Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly / March 2015

#163 FREE

A Different Kind Of Cruiser

Inside: 2015 Indian Scout • Record Setting Riders

Special Section: Get Ready For Riding Season • Events

Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly® #163 March 2015

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Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly®

Table of Contents March 2015 3

From The Hip

PUBLISHER Victor Wanchena

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All The News That Fits

MANAGING EDITOR Bruce Mike

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Geezer With A Grudge Changing The Rules, Mixing My Emotions

EDITOR Guido Ebert

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COLUMNISTS Thomas Day

Feature Rider From the Record Books — Al Burke

Photo by Bruce Mike

CONTRIBUTORS

From The Hip

David Harrington

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By Bruce Mike

T

hank you for picking up Issue #163, our first issue of 2015. As always we appreciate the support of our readers and please let us know how we’re doing. Good or bad, we like to hear from you. Email us, comment on our website, post on facebook, tweet or drop us a letter in the mail. We accept it all.

It’s February 22nd and the temperature outside is -9º with a -23º windchill. That’s fahrenheit if you’re curious. The average temperature for this time of year is around 30º. Needless to say “this just ain’t right”. What I did today to get a little reprieve from this arctic hell was visit the Nordeast Swap Meet at the NE Minneapolis National Gaurd Armory.

I need these bike events to help me get to spring. I attended the International Motorcycle Show earlier this month and I’ll be going to the Donnie Smith Show. Some years we’ve been able to ride to it, not recent years though. As I get older these Minnesota winters are losing their charm.

On the way to the swap meet today I thought about how many more and how much bigger they used to be. I realize Craig’s List and ebay have a lot to do with this but they don’t even come close to giving me what I get at a swap meet. I realize they aren’t for everybody but I love the flea market, garage sale vibe. The negotiating and story telling are what make them fun. I always find a ton of stuff that is completely foreign to me but gets defined in great detail from the seller. Usually with an interesting story attached.

This swap meet trip was in pursuit of parts for my nephews bike. He has a pretty good list of things he’s looking for and we were able to knock off a couple at a very reasonable price. What happens to me as I peruse the vast array of parts and pieces is inspiration. I currently own only one old bike and all it really needs is a clutch, which I doubt I’m going to find at a swap meet. The inspiration comes from all the stuff that I could use to make the bike different than what it is. My old Iron Head was a ten year project and as soon as it was done I had a million ideas about how it could be better or at the very least different. This is where I end up with far more money invested than the bike will ever be worth. But can you really put a price on fun?

Gear Review Ricor Intimidators and Rear Shock

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Bike Review 2015 Indian Scout

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Special Section Get Ready For Riding Season

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Motorcycling In Minnesota Mississippi Cheese Run

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Movie Review The Mouse and The Motorcycle Calendar

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Random Scootering Kymco Like 200i, A Modern Ride With Retro Look

Here is a great definition of swap meets I found on the internet – “Swap meets are a mixture of treasure hunting and shopping, and the meets attract a diverse crowd of motorcycle enthusiasts. The hard core swappers flock to the meets to prospect for the hidden jewels amongst the used and antique parts, spending hours sifting through bins and turning over chrome on the vendor tables. Some bikers will head out to the swap meet to check out the latest accessories or models from area dealers that exhibit their wares to the riders anxious to see the latest and greatest the industry has to offer”.

A week from now I’ll be trail-riding in Moab, Utah. Another way to beat the winter blues. They’re predicting it will be unseasonably cool but I’ll take 50º over -9º any time. Then 3 weeks after I get back it’s the Donnie Smith Show and Swap Meet. As it’s been throughout my adult years, I will continue to plow through these winter months in anticipation of warm sunshine and open roads.

Ride safe and be nice.

Cover photo Guido Ebert 2015 Indian Scout Provided By: Indian Motorcycles

Je Suis Charlie

MMM

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Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly® #163 March 2015

All The News That Fits

Suchanek Sets Another Ice Wheelie Record W

isconsinite Ryan Suchanek on Jan. 31 set a new Guinness Book of World Record’s “Fastest Motorcycle Wheelie On Ice” with a speed of 117.5 mph atop his 2013 EVS Sports Kawasaki ZX-10R. Suchanek, who owns the World Famous Bargain Barn motorcycle shop in Edgerton, reclaimed the title after Swede Robert Gull last year set a 114.5 mph run on a Honda CBR 1000RR.

Photo Courtesy MGN

U.S. Cycle Sales Up 3.8% in 2014 Well, the numbers are in … Major motorcycle & scooter suppliers sold 483,526 new units in the U.S. in 2014, up 3.8% compared to 465,783 units sold in 2013, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council, an industry organization serving manufacturers, distributors and retailers.

On-Highway model sales totaled 334,488 units, up 3%; Off-Highway model sales were 81,013 units, up 10.9%; Dual model sales were 34,497 units, up 3.6%; and Scooter sales represented 33,528 units, down -3.5%.

Off-Highway sales benefited from radical growth in low-priced and high-end model sales, as well as from incremental growth in all displacements.

Further, 2014 was the first year in more than a decade that Dual model sales surpassed Scooter sales. Scooter sales likely were affected by a long-lasting winter in many parts of the country as well as by falling fuel prices. Dual model sales appear to be gaining in popularity due to their do-all capabilities and the availability of relatively low-priced models.

MN Boasts Best Drivers in the U.S. Minnesota has the best drivers in the U.S., according to CarInsuranceComparison.com, a website that used data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to compile its rankings.

Iowa was a close second to Minnesota for states with the safest drivers, followed

by New Hampshire, Alaska, Connecticut and Oregon. In comparison, Montana, South Carolina, Texas, North Dakota and Delaware round out the worst five, largely for their rates of drunken-driving fatalities and number of deaths per mile traveled.

The event becomes even more impressive when you learn Suchanek rides with a prosthetic as the result of a motorcycle/car crash that took his left leg below the knee.

Neighboring state South Dakota had the 16th worst drivers while Wisconsin had the 22nd worst.

Wisconsin Targets Licensing Wisconsin ended 2014 with 74 motorcyclist fatalities, the lowest number since 2001. “A third of all motorcyclists involved in fatalities were not properly licensed, in other words, they did not have an endorsement on their license for legal motorcycle operation, so we’re making a big push to get motorcyclists licensed and trained,” WisDOT spokesman Steve Olson told WSAU.

H-D Names Levatich New CEO Harley-Davidson, Inc. has named Matt Levatich, 50, to succeed Keith Wandell, 65, as President & CEO following Wandell’s retirement on May 1. Levatich has held wide-ranging roles in the U.S. and Europe since joining the Motor Company in 1994.

H-D Sales Up 2.7% in 2014 Harley-Davidson says dealers across the globe in 2014 sold 267,999 motorcycles, up 2.7% compared to 260,839 motorcycles retailed in 2013. Unit sales were up 1.3% in the U.S. while International sales were up 5.4%.

Keith Wandell, H-D CEO, says the company has managed to broaden its customer demographics. ”In the U.S., for the third straight year, sales to our outreach customers grew at more than twice the rate of sales to core customers,” he remarked in a prepared statement.

Polaris’ Cycle Sales Grow in 2014 Polaris says motorcycle sales in the full year 2014 amounted to approx. $348.733 million, up 59% compared to $219.819 million in 2013 as the company benefitted

from continued strong retail sales for Indian motorcycles, improved retail demand for Victory motorcycles and initial retail sales of Slingshot.

Polaris’ motorcycle business accounted for 7.7% of its total sales in 2014, up from 5.8% in 2013.

KTM Sales Up for 4th Year The KTM and Husqvarna brands in 2014 together sold 158,760 vehicles worldwide, up 28.2% compared to 123,859 units in 2013, says KTM AG. The results represented the fourth year in a row of record sales for the manufacturer.

