November 2012 - CityBike

News, Clues & Rumors
Volume XXIX, Issue 11
Publication Date: November 15, 2012
On The Cover:
Kevin Wing, moto-photographer to the stars,
catches Editor Ets-Hokin as he pretends to go
fast on a pair of new Ninjas.
Contents:
NCR .............................. 3
New Stuff .......................... 8
Events. ............................ 9
Two New Ninjas .................... 10
INTERMOT 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Off-Road Survival. .................. 16
Two Proddy Racers ................. 17
Hertfelder. ........................ 18
Maynard .......................... 19
Tankslappers ...................... 20
Marketplace ....................... 21
Classifieds ........................ 22
2013 Nude Models Sneak Peek ........ 25
CityBike Staff:
PO Box 10659 Oakland, CA 94610
Phone: 415/282-2790
E-mail: info@citybike.com
Find us online: www.citybike.com
News ‘n Clues: Staff
Editor-in-Chief: Gabe Ets-Hokin
Senior Editor: Robert Stokstad
Contributing Editors: John Joss,
Will Guyan
Courtney Olive
Chief of the World Adventure
Affairs Desk: Dr. Gregory Frazier
Staff Photographers:
— Robert Stokstad
— Gary Rather
Art Director: Alan Lapp
Advertising Sales: Kenyon Wills
Contributors:
Dan Baizer, Craig Bessenger, John Bishop,
Joanne Donn, John D’India (RIP),
Mike Felder, Dr. Gregory Frazier,
Will Guyan, Joe Glydon (RIP),
Brian Halton, David Hough,
Maynard Hershon, Ed Hertfelder,
Harry Hoffman, Otto Hofmann,
Gary Jaehne (RIP) Jon Jensen,
David Lander, Alan Lapp, Lucien Lewis,
Ed Milich, Larry Orlick, Jason Potts, Bob
Pushwa, Gary Rather,
Curt Relick, Charlie Rauseo, Mike Solis,
Ivan Thelin, James Thurber, Adam Wade.
CityBike is published on or about the third Monday of each month.
Editorial deadline is the 1st of each month. Advertising information is
available on request. Unsolicited articles and photographs are always
welcome. Please include a full name, address and phone number
with all submissions. We reserve the right to edit manuscripts or use
them to wipe our large, fragrant bottoms.
©2012, CityBike Magazine, Inc. Citybike Magazine is distributed
at over 150 places throughout California each month. Taking more
than a few copies at any one place without permission from CityBike
Magazine, Inc, especially for purposes of recycling, is theft and will
be prosecuted to the full extent of civil and criminal law. Yeah!
CityBike magazine is owned by CityBike Magazine, Inc and has
teams of sleep-deprived, coke-addicted attorneys ready to defend
it from frivolous lawsuits, so even if you see Lucien Lewis doing
one of his wheelies on the cover and decide you want to do that too
and then you hit a parked car and your bike is wedged under a van
and it catches fire and the Vallejo FD has to come and extinguish
the resulting blaze and four cars and your bike are melted into
slag and you suffer permanent trauma including a twisted pinkie,
sleeplessness and night terrors, it’s not CityBike Magazine Inc.’s fault
and we don’t have any assets so just suck on it. You know better.
sleeplessness and night terrors, it’s not CityBike Magazine Inc.’s fault
and we don’t have any assets so just suck on it. You know better.
HOWARD QUINN, WE HARDLY
KNEW YE
Back in 1983, a young-ish tile-setter
named Brian Halton was laying linoleum
in the pre-press studio at Howard Quinn
Company, a family-owned offset printer
in the Mission district of San Francisco.
Halton had been an Army journalist in the
Vietnam war, loved motorcycles and was
editing his local Norton club newsletter.
“Well, then, you should totally start your
own monthly motorcycle magazine,” said
the pre-press guys. Halton agreed, and in
March, 1984, the first issue of CityBike hit
the streets.
For nearly 30 years, CityBike retained
the same format—mostly because it was
printed at the same place, same paper, same
size, same single spot-color on the cover.
That was until September 2012, when
the printer called to let us know it was
closing its doors, yet another victim of the
Interwebz.
We’d like to thank all the staff at Howard
Quinn for delivering such a beautiful,
high-quality and consistent product (we
estimate HQ printed four million copies of
CityBike) for so many years, enduring Godknows-what
from Halton and plenty of
annoyance from the current “management”
as well. You’ve been a class act, a pleasure
to do business with. “Service” isn’t just
something you say before you lob a tennis
ball, and not many businesses seem to
remember that these days. So thanks.
You may notice the slightly different feel
and the glorious full-color on the cover
and inside spread this month. No, we
November 2012 | 3 | CityBike.com
An unidentified reader (you know
who you are!) grabs his favorite
publication just as faithful
CityBike distributor Gwynne
Fitzsimmons finished filling the
rack at Cycle West in Petaluma.
How do they know? Photo:
Gwynne Fitzsimmons
didn’t win the lottery—we
found a new printer, who
are not only family owned,
but well-organized, clean,
efficient, busy and staffed
with friendly folks who
happily encourage us to add
color plates to our old blackand-white
newsprint. Will we be able to
go another 23 years? We think there will
always be demand for printed (and free!)
publications, so we don’t see why not. Just
remember, it’s our advertisers that make
CityBike happen, so head into your local
CB-advertising business and spend some
dough. It’s patriotic.
MILE REPORT
Didn’t make it to the Santa
Rosa Mile this year? News,
Clues attended and was
amazed at how good an
event it was. A flat-track
race is great, especially
at the Sonoma County
Fairgrounds mile horsetrack.
From the spacious covered
bleachers fans can see the
entire track, protected
from the sun and served by
adequate restrooms. Parking
was easy (and free for
motorcycles), the pits were
easily accessible, and we
even got some decent soul
food from one of the food
vendors.
My fried chicken lacked
gravy, but when the racing
is good enough it makes
its own. And this racing
was. Read Courtney
Olive’s brilliant take on
the Sacramento Mile
(“The Magic of the Mile,”
September 2012) if you
want the full experience,
This couple showed up at the first
annual Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride
(Bay Area) on a CB750. The ride was
inspired when Editor Ets-Hokin posted
to the Bay Area Rider’s Forum that
somebody (not him!) should step up and
organize the ride, as it was happening
in many other cities around the globe.
About a dozen bikes turned up for a
pleasant Sunday ride around town.
The rules: men and ladies, dressed in a
dapper, Mad Men sort of way, on cafe
racers and scooters. Photo: Charles
Roberts
but hearing those throaty Twins
roaring down the front straight and
then watching the hotshoes pitch
the bikes sideways at whatever
breakneck speed they’re travelling is
something to behold. It doesn’t put
Superbike racing to shame, but it is a whole
other animal, and a very appealing one at
that.
What we didn’t expect was the phenomenal
performance of a young woman named
Nichole Cheza. She’s a tiny little thing—
just 5-foot one and 120 pounds—but holy
crap, can she ride. She won the crowd’s
heart when, in the final qualifier event, she
pulled ahead of the entire field, blasting
out of corners on her Barbie-pink XR750,
closing in on veteran racer Brandon
Robinson.
When she did make the pass, the crowd
went nuts—and the cheering was of a
noticeably feminine nature, reminiscent
of the ululations Muslim women make
at festivals. Back and forth the two riders
passed each other, with Robinson carrying
more corner speed into the turns and
Cheza leveraging her superior power-toweight
ratio on the exits, barely keeping the
lead. In the end, Nichole would win—by
.111 seconds.
Checker to number 7, Sammy Halbert. Photo: Dave Duffin.

I am Mike Padway, and
I ride motorcycles.
I prefer to represent
motorcycle riders who have
been injured because I like
working with motorcyclists.
We are slightly different than the
rest of the population, in a way that
makes us just a little more engaged,
realistic, and a lot more enjoyable
to be around.
I am proud of the fact that
I protect the interests of
motorcyclists because it
can seem at times like the
deck is stacked against us.
Insurance companies often attempt to use “car logic” to
settle a motorcycle case, and as
you and I both know that is not
fair. Furthermore, it is explicit
that your desire to have your
losses compensated is in direct
conflict with an important goal
of the insurance industry: to pay
out as little as possible to you, and
maximize their profit!
That is where I come in.
