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volume 9 | issue 01
FEBRUARY 2018
Sprockets
Harley-Davidson Closing Plant
The world’s largest maker of heavyweight motorcycles has struggled to reverse a four-year sales slide, with growth overseas somewhat helping offset a decline in the North American bike market. The company said its net income fell 82% in its fiscal fourth quarter to $8.3 million, compared with a year earlier. The earnings drop came in part because of a charge associated with President Trump’s tax cut and a $29.4 million charge for a voluntary product recall. “Our actions to address the current environment, through disciplined supply and cost management, position us well as we drive to achieve our long-term objectives to build the next generation of Harley-Davidson riders globally,” Matt Levatich, president and CEO, said. The company’s manufacturing consolidation includes plans to shift production from Kansas City, Mo. into its plant in York, Pa. Over 800 jobs in Kansas City will be cut. It expects ongoing annual cash savings of $65 million to $75 million after 2020. “For years, the North American heavyweight motorcycle industry grew at doubledigit rates due to low interest rates, a strong economy, a rising stock market and the baby boomers. However, we expect a much slower growth pattern for the industryin coming years,” said analyst Robin Diedrich with Edward Jones Co. “As safety becomes a concern for aging baby boomers, domestic sales for the heavyweight motorcycle industry should slow. We expect certain international markets, particularly in Asia and South America, to have higher growth rates in heavyweight motorcycles than the U.S.,” Diedrich said. Harley’s foreign competitors have benefited from a strong U.S. dollar, as their overseas operations have made it more profitable to sell bikes in the U.S. at lower prices. In some cases, Diedrich said, prices of Japanese motorcycles have come down 25% and discounts ranged up to $3,000 per bike. “Harley is seeing significant pricing pressure, hurting profitability and sales,” she said.
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Honda Canada is happy to announce that the recently unveiled all-new ‘sport naked’ CB300R will be coming to Canada as a 2019 model. This stylish, stripped-back 300 sport-naked is a great way for new riders to enter into motorcycling in style. The styling of this bike is a deliberate reduction, putting the machine’s blacked-out hardware on display. It’s
2019 Honda CB300R
also brutally neat and brings a new hard-edged attitude to the naked bike scene. The cutaway tail unit is barely there, and supports separate rider and pillion seats plus the nylon rear mudguard mount. Both rider and pillion footpeg hangers are aluminum. Fun to ride, a joy to own and representing a bold new direction for smaller displacement machines, the CB300R has
many of the premium features found on its larger capacity 1000cc sibling. It injects a fresh new style, with a ‘Neo Sports Café’ minimalist, bare-boned attitude shared with its 1000 stablemate. Canada’s new 2019 CB300R sport-naked is the ideal machine for new riders to develop their riding skills and it is also a great introduction to Honda, with the brand’s continued on PG. 03
February 2018, The Motorcycle Times – 2
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2019 Honda CB300R engineering prowess, design philosophy and high build quality firmly on display. The lightweight ‘Neo Sports Café’styled CB300R weighs in at 143kg wet and features a responsive 286cc liquidcooled engine, six speed gearbox, tubular/pressed steel frame chassis, upsidedown (USD) fork, radial-mount 4-piston front caliper, hubless floating front disc and a preload adjustable monoshock. Rounding out this well-appointed, smalldisplacement motorcycle is a tapered rubber-mounted aluminum handlebar; full LED lighting, an LCD display and IMUbased ABS. The chassis’ core strength is anchored by the pressed steel swingarm pivot plates and swingarm, allowing the tubular steel lattice frame to deliver agile handling with stability and feedback. The USD fork also complements the CB300R’s handling with compliant damping and a supple spring rate. The single rear shock offers 5-step spring preload adjustment. A 49.6% front/50.4% rear weight bias provides a positive feel for front-end grip and easy steering, which is also helped by the low 143kg wet weight and compact 1352mm wheelbase. The aluminum fat-bar-style handlebars turn through a 40° radius on each side, and the 2.3m turning radius guarantees
easy passage in jammed city traffic. Seat height is 799mm. The front 296mm hubless floating disc is worked by a radialmount Nissin 4-piston caliper; the rear 220mm disc sports a single-piston caliper. Both are modulated by 2-channel ABS. The high specification system works through an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to give precise front to rear distribution of ABS operation depending on the bike’s behavior. A thin (23.5mm), lightweight (230g) full-function LCD instrument display provides speed, engine rpm, fuel level and gear position, with warning lights arrayed across the top. Full LED lighting – including indicators – adds a premium feel and contributes to mass centralization. The headlight uses a dual bar light signature (upper for low beam and lower for high beam) and the taillight is the thinnest ever mounted on a Honda motorcycle. The 10L fuel cell is hidden underneath an angular cover, and houses an aircraftstyle filler cap. The CB300R delivers great fuel economy and will travel up to 300km on a single tank. The CB300R’s compact 286cc DOHC 4-valve liquid-cooled single cylinder engine - shared with the CBR300R – is a diminutive jewel that has won many fans for its free- revving and responsive nature. And while that free-spinning character can get the adrenaline pumping as revs rise, it’s also an engine that works well in ‘real-world’ road riding conditions. Peak power arrives @ 8,500rpm, with peak torque delivered @ 7,500rpm. The 6-speed gearbox offers an even spread of gears for strong acceleration. Bore and stroke is set at 76 x 63mm,
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3 – The Motorcycle Times, February 2018
CONTINUED FROM COVER
with compression ratio of 10.7:1. PGM-FI fuel injection – with 38mm throttle bore and straight-shot intake path – delivers crisp throttle response across the rev range. The exhaust is underslung and exits on the right side through a dualchamber muffler. To reduce maintenance costs – an important factor for many riders – the engine is also designed with the minimum
number of moving parts. Details like the low-friction piston rings, high-density core radiator and iridium spark plug help increase fuel efficiency. This all-new CB300R is a great addition to the Honda Canada family of small-cc bikes, furthering Honda’s commitment to new riders as well as existing riders who are simply looking for a stylish and fun commuter.
February 2018 , The Motorcycle Times – 4
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The Motorcycle Times is published 11 times a year from Feb thru December. Motorcycle Times distributes 15,000 free copies for pickup throughout Ontario from our network of Dealerships, Motorcycle related retailers, Motorcycle friendly locations and Subscribers. For more information about becoming a retail associate of The Motorcycle Times email the circulation Department.
scott macdonald EDITOR
Welcome to 2018 The warmth of spring is approaching, I promise. It may not look like it right now as you glance out your window and see the towering snowbanks, evidence left behind from the last round of storms to roll though. In as little as 6 weeks, we could all be singing a different tune. For me spring is my most favourite of seasons. The days get just a bit longer, the temperature begins to rise and that long lost feeling of the suns warmth against my face does more good than a week of therapy. What can possibly top seeing the buds on the trees beginning to burst, hearing the chirps of the birds in the morning as you lay in bed waiting to awaken and of course lets not forget the thunderous roar of your motorcycle warming up in the drive and waking up your neighbourhood. It’s a special feeling that really only comes once a year. To help me get through the last few rounds of storms, I have been occupying my time with getting things done on my own bike and visiting the motorcycle trade shows as they come. Most recently I walked the halls of the Motorcycle Super Show, the show that starts off the season for
everyone. It’s a chance to hookup with friends not seen since our hibernation and check out the newest gadgets available. If you are lucky, score a good deal on that much needed or missing gear or shiny bit. This year’s show was as expected, local vendors, local charity rides and dare I say leather vendors – I know, some of what is available shouldn’t be called leather. Nonetheless, it was four hours that put a smile on my face and it looked like it was doing the same for everyone who decided to attend. The next show on the horizon is the Toronto Motorcycle Show on February 16-18 2018 at the Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place Toronto. Tickets are available at the gate or online (https://themotorcycleshow.streamintickets.com/purchaseProductSP. aro?sum=The+Motorcycle+Show+-+Toronto) Tickets for adults online are $16 and parking is extra. This is the show where the manufacturers will show off their new iron for 2018. One of the highlights for me is to see and experience the new 2018 Honda Goldwing. Expect to see local vendors with accessories along with some repeat vendors from the previous show. As in past years, the weekend
will be busy so make plans to get there early and enjoy the day. One of the projects I have been working on this winter is refinishing a set of wheels for my bike. Part 1 of this DIY project explains the various options available to you locally and I go through some things you need to keep in mind if you choose any of the options or processes I explain. Part 2 of this series will follow sometime in April or May, so keep your eyes open for this special series. As we move through the remainder of this winter and edge closer to spring, warmer forecasts will probably give you the urge to take the bike out for a putt. I am feeling it too, but keep in mind that spring is the most dangerous time to be on your motorcycle. Remember, when Joe Average (distracted cager)thinks about motorcycles, they are thinking summer. So if you do choose to venture out, make sure you have the proper gear on, your head on a swivel and try to anticipate what other drivers may or may not do as you approach them on the road. Have defence on your mind when ride early and lets all live to ride another day.
Scott MacDonald Amanda Primeau Michal Mellon Laura MacDonald
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*Vehicle License fee (where applicable) and HST are extra. Vehicle(s) and accessories shown are for illustration purposes only. Pricing includes factory incentives as follows: (DRZ70 $300/TU250X $0/ SV650SA $1000/GSX250R $250/VZ800 $1,200/GSX-R750 $100). All 2015/20162018 Motorcycles come with 48/60 months SPP included. See us for full details. Offers good until January 31, 2018.
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*Vehicle Licence fee (if applicable) and HST extra on all offers. Sale Price on the New Motorcycles includes freight and P.D.E.,ECRF,LicenceAdministration Fee and OMVIC Fee. Pricing of the following include a limited time rebate of: www.readykawasaki.com • 430 Hensall circle, mississauga • 877-297-7446 mega casH credits EX300BGFA $850/EX400GJF $0/Versys X300 $0/Z800 $1,000/VN900DGF $1000/ZX6SE ABS $1,500. Motorcycle(s) and accessories shown are for 12 Months KPP 2017 2016 2016 vulcan 900 ZX6seaBs at no charge on il ustration purposes only. Actual colours may vary depending on availability. versys X300 2016 Z800 classic lt all ne Dealer trade or Factory Order may be necessary. Offers subject to change $ * w kawasaki $ * $ * mo tor cycles! without notice, see us for full details. Offers cannot be combined with any $ * other offers,programs or discounts and are good until January 31,2018.
