SportBikes Inc Magazine January 2017

ROAD RACING • DRAG RACING • STUNT RIDING • CUSTOM BIKES • LIFESTYLE

JANUARY 2017 VOL 7 ISSUE 4

SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM TM

BMW'S

G

310R

FEMMEWALLA 2016 | FRESH OIL & CO. | ASPHALT & OPPORTUNITY: AMERICA'S MOST WANTED | THE LION'S DEN: JUST A FEW MILES MORE | IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS: OFF SEASON TRAINING - PART 1

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UNTIL NOW, WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO TA K E S I D E S. T O C H O O S E B E T W E E N W I C K E D O R V I R T U O U S , B R U TA L O R S O P H I S T I C AT E D , R E F I N E D O R W I L D , G E N T L E M A N O R B A S TA R D .

Y O U D E S E R V E B O T H.

© Ducati North America 2016

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CONTENTS

JANUARY 2017 - VOLUME 7, ISSUE 4 http://issuu.com/action/page?page=16

16 THE PRESS ROOM http://issuu.com/action/page?page=40 40 THE GRID NEWS http://issuu.com/action/page?page=46 46 MOTOGP WITH B.T. - By B.T. 56 THE NUMBERS - By Chaz Davies http://issuu.com/action/page?page=56 http://issuu.com/action/page?page=64 64 ASPHALT AND OPPORTUNITY - By Brian and Julian Glascoe http://issuu.com/action/page?page=82 82 THE LION'S DEN - By Lion James http://issuu.com/action/page?page=88 88 FEATURED RIDERS http://issuu.com/action/page?page=94 94 IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS - By Eric Wood http://issuu.com/action/page?page=126 126 THE NEW ISH http://issuu.com/action/page?page=132 132 STAFF STUFF

FEATURED RIDER: JASMINE KING http://issuu.com/action/page?page=91 PAGE 91 4 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

W AT E R P R O O F R I D I N G S H E L L / / M E N S & W O M E N S / / H I V I Z , B L A C K , & P I N K / / $ 1 2 5

R IDE IC ON . C OM

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FEATURES

JANUARY 2017 - VOLUME 7, ISSUE 4

THE FIRST RIDE: BMW'S G310R

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THE LION'S DEN: A FEW MILES MORE

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FEMMEWALLA 2016

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ASPHALT & OPPORTUNITY: AMERICA'S MOST WANTED

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IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS; OFF SEASON TRAINING

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FRESH OIL & CO.

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STAFF

Publisher//Editor in Chief: Allan Lane allan@sportbikesincmag.com

EDITORIAL

ART & DESIGN

Drag Racing Editor: Rickey Gadson rickey@sportbikesincmag.com

Creative Director//Layout//Design: Allan Lane allan@sportbikesincmag.com

Fashion Editor: Kiana Gadson kiana@sportbikesincmag.com

Creative Supervisor: Leon Brittain leon@sportbikesincmag.com

Moto Tech Editor: Thomas Campion tommy@sportbikesincmag.com

Graphic Designer: Baz baz@sportbikesincmag.com

Riding Editor: Eric Wood eric@sportbikesincmag.com

Contributing Photographers: Ashpalt & Opportunity Michael Spain Smith

Staff Writers: Leon Brittain leon@sportbikesincmag.com Michael Lawless lawless@sportbikesincmag.com Lion James lion@sportbikesincmag.com B.T. bt@sportbikesincmag.com

Rodney Torres Caliphotography Lion James BMW Motorrad

MotoGP.com

Copy Editor: Angela Lane angela@sportbikesincmag.com Contributors: Adam Waheed RedSpade Denyse Brooks Chaz Davies

SportBikes Inc Magazine - January 2017 Volume 7, Issue 4 To receive SportBikes Inc Magazine’s 2017 Media Kit and Advertising Rates, please email: info@sportbikesincmag.com.

In no way can any part of this magazine be reproduced in print, digital, broadcast or any other manner without the expressed written permission of the publisher.

SportBikes Inc Magazine (ISSN 2158-009X) is published monthly by Hard Knocks Motorcycle Entertainment.

SportBikes Inc Magazine is not responsible for any advertising claims made by its advertisers or partners.

Any and all items submitted to SportBikes Inc Magazine will become the sole property of SportBikes Inc Magazine and are subject to, but not limited to edits, comments and titles.

Sportbikes Inc Magazine, staff and partners are not responsible for injuries, loss or damage to their being, vehicle or property, including death that may result from contest submissions.

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EXH I LARATION COM ES STAN DARD

LIGHT, POWERFUL ACCELERATION Just punch it and you'll be there.

Always wear helmets, seat belts, and don’t drink and drive. Drivers may need a valid motorcycle endorsement. Don’t drink and drive.

SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM |9 SLINGSHOT® is a registered trademark of Polaris Industries Inc. ©2017 Polaris Industries Inc.

FEATURE STORY

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BMW'S

G

310R

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10 YEA

C L CO

2THE

PENN’S LANDI 12 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

WWW.CLU

AR ANNIVERSARY

L U T C H ONTROL

0 1 7 ILLY IN PHILLY

ING•PHILADELPHIA, PA•SEPTEMBER 23, 2017

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FROM THE EDITOR

T

he motorcycle industry is a fickled and complicated beast. For the last number of years, the general numbers, in terms of new bike sales, haven’t been the greatest. In some instances, it’s been down right bleak. Just recently, with Polaris winding down the Victory line of bikes and Erik Buell Racing, once again, finding itself at the end of the run, it’s not hard to understand how some on the corporate and retail side of the industry are struggling to see the silver lining.

status of the industry’s health. You can witness the sheer joy on the faces of riders from every walk of life rolling on anything with two wheels with an engine.

Without a doubt, there are more riders on the street now than ever before. While those bikes on the road and track are not all a representation of new motorcycle sales, they are a reflection of motorcycle sales. There’s something to be said about the secondary motorcycle market. It lends However, when you have companies like Triumph toward the health of the lifestyle of the motorcycle breaking their own sales records, Ducati yielding industry. impressive numbers and then you have MV Agusta being resurrected in the U.S., you may wonder The task at hand is for the industry, the corporate what’s really going on in the business. Is it all and retail side, to make an organic connection to the lifestyle aspect of the industry. The gap bad or is it all good or is it 50/50? between the manufacturer and the rider must be There is no straight and clear answer to that bridged. One can not survive without the other. question. It depends on who you are asking. It’s that simple.

Maybe, even, when you are asking them. My answer is that it is a case of the good, the bad All we got, is us. and the ugly. Moreover, perspective is everything.

You can spend all day reading statistics, sales Best, reports, marketing insights, etc… or you can hit Allan the streets or the track and see first hand, the allan@sportbikesincmag.com 14 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

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THE PRESS ROOM

INDUSTRY NEWS THE 2017 SUZUKI GSX-R 1000 LINE UP

It's been few years since there have been any major updates to Suzuki’s flagship model, the GSXR 1000. 2017 brings winds of change with Suzuki unveiling their new line of the GSX-R 1000 with 3 different models. The 2017 GSX-R 1000 (available in Pearl Mira Red, Metallic Matte Black No. 2, Glass Sparkle Black and Metallic Triton Blue for $14,999) has been redesigned with new bodywork and a new 16 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

aluminum frame that is 10% lighter and more compact than the previous model years. The new 999.8cc liquid cooled inline four cylinder engine features a Variable Valve Timing system and Ride by Wire Throttle Bodies that work in tandem with the MotoGP inspired Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). The IMU provides direction, axis motion and position information to the bike’s ECM while the Ride by Wire electronic throttle bodies are opened by the ECM to match the throttle grip position, resulting in a smooth delivery of power. These

features are also found on the 2017 GSX-R 1000 ABS model (available in Metallic Matte Black No. 2, Glass Sparkle Black and Pearl Mira Red for $14,999) with the addition of Suzuki’s Motion Track Anti Lock Brake System.

And then there is the 2017 GSX-R 1000R (available in Glass Sparkle Black and Metallic Triton Blue for $16,999). For a few dollars more, you get a little more. The R version of the 1000 includes all of the kit found on the 2017 GSX-R 1000 ABS plus a quick shifter and launch control. To boot, the R version comes with a lightweight battery and full LCD dash with black face.

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THE PRESS ROOM: INDUSTRY NEWS VICTORY MOTORCYCLES COMES TO AN END Polaris Industries have announced the immediate wind down of Victory Motorcycles. Victory gave serious effort to be competitive in a highly aggressive market.

