for touring, the motorcycle comes with black aluminium top and side panniers, as well as LED auxiliary lights for better visibility when travelling off-road. A touring seat should make the whole affair more comfortable, too.

Harley-Davidson Teams up with Electric Bike Start Up Shortly after revealing plans to market its first electric motorcycle, Harley-Davidson has announced an investment in an electric bike startup as part of its plans to modernize and electrify its range of two-wheeled machines. The Wisconsin-based bikemaker will invest in Silicon Valleybased Alta Motors, headed by Tesla co-co-founders, which has been working on electric motorcycle tech for the past few years. The impetus for such a move, of course, is the rapidly changing motorcycle market. The big bikes that have sustained Harley sales for decades are waning in popularity, and the bikemaker has found itself trying to woo a generation that isn’t as interested in big, heavy and expensive motorcycles -- but could be in the market for affordable, easy-to-use and compact zero-emissions urban bikes if presented with such an option. “Earlier this year, as part of our 10year strategy, we reiterated our commitment to build the next generation of Harley-Davidson riders in part by aggressively investing in electric vehicle (EV) technology,” said HarleyDavidson President and CEO Matt Levatich. “Alta has demonstrated innovation and expertise in EV, and their objectives align closely with ours. We each have strengths and capabilities that will be mutually beneficial as we work together to develop cutting-edge electric motorcycles.” Alta’s current expertise isn’t in road bikes -- the EV startup has been focusing on off-road motorcycles -- but it’s the battery and electric motor technology that’s crucial for Harley-Da-

vidson. After all, it’s really the bikes’ propulsion method that is at stake; on everything else, Harley-Davidson already has plenty of expertise. “Riders are just beginning to understand the combined benefits of EV today, and our technology continues to progress,” said Alta Motors chief product officer and co-founder, Marc Fenigstein. “We believe electric motorcycles are the future, and that American companies have an opportunity to lead that future. It’s incredibly exciting that Harley-Davidson, synonymous with motorcycle leadership, shares that vision and we’re thrilled to collaborate with them.” Harley-Davidson is focusing on something else besides electric powertrain as a part of transforming its model range: ease of use. Most of its lineup for the past couple of decades has been heavier and aimed at leisure riding, rather than everyday mobility (as tends to be the case in markets like Europe). Harley-Davison now views “twist-and-go” operation, one free from operating the clutch and gears, as the future of motorcycles in general, as part of revamping a motorcycle’s basic appeal to customers. “We believe that EV is where global mobility is headed and holds great appeal for existing riders as well as opportunity to bring new riders into the sport,” added Levatich. “We intend to be the world leader in the electrification of motorcycles and, at the same time, remain true to our gas and oil roots by continuing to produce a broad portfolio of motorcycles that appeal to all types of riders around the world.”

Husqvarna Motorcycles announced the availability of three pioneering new ‘Real Street’ models. With the Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 already at dealers across Europe, the Vitpilen 701 will be available by the end of March. All three motorcycles will be available to purchase in North American, South American, Asian and Australian dealers before the end of April. Attracting attention from worldwide media and motorcycle enthusiasts ever since their launch as prototypes, the availability of these three exciting new models helps Husqvarna Motorcycles take another vital step towards fulfilling their progressive vision of street motorcycling. Devoid of any excess and focused on providing a pure riding experience the Vitpilen 401 is a refreshingly simple

and progressive urban street motorcycle that provides a new gateway into motorcycling culture for a wider range of riders. Built around a similar chassis and engine philosophy to the Vitpilen 401, the Svartpilen 401 is a modern-day interpretation of a street explorer. Featuring a bold and rugged appearance it offers a progressive new way for potential riders to experience motorcycling. Inspired by the same unique design approach that runs through the Vitpilen family, the Vitpilen 701 is an all-modern, large displacement single-cylinder motorcycle created to provide a raw and authentic experience to the rider. The Vitpilen 701 is expected to arrive at dealers mid summer in North America

Yamaha Unveils TY-E Electric Trial Bike As we see electrification make its way into seemingly every mode of transportation as alternatives to traditional internal combustion engines, Yamaha unveiled a new concept for an off-road motorcycle. It’s the Yamaha TY-E trial bike concept and it will compete in July at the 2018 FIM Trial-E Cup. Yamaha used the advantages of electric power like powerful low-speed torque and extended acceleration to create a small motorcycle that’s proven to be quite capable off-road as you’ll see in the video below. It’s powered by an AC synchronous electric motor with a lithium-ion battery and the whole bike weighs less than 70 kg (154 lbs). Normally weight is a drawback for electric cars and motorcycles, but that’s not the case with the Yamaha TY-E. Yamaha incorporated enough lightweight components with a CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced polymer) monocoque frame in order to keep the weight down making for a nimble off-roader. You can see the Yamaha TY-E compete in the FIM Trial-E Cup at Auton in France July

14-15 and at Comblain au Pont in Belgium July 21-22. It will be ridden by All Japan Trial Championship competitor Kenichi Kuroyama. There are already a couple manufacturers taking a shot at electric dirt bikes. Hopefully, the TY-E concept is a sign that Yamaha is next in line to bring an electric off-roader to production to give bikes like the KTM Freeride E-XC some healthy competition

