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volume 8 | issue 10
NOVEMBER 2017
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As you pin your poppy to your lapel, If you prick your finger and bleed, don’t curse, Remember for those who you wear the poppy, Cause they have bled and endured far worse.
2018 Honda Gold Wing Honey, they shrunk the Gold Wing! Actually, that should have read that Honda has shrunk the Gold Wing(s). Honda, realizing what just about everyone else in the motorcycling world already knew, has realized that the Gold Wing name truly is all powerful — there are more than 265,000 of Honda’s previous generations of land yachts still prowling North American highways and bi-ways, says Bill Savino, Honda of America’s motorcycle product manager. So, while the traditional Gold Wing retains its familiar appellation (though officially called the Gold Wing Tour), the
stripped-down bagger version (the former F6B) is now called Gold Wing. Slightly confusing re-naming aside, the all-new Gold Wing, er Gold Wings, really are amazing, the result being sharper, more focused, yet still retaining all the traditional comfort and convenience that Honda’s premier tourer is known for. Indeed, while you’ll be reading about all the new Wings’ technical tour de forces, what is most impressive — especially since the rest of motorcycling’s grand touring fleet seems to be growing ever more portly — is how all those technological tour de forces are aimed making
the 2018 Gold Wing more manageable. The first thing that you notice is how outwardly smaller the 2018s are compared with the outgoing 2017s. The fairing, a bulbous affair on the previous model, is decidedly more svelte, the entire motorcycle is shorter and, indeed, the overall impression is of a 9/10ths scale Gold Wing, the shape familiar, but the dimensions dramatically reduced. But the most incredible news comes when Savino notes that the 2018 model is more than 36 kilograms lighter than the previous generation. That’s an impressive statistic all by continued on PG. 03
November 2017, The Motorcycle Times – 2
welcome to the next custom revolution welcome to the next custom revolution
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3 – The Motorcycle Times, November 2017
CONTINUED FROM COVER
2018 Honda Gold Wing
itself, but try this on for context. The midlevel Gold Wing Tour with the high-tech DCT Transmission weighs 379 kilograms: By comparison, Yamaha’s new Star Venture TC breaks the scale at a whopping 438 kilos. In Imperial terms the difference is even more impressive — the new Wing weighs a whopping 140 pounds less than Yamaha’s new super tourer. Yes, the Gold Wing with its six-cylinder water-cooled engine is some 140 pounds lighter than its twin-cylinder, air-cooled competition. Thats incredible! All that weight saving doesn’t come easy, says Colin Miller, a Honda tech spokesperson, noting that every single subsystem has been re-engineered for compactness and lighter weight. So, while its impressive that the engine itself shed four kilograms and the chassis another six, what Miller is most proud of is that the Gold Wing no longer has a (heavy and large) starter motor. Instead it’s a starter/generator — essentially the technology used in high-tech automotive hybrids — that acts as both starting motor and alternator. Numerous such combinations of various electronics functions all add up, piece-by-piece, says Miller for that almost 80 pound weight savings.
noW oFFeRInG AIr MILES rEWArd MILES on ALL PurCHASES!
Suzuki: Summer Clearance Sales Event!
www.readysuzuki.com 430 Hensall Circle, Mississauga Sales direct: 866-819-4419
(SEE rEAdY PoWErSPorTS.CoM For dETAILS)
*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 $200/ TU250X $0/SV650SA $10 0 0/GSX 250R $ 0 / V Z 8 0 0 $1, 2 0 0 / G SX- R75 0 $14 0 0). A ll 2 015 /2 016 -2 018 Motorcycles come with 48/60 months SPP included. See us for full details. Offers good until September 30, 2017.
2017 Tu250X
2017 drZ70 $
All 2016-2018 Motorcycles come with 60 month SPP
2,469*
All 2016-2018 Motorcycles come with 60 month SPP
2015 SV650SA
7,769
$
All 2015 Motorcycles come with 48 month SPP
*
all 2016-2018 Motorcycles come with 60 month SPP
$
2018 GSX250r
5,179
*
2016 VZ800 $
$
All 2016-2018 Motorcycles comewith 60 month SPP
8,669
All 2016-2018 Motorcycles comewith 60 month SPP
*
5,379*
2016 GSX-r750
12,869*
$
kAWASAkI’S AuTuMn AdVEnTurES SALES EVEnT! www.readykawasaki.com • 430 Hensall circle, mississauga • 866-819-4117
continued on PG. 17
*Vehicle Licence fee (if applicable) and HST extra on all offers. Sale Price on the New Motorcycles includes freight and P.D.E., ECRF, Licence Administration Fee and OMVIC Fee. Pricing of the following include a limited time rebate of: EX300BGFA $750/EX300BHFB $500/ Versys X300 $0/Z800 $1,000/ZX6SE ABS $1,500. Motorcycle(s) and accessories shown are for illustration purposes only. Actual colours 2016 may vary depending on availability. Dealer trade or Factory Order may ZX6SEABS be necessary. Offers subject to change without notice, see us for full $ * details. Offers cannot be combined with any other offers, programs or discounts and are good until September 30, 2017.
noW oFFerInG 8,049 air6,479 miles7,079 reward miles11,119 on all11,299 PurcHases!
2016 nInJA 300 SE-ABS (EX300BGFA)
2017 nInJA 300 ABS – WInTEr TEST EdITIon (EX300BHFB)
sPECIAL PRICE! $ *
4,999
$
*
2016 VuLCAn 900
2017
VErSYS X300 $
2016 Z800
$
*
CLASSIC Vn900dGF $
*
*
OnE STOP SHOPPing: THE Only FaCTORy auTHORizEd RETailER in OnTaRiO TO OFFER HOnda, KaWaSaKi, KTM, SuzuKi and yaMaHa all undER OnE ROOF! (see ready PowersPorts.com For details) Fall Roll-out suzuki: “Time to SaleS Ride” event! *Vehicle License fee (where applicable) sales Event! and HST are extra. Vehicle(s) and
2017 drZ70
outboard Motors
2017 tu250X
22018 GSX250R
all 2016-2018 all 2016-2018 all 2016-2018 Motorcycles Motorcycles Motorcycles come with 4HP 15HP come with come with 2018 Yamaha $ * Generator $ accessories shown are for2015illustration 201760 mo kodiac Yamaha r360 mo 60 1,490 mo nth 3,088* sP P nth nth sP sP 2016 FZ7 P P EF2000iS EF3000iSEB 2015 FJ-09 FZ-10AHG 450EPS ATV Black $factory purposes only. Pricing includes 5,139* $ Coloured $ 8,100* $10,999* $16,969* $9,669* $1,155 1,050* $2,715* incentives as follows: Body (DRZ70add $200/ 100* www.readyyamaha.com TU250X $0/SV650SA $1000/GSX250R 430 Hensall Circle, Mississauga all 2016-2018 all extra on the following on the other products: (EF2000iS/ *Vehicle Licence (where applicable) and HST extra. Sale Price on the New Motorcycles includes freight and P.D.E., all 20ECRF, 16-2018Licence Administration Fee and OMVIC Fee. Freight & PDE ($65/$75/$100/$65), $0/VZ800 $1,200/GSX-R750 $1400). All All 2015Pricing of the following include a limited time rebate and discount of: (R3 $640/FZ7 EF3000iSEB/F15SMHA/F4CMHA). $160/FJ-09 $0/FZ-10ANG $0/Kodiac $0/EF2000iS $225/EF3000iSEB $150/F4SMHA $50/F15SMHA $100). Dealer order/trade may be Motor Motorcycgood 866-812-6014 2015/2016-2018 Motorcycles Motorinventory. les until September necessary, ifcome we sellwith out of our 30, 2017 2017 and are subject to change without notice, see uscycforlesfull details. November 30, cycles Vehicle(s) and accessories shown are for illustration purposes only. Offers www.readysuzuki.com come with come with 430 Hensall Circle, Mississauga 48/60 months SPP included. See us for full 48comomenthwiSPthP Ready to Race SaleS event! 60 monthwww.readyktm.com 60 sPP 430 HensallmonthCircle, Mississauga sPP details. Offers good until August 31, 2017.
$
2,469*
$
2015 sv650sa
$
2016 vZ800
7,769*
$
POWERSPORTS sales direct: 866-819-4114
5,179*
$
2016 gsX-r750
* 8,669 866-812-5582
OVER 95 USED OVER 90 O UsEd d
5,379*
12,869*
$
*Vehicle Licence fee (if applicable) and HST extra on all offers. Sale Price on the New Motorcycles includes freight and P.D.E., ECRF, Licence Administration Fee and OMVIC Fee. Pricing of the following include a2017 limited 450 time rebate XC-Fof: EX300AGF $750/EX300BHFB 2016 690 $500/ 2017 250 EXC-F * ABS $1,500.Enduro *Versys$X300 $0/Z800 $1,000/ZX6SE * $ Motorcycle(s) and* $ 11,969 13,095 accessories shown are for il ustration purposes only. Actual colours 2016 ZX6seaBs may vary depending on availability. Dealer trade or Factory Order may $ * be necessary. Offers subject to change without notice, see us for full details. Offers cannot be combined with any other offers, programs or discounts and are good until August 31,2017.
kawasaki’s across canada sales event!
MOTO MOTORCYCLEs IN-s sTOCK!
*Vehicle License Fee (where applicable) and HST extra. Some of the prices include limited time Factory Incentives: 390 Duke $800/RC390 $800/300XC $0/250 EXC-F $0/450 XC-F $0/690 Enduro $0. Offers 2017 November 30, 2017 good until September 2017.
www.readykawasaki.com • 430 Hensall circle, mississauga • 877-297-7446
2017 ninja 3000 20 20116 ninja 300 aaBs – winter 430 Hensall Circle, Mississauga www.readypowersports.com non-aBs versys X300 ttest edition (EEX300AGF) ((EX300BHFB) $ EvEnt! * Honda’s Fall Excursions salEs
SEASON OF SAVINGS SALES EVENT! 7,079 $ * $ *
55,329
66,479
TrAnSFEr PuMP
GEnErATor
2016 390 dukE
$
5,669
*
2016 rC390
$
2016 vulcan 900
LAWnMoWErS
9,269*
2017 CB300F $ *
2017 300XC
12,869
11,119*
$
2016 CBr300rAG $ *
12,269
11,369
$
classic vn900dgF
2016 Z800
$
6,169
*
2017 CB500X
2016 CBr600rAG $ *
2017 TrX420FA6
* * 9,966 8,269 12,600 * $1,999 * $4,749 4,779 4,879 1,399 4,999 1 , 289 1,799 One StOp ShOpping: the Only FactOry authOrized retailer in OntariO tO OFFer hOnda, KawaSaKi, KtM, SuzuKi and yaMaha all under One rOOF!
529 429*
$
$
WB20XK2C EU2000iT1 ParallEl EG5000
$ 389* 3 Summer SaleS event! HrS2 S2165PKCC www.readyhondapowersports.com .readyhondapowersports.com
$
499* 4
Hrr22169PKCC
$
869*
HrX21174HYC
WE HAVE LAWnMoWErS In-SToCk! 2015 Yamaha R3
2015 v-star 250
*
$
EU7000iSC
430 Hensall Circle, Mississauga
Sales Direct: 866-819-4115
$
5,139
0.9% for 24mths Purchase Financing Available on All 2014-2017 new Honda Motorcycles In-Stock!
2016 FZ7
2015 Fj-09
reduce this rate 1% under the Honda Loyalty Program: If you currently own a Honda Product with an MTo ownership (Honda/Acura Auto, Motorcycle or ATV).