Polaris has decided to focus their endeavors in the two wheeled market with their Indian and Sling Shot brands. Polaris will assist current dealers in the liquidation process and are committed to supply parts to cover service and warranty matters for 10 years.

MV AGUSTA RELAUNCHES IN NORTH AMERICA Urban Motor Group has teamed up with MV Agusta to relaunch and develop the Italian brand in the United States and Canada. Lead by Urban Motor Group’s CEO Joseph Elasmar, the effort will concentrate on the reestablishing the brand’s presence in the USA. The partnership between

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MV Agusta and Urban Motor Group will attempt to thrive on both companies experiences, business model and passion, both equally shared. The two organizations have already teamed up successfully in Australia, where Urban Motor Group was the brand’s distributor.

SPORTBIKES INC MAGAZINE’S SHUT THE CITY DOWN 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CHEESESTEAK RIDE The very first Shut the City Down Ride in Philadelphia was held in 2007. What started as a Philly cheesesteak run and a great way to kick off the local riding season, quickly became a staple in the Mid Atlantic region. Year after year, the event attracted more and more riders, pulling as far away from Boston, Florida and Indianapolis. 2017 marks the 10 year anniversary of the STCD Ride and it will happen on Saturday, May 6. To show our appreciation for those that been on the ride in previous years, if you go on this year’s ride and wear an official SportBikes Inc Magazine shirt, SBI will pick up the tab for your cheeseteak! You can purchase your official SBI shirt HERE…

Join the #SBINATION as we jump off the 2017 riding season with our annual season opener! Please visit the official event page on Facebook for all of the details and important information pertaining to the Shut the City Down 10 Year Anniversary Cheesesteak Ride.

We’ll see you in Philly!

2016 WAS A RECORD SALES YEAR FOR TRIUMPH

Triumph Motorcycles started 2016 with a mega new model launch that showcased their Modern Classics models such as the Street Twin, the Thruxton, the Bonneville, Street Cup and the Street Scrambler. Throughout the year, Triumph focused their efforts on consumer events at dealerships and other venues to drive home their grass roots endeavors. Well, it paid off for the British brand.

In December, Triumph dealers achieved a sales increase of 89% over December of 2015. Total sales for 2016 in North America did better than the market growth rate by more than 15%, selling more than 13,000 units for the first time in their history. That’s a growth per dealership up more than 21% over 2015.

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THE PRESS ROOM: INDUSTRY NEWS VICTORY MOTORCYCLES COMES TO AN END Right along with self parking cars, the technology behind motorcycles that balance themselves seem to be carving a groove in certain specialty future markets. Last year, BMW Motorrad Vision Next 100, a concept bike that was boasted as uncrashable with technology so advanced that the rider need only wear Data Glasses that wirelessly tether the rider to the bike, in lieu of a helmet.

Not to be outdone, Honda unveiled at the most

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recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) their very own Riding Assist technology infused motorcycle that utilizes Honda’s robotics tech that “greatly reduces the possibility of falling over while the motorcycle is at rest.” So there’s no need for a kickstand as their Riding Assist Motorcycle borrows from their tech that was originally meant for the Honda UNI-CUB personal mobility device, which doesn’t rely on weighty gyroscopes. Why is this technology important or practical?

At slower speeds, the rider must be active in balancing the bike, such as maneuvering through traffic or stopping at intersections. The Riding Assist tech does the work for you, greatly minimizing the bike tipping over. I don’t think bikes that can ride or park themselves are too far in the future for us. Practical, most likely not.

But as the tech world continues to expand and ride by wire technology is further explored and developed, one can only guess what is around the bend.

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THE FIRST RIDE

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BMW'S

G

310R

WORDS: ADAM WAHEED IMAGES: BMW MOTORRAD

BMW MOTORRAD ENTERS THE EVER POPULAR SMALL DISPLACEMENT BIKE SEGMENT WITH ITS NEW G 310 R.

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THE FIRST RIDE: BMW'S G310R

B

MW heavyweight bikes have owned American roads for years. Loaded with luxury, technology, and craftsmanship, these motorcycles have created devout riding fans. But what about the person that’s new to motorcycling? Or those that prefer piloting smaller bikes? BMW finally answers with its G 310 R. And the best part? It’s less expensive than most high end pedal bikes.

To do this BMW partnered with TVS Motors of southern India. Engineering was handled at BMW’s design house in Munich with manufacturing taking place at the hands of TVS. The result? A truly worldly machine built for any rider, man or woman, young or old, short or tall.

The single cylinder G is powered by a four valve 313cc four stroke engine that’s liquid cooled and fuel injected. Contrary to most powertrain designs, the intake is positioned at the front of the engine, while exhaust is plumbed from cylinder’s rear. This optimizes mechanical packaging and makes for a lightweight and mass centralized design. In layman’s terms, it makes the motorcycle easier to ride.

A conventional left hand chain final drive keeps things simple and a six speed manual gearbox allows it to be ridden at highway speeds, which we can vouch for. BMW claims a 90mph top 24 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

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THE FIRST RIDE: BMW'S G310R

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speed.

Although BMW recommends running 91 octane unleaded fuel, the engine can safely run with lower grade gasoline. It sips gas from a 2.9 gallon fuel tank and is capable of upwards of 54mpg, as recorded during the course of our 100 plus mile urban ride through Los Angeles.

After the initial 600 mile service, maintenance intervals are every 6200 miles meaning it won’t cost a heck of a lot to operate. Also, because the engine is smaller, it won’t wear out consumables (i.e. tires, brake pads, drive chain, sprockets) as quickly as a larger displacement motorcycle will.

Hence, more time for riding!

Despite its modest engine size, this single shares S1000RR superbike tech including identical piston bore (80mm), valve angles and off set camshafts. However this engine is rated for 34 horsepower at 9500 rpm and 21lb-ft of torque at 7500 revs. Redline is 10,500rpm.

Purring perfectly at any rpm, the engine is peppy enough to get the blood moving. But it isn’t so punchy to be intimidating. Power hungry riders will desire more, but cc for cc, the G 310 will stack up nicely against single cylinder SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 27

THE FIRST RIDE: BMW'S G310R

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THE FIRST RIDE: BMW'S G310R

competition. Vibration is muted at low and mid rpm, but does get a buzzy at higher revs. Its also missing BMW’s signature engine character that is present in all of its multi cylinder models. But again, consider the sub $5000 MSRP and it’s something we could easily forget.

A clean and pleasant looking all digital dash includes fuel level plus consumption metrics, as well as customary driving and riding functions like vehicle speed, engine rpm and gear position.

There’s also dual trip meters and an engine coolant temperature gauge. The LCD display is easy to read behind the handlebar and appears very premium.

With its super low seat height (30.9 in.), the G 310 R is exceptionally easy to command.

Easy clutch pull, a smooth throttle, and precise gear shifter, not to mention effective braking capabilities equal a motorcycle that’s great to learn the ropes on. Both brakes are equipped with ABS (as are all BMW motorcycles from 2013 on), which eliminates a degree of guess work when traffic lights switch from yellow to red.

After getting some miles under your belt, you’ll likely appreciate the authentic sport handling of the smallest Motorrad family member. Despite costing less than half compared to the bigger 30 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

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THE FIRST RIDE: BMW'S G310R

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twin cylinder F800R, it retains the same handling feel we love and expect from the German brand.

Because it weighs considerably less than a “big” bike, the 349 pound G 310 R is agile and easy to maneuver on busy city streets. The seat is both supportive and cozy, and the ergonomics are proportioned well meaning it will accommodate shorter and taller riders alike.

With over five inches of travel, the KYB sourced suspension soaks up bumps with satisfaction yet gives above average sport handling in the twisties, a feature that other bikes within this class sometimes miss. Assembly quality is also higher than expected, and aside from sourcing knock off radial mount Brembo brake calipers, and some minor paint imperfections (orange peel) on the bottom of the fork leg when viewed closely, you’ll be hard pressed to tell that this bike wasn’t built in Germany.

The switchgear, handlebar, and the remaining hard parts also appear like genuine BMW components. It’s worth nothing that the customary Torx head fasteners have been traded for conventional metric head bits so you don’t need any special tools to conduct late night tinker sessions in the garage.

