The Motorcycle Times - February 2012 Edition

BRAMMO WINS AWARD

TEST RIDE

Brammo, electric motorcycle Mfg. wins prestigious Popular Science Award See page 6 for details

DEELEY HARLEY ANNOUNCES XR1200 SERIES

Two heads are better than one on this review of the Kawasaki Ninja 250R

Deeley H-D announces details of the 2012 Canadian H-D XR1200 Cup Series

See page 10 for more

See page 16 for more

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MOTORCYCLES POWER SAVINGS!

SEE PAGE 13 FOR DETAILS! FEBRUARY 2012

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Brain Storms...................................................................................4 Skid Marks ......................................................................................5 Motorcycle News ....................................................................6 Two Cents........................................................................................8 Road Test - Kawasaki Ninja 250R...............................10 Guest Columnist.....................................................................12 Open Road ............................................................................... 14 Finish Lines ............................................................................... 16 From The Inside .....................................................................18 Profile ............................................................................................. 20 Riders Marketplace ........................................................... 21 Events ........................................................................................... 22 Safety Scene ............................................................................ 22

Trophy Bike No Prize The custom-built Orange County Chopper that adorns the lobby of Ontario’s troubled ORNGE air ambulance service is a symbol of questionable dealings and should be removed, opposition parties say.

The chopper, a gift from the provincial agency’s helicopter supplier Agusta Westand of Italy, is simply a reflection of how business was done.”

It was reported that Agusta Westland sold 12 helicopters to ORNGE in 2008 for an estimated $144 million.

Given that ORNGE gets $150 million annually from Ontario taxpayers to operate an air ambulance service, investigators are probing high salaries and perks, and determining whether publicly funded assets were used for private gain.

2013 Victory Judge

Victory Motorcycles rang in 2012 with an early release 2013 model motorcycles. among the new 2013 release included the reveal of two custom Victory Motorcycles.

One of the bikes by the grandson of Arlen

Ness, Zach Ness, and a second bike by the Klocks Werks Kustom Motorcycles led by Brian Klock in memory Vic Briggs, a former employee who passed away last summer.

This new model features signature Victo-

ry style and is inspired by the muscle car era.

Featuring outstanding power and handling, it promises to bring a new level of riding enjoyment to the class and will be comfortable for riders of all sizes.

Nothing beats For a limited time

February 2012, The Motorcycle Times – 2

Victory’s Judge inspired by the Muscle Car era R E S I D E N T I A L A N D C O M M E R C A L S TO R A G E S O L U T I O N S

from cover page

Victory introduced the latest addition to before its cruiser line of motorcycles at the New York Progressive International Motorcycle Show, a new muscle bike with meaty tires, drag bars and new bodywork. Blacked-out components and a potent Freedom 106/6 VTwin round out its lean, aggressive stance.

The 2013 Judge as it has been badged has a tighter rake and a little less weight to carry than Victory’s reining muscle bike. The big We can help transform difference is on the backside though, as the Hammer S pushes a wide 250mm rear while your disaster zone into the Judge sports a svelte 140mm Dunlop the ultimate organized Elite II. Tighter, lighter and slimmer on the Garage.

Modular backside, the Victory JudgeSolutions should really grip the road.

The new cast wheels for residential5-spoke applications look from like thesmall Cragar to mags that were popularge and lar on hot rods. They even raised the white everything in-between. lettering on the Dunlop Elite II’s, just like wheels from back in the day.

Rounded and stretched, the low-profile 4.5-gallon tank sports a recessed tank similar to the Victory Cross Country but with small cut-outs for a rider’s knees. Its round, color-matched side panels fooled us into thinking Victory had slapped on a vintage oil bag, but the panels look primed for a race plate nonetheless. The fenders have been cut down so the chunky 90mm-thick Dunlops can attract more attention and feature the signature raised spine of the Vegas. The rear fender has a new taillight that’s been integrated into the fender itself. New fender

struts complete the revised look of the rear.

The front end of the bike is highlighted by new drag bars and a small, round headlight.

Mid-mount controls team up with the bars to provide an aggressive, slightly-forward riding position. With a 25.9-inch seat height, the motorcycle should allow riders of all statures to get two feet firmly planted on the ground at a stop.

There’s no surprise in the engine department as the Freedom 106/6 powers all of Victory’s motorcycles. Fuel-injected and air/ oil cooled, the powerplant is mated to a sixspeed overdrive transmission with helicalcut gears. A new wrinkle is a smaller EFI cover which allows a little light between the cylinder heads in an engine that’s otherwise spooned in tightly between the double rails of the frame.

Most of its components are black, a list that includes the frame, dual pipes, triple trees, cases, handlebars, and cylinder heads.

A shimmer of chrome on the fork tubes, shaved down cylinder fins and a chrome ring around the derby cover add a touch of contrast to the otherwise dark design. The 2013 Victory Judge will be available in Gloss Black, Sunset Red or Suede Nuclear Sunset with an MSRP starting at $15,299. CDN. The Victory Judge will be available to the U.S. market around April 2012. As of press time, The Motorcycle Times did not have confirmation of the Canadian release date, but we think the Judge will also be available in dealerships sometime in April too.

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3 – The Motorcycle Times, February 2012

2013 Victory Judge

February 2012, The Motorcycle Times – 4

BRAIN STORM opinions

LINDSAY THOMSON Editor, The Motorcycle Times

2012: It’s Official Now So here we are: halfway through bike show season and well on our way to “Why Won’t It Start?” season. You all set the bike up for winter, didn’t you? Yeah, right. I’m sure you did.

Anyway, I’ll leave all that worry to you.

Let’s chat about what coming up both in The Motorcycle Times, and the world of motorcycles for this year.

First, as we head into the new season, we are making a couple of changes. More bike tests done in our own, user-friendly style.

None of the engineer talk that appears in print; we will continue to test bikes in their own genre, telling you how they feel to a regular rider…In regular words.

We will have some new writers working with us starting with this issue, beginning with a young man, whose stories should capture some attention. Seth Van Dongen is a young road racer moving up through the ranks. Beginning only his third season in the sport, Seth will be experiencing some National level competition in between his regular rides at regional races. He will be giving his observations and telling us all about his trials and tribulations, under the headline, “The Tough Guy.” Travel by riders of all ages and experience have become as popular as any form of motorcycle enjoyment, and we will continue to bring you the stories of these adventures.

Some of these stories prove that you don’t need a big touring bike to discover the freedom of the open road.

As the year progresses, we’ll be bringing you additional and more varied opinions in the forms of different, guest columnists, guaranteed to shake things up. It’s what we like to do. Watch for us to show up at select motorcycle events, races and shows. Don’t forget, we were all riders before we were writers.

Looking at motorcycles in general, new models in every style, in particular the Adventure Touring end of things. Maybe we’ll take a couple of this year’s, models into the dusty, dirty wilderness and tell you about it.

The economy continues to be a story, but it shows signs of improvement. Perhaps, as we all weary of our enforced frugality, it’s time to put this reasonable thinking aside and just get what we want. The “experts” keep saying that’s what the economy needs.

Imagine, we motorcycle people could save the world’s finances by buying new bikes.

Sounds good to me.

A bigger and more vibrant web presence is in order, with video of our contributors and top stories. I’m ready for my close-up.

Mr. De Mille. Errrr, maybe we’ll have to hire a couple of more photogenic people for that.

Fame and Fortune, sure.

Racing in Canada still has a lot of question marks. After a couple of years of struggle, we hope that the grids at the National Series start to fill out. As finances build, there should be more opportunity for the incredible crop of talented up and comers to step up. Manufacturers, hopefully, will become as strong as they once were, and begin to field stronger and bigger teams. Building a National series requires the key players to be involved, and I for one, can’t wait to see what happens next. I am a racer, but more than that, I’m a racing fan.

Keeping an eye on some of the more exotic brands is always an education with Ducati bringing out the 1199 Panigale and Norton the 961 Commando Café Racer. Enthusiasts with good credit will have a lot of fun this year. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll get a call to test one or two. Maybe the MV or a custom or two. The year is filled with possibility.

One of the things that I like best in our publication is the fact that we get to introduce our readers to interesting people and businesses in the industry. We’ll have more of the same.

As always, our usual columnists will share news and opinions, sometimes tickling your funny bone, sometimes ticking you off, but always making you think. Of course, if we do tick you off, you can always turn the page to Skid Marks for a good chuckle.

