SportBikes Inc Magazine June 2011 (Volume 1, Issue 9)

ROAD RACING . DRAG RACING . STUNT RIDING

CUSTOM BIKES . Moto tECH

June 2011 Vol 1 Issue 9

SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM TM

2011

TRIUMPH

Daytona 675R

Photographed by Dawn Binz

P.J. JACOBSEN | THE ROOKIE PT. 2 | Moto Tech: Front Suspension | MIROCK | MYRTLE BEACh 2011 | Improve your Skills: Body Positioning

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WHAT’S INSIDE

June 2011 - VOLUME 1, ISSUE 9

THE FEATURES THE 2011 TRIUMPH 675R

32

RICKEY GADSON’S DIABETES CHARITY RIDE

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12

P.J. JACOBSEN

56

THE SHOW: THE CAFE FIGHTER

44

ATLANTIC BEACH BIKE WEEK 2011

24

THE ROOKIE PART II

90

THE USUALS

http://issuu.com/action/page?page=6 6 EDITOR’S LETTER http://issuu.com/action/page?page=8 8 THE PRESS ROOM

CLICK ON NUMBERS TO JUMP TO A PAGE

http://issuu.com/action/page?page=22 22 DEALER SPOTLIGHT - HUDSON VALLEY MOTORCYCLE SALES http://issuu.com/action/page?page=26 24 THE SHOW - XPO’S CAFE FIGHTER http://issuu.com/action/page?page=30 30 THE GRID NEWS http://issuu.com/action/page?page=40 40 THE INSIDE TRACK - By Corey Alexander 55http://issuu.com/action/page?page=55 THE YOUNGEST IN CHARGE - By Dystany Spurlock http://issuu.com/action/page?page=70 70 FEATURED CLUB - K9 NATIONAL M.C. http://issuu.com/action/page?page=72 72 FEATURED RIDERS http://issuu.com/action/page?page=78 78 MOTO TECH - MEET YOUR FRONT SUSPESION http://issuu.com/action/page?page=84 84 IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS - BODY POSITIONING http://issuu.com/action/page?page=100 100 SPORTBIKES INK!!! http://issuu.com/action/page?page=102 102 THIS LIFE - LET’S GET NAKED PART II By Tyson Beckford http://issuu.com/action/page?page=106 106 THE NEW ISH http://issuu.com/action/page?page=110 110 STAFF STUFF

http://issuu.com/ action/

http://issuu.com/action/ page?page=60

JUNE 2011

INTERACTIVE

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EDITOR’S LETTER

There is a lot of stuff I could talk about regarding this issue... Like the new sections: The Inside Track by Corey Alexander (page 40), SportBikes INK!!! (page 100)... Or the winner of the Ben Spies/SBI MotoGP Ticket package (winner announced on page 42)... Or The Rookie - Part 2, the series that documents the journey of transforming myself into the AMA Champion that I was destined to be (page 44). Those are very exciting and extremely entertaining elements of this issue. But none of these are as important as the life changing event that I am about to experience...

I’M ABOUT TO BE A FAAATHAAAH, Y’ALL!!!

For those that were unaware, Diesel and I are expecting our first child who is due on June 25. He’s been kicking Diesel pretty hard and heavy, practicing shifting gears, so I’m confident that he is a future MotoGP Champion. Can’t wait to meet the lil dude.

I’m stoked.

Allan allan@sportbikesincmag.com

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ART & DESIGN

EDITORIAL

THETEAM

Editor-in-Chief: Allan Lane Lifestyle Editor: Tyson Beckford Moto-Tech Editor: Mark Rozema Technical Advisor: Thomas Campion Contributing Editor: Simona Mihiela Contributing Riding Editor: Eric Wood Senior Staff Writer: Lisa Macknik Contributing Writers: Brittany Murrow Dystany Spurlock Corey Alexander Copy Editor: Amy “Diesel” Lane Art Director: Leon Brittain Graphic Designer: Baz Staff Photographers: Meekail Shaheed Brian Nitto Cover Photography: Dawn Binz Cover Concept: Simona Mihiela

SportBikes Inc Magazine — June 2011 Volume 1, Issue 9 To receive SportBikes Inc Magazine’s 2011 Media Kit and Advertising Rates, please email: info@sportbikesincmag.com.

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

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.

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

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.

the press room AMA VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DAYS IN LEXINGTON, OHIO

Vintage Motorcycle Days roll into Lexington, Ohio July 22-24 at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course. The annual event offers a treat to collectors and restorers of vintage machines with the highly anticipated annual swap meet.

Vintage Motorcycle Days give enthusiasts a firsthand history lesson on the heritage of the machines they love. Kawasaki was announced as the event’s marquee manufacturer earlier this year. Visit http://www.americanmotorcyclist. com/events/amavintagemotorcycledays for event details.

SALES DIP FOR SUZUKI IN 2010

Motorcycle and ATV sales for Suzuki in 2010 totaled 2,695,000 units, a decline of 10.7 percent from 2009. Suzuki reported a motorcycle sales decline in Europe, North American and Japan despite a sales increase in the rest of Asia.

With recent tragedies and threats of more natural occurrences, the 2011 fiscal year could prove to be a trying one as well.

PAINT THE 1/4 PINK CHARITY RACE FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

Maryland International Raceway will host the inaugural Paint the 1/4 Pink on July 23. The event will feature the drag racing world’s top female racers whose mission is to raise money for breast cancer research. SBI’s own Dystany Spurlock, Felicia Everett, Erika Allison, Whitney Grant (featured in this issue’s ON THE COME UP section), and breast cancer survivor Lea Martinez.

The charity race event will be structured as a quarter mile, bracket race and all proceeds will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

HTTP://SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM/BLOG

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For more sportbike news and announcements:

VISIT THE SPORTBIKES INC BLOG

ERIK BUELL RACING’S 1190RS

Erik Buell has refined and focused his vision in the flagship model of his new brand, Erik Buell Racing.

Images and specs of the 1190RS were uploaded to the company’s site. The 1190RS is a slight departure from the previous models made under the Harley Davidson umbrella. The lines are tighter and cleaner.

The specs look serious: Ohlins full race front suspension and TTX rear shock, slipper clutch, 97 foot pounds of torque and 175 horsepower...

MSRP: $39,999.00 standard. $43,999.00 carbon package.

ICON AND ARAI HELMETS TIE FOR THE TOP SPOT J.D. Power and Associates released their 2011Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Study. Arai has topped the list since 1999. This year is the first time that ICON has made it to the number one spot.

I’m sure the guys at ICON have no problem with sharing the pole position with Arai. Both manufacturers scored 852 points out of a possible 1000. The industry standard score is 788. Shoei came in third with a score of 831.

WOODCRAFT DEVELOPS TOTAL PROTECTION LEVER GUARDS Eric Wood’s Woodcraft has released their designs for Total Protection Levers. The levers not only offer the rider protection in collision or crash situations but can also prevent accidental activation of the brake or clutch levers in close quarters.

The lever guards are fiber reinforced plastic with CNC machined aluminum mounts. They are scheduled to be available for purchase as a set in August.

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ICON WOMENS RELAXED FIT DURABLE FIGHTER MESH CHASSIS BALLISTIC IMPACT PANELS CE FIELD ARMOR™ IMPACT PROTECTORS REMOVABLE INSULATED WIND-PROOF LINER AVAILABLE IN PINK OR IN BLACK $185

WATCH THE BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO AT WWW.RIDEICON.COM/GLAM 10 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

WWW.RIDEICON.COM/LIMITER

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2011

TRIUMPH

WO R D S : I M AGE S :

A L L AN Dawn

Daytona 675R

L ANE Binz

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M

y best friend is from Liverpool, England. My favorite singer/songwriter is David Bowie. I even like English Muffins and have been known to front a very horrible Cockney accent.

When the Triumph 675 was first introduced in 2006, I was not inspired. The slim, linear body of the machine just didn’t do anything for me. A great looking bike, a suitable replacement to the Triumph 650, indeed, but the 675 just wasn’t my cup of tea.

A buddy of mine at the time went out and bought one. A month of moderate riding later,

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the engine blew. No worries as it was under warranty. Then it happened again. Tough luck for him, I thought. But there were similar tales of discontent making the rounds. There were some technical engines issues to be sorted. That was then...

From 2007 to 2010 there were over forty five technical improvements made to the 675’s engine. The aesthetics remained the same for the most part, but also include an updated instrument cluster, special edition paint schemes and carbon fiber bits here and there.

The 2011 Triumph 675R’s

focus is not on the engine.

In fact, the R uses the same engine as the base model.

Rather, what makes the R significant is upgrades to the performance components.

The 675R exists to be a track weapon, as Triumph would have it.

THE BODY Triumph has outfitted the 675R with a tasteful amount of carbon fiber. The front fender, rear tire hugger and exhaust heat shield, all composed of carbon fiber.