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THE FIRST RIDE: BMW'S G310R

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Based on price alone, the G 310 R is hard to beat. Factor in its industry leading three year, 36,000 mile warranty and legit Motorrad experience and it’s obvious that this motorcycle should be on your radar. Whether shopping for yourself, or someone else that wants to experience the thrill and convenience of motorcycling, you simply can’t lose with this new G bike.

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THE FIRST RIDE: BMW'S G 310 R

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2017 BMW G310R SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE: 313cc liquid-cooled Single, four-valve, DOHC BORE X STROKE: 80 x 62mm COMPRESSION RATIO: 10.6:1 FUELING: Electronic fuel-injection CLUTCH: Wet, multi-plate, cable actuation TRANSMISSION: Six speed FINAL DRIVE: Chain, TBD gearing FRAME: Tubular steel FRONT SUSPENSION: KYB 41mm inverted fork; 5.5 in. travel REAR SUSPENSION: KYB Coil spring shock; 5.2 in. travel FRONT BRAKE: 300mm disc with radial-mount four-piston caliper w/ ABS REAR BRAKE: 240mm disc with double-piston caliper w/ ABS WHEELS: Cast aluminum five-spoke; 17 x 3-inch front, 17 x 4-inch rear TIRES: Michelin Pilot Street Radial 110/70-17; 150/60-17 CURB WEIGHT: 349 lbs.

WHEELBASE: 54 in.

RAKE: 25.1 deg. Trail: 4.0 in.

SEAT HEIGHT: 30.9 in.

FUEL CAPACITY: 2.9 gal.

MSRP: $4,995 (including destination charge) Warranty: 36-months, 36,000 mile warranty

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THE PRESS ROOM

GRID NEWS

LORENZO IS READY IN RED FOR HIS DEBUT SEASON WITH DUCATI

Jorge Lorenzo made his official debut with his new team and team mate, Andrea Dovizioso dripped in Ducati red as the 2017 Ducati MotoGP team made their official presentation at Ducati Headquarters in Borgo Panigale. 2017 marks Dovizioso’s fifth year on the Ducati team, finishing fifth in overall points for the 2016 season. Lorenzo finished third in the overall points last season with Yamaha. The 2017 MotoGP season begins on March 26 in Losail, Qatar.

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MAVERICK AND ROSSI GEAR UP FOR THE 2017 MOTOGP SEASON

The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team unveiled their 2017 team and livery in Madrid, Spain.

For the first time, Maverick Vinales made his appearance alongside his team mate Valentino Rossi.

Rossi, the nine time world champion, will begin what will be his twenty second season in GP, while his team mate Maverick Vinales will begin his his third season in the master class. Vinales’ first two seasons were spent with Suzuki where he enjoyed a single race win in 2016, finishing fourth in overall points for the season.

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THE PRESS ROOM: GRID NEWS MCGUINNESS AND MARTIN AND HONDA TOGETHER FOR THE 2017 TT Isle of Mann TT Legend John McGuinness will make a return to the island with the Honda Racing Team along with Guy Martin…

That’s right! Guy Martin is returning to race action!

McGuinness and Martin will be piloting the all new Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2. In addition to the TT, the Honda Racing Team will also compete at the 2017 North West.

McGuinness will be on the hunt for his twenty fourth TT win as well as recapture his lap record that was broken in the 2016 race.

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AMERICAN FLAT TRACK SCORES TV DEAL WITH NBCSN The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team unveiled their 2017 team and livery in Madrid, Spain. For the first time, Maverick Vinales made his appearance alongside his team mate Valentino Rossi.

Rossi, the nine time world champion, will begin what will be his twenty second season in GP, while his team mate Maverick Vinales will begin his his third season in the master class. Vinales’ first two seasons were spent with Suzuki where he enjoyed a single race win in 2016, finishing fourth in overall points for the season.

KTM RC CUP TO HAVE NINE ROUNDS IN THE 2017 MOTOAMERICA SERIES The 2017 KTM RC Cup Series will consist of nine rounds, running at all of the MotoAmerica race events except for the opening round in Austin. The KTM RC Cup series will be presented as a double header at each event

with the exception of the Laguna Seca round in July. The first round will kick off at Road Atlanta, April 28 through 30. The season finale will be held at Barber Motorsports Park, September 15 through 17.

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JANUARY 28 ARIZONA MOTORSPORTS PARK

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THE GRID

MOTOGP WITH B.T.

WORDS: B.T.//IMAGES: COURTESY OF MOTOGP.COM 46 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

T

he two most beautiful words to any MotoGP fan is "Winter Testing"! That means the new season is just around the corner. With that, we here at SportBikes Inc would like to take the time to educate any newbies to the fabulous world of MotoGP and its three classes.

Think of MotoGP like High School. Before the Varsity team plays, you have the Junior Varsity. Those kids that want to play Varsity, that want to be the star, that want to wear that Letterman's jacket... that's Moto3.

Moto3 is the appetizer of the MotoGP weekend. More often than not, they have the greatest racing of the weekend. It's usually no less than 4 or 5 teenagers battling for the same spot of tarmac,literally separated by inches.

And why not. The minimum age requirement for Moto3 is 16. When most kids are getting a drivers license, these kids are flying to 15 different countries, over 18 races on 250cc four stroke motorcycles! Yeah, living the dream!

When most 16 year olds are going to prom these kids are in a gravel trap after a high side trying to figure out what the hell just happened.

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THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T.

The bike and rider must have a minimum total Baseball. This is where they see if you got weight of 326 pounds. Or basically, the size "it"! Are you ready for the big leagues? Are of an NFL offensive lineman! you one of the few "Aliens" who can not only handle a MotoGP Machine, but win on one!

The bikes reach a top speed of 144mph and Moto2 bikes are 600cc machines. The have single cylinder engines. Which is why engines are all supplied by Honda but teams I call them Bumble Bees.When you hear the are free to choose the chassis manufacturer of Bumble Bees, you know race weekend has their choice! They have 140 horsepower and officially begun. reach top speeds of 174mph.

After the smoke has cleared from Moto3, it's And if you think Moto3 is crazy, Moto2 is even time for Moto2. Moto2 is usually the next more insane. It's like knowing your favorite step before the big leagues. Think Triple A store has the winning lottery ticket and you're 48 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

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THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T.

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just hoping that you bought the right one. The roadracing! It is the Formula One of Grand racing is not as close as Moto3, but still intense Prix roadracing and has been around since nonetheless.

1949. The bikes they ride are prototypes, meaning you can't buy these bikes in a store!

Why? Because they all want to make the show You can't walk into a Yamaha dealership and which is MotoGP! say, "Yeah, I want that Rossi M1!" They will look at you like Hillary Clinton at a victory rally.

What exactly is MotoGP you may ask? I mean yeah, it's motorcycle racing but what makes The bikes have no price tag but are guesstimated it different from all other forms of motorcycle to cost a million dollars and the cost to run a factory GP team is close to 3 million dollars! roadracing?

So, unless you're Bill Gates, good luck getting MotoGP is the ultimate in motorcycle your hands on one!

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THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T.

The bikes produce 240hp and Andreas Iannone holds the speed record, clocking in at 217mph. Adding to that, the bikes come complete with enough electronics to make an iPhone jealous.

ultimate, the pinnacle of achievements to be crowned MotoGP World Champion.

So the next time you see those 20 two wheeled gladiators line up on the grid for a MotoGP race, just know it was Moto3 and Moto2 where they learned how to be a Champion.

And maybe, just maybe you'll watch one of those races and just like me you'll point out the next World Champion. Just like I did 4 years ago when I spotted a youngster to whom I said, "That kid's got it!"

The GP grid consists of 20 riders who all get 40 tyres every race weekend from supplier Michellin, making MotoGP the most thrilling spectacle on Earth. And now that Ringling Brothers has closed, it is indeed the fastest circus... On two wheels, that is. 18 rounds of racing in 15 Countries, over 9 months! It would be easier finding a sane Kardashian That "Kid" was none other than Marc Marquez! than winning the MotoGP title! It is truly the Enjoy the 2017 season!

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THE GRID

THE NUMBERS EVERY MONTH, WE ASK PROS AND AMATEURS WHY THEY CHOSE THE NUMBERS THAT IDENTIFY THEM ON THE GRID...

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CHAZ DAVIES

#7

"I was given 57 when I first started in minimoto back in the day and used that for years. But I have always just liked the number 7. Not sure why! It's aesthetically a nice number to look at and supposed to be lucky. It certainly hasn't hurt me since changing to it!"

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TAKE YOUR RIDE TO THE TRACK!