For me personally, 2012 looks to be a year to look forward to. My GTU endurance team is looking forward to follow up our successful 2011 third place at S.O.A.R. with a new (to us) Honda F4, originally built

by HRC for someone named Steve Crevier.

The paint’s almost done, the bike is slowly coming together and I’m sure those winter pounds will disappear from my waistline soon. Team members Claudia Barleben, her husband, Paul, Eva Morris and I are itching to get on the track and see what this bike can do.

2011 was a tough one for many of us.

Let’s just get up, dust ourselves off, and get on the bike.

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5 – The Motorcycle Times, February 2012

SKID MARKS

4 – The Motorcycle Times , June 2010

THE REAL WORLD

February 2012, The Motorcycle Times – 6

MOTORCYCLENEWS Good News for H-D U.S. Profits Up

“Brammo Empulse Electric Sports Bike Wins Prestigious Popular Science 2011” Oregon, November 2011 - Brammo Inc, a leading developer of electric vehicle technology and manufacturer of two-wheel electric vehicles, announced today that its Empulse electric sport bike has been chosen

by Popular Science Magazine editors to receive a Best of Whats New Award for 2011 in the Automotive Category.

“For 24 years, Popular Science has honored the innovations that surprise and amaze us − those that make a positive impact on our world today and challenge our views of what’s possible in the future.” said Mark Jannot, Editor-in-Chief of Popular Science. “The Best of What’s New Award is the magazine’s top honor, and the 100 winners − chosen from among thousands of entrants − represent the highest level of achievement in their fields.”

The Brammo Empulse was designed in

Ashland, Oregon and production will commence there in early 2012. With its ability to go over 100 mph and up to 100 miles on a single charge it’s no surprise that almost 2,000 customers have already pre-ordered the Empulse. Featuring a water cooled electric motor and six speed transmission the Empulse represents the state of the art in electric motorcycles.

Craig Bramscher Founder and CEO of Brammo said. “This is a true honor and we are delighted to be recognized in this way

by Popular Science Magazine. I know the whole Brammo team has worked tirelessly on the Empulse and they will be very excited to hear about winning this prestigious award.

We are very much looking forward to seeing the Empulse on streets all across the USA next year.”

Banshee Horn warning system for motorcycles January 2012 - US based inventor Peter Olt has been a motorcyclist for more than 30 years and he’s come up with a pretty interesting invention that he refers to as the Banshee Horn.

Basically, the Banshee Horn gives you the option of giving people a blast of a 135 decibel alternating horn and high beam headlights. You can still use your normal horn but holding down the horn button for either 1/4 or 1/2 a second activates the Banshee Horn circuitry.

His invention is posted on KickStarter which is an online invention promotion and funding site. Based on the information there his product is a go! It can still be had at a discounted price for a few more days so watch the video below and if you think it’s a good idea better get yourself one fast before the price goes up!

I know there’s at least a few times when I wouldn’t have minded having the extra conspicuity this horn and lighting combination would provide.

NEW YORK (AP) - Iconic motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Inc. posted a profit of $105.7 million for the fourth quarter, boosted by improved consumer confidence that prompted more riders to buy its oftenpricy bikes.

The profit contrasted with a loss in the same period a year ago. The company said it expects to ship more motorcycles this year, but remains concerned about the possible effects of Europe’s economic woes.

Keith Wandell, the US parent company’s president and chief executive, credited the fourth-quarter sales jump to improved consumer confidence in the United States, along with key growth investments overseas.

“We will continue to keep a close watch on the marketplace and remain cautious in our expectations of retail given the degree of continued economic uncertainty including regions like the Euro zone,” Wandell said in a conference call with analysts.

After the global economy stalled in 2008 and Harley’s sales plunged 23 percent the next year, it embarked on a massive plan to slash its costs and transform the way it manufactures its motorcycles.

The restructuring has helped turn things around despite tough economic conditions.

Harley’s sales of motorcycle and related products grew 13 percent in 2011 and the recent quarter marked its third-straight increase in U.S. sales.

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New 2012 Cafe Racer a major success for Triumph with Canadian Buyers Toronto December 2011 - Motorcycle enthusiasts at the Toronto Motorcycle show had the first opportunity to see (and even sit on) the new 2012 Norton Commandon 961 Cafe Racer. The bike was quite a hit in the traditional Norton vibrant yellow.

While the bike sports the same Spondon engineered frame, Menard redesigned powerplant and Bremo brakes, the inverted distinctive Ohlins shocks on the front, the classic Norton designed flyscreen and carbon fibre fenders at the front and rear provide the bikes distinctive look. The booth was visited by thousands of enthusiasts who wanted a glimps of this iconic motorcycle. Many Norton enthusiasts at the show told us that the Cafe Racer debut was their sole reason for attending the event, and they were not disappointed. Peter Howes (President ñ Norton Motorcycles (Canada) Ltd.) personally spoke to hundreds of interested visitors and was able to provide them with detailed information of the bikes performance, design and construction, since he took part in the build process at the factory.

BMW Motorrad - a look ahead to 2012.

With the new G 650 GS Sertao, the revised S 1000 RR, the special boxer model R 1200 GS Rallye and the special models K 1300 R and K 1300 S, BMW Motorrad has once again enhanced its extensive product portfolio for the 2012 motorcycling season. What is more, the first BMW maxi-scooters C 600 Sport and C 650 GT are due to line up for launch this spring. With these scooter models, BMW Motorrad is expanding its range to include the facet of Urban Mobility.

Based on this ongoing product offensive, BMW Motorrad looks confidently ahead to the upcoming season in spite of economic developments in some countries.

Munich. BMW Motorrad sold more motorcycles in 2011 than ever before in its almost 90-year history with a total of 104,286 units sold (previous year: 98,047 units). This is an increase of 6.4% over the result of the previous year, which was itself impressive. For twelve months in succession in 2011, more motorcycles were sold than in 2010.

This puts the 2011 sales result well above the previous all-time high which dates back to the year 2007 (102,467 units).

In the relevant market segment of capacity classes over 500 cc, BMW was able to expand its world market share to over 12%, thereby virtually doubling it within just four years.

Hendrik von Kuenheim, General Director of BMW Motorrad: “This outstanding sales result shows that we are on the right track in terms of our product and market strategy. We have achieved yet another sales record within a persistently challenging market environment. At the same time we have been able to take on market leadership and strengthen our market position in over 15 countries. In business performance terms we anticipate an all-time high in fiscal 2011 for both turnover and revenue. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers worldwide most sincerely for the trust they have placed in BMW Motorrad.”

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2012 stryker 2012 stryker

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two cents SCOTT MACDONALD Contributing Writer, TMT

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I know we speak quite a bit on safety, prevention and from time to time even attempt to educate the masses about how effective certain products fair over others. I would expect that from being an informed rider, choices would be obvious when it comes to making purchases for your riding gear.

Well, clearly this is not the case. Over the past decade of working motorcycle shows I have been witness to the buying habits of thousands of riders. As I walk the floor of the various shows in Toronto, London, Ottawa and so on, I started paying attention to what products were being made available at these shows and who was making those purchases.

The off-season shows are meant to help retailers move inventory and clear-out last years stock to make room for the new models of helmets, leathers goods, motorcycles, etc.

In simpler terms the show circuit is simply one large sale with the odd highlight thrown in of some “New Model” being introduced by a manufacturer. The shows have a purpose for the retailers which helps them stay in business and cycle inventory but it also helps us the riding consumer save a few bucks on necessary equipment, it’s all good.

No so fast, it’s not all good. As with any retail business, products are made available to the consumer with varying degrees of quality from competing product manufacturers.

Since price point seems to be the catalyst for most consumer buying decisions these days, inexpensive products will always be available as a purchasing option. So what’s wrong with that? Absolutely nothing, if you are talking about things like accessory add-ons and such. Where you should be concerned most is with safety related items like leather jackets, chaps (if you are so inclined), gloves, helmets, eyewear, ear protection and boots, etc.

When one of our friends, co-workers or family members becomes sick with a life threatening illness, everyone rallies around to help that person including the person who’s ill. We raise millions of dollars every year attending charity rides for innocent victims or those who need a hand, all the while risking our own lives to help. So then ask yourself, what is “my” value? What is the price you would pay to stay alive? $39.95? Or would 20% off of that be more in your price range?

How about we throw in the taxes too?