Growth has come largely from KTM’s partnership with Bajaj Auto Ltd. of India (Bajaj now owns 47.9% of KTM AG), increased small displacement KTM onroad sales in Europe, the 2013 purchase of the Husqvarna brand from BMW, and expanded KTM/Husky distribution in South America.

Triumph Sets Sales Record Triumph says it sold 54,432 units globally in its last financial year, up 4.5% compared to 52,089 units sold in the previous 12-month period. That’s the highest number of two-wheelers since the brand’s re-launch in 1983.

Ducati Grows Sales for 5th Year Ducati says it in 2014 delivered 45,100 bikes globally, up 2% from 44,198 units delivered in 2013 and a fifth consecutive year of growth. The U.S. continues to be Ducati’s top market, with 8,804 units delivered to customers (up 2.5%).

Ducati says the global increase in sales in 2014 stemmed from growth in the Monster family (+31%) and the Superbike family (+12%), both of which introduced new models.

BMW Sets 4th Consecutive Sales Record BMW Motorrad says it sold 123,495 twowheelers globally in 2014, up 7.2% from 115,215 units in 2013 and a record sales figure for the fourth year in a row. The U.S., the brand’s second largest market after Germany, was in 2014 responsible for sales of 15,301 two-wheelers, up 8.5% from 14,100 units in 2013.

Victory Launches NHRA Effort Victory Motorcycles is set to launch into the world of NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle competition with the creation of Victory Factory Racing.

Victory teamed with two-time NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world champion Matt Smith and his wife, Angie. The Smiths, who previously ran a S&S-powered Buell, now will race a bike patterned after Victory’s Gunner model yet powered by the transplanted S&S V-twin.

Sturgis Signs With H-D Harley-Davidson and the City of Sturgis, S.D. signed an agreement that makes H-D the official motorcycle brand of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally ... for the next 75 years.

The agreement has an initial term and renewals running through 2090.

As part of the agreement, a permanent plaza will be built on Main Street in Sturgis and include a stage for concerts and events. The year-round location is to be completed in time for this year’s 75th annual rally.

Sturgis Rental Scam Susan Johnson, manager of Black Hills Central Reservations, says she knows of multiple bogus home rentals that showed up on Craigslist for the 2015 Sturgis motorcycle rally. The scramble for housing for the 75th anniversary rally has been crazy, she said. “This year is like no other rally I’ve experienced and we’ve been here 17 years.”

Sturgis Police Chief Jim Bush said a phony home rental listing is new on his scam list.

“This year will stretch the imagination on everything, but I haven’t seen that one.”

- Rapid City Journal

Allstate Warns to Watch For Motorcycles Allstate has installed 167 “Watch For Motorcycles” signs in 37 cities across 19 states.

Through the Once is Never Enough (O.N.E.) program, established in 2009, Allstate and its engineering partners work closely with local traffic authorities to review available crash data and to identify intersections with a high number of multivehicle crashes involving motorcycles.

Allstate then donates yellow diamond “Watch For Motorcycles” warning signs to be installed at the site.

Gamers, Prepare for RIDE Bandai Namco Games America Inc. and video game developer Milestone s.r.l. have announced that RIDE, a complete motorcycle racing simulator, will launch in Spring 2015 for the Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. RIDE is to offer more than 100 motorcycles and a diverse selection of circuits from around the world. Bikes will be spit into four different categories – Superbikes, Supersports, Naked and Historical – and players will have the opportunity to extensively customize the two- wheelers and riders.

Woman Veteran Plates Women veterans can now purchase motorcycle license plates that honor their service. Any veteran wanting a “Woman Veteran” plate should bring her discharge papers to the DMV. Estimated cost for the application, plate and fees is $20.

Moto Guzzi Opens The Garage Moto Guzzi is set to offer V7 model owners a way to easily personalize their bikes with the introduction of the Moto Guzzi Garage – a collection of four distinct parts & accessories kits. Check them out at: garagemotoguzzi.com/ en/the-kits/

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Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly® #163 March 2015

Geezer With A Grudge

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By Thomas Day

n the last October weekend of the 2014 MMSC training season, I taught a “Seasoned Rider” class (aka Experienced Rider Course, ERC, BRC II, etc.) for a few Polaris company employees.

Because the course had some experimental qualities (“There will be a test.”), it was prepaid to the college regardless of the number of students.

Due to the lateness in the season and the “test,” the Polaris employees were allowed to ride the course on the state’s 250-and-under motorcycles, instead of bringing their own rides.

By design and purpose, the BRC II is intended, I think, to be ridden on the students’ bikes. At least, that’s the way we’ve always done the course as long as I’ve known about it. And, of course, there has not been an evaluation at the end to determine what has been learned in the course during the time I’ve been an instructor. That has not always been the case, though.

The first 3 1/2 hours were identical to the usual course, but it was pretty obvious that we all had a different kind of edge on due to the impending “evaluation” (PC for “test”).

The students, because they were in a pass/fail situation; the instructors, because we’d never conducted a BRC II with a test at the end.

I took my first prototype-ERC (Experienced Rider Course) at Willow Springs Raceway, back in the late 1980s. It wasn’t called the ERC, as I remember, but I don’t remember what it was called. There was a fair amount of lecture along with the usual emergency stop, obstacle avoidance, turning, and riding technique instruction. There was a short performance test at the end of the course and, as I remember, we were presented with a certificate that could be used for a drivers’ training discount with our insurance companies.

The next time I took the course was in Denver, at Bandimere Speedway, the drag racing track. The “range” was a marked-up and coned section of the speedway where the cart racing is today. I don’t think there was a

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Changing The Rules, Mixing My Emotions test with that course.

The last time I took the course as a student was in Minnesota, on the Guidant parking lot in Arden Hills. The parking lot had been oiled earlier that week and employee cars had been sliding into each other at

I had a little built-in resistance to teaching the course to “experienced riders” on what most of those riders would consider to be “beginner bikes.” low speeds, morning and evening. I know because I worked there.

Saturday at the ERC, almost everyone in the class crashed at least once and a lot of chrome and plastic looked worse for the wear. I “anticipated” the emergency swerve exercise because I didn’t think my Yamaha TDM would look better coated in greasy black oil.

in resistance to teaching the course to “experienced riders” on what most of those riders would consider to be “beginner bikes.”

The fact is, a lot of ERC students do not ride well enough to be called “experienced.”

Maybe that’s the motivation for the recent renaming of those classes as “Basic Rider Course II” or “Seasoned Rider Course.”

From observing street riders over halfa-century and training them for a dozen years, I’d estimate about 50% of Minnesota riders should be limited to 250cc-and-under motorcycles, 90% should be limited to 650ccand-under, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the 10% who are smart, competent, and safe enough to be on 650cc-and-above would probably choose to ride their big bikes on closed courses 90% of the time.

All that baggage under my belt, we started this course with a little apprehension. A lot of my doubts dissolved quickly, though.

After the first couple of exercises it became clear that our students were riding a lot more aggressively and testing their skills more confidently than the typical BRC II class. Some of this was because this was a younger-than-typical class, but I have to give a substantial credit to the fact that we all ride small bikes more competently and confidently than large ones.

The BRC II test is more like the DOT’s test, which means all four sections of the test are performed by each student, more or less non-stop. More concentration is

required, along with competence, memory and attention – all qualities directly related to being safe on the road. Again, this was a small class filled with better-than-typical students, but at the end they all scored well enough to be qualified as MSF instructors.

I thought about this class for several days afterwards. There are some subversive reasons I am inclined to like the whole concept. The test is more important than I’d imagined. We often have old, unskilled, and/or arrogant riders who simply ride through the harder exercises on their abysmal hippobikes, imagining that there is no relationship between low-speed closed-course exercises and their delusional “real world.”