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58 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM www.N2TD.org N2 Track Days, LLC. P.O. Box 27326 Philadelphia, PA 19118 | e: info@n2td.org | p: +1 (855) 263-0200

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THE GRID: ON THE COME UP

ANNE ROBERTS

ADRIAN HACKETT

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

NAME: Anne Roberts HOMETOWN: Madison, GA AGE: 28 years old.

SERIES: MotoAmerica, CCS, WERA ACCOMPLISHMENTS: M u l t i p l e t o p 10 f i n i s h e s i n MotoAmerica. Countless WERA podium finishes. Raced the last 3 seasons full time while going to school as well as owning and running a business.

GOALS: To make a living racing and or working in the motorcycle industry.

Finish consistent top 10 in my pro races. To best my personal lap times every time I go out on the track.

To acquire enough sponsorships to ride full time in the pro series for an organized and established race team in 2018.

DEFINE YOUR PASSION IN ONE SENTENCE: I just wanna go faster than the last time!

IMAGES: COURTESY OF ANNE ROBERTS SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 61

FOLLOW US TO LEARN MORE

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your body that cause rider discomfort and fatigue.

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ride and ask yourself – Are rough roads and constant vibration cheating me out of the ride I deserve? If the answer is yes, you owe it to yourself to read on and learn more about what GELcore Technology can do for you.

Newton’s third law of motion states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Understanding the forces acting on your body while riding is critical to understanding why homogenous polyurethane foam seats developed in the late 1940’s and probably on your motorcycle right now are preventing the extended ride times you desire. Saddlemen uses science to change everything by offering a complete line of seats featuring our unique manufacturing process known as GELcore Technology.

GELcore is engineered to dampen, divert, and deflect energy through a mechanical process resulting in a smooth, therapeutic ride.

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SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 63

THE STRAIGHT LINE

ASPHALT & OPPORTUNITY

WORDS//IMAGES: BRIAN AND JULIAN GLASCOE 64 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

jarrett jones BLACK CAESAR AKA

america's

most

wa n t e d

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THE STRAIGHT LINE: ASPHALT & OPPORTUNITY

T

his month we sat down with Jarrett Jones, one of South Georgia’s own in the racing game.

He is one of the most wanted racers in motorcycle grudge racing meaning that he will always be able to get a race. You are either going to love him or hate him… there is rarely an in between in any situation. Known for being one of the most controversial racers in the south, you can best believe that Jarrett Jones, known as Custom Cutts, is going to be the talk of the event, win or lose.

You never know what is going to come out of his mouth at any given moment and for many that is why he will be a legend in the racing game across the south.

SBI: My first grudge event was around 2011 and it was in Phenix City, Alabama at Phenix Dragway.

The first thing that I noticed was everybody was talking about Black Caesar, AKA Custom Cutts.

The crowd around you was huge and the trash talk was flowing. Tell us about how long you’ve been racing and how you got into grudge.

CC: First off, I would like to say thank you to everyone involved with SportBikes Inc Magazine and to Asphalt and Opportunity for this interview.

I’m going to answer every question as Custom Cutts and not Jarrett Jones, so please… I don't want anyone getting in their feeling about my responses. Drag racing started for me as underground street racing in 1999 on a Honda 66 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

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THE STRAIGHT LINE: ASPHALT & OPPORTUNITY

BlackBird. I won a lot of races on the street but it came a day that I had to make a choice to either continue taking chances or move to another level of racing. I do not condone street racing in any form. So I took my talents to the track and it wasn’t instant success for me. I had a lot of ups and downs at first. As time went on I started getting better and better. As for the grudge part of my career it all started when I created Custom Cutts as my alter ego from Jarrett Jones. Then it took off from there!

SBI: Everyone knows that you will never have an issue getting a race. Why is the line of competition so long to get a race with Black Caesar?

CC: The line of competition is so long to race Black Caesar because I have set a bar so high in the racing community that you'll have to race me in order to get your name in the books. Grudge racers all around the world want to see Custom Cutts and Black Caesar because I am the show.

I always keep things fun and exciting by giving 68 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

the fans what they came to see. You'll never hear me cuss and you'll never see or hear about me sweating under pressure, because I am the pressure!

SBI: I was once told by a man, “I Love Jarrett Jones, but I can’t stand Custom Cutts” You can talk trash with the best of them in the South and once you go into race mode, there is no telling what might get said. Racing is about having a fast bike, but Grudge adds having a physiological advantage. Tell us about how you go into race mood?

CC: I get into race mode by... Hold up! Hold up! Why should I sit here and tell my secrets to the world? I’m just gonna say this and I quote, "I review everything about the rider, the bike and the mechanic to find a weakness to pounce on."

SBI: If you could have one race back, who would it be against and why?

CC: If I could have any race back it would have

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THE STRAIGHT LINE: ASPHALT & OPPORTUNITY

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to be the race with Geronimo. Oh, wait... I won that race! Hahahaha! I’ll put it like this and say that the race with Eddie Cane would have to be the one I would want back. Can I explain why? Due to hater's in this game, my bike was degree'd wrong by a top mechanic and his grey head friend. They set out to ruin that race for me.

I felt that they sabotaged Caesar and I took the lost, but it's a new day and the rematch is going to be this year for sure! Eddie Cane versus Black Caesar!

CC: In 2017, my plans are to get back out there and show the world that Team Caesar is one of the elite teams out there in Grudge. I have major sponsors now and we’re taking this team to another level, fast! You can find us at The Kings of Grudge aka The Big 8, AGR and any of Dano’s Four Horseman series. We are going to hit a lot of events this season. And also if anyone feels froggy… We can do something, anytime! Last but not least, I would like to personally thank my family, JP Jones, Team Caesar and all my 2017 race sponsors. Remember if it wasn't for Custom SBI: What are the 2017 racing plans for Team Cutts that there would be no "Wow"!

Caesar and what can we expect?

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THE GRID: ON THE COME UP

LAWRENCE CURRIE

ADRIAN HACKETT

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

NAME: Lawrence Currie HOMETOWN: Philadelphia, PA AGE: 35 years old.

SERIES: C-Team is short for Currie Racing which competes in the International Drag Bike Series, as well as, Cecil County and Atco Dragway Points Series. In 2017, I will be at Atco Dragway Quick 16 and IDBL. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Most memorable accomplishment was winning an NHRA Wally!

GOALS: My goal is to build and tune a PROstreet Hayabusa that will go zero to 200mph in just under 7 seconds, in a quarter mile. DEFINE YOUR PASSION IN ONE SENTENCE: I'd rather be racing!

IMAGES: COURTESY OF LAWRENCE CURRIE

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Live chat with us at RKExcelAmerica.com Tel: 760.732.3161 SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 77

THE REV LIMITER: ON THE COME UP

TONE

ADRIAN HACKETT

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

NAME: Tone HOMETOWN: Staten Island, N.Y. AGE: 30 years old.

AFFILIATIONS: Stuntfarm, Suicide Squad, Stuntbums ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Hours of rev limiter coasters with zero blown motors. I'm also won the Street Highchair Distance Champion title.

GOALS: Staying alive and out of jail if I can help it.

DEFINE YOUR PASSION IN ONE SENTENCE: Doing hoodrat stuff with my friends.

IMAGES: COURTESY OF TONE

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THE LIFE

THE LION'S DEN

WORDS//IMAGES: LION JAMES 82 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

"Just a Few Miles More" W

hen you ride motorcycles, and certainly when you’ve been riding motorcycles as long as I have, there are a few phrases, words or expressions you repeat. The things we motorcyclists say often are as varied as the types of motorcycles and motorcyclists saying them but much like rituals before and after a ride we all have them. Occasionally there are expressions or sayings that we use which are applicable and appropriate for multiple motorcycling scenarios.

The one that comes to mind is “just a few miles more.”

When I’m enjoying a great ride and I know it’s time to bring the ride to an end I am thinking to myself or exclaiming aloud in my helmet “just a few miles more” more as a plea to keep the ride going. On the flip side when I’m am on approach to my destination from riding in the rain, cold or when just road weary or sore I am thinking or saying with equal enthusiasm but for different reasons “just a few miles more” trying to convince myself that it won’t be much longer before I can dismount and be done with the SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 83

THE LIFE: THE LION'S DEN misery of an unpleasant jaunt on two wheels.