Agree with me or not, but that’s exactly what you are doing when you start looking

for and purchasing motorcycle gear. Personally, I purchase the “best” equipment I can afford, quality proven helmet, 3 oz leather motorcycle jacket and chaps, heavy-duty leather riding boots and riding gloves. The old saying “You get what you pay for” could not be more true, you have many choices to make when selecting gear and I promise you don’t want to find yourself regretting not buying the “heavier leather” jacket while you are sliding down the freeway on your back at a buck-twenty or heading for the concrete obstacle headfirst with that “novelty beenie” that you bought for $10 bucks covering your head. Not convinced yet? Next time a motorcycle race is on TV have a quick watch.

See any riders with t-shirts, shorts and sandals? When a rider looses it on the track and slides 150 feet along the pavement until he/ she comes to a stop, gets up and walks away, perhaps you need to take notice of what the rider is wearing.

Now that we have covered your gear, what about training? Have you ever had any professional instruction? How long have you been riding? Have you had a few close calls with those “stupid cage drivers”? Maybe it’s not them at all. Maybe you have developed some poor riding habits over the years? And maybe, just maybe you don’t know as much as you think for today’s riding environment.

It’s easy to convince yourself that because you’ve been riding since you were 3, you know all there is to know. Or how about the 50 something guy that’s not ridden in 20 years because of starting a family, yup, lets get him back on two wheels with the biggest bike he can afford “cause he’ll grow into the bike eventually” Stupid eh? There is more reality in that last statement then you may realize. Everyone can learn something from taking some form of skills training. It may be the best money you ever spend, for some of you it could be a “life” decision - money well spent.

Here’s the thing about all of this. I’m not here to preach or shove safety down your throat. You must make decisions based on what is best for you. So, the next time you’re at a motorcycle show looking for that “great deal”, consider these three things; quality, performance and value. Then think about what “your” value is, not just to yourself, but your family too. There are deals to be had, but buyer beware - invest in yourself and live to ride another day.

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“we just proved that it works”

Ever wondered what those “Harley” folks were saying when they spoke about their favorite models? We hope this helps take some of the mystery out of it.

The first letter of the model designator reveals the engine series: First character: G Servicar three wheeler, 1932 to 1972 E Overhead valve 61 cubic inch “big twin” (Engine/trans separated) F Overhead valve 74 or 80 cubic inch “big twin” K Side valve 45 and 55 cubic inch sports bike that replaced the WL in

1953 and was replaced by the sportster in 1957. It had many design

features that were carried over to the Sportster.

U Side valve 74 or 80 cubic inch “big twin” V Side valve 74 cubic inch made prior to 1936 W Side valve 45 cubic inch made 1934 to 1952 X Sports and special construction. Applied to 1918-1922 opposed twin

Sport, 1944 military opposed twin, and 1957 to present Sportster.

There were others, such as the J series (a very nice looking bike that was about the hottest thing around in the 20’s) but you’re not likely to see them in daily use anymore.

Second character: L high compression. Omitted on low compression early models, and not indicative of compression on current models.

Yamaha Drops Motorcycle Prices!

Popular models like Raider, Road Star, V-Star 950, R1, R6, YZ125 see BIG decreases!

Yamaha Motor Canada has announced sizeable price reductions to most of their 2012 motorcycles, including models like the Raider, V-Star 950 and R1! This is great news for Canadian customers as suggested retail pricing gets more in line with those offered in the United States.

“Due to market fluctuations and inventory levels, we weren’t able to address the pricing gaps of the last few years as quickly as we would have liked”, commented Peter Swanton, National Sales Manager, Motorsports for Yamaha Canada. “But to kick off 2012, we’re well positioned to bring about this price reduction. Yamaha customers can now get many models for the same price they would

have paid 7 or 8 years ago, even with the product technological advances that have happened in the meantime.”

While some prices remain unchanged, many key models, have seen significant reductions: Swanton added, “We have great sales programs to complement this change and we’re ready to get Canadians putting quality Yamaha motorcycles back at the top of their wish lists. At Yamaha, customers come first and we’re always welcoming new members to the Yamaha family.”

For more information concerning Yamaha’s price reduction and a complete list of changes, please visit: www.yamaha-motor.ca

Remaning characters: Model descriptions, eg WG - Wide Glide. Some generalizations: A B C D E F H

LR P R

Military (Army) version (except GA, Servicar without tow bar) Battery start (early models), Belt drive (some later models).

Classic, Competition, Custom, various others meanings.

Dyna, the newest frame and engine mount design.

Electric start Foot shift (when the standard was hand-shift) varied between High performance and Heavy duty. The early FLH for example produced 5 more HP than the FL and was used primarily for touring and sidecar applications.

Low Rider (though many Low Riders don’t include LR in the model ID) Police version Rubber mounted engine (some models) racing version (other models) e.g. the FXR is a lowrider with rubber mounted engine, WLR is the flat

track racer that was very hard to beat in the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s.

ST Soft Tail S (without following T) Sports version e.g. FLHS is an FLHT without the

touring package.

T Touring WG Wide Glide Sportsters: Models beginning with X are Sportsters. These descend from the K series, 1952-56. The XL series started in 1957.

They are “unit construction” (engine & transmission share a common case).

X was in the normal series, following the U and V used for flathead Big Twins.

L stood for high compression (7.5:1 in 1957).

In 1958 came the XLH with H meaning Higher-power or High-compression (9:1) or Hot. Also in 1958 was the XLCH: The C in XLCH was intended to mean “Competition”, but the late Hal Robinson used to claim the CH on his bike stood for “Charley Horse” because it was highly modified and had enough initial ignition advance to kick back rather severely.

Options for Sportsters abounded but these same letters have been used since 1958 in various combinations, plus the XLCR (a “cafe racer” style, with bikini fairing) and the XLT (Touring, with bigger tank, thicker seat, and hard bags straight off the FLHS), both produced 1977-1978 only.

Big Twins: Models beginning with F are Big Twins. These all descend from the 61E in 1936. Knuckleheads 1936-47, Panheads 1948-65, Shovelheads 1966-84/85, and Evolutions 1984/5-present. The Evolution (block head) was introduced in ‘84 on the Soft Tail and Tourglide Ultra, with the last Shovel built in mid ‘85. Until 1978, these were mostly 74’s (~1200cc). In 1978, the 80ci (~1340cc) was introduced. In 1971 was the first FX model, with an F engine and assorted Sportster (X) parts, notably forks - these were initially Super Glides. In 1974, FXE was Electric start. In calendar 1977 came the FXS Low Rider, with shortened shocks and scooped seating position. Also in 1978,

the FX Super Glides got belt final drive. 1979 brought 80ci Shovelheads and the FXEF Super Glide Fat Bob (not Boy), for bobbed fenders and fat tank.

In 1980, FXWG (Wide Glide) andthe FXB Sturgis with belt drive (primary and secondary).

1984 brought the Softtail FXST, with the look of an old hardtail but some suspension for comfort.

In 1991 came the FXD Dyna Glide series, starting with another Sturgis model. This brought many frame and engine mounting changes, a relocated oil tank and moved crossover pipe.

Touring: In 1980, the FLT designation was introduced for the Tour Glide. This model introduced the vibration-isolation mounted engine (rubberglide) and also a slightly different frame from other FLs and a fixed fairing. FXR (originally called Super Glide II) arrived in late 1981. The R had rubbermount engine and 5-speed tranny, as opposed to rigid-mount and 4-speed in other models.

FXRS maybe meant Sport, with cast wheels and a small sissy bar. The Sport Glide FXRT (Touring) arrived in 1983, with the fixed fairing and air adjustable anti-dive forks.

The only really reliable letters now are at the beginning of the model: X - Sportster, F - Big Twin, FL - Big Twin with big forks, FX - Big Twin with Sportster-style (smaller) forks, FXST - Softtail, FXD - Dyna Glide. At times, different models have even shared the same letter-designation; witness the FLHTC Electra Glide Classic/Ultra Classic Electra Glide in 1993 models.

Disclaimer: Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this information, unintentional errors or information deemed incorrect may be present in the description of the “Harley” Alphabet. “The Harley Alphabet” is intended as entertainment only. Source: World Wide Web

‘The Beast’ is Feeling Blue!

Kyle Keast is stepping aboard the championship-winning YZ450F in his strongest and most concerted effort yet for Canadian MX1 supremacy.