2017 FZ-10aHg
Outboard Motors 2015 CBr1000S rEPSoL
* 16,169 Generator
$
EF2000iS
EF3000iSEB
2017 Africa-Twin CrF1000LArG
4HP
* 16,219 $ 1,490*
$
2016 GL1800BG
15HP * 21,769 $ *
$
3,088
November 30, 2017. 2017 Down payment or equivalent trade-in on purchase financing may be required based on approved credit from Honda Financial Services Inc. Sale Price on the *Licence fee (if applicable) and HST extra on all offers. Offers cannot be combined with any other offers, programs $ or discounts * and are good until September New Motorcycles includes freight and P.D.E., ECRF, Licence Administration Fee and OMVIC Fee. Freight & PDEBlack ($65/$65/$65/$65/$65/$65/$65/$600), ECRF ($0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$18.50) and Licence Administration ($0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$399) are all extra on the following on the other products: WB20XK2C/EU2000iT1/EG5000// EU7000ISC/HRS2165PKC/HRR2169PKC/HRX2174HYC/TRX420FA6). Pricing of the $power equipment a limited time rebate and$ discount and as follows: $0/CBR1000S $4,000/GL1800BG $3,500/TRX420FA6 $ $2,000/CRF1000LARG * * the Motorcycles/ATV’s $ *$0/CBR600RAG * may include $ * CB300F $1,000/CBR300RAG $1,200/CBX500H Coloured $ Financing $500. 0.9% Conventional Purchase financing for 24 month term applies to all 2014-2017 New Honda Motorcycle’s. * Examples: $8,000 @ 0.9% per annum for 24 months equals $336.47 per month C.O.B. is $75.28 Total Obligation $8075.28. Dealer order/trade may be necessary, if we run out of inventory of selected models. Vehicle(s) and accessories shown are for illustration purposes only. Offers subject to change without notice, see us for full details. Body add
www.readyyamaha.com• 430 hensall circle, Mississauga
4,569
100
8,100
10,999
16,969*
$
1,050
2,715
*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
November 2017 , The Motorcycle Times – 4
TwoCents Mix - 0/35/85/0
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The Motorcycle Times is published 11 times a year from Feb thru December.
scott macdonald EDITOR
A realists approach to Winterization
Let’s face it, living in Ontario has its fair share of crap to deal with over the winter. Sometimes it seems like forever before we’ll get back on two wheels, so I approach my winterizing with a bit of anticipation. So what do I mean anticipation. Ok, I’m certainly not the ultimate hardcore rider, I’m not a ‘fair weather rider’ either. I’m just an enthusiast who prefers his nipples to remain unfrozen. I ride whenever I get the chance, starting around mid-April or sometimes early May. Over the winter I like to be prepared, matbe haul the bike out of the garage and got for a putt if and when the weather decides to show a little mercy with above average temps. And by above average, I mean anything above 5°C, cause 5°C in the winter is a hell of a lot warmer than 5°C in the fall. So then how do I deal with the cold weather, a semi-idle motorcycle, and the continual desire to be on two-wheels, you ask? I do something I call “a realistic winterization”. You have heard about “winterization” before. Every fall, you’ll see at least two dozen articles on “winterizing tips”. If you plan to hibernate throughout the deep freeze and have no inclining to ride should a nice sunny day arrive then by all means, go the extra mile and follow those steps for hibernation, I mean winterization. Lets starts at the beginning. Fuel stabilizer is good magic. Why? Gas gets old. It gets funky. And it turns into sticky, ooey, gooey varnish. Untreated fuel left sitting in your gas tank and carburetor will semi-solidify and clog the itty bitty sized openings and channels here and there. Come springtime, your bike will die suddenly, have difficulty idling, or possibly fart in your general direction and refuse to start at all. And if this happens, plan to fork out a few hundred to a local shop to tear down your carburetor, soak the parts in cleaner, and reassemble. Or, you can do it yourself, enjoying 8 hours of adventure and mystery, wondering if that little spring was really
necessary, right up until you thumb the starter. You’re crazy-excited for your first ride of the year, dying to get out there and raise some hell, rolling on the throttle, and getting a “ka-PUTPUT-THUP-[silence]” while you madly stomp a foot down to keep from dumping it at 5klm an hour at a stop sign and looking like a true squid. Fuel stabilizer protects you from this embarrassment. It works by protecting the happy little gasoline molecules from the mean nasty oxygen molecules that break them down and change them into ooey-gooey’s. A little bottle of this stuff is worth the equivalent of two or three lattes. It’s a cheap easy-to-use insurance policy. The other part of fuel system winterizing is keeping your gas tank full. There is a scientific reason behind this. And, if I were so inclined, I could go into detail to explain the molecular level interactions between reactive ions in metal materials and their romantic pursuit of the oxygen component of moisture that, over time, causes corrosion, and that’s a bad thing. But it would take way too long and nobody really cares about chemistry anyway. What matters is this: moisture is bad for metals. If left sitting, the interior walls of your tank will collect moisture. Your tank is metal. You do the math. Or chemistry. Whatever. So every time you find the huevos to ride a few winter miles, stop at the gas station on your way home, and top it off. Pay attention to how much fuel you add. And when you get home, dribble some Sta-bil in there, based on the ratios they give you on the container. Run the engine every now and then, and change the oil based on actual calendar age Why? If your engine is left to sit, our old friend moisture sneaks in and attacks important internal metal thingamebobbers. By running your engine a couple of times per month, the internal doo-dadds stay lubricated with a protective film of oil thereby keeping the rusties at bay.
Just change your oil and filter as often as you usually do, every 3 to 5 thousand kms, or every 3 to 6 months, whichever comes first. During the winter, go by the calendar-age of the oil instead of the odometer-age. Running the engine degrades the oil, but so do air, moisture, and time, and the engine benefits from that internal coating every now and then. Modern batteries slowly discharge, all by themselves, just sitting there, doing nothing, lazy little so and so’s. When you ride regularly, you’re keeping your battery charged because your motorcycle comes from the factory with (voila!) a charging system. If you aren’t going to ride for 2 or 3 months, disconnect the battery and store it somewhere. But if you want to ride at a moment’s notice, get a Battery Tender and use it. These “smart” trickle-chargers only push a current when it is needed. When the battery is fully charged, the system shuts down and monitors the level. Then it kicks back in as necessary. It’s a lot like the thermostat in your house, only people don’t fight over trickle-chargers. Are you guys picking up on the trend, yet? Don’t winterize it. Just don’t let it get lonely. A few little things, a few times each month, and your bike will be ready to ride when ever you are. Use common sense. You should be changing your fork oil, replenishing your coolant and water, checking brake fluid, lubing cables, and all of that stuff regardless of what time of year it is anyway. Spend some time with your bike, keeping it looking good, and you will get to know it well. Buy the service manual from your local shop. Pay attention to the “little stuff”. Give your ride a good wipe down on a regular basis. So that’s it, just use common sense and follow these general guidelines, give the engine what it wants (fresh oil, fresh fuel, and motion), and come spring when you want to hit the road, your ride will be ready.
2O17
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well, where to hell is it when you need it. themotorcycletimes.ca
Motorcycle Injury?
Riders Representing Riders
Making It Right For You Motorcycle accidents are frightening and often result in serious injuries, leading to significant losses for you and your family. When you’re involved in a motorcycle accident, it’s important to consider all of your options. At Pronay Personal Injury Law, we help you navigate the road to recovery, from the added perspective of being riders ourselves.
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5 – The Motorcycle Times, November 2017
I thought someone said something about global warming?
What Moves Your Soul?
November 2017, The Motorcycle Times – 6
MotorcycleNews Mix - 0/35/85/0
Honda’s Neo Sports Café Racer might be perfect
Overshadowed – almost literally – by the new Honda Gold Wing announcement on the same day in the USA, the previously teased Honda Neo Café Racer was previewed in front of an adoring crowd at the Tokyo Motor Show this week. Officially it’s classed as a concept machine, but with the release of the actual machine due to be showNn at EICMA on November 6th, we reckon that bar a few
Little Kawasaki Ninja on its way!
additional pieces – namely mirrors and the obligatory mountings for license plates etc – this is pretty, pretty close to final production. Whilst other manufacturers – we’re looking at you Kawasaki and Suzuki – go the almost ‘faux’ retro route, it’s pleasing to see Honda take on a design challenge and try to add a little future spice to what is becoming an increasingly stagnant retro scene.
The new Kawasaki Ninja 400 is being dubbed by the manufacturer as “an impressive, sharp-looking, accessible sports model offering excitement and ease of riding” The new 400cc is loosely based on the outgoing Ninja 300 and predictably delivers a much greater performance thanks to its all-new 400cc engine. This, coupled to a lighter chassis makes for a very capable machine and should make the Ninja 400 a blast to ride with its light and predictable handling. With this being a “baby” ZX-10R, this bike should appeal to a pretty wide audience, and if you are a taller person you will be able to spec the 400 with a higher seat, just to enhance the comfort levels and to stop your knees sitting somewhere up around your chin. The new 400cc parallel-twin engine has been slightly tweaked in comparison to
Victory Motorcycle Recalls
Polaris Industries, owner of the now discontinued Victory Motorcycles, has announced the recall of up to 26,182 certain 2010-2017 Victory Cross Country, Cross Country Tour, Cross Roads, Magnum, and Hard Ball motorcycles. Polaris says if the engine misfires, continued riding may result in heat from the catalytic converter melting the rear brake line and nearby wiring. Damage to the brake line or wiring could increase the risk of a crash. The Safety Recall Notice states, “Continued operation with the engine in a misfire condition can result in elevated exhaust
30%K
temperatures. The rear brake line and localized electrical lines can become damaged as the result of increased temperatures.” The report indicates that when the engine is running in a misfire condition, riders will experience reduced engine performance, poor run quality and elevated exhaust temperatures. Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will re-route the brake line away from the exhaust catalyst, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in November 2017. Owners may contact Polaris customer service
the Ninja 300 too. Sure you gain another 100cc to play with but there is also a new intake and a larger air box. All changes which mean that the Ninja 400 has 45BHP at 10,000rpm with solid low-end torque. Oh and there is optional ABS and a new assist and slipper clutch helping to make this a rider friendly machine, especially for newbies. Naturally the Ninja 400 will come with a whole host of accessories to make this motorcycle your own. There’s a larger screen, the higher seat (+30mm), power outlet, pillion seat cover and a tank bag to name a few. The all-new Kawasaki Ninja 400 will be available in Metallic Spark Black and Lime Green/Ebony, with all the Kawasaki Racing Colours and graphics that you would expect. It hits dealers in February 2018 in the UK, not sure yet for US and Canada. But it shouldn’t be long after.
Yamaha has pulled the cover – sort of – off a completely new kind of vehicle: its threewheeled Niken. Officially known as a “Leaning Multi-Wheeler (LMW),”. Here’s what we know: the new LWM is powered by a liquidcooled four-stroke DOHC four-valve inline triple. Yamaha hasn’t yet stated the engine’s capacity but we’re betting it’ll be the same as the liquid-cooled four-stroke DOHC fourvalve inline triple that powers the brand’s ultra-successful MT-09 – 847 cc. The MT-09 boasts roughly 115 hp (84.6 kW) at peak. If the new Niken delivers anything close to that it will put existing three-wheelers to shame. Though, from everything we understand about the new Niken its unique handling may also make comparisons with existing three-wheelers irrelevant. “This model is equipped with LMW technology to reduce the effects of changing ride environments and to deliver a high feeling of stability when cornering,” states Yamaha in a media release. “It achieves excellent performance for spirited and sporty riding on various road surfaces and the capability to freely carve through the continuous corners of winding roads. The body design makes full use of the unprecedented front-end suspension mechanisms pairing 15-inch front wheels with dual-tube upside-down forks to visually accentuate the machine’s sporty performance and create a high-quality look and feel at the same time.” Three-wheelers have been growing in popularity recently – for different reasons in different markets. In the United States, the Can-Am Spyder series has seen steady sales growth primarily due to changes in demographics. The largest chunk of motorcyclists are aging beyond the stage in their lives when balancing a two-wheeled vehicle is easy; while a growing number of new motorcyclists are female and a vehicle like the Spyder provides a means of circumnavigating the still-too-sexist culture surrounding motorcycles. Meanwhile, in Europe and Asia smaller three-wheeled vehicles like the Piaggio MP3 have taken off thanks to increasingly congested cities. Generally narrow enough to navigate through traffic like a motorcycle, they provide a car-like confidence on the oil-slicked and pock-marked roads of major urban centers. Despite Yamaha’s use of mountain scenery in its promotional video, we suspect the Niken’s primary focus will be this urban market. Those 15-inch wheels suggest the only tire options will be those made available for scooters. Yamaha has been working on this... ah... bike(?) for a number of years now. Searching our archives, we find mention of it stretching all the way back to 2011. The first time we got a real taste of the Niken, though, was in 2014. Yamaha has not yet actually said when (or where) the Niken will be available but its certainly managed to whet our appetite.