Those of you with children will understand the former use of “just a few miles more” because children often plead with their parents for just a few more minutes of TV or extra time before going to bed, just a few more pieces of candy on Halloween night or (like my children) just one more bedtime story. We become like children all over again when we want the ride to last just a few miles more don’t we? I often find myself wanting to extend the ride because for some reason the short rides are always the best. I’ve taken the scenic route or intentionally ridden past my turn on what were meant to be quick rides or trips to the store more times than I can recall. The kid in me looks at the clock, the fuel level in my bike or the day’s “to do” list like a child before bedtime. How do you extend the ride? How can you turn a 20 minute trip to the store for milk into an hour long expedition when you have no place in mind to go, no reason aside from your own selfish desire for a few miles more to motivate you and no time to dedicate to riding? How does one squeeze a few more miles outta the trip once you’ve gotten where you were headed and now it is time to return? How do you (safely & responsibly) add excitement to an otherwise mundane and boring ride? Some might say that simply riding further and longer alone may not improve the ride but when you are enjoying the day’s (or night’s) ride sometimes just being able to keep enjoying it is all you need. After all when the meal is good and you’re still hungry you don’t need to add more ingredients, just another helping on the plate.

My most recent two wheel experience where I said to myself “just a few miles more” was last month when headed home from my Motorcycle Club meeting about an hour away. Under normal circumstances from where I was riding I would either make a stop or two along the way at some of my favorite shops between there and home or simply make a straight run home but this particular Sunday I discovered a problem with my bike. I stopped at a red light only to discover smoke arising from under my bike. The smoke was followed by a small puddle forming on the asphalt under the belly pan. As if the smoke wasn’t alarming enough, what the heck was this puddle of dark liquid? Despite being a very dark liquid, it was not viscous enough and too thin to be oil (or so 84 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

I hoped). I pulled into a convenience store parking lot to investigate and diagnose hoping it was coolant that could be temporarily replaced with water from the store until I got home and not oil which was nowhere in sight should I need more. Also a leak yielding that much fluid some place would be less catastrophic if it were coolant than if it were oil. Motorcycle Gods be thanked it was just coolant. Curious this was tho because the temperature that day was at the low to mid 40 degree mark and the temperature gauge on my bike was not high enough to cause concern.

Given the outside temperature, the reading on the motorcycle’s temperature gauge, the availability of a sufficient substitute for coolant, the fact that my engine oil was in good shape, engine integrity fine (for the moment anyway) I decided to take a route home that

despite taking longer would grant me more access to commercial and residential areas in case I required assistance. An all highway route may have been faster and gotten me home quicker, I gambled that I would be more likely to receive aid or find a gas station for a bottle of water in the event my radiator and coolant reservoir dripped dry. Several times during this hour long trip (turned hour and half) I had to give myself one of those good ole “just a few miles more” pep talks to motivate myself to continue riding with the risk of a coolant leak and dwindling reservoir coolant level. Monitoring my rmp, speed, temperature gauge and even forgoing my usual in helmet musical soundtrack so I can pay closer attention than usual to the motorcycle’s sound to listen for abnormal changes, I pushed on knowing that until I got the bike home

safely I would say to myself “just a few miles more” every few more miles.

If you are eager for the ride to conclude you hope that you only have a few miles more to endure and when you are resistant to the ride’s end you hope for just a few miles more to relish. You may be heavily motivated to get to your destination and not necessarily eager for the ride to end in which case you’re hoping it’s only a few more miles or maybe the opposite is true and a prolonged ride means more time before you have to face what or who is waiting for you when you stop the bike. Regardless of which is true, one expression covers them all.

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FOLLOW US TO LEARN MORE

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rse, it includes interior and mpatible. Not to mention, a the trooper even gets close.

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THE LIFE: FEATURED RIDERS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Dennis Cutrone LOCATION: Scottsdale, AZ OCCUPATION: Motorcycle Sales.

YEARS RIDING: 24 years of riding. 11 years on the street.

RIDING STYLE: Street rider that is now dabbling with track.

BIKE/S OWNED: 2006 Honda CRF450R, 2007 Ducati ST3s ABS, 2008 Ducati S4RS Monster Tricolore #089/400, 2015 Ducati 899 Panigale.

FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: Carbon fiber belly pan... Carbon anything, really.

FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: My Arai Corsair V with the engine schematic of a Panigale as the graphic.

MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: Riding up the PCH through Big Sur and the Redwood forests of Central Northern California. Stopping at Laguna Seca along the way and camping in the infield of turn 6 for the WSBK race.

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Andy Antoine LOCATION: Budd Lake, N.J. OCCUPATION: Direct Support Professional.

YEARS RIDING: 3 years.

RIDING STYLE: Street.

BIKE/S OWNED: 2009 Yamaha R6.

FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: My quick shifter and my carbon fiber Two Brothers exhaust pipe.

FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: My Dainese one piece suit.

MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: My most memorable ride was when me and my girlfriend took an exit off ramp at high speeds, at over 50 degrees of lean angle. The muffler and pegs were scraping. Sparks flew everywhere! It was an amazing ride that we'll never forget!

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THE LIFE: FEATURED RIDERS

Sebastian Jeppsson LOCATION: Blue Bell, PA OCCUPATION: N/A YEARS RIDING: 6 years.

RIDING STYLE: Street and track.

BIKE/S OWNED: 2014 BMW S1000RR. FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: Quickshifter and Full Titanium Arrow Exhaust.

FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: My Shoei helmet.

MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: I don't have really a memorable ride because it's always a movie when I'm out. But the time me and Hollywood Stuntz took Meek Mill through N.Y.C. was epic!

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Jasmine King LOCATION: San Diego, CA OCCUPATION: Banquet Captain.

YEARS RIDING: 15 years.

RIDING STYLE: Street bikes and dirt bikes.

BIKE/S OWNED: 2015 Harley Street Glide Special.

FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: Rinehart Racing 4" Xtreme True Dual Exhaust and the Yelvington Reverse Pulley.

FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: Hot wired heated gear. I can ride hundreds of miles in 30 degree weather, no problem.

MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: San Diego to Washington to Sturgis to San Diego. Over 5500 miles in 22 days.

SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 91

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SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 93

IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS

OFF SEASON TRAINING - PART ONE 4.5 RESOLUTIONS TO START 2017 ON THE RIGHT NOTE

IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS

WORDS: ERIC WOOD//IMAGES: MICHAEL SPAIN SMITH 94 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

J

anuary is the time that gym owners dream about all year.

Eager new members lumber through the doors with remnants of the holiday season now taking shape around their belt line.

Resolutions drive action, at least for a few months. In this article, I hope to add a couple items to your list of resolutions with an eye on helping you get the most out of your track time in 2017.

Unlike pounding endless hours on a treadmill, many of the items on our “to do” list are considerably more fun.

At Penguin we consistently find riders who LOVE the track and seek after improvement with all their mind, body and soul. We have found that a focused off season can go a long way towards ensuring success the following year. Our top 4.5 suggestions are below.

1. Write down concrete goals. It’s nearly impossible to reach a destination if you don’t know where you are going. Writing down goals gives clear direction coupled with internal, permanent and consistent motivation. Be specific! Do you want to pass John Smith on the brakes in Turn 8, drop three seconds a lap at NJMP, win a regional championship or simply ride every session of every track day you attend and confidently keep it on the wheels? Any goal that you find personally motivating will do, and the key is that it has to truly matter (not be a borrowed goal from someone else). For even more motivation, imagine (in vivid detail) the accomplishment of your goal. See the sights, smell the smells and most importantly feel the feelings you’ll have when SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 95

IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS: OFF SEASON TRAINING

96 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

you reach your goal. Finally, write down your goal as if you’ve already accomplished it (“I can run consistent 1:10’s at NHMS and left John Smith in the dust”) and put it somewhere you’ll see it every morning. Your mind will be focused on helping you learn the skills you need and preparing your body to execute those skills to perfection.

