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Am-Mar Tank Towel | QuickShift Review

August 1, 2012 at 6:42 AM

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Ultimate MotorCycling QuickShift Review

If you have a premium paint job on your tank, you cringe every time a drop of gas gets on your bike. No matter how careful you are with some bikes, the design of the fueling neck makes it impossible to accomplish drip-free refueling.

Simple, yet effective, the Tank Towel from Am-Mar Innovations spreads a towel over your tank for protection, with a hole for the short plastic fitting for gas nozzle access.

Not intended as protection from overflow, you must be careful when filling the tank. On some bikes, it makes it much easier to fill up the tank at the station, though you must be vigilant when filling at home with a gas can, as you cannot see inside the tank with the Tank Towel installed.

A plastic storage bag is included, so you can bring the An-Mar Innovations Tank Towel along if your bike has cargo space.

The Am-Mar Tank Towel runs around $15; additional details can be found here.

Highway to Havasu | 'Ultimate Weekend' Package

August 1, 2012 at 6:31 AM

Ultimate Motorcycling rides the "Highway to Havasu" with McGraw Powersports

Motorcycles and jet skis go together like racing fuel and high speed. And this October, it's the recipe for a VIP weekend in Lake Havasu, Ariz.

The McGraw Powersports "Highway to Havasu" event series has culminated at the Jet Ski World Finals for three years running. McGraw is lakeside for all the excitement, as riders from 35 countries fight it out for a world championship. This is 80+ MPH racing, on a tight track that's always moving. Crazy stuff.

Roaring into 2012, McGraw brings something new to the party - the H2H Ultimate Weekend, powered by Ultimate MotorCycling magazine. Now everyone can experience the best party in powersports, with a VIP package at Lake Havasu during World Finals, Oct. 5 -7.

Ultimate MotorCycling President Arthur Coldwells says, "I've been to Lake Havasu for the Jet Ski Finals, and it's nothing but excitement...the rush is much like motorcycle racing. And since jet skis and motorcycles are the perfect pairing, we got involved with the 'Highway to Havasu' event, offering riders the ultimate self-guided getaway to the IJSBA World Finals."

The weekend gets rolling with your self-guided ride to Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Get some friends and get on your motorcycles. What a way to start the weekend. Featured rides include:

Beach Ride - LAX to LHC
From Santa Monica, Calif., to Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Desert Ride - PHX to LHC
From Tempe, Ariz., to Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Anywhere Ride - YOU to LHC
From Anywhere to Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Once you hit Lake Havasu, you'll plug into a VIP weekend package. Great hotel. Huge pool. Exclusive parties. Souvenir swag. Yeah, this is the ultimate weekend for any rider.

The H2H Ultimate Weekend package includes:

Hotel - The Nautical Beachfront Resort (2 nights). Includes breakfast. Featuring the largest Infinity pool in Arizona.
H2H Party - Kokomo Night Club. Friday night. Drink specials. Giveaways.
VIP Access - IJSBA World Finals. Saturday and Sunday. Includes ground transportation.
H2H Reception - Heat Hotel. Saturday night. Includes light dinner and drinks.
Souvenir Swag - Shirt. Hat. Laminate. More.

The H2H Ultimate Weekend Package cost $245 per person (based on double occupancy). Tickets and more details are available at Ultimate-Weekend.com.

Or you could just win you're way in.

Riding a motorcycle into Havasu could be the coolest way to make an entrance. But the fastest way to Havasu is by plane. And that's the "Highway to Havasu" sweepstakes grand prize. Winner and a guest do Havasu is style. Private jet. Deluxe hotel. All access to everything. You're a VIP at the best party in powersports.

Enter to win the "Highway to Havasu" grand prize at HighwaytoHavasu.com.

McGraw Powersports brings you all the fun at Lake Havasu. Plus serious coverage for your motorcycle, jet ski and anything else you can ride. McGraw has been insuring riders for over 30 years - they're experts that know how to do it right. You can get a quote now at McGrawDirect.com.

Silverstone World Superbike | Preview

August 1, 2012 at 6:28 AM

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2012 World SBK Championship

This weekend, the 2012 World Superbike Championship resumes at the iconic Silverstone for round 10, the UK circuit located 62 miles north of London where the world's eyes are currently watching the Olympics.

This year's World SBK series, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, is the tightest its been in years after nine of 14 rounds. Heading into Silverstone, five different manufacturers (BMW, Aprilia, Kawasaki, Ducati, Honda) are seperated by only 84.5 points, with 250 points remaining.

Leading that group is Aprilia Racing Team's Max Biaggi, who has won four races this season, including a double at San Marino. But at the series' last round in Brno, Biaggi suffered a 6-4 finish. And due to BMW Motorrad rider Marco Melandri's double at Brno, Biaggi's lead was cut to just 21 points, Melandri hoping to give BMW its first WSBK title in 2012.

In the past, Biaggi's Aprilia RSV4 machine has suffered on bumpy tracks like Silverstone. For this reason, the Aprilia Racing Team carried out some test at Mugello to further prepare the RSV4 for this weekend's double-header at 18 laps each.

Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team RSV4 Superbike) says: "Brno left a bitter taste in my mouth - I won't deny that. A track which has historically been friendly played a dirty trick on us, but we have to turn the page now. We have been working hard to fix the problems that slowed us down, but until the first test session we won't have a clear idea of our situation. There are a lot of variables at Silverstone, from the weather to the home riders. We'll have to stay focused on our goal and adapt quickly to the situation. It is a hard championship which will probably be decided in the last round. I want to be in it until the end."

With his double at Brno, Melandri has five wins, more than any other rider so far this season. He made his Superbike debut in 2011 with Yamaha, twice finishing third, while since its debut in 2009 the German four-cylinder bike has never finished in the top 3 but things have now changed radically: in 2012 the S 1000 RR has been on the podium in every round except Assen.

Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad S1000RR Superbike) says: "I am really looking forward to Silverstone," says Marco. "I like the track very much; it is one of the fastest and longest circuits of the season. You have a lot of fast corners, so you can adopt a flowing riding style. Last year I was twice on the podium there. For sure it will be not easy as the track is very bumpy but I am confident, so I cannot wait to ride there with my RR.

"I just try to keep consistent, to think from race to race and to have fun while riding. I hope that we will be again fighting for the podium at Silverstone and we will try to get some more wins. But it certainly will not be easy because all the English riders want to win there. Carlos Checa for sure will also try to push for the victory and Max also will be strong. So it will be two very exciting races."

But there is also much pressure from other riders, including Kawasaki Racing's Tom Sykes, who is 59 points behind Biaggi, Althea Racing Ducati's Carlos Checa, who is 67 points back, and Honda World Superbike's Jonathan Rea, who is 84.5 points back.

Sykes, who has taking seven poles so far this season, suffered a huge crash at Silverstone, his home track, last year in qualifying. The Kawasaki ZX-10R never performed too well at Silverstone, the best finish for the bike seventh with Joan Lascorz, but much progress has been made lately on the Ninja.

As for the reigning World SBK champ Checa, he's coming off a 3-4 finish at Brno, and doubled last year at Silverstone, a performance he hopes to repeat this weekend.

Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati 1198 Superbike) says: "Last year's Silverstone races couldn't have gone any better, I won both and that was the perfect conclusion to what was a great weekend. I like the track and I think we can do well there again this year. The weather conditions are always a total unknown in the UK but after the solid results that we scored in mixed conditions at Brno, I'm feeling confident ahead of Sunday's races."