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incentives as follows: (DRZ70 $200/ TU250X $0/SV650SA $1000/GSX250R 2015 Yamaha $0/VZ800 $1,200/GSX-R750 $1400). All R3 All 2015 2016 FZ7 $ Black www.readysuzuki.com 2015/2016-2018 Motorcycles come with Mo*torcycles * Coloured us for full$ *come with $ www.readyyamaha.com• 430 Hensall Circle, Mississauga 48/60 months SPP included. SeeBody add 10048 month SPP details. Offers good until August 31, 2017. 430 hensall circle, Mississauga
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*Vehicle Licence (where applicable) and HST extra. Sale Price on the New Motorcycles includes freight and P.D.E.,ECRF,LicenceAdministration Fee and OMVIC Fee. Freight & PDE ($65/$75/$100/$65),all extra on the following on the other products:(EF2000iS/EF3000iSEB/F15SMHA/F4CMHA).Pricing of the following include a limited time rebate and discount February31,2018 28, 2018 and are subject to change without notice,see us for full details. of:(R3 $640/FZ7 $160/FJ-09 $0/FZ-10ANG $0/Kodiac $0/EF2000iS $120/EF3000iSEB $150/F4SMHA $50/F15SMHA $100).Dealer order/trade may be necessary,if we sell out of our inventory. Vehicle(s) and accessories shown are for il ustration purposes only. Offers good until January
*Vehicle Licence fee (if applicable) and HST extra on all offers. Sale 866-812-5582 readY to race sales eveNt! www.readyktm.com 430 Hensall Circle, Mississauga Price on the New Motorcycles includes freight and P.D.E., ECRF,
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$ classic 5,099* vn900dgF 5,599* 9,499
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7,769 12,600 4,999 1 ,399 1,999 One StOp ShOpping: $ * Only FactOry authOrized retailer in OntariO tO OFFer hOnda, KawaSaKi, KtM, SuzuKi and yaMaha 11,299all under One rOOF! EU7000iSC EU2000iT1 ParallEl EG5000 529the Reduce this rate 1% 1.9% for for 24mths 24mths WB20XK2C $ * under the Honda loyalty Purchase Financing Purchase Financing $ * $ * 2016 2017 africa-twin 2015 CBR1000S Outboard Motors 389 799 2,299 Program: If you currently own Available on All Available on All Summer SaleS event! gl1800Bg crF1000larg rePsol www.readyhondapowersports.com HrS21665PKC a Honda Product with an mto 2015-2018 New 2014-2017 new HS720C HSS622CT $ * $ * $ * Ownership (Honda/Acura 430 Hensall Circle, Mississauga $1,1999* Honda Motorcycles Honda Motorcycles 21,769 15,219 16,169 auto, motorcycle or atv). In-stock! 4HP in-stock! 15HP 24 mths Honda Plus Extended warranty at no Charge+
Sales Direct: 866-819-4116
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$ * Generator $ * 2017may be required based on approved credit from Honda 2015goodYamaha R3 ,1,2018 *Licence fee (if applicable) and HST extra on all offers. Offers cannot be combined with any other offers, programs or discounts and are from Febraury January 31,28, 2018. Down payment or equivalent trade-in on purchase financing Financial Services Inc. Sale Price on the New Motorcycles includes freight and P.D.E., ECRF, Licence 2018until untilJanuary February 2016 FZ7 EF2000iS EF3000iSEB 2015 v-star 250 2015 Fj-09 FZ-10aHg Administration Fee and OMVIC Fee. Freight & PDE ($65/$65/$65/$65/$65/$65/$65/$600/$600), ECRF ($0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$18.50) and Licence Pricing of the power equipment may include Black $ Administration* ($0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$399/$399) are all extra on the following on the other products:WB20XK2C/EU2000iT1/EG5000//EU7000ISC/2.3DK2SCHC/HRS2165PKC/HS720C/HSS622CT/TRX420FA6/TRX500FA7). a limited time rebate and discount and the Motorcycles/ATV’s as follows: CB300F $1,000/CBX500H $500/CBR600RAG $2,000/CRF250L $500/CRF1000LARG $1,000/CBR1000S $4,000/GL1800BG $3,500. $1.9% Conventional Purchase financing for 24 month term applies to all$ 2014-2017 New* Honda Motorcycle’ $ s. Financing * Examples: $8,000 @ 1.9% per annum for 24 months equals $339.97 per month C.O.B. $ * $ * $ * * Coloured $ * is $159.28 Totalwww.readyyamaha.com• Obligation $8,159.28. Dealer order/trade may be necessary, if we run out of inventory of selected models. +24 Months BodyHonda add Plus Extended Warranty available at No Charge with the purchase of: HS720/HSS622/HSS724/HSS928/HSS1332. Vehicle(s) and accessories shown are for illustration purposes only. Offers subject to change without notice, see us for full details.
430 hensall circle, Mississauga
4,569
5,139 100
8,100
10,999
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*Vehicle Licence (where applicable) and HST extra.Sale Price on the New Motorcycles includes freight and P.D.E.,ECRF,LicenceAdministration Fee and OMVIC Fee.Freight & PDE ($65/$75/$100/$65),all extra on the following on the other products:(EF2000iS/EF3000iSEB/F15SMHA/F4CMHA).Pricing of the following include a limited time rebate and discount
5 – The Motorcycle Times, February 2018
What Moves Your Soul?
February 2018, The Motorcycle Times – 6
MotorcycleNews American Chopper is being revived by Discovery Channel
After five years, Discovery Channel is reviving American Chopper. The famously feuding father-son team of Paul Teutul Sr. and Paul Teutul Jr. are back on board as the show’s bike-building craftsmen. In the new show, the duo “set out reclaim their preeminent bike brands and – hopefully, rebuild some sort of relationship … with A-list celebrities, world famous athletes and Forbes 100 businesses as clients, millions of dollars and their brands’ reputations are on the line with every signature build.” An update on the duo from Discovery: “The Teutuls have been on a wild ride, and it certainly isn’t ending anytime soon. Paul Sr. has revamped Orange County Choppers – turning it into a complex with a shop, café, bowling alley, restaurant and of course, the showroom – but all that didn’t come without a hefty price tag and he is feeling the burden of a high overhead and a lack of foot traffic. Meanwhile, Paul Jr. has also felt the sting of a rough economy – with his business built solely on high-dollar custom-builds and commissions becoming tougher to come by, Paul Jr. stresses about the longterm stability of his own shop, Paul Jr. Designs especially now that he has his
own family.” “American Chopper was one of Discovery’s most popular series ever,” said Rich Ross, Group President of Discovery. “Everyone is eager to see what the Teutul family has been up to. This winter, you’ll find out.” The original American Chopper premiered in 2002 and ran for 10 years, airing 223 episodes before being cancelled in 2010 and then was rebooted as the spinoff American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior for another two years. One of Discovery’s most popular programs, American Chopper averaged 3.4 million viewers at its peak. The show also helped pioneer the “docusoap” reality genre making way for shows like Keeping Up with the Kardashians and The Real Housewives of Orange County, plus inspired a surge of gear-head reality shows. The series has a simple format — a father and son building custom motorcycles amid frequent infighting. Yet nothing about the show’s colorful history has been straightforward. American Chopper has changed networks, switched names and was even previously canceled. American Chopper returns to Discovery sometime in March 2018.
Yes! Yamaha are putting their Niken Three-Wheeler into production
New Yamaha Niken is getting made, and it’s going to be incredible. When Yamaha announced their ‘concept’ at the Tokyo Motor Show late last month, we thought that it had more than a hint of production readiness about it. It turns out this inkling was bang on the money, because in their live conference tonight, Yamaha have gone all in on their bet for three-wheel dominance and are putting the bonkers but
brilliant Niken into production. Oddly, Yamaha are claiming that this is the ‘World’s first ever 3-wheel leaning motorcycle’ – seemingly forgetting the Piaggio MP3 and their own Tricity 125 – but they’re proud of their new technology and are very keen on getting it into the hands of potential buyers. The name means ‘Two Swords’ in Japanese, the word NIKEN originates from 17th century Japan when the twosword style of swordsmanship was first invented. It proved to be a revolution, and marked a new combat era. The advanced Yamaha-exclusive, Leaning Multi Wheel [LMW] technology used in the double leaning front wheel layout is said to offer high levels of traction – making it a strong performer in corners -and two front wheels means there are two front tyres and two sets of front brakes, so the levels of braking ability will certainly be like nothing else on the road! Powered by the same MT-09 threecylinder engine, the rich torque produced by the 847cc machine should be great fun when coupled with the new LMW handling, and we can’t wait to try it out – it looks an absolute blast!
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New Husqvarna Motorcycles Designed for Every Kind of Rider
Husqvarna has a vision for the future. Rather than autonomy, electricity, and the death of a person’s own ability to navigate the open road, the Swedish manufacturer wants more people riding motorcycles and giving those mainstream, futuristic ideas the middle finger. Husqvarna wants to be the catalyst for a rebirth of the motorcycling community — one that’s propelled by the company’s all-new Vitpilen and Svartpilen motorcycles. If you’re into riding dirt, the name Husqvarna has a storied history — a history built on dirt bikes, endurance racers, and a road-going motorcycle brought to market every once in a while in the company’s 100-plus-year history. For those that aren’t acquainted, the Husqvarna name is also synonymous with chainsaws, power tools and a mean sewing machine. Suffice to say, today the tool branch and the motorcycle branch are separate companies that only share a name, although they do share an origin story. Husqvarna Motorcycles builds some of the best motocross and endurance racing motorcycles on the planet, which makes this turn toward roadgoing bikes just that much more interesting. The two new motorcycles, the Vitpilen and Svartpilen, represent the brand’s quest to get more butts onto seats, and not just in the motorcycling community. The bikes were designed to engage a younger demographic that
may or may not already ride, a critical piece of the puzzle to the future of motorcycling. Both motorcycles are more fashionforward, the Vitpilen boasting a naked, cafe-style appearance; the Svartpilen looks to engage a more desert racer aesthetic with knobby tires and a mean exterior. Husqvarna went beyond looks to entice newer riders by offering two different engines (the 401 and 701 spec) in both motorcycles. For newer, less seasoned riders, Husqvarna offers a 375cc single-cylinder engine (401 spec) with 43 horsepower and 27.3 lb-ft of torque. Riders with more experience and looking for a bigger thrill will opt for the 693cc (701 spec) single-cylinder engine generating 75 horsepower and 53.1 lb-ft of torque. Both are coupled to a six-speed sequential manual transmission. The Vitpilen and Svartpilen share the same Chromium-Molybdenum-Steel trellis frame and sub-frame and the same style of suspension. Brakes and tires, are different; the Vitpilen comes equipped with Brembo brakes and Bridgestone Battlax tires, the Svartpilen with ByBre brakes, and Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires. Husqvarna will launche the motorcycles in the U.S. later in 2018. Whatever the price may be, we can’t wait to swing our legs over these badass motorcycles.
7 – The Motorcycle Times, February 2018
THE CITY IS CALLING. ANSWER WITH SOME ATTITUDE. THE CITY IS CALLING. DOWN WITH 3.99% INTEREST RATE* ANSWER WITH SOME ATTITUDE. $ NOFORPAYMENTS 120 DAYS TA K E HO M E THE 2018 IRON 8 83™ TODAY.
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term. The Rate without purchase of the Harley-Davidson® Extended Service Plan would be 4.99% for 72 months. The Rate will vary based on the applicant’s past credit performance and the term of the loan. For example, a new 2018 Harley-Davidson® Iron 883™ model with an MSRP of $11,399 and optional Harley-Davidson® Extended Service Plan cost of $769 for 72 months, no down payment and amount financed of $12,168, over 72 months with a 3.99% Rate resulting in monthly payments of $190.32 or without an optional Harley-Davidson® Extended Service Plan with an amount financed of $11,399 a 4.99% Rate for 72 months, resulting in monthly payments of $183.53. Both examples include no interest for the first 90 days and no payments for the first 120 days. In these examples, customer is responsible for applicable taxes, title, licensing fees and 310 Holiday Inn Dr, Cambridge, 8779 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill 900 Wilton Grove Road, London any other fees or charges at the time of sale. Rate is calculated according to the simple interest method. Not valid in conjunction with other offers. Customer must take delivery by March 31, 2018. Other terms, conditions, and limitations may apply. Dealer participation may vary. Financing ® 519-893-0493 OR 866-803-6837 OR 866-977-1340 519-438-1450 OR 866-438-1450 Dealer for details. offer is subject to change or cancellation at any time. See a Harley-Davidson905-709-1340 from an authorized Canadian Harley-Davidson® Dealer, you will receive a free, full one-year membership in HOG® Riding club * * Vehicle shown may vary visually by market and may differ from vehicles manufactured and delivered. With the purchase of any new Harley-Davidson® motorcycle www.blackbridgeharley.com www.pfaffharley.com www.rockys-harley.com or organization. ©2018 H-D or its Affiliates. H-D, Harley, Harley-Davidson and the Bar & Shield logo are among the trademarks of H-D U.S.A., LLC.