The R has been limited to a single Crystal White color scheme with a contrasting

black belly pan and red sub frame. The aluminum beam twin spar frame and aluminum alloy sub frame with adjustable pivot positioning offer strength and rigidity while remaining light weight.

79.5 inches in length, the 675R has a seat height of 32.7 inches and an overall height, sans the mirrors of 43.5 inches. The width of the R is a slim 27.9 inches.

The Daytona 675 model has always been “grey houndish” in its appearance... Tall, slim and quick looking. The R, obviously identical to the base model, embodies the same

qualities with a better color scheme and model specific graphics.

SUSPENSION Triumph’s execution of the 675 as a track machine includes the addition of “full on” race front forks. These are not just the stock forks with upgraded springs and a better quality fork oil. These forks are the real deal straight from the house of Ohlins. The brilliant gold 43mm upside down forks feature adjustable preload, rebound and compression.

An Ohlins TTX36 twin tube monoshock with a piggy SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 15

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THE

2011

TRIUMPH

D AYTONA

675R

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back reservoir offers rebound and compression dampening. Front and rear travel are 110mm and 130mm respectively.

BRAKES Perhaps it’s me, but when I see that manufacturers make decent to impressive upgrades to components, it bothers me when the full monty is skipped over. Case in point... The 675R is kitted with excellent front braking power courtesy of a pair of Brembo 4 piston radial mono block calipers gripping twin 308mm floating discs and actuated via an 18mm diameter Brembo radial master cylinder. Nice...

However, the rear brakes are the same as the base model, sporting the 220mm disc and single Nissin single piston caliper.

Granted, the rear brakes are barely touched, pending your preferred style of riding.

Regardless, braking is braking and is vital especially if you are targeting the race or track market. I’m just saying...

THE ENGINE The 675R shares the same engine specification as the base model. The liquid cooled 675cc engine is a 12-valve, liquid-cooled, in-line 3-cylinder that produces 124 braking horse power, 12,600rpm and 53 foot pounds of torque.

The gear box is a close ratio, 6 speed and houses a wet, multi-plated clutch.

The addition of a slipper clutch would have rounded up the 675R’s component upgrades when considering the addition of the quick shifter as a factory standard.

COMPONENTS The 675R again takes its instrument cluster from the 18 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

base model and added a lap timer and customizable gear change light settings. The LCD dash is highlighted by a digital speedometer, trip computer and analogue tachometer.

The 675R comes equipped with cast aluminum alloy 5-spoke wheels dressed in Pirelli Super Corsa tires to offer superior grip on the track.

A three into one stainless steel under the seat exhaust system is guarded with a nice piece of carbon fiber. To be honest, the 675R’s carbon fiber bits really come off as nice accents. Aesthetically speaking, the proper placement of the carbon fiber keep your eye moving over the bike from the front fender, to the rear hugger, to the exhaust guard.

I have to admit, this 675R is holding my attention, somewhat. Again, I am troubled by the “half monty”. If Triumph is presenting this bike for consideration for serious track dwellers or racers, then they should finish the composition of the track machine with data logging abilities, rear brake upgrades, adjustable rearsets, slipper clutch, etc...

Then again, let’s consider the 675R’s MSRP of $11,999.00.

When you compare the price of the 675R with its factory upgrades and the base models of its Japanese classmates and you do some quick math... It’s a pretty good deal. You could actually be saving money.

Maybe.

Fun note: Rumor has it that only 150 of the 675R’s are coming to the U.S. There are 200 Triumph dealers in the States. Seems like the British just won’t let it go.

SPECIFICATIONS

BELLS AND WHISTLES

Carbon Fiber Rear Hugger, Pipe Heat Shield Front Mudguard Factory Installed Quickshifter Ohlins 43MM Full Race Front Suspension Ohlins TTX36 Twin Tube Rear Monoshock Brembo 4 Piston Radial Mono Block Calipers

ENGINE Engine:.................................................... Liquid-cooled, 12 valve, DOHC, in-line 3-cylinder Displacement:.......................................... 675cc Compression ratio:................................... 12.9 : 1 Maximum Power...................................... 125PS / 124bhp / 92kW @ 12600rpm Maximum Torque...................................... 72Nm / 53ft.lbs @ 11700rpm Fuel System: ........................................... Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection Ignition: .................................................. Electronic ignition (Transistorized) Clutch: ................................................... Wet, Multi Plate Final Drive: . ............................................ O Ring Chain Gearbox: . ............................................... 6 Speed Close Ratio Oil Capacity: ........................................... 3.5 liters (0.9 US gals) Exhaust:.................................................. Stainless steel 3 into 1 system with valve in secondary CHASIS Front suspension system: ........................ Öhlins 43mm upside down NIX30 forks with adjustable .............................................................. preload, rebound and compression damping Rear suspension system: ......................... Öhlins TTX36 twin tube monoshock with piggy .............................................................. back reservoir, rebound and compression damping Front brake: . .......................................... Twin 308mm floating discs, Brembo 4-piston radial .............................................................. mono-block calipers Rear brake: . ........................................... Single 220mm disc, Nissin single piston caliper Front tire: .............................................. 120/70ZR17 Rear tire: ............................................... 180/55ZR17 DIMENSIONS Seat height: . .......................................... 830mm (32.7in) Overall length: . ....................................... 2020mm (79.5in) Overall width: . ........................................ 710mm (27.9in) Wheel base: ............................................ 1395mm (54.9in) Wet weight.............................................. 185kg (407lbs) Fuel tank capacity: .................................. 17.4 liters (4.6 US gals)

shot on Location at Eurosports - Coopersburg, pA SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 19

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(301) 662-8008 SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 21

Dealer Spotlight

Words: Allan Lane Photos: Courtesy of Hudson Valley Motorcycle Sales

Dealership name: Hudson Valley Motorcycle Sales | Address: 179 N. Highland Avenue, Ossining, NYÂ 10562 Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9am - 6pm, Thursday 9am - 9pm, Saturday 9am - 4pm, Sunday, Monday Closed Year established: 1966 | Brands sold: Suzuki and Kawasaki

ith 45 years in business, W Hudson Valley Motorcycles Sales has more than

weathered the ups and downs of the industry. This familyowned and operated dealership is showing no signs of slowing down.

Richard Alexander, Sr. opened the doors in 1966 and has remained at the helm ever since with his sons, Richard Jr., as General Manager and Duane, as Sales Manager.

Their showroom is 6000 square feet, showcasing new and qualified pre-owned vehicles. However, this family does not just sell bikes, they race them as well.

Richard Alexander, Jr. was the 1998 AMA Supersport 750 Champion and currently serves as one of the team managers for Michael Jordan Motorsports. Duane’s son, Corey, is competing in the AMA Daytona SportBike Grid for the 2011 season.

Contact Info: www.hudsonvalleymotorcycles.com

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W W W. P E R F O R M A N C E M A C H I N E . C O M MOTORCYCLE WHEELS, BRAKES & ACCESSORIES

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THE SHOW

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THE CAFE FIGHTER

Words: Allan Lane Images: A.J. Fulgado

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THE SHOW

THE CAFE FIGHTER

T

he offspring of a cafe racer and a street fighter with plenty of attitude and grunt to back it up, the Cafe Fighter is a unique build that is sure to grab any onlooker’s attention.

This bike is an example of true ingenuity and engineering. From its twin 2 gallon gas tank to its trick keyless ignition, there is some real innovation happening on this machine. The Cafe Fighter was built for and featured on the Discovery Channel’s CAFE RACER and made the rounds during the 2010 - 2011 International Motorcycle Show Tour.

Built by XPO Streetfighter, the Cafe Fighter is a solid representation of their mission which is to “to bring the fighter lifestyle to the urban streets of America.”

2004 Honda CB919 Cafe Fighter Spec Sheet Engine/Power Upgrades - Power commander, free flowing exhaust.

Brakes: Front ABM Wave rotors, Rear Galfer Wave rotor.

Controls: Gilles Racing Rearsets, Oberon Bar End Mirrors, AMB Billet Grips.

Wheels: Ride Wright custom spoked 18 inch wheels. Rear wheel widened 1 inch over stock. Polished rims with matte black powder coated spokes.

Tires: 130/70/R18 front, 180/55/R18 rear - Avon Cobra Suspension: OEM fork tubes with reworked spring rate and heavier oil weight. OEM rear shock.

Custom/One Off Accessories: - Custom HID lighting mounted in stock 7in headlight. Bar end LED turn signals. Custom LED rear brake light. Custom battery tray and mount. Custom triple trees machined by Munz Machines that house Motogadget electronic speedometer, gear indicator, indicator lights, and remote keyless starter.

Bodywork:Twin 2 Gallon Gas tanks fabricated from raw aluminum and polished with scotch brite. 1/2 gallon sub tank that houses fuel pump. Custom Cafe Racer style rear seat and seat pan.