2. Ride. This was originally going to be our final resolution, but it does so much for you that it deserves to be our #2. For those of us North of the Mason-Dixon line, it takes some serious commitment to ride during the winter but the effort is worth the payoff in the end. For those fortunate souls who can ride dirt bikes with knobbies year- round, simply remove the snow/ice factors below and proceed. There is no better physical training tool for track riding than a dirt bike, period! a. Option #1 – Ice Riding/Dirt Track. This can be done as low key as putting some Kold Kutter screws on an XR100, or as full on as getting a set of dual-sided Canadian Ice tires for your 450 MX bike. Both options are a ton of fun and have serious benefits. Sliding a bike around on the ice reinforces throttle control, increases confidence and can be a significant part of the “Prepare your body” section below (especially sections 3c & 3d). I can think of no winter option that is more fun or more beneficial to your street riding. b. Option #2 – Winter MX/Woods. The key to making this work is getting the right tires. We love the deep snow studs with carbide tips. A set will typically last all winter long (fronts sometimes will go 2 seasons) . Get a dedicated riding buddy and hit the woods! We are actually faster through our woods loop in the winter than in the summer thanks to swamp sections that are frozen over. Fresh fallen snow causes a little more sliding around, but the workout is fantastic and beats a treadmill any day of the week!

3. Prepare your body. As a track day and school provider, I would have a revolt on my hands if I announced that Penguin was eliminating our last two track sessions each day so everyone could pack up and get home early. However, it’s amazing how many riders lack the stamina to ride all day. Do you want to get the best track time of the day at ANY track day? Ride the last two sessions as they always have the lowest track density.

For those who cannot ride, preparing your body can be done at the gym or at home and doesn’t have to involve monotonous pounding on the treadmill. Any time you lack motivation, read the detailed description of what the accomplishment of your goal will feel like from Item #1.

SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 97

IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS: OFF SEASON TRAINING Preparing now for the 2017 season by building strength in key parts of your body, will enable you to ride at your full potential for more laps each session and for more sessions each day. You’ll have the energy and focus to apply what your coaches suggest and make some real progress in your riding. The keys are to strengthen the parts of your body that most commonly fatigued. a. Core Strength. This is the basis for all you do on the bike.

Weakness in this area even shows up during Penguin’s static drills in the classroom. We position a riders on a bike in the proper body position and have riders perform basic track movements to burn in some muscle memory. However, if you can’t hold yourself properly on a bike for 15 seconds in the pits, it’s unrealistic to think that you can do it for an entire 15 minute track session.

The key to building core strength is to build it into as many of your exercises as you can. Crunches are great, but you can do as much by focusing on holding your abs tight during bench presses, squats, deadlifts, overhead presses and other multi-joint exercises. The bonus is that actively engaging your abs (with effort) during every exercise will also improve your form during all these motions and help prevent injury. b. Leg Strength. The key to proper body position and bike inputs is to use your legs (and core) as much as you can to move and support your body weight. When riding properly, we perform dozens of little “squats” every lap. Your legs allow you to execute the key Penguin Principle of “Ride like part of the suspension, not like part of the frame”. When your legs fatigue, you will sit with more weight on the seat. With more weight on the seat, you’ll steer more with your arms. When both of these things happen riders have less grip, less feel and more crashes. Leg strength matters, and should be a main component of your workouts.

c. Cardiovascular Fitness. Most track riders we ride 15-20 minutes at a time and then get 45-60 minutes rest. You don’t need to spend months on the treadmill to make this happen, and we’ll make some suggestions is the routine below. If you need a head start, then perform a cardio cooldown at the end of your strength training. I’ll suggest a modification to your lifting program as the season approaches below, and you can always revert back to point #2 – Ride!

d. Forearm Endurance. The achilles heel of every motocross rider, and an important part of any track rider’s exercise repertoire. Lifting heavy weights (especially dead lifting) does wonders for forearm strength but motorcycle riders needs to focus on the endurance of this muscle group. You can make progress with an old-school hand squeezer or a number of other options 98 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

(google MX forearm exercises). The #1 option we’ve found is suggestion #2 – Ride!

The program below is one that I have found to do a great job preparing me to ride, but it is certainly not the only program that works. In the end, the key is to find something that you can commit to and be consistent with. (Continued next month).

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THE FRICTION ZONE

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FEMMEWALLA 2016 WORDS: DENYSE BROOKS IMAGES: DENYSE BROOKS//CALIPHOTOGRAPY

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THE FRICTION ZONE: FEMMEWALLA 2016

B

likely be cheaper than either driving out or shipping my 2013 GSX-R750, Martini. Low and behold, Shannon Deane, a local SoCal racer and coach with California Superbike School, who has and would be attending again, saw my inquiry and graciously offered up her 250 race bike. What luck?! And who does that without actually knowing someone! In the course of speaking With the event being held in mid to her, it was decided that if I were December however, I had honestly able to come out, I would have the put any real thought about it in 250 as a ride. I was stoked! the back of my mind. Being from Minnesota, it was a long ass haul to Plans were moving in the right the SoCal desert for this girl! I know direction and a track day friend this because I had previously ridden Cindy Wulf, whom I had met while Chuckwalla in 2015 with Ken Hill, in Colorado at High Plains Raceway so I was familiar with the track and coaching with Zalusky Advanced I follow many of the SoCal riders on Riding School in July, offered to let me stay with her as she was social media. also going to be attending. Cindy In early October, I decided to inquire flies from Colorado to attend the on the Femmewalla FB page about CVMA winter rounds and keeps the possibility of being able to rent her semi, toy hauler and bike at a bike if I were to attend. This would Chuckwalla. Since we would both eing a part of the track day crowd for a number of years now, I had heard about Femmewalla, its origins and dreamed of someday being able to attend the event. In a sport dominated predominantly in numbers by male riders, it’s not only good to see an increase in women riders but a women’s only event, and for a wonderful cause.

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THE FRICTION ZONE: FEMMEWALLA 2016

be flying into Phoenix, we tentatively agreement would still be honored made plans to meet at the airport and Price was willing to let me ride and share the drive out on the the 250.  Thursday prior to the event!

Over the course of the next several Shortly thereafter, Shannon contacted weeks Price and I chatted about me and informed me that she everything from his bikes, to the had since sold the 250 to Price upgrades he was having done Allen,another SoCal rider, with the to the 250! He also has a rad stipulation that if I were able to make CBR1000RR. It was determined that it for the Femmewalla event, our I just needed to finalize things on my

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end. Fortunately, I was able to use some air miles in order to make the trip west at the graciousness of a friend who knew how important this trip was for me. It was getting real!

were set up and ready to go in 15 minutes, tops! We hung out as other friends and fellow women riders arrived for the event and got set up for the event the next day.

On Thursday morning, December 15, I flew out of Minneapolis and headed to Phoenix. The weather was frightful here in the upper Midwest, so I was happy to be headed someplace warmer as the predicted lows were going to be 20 to 30 degrees below zero! I even scored a first class seat!

A little later, Price found us in the pits, came in and visited with us briefly and gave me an update on where he was going to be pitted for the duration of the weekend. Turns out it was just a few spots down from where we were, so I went over and helped him unload the 250 and the CBR as it was now after dark. I didn't want to be that girl that just shows up and lets everyone else do the work.

We agreed that I would just need to come over in the morning, get the tire warmers on and suit up for the day, he would have everything else ready to go for me! As a side note, Price and his crew at BigHeadz Racing actually provide corner worker assistance and safety for the SoCal trackdays and would be doing so for the Femmewalla event as well.

Arriving in Phoenix to warm temps and sunny skies, Cindy picked me up curbside and off we went for the 3 hour drive west to Desert Center, arriving at the track around 2pm.

We checked in at the front gate and just had to wait a bit for the KTM event to finish before we could head in and get set up in the paddock.

Cindy has a beautiful rig and has her set up down to a science! I think we

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After helping Price unload, it was dark and since I'd been up since 3:30am, I decided to go to bed around 8:30. However I found it hard to sleep as I was excited for the next day and was awake more times than not. I finally gave up and got out of bed around 4:30am.

Stepping outside, I was greeted by the beginnings of a beautiful sunrise and just sat for a while enjoying the beauty that is Chuckwalla.

Jessica to an accident. It became more evident how special an event this really was. Throughout the day, raffle tickets would be sold for some absolutely amazing giveaways that would be announced after the dinner later that evening when we were done riding. The proceeds would then be donated back to the Foundation to assist other families in their time of need. The 2015 Femmwalla event raised more than $11,000. To date, this event has Walking through the pits, it was raised more than $50,000 ! evident that many more people had arrived overnight as the pit area was 9am was coming quickly and I now much fuller than the evening got suited up and ready to go. As prior. After a quick shower and promised, Price had everything getting dressed, the sun was shining ready and I just needed to get on and it looked to be a gorgeous day and ride. As I was getting ready to unfolding. Saying hello to those I mount up, he says "Oh, one more saw as I made my way back to thing... It's GP shift and the tach the pits, I thanked God again for doesn’t work." allowing me to make this trip. I just knew it was going to be something Now, I have ridden reverse shift, or special. as some say GP shift, before but it had been a while, so I'm saying in It was soon time for the riders my head as I'm taking tire warmers meeting where we were briefed on off, "1 up, 5 down... 1 up, 5 the activities and schedule for the down..." I didn't want to miss my day.Both Mickey and Aimee Grana, shifts! the owners of Chuckwalla Valley Raceway shared the story about Price also had this nifty little switch how Femmewalla came to be and that allowed for an alternate tach how The Unforgettables Foundation to be read. Funny how those track assisted them in their time of great day and race guys have some fancy sorrow after losing their daughter finagling going on sometimes.