7 – The Motorcycle Times, November 2017
Yamaha Unveils Leaning 3-Wheeled Niken
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
Sturgess Cycle 615 King Street West, Hamilton 905-522-0503 or 888-421-3333 www.sturgessonline.com
BELLEVILLE SPORT & LAWN 128 Church St. S. Belleville 613-968-4559 or 877-968-4559 www.bellevillesportandlawn.com
FasT Track Performance 3418 Catherine Street. Dorchester 519-268-8429 www.fasttrackperformance.ca
GRAND RIVER POWERSPORTS 1264 Colborne St. E. Brantford 519-759-8140 www.grandriverpowersports.ca
See your dealer for complete details. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and proper riding apparel. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
MotorsportS Pickering 3260 Highway 7, Pickering 905-620-1171 www.motorsportspickering.com
November 2017, The Motorcycle Times – 8
Friday the 13th in Port Dover
July 2012 17
I am Dover Thunder Apparel celebrates 13 years ofanbusiness Addict s ime cle T y c r o Mot The
day 13th clothing. Using such Norfolk businesses as Truckin’ T-shirts for silk screendavid rusk ing and Quick Stitch Embroidery as well as CONTRIBUTING WRITER various graphic designers,overrun.popandcrackle@gmail.com Margit’s Dover Thunder clothing line includes men’s and ladies’ t- shirts, hats, crests, kids apparel, and both long and short sleeve choices. Margit, who has lived in Port Dover for the If you think you have what it past 35 years, is the mother of two daughtakes to be a part of our team, Here you are zipping along and someIt is much harder to release a locked ters. send in a sample story to: thing makes you the brakes, annerve ani- wheel back into motion then it is to proAdmitting the grab business is a bit editor@themotorcycletimes.ca mal or a car, or maybe dumb ass gressively squeeze your way up to the wracking because it is soyour weather depenYa never know, maybe there’s a wasn’t paying enough attention, the acdent and requires substantial financial in- maximum and that tick of time looshidden Woodward or Bernstien in you somewhere. tual reason doesn’t matter. It’s theup quickvestment and physical work setting tents, ing the front as it skids is an impossible Margit at the October 2010 Friday the ness ofloves it, the surprise Margit Friday 13th inand Portwhat Dover.does learning environment. 13th. matter howpeople you reach and then pull We need to become at least partially “I’veismet from for all over the world. ExtraExtra.indd 1 12-05-30 2:24 PM the brake lever. Rarely the binders alone comfortable and graphic understand cowboy is a what’s popular I’ve met people who have flown their bikes ange with awith will save you but if used properly they happening at the threshold or you will choice of some men. in from the U.K. and people who have arwill give you the time (read the ability to be overcome by the craziness your bike Women will often go for butter yellow or rived by limo. A lot of people come back think) to expand on your escape plan or iscactus tellinggreen, you. ifThat’s evenfor aware they if areyour looking someevery year and look for my clothing. They at least mitigate the upcoming crash. Or ofthing yourdifferent bike andthan notblack. trapped in a full on Shoppers enjoy get to know you. It is a lot of fun,” she said. if you practise, you may just stop in time. zombie lock, hypnotized by whatever Margit employs about 20 people for the the quality and unique designs that MarSo, you grab a handful and instantly your about crash into. Dover to Thunder Apparel offers. event.yourself She setslistening up Thursday andpavetakes git’s Margit Wamsley, right, and friend Connie Prime showcase some of Margit’s find to the Modern tires are amazing but if we If you miss seeing on the street, she down channel Saturday.and just like that sicken- don’t help them copeherthrough ment smooth “Dover Thunder Apparel”. Toronto’s only authorized Moto Guzzi, Aprilla, can be reached at wamsley@cablerocket. Margit enjoysa working with and ing Every plasticyear, metallic scrape sliding bike direct actions their tenuous hold on comroad will break. Every application Vespa and Paiggio dealer and service centre for Norfolk makes, differentyou’ll colours andforget designs. or- the never theTexas hollow a Special Events Coordinator By Donna McMillan New and used motorcycle sales, service accessories. County parts in herand regular work day, will once sound as your lid skids on the asphalt, must begin with the thought of weight transitioning to the front and the effect “Dover Thunder Apparel”, specializing again have staff manning two booths that the pavement channel. You were fast to the brakes but not that has on traction. That first instant of in Friday 13th biker wear is celebrating its feature “Dover Thunder Apparel”. They 13th year of business this year, a year of can be found next to Dover Hairport, near slow enough once you got there. Seeing lever movement must be slow to begin three Friday 13ths and expectations that the Dover Dairy Bar and in The Arbor the threat, choosing to brake and getting the transfer but once started a progresyour fingers on the lever all need to be sive increase can be applied and as we this July 13th could be the biggest event in parking lot. 34 Futurity Gate, Suite #1, Vaughan Thirteen years ago, Margit started off done as fast as possible but then slow squeeze harder many things begin to Port Dover to date. happen. The suspension compresses 905-760-9933 • www.corsameccanica.com Owner Margit Wamsley, who works as designing hats and quickly moved to Fri- must happen, at least initially. Physics applies to all bike styles and as inertia tries to continue forward and that’s why I have only mentioned the our center of mass moves towards the front brake. Suspension travel, inertia front and down. This increases traction and the movement of our center of mass through added weight and a contact contribute to a huge transfer of weight patch that fattens as the tire sidewalls forward when we slow. Modern sport flex, putting more rubber on the road. bikes will put 100% on the front while Brake pressure can then be ramped up a longer and heavier cruiser will transi- aggressively but carefully, never out tion less, leaving more weight on the pacing the traction threshold which conback The tireCan-Am but still up withWith thea unique, stantly increases as more weight goes FOR Spyderending RT and RS roadsters. The Can-Am Spyder RT and RS roadsters. With a unique, three-wheeled stance and intuitive, rider-focused features, efficiency up front. forward. The more lever pressure apthree-wheeled stance and intuitive, rider-focused features, it’s everything you need to become one with the road. MOTORCYCLE it’s everything you the need to become one with thethe road. more weight shift and more Yes,It’scombining the front with rear plied, riding. Reinvented. Discover what thousands of riders It’s riding. Reinvented. Discover what thousands of riders can-am.brp.com. is bestalready butknow in atan emergency situation weight forward allows more pressure already know at can-am.brp.com. INSURANCE The Can-Amare Spyder RT and supply. RS roadsters. With a unique, spare synapses in short The and a faster squeeze which adds weight three-wheeled stance and intuitive, rider-focused features, danger is front wheel lock up and graballowing more…well, you see where it’s everything you need to become one with the road. bing that with theDiscover simple this goes. It’slever riding. Reinvented. whatthought thousands of riders already know at can-am.brp.com. of “stop!” will put you on your ear. So As you begin the squeeze think of evstarting where the highest threat lies erything you have just set in play. Feel and conversely the most efficient way the bike squat and unsettle when the to stop, it must be committed to muscle forks begin to dive and the shock exmemory and then you can think about tends. Understand that all the separate that right foot. ABS is great but we must actions are just that, separate and each learn how to manipulate the brakes up provides an opportunity to screw it up. to it’s intervention point because even Beginning with your decision to brake, with the wonders of technology, count- a command to the right hand and then VEHICLE STABILITY SYSTEM SEMI-AUTOMATIC DYNAMICSTEERING POWER STEERING VEHICLE STABILITY SYSTEM SEMI-AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONTRANSMISSION DYNAMIC POWER less variables such as lean angle and rain brake fluid moves, pushing pistons system No clutch lever or foot shifter here. Adjusts required effort through An automotive-like systemAn automotive-like No clutch lever or foot shifter here. Adjusts required effort through integrating stability, traction Yourup leftand thumb your acceleration, and steering integrating stability, traction Your left thumb shifts yourshifts up and acceleration, speed andspeed steering demand we develop the “feel”. against pads, pads against disc. Forks and anti-lock braking for an forefinger shifts down. With reverse. angle data. More comfort and and anti-lock braking for an forefinger shifts down. With reverse. angle data. More comfort and improved control. incredibly confident ride. incredibly confident (Manualride. available) (Manual available) improved control. A complex sequence occurs when we flex and stiffen as you feel the forces flow reach for that lever and it must begin through the frame. The back end beVEHICLE STABILITY SYSTEM SEMI-AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DYNAMIC POWER STEERING with learning to be fast at being slow. vague asshifter the bikesAdjusts attitude changAn automotive-like system comes No clutch lever or foot here. required effort through integrating stability, traction Your left thumb shifts up and your acceleration, speed and steering and anti-lock braking forefinger shifts down. Withthat reverse.crazy anglehowling data. More comfort and Whether feathering to a stop light orfor an es. Wait, what’s noise incredibly confident ride. (Manual available) improved control. death braking from 250, traction is king (!) and as your fingers pull quicker sudand to brake with maximum effect we denly you hold the brake pads in your must be able to reach the point of loosing right hand and the sintered material it very quickly. Did you know the front abrades into dust through your fingers. tire warns of a lock up with an awesome Impossible and yet you see the rear tire Dealerthe Imprint howling sound that builds intensity Dealer with Imprint lift off road as it spins in a blur, then 14 Regional Road 13, Courtland, ON Goes Here Goes Here lever pressure? There will be plenty of the pulse of a heartbeat in your hand as clues to the calamity that is about to hap- the lever519-688-3278 signals the front wheels deviapen but if panic takes you past these, the tion, slowing faster then the bike. www.lockhartsodyssey.ca Dealer Imprint next warning you get won’t be so aweThe howl is screaming at you now Here some. A chirp, maybe, followed by theGoes demanding attention but you practise screech of sliding rubber and then, yep so the superfluous is no bother. You are the pavement channel. there, at the threshold.
The Motorcycle Times is looking for a few good writers.
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©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.