Built By: XPO Streetfighter, Inc. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 27

THE SHOW

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THE C

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THE GRID: NEWS PEDROSA FOLLOW UP SURGERY SUCCESSFUL Following the collarbone injury suffered in the French Round of the Grand Prix, Dani Pedrosa has undergone several surgeries and has begun rehabilitation. The most recent procedure was to fix a small bone fragment of the right collabone that became dislodged during rehab.

No word yet when he will be cleared to race again.

9 DAYS AFTER SURGERY, COLIN EDWARDS TAKES PODIUM AT SILVERSTONE Colin Edwards was cleared to race the Silverstone Round after suffering a break to his right collarbone during a practice crash at Montmelo. Edwards had a successful surgery in which he received a titanium plate and 13 screws.

Edwards, in true fashion, arrived in Silverstone determined, just nine days after his surgery. A rain soaked race that saw the early exits of Ben Spies, Cal Crutchlow and Jorge Lorenzo seemed home to Edwards as he rode his ride into his 12th MotoGP podium.

SBI’S OWN COREY ALEXANDER TAKES HIS FIRST VICTORY IN UTAH The staff of SBI wishes to congratulate and welcome our new columnist Corey Alexander on his first Pro AMA victory at Miller Motorsports. Alexander rode like an experienced and season veteran in the wet to take the checkered flag.

“Benny went down, so I was just riding behind Tomas.

Then I caught up to them, made my way around them, and I thought they would stay with me, but a couple laps later I looked at my board and had a ten-second lead, so it was really good. This was only my second time racing in the rain.” - Corey Alexander.

Corey’s column, THE INSIDE TRACK debuts in this issue.

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us.pirelli.com

Troy Bayliss III Time World Superbike Champion

EVERYDAY IS A RACE DAY. DIABLO ROSSO™ Corsa. Every corner is pure excitement. Stable in braking, precise in line, fast on exit and the throttle beckons to be opened again. A riding experience Pirelli brings to the road directly from the Superbike World Championship. From the rear tire’s three zone differentiated compound and EPT technology that optimizes the contact patch, exceptional performance is guaranteed both on the road and on the track. DIABLO ROSSO™ Corsa: every day is a race day.

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P.J. JACOB 32 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

BSEN

WORDS: LISA MACKNIK IMAGES: BRIAN NITTO

ADDITIONAL IMAGES COURTESY OF P.j. JACOBSEN/THOMAS CAMPION

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THE GRID: P.J. JACOBSEN

H

e demands your attention without even speaking a word. He keeps you captivated each lap as he forges faster and faster ahead. Stopping for no one, this golden child is on the fast track to the top and he is not looking back.

Patrick Jacobsen or “PJ” is a kid who is wise beyond his years.

He understands racing down to its purest form and has set his mind to win from the beginning.

At the ripe age of 3, Jacobsen was first introduced to the world of motorsports by his father to whom he owes his career. “My dad has been behind me my

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whole career. I can’t thank him enough.” Jacobsen was a natural, only needing one week with the training wheels; he felt comfortable immediately and began racing that same year. “Ever since I started racing I wanted to win.

So I set my goals early as a kid and still have the same dreams.”

This deep seeded will to win is apparent every time he steps on the track. His competitive nature drives every ounce of him. “I’m competitive at everything I do.

My favorite part of the race is battling people. If you’re by yourself, it’s boring. That doesn’t make it racing.”

His first title came when he clinched the 50cc Championship at just six years old. Now heads where turning. Quickly, people were beginning to talk about this fearless youngster. Nickelodeon ran a special on Patrick and his racing family, highlighting his fearlessness. In the video, young Jacobsen described how exciting it was to be topping speeds at 60 mph! Speed was his ally; together they could not be defeated. Winning over thirty National flat track racing Championships, PJ was just getting warmed up.

In 2005 Jacobsen was named AMA Youth Rider and Dirt Track

Rider of the year. Finishing up the season on such a high note, things couldn’t have been any better for the young athlete. Until, Barry Gilsenan invited Jacobsen to join his team, Celtic racing, for the 2006 racing season. Switching gears from dirt tracks to road races was a challenge welcomed

by PJ. “I was always doing dirt track, so it was pretty cool to sign with a team and try something new.”

Full speed ahead he went, adapting quickly to the ways of the road. Transitioning into the full time racing life meant giving up what was familiar. “There are a lot of sacrifices when you’re a pro racer. I’m barely ever home (and I’m) always traveling, riding and testing; but I like that. I can’t go a day without riding a bike. The biggest misconception of Pro racing is probably the traveling par. It’s brutal. Yeah, it’s cool flying everywhere, but the worst part is sitting in the airports. It’s basically my home.”

These sacrifices are what true Champions are made of.

Remaining focused on his dreams, Jacobsen explains, “Racing is a long road and you have to be patient.” Taking each race as it comes to him, PJ remains “concentrated, thinking what I have to do to catch them.” Growing up, PJ had several people to look up to and learn from. “My role model in life is Kenny Coolbeth. He is a three-time Grand National Champ.

He never gives up on anything he does. If someone beats him, he will beat them the next race. He is so determined and lives a great life!”

2010 brought Celtic Racing and Jacobsen nine top ten finishes. Such a successful season caught the attention of top Ducati tuning house, Fast By Ferracci. Soon after, the announcement was made that the two powerhouses would join forces for the SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 35

THE GRID: P.J. JACOBSEN 2011 season. “We have the whole package. My mechanics William and Tom are great and working with Eraldo Ferracci I learn a lot of stuff. Just the whole team is great this year. I just recently got a podium fighting for the win on the last lap. They totally deserved it!”

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This year’s collaboration of Jacobsen’s talent, Ducati’s power and Celtic/Fast by Ferracci’s years of experience seems unmatchable. “The 848 EVO is a machine that’s awesome. It shoots off the corners like a missile! With Ferracci working on it, that makes it the best bike out

there to me.”

Patrick “PJ” Jacobsen has what it takes to race amongst the greatest, and with the immense support behind him and monster machine beneath, there is nothing standing in his way.

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S H A V E SE T TH E EM ST SY LL FU D -O N S A N IL IT Y IN LE OV IN CE SL IP TY A N D D U R A B LI A U Q R FO D R A G LO B A L STA N D S OV ER TE N Y EA R EX H A U ST S FO R , or you spend

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THE GRID

The INSIDE TRACK Words: Corey AleXANDER IMAGES: BRIAN J. NELSON

E

verywhere I go that has any relation to motorcycles, the question everyone asks is “How did you start racing?” Funny thing is, I started just 3 years ago, which feels like a lifetime ago now.

I was just an average kid who played basketball, baseball, lacrosse, and soccer. My father and uncle grew up racing motorcycles throughout their childhood out of my grandfather’s dealership.

My uncle, Richie Alexander Jr., took time off from racing to go to college, but returned to the northeast and had a successful career as an AMA Pro Road racer. On 5th birthday, everyone chipped in and got me a Suzuki Jr 50 motocross bike and from there, my father took me racing on the weekends until I was about 10. I then raced supermoto (half dirt/ half asphalt) until I was 12 for fun. Coincidently enough, also at this point in time, Red Bull was going to be starting a team with some of the best teenage road racers in the western hemisphere to travel nationally following the AMA Pro series. My uncle signed me up to try it out just to see what would happen, regardless of the fact that I had never even ridden a road race bike.

Somehow I made the team with only 24 out of 2000 teenagers chosen.

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2008 was an amazing learning experience for me but was also very challenging at the same time. Now, here I am in the beginning stages of the 2011 season just three short years later. It’s amazing how it feels like decades ago as so much has changed since that time. As a person, I’ve grown up, matured, and have gained experience not only within racing but also within life. So back to reality, as I write this, I’m sitting in my high school since I am only in 11th grade.

Most people don’t realize that the biggest challenge isn’t going to the races and riding as hard as I can, but it’s balancing both school and racing. In between each race seems like forever. For the past month, I’ve only been in school for a week at a time with a really busy schedule. 48 hours from now,

morning, I went back out and bettered my time, which put me into 4th place and on the front starting row. During Saturday’s race, I settled back into 4th place and rode my own race. On Sunday, I was close Prior to this weekend, I’ve to the front and was riding in been on a 5 week break 3rd place when I crashed. This between the season opener bumped me back to 6th, but at Daytona and last week’s after getting up, I charged to race at Infineon in California.

Daytona was pretty disappoint- the front making my way up to 4th place before the race ing and I only came out with finished. Though two 4th place an 8th place finish so I was really excited when we arrived finishes were definitely better then my 8th place result in at Infineon. In AMA racing Daytona, I was not happy. But we have two sets of qualifyeven after coming up short in ing. One acts as a practice/ qualifying session on Friday Infineon, it does excite me because I know I am capable of afternoon and then Saturday morning is the final qualifying, running with the top guys. So I look forward to this weekend which is what really counts. at Miller. Check out my webAfter Friday’s qualifying, I site Corey23.com or follow me was 5th, which put me on the second row, but I wasn’t com- on twitter @corey5alexander for “play-by-play” updates! pletely satisfied. On Saturday I will be racing my VESRAH SUZUKI GSX-R 600 at Miller for the WSBK/AMA event in Utah, living the other half of my “dual” life.

SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 41

and the winner is...

Natasha Louis of New Castle, DE! Ride. Grip. Feel the Trust.

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THE GRID: THE ROOKIE PART II

Words: Allan Lane Images: Brian Nitto/Allan Lane

W

hat some would refer to as the “wake up” call, I referred to as the “death” call.

“Yea, your father has been on medicine for years! Now... what have you heard?”

the process of transforming myself into an athlete. I needed better than healthy and normal.

My cholesterol count was knocking on the 600’s. Dr. Baron made no qualms about attempting to scare the living shit out of me. I can’t front. It worked.

I explained to her my conversation with the doctor, the prescription, my bet with Jason and what my goals were regarding racing.

Everything needed to change.

Not just for my immediate goals, but for my long term goals as well.

So when you are attempting to achieve better than healthy, when you are attempting to achieve better than normal and one of your best friends was the first black male supermodel, a specimen of the male physique... You damn right that I called Tyson Beckford and basically said, “Fix me!”

While I waited for my prescription of Simvastatin to get filled, I called my mother.

“Mom, what’s up with high cholesterol in our family?”

She replied, “Why, what have you heard?” I shook my head.

“Momma, does it run in our family?”

Dr. Baron had assured me that it was because I was healthy in the other aspects of my life that I had a great chance to knock my numbers down and live a completely healthy and normal life. But that was not enough for me. I didn’t want healthy and normal. I am in

With the help and major support from Tyson and my wife, I quickly turned my life around.

Diet - changed. Workout regime changed. I stopped lifting heavy weights and focused more on cardiovascular activities. Everything changed. But perhaps the most significant... Water.

Under Tyson’s suggestion, I began drinking no less than 48 ounces of water every day. I cut out the soda, the energy drinks and for a time, I cut out coffee (tough one).

What I was doing was eliminating all the extra, unnecessary sugars from my daily intake. I started reading labels and really paid attention to calories and fat numbers. Yep, I had turned into “that guy” in aisle of the market reading the back of everything.

For the first time in my life, I paid attention to what I was putting into my body.

I discerned the difference between food and fuel. And

44 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

“For the first time in my life, I paid attention to what I was putting into my body. I discerned the difference between food and fuel.”

SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 45

THE GRID: THE ROOKIE PART II the pounds began to fall off. In a matter of months, I dropped 35 pounds. I was lighter, tighter and feeling great.

I tried on my one piece leather suit hoping for the best. It was a remarkable fit. It was snug on me but I could breathe and move without restriction. I looked like a walking sexual chocolate wrapped in black leather!

My follow-up visits with Dr. Baron proved impressive. She noted my weight loss and my lowered cholesterol numbers which were back to just below 200.

I was getting a grip on my physical body. Now it was time to parlay the same dedication of overcoming health concerns to overcoming mental blocks. Anyone that knows me will tell you that I am more than stubborn. I may state my intentions once or twice at the most... then I execute.

The first really nice day that I could, I took my 749 out for a romp. My routine was to go out early on Sunday mornings while the cops and most people were either still asleep or in church. I hit my route and I immediately felt the difference of being lighter on the bike. I felt more nimble than before. I was closer to the bike than before. I cornered with greater confidence. I was going to need my suspension reworked to accommodate my new weight.

I was almost happy. But there was more work to do. This was 46 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

only a Sunday morning street ride. It was nothing compared to what I was getting ready for.

I called up my buddy, Roy Cadoo, from Absolute Cycle

Performance and told him I was coming out for a track day and he was more than happy to accommodate. I had two weeks to prep my track bike (2001 Ducati 748s) and also prep my mind.

I made my list of parts needed and made the calls. I needed to upgrade the bodywork and windscreen. Bonnie from Catalyst Racing Composites and JT from Zero Gravity Racing provided

a new set of bodywork and a clear double bubble windscreen, respectively.

Mark from CRG supplied brake and clutch lever upgrades. I went

with the folding levers, standard length... in black, of course.

I replenished the 748 with fresh brake fluid and oil supplied by my pal, Ken, at Motul.

“I walked the paddock, inhaled the sight, sounds and smells of the grounds. I loved it. It felt right. It felt like home.�

SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 47

THE GRID: THE ROOKIE PART II With upgrades complete, bike assembled and track time on lock... I was ready to get busy!

My custom dashboard mount complete with a very trick ignition switch.

When it came to rear sets, I called up SBI’s Contributing Riding Editor, Eric Wood, at Woodcraft CFM in Massachusetts. A few days later, there was a box at my door with new Woodcraft race rear sets and a new clutch cover.

Acquiring data and being able to translate it into readable information was elemental. Yoyo Dyne is the U.S. distributor for Starlane Electronics. Fred from Yoyo Dyne fitted me with the Starlane Athon GPS PRO digital dash unit. After fabricating a custom bracket to hold the dash, I mounted it to my GP Tech race fairing support.

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Slow down... Once again, I was getting ahead of myself. To help get my mind in focus, I spoke with two buddies of mine that race in the CCS/Wera Circuits, Allen Miles and Maurice Williams. Perhaps the most important point from both of those separate conversations was that I was to go out there to have fun. Believe it or not, the concept of having fun seemed to put everything into perspective.

This was my first track day in over five years. I was going out to shake the dust off, get my legs back, try not to get dead and have fun.

Fun... what a novel concept.

The Sunday morning of the 2 day track event, I loaded the 748s into the back of the truck along with my toolbox, cases of bottled water and snacks, then headed to New Jersey Motorsports Park.

I arrived, unloaded and headed to tech to have my bike approved for the beating she was about to take. I chose to ride with the beginner’s group, figuring it would be a good pace to shake the cob webs out.

While I waited for my group to be called, I had SBI’s Moto Tech

Editor, Mark Rozema, give the 748 a once over. He performed a better brake inspection than I did in preparation and removed that bubble of air that could have proved to be a bigger problem at some point in the day. Mark also gave me some very insightful notes about the track’s layout.

I walked the paddock, inhaled the sight, sounds and smells of the grounds. I loved it. It felt right.

It felt like home.

From the track’s public announcement system, “First call for group one. First call for group one...”

I geared up and rolled onto the grid. I made a point of letting one of the coaches know that I was more than rusty and that I would be following them around.

I received a nod and a thumbs up.

This was it. I was either going to laugh or cry. I was going to sink or swim. This was going to be the best of times or the worst of times.

The grid marshal waved us onto the track. My coach roared on his throttle and I was right on his ass as we exited pit lane and dove into the first turn.

And that’s when it happened.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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July 23-24, 2011

at Maryland International Raceway

• Brand New Pro Mod Class • 200mph Pro Street Class Live Music • Short Wheelbase Real Street Class Sunday by “Bela’ Dona” • Sportsman Motorcycle ET Classes • Smack Talkin’ Grudge Class All bikini contestants must send photos to • WPGC On-Air Live Broadcast bikinicontest@mirdrag.com for casting • Custom Bike Show Huge Vendor Midway!

• Motorcycle Club Hot Spot • $1,200 Bikini Contest • Huge Streetbike Corral • Thousands in Attendance • Huge Vendor Midway • Live Performance by “Bela’ Dona” • $4,000 Stuntbike Competition • Beer Garden • Motorcycle Dyno Big Tigger on the • Great Food WPGC Stage Bikini Bartenders!

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SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 51

THE STRAIGHT LINE: ON THE COME UP

Photos: Meekail Shaheed

Name: Whitney Grant Association/Affiliations/Series:

MiRock Superbike Series Goals: Win the 2011 MiRock Superbike Series Crazy 8’s Championship. Long term goal is to race NHRA. Accomplishments:

-VMP 2007 Summer Bike Bash Fastest Female.

-Was selected by Rich Christensen to run in the first ever TV pilot for Arm Drop Bikes in October 2008 at Maryland International Raceway -MiRock Real Street B Class winner May 2009 at Rockingham Dragway -Finished 25th in points out out 140 total competitors in the Crazy 8’s class in the 2010 MiRock Superbike Series

Define your passion in one sentence: Drag racing is the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning and the last thing on my mind when I lay my head down at night and I will not stop until I get where I want to be!

Contact Info: www.whitneygrantracing.com

www.facebook.com/wgracing

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THE STRAIGHT LINE: The Youngest in Charge

Words: Dystany Spurlock Photos: Meekail Shaheed

In 2010, Dystany Spurlock set a new record on a stock BMW S1000RR at the Valdosta Manufacturers Cup Finals in Valdosta, GA. She was only 18 years of age.

And that’s why she’s the youngest in charge.

Email her at Dystany@Sportbikesincmag.com.

M

y prospective of Black Bike Week was beyond great!