Keast, a fan favourite in Canadian motocross, will be riding for the Yamaha Machine Racing team in a bid to make it five #1 plates in a row for the mighty YZ450F. “The last couple of years, I’ve had to juggle racing with my work responsibilities. In order to get to the next level, I needed to concentrate solely on motocross,” Keast related. “Yamaha and Machine Racing have stepped up in a big way to give me that support.”

John Nelson added, “I’m pumped to have Kyle back riding out of Machine Racing.

We’ve been able to give him enough support this year that he can do all the pre-season training and preparation he needs. I expect you’ll see a different Kyle at the first round.”

Yamaha’s race director, Bryan Hudgin, commented on signing Keast for 2012.

“We’ve wanted to get Kyle on blue for quite awhile, so I’m glad it’s finally worked out. Not only is Kyle a title contender but he’s a good role model for younger riders and loves being at the track every Sunday - whether it’s a regional race or a national. He’ll fit right in to the Yamaha family and be a great ambassador for our brand.”

Keast went on to add, “I’m so jacked about 2012. My sponsors are in place, and the planning is done. It’s all about training hard and putting the YZ450F on the top step. I’ve never been hungrier to win that title, and I’m going to do everything I can to make it happen.”

If the following video is any indication, it would seem that Nelson and Keast are dead serious about training for the upcoming 2012 MX season.

New to the 2012 Honda Lineup Honda kicks off the new year with another 2012 model that brings a fresh look to the already extensive lineup of new machines. This latest addition, the NC700X, features adventure-bike styling, an all-new engine tuned for loads of real-world power, plus light and nimble handling thanks to a chassis design that emphasizes mass centralization and a low center of gravity.

In addition, the NC700X offers the option of Honda’s unique second-generation automatic Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) and Combined Antilock Braking System together.

“This is a really exciting release for 2012

that brings a great new option to Honda’s wide selection of motorcycles and ATVs for the new year,” said Powersports Press Manager Bill Savino. “This is a fun machine that will appeal to all kinds of riders, and with the option of having an automatic Dual Clutch Transmission for unrivaled ease of use, this bike will open the door to many potential newcomers to the sport as well. We are really proud of what the NC700X brings to the table as a motorcycle, but we’re even more enthusiastic about how this bike can help expand interest in motorcycling for a whole new generation of riders.”

9 – The Motorcycle Times, February 2012

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February 2012, The Motorcycle Times – 12

guest columnist MARY ANNE SINGER Contributing Writer, TMT

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Why I Like Motorcycles My now husband, Richard and his friend Rob were each going through a somewhat troubled time during their college days: they were both unfortunate in love, between career decisions, and without any particular direction at the time. In short, they were nerds. You remember the show “Three’s Company” well that was us. One day, more out of boredom, they hit on the idea of buying motorcycles, which neither of them had ever ridden before, to improve their ‘coolness factor,’ both with the girls and the guys. Being short of funds they managed only to buy a pair of dismantled old Honda 450s most of which came in the form of large greasy boxes with parts in them. Although they did manage to get them re-assembled, and running, neither motorcycle was very reliable. Their ‘coolness factor,’ and egos, suffered mightily over the next few days as I watched them struggle.

The bikes failed them on many occasions, they walked home across the city in the rain, and worse, had to push one or both sometimes back up the long hill that they had rolled them down with the hope of getting them started. (For the uninitiated, pushing a five-hundred pound motorcycle up a long hill is quite different from pushing a bicycle, so now try two!)

Finally, after several weeks they managed to get the motorcycles running somewhat reliably. We pooled what money we had and went to a thrift store to buy some gear, (keep in mind that this is 1973), we found two beat up old leather jackets, and two helmets all for $50 bucks.

Dressed and eager to show off, they rode them out on a little tour of the city streets and then through the country side, vainly attempting to be “cool and impressive.”

Finally, stopping in a gravel parking lot of a woodland area they looked at each other defeated. “It” just had not happened. They were hopeless, and no further ahead in the ‘coolness factor,’ as they had hoped.

In frustration Richard said to Rob, “Watch this!” and attempted to spin a doughnut with his back wheel. Because of the gravel, his front wheel slipped as well,

the bike went flying out from under him, he landed face down in the rocks, dirt and dust. He got up, both palms were bloody and imbedded with small stones from the parking lot, and his face was scraped up as well. They inspected the damage to the motorcycle and proceeded to push it back home. Arriving home, beaten, broken and battered and the bike didn’t fair to well either. The gear shift was twisted around the engine, his brake and clutch grips were curlicued like munchkin shoes from the Wizard of Oz around his handle bars, and his fender was ripped loose. “Wow,” I said, I guess you’ll want to get ride of the motorcycles. “No way that really WAS cool!” Richard said.

We all burst out laughing. We laughed so hard that we cried, and our stomachs began to hurt. Rob blurted out a few words that I can’t even mention but needless to say they were back out the next day and almost every day after that.

The ‘coolness factor,’ never happened the way they expected it because it was all in their head. It was all about how they felt and not how other people saw them.

The pleasure, passion, friendships and fun was the ‘cool factor’.

It has now been over 35 years and we have owned many motorcycles since then, all Honda’s by the way. Travelling all over the world and still our favourite place to ride is the Kawartha’s with it’s breathtaking beauty. The old gravel parking lot is long since gone but what still remains is what they felt that very first ride.

We still all ride together, I ride on the back with my arms around Richard just as I did back in the day. A little more grey my hair, a few more pounds, many more wrinkles and still a smile knowing how that little Honda brought so much pleasure, passion and friendships into my life.

I hope riding a motorcycle has given you what you were looking for when you started riding. It may not be what you thought at that time, but it will always be what you need. So ride for the pleasure, the passion and the friendships and let two wheels take you on ride, you just never know what you may find.

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13 – The Motorcycle Times, February 2012

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February 2012, The Motorcycle Times – 14

THE OPEN ROAD

Clockwise: Motel enroute , the great Smokey Mountains, Natural Bridge Virginia, Lousiville Slugger Museum & Factory, Beale Street, entrance to the Bue Ridge Parkway, Elvis’ pink Caddy, Graceland Memphis.

Mountains, Music and Mudville

by BLAKE MERRITT Contributing Writer - TMT Riding on the open road is reward enough for the effort that goes into planning a road trip, isn’t it? Sure it is. On the other hand you can make a good road trip more memorable by adding in a mix of sights, history, local diners and if you can manage it, a bit of folklore. Not sure about you, but being able to ride in the hot southern sun is an added bonus if I can fit that in as well.

A few years ago a friend and I traded in our first motorcycles for something newer and more powerful, so to celebrate we mapped out a trip to stretch our typical weekend getaway into something more substantial. We wanted to give the new bikes a good workout and that resulted in a route that, at just over 4000 kilometers, was a journey which would definitely extend beyond anything we’d done in the past. We had two goals; ride the Blue Ridge Parkway through the mountains and, see if we could get from the mountains over to Memphis and back in just under a week. Happy to say, both were accomplished. Well mostly, but I’ll get to that in a bit.

We had a great ride getting into the mountains. However if you’ve ever been on the Skyline Drive / Blue Ridge Parkway combination, you know what I mean when I say that this is where the interesting part of this tour really began. If you’ve not had the opportunity to take the route, do it, trust me.

“America’s Favourite Drive” climbs, dips and winds along the top of the Appalachian Mountains from Front Royal, Virginia (on I66 east of I81) through to just short of the Tennessee / North Carolina border. Skyline Drive’s northern entrance is in Shenandoah National Park and meanders along the mountaintops for 160 kilometers before it turns into the Blue Ridge Parkway. From there you’re in for a treat of 740 kilometers of curves, drops, inclines, and views. At the end of the parkway, if you continue a bit further south on the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway (Route 74) and turn west on Route 129 you’ll come to the Tail of the Dragon which is a riding hotspot as it offers over 300 curves in an

18 kilometer stretch.

The parkway offers everything you’d expect from mountain riding, including incredible overlooks, vast green space, little traffic and unique natural formations. In fact, just a quick detour off the parkway on Route 130 in Virginia is the town of Natural Bridge whose claim to fame is … you guessed it, a natural bridge. There’s a fair bit to explore in this area, but the rock bridge itself is well worth the stop and after a long day in the saddle it’s a great place to stretch. Not only is the bridge historically significant in that it was once noted as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, but the area is steeped in American folklore as it could rightly claim “George Washington Slept Here”. In 1750, legend holds that young George Washington was commissioned to survey the Natural Bridge site. Landmarks remain of the work and on the wall of the bridge where he carved his initials.