7 – The Motorcycle Times, April 2018

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day 13th clothing. Using such Norfolk businesses as Truckin’ T-shirts for silk screendavid rusk ADVANCED ROAD CTake RAFTyour skills to the next level. ing and Quick Stitch Embroidery as well as CONTRIBUTING WRITER various graphic designers,overrun.popandcrackle@gmail.com Margit’s Dover Our European inspired course begins by evaluating your Thunder clothing line includes men’s and current skill level and tailoring our program to meet your needs. ladies’ t- shirts, hats, crests, kids apparel, Challenging you to take your riding to the next level. and both long and short sleeve choices. Using an advanced riding system as taught by the Margit, who has lived in Port Dover for the past 35 years, is the mother of two daughUK police to their riders. Entering the busy highway the rider to be impressed or to be put at risk, except ters. see’s a four lane thenerve cars him. The front touches down crossed up Admitting theplayground business isand a bit and heavybecause trucks as nothing moredepenthen and a soft giggle applied with full throttle wracking it is so weather DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES... saps berequires left in awe as he demonstrates dent to and substantial financial in- calms the bars as demerit points read on his awesomeness. The overkill of up a modvestment and physical work setting tents, the digital speedo. Taught the hard way Call or go online to book your course today! Margit at the October 2010outFriday the ern sport bike is abused and Dover. using the he practices slow in and fast making Margit loves Friday 13th in Port 13th. www.advancedroadcraft.ca huge rear sprocket to perform “I’ve met people from all over effortless the world. the entry easy and so it was no bother stunts he risks everything. He loves his when the aapproaching car isappeared ange with cowboy graphic a popular I’ve met people who have flown their bikes repurposed superbike and maintains mid-blind corner. A simple roll off the choice of some men. in from the U.K. and people who have arit to perfection. What was left ugly and gas Women brings him backgo tofor sane andyellow slidingor will often butter rived by limo. A lot of people come back hidden behind the factory plastic this onto the seat he waves at the old couple every year and look for my clothing. They cactus green, if they are looking for someyoung man has spent hours tidying passing by. Momentary distraught vanget to know you. It is a lot of fun,” she said. thing different than black. Shoppers enjoy up with specialty parts and protecting ishes as they smile back at him and with the quality and unique designs that MarMargit about 20 people for the it all with employs a custom crash cage and 12 a glint of jealously in their eyes, flash past git’s Dover Thunder Apparel offers. event. She sets up Thursday and takes with no harm done. Margit Wamsley, right, and friend Connie Prime showcase some of Margit’s o’clock bar. If you miss seeing her on the street, she down Saturday. Although young he has practiced skills “Nothing can stop me!” the other yells “Dover Thunder Apparel”. can be reached at wamsley@cablerocket. Every year, Margit enjoys working with that shame others but selfish and con- triumphantly into the wind and expertcom different colours and designs. Texas ora Special Events Coordinator for Norfolk vinced of his greatness he has yet to feel ly pushes the left bar to adjust for the lane By Donna McMillan County in her regular work day, will once the pain that surely follows such flagrant split and that’s when the car swerves, it’s “Dover Thunder Apparel”, specializing again have staff manning two booths that behavior. Today he wears minimal gear too late. A flicker of confusion and anin Friday 13th biker wear is celebrating its feature “Dover Thunder Apparel”. They confident that skill will save him and ger and then a blinding flash as the end comes, full stop. It happened so fast. In 13th year of business this year, a year of can be found next to Dover Hairport, near boasts of his ability. He rides fast. Turning onto the twisty road he see’s control and bursting with life a moment three Friday 13ths and expectations that the Dover Dairy Bar and in The Arbor the single lane as his playground and the before, now an empty shell slides under this July 13th could be the biggest event in parking lot. sporadic traffic as not only a danger but the truck to begin the mayhem and innoThirteen years ago, Margit started off Port Dover to date. as locals, who worry about the threat of cent people are changed forever. His skill designing hats and quickly moved to FriOwner Margit Wamsley, who works as advancedroadcraft@gmail.com speeding motorcycles. He uses the over- did not save him. kill of the powerful machine and the At more then double the posted limit large rear sprocket makes for effortless he pressured the rearsets and tipped into acceleration. He loves his bike and main- the bumpy and blind corner and then in tains it in perfect condition. It is purpose a blink, he knew it all. The hidden drivebuilt to race and so hides ugly beneath its way and the car already halfway onto the sleek skin but to him the precise utilitari- road. The 20% leeway he kept for escape, anism is beautiful. the Sun’s glint on a bumper that passed In his 50’s he has practiced skills that just inches from his leg and the rush of shameTheothers wears leather life as the shocked cager disappeared in FOR Can-Am and Spydertoday RT and RS roadsters. With a unique, The Can-Am Spyder RT and RS roadsters. With a unique, three-wheeled intuitive, rider-focused features, and armour in stance case and his abilities can not his mirrors. three-wheeled stance and intuitive, rider-focused features, It happened so fast and skill it’s everything you need to become one with the road. MOTORCYCLE it’s everything you need to become one with theme. road. save him. Humbled by his selfishness saved It’s riding. Reinvented. Discover what thousands of riders It’s riding. Reinvented. Discover what thousands of riders already know atearly can-am.brp.com. and stupidity on, he wears road Even you Harely and cruiser pilots already know at can-am.brp.com. INSURANCE rash and surgeons asroadsters. a warnhave a stupid ability to smash the law Thethe Can-Am Spyder RTscar and RS With a unique, stance honest and intuitive, rider-focused ing andthree-wheeled quietly offers advice. He features, and us sport bikers well, we’ll just stand it’s everything you need to become one with the road. rides fast. over here against the wall and keep our It’s riding. Reinvented. Discover what thousands of riders alreadydifferent know at can-am.brp.com. Two very riders and yet they mouth shut. Its not the letter of the law are brothers, filled with the passion that you see but the respect that judges its grips us all. Looking back, my fresh- purpose, the overarching guide to our man years were filled with craziness that virtue system. should have seen me dead but through it Yes we speed and wheelie, we race all I always felt the fear of consequence, and show off and all the crazy and stuthe respect and I just don’t see that in pid that’s imaginable but our respect can some riders today. Would you stop for grant us these things. There is a growing the law even if escape was possible?, and sub-culture among us who operate outVEHICLE STABILITY SYSTEM SEMI-AUTOMATIC DYNAMICSTEERING POWER STEERING STABILITY SYSTEM SEMI-AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONTRANSMISSION DYNAMIC POWER if no, would you feel guilt?VEHICLE The facts and side societies law blatantly endanger system No clutch orand foot shifter here. required Adjusts required effort through An automotive-like systemAn automotive-like No clutch lever or foot shifterlever here. Adjusts effort through integrating stability, traction Yourup leftand thumb your acceleration, and steering integrating stability, traction Your left thumb shifts yourshifts up and acceleration, speed andspeed steering history prove that rule ofandlaw what innocent people. Siggy Freud would braking forshifts an down. forefinger shifts down. Withangle reverse. angle comfort data. Moreand comfort be and anti-lockis braking for and an anti-lock forefinger With reverse. data. More improved control. incredibly confident ride. incredibly confident (Manualride. available) (Manual available) improved control. maintains a civil society. Insidiously, impressed with these modern day loon’s the fall begins with the small things like as they relinquish control to the Id and VEHICLE STABILITY SYSTEM SEMI-AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DYNAMIC POWER STEERING disobedience and if left unguarded the on An automotive-like system stomp No clutch levercivility or foot shifterand here. respect. Adjusts required effort through integrating stability, traction Your left thumb shifts up and your acceleration, speed and steering completely off the rails stuff waits for usfor an This space about million and anti-lock braking forefingercolumn shifts down. With reverse. isangle data. Moreacomfort and incredibly confident ride. (Manual available) improved control. down the road. Focus on the long trend words short of reaching into the dark and then that “bikelife” rider who flips rabbit hole that is humanity but traits like off the cop while doing a fourth gear respect and regard for what is right are stand up will seem a little more whacked hand holds at the precipice, so hold tight. then the previous iteration. Increasingly, The paramedic stood transfixed, starImprint morals and values decline and corruping Dealer at him as the living pleaded for help. 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9 – The Motorcycle Times, April 2018

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April 2018, The Motorcycle Times – 10

worldrides

Untouched Tibet

By Rick Z. Wang Have you ever wondered what it feels like to ride in a land so ancient and remote that you would get lost in its majestic beauty? Do you ever wish that you could ride forever until you reach the edge of civilization? Tibet is one of those rare places untainted by the outside world. Riding in Tibet is a sublime journey of the soul. I didn’t go to Tibet with motorcycles in mind. In fact I was not even a biker yet. We were in the area shooting a documentary on Buddhism. I was carrying my camera and tripod walking on a gravel road when I heard the all too familiar sound of screeching tires making a tight turn. Turning my head I saw a most unlikely sight - a Tibetan monk, in full ceremonial robe, speeding down the hill towards me. He stopped beside me and we started a conversation. We introduced ourselves and he told us his name was Wangbu. Wangbu turned out to be a friend of my local host. He was riding a Honda CG150, a very popular model in rural China and Chinese Tibetan Autonomous Region. It is favoured for its low maintenance cost and rugged design. Detecting my envious glances at his steed, Wangbu asked me; “Do you want to try?” “Oh, no, I don’t ride.” “I’ll teach you!” He insisted. The Tibetan people are some of the most genuine people I’ve ever met. All their emotions are written on their face for the world to see. If they don’t like you, they spit on the ground and stick their tongues out at you. If they like you they make you feel like you are the king of the universe. Wangbu took a liking to me, so I wasn’t about to refuse his gesture of friendship. As I climbed onto his Honda, I felt like a kid again getting on a bicycle for the my first time - excited and scared all at the same time. The Honda CG150 is a tame machine,

even by western standards. On the Chinese model you start it by stepping on the kickstart lever while the killswitch is disengaged. In the thin Tibetan air the engine always chokes for the first few minutes. This particular bike had a very touchy clutch. I stalled it almost immediately. With some guidance from my Bike Sensei and a downward slope I was on my way. The road was gravel and my shifting was choppy but what an exhilarating ride? Green mountain on my right and flocks of yaks on my left; the road extends for as long as the eye can see; the smell of wildflowers filling the air. My motorcycle cherry was thus popped by a Honda CG150 on the steppes of Tibet. Like someone who just fell in love, my mind was constantly on the motorcycle over the next few days. Whenever the weather was suitable I would say to the wife: “Should I go into town for some potatoes?” or “I wonder what’s beyond those hills?” or “I hear the purple flowers are blooming in the next village.” Long time bikers would immediately recognize these as “Bike Excuses”. Luckily my wife is ignorant of that and readily agreed to come out for a ride. I borrowed my host’s motorcycles (it seems like everyone owns a motorcycle or has access to one) and asked a friend and his wife to join us for a evening ride to the next village. Hearing the roar of our engines, the two youngest daughters of the local priest came out to watch. Skipping yak milking duties they decided to follow us on their bicycles. Two hundred meters down the road, they gave up and waved us to go on without them. Most Tibetan roads are in moderate condition. Your main hazards are weather, wildlife and other drivers. Because of the high altitude the temperature can drop very sharply during the course of the day. One moment you might be on fire in your jacket, the next minute you might be freezing your fingers off. The mountains here are high enough to create their own micro-weather systems so never trust the forecast. One day we

experienced bouts of thick fog then light rain which on its own is no big deal. But when combined with the hazard of wildlife the danger level rose considerably. Wildlife in Tibet is a loosely used term. There are thousands of yaks and vultures just roaming the hills. Wild dogs and stray horses are an extremely common sight as well. On top of that, road workers, usually female, would just pop up out of nowhere and start to sweep the road. When riding or driving, you get about a half a second to decide if you want to hit the soft shoulders of the road or the soft shoulders of a local woman you barely know. Other drivers on the road are another huge challenge. Transport trucks and tourist buses speed through the two lane road like they are late for a hot date. They often make unpredictable lane changes and speed up before a blind corner. Every dashboard has pictures or statue of Buddha, which makes them feel that they are invincible. On top of that, there is no motorcycle helmets anywhere to be found in Tibet. So if you want one you have to bring it with you.