I have decades of experience
navigating the legal and
insurance hurdles, have lectured
nationally for the American
Bar Association, and have represented riders across the
country. Of course, nobody
can guarantee any outcome of
any case, but it is always better
to have representation that is
experienced in your type of case.
If you have been injured
in a motorcycle accident,
please do not hesitate
to call for a phone
consultation or to set up a
meeting in person. Oh, and
unlike other lawyers you can
talk to me and I will return
your phone call.
If you have been injured on a
motorcycle and need a lawyer, call:
1 (800) 928-1511
www.michaelpadway.com
ABOVE: Start in front of
a full house: Bryan Smith
(42) is off to the early lead.
LEFT: Halbert happy after
his win. Photos: Dave
Duffin.
That kind of close competition, along with
the roar of Thumpers, Harleys, Kawasakis,
Ducatis and even air-cooled Triumph
Twins made for a great show. For $30, it’s
a great afternoon (or evening) of moto-
tainment. Don’t miss it
next year.
LAGUNA WSBK
Big news—World
Superbike will be
returning to Mazda
Raceway Laguna Seca
for the 2013 season. That means there will
be two big events at the storied and scenic
venue—MotoGP will be
there, at least for one more
year.
TED SIMON
The latest from the author
of Travels
With Jupiter
Thirty-nine years ago today
I left London in the rain on
my overweight Triumph
to go ‘round the world. I
suppose the day deserves a
gesture, so I have launched
a completely new website. It
has been in preparation for
a long time, but still it is not
quite finished. There are
wonderful treats to come -
like interactive maps and so
on—but I think it’s pretty
cool as is. I hope you’ll look at it and enjoy
it too.
First-place finisher Brad Willmar and his 1913 Excelsior.
It’s also the first anniversary of the launching
of the Foundation, but I won’t be able to
celebrate that in public until the 19th of
October when I go to Cambria—a few
hours south of where I live—for the second
meeting of Horizons Unlimited. The site is
absolutely gorgeous, right on the ocean.
If you can come, please do. There’ll be lots
of action and good people. Check out the
web site. I’ll do a little show myself, about
my recent wanderings around the U.K, and
of course I’ll have some copies of my book,
Rolling Through the Isles. It would be very
nice to see you there. Now go to jupitalia.
com.
CANNONBALL DONE
Clear blue skies, excited bikers, a live
honky-tonk band, and a whole pig on the
rotisserie. Aside from bubble baths and
shiatsu massages, Dudley Perkins Harley
Davidson in South San Francisco couldn’t
have hosted a better finish-line reception
for the brave men of the 2012 Coast-to-
Coast Antique Motorcycle Cannonball
Rally.
Japanese customizer Shinya Kimura rolled in on his vintage
Indian. His crew were fetching in matching jerseys.
Expecting the riders to be
as tired as some of their
antique machinery, it was
good to see they were all
smiles and hijinks as they
rolled the last few feet of
their nearly 4000-mile
pilgrimage. We whooped
and cheered as a procession
of about 70 motorbikes—all
over 80 years old—passed
by. Harley-Davidson and
Indian Twins, Henderson
Fours, BSAs, BMWs,
Excelsiors, Triumphs, a
couple Rudges, a Velocette
and even a Sunbeam
rolled victoriously into the
parking lot, greeted with
fanfare, congratulations
and obligatory cardboard
drip pans. Some bikes fully
restored and shining, some
with original paint and
a rusty patina, the bikes
represented an eclectic mix
and a story behind each
man and machine.
Maintaining his number-one plate from
2010’s Cannonball Rally, Virginia’s Brad
Wilmarth on his 1913 Excelsior took first
place in the two-week endurance race. It was
a lively party as well as a history lesson on
the roots of our pastime. My helmet’s off to
all the courageous riders who made the run
from N.Y. to S.F. on their vintage machines.
Next time you feel like bitching about
your bike being too old, think of the
Cannonball Rally riders. A big thanks to
the Dudley-Perkins crew for hosting the
event, the Harley Owners Group Golden
Gate Chapter for organizing and directing
traffic, and all in attendance for making the
finish line party of this year’s Cannonball
Rally happen.
-Paul Rich covered this event and generously
provided his words and photos.
MOTO GIRO
This year’s running of the Giro
D’California, a two-day time and
endurance run for sub 200cc 1953-1957
Italian Moto Giro motorcycles was run in
the Northern Sierra
Nevada foothills east
of Oroville, between
Highways 49 and 70
(south of Quincy).
Machines eligible
for the event are
generally air-cooled
Singles and ranged
from a 1957 51cc
Motom belonging
to Patrick Owens up
through the larger
machines in the
150cc-175cc range.
These machines
were originally
designed for local
commuting, and
not running for 70-
100 miles through
large elevation changes.
Entered machines carried
names like MotoBi, Ducati,
Bianchi, Gilera, Aermacci,
Moto Morini, MV Augusta,
and others—over 50 manufacturers fielded
machines for the original event in 1950s
Italy, so the variety of machines was just as
varied as the people riding them.
Success in the event requires effective
riding, good mechanical preparation
(weakest link and all that), and good
navigation skills. This year’s course
featured a grinding
climb
on Day One on roads
that
were once paved but
are
really more for the
logging industry than
anything else at
this point. Once
riders overcame
the first major
climb of the day
(lower speeds going
uphill can strain
an air-cooled
motor,
local
especially if not jetted properly), riders
survived to face challenges of navigation
by printed roll chart, surprise timing
checkpoints, and distracting scenery far
away from other human beings in general.
Riders were ranked by adherence to a
timed schedule rather than speed. Since
winning is an achievement complicated by
many variables, many in the field are happy
just to complete the event each day.
V-SEVENTH HEAVEN
Last year, Moto Guzzi’s line of V7 entrylevel
retro 750s got a through re-do.
Changes included big
bumps in horsepower,
torque, fuel efficiency
and emissions. However,
for almost a year, no word
on when USA customers
November 2012 | 4 | CityBike.com
November 2012 | 5 | CityBike.com

would get the new bikes, or how much they
would cost.
Wait no more. The three new models will
be coming to the U.S. as 2013s, and there’s
a lot to be excited about. At the bottom of
the lineup is the V7 Stone, in a fetching
matte black or glossy white paint scheme.
It’s the cheapest way—at $8390—to get
on board a Moto Guzzi. Like all the V7s,
it uses the “short block” 90-degree, aircooled,
ohv two-valve motor, fuel injected
with a single Weber-Marelli throttle body,
hooked up to the two cylinders with dual
intakes. Power output is claimed at 50
horsepower at 6200 rpm—not bad for a
30-plus year-old design, and not too far
from the output of the Ed Milich-modified
V7 Cafe we tested last year (“News,
Clues,” Dec. 2011). That should happily
SERVICE
SPECIAL
All Brands
During your service, we will
include our $90.00 Winter
Hibernation special
FREE OF CHARGE
(see our website for details)
Call us today to set up
your appointment.
pull around a claimed curb weight of 395
pounds (which we think is measured with
just a splash of gas in the 5.8-gallon tank).
Seventies-look mag wheels are graced with
Pirelli Sport Demon bias-ply tires—an
18-inch in front and a 17-incher in back.
Braking is handled by a single Brembo
caliper and 320mm disc in front, with a
260mm disc and Brembo caliper in back.
A little fancier is the two-tone $8990 V7
Special. It’s done up in a red-and-white
color scheme, with spoked aluminum
wheels. Accessory bags and windscreen
can turn the little bike into a lightweight
tourer (not a bad choice, given the claimed
310-mile range).
And to take advantage of the latest craze
is the $9990 V7 Racer. It’s done up
with a heap of period-replica cafe-racer
accessories, including a chrome gas tank,
fastback seat, numberplates and flyscreen,
clip-on bars, gorgeous rearsets (we saw
these at Piaggio’s Technical Center in
Costa Mesa and were impressed with how
nicely detailed and well-made they were,
and Piaggio’s Erik Larsen says they are
available for other models out of the Moto
Guzzi accessory catalog), red-painted
frame, upgraded Bitubo rear shocks and
other little touches. Do the Ton!
We’re particularly smitten by the Stone
and think it’s a great basis for a cafe-racer
project...let’s see if Moto Guzzi wants to
play along. I think the bike will be a big hit
with younger buyers, who want modern
convenience, retro looks, and exclusivity
all at a relatively cheap price—compare it
to Harley-Davidson’s $7999 883 Iron or
Triumph’s basic-black $7699 Bonneville.