As many will attest, one of the most challenging aspects about riding in the mountains is the unpredictable weather. Storms suddenly appear out of nowhere and leave you cold and wet. The advantage of riding on the Blue Ridge is that the overlooks and open areas along the route offer a clear view for miles around. In fact, at one point we watched an isolated system come in from the west as we rode down the parkway. Like most riders on a long haul, you start making trade-off decisions and this was one of those times; ride like the wind and beat the storm or suit up? We played it safe, stopped and put our rain gear on. The decision paid off. I’ve ridden through some pretty intense storms, but this one actually forced us to take shelter. Of course, as fast as the storm came in it was sunny and hot all over again which is something you just have to appreciate about the south. The other saving grace was that we passed more than a few speed traps along the parkway, including the one trooper that actually raced past us on the road only to park behind some trees a couple kilometers down the route and turn the radar on us. My advice is to take it easy and enjoy the ride.

After a few days of mountaintop riding,

we made a turn toward the interstate and started the trip southwest. As the road enters Tennessee you begin to get your first taste of hot temperatures and southern culture. Grits, cornbread, chicken fried steak, and gravy on everything. Everything!

Considering that we’d had a long day of riding in the heat, our first order of business was (and always is) to find an economical, clean motel with a pool that’s conveniently located next to some of the much needed amenities for the night. That usually includes two things; first a gas station that sells cold beer and second, a tavern with good food, cold drinks, and a bunch of locals to hang with. If you’re looking for somewhere to find a place to put your head down for the night along the way, interstate rest stops in almost all states have coupon books available that list deals in the area hotels. The rates are discounted significantly, but are typically valid for one night only which works fine on a road trip. Our experience has been that if it’s listed in the coupon book, it’s clean and functional. Don’t expect a bed turndown service or chocolate on your pillow at night, but you’ll get a comfortable (albeit outdated) room in a safe area.

Beyond the mountains the road was flat and long (not to mention that the air felt almost as hot as the engine) but after a day’s ride west we arrived in Memphis, Tennessee.

There are many claims to fame for Memphis, but arguably none more so than Graceland.

Elvis fan or not, it’s worth the price of admission to see what has become the third most visited “house” in America (after the White House and the Biltmore Estate). Graceland is a real piece of Americana with a fair amount to take in for anyone that grew up in the age of the King, including two of his personal jets and a collection of his cars and motorcycles.

Music and motorcycle enthusiasts can’t help but appreciate Beale Street in Memphis. Whether your taste is blues, country or rock, there’s live music in a club or on an outside patio that caters to all. Grab a bite to eat in one of the national favourites like Coyote Ugly or The Hard Rock Café, or head further down the street to one of the local taverns. Even better, Wednesday nights be-

tween April and September are Bike Night on Beale Street. Literally hundreds of bikes line the street, including decked out cruisers, tweaked sport bikes, vintage iron, custom choppers, sleek imports and customized three wheelers that draw crowds from all around. Grab a beer and listen to the music as you walk the street. Stop along the way and talk to the owners about their bikes … not many are shy to talk to you about the customizations they’ve done. It was pure luck that we were there on a Wednesday night and my only wish was that I had brought the camera.

Our route home was via the back roads of Tennessee and on to Louisville, Kentucky.

Quiet roads, little towns and lots to see. Our schedule had us stay a night in the home of the “Slugger”, so we took advantage of the stop and checked out The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. If you’re a baseball fan of any kind, stop in. The museum can easily be visited in under a couple hours and showcases not just the history of the Louisville Slugger, but of baseball in general. You can’t miss the museum in the downtown core, just look for the six-story, 68,000 pound Slugger leaning against an old brick building.

The final leg of the trip brought us back to mountain riding, but this time along the interstates through West Virginia and Pennsylvania. We’ve been on those roads a number of times over the trips we’ve taken and I never tire of the ride or the view. Big sweeping curves, push steering at highway speeds, lots of open space ... it’s all good.

This is an excursion worth taking but you’ll need the time which comes back to my point on how we “mostly” hit our goals on this trip. We found one week was tight to try and do the whole route and have time in the various areas to relax and see the sights.

Unfortunately we had to cut the Blue Ridge route short so that we could get to Memphis in the time we had, but you could easily spend the better part of a week along the mountain tops. The experience is well worth the effort, planning, and time.

So my suggestion? Give it a try. Mountain riding, southern sun, live music, and a dash of history. What could be better?

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15 – The Motorcycle Times, February 2012

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February 2012, The Motorcycle Times – 16

FinishLines 2012 Monster Energy Motocross Nationals.

Photo courtesy Vance & Hines XR1200 Series - 2011 Mid-Ohio

Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada Welcomes the 2012 Racing Season Concord, On (January 9, 2012) Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada Revamps the Racing Program for the Canadian Harley-Davidson® XR1200 Cup Series Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada is proud to announce the details of the new HarleyDavidson National Race Program for 2012, designed to build on the successful debut of the Canadian Harley-Davidson XR1200 Cup Series in 2011. When participating in the National Canadian Superbike Championship this year with the Harley-Davidson XR1200 Cup Series, both spectators and racers will be able to experience motorcycle racing at its very finest.

The Canadian Harley-Davidson XR1200 Cup Series is a spec-bike series featuring specially modified Harley-Davidson XR1200 and XR1200XTM motorcycles. Vance & Hines will once again be the official kit supplier for the class. The special kit consists of a Vance & Hines exhaust system; a Fuelpak fuel management system; race bodywork including number plate, single-seat tail section, and belly pan; 17-inch front wheel with matching front fender; steering damper; oil cooler relocator; and race decal package. In addition to the Vance & Hinessupplied kit parts, racing teams will be able to upgrade their suspension, hand and foot controls, brake components, and instrumentation. These revisions to the program

are outlined in detail in the 2012 CSBK rulebook (posted on www.csbk.ca). In addition to a formidable program that allows racers to pursue their passion in racing at a very affordable cost, attractive weekend purse payouts and a year-end points prize fund will be available to make the series an even sweeter deal. If racing is in your blood and your interest is sparked, then please refer to the 2012 program outline below and make sure to speak to your nearest authorized Canadian Harley-Davidson Retailer for information on how you too can secure your spot on the grid for a great racing season.

National Race Schedule 1. June 22 to 24, 2012 National Shannonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON 2. July 6 to 8, 2012 National Autodrome, Saint-Eustache, QC 3. July 20 to 22, 2012 National Atlantic Motorsports Park, Shubenacadie, NS 4. August 10 to 12, 2012 National Circuit Mont Tremblant, Tremblant, QC 5. & 6. August 24 to 26, 2012 National Mosport International Raceway, Bowmanville, ON Deeley Harley-Davidson® and XR1200® are registered trademarks of Harley-Davidson

Canadian Motosport Racing Corporation is proud to announce the schedule for the 20th Anniversary of the 2012 Monster Energy Motocross Nationals. The series will consist of the traditional nine rounds that will incorporate one venue change and two Saturday Nationals.

CMRC would like to extend our most sincere gratitude to the Hoeppner family in Morden, Manitoba for their dedication and efforts making the national round at Shadow Valley Raceway the best possible since 2006. Their track is one of the best outdoor facilities in the country and the family has always been a pleasure with which to conduct business.

Continuing with tradition established in the ‘90s, the 2012 series will kick off the circuit in Nanaimo, British Columbia.

When the series visits Kamloops the following weekend, the first ever Canadian Pro national to be held on a Saturday will take place followed by the amateur day on Sunday. Following the “race in the city” at Wild Rose MX Park in Calgary, the western swing of the series will revisit Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Alberta before a two week break as the series heads east.

“The toughest track in the country”, Gopher Dunes in Courtland, Ontario, will also host a Saturday national complemented by an Ontario Provincial Cham-

pionship round the following Sunday. A week off after the Ste-Julie stop will take place before visiting the customary trio of Riverglade, Sand Del Lee and the finale in Walton, Ontario.

CMRC and all of their national sponsors look forward to an exciting 20th Anniversary edition of the Monster Energy Motocross Nationals and wish all participants and teams success in 2012.