with a mixture of disapproval and envy. Arriving at the flower field we see a group of young monks finishing a picnic. We exchanged blessings, they asked where my wife was from (she is caucasian), I said “Jia Na Da” which is Mandarin for Canada. They nodded politely and smiled. I wondered if they had any idea where that really was. After the monks left we took in the pure untouched elegance. Hundreds of acres of wild flowers in an array of colours, no farms, no cities and no sign of civilization anywhere. Just the pure splendor of nature’s bounty. The Tibetan people are mostly buddhists. They treasure life above all else. There is no agriculture because they don’t want to destroy life when they dig up the soil or spray insecticides. You don’t see tall buildings for the same reason. They have rivers and lakes but no fisherman or swimmers. Along the roads they have plastic barriers to prevent caterpillars from crossing the road. To the outside world, Tibet may appear to be a backward, nomadic, intensely religious and isolated place, but once you get to know the people and their culture

On our way to see the wildflower fields in the next village we were passed by some young locals on motorcycles. They waved to us, just as we would ackowledge another rider in the western world. Which was kind of a surprise. Now I know it’s a world wide thing. We passed a tiny village without a single street light. Being that I just got on a motorcycle basically for the first time, I noted this in case I had to go through it after dark. There were Grannies in traditional dresse carrying their grandchildren on their backs. They looked at us

you start to appreciate the simplicity of their ideals; the beauty of their philosophy and the clarity of their world view. The Tibetans, especially the young people are intensely curious about the outside world. They love sharing their stories with visitors, and are very excited to hear about the outside world. The school kids we met called my wife “Nice Girl!” when she taught them the Macarena dance. My drone camera flew over a temple and some of the monks threw coke bottles at it to make it come lower. While filming a burial ceremony

11 – The Motorcycle Times, April 2018

several youngsters surrounded me and asked me all kinds of questions about my camera and equipment. Our journey in Tibet was full of precious moments and unforgettable memories,

and my first experience as a motorcycle rider. Now it’s time to go home and do it the right way. Travelling tips for Motorcycling in Tibet: As foreigners you need a Chinese Visa

to enter China and Tibetan Autonomous Region. You will also need a special admittance document from the Tourism Ministry. Both can be obtained from the Chinese Consulate. The admittance document may require you to join a guided tour group for at least part of your stay. You can’t rent motorcycles in Tibet but you can definitely borrow them from friendly locals. Just give them something in return, don’t trash the bike (obviously) and keep your eyes on the road since hazards are everywhere. The roads are not very well posted and landslides are normal occurrences. It is highly recommended to ride in groups and have a local guide with you all the

time. There are also random checkpoints where the police ask for your ID’s. I would NOT recommend handing over your passports. Many times we would just say we forgot them at the hotel and they waved us through anyway. Keep an open mind about local traditions, customs and foods. Do your research before you go and bring a good supply of medicines for high altitude sickness. Do not overexert yourself, due to the high altitude the air is thin which makes everything that little bit harder. Well my friends. Stay curious and ride on. May your steeds take you to the most exotic and unforgettable places. Don’t forget to share.

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April 2018, The Motorcycle Times – 12

Kat’s Eyes

s ime cle T y c r o Mot The

The Motorcycle Times is looking for a few good writers.

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Months before I began my riding career, my beloved and I drove from Sarnia to London to check out the winter bike show. I sat on a few bikes and looked over gear I thought I might like to buy. Walking out to our vehicle at the end of the show, I realized I had forgotten to enter the big draw, so I scurried back and tossed my ticket stub into the bin. A couple of days later, ‘Larry’ from Mississauga called to say I had won a trip for two to Bike Week in Daytona. I snorted and hung up on him. He called again the next evening and assured me that I had won the grand prize: flights for two people from London to Daytona as well as double accommodations at The Flamingo hotel. My beloved knew a guy from Tillbury that was hauling bikes down to Daytona, so he loaded his ‘78 Honda CB 750 and it was waiting for us at the Volusia County fairgrounds when we arrived. That week was an eye-opener I had never seen so many bikes in one place. The vast majority seemed to have been Harleys, but there was also a large group of sport bikes. And people. All kinds of people. People dressed with as much riding gear as possible; people, mostly women, dressed as scantily as possible. It became fairly easy to differentiate a poser from a 1%er. And I realized, very quickly, that even at 5’8” with a ‘big’ personality, there were a lot of women I would have said, ‘Yes, sir’ to; women that looked like they didn’t take crap from anyone. My most important revelation came from a guy staying at the same hotel as we were. My beloved and I were just getting off our bike when a guy on a Harley eased into the space next to us. He was not a 1%er, but it appeared he was a longtime, hard-riding biker. I looked at his Harley and said jokingly, ‘We can move our bike, if you want.” In response, he murmured, “It doesn’t matter what you ride, as long as you ride.” His pronouncement prompted a big shift in my perspective about the world of riding motorcycles. Before I began riding, I thought people that rode bikes only rode with other people that rode the same kind of bikes. My beloved was born in England and, perhaps because of that, has a predilection for British bikes. Our garage never seemed to be without something from across the pond because ‘every British bike deserves a good home’ and if no one else was willing or able to provide one, apparently we were. Most of his riding buddies owned Triumphs, Nortons, Vincents, and BSAs. For reasons I still don’t understand, people that rode BMWs were also welcome in that crew. In the years since I heard that biker’s pronouncement, my beloved and I have developed groups of friends that ride many different types of bikes: Harleys, Hondas, Triumphs, BMWs, Yamahas,

Ducatis, and Moto Guzzis. We also have friends that don’t ride. Despite friendly banter on what we all believe is the best bike - usually our current ride - our criteria for riding with someone is based not so much on what they ride as how they ride. We prefer to ride with other people that know how to ride and how to ride in a group – particularly on long-distance rides. I have developed a preference for riding on my own. I now acknowledge how much riding is a solitary pursuit for me. I like the back roads where I can stop, take photos and do a bit of writing. I like to wander where my bike takes me. My beloved, on the other hand, is a member of the Iron Butt Association. He, and his friends, Peter, and Dave enjoy the challenge of riding from Sarnia to Mexico in 34 hours; including an eight-hour layover. Good for them. Always intrigued by the people around me, it was with curiosity that I engaged in conversation with the couple sitting next to me on recent Air Transat flight from Toronto to Roatan. Barb and Jamie Caldwell were on their way to the west end of the island for a surprise birthday party. We were spending a much-needed extended vacation in the east (quiet) end of Roatan. As we exchanged information, I learned that Barb and Jamie live near Kippen, north of Exeter; we are from Sarnia. By remarkable coincidence, we realized we all ride. Barb said, “I ride an ‘06 Harley Softail Deluxe and Jamie rides an ‘05 Heritage Classic.” “Oh, I’m sorry, honey,” I joked. “We’re not,” Barb quipped. “We love our bikes.” Despite riding different bikes, their bike life has not been much different than ours. They belong to a riding group called ‘Bannockburn Cruisers’. Three of the group members own property that abuts onto the Bannockburn River, so it seemed natural that the group be named after the river. Although my beloved and I no longer ride with a group, for several years we rode with a Sarnia-based group called ‘Dash ‘n’ Dine’. The 14-member group, do an annual one-week trip. Like us, they have ridden through the Finger Lakes of New York state; circumnavigated each of the Great Lakes and rumbled across the Mackinac Bridge between Mackinaw City and St Ignace. Their bikes have travelled the roads of Traverse City, New Liskeard, and near Lake Champlain. They encouraged us to head up to their place sometime this summer. And we probably will ride up to Kippen at least once this riding season. And we probably will go out for a ride with a couple that owns Harleys. And we will probably have a good time. Because...“it doesn’t matter what you ride, as long as you ride.”

13 – The Motorcycle Times, April 2018

CONTINUED FROM PG.03

2018 Honda Gold Wing However, with an improvement in fuel efficiency, reduced weight and improved aerodynamics Honda claim the tank range remains the same. The changeable rider modes are easy to select, and change the suspension, engine characteristics and rider aids. On long stretches it was hard to notice the difference in the suspension. However, the changeable modes dramatically change the DCT. For example in Sports mode the gears are held for longer and the system quickly and automatically cogs down a few gears if rapid acceleration is required. It’s the opposite in the Economical mode, it short-shifts to top gear and almost refuses to knock back a gear during aggressive throttle openings. The DCT, it is truly incredible, almost unfathomably smooth. On small or moderate throttle openings it’s actually hard to count the gears. Luggage is nestled into the easy–access panniers, which open with slow motion sophistication on hydraulic rods.