As for Rea, the 25-year-old leader of the Honda World Superbike Team has not won a race since Donington, but he arrives in Silverstone in the wake of a fantastic win in the Suzuka 8 Hours as part of the FCC TSR team, one of Honda's top squads in this endurance racing classic.

Round 10 will also be a fundamental race for FIXI Crescent Suzuki which is yet to obtain results living up to the team's and the riders' expectations. American John Hopkins has been sidelined by a series of injuries and crashes, but he returns to the track where one year ago he set pole position as a wild-card and then finished the two races in fifth and seventh. Silverstone is also a "friendly" circuit for Leon Camier who scored a podium place here in 2010 with the Aprilia Racing Team, World SBK reports.

Silverstone will be the venue for a World Superbike round for the ninth time. The track, flat and flowing, appears to be tailor-made for Ducati, which has won here 11 times in 15 races. In last year's edition Checa powered to a dominant double win: half-way through this season he appeared to be out of the title battle, but by repeating the same result this weekend the Spaniard has every chance of becoming a key player in the title run-in.

The Manufacturers' title battle is now wide open, after BMW moved into the lead for the first time ever at Brno by two points over Aprilia but Ducati (15.5 points behind) are still in with a big chance. Kawasaki, Honda and Suzuki on the other hand are some way behind.

The forecast for the weekend looks like cool weather and showers, conditions that could bring out the best in Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Ducati), the 22-year-old rookie who has already stepped onto the podium twice this year. Niccolò Canepa will also be back on his regular Red Devils Ducati machine after missing out on Brno, while in the Pata Racing Ducati team, Lorenzo Zanetti is joined by new signing Sylvain Guintoli, winner at Assen when he was in Ducati Liberty Team Effenbert, World SBK says.

2012 Silverstone World Superbike TV Schedule:

SPEED TV will broadcast Silverstone World Superbike, with race one beginning at 4 p.m. EDT, and race 2 at 5 p.m. EDT.

2012 Silverstone World Superbike Schedule (local time):

Friday, Aug. 3:
11.45-12.30 Free practice
15.30-16.15 Qualifying 1

Saturday, Aug. 4:
09.45-10.30 Qualifying 2
12.30-13.15 Free practice
15.00-15.14 Superpole 1
15.21-15.33 Superpole 2
15.40-15.50 Superpole 3

Sunday, Aug. 5
09.20-09.35 Warm-up
12.00 Race 1 (18 laps 106.236km)
15.30 Race 2 (18 laps 106.236km)

2012 World Superbike Points (after nine of 14 rounds):

Max Biaggi, Aprilia: 271.5
Marco Melandri, BMW: 250.5
Tom Sykes, Kawasaki: 212.5
Carlos Checa, Ducati: 204.5
Jonathan Rea, Honda: 187
Leon Haslam, BMW: 160
Eugene Laverty, Aprilia: 148
Sylvain Guintoli, Ducati: 110
Davide Giugliano, Ducati: 99
Chaz Davies, Aprilia: 93

MX Pioneer Brian Slark to AMA Hall of Fame

August 1, 2012 at 5:47 AM

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2012 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Inductee

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the fourth member of the induction class of 2012. Bike restorer extraordinaire and motocross pioneer Brian Slark will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the 2012 AMA Legends Weekend at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, Nev., Nov. 16-17.

Jeffrey V. Heininger (Chairman of the board of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation) says: "Brian Slark is a true renaissance man in the world of motorcycling. Not only did he help create motocross in America, but he also created works of art while working at some well-known motorcycle museums. His expertise is second to none."

Born in London, England, on Feb. 2, 1938, Slark was a moving force in the creation of a vibrant motocross-racing community in the United States during the 1960s. He helped organize motocross tracks, and promoted the sport by teaching famous people -- including then-teen heartthrob Bobby Darin - to ride motorcycles. He also imported and built Rickman Metisse and Cheney motocrossers.

Slark later assisted the late Dave Mungenast - who is also a member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame - in the creation of a motorcycle museum in St. Louis. He then helped create the world-class Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Leeds, Ala. Slark also played a key role in setting up the bikes for the immensely popular "The Art of the Motorcycle" exhibit at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City in 1998, which later traveled to the Field Museum in Chicago and then Bilboa, Spain.

Brian Slark says: "As my wife said, for once I was absolutely speechless. [Working with motorcycles is] something I've been doing nearly 60-plus years and I love it. I never ranked myself in the league of other people in the industry. I've just done what I love to do."

Slark said he is particularly humbled and honored that he is being inducted to the Hall of Fame where his longtime friend Mungenast is honored.

Brian Slark says: "Dave was an incredibly multi-talented person. He did so much for kids and everybody. He was a mentor. He was a wonderful guy and a good friend. To be in the same league as Dave is an incredible compliment. I can't express how I feel."

Slark's motorcycling career spans more than 60 years. It began in 1957 when he started work at Associated Motorcycles (AJS and Matchless) in London, England, testing and evaluating bikes. He soon moved to the factory race shop.

In 1964 he spent a year in California riding desert events and helping organize motocross tracks. His experience prompted him to move to California the following year.

In 1969, Slark managed the service and competition departments for Norton and AJS at the west coast factory facility. Later, he became marketing communications manager for Norton-Villiers and advised designers on models for the North American market.

Slark decided to strike out on his own in 1976, and he opened a British bike shop in Southern California. Two years later he became the volunteer technical editor for the International Norton Owners Association-a role he still holds today.

In 1986, Slark sold his bike shop and moved to St. Louis. Ten years later, he joined the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum as technical director and helped elevate the museum to its present position of the largest collection of motorcycles in the world. He remains in that post today.

Slark is the fourth member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame class of 2012 to be announced. He joins the late Rod Bush, KTM North America president and industry visionary; pioneering female motocrosser Sue Fish; and Jimmy Ellis, 1975 AMA Supercross champion. The remaining 2012 inductees will be announced in random order in the coming weeks.

The class of 2012 will officially be inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame on Nov. 16 as part of the AMA Legends Weekend. The weekend also includes the 2012 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Dave Mungenast Memorial Concours d'Elegance on Saturday, Nov. 17, featuring many of the country's most impressive original and restored classic motorcycles.

In addition to the current class, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction ceremony shines the spotlight on two previously inducted members of the Hall of Fame, reminding the motorcycling community of the amazing careers of these Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legends. For 2012, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legends will be 1998 inductees Malcolm Smith, a pioneer in off-road motorcycling and a star in the motorcycle documentary "On Any Sunday," and Mert Lawwill, the 1969 AMA Grand National Champion whose title defense was the central theme of the timeless film.

Tickets for the AMA Legends Weekend are now available through this online registration form: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e5r7zy8ea4... or by calling (800) 342-5464.

The AMA Legends Weekend will be held at the Las Vegas Red Rock Resort, a world-class spa, hotel and casino, featuring a range of entertainment, dining and family-friendly attractions. The facility's expansive ballrooms provide a stunning backdrop for the AMA Legends Weekend. Room reservations are available now at a special group rate by calling (866) 767-7773 and referencing group code RCIAME or AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST. Online room reservations are available at redrocklasvegas.com.

More information about the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame can be found at motorcyclemuseum.org.

Touratech Releases KLR 650 Accessories

July 31, 2012 at 6:52 PM

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Kawasaki KLR 650 Touratech Accessories

Touratech has released a line of adventure accessories for the Kawasaki KLR 650, one of the most popular bikes in the adventure motorcycle market.

Despite the KLR's popularity in the US, Kawasaki does not sell the model in Europe. To get around this challenge, Touratech-USA shipped a KLR 650 to the Touratech headquarters in Germany, providing the Touratech engineering team with a platform to develop the product range from.