I started my week off with the Rickey Gadson “Ninja to the Core” Pediatrics Diabetes Charity Ride. It was phenomenal and the turnout was huge. The charity ride was actually my first ever. I was honored to have been a part of it. When Rickey first told me about it, there was no doubt that I had to do it. The ride started in Philadelphia and went all the way to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Yes, that may sound very far for us sportbike riders but we did it through rain, wind, and the sun.

There were four different stops on the way to our destination. Once

we arrived at RedLine in Myrtle Beach there were hundreds of people waiting there for our arrival. People were taking pictures, video recording, and screaming!

And by the way, we got a police escort! How sweet is that! The charity ride was a success!

Towards the end of the week, I went to the North Myrtle Beach Dragway. It was my first time there. I made a few passes on the track but it wasn’t hooking as much. Shortly after, the Gadsons arrived. Rickey talked to everyone about his charity ride that we did earlier in the week. We took pictures, talked and hung out for

a while. When I left the track, I met a few of my friends at the beach. I buried one of my friends in the sand and we played catch with the football. I had a blast.

Later that night, my friends and I walked the strip. We saw a lot of custom cars and motorcycles. It was packed beyond belief. There were also a lot of people riding their motorcycles without helmets.

Safety is always important. I personally don’t feel that anyone should ride without a helmet. It was different seeing that because where I’m from we have helmet laws. All in all, I had a wonderful time in Myrtle Beach, and I will definitely be there next year!

SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 55

THE HARD LINE: NINJA TO THE CORE pediatric

Words and Images: Rickey Gadson

I

t all started while flying to the Chicago International Motorcycle show. I’d just received the news from my child’s doctor that my son’s recent weight gain is a sign that he could be in danger of joining the millions of kids around the world with Pediatric Diabetes. That was a very alarming phone call because in 1992, I lost my 37 year old brother, who was my mentor in racing, to complications from Diabetes.

So, needless to say, I feel blessed that so far my kids have avoided this hereditary disease, but at the same time I realize that there are so many kids that battle this thing EVERY DAY. I called my wife and said, “I

56 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

want to do something to raise money to fight diabetes.” She made some calls and we settled on a worthy cause.

I then thought of a way to incorporate my love for motorcycles into a fundraising tool.

I first thought about riding my new Kawasaki Vaquero cruiser from New Jersey to Bike Week in Myrtle Beach. People could sponsor each mile with money like a walk-a-thon, but after some consideration I realized that people on cruisers ride those kinds of distances all the time. What would be the big deal if I did it and how would that raise money?

Then a light bulb went off...

How about if I ride my Ninja 1000 sportbike the same 600

pediatric diabetes CHARITY RIDE miles? Even the long distance cruiser guys would have to respect this daring feat!

I decided that I would scrap the walk-a-thon idea because people were contacting me through my social pages saying they would like to accompany me on the 5 state journey. My wife, Kiana, suggested to create a webpage where people could register to ride with me and in turn, we would ask for a Registration Fee/ Donation of $25.00, but also open it up to business donations as well. Then after brainstorming some more, she knocked the ball out the park with her next idea, which was to provide keepsakes to all registered riders in the form of a unique charity T-shirt that would always signify this worthy

ride.

Kiana encouraged registrants to sign up early and to pre-register for the ride. By pre-registering, each person would be a permanent part of the memory of the charity ride by putting his/her name on the back of the shirt.

Brian Lawson (aka Seven) and his wife were able to help set up the website so that we could easily register riders and collect donations. I also decided to incorporate my sponsors into the ride by asking them to sponsor the cost of the keepsakes. Kawasaki, Help Me Ride (HMR), and Condor gladly stepped forward.

Planning this type of huge ride took months of preparation, phone calls, follow-ups, and logistics. It was definitely the

hardest task I’ve ever tackled.

We set up 4 stops in route to Myrtle at 4 different Kawasaki dealerships and picked up more and more riders at each stop: Free State Cycle (Capitol Heights, MD), Commonwealth Power Sports (Prince George, VA), Team Powersports (Smithfield, NC) and our final stop at Redline Powersports in Myrtle.

The ride started at 4am from Philadelphia and we had to keep a strict schedule throughout the course of the day to be able to be present at our big welcome reception in Myrtle, which I estimated to take around 16 hours with all the gas stops included.

We had police escorts in and

SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 57

THE HARD LINE: NINJA TO THE CORE... out of each city we stopped in, with the Maryland police escorting usthrough traffic 15 miles into Virginia (Wow - what a wild escort!).

About 30 riders met us at the 1st stop, along with the pre-arranged police escort and our Camera crew.

We started riding a little before day break and ran through a little rain in Maryland but made it to our first stop where we picked up more riders and registrants.

The whole time we were riding, I was able to communicate with the chase vehicle driven by my wife which helped to block our lanes when we needed to switch lanes. My “Chatterbox” made the whole ride a lot more bearable as I was able to communicate not

58 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

only with Kiana, but my nephew, Richard Gadson, who was riding as well. The ride was going well and we were on schedule almost all day. The worst thing was all the food the dealerships had planned for us, which made me want to lay down after eating, but back on the road we went.

In North Carolina, we were met by several clubs to ride the last leg into Myrtle, with the Ruff Ryders making their presence felt. My wife’s club Double Lyte Posse met us as well and took over the escort with about 30 bikes, which by the time the Myrtle Beach police joined us for the final escort into the city, we had approximately 100 bikes which felt good as we arrived to a packed house of supporters at Redline and a HUGE welcome party!

By the time I got off the bike for the last time of the day, I felt like I had just touched down on earth from a space expedition, and dropped down on my knees and simulated kissing the ground.

It was a great ride/experience and we raised quite a bit of money for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Pediatric Diabetes Foundation, of which 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit.

One of the most touching things associated with the experience was the female bike club from Atlanta that came through with 70 bikes and donated hundreds of dollars to our cause.

Lastly, I want to thank any and everyone who supported our ride and our cause!

SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 59

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MIRock Superbike Series RACE 3

Words and Images: Meekail Shaheed

SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 61

THE STRAIGHT LINE: MIRock Superbike Series R

S

portBikes Inc Magazine was on hand to catch all of the action at the 3rd race of the 2011 Mickey Thompson Tires MIROCK Superbike series. The best of the best was on hand at the FBR Shop Bike Week Nationals, May 21-22, 2011 at The Rock in Rockingham, NC. Rob Hunnicutt ran a 4.263 at 169.04 MPH to win Pro Mod. Rodney Williford took Pro Street posting a time of 7.199 at 202.36 MPH. Jeremy Teasley took Real Street running with a 8.031 at 170.75 MPH. Top Sportsman saw Pat Butler take the win over Shayne Proctor. It was great seeing Erika Allison back on the track. She made two round 2 of the Crazy 8’s class. Andy Baumback from Fairfax Station, VA took Crazy 8’s over Jeremy Teasley.

Willie L. Warren Jr took the Pro E.T class dialing in at 9.38 and running 9.413. Michael Herman took the win in Street E.T. 5.60 Index honors went to Schubby Clayton from Salem, VA. The females were getting seat time in preparation for a “Paint the ¼ Pink” race to be held at the Fast by Gast/WPGC Bike Fest on July 2324, 2011 at the Maryland International Raceway. Racers participating included Whitney Grant, Petey Vee, Erika Allison, Gloria Mitchell, Dystany Spurlock, and Monica Snead.

Marisol “Queen Isis” may also be racing. Daryle Sykes is putting on this All-Star, All-Female race to support the continued cause of Breast Cancer Awareness. Lea “Dream Catcher” Martinez is a breast cancer survivor and will be racing in the event.

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RACE 3

SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 63

THE STRAIGHT LINE: MIRock Superbike Series R

CURRENT 2011 STANDINGS

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RACE 3

SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 65

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The Rev LIMITER: On the COME UP

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Driven Racing Goals: I would say , to be sure and maintain the ability to dream , and pray God gives me the facility to achieve , and maybe be lucky enough to continue to do the things I love to do the most for the rest of my life. In summary‌. Just stay covered and blessed.

Define your passion in one sentence: My passion is like an electric blanket on a hot summer night, it burns so intensely it keeps me awake.

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SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 69

THE LIFE Featured Club

K9 NATIONAL M.C.

Chapter: Fayetteville, NC | Founded: 1998 | Members: 189 Elected Officials: President - K.J. | Vice President - Lil Tyme | Public Relations Officer - Ms. Tee.

Rocker Interpreation: They wear three piece patches not as outlaws but in honor and respect to the traditions that the M.C. has set. The “M.C.” in the name is worn in the top rocker rather than the cube or separately denoting a five piece patch.

They were granted permission to wear the “dog head” and claim it as their center-piece because of their love and support of dogs and the original mission of our organization. The “dog head” is the foundation.

out that they also shared the love of motorcycles and at the time, each of them had motorcycles with 900cc engines; hence the name “K9.” It wasn’t until nearly a year later after they were all reassigned for duty at Fort Bragg, North Carolina that the birth of K9 had come. Conceived in Colorado and born in North Carolina.