A small gravel car drive, would normally be a nightmare on a big Wing. But with the Honda’s new ‘walk mode’ and easy-to-use reverse it was a breeze. The new Honda shone and showed how poor the old bike was by modern standards. The new six-piston linked brakes are eye-popping strong. Considering they’re stopping 378kg, they’re really impressive, the big Wing remains

stable and the ABS isn’t too intrusive. Once away from the highway the difference between the modes is more noticeable. There’s less sag and wallowing in the Sports mode. Even in the soft Touring mode the handling is far superior to the old model. The old bike was a comfortable method of getting from A – B, but now it’s actually a fun bike. It might not be a big step in power over

the old bike, but because it’s lighter, it’s much livelier than before. Comparing the old bike to the new 2018 is like comparing an old steam-powered ocean liner to a new cruiser. Usually, any new model has maybe a 10% improvement, but the new Gold Wing is light years ahead, with significantly improved handling, ease-of-use, and fun built in.

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April 2018, The Motorcycle Times – 14

garageworks

The Black Piston Cloud A Wrench in the Works

By David Heron You know the black cloud that I talk about that follows me around when it comes to motorcycle restoration? Well, it had descended and rather than just sitting over my head, it is now right around my shoulders and surrounding my head. Maybe I should explain. I got the Honda cylinders back from the local machine shop with nice clean new holes. The Wiseco pistons arrived in the mail and now I was ready to go. It seems that technology has advanced in the last 47 years since I have worked on a 305 Super Hawk. The pistons are nice and shiny and were a far more reasonable price than the Kawasaki ones that I am used to. But, the new technical advance seems to have this 3 piece oil ring system. Two strokes don’t even have an oil ring. Of course, there is some advantage to not having an oil burning engine. It brings far fewer nasty looks from tree hugging people who seem to like clean air. Anyway, nowadays we have the 3 piece oil ring instead of a one piece that has holes in it to distribute oil to the cylinder walls. What we now get is a squiggly sort of insert and then two skinny rings that go on each side of the squiggly to

hold it in. The problem is that the stupid centre squiggle thing has to butt up at its joint and it always seems to pop out. This makes it impossible to compress the ring and it stops the piston from going into its rightful place in the cylinder. The instructions with the pistons said that it was necessary to use a ring compressor to install. Well, I have never needed one to install pistons before so I thought that those instructions were only for other people and not for me. Probably that is how most others think too. It’s like the drivers you see on the road who seem to think that the rules of the road only apply to everyone else and not them. So, I got my gasket set, placed the base gasket in place, put the pistons on the connecting rods and went about trying to slide the cylinders over the pistons and rings. At this point I am glossing over the installation of the Jesus clips for the wrist pins. Jesus clips, commonly known as circlips hold the wrist pins in the piston. They are an expanding wire clip that goes into a hole about half their diameter and then expand in their seats. They require a special twisting insertion technique with needle nose pliers. It’s a technique that seems to elude me. At any rate, I did finally get them installed. Oh yeah, I call them Jesus clips because when you are trying to install them and they let go and go flying across the room, you yell just that. I had a couple of these

episodes which result in a search of the whole shop with a powerful light looking for a skinny little round hunk of wire. Back to the task at hand, my MO is to squeeze the rings from below with my fingers and then slide the cylinder over the top. Sometimes it is necessary to coax the rings in place with a screwdriver but not usually. Of course, while squeezing, the stupid little oil rings pop out of place and then the squiggly separates. Of course, the things won’t go back into place while on the rods so I had to take out the circlips and remove the piston to get the oil rings back in place. The LSW seemed to have the best results in getting the rings to sit so I was at her mercy as to when I could try again. The next time I tried, I was able to get the LSW to come slumming in my shop to give me a hand. I squeezed and she tried to drop the cylinders on. It definitely didn’t work and we were able to get one oil ring to pop out again. What was really annoying was that we were able to get both compression rings into the cylinder bore but the oil rings were always able to put a stop to progress. Off came the piston again. Off flew the Jesus clip, again and the search began again for the Prodigal clip. What I did find was that it landed almost exactly where it had on its previous flight. At this point, I figured that it may be time to go by the instructions.

Canadian Tire has a cool program which lends tools for free. You have to pay full price for it but then can use it and return it and they give you your money back. It’s also necessary at this point to admit to not thinking too clearly. Automotive pistons go in from the top of the cylinder and their piston ring compressors stay in one piece so you put the piston in the cylinder and then lift off the ring compressor. Well, bike pistons go in from the bottom and once the piston is in the cylinder, the ring compressor is sitting around the connecting rod. What a dumb butt. So, I tried putting the pistons in from the top. No go. The 3 piece oil rings expanded as they came out of the compressor and before they were in the cylinders. I brought the ring compressor back to CTC and got my money back with no hassle. But, I still did not have the pistons installed. Here is the point where you have to seek professional help and I don’t mean psychiatric help although there are many times when I think that this would be a better course of action. When in doubt, go to the internet. I googled installing motorcycle pistons and found a bunch of stuff on YouTube. One highlight was a motorcycle ring compressor that is compressed with ratcheting pliers and separates after the pistons are in so you can pull the tool off around the con rod. Very slick. But, there

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15 – The Motorcycle Times, April 2018

was also another video that showed them putting the pistons in the cylinders first and then having the piston come out the bottom of the cylinder just enough to install the wrist pin but not enough to have the rings come out of the cylinder. Another slick move. Being the cheapo that I am, I figured that this was the way to go and it saved me the expense of buying a ring compressor. Since I had been unable to get the rings in with an auto type compressor, I went to my friend at the local garage. I did have to listen to a pile of crap about amateur mechanics and the like but that was OK. He tried to put the pistons in from the top and also failed miserably which gave me some ammunition to return his teasing insults. He was going to give up when I asked him to try from below. They went in like butter. So here I was with pistons in the cylinders and a simple exercise to complete for success. The next morning, I once again was able to get the LSW to join me in the shop. She held the cylinders while I gently tapped the piston down until the hole for the wrist pin was visible. We could stick a finger in to lift the rod and the pin slid easily into place. Now this is the point when I have to report on the LSW’s use of language. She is the best girl any guy could want, attractive, self-sufficient and handy around the house. While I spend hours in the shop playing with bikes, she does all the renovation carpentry around the house. But, she can swear like a trucker and does. As a matter of fact, she makes my shop cursing seem like that of a choir boy. I’ve learned some new words and phrases while working together. Anyway, the next one was very easy. Too easy. The wrist pin slid in nicely and I was ready to button up the engine. But, the cylinders would not slide all the way down into place. Something was blocking them. I was moving the crankshaft and noticed that the second piston was not moving. No wonder the second pin went in so easy. I had missed the rod entirely. The cylinder had slipped down a touch so I pulled it up ever so slightly to see the full hole for the wrist pin. It was not connected. Of course, this was after fighting again with the Jesus clips (circlips). Back came the LSW and we were able to use a tandem cursing technique to get the wrist pin actually into the con rod where it belongs. All I had to do was install the last circlip and we were done. Up slid the piston, out slid the oil ring and out came my torrent of curse words which were interspersed with the new ones I had learned from my lovely assistant earlier. She had gone out for a walk and when she returned to check on me, she just couldn’t believe that I had managed to screw up our team work. Neither could I by the way. So, I have bitten the bullet. I am waiting for the motorcycle ring compressor that I have just ordered on ebay. As usual, it is not worth buying a cheap one so I spent a chunk of money. I keep telling myself that I will have it for the rest of my life. I am also telling myself that if I keep working on motorcycles, that I may not be around much longer. At least I will go with a much broader swearing vocabulary thanks to my assistant. There is always a positive side to everything.