The team in Germany went to work creating the new product, line which includes a skid plate, headlight guard, throttle lock, tank bag, Zega Pro top case rack and Zega Pro pannier system.

"The KLR 650 has brought so many people into the world of adventure riding in the US. It's reliability, price and go anywhere capabilities have made it one of the most abundant adventure bikes on the road. We are excited to have a Touratech product offering for this important adventure machine," says Paul Guillien, General Manager, Touratech-USA

Following are the Touratech products currently available for the Kawasaki KLR 650:

Zega Pro Pannier System - $1247.20 - $1459

This complete Zega Pro pannier system from Touratech is engineered specifically for the Kawasaki KLR 650, and provides the ultimate in secure and dry storage for motorcycle travel. When it comes to motorcycle luggage, nothing compares to the light weight and high-strength qualities of aluminum. Touratech is the leading manufacturer of aluminum motorcycle panniers, industry wide.

Touratech Zega Pro panniers have provided secure dry storage for adventure riders the world over. The body and removable lid feature rounded lines with rugged corner protection that is easily replaceable. Low profile anchor loops provide a flat surface that makes the pannier a good seat at the campfire. Crafted with 1.5mm aluminum and welded/stainless steel rivet construction these sturdy panniers are available in 31, 38 and 45-liter sizes.

Stainless Steel Headlight Guard - $81.70

Give your KLR the adventure look while protecting the expensive headlight assembly with this stainless steel headlight guard from Touratech. All it takes is one rock thrown from a faster moving motorcycle or car to crack the fragile headlight housing. Made of black powder-coated stainless steel, this headlight guard is precision laser-cut to fit your 2008 and newer Kawasaki KLR650. The extremely strong stainless steel grid pattern will deflect even the biggest rocks.

Skid Plate Engine Guard - $130.80

Protect the vulnerable front and underside of your engine with this rugged KLR650 skid plate from Touratech.

Precision made in Germany from 3mm thick aluminum and 2mm stainless steel plate, this engine guard will keep your KLR 650 safe from large rocks, stumps, or debris thrown from the front tire. Easy to install, this skid plate even has a cutout to allow draining of the engine oil.

The skid plate is easy to install using the supplied hardware and requires no modifications to the motorcycle.

Zega Pro Top Case Rack - $196.30

This stainless steel rack from Touratech is designed specifically for the KLR650 and accepts any Rapid-Trap equipped Zega Pro topcase. Easy to install, no modifications to tail section necessary. All hardware is included in the kit.

To view the complete Kawasaki KLR 650 range currently available from Touratech, click here.

2012 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show | Recap

July 31, 2012 at 5:00 PM

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2012 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show Winners

The 21st edition of the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show sponsored by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys moved into its third decade as the premier outdoor streetbike event in America featuring its top Celebrity Builders, the Calendar Bike Building Championship & Concours d' Elegance, selected Vendors and Exhibitors, Calendar Girl Music live performances, now taking place at a beautiful new new location on the lawn and under the shade trees of the Calabasas Inn, in the upscale Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas, California.

The first decade of the Calendar Motorcycle Show took place at the exciting Museum of Flying at the Santa Moncia Airport, then expanded in 1991 to two days the larger Queen Mary event facility in Long Beach venue alongside the Pacific Ocean.

The current 3-year decline in the economy and the resulting impact on the enthusiast motorcycle market with loss of so many custom bike manufacturers, builders, part manufacturers and buyers meant the LA Calendar Show needed to downsize as well, and show producer Jim Gianatsis of the motorsports adverting agency Gianatsis Design Associates and photographer/producer of the world renown FastDates.com Calendars , was excited to secure the Calabasas Inn private event facility as one of the best outdoor event locations in greater Los Angeles.

Everyone from the participating bike builders, to venders and spectators were excited about the new grass park location which was next to a creek and duck pond and a huge man-made waterfall, offered an air condition banquet hall where many vendors were also located and had permanent restroom facilities.

The 2012 Calendar Show was spread across 3 separate wooded areas at the beautiful Calabasas Inn facility. In the background of one display area was a duck pond and waterfall. An adjoining area just as big under cool shade trees held more exhibitors, the Pro Builder Class, the live band stage with spectator seating, dining tables and food and beverage trucks. And the air conditioned Calabasas Inn Banquet Facility where spectators entered the Show held more exhibitors, restrooms, and the Sportbike Class.

The Show's activities include the Calendar Bike Building Championship, selected Vendors and Exhibitors, the Motorcycle Machine Dyno, and Calendar Girl Music live performances featuring the Japanese girl rock band Nylon Pink, singer songwriters Rachel McGoye and Marina V.

As always the Show marks the world premier of next year's new 2013 FastDates.com Motorcycle PinUp Calendars photographed by Calendar Show producer Jim Gianatsis. The Calendars include Fast Dates World Superbike and MotoGP roadrace bikes , Iron & Lace Custom Motorcycles, and Garage Girls Hard at Work, hosted by beautiful Calendar Kittens and SBK World Superbike grid girls Sabella Shake and Kinsy Ray featured in the in the FastDates.com Calendars and Website. The new 2013 Calendars are available now at FastDates.com, Amazon.com, at Cycle Gear Stores and your favorite dealer, or phone Van Leeuwen Distributing at 1-800-461-1226.

The Show park was filled to capacity with top industry names including Jim's Machine, Edelbrock Engineering, Frog Specialties / Beringer Brakes, AXO streetbike apparel, and Universal Technical Institute training school. Spectators were treated to upscale dining on lined covered tables under shade trees, with food and beverages form some of LA's top food trucks - Baby's Badass Burgers, The Grilled Cheese Truck, Maui Waui Hawaiian Smoothies and Sugar Babies Cupcakery. The fresh baked heart topped cup cakes were passed out by the Calendar Kittens complimentary to show spectators.  

The Calendar Motorcycle Show continues to feature many of the world's top Pro and Amateur custom street bike builders with their newest 2-wheeled creations of rolling art to compete in the Calendar Show Bike Building Championship for fame and awards including the coveted Best of Show Trophy. The Calendar Show broadened its focus to include the growing Collector Bike Market with Exhibitors and Bike Show classes for classic European, British and Japanese motorcycles, along with American V-Twins and Customs. Show Entries were place in a Concours d' Elegance display throughout the venue on the grass and under shade trees at the Calabasas Inn.

Among the top custom and racebike builders in attendance and featured in FastDates.com Iron & Lace Custom Motorcycle and Fast Dates Racebike PinUp Calendars over the past 20 years included Russell Mitchell / Exile Cycles and Richard Pollock / Mule Motorcycles, Shinya Kimura / Chabott Engineering, Jim Giuffra & Spokesmodels / AFT Customs, Todd Silicato / Todd's Cycle, Chris Redpath / MotoGPwerks, Caleb Owens / CRO Customs, Yaniv Evan / Power Plant Choppers and Steve Storz / Storz Performance.

Among the Calendar Show's World Premiers this year was the first showing of the newly reborn Crocker Motorcycle, produced by Michael Schacht of Crocker Motorcycle Company, this new production bike, built to the original designs, is now available for sale. It's a true replica of the original 1936 high performance Crocker V-twin machines of which only 200 were built.

Chris Redpath of MotoGP Werks used the Show to display two really neat Ducati's he had just built for Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, one a naked MotoGP Ducati Desmosedici streetfighter valued over $100,000, and the other an old Ducati Bevel-Drive 750 custom Cafe Bike. Redpath also brought along couple of former AMA National Superbike Championship racers, one a Mike Baldwin CB900F, the other a Matt Mladin Yoshimura Suzuki GSXR750, plus a classic Mike Hailwood type Ducati racer.  For the fourth time in eight years, a top Japanese builder used the LA Calendar Show to mark his entrance onto the world stage, following in the foot steps of former Best of Show and Class winners Shinya Kimura / Chabott Engineering, Kenji Nagai / Ken's Factory and Hiroyouki Hirata of BB Custom Factory who all flew in with their bikes from Japan just to compete at the world renown Calendar Show.