The V7s will be in U.S. dealers in the first
quarter of 2013.
RCV213V FOR THE ROAD? OR
JUST MORE GIANT SCOOTERS?
Honda Motors President and CEO
Takanobu Ito told a press conference on
September 21st that his company is busily
working on “a new supersports bike to
which new technologies from MotoGP
machines will be applied.” Does that mean
a new V-4 or V-5 sportbike reminiscent of
the RC-30 or RC-45 production racers that
are most certainly not filling everybody’s
garages?
If you run a speculative motojournalistic
website, sure! Why not? You’ll get lots of
clicks. Why not speculate about a 250-
hp, 300-pound prototype racer-withlights
available to Joe Everyman at your
local Honda dealer? We here don’t see
anything in Ito’s statement that would
lead to anything more radical than the
2008-2013 CBR1000RR, which is a really
great sportbike, and uses lots of MotoGPderived
technology and styling, but is
hardly a miracle wonder-bike like the VFR
wet dreamers are expecting. We predict
an updated CBR1000RR which will be
lighter, faster and easier to ride than the
current model (or maybe anything else),
but it will be an inline-Four and will be
priced in the mid to low teens.
The fantasy motorcycle league players
should have glanced further down in
the speech where they could read Ito
Reliable, timely service at
reasonable rates on all
makes of motorcycles
Visit our new shop:
101 Fifth Ave, Redwood City
saying, “Honda
will introduce a
series of large-sized
models with a new
concept,which enable
customers to more
easily enjoy daily
commuting and
weekend touring.
This stylish new series
will be equipped with
a ‘torqueful’ engine,
low seat height which
increases the ease
of handling, and a
comfortable ride
with high stability
in maneuvering.”
Sounds like the
return of the DN-1
to us (short, we’ve
heard Honda dealers
quip, for “do not buy
one”), some kind of
big scooter to compete
with new offerings
from Piaggio and
BMW.
HOT ITALIAN BIKE NIGHTS
You’ve seen the giant ad—”Hot Italian.”
Turns out it’s pizza joints, and really good
ones, in Emeryville and Sacramento.
The Emeryville
location (5959
Shellmound street,
in the Public
Market, 510/922-
1369, hotitalian.
net), like the
Sacratamata one,
was opened by
Fabrizio Cercatore
and Andrea Lepore
and has a specific
mission—bring
perfect, Italianstyle
pizza to a
country that calls
anything flat with
cheese melted
onto it “pizza.”
Cercatore, who
is not a chef but a
pizza specialist, takes the pies very seriously,
and the restaurant has the sights, sounds
and smells of an authentic Neapolitan
pizzaria.
Those sounds may include the rumbling
of Italian-made V-Twins, so every month
there’s an Italian bike night—see our
Events section for details. See you there.
MOTO TIRE GUY
If you don’t know about the Moto Tire
Guy, you’re missing out on some profound
tire bargains. That’s because Robbie
Marcowitz, the Moto Tire Guy himself,
doesn’t really sell tires. He lets you buy your
own damn tires; you can get them online
Ducati superbikes lined up at Emeryville’s Hot Italian pizzeria.
Photo: tonywang.tw
and ship them direct to him, or (better
still!) get them at your favorite retailer and
put them over your head and around your
waist like big rubber hula-hoops and then
ride to Robbie’s new digs at 656 Toland
Place in San Francisco and watch while he
works his magic and spoons them on in
minutes. He won’t judge you for riding in
on bare cords and may even offer you a cold
soda while you wait.
Call him at 415/601-2853 or check out his
website: mototireguy.com.
EXPLORER EXPLAINED
A correction from Torsten Jacobsen, who
generously loaned us his Triumph Explorer
1200 for review.
Just a minor follow up. when you rode
the bike you found the steering “a bit
slow.” No fault of the bike-much to my
embarrassment, I found after your ride that
the front tire pressure was down by 10 lbs!.
Shortly before your ride, it had been in for
its initial check up and I assumed (never
do! Very dangerous) that the tire pressure
had, of course, been checked. Wrong!
What a diff! Go for another ride and write
a follow up.
We won’t be able to do that, Torsten,
but we do recommend our readers
call a Triumph dealer and try it for
themselves—if you’re in the market for
a big, comfy roadburner, the
Explorer is pretty good.
DIRTBAG
The date for the 2012 Dirtbag
challenge has been announced:
November 11. So get your $1000
project ready—we’ll see you there.
Find out more by going to
dirtbagchallenge.com.
NEW STUFF
HELIMOT BUFFALO
PRO GLOVES
Look at your fingers. Compare them to
your arms and legs. Skinny little things,
aren’t they? They break so easily, don’t
they? So vulnerable. And just try riding a
motorcycle without them.
And yet, almost every rider we see spends
way less than $100 on gloves, and we’re
among them, with bins of cheap gloves
cluttering the CityBike editorial bunker.
Gloves still stiff from the package, never
worn enough to break them in.
That’s becasue
we, like you, have
some great pairs
of go-to gloves we
wear every day.
One pair is the
Helimot Buffalo
Pro all-season
gloves, ($210)
which two of us
have tried now. It’s
an all-deerhide,
full-gauntlet design
based on Helimot’s
365 glove, but
with some more
protective features
from the H20
racing design. That
means it retains the comfort and street
features of the 365, like the index-finger
squeegee and reflective tape, with racing
features like the retaining strap, pre-curved
fingers and memory-foam armor over the
fingers and knuckles.
Here’s the thing about a pair of Helimot
gloves—if they fit you, they require
almost no break in, wear like iron and are
incredibly comfortable. If they don’t fit, try
on a different pair—these are hand-crafted
right here in Helimot’s Fremont facility and
vary slightly from glove to glove. Helimot
will also custom-size the fingers once
break-in is complete.
Constructed with no liner out of durable
USA deerskin, our Buffalo Pros are
everything a glove should be. They are
warm (or cool) enough to be usable in a
broad temperature range (from the 50s to
the low 80s, which covers about 10 months
of the year here), and use construction
techniques and armor that Helimot
co-founder Helmut Kluckner knows will
protect you. Contrast that with your
average pair of “top-of-the-line” race gloves
from the big brands that cost the same, are
made in China, are covered with complex
features and “systems,” yet fall apart the
second they touch the pavement.
It’s like buying tiny custom leathers for
your fingers. You like your fingers, don’t
you? The best way to try Helmut’s gloves
(or his line of Daytona racing boots) is to
visit the new showroom at 45277 Fremont
Boulevard in Fremont. You can also call
at 510/252-1509 or check the website:
helimot.com.
See “Words With Helmut”, next page
Nichols Sportbike Service
913 Hanson Court
Milpitas, CA 95035
(408) 945-0911
www.nicholsmfg.com
280
82
WOODSIDE RD.
EL CAMINO REAL
84
101
November 2012 | 6 | CityBike.com
November 2012 | 7 | CityBike.com

WORDS WITH HELMUT
CityBike Senior Editor John Joss sat down with
Helimot’s Helmut Kluckner to find out more
about gloves. Here are some of the highlights, but
if you have questions about gloves, leathers, body
armor or riding apparel in general, call Helimot
at 510/252-1509, or go see the new showroom/
factory right next to the Tesla plant, 45277
Fremont Boulevard #7 in Fremont.
CB: What should a rider look for in
gloves?
Helmut: Beyond fit, does the palm
area have enough
protection? Is
finger and knuckle
protection
incorporated? Are
seams minimized?
Will the gloves
discolor the hands?
Then—essential—
will the manufacturer
undertake repairs?
It’s less costly than
replacement, with
well-designed gloves.
CB: What problems
have you seen with
gloves in crashes?
Helmut: Carbon
fiber often grinds down, the fingers
rotate and tear, the palms shows holes,
thumbs are often ground through and
many pieces are shredded. Many such
gloves are not repairable.
CB: What about materials choices and
compromises?
Helmut: Most gloves are cowhide,
kangaroo, sheepskin or deerskin—each
must be stitched differently. Each behaves
differently. Cowhide stretches a little,
kangaroo hardly stretches and deerskin
stretches more over time.
Colorfast leathers cost more. Thickness
matters. Thick hides give more abrasion
resistance, but in a small thing like a glove
it’s hard to stitch and work, turning the
glove after stitching, given fit and feel on
Repair & Service
the hand. Riders like to ‘feel’ what the
bike is doing through the bars so thickness
must be controlled carefully.