April 2018, The Motorcycle Times – 16

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Despite being such a small town in the middle of nowhere, Tennessee, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of it and there might even be a label or a t-shirt in your house that says “Lynchburg” on it. That’s because Lynchburg is home to the Jack Daniel’s distillery. Every drop of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey, the best-selling whiskey brand in the world, comes from this facility. This isn’t the first time the two iconic American brands have collaborated on a motorcycle. This is the third consecutive year there’s been a Jack Daniel’s Indian and the one that was selected this year for the Jack treatment was the Scout Bobber which came out last year. The two brands wanted it to be a more affordable offering than the previous projects to make it more accessible to the specific group of riders it’s been catered to: Firefighters and first responders. The other two Jack bikes had pretty general Jack Daniel’s themes. Black and white paint jobs, “Old No. 7” logos, filigree, the works. This Scout Bobber has some of those elements, but this it is specifically themed off of the Jack Daniel’s Fire Brigade, which is a very real fire department of about 30 people just for the Jack Daniel’s distillery. When you’re dealing with that many dry ingredients in the Tennessee sun, a fire brigade is a necessity. There’s a lot of pride in the Jack Daniel’s brand and just as much pride in the fire brigade associated with it. The brigade’s gorgeous Pierce fire truck is black and gold and so is this Indian Scout Bobber. This, along with the previous Jack bikes, was customized by Brian Klock, who did a tremendous job making it really stand out while carrying a measure of subtlety. Anyone who has seen an Indian Scout Bobber will know that this one is special, but it isn’t too in-your-face with the Jack Daniel’s Fire

Brigade theme. It’s two-tone matte black with gold stripes to match the fire truck. When I say “two-tone” I don’t mean black and gold, I mean there are two different tones of matte-black going on. It would be almost impossible to tell unless you’re up close to the bike in person, but when you do notice it, it’s very impressive. I don’t know what to call the pattern in the stripes, but it’s...fire trucky. The stripes have a sort of reflective checkerboard pattern and it’s a really nice touch. Other features exclusive to the Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Scout Bobber is gold badging, “Old No. 7” end caps on the foot pegs, “Jack Daniel’s” stitched into the seat, a Fire Brigade logo on the tank, a numbered badge, and a reminder inscribed on the front fender that reads “Drive Responsibly: Bottles & Throttles Don’t Mix.” The gold graphics are real 24 karat gold and so is the coating on the individually numbered badge. The Scout Bobber is a bike you can get both for its attitude and for its performance. If a premium American cruiser with the bobber aesthetic and one of the best V-twins in the business is what you’re after, then you can’t do much better than the Scout Bobber, Jack Daniel’s edition or otherwise. Pricing for the Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Scout Bobber starts at $16,999 in the U.S. and $20,999 in Canada. If you want one, you’re basically SOL unless you ordered it within the first 10 minutes that it went up. Deliveries begin this August. Sometimes when two brands from different industries collaborate, it’s either a shameless money grab or, well, just lame. But the partnership between Indian Motorcycles and Jack Daniel’s tied together by Klock Werks Kustom

hung up your leathers for the night,” said Dave Stang of Jack Daniel’s. No explanation is needed for why riding a motorcycle while drunk is a bad idea. But the Jack Daniel’s brand understands that putting its name on a motorcycle might raise a few eyebrows. So why do such a collaboration? Why put the name of a liquor on a motorcycle at all? Because Jack Daniel’s and Indian Motorcycle are two brands that hold a special place in American history and they’re quite compatible with each other. Indian was America’s first motorcycle brand and Jack Daniel’s was the first registered distillery in the U.S. Both brands have loyal, passionate fans who don’t just want a good story, but quality products to back up the legacy. Not to mention the marketing opportunity of the whole thing. It’s okay to like both Indian Motorcycles and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey, I assume that a lot of people who are interested in one brand are also interested in the other. But that doesn’t mean they think it’s okay to ride while drunk. You could have a full day of motorcycle riding followed by a full night of drinking (trust me on that) without ever mixing the two activities. So, the short answer is yes, a whiskey-motorcycle collaboration is okay. It becomes especially okay when both brands involved are vocal in their opposition to drunk riding, which is certainly the case here. And to put that message in writing on the bike itself might not

17 – The Motorcycle Times, April 2018

Cycles has a lot of heart and soul to it. Indian and Jack Daniel’s are two brands that are over a century old and have some really passionate fans. Not resting on their laurels, both of these brands reward the passion of their enthusiasts by making the best products they can and the results are phenomenal. The Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Scout Bobber is a great example of that, and the fact that its theme comes from the Jack Daniel’s Fire Brigade not only makes it look cool, but it’s an honorable nod to firefighters and first responders everywhere. The collaboration of Indian Motorcycles and Jack Daniel’s raises some questions that are worth addressing. When some people hear “Jack Daniel’s” and “motorcycle” in the same sentence, it gives them pause, and understandably so. That got me thinking, is a whiskey-motorcycle collaboration really a good idea? It’s a little more complicated than a yes or no question. I think it requires starting with clarifying that in no way does Jack Daniel’s or Indian Motorcycle advocate driving while under the influence of the fine products that Jack Daniel’s produces or any other alcohol. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Part of the 24-karat gold accents on the Jack Daniel’s Edition Scout Bobber is a reminder on the front fender that reads “Drive Responsibly: Bottles & Throttles Don’t Mix.” “You don’t start drinking until you’ve

be necessary, but it’s a great way to make it clear that these two wonderful, all-American brands can be enjoyed together, but only as long as the imbibing begins after the riding is complete. Bottles and throttles might not mix, but Jack Daniel’s and Indian Motorcycle is a match made in heaven.

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4,579 6,269 11,919 alalll 20201616-220,069 $ * alalll 20201616-2-2001188 alalll 20201616-2-2001188 -2001188 7,349 Mototorrccycyclleses Mototorrccycyclleses Mototorrccycyclleses 2016 cocomeme wiwitthh co me 2014 $ * 22014comeCTX1300A $ GL1800BG * 60cocomomementhwiwitthh GL1800ADE $ * 2016 CBR600RA wiwitthh accessories shown are foron illustration sPPPP 60 60 ports.com $ shown are for i l u strati purposes mo mo $ * nth nth sP sP 60 P P mo * nt hs 60 60 $ monthsPP mo* nthsPP $ only. Pricing * $ 15,600 $ (Airbag) 2016 TRX420FM2 purposes includes factory 89 13,969* issauga 389 8869 24,169* only. 599 Pricinasg9infollows: cludes factory incenti ves $ * $ * incentives (DRZ70 $200/ 7,199 DC 29,169 HRR2169V VKC C HR RX2175HYC 9-4116 HRS2164PDC as follows:$0/SV650SA (DRZ70 $300/TU250X 2.99%/36 MTHS. PURCHASE FINANCING! TU250X $1000/GSX250R$0/ all 2016-20TRADE-IN all 20ARE 18 16 *LICENCE FEE (IF APPLICABLE) AND HST EXTRA$0/VZ800 ON ALL OFFERS. OFFERS CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS, PROGRAMS OR DISCOUNTS AND GOOD UNTIL AUGUST 31, 2016. DOWN PAYMENT OR EQUIVALENT ON PURCHASE FINANCING MAY BE REQUIRED -20 All 18 20 15 SV650SA $1000/GSX250R $250/VZ800 $1,200/GSX-R750 $1400). All alMol 20tor16cyc-201les8 BASED ON APPROVED CREDIT FROM HONDA FINANCIAL SERVICES INC. SALE PRICE ONMoTHE NEW MOTORCYCLES INCLUDES FREIGHT AND P.D.E., ECRF, LICENCE FEE AND OMVIC FEE. FREIGHT & PDE ($50/$50/$65/$65/$65/$65/$75/$75/$50/$50/$600/$600), ECRF ($0/ alMol 20tor16cycADMINISTRATION -2 Al 01 l tor les 20 8 cyc 15 les www.readysuzuki.com Motorcycles come with $1,200/GSX-R750 $100). All 2015/2016$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$24.86/$24.86) AND2015/2016-2018 LICENCE ADMINISTRATION ($0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$299/$299) ARE ALL EXTRA ON THE FOLLOWING ON THE OTHER PRODUCTS: 2.3DK2SCHC/WB20XK2C/EU2000IT1/EG5000/HRS2164PDC/HRX2175HYC/HRR2169VKC /TRX420FA6/ co me Mo wi to th co rc me ycles Motorcwiyclthes $1,300/CBR500R $1,100/VFR800 MocotomercwiAND yclthes DISCOUNT AND THE MOTORCYCLES/ATV’S $ * CBR300RTA $ $3,500/CBR1000S * $1,000/CBR600RA * TRX420FM2). PRICING OF THE POWER EQUIPMENT MAY A LIMITED AS FOLLOWS: $800/CTX1300A$$5,000/ GL1800BG $1,000/ 48/60 monthsINCLUDE SPPescomewi included. See us forTIME full REBATE www.readysuzuki.com 2018Motorcycl th48/60months 430 Hensall Circle, Mississauga 60comomenthPURPOSES 60 mo 48 nth mo sP GL1800ADE $3,500/TRX420FA6 $1,750/TRX420FM2 $900. DEALER ORDER/TRADE MAY BE NECESSARY, IF WE RUN OUT OF INVENTORY OF SELECTED MODELS. VEHICLE(S) AND ACCESSORIES SHOWN ARE FOR ILLUSTRATION nth P wi SP tsPh P ONLY. OFFERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT co P me co wi details. Offers good until August 31, 2017. me t h wi t h SPP included. See us for full details. Offers NOTICE, SEE USdirect: FOR FULL DETAILS. 430sales Hensall Circle,Mississauga 866-819-4114 60 monthsPP 60 monthsPP 48 monthSPP good until March 31,2018. BF2.3HHP