The apehanger crowd that is overrepresented in mortality/morbidity statistics is typical of this character. Handing them a card that indicates successful completion of the course is particularly galling.

Nearest and dearest to my heart, allowing these intermediate-level riders to do the course on our small motorcycles might encourage some of them to consider, or reconsider, their choice of motorcycle. A tiny percentage of riders might discover that “small is fun” and take that lesson to the street.

If that, alone, happened, I’d be all for letting BRC II riders take the class on whatever motorcycle they chose.

MMM

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Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly® #163 March 2015

Feature

Rider From the Record Books — Al Burke

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nducted into the American Motorcyclist Association Hall of Fame in 1996, Minnesota native Al “Old #91” Burke was a leading Midwestern flat-track racer of the 1950s and early 1960s. Burke rode as a HarleyDavidson factory-supported rider from 1954 to 1963, specializing in short-track racing. He was an eight-time Minnesota state champion and won numerous regional racing titles.

After retiring from professional racing, Burke stayed involved in the sport by announcing races and later came back from a spinal injury to compete in vintage racing.

Burke was born in 1933 and raised in Richfield, Minnesota. His home was close to Carlson Brothers BSA & Norton Sales and as a kid he hung out at the shop. During World War II, the dealership was not very busy. The owners let young Burke learn to work on the bikes from an early age. Co-owner Eske Carlson told Burke, “If you’re going to hang around every day, you may as well learn something.” He started by having the 9-year-old youngster take wheels apart and re-spoke them. He then gradually taught him to work on engines.

Burke’s first actual ride on a motorcycle is one he will never forget.

“When I was 9 years old, on a day when we had a freezing rain, he told me to take a Harley 45, with an outrigger sidecar and go to the store and get some pop,” Burke recalls. “I think I killed the engine three times on glare ice. I finally gave it more throttle, dumped the clutch and took off in a full broadslide out of the driveway. I’ve always said that I started out in a full slide and never quit.”

As a teenager, Burke wanted to learn to race flat

Burke dominated the frequent night racing programs of the Upper Midwest during the midto-late 1950s.

“I would drive to Milwaukee on a Tuesday, pick up my bike and race the rest of that week and weekend and drop off the bike on my way back to Minnesota,” Burke said. “In July of 1956, I set an all-time record of 37 wins in one week. On the short track, we raced what was called the handicap/scratch program, where you go until there was only one winner. We would ride seven times a night, if you kept winning. I won the heat and final on an Iowa half mile on Sunday, seven times at Milwaukee on Photo Courtesy of Harley-Davidson Tuesday, seven times at Santa Fe on track. He spent hours at an old gravel pit doing Wednesday, seven times on Thursday countless laps, learning to control a bike in a full at Flint, Michigan, seven times on Friday and broadslide. By the time he started racing local again seven times at Schererville, Indiana, taking non-sanctioned events at 15, Burke was already 37 first places in a single week of racing.” one of the fastest riders in his area.

While primarily known as a regional racing Shortly after winning the Minnesota flat-track specialist, Burke raced AMA Grand Nationals racing title in 1954 on a BSA, Burke was invited on occasion as well. He scored a number of to the Harley-Davidson factory. Grand National top-10 national finishes including a career-best racer Leo Anthony, one of Burke’s childhood fifth in the half-mile in St. Paul, Minnesota, in racing heroes, gave him the tour of the factory and August of 1957. he met Hank Syvertsen, Harley’s head of racing.

Burke was given a factory Harley-Davidson Burke became closely associated with the Sturgis WR and a schedule of races they wanted him Rally in South Dakota. In 1949, he rode to the to attend. That year, he scored enough national rally on a Velocette and received an award for the youngest rider attending on his own bike. points to be given national No. 91.

He later came back as a racer and won the Black Harley-Davidson used Burke as its short- Hills Classic. track and regional race specialist. The factory even made a special custom short-track racing “In 1979, J.C. ‘Pappy’ Hoel and I were talking frame for him. With his factory machines, about how we could get a reunion of the old

motorcycle racers that rode here at Sturgis, back then, together,” Burke remembers.

“From that conversation was born the White Plate Flat Tracker’s Association. Pappy wrote a book called ‘Life’s Bits and Pieces.’ I wrote a chapter in it about dirt-track racing and growing up at Sturgis.”

Burke raced full-time until 1963, when he retired to go to work as a motorcycle policeman.

He suffered a spinal injury while working as a detective in 1975 in a freak incident, while trying to subdue a professional football player who had been picked up on the street under the influence of narcotics. At first, he was told by doctors that he might never walk again, but after seven operations in seven months, Burke made a remarkable recovery and actually later came back to race motorcycles in vintage classes.

Burke stayed active in motorcycle racing by helping to sponsor young racers and being the race announcer and color commentator at many events. He also served as secretary of the “Over the Hill Gang,” a group of retired motorcycle racers.

When inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996, Burke still lived in his hometown of Richfield, in the same house he grew up in. He continued to display some of his old racing bikes at shows and races. He rode often on his favorite street bike, a Ducati Monster. He and his ex-wife raised three children.

Al Burke passed away in March 2014. For more information, read MMM’s interview with him in our September 1997 issue (available at MNMotorcycle.com).

- Reprinted with the permission of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame

Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly® #163 March 2015

Gear Review

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Ricor Intimidators and Rear Shock

By Victor Wanchena

I

am always suspicious of an accessory claiming to be a simple drop-in or bolt on fix to some deficiency on your bike. Most barely work as claimed or even worse don’t work at all. The Ricor Intimidators are the exception to that rule.

The purpose of the Intimidators is to provide better damping for conventional damping rod style front forks. Here’s how they work. The Intimidator insert is placed in the forks below the fork springs and the fork oil is switched out to light-weight oil (5w). The light oil and valving on the Intimidators soak up the all the small stuff nicely, giving you a smooth ride. When you hit a larger dump an inertial valve opens letting the fork absorb the big hit. It’s that simple.

Installation is very simple as well. If you can change the fork oil in your bike, you can install Intimidators. Simply drain the fork oil, remove the fork springs, drop in the Intimidators, reinstall the springs, and refill with oil. Done.

The name Intimidator is rather misleading because there was nothing remotely intimidating about installation or use. I assume it’s a jab at their competitor Race Tech Emulators.

Again, I was suspicious about Ricor’s claims when I purchased these. I installed them in our Suzuki DR650 test mule. For my first test ride I headed to a nice section of washboard gravel road.

It was immediately evident the damping was a huge improvement over the stock forks. The front wheel stayed planted on the washboard and

Photos Courtesy of Ricor

tracked smoothly through corners. Big bumps were equally well absorbed. The bike rode nicer and didn’t compromise comfort for road holding.

Well son of a gun, their claims were true When compared to the other major option for damper rod fork help, the Race Tech Emulators, the Intimidators offer the advantage of the easy install and great out of the box performance.

The only advantage of the Emulators is their ability to be tuned to an individual rider. The Intimidators have no adjustability, so you’re left with just spring preload and oil level in the front forks to fiddle with. For the majority of riders this won’t be an issue. The improvement is more than enough for everyone except riders needing to finely tune their suspension.

The Intimidators are available to most late model bikes with damper rod style forks. They are popular for dual sport riders and the online buzz is they work very well on Harley Davidson forks as well. They retail for around $180 dollars though I have seen prices lower and higher through online retailers.

I liked the Intimidators so much I actually tried a replacement rear shock from Ricor for the same DR650. The shock is built using the same technology as the Intimidators. It is non-adjustable except for preload. The shock is available with different spring rates to tailor for different rider sizes and riding styles.

I found the shock performance to be on par with the Intimidators. It did a good job of keep the rear planted on the road with getting

overwhelmed by the big stuff. I really noticed the difference on washboard gravel, where the stock shock would pack down and ride like a hard tail over the corrugations. The Ricor shock soaked up those bumps and kept the bike tracking straight, not bouncing sideways like bike did with the OEM shock..