Garnering Best of Show in this year's 2012 Calendar Bike Building Championship was Hoshikawa Hideki / Asteris9.com from Miyagi, Japan who flew in to Los Angeles for just 3 days with his latest custom bike build to compete and take top honors, then fly back home to Japan. Celebrity judges Jim Gianatsis, Jim Giuffra, Chris Redpath and Michael Schacht choose Hideki's 883cc Sportster based naked custom sportbike as the most exciting, original and well constructed custom at the Show. Hideki said he built it for a customer who gave him a blank check and no instructions whatsoever, other then to ask him to build the best bike he could build. Hideki is not necessarily a sportbike enthusiast, he builds all kinds of Harley based customs, but this time he said, he wanted to concentrate on the quality of the design and build, utilizing real sportbike feel and performance for the now highly modified 1200cc Sportster engine.

AFT Customs also awarded Hideki their own "AFT Visionary Awards Trophy" which was hand built by the spokesmodels at AFT, and award by shop owner Jim Giuffra, models and Angela and Shelby to the one builder at the Show who they felt exhibited an new direction in custom bike building. In this case Hideki had taken a mundane, underpowered, overweight, not-the-best handling 883cc Sportster and turned it into a 1200cc highly potent, world-class custom sportbike.

In the Pro Builder Class it was Yaniv Evan / Power Plant Choppers who took home top honors with his classically styled bare metal custom Black & Metal" based on a 1970 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead. "I wanted to build something in between a 'Rudge Superior' from the 1930's meets 1960's chopper, with a bit more power and good handlebar feel." Evan's shop PowerPlant Choppers.com is located on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood where he also sells cool PowerPlant apparel to visiting tourists and locals.

Among the Calendar Show's exciting custom bike world premiers was Two-Time Best of Show and now Six-Time Class Winners with this year's Sportbike Class victory, Jim Giuffra and the Spokesmodels from AFTCustoms.com, Jaskson, CA. premiering their latest build as always at the Calendar Show. Following their tradition of naming their bikes after spirit gods, their bike 'Halia' is a Hawaiian spirit named Honda Shadow performance custom Cafe Sport Racer that will head for the BUB Speed Trials at the Bonneville Salt Flats in August with its girl builders Angela and Shelby in the saddle for speed record attempts.  

The 2012 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show's move to the new Calabasas Inn venue, proved to be a tremendous success. Everyone had nothing but positive comments about the beautiful new location, how important the Calendar Show was to the custom bike building community on the West Coast, and how they looked forward to returning again next year on the 3rd weekend of July 2013 to see the Show continue to grow as the economy recovers.

2012 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show  Calendar Bike Building Championship Results:

Best of Show: Hideki Hoshikawa,' #19 Asterisk' H-D Sportster XLH1200 Cafe Racer
Pro Builder: 1). Yaniv Evan, Powerplant Motorcycles, H-D Shovelhead Custom; 2). Andy Iawwacone / TDC Cycles, 1947 H-D Knucklehead custom.
Street Custom: 1). Charlie Mitchell, 2001 H-D Heritage lowrider old school custom; 2). Doug Ide, 2009 H-D Road Glide Bagger.
Bar Hopper: 1). Yaniv Evan / Scott Cann, Powerplant Motorcycles, 1951 H-D Panhead Board Track Racer replica: 2). Manuel Muller, 1967 Triumph TR7 Glitter Cycle tribute.
Sportbike: 1). AFT Customs / 'Halia" Honda VT750 Street Tracker; 2). Paul Morris / P&M Racing, G2 Gangster V-Twin Street Legal Street Pro Drag Bike.
Classic American pre 1980: 1). Shinya Kimura, H-D Panhead custom cafe racer; 2). Dave Destler, 1970 H-D Sportster XLH stock.
Classic European pre 1980: 1). Chris Redpath / MotoGPwerks.com, 1975 Kawasaki Z1 Daytona 200 Rob North Chassis / Don Vesco race bike; 2) LACD, 1975 Norton 850 Commando.

CIMAMotor Revisited | China's Motorcycle Show

July 31, 2012 at 4:29 PM

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Investigating China's Motorcycling Future

When Andy Warhol rendered Mao Zedong as a Pop Art icon, he foreshadowed the change that made cultural boundaries obsolete. My previous article ("The Great Leap Forward: China becomes a global motorcycle power," Ultimate MotorCycling April 2011), suggested that China is a primary force of change in the two-wheel world.

Returning to the country, for CIMAMotor 2011, the 10th China International Motorcycle Trade Exhibition in Chongqing, the premise was stoked.

China embraces motorcycling, from big Harleys, Hondas, BMWs and Victorys to sport bikes, sidecars, scooters and three-wheel delivery vans. For the masses, it is reliable transportation; for the new wave of high net worth individuals, it is an assertion of success; and for its Generation Y, a hint of how personal conveyance may change in the near future. China is the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer, its leading exporter, and its largest market. It can potentially support and sustain an unprecedented range of products, from designer dreams to "cheap and cheerful."

Jeffrey Wasserstrom's book, China In the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs To Know, summarizes the scope: "China has more millionaires, more cities with populations exceeding one million, more Internet users, and more skyscrapers than any other country." Beyond the numbers, the coexistence of historical and philosophical elements dating back thousands of years with a visible futurism makes the head spin.

While I marveled at how the university students who were translators for visiting media at CIMAMotor were as switched on to Confucius as they were to Gossip Girl, my walks in the countryside showed me that farmers live as they probably have for centuries - their satellite dishes and wireless Internet notwithstanding. And everywhere, a motorcycle of some sort was the family horse.

The 2011 slogan for China's largest motorcycle show proposed an atmosphere of ambition and openness: "Start Changing The Game, Join Us For Lasting Gain." Many aspects of the four-day exhibition spread over nearly 15 acres (whose attendance jumped 40-percent over 2010 to 100,000 physical visitors, with millions of virtual views via the CIMAMotor website, social networks and international media connections) were familiar. The events, crowds, flashing lights, booming music, and beautiful girls framing shiny new machines, could have been anywhere from Minneapolis to Milan, but the rules are different, and one needs to know how and why if one wants to do business.

Statistics tell part of the story. China's 100 million-strong motorcycle population is ten times that of North America. The China Association of Automotive Manufacturers stated domestic brands' production and sales as over 17 million units, with almost a million sold in export markets between January and August 2011.

In comparison, Honda's first quarter 2012 report pegs its annual unit sales in Asia at over 9 million, China reportedly accounting for 1.2 million; US 2011 sales were 185,000, out of the half-million total motorcycles sold in America.

One can argue the meaning of the math, but the fact is two-wheel culture is thriving in a country where motorcycles and scooters are useful, not just high-velocity jewelry. The Chinese motorcycle enthusiast, whether piloting a 65cc runabout on country lanes, steering a commercial tricycle through urban gridlock, or cruising on a big rig, is part of the family of riders.

Western motorcycle brands are trying to carve out their slice of this pate Chinois. The Japanese makes are already embedded in China. As cited by Michael Vaughan in Dealer News, Yamaha, who is manufacturing market-specific models there, "forecasted demand in 2010 to be at 16.5 million units." Honda and Suzuki also have local factories; Kawasaki showed a substantial offering at CIMAMotor 2011.