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April 2018, The Motorcycle Times – 18

bychance

Happenstance By Dawn Edmonds It was the end of February in what had been a brutal winter in southwestern Ontario. There had been a lot of snow. So much so, that for a week I had had to shovel the steps and walkway three times a day just to keep them passable. One sunny but bitterly-cold afternoon, after bundling up to go out and meet a friend for coffee, I walked out onto my front porch and thought I had forgotten to put on pants. Whether it was due to climate change or me becoming less tolerant of the cold, I no longer thought of Florida as an ideal winter getaway. Yes – it was close – but the cool temperatures had forced a friend of mine to wear a jacket for most of the winter at her retreat in southern Florida. Not warm enough, I decided. Instead I opted for the Caribbean.

The resort I had come to love was small; only fifteen rooms. It was owned and operated by a family. One end of the island was full of shops, daytime amusement and nightlife. It was also where cruise ships spewed out thousands of day visitors. I preferred the other end. It was less accessible and quieter. The resort’s driver was waiting at the airport when my flight landed. The trip to the hotel showed that things had not changed much since my last visit. From the road, there was ample evidence of chronic poverty. The wealthy ex-pats that had bought land and built retirement homes had settled discretely off the beaten track. The roads, in particular, had not improved. If anything, they were worse. Their deterioration may have been due to the almost two months of rain following Christmas. Although the foliage was green and lush, the yawning maws of the potholes were large enough to snatch and devour a small car. The heavy rains had caused more erosion along roads that were already without guardrails. We passed some boys, most of them young, standing next to potholes of various sizes, filling those holes with dirt. Some were working alone; others toiled in twos – one doing the shovelling, the other gathering ‘donations’ from passing vehicles. Although it was unlikely the boys had committed any sins of hubris, they seemed condemned to the same futile existence as Sisyphus. The dirt they packed into the potholes was just that – dirt; dry, dusty, difficult to direct dirt. A stiff breeze was enough to disturb it; a heavy rain enough to disperse it completely. Unlike the “squeegee kids” that scoured many large North American cities, these dirt-shovelling boys were treated kindly by passing motorists. In fact, my driver stopped and gave them some change. The various levels of government seemed to be doing nothing about the ever-burgeoning potholes; most drivers were grateful for what the young road crews were trying to accomplish. After turning off the poorly-maintained paved road, we prepared ourselves for the last five-kilometre leg of the unpaved road. A dump truck pulled out a few yards ahead of us and I groaned, anticipating we would be forced to slow down. That was not the case. The truck drivers on the island had a very entitled, possessive approach to the roads. They navigated those winding

roadways countless times per day. Their rigs, Jurassic in proportion, were pushed like Indy cars. Not far from the turn-off from the main road, I noted a particularly harrowinglooking curve. More remarkable was the brightly-painted red and coral house roosting on stilts on the outside curve of the road. Beyond the house’s perimeter was a steep drop off. The road, challenging on its own, was made even more so with the addition of two speed bumps installed by the homeowners. After braiding together palm leaves and vines, the locals lay this cable across the road in front of their homes in an effort to slow down traffic. Bars and restaurants do the same thing to slow traffic but for different reasons, I suspected. Between the two speed bumps marking the outer boundaries of the house’s property, a young boy stood sentry in the middle of the road adjacent to a large pothole. He was facing uphill, and I watched as he scampered off to the low side of the road as the dump truck barrelled down toward him. Although the truck roared over the speed bump unaffected, the homemade hump caught the front wheel of our van and caused it to cross the imaginary midline of the road. Momentarily, we found ourselves in the other lane. I wondered out loud how many accidents had happened at this curve. The van driver shrugged. At dinner that evening, I became reacquainted with a couple I had met on a previous trip. ‘Tex’ and Marion were from Alberta; cattle ranchers. They were able to see retirement as a bright light at the end of their tunnel and that bright light was not a train. Avid motorcycle riders at home, they told me they had made plans to rent motorbikes from the resort the next day. Knowing that I rode, they invited me to join them. The next morning after a lazy breakfast, we headed over to where the bikes were stored. About 15 feet from the bikes, Marion and Tex stopped to talk to their housekeeper about getting another set of towels. Recognizing I did not need to be part of their conversation and impatient to get going, I stepped onto a small pile of flat stones to get around my friends and to avoid crushing flowers in the garden; a small pile of flat stones dusted with a layer of sand. My right foot slid forward on the first stone and - despite flailing for the closest palm tree -I lost my footing. Although the defensive position of my right arm

saved my head, it also hyper-extended my right shoulder. I considered it better than landing flat on my face but my shoulder contested that perspective. It was not a surprise when a Canadian doctor staying at our resort examined my shoulder and determined it was a Grade II sprain. For the next two weeks, I would have discomfort that could be managed with ibuprofen. The disappointing part of his medical opinion was it would be best to keep the arm immobilized for at least the next month in the sling he had rigged for me. Despite their offer to spend the day with me, I did not want to further delay Tex and Marion’s day of riding. There wasn’t anything they could do about my shoulder and, even if they had waited a few days, I would not be able to accompany them on bikes. With a promise to tell me about their adventure at dinner that evening, they were off; not on large cruisers like they both rode at home, but as large as they could find. Tex, the long, tall one of the couple, opted for the biggest bike the resort had to offer - a 320 cc street bike. Marion, the more compact of the two, rode off on the 250 cc enduro. The brands of both bikes, common in the Caribbean, would not have been recognized in Canada. It would be the last time I would see Tex or Marion. Late in the afternoon, the resort’s small, white pick-up truck returned with two battered motorbikes. One was mangled; the other was scraped down to bare metal. My thoughts went immediately to the curve where the red and coral-coloured house perched precariously on stilts. When I asked the pick-up driver what had happened, he said, “Accidente.” When I inquired about the riders, he shrugged. Getting information from the manager of the resort was difficult. I had to plead with her to tell me what she knew. There had been an accident – a bad one - on one of the curves near the main road. From what the manager knew so far, Tex had been injured critically enough to have been airlifted to a hospital. Marion – abraded and in shock but otherwise unhurt physically – was with him. Other than that, details of the accident were not forthcoming from the resort management. Either they did not know or they did not want to say. I rubbed my shoulder gingerly and pondered how, despite our belief to the contrary, life is often a matter of happenstance.

19 – The Motorcycle Times, April 2018

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April 2018, The Motorcycle Times – 20

insidescoop

Super Charge Your bike By Paul Balsamo The motorcycle industry is evolving fast. The aging bike riding population is giving way to a new generation of riders who seem to favor smaller and cheaper bikes as opposed to the land yachts older riders tend to mount. It’s a situation I find interesting and conflicting all at once. I started on a 50cc, 5 speed, 2 stroke buzzer when I was a kid, (a brand new 1983 Honda MB5 if you must know) and learned how to ride on streets that were much calmer and slower than today’s streets. I never feared having a largely incompetent driver on my tail, lazy and reckless while sipping his double-double at the wheel of his automatic car that parks itself, while he chats on the phone. Today’s

riders face streets that are incredibly more congested, filled with folks coming from all corners of the world, bringing with them their wildly different driving habits, resulting in traffic that is far from fluid and/or homogeneous in nature. Skill and acceleration are a motorcyclist’s best friend when trying to avoid a troublesome situation. Some years back, I had the pleasure of test riding a Moto Guzzi V7. Being a fan of all things motorcycle, the opportunity to ride a new Guzzi just thrilled me to no end. That was until I took it in traffic on Lakeshore Blvd in rush hour. The V7 is a 750cc, a size that by all rights should be more than enough in all kinds of traffic if one looks at the mass of 600cc bikes buzzing

around the city. This one, however, lacked anything that resembled horsepower, the kind of power that keeps clearly mentally challenged cagers off your tail and out of your rear view mirror when the traffic light turns green. Now that bike manufacturers are gradually putting out more “starter-sized” bikes in the 250, 300 and 400Cc range, keeping up with traffic is becoming an important safety issue. For the 30 odd years I have been riding, I have been a proponent of starting with a small bike and working your way up for a myriad of reasons, all based on safety and survival. It has worked quite nicely for me so far. I am very much in favor of small displacement bikes but I also have a real fondness for living and not getting maimed by a road raging dweeb who does not like to be behind a motorcycle that does not move as fast as he or she wishes when they want. “The laws of physics will not allow two ob-

jects to occupy the same space at the same time, so avoiding any situation that might test this rule is best avoided, especially when confronted with a clueless driver at the controls of his SUV.” So what is a new rider (or a downtown commuter) to do? A bigger displacement bike is a bit cumbersome in tight traffic, not to mention the level of the skills of a new rider. A small bike is easy to throw around in tight commuter traffic, and hell lets face it, easier to park. Unfortunately, if the rider lapses in keeping his engine in the proper rev range at all times, a bumper is very likely to appear in his/her rearview mirror. Based on the ineptitude of a lot of drivers, that can get scary right quick.