The pit bull in the original K9 logo’s name is “Mayday” and the colors of lime green and black were chosen not just because so many others had the basic colors but because the color of lime green would also serve as a safety feature when riding.

History/Origin of Club: K9 was actually conceived in Fort Carson, Colorado. The four founders Club Milestones/Memorable Nay, Chuck, Shep and Lenny were Moments: all stationed there as soldiers and K9 M.C. gives away motorcycles came across each other due to their and vehicles at their annual events love of pit bulls. They later found as they continue to make history 70 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

every day, and with the help of each moving piece (the members), the future of the K9 organization looks promising, but it must always be remembered that “the past has gone by, today is official, but nowhere is it written that tomorrow is guaranteed.”

Future of the club: Tomorrow is not guaranteed, but they’re making it their business that if something should happen to them, their children’s children can come along and keep K9 going. What started as a hobby has become a lifestyle and what was a dream is now a reality. This is their “harvest” season so they hope to continue growing as other clubs begin to realize that sometimes it’s better to be part of what someone else is doing rather than trying to recreate things.

This is now a movement.

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Darrah “D-Nyce” webb

THE LIFE: FEatured riderS Darrah “D-Nyce” Webb

STATS

Philadelphia, PA

Fleet Service

Years Riding: 5 Years RIDING STYLE: Street

bike(s) Owned: 2007 Suzuki GSXR 1000

FAVORITE BIKE MOD/ACCESSORY: Fresh pair of Michelin Power One 2CT race tires! There is nothing like diving in a turn with a pair those!

Favorite piece of riding gear: Since I am safety first kinda girl, I cant leave home with out my Suzuki race-leather and of course my helmet!

most memorable ride: One night we set out to ride to a bike night in New Brunswick, NJ! 95 north bound...we cruising about 80mph! Next thing I know we were doing about 100mph! and sure enough we passed a cop! All I can is you know the rest LOL! I pushed my ZZR 600 to the max! From that moment I knew I had it! Now people try to keep up wit me!

FEatured rider of the month 72 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

Mike Lawless

Norristown, PA

Advisor

MIKE LAWLESS

STATS Years Riding: 27 Years

RIDING STYLE: Street and Track bike(s) Owned: 2004 MV Agusta Brutale, 2005 Suzuki Katana

FAVORITE BIKE MOD/ACCESSORY: Fast by Ferracci Rearsets on the MV Agusta Favorite piece of riding gear: Alpinestars Boots

most memorable ride: Taking World SuperBike Racer Luca Scassa riding on my favorite Pennsylvania backroads was great fun. Luca really helped me refocus my riding. A Great Day! Another was getting into a full throttle drafting battle with my wife Amy(No thats not why we separated but I’m glad we are back together... Love You Amy)!

SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 73

ALICIA MARIAH ELFVING

FEatured THE LIFE: LIFE rider FEatured FEaturedriderS riderS Alicia Mariah Elfving

Portland, OR

Marketing and Promotions

STATS Years Riding: 4 Years

RIDING STYLE: Street for now. Taking it to the track this summer! bike(s) Owned: 1980 Yamaha XJ Maxim 650, 1998 Ducati Monster 750 Dark FAVORITE BIKE MOD/ACCESSORY: My favorite customizations are fully custom builds for the more simple things like handlebars and exhaust.

Favorite piece of riding gear: My boots! One of a kind motocross boots I found on ebay for a ridiculously cheap price!

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most memorable ride:

My bike was needed for a Mad Max inspired photo shoot out in Eastern Oregon, so I geared up with lots of layers and rode balls-to-the-wall for 3 hours through the Columbia Gorge out past the Dalles and into the middle of nowhere Oregon. I went through cold and wind on the freeway to blaring sun on the backroads in the desert.

Rodney Salomon

Brooklyn, NY

Marketing and Sales

Years Riding: 5 Years RIDING STYLE: Street

bike(s) Owned: 2011 Yamaha YZF R1 Favorite BIKE MOD/ACCESSORY: Ohlins Suspension, Michelin Power One tires and Scotts Steering damper Favorite piece of gear: Right now all my riding gear is mostly HEROIC brand, and I love it. The HRA-180 riding boots are the most comfortable, yet solid boots I’ve ever owned.

most memorable ride: I’ve had quite a few memorable rides, but one that sticks out in my mind is taking late night highway blasts with New York City’s Fastest.

RODNEY SALOMON

STATS

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MOTO TECH Words: Mark Rozema Images: Courtesy of Ohlins USA

MEET YOUR FRONT SUSPENSION I

n this article we will focus on the most common form of front suspension found on mo d ern p er forma nc e sp or t b i k e s , t h e c a r t r i d g e f o r k .

The valves consist of a number of holes covered on one side by a stack of thin metal shims and on the other side by a shim and a small spring (check valve) which allows it to function as a one way valve. The function is actually quite simple. When the forks encounter a bump the cartridge tube travels up, compressing the forks. This motion of the dampening rod traveling through the tube forces the suspension fluid through the compression valve. The fluid flow bends the shims open, giving you a metered amount of compression dampening. When the forks extend, the fluid flow reverses and forces the shims in the rebound valve open- thus providing rebound dampening.

The term “Cartridge Fork” describes a type of fork that locates its valving inside of a metal tube called a cartridge. This cartridge is bolted to the bottom of the fork, so it rises and falls as the suspension travels.

Within the cartridge are two pistons. One which is connected by a long rod (damping rod) to the cap at the top of the fork (rebound). The other is located at the bottom of the cartridge tube (compression). There is also a spring located between the top of the cartridge and the fork cap. The main function of the spring is to carry the weight The advantage of this design is of the motorcycle and rider. that the size, number, and posi-

tion of the shims can fine tune the slow and fast shaft speeds of the piston. This allows the savvy suspension tuner the ability to fine tune your suspension not only for your weight but also for your style and type of riding.

Although your sportbike already has a cartridge style fork the manufacturers build them with a generic valving and spring setting that is merely a ”happy medium” to cover a wide range of riders weights and riding styles.

One of the largest improve ments you can make to your motorcycle is upgrading the front fork valving and springs to a setting designed around your personal application. There are many options available by numerous companies; let’s look at the most common...

20mm revalve kit Many companies offer upgraded 20mm valves for the standard cartridges. These valves generally are a more precision design and offer better oil flow and tunability. The kits are affordably priced (in the $500 range installed) and offer a substantial improvement in performance. Be careful of less expensive kits as they may not contain both compression and rebound valves.

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Markbilt Racing was founded in 1998 by Racer and motorcycle enthusiast Mark Rozema.

From its humble beginnings the Markbilt mission has always remained steadfast, to build and tune race winning motorcycles. Markbilt is proud to have been the driving force behind the success of such factory-backed teams as: Team Pepsi Suzuki, Celtic Racing Yamaha, Attack Kawasaki and Markbilt GYTR Yamaha. Markbilt has had the honor of working with many talented riders and winning over 23 regional and national championships including the prestigious Daytona 200. Markbilt proudly offers CNC manufacturing capabilities, welding, fabrication, engine & chassis shop and a fully featured Superflow chassis dynamometer and tuning center. At Markbilt, racing is a passion not a job.

DEALER

Sam Gaige #20 WERA

Service Center

Eric Stump #77 AMA

Miles Thornton # 72 AMA

Located right next to New Jersey Motorsports Park!!!!

• • • • • •

AND MORE….

Dyno Tuning Suspension and Chassis setup Race and track day bike prep SERVICES Fuel Injection & Ignition Mapping Engine Rebuilding Supersport & Superbike engine Packages

Email: markbiltracebikes@gmail.com

• • • • • •

Performance 2 Stroke Tuning Supermotard Conversions Stoarage and Maintenance Custom Fabrication Accessories & Decals Tires

Website: www.markbiltracing.com

Phone: 201-406-1921

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MOTO TECH: MEET YOUR FRONT SUSPENSION 25 or 30mm cartridge kit For racers this is the option of choice, especially for the supersport class where the OEM forks must be retained. These kits replace the stock 20mm cartridge with a 25 0r 30mm cartridge. The advantage of the larger cartridge is its ability to effectively flow more fluid allowing a finer range of adjustment. These kits are more expensive because they replace all of the original internals of the forks.

Gas charged cartridges This style adds the benefit of a sealed system that is pressurized with nitrogen, much like a rear shock.

The advantage here is the gas pressure helps reduce cavitation and keep the pressure on both sides of the piston more stable. These are quite pricey and require service by qualified suspension technicians.

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MOTO TECH Race forks The most expensive option is to replace the forks with a full race version. The advantages here are the materials and coatings that are used in the manufacturing of these parts are of much higher quality and tighter tolerance, offering the highest level of performance.

No matter what level of riding you do the most important thing is to properly maintain your forks through regular service. Keeping your forks clean and serviced with fresh oil will provide consistent performance and years of trouble free service, extending the life of the seals and bushings.