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9 – The Motorcycle Times, November 2017
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 www.clarescycle.com
Sturgess Cycle Snow city cycle & marine 615 King Street West, Hamilton 1255 Kennedy Road, Scarborough Specifications, appearance, colours (including body colour), equipment, materials and other aspects of the “SUZUKI” products shown in this catalogue are subject to change by Suzuki at any time without notice, and they may vary depending on local conditions 905-522-0503 or 888-421-3333 416-752-1560 or 877-766-9248 or requirements. Some models are not available in some regions. Each model may be discontinued without notice. Please inquire at your local dealer for details of any such changes. Image contains computer-generated composites. Depending on road surface conditions, such as wet, loose, or uneven roads, braking distance for an ABS-equipped vehicle may be longer than for a vehicle not equipped with ABS. ABS cannot prevent wheel skidding caused by braking while cornering. Please drive carefully and do not www.sturgessonline.com www.snowcity.com
overly rely on ABS. SUZUKI CANADA INC. reserves the right to add any improvement to change the design or to discontinue any Suzuki Genuine Accessories at any time without notice. Please check with your local AUTHORIZED SUZUKI DEALER for details at the time of ordering. Actual colours might differ from those appearing. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Read your owner’s manual carefully. Enjoy safe riding. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Suzuki Way of Life! Specifications, appearance, colours (including body colour), equipment, materials and other aspects of the “SUZUKI” products shown in this catalogue are subject to change by Suzuki at any time without notice, and they may vary depending on local conditions or requirements. Some models are not available in some regions. Each model may be discontinued without notice. Please inquire at your local dealer for details of any such changes. Image contains computer-generated composites. Depending on road surface conditions, such as wet, loose, or uneven roads, braking distance for an ABS-equipped vehicle may be longer than for a vehicle not equipped with ABS. ABS cannot prevent wheel skidding caused by braking while cornering. Please drive carefully and do not overly rely on ABS. SUZUKI CANADA INC. reserves the right to add any improvement to change the design or to discontinue any Suzuki Genuine Accessories at any time without notice. Please check with your local AUTHORIZED SUZUKI DEALER for details at the time of ordering. Actual colours might differ from those appearing. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Read your owner’s manual carefully. Enjoy safe riding. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Suzuki Way of Life!
November 2017, The Motorcycle Times – 10
OpenRoad Mix - 0/35/85/0
30%K
Harley-Davidson Roadster marissa baecker in displacement.’ Even though the
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
My first brand new motorcycle was a 2006 Harley-Davidson Softail. From the moment I got the keys at the dealer, I invested endless time and money customizing my new ride. Harley-Davidson is about customizing. They have built a brand around it. There isn’t anything that they haven’t thought of and slapped their eagle wings onto - right down to the post-ride beer fridge. Year after year it was always something. I was proud. I was a badass chick with a Harley. I remember being asked more than once if I had bought a ‘Skirtster’ when I mentioned I owned a Harley. A Skirster was the slang for a Harley-Davidson Sportster which, at that time, was the entry level Harley most women were buying because of its compact size, lower power and lighter weight. The Sportster offered an 800 as well as a 1200 cc engine. Times have changed. When the 2017 HD Roadster entered the market, the intention was to model its predecessor Shovelhead and Ironhead engines by introducing a stylish 1202 cc air-cooled v-twin named Evolution as it ‘broke new ground
Roadster became part of the Sportster family of motorcycles, I don’t think HD had the ladies in mind in the design. In fact, this ride is more suited to the younger male with attitude to match the bike’s chop shop good looks that usually comes after some serious time tinkering in the garage. From the first showroom walk around, toned down shine with blacked-out engine styling, black inverted front forks, low slammed café-racer style bars, chopped rear fender and chrome and black split pipes and offset 5-spoke wheels give the bike an edge even before you get behind the bars. It is a bit of an about face for the chrome kings of Milwaukee known for polish and shine. It’s low to the ground, with a seat height of 749mm (29.5”) matched with ground clearance just shy of 6” and you soon realize why the foot pegs have scrape rods. Take a seat behind the bars and the Sportster signature 12.5 L peanut tank appears angled upward as you reach for the bars offering up an aggressive riding position. As I stood before the bike gearing
up, a sales rep asked me who was riding the bike – assuming that I was taking the back seat. A little surprising considering the current face of the rider has seen regular growth of women behind the bars. When I answered that I would be the rider, I found myself looking at a mildly surprised face staring back at me. Upon reflection, it could have been my height (5’11” and 34” inseam) relative to the bike as opposed to a gender issue. For my height and leg length, the back seat would have been the more appropriate place to park my backside in order to get the leg length I needed. Honestly though, that would only have solved one ergonomic problem I faced with this machine. From the rider’s position, the foot pegs are mounted with extension bars and protrude farther from the frame than usual yet the controls don’t appear to offer the same extension length and appear to be in the normal position. Even in my heavy-duty, thick leather, HD branded riding boots, I could firmly place my feet on the pegs and move them from top to bottom on both sides completely clearing both the gear
shifter and brake pad. The only way for me to easily operate the foot controls was to position myself on the bike completely bow legged but even then, the clunky transmission had me upshifting into neutral more than once and relying on the dual disc front brakes with floating rotors to slow the beast down. No matter how hard I tried, my body positioning would not line up with natural operation of a motorcycle. I decided just to place my body where it felt good, as opposed to where it was designed to be, and upon review, my feet were on the extension bars for the pegs, as opposed to the pegs themselves, and even then, my right leg had to angle out as the air filter obnoxiously protruded into my leg space. Trying to get out of stop and go traffic was frustrating. First, due to the ergonomics of the bike, and second, because each time I came to a stop and put my feet on the asphalt, I smacked my shins with the feet pegs so much so, they were bruised the following day. Finally reaching some open road without traffic lights, I was irritated and opened throttle. Surprise! The Roadster lit up and it became clear
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11 – The Motorcycle Times, November 2017
this was where the Roadster was meant to be ridden. The low-end torque was apparent in city riding but exceptional on the open road. The shorty exhaust and chrome tapped, heat-shielded mufflers aggressively growled in line with the custom style. Each gear shift was smoother the closer to 6,000 RPM and into the red line. By the time I reached the twisties, the Roadster was in its element. With the inverted front forks and 43mm suspension, paired with the sticky black walled Dunlops and a relatively light weight of 259 kg (570 lbs.), I understood why there were scrape posts on the foot pegs. The complete combination creates an extremely nimble and agile operation. Upon return of the bike a few days later, I was asked what I thought to which I responded, “There’s only one way to ride this bike.” Oddly enough, my answer and that of the service manger’s chimed in tune, “and that’s fast.” It’s true. For my body type this is not my ride. If I wanted to buy a bike to ride about town more so than the open road, this would not be my ride. However, if I wanted a sytlish custom looking, agile and powerful Harley-Davidson that performed like a sport bike on those long winding roads, the 2017 Roadster would be worth considering. MSRP varies between $13 and $13,400 with available additional options like ABS and security.
scott jackson a Harley as you watched. Meanwhile
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
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November 2017, The Motorcycle Times – 12
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Only a week or two after the world renowned Toronto International Film Festival, TIFF concluded, a slightly less famous film festival had its’ debut, the Toronto Motorcycle Film Festival, TMFF. I only learned of this happening due to observing a poster in my local bike shops window. Always being prepared to try something new, especially if it has anything to do with two wheels, September 28 to October 1 were marked into my calendar. Figuring on getting something to eat before the event, GG, (my bike) weaved through Toronto rush hour traffic. The late afternoon weather was warm and dry. The late afternoon Friday traffic – slow and stopped. Shifting up and down, starting and stopping, changing lanes back and forth, are all part of biking in TO. Close to the venue was a bar and grill named Boo’s, with an outdoor patio overlooking the street. I’m in! Walking through the joint we observed movie posters and book covers displayed on the walls, all referencing a particular movie/book. After getting situated and talking to the owner, he related how he and his wife didn’t want to run a joint with the usual, “insert your name here Bar”. He conveyed how he had always had a great affection for the “To Kill A Mockingbird’ book and film. In particular the character Boo Radley held some affinity for him and his partner. In case you haven’t read the novel, it’s set in the segregated US south, and Boo is a character, who in spite of being a challenged individual, does the right thing. It certainly provided my partner and I with a point for conversation over a cold drink. Everyone seems to be piling on the craft beer and buy local bus these days, and Boo’s was no different. That sometimes makes it a bit of a challenge to get a decent draught lager, which is my preference. A Wellington Brewery’s Helles, pronounced Hell Yes, was recommended by the waitress and is now officially recommended by yours truly as well. Sipping beer in a comfy chair on a warm evening, and watching the pedestrians walk by, and the motorcycles and their riders arrive across the street was great. The kickoff party started around 7pm on the Thursday night and was held at Hales Coffee in the DuPont area of Toronto. Bikes of all makes brought their owners to the café, with people coming and going for the couple of hours I was there. I would estimate around 50 bikers and film buffs in attendance at the height of the event. Pfaff Harley Davidson of Richmond Hill sponsored the festival, and had several new HD’s and representatives on hand. An artist was off to one side completing a painting of
some of the film makers and the event judges were milling around, affording patrons the opportunity to speak with them. The staff at Hales were fantastic, serving up wine, beer and cider to attendees free of charge. They also circulated through the crowd serving sandwiches and tacos. This wasn’t however your average motorcycle event. The DJ played an electro dance mix, (no Lynyrd Skynyrd) and the food was strictly vegetarian. Amazingly though the Steamwhistle beer, and Two Blokes Cider easily overcame my cravings for animal protein. There is no doubt that Toronto is home to some very artistic backyard bike fabricators, and I found myself wandering outside to check out the variety of motorcycles and their various reformations. Ape hanger Harleys to BMW adventure bikes and a lot of variations in between were leaning on their side stands across the road; in the “No Parking” area of course. Although the whole Thursday night event had a bit of a hipster vibe to it, everyone, myself included, had a good time. The actual films were set up to show over the Friday and Saturday, with two showings each night of different featured flicks. The venue was the old Revue Cinema, circa 1912, in the Roncesvalles village near Toronto’s High Park. In addition to a main movie, each showing included 3 or 4 short films. I bought tickets for the early Saturday showing, which presented three shorts and the feature, “Take None Give None”. I can’t improve on the promo about the movie so I will just reproduce it as follows; “Take None Give None is a portrait of the Chosen Few MC, based in South Central Los Angeles. Founded in 1959, the Chosen Few MC is the first multi-racial outlaw motorcycle club in America. The film provides a nostalgic look into the history of the club through the eyes of its founding members and tells the story of a brotherhood and the challenges they face upholding the fundamental principles, tradition and legacy of their club.” The theatre was far from full, but those present were enthusiastic; clapping to varying degrees after each film. There was certainly something for everyone. The first short which was subtitled, was about a Japanese born, US immigrant, who loved the motorcycle culture and built amazing custom bikes. The second flick was filmed in Toronto, and featured a young woman who was fabricating her own ride, including cutting the frame in half and welding on a new back end. The third was a longer film, “The Monkey and her Driver”, that followed two women sidecar racers.
13 – The Motorcycle Times, November 2017
One the driver, the other the monkey, AKA, the person on the back that throws their weight back and forth, into and out of the corners. After the showing, the guy responsible for “the Monkey” said a few words about his picture, and answered a few of the audience’s questions. Upon leaving the theatre, you were asked to vote for your favorite production. The results were to be tabulated and awards given out on Sunday, at Pfaff’s in Richmond Hill. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to that affair, but according to the internet, “Dream Racer” took the top spot, the best Canadian film went to, “Chasing Evel: the Robbie Knievel Story, and the best short was “Giovanni Burlando’s Vision”. Of course there were many films, which I didn’t have the opportunity to see, featuring many aspects of motorcycling culture. They covered an ice racing enthusiast, the crazy sport of hill climbing, trail riding in some of the nastiest places, and
the side-show spectacle, the Wall of Death. I happened to witness the Wall of Death at the Canadian National Exhibition, (CNE), many years ago. Even though it has been around for over a century,(no I didn’t see it that long ago), if you ever have the chance, go and see it for yourself. No doubt some politician may someday decide it to be too dangerous. Who even knew there was so much cinema out there, related to our passion – all things motorcycles. We all know and love the “Worlds’ Fastest Indian”, and of course, “Easy Rider”, but today it is apparent that there are a whole multitude of riders and film-makers producing good shorts and sick full length presentations on our love for motorcycling. Apparently, they are just waiting for us to discover and watch. I haven’t heard yet, on how successful this first Toronto Motorcycle Film Festival was, but you can bet, that we will be attending it again next year, if given the chance.