Luckily, a group of engineers and scientists thought about the same things and have been developing a bolt-on supercharger kit for bikes for the past 20 years or so. Right now, the research is geared towards small displacement bikes to help them keep up with todays’ congested and chaotic traffic patterns. But I am holding good hope that they will be developing a kit for larger displacement bikes as well. They certainly have expressed the desire to do so. I am sure all sorts of safety nicks will soon be clamoring that bikes are currently fast enough as it is, and they would be correct. The folks working on this project do not think that increasing maximum speed of motorcycles is a particularly good idea since street bikes all pretty much reach legal speeds out of the box. Their efforts are directed towards decreasing the time to reach that maximum legal speed and reducing collision risks between motorcycles and cars due to a slower acceleration off the line. Nobody likes to get rear ended, especially on a bike. As of now, the team has developed a compact and powerful mechanical device for small displacement motorcycles based on a belt-driven air compressor (supercharger). It is intended to improve the performance of most common 50cc four-stroke, singlecylinder engines, through feeding it up to twice the normal amount of air it naturally manages to intake. The kit is a bolt-on design, the supercharger increasing an engine’s acceleration capabilities, allowing a bike to reach its maximum speed in half the time required before the supercharger was installed. The kit research was presented at a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) conference and the paper and presentation were appreciated by the conference participants and specifically, by executives of numerous motorcycle OEMs, including representatives of the Big Motorcycle Four. Clearly, this idea seems to be in the pipeline for OEMs. They have created a supercharging system consisting of an air compressor, boost storage tank and gas exchange unit that provides steady functioning induction to small engines. The mechanical control unit has no electronics, so its production is inexpensive, allowing the kit to be more affordable for the end user. As of right now, essentially any 50cc, four stroke, two wheeled machine can have its power boosted by this kit. The company reports that the kit can be installed in a couple of hours with no further tuning, then ridden off. The team has conducted numerous experiments to generate acceleration and

speed performance data on stock and supercharged models, shown here.

If the company’s promises come true, any motorcyclist who can handle a simple screwdriver can mount the supercharger kit. Not a single part of the target motorcycle or its engine needs to be modified at all, meaning that the supercharger can be unbolted off the bike and the motorcycle restored to its original appearance and performance. Artist’s rendition of what the installed kit looks like.

A video of a bike with the kit installed, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JomDU NJi7U&feature=youtu.be Now, for the rest of us who ride larger displacement bikes and who, like me, are salivating at the idea of an easy plug and play Supercharger kit we can afford, the team is indeed working on something for us. Their target of choice is the American V Twin, Harley and Indian style. This market, a detail not lost on the team of developers, is very conscious of aesthetics. The team is currently working on creating a kit that will be visually pleasing, or, at the very least, not intrusive in its style. As you can see by the image below, they seem to be well on their way of reaching that goal. I certainly have my Shovelhead lined up for a unit as soon as it becomes available to the public.

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21 – The Motorcycle Times, April 2018

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April 2018, The Motorcycle Times – 22

whatshappening April 7-8, 2018 Spring Motorcycle Show At The Toronto International Centre, 6900 Airport Rd. Purchase advance tickets and save $3 off. PLUS enjoy the e-ticket holder express entry into the show! Tickets are $18 Adults, $5 Youths (12 and under) (free for children under 6) Four huge halls filled with the latest models, including touring and cruising bikes, street bikes, sportbikes, offroad bikes, scooters, customsas well as used bikes. Bargains on helmets, boots, gloves and riding apparel. Entertainment Stages, fashion shows, various autograph sessions. Meet special guests: racers, celebrities, authors, builders and other motorcycle personalities. Rider Training programs, licensing and insurance info. Food, free parking and a Spring Motorcycle Magazine. VIP Motorcycle Parking at front entrance. www.motorcyclespringshow.com Starting May 26, 2018 Telus Ride For Dad - Everywhere Join for a fun-filled day of riding with a lunch, poker run, prizes and much more all while helping to raise money to fight prostate cancer for our local community! For more info visitwww.ridefordad.ca for a ride near you. June 9, 2018 Camp Trillium Ride Registration 9am at 5 King St N Oakland Ontario. Ride starts at 10am. $30/Rider, $10/passenger. Supporting Camp Trillium in Waterford a respite Camp that provides a valuable opportunity for children with cancer to expierience the outdoors in a camp like setting. We will ride the Waterfront Trail along the shores of Lake Erie. Lunch, draws and prizes will be provided. Contact Dave, daves4875@ gmail.com, 519-757-9821 June 16, 2018 MCRC Dice Run to Dover Dice Run from Niagara to Dover. All proceeds go towards weekly hot lunches for children and supplies needed to further educate the little ones (school TBD). Ride leaves from Boo’s Bar and Eatery 2980 King st. Vineland. Kickstands up at 11am for the ride to South Side Louie’s in Dover with 3 stops along the way. $15/rider/passenger includes 1lb of wings and a pop. Door prizes and 50/50. Plus an awesome ride to Dover!! June 2, 2018 MCRC Food Drive Show N’ Shine 9-4pm. No Frills Sturgeon Falls, 12035 Highway 17. Bike entry time 9am, fee $15/per bike. There will prizes for First, Second and Third. The proceeds will go to the West Nipissing Food Bank (Sturgeon Fall). Food and cash donation would be greatly appreciated. This event is free and open to all. We are asking the attendees/visitors to bring a non-perishable item . Vendor Registration is 8am. July 7, 2018 R.O.C.K. - Ride 4 Our Cancer Kids 15th Anniversary Ride through Niagara. Grand Prize – 1-week luxury cottage rental in scenic Haliburton Highlands (1 ballot for every $50 raised). Start Clare’s Harley-Davidson (590 York Rd Niagara on the Lake). Registration 9am-10:30. All proceeds to fund research through Childhood Cancer Canada. Help us reach our half million raised to date milestone. Preregister online. Minimum $30 in pledges per bike. Free event shirts for first 100 riders, prizes for top 15 fundraisers, club cup, free bbq, and more. bob@rockride. com, www.rockride.com July 8, 2018 National Service Dog Ride Presented by Gulf-Kuwait Unit of 1st CAV (Canadian Army Veterans), the NSD Ride is at the Columbus Conference Centre in Waterloo. Ride day includes a scenic trip through the picturesque countryside, a refreshment stop, pictures with NSD puppies-in-training, a complimentary lunch and great prizes. $25/rider, $15/passenger; raise $100+ in donations = ride for free, raise $200+ in donations = a free t-shirt. Rochelle at rochelle@nsd.on.ca, 519-623-4188 x.13, www.nsd.on.ca/events August 3-5, 2018 Hogs for Hospice Canada’s Most Southern Motorcycle Rally. All bikes are welcome. Hogs for Hospice is a 3 Day Motorcycle Rally in Leamington, Ontario at beautiful Seacliff Park on Lake Erie. The weekend is packed full of fun and activities for everyone to enjoy. Epic concerts, the best organized registered ride in Ontario, Freestyle Motocross Show, Custom Bike Show, Bike Games, Vendors, Beer Garden and much more. New this Year: ‘Iron by the Beach’ Custom, Antique and Vintage Motorycyle Show, Jordan Szoke’s Extreme Show – Freestyle Motocross and Trials Display, The Kinsmen ‘Hog Pen’– A larger beer garden with longer hours and open on Sunday, Country Night on Saturday – With a CMA“Country Artist of the Year”Nominee Randy