It’s a trade-off. Thin skins give good
feel but abrasion resistance drops (even
kangaroo—it’s not a magic skin). Skins
absorb sweat and heat differently. Sweat
rots leather. Second season, maybe end
of first season, a racer is using gloves that
should be tossed. He falls and the glove
blows up, not because it’s a bad glove
but from sweat. He says: “See how those
[Brand X] gloves
came apart? [Brand
X] must make
terrible gloves.”
Maybe it had bad
construction, leather,
whatever, maybe not.
Twenty years ago
most gloves were
plain leather. Racers
loved them. It was
just how they were
made and how
they felt. Some
companies started to
use more layers and
more foam. Foam
replaced studs and
worked better. Media
coverage forced manufacturers to think
more about safety.
Sadly, we see riders with, yes, gardening
gloves, riding $15,000 bikes, too frugal to
protect their hands with $200 gloves. A
strange economy.
CB: How does a rider pick the ‘one pair’
he or she needs for racing, sport riding
and touring?
Helmut: Riders who trust the
companythey’re dealing with may get
the gloves they want if the salesperson is
knowledgeable. For touring and winter
riding, leave room for inner gloves. The
bottom line with all gloves is this: the
pavement doesn’t care. Most gloves look
good until the pavement judges their
performance.
Salvaged & New Parts!
Tue–Fri 10–6 Sat 9–5
EVENTS NOVEMBER 2012
First Monday of each month
(November 5, December 3):
2:30 – 10:00 pm: Northern California
Ducati Bike Nights at Benissimo (one
of Marin’s finest Italian Restaurants),
18 Tamalpias Dr, Corte Madera.
NorCalDoc.com
6:00 pm: American Sport Bike Night at
Dick’s Restaurant and Cocktails, 3188
Alvarado Street, San Leandro. Bring your
Buell and hang out with like-minded
riders. All brands welcome! Our meeting
of Buell and Motorcycle enthusiasts
has been happening the first Monday of
the month for the last 12 years, without
ever missing a meeting. We have had
many local and national celebrities
from the motorcycle world grace our
meetings. It has been fun and exciting.
americansportbikenight.net
6:00 pm: California (Northern, East
Bay) NORCAL Guzzi Bike Night at
Applebee’s at McCarthy Ranch Mall,
off 880, in Milpitas, California. All
MGNOC members, interested Guzzi
riders, and all other motorcycle riders
always welcome. More information,
contact Pierre at: 408/710-4886 or
pierredacunha@yahoo.com.
Every Tuesday
7:00 pm-9:00 pm: Addiction Motors
Movie Night (Addiction Motors, 4052
Watts Street, Emeryville, 510/473-7247,
addictionmotors.com). Bad movie, bad
pizza, good company.
Second Tuesday of Each Month
(November 13, December 11)
6:30 pm to 10:00 pm: East Bay Ducati
Bike Night at Pizza Antica (3600 Mount
Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, 925/299-0500)
Bike parking on the street right in front
of the restaurant, indoor and heated
outdoor seating, excellent wine list.
All moto brands welcome. Bring your
appetite and a smile, be prepared to make
new friends.
Third Wednesday of Each Month
(November 21, December 19)
We Ship Worldwide
CALL US FIRST!
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm: Emeryville
Ducati Bike Night at Hot Italian (5959
Shellmound Street #75, Emeryville,
510/652-9300) A fun, social atmosphere
for Ducati owners, folks that want to
become Ducati owners, and folks that
don’t yet know that they want to become
Ducati owners, to sit, eat, talk, walk
around and look at other Ducatis. All
brands and models of motorcycles are
welcome, so please don’t be put off by the
event name.
Third Sunday of each month (October
21, November 18, December 16):
9:00 am: California (Northern)
Moto Guzzi National Owners Club
(MGNOC) breakfast at Putah Creek
Cafe in picturesque Winters, California
(Highways 505/128) MGNOC members
and interested Guzzi riders meet for
breakfast and a good time. The Putah
Creek Cafe is located at Railroad Avenue.
More information contact: Northern
California MGNOC Rep, Don Van
Zandt at 707-557-5199.
Evenings: Moto-Sketch at Tosca Cafe:
come and sketch a live model draped over a
custom bike. $7 to sketch, free to just watch.
Tosca Cafe, 242 Columbus Ave. in S.F.
Saturday, October 6 to
Sunday October 7
Skip’s at Carnegie & Sunbelt
Rentals presents California State
Championship Hillclimb & Verticross
Pro/Am Series (Carnegie SVRA, 18600
Corral Hollow Road, Tracy,
888/244-7547)
Two days of hillclimb action with Pro
hillclimb classes running both days.
Sunday features Verticross, side by side,
first one to the top wins, hillclimbing.
General admission is $20 for both days,
camping available. All classes running
at all events, from 50cc beginners to
Unlimited nitro bikes and everything in
between.(sign-ups available day of event
til 8:30am) Admission price includes
admission to the park so bring your
California legal dirt bikes and make a
weekend of it. For more information,
call or go to: skipspromotions.com or
skipsatcarnegie.net.
Saturday, October 13
9:00 am-4:00 pm: Central Coast
Classic Motorcycle Club Show and
Swap Meet in San Luis Obispo (1775
Calle Joaquin in SLO).
General Admission $10. Classic bike
show, swap meet, and motorcycle
games. Fundraiser for Making Strides
Against Breast Cancer of SLO. Catered
by Splash Café. Details at 805/704-
6357 or centralcoastclassicmc.com
Thursday, October 18 to Sunday,
October 21
Horizons Unlimited Travellers
Meeting (Camp Ocean Pines, 1473
Randall Drive, Cambria, CA 805/927-
0254 campoceanpines.org)
Motorcycle travelers meet, learn,
and become inspired by sharing
stories, skills, companionship and
encouragement at the California
meeting to be held at Camp Ocean
Pines in Cambria, California.
“The California Travelers Meeting is
special because so many well-known
Doc Wong Clinics!
CityBike says if you haven’t done a Doc
Wong clinic, go do one ASAP. It’s fun, free
and will make you a better/safer/happier
rider. Register by emailing docwong@aol.
com or call Full Motion Chiropractic at
650/365-7775.
October 18, 2012 *NEW* “Braking
Confidence and Skills” workshop
Thursday 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
October 19, 2012 “Riding Position and
Ergonomics Workshop” Fri Fri 6:30 PM
- 8:30 PM
October 21, 2012 “Cornering
Confidence - Road Surfaces and Curve
Configurations” Sunday 9 AM-3 PM
October 26, 2012 “Basic Suspension Part
2” Friday night 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
November 1, 2012 *NEW* “Braking
Confidence and Skills” workshop
Thursday 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
November 2/4, 2012 “Dual Sport
Adventure Riding Clinic” Friday 6:30
PM - 8:30 PM and Sunday 9 AM
November 8, 2012 “Riding Position and
Ergonomics Workshop” Thursday Fri
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
November 11, 2012 “Cornering
Confidence - Throttle Control” Sunday 9
AM-3 PM
November 23, 2012 “Basic Suspension
Part 1” Friday night 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
December 6, 2012 *NEW* “Braking
Confidence and Skills” workshop
Thursday 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
December 13, 2012 “Basic Suspension
Part 2” Thursday night 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
December 14, 2012 “Riding Position and
Ergonomics Workshop” Fri 6:30 PM -
8:30 PM
December 16, 2012 “Smooth Riding -
Shifting and Braking” Sunday 9 AM-3 PM
More info: docwong.com
motorcycle travelers live in the state,”
says Grant Johnson. “We’ve caught a lot
of them between trips, and so far they
include Clement Salvadori, Carla King,
Nicole Espinosa, and the Borden family,
aka the Adventure Trio. In addition,
Ben Slavin of Motorcycle Mexico is also
presenting, having just moved to the Bay
Area from the east coast, and is fresh from
some European and South American
rides.”
MOTOSHOP
Events at Motoshop: Moto Shop : 325
South Maple Ave #20, South San Francisco.