Meeting with executives for Harley- Davidson and Victory in China, their enthusiasm blended with recognition of the challenge. H-D China's Sean Jiang admitted to issues regarding the sales and registration of large-displacement motorcycles, and hope for resolution. The Motor Company's plan to open approximately 30 stores in the next two years, a 400-percent growth curve, speaks to their commitment.

Victory-Polaris VP of International Operations, and American Motorcyclist Association Hall of Famer, Mark Blackwell was just as energized. "We see global sales as being 50% of our revenue in the near future," he told us, "and China is a major part of that strategy." Victory China executives Jeffrey Zhou and Tony Jiang echoed his sentiments, while the crowd attending the brand launch at the CIMAMotor booth displayed an eager appetite for "The New American Motorcycle."

Italian brands like Ducati, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio, Vespa, Benelli, and MV Agusta are present in China, whether as imports, part of joint ventures with Chinese partners, or owned outright by a Chinese manufacturer.

If China's number one pop star, Jay Chou - who confirmed his movie chops in the Oscar-nominated Curse of the Golden Flower, as well as The Green Hornet - can show off his Travertson V-Rex made by a Frenchman who lives in Florida, in his new music video Dragon Rider, it only proves motorcycling is, like music, a universal language. Globalization is the lingua franca; either one speaks it, or one is missing opportunities for growth.

In conversation with media colleagues at CIMAMotor 2011 from Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil, they confirmed that Latin America is also a major destination for Made In China motorbikes, scooters, and ATVs. The demand for two wheels is out there; it is just different from what we in Western countries have grown to accept over the past quarter century. This underscores the distinctive approach of China's motorcycle industry.

As the head of Zongshen shared with me during my 2010 factory visit, the strategy is to build and sell what the market wants, not to try and create demand for products that outpace the consumer's capacity. This was made even clearer when our group of international correspondents toured the Loncin facility outside Chongqing.

Our guide proudly described the company's sales and profit curve. The leading exporter of Chinese motorcycles (over 800,000 units last year with a value of $370 million), substantial revenue is also generated by its manufacture of motors for weed whackers and lawn mowers one finds in the big box stores with brand names that say "U.S.A." Nothing new, considering Honda has employed a similar diversity in its powersports business model, while Yamaha makes guitars, pianos, and music systems. It tells us that cash-rich China and its motorcycle companies can afford to be patient.

The evolution of China's motorcycle culture evokes a famous interview with Bruce Lee: "You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. Be water, my friend." So far, China's motorcycle industry is flowing to fulfill the same demand it fulfills for so many consumer goods. The premium-priced laptop this article is written on was made in China, and Steve Jobs was not shy about putting his company's world-leading name on it. So, will the day come when the world-class motorcycles and scooters roll off Chinese assembly lines?

Walking the floor at CIMAMotor 2011, the hardware on display may be of smaller displacement, and the stands not quite as slick as New York or Milan, but the customers have cash and are ready to buy. Many of them are under 30, and 28-percent of them are women.

In November, the Chongqing International Expo Center Company Limited announced its "Strategic Cooperation Agreement" with Messe Dusseldorf, one of Germany's leaders in trade fair development. According to CIMAMotor director Wei Wang, "the new center is a high-tech city unto itself." The site plan suggests a venue that reasonably accommodates 500,000 visitors. With a metro area of 30 million, and a temperate climate, matching the motorcycle event power of Milan, Sturgis, and Daytona may only be a matter of time.

That thought persisted as I exchanged a thumbs-up with the owner of a new matte-black Victory Vegas at the CIMAMotor rally in the nearby resort town of Mount Jinfo. Before a parade of iron horses, bonfire blazing, band rocking, and riders partying, Miss Motorcycle Baby was chosen to a backdrop of Britney Spears pumping the beat and straddling a Harley-Davidson V-Rod. I visualized a savvy promoter replicating Bike Week in Chongqing.

The trump card for China's motorcycle companies is that they are under no pressure; their dominance of motorcycle export means their fiscal health is beyond robust. Names like Zongshen, Lifan, Qianjiang, Jialing, Loncin, and Dayang do not yet have the same cachet as Ducati, Honda, BMW, Triumph, Harley-Davidson, and Vespa, but does it matter?

China is fertile ground for a harvest of new enthusiasts, exciting creative minds in the industry. Is tomorrow's motorcycle for this Gen Y rider a hybrid between scooter, mini-car, and modular personal transport? Is it powered by alternative fuels, or electricity? Zongshen has already picked up the gauntlet, reportedly promising to deliver a million e-bikes.

One can say China's motorcycle companies are at a crossroads. They can continue supplying value-conscious customers with affordable product, or they can help lead the industry, and the world, into an exciting new future. China produces world-class classical pianists, basketball stars, and gymnasts, and has launched its space platform with lunar ambitions.

There is no telling what it can do when its best minds and deep pockets team up. The Chinese motorcycle industry is headed further on up the road of profitability. Where that road leads, remains, for now, a secret.

As we moved from exhibition hall to exhibition hall at CIMAMotor, pondering these and other questions, Ultimate MotorCycling president Arthur Coldwells was succinct in his commentary: "If I have one word to describe China, it's 'juggernaut.'"

Story is from a previous issue of Ultimate Motorcycling...for a digital version, click here.

Rispoli Takes 5th SuperSport Win at Laguna

July 31, 2012 at 3:51 PM

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2012 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport

GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing's first race of the weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will be a hard one to top in the excitement department.

James Rispoli won the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport race on Saturday over Hayden Gillim by just 0.036 of a second with a thrilling last-turn maneuver. The Celtic Racing/Orient Express Racing Suzuki GSX-R600 pilot came closer to clinching the Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport West division championship at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, but will have to wait until the final round before he can claim the number-one plate as his strongest championship rival Gillim kept his chances alive.

Rispoli led most of the 16-lap race, but Gillim on the RoadRace Factory/Red Bull Yamaha YZF-R6 harassed him from the opening turns. Rispoli was able to just keep his fellow dirt-tracker at bay as the duo moved away from the rest of the field. Both riders had moments, with Rispoli nearly highsiding in the Corkscrew and Gillim being forced onto the astroturf in the final turn.

As the white flag flew, Rispoli knew he would encounter a move from Gillim, and it came in turn five; a bold outside pass Gillim was able to convert. Rispoli's only chance came at getting a better drive out of the final turn and he made it happen to earn the win when Gillim went a little wide.

James Rispoli (Celtic Racing/Orient Express Racing Suzuki GSX-R 600) says: "As soon as he got by, I tried to get the run back and pass him. Through Rainey Curve, I wasn't close enough but I thought, 'This isn't over.' Once I saw him a smidge off line, I was on the gas trying to make a run."

It was Rispoli's fifth win of the year, and he now leads AMA Pro Motorcycle-SuperStore.com SuperSport West by 60 with just one event and two rounds to go.

Garrett Willis (GWR Kawasaki) earned his first-ever AMA Pro podium by beating out Jake Lewis (Riders Discount Vesrah Suzuki) by just 0.001. Corey Alexander (National Guard Fairhills Group Celtic Racing) was fifth, ahead of Stefano Mesa (Kneedraggers.com Yamaha) and Elena Myers (Suzuki SportBikeTrackGear.com).