2012 MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS NATIONALS SERIES SCHEDULE Sunday, June 3 The Wastelands, Nanaimo, British Columbia Saturday, June 9 Whispering Pines Raceway, Kamloops, British Columbia Sunday, June 17 Wild Rose MX Park, Calgary, Alberta Sunday, June 24 Castrol Raceway, Edmonton, Alberta Saturday, July 14 Gopher Dunes, Courtland, Ontario Sunday, July 22 Circuit de Ste-Julie, Ste-Julie, Quebec Sunday, August 5 Riverglade MX Park, Moncton, New Brunswick Sunday, August 12 Sand Del Lee, Richmond, Ontario Sunday, August 19 Walton, Raceway, Walton, Ontario

Tim Hortons (Sudbury) to be Title Sponsor of Ben Young’s Daytona 200 effort Canadian coffee icon Tim Hortons (Sudbury) will be Ben Young Racing / Fogi Racing’s Title Sponsor for the first race of the AMA Pro Road Racing 2012 season as well as the prestigious Daytona 200, which will be held at the legendary Daytona International Raceway, Daytona Beach. Florida, USA, March 15 - 17th 2012.

18 year old Ben Young from Thornbury ON, competing in the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike class under the Fogi Racing Development Team banner, is extremely proud to be partnered with Tim Hortons Sudbury franchisee Gilles Bolduc.

Bolduc, a former Canadian Superbike road racer himself, saw this as an opportunity to promote one of North America’s largest quick service restaurant chains through a sport he personally has a passion for and a young Scottish-Canadian rider that he feels has a tremendous future ahead of him.

Bolduc missed out on his Daytona PRO Superbike racing debut at the celebrated Dayto-

na 200 himself back in 1986 as a rule change in engine displacement was introduced.

Bolduc stated “I couldn’t believe I would be unable to compete when the displacement changed to 750cc. Now I have been given the chance to live vicariously through Ben’s experience.”

Bolduc added “I’ve been watching Ben’s progress for some time now; from 125cc through to the 600s. Ben is an excellent, consistence and clean racer. I’m so pleased to be able to assist in the progress in his career.”

Young, who’s moving up to the next level of his development programme - the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike class from the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport class in 2011 - was asked about the opportunity, “I can’t thank Tim Hortons (Sudbury) and Gilles enough for the support.

It will be a great honour to represent the Tim Hortons brand on the bike and in the paddock as Tim Hortons is such a huge part of mine and so many others’ day-to-day life.”

MotoGP: Ducati Corse Will Have “Totally New‚“ Bike for 2012 Ducati Corse‚ winter break is finally over, as the Italian MotoGP squad has assembled in Madonna di Campiglio for Wrooom 2012. With nary a Ducati Desmosedici GP12 to be found, today‚ interviews, with both Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden, explained the current state of Ducati Corse, and set the expectations for the 2012 MotoGP season.

Announcing that a new Ducati race bike had been designed (apparently existing only in the computers of the Italian company), the team is optimistic about its chances, but also cautious about it‚ likely results, especially early on in the season.

On new and u

DON’T EXPECT TO semI-autOmatIC transmIssIOn SNEAK OUT OF The Track, TOWN UNNOTICED no clutch lever or foot shifter here. dYnamIC POwer steerIng

Other fin

Seth VanDONGEN

Guest Writer, TMT

It’s in my Blood My name is Seth Van Dongen and I’m a 14 year old Road Racer.

My first exposure to motorcycle racing was in 2008. Dad was running Pirelli’s Moto-ST tire service in the U.S. and took me to a couple of races. In Topeka, Kansas, I hung out with 4-time world champion, Doug Polen, and several other teams and riders. From that point I always wanted to go to the track.

My first track bike, a Honda CBR125 came in ‘09. Dad runs his tire service at S.O.A.R. events, so we talked to the series organizer Ken McAdams, and he allowed me to do laps during lunch, but only if an expert rider was with me. My first track time was under the watchful eyes of guys like: Scott Rupert, Dan Debeau, Allan Robb and Mike Bevan. They taught me so much in a short time, like respecting your machinery and the other racers. Most importantly, how to be safe in a dangerous sport by using my head and asking lots of questions.

In 2010, my first season of racing was a full season in S.O.A.R’s NuSpeed class. The season included every Endurance round, the Nationals at ICAR in Quebec, and RaceCity in Calgary, as well as some WERA Nationals in the U.S. Part way through the season we acquired Amzy Nawaz’s RS125 Grand Prix motorcycle. This was a whole new experience for sure!

The CBR was great, but stepping up to the GP bike and running the extra classes sure helped. I learned so much about braking, taking flowing lines, keeping up corner speed and being smooth. It was so cool to race against bigger bikes, they would pull away on the straights and I would catch them and pass them in the corners. During that summer, I had a couple of chances to ride some 600’s at the Racer5 School track days. It was another great experience, and showed what the next step in machinery would be like for me.

In 2010, I won S.O.A.R.’s Formula 2-Stroke Championship, had a very successful NuSpeed campaign, and in GTU endurance, our team (myself, and at different times, Scott Rupert, Mike Bevan, Amzy Nawaz, Andrew Westbrook, and Lloyd Marks) finished 3’rd overall running the CBR125. At the WERA National, held at Grattan, Michigan, I won Novice Heavy Weight Superbike Twins on my RS125.

In 2011, my full time track bikes were two Honda RS125 GP bikes. I raced with Racer5 in the CSBK Nationals in the CBR Challenge but one highlight for me was the rain-soaked National round at ICAR, Que., where I placed 2nd in the second race.

To advance my development in 2011, we hired Angela Hiba - a veteran 125 GP rider and really fast! Angela’s coaching really helped me on the track!

In 2012, we’re going to be doing some cool stuff with a great program. We have a pair of Yamaha R6’s which I’ll be competing with at S.O.A.R in sprints, and endurance, plus the CSBK Nationals.

Thanks to everyone supporting my development as racer and a person! We’ve got great support for the upcoming season from; Uber Racing, Pirelli, Racer 5, Braking, SIDI, AGV, Daniese, Racing Batteries, Woodcraft-CFM, Vortex, RK chains ERC Race Fuels. Without their help I wouldn’t be here.

See ya at the track #61

the electronically controlled vehICLe stabILItY sYstem power steering system provides more comfort to the rider with an automotive-like system integrating traction and stability a varying amount of assist when control with anti-lock braking for turning the handlebars. unique stability.

Your left thumb shifts, your forefinger shifts down. (Manual available)

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Dealer Imprint Goes Here

can-am.brp.com ©2011 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates.See an authorized BRP dealer for details. Financing promotions void where prohibited. Offer subject to change without notice. Offer not valid for Yukon and Northwest Territories residents. See your dealers for details. BRP reserves the right, at any time, to discontinue or change specifications, prices, designs, features, models or equipment without incurring any obligation. Some models depicted may include optional equipment. Always ride responsibly and safely. Always observe applicable local laws and regulations. Don’t drink and drive.

17 – The Motorcycle Times, February 2012

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February 2012, The Motorcycle Times – 18

PR OG

SAFETY

r

ININ G

c

Trust your ride only to a Professional!

Transportation Service Detailing Services Complete Storage Solutions

With every new season of riding, our motorcycles experience more and more wear and tear. Sometimes the effect are easily noticed like the brakes are not grabbing like they once did or there is a rattle or squeek where there wasn’t one the year before. By including regular maintenance or visual checks throughout a riding season, staying on top of the little things is much easier to deal with rather than having to find out a week before the weather man is forcasting riding temperatures that, oh-my-god, I need new tires or my chain is rusted solid. By following some simple procedures mid winter rather than at the beginning of Spring, will ensure you are ready to ride with confidence.

So, now that we know that Spring is around the corner, here’s your remember that your motorcycle has been sitting quietly in your garage all winter, waiting for you to pay it some attention. It will require some special attention before you embark on a carefree riding season. Below are some tips to get your bike ready. If you’ve already prepared your motorcycle for the upcoming season of riding, these tips provide a good checklist.

A U.S. based Motorcycle Safety Foundation created an acronym: T-CLOCS which means: Tires, Controls, Lights, Oil, Chassis, Stands. Let’s delve into this checklist they created a bit further:

T - Tires and Wheels

Check the air pressure of your tires (see owner’s manual). Look for wearand-tear on the treads, cracks, bulges or embedded objects. Check your wheels for roundness, cracks and dents, and bent, broken or missing spokes.