650/239-6686, bayareamotoshop.com
Wed Oct 10: Phone Charger Install Clinic
Thurs Oct 11: Intro to Welding
Sat Oct 13: Tire Change Clinic
Sun Oct 14: Basic Maintenance Clinic
Sun Oct 14: Forks Service Class
Wed Oct 17: Chain/Sprockets Clinic
Thurs Oct 18: Oil & Coolant Change
Clinic
Thurs Nov 1: Brakes Clinic
Participants don’t just come to rub elbows
with the celebs, though. They come for
inspiration from people like themselves
who present slideshows of recent travels
across the state or around the world.
Hands-on seminars equip participants
for the DIY lifestyle of world motorcycle
travel. And Coach2Ride will be putting on
a full one day clinic on the Friday morning
of the event. Other highlights include the
traditional tire-changing demo, emergency
first-aid clinic, and common road repairs
workshop to show riders how to get
themselves at least limping into the next
town.
Over 200 motorcycle travelers and
aspiring motorcycle travelers can be
accommodated, and last year’s display
of participants’ touring-outfitted
motorcycles and packing systems were
worth the price of admission itself.
Campers are constantly entertained
and educated by impromptu demos
of stoves, tents, GPS units, clothing,
tank bags, panniers, lights, locks,
and bike modifications. Go to
horizonsunlimited.com to register or for
more information.
Sunday, October 21st
10:00 am to 4:00 pm Leo Vince/
Motostrano/Addiction Motors
Garage Sale (1445B S 50th Street,
Richmond. 510/232-4040, leovinceusa.
com/Garagesale.html)
Come join LeoVince and a couple of
local dealers as we have a huge blow-out
of semi-new, returned, used, race, and
tested product for sale. Great chance to
get replacement mufflers, mid piping,
headers, and miscellaneous exhaust
Photo by tonywang.tw
parts and pieces. Prices will range from
$50 - $150. We will also have our Final
Closeouts on old slip ons and full systems.
All Day: Carnegie OHV Area Visitor
Appreciation Day (Carnegie SVRA,
18600 Corral Hollow Road, Tracy
925/447-9027 motomartcarnegie.com)
Free Admission to the Park, Product
Displays from Area Motorcycle Dealers,
Free Suspension Clinic, Dual Sport Poker
Run, Scavenger Hunt for Kids, Free
Raffle Ticket, Drawing for Great Prizes,
Food Booths in the Event Area, Off-Road
Demonstrations, Music, ATV Simulator
Rides, Hillclimb exhibitions, Factory
Representatives, Blue Ribbon Coalition,
AMA District 36, Special Guests, and a
visit from the REACH helicopter. Bring
the family and get dirty!
Check out the Carnegie website for more
details as we near the date: ohv.parks.
ca.gov/?page_id=1172
Sunday, October 28th
9:00 am: San Francisco 49-Mile Ride
(Leaves from Bay View Boat Club 9:30
SHAR P, 489
Terry A. Francois
Blvd, .5 miles
south of the
Ballpark, San
Francisco)
Bring your pre-
1975 vintage ride
(any brand!) and
enjoy S.F.’s 49-
mile Scenic Drive
with hundreds
of like-minded
Artwork: Jason Vorhese
rACing & rEPAir
sinCE 1994
Last Century’s Tire Change Prices
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 am - 6 pm
415-552-8115 | werkstattsf.com
3248 17th Street San Francisco, CA 94110
riders. Ride pariticipation is free, bring
cash for BBQ lunch, T-Shirts are $15 and
donations are accepted for the Shriner’s
Hospital for Children.
Saturday, November 3 to Sunday
November 4
Skip’s at Carnegie & Sunbelt
Rentals presents California State
Championship Hillclimb & Verticross
Pro/Am Series (Carnegie SVRA, 18600
Corral Hollow Road, Tracy,
888/244-7547)
Two days of hillclimb action with Pro
hillclimb classes running both days.
Sunday features Verticross, side by side,
first one to the top wins, hillclimbing.
General admission is $20 for both days,
camping available. All classes running
at all events, from 50cc beginners to
Unlimited nitro bikes and everything in
between.(sign-ups available day of event
til 8:30am) Admission price includes
admission to the park so bring your
California legal dirt bikes and make a
weekend of it. For more information,
call or go to: skipspromotions.com or
skipsatcarnegie.net.
Sunday, November 11
Dirtbag Challenge. The rules: Custombuilt
bike, $1000 spent, 30 days to do it,
no Harleys. Time and location TBA: go
to dirtbagchallenge.com.
12:00 MotoGP Finale Party at D-Store
SF (131 S. Van Ness, 415/626-5478,
dstoresanfrancisco.com) See ad this
issue. Food, racing and more! Always a
good time.
CongrATuLATions!
Ari Henning
1st Place
WErA at Fontana
on a Werkstatt
sponsored
CBr250!
November 2012 | 8 | CityBike.com
November 2012 | 9 | CityBike.com

By Gabe Ets-Hokin
Photos by Kevin Wing
What’s the best-selling
sportbike? Is it the one
with the most power? The
one with the sexiest styling? The one
that wins the most AMA races? No,
no and no. It’s Kawasaki’s Ninja 250R,
everybody’s recommendation for the best
first motorcycle. But that apparently wasn’t
enough for Kawasaki Heavy Industries,
which, in 2009 (just a year after the 2008
250R was launched) decided to once again
heavily revamp the littlest Ninja to create
the “ultimate lightweight sportbike.” The
old Ninja was good, but nowhere near
“ultimate”—it’s pretty wheezy at freeway
speeds and though it edges out the Honda
CBR250R, it still isn’t enough to keep
many new buyers interested
or satisfied for more than
a short while before
they move “up”
to a biggerdisplacement
machine.
Job
one
First Ride: 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300
FREE LEATHER
LAPTOP CASE
(Retail Value Over $150)
With Any Purchase
Over $500!
1833 Polk St. (@ Jackson) San Francisco - johnsonleather.com
(800) 730-7722 • (415) 775-7393
Forcefield Body Armour, The worlds
leading “Soft armour technology”
Body protection system specialists.
The little bike with
a big bike inside
was to add power, so the design team
upped capacity to 296cc by adding 7.8mm
of stroke. But why stop there? Why not a
350 or a 400? Size: a bigger bore would
mean wider cases, Project Developer
Kunihiro Tanaka told me, which would
mean a wider, heavier frame.
Tanaka’s crew
didn’t
We stock a large selection of
heavy duty jackets , pants,
chaps, & bags.
Custom garments and accessories.
We repair, alter and
clean leather products.
Our leathers are guaranteed
against defect for life.
We make
custom 1 & 2 piece
leathers!
November 2012 | 10 | CityBike.com
stop with a stroker block. Fortyfive
percent of the engine’s parts
are new—new cylinder head, new
cases that flow more oil, bigger
valves, trimmed-down hardanodized
pistons, shorter conrods
and even a revised engine
balancer. Compression drops a
point, to 10.6:1, allowing cooler
operating temperatures and
regular-unleaded gas. Oh, and did
we mention the fuel injection?
Dual 32mm throttle bods with
dual throttle valves.
But wait, there’s more:
the FCC clutch.
FCC is a Japanese clutch
manufacturer, and the
unit in the Ninja
is prized not
just for the
slipper
In addition to the fuel gauge, instrumentation includes
an “Eco” meter indicating when the engine is being used
most efficiently. I didn’t see it come on very often...
function—which will help minimize
wheel-locking and high-siding from sloppy
downshifts—but also the lighter, noobfriendly
clutch feel. That clutch is paired
with a revised tranny that’s both smootheracting
and more durable.
And you have to match that new-found
power with a revised chassis, no? Though
the old bike was a good handler, that was
more due to its low weight than the aging
frame design. The 2013’s frame is 150
percent stronger, rigid enough to rubbermount
the front of the engine. Wheels are
also new, with an eye-catching 10-spoke
design and a 1/2-inch wider rear—tires
are specially developed IRC Road
Winners, a 110/70-17 front and 140/70-
17 rear, skinny but still radial.
Braking comes from a single disc
front and rear, but this year there’s
optional ABS, a compact Nissan
system that adds just four pounds
to the weight of the bike. Like
the brakes, the suspension is
the same basic equipment—a
37mm non-adjustable fork and
a preload-adjustable bottomlink
Uni-Trak monoshock—
with revised settings to better
cope with both bumpy urban
pavement and swoopy mountain
roads. For buyers just as interested in how
it looks as how good it goes, the styling has
been seriously re-worked, from the dual
headlamps to the “floating” windscreen
design and minimalist tail section to the
knurled aluminum footpegs. The changes
are intended to make the 300 more closely
resemble its bigger brothers—mission
accomplished.