2012 Laguna Seca AMA SuperSport Results:

Pos	No.	Rider(s)	Sponsor	Bike	Interval	Gap	Best Lap	Points
1.	1	James Rispoli	Celtic racing ·Orient Express Racing ·Army...	Suzuki GSX-R600	16 Laps	WINNER	1:29.487	47
2.	69	Hayden Gillim	RoadRace Factory ·Bell Helmets ·Teknic Leathers...	Yamaha YZF-R6	0.035	0.035	1:29.405	46
3.	80	Garrett Willis	GWR ·Leo Vince ·Dr. David Benkle ·Rod Lake...	Kawasaki ZX-6R	7.385	7.349	1:29.556	39
4.	85	Jake Lewis	Riders Discount ·Vesrah ·MCJ Motorsports ·American...	Suzuki GSX-R600	7.387	0.001	1:29.815	0
5.	5	Corey Alexander	National Guard ·Fairhills Group ·Celtic ·Hudson...	Suzuki GSX-R600	10.045	2.658	1:29.865	0
6.	37	Stefano Mesa	Kneedragger.com ·Galfer ·Bell ·Regina ·Yamaha...	Yamaha YZF-R6	12.859	2.813	1:29.644	0
7.	21	Elena Myers	Suzuki ·SportbikeTrackGear.com ·M4 ·Arai ·Lucas...	Suzuki GSX-R600	16.359	3.499	1:30.416	26
8.	12	Tomas Puerta	Road Race Factory ·Yamaha ·American Supercamp...	Yamaha YZF-R6	19.098	2.739	1:30.409	0
9.	73	Sebastiao Ferreira	Meen Motorsport ·Life in Christ Ministry ·Doug...	Yamaha YZF-R6	20.581	1.482	1:30.182	26
10.	4	Travis Ohge	Rotobox ·Nexx ·Yamaha Graves ·Goldfren...	Yamaha YZF-R6	20.670	0.088	1:30.447	20
11.	122	Ryan Matter	Gearzy ·Shoei ·ACT Racing ·Deucebrand ·Penske...	Yamaha YZF-R6	29.847	9.177	1:30.902	20
12.	150	Wyatt Farris	Mach 1 Motorsports ·The Jon Block Group ·FMF ·CT...	Yamaha YZF-R6	31.559	1.711	1:31.250	16
13.	100	Matthew Sadowski	Topshelf Motorcycles ·Arai ·RS TAichi ·Ohlins ·EBC...	Suzuki GSX-R600	31.862	0.303	1:31.244	12
14.	606	Colter Dimick	A.C.E.S.Motorcycles.com ·Tri-City Cycle ·M1...	Yamaha YZF-R6	33.024	1.162	1:31.473	13
15.	814	Javelin Broderick	Dynojet Research ·Diablo Racing ·YAMAHA Racing...	Yamaha YZF-R6	38.038	5.013	1:31.304	14
16.	99	David Sadowski, Jr.	FleetBroke ·Castrol ·AXO ·Spy ·SBS Performance	Suzuki GSX-R600	41.524	3.485	1:31.496	0
17.	13	Charles Weaver	Weaver Racing ·EDR Performance ·Suomy Helmets...	Yamaha YZF-R6	44.283	2.759	1:31.825	5
18.	48	Tyler Linders	Rotobox ·Nexx ·Yamaha ·Cortech ·Hypercycle ·Share...	Yamaha YZF-R6	44.731	0.448	1:32.021	6
19.	250	Nadr Riad	Meen Motorsports ·San Jose Yamaha ·Galfer ·K Tech...	Yamaha YZF-R6	49.152	4.421	1:31.958	2
20.	17	Zach Herrin	Yamaha Corp. ·Graves Motorsports ·Yamaha of Byron...	Yamaha YZF-R6	51.546	2.393	1:32.384	0
21.	63	Devon McDonough	Motorcycle Superstores ·Alpinestars ·Bell Helmets...	Yamaha YZF-R6	1:04.602	13.056	1:32.986	2
22.	53	Lucas Huff	Rotobox ·Nexx ·Yamaha ·Graves ·NCompass ·Dunlop...	Yamaha YZF-R6	1:05.546	0.943	1:32.550	0
23.	161	Sahar Zvik	Vortex ·Leo Vince ·ASV ·Galfer ·Optimal Racing	Yamaha YZF-R6	1:05.637	0.090	1:32.282	0
24.	7	Roi Holster	GMAC Insurance ·Mach One Motorsport ·JPH...	Yamaha YZF-R6	1:05.797	0.159	1:32.858	0
25.	57	Thomas G. Montano	Vehicle Systems ·Arai ·Mach 1 ·SPS ·Motorex...	Honda CBR600RR	1:06.727	0.930	1:32.930	0
26.	41	Matt Schrag	Kneedraggers.com ·Motul ·FLY Racing ·TwoBrothers...	Yamaha YZF-R6	1:26.831	20.104	1:33.252	0
27.	228	Neill Herbert	Baby Appleseed ·Cycle Mall ·Act Racing	Yamaha YZF-R6	1:31.853	5.022	1:34.660	0
28.	144	Oscar Covarrubias	Kyle Racing ·Arai Helmets ·Attack Kawasaki ·Audio...	Kawasaki ZX-6R	15 Laps	1 Lap	1:36.073	0
29.	152	Loren Black	Blackout Racing ·GPR Stabilizer ·EBC ·ASV ·Leo...	Yamaha YZF-R6	1.849	1.849	1:34.074	0
30.	131	Bruce Bleecker	Catalyst Reaction Suspension Tuning ·Areln Ness...	Yamaha YZF-R6	3.531	1.681	1:35.981	0
31.	67	Michael Pond	TunedIndustries.com ·ADR ·NEXX Helmets ·Dyno-Jet...	Yamaha YZF-R6	4.988	1.456	1:35.847	0
32.	86	Danielle Diaz	La Fiesta Restaurant ·Top 1 Oil ·JB Suspension...	Suzuki GSX-R600	6.071	1.083	1:35.579	0
33.	61	JC Gibbs	Ross Brown Motorcycle Attorney ·JC Painting...	Yamaha YZF-R6	6.416	0.344	1:36.108	0
34.	321	Greg Schmidt	The S Shop ·Desmoto Sport ·Simon`s Auto Werks...	Ducati 848	8.127	1.711	1:36.420	0
35.	111	Jorge Castro	Metric Method ·CT Racing ·Trackdaz ·In House...	Yamaha YZF-R6	10.314	2.187	1:35.851	0
36.	136	Marcus Wilkerson	Outlaw Racing ·ADR ·Diablo ·Trackoholics ·Vortex...	Yamaha YZF-R6	22.484	12.170	1:36.111	0
37.	411	Nick Grice	Klen Laundry ·Powerbar ·GoPro ·Justin`s Motion Pro	Yamaha YZF-R6	29.508	7.024	1:35.695	0
38.	113	Ricky Brown	Racer 13 ·Lucky 13 ·Galfer ·Scorpion Helmets...	Suzuki GSX-R600	31.918	2.409	1:37.222	0
39.	713	Jon Appelt	R Tillery Powersports ·SBK Paint	Yamaha YZF-R6	36.485	4.566	1:37.930	0
40.	104	Ryan Haddock	Jason Disalvo Speed Academy ·Motorcycle Superstore...	Yamaha YZF-R6	54.217	17.731	1:34.833	0
41.	18	Luke Luciano	Zone 9 Racing ·KFG Racing ·Vortex ·Fuzimoto...	Yamaha YZF-R6	13 Laps	2 Laps	1:41.122	0
42.	49	Howard Crow	Ducati Seattle ·KFG Racing ·GP Suspension	Ducati 848	12 Laps	1 Lap	1:36.076	0
43.	395	Aaron Hersh	Gearzy ·Motorex ·Hotbodies ·Vortex ·STS ·Speigler...	Yamaha YZF-R6	6 Laps	6 Laps	1:36.119	0
44.	340	Jacob Brown	Five-O Racing ·SDS Performance ·Galfer ·KFG Racing...	Yamaha YZF-R6	0 Laps	6 Laps	-no times-	0
45.	68	Dustin Dominguez	Castrol ·Triumph ·GE Capital ·Freedom Road...	Triumph Daytona 675	DNS	DNS	-no times-	0
46.	428	Josh Chisum	Doug Chandler ·Scrybblade ·RS Taichi ·Troy Lee...	Honda CBR600RR	DNS	DNS	-no times-	0
47.	36	Andrew Artola	Attack Performance ·Arai ·West Coast GP Cycles...	Yamaha YZF-R6	DNS	DNS	-no times-	0

Victory Motorcycles | 2013 Lineup (Video)

July 31, 2012 at 3:35 PM

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2013 Victory Motorcycles

In 2011, Victory Motorcycles reached a new milestone - more riders piloted the Spirit Lake, Iowa, company's bikes that year than in any other year of its history.