Houser, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame classic rock band Cheap Trick on Friday, ‘Pit’Tickets for the concert. Separate washrooms and bar so you don’t have to leave the pit. Get yours early as supply is limited. Free live music at the Hog Pen, New games at Bob’s Bike Games, More Vendors. August 4,‘Tour the Tip’ride is a 3-hour organized ride that will take you to the most southern point of mainland Canada inside Point Pelee National Park. A cruise through the countryside and along the lake, with a rest stop before returning to Seacliff Park for lunch. Ride leaves from Seacliff Park. Pre-Registration is strongly encouraged to minimize lineups and allow us to prepare for the number of people attending. 8-10am: Check In/Same Day Registration at Headquarters Tent in Seacliff Park. 10am: Honour our Veterans Ceremony: National Anthem, Blessing of the Bikes, 10:30am: Kickstands up, ride begins, 1:30 pm: Return to Seacliff Park for Lunch. $25/rider (includes 1 lunch), $40/rider&passenger (incl 2 lunches) https://www.hogsforhospice.com August 12, 2018 Ride for SickKids 8am registration; 11am kickstands up. Policaro Harley Davidson; 191 Wyecroft Rd, Oakville. $50/ riders; $25/ passengers. In support of SickKids Hospital, Toronto. Ride for SickKids is an annual SickKids Leaders (SKL) signature fundraising event that grafts the growing and mainstream popularity of motorcycle riding to a great cause. The event will feature celebrity riders, a family friendly lunch and much more. From the breakfast kick-off to the scenic police-escorted route, this unique outing is becoming one of the most anticipated SKL events. RFSK is proud to have raised over $360,000.00 to-date for SickKids Hospital in Toronto, Ontario. Visit our website and learn how you can win a brand new 2018 Harley Davidson motorcycle!! Register and support the 10th Annual Ride for SickKids. Nella Figliano; info@rideforsickkids.com; 416-8955215; rideforsickkids.com August 18, 2018 London Toy Ride 10am to 3pm. Ride leaves Home Depot – Parking lot, Clarke Road and Dundas Street, London. $20 per bike or a unwrapped toy. Salvation Army Christmas Hamper Program. Ride leaves Home Depot at 11:30 a.m, Enjoy a group ride for approx. 1 ½ hours and ends up at the Moose Lodge on Charterhouse Crescent, where you will enjoy Pizza, drinks and ice cream. Steve Brighton, 519-451-0440 , sbrighton@rogers.com, www.londontoyride.ca August 20th, 2018 Riders Against Hunger Registration starts at 8am. Kick Stands Up at 9:30. Start and end venue is the Garry W Morden Centre on 7535 Ninth Line (between Argentia & Steeles) in Mississauga. $35 for basic registration, $50 includes ride t-shirt and draw ticket. Ride for FREE by collecting a minimum of $35 in donations. Raise additional funds for incentive gifts and prizes. Register on-line, the first 100 online registrants get a FREE RAH motorcycle puck! In support of Eden Food for Change a western Mississauga food bank providing food and skills training to hungry families. Breakfast provided for participants at registration. It is a poker run style ride, a signed 3-4 hour scenic route with designated ride stops. Specially prepared lunch provided by Eden’s own Chef after the ride. New post-ride activities you won’t want to miss! Prizes handed out at the end for best hand, grand draw and for the top three fundraisers. Bill Crawford, bill@ridersagainsthunger.org, 416-318-4100, www.ridersagainsthunger.org, www.facebook. com/ridersagainsthunger August 25, 2018 Young at Heart Breakfast at 9am, departure 10am. 20 Brooks Street, Barrie. $30 per participant. in support of The IOOF Seniors Homes Inc. all proceeds are going to Phase 2 of the Redevelopment of the Long Term care Facility. The Ride goes up to the Muskoka’s (Route not yet defined) a light lunch is served at a park. Ride is about 4 Hours Total. Return to 20 brooks Street for BBQ and prizes. Agnes Upper aupper@ioof. com, 705-725-4630, www.ioof.com August 25, 2018 Lally Ride Big Brothers & Sisters Registration: 8:30-9:45 am, Blessing of the Bikes: 9:45am, Kickstands up: 10am. Lally Ford, 78 Mill W, Tilbury (just off Hwy 401). $10 per rider. In support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of ChathamKent. The RIDE is the kickoff for BikeFest CK. It starts off in Tilbury, goes south to Wheatley, follows Hwy 3 along Lake Erie to Blenheim, then north to Chatham via Charing Cross ending at BikeFest 2018. Nan Stuckey, nan.stuckey@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca, 519.351.1582 x200, https://bikefestck.ca/ride/

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April 2018, The Motorcycle Times – 24

HURRY - OFFER ENDS APRIL 2, 2018!

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Sturgess Cycle Snow city cycle & marine Contact your local authorized Suzuki dealer for current retail promotions and available inventory. Retail Incentives, Gas Cards & additional Warranty coverage available on select new and unregistered Suzuki Motorcycles purchased at participating Canadian Dealers between January 3, 2018 and April 2, 2018. Suzuki Retail incentives are direct-to-dealer incentives deducted from the MSRP. Retail incentives up to $1,100 (GSX-R600L6) on select models. Warranty listed includes 12 month factory limited warranty plus additional warranty coverage to total listed warranty coverage. Warranty offered has no dollar value and cannot be exchanged 615 King Street West, Hamilton 1255 Kennedy Road, or resold for any monetary value. Gas Cards have the face value as listed and will be sent directly to the customer with the Suzuki Welcome Letter (allow 4-6 Scarborough weeks for delivery of gas cards). Model may not be exactly as shown. This promotion is time limited and subject to stock availability and certain conditions may apply; please see your participating Canadian dealer for complete details. Offer cannot be combined with any other special offers, promotions or financing incentives unless specified. PDI charges from $110 to $528, freight charges from $165 to $350, taxes, license, insurance, applicable fees and registration are extra 905-522-0503 or 888-421-3333 877-766-9248 dependent on model. Specifications, product features and colours are subject to change without notice. Read your416-752-1560 owner’s manual carefully andor remember to observe all safety regulations. See your participating Authorized Suzuki dealer for availability and complete details. Suzuki. Way of Life! www.sturgessonline.com www.snowcity.com Contact your local authorized Suzuki dealer for current retail promotions and available inventory. Retail Incentives, Gas Cards & additional Warranty coverage available on select new and unregistered Suzuki Motorcycles purchased at participating Canadian Dealers between January 3, 2018 and April 2, 2018. Suzuki Retail Contact your authorized Suzuki dealer for current promotions available Incentives, Cards & additional Warranty coverage on select newwarranty and unregistered Suzukiwarranty Motorcycles purchased participating Dealers between 2018value and and Aprilcannot 2, 2018. Retail incentives are local direct-to-dealer incentives deducted fromretail the MSRP. Retailand incentives upinventory. to $1,100 Retail (GSX-R600L6) onGas select models. Warranty listed includes 12available month factory limited plus additional coverage to totalatlisted warrantyCanadian coverage. Warranty offeredJanuary has no 3, dollar beSuzuki exchanged incentives deducted MSRP. Retail and incentives to $1,100 select Warranty listed 12 weeks month for factory limited warranty additional warranty coverage to total warranty coverage. Warranty offered has noavailability dollar value and cannot be exchanged orincentives resold forare anydirect-to-dealer monetary value. Gas Cards have thefrom facethe value as listed will beup sent directly (GSX-R600L6) to the customeronwith themodels. Suzuki Welcome Letterincludes (allow 4-6 delivery of gas cards).plus Model may not be exactly as shown. Thislisted promotion is time limited and subject to stock and certain conditions may or resold for any value. Gas Cards have value as listedOffer and will be sent directly towith the any customer with theoffers, Suzukipromotions Welcome Letter (allow incentives 4-6 weeksunless for delivery of gas Model nottobe$528, exactly as shown. promotion timetaxes, limitedlicense, and subject to stock availability conditions may apply; please see monetary your participating Canadian dealertheforface complete details. cannot be combined other special or financing specified. PDIcards). charges frommay $110 freight chargesThis from $165 to is $350, insurance, applicable feesand andcertain registration are extra apply; please see your participating product Canadianfeatures dealer for details. Offer cannot be combined with anyyour other specialmanual offers, carefully promotions financing incentives specified. PDI charges $110 to $528, freightSuzuki charges fromfor$165 to $350, taxes, license, insurance, applicable fees and registration are extra dependent on model. Specifications, andcomplete colours are subject to change without notice. Read owner’s andorremember to observeunless all safety regulations. See yourfrom participating Authorized dealer availability and complete details. Suzuki. Way of Life! dependent on model. Specifications, product features and colours are subject to change without notice. Read your owner’s manual carefully and remember to observe all safety regulations. See your participating Authorized Suzuki dealer for availability and complete details. Suzuki. Way of Life!