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I headed out for the first session on the 250 and got a feel for the track and my fellow riders. I had decided to sign up for the intermediate group as I knew that there were going to be many fast ladies such as Melissa Paris, Jen Dunstan, Shannon Deane, Elaine Carpenter, Jennifer Bauer and the like. I didn't want to get smoked on the 250. Coming from a 750cc bike, the 250 at first felt really odd, but as the day and weekend went on, I came to love that little bike and what it taught me.

have ridden and raced MX bikes in my past, so I was instantly familiar with it and I was grinning under my helmet for sure! About that time however, the wind was starting to pick up and you could see the sand starting to blow across the valley with intensity.

Prior to the third session, I decided that I wanted to test out the KTM390.

Unfortunately shortly after we began, our session was cut short due to the high winds and blowing sand on track. Of the time on the bike, however, I did enjoy the light and nimble feel and its flickability into the corners. Comparable in power to the 250, it was a little lacking for my taste as I expected a bit more from it. However it was not a great test because of limited visibility and lack of time. I guess that just means I need to test it again sometime!

KTM, Husqvarna and Yamaha were there and had demo rides available.

So during the second session, I took out the Yamaha FZ-07. We were to play lead and follow with a control rider so nothing crazy came about, but I really did enjoy this bike quite a bit. With a more upright riding position, I enjoyed the smooth power it offered. It was very flickable and fell easily into the corners. I used Lunchtime was soon upon us and to ride a KTM450 SuperMoto and the track was cold from noon to 110 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

1pm. After grabbing a bite to eat, I stepped over to visit with Janet from CaliPhotography as she was busy downloading pics from the morning sessions. She would be shooting until around 2:30pm and photos would be available when the event was completed. Janet and I chatted many times over the course of the weekend and being a rider herself, she knew how and where to get some great shots!

goals for the next 3 sessions were to hit my apexes correctly and get a good drive out of the corners as that's where I would be able to gain some time. Back on the 250 again, I headed out on hot pit lane and was given the thumbs up to continue on course. I had a great session, achieved my goals, and even managed to pass some riders going into corners and thorugh the Bowl on many occasions. Apexing later on the 250 than I would normally on Heading back to my pit area, 1pm my 750, I really started to have fun was fast approaching, and I was set on the little bike and came to love to be on track at 20 minutes past what it was teaching me. the hour, so had 3 sessions left. My

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THE FRICTION ZONE: FEMMEWALLA 2016 About this time, I was at pit entrance and I had the opportunity to meet Jason Pridmore as he and the STAR School were there doing 2 up rides as well as offering lead and follows throughout the day. My friend and fellow trackday junkie, Anna Rigby aka RedSpade has ridden with Jason and done a couple of 2 ups with him in the past and she told me that if I had the opportunity, I had to ride with him! So, I went and grabbed my helmet and gloves and we set out for a few laps.

Mustang GT as a passenger and taking a couple of laps around the track, I was fortunate enough to have Melissa Paris piloting my experience!

We had some fun during our time on track and I even got some of it on video!

After getting out of my leathers, I took a quick shower and changed as it was time to head up to the garage for our celebratory after event dinner and raffle.The event was catered and we enjoyed some delicious food while chatting it up with fellow riders, It's hard to describe what going that pit crew and event staff. This year’s fast on a motorcycle as a passenger event was the largest ever with 84 feels like. You almost just need to women riders registered! experience it! The realization of how fast Jason really is and how severely The sponsor list for this event was lacking I am in comparison is truly amazing and many incredible items humbling, but it gives me a sense were donated as raffle prizes, which of what is actually possible and would benefit The Unforgettables is something that I can try to strive Foundation with all monies raised. towards.

Such a great cause! I had originally pre purchased 4 tickets, but ended Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get up buying more throughout the day out for the 2:20pm session due to as I realized all of the amazing an off track incident, so the 3:20 pm prizes being offered. In the end, I session was my last of the day. The was lucky enough to win not one, wind had died down, the sun was but two raffles! First, a Josh Hayes coming out and the views from the limited edition Arai helmet donated saddle were spectacular. Running by Arai, signed by Josh Hayes and hard though the Bowl with the throttle secondly a $500 gift card from pinned was probably my favorite! Rev'it! I'll be using the Rev'it! card to 20 minutes certainly goes by quickly purchase a new street jacket. Thank and it was soon time to pit in and you Rev'It! wrap up for the day. Femmewalla 2016 was in the books!

Most importantly and because Price Allen had ultimately been the person Mustang rides? No, not horses. mostly responsible for my being able But there were plenty of ponies on to come out and enjoy this event by track! Getting fitted into a 5 point letting me ride his 250, providing me harness and climbing into a 420 a pit area, gas and all the things I horsepower 2013 race prepped would not have been able to myself, 112 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

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I decided that the best gift I could offer him was the Arai helmet. He graciously accepted it as my way of saying thank you!

Afterwards, we headed back to the BigHeadz Racing pit area where they were set up like pros with a bonfire, heaters, music and disco lights! What a fun and friendly atmosphere. Thank you to everyone for welcoming me with open arms and making me feel like family.

be a part of! I had the pleasure of meeting a few of the ladies that I have befriended on social media, but had not yet had the opportunity to meet in person .

Special thanks to Mickey and Aimee Grana for holding this event at Chuckwalla. I was honored to attend and I hope to be able to travel west again in 2017!

If you are a lady rider, or know a lady rider, be sure to look into this All in all, Femmewalla 2016 was event and come join us! I hope to a wonderful event to attend and see you there!

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www.teampromotion.com

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Fresh Oil & Co. words:redspade//images:rodney torres

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Fresh Oil & Co. took form about a year and a half ago

when Raymond Wong was inspired and encouraged by peers to start his own clothing line to reflect his passion for motorsports. As a veteran rider he wanted to combine the love of motorcycles with his background and passion for fashion and design.

Ray has an extensive history (20 years to be exact) in the clothing industry. He runs his own design and production firm [Intricate Concepts] with partner Joseph Mbeh out of New York. Together they design and produce full collection lines for many major apparel brands like DKNY Jeans, Timberland, FILA and ECKO to name a few. So it was just a natural progression that Ray gravitated to starting Fresh Oil & Co. Loyalty, Tradition, Speed… these are some of the core values that Ray resonates through his brand. He says without loyalty of your family, teammates and sponsors you can’t get very far. It’s an expensive and demanding sport for those that want to be competitive or simply take pride in their development. Ray also speaks of heritage and tradition, knowing and respecting your past so that you can forge your future. And of course Speed is that elusive goal we all yearn for; it’s the result of dedication, training, tradition and time.

Ray has a vision for his apparel and he wants it to be straight forward and raw, true to it’s core if you will. His imagery represents the lifestyle of the individuals that appreciate their machine. He doesn’t cater to any specific type of rider, but rather the core values a rider may hold. He intertwines his

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own flair and vision into the designs making them uniquely his own which he pulls from much of his travels. “When I look at other stuff, I don’t want to be like other brands”, Ray says when I asked him about inspiration. He’s watchful of what’s out there and conscious in creating his own distinct style.

Ultimately Ray wants Fresh Oil & Co to be associated with a strong sense of belonging. The stories he tells and shares resonate with people and create a community, after all that’s what sharing the motorsports passion is about. But it’s not just that for Ray, he also sponsors several racers and stays active in the sport. Ray himself is an avid track rider and spends all of his time on 2s at the track these days. He’s made a presence for himself and people relate to the experiences he shares. After all, the best successful marketing tool is to be relatable.

If you’re a fan of unique high quality motorcycle apparel then check out Fresh Oil and Co online or visit local if you’re in New York at the Brooklyn Moto and Clutch.