The folks at the American V-Twin company attribute this growing popularity to the "Victory Edge" - five areas where Victory's motorcycles excel - reliability, handling, performance, storage and comfort.

And this week, Victory released it's entire 2013 lineup, adding new models to help grow the brand even more. The lineue includes two new members - the Victory Judge, a cruiser that harkens back to muscle-car era styling, and the all-new Boulevard, a bike created created with classic styling.

Attached above is a video highlighting Victory's 2013 lineup. For additional information, log onto Victory Motorcycles.

Following are the motorcycles in Victory's 2013 lineup:

2013 Victory Cruisers:

Boardwalk
Judge
High Ball
Jackpot
Hammer Eight Ball
Vegas Eight Ball

2013 Victory Baggers:

Cross Country
Zach Ness Cross Country
Cross Roads Classic
Hard Ball

2013 Victory Tourers:

Cross Country Tour
Corey Ness Cross Country Tour
Vision Tour
Arlen Ness Vision Tour

2012 Laguna Seca MotoGP | Wallpaper

July 31, 2012 at 2:59 PM

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2012 MotoGP Wallpaper

The 2012 MotoGP Championship headed to American shores last week for round 10 of 18 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

And from the looks of performances at free practice and qualifying, it appeared Yamaha Factory Racing's Jorge Lorenzo would be the dominate rider. But it wouldn't be his race; although the 2010 MotoGP Champion started from pole and led the early part of the race, he would be overtaken by his main rival, Repsol Honda's Casey Stoner.

The Australian, who will retire following the conclusion of 2012 MotoGP, would pass Lorenzo on the 11th lap and not be touched again. The reigning MotoGP Champion would eventually finish the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix 3.429 seconds ahead of Lorenzo. Taking the final podium position would be Stoner's teammate, Jorge Lorenzo.

This would be Stoner's fourth win of 2012, allowing him to redeem some points after an eighth at Mugello and a DNF at Sachsenring. In championship points, Stoner remains in third, 32 points behind Lorenzo. Pedrosa is in second, 23 behind Lorenzo.

Attached above is some wallpaper highlighting 2012 Laguna Seca MotoGP, including pics of Ducati Teams Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden.

Photos by Ara Ashjian

Click motorcycle thumbnail to expand. Right click motorcycle wallpaper to download.

Arizona Highway Patrol Chooses HeliBars

July 31, 2012 at 2:19 PM

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Kawasaki Concours with HeliBars

Heli Modified Inc. has been selected by the Arizona Department of Public Safety to equip the Arizona Highway Patrol's Kawasaki Concours ABS Police Edition motorcycles with HeliBars' new Horizon ST14 Multi-Adjustable Handlebars.

The Horizon bars allow a personalized fit by offering four ergonomic adjustments, giving motor officers unequaled riding comfort and improved bike control. They transform the Concours by rising up to 4.5 in. higher than stock and allowing as much as 6 in. of forward and rearward reach adjustment.

This flexibility results in a more natural seating position that helps take weight off a rider's lower back and wrists, as well as increasing bike and rider maneuverability. In addition, the bars can be set between 27 in. and 28.5 in. wide, making for lighter steering, more nimble low-speed maneuverability and better chassis feedback. Their up and down wrist angle rotation minimizes upper-body fatigue.

Officer Jake Pruet, a veteran of the force who rides his Concours daily and is one of the agency's motorcycle instructors, facilitated this groundbreaking relationship between Heli Modified and the Arizona Highway Patrol.

"We really enjoy the Concours," Pruet explained. "However, its seating position was somewhat uncomfortable for police officers using the motorcycle for 10 hours a day. We were forced to lean forward on the bike with our arms locked and all of our weight on our wrists and lower back. This created a problem with not only rider comfort, but officer safety as well.

"Once the handlebars were installed, I could immediately tell that the motorcycle handled very differently. It was almost effortless to turn during slow maneuvers. I also was pleasantly surprised to find the seating position perfect for our line of work. My back was completely straight, my arms were bent at the elbow and my shoulders and wrists were relaxed. The Kawasaki is now my new favorite police motorcycle.

"I completed several rigorous tests. In slow, tight maneuvers, I was able to complete a 16-ft. U-turn with almost no effort. The motorcycle now makes quick left-to-right and right-to-left transitions. At freeway speeds, the Helibars actually make the ride even smoother. At higher speeds, the bike is 100% stable. I also tested the Helibars under extreme braking and felt no movement or handlebar flex.

"I've shown the Helibars setup to numerous motor officers in the Phoenix area that are either riding the new Kawasakis or their departments were purchasing them soon. The guys were amazed, just like I was, how drastically different the seating position is. With these new Helibars, the Kawasaki C14P is in the running to become the best police motorcycle on the market. The Helibars system is a must for anyone who rides a Concours, for civilian or police duty."

Harry Eddy, Heli Modified Founder, President and Design Engineer, feels that the Horizon ST14 bars are a perfect fit for law enforcement: "We're proud of our affiliation with the Arizona Highway Patrol and thrilled to provide America's motor officers with products that make their jobs easier and safer."

Made in the USA, Horizon multi-axis handlebars replace the stock units, bolting directly to the Concours' top triple clamp. Their components are crafted from stainless steel, low-carbon steel and 6061 aluminum alloy. To facilitate easy installation, the handlebar tubes are drilled for control housings. The Horizon kit efficiently integrates with ABS and non-ABS model Concours, and can accommodate stock or aftermarket bar-end weights. Optional reservoir-to-junction brake lines and HeliMount GPS mounting bracket are available.

The bars come in a silver powder-coat finish and are anchored by stainless-steel, Allen-head hardware. Like all HeliBars products, the Horizon STs are backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee via Heli's 30-day return policy and come with a one-year warranty.

Celebrating 25 years of handcrafted excellence, Heli Modified, Inc. designs and manufactures more than 70 different HeliBars motorcycle handlebars and handlebar riser systems that greatly improve the ergonomics of sportbikes, sport tourers, touring bikes and cruisers.

Please visit HeliBars.com for more information about Helibars' innovative product line or call 800-859-4642. Additional company-related news is available on its Facebook page and YouTube channel.

FCC TSR Honda Wins Suzuka 8 Hours

July 31, 2012 at 12:50 PM

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2012 Suzuka 8 Hours Results

Over the weekend, the 2012 FIM Endurance World Championship headed to Japan for the 35th running of the Suzuka 8 Hours (round three of five).

And for the second consecutive year, the FCC TSR Honda Team was victorious. But this year's win was extra special for one of its riders; World Superbike rider Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike) became the first British rider to win the Suzuka 8 Hours.