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SEE YOUR DEALER OR H-D.COM /OFFER * Financing Offer available only on New Harley-Davidson Street®, SuperLow®, Iron 883™, 1200 Custom, Roadster, Forty-Eight® and Touring motorcycle models (excluding Anniversary and CVO™ models) financed through Harley-Davidson Financial Services Canada (HDFSC), and is subject to credit approval. Not all applicants will qualify. 3.99% Rate no interest for the first 90 days and no payments for the first 120 days offer is available only to high credit tier customers at HDFSC who also purchase the Harley-Davidson® Extended Service Plan and only for up to a 72-month term. The Rate without purchase of the Harley-Davidson® Extended Service Plan would be 4.99% for 72 months. The Rate will vary based on the applicant’s past credit performance and the term of the loan. For example, a new 2018 Harley-Davidson® Iron 883™ model with an MSRP of ® File Name HAR8168_Admat_Sportster_85x11_E_R1.indd Colours Createdof $190.32 Dec 11, 2017 Modified® Extended DecService 19,Plan 2017 Extended Service Plan cost of $769 for 72 months, no down payment and amount financed of $12,168, over 72 months with a 3.99% Rate resulting in monthly payments or without an optional Harley-Davidson with – 09:26 $11,399 and optional Harley-Davidson an amount financed of $11,399 a 4.99% Rate for 72 months, resulting in monthly payments of $183.53. Both examples include no interest for the first 90 days and no payments for the first 120 days. In these examples, customer is responsible for applicable taxes, title, licensing fees and any other fees or charges at the time of sale. Rate is calculated according to the simple interest method. Not valid in conjunction with other offers. Customer must take delivery by March 31, 2018. Other terms, conditions, and limitations may apply. Dealer participation may vary. Financing offer is subject to change or cancellation at any time. See a Harley-Davidson® Dealer for details. ® ® motorcycle an authorized Canadian Harley-Davidson® Dealer, you will receive a free, full one-year membership in HOGInsertion Riding club * * Vehicle shown may vary visually byLaura market and may differ from vehicles manufactured delivered. With the purchase of any new Harley-Davidson Producer Trimand Size 8.5" x 11" Material Due fromDEC 21, 2017 Date(s) or organization. ©2018 H-D or its Affiliates. H-D, Harley, Harley-Davidson and the Bar & Shield logo are among the trademarks of H-D U.S.A., LLC.
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February 2018, The Motorcycle Times – 8
I am an Addict
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“Oh Bob.” She mocked exasperation. “Let him use the radio, it’ll put him to sleep.” My Mom always defended me. It was the mid seventies when at 10 years old I was imprinted and looking back I realize how important childhood experiences are. How our lot in life may not be the conscious choice that we think it is. You remember those summer afternoons when imagination ruled and how pure everything seemed, the fullness of it all. Blue sky that reached for the black of space and in between roiled worlds of floating magic. White and grey mountains begging to be explored and if you tried you could fly, soaring up to those fantastical clouds. Gliding above chasm’s and darting through ridgelines with arms stretched wide to be aghast by the beauty and as you burst through, the seeds of rain tickled your face. “Breaker one nine, how ‘bout a radio check?” My dad had a multi band radio back then and after my mid day flights of the mind I would scan the dial while toggling between frequencies as the world was captured by that antenna. In the gathering dark I heard the local truck drivers for the first time and my young mind saw their voices as spiking peaks and valleys, an ECG denoting syllables, zooming through the air all around me. “Roger that radio check driver, loud and clear“ from the cab of a B model Mack to my impressionable ear. Back then a child could eavesdrop on the Citizens Band but now the air is filled with profanity and insults, the world moves on. Last issue I told you how my columns come alive and try to steer themselves and this would be one of those times. So, back to memories and motorcycles before my inner philosopher starts spouting on a world in decay, back to being a child. Many evenings were lulled away imagining those grizzled drivers as they forged through the gloom on their secretive missions to supply the world. Funny thing about that, 30 years and millions of miles finds a grizzled driver staring at me from the morning mirror. The lonely hiss of distance reflected in those tired eyes. “10-4 brother, take care out there.” When channel 19 went quite it was on to the weather station and then the short wave realm where hypnotic pulses and far off whispers from the ionosphere chilled my soul. Then a band labelled emergency and an ominous tone as placeholder for the announcement of impending doom that never came. Melancholy floods in with shadowy memories of a televised war and my Father’s concern in the flickering light of the evening news broadcast. My keyboard falls silent as the past overtakes me and as a child, I watch him from the living room floor. Another sound intertwines with that
radio memory and this one struck at my core. Out there in the beckoning dark of childhood the wail of a Japanese inline four reached inside to where I kept the secret stuff and rearranged me to balance on two wheels. As the night crept in I would wait to hear the madmen roar through the streets. I knew nothing of Honda’s 1969 watershed CB750 four or Kawasaki ‘s double overhead cam’d rocket, the mighty Z1. What I did know was the crescendo of intrigue played by those riders out there in the mystery beyond my bedroom window. Pimped out in metal flake paint and megaphoned exhaust I saw them risking it all at breakneck speed under the summer streetlights. After the epiphany I studied every motorcycle I saw with fascination and watched the riders as they worked the controls and it wasn’t long before I had it figured out. Turning to my pedal bike I slacked off the left brake cable to work it as a clutch lever. Pedestrians and neighbors must of wondered about that gangly kid on the bicycle as I whisked by them making crazy motorcycle sounds and with my left foot rowing an imaginary gearbox I left baseball and road hockey at the start line as imagination became my fancy. With abandon I rode my pretend superbike at the righteous speed of full tilt boogie, straight into motorcycle addiction. I will never forget those revving engines and how they changed me and even today an inline 4 on the pipe sparks a complication of emotion. Childhood wonder melded with adult understanding and the weirdness that is exhilaration, skill and luck forced together by the possibility of death. It’s New Years eve as I find these closing words, a time to move forward while remembering the past. I have let you peak inside me here in this, my little corner of motorcycle media and my hope is to bring you along with me as I write and relive our passion. So, forward into the future where it’s so bright you have to wear, well a dark visor seems more appropriate. Forced induction looms out there as well as electric, where race tech is trickling down to their road bike e-cousins and it’s never been better for new riders with the components of yesterdays race bikes found on entry level machines. The resurgence of the super naked and the dementia that is todays sport “touring” segment promises debauchery and demerit points. I turn 52 this year and, wait I need a moment to absorb that. I still fit my 17 year old RC51 although my bendy bits do more complaining now, I suppose my past is catching up to the future. I’ve searched that past for my two wheeled beginnings and when I found it, I was a child again.
9 – The Motorcycle Times, February 2018
Ready Kawasaki 430 Hensall Circle, Mississauga 905-896-1600 or 1-855-896-0430 www.readykawasaki.com
Cycle One 127 Ingersoll Road, Woodstock 519-421-3333 www.cycleone.ca
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GRAND RIVER POWERSPORTS 1264 Colborne St. E. Brantford 519-759-8140 www.grandriverpowersports.ca
MotorsportS Pickering 3260 Highway 7, Pickering 905-620-1171 www.motorsportspickering.com
February 2018, The Motorcycle Times – 10
RecoveryRoad Mix - 0/35/85/0
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Equal Opportunity A Wrench in the Works
By David Heron I am an equal opportunity curser. I have spent enough time over the last ten years cursing at 2 Stroke motorcycles, mostly Kawasaki and a couple Suzukis. I figured that it was about time to expand my horizons so I have bought, and will go about fixing, a Honda this time. Why concentrate on a specialized area when you can grow to cover other areas. This may create a whole new, and different, string of foul language specific to valves, cams and rocker arms. Damn, I already feel more complete. How did this all come about? Well, let me tell you. I have spoken in the past about my first bike capable of highway driving. I inherited a 1965 Honda 305 Super Hawk way back at the tender age of 17. My older brother had purchased it new in the spring of 1966. At that time, it was the biggest bike in the Honda lineup. Two cylinders, 28 horsepower and
capable of speeds up to 100 miles per hour. I put thousands of miles on that bike over 3 years and also learned how to fix it. This was through necessity because I had no money to pay a mechanic and, I must admit that it did end up broken quite often. Anyway, I passed it on to my younger brother when I bought my first Kawasaki H1 500. He rode it for a few years too and then he got his own Kawasaki. Anyway, it languished in various shops and garages for a number of years until I brought it back to life in 1977. Some time after that I moved and had nowhere to put it so I left it in a friend’s barn for too many years. It was a mess covered with rust and chicken poop. Finally, my younger brother took it home and restored it and he still has it. I have tried to wrestle it away from him but he wasn’t budging so my only solution was to get my own. This revelation came to me in a dream but unfortunately, the dream came only a few days after I told the LSW, (Long Suffering Wife) that I would not be undertaking any new project this year. I
started to innocently look on Kijiji just for curiosity sake. I managed to convince myself that I was only looking and a small look can’t really hurt anything now could it? I immediately found a beauty in Quebec. It was original, complete and not running but they wanted way too much money for it. I may have paid that much for a running bike but not for one where I didn’t know what it needed to run. So, I was feeling very good about myself because I had tried but managed to not pull the trigger. I was complimenting myself on my new-found maturity when my next venture into the realm of Kijiji yielded both a very nice running bike for too much money and a fairly complete nonrunner in New Brunswick for $500. Oh my, that’s my kind of deal. I figured that a phone call to New Brunswick would not really hurt and dialed the number. I did it from my downstairs office so as not to be overheard. Sneaky bugger. I talked to the owner and found that he restores Hondas but mainly the bigger ones. He said that he was not asking too
much in order for whomever bought it to have enough to fix it right. He and his wife were very nice and seemed honest enough so I asked about him crating it for shipping. He readily agreed to buy straps and put it on a skid for shipping and even deliver it to a transport depot in Moncton. Things were coming together nicely. There wasn’t too much problem convincing the LSW of the logic of my plan. There were a few, ohs and ooohs and quite a bit of eye rolling but all in all, there was no big problem. The last small hurdle was to find a shipper. At work we ship all over Canada so it was easy to find a transport company and we also get discounted rates because we ship so much. I was given a very reasonable quote. Unfortunately, our shipper had told them that it would be crated but it was only strapped to a skid. This made it impossible to stack. The seller dropped the skidded bike off at the depot in Moncton, they accepted it and he drove away. Soon after, I got a text from the transport saying
skid and bike were at the very front. It was so far away that I could barely see it. Anyway, we got it off the truck, undid the straps and had it on my trailer without incident. It was getting dark which is probably better for me because other people on the highway couldn’t clearly see the multi-coloured old crappy looking bike on the trailer going slowly up Highway 400. Now, I drive this road every day and I would just like to add that the drivers are getting crazier and crazier. I stayed in the right lane and people would come up almost onto the trailer, rip out without signalling and cut back in inches ahead of my front bumper. When you are forced to drive a little slower than usual, it is far easier to see the nuts on the road. Well, that’s my two cents about drivers these days. Back to the story at hand. I made it home with the bike still strapped to the trailer. I guess this is a testament to my trailering experience after all these years. Under cover of darkness I backed into the driveway. I managed to get it off the trailer by myself even after I had been told in no uncertain terms to wait for the LSW to get home to help me. I guess that I have to admit that I am one stubborn cuss anyway. I pushed it into the garage and put it on the kickstand. It was home and I was ready for the challenge. Un-
der closer inspection, I noticed a plastic bag on the top of the crankcase. It was the rocker arms and rocker shafts. How lucky was I that they didn’t bounce off on the highway? I was still putting the straps away when she arrived home. She pulled into the driveway to have a look. There was more eye rolling and a few head shakes but I was sure that this one was better than a few of my previous undertakings. I actually got a little smile from her when I told that it had followed me home and could I keep it? Just a little one though. As luck would have it, I made it home just in time because the first snowfall happened two days later. She can’t believe the good luck. No, really. I had to tell her that this was a very important piece of motorcycling history. This was the bike that really started the demise of the British motorcycle industry. It was an overhead cam twin with electric start, horizontally split cases that did not drop its Castrol DNA on the sidewalk when parked and ran for years with very little maintenance. She said that I may as well be talking Chinese to her because none of that meant a thing to her. It brought back memories. I stated on the Kawasaki site that I wanted to curse at another kind of bike other than Kawasakis and was reminded by my younger brother who is also a member that I should think back because I had
done so for years. Selective memory lets me forget the bad and concentrate on the good. I do however, remember the hill at my parents’ house way back then. We lived on a lake in North Bay with a steep slope down to the water. The garage and driveway were at the top, there was a hill down to the house with a good 40 foot drop and then another drop of about the same down to the water. Back in the day, the Honda rarely had a functioning electric starter and many times the kick start didn’t work either. The best and brightest idea, and remember who we are talking about here, was to turn the key on and glide part way down the first hill and bump start the bike and then turn around and ride away into the sunset. Needless to say, it didn’t start every time and many times I had to push it all the way back up the hill many times with curse words adding extra propulsion and try again. No wonder I was skinny back then. Maybe having this bike will be my pathway to that slim and sexy body. I can see it now, tight T-shirts and tight jeans with no muffin tops. Maybe I won’t even try to get this engine running. I can just push my way to that rakish body. Something to think about…. More to follow on this project. Much more, I’m thinking...