Like the Intimidators I wasn’t bothered by the lack of adjustability. Ricor seems to have found a nice balance in the internal valving that will work for all but the pickiest riders. At $550 from Ricor the shock is reasonable priced alternative to a rebuild of the stock shock.

You can read more and purchase directly from Ricor at http://store.ricorshocks.com/ MMM

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Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly® #163 March 2015

I n d i a n ’s 2 0 1 5 S co u t , a D N

By Guido Ebert

ative Americans utilized Scouts for reconnaissance and as lookouts, messengers and guides. They were a fast-moving bunch that proved expert in traversing vast distances atop what were deemed the quickest, most nimble of horses.

Flash forward past the industrial revolution to 1920 and the introduction of the Indian Scout motorcycle, a two-wheeler that was to possess the positive attributes of the four-legged transport used by its Native American namesake.

Within the next two and a half decades, racers, hill-climbers, trick riders, messenger & postal services, police departments, and the military all utilized a version of the agile Indian Scout. In fact, the U.S. Armed Forces used 30,000 to 40,000 of them during World War II.

While mass production of the Scout first ceased in 1946, Polaris Industries’ resurrected Indian brand, for 2015, introduced a Scout that was meant to serve as a modern interpretation of its forerunner.

How well does it achieve its goal? Read on.

The first things you may notice about the 2015 Indian Scout ($10,999) are its dimensions. Despite the numbers, it’s low and it’s narrow.

The second thing you may notice is Polaris Industries’ attention to detail in the design and creation of the bike. Check out the intricate 69 cu. in. V-twin engine and its polished jugs, the line that runs from the gas tank down through the rear shock as tribute to the original G-20 model’s classic rigid chassis triangle, the fat tires and black wheels reminiscent of the 101, retro badging, the belt cover tribute to the Sport Scout, the sparing use of chrome highlights … even the original-look desert tan leather saddle that sets off the aesthetics.

Comfort Despite its 558-lb. wet weight, the Scout’s low-slung center of gravity contributes to a lightweight feel. Yeah, it’s a “lightweight” 550-pounder. The thing is, with its low C.O.G. and diminutive height, the bike feels daintier the taller the rider.

Once astride and seated on the Scout with its factory settings, taller riders will feel as if they’re “on top” of the bike rather than “behind” the bars while shorter riders will enjoy more of a < position.

The triangle made between the seat, handlebar location and foot controls had this 5’9” rider in a nearly standard seating position, with legs compelled only slightly forward. My 5’3” wife fit on the bike in more of a flying Vee, with an easy reach to the grips and the pegs. At a standstill, she was also able to drop her feet off the pegs for flat-footed assuredness.

The Scout stands only 47.5 inches at the mirrors. The factory-set seat height is 25.3 inches. Wheelbase is 61.5 inches.

My friends Corey and Jay are longtime riders. Corey, who comes from a sport bike background, is 6’2”. The factory settings had him seated upright, with his bent knees

Photo by Guido Ebert

The 2015 Indian Scout retails for $10,999. raised to accommodate the peg position. He said he thought the bike felt short. Jay, who has owned only American V-Twins, is 5’2”.

The factory settings put him in an aggressive < position. He remarked about what he felt was a long wheelbase.

One neat aspect of the Scout both Corey and Jay were glad to hear is that the factory ergonomic settings can be easily manipulated to perfectly fit a wide range of rider sizes. The handlebars/controls can be adjusted, the seat can be adjusted fore or aft, and the position of the footpegs/controls can be moved up to three inches.

Performance No matter an operator’s size, anyone who rides the Scout is sure to raise an eyebrow at its performance.

After my inaugural 15-mile jaunt atop the Scout, I returned to the office and put out on social media that “This is a bike cruiser-haters need to ride.” It may be a “cruiser” motorcycle, but it performs like a middleweight “sport” bike. Seriously.

Powering the Scout is a quick-spinning, counter-weighted 1130cc V-twin engine that not only sits like a jewel within the center of the chassis but also delivers a 100hp punch that scoots you down the road without hesitation. There’s no big, “torquey” thrust, just a “mid-sized” American V-twin that responds immediately to accelerate quickly and smoothly.

Power is “tractable” – start in second if you want – the bike is geared high. In sixth, I saw 4,200 rpm at 80mph. Want to go faster?

No need to shift into a lower gear – just hunker down, give the throttle a twist and you’re at 100 mph. Maximum torque of 72.2

ft. lb. comes on at 5,900rpm – right around the time the engine sounds like it’s going to stroke itself into oblivion. It won’t, though, because it will keep pulling, reach peak 100hp at 8,100rpm and finally shut itself down at 8,600rpm – when the limiter kicks in to avoid any type of disastrous scenario.

The clutch and slick-shifting six-speed transmission offer what have to be among the smoothest gear changes I have experienced on a two-wheeler. Whether you’ve got the throttle at full twist and hooning up through the gears or are on a subdued ride clipping gears as speed dictates, the engagement feels positively greasy in its fluidity. No click. No clunk. Just slick engagement.

The Scout’s 130/90-16 front and 150/8016 rear balloon tires – an Indian proprietary tread pattern manufactured by Kenda – don’t seem to impede the bike’s prowess, but actually seem to help cushion the ride.

There’s certainly plenty of rubber to utilize.

In my opinion, cruiser style motorcycles have for too long featured big rear tires and skinny fronts (in which world of physics that make sense, I don’t know). Whereas riders on those skinny-tire steads are busy looking for longitudinal roadway irregularities, the Scout’s rubber had this rider smoothly sailing over MN’s finest roadway cracks and joints.

handling. Indian says lean angle is 31 degrees, and you’ll know you reached it when the spring-loaded, rubber-coated footpeg starts applying pressure back to your boot.

Braking comes from a 298mm single disc with two-piston caliper front and a similar size disc with single piston caliper in the rear.

That may not sound like a lot of clamping force – especially for a 550-lb. bike that begs to be hooned – but the system worked well in every situation I asked it to.

When riding in “cruiser” style rather than that prescribed by the MSF – mostly using the rear brake to slough speed, employing the front brake only sparingly – I’ve often experienced easy rear wheel lock-up on various Victory models, like the Hammer, Judge and Highball. The Scout’s braking felt much more progressive and controlled.

Finally, as for sound: Don’t expect an air-cooled aural assault. What you can expect, though, is a controlled baritone that hums respectfully at low rpm yet offers an ever-louder “roar” once out on the road and adding engine speed. My neighbors didn’t seem to mind my 7am departures, and I thoroughly enjoyed the

Cornering? Taking the bike into river valley twisties, I found the 41mm damper rod fork and dual 42 N/mm (240 lb./in.) chromed rear shocks well tuned to their duties.

The bike’s size, output and chassis design offer optimal maneuverability and fluid

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Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly® #163 March 2015

9

D i f fe re n t K i n d o f C r u i s e r bike that’ll fit ladies and gentlemen of any size and experience level.

Polaris has received a lot of guff about having two motorcycle brands that each offer the American V-twin experience in cruiser form. The thing is, the manufacturer has proven in other areas that it does indeed have the recipe for performance. And you can feel that in the liquid-cooled Scout – a modern cruiser with a retro name that you may find manages to out-sport the Sportster.

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2015 Indian Scout Specifications MSRP:

$10,999

Engine:

69 cu. in (1130cc) liquid cooled V-twin

Fuel Injection: Exhaust:

Photo by Guido Ebert

The Scout offers 100 hp at 8,100 rpm. range of symphonic tones that could be found across the rev range.

“Wow! Is that the new Indian?!”