C - Controls

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Review the levers and pedals to make sure they’re still lubricated, and adjusted and fitted properly. They should not be broken, bent, or cracked. Inspect cables to make sure they are not frayed, kinked, or folded into sharp angles. Also, make sure your bike’s cables don’t interfere

with your steering. Check hoses for cuts, cracks, leaks, bulges, chafing or deterioration. Like cables, hoses should not interfere with steering or suspension, and should not be folded. Ensure the throttle moves freely and snaps closed when released.

L – Lights

Make sure the battery terminals are clean and tight, and it’s properly charged and secured. Check the vent tube & confirm it’s not kinked or plugged, and is routed properly. Look over the lenses on the bike to make sure they are not cracked and do not have condensation within them.

Review the bike’s headlamp for cracks.

Confirm it points at the right height and direction. Test the high beam and low beam.

Test the tail lamp and brake lights, and check for cracks. Test both turn signals – left and right!

O- Oil and Other Fluids

Check the levels and quality of the engine oil, hypoid gear oil, shaft drive, hydraulic fluid, coolant and fuel. Replace or top-up the fluids that need it. Check for leaks, as they can prove corrosive to paint & chrome.

C – Chassis

Check the frame for lifting paint, cracks, or dents. Make sure the front forks and rear shocks are properly adjusted. Check the tension of the belt or chain. Lubricate the chain if needed, and inspect the teeth of the sprockets confirming they are not hooked and are properly mounted. Replace broken or missing fasteners and tighten if loose.

S- Stands

For both the centre and side stand, make sure they are not cracked or bent and that it springs into place and has the required tension to hold the bike in position.

If you see anything like what was just mentioned above, don’t risk your life, get it in to your dealer for repair or replacement. One more thing! Take it easy for the first little while and work on rebuilding those long dormant riding ‘skill sets’.

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19 – The Motorcycle Times, February 2012

Life’s better on a KawasaKi. For many, the quest to achieve the perfect riding moment is a lifelong commitment.

For Kawasaki, it’s the reason we engineer each and every motorcycle the way we do.

tHe 2011 VULCan VoYaGer

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©2011 Canadian Kawasaki Motors Inc. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and proper riding apparel. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Protect the environment. Adhere to the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual.

February 2012, The Motorcycle Times – 20

PEOPLE PROFILE

Glen Birt, Down but Never Out!

by LINDSAY THOMSON Contributing Writer, TMT

luck and will. Throughout the first few months of Glen’s medical care, Terri was cautioned not to expect too much. Glen’s injuries were serious and many of his brain functions had been compromised. Terri and Damion and Glen’s parents Heather and Gord supported each other as they waited to hear about his progress. In the meantime, decisions were being made. Terri had sold Glen’s racing gear and was considering closing 725. She had been scheduled to take the motorcycle course to get her road license the weekend after the accident, but of course, she cancelled that. She had no idea if she was going to get her husband back, or a stranger… or no one.

The closure of the store didn’t happen.

Between Terri, Gord and Heather, they decided that if Glen recovered, he might need the shop, so that he could be around his beloved motorcycles. Glen was improving and hope became the norm. The store became a focusing point as the family kept it going.

Customers who knew the situation made it their only shop. Every visitor asked how he was doing.

After a while, Glen finally came home. Still receiving care, therapy and physiological help, he still had to get to and from Kingston.

He was still coming to terms with what had happened and the changes that he had no control over, and he admits now that he really tested Terri’s will. Glen shows amazement when he recalls how much the first two years after the accident strained his family relationships and, in particular, Terri. He makes no bones about the amount that he owes her.

Terri recalls, with a smile, “There were days where I was sure I was gonna strangle him, or leave him.” She did neither and the family

NOW OPEN!

We all like to say that, in our sport, we do understand the risks and choose to take them, but do we really understand? Each time we swing a leg over the bike; do we truly consider that one mistake could change everything? When that bike is on a track, and the ride is full-out competition, is the danger on our minds as we roll out of the pit lane?

One slip can completely turn a life in a totally different direction.

Glen Birt is a racer. From the day that a neighbour, racer Dave Lacombe, gave him that first minibike, a 1971 Harley Davidson 70, to repair, Glen Birt had two-wheels in his destiny. His parents, Gord and Heather were street riders and Glen even had a plastic ride-on motorcycle with throttle sound! Always with a wide open throttle.

Glen started racing as many of us do, with motocross in his teenage years. As he got older, Glen got more involved and began working bike shops, but the family motorcycle connection continued. Mother Heather worked in the shops too, in the late 80’s, ordering parts, doing the books, etc, and Glen proudly mentions that she actually designed the ordering system that helped revolutionize the store that they were working at the time, and is still used in the family shop now.

That brings us to the shop. Glen and his wife, Terri, had been looking for a good location to open a bike shop, for a while before they settled on a mid-1800’s school house with an added extension and it just happened to be already zoned for commercial use. Glen had actually looked at the shop 4 times before it occurred to him that he should

actually check the house itself out. In 1994 the shop was open for business. Now what to call this new business. Glen’s racing number was 725 after son Damion’s birthday, July 25th. The trailer had the big number 725 on it and when customers called for directions, the trailer was the landmark. It appears that the customers actually named the store 725 Motorsports.

The Birts were living the life they wanted; Beautiful home, successful motorcycle shop, Glen racing, now in Supermoto and looking to transition into roadracing. Terri was working as a Healthcare Aid in Kingston. Then one weekend, everything changed.

On May 19th, 2007, during a race, Glen suffered a violent high side crash in turn three of Shannonville Motorsport Park’s Pro circuit. It is a fast corner and the possibility of injury is high, but this time it bit hard. Glen crashed viciously and marshals knew immediately that things were bad. Glen had broken his neck and had serious head injuries. Injuries of this magnitude are often fatal and officials feared the worst. One bright spot was the fact that Dr. Steve Walker, a trauma surgeon and motorcycle racer was at the track and ran to Glen’s aid. Without “Doc Walker’s” intervention, the outcome could have been much worse.

Paramedics were quickly onsite but the problem was that the 401 was closed going west due to a major road accident, so Glen was rushed by road to Kingston. Ironically, by the time that Terri had been notified and arrived in Kingston, so had some friends.

The racers’ telegraph was alive and well as the racing family closed ranks to support some of its own.

What followed is a story of pure strength,

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unit has remained intact.

Glen’s recovery has surprised both friends and medical personnel and he has returned to work at the shop. On any day, visitors may find Glen, Terri, Heather or Gord at the counter. Often Damion is there as well, doing his homework on the counter. Friends routinely drop by just to say hi. Glen is not shy about telling people, “I know how much I owe Terri for keeping the shop open, just so I can be around bikes.” There have been offers to get back on the track, but Glen is not willing to risk “putting his family through that again.”

The shop has moved to its new location in an industrial plaza north of the 401 away from the house and is home to a full sales floor with a mechanical shop next door.

It is a popular stop for motorcyclists on a Saturday morning.

Terri and Glen make each other laugh as we sit in the kitchen during the interviews for this story. We are surrounded by a menagerie of creatures as the family bull dog comes by for a scratch, one of three ferrets scampers past with a football then explores my shoes. There are also two cats in residence.

Terri mentions that she would be happier if the shop was a pet store.

Terri never did get her motorcycle license, although she does like to ride four wheelers and dirt bikes. She also plays a good game of hockey, and at this time, was sporting a cast around her left arm, the result of a fall while snowboarding. No fear of risk here.

We do talk about the inherent risk in our sport, but usually in a remote way, a “this can’t happen to me” way. Sometimes, on a particular day, it can happen. Then it’s all about how we deal with it…How we fight back.

Your road to FREEDOM Starts Here.

21 – The Motorcycle Times, February 2012

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February 2012, The Motorcycle Times – 22

EVENTS March 10-11, 2012 - Kitchener World of Motorcycles Expo Bingeman Park, 425 Bingemans Centre Dr Kitchener, Sat-9am -6pm, Sun-10am-5pm. $15 for admission, Kids under 12 yrs FREE. www.womex.ca.

March 17-18, 2012 - Toronto Spring Motorcycle Show International Centre, 6900 Airport Rd Toronto. Sat(10am9pm), Sun(10am-5pm). Adults $16, Youths under 12 $5, Children under 6 free, Free Parking!

Bikes of The Century” Vintage Motorcycle Display, Special Guests, Door Prize, Stage Shows, Motorcycle Clubs, Rides. 2012’s plus Non-Current Models, Accessories and More. Swap Meet-Used & hard to find parts for American, British, European, Asian motorcycles. www.supershowevents.com May 4, 2012 -World Wide Female Ride Day A globally synchronized campaign for women motorcyclists with the purpose of building and underlining awareness, while encouraging women to start riding. Any Road, any highway, any street.