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E M A N A T ’ N S I Z Y O T ING

ROARS A PASSION. IT’

st? e? Or didn’t la re if stuff brok ca ’d ’s ho at W th ? d an them wanted cheap, t. Who’d need wouldn’t exis e because we d am re bl ca to ho e w on men d no tors and crafts no excuses an g to ts and innova k? We’d have tis or ar w e to th it ple: if it’s goin e, ic ed rules are sim built for pr n you need e he st th p. , w ju ea re st om as ch ju he st w d t ith cu nd ile w e uc fa go . Arou defin If every prod as cheap? Or en costs that rs, craftsmen products that p because it w tists, innovato out all the hidd , many of the ar ct e fa th In re . e’ es W ik Or looked chea , too late, we found out ab ortb ative.

Then re your altern g of custom sp w our CNC what we got. od stuff. We’ e the beginnin go nc e Si th . s de te ca if you ever sa ea e de cr us a d ca er an Be ov s . r el fo gn fe it at orth. e and YZ desi st. We’ve been ur money’s w ybody can se ROARING TO stands for: yo tter be our be difference an e be a m it u na e, yo s m yz ve na To r gi g in use it get ou . what that Roar it has to. Beca e created here u’d really know ore. Because yo m sportbikes wer g, tle in lit ch a at u w were will cost yo their mothers n with quality of a part like ils Our obsessio ta de st ie eat the tin it. craftsmen sw we’re not on t is long. And lis e th p, ea ch If you want

?

E M O S WANT

Your call.

CASE IN POINT:

RACE-TOUGH SWINGARM EXTENSIONS

So meticulously crafted for strength and fit, they’re trusted in pro drag racing where the smallest problem means You lose! I Proven on 300-500 HP bikes I CNC-machined from aircraft-quality billet I Extends your rear tire from 2.0” to 8.0” I Stunning Black-anodized or raw-billet finish I Comes with all hardware for bolt-on installation I Works with all late-model sportbike brake systems I Complete kits - with extended chain and stainless brake line - also available I You are cleared for lift-off.

Buy with trust, confidence and personal help at www.roaringtoyz.com or call 941.953.4423

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improve your skills

Words: Eric Wood Images: Meekail Shaheed/Leon Brittain

Body Position & THE Moment of Inertia when Cornering

O

ne of the beauties of riding a motorcycle is the fact that the weight of the rider comprises such a significant part of the overall package. With most sportbikes weighing in at 400lbs, the average rider (175 lbs) makes up about 30% of the total mass traveling down the road. As a result, we have the ability to dramatically affect the behavior of

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the motorcycle. The way a rider supports his/her weight then becomes the most significant factor in the handling of that bike.....far more significant than any typical chassis or suspension adjustment.

One of the most important things that any rider can focus on when riding around the track is the effect of his or her body weight

on the way a bike turns. The primary objective at all times should be for riders to carry their weight in such a manner that they are consistently maximizing traction. Unfortunately, the default position that many people select results in much of their weight being carried in the seat, causing a number of problems throughout a typical corner.

Looking objectively at the options that riders have to support their weight, there are only a few contact points that any rider has with the motorcycle. The four basic options for supporting body weight consist of the footpegs, seat, tank and handlebars.

When considering the effect of body position on transitioning, riders need to consider both the

amount of force that is applied at each point, as well as the physical position of their weight relative to the motorcycle itself.

In general, the less force a rider applies through the handlebars, the more grip the tires will have for braking, cornering and acceleration. Previous articles have discussed this in detail. The only

time that the handlebars should have significant input from the rider is under a heavy braking load and during the brief moments of bar input that initiate turns. Handlebars should never be used to support body weight once the hardest braking zone is completed. The rest of the time around the track, riders should have no more than a “thumb and SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 85

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improve your skills forefinger� amount of force in the bars.

turn affects the moment of inertia.

In order to have minimal bar input throughout the corner, riders must support their body weight with another means to avoid falling off the inside of the motorcycle. Through the trail braking and turning segments of the corner, this support should primarily come from the inside footpeg and the outside leg, firmly anchored against the fuel tank. This two point support system allows riders the ability to relax their hands and reap all the benefits of the extra traction and feedback that comes along with it.

In layman’s terms, moment of inertia (MOI) is described as the measure of an object’s resistance to changes to its rotation. A given object has different moments of inertia when rotated in different directions.

If we use a ladder as an example, it is very easy to take a ladder that is laying on the ground and flip it over and over from side to side. The ladder has a low MOI along its main axis (running the length of the ladder). However, taking the same ladder from one end and flipping it over by rotating it up until it is vertical and then letting it fall back on the ground requires a significant amount of force. The ladder has a very high MOI in this direction.

With tank pressure used to allow minimum bar input, the remaining two contact points are the seat and the pegs. There are no adverse effects from sitting on the seat down the straightaway, but once the cornering process begins there are several factors to consider. When a motorcycle turns from side to side, the amount of torque it takes to cause it to roll on its axis is directly related to the moment of inertia of the motorcycle. Placement of rider weight on the seat versus the pegs has a significant effect on the height of the center of gravity of the motorcycle, which in

When a motorcycle rolls from left to right quickly, we will suppose that the contact patch of the tires creates the axis around which the motorcycle rotates. The further the center of gravity is away from that axis, the higher the MOI will be and the more force it will take to complete the motion. If a rider carries 175 lbs at the footpeg level (about 16 inches off the ground), there is a significantly lower MOI than when that weight

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improve your skills is carried in the seat (about 32 inches off the ground). As a result, riders who use their legs to support their body weight when transitioning from left to right will be able to complete this action with less bar effort and in less time.

It is important to note that while riders want to carry as much weight as possible on the pegs when transitioning that they also want to stay in contact with the seat and the fuel tank. Some riders, in an effort to weight the pegs, will actually come right out of the seat. The downside to this strategy is that once riders come out of the seat it is impossible to prevent unintended weight from being transferred to the handlebars. The solution is to glide over

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the seat when transitioning. The saying that we use at the Penguin School is that “your butt is touching the seat, but it’s not compressing the foam�.

The final piece of the puzzle to make this process as efficient as possible involves using the outer leg to initiate the glide across the seat. With weight being carried on the pegs, a pull on the tank with the outer leg (ideally contacting the tank at mid-thigh) will allow the transition to happen with the minimum amount of bar effort. The decrease in bar effort resulting both from the use of the outer leg and weighting the pegs reduces the reaction of the motorcycle to transitioning, allowing riders to get back on the gas sooner when the turn is finished.

A final benefit of carrying weight in the pegs as opposed to the seat is that it allows riders to use their legs as part of the suspension. When carrying weight in the seat, riders essentially become welded to the frame and move with the motorcycle. When carrying weight in the pegs, the motorcycle is allowed to move independently of the rider and the reaction of the suspension to bumps (especially on the drive) is greatly reduced.

Next time we will look at several things that riders can do to use their bodies to have maximum advantage during braking and acceleration. Until then, enjoy your season and get out on the track!

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FRICTION ZONE

ATLANTIC BEACH BIKE WEEK 2011 Words and images: Leon

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Brittain

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FRICTION ZONE: ATLANTIC BEACH BIKE WEEK

O

nce again it was time to head south for the Annual Atlantic Beach Fest. Some made the pilgrimage early as part of Rickey Gadson’s Philly to Myrtle Charity Ride for Pediatric Diabetes. Others descended onto Myrtle Beach later in the week.

One thing was immediately noticeable. The number of bikes increased from the previous year and for the first time in years, some of the manufacturers (Yamaha, Star Motorcycles and Suzuki) recognized the significance of this event and joined in with offering demo rides of their line-up.

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Additionally, ICON Motorsports added the Atlantic Beach Fest to their nationwide tour for their truly unique and sultry hot stunt/fashion show.

Not to be out done, T.I.’s trendsetting clothing line, AKOO was front and center on Atlantic Beach, offering impromptu makeovers for willing participants with fresh hair cuts to new gear. “This is our first year here so we wanted to take things strategically while having an immediate effect on the audience,” says AKOO Brand Manager, Jeff Belizaire.

In previous years, the action was scattered throughout Myrtle and to some degree this was true again this year.

However, the pulse of the action centered at Atlantic Beach. In addition to ICON’s center stage, nationally recognized custom builders were on the scene including Roaring Toyz, Myrtle West, VooDoo Creations and Yamaha’s Custom Showdown bike contest.

Looks like this could be the beginning of new things to come for the Atlantic Beach Fest.

K 2011

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FRICTION ZONE: ATLANTIC BEACH BIKE WEEK

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FRICTION ZONE

Words: Brittany Morrow Photos: Courtesy of John Ryland

the

Man

J o h n I

f you haven’t seen the latest motoinspired home décor as it made its way through the doldrums of the internet, take a close look now. John Ryland was inspired to build these lighting beauties from recycled motorcycle parts out of sheer, “dumb luck,” he says. “I had just replaced the shocks on an old Yamaha and I was sitting on my garage floor zoning out. I was resting my hand on the old rusty shock (kind of like a walking cane) right in the center of an old rotor. I thought immediately that it would make a cool lamp.” The idea took another month to come to fruition, and has caught much attention over the past month. The lamps are now selling for $150 on www.etsy.com. John believes the reason for the lamp’s popularity is simply because people look at it and have a light bulb moment (pun fully intended), like they could have thought of it themselves. “When you look at it, it just makes sense,” he explains.