I put a little more than 1,200 miles on the ’15 Indian Scout, mainly using the bike for my daily commute and running aroundtown errands.

The bike attracted whistles and walk-ups nearly every day. While some of that may have come as the result of my homestead’s proximity to Polaris HQ in Medina, it seemed an overwhelming number of kudos came simply from motorcycle enthusiasts who keep tabs on the industry – folks in pick-ups, delivery drivers, suited executives

in sedans, gas station customers and, of course, other motorcyclists.

So who’ll buy this bike? The Scout’s smooth engine and transmission supply fine performance, and its size and weight distribution offer ideal control. Throw in a relatively approachable price and customizable rider triangle, and you have a

Closed loop; 60mm bore Split dual exhaust with crossover

Transmission:

Gear driven; wet clutch

Primary Drive:

Belt

Front Suspension:

Telescopic fork, 4.7 inches of travel

Rear Suspension:

Dual shocks, 3 inches of travel

Front Brake:

298mm single disc w/ two-piston caliper

Rear Brake:

298mm single disc w/ single piston caliper

Front Tire:

130/90-16 72H

Rear Tire:

150/80-16 71H

Scout Sets Sights on Sportster 1200

Wheels:

Looking at Harley-Davidson’s line-up, it appears the 2015 Indian Scout would be targeted at buyers of the Milwaukee manufacturer’s Sportster 1200. Lets take a look at the numbers.

Rake/Trail: Overall Height:

47.5 inches

Overall Width:

34.6 inches

• The Indian Scout retails for $10,999 while the H-D Sportster 1200 Custom retails for $10,649 in Black and $10,999 for an alternate color.

Seat Height:

25.3 inches

Wheelbase:

61.5 inches

Lean Angle:

31 degrees

Fuel Capacity:

3.3 gallons

• The Scout features a liquid-cooled 69 cu. in. V-twin versus the 1200 Custom’s air-cooled 73.4 cu. in. engine.

• The Scout puts out 72.2 ft. lbs. of torque at 5,900 rpm compared to the 1200 Custom’s 70.8 ft. lbs. at 3,500 rpm.

• The Scout weighs 558 lbs. weight compared to the 1200 Custom’s 584 lbs.

• The Scout’s maximum lean angle is 31 degrees compared to the 1200 Custom’s 28.3 degrees.

• The Scout is belt-driven while the 1200 Custom is chain-driven.

• The Scout has an unladen seat height of 25.3 inches compared to the 1200 Custom’s 28 inches.

Photo by Guido Ebert

• The Scout’s wheelbase is 61.5 inches compared to the 1200 Custom’s 59.8 inches.

• The Scout carries 3.3 gallons of fuel while the 1200 Custom fits 4.5 gallons.

• Both roll on 130/90-16 front and 150/80-16 rear tires, and both feature a single disc front and rear brake.

While Indian has its sights set on gaining a larger share of the shrinking American V-twin market, the brand still has a long way to go, as Harley in 2013 shipped just over 50,000 Sportsters (out of 260,000 total motorcycles).

• The Scout’s rake/trail equate to 29 degrees/4.7 inches while the 1200 Indian in 2015 could easily capture 2% of that Sportster total. Can it Custom’s are 30 degrees/4.2 inches. capture 5%?

Horsepower: Torque: Wet Weight:

Cast, 16”x3.5” front and 16”x5” rear 29 degrees/4.7 inches

100 hp @ 8,100rpm 72.2 ft. lb. @ 5,900rpm 558 lbs.

Gauges: A nalog speedometer, digital tachometer, odometer, trip meter, engine temp and low fuel lamp Colors: I ndian Red, Thunder Black, Silver Smoke, Thunder Black Smoke Options: R educed Reach Accessories for shorter riders, Extended Reach Accessories for taller riders, a quickrelease windshield, matching desert tan saddlebags and tank pouch, a passenger seat, and rider and passenger backrests.

Every issue 1996 thru 2015 — www.mnmotorcycle.com

Ride Better. Ride Smarter. Ride Longer.

Courses for New and Experienced Riders Register online now at www.motorcyclesafety.org

Training is available at 28 Minnesota locations April through October.

Basic Rider Course ($180)

Basic Rider Course 2 ($55)

Teaches the basics and is the best way to earn a motorcycle license.

Newly licensed, returning and experienced riders find this course valuable as it builds on existing skills and knowledge.

Civilian Police Motorcycle Course ($75)

Civilian Police Motorcycle Course â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Level 2 ($50)

Advanced course for experienced riders that uses same techniques designed to train and keep police motor officers safe in any riding or traffic situration.

(Brooklyn Park and Willmar)

This course is for graduates of the CPMC and adds new high challenge drills to hone control skills and confidence.

(Brooklyn Park and Willmar)

Courses include: Moped, $35 n 3-Wheel Basic Rider Course (3WBRC), $150 n 3-Wheel Experienced Rider, $125 n

Individual Training, $60 per hour n Basic Motorcycle Maintenance, $65 (Rosemount) n

www.motorcyclesafety.org â&#x20AC;˘ (800) 407-6677 Paid for by Minnesota motorcyclists

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2/11/15 4:17 PM

Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly® #163 March 2015

Special Section

11

Get Ready For Riding Season

How to Get Your Motorcycle License in MN

So You Want to Ride a Small Scooter or Moped

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n Minnesota, a “moped” is defined as a powered two-wheeled vehicle featuring 1) an engine displacement of 50cc or less, 2) a maximum two horsepower and 3) a maximum speed of 30mph on a flat surface.

I

n Wisconsin, a third of all motorcyclists involved in fatalities in 2014 did not have an endorsement on their license for legal motorcycle operation, according to WisDOT.

In today’s two-wheeler market, mopeds most often are sold as scooters. Check with your local retailer to confirm that the 50cc model you’ve been looking to purchase can in fact be titled as a moped.

Surprise: You must be properly licensed to legally operate a motorcycle on public roads.

In Minnesota, penalties for riding without a valid motorcycle license endorsement or instruction permit include having the motorcycle towed and impounded, up to $1,000 in fines, or maybe even some time in lock-up.

On-road training courses via the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center (MMSC) are offered at 29 Minnesota State College and Universities from mid-April through the first weekend in October. (800-407-6677/dps.mn.gov)

Any person who has a valid driver’s license may operate a moped without taking a written or skills test. If you’re at least 15 years old and without a driver’s license, you must obtain a moped operator’s permit to legally operate a moped.

Photo Courtesy of Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Manual, available online or at any DVS exam station or licensing bureau.

Training also is provided via institutions like Rider Academy (612-424-1594/rideracademy.com) in the Twin Cities, Ride Safe, Ride Smart (507-630-0551/rsrs.org) in Southern Minnesota, and the Harley-Davidson Riding Academy offered at certain authorized retailers.

3) Pass the knowledge test at the DVS exam station to obtain a motorcycle instruction permit. The fee is $21.

If you’re 18 years or older and choose not to take a third-party training & testing course, you’ll need to:

5) Pay a duplicate license fee at a DVS exam station or licensing bureau to receive your endorsement.

1) Have a valid Minnesota driver’s license.

2) Read the Minnesota Motorcycle & Motorized Bicycle Manual, available online or at any DVS exam station or licensing bureau.

3) Pass the knowledge test at the DVS exam station to obtain a motorcycle instruction permit. The fee is $21.

4) Pass the riding skills test at the DVS exam station. You can schedule a skills test at a DVS exam station online, and several stations are open from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. one night per week for motorcycle endorsement skill testing.

5) Pay a duplicate license fee at a DVS exam station or licensing bureau to receive your endorsement.

If you’re 18 years or older and utilize third-party training & testing via the MMSC, Rider Academy, etc., you’ll need to: 1) Have a valid Minnesota driver’s license.