But it’s practical, too—the fuel tank
holds 4.5 gallons (down from 4.8, to
make room for the ABS unit), the digital
instrument panel is easy to read and has
more information, there’s a flip-up tool tray
under the seat and a clever ducting system
to keep heat away from the rider at low
speeds.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. At the end of the day,
it’s a 296cc parallel Twin, a few pounds
heavier than last year, with a claimed 7
hp difference—would I even notice any
improvement? Oh my Lord yes. The bike
fired up easily with no discernible warm-up
and we headed out to the Federally-funded
goodness that is Skaggs Springs Road,
where I discovered the joys of the smallest
Ninja, one of the most entertaining
sportbikes you’ll ride.
That’s because this motor may represent
the biggest improvement in a consumer
product since the horse and carriage lost
the horse. The new
motor not only makes
a lot more power,
it’s also smoother
(thanks to rubber
mounting and improved
counterbalancing), more
flexible and easier to use.
Gone is the revving to
7000 rpm to get rolling
or the endless shifting
to keep the little zinger
on the boil. Gone is the
wheezing at high speeds
when you try to make
a pass in sixth gear. Say
“so long” to lugging the motor or bouncing
around on the suspension as you downshift
mid-corner so you don’t fall too far behind
your buddies.
The motor is good enough that the 300
can be ridden like a full-sized motorcycle.
Riding with fast traffic on divided freeways
is no longer a frantic, nerve-wracking
affair. With a GPS-verified speed of at
least 103 mph (110 seems plausible) and
enough grunt to pass cars at 80-plus mph
in top gear, you’re king of the road, if you’re
an aggressive sort. If you’re not, you can
cruise along in sixth gear at the speed limit
and see a mere 7000 rpm on the tach. It’s
almost relaxing if you’re accustomed to the
omnipresent weedwhacker exhaust note of
the 250R.
At about 380 pounds gassed up, it’s not
exactly dual-sport light, which means
you need not fear side winds, and the
little windscreen and fairing provide
good protection. Could you commute
or get away for a couple of days on it? I
sure would, and I’d enjoy the good fuel
economy—after 70 miles of riding as fast
as I comfortably could on Skaggs and
Highway One the 300 returned almost
50 mpg, about the same I saw riding
conservatively at steady freeway speeds on
the prior model. Economy exceeding 70
mpg wouldn’t surprise me with this bike.
But sportbikes aren’t really about
frugality—they’re about twisty-road fun.
The Ninja will give you that, like it always
has. It steers quickly, the suspension
handles bumps and high-speed stuff
decently, and given the right rider and
wheelie-bump placement, will even deliver
a little front-end-lofting hooliganism.
Cornering
clearance is
adequate for
the street,
and the tires
deliver good
enough grip
and feedback
that the racers
and top-shelf
magazine guys
remarked on
how good they
were.
Here are some
nits, lest you
think I’m a paid green-blooded shill.
The suspension still feels budget, build
quality looks like what you’d expect in
this price range, and the brakes need a
lot of squeezing from high speeds—the
upgraded motor needs upgraded brakes
to match it. At least the ABS works as it
should, with minimal pulsing or intrusion.
It’s also a lot more money, but only a
lot if you didn’t get the huge list of real
improvements. Slipper clutch, ABS, fuelinjection
and classy new styling? All that
stuff alone is worth at least the $600 price
bump over the 2012 250R—but then you
add in the new frame and motor and it’s a
bargain. Ninjette lovers are already lining
up to plunk their $4799 down so they can
ride home on a new 300 in Ebony, White
Pearl or the Lime Green SE ($4999, $5499
with ABS) with limited-edition graphics.
Kawasaki has another hit here, one that
could once again shame Honda into
abandoning the 250 sportbike class,
although there are now rumors of a
sporting Honda 500 Twin. The Great
Recession may have shrunk our budgets,
but I don’t think it’ll reduce our fun.
November 2012 | 11 | CityBike.com
First Ride:
2013 Kawasaki
636 ZX-6R
Thirty-Seven Reasons to Buy a new Ninja
By Gabe Ets-Hokin
Photos by Kevin Wing
Interesting these two bikes are sharing
a over story, no? But it’s appropriate—
they’re both vastly improved by
electronics, a slipper clutch, revised styling
and a slight bump in displacement. In the
case of the new ZX-6R, 37cc will do for it
what 47cc did for the Ninja 300—keep it
ahead of its direct competition and broaden
its appeal to potential buyers.
Kawasaki decided to go big for the ZX-6R
intro, holding it for not just USA media
but for Latin American and European
journalists as well. The venue: Chico,
California, home of Sierra Nevada brewery
and equidistant to Thunderhill Raceway
and miles and miles of perfect twisty roads
in the Plumas National Forest. It was pretty
lavish treatment—Kawasaki’s marketing
people want to position the company as a
premium brand, which means you gotta
give the journos (especially European
ones) premium treatment. Works for me.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) makes
all kinds of stuff—aerospace, ships, bullet
trains—but the motorcycle business is
becoming more important to the company,
18 percent of the total business. And in
the USA sportbike market, Kawi has
moved into the number-two position for
middleweight sportbike sales, up from
fourth place in 2002.
You don’t stay in second place in a
competitive marketplace without constant
improvement, so that’s why, about two
years ago, Project Leader Yoshihira Masuda
and his team started work on making the
6R faster, better handling, better braking

and most importantly, he told me, more
appealing to street-biased riders.
That means making the motor more
tractable and user-friendly. The stroke
grows 2.6mm, to improve low and
midrange power—the area under the
curve on a dyno chart, the power a rider
actually uses. The cylinder head gets wider
porting, and cams and pistons are also
new. Compression drops a bit to 12.9:1
and fuel-injection is now handled by a
single injector per cylinder (with increased
fuel-flow rates), which frees up room for a
larger airbox and longer velocity stacks. All
four header pipes are joined by cross-over
tubes, further increasing low and midrange
torque. All these changes mean about a
five-horsepower boost (according to an
EPA filing) or, since Kawasaki doesn’t like
to discuss raw hp figures (how gauche!),
a .2 second advantage in the quarter-mile
over the old model.
Some more welcome additions: an FCC
assist and slipper clutch, a shorter first
gear to make starts easier, and the addition
of three-mode traction control (KTRC)
as well as two riderselectable
power
modes.
The basic chassis stays
the same, but there are
important suspension
revisions. The fork is
still the outstanding
Showa Big Piston Fork
(BPF), but now it’s the
Big Piston-Separate
Function Fork (BP-
SFF). That means the
preload adjuster is
only on one side, and
the compression/rebound adjusters are
on the other. Weird, I know, but it does
simplify making suspension changes. In
back, it’s the same Uni-Trak linkage and
Showa monoshock, just with a slightly
softer spring. It’s all tuned to deliver a bit
more ride height, and the forks are 2mm up
in the triples, which means less rake, more
trail, and faster handling. There’s no stock
steering damper.
Brakes and tires also go under the knife.
The ZX6R is the first Kawasaki to get
monoblock Nissin calipers, combined with
larger 310mm rotors in front. Kawasaki’s
“Intelligent Anti-lock Braking System”
(KIBS) is available for a cool $1000. OEM
tire fitment is the new Bridgestone S20,
which Bridgestone’s Steve Turner claims
is great on the street, track or even in wet,
slippery conditions.
Finally, styling is enhanced with new
bodywork intended to make the bike look
more aggressive and distinctive. There’s
also increased wind protection, better
headlights and mirrors and improved
instrumentation. Fuel tank capacity
remains 4.5 gallons, wet weight creeps up
a bit to 423.4 pounds and the price jumps
a lot to $11,699, making the ZX-6R pricier
than all the 2012 Japanese middleweights
(we’ll see if that’s true of the 2013s). Colors
are white, black, and of course, lime green.
Thunderhill is a great middleweight circuit,
a perfect blend of high-speed straights and
terrifyingly technical curves—15 turns in
2.86 miles. The Ninja really shone there,
showing off its improved power, suspension
and braking.
It’s been a while since I rode a ZX-6R, but
it was obvious the motor was improved.
Third, fourth or fifth gear were all useful
at T-Hill, with the extra cubes allowing
fast acceleration in all kinds of turns.