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THE NEW ISH ICON MOTOSPORTS • LADIES WIREFORM JACKET The Wireform is a three season waterproof jacket that comes with a removable insulated liner. With an attack riding, sport fit, the Wireform is designed specifically for the female rider’s body. Protection is provided by a full suite of D3O armor in the shoulders, elbows and back. The outer shell material is ICON’s Dynax which is a tough, high performance nylon that is both tear and abrasion resistant.

Colors: Black, Pink Sizes: XS - XXXL Price: $220.00 Contact: http://rideicon.com

BROCK’S PERFORMANCE • CARBON FIBER MIRROR BLOCK OFFS FOR SUZUKI

SATO RACING • RACING HOOKS FOR THE BMW S1000RR Transporting your S1000RR to and from the track or the shop just got easier thanks to these Racing Hooks from Soto Racing. Replacing the rear passenger pegs, the Racing Hooks create a new and secure point to hook your tie downs to while transporting your bike.

The Hooks are CNC machined from billet aluminum and include stainless steel, black anodized hardware.

Price: $80.00 Contact: http://orientracing.com

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Besides the cool factor that these mirror block offs bring to the table, they actually serve a function by improving aerodynamics. Made of 100% aircraft grade carbon fiber, the pair of block offs only weigh 1.1 ounces and that’s with the hardware. They are a direct replacement for the stock mirrors on: 2001 to 2009 GSXR 600, 2000 - 2009 GSXR 750, 2001 - 2014 GSXR 1000 and 1999 - 2014 Hayabusa.

Price: $59.95 Contact: http://brocksperformance.com

MOTION PRO • GRIP GLUE It’s hard to keep a grip on your handlebars if your grips are slipping and sliding. Secure them in their place with Motion Pro’s Grip Glue. It’s a non permanent, waterproof adhesive that gets tacky in about 15 minutes. Grip Glue works great on throttle tubes and bars but has applications as a general adhesive that provides a flexible waterproof bond.

Price: $8.99 Contact: http://motionpro.com

ALPINESTARS • RAGE DRYSTAR GLOVES Sometimes, waterproof gloves have a tendency to be on the bulky side. Not the case when it comes to the Rage Drystar gloves from Alpinestars. They are a short cuff glove, made from a full grain leather and poly fabric body that house a carbon compound knuckle and palm sliders. Inside, the gloves are equipped with Alpinestars' waterproof membrane. The Rage gloves feature an adjustable velcro cuff closure, a pre curved finger fitment and are touchscreen compatible.

Colors: Black/Red, Black, White, Red Sizes: S - XXXL Price: $119.95 Contact: http://alpinestars.com

JOE ROCKET • LADIES LIRA JACKET

With classic styling, the Lira leather jacket from Joe Rocket is a great fit for sportbikes, standards and cruisers. The Lira comes with a quilted zip in liner for those chilly rides and is equipped with a total of 8 pockets: 3 in the vest liner, 3 interior and 2 external. Armor pockets are installed for additional shoulder, elbows and back armor.

Colors: Black, White/Black, Red Sizes: XS - 1 Diva Prices: $279.99 Contact: http://joerocket.com

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THE NEW ISH SIDI • MAG 1 BOOTS The Mag boots are loaded with safety and comfort features but are surprisingly 17% lighter than the Sidi Vortice boots.

The closure system is magnetic based, securing holding your foot in place. Fully adjustable for that custom fit, the Mag 1 boots have a adjustable calf area. The boots are double stitched in strategic areas for the techno micro based upper material, for durability and toughness. All bolt on bits are replaceable, including the toe, heel and shin sliders as well as the hardware that holds them in place.

Colors: Black, Black/White, Black/Yellow Sizes: 41 - 47 (Euro) Prices: $495.00 Contact: http://motonation.com

PUIG RACING • 2017 YAMAHA R1 FENDER ELIMINATOR

The Puig Racing fender eliminator kit for the 2017 Yamaha R1 is made from 2mm thick steel and painted with a corrosion resistant epoxy paint to avoid rust. The kit has an adjustable plate pivot and width adjustable turn signal mounts, but does not include turn signals.

Price: $156.38 Contact: http://puigusa.com

SPORTBIKES INC MAGAZINE • SBI MASTHEAD T SHIRT

Represent that #SBINATION Lifestyle with your own SportBikes Inc Magazine Masthead T Shirt.

Featuring the SportBikes Inc Magazine logo across the chest printed on a 50/50 poly cotton blend, preshrunk shirt.

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LIGHTECH • QUICK RELEASE GAS CAP FOR THE DUCATI PANIGALE This keyless quick release gas cap kit uses a spring loaded cap that opens when you push down on it and turn it. Machined from a solid block of billet aluminum then anodized, the quick release gas cap makes a refueling simple and easy at the gas station or the track. Fits the Ducati 899, 1199 and the 1299 Panigale.

Colors: Black, Gold, Silver, Red Price: $168.60 Contact: http://www.lightech.it HOTBODIES RACING • VENOM V SCREEN FOR THE 2016 AND 2017 ZX10R The Venom V Screen will give your Kawasaki ZX10R a distinct from all angles while improving aerodynamics of the bike. Made of a special acrylic that is formed via a pressure and vacuum method, then CNC trimmed with a flame polish edge. Installs as a direct replacement for the OEM screen, using the stock hardware. Available for the 2016 and 2017 ZX10R in two colors.

Colors: Dark Smoke, Solid Gloss Black Price: $99.95 Contact: http://hotbodiesracing.com

WOODCRAFT CFM • HINDLE EVO MEGAPHONE FULL SYSTEM FOR THE YAMAHA R6

Improved performance, richer sound and less weight at an incredible price point…

Hindle delivers with their Evo Megaphone full system for the Yamaha R6, 2006 through 2016 model years. Made from stainless steel, the Evo features a stylish megaphone muffler with a slick end cap, weighing up to 30 pounds lighter than the stock exhaust system.

Price: $649.99 Contact: http://woodcraft-cfm.com

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THE NEW ISH: FEATURED ITEM SHOEI • X FOURTEEN MARQUEZ REPLICA HELMET

The X Fourteen helmet features the most technological advances on the consumer market, direct from the MotoGP grid. It features a new shell shape with a new rear stabilizer to minimize head shake and maximize stability at higher speeds. The X Fourteen has six intake and six exhaust ports for optimal air flow and includes a cheek pad cooling system. Among the other safety features of the X Fourteen, the Emergency Quick Release System really stands out.

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It allows for the cheek pads to easily be removed from the helmet of an injured rider in the event of an accident, making helmet removal safer. Ships with lower air spoiler, breath guard, chin curtain and a Pinlock Evo fog resistant face shield.

Sizes: XS - XXL Price: $839.99 Contact: http://shoei-helmets.com

LONG BEACH, CA NEW YORK, NY WASHINGTON D.C. D A L L AS , T X NOVEMBER 18 – 20, 2016

DECEMBER 9 – 11, 2016

JANUARY 6 – 8, 2017

JANUARY 13 – 15, 2017

CLEVELAND, OH MINNEAPOLIS, MN C H I C A G O , I L JANUARY 27 – 29, 2017

FEBRUARY 3 – 5, 2017

FEBRUARY 10 – 12, 2017

Participating manufacturers vary at each show and are subject to change

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STAFF STUFF AMERICAN KARGO • LARGE ROLLER CARGO BAG Allan Lane I travel a lot. I am at the track a lot. Before the AK large roller cargo bag, I had to use two, sometimes three bags to carry my suit, boots, gloves or other track day essentials when headed out to turn some laps. Honestly, I often would just toss some stuff in the back seat or the bed of my truck and keep it moving. When traveling, I was cramming my goods into another bag or two, often sacrificing a potential necessity for the sake of space. Then, my travel and and gear woes came to an end when the good folks at American Kargo set me up with their Large Roller Cargo bag. It is important to note that there are many quality gear bags on the market right now. I have used some other brands in the past and never had any major complaints other than cargo size, or lack there of or the durability, or lack there of. What works for me about the AK roller is that for someone like me that has a multi purpose need for a gear bag, the AK set up is hitting on all cylinders. There is a place for everything in this bag and plenty of sturdy compartments to keep everything in its place.

The telescoping handle and rugged wheels make getting around a breeze. Rugged really is a great description of the bag, overall. After a year of travel and track days, the AK large roller cargo bag looks just as great as day one. It makes me wonder how I got along without it before. http://americankargo.com Rating: 6 (out of 6) 132 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

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