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2017 GOLD WING
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Adventure is in season Clare’s Cycle & Sports Ltd KWMotorcycles Honda Canada Ready Honda Honda @HondaMotoCA 799 Highway 20 West, Fenwick Conestogo Rd, Waterloo 430 Hensall Cir, Mississauga *Limited time purchase financing 465 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), 905-892-2664 519-746-7900 905-896-3500 or 855-896-0430 with $0 down payment or equivalent trade-in required, financed at 0.9% APR equals $68 weekly for 24 months. 104 weekly payments required. Cost of borrowing is $64, for aor total 888-663-6135 obligation of $7,046. Taxes, license, insurance and registration fees [all of which may vary by region] are extra. 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 FINANCING FROM www.clarescycle.com www.kwhonda.com www.readyhondapowersports.com on select new (not previously registered) Honda motorcycle models obtained from a participating authorized Honda dealer in Canada between September 1 and October 31, 2017. No regularly scheduled bi-weekly/monthly payments 2017 GOLD WING until January 1, 2018 applies only to new and previously unregistered Honda motorcycles that are financed through Honda Financial Services (HFS), on approved credit: (i) between September 1, 2017 and October 31 2017; and (ii)
0.9
NO Cycle Barrie Honda Powerhouse PAYMENTS Sturgess 2018 74 Mapleview Dr., W., Barrie UNTIL 615 King St. West, Hamilton
%*
where the total financed amount through HFS is $3000 or greater (exclusive of taxes). Regularly scheduled bi-weekly/monthly payments will be deferred until January 1, 2018. Contracts will be extended accordingly. Interest charges (if any) will not accrue during the deferral period. As of January 1, 2018, interest (if any) starts to accrue and the purchaser will repay principal and interest (if any) bi-weekly/monthly over the term of the contract. Down payment (if applicable) and certain fees (including PPSA lien registration fee and lien registering agent’s fee) due at time of delivery. Conditions apply. “Save” values shown are deducted from the manufacturer’s suggested retail price before taxes and can be combined with finance offers. 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.
705-797-2006 or 800-267-4449 www.barriehonda.com
905-522-0503 or 888-421-3333 www.sturgessonline.com
Honda Motorcycles Canada
West City Powersports FOR 24 MONTHS 676 Dundas St, W., Belleville ON SELECT MODELS 613-966-8828 or 888-966-8828 www.westcitypowersports.ca
honda.ca
@HondaMotoCA
*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 0.9% APR equals $68 weekly for 24 months. 104 weekly payments required. Cost of borrowing is $64, for a total obligation of $7,046. Taxes, license, insurance and registration fees [all of which may vary by region] are extra. 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 September 1 and October 31, 2017. No regularly scheduled bi-weekly/monthly payments until January 1, 2018 applies only to new and previously unregistered Honda motorcycles that are financed through Honda Financial Services (HFS), on approved credit: (i) between September 1, 2017 and October 31 2017; and (ii) where the total financed amount through HFS is $3000 or greater (exclusive of taxes). Regularly scheduled bi-weekly/monthly payments will be deferred until January 1, 2018. Contracts will be extended accordingly. Interest charges (if any) will not accrue during the deferral period. As of January 1, 2018, interest (if any) starts to accrue and the purchaser will repay principal and interest (if any) bi-weekly/monthly over the term of the contract. Down payment (if applicable) and certain fees (including PPSA lien registration fee and lien registering agent’s fee) due at time of delivery. Conditions apply. “Save” values shown are deducted from the manufacturer’s suggested retail price before taxes and can be combined with finance offers. 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.
honda.ca
November 2017, The Motorcycle Times – 14
ShopTalk Mix - 0/35/85/0
30%K
Trippin’
A Wrench in the Works david heron
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Just to show you that I do more than work on them and bitch and complain about how hard done by I am and what problems I constantly run into, I also ride. I make an annual pilgrimage to a small village outside on North Bay each summer with 3 friends. One guy has the use of a cottage on a small lake there. This was our fourth annual run and it has become dubbed as the Astorville Tequila Run for a few reasons that you can well imagine. To get three middle-aged guys with girlfriends and families and one old guy, me, with family commitments and holiday schedules, organized is akin to herding cats. Something that I am sure that you would find next to impossible. Anyway, we were finally able to decide on a weekend suitable for all of us. The weekend was set and use of the cottage approved and we had nothing else to do but look forward to the departure date. Now I love going away on holidays with the LSW, but to us guys there is nothing like getting away with the boys. It is very different. I can’t reveal the reasons for fear of being kicked out of the Guys with Wives and Girlfriends Secret Society so let’s just leave it at different. Planning is definitely not my strong suit but, there in my mind I started to compile a list of the things I had to bring. The previous three years I had forgotten a towel. There’s a dock and swimming is the only way to bathe. Check one. There are nice beds but we have to bring our own sleep-
ing bags and pillow. Check 2. Shorts for leisure, non-riding times and a bathing suit for the cold plunge off the dock for cleansing purposes. Check 3 and 4. Extra shirts, warm long sleeve for cool riding, maybe even clean underwear and extra socks and jeans. Check 5, 6, 7, and 8 or is it 9 ? Now I was wondering what else I needed and only had to add up the number of sleeps until the departure date. I did, however, manage to forget shoes to wear when not riding. Yes, I admit it, I am just a kid at heart. For my riding buddies, I will stipulate before they start in on me, the “kid at heart” because I am the old guy of the group. What I decided that I did need and it would likely last for the rest of my riding days, was a new set of riding boots. Years ago I bought a custom set of a high kind of British Rockers boots with buckles at the top and bottom and zippers up the back. They were a true pain in the butt and I barely wore them. They would take next to forever to put on and take off and they were knee high so they interfered with my jeans. They were beautifully made so I decided that I would treat myself to a shorter pair. These are from Gasolina Boots, made in Mexico by a Brit and sent by UPS to Canada. The leather is soft and supple and since you trace your actual foot on a piece of paper and send it to them, the fit is very good. They had a short boot which was more suitable for me. They still had the back zipper but I saw that they are now making another model with a side zipper. So,
being the custom kind of guy that I am, I asked for the short boot with no buckles and a side zipper. There was no charge for the removal of the buckles which only made sense because they saved time and labour and a small amount of materials by leaving the buckles off. There was a small upcharge for the side zippers but I figured that was worth the extra amount. Being so organized, I confirmed that there was more than enough lead time to order them and take delivery well before the set departure date for the Tequila Run. I emailed Gasolina and gave them my holiday schedule and departure date and they assured me that they could, and would, ship on time. Departure day was set for Thursday afternoon. We had all booked off work for the Friday. Gasolina shipped the Friday before and UPS confirmed a delivery date of Tuesday. I love it when a plan comes together. Two days to spare. Not so fast. Enter Canada Border Services, the same dreaded Canada Customs who make my Kawasaki parts deliveries a nightmare. They decided that my boots had to be inspected. I talked to UPS and they said that, unfortunately, they had no control over how long Customs can hold up a shipment. I checked Wednesday, no go. I checked Thursday, no go. I was going to have to go with my same old leather winter boots with fur lining and side zippers. Insert a few choice curse words here. Oh well, this wasn’t too bad of a setback. It’s just boots anyway. As you know, I now have a Triumph
Thruxton. This is my reliable ride but not too much of a touring bike. I only have a range of about 180 kms before the low fuel warning light comes on and there is 3 litres of fuel left. Here is where the abuse starts. Nothing is sacred with these guys so I am ready for the comments. To give you background, I am travelling with Mark, the Big Guy who as you may have guessed by the name rides a Harley. The giant one. Then we have our token Skinny Boy, Al, who has a big Kawasaki touring something, kind of a pseudo Harley. The littler Big Guy, Brandon, has borrowed a Buell. Unfortunately for me, he trumpets the Harley part loudly. So, I am out numbered. I don’t have anything against Harleys but they are just not for me. I am more into performance and will sacrifice a bit of comfort for that performance. Anyway, back to the matter at hand. I receive about 20 text messages about how many stops I will have to make for gas and how I should just get a Harley. Al hauls a trailer so I am able to drop my sleeping bag off at his house to lighten my load a bit. I have a waterproof bag that I had when I had a sailboat so my changes of clothes and other stuff go in that and are bungeed to the back of my seat. We are organized, I am packed and we are ready to go with just one more sleep. Now, it is Environment Canada and the Weather Network making life miserable. For days before, the weather report is at least semi favourable. Clear Thursday with a slight chance of rain, a little higher chance on Friday after we are to arrive
15 – The Motorcycle Times, November 2017
and then OK for Saturday and Sunday. That all changes on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Rain, then rain, then more rain. Pleasant on Sunday for the return trip. It is now a matter of deciding whether to go and when. Thursday, the big departure day dawns with rain and more rain. It lets off a bit before our set launch time of 3pm so we decide to do it. I have a new Joe Rocket rain suit and I bundle myself in it and off we go. As soon as we are on the road the rain starts in earnest. I have to give it to them though, my body remained dry for the whole trip. Not so much for my boots and gloves though. I didn’t realize that my feet were wet until I got off the bike for fuel and started sloshing around. They actually stayed wet for the whole weekend. I went barefoot in them on Saturday and put plastic bags over my socks for the ride home. The plastic booties were a wonderful source of ridicule from the darn Harley contingent. The ride north was basically uneventful. Constant wiping my visor but no real problems. All the bikes ran well and we arrived on time, somewhat wet but none the worse for wear. Friday dawned just about as bad as Thursday. It rained all day but with very short intervals of sun as a teaser before the rain started again. Finally after we dressed for the second time only to have the rain start again, we gave up and decided to forget about a Friday ride. The local food store is also an LCBO and Beer Store which we all agreed was very civilized so we got food and a little liquid encouragement. I mean really, we couldn’t ride so we had to do something. We spent the day with verbal abuse between Harley Davidson and Brit and Japanese bikes. We learned a little about each other’s lives and wives and generally had a fun time. Boys weekend stuff. Saturday, not wanting to be any different or encouraging, started out wet. Boy, what a welcome change. We had a hearty breakfast and this was the point at which we found that Brandon, our Little Big Guy, had never made toast before and then later on, we also learned that he had never made a salad before either. So now we were helping his girlfriend to be the proud recipient of a better and more well-rounded guy, a very noble cause and a point of pride for a bunch of guys. He now knew how to make toast and salad. Who knows, maybe next year we can teach him to cook bacon or even slice tomatoes. We are just making him more of a prize for the lucky lady. The sun finally arrived early Saturday afternoon and we were finally able to go for a ride. It was a nice change to get outside and away from the numerous bags of potato chips and snacks. We were able to do a comparison test on almost every variety of chips and a goodly number of chip dips as well. The food was good and the ride home through Huntsville, Minden and Orillia was great despite the construction on Highway 35 with grooved pavement and about 20 kilometers of gravel road. We made it home in one piece, maybe all a little fatter but we are still friends and are looking forward to next year. I think that I will start a diet now to get rid of some of those chips. I don’t want to start looking like a Harley rider. Maybe they will all decide to get Triumphs for next year. But what fun would that be? A weekend without abuse, who wants that?
1290 Super Duke R Special Edition RAW, PURE AND BEYOND REASON King of the jungle, beating its chest with a hair-raising rumble. Wild on the face of it, but just as refined as the original within. And packing a knockout PowerParts punch. The result is lightweight and tailor-made, with an Akrapovič silencer howling for more and an exclusive paint job screaming for attention. From you, the boss.