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11 – The Motorcycle Times, February 2018
that they would not ship a motorcycle. Now, this was a little too late because the seller had left and they had actually accepted the shipment. They said that they would do it but would accept no responsibility for damage and that I would have to pick it up at their depot in Mississauga because they would not deliver it to our office. The shipment quote was also void and they sent a new quote saying that the bike was not stackable. Actually it was stackable but it had to go on top of something else. They weren’t overly receptive to my logic on that one. The quote was put under volume instead and non-stackable. Volume means the area of the skid all the way to the roof of the truck. Basically, my good deal freight had more than doubled. Shipping had now been pegged at more than I paid for the bike. Oh well, it’s only money. The bike arrived in Toronto in a few days and surprise, surprise, they said that they would deliver to my office after all. I took a holiday, hitched up my trailer and went to Toronto to pick up my new project. Our shipper said that deliveries usually came by noon so I was at the office at noon and looking for the delivery. I sat there until close to 4:00 p.m., called the transport a few times looking for it and finally saw the truck backing up to our loading dock. It was a long trailer and the
February 2018, The Motorcycle Times – 12
Friday the 13th in Port Dover
Space Tight?
July 2012 17
Why Bagger Motorcycles Dover Thunder Apparel celebrates 13 years of business are Creating a Rumble
day 13th clothing. Using such Norfolk busiThose forever uncool motorcycles nesses as Truckin’ T-shirts for silk screenyour dad’s friends rode on weekends— ing and Quick Embroidery as well as complete withStitch ‘practical’ saddlebags— various graphic designers, Margit’s Dover are finally having their moment Thunder clothing line includes men’s and Predicting motorcycle-design trends can be tough. In the early 2000s, lowladies’ t- shirts, hats, crests, kids apparel, slung custom choppers covered in and both long and short sleeve choices. chrome seduced baby boomers while Margit, who has lived in Port Dover for the younger riders sport past 35 years, is preferred the motherspeedy of two daughbikes in fiberglass. Last year everyone ters. craved a pared-down café racer. More Admitting the “adventure” business is abikes bit nerve recently, nimble deLimited Edition Dual Ride-Up wracking because it is so weather signed for on- and off-road riding depenhave SRL Stand-Up™ Motorcycle Trailer Shown dent and requires substantial financial inbeen gaining ground. vestment and physical work setting tents, While gifted observers mightuphave Margit loves Friday 13th in Port Dover. “I’ve met people from all over the world. I’ve met people who have flown their bikes in from the U.K. and people who have arKey Features & Benefits: Kendon Standup trailers • Patented Eliminator Torsion Axle, removable rived by limo. A lot of people come back maximize not only your trailering spindle and SuperLube from Tie Down every year and look for my clothing. They needs but your storage needs too. • Exclusive torsion bar suspension system When not in use, the folded trailers get to know you. It is a lot of fun,” she said. • Double mounting brackets foot print is minimized and can be Margit employs about 20 people for the • Triangulated round tube steel frame, similar to a stored virtually any garage. race car chassis event. She sets up Thursday and takes Margit Wamsley, right, and friend Connie Prime showcase some of Margit’s • Aesthetically beautiful with diamond plated down Saturday. singles, doubles and “Dover Available ThunderinApparel”. decking and powder coating Every year, Margit enjoys working with even choppers, there is a folding • Superior longevity…Kendon trailers hold their value trailer option that’ s right for you. and many are still in service for over 19 years different colours and designs. Texas ora Special Events Coordinator for Norfolk By Donna McMillan County in her regular work day, will once forecast those trends, not even the “Dover Thunder Apparel”, specializing again have staff manning two booths that most prescient could have guessed in Friday 13th biker wear is celebrating its feature “Dover Thunder Apparel”. They that “baggers”—those big heavy bikes 13th year of business this year, a year of can be found next to Dover Hairport, near with sculpted fiberglass saddlebags— three Friday 13ths and expectations that the Dover Dairy Bar and in The Arbor would carry an air of cool come 2018. Practical? Sure. Capable of hauling this July 13th could be the biggest event in parking lot. 1-800-883-8915 people and possessions cross-counThirteen years ago, Margit started off try? Of course. But never cool, never Port Dover to date. 519-658-5777 Owner Margit Wamsley, who works as designing hats and quickly moved to Fri- sexy. Peter Fonda’s “Easy Rider” char-
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dard motorcycles, which gives them the pavement-hugging “slammed” profile of a low-rider car. They seem to be almost crouching, about to pounce on unexpecting prey. Not even the chicest beach tote feels cooly carnivorous. The bagger’s basic design is evolving too. For years Harley-Davidson, the Milwaukee-based behemoth known for large, long-distance motorcycles with braggadocious names like Road King, pretty much owned the bagger market. International bike makers took notice and have aggressively expand-
Margit at the October 2010 Friday the 13th.
ange with a cowboy graphic is a popular choice of some men. Women will often go for butter yellow or cactus green, if they are looking for something different than black. Shoppers enjoy the quality and unique designs that Margit’s Dover Thunder Apparel offers. If you miss seeing her on the street, she can be reached at wamsley@cablerocket. com
ed into baggers, vying to redesign—or at least repackage—existing models to attract new younger riders. This year, brands like Germany’s BMW, Italy’s Moto Guzzi and Japan’s Yamaha are rolling out their own interpretations of what a bagger should be. These newlook machines are finding a niche between stylish, muscular cruisers Ameracter wasn’t about to weigh his bike ican outlaws have ridden since the down with saddlebags no matter how 1950s and wide touring bikes—basically two-wheeled Winnebagos—built stoned he got. Nevertheless, baggers are indisput- with luxury-car amenities like navigaably creating a rumble. The 2018 riding tion systems and heated seats. The motorcycle industry has strugseason, kicking off soon, will feature the largest array of models yet. In one gled to rebuild its sales since the 2008 sense, baggers have acquired a je ne recession made bikes seem nonessais quoi much the way once-dowdy sential. While about 1.2 million buyers ® ® in the U.S. took home a motorcycle in beachThe totes have. Can-Am SpyderThose RT and oversize RS roadsters. canWith a unique, The Can-Am® Spyder® RT and RS roadsters. With a unique, three-wheeled stance and intuitive, rider-focused features, 2006 (a peak for the industry), in 2016 vas carryalls that families used for haulthree-wheeled stance and intuitive, rider-focused features, it’s everything you need to become one with the road. only 487,000 were sold. With the new ing towels and toys to ocean it’s the everything you needwere to become one with the road. It’s riding. Reinvented. Discover what thousands of riders It’s riding. Reinvented. Discover what thousands of riders interest in baggers, brands like Indian so practical yet utterly unglamorous. already know at can-am.brp.com. already know at can-am.brp.com. and Yamaha, once known for touring But when designers ® ® started making The Can-Am Spyder RT and RS roadsters. With a unique, models and smaller “naked” bikes, are them inthree-wheeled desirablestance colors, withrider-focused leather features, and intuitive, it’s everything need toproudly. become one with the road. discovering a sweet spot in the market. details, they wereyou hauled It’s riding. Reinvented. Discover what thousands of riders Their hefty machines feel stable, and So too have the saddlebags that already know at can-am.brp.com. straddle these bikes’ rear wheels their low seats make it easy for ridevolved from awkwardly tacked-on ers to throw a leg over and hold them aftermarket satchels to hard-shell ele- upright when at a standstill. The bags ments built into the design. Now they help riders carry essentials, so bikes
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Imprint for weekend travel. They’re are Dealer suitable come in striking colors like “twisted Dealer Imprint 14 Regional Road 13, Courtland, ON Here also Goes generally slimmer than touring cherry,” “impact blue” and “hard canGoes Here making them convenient for dy chameleon flake” (a dark metallic models,519-688-3278 in urban traffic. green)—or are, alternatively, blacked riding www.lockhartsodyssey.ca In 2011, snowmobile and all-terrainout with minimal chrome, sometimes Dealer Imprint maker Polaris Industries bought with a sophisticated matte finish. AlsoGoes vehicle Here contributing to baggers’ new cachet: the century-old Indian brand and beThey ride lower in the rear than stan- gan selling new cruisers and touring ©2011 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Always ride responsibly and safely and observe applicable laws. Remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. ©2011 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. 610376 Always ride responsibly and safely and observe applicable laws. Remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix.