The power is smooth and fuelling is very
good, although off-idle can be slightly
abrupt—is it the missing injector’s fault?
No worries, as that small niggle is offset by
the smooth functioning and light feel of the
slipper clutch. The gearbox worked well,
though I had some trouble with clutchless
upshifts—then again, the bike only had a
few hundred miles on it.
As always, Big Pistons mean big fun, with
smooth compliant action combined with
excellent damping and control, even on
an undulating track like T-Hill. But the
best part is the “Separate Function,” which
lets the rider make preload or damping
adjustments quickly and easily. With a few
turns of a screwdriver, we got our bike’s
suspension working as perfectly as a stock
motorcycle’s possibly
could.
The brakes are a treat
as well. Powerful and
fade-free, I was doing
some very hard braking
with one finger—use all
four and the bike will
hunker down and stop.
Even the rocket-fast
jocks on the track with us
were impressed. On the
racetrack, I simply don’t
have the riding skill to
find fault with the 636,
and unless your last name is “Sofoglu,” you
won’t be able to either.
So will the changes broaden its street
usability? To find out, Kawasaki unleashed
us on Bucks Lake Road, 50 miles of
smooth, freshly-paved goodness. That’s the
kind of road a bike like the 636 is perfect
for—smooth, with well-engineered turns
that can be safely taken at illegal speeds.
I found the bike was happy pulling out of
turns in third, fourth or fifth at any rpm
above 6000. The suspension was just right
on smooth pavement and good brakes like
the 636’s are always welcome.
As an everyday ride, the 636 would be
fine. Wind protection is fine, and fuel
economy is tolerable as well—there’s a
readout showing MPG and an “eco” icon to
inform you when the engine is at its most
efficient. I found the hard seat and low
bars uncomfortable after an hour or two,
but it’s a sportbike. It doesn’t need to be
comfortable. You’re lucky it has a seat at all.
Like its competition, the new ZX-6R is a
finely tuned racetrack weapon that’s also
fun to ride on the street. Is it improved
enough to justify buying a new one? Well,
it’s probably one of the best middleweights
right now, and as the development pace
in this class has slowed—only Suzuki has
totally revamped its middleweight since
2009—it’ll probably be competitive for
a long time. It’s not a question of the bike
being good enough for you—are you good
enough for it?
2012 Yamaha FZ1
FZ10BCW
Yamaha’s Ultimate Street Brawler!
On Sale Now with Customer Cash Back!
Always wear a helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing.
Please respect the environment, obey the law, and read your owner's manual thoroughly.
BERKELEY YAMAHA
735 GILMAN STREET
BERKELEY (510) 525-5525
www.berkeley-yamaha.com
Tues.-Fri. 9-6, Sat. 9-5 — Sun.-Mon. Closed
November 2012 | 12 | CityBike.com
November 2012 | 13 | CityBike.com

By Gabe Ets-Hokin
Can you smell it? It’s not leaves
burning or tasty spiced-apple
baked goods. It’s new-bike season,
and the epicenter this month is the big
INTERMOT show in Cologne, Germany.
Here’s the big news:
BMW
Air-cooled Boxer motor? Say buh-bye.
BMW unveiled a water/air-cooled version
of its R1200GS that adds a lot of power
without adding too much weight. Output
is up to 125 horse, with an extra 5 Newton-
Meters of torque. It’s actually just the head
that’s water-cooled—the cylinders retain
cooling fins—so weight doesn’t go up too
much, just 9 pounds of claimed wet weight
difference between the water-pumper and
the 521-pound 2012.
Other changes include a new Telelever
front end, radial-mount Brembo four-pot
calipers in front, radial tires like the KTM
(see below) and new styling. There are
also e-goodies in the form of multi-modal
engine mapping and dynamic suspension.
This makes the GS even more roadoriented
(although we’ll stay tuned for
an Adventure version with knob-friendly
INTERMOT 2012
Adventure Riding Gets Faster, a Yamaha
Triple, Even More Range From Zero
wheels). Pricing hasn’t been released—
we’d expect it to get about a 10 percent
boost to around $16,500.
No word about the Boxer-powered retroroadster
and streetfightering version of the
S1000RR superbike—will we see them in
Milan?
DUCATI
Just some BNG stuff in the Ducati booth,
but wait ‘till Milan next month.
HONDA
Not too much news at the Honda booth,
but what may interest our more dirtyminded
readers is that Honda will sell
a turn-key Dakar rally machine, the
CRF450. It’s based on the CRF450F
enduro model, but with Honda’s PGM-FI
engine-management system, a big fairing,
extended-range tank and electronic
navigation aids. It’s here to get Honda its
production-model crown back at the 2013
Dakar, but there’s no info about how much
it costs or how to get one.
Easier to get—at least for Europeans—will
be the CB1100. This is a big standard with
MCMA Member Specials:
RS-Taichi Product Coming Soon
Great Selection of Arai Helmets
retro styling right down to the Comstaresque
wheels and an air/oil-cooled 1140cc
Four making a claimed 88 horsepower and
about 70 ft.-lbs of torque. It weighs in at 553
pounds gassed up, which means it wouldn’t
be that entertaining, if you think about it,
but it doesn’t matter because it won’t come
to the USA. We expect it’ll be here in a year
Service: Dirtbikes, Streetbikes,
Racebikes, Scooters, and Harley’s
AFM/Track Race Prep
Come get your Tires Installed while you wait.
757 Lincoln Ave Door 19 San Rafael Ca 94901
(415) 453-6686
www.TopShelfMotorycycles.com
Store Hours: Tues-Fri 10a-6p Sat 10a-5p
or two, though—send your deposit checks
care of this magazine, made out to “Cash.”
KTM
KTM did a cannonball into the kiddie
pool when it announced its redesigned
1190 Adventure, equipped with a
148-horsepower version of its RC8R
superbike engine. And if that kind
of power doesn’t woo you, other new
features—like tubeless radial tires,
electronic suspension adjustment and
serious instrumentation—will.
The liquid-cooled, 75-degree, 1195cc
V-Twin comes out of KTM’s RC8R—
replacing the less-sophisticated
powerplant in the prior version of KTM’s
Adventure, Supermoto R and Supermoto
T—is compact, light and very powerful
for a V-Twin. It features a slipper clutch,
ride-by-wire throttle, multi-mode
traction control and 9300-mile service
intervals. KTM also promises better fuel
economy—20 percent better, in fact—
which means “desert use” range when
coupled with the 5.8-gallon tank.
Big brakes and wide, sticky
point toward KTM’s
possible desire for a
more road-oriented
market, even if the
suspension retains
radial tires
almost
8 inches of
travel. Combined ABS
Brembo brakes with radial-mount
four-piston calipers are standard, as is the
Electronic Damping System, which lets the
rider select spring preload and damping
settings on the fly. Tires are radial, in a
120/70-19 front (the first bike
to use that size) and 170/60-17
rear, as well as tubeless, thanks
to KTM’s patented airtight rim
bead. Styling is also freshened,
with a big, wide adjustable
windscreen and an info-packed
VDO instrument panel. KTM
hasn’t released USA pricing, but
somewhere below the base-model
2012 R1200G (the press release
promised an “affordable entrylevel
price”) may be the place to
start. Also on display was an 1190
“Adventure R,” with knobby-sized
wheels and other dirt-friendly changes.
SUZUKI
The new V-Strom 1000 concept is not
the warmed-over update the 650 version
proved to be when it was introduced last
year. Instead, it is essentially all new, with a
heavily revised engine, chassis and styling.
Expect the electronic aides that are rapidly
becoming de rigueur for the class, such
as switchable traction control and cruise
control. Adjustable windscreen and cast
wheels point toward a road orientation,
as does the integrated luggage. Other
upgrades likely will include the displayed
adjustable suspension and radial-mount
front brakes. Needless to say, Suzuki
will have much more competition in this
category next time around, and it must
design the new V-Strom 1000 to meet it.
TRIUMPH
Triumph
revises its
popular
Street
Triple
and Street
Triple R for
2013 with a
new, lighter
chassis and
low-slung
single muffler.
As much as 13 pounds
lighter, the new Street Triple models also
feature a new chassis, with more trail,
which should settle the Strippler’s
nervous and vague feel at a sporting
pace. There’s also edgier styling
and standard ABS (with an off
switch) but best of all is a claimed
13-pound weight reduction,
which is pretty killer considering
it’s already about as light as a
bike in that class gets, putting a
Street Triple right around 400
pounds gassed up. Pricing is
still to be announced—expect
a moderate bump from the
$8899 2012 MSRP ($700 more
for the Ahrrrr).