Visit an Authorized Dealer for more details FACTORY RECREATION 347 Cranston Cres., Midland 705-526-2248 or 888-537-0636 www.factoryrecreation.com
ORANGE MOTORSPORTS 6423 Dale Rd., Port Hope 289-252-0693 or 866-288-2712 www.orangemotorsports.ca
WHEELSPORT 1390 Youville Dr., Ottawa 613-841-9400 or 888-696-2163 www.wheelsport.ca
HB CYCLE & OUTDOOR CENTRE 66 McLarens Creek Rd., Cameron 705-328-2453 www.hbcycle.com
GP BIKES 1100 Champlain Crt., Whitby 905-428-8983 or 866-475-7111 www.gpbikes.com
CLARE’S CYCLE & SPORTS LTD 799 Highway 20 West, Fenwick 905892-2664 or 888-663-6135 www.clarescycle.com
READY KTM 430 Hensall Cir., Mississauga 905-896-1600 or 855-896-0430 www.readyktm.com
November 2017, The Motorcycle Times – 16
Space Tight?
noob’s corner emin smajic
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Who wears the pants? Limited Edition Dual Ride-Up SRL Stand-Up™ Motorcycle Trailer Shown
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Actually, who wears the riding pants in “da house”? Well, the answer should be - everyone! My motorcycle journey started in jeans, thick ones mind you. On a training course, that might be sufficient, of course if you don’t fall. Higher speeds increase potential injuries, but even slow speed riding can leave marks. Sliding being one aspect of a potential fall is not all that it is. Hitting hard surface without any cushioning is not good either. You can always try to get away with, “I am cautious and taking it slowly so I am good in regular jeans”. But, it is not only you in the equation. Something will happen one day and you don’t want that day to be when you don’t have proper gear on, so it’s best to use it every day. Many people mention comfort as a reason to avoid riding pants. Second comes the heat... and last but not the least is bulkiness and inability to walk around like normal people (that would go under cool as well). That is not enough of a reason not to protect yourself. Riding is the most important part that you need your gear for, everything before and after can be adjusted. Choosing the right riding pants for your bike and riding style can actually increase your comfort. There are many options to choose from; starting with riding jeans that is strengthened with fibres and armour that offers better protection than regular jeans. Then there are Leather riding pants, and textile ones with skid resistance and armour. Your choice needs to fit your riding style. It is not going to be the same for racing versus long distance riding etc. Important piece is size and fit. Make sure you nail size and fit since comfort and most importantly protection depends on it. Buy them in the store and try them on than to gamble online and have wrong size. Remember you get what you pay for. My choice was textile pants with a waterproof layer. Let’s start with comfort. Most important first step is size. Paramount of comfort is that you can sit comfortably in the riding position. Think in terms of sitting for hours not minutes. Knee protection that is going to squeeze your knees and bother you is opposite of comfort and that can distract you and undermine the protection that you aimed for. Be especially mindful of size if you are planing to wear something underneath by leaving room for that extra layer - colder weather may call for long johns or you just want to have the option to take them off and still be presentable. This goes for both confort and protection - armour needs to be in the right place when in riding position. Ideally, buy riding pants with adjustable armour positioning.
While at armour subject – more is better! Opt for pants that provide knee, butt and hip protection. Heat and cold. Either you have two (or more) riding pants that cover both ends of the spectrum or one that can be adjusted. For spring riding season this may not be an issue. But, on a hot summer day, when temps can rise to 25 and 30 degrees it’s a different story. Some riders lean to wearing regular jeans in this scenario, not much protect but not as hot and sweaty. For protect and comfort in hot weather you want to make sure that your pants have zippers that you can open to allow for air circulation or some mesh or removable parts. In my case I can remove parts that go from back to the thighs. In cooler riding you won’t be removing or opening things, you will want to close up all zippers, and vents. And propably add more layers. One day I started my ride mid day at around +20 degrees and ended it in the evening (going north) close to 10... I was shaking and needed to stop and layer up. Always bring extra layers, its better to have and not need, then to need and not have them. Bulkiness. Last but probably most obvious complaint no mater your riding style. It’s easier just to get off of the bike and walk around in jeans, but you need protection while riding. Funny enough over pants can actually offer better comfort with little work. During summer that was my tactic. I had regular jeans or shorts under my riding pants. And when I arrived at my destination I would take my riding pants off and mingle with people like a regular civilian. Beginners luck. Since I bought my pants when it was cold I really did not spend that much time researching how will they perform in hot weather. Buying them from a good shop assured that they covered what I needed even if I did not know it at the time. I did get an explanation about removing parts but in all my excitement I was actually listening to every third word and just nodding my head. One hot August day after a bit of a ride I needed to check on what the salesman said about removing parts of my pants for extra cooling. Discovering that I could remove generous portions from my back and front I was ready to jump for joy and hug the first passer by However, I did control myself and resorted to a happy melody and feeling of bliss. Spending the money on a quality multi layer riding pant really covered me for all seasons. Whether it is long trips or short, hot, cool or cold multi layer is the way to go, and I never looked back on riding in regular jeans after my course.
2018 Honda Gold Wing But, even more impressive is the bike’s svelte silhouette. Smaller in every dimension — and most impressively in width of the fairing — Savino notes that, despite the smaller frontal area wind protection, the new Wing’s wind protection is actually superior to the old. Essentially what Honda has done is place the rider some — and this is just a guess — 75 millimetres closer to the fairing, which means the onrushing air has less chance to curl over the windscreen and cause turbulence to the rider and passenger. That’s basic aerodynamics. How did they get the rider closer to the fairing? Well that, as they say, is the trick. First, according to Savino, the Gold Wing’s trademark opposed six was shortened, in part by using a slightly narrower bore and also because the cylinder liners are now thinner — some 29-mm, in fact so that the rider’s feet could be moved that inch plus forward. More subtle is the front suspension. Of course, the Hossack-style double wishbone system is known for its superior performance, greater rigidity (the previous front telescopic fork was seriously challenged by the Gold Wing’s weight) and reduced dive during braking. Less apparent, though, is that when the Hossack does respond to bumps, the front wheel rises almost vertically: Conversely, with a front telescopic fork, the front tire, of course, moves backwards as well as up. Because the new Wing no longer
for big tourers is rapidly aging — will creep forward (at 1.8 km/h) to allow easy back-and-forth parking. This, again, is all accomplished through the DCT using the engine for power. Manual transmissioned models will reverse — but not creep forward — and use the electric starter/generator for motivation. There are also plenty of new hightech features. Besides the expected ABS, there are four riding modes — Tour, Sport, Econ, and Rain — which, on the higher end models, also adjust suspension damping front and rear. Separately there’s an electronic rear spring adjustor, allowing you to choose from multiple rear preload settings from single rider with no luggage to two riders with full luggage. Higher-end models also get traction control — in Honda parlance, Honda Selectable Torque Control. There’s even a Hill Start Assist system for when you’re taking off up a steep incline. There’s a new telematics system with
fancy automotive-style rotary twiddle nob that provides access to the options on the new seven-inch TFT screen. Apple CarPlay is available; Android Auto is not, but plans are afoot to incorporate it. Additionally, there’s a way trick keyless entry system that automatically locks the bike — and saddlebags — when you walk away while also preventing you from locking the key in said saddlebags. Indeed, there’s much more to the new Gold Wing than we have space for here. What you need to know is that the motorcycle that started motorcycling’s touring revolution way back in 1975 is back on top and will be in dealers by early spring. The Gold Wing (nee F6B) starts at $26,999 while the Gold Wing Tour (the one you think of as a Gold Wing) retails, in its base guise, for $30,799 and touches $34,600 for the all-singing all-dancing model with DCT and air bag. For comparison the current F6B starts at $23,999 and the Gold Wing at $30,999.
noW oFFeRInG AIr MILES rEWArd MILES on ALL PurCHASES!
HONDA’S FIND MY SUMMER RIDE EVENT! (SEE rEAdY PoWErSPorTS.CoM For dETAILS)
WWW.READYHONDAPOWERSPORTS.COM • 430 HENSALL CIRCLE, MISSISSAUGA • SALES DIRECT: 866-819-4116
FIND MY SUMMER RIDE EVENT! *Vehicle
fee (where Suzuki: Clearance applicable)License Suzuki:FallSummer and HST are extra. All 2016-2018 Vehicle(s) and accessories shown 419 1 289 1 779 4,579 Motorcy Sales Event! Clearance Event! are for illustration purposes only. come cles 9799 WB20XK2C Sales EU2000IT1 PARALLEL EG5000 TRANSFER PUMP
BF2.3H HP
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2015 CBR300RTA
*
2017 drZ70 * $ * 2,469 6,269 2015 CBR500R $
with Pricing includes factory incentives 60 month SPP
LAWNMOWER
2017 Tu250X
2014 VFR800
5,179*
All 2016-2018 $ * Mo11,919 torcycles come with 60 month SPP 2016 $
2015 CBR1000S
$
All 2016-20
*18 20,069 Motorcycles
comewith 60 month SPP 2014
2018 GSX250r $
5,379* 2015 TRX420FA6
7,349*
$
22014 CTX1300A 2016 CBR600RA as follows: (DRZ70 $200/ TU250X GL1800BG GL1800ADE $ * $ * $0/SV650SA $1000/GSX250R $ * 15,600 $ * (Airbag) 2016 TRX420FM2 389 89 13,969 599 9 $0/ VZ80 869 8 24,169 $ * 0 $1,20 0/GSX- R750 $ * 2016 7,199 2015 SV650SA HRS2164PDC DC GSX-r750 2016 VZ800 29,169 HRR2169VVKCC HRRX2175HYC 9-4116 MTHS. PURCHASE FINANCING! $140 0). All 2015/2016 -2018 -2018 All 2016-2018 2.99%/36 $FINANCING * $ ARE GOOD UNTIL * AUGUSTallMo2031,162016. $ * *LICENCE FEE (IF APPLICABLE) AND HST EXTRA ON ALL OFFERS. OFFERS CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS,All PROGRAMS DOWN PAYMENT OR EQUIVALENT TRADE-IN ON PURCHASE MAY BE REQUIRED 2015 OR DISCOUNTS AND tor cy Motorcycles come with 48/60 cles FEE. FREIGHT & PDE ($50/$50/$65/$65/$65/$65/$75/$75/$50/$50/$600/$600), Motorcycles BASED ON APPROVED CREDIT FROM HONDA FINANCIAL SERVICES INC. SALE PRICE ON THE NEW MOTORCYCLES INCLUDESMoFREIGHT AND P.D.E., ECRF, LICENCE ADMINISTRATION FEE AND OMVIC ECRF ($0/ cycles ON THE FOLLOWING ON THE OTHER PRODUCTS: 2.3DK2SCHC/WB20XK2C/EU2000IT1/EG5000/HRS2164PDC/HRX2175HYC/HRR2169VKC come with $0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$24.86/$24.86) AND LICENCE ADMINISTRATION ($0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$0/$299/$299) /TRX420FA6/ months SPP included. See us ARE ALLtorEXTRA co me wi th come with 60 mo TRX420FM2). PRICING OF THE POWER EQUIPMENT MAY INCLUDE A LIMITED TIME REBATE AND DISCOUNT AND THE MOTORCYCLES/ATV’S AS FOLLOWS: CBR300RTA $1,300/CBR500R $1,100/VFR800 $3,500/CBR1000S $1,000/CBR600RA $5,000/ GL1800BG $1,000/ nth SPP 60 $800/CTX1300A for full details. Offers good until mo SPP SUBJECT GL1800ADE $3,500/TRX420FA6 $1,750/TRX420FM2 $900. DEALER ORDER/TRADE MAY BE NECESSARY, IF WE RUN OUT48OFmoINVENTORY TO CHANGE WITHOUT nth SPP OF SELECTED MODELS. VEHICLE(S) AND ACCESSORIES SHOWN ARE FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY.nthOFFERS November 30, 2017 September 2017. NOTICE, SEE US FOR FULL DETAILS.
ports.com issauga
$
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7,769
www.readysuzuki.com 430 Hensall Circle, Mississauga Sales direct: 866-819-4419
8,669
12,869
KAWASAKI AuTuMn SUMMERTIME SALES EVENT! kAWASAkI’S AdVEnTurES SALES EVEnT! WWW.READYKAWASAKI.COM • 430 HENSALL CIRCLE, MISSISSAUGA • 866-819-4112
www.readykawasaki.com • 430 Hensall circle, mississauga • 866-819-4117
4YR. K PP INC.! Sale *Vehicle Licence fee (if applicable) and HST extra on all offers.