610376
loose. While similar bikes have relatively simple two-cylinder “v-twin” engines with less than 100 horsepower, the BMW has a high-tech six-cylinder power plant that generates 160 horsepower, putting its Bagger among the most powerful bikes on the market in any category. Moto Guzzi has been building heavy bikes for decades—its Ambassador and Eldorado models of the early1970s were known as “Italian Harleys.” But the MGX-21 Flying Fortress is the brand’s first foray into the sculpted saddlebag look. It features traction control, anti-lock brakes and adjustable electronic engine settings: Select “Veloce” mode for fast riding and
maximum power. “Turismo” tones the engine down for long, relaxed rides. In rainy conditions, “Pioggia” keeps the wheels from slipping if the rider is too enthusiastic with the throttle or brakes. It’s safe to say that Harley’s Street Glide, first sold in 2006, kicked off the modern bagger era. In the early 2000s the brand was selling a stripped-down touring model called the Electra Glide Standard that many riders modified using wrenches and cutting tools, trimming their tall windshields and lowering rear suspensions for a streamlined, “slammed” look. Harley got the hint and followed with its factory-built bagger. This latest version, the Street Glide Special, was crafted with a surprisingly
striking shape meant to recall handbuilt show bikes. Yamaha has built up a range of several cruisers over the past decade, from the custom chopper-like Raider to the Bolt, which has the svelte look and forward-leaning riding posture of a dirt-track racer. But the company’s lineup didn’t include a real bagger until late last year when it rolled out the Star Eluder. Based on Yamaha’s heavier Venture touring model, the stripped down Star Eluder weighs about 80 pounds less and comes with heated seats for rider and passenger, and a 7-inch LCD display with touch- and voice-activated controls.
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† Offers apply to eligible retail purchase agreements that meet the minimum amount applicable for Honda Financing of $3,000, for a limited time, while supplies last. Valid on select new (not previously registered) Honda motorcycle models obtained from a participating authorized Honda dealer in Canada between January 1 and March 31, 2018. Limited time purchase financing offer provided through Honda Canada Finance Inc., on approved credit. *Representative finance example based on a 2017 CBR500R with a selling price of $6,982 (includes MSRP of $6,899, $560 freight and PDI, up to $523 dealer fee and a $1,000 discount deducted from the MSRP before taxes, but does not include lien registration fee [up to $79.75 in certain regions] and lien registering agent fee [$5.75], which are due at time of delivery), with $0 down payment or equivalent trade-in required, financed at 1.9% APR equals $68.43 weekly for 24 months. 104 weekly payments required. Cost of borrowing is $134.77, for a total obligation of $7,116.77. Taxes, license, insurance and registration fees [all of which may vary by region] are extra. Dealers may sell for less. Applicable fees may vary by region and dealer. Dealer order/trade may be necessary–but, may not be available in all cases. See a participating authorized Honda dealer for full details, eligible models and other offers. Offers are subject to change, extension or cancellation without notice. Models, colours, features and specifications may not be exactly as shown. Errors and omissions excepted.
13 – The Motorcycle Times, February 2018
models in late-2013. Indian’s baggers bridge those segments while adding what the company calls “darker, more aggressive styling” to its lineup. Indian also commissioned former X-Games motocross star Carey Hart to design custom versions of its bikes. The design, performance and practicality of the new models mean “you don’t have to hang your head in shame” for riding a big bike with saddlebags”, Hart said. The German bike maker has built hardcore touring bikes for decades, but they were more purposeful than stylish, built strictly to haul people and luggage efficiently. The K 1600 B, the brand’s first modern bagger, is a sign that BMW has loosened up—and let
February 2018, The Motorcycle Times – 14
PureFun Mix - 0/35/85/0
30%K
For a Good Cause By Scott Jackson Sometimes work is like work; boring and/or tough. Other times – rewarding and exciting. So it was the latter, when I was asked to take on the great responsibility of attending a charity event in Las Vegas for my work. Although, after working years in the trenches, so to speak, I figure it was my turn. The objective of the event was to raise money for seeing-eye dogs. Guide Dogs of America is dedicated to its mission of providing “guide dogs and instruction in their use, free of charge, to blind and visually impaired men and women from the United States and Canada so that they may continue to pursue their goals with increased mobility and independence.” There were a number of scheduled events to raise money for that goal, including golf and a motorcycle ride. “Hawgs for Dogs” of course, immedi-
ately caught my eye, and I registered for it even before booking my flight. The morning after a first long night in Vegas, a motely group of bleary eyed, leather clad folks were leaning on anything that could support them, outside the hotel side entrance. We were all awaiting a shuttle to take us to “Las Vegas Harley Davidson” to pick up our rides. A quick ten minute bus ride got us to the dealership. After filling out the necessary paperwork everyone was introduced to their two wheeled escort. A “denim black” Street Glide was gassed up and waiting to go for us. My partner and I had brought our own helmets, and other riding gear, so we took a quick scoot up the street while waiting for the others to gear up. Wow. Felt great! Dry, warn air at the end of November isn’t something Canadians are used to. Before leaving, everyone purchased tickets in various draws and the requisite poker run. It was a charity event after all. Very soon about 50 Harleys and one BMW with their riders were winding our way
out of Sin City. Las Vegas isn’t a huge town, only about 600,000 residents, but of course the tourists bump that number up exponentially, making it a bit of a struggle to make our escape. It had been a few years since I had last ridden a Harley, but the good and not so good manners of the Street Glide quickly brought my previously held viewpoints flooding back. The clunk of the gearbox hasn’t really changed in years, but the “throttle by wire” was certainly different. When gearing down, we all normally “blip” the throttle, enjoying the sound, and accommodating the engine. It takes some practice to get the same result with the new system. The heel toe shifter was deja vu from my Guzzi. Saddlebags were a great unaccustomed addition and found use stowing extra bottles of water and some jerky. The HD footboards and comfortably wide seat were also appreciated distinctions from my regular ride. Breaking out of the city we were also quickly reminded that Vegas is
in the middle of a desert. This early in the morning however, it was actually quite brisk. After a brief stop just off the highway to draw our second poker card, the pack turned off on a more secondary road that had a few twists and turns. Unfortunately, as is often the case when motoring in a pack, we weren’t hitting the necessary speeds to really enjoy them. The slow pace did eventually pay off about 60 miles off the Vegas Strip when we entered the Valley of Fire. Located in the Mojave Desert, Valley of Fire is the oldest Nevada State Park and is around 35,000 acres in size. The bright red rock formations brought back childhood memories of Saturday mornings watching the Road Runner cartoons. In other the places the rocks were twisted and perforated with holes giving them the images of skulls wherever you looked. It is these stunning red sandstone formations that can appear to be on fire when reflecting the sun that the Valley of Fire is named for.
15 – The Motorcycle Times, February 2018
The configurations of red rock are so bizarre, that scenes from Star Trek, and other space movies, especially involving Mars, (the Red Planet) were filmed here. Stopping at a rock face that had stairs climbing up it, we lunched on beef brisket, pulled pork, and beans with green chillies. All of it pre-purchased from the Road Kill BBQ in Vegas, finishing it off with a peach cobbler to boot. With a stuffed belly and the noonday desert warmth, a nap really should have been fitted into the ride around this point. The aforementioned stairs rose to a platform from which you could witness 4,000 year old petroglyphs or “rock art” from the regions prehistoric peoples. The pace picked up a bit after lunch. This was mainly due to the fact that a number of riders needed an alcohol fix, and stopped at a roadside bar advertising a “happy hour”. The rock formations continued to amaze but spying a couple of bighorn sheep and a bunch of 3 wild horses, all munching on the sparse weeds, was cool as well. The signs indicated we were very close to Hoovers Dam, but it didn’t fit our schedule. Maybe on our next trip. By the time we made our last stop and drew our last card, at a gas station only 20 miles from Vegas, the wind was really picking up. Also as it was just after 4, the sun was well on its way down. We could see the city in the distance and tell we were close by the increase in traffic. Back at Vegas Harley, we all turned in our bikes and commented on the great time. The organizers did a really great job and we let them know it. I ended up with a pair of queens for the poker hand, which wasn’t close to enough – someone drew a flush. Unbelievable. We did however, win a tote bag, donated by Las Vegas Harley Davidson, and both of us walked away with the mandatory “been there – done that” T shirts. Everyone made their way back to the casino/hotel and we …… Hey you know the rule! Everything else that may or may not have happened in Vegas – stays in Vegas.
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2016 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. †All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Always ride responsibly and safely. Follow all instructional and safety materials. Always observe applicable local laws and regulations. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and appropriate protective clothing. And always remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. BRP reserves the right, at any time, to discontinue or change specifications, prices, designs, features, models or equipment without incurring obligation. Some models depicted may include optional equipment. Vehicle performance may vary depending on weather, temperature, altitude, riding ability and rider/passenger weight.
©
2016 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. †All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Always ride responsibly and safely. Follow all instructional and safety materials. Always observe applicable local laws and regulations. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and appropriate protective clothing. And always remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. BRP reserves the right, at any time, to discontinue or change specifications, prices, designs, features, models or equipment without incurring obligation. Some models depicted may include optional equipment. Vehicle performance may vary depending on weather, temperature, altitude, riding ability and rider/passenger weight.
©
- The Self-Shifting Motorcycle
Custom Made Motorcycle Insurance
Putting automatic transmissions in motorcycles isn’t a new idea, but it’s still a rare one. Ever miss a gear while shifting? In front of your friends at the local hot spot? You’re pulling away, engine screaming for mercy, and your bike turns into a 1,000 pounds of dead weight? We’ve all been there. What if your bike was always in the right gear, engine pulling at its ideal rpm, showing off your excellent riding skill? Bikes with automatic transmissions are not exactly new, but you don’t see them very often. Today we’re going to take a closer look at motorcycle automatics, and see if maybe we can’t clear up some mis-
The manually shifted gearbox pioneered by Indian soon dominated the industry, and countless motorcyclists cursed as they missed shifts pulling out of the pub. The variable pulley concept got a second chance decades later with the WellBike. The Wellbike was a tiny folding motorcycle inside a box that was supposed to drop out of airplanes along with British paratroopers during WWII. The idea was that the paratroopers would land near these mini motos, unbox them, unfold them, and race to the battlefield. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on who you ask, World War II ended before many could be tested. Mechanically, WellBikes
understandings about the self-shifting motorcycle. First off, let’s kill off probably the biggest stereotype about automatics – Automatics are for beginners, the mechanically inept, and dullards. The first “auto” I know of is the Rudge “Multi”, a contraption built in 1913 specifically to catch up with Indian. See, Indian had just crushed everybody at the 1911 Isle of Man TT races. What was supposed to be a showcase of British technology was blown into the weeds by the revolutionary manually-shifted, two-speed Indian. For example, it could climb mount Snaefell in “low” gear with ease while everyone else had to stop, get out the tools, and change pulleys. Single speed bikes were officially dead. Instead of physical gears, the Rudge Multi used an adjustable or variable pulley on the engine that was operated with a hand crank. Cranking the pulley halves close together pushed the drive belt outward, which increased the diameter of the space where the belt ran and acted like a second gear. Cranking the pulley sides apart allowed the belt to ride farther down in “first gear”. Remember Pi times the radius squared? That’s the idea. The system worked, but was hampered by problems with the existing leather belts.
had one revolutionary feature – two adjustable pulleys instead of the Rudge’s one. The first pulley acted as a clutch, and the second pulley changed gear ratio according to RPM. Today we call it a Continuously Variable Transmission, an invention that gave us the Vespa, the snowmobile, and mopeds. Even some cool cars, like the MINI and the Fiat 500, use a CVT because they are efficient, light, and inexpensive. Today’s CVT’s use electronics to control gear ratio, engine load, and fuel economy instead of physical means. The driver controls the throttle, that’s all. Magic. So why didn’t motorcycle CVT’s catch on? Well, two reasons. First, motorcycle engines are necessarily compact and there is really no room for a CVT. Open the hood of a snowmobile and see for yourself how large a 50 to 100 horsepower rated CVT belt drive must be. The Ridley company has managed to squeeze a CVT into its big Harley-Davidson based bikes, but any other motorcycle is simply too crowded. Second reason? Simple bias. Honda pioneered hydraulic or “beltless” automatic bikes back in the 70s with the 400cc and 750cc “Hondamatics”. But they were too late. The big wave of first time riders had peaked, everybody knew how to shift, and automatics were stereotyped as
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17 – The Motorcycle Times, February 2018
bikes for the hopeless, duffers, and those with no skill. The motorcycling world is different these days, and the popularity of automatic bikes is slowly on the rise. Honda’s CTX700 DCT, for example, is an automatic clutch motorcycle with an electronically shifted, but otherwise ordinary, six-speed gearbox. There is no belt, no torque converter, just a pair of computer controlled clutches. There are three rider modes and a manual mode if
you wish to shift yourself. This technology comes from professional drag racers, where it’s been in use for a while now. Miss a shift on a pro drag bike and you just signed a check for 20 grand. Serious drag racers know that solenoids can shift faster than a human and they never miss, which is important when you are racing against hundredths of a second. While the CTX is certainly not a sportbike, there’s no reason why this technology couldn’t be in-
stalled on a CBR. In fact, track days could get a lot more interesting if riders didn’t need to worry about missing a shift or barreling in to a corner in the wrong gear. For beginners, hopping onto a motorcycle is plenty intimidating. For a person who has never engaged a clutch, a bike’s manual gearbox is often a deal breaker. This means that a non-zero number of potential riders are missing all the fun. Some experienced riders may scoff, but a
lot of similar technology has already trickled down in the form of slipper clutches, wheelie control, and rain mode. These are all just variations on the idea of controlling how power is connected to the road. Serious sports cars now come with automatics, and no apology. Bikes are next. If we want millenials to get excited about motorcycling, this just might do the trick to keep our sport alive in the future. Everything that was old is new again.