Joining Rea on the 2012 FCC TSR team was Kosuke Akiyoshi. Both riders also competed in the 2010 Suzuka 8 Hours, the pair finishing third that year. Joining Rea and Akiyoshi on the podium was former Honda World Superbike rider, Tadayuki Okada, who was the team's reserve rider.

The FCC TSR Team (Bridgestone) would finish four laps ahead of TOHO Racing Honda (Bridgestone), with the Yamaha France team (Michelin) finishing third. The victory was the 25th for Honda, and the sixth win on CBR 1000 RR Fireblade machinery.

Jonathan Rea says: "I'm so happy to get a win in such a huge race as the Suzuka 8-hours. I really appreciate the efforts of Kosuke Akiyoshi, Tady Okada, Honda and all the F.C.C. TSR team staff. Kosuke was riding very, very fast, and Tady gave me a lot of really useful advice. I want to thank them both so much."

Rea's Honda World Superbike colleague, Hiroshi Aoyama, rode for the MuSASHi RT Harc-Pro team, which was battling for the lead with just two hours to go when team-mate rider, Ryuichi Kiyonari, crashed out unhurt.

2012 Suzuka 8 Hours Results:
1. F.C.C. TSR HONDA F.C.C. TSR HONDA / 35 Points
2. TOHO RACING WITH MORIWAKI TOHO RACING WITH MORIWAKI / 29
3. YAMAHA - GMT 94 - MICHELIN - YAMALUBE YAMAHA - GMT 94 - MICHELIN - YAMALUBE / 25
4. MOTO MAP SUPPLY MOTO MAP SUPPLY / 21
5. HONDA SUZUKA RACING HONDA SUZUKA RACING / 18
6. HONDA DREAM RT SAKURAI HONDA DREAM RT SAKURAI / 16
7. TELURU & EMOBILE * KOHARA TELURU & EMOBILE * KOHARA / 14
8. TEAM MOTORRAD 39 TEAM MOTORRAD 39 / 13
9. BMW MOTORRAD FRANCE THEVENT BMW MOTORRAD FRANCE THEVENT / 12
10. HONDA TT LEGENDS HONDA TT LEGENDS / 11

Photos by Noriyuki Nakajima

Pedrosa Talks First Half of 2012 MotoGP

July 31, 2012 at 11:58 AM

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Dani Pedrosa Interview

Since joining the premier MotoGP class in 2006, Dani Pedrosa's best season finishes were second in 2007 behind then Ducati Team rider Casey Stoner, and second in 2010 behind Yamaha Factory Racing's Jorge Lorenzo.

The 2011 year began well for the Spaniard, but trouble began in Le Mans when he broke his collarbone following a crash with the late Marco Simoncelli. Pedrosa was forced to miss Le Mans and the subsequent three rounds, only able to finish fourth overall that season.

But due to his best first-half ever in the premier class, Pedrosa may just walk away with the title in 2012. In the first 10 of 18 races, Pedrosa has shown the potential of the 1000cc RC213V; he finished on the podium nine times, including a win at Sachsenring.

Heading into Indianapolis MotoGP, Pedrosa trails Lorenzo by 19 points, making him the strongest candidate so far for the title besides the 2010 champion.

Following a third-place finish Laguna Seca MotoGP, Pedrosa sat down with the Repsol Team, offering the following interview.

Q. You're second in the World Championship and 19 points off the lead at the halfway stage. Is the season going as expected?

Dani Pedrosa says: "It's gone well. We have got good results and everything has been fairly balanced. We've lacked a few more wins, so hopefully we can improve the number of victories in the remainder of the season."

Q. In a year in which consistency has been your foundation, what stands out to you about your performances so far, and what do you need to improve?

Dani Pedrosa says: "The truth is that improvement is very difficult, because the competition is very tight and any detail can really make a difference. We must explore all possibilities."

Q. There are eight races to go in 2012. What will make the difference in the second half of the season?

Dani Pedrosa says: "I think in the remaining races things will be very similar to what we have seen up until now. Each race is decided by details, it is important to be as high up on the podium as possible and not make mistakes."

Q. Indianapolis, Brno, Japan, Malaysia... Which of the remaining tracks do you expect to be strongest at and which do you like the most?

Dani Pedrosa says: "This year we are all doing very well at every circuit -at those which we like and those which we don't. I think this will continue and that it won't be tracks that make the difference. You can't make mistakes and the winner will be whoever commits the least errors."

Q. It seems as if absolute perfection is needed to win races this year. Is that the feeling that you have?

Dani Pedrosa says: "Yes, it really is. Whilst at the races you can think that we aren't going forward and we can give more, but we are at the limit of our possibilities and it is very difficult to make a difference. For this reason we are often racing in a 'queue', with little overtaking, because we have reached a level where you can squeeze very little more out of yourself, of the bike and of the circuit."

Q. What's your verdict on the performance of the RC213V up to now? Is chatter still the main issue?

Dani Pedrosa says: "The bike is going pretty well. It is difficult to find an excellent setting at every circuit. Obviously it could go a little better, but I think we're doing a good job. Chatter is one of the problems that we have. We are trying to fix it, but it's hard. There is not much expectation of improvement in this regard for the end of the season."

Q. At Silverstone you were forced to change tire compounds. Have the problems and lack of confidence with these new tires been resolved?

Dani Pedrosa says: "It is still difficult to ride with this new tire. Obviously as the races go by we have become accustomed to them, but the limitations are still there."

Q. How do you assess the move to 1000cc, after half a season? Is there much of a difference compared to last season?

Dani Pedrosa says: "Yes, there is a difference. Especially in the race, because the tyres last a shorter time and this causes the bike to move more, become more difficult to control, and become harder to move when entering and exiting corners. For this reason, I think this year there is little difference between the top three and the rest."

Q. Is this new cylinder class much different to riding the 990cc bikes from your rookie season?

Dani Pedrosa says: "No, the way of riding with it is not very different. The power is quite similar. It is clear that the bike is different, but in terms of riding the biggest change lies in the tyres. The ones we used back then were very different compared to now and it varies things a bit."

Q. How do you feel about the other change -sharing the track with the CRT bikes?

Dani Pedrosa says: "These are bikes that are still evolving and have not, so far, got great power. We know that the goal this year was not to match the MotoGP bikes. It is an innovation that is useful for getting more riders on the grid and offering a better show. Let's give them time."

Q. In Estoril you got your hundredth podium in the World Championship and at Laguna Seca your 65th in MotoGP, overtaking Wayne Rainey and becoming the sixth most successful podium finisher in the premier class. Is it a motivation for you to achieve these spectacular milestones? Do you have a challenge that you have particular desire to match or beat?

Dani Pedrosa says: "It is true that I have taken many podiums in MotoGP, but I have not won as many times as I wanted. I would love to achieve more victories."

Q. You confirmed your renewal with the Repsol Honda Team a couple of weeks ago. Your future teammate Marc Márquez has listed you as his idol. How do you think it would have been for you if you had been Mick Doohan's teammate in your first year?

Dani Pedrosa says: "It would be very difficult to have Doohan as a teammate! I think he was a very tough rider... I don't know if I would have been at his level, but for sure we would have learned a lot and made things very difficult for each other on track."

Q. Last year, you made the most of the mid-season break to recover from the crash at Le Mans, but this year you have had better luck with injuries. What plans do you have for the summer?

Dani Pedrosa says: "I will go back to Europe, try to rest, recover energy and generally enjoy a break. I'll catch some sun, which is always good, and rest for a few days. There will be visits to friends and family to laugh and be happy, then it will be back to training."