Price on the New Motorcycles includes freight and P.D.E., ECRF, Licence Administration Fee and OMVIC Fee. Pricing of the following 2015 NINJA 2015 NINJA 2015 2015 2015 2015 VULCAN 900 NINJA includeVAQUERO a 2016 limited time rebate of: EX300BGFA $750/EX300BHFB $500/ VERSYS ULTRA 310 LX 300 650 CUSTOM ZX6SE ABS 1000LT 1700$0/Z800 $1,000/ZX6SE ABSJETSKI (NON-ABS) (ABS) Versys X300 $1,500. Motorcycle(s) and 2016$ nInJA 300 * $ 300 * $ * $ * $ * $ * for illustration$ purposes only. Actual * colours 2017 nInJA accessories shown are SE-ABS 2016 VuLCAn 900 2016 2017 ABS – WInTEr depending on availability. Dealer trade or Factory Order may may vary (EX300BGFA) ZX6SEABS CLASSIC Vn900dGF 2016 Z800 *VEHICLE LICENCE FEE (IF APPLICABLE) 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 NEWOffers MOTORCYCLES INCLUDES FREIGHT ANDsee P.D.E., ECRF, VErSYS X300 TEST AND EdITIon (EX300BHFB) be necessary. subject to change without notice, us for full sPECIAL PRICE!FEE AND OMVIC FEE. FREIGHT & PDE ($650) AND LICENCE ADMINISTRATION ($299) ARE ALL EXTRA ON THE ULTRA 310LX PRICING OF THE FOLLOWING INCLUDE A LIMITED TIME REBATE OF: EX300AFF $1,100/EX650EFF $1,100/VN900CFF $1,000/ZX636FFFA LICENCE ADMINISTRATION details. Offers cannot be combined with any other offers, programs or $ * $ * $ * $ * $1,400/KLZ1000BFF $900/VN1700KGF $0/JT1500MFF $1,000. 48 MONTHS$KAWASAKI PROTECTION ARE FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY. ACTUAL COLOURS MAY $ * * PLAN IS INCLUDED AT NO CHARGE ON THE 2015 ULTRA 310LX JETSKI. MOTORCYCLE(S) AND ACCESSORIES SHOWN discounts and are good until September 2017. November 30, 2017 VARY DEPENDING ON AVAILABILITY. DEALER TRADE OR FACTORY ORDER MAY BE NECESSARY. OFFERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE, SEE US FOR FULL DETAILS.
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17 – The Motorcycle Times, November 2017
has to contend with the front wheel hitting the bodywork under full deflection, the engine can be moved further forward and – I’m thinking you’re getting the drift of this now – the rider is again closer to the front fairing. Look at the forwardfacing pictures of the two generations of Gold Wings side-by-side and marvel at how much narrower Honda’s engineers have been able to make the 2018 without sacrificing, they swear, one little bit of aerodynamic comfort. Of course there’s lots more to the new Gold Wing than just reduced weight. That smaller engine, for instance, now features four valves per cylinder operated by the Honda’s Unicam (which started as an off-road technology but is gradually being seen in more of Honda’s streetbikes). Banish thoughts of gargantuan increases in power, however. Honda claims about five per cent more maximum topend horsepower and about the same increase in off-idle torque, but the midrange, where the 1,833-cc six will spend most of its time, is almost identical to the outgoing model. Any significant increase in performance will come from the aforementioned weight loss, not more power. More noticeable is the inclusion of Honda’s Dual Clutch Transmission on the new Gold Wing. Now with seven speeds, its operation remains similar to the operation of the Africa Twin’s DCT. In automatic mode, it shifts through the gears itself; in manual mode, a couple of handlebar-mounted flippers manage the gear selection process. The big difference is that DCT-equipped Wings — only on the Tour model in Canada, though DCT is available across the board in the US — allows a reverse gear that will let you crawl backwards at 1.2 kilometres an hour. It even — because the demographic
CONTINUED FROM PG.03
November2017, 2017, The Motorcycle Times – 18 November
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Shannonville Motorsport Park will host 2018 Mopar CSBK Opener The opening event of the 2018 Mopar CSBK Canadian National Championship will take place at Shannonville Motorsport Park’s “Pro Circuit” May 25-27, 2018. For the third straight season, the National motorcycle road racing tour will begin at the famous S.M.P. venue located just east of Belleville in south eastern Ontario. Shannonville Motorsport Park rst hosted motorcycle racing with it’s debut event on Thanksgiving weekend, 1976, and since then has established a reputation as one of Canada’s most popular competition venues. Formed in 1981, Shannonville-based event organizers RACE host the Regional “Super Series” Championship on various versions of the S.M.P. track. While several different layouts at S.M.P. are available, the nine turn, 2.47 km “Pro Circuit” has lately been the most popular choice with the National Championship Pro and Amateur competitors. In 2017, a new community-focused partnership was developed for S.M.P.’s opening round, with the Trenton Military Family Resources Centre participating in the event. With so many military members and veterans in the greater Belleville area, the MFRC was a perfect t for CSBK Superbike at Shannonville. 2018 will mark the 54th National Championship round at the circuit, originally known as Nelson International Raceway, after builder and initial operator John Nelson. Over the past 16 years, the victor at the Shannonville opener has gone on to win the overall National title and number one plate 12 times. Last season, Mopar Express Lane/ Motovan backed veteran Jordan Szoke of Lynden, ON moved through the busy eld on his BMW S1000RR Superbike to take the Feature race victory, eventu-
ally clinching the overall title at the nal event at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, ON. This success marked Szoke’s 12th career overall title – no other racer has more than six Pro Superbike number one plates. At Shannonville in 2018, much attention will be focused on the debut of a brand new category in the National Championship CSBK Series, Amateur Lightweight Production. With two Ltwt races scheduled, one Saturday and one Sunday, Shannonville will showcase these small displacement, entry level production-based machines from Kawasaki, KTM, Yamaha, Honda and other manufacturers. The rules for the new Lightweight category are loosely based on the standards employed by the Kawasaki Ninja 300 spec series that ran as part of the National tour in 2016 and 2017. 15-year-old Xavier Paradis of Shannon, Quebec won the Championship in 2017, and must be considered a favourite in 2018 for the inaugural Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike Title. Meanwhile, the 2017 Mopar Express Lane-sponsored Lightweight Production Championship at the RACE Regional Series at Shannonville was won by National Ninja 300 front runner Jake Leclair of Blackstock, ON. At the nal 2017 RACE Regional at the end of September, Leclair switched to a Yamaha YZF-R3 and dominated the race, riding with prototype Dunlop Sportmax Q3 tires. Next year, all racers will run on the new Dunlop spec rubber as supplied by distributors Pro 6. The RACE “Super Series” regional season program will open 2018 with a round May 11-13, and some CSBK participation is expected for that event. The traditional Shannonville School and Test Days will take place April 28 and 29, while the VRRA’s opening Vintage event of 2018, the Quite TT, is slated for S.M.P. May 31 – June 4.
By Mat Oxley …and it probably is, but even if Andrea Dovizioso fails to climb the cliff at Valencia, he can still be satised with a near-perfect 2017 The odds will not be stacked in Andrea Dovizioso’s favour when he gets to Valencia next week. But there’s a tired old saying we’ve been regurgitating in the MotoGP media centre for the past three decades or so: anything can happen in motorcycle racing, and usually does. Or as the late, great Nicky Hayden put it: “That’s why we line up on Sunday – you never know what’s going to happen.” Because neither were the odds stacked in Hayden’s favour when he travelled to Valencia in November 2006. That year everyone thought the title was already as good as done. Valentino Rossi went into the nal race eight points ahead of Hayden, having won ve races to Hayden’s two. But Hayden made it happen. While Rossi seemed strangely overawed by that momentous day, the American risked everything. “All In” proclaimed the logo on the backside of his leathers – he put all his chips on the table and it worked. This year is very different to 2006, of course. The gap between Dovizioso and Marc Márquez isn’t a tricky eight-point
gap, but a nigh-on-impossible 21 points, despite Dovizioso’s near-perfect season. The riders are different too. Certainly, Dovizioso is a very different racer to Hayden. Dovizioso is all about the head. While Hayden made his name manhandling dirt-track bikes and superbikes with big handfuls of throttle, Dovizioso climbed the ladder on 125s and 250s, using precision and momentum all the way. Dovizioso is clever, he thinks a lot and he isn’t the kind of rider who wins races by bending the laws of physics like Marc Márquez does. He wins races by applying science, not by riding around the outside of it. When his bike is good enough to win, he will ght for the win. When his bike is good enough for fourth, he will most likely nish fourth. It will be interesting to see how the sense of occasion affects him at Valencia. Will it inspire him to do things he’s never done before? Probably not. “I have conrmed that it’s possible to win without doing crazy things,” he told me a while back. “The key to winning is a lot of things. You must put everything together and you must understand how you can manage every situation. It’s about a lot of work in a lot of areas. It’s about having the right mentality.”
Rossi: Broken leg didn’t cost me MotoGP title shot Valentino Rossi says that breaking his right leg earlier this season did not ultimately cost him the chance of winning this year’s MotoGP title. Despite doctors predicting he would have to rest for at least 30 days, he returned to MotoGP action at Aragon, taking part in Friday practice 22 days on from the breakage. Rossi had been only 26 points adrift of the lead of the championship prior to Misano, but missing the Italian race and then crashing out in Motegi ended any hopes of him taking an eighth premier-class crown. But the 38-year-old doesn’t believe that he could have kept pace with title protagonists Marc Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso in any case, owing to the Yamaha’s recurrent rear grip problems.
“For me, not a lot better because I have too many problems,” Rossi conceded when asked how much higher in the championship he would’ve been without his injury. “So, realistically speaking, even if I don’t break the leg, I can’t ght for the championship because I was not strong enough. I was never able to do two good races in a row.” But the Italian feels the bike still has untapped potential, and that it is still capable of delivering strong performances in the dry. “In my opinion the potential of the bike is not bad, the problem is it doesn’t work with the tyres,” he said. “But we have learned many important things, even though it has been a very difcult season.”
19 – The Motorcycle Times, November 2017
Valencia, It all comes down to one last race.