2) Read the Minnesota Motorcycle & Motorized Bicycle

4) Successfully complete a third-party Basic RiderCourse (BRC) knowledge & skills course, which requires 100% attendance.

If you’re under 18 years of age, you’ll need to: 1) Have a valid Minnesota driver’s license or instruction permit.

2) Read the Minnesota Motorcycle & Motorized Bicycle Manual, available online or at any DVS exam station or licensing bureau.

3) Successfully complete a third-party BRC knowledge & skills course, which requires 100% attendance. Upon completion, you will receive two certificates to take to a DVS exam station along with your Minnesota driver’s license. One certificate will 4) allow you to take the state knowledge test for your motorcycle instruction permit - the fee is $21. The other certificate will 5) allow you to take the riding skills test for your motorcycle endorsement. The certificates are valid until you turn 18.

6) Pay a duplicate license fee at a DVS exam station or licensing bureau to receive your endorsement. Note: A parent or courtappointed guardian will need to sign the application.

If you are a new Minnesota resident and have a valid driver’s license with a motorcycle endorsement from another state, you’ll need to: 1) Take a knowledge test to get a Minnesota driver’s license. You may take the motorcycle knowledge test at the same time you take the driver’s license knowledge test. The motorcycle skills test will be waived when you pass the knowledge test. An endorsement fee of $21 will be added to the cost of your Minnesota driver’s license.

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Photo Courtesy of Yamaha

That means you’ll have to: 1) Present a parental approval slip required for persons under age 18 (available at a DVS exam station).

2) Pass a vision screening at a DVS exam station 3) Pass a knowledge test at a DVS exam station. The knowledge test includes questions on driving laws and rules of the road as well as information specific to two-wheeled vehicles. Read the Minnesota Motorcycle & Motorized Bicycle Manual as well as the Minnesota Driver’s Manual.

When you have passed the knowledge test and paid the $6.75 examination fee, you will receive a 30-day moped instruction permit. This instruction permit allows you to practice riding a moped only within a one-mile radius of your residence.

4) Pass a skills test at a DVS exam station. When you take your skills test, you must bring A) your 30-day moped operator’s instruction permit, B) current proof of insurance for the moped used for testing, and C) a DOT-approved helmet and eye protection.

5) Upon successful completion of the skills test you will need to present a certificate of completion to apply for a moped operator’s permit

Every issue 1996 thru 2015 — www.mnmotorcycle.com

MMM

12

Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly® #163 March 2015

Get Ready For Riding Season

Special Section

MN’s Minimum Cycle Insurance Requirements

I

n a nutshell: All motorcycles registered in Minnesota must have liability insurance coverage for property damage or injury to another party. When you register your motorcycle, you are certifying you have a policy that meets all of the state’s minimum insurance requirements. No-fault injury and uninsured motorist protections are optional, as is coverage for a motorcycle’s damage, loss or theft.

Purchasing appropriate coverage for your motorcycle insurance policy may require some comparison shopping. Get several different quotes to compare rates and ask about discounts such as savings for having your auto and home insurance with the same company. Raising your deductible can give you lower rates, but you’d better be ready to lay out the cash if/when needed.

Minnesota’s minimum requirements for motorcycle insurance coverage are: $30,000 – Bodily Injury Cover for one person $60,000 – Bodily Injury Cover for a single accident $10,000 – Personal Property Liability Cover $40,000 – Basic Economic Loss ($20,000 of which is for medical expenses and $20,000 for loss of income and other expenses that someone might have because of an accident).

Finally, while Minnesota is a No-Fault State – wherein, regardless of who is at fault, it is your own insurance company who will pay for your own medical expenses – most motorcycle insurance in the state is generally purchased on a liability basis so that whoever is at fault in an accident it is their insurance company that foots the bill. As a result, you may want to further protect yourself with Uninsured and/or Underinsured coverage to pay for your medical expenses if the other driver is responsible for the accident and has no insurance coverage or does not have the proper amount of insurance.

All of this can all get a little confusing, so be sure that you read the terms and conditions of a policy carefully before you fully commit to buying it.

Remember: Keep your insurance card with you at all times to submit proof of your financial responsibility in the event of an accident or if you are stopped for a moving violation. Being

caught with no proof of motorcycle insurance can be a very costly mistake, punishable by fines or even a suspended license.

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License Tab Reminder

B

efore you ride this spring, remember your motorcycle or scooter must be registered with the state and display a license plate with a tab showing that registration tax has been paid. Re-registration is required annually. The registration period is from March 1 through the last day of February. New residents have 60 days after becoming Minnesota residents to register their motorcycles.

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Helmet Law Reminder Motorcyclists and passengers under 18 years of age, as well as riders operating on a motorcycle permit, must wear a DOT-approved helmet.

However, there are a few things to remember.

First, you may decide it a good idea to increase the basic amounts of liability cover. The minimum dollar figures are designed for relatively minor to mid-size accidents, and won’t cover damages you may make to today’s spendy automobiles or in the case of big accidents with multiple injuries.

In today’s market of relatively costly bikes, you also may want to consider the advantages of a comprehensive, full coverage policy to cover the loss if your bike is stolen or vandalized.

Photo Courtesy of Icon

Photo by Guido Ebert

If you have mad cartooning skills and an interest in motorcycles, please email samples of your work to bruce@mnmotorcycle.com.

We don’t pay much but you get your art seen by 15-20,000 people 9 times a year.

Come on folks, let’s see what you got.

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Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly® #163 March 2015

Motorcycling In Minnesota

13

Mississippi Cheese Run many bluffs that line Hwy 61.

DISTANCE: 141.3 miles DIRECTIONS Start in Red Wing and travel south on US-61 S for 19.4 miles along the west side of the Mississippi River to Lake City, MN. On the south side of Lake City, turn right (SW) onto CR4 and follow 22.6 miles south, through Plainview. Turn left (east) on CR 25 and follow 5.2 miles, continuing on Hwy 26 for 8.9 miles. Turn left (NE) onto MN-248 E and continue for 10.7 miles. Turn right (south) on US61 S and follow 4.6 miles. Turn left (NE) on Pelzer St./Riverview Dr. and follow 1.5 miles to Winona St./MN-43N. Turn left (east) onto MN-43 N/WI-54 E and cross the Mississippi River. Now across the river and in Wisconsin, turn left (north) on WI-35 N and travel 65 miles along the east side of the Mississippi River to Hager City, Wis. Turn left onto Hwy 63 to return back across the Mississippi River to Red Wing.

Fountain City Now in Wisconsin and headed north on WI-35, you come across Fountain City – originally called Holmes’ Landing after Thomas Holmes, who settled there in 1839. Boats would stop at the landing to take on firewood, as well as water from springs not far from the river. On the northwest side of the city, Eagle Creek flows around the base of Eagle Bluff, one of the tallest bluffs along the Mississippi. Travel another 2.8 miles north to visit Merrick State Park for a picnic, spring water, camping, access to fishing opportunities, or just a chance to stretch your legs.

Alma

Park your bike alongside the town’s train station, located on Levee St. behind the hotel, for a good photo op.

Lake City Approx. 17 miles southeast of Red Wing, along the shoreline of Lake Pepin, Lake City was the home of the inventor of waterskiing, Ralph Samuelson, and is thus known as “The Birthplace of Waterskiing.” Stop at the southside sailboat marina for a photo op.

Carley State Park Once past the farm community of Plainview, you’ll be approaching Carley State Park. Have your two-piece fishing pole along? The Whitewater River is a designated habitat for brown trout. In May, you can find Bluebells and other wildflowers that provide a carpet of color on the forest floor. Rustic campsites are located near the picnic area.

Whitewater State Park If you didn’t stop at Carley State Park, you’ll find Whitewater State Park just south of the community of Elba. Here you can find brown, brook and rainbow trout, a sandy swimming beach, camping and a year-round visitor center.