The self-made moto-building phenom says 3 years ago, he couldn’t have cared any less about motorcycles. “I’ve always had too many hobbies, motorized and otherwise, so that’s probably why it took me so long to get into motorcycles.” After being lent a DR650 from an out-of-town friend, John was immediately hooked, and now owns nine bikes himself. John works full-time at an ad agency, but started his shop, Classified Moto, out of love for oddball vehicles and for the pure creative outlet.

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Behind

the

Lamp:

R y l a n d

“It sounds cheesy, but it’s made me kind of psyched about the future. I’m turning 42 soon and out of the blue I’ve got this great bike thing happening. I feel really lucky.” With a proprietor like John and the few tricks up his sleeve, Classified Moto is a force to be reckoned with. Keep an eye out for the group to pop up on the map in Richmond, VA with a motorcycle-centric design shop and coffee house.

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FRICTION ZONE: SPORTBIKES INK!!!

Once the symbol of the Tandattoos... outlaw, the renegade, the rebel have always been associated with bikers, sailors and ne’er do wells.

Not so much these days as tattoos are now obvious and present in all walks of life and have somehow become “de rigueur” for people wanting to be more of an individual.

The acceptance of this ancient art by society has allowed the more creative among us to adorn their bodies with some beautiful and meaningful artwork and distance ourselves from the sheep in the today’s society.

Its another choice we make to preserve our own identity. Like riding a Ducati 848 EVO Dark to work instead of driving a Prius.

This column will aim to showcase the artwork that you, our faithful readers have adorned your bodies with. Please send clear, high quality photos to BAZ@SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM. Include your name, the tattoo artist and what you ride.

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this life: LET’S GET NAKED! PART II Words and Images: Tyson Beckford

aked bikes are not as new N to the motorcycle world as some of you might think…Cafe

royalty in Jamaica.

His name is Rohan Marley, son of Bob Marley. He and his dad rode naked bikes. Rohan currently just spent 25k on a Ducati Street Fighter that is custom painted gold. That is a true Rasta Man color if you know anything about my Jamaican culture. I personally can’t wait to see that! He told me he put on a custom exhaust and added many carbon fiber parts to it!

I was recently in Jamaica and ran into a good friend who is like

I just got a Ducati Hypermotard 1100 Evo SP and did a lot of custom work to it too! The next Ducati I get will be a Street fighter for sure, to tackle these

bikes or street fighters are pretty popular with the young as well as the older riders.

DUCATI HYPERMOTARD 1100 EVO

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NYC streets like a black urban superhero!

There are many custom naked bike builders popping up all over the U.S. as of the past few years and you already know this if you’re into this culture of stripped down bikes.

I will personally be spending time at many of these bike nights, talking and learning more, so if you’re in a city and would like me to come by, send me an email here at SBI. You never know if I might pop up at your local bike night to chat, hang out, take pics and just be a part of your scene.

Tyson@sportbikesincmag.com

BILLY MORRISON (Guitarist: Billy Idol / Camp Freddy) READS SPORTBIKES INC MAGAZINE

WWW.BILLYMORRISON.NET WWW.TWITTER.COM/BILLYMORRISON WWW.BILLYIDOL.NET Check out the Gibson Billy Morrison Signature Les Paul Guitar Xmas 2010 Live Photography By Charles Jischke

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THE NEW ISH BREMBO • THE GROOVE ROTOR KIT FOR CAFE RACERS Brembo continues their pedigree of setting the industry standard with their new Groove rotor. The Groove is engineered for the “Custom, Cafe Racer and Bike Night markets”.

Composed entirely of billet stock that features a black and charcoal grey anodized finish, the Groove is aimed at the Cafe Racer Enthusiast and is interchangeable on a number of models that include Triumph, Ducati and Honda. Kit includes one pair of rotors.

Price: $749.00 Contact: http://tawperformance.com

MOTOMFG • PADDOCK LIFT STAND

As you get older, the name of the game is working smarter... not harder. MotoMFG has manufactured a paddock lift stand for the current line up of Ducati superbikes as well as the Streetfighter and Hypermotard.

I have to say, this looks brilliant and extremely useful. I’ve seen these stands for the cruiser class and have always wondered what the hold up was for the sportbike class. Seems like it was only a matter of time someone getting on the stick.

Price: $339.95 - $449.95 Contact: http://bellissimoto.com

SPORTBIKE TSHIRTS • “SUPERBIKES” SHIRT “Superbikes. Jets Without Wings. To Go Any Faster Requires A Flight Plan.” is screen printed on the back with a great new graphic. Bold, eye-catching and only available in red.

Size: M - XXL Price: $19.99 - $22.99 Contact: http://sportbiketshirts.com

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MONTGOMERY MOTORSPORTS • VERTICAL TANK STAND The Vertical Tank Stand was designed specifically for the Suzuki Hayabusa, all model years and makes a huge difference in bike maintenance. The Tank Stand allows a quick and easy way to keep the tank propped up without having anything in your way when trying to work on the bike.

It attaches to the frame under the tank while holding the full weight of the tank up and out of the way.

Price: 100.00 Contact: http://montgomerymotorsports.net

ZERO GRAVITY RACING • 2011 SUZUKI GSX-R 600/750 WINDSCREENS Zero Gravity Racing now offers four classes of windscreens for the 2011 600 and 750 GSX-R models. The SR, the Double Bubble, the Corsa and the Sport Touring Series windscreens offer the right fit for your preference.

Zero Gravity’s windscreens are made in the USA, engineered to replace your stock screen with precision and feature a remarkable clarity of vision.

Price: Starting at $79.95 Contact: http://zerogravity-racing.com

ALPINESTARS • SCOUT WATERPROOF BOOT They may look like they are fit for off-road use but the Scout Waterproof Boots are multi-purposed for dual sport touring as well as for sportbike use. They feature a stitched sole that offers exceptional grip on wet or slippery surfaces.

The boots are composed of full grain leather with a waterproof membrane with molded shin, toe and heel counters to resist impact and abrasion.

Sizes: 5 - 13 US Price: $279.95 Contact: http://alpinestars.com SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 107

THE NEW ISH: Featured Item ICON MOTOSPORTS • ALLIANCE FREAKY TIKI HELMET

ICON once again continues to lead the way with one of a kind, cutting edge helmet graphics. The Freaky Tiki Helmet artwork was hand drawn by Lukas Ketner, who is responsible for some of ICON’s most memorable images.

This helmet premiered at the ICON Limiter Bike Night in Portland in May and was well received. Usually, musicians have album release parties. Leave it to the hooligans at ICON to have a helmet release party.

Size: XS - XXXL Price: $200.00 Contact: http://rideicon.com

For more sportbike news and announcements:

VISIT THE SPORTBIKES INC BLOG

HTTP://SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM/BLOG

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SS-Shirt

Brotherhood

XXR

Reaper

Shop Online - www.LegendaryUSA.com/SBI SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 109

staff stuff MOTOR ROLLER GEAR • Shift Sock Motorcycle Shoe Guard Leon Brittain Although I don’t rock this product as often as I used it to. I now mainly wear riding boots or an older pair of Timberlands.

There was a time, however when this product was as much a part of my riding gear as my helmet. Instead of scuffing up a fresh pair of kicks all I had to do was slip my shoe guard over any style shoe (including my new Tims) and I was set to hit the strip without worry of ruining my footwear. The shoe guard is machine washable with a suede gear shifting area and an elastic strap that wraps around the end of your footwear and features a very durable rubber sole.

I’ve had mine for years and it’s still in top notch condition.

I always recommend boots for safety reasons, but if you have pair of kicks you want to protect, the Shift Sock Motorcycle Shoe Guard is certainly worthy of looking for. http://motorrollergear.com Rating: 4.5 (out of 6)

ICON MOTOSPORTS • PDX RAIN JACKET Meekail Shaheed When shooting bike events, the weather is not always pretty.

When it starts to get wet I pull out the ICON PDX Rain Jacket.

The jacket is cut full as far as bike gear goes and fits well over my normal street clothes as well as riding gear. The jacket features a nice roll-up hood. This heavy duty nylon waterproof jacket has adequate pockets, waterproof zippers, and mesh liner. Two of its biggest draws for me is the bright orange color with reflective graphics and the water resistant front pockets. http://rideicon.com Rating: 6 (out of 6)

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IN THE NEXT ISSUE THE MOVIE ISSUE! Bikes in Film Special Featured Riders The Stuntperson’s Handbook SBI’s Top Bike Movies