The 2017 MotoGP World Championship comes down to the nal race at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain on November 12. Respol Honda Team’s Marc Márquez—the defending MotoGP World Champion—goes into the last round of the season with a 21-point lead over Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso. Here’s what it will take to win, as well as other battles down the eld. 1. Andrea Dovizioso must win. If Dovi is to become the 2017 MotoGP World Champion, he must win the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana. Second place in Valencia will mean second place for the year for Dovizioso. There is no room for error for the Ducati rider. 2. Marc Márquez can clinch it with an 11th place nish. With a 21-point lead, Márquez needs to score ve points if Dovizioso wins—that mean 11th place or better. If Dovi wins in Valencia, Dovi will have more wins than Márquez—7 to 6. That means Dovizioso will take the 2017 MotoGP World Championship if they end up tied on points. 3. Márquez has scored zero points in three races this year. He crashed out in Argentina and France, and had a mechanical failure in Great Britain. When Márquez has nished this year, he has been no lower than sixth place (Mugello). 4. Maverick Viñales has locked up third place in the series. Win or out of the points, Viñales isn’t going anywhere. He’ll be riding for pride in Valencia in front of the Spanish crowd. 5. Valentino Rossi is in fourth place, 12 points ahead of Dani Pedrosa. Rossi can clinch fourth for 2017 by scoring 13 points—Rossi owns the tiebreaker unless Pedrosa nishes second in Valencia. That means fourth place in Valencia gives Rossi fourth place for the year. Pedrosa will have to nish fourth place or better to have any chance of passing Rossi in the standings. 6. Johann Zarco has a 17-point lead over Jorge Lorenzo for sixth place in the 2017 MotoGP World Championship Series. Zarco will need nine points to wrap up sixth place, which means he will have to nish sixth or better at Valencia. If Zarco and Lorenzo tie on points, Lorenzo takes sixth on the tiebreaker. 7. Danilo Petrucci is in eighth, 14 points behind Lorenzo and 17 points ahead of Cal Crutchlow.Petrucci can hold eighth if he nishes eighth or better in Valencia, unless Crutchlow wins. If Crutchlow wins, Petrucci will need an eighth place nish to clinch his spot. Lorenzo can ensure he stays ahead of Petrucci with a fourth or better, even if Petrucci wins (always a possibility should it rain in Spain). 8. Jonas Folger is in 10th, but won’t be racing. For Alvaro Bautista to catch Folger, he’ll need a seventh or better. Jack Miller can pass Folger with a fth or better.
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©2017 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Offers valid in Canada only from September 21, 2017 to January 31, 2018. The terms and conditions may vary depending on your province and these offers are subject to termination or change at any time without notice. See an authorized BRP dealer for details. †GET 4-YEAR COVERAGE WITH FREE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE: Eligible units are select new and unused 2018 Can-Am Spyder models (excluding 10th anniversary models) purchased from a BRP participating dealer. The buyer of an eligible unit will receive the 24-month BRP Limited Warranty plus 24-month B.E.S.T. coverage. The buyer of eligible units will also receive 48 months of FREE Roadside Assistance. B.E.S.T. service contract is subject to a $50 deductible on each repair. For complete details, please see the BRP limited warranty and the B.E.S.T. agreement at an authorized BRP dealer near you. Some models depicted may include optional equipment. Follow all instructional and safety materials. Always observe applicable local laws and regulations. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and appropriate protective clothing. Always ride responsibly and safely. Always remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix.
©2017 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Offers valid in Canada only from September 21, 2017 to January 31, 2018. The terms and conditions may vary depending on your province and these offers are subject to termination or change at any time without notice. See an authorized BRP dealer for details. †GET 4-YEAR COVERAGE WITH FREE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE: Eligible units are select new and unused 2018 Can-Am Spyder models (excluding 10th anniversary models) purchased from a BRP participating dealer. The buyer of an eligible unit will receive the 24-month BRP Limited Warranty plus 24-month B.E.S.T. coverage. The buyer of eligible units will also receive 48 months of FREE Roadside Assistance. B.E.S.T. service contract is subject to a $50 deductible on each repair. For complete details, please see the BRP limited warranty and the B.E.S.T. agreement at an authorized BRP dealer near you. Some models depicted may include optional equipment. Follow all instructional and safety materials. Always observe applicable local laws and regulations. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and appropriate protective clothing. Always ride responsibly and safely. Always remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix.
November 2017, The Motorcycle Times – 20
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CONTRIBUTING WRITER
What a beautiful closing of my first full riding season – I was in Port Dover on Friday the 13th! Let’s start from the beginning. First some background for noob’s like me out there. Port Dover is located on Lake Erie and it is roughly two hours ride/ drive from Toronto. Every Friday the 13th Port Dover hosts one of the biggest motorcycle gatherings in Canada (maybe even the biggest). For the last 31 years they hosted 63 consecutive events. It all started in November 1981 when Chris Simons invited group of his friends with motorcycles to get together in a venue in downtown Port Dover. They had a blast and legend has it someone suggested let’s meet again every Friday the 13th. From two dozen motorcyclists at that first gathering to an estimated 100,000 motorcyclists and visitors in a single day. What a way to build a legacy. I knew I would go there at some point in my riding life but wasn’t sure when. I was aiming for one of the events during the summer when the weather is nice and the days are long. So I was almost ready to leave this till July 2018. A recent conversation with fellow Riders in Belfountain changed everything. Someone mentioned that they were going and I asked what is it like. They said it was a great event where you can see many bikes and tons of friendly people ... and (and this was the part that sealed the deal) the only way to get in to the town on Friday the 13th is on two wheels, cars are not allowed in the city during the festivities. It hit me like a lightning bolt form the sky - OMG I need to experience that this year! October 13 2017 was only 16 degrees, cloudy, rainy and an overall miserable looking day in Mississauga. At first I was a bit hesitant. Rain was sporadic and light, I was geared up and decided to give it a shot no matter what. The forecast was showing sunny and less than a 10% chance of rain in Port Dover. I’ve been
rain was starting to be a non issue. Our riding season is coming to an end soon and this would be an awesome highlight to end on - so I hit the road around 1pm. Somewhere around Burlington (20 minutes in to my ride) it started raining. I was prepared and felt good that I experienced it before so it was no big deal. I was cautious but relaxed. It also helped that I put new tires on about a month ago so they were grippy like there is no tomorrow. The rain stopped before Hamilton, so far so good. I decided to take rural roads from there to enjoy the ride till I reached my destination. I followed highway 6th north to Dundas Street, then highway 52. I started seeing more and more motorcycles on the road. Greeting them felt even more special than usual since we were all going to the same destination. The closer I got to Dover, the nicer the weather seemed to get. It was over 20 degrees by the time I reached Highway 5, what an awesone day for a ride. Motorcyclists were coming from every direction and and all merging together. My heart started beating faster, the excitement was almost too much. And than we came to a road block on highway 5 – Surprise! I learned later that if you checked the route info that was mentioned... well, where is the trill if all is known in advance. We needed to turn around and make a d-tour. At this point my route plan went down the drain but I was in a group of motorcyclists so I just went with the flow – they probably knew where they were going – I took a gamble with the weather man and I was in a winning streak so I followed along. A few roads left, a few roads down and in a couple of minutes we were on the main street. A police crew were welcoming us and directing traffic, I kinda felt special. Now we were at the entrance to Dover, this is where only 2 two wheels are allowed. Oh what a feeling!!! From the beginning of the street to as far as my eyes could see there were
three extremely long lines of motorcycles densely packed with barely enough space to ride in between down the street. I was overwhelmed! You know how they say you need to experience something bigger than yourself in order to understand it. Well, it was so true, even though I had heard so much about it, it was even better than I had imagined. When you go there for the first time you will know what I am talking about. The next thought was where do I park? Good news is everything is very well organized and needless to say it is free. But, there are so many motorcycles that squeezing in became a bit of a challenge. I decided to try my luck and ride closer to the core of the action. Just before the center I found a spot and pulled in. When I took my helmet off I was greeted with the warmth of the sunshine and summer like temperature. Large crowds of people mingling in between bikes. Checking them out. Snapping photos. People greeting and meeting on the street. Lively conversations on every corner. I just hoped no one would wake me up from this dream! I took a walk around town and checked out what was going on. It’s a beautiful little town. Today there were tons of vendors and even test rides setup by Harley Davidson. I skipped that part since there was a really long lineup and I was slowly melting (too lazy to take my rain pants off). The event was very well organized, they thought of everything; from parking, to routes through the streets and last but not the least portable toilets. And the weather man was spot on, it probably pushed over 25 degrees it was a beautiful summer day in the middle of the October. Live music was loud, ice cream, hamburgers and all regular fair things. Many vendors were selling pins, banners and t-shirts. And believe it or not there were lineups. On the streets you can see almost any bike you always wanted to see. From old ones to new ones. Even some with sidecars. Shiny big cruisers and sporty racers. Fully packed
adventure bikes and even dog riders (well, technically passengers). I guess there is no spectacle without some kind of a mascot or local celebrity. There was a guy in a thong (and that was pretty much all that he wore plus Indiana Jones style whip). Everyone wanted a photo so getting closer to him was mission impossible for many selfie chasers. I am not sure what is the background story, but i need to leave something for the next time. After a few hours I had enough memories to last me till the next Friday the 13th. One more thing was left, to ride down the main street and see everything one more time but from the seat of my bike. This is a great exercise in slow speed riding. But if you haven’t mastered it, this is not the place to try and perfect it. Everyone is moving slow so you can still see everything while gliding through the masses. If you are planning a longer stay there is lots of events and free performances through out the day. And there is camping and a few hotels but you really have to book this now for next year otherwise you are outta luck. All my senses were overwhelmed, the rest would have to wait till next time. Leaving Port Dover was as a glorious as coming in to town. Long lines of motorcycles stretching before you and behind you. Various types of bikes blended into humming melody. It stirs something within that you need to feel to realize how good it is. Exiting town was going very smoothly, then we hit Highway 6 towards Hamilton. The line was long and loud, weather was awesome and I wished the day would never end. This was my first experience riding in such a large group and it was different – good different I must say. What comes to mind is that saying – It doesn’t matter what you ride, its that you ride. After Hamilton the crowd started to disperse. I was coming back to reality, only sporadic motorcycles on the road. The closer I got to Mississauga, the real season showed it’s ugly head. It looked like it’s going to rain again...
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press 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 bike. Interested in becoming a new rider? The Springshow offers attendees information on Rider Training programs, licensing and insurance. Wondering about the best bike for you and proper riding gear? Vendors will be offering great advice on getting started. Great Food Choices, Free Parking. Your entrance to the show includes a copy of Spring Motorcycle Magazine and Free Parking! There will be special VIP Motorcycle Parking at the front entrance of the International Centre. www. motorcyclespringshow.com
Get A Step Ahead If you have your charity event or ride planned for 2018, get a head start and let our readers know about it now. It’s FREE. It will be posted on our website, facebook page, print and digital edition of the The Motorcycle Times (space permitting), please email the following information in text format to: circulation@themotorcycletimes.ca. Date: Name of Ride: Times: Location: Costs/Fees: Description of what is going on: Supporting: (Charity) Contact Name: Email, Website & Phone Number: Please contact a sales rep for charity event display advertising rates. 905-962-1890
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/// 2016 2016 FJ-09‡ Model shown with optional accessories.
2016 FJ-09‡ Model shown with optional accessories.
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For 2015 and 2017 YW50FX Zuma X Scooter :
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RIGHT NOW AT YOUR YAMAHA DEALER!
*Offer valid on select new, unused 2016 Yamaha motorcycles and scooters. Total bonus dependent on model selected. ^ One Industries Decal Kit: Offer valid on select new, unused 2015 to 2017 Yamaha YW50FX Zuma X Scooters. Customers have the choice of a blue or yellow kit. Limited quantities. Installation costs are the responsibility of the customer. † For select new, unused 2016 Yamaha motorcycles and scooters. On approved credit only. Offers exclude PDI, freight and PST/GST/HST, and are valid between September 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017. Rates subject to change without notice. See your participating dealer for complete details or visit our website. Financing available through Yamaha Financial Services ‡ 2016 FJ-09 on a 24-month term at 1.89% APR and MSRP of $10,999.00. Monthly payment is $467.37. Cost of borrowing is $217.85 for a total obligation of $11,216.85 with $0 down. Dealer may sell for less. Prices, specifications and availability of this model subject to change without notice.
23 – The Motorcycle Times, November 2017
/// 2016
November 2017, The Motorcycle Times – 24
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