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allall 2016-2018 $ allall 2016-2018 allall 2016-2018 7,349* Mo tor cyc Motorcyclleses MoMotortorcyc MoMotortorcyc cyclleses cyclleses 2016 cocomeme wiwithth 2014 cocomeme wiwithth cocomemeCTX1300A 22014 2016 CBR600RA wiwithth GL1800BG GL1800ADE accessories shown are for illustration ports.com $ $ * 60 shown 6060 momonth 6060 momo* nthnth sPP 60 momonth $ * nth sPsPPP (Airbag) $ are for * il ustration purposes $ 15,600 $ * 2016 TRX420FM2 nth sPsPPP 89* sPP 13,969 issauga 389 599 9 869 8 24,169 purposes only. Pricing includes factory $ only. Pricing includes factory incentives $ * 7,199* HRS2164PDC DC 29,169 HRR2169V VKC C HR RX2175HYC 9-4116 incentives as follows: (DRZ70 $200/ 2.99%/36 MTHS. PURCHASE FINANCING! as follows: (DRZ70 $300/TU250X $0/ $1000/GSX250R *LICENCE FEE (IF APPLICABLE) AND HST EXTRATU250X ON ALL$0/SV650SA OFFERS. OFFERS CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS, PROGRAMS OR DISCOUNTS AND ARE GOOD UNTIL AUGUST 31, 2016. DOWN PAYMENT OR EQUIVALENT TRADE-IN ON PURCHASE FINANCING MAY BE REQUIRED SV650SA $1000/GSX250R $250/VZ800 all 20 16 allall 2016ADMINISTRATION AllAll 20NEW all 2016-20 BASED ON APPROVED CREDIT FROM HONDA FINANCIAL SERVICES INC. SALE PRICE FREIGHT AND P.D.E., ECRF, LICENCE FEE AND OMVIC FEE. FREIGHT & PDE ($50/$50/$65/$65/$65/$65/$75/$75/$50/$50/$600/$600), ECRF ($0/ -2018 2016-20-201818 $0/VZ800 $1,200/GSX-R750 All ON THE 201515 MOTORCYCLES INCLUDES $100). All$1400). 2015/2016MoMotorcycles18 $0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$24.86/$24.86) AND $1,200/GSX-R750 LICENCE ADMINISTRATION ($0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$299/$299) ARE ALL EXTRA ON THE FOLLOWING Mo ONtorTHE OTHER PRODUCTS: 2.3DK2SCHC/WB20XK2C/EU2000IT1/EG5000/HRS2164PDC/HRX2175HYC/HRR2169VKC /TRX420FA6/ Mo cyc tor les cyc torcycl www.readysuzuki.com Motorcycles $1,300/CBR500R $1,100/VFR800 $3,500/CBR1000S $1,000/CBR600RA 2015/2016-2018 comeTIME with REBATE MotorcyAND TRX420FM2). PRICING OF THE POWER EQUIPMENT INCLUDE $800/CTX1300A $5,000/ GL1800BG $1,000/ clleses DISCOUNT AND THE MOTORCYCLES/ATV’S AS FOLLOWS: CBR300RTA www.readysuzuki.com come withes 2018MAY Motorcycl esMotorcycles comeA wiLIMITED th 48/60 months come withVEHICLE(S) AND ACCESSORIES SHOWN ARE FOR ILLUSTRATION comeBEwithNECESSARY, GL1800ADE $3,500/TRX420FA6 $1,750/TRX420FM2 $900.SPP DEALER ORDER/TRADE MAY IF WE RUN OUT OF INVENTORY OF SELECTED MODELS. PURPOSES ONLY. OFFERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT co me with 48/60 months included. See us for full co me co wi me th wi 430 Hensall Circle, Mississauga th 60 mo SPP included. See us for full details. Offers 60 month sPP NOTICE, SEE US FOR FULL Mississauga DETAILS. 430 Hensall Circle, 60 month nth sPsPPP details. Offers good until August 31, 2017. 4848 momonthnth SPSPPP 60 month sPP February31,28,2018. 2018. sales direct: 866-819-4114 good until January
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*Vehicle Licence fee (if applicable) and HST extra on all offers. Sale Price on WWW.READYKAWASAKI.COM • 430 HENSALL CIRCLE, MISSISSAUGA • 866-819-4112 Price on the New Motorcycles includes freight and P.D.E., ECRF,
esinoclnudesfrei LitheNewMotorcycl cence Administrati Fee andghtandP.D.E.,ECRF,Li OMVIC Fee. PricincgenceAdmi of 4theYRfolnislotratiwinogn . K PP ing of theof:folEX300AGF lowing inclu$750/EX300BHFB de a limited tiImNeCrebate of: iFeencluandde aOMVI limiCtedFee.Pri timecrebate www.readykawasaki.com • 430 Hensall circle, mississauga • 877-297-7446 .!$500/ www.readykawasaki.com • 430 Hensall circle, mississauga • 877-297-7446 mega casH credits Versys X300 $0/Z800 $1,000/ZX6SE ABS $1,500. Motorcycl e (s) and EX300BGFA $850/EX400GJF $0/Versys X300 $0/Z800 $1,000/VN900DGF 2017 ninja 3000 20 20182015 ninja 2016 vulcan2015 900 accessori es shown are for Motorcycl il ustrati2015 oen(s)purposes onlye. sActual 2015 NINJA 2015 2015 2017 20116NINJA ninja 300 2016 $1000/ZX6SE ABS $1,500. and accessori showncolareoursfor 2016 aaBs – winter VULCAN 900 NINJA VERSYS VAQUERO 310 LX 300 650 12 MonthsKPP may vary depending on availULTRA classic 400 ABS 2017 2016 ninja non-aBs ZX6seaBs versys X300 2016 Z800 2016 a bi l i t y. Deal e r trade or Factory CUSTOM ZX6SE ABS ttest edition 1000LT 1700 2016 vulcan 900 (NON-ABS) (ABS) on purposes only. Actual colJETSKI ours may vary depending onOrder availabimaylity. (Ese-non-aBs EX300AGF) vn900dgF at no chargeon bei*l ustrati (ORdER ZX6seaBs versys X300 2016 Z800 $ * $ * $ * $ * $ * $ $ * Offers subject to change without notice, see us for full ((EX300BHFB) classic lt $ all new * Dealnecessary. $ * $ * ((EX300AGFA) or Factory Order may be necessary. Offers subject to change yours now!) kawasaki detaielrs.trade $ * $ * Offers cannot be combined with any other offers, programs or $ * $ * $ * $ * *VEHICLE LICENCE AND HST EXTRA ON ALL OFFERS. OFFERS CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS, PROGRAMS OR DISCOUNTS AND ARE GOOD UNTIL AUGUST 31, 2016. SALE PRICE ON THE INCLUDES FREIGHT AND P.D.E., ECRF, motorNEW cycles! MOTORCYCLES $ FEE (IF APPLICABLE) * ce, seeare$1,100/VN900CFF usgoodfor untifull ldetai ls. Offers cannot be combined with any $ & PDE*($650) AND LICENCE ADMINISTRATION ($299) ARE ALL EXTRA ON THE ULTRA 310LX PRICING OF THE$ FOLLOWING*INCLUDE A LIMITED TIME REBATE OF: EX300AFF diwisthout countsnotiand August 31,2017. LICENCE ADMINISTRATION FEE AND OMVIC FEE. FREIGHT $1,100/EX650EFF $1,000/ZX636FFFA SPECIAL PRICE! $1,400/KLZ1000BFF $900/VN1700KGF $0/JT1500MFF $1,000. 48 MONTHS KAWASAKI PROTECTION PLAN IS INCLUDED AT NO CHARGE ON THE 2015 ULTRA 310LX JETSKI. MOTORCYCLE(S) AND ACCESSORIES SHOWN ARE FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES COLOURS MAY February31,2018. 28, 2018. other offers,programs or discountsONLY. and areACTUAL good until January
4,985
5 5,329 4,999
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DIYProject DIYProjects Mix - 0/35/85/0
Wheel Refinishing
Take your time, do your research and know your options
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Powdercoating pricing is not standardized by any means, it’s whatever deal you can strike, keep in mind that there are additional costs depending on the powders and number of coats required to achieve the look you are going for. The biggest reason powder coating was high on my list of options was directly due to cost and durability. A nice sparkly silver out the door would run me about $200. That’s pretty affordable by anyone’s yardstick. Not convinced that powder coating would be my nal choice I watched a DIY video on aluminum wheel polishing.