Winona

SCENERY This ride takes you on a journey through the picturesque bluff country of southeastern Minnesota & western Wisconsin – passing horse farms and hay fields, traveling through river bottom and railroad settlements, traversing creek gullies and wooded ravines, and rolling along the shoreline of the Mississippi River and the grand Lake Pepin.

ROAD QUALITY A mecca for MN day-trippers, the undulating and relatively curvy bluff country roadways are typically kept in good condition on both sides of the river by MNDOT and WisDOT. Nevertheless, be wary of gravel in the corners, wildlife, and slow-moving vehicles and farm implements.

NEED ASSISTANCE? Closest motorcycle dealerships are Red Wing Motorsports and Harley-Davidson Shop of Winona.

ATTRACTIONS Red Wing The entire city of Red Wing has been placed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation, so it would make sense that you start your trip at the St. James Hotel, a building that dates back to 1875 and the early days of this bustling riverside community.

Pass Buffalo City and ride into Alma, located next to Lock & Dam Number 4 on the Mississippi River and a major nesting area for bald eagles. Alma’s city motto beckons visitors to “Step into Living History.” Stop by the Castlerock Museum, a collection of arms and armor from the times of the Romans to the Middle Ages.

Photo by Guido Ebert

You’ve now passed the farm communities of Altura and Rollingstone and dropped down through the blufflands to Winona.

Named after Princess We-Noh-Nah, daughter of Chief Wapasha, and nicknamed The Island City because its original plat was located on a sand bar of the Mississippi River, Winona‘s growth was built on railway and steamboat transportation, wheat milling and lumber.

Settlers arrived in the area in the early 1850s following the signing of the treaties of Traverse des Sioux and Mendota.

Winona was incorporated as a city in 1857, in 1858 became the site of the first “normal” school west of the Mississippi via the establishment of Winona Normal School (now Winona State University), and by 1860 was the third largest community in Minnesota.

The city’s most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf – a lighted, rocky pinnacle that arises from one of the

Nelson Travel 8.6 miles north from Alma and arrive in Nelson, located at the junction of the Mississippi River and Chippewa River valleys. The village’s primary destination for tourists is the 100-year-old Nelson Cheese Factory. This is the title destination of this “Mississippi Cheese Run.” A causeway and bridge across the Mississippi link Nelson with the city of Wabasha, MN.

Pepin The author Laura Ingalls Wilder was born in the Pepin area, 7.8 miles north of Nelson. The village celebrates this every September with traditional music, craft demonstrations, a “Laura” look-alike contest, spelling bee and other events. The Little House Wayside is located 7 miles northwest of the village.

Maiden Rock Maiden Rock, 12.7 miles north of Pepin, is named for a cliff just south of the village. In the Princess Winona legend, the daughter of Dakota Indian Chief Red Wing jumped from this cliff after her lover was killed under orders from her father. Park your bike and find the plaque that stands near the base of the cliff.

Finish your ride by traveling 12.8 miles to the unincorporated Hager City and utilize Hwy 63 to return back across the Mississippi River to Red Wing.

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Tim’s Custom Exhaust Exhaust for any machine.

Old bikes warmly welcomed.

763.422.6720 • www.timscustomexhaust.com

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14

Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly® #163 March 2015

The Mouse and The Motorcycle

Movie Review

Directed by Ron Underwood Churchill Films, 1986 41 minutes NR

I

by Tammy Wanchena

have literally checked the mouse trap in our pantry nineteen times in the past seven hours thanks to this month’s movie pick, “The Mouse and the Motorcycle.” PETA be damned, I want all mice to die.

This month’s movie starts with tons of bickering and car troubles that lead to a stay at the Mountain View Inn for Keith and his parents. My Favorite Martian, Ray Walston, gets them settled into their rooms and Keith sets his toy motorcycle out on the bedside table. When Keith heads out to play tennis with his dad, a mouse leaves the safety of his hole to check out the sweet wheels; a plastic mish-mash of Japanese and British bike elements. The mouse

looks as if it just crawled out of the sewer and has a voice that could only have come from sucking obscene amounts of helium.

When Keith returns from his tennis outing he finds both the mouse and his motorcycle have fallen into the trash can.

Imagine his surprise when he discovers the mouse can talk! Not only can he talk, but he can ride a motorcycle. All you have to do to get the motor to work is make engine noises with your mouth.

I am confident this will improve my own riding and plan to put it to the test as soon as I can.

dirty linens. The mouse gets free, but has to break the news to Keith about his motorcycle. But Keith has bigger problems when he gets very ill. We’re convinced he became infected with Hanta virus.

I will watch this again in spite of my hatred of rodents. Not Keith’s sudden brush with death nor the fact that my husband was horrified by how creepy the stop action mice were is not what will have me watching this movie. I will with the nieces and nephews because thank god it’s only forty-one minutes long and there were zero musical numbers! But, if you want to avoid the nightmares and the obsession with checking the trap, have the kids read the Beverly Cleary book instead.

“My husband was horrified by how creepy the stop action mice were”.

Tensions mount when the maid enters the room and almost vacuums up the mouse and the motorcycle.

They wind up getting grabbed up in the

MMM

Calendar Ongoing 2nd Monday of the month, 7:00pm Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Gathering Diamonds Coffee Shoppe, 1618 Central Avenue Northeast, Minneapolis, MN. Not Necessary To Be a Member to Attend Gathering.

March

Mar 4, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm An Evening with MotoQuest Moon Motorsports, 3613 Chelsea Road West, Monticello, 55362 Alaska and Beyond with Motoquest. Phil Freeman is an adventurer born and raised in Alaska, who boasts more than 20 years experience traveling Alaska by motorcycle, and co-authored the award winning book The Adventurous Motorcyclist’s Guide to Alaska - available for purchase at the event! Phil will focus on when and where to ride in Alaska, and will cover important topics such as bike preparation, what to bring along, and what to expect when riding the Last Frontier.

Mar 19, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm DOOM Customer Appreciation Day Motoprimo, 16640 Kenrick Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044 Join Motoprimo and DOOM, Ducati Owners of Minneapolis to celebrate you and your Ducati. Food, beverages, special in store promotions.

Mar 21, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm FHD Spring Open House Faribault Harley-Davidson, 2704 West Airport Drive , Faribault, MN Food, Activities, Store Promos and More

Mar 21, Noon - 1:30pm Zylstra Harley Davidson Open House 19600 Evans St NW, Elk River, MN 55330 http://www.elkriverzylstrahd.com/

Mar 21, Noon - 2:00 pm SSB’s Cycle Seminar Pt 5 Simply Street Bikes, 7500 Washington Avenue South, Eden Prairie, MN http://www.simplystreetbikes.com/ LAST Cycle Seminar of the off-season.

After covering a ton of topics over the winter months our last theme is: TOURING AND ADVENTURE RIDING & SPRING BIKE PREP.

Mar 28 - 29 28th Annual Donnie Smith Bike & Car Show St. Paul River Centre in Saint Paul, MN http://www.donniesmithbikeshow.com/ The largest custom bike show in the Midwest.

Bike show, huge swap meet, vendors, food & drink.

April

Apr 04, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Moon Motorsports SPRING OPEN HOUSE 2015!

Moon Motorsports, 3613 Chelsea Road West, Monticello, 55362 The Official Start of Spring Riding!

Join your fellow riders at the annual Moon Motorsports Spring Open House. Demo rides on NEW BMW, Ducati, Triumph, Honda, & Yamaha bikes. Deals, prizes, and quite possibly the world’s finest grilled hot dogs.

April 18, 8:00 am Spring Flood Run The Beach Bar, 2030 St. Croix Trail S, Lake St. Croix Beach, MN floodrun.org The Flood Run has been a charity run since the original 12 bikers rode the 90 miles to Winona and threw sandbags helping in the 1965 floods. Raise money for the kid’s at Gillette Children’s Hospital, buy a Wristband for $10.00.