May 27, 2012 - Toronto The B.A.D Ride 8am registration at Dave and Busters at Hwy 400&7. $75.00 registration/each rider. A funfilled day long event, starting with a back roads ride and ending up at Markham Fairgrounds for the BBQ, events and music, Motorcycle prize draw. Karen, karen@torontodistresscentre. com, 416-595-1716, www.thebadride.com June 2nd 2012 - Trenton Hero’s Highway Ride C.F.B. Trenton, Hwy. 2 near R.C.A.F. Road, follow the signs.

Registration FREE - sign a waiver to participate. 8:30-11:15a.m.

Ride Departs 11:30 Sharp” Registration forms at www. heroshighwayride.com. The route leaves from C.F.B. Trenton to R.C.A.F. Road. Turning north, pass the base before joining

GOT AN EVENT?

Send your event listing to: scott@themotorcycletimes.ca

the Highway of Heroes to the our new rally location to be announced soon. The Heroes Highway Ride is being honoured by Base Command from C.F.B. Trenton.

lunch. The day will also include a 50/50 draw, pictures with puppies and a chance to win great prizes. Lindsay, lindsay@ nsd.on.ca, 519-623-4188ext.10, www.nsd.on.ca

June 3, 2012- Bayfield Bayfield’s “Old Bike Day” 1 Main St, Bayfield, - Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group, Sarnia Section. This years 3rd. annual event takes place in the Clan Gregor Town Square from 10am-4:pm. No fee, no official judging, no vendors and it’s not a swap-meet. The Albion Hotel, “Best in Show” Award voted on by fellow registered participants. Includes an overnight stay for 2 plus breakfast at the Albion. All makes and models of Vintage & Classic bikes welcome. The 1960’s time period of the “Mods & Rockers, Scooters and “Ton-Up” Cafe Racers.

Contact jbaljeu@ebtech.net, 519-336-8756.

June 15-17, 2012 - Orillia Ride For Sight At Tudhope Park in Orillia. Raise a minimum $75 to be part of the fun including live concerts, demo rides, bike games, stunt shows, show n’ shine and the parade. First 200 to register and raise the minimum will receive a free Ride for Sight hat. www. rideforsight.com

June 9, 2012 - Brantford LansdowneChildren’sCentreRide Brantford & District Civic Centre (69 Market St), Registration at 9am, Ride departs 11am, $30 per Rider/$15 per Passenger (FREE for both when you raise a min of $250 in pledges), Fully police escorted ride that follows over 70 kms of scenic routes through city and country settings. Enjoy breakfast and lunch (included in your registration fee) provided by our friends at Strodes BBQ & Deli. Erin ehelmer@lansdownecc.com, 519753-3153 x221or www.lansdownecentre.ca/ride.

June 10, 2012 - Waterloo Ride for Autism & Veterans Register at 9:30am-10:30am., Ride at 10:30am. Wing 404, 510 Dutton Dr, Waterloo. $20/Driver, $10/Passenger; raise $100+ and ride for free! Enjoy a scenic ride - road captained by the Gulf-Kuwait Motorcycle Unit destined for Monkton, ON for snacks, service dog demonstrations and a few fun surprises!

Participants will take a different route back to Waterloo for

June 17, 2012 Yellow Ribbon Registration 10am-11:30, Canadian Forces Base Borden Ontario. $20 per Rider $5per passenger. Base Borden Motorcycle Club (BBMC) will once again be hosting their annual Yellow Ribbon Ride for our deployed troops and their families back home. All proceeds from the ride go directly to the Yellow Ribbon Fund at the Borden Family Resource Centre. This fund supports families of deployed troops from the area, not just Base Borden.The ride is approx 100 km ending at The Royal Canadian Legion in Lisle, for a BBQ. Kev Parle, pr@ bordenriders.ca www.bordenriders.ca June 23, 2012 - Brantford Crime Stoppers Poker Run Registration/Lunch(11am12pm. Ride departs 12:30pm.

Brantford Visitor & Tourism Centre 399 Wayne Gretzky Pky Brantford. $30per rider, $15per passenger; Free registration with $200 or more in pledges.

A fundraiser in support of Crime Stoppers. Lunch, dinner and entertainment. Three card stop locations in addition to the start/stop location. Top prize awarded for best poker hand and door prizes will be drawn. Brant-Brantford Crime Stoppers cstoppers@bellnet.ca, 519-756-0113, EXT 2249, www. crimestoppers-brant.ca

Check out our new online EVENTS section.

New Monthly Calendar format with Google Map support and it’s printable.

Visit www.themotorcycletimes.ca for the full list of events!

PRIVATE Motorcycle Instruction • Choose Your Lessons • One-on-One Instruction • Skills Refreshment • Slow Speed Riding • Emergency Skills • M2 Exit Skills Practice • Your location, your bike Note: Proper riding gear required, DOT helmet, leather gloves, boots and sturdy jacket. Gear Not supplied.

Safety Scene

by JIM DAVIS Contributing Writer, TMT

Moving from Scooters to Motorcycles

Look around you and you will find that there are a lot more scooters on the road than there used to be. And if you look closely you will see that many of those scooters are no longer small, underpowered, fit-only-for-a-short-commute machines. There are maxi-scooters out there that can easily handle a 400 mile freeway trip, safely and with comfort.

And where do you think the owners of those maxi-scooters will go when they outgrow them? To motorcycles, of course. And many scooter owners are doing just that.

Being an experienced scooter rider, attending a safety class and passing it, you should know all the fundamentals. With several thousand miles of riding experience on your scooter, the idea of riding a new motorcycle in traffic shouldn’t be a serious issue.

But most transition riders have little to NO confidence - indeed, some are almost paralyzed with fear, that they might make a mistake with the clutch while shifting. Virtually all scooters are automatic.

I bring that to your attention because it is my experience that people who have scooter experience seem invariably to look upon having to deal with a clutch and standard transmission as the principal issue holding them back from buying a motorcycle, even if they have experience driving a standard transmission car.

For some reason none of these people seem to think of having a clutch as being a safety advantage. I do, but then again I tend to look at everything about riding motorcycles in safety terms.

Here are a few things to think about for anybody who is considering a move up from a scooter to a motorcycle or who are entirely new to motorcycles.

The two controls on a motorcycle which tend to save lives are the clutch lever and the front brake.

The two controls on a motorcycle which tend to cost lives are the throttle and the rear brake.

You should MASTER the ones that tend to save lives before learning the subtleties and limits of the two that tend to cost lives.

In order to REGAIN control of a motorcycle that is out of control (because of a popped clutch, for example), you must SQUEEZE BOTH LEVERS - immediately, instinctively, without any lost time thinking about it!

With an automatic transmission you CAN apply max throttle and max braking at the same time - you CANNOT disconnect the engine from the rear wheel. with a motorcycle you can also apply both full throttle and full brakes, but you can ALSO totally disconnect the engine from the rear wheel via the clutch lever.

CONTROL of your motorcycle is your principal obligation as a rider, no matter what conditions you find yourself in, no matter the weather, no matter what condition the bike is in, indeed, no matter what condition *YOU* are in. But in the real world things happen and on rare occasions you can lose control.

You can pop a clutch (release the clutch lever too quickly). You can roll on a fistful of throttle without realizing how powerful a new bike is. And, as a result, your obligation as a rider is to REGAIN CONTROL of that bike.

The basic curriculum for motorcycle training only teaches you how to get and maintain control. The result of that is that transition riders and motorcyclists tend to FREEZE at their controls and merely hang on - and sometimes die as a result.

By simply squeezing both the clutch lever and the front brake lever you can REGAIN CONTROL of an out of control motorcycle and as a result save a life, your own.

The clutch lever is, without any question in my mind, a SAFETY FEATURE on a motorcycle, not a problem that will have to be dealt with. Mastering the use of that lever can save your life. Scooters don’t have that feature. But, on the other hand, they are easier to ride and have lots more cargo carrying capacity and space than most motorcycles do.

It’s not cool to be a dead biker.

Use your head and always wear appropriate gear, protective eyewear and an approved helmet.

Call: 905-975-1890 for rates or to reserve your space.

Minimum M1 required to qualify.

It’s better to sweat than bleed.

23 – The Motorcycle Times, February 2012

February 2012, The Motorcycle Times – 24