Part 1: www.youtube.com/watch?v=utYJ7xF2Szo Part 2: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu0dYvWeDG8
Original grungy Take-off wheels
By Scott MacDonald
It’s the beginning of January, and like most of us, I can’t wait to get back out on two wheels. The downside is that it will probably be at least three more months till conditions are right to once again spend any real time on my bike, and not just quick putts down the road to a local coffee hub. So, to help pass these winter months a little more quickly and because I hate the wheels on my motorcycle, I decided to look into making some changes. When this brainfart rst conceived the idea to change my wheels, my rst thought was that my choices were endless, then reality began to set in and I remembered that whatever I did, had to be justied to my better half, you all know how that is. I expected a lot of questions like what’s wrong with the wheels on the bike? Why do men always need to change things that don’t matter and how much is this all going to cost. In my head, i’m thinking what do you mean “why change things that don’t matter”, wheels are one of those things that matter most, it’s what sets the tone for the bike, wheels can make or break the entire look of your ride. Wheels are arguably the most important visual thing, aside from your paint, it’s the next thing every rider will comment on. It’s like asking your woman why was it so important that she had to have that new Gucci bag? I managed to keep most of those thoughts to myself and instead chose to answer part three of her questioning… “should only
Example of powder coated rim
Wheel Exchange - chrome finish
cost a couple of hundred bucks dear” So now that she is onboard and I have the green light, it was time to sort through my options. First, I knew there was no way I could consider new billet wheels, hell, I couldn’t even justify the cost to myself, renishing an existing set of wheels, something that had a bit of style was the route. After searching websites, online buy and sells and Ebay, I found a set of takeoff wheels from a 2009 Harley Davidson Electra Glide - but will they t, was the big question. A quick call to the local Harley dealer to conrm the swap and I got the expected response, we do not recommend making that change because the axle diameters are different, that was the entire conversation. Ok, but how different? A quick call to JP Cycles just south of the border and I got all the answers I needed to make a decision. Turns out the rims I want use a 1” axle and the wheels I have use a ¾” axle and they happen to have an axle adapter that will make the wheel swap work. Great, but why not just change out the bearings so that the new rims would t on a ¾” axle. Another quick call to JP Cycles to conrmed new bearings will work, which is the preferred way to swap the wheels”, so why not just tell me that from the get go? Armed with the condence I could make this swap, I offered the owner of the rims a reasonable sum and I am now the proud owner of a set of grungy Electra Glide 9 spoke. A quick spray down with some cleaner and a brush and I knew I had a decent set
of wheels to start with. Who could have imagined there were so many options when it comes to renishing. I can strip and paint or just paint,I can powdercoat, plate or polish not to mention some combination of all of those options, paint and polish, paint and plate, do you get where I am going with this? Narrowing down these choices was a big rst step, what do I want to end up with is where I started and believe it or not, chrome was not my rst choice. I likes the durability of powder coating but as I quickly discovered, unless I intended to coat the entire rim in a single colour, there were inherent limitations do to the nature of the curing process and the temperatures used. Powder coating does offer many great options if you choose to go that route. There are very vivid colours now available and many powdercoaters are using transparent, almost candy-like layers to add amazing nished results, especially when the coating is applied to a bright silver or over a polished aluminum base nish. The one thing still that is yet to be perfected is what they refer to as “super-chrome”. It is marketed as a substitute to chrome and would have been my choice of nish had it actually looked like they say it is suppose to look. All the images I have seen online of super-chrome look like that mirror nish I like and at a cost that would be very reasonable to have done, in the neighbourhood of $100-$200 per wheel, but the actual nish is more akin to a dull aluminum, not the look I was hoping for.
The polishing process is relatively simple, but it’s time consuming - I’d give it a 4 out of 10 on the idiot scale. Like many processes, it amounts to a series of repetitive steps till you nd yourself at the machine polishing stage and are buffing to a gleaming nish. With this knowledge in mind, I located an inexpensive polishing kit, complete with polishing wheels and various polishing rouge sticks and set out to nd out just how easy this was and what I could expect for results. I taped off a section of the wheel that has a factory machined satin exposed aluminum nish and began the process. Within a very short time, the exposed section of rim was polished to a highly reective, almost mirror nish. A bit more time spent and it would be perfect. Polishing results are all about the time put into the process. Patience and more patience is the key. I presented the results of my test to my little women and her immediate rst response was holy f***. Yeah, it was that much of a difference from the factory nish I started with. I then began to consider polishing the outer lip to keeps costs down and truly add a cool look if I choose to paint the inner spokes. Although the polishing steps were relatively easy to do, I knew that I just didn’t have the free time required to consider polishing the entire wheel myself no matter how little it would impact my renishing budget. One option that I mentioned earlier was paint and polish. Since I know what to expect as results and that I could polish the outer lips of the rims myself, painting the inner spokes could provide a really nice nish. The factory wheels were nished with black inner spokes and a machined satin nish lip which offered a really nice contrast but it really was not what I wanted mostly because my bike is white and more importantly because unlike many guys out there, the blacked-out look was not my goal. Perhaps a medium gunmetal metallic or silver with the polished edge would give spectacular results and help me stay on a budget, locating a good body shop is the only real challenge. If you choose to go this route, the rims will need to be masked and painted rst. Polishing the outer rim edges is a last process before you take the rims back to the body shop to have a clear coat nish applied to protect the exposed polished nish.
As you might expect the most popular nish, especially within the cruiser riders, is the also the nish with the highest costs. Chrome plating is almost as expensive as purchasing new rims - believe it or not. With limited plating shops around, and the amount of prenishing work required to prepare parts for nal plating so that mirror nish is achieved, costs are reected in the process, (excuse the pun). Plating is a electrochemical process that applies microscopically thin layers of copper and nickel and chromium to a metallic base. But that base needs to be free from defects otherwise all the plating process is doing is chroming an imperfect surface. But when a plating shop prepares a piece beit a rim, a bolt or bumper, the results are nothing short of spectacular. Not only is the nish beautiful, it is one of the toughest coatings that can be applied to a metallic surface, which is why it has been the coating of choice be restorers of motorcycles and automobile parts for decades. Now just to confuse things, there are two types of chrome plating, Show chrome and hard chrome. Show chrome is what I just described, while hard chrome is a similar coating applied to industrial parts which need to have surfaced that are tough - parts like valves, bearings, and where two parts may rub or touch repeatedly and need protection from wear and also corrosion to some extent. Be careful you don’t get the two mixed up when looking for quotes. In general terms, the going rates for chroming cast aluminum motorcycle wheels is around the $700 mark in Canada and as high as $1,000 per rim in some cases. Another option available is what’s known as a wheel exchange program. A few vendors will pre-nish or customize factory rims at substantially reduced costs, when compared to brand new wheels. It’s a relatively easy process, just ring up the company or go online and choose the rims that are prepared to t your particular motorcycle, select the rim in that category and after you have prepaid their fee which is generally required by credit card in U.S. funds, they will ship you a set of rims to your door, you simply return the box to them with your “doner” or exchanged rims and bob’s your uncle. Legitimate companies like Willy Shiny, www.willyshiney.com, have been doing this for years and have earned the trust and respect of bike owners all over North America. They not only offer wheels, but will install bearings for an extra cost and have spacers, axel caps, calipers and forklegs as part of their exchange program. They are also offering black and matt black options too. It’s a great option when the exchange rate is favorable. With upfront costs of that hover around $595 U.S. per set (yes, two wheels), plus taxes, duty and shipping into Canada and said exchange rate, you really need to do the math to see if it works for you or not. Whichever route you choose to go, ultimately your choice will be dictated by budget and sweat equity. But regardless of the nish, when it’s all said and done, you will have yourself a unique set of wheels that will set your bike apart from the crowd and you can say proudly that you had a hand in creating your one-of-a-kind bedazzling beauties.
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19 19– –The TheMotorcycle MotorcycleTimes, Times,February February2018 2018
2018 KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R
February 2018, The Motorcycle Times – 20
TheHighside Mix - 0/35/85/0
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Half Ton of Pure Fun By Richard Primeau Having passed a fifteen minute road test at the local licensing bureau for a commercial chauffeurs license back in 1974, a motorcycle operators license was automatically included regardless of whether you knew how to ride a motorcycle or not. Never did I ever dream of owning a motorcycle but just having the permit for a motorcycle made me feel I had the option of maybe one day owning and riding a great big shiny Honda CB 350cc My vision back in the day of the perfect motorcycle was the Honda 350 CB but it was not to be for I ended up owning a Vespa Scooter 200 which I guess was machine enough for me at the time. I pierced the muffler giving my little 200cc scooter the big sound effect like a little puppy dog with a big bark. I rode the Vespa for a couple of summers until it finally gave up the ghost with total engine failure. I just never checked the oil or did any maintenance of any kind, didn’t know how and wasn’t interested in learning! In my mind, I had met and conquered the challenge of riding a two wheeled machine. The motorcycle facination was over and it was time to move on to owning a boat or a canoe. Many years went by with no thought of ever riding another motorcycle until one cold January day in 2017. Nothing special about the day, just not much to do, so I decided to visit a Harley Dealer to see what all the excitement was about. A Harley Davidson motorcycle and that my friends is where the real story begins. Half ton of fun is what a full dresser fanatic may refer to when speaking of an
ultra classic touring bike, at least, that’s what I heard some of the old school Harley riders say, so I went n search of the Half Ton of Fun. That Half Ton of Fun was parked on the showroom floor of my local Harley Dealer. It was a giant of a bike, the Harley Davidson Electraglide Ultra Classic, aka the FLHTCU, even the name was intimidating. I wondered if I was off my rocker, loosing my mind, after all I just wanted to have a look. Now all I want is to buy into the half ton of fun. But ride this monster, weighing in at nearly one thousand pounds, am I nuts. Never in my life had I ever come close to riding a real motorcycle, especially a fire breathing Millwaukee Beast such as the Red Ember Glow Ultra Classic Touring machine. In my eyes, it was huge, too huge to even think of riding, at least not for me. A few gentle taps on the shoulder and a whole lot of words of encouragement from the sales rep had me convinced it was time to take the leap of faith and buy me a big bike with a big sound, a big engine and a big reputation! I stood there on the showroom floor fixated on the half ton of shiny red paint and gleeming chrome, seeing myself saddled up and cruising the back roads of my mind while listening to the high definition CD Player on the front fairing blast out ‘’Run Through The Jungle‘’ a favourite old Creedance song of mine. I rode and I rode up the mountains and through the valley’s, everyone waving and cheering as I motored through their little town. I was finally a real, honest to goodness Harley rider, a biker, through and through but then I heard someone say, ‘’coffee sir??‘’ I snapped back to reality, looked the Harley sales rep straight in the eye and said, ‘’I’ll take it!‘’
He looked back at me in a wierd way and asked... “the coffee sir or the bike?” I replied, ‘’both brother... both!‘’ As we walked over to Harley’s finance department I wondered, how could I ever keep a thousand pound bike upright. The closer we got to closing the deal, mind over matter took hold of my conscious forcing me to commit to actually signing my John Hancock on the dotted line of the sales contract. From that moment on, I knew I had made the right choice, I now belonged to the chosen few, the legendary family of Harley Davidson Motorcycle Owners. I was in the exclusive Harley Davidson Club and was a made guy, I was credible, a real honest to goodness biker with a real honest to goodness motorcycle, a legendary motorcycle known and highly prized by all. All I needed to do now was to ride, wasn’t yet sure how I was going to approach that part of owning a great big beast of a Harley Davidson but I was sure as heck going to get ‘er done come hell or high water. A few days later, a Harley delivery truck backed up to my garage door and unloaded the firey ember red monster. As I watched the unloading, I was still having some serious doubts about being able to tame my inner fears and erase the horrible visions of me wiping out the moment I released the beast from her perch and squeezed the clutch and kicked her into gear. How dumb and helpless I’d look lying beneath the huge mass of Millwaukee Iron alone on my garage floor, flattened like a bug on a windscreen. Would I be able to dial 911 and ask for someone to come pull my sorry excuse for a biker out from under a thousand pound motorcycle, I asked myself over and over. Three months went by with daily visits to the giant beasts den in my garage with
helmet in hand but no go, not even close to pushing the start up button. Thoroughly convinced, I had made a big mistake in buying such a heavy bike and retired myself to the assumption that the big firey red dragon would most probably end up in a dark corner of the garage where it would never see the light of day as long as I owned it! Another month would slip by with me spending many hours sitting in front of a computer watching YouTube videos of folks big and small, men and women having the time of their life riding the giant Ultra Classic before I was able to stir up enough courage to straddle the beast and push the start button! It was finally all systems go with the lift of the stand and release of the clutch lever, I was committed, so out the garage door and down the road we flew. I was going to make it or break it, no stopping until I had mastered the big red beast that had shaken my conviction from a few months back. This was a solo flight, a first flight, a sort of Millwaukee V-Twin baptism, not by holy water but by fuel, fire and the power of the Harley gods!! Several hours later and many miles after, my low altitude flight aboard the Ultra Classic beast brought me to another Province of Canada. I gently touched down, body and soul totally consummed in the ecstasy of a first ride so exilerating, so exciting, it was a feeling that couldn’t be compared to anything else I had ever done in all my sixty one years of living! I had tamed the giant fire breathing ember red, thousand pound Millwaukee beast in just one short moment of courage and one long ride, I never wanted to end. A Half Ton of Fun, a long winding road, a gentle warm breeze and the courage to live life to its fullest!! My Journey continues...