May May 9 Winona Purple Heart Monument Ride Winona Harley-Davidson, 1845 Mobile Drive, Winona, MN Sponsored by Winona Area Combat Wounded Veterans. Registration starts at 9:30, motorcycles go out at 11:00 am for 100 mile ride with five stops. The ride ends with a barbeque and chips, door prizes, card game prizes and more. For more information call (507) 689-4175

May 29–31, 2015 39th Annual Hiawatha Rally Money Creek Haven Campground in Money Creek, MN. http://www.bmwmocm.com/Rally.htm Demo Rides, field events, dinner Saturday, prizes, ride for PIE!, self guided tours, live music, quiet and loud camping

May 24 The GLMC Bonzai Road Rally

Hudson House in Hudson, WI http://www.glmc.org/bonzai.php The Bonzai Road Rally is a 12 hour event which is best described to those who have never tried a road rally as an oversized treasure hunt. At the end of the rally day, riders return to rally HQ with stories and memories. If you like motorcycle riding and would like to try a motorcycle road rally, the Bonzai would be a excellent rally to start with.

May 30, 1:00 - 6:00pm Rockers Spring Social Motorcycle Show Clubhouse Jäger, 923 Washington Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401 Motoshow, DJ’s, Bands, Raffles, Midway style motorbike themed games, the hospitality of Club Jager and all the follies of friends, strangers, freaks and geeks.

Hosting an event? MMM will list your motorcycle event for free as a service to our readers. Email bruce@mnmotorcycle.com or MMM Calendar, 7265 Balsam Lane N, Maple Grove, MN 55369.

From Cruisers to Sportbikes, Touring to Standard, we have something for everyone!

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Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly® #163 March 2015

15

Kymco Like 200i, A Modern Ride With Retro Look

M

By David Harrington

any scooter buyers in the U.S. seem to like retro designs – that basic shape of a classic Vespa or Lambretta – while the rest of the world has moved on to more “modern” scooters featuring aerodynamic shapes and improved materials.

Kymco’s Like 200i (MSRP: $2,699) achieves both objectives, offering a classic-looking design wrapped around a thoroughly modern machine.

The bike I picked up from Scooterville in Minneapolis had just a few miles on it. I rode it for several days and also passed it along to the very brave Jordana, who graciously assisted with photographs and gave me her opinions about the scooter.

Powered by a 163cc fuel-injected forced-air cooled SOHC engine that makes a claimed 2.8 ft. lbs. of torque at 5,500rpm and 11.3hp @ 7,250rpm, the Like further features an automatic Continuously Variable Transmission, single front and rear disc brakes, a telescopic fork and dual shock suspension, and 120/70-12 front and 130/70-12 rear rubber.

The 245-lb. Like’s acceleration off the line is adequate; mid-range roll-on acceleration is brisk. I am fairly certain that the fuel injection contributes to that performance.

There is no “lag” in most places on the throttle, just quick, smooth responsiveness that makes it a fun bike to ride. The suspension was adequate to the task at hand and returned a fairly smooth and stable ride. Braking was strong and easy to modulate. That rear disc really makes a difference in hard braking compared to scooters with a drum brake in the rear.

Testing with a GPS unit showed that the speedometer and odometer on the Like 200i are fairly accurate. The speedometer indicates about 5% faster than the actual speed. At an indicated speed of 30 mph the actual speed is 28.5 mph, at an indicated 50 mph the actual speed is 47 mph. I was able to get the Like 200i to an indicated 66 mph, which GPS showed as 63 mph. A lighter pilot (about 150 lbs.) was able to achieve an indicated 70 mph, which was an actual top speed of 66 mph. A touch disappointing as I was expecting an actual top speed of 70 mph. Fuel economy during the review was 82 MPG. I consider this quite good as the scooter was NOT broken in and was being ridden hard.

KYMCO promotes an estimated 80 MPG. As for amenities, the Kymco Like 200i comes well-equipped with a nice dash that includes the speedometer/odometer, a clock and fairly accurate fuel gauge, switches and controls that appear to be high quality, a color-matched trunk included that appears well made and proved rattlefree during testing, and a small glove box up front that features a power socket and can only be accessed with the ignition key.

I like the glove box power socket location better than the more typical under-theseat location, but it’s a good thing that a trunk is included because there is precious little storage space otherwise. I tried to put a three-quarter sized helmet under the seat and the storage area proved too shallow because of placement of the 1.6-gallon fuel tank. The underseat area would accept a light jacket or backpack alongside the fuel-filler, however. The trunk easily accepted the helmet. Passenger amenities include grab rails, sturdy flip-out footrests and a large seating platform from the onepiece seat.

Photo Courtesy of Kymco

200i has a seat height of just over 30 inches – generally a good thing for those of us with shorter inseams. The issue is the relative height of the floorboards. As you can see from the picture, Jordana (who is 5’5” tall and has a 32inch inseam) said she could not find a comfortable position.

She had very little legroom and her knees were close to hitting the leg-shields. If she pushed back further on the seat, she couldn’t easily reach the handlebars. With a 30inch inseam, I didn’t have quite the same issue, but I can see how this limits who can comfortably fit on the Like. Check the seating position carefully when considering this (or any scooter) for purchase.

she thought it was quite smooth running and found it easier to get onto the center stand than other scooters.

Aside from her seating position, Jordana said she enjoyed riding the Like and was able to utilize the trunk to get a bunch of “ordinary errands” done on the scooter. She said

Twin Cities scooterist David Harrington owns and operates the website JustGottaScoot.com

Ultimately, the Kymco Like 200i appears to be a well-made scooter that offers good performance up to about 60 mph. Kymco has a well-deserved reputation for quality and value. The scooter has a nice fit and finish, with all panels fitting well. I expect it to be reliable and durable and to return good fuel economy. And, if not, there’s a two-year limited factory warranty.

The Like 200i this year is available in Ivory, Blue/Black, Red, or in a Special Edition trim bedecked in Metallic Gold and a 50th Anniversary emblem ($2,799).

Yet, if there is one issue with riding the Like 200i, it’s the ergonomics. The Like

Every issue 1996 thru 2015 — www.mnmotorcycle.com

MMM

Photo by David Harrington

1.9 PAYMENTS AS LOW AS $59/Month 36 MONTHS FOR % FOR QUALIFIED BUYERS

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The Official Scooter and SxS

1.9% for 36 Months [3.53% APR*] $0 DOWN

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$30.03 PER $1,000 FINANCED

*Example: On a purchase where the Amount Financed is $1,999 your Down Payment is $0 with 36 monthly payments of $58.60 each. Interest Rate is 1.9% [ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE is 3.53% (E)]. For other Amounts Financed, the payment would be approximately $30.03 per $1,000 financed. Note: The above financing programs are offered by Sheffield Financial, a Division of Branch Banking and Trust Company, Member FDIC. Subject to credit approval. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. Other financing offers are available. See your local dealer for details. Rate advertised is based on bureau risk score of 675 debt to income ratio of 45% or less. Minimum Amount Financed $1,500; Maximum Amount Financed $50,000. Other qualifications and restrictions may apply. An origination fee of $50 will be added to the amount financed in the above example. Financing promotions void where prohibited. Offer effective on all new and unused KYMCO Scooters purchased from a participating KYMCO USA dealer between 1/1/2015 and 6/30/2015. Offer subject to change without notice. [“E” means estimate. © KYMCOUSA 2015 KYMCO vehicles meet all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety and EPA standards. Take a riding skills course. For the course nearest you, call the Motorcycle Safety Foundation at 1-800-446-9227. For your safety, always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Never operate under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Avoid excessive speed and stunt driving..

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