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February 2018, The Motorcycle Times – 22
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February 16-18, 2018 Toronto Motorcycle Show Enercare Centre - Exibition Place. Ticket prices, and coupons have not been set yet but stay tuned. As the riding season winds down, preparations are well underway to kick-start next year’s season with the 2018 Motorcycle Show-Toronto presented by Dalton Timmis Insurance. All of the industry’s top manufacturers have confirmed their participation. Take notice of the 2018 line-up of new motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and side-by-sides. In addition to new bikes, riders can check-out the latest in apparel, accessories and touring destinations, plus many exciting exhibits, all under one roof. Updates www.torontomotorcycleshow.ca. April 7-8, 2018 Spring Motorcycle Show At The Toronto International Centre, 6900 Airport Rd. (at Derry Rd in Mississauga, On) Purchase advance tickets and save $3.00 off admission for a limited time. PLUS enjoy the e-ticket holder express entry into the show! Tickets are $18 Adults, $5 for Youths (12 and under) (free for children under 6) Or sign up for our newsletter and receive a $2 off coupon. The Motorcycle Springshow is the place to be. Four huge halls of the International Centre are filled with all things ‘Motorcycle.’ Larger displays of the latest models, including touring and cruising bikes, street bikes, sportbikes, offroad bikes, scooters, customs and more.
Shopping for all the great bargains on helmets, boots, gloves and riding apparel is easy with the huge selection. Entertainment Stages for your listening pleasure. Show goers can check out features such as fashion shows, various autograph sessions and more. Meet special guests: racers, celebrities, authors, builders and other motorcycle personalities. Sell your old bike, buy your new bike! Used bike for those who are looking to upgrade or shopping for their first. Interested in becoming a new rider? There are Rider Training programs, licensing and insurance info. Great Food Choices, Free Parking. Your entrance to the show includes a copy of Spring Motorcycle Magazine and Free Parking! There will be VIP Motorcycle Parking at the front entrance. www.motorcyclespringshow.com May 26, 2018 Telus Ride For Dad. - Huronia Registration 7-9am. Kickstands up 9:30am. sharp! Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 34, 215 Mississaga Street E. - Orillia. Join us for a fun-filled day of riding with a lunch, poker run, prizes and much more all while helping to raise money to fight prostate cancer for our local community! Colin -cwackett@ rogers.com, or visit www.ridefordad.ca May 27, 2018 Telus Ride For Dad. - Windsor Registration 7 to 9:30am. Kickstands up 10am. sharp! Join us for a fun-filled day
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Ready Suzuki 430 Hensall Circle, Mississauga 905-896-1600 or 855-896-0430 www.readysuzuki.com
Belleville Sport & Lawn Centre 128 Church Street, Belleville 613-968-4559 or 877-968-4559 www.bellevillesportandlawn.com
CLARE’S CYCLE & SPORTS LTD 799 Highway 20 West, Fenwick 905-892-2664 or 888-663-6135 SELECT MODELS MODELS ONLY ONLY www.clarescycle.com SELECT CONDITIONS CONDITIONS APPLY APPLY // ASK ASK FOR FOR DETAILS DETAILS
Sturgess Cycle Snow city cycle & marine Contact your local authorized Suzuki dealer for current retail promotions and available inventory. Retail Incentives, Gas Cards & additional Warranty coverage available on select new and unregistered Suzuki Motorcycles purchased at participating Canadian Dealers between January 3, 2018 and April 2, 2018. Suzuki Retail incentives are direct-to-dealer incentives deducted from the MSRP. Retail incentives up to $1,100 (GSX-R600L6) on select models. Warranty listed includes 12 month factory limited warranty plus additional warranty coverage to total listed warranty coverage. Warranty offered has no dollar value and cannot be exchanged 615 Street West, Kennedy Road, or resoldKing for any monetary value. Gas CardsHamilton have the face value as listed and will be sent directly to the customer1255 with the Suzuki Welcome Letter (allow 4-6 Scarborough weeks for delivery of gas cards). Model may not be exactly as shown. This promotion is time limited and subject to stock availability and certain conditions may apply; please see your participating Canadian dealer for complete details. Offer cannot be combined with any other special offers, promotions or financing incentives unless specified. PDI charges from $110 to $528, freight charges from $165 to $350, taxes, license, insurance, applicable fees and registration are extra 905-522-0503 or 888-421-3333 877-766-9248 dependent on model. Specifications, product features and colours are subject to change without notice. Read your416-752-1560 owner’s manual carefully andor remember to observe all safety regulations. See your participating Authorized Suzuki dealer for availability and complete details. Suzuki. Way of Life! www.sturgessonline.com www.snowcity.com Contact your local authorized Suzuki dealer for current retail promotions and available inventory. Retail Incentives, Gas Cards & additional Warranty coverage available on select new and unregistered Suzuki Motorcycles purchased at participating Canadian Dealers between January 3, 2018 and April 2, 2018. Suzuki Retail Contact your authorized Suzuki dealer for current promotions available Incentives, Cards & additional Warranty coverage on select newwarranty and unregistered Suzukiwarranty Motorcycles purchased participating Dealers between 2018value and and Aprilcannot 2, 2018. Retail incentives are local direct-to-dealer incentives deducted fromretail the MSRP. Retailand incentives upinventory. to $1,100 Retail (GSX-R600L6) onGas select models. Warranty listed includes 12available month factory limited plus additional coverage to totalatlisted warrantyCanadian coverage. Warranty offeredJanuary has no 3, dollar beSuzuki exchanged incentives deducted MSRP. Retail and incentives to $1,100 select Warranty listed 12 weeks month for factory limited warranty additional warranty coverage to total warranty coverage. Warranty offered has noavailability dollar value and cannot be exchanged orincentives resold forare anydirect-to-dealer monetary value. Gas Cards have thefrom facethe value as listed will beup sent directly (GSX-R600L6) to the customeronwith themodels. Suzuki Welcome Letterincludes (allow 4-6 delivery of gas cards).plus Model may not be exactly as shown. Thislisted promotion is time limited and subject to stock and certain conditions may or resold for any value. Gas Cards have value as listedOffer and will be sent directly towith the any customer with theoffers, Suzukipromotions Welcome Letter (allow incentives 4-6 weeksunless for delivery of gas Model nottobe$528, exactly as shown. promotion timetaxes, limitedlicense, and subject to stock availability conditions may apply; please see monetary your participating Canadian dealertheforface complete details. cannot be combined other special or financing specified. PDIcards). charges frommay $110 freight chargesThis from $165 to is $350, insurance, applicable feesand andcertain registration are extra apply; please see your participating product Canadianfeatures dealer for details. Offer cannot be combined with anyyour other specialmanual offers, carefully promotions financing incentives specified. PDI charges $110 to $528, freightSuzuki charges fromfor$165 to $350, taxes, license, insurance, applicable fees and registration are extra dependent on model. Specifications, andcomplete colours are subject to change without notice. Read owner’s andorremember to observeunless all safety regulations. See yourfrom participating Authorized dealer availability and complete details. Suzuki. Way of Life! dependent on model. Specifications, product features and colours are subject to change without notice. Read your owner’s manual carefully and remember to observe all safety regulations. See your participating Authorized Suzuki dealer for availability and complete details. Suzuki. Way of Life!
23 – The Motorcycle Times, February 2018
HURRY - OFFER ENDS APRIL 2, 2018!
W
February 2018, The Motorcycle Times – 24
SHOW BONUS MOTORCYCLE
/// 2016 ~ 2017
TE OF AL INSTANT REBA GET AN ADDITION
00 5 $ 500
^
$
SHOW BONUS MUOPTORCYCLE
/// 2016 ~ 2017
TE OF
AL INSTANT REBA TO GET AN ADDITION Offer ends March 16, 2018.
2017 Bolt‡ Model shown with optional accessories.
UP TO
Offer ends March 16, 2018.
2017 Bolt‡ Model shown with optional accessories.
YAMAHA’S
WINTER YAMAHA’S
ROLL OUT SALES EVENT WINTER
ROLL OUT SALES EVENT CLARE’S CYCLE & SPORTS LTD 799 Highway 20 West, Fenwick 905-892-2664 or 888-663-6135 www.clarescycle.com
Purchase a new, unused 2016 or 2017 Yamaha motorcycle or scooter and be eligible to receive:
FINANCE RATES as low as
1.89% 1.89%
†
UP TO
1,200 $1,200 $
in Genuine Yamaha Parts Purchase a new, unused 2016 or 2017 Yamaha motorcycle or scooter and be eligible to receive: & Accessories*
FINANCE RATES Get pre-approved today at as low as yamaha-motor.ca!
UP TO
Offer ends March 31, 2018. Visit yamaha-motor.ca to view deals on all Yamaha motorcycles. † in Genuine Yamaha Parts & Accessories* Get pre-approved today at yamaha-motor.ca!
Offer ends March 31, 2018. Visit yamaha-motor.ca to view deals Yamaha on all Yamaha motorcycles. BENNETT POWERSPORTS Ready Powersports
801 Brock St., Whitby 905-430-6360 or 1-888-430-6360 www.bennettpowersports.com
MOTOSPORT OF TRENTON OAKVILLE YAMAHA 114 McCauley Rd., Trenton 615 Third Line, Oakville 613-965-6626 905-465-9555 RIGHT NOW AT YOUR YAMAHA DEALER! www.motosportsoftrenton.com www.oakvilleyamaha.com *Offer valid on select new, unused 2016 and 2017 Yamaha motorcycles and scooters. Total bonus dependent on model selected.
†For select new, unused 2016 and 2017 Yamaha motorcycles and scooters. On approved credit only. Offers exclude PDI, freight and PST/GST/HST, and are valid between January 2, 2018 and March 31, 2018. Rates subject to change without notice. See your participating dealer for complete details or visit our website. Financing available through Yamaha Financial Services. ^Motorcycle show bonus automatically applied at time of sale and registration – no additional forms required. Sale and delivery by March 16, 2018, on eligible units, subject to availability.
RIGHT NOW AT YOUR YAMAHA DEALER!
*Offer valid on select new, unused 2016 and 2017 Yamaha motorcycles and scooters. Total bonus dependent on model selected. †For select new, unused 2016 and 2017 Yamaha motorcycles and scooters. On approved credit only. Offers exclude PDI, freight and PST/GST/HST, and are valid between January 2, 2018 and March 31, 2018. Rates subject to change without notice. See your participating dealer for complete details or visit our website. Financing available through Yamaha Financial Services. ^Motorcycle show bonus automatically applied at time of sale and registration – no additional forms required. Sale and delivery by March 16, 2018, on eligible units, subject to availability.
430 Hensall Cir. Mississauga 905-896-3500 or 855-896-0430 www.readyyamaha.com
^