YAMAHA
Yamaha displayed something
unexpected with its Crossplane
Triple concept. Not hiding the fact that
this finished-looking three-cylinder,
liquid-cooled powerplant is headed for
production in some form (similar to what
the company did, if you recall, with the
new V-MAX), Yamaha appears to have
determined that a Triple will help bring
back some sales to the depressed sportbike
market, and will undoubtedly point to
its own three-cylinder heritage in the
form of the XS750/850 from the late ’70s.
Triumph and MV won’t have this niche to
themselves much longer, it would appear.
More Yammie news: the FJR1300A
sport-tourer has been revamped, with
new electronics and bodywork. The
FZ8 middleweight standard gets a
restyled muffler and fully adjustable
front suspension as well as a preload and
rebound-adjustable rear boinger.
ZERO
Zero announced its 2013 range of street
and off-road motorcycles, with more
range, faster recharge capability and most
importantly to us gear-heads, a lot more
power. For the S (standard) and DS
(dual-sport)
introduces
models, Zero
a “Z-Force”
motor,
the first
motor the
company
has
designed
from the ground up for use in a motorcycle.
It’s air-cooled, requires no maintenance,
lets you tell people it has a radial-flux
permanent magnet, and makes (drum
roll, please) 54 horsepower and 68 ft.-lbs.
of torque—yowza. Top speed is 95 mph
(probably limited somehow), but I’ll bet
you get to 95 in a hurry.
Juice is provided by an improved Z-Force
battery, and buyers can select two different
102-volt power packs. An 8.5 kilowatt
hour pack nets you 103 miles of city riding,
53 miles at a steady 70 mph, or 79 miles
combined. If you pony up for the 11.4
kilowatt-hour box, you’ll go 137 miles
in the EPA UDDS city cycle, 70 miles at
70 mph, or 93 miles combined. Home
charging time is reduced 25 percent to 6
or 8 hours (for the big battery), but you
can now purchase an adapter to use public
CHAdeMO quick-charge stations, which
can bring a flat battery to a 95-percent
charge in an hour.
The chassis, electronics and other
equipment get improvements, too. The
frame is new, the swingarm is stiffer, the
motor is a stressed member, and brake
calipers are now made by Nissin. Curb
weight is a claimed 350 or 382
pounds. The DS is similarly
upgraded, but with slightly
different weights and top speed,
plus it now uses a 19-inch front
tire. New bodywork makes the
bikes look more motorcycle-y, and
the “tank” is now a locking storage
box. What doesn’t really change
is the price—last year’s 9-kilowatt
hour S ZF9 was $13,995, and the
2013 8.5 (which offers a little less
range but a lot more power and
speed) is the same. The 11.4 is an
additional $2000.
With this lineup (including similarly
improved dirt models and a sort
of super-aggressive urban dirtbike
called the FX), Zero is sending a
serious warning shot across the bows
of Brammo. These new models offer
impressive range, performance and
looks at competitive prices.
From 3:14 Daily
Valencia @ 25th
415-970-9670
November 2012 | 14 | CityBike.com
November 2012 | 15 | CityBike.com

Off-Road Survival Guide Part I
A Tale of Two Production Racers
By Bill Klein
I know, I know: This is CityBike. Not DirtyBike
(er, well, sometimes ‘tis out of necessity). If you
think of dirt as something on the pavement to
avoid like wet Muni tracks, it’s time to broaden
your moto-mentality.
San Francisco and the Bay Area are home
to a lively community of off-road riders.
Dirt bikers. Right here in your own
backyard. And they’re not all enviro-al
Qaedans or guys (and girls) who never
matured beyond
high school. Take
a ride to Hollister
Hills, Carnegie, or
Metcalf, the closest
public off-road
riding areas to the
City, and prepare to
be roosted by mom,
dad, and the whole
family hitting the
trails on everything
from mini-bikes and motocrossers to quads
and 950cc adventure hogs.
Knowing that many-a-city biker secretly
yearns to get sideways on a dirt road,
we’ve decided to bring the basics of offroading
to these asphalt-biased pages.
Think of us as the dude with a dirt bike
in the back of the pickup who has a whole
month to tell you about choosing the
right bike and gear, where to ride, fixing
Last Century’s Tire Change Prices
We Do SVs!
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 am - 6 pm
415-552-8115 | werkstattsf.com
3248 17th Street San Francisco, CA 94110
flats, riding techniques, safety, and the
environmental responsibilities of offroading.
We’re targeting the beginning trail
rider here. Sorry no tips on how to triple
back flip or win the Baja 1000, although
the information presented here builds the
foundation you’ll need to bang handlebars
when the shotgun blasts.
Like street biking, riding a dirt bike is
a very personal
experience. Discover
what works best for
you. Forget about
what your buddies
think is cool or what
the top professional
racers are hustling
for their sponsors.
The bike you choose,
the gear you wear,
and the obstacles you tackle should all fit
your personal comfort level.
And don’t worry if you’re not the fastest
rider in the group. Start with a strong
foundation in balance, smoothness, and
the ability to read the trail; speed will
naturally follow—if that’s your interest.
The goal here is to flatten your learning
curve, to lessen the painful first steps so
you can spend more time riding and less on
RACing & RePAiR SinCe 1994
Same Day Turn Around!
All Tune Up Parts Always in Stock!
bike repairs and injuries…and yup, you’re
going to fall. But wearing the right gear and
being aware of your limitations will greatly
reduce the owies.
So why ride a dirt bike?
Well-meaning family members and
medical professionals will all ask this same
question so you should have a pretty clear
idea of why you’re getting into this sport. As
with careers and relationships, dirt biking
requires you to look ahead and know
where you’re going. So before dropping up
to ten grand on a vehicle that’s built to be
thrashed, think about what attracts you
to off-road motorcycling. Just say: I’m not
crazy, I want to ride a dirt bike because:
It’s Fun
Wasn’t that easy? Remember the
exhilaration, achievement, and freedom
you felt after first mastering a bicycle?
Mobility and the feeling of motion, being in
nature, exploring the unknown, conquering
obstacles, enjoying the balance and simple
movements of your body; dirt biking has
it all. Consider the routine and sedentary
types of jobs and entertainment common to
modern living and it’s no wonder so many
families are hitting the trails.
Dynamic playground
Last sunny Sunday that downhill trail was
cake. Now a cloudburst has turned it to
soap. Rideability of rocks, logs, roots, mud,
sand, and hills all change with the weather,
speed, and your bio-rhythms, creating an
ever-changing playground.
Risky business
It’s a thrill to ride on marbles. That’s how
dirt biking feels to first-timers.
“How the f$%k am I supposed to ride this
thing when the ground keeps moving?”
Eventually you learn that the dirt is one
of the last venues where you can push the
limit. No cars. No cops. Just you and your
white knuckles facing that impossibly steep
downhill trail.
Bio-mechanical advantage
Develop your riding skills and your dirt
bike becomes an extension of your body. It
helps you go wherever you want. Twist the
throttle, shift your weight and that machine
will amplify your power to climb hills,
fly though the air, and skim across water
with speed and stability that you just can’t
accomplish on foot.
Beats Pilates
When taken beyond butt-on-the-seat puttputting
along smooth dirt roads, off-roading
is a physically demanding, aerobic activity.
Check your heart rate before and after a
ride if you need proof. Piloting a bucking
250 pound bike is vigorous exercise. The
coordination required to maintain balance
and momentum, combined with the
alertness needed to anticipate and react to
changing obstacles, delivers a healthy mindbody
workout. The better physical shape
you’re in, the more enjoyment and fewer
injuries you’ll experience.
Camaraderie
Play follow-the-leader. See who can hop
over a log. Meet another rider on the same
deer trail you never believed you could
ride. Sharing trails, tips, and challenges
can create instant friendships. Trail riding
is one place where no one passes a stalled
rider without offering help.
Outdoor adventure
You can’t hide from nature in this sport.
Nor can you abuse it. Off-road riding areas
now survive by preserving vegetation and
habitats. The more you ride off-road the
more you appreciate the natural world.
Round a corner and you might encounter a
family of wild pigs or a rattlesnake. Listen
to a rain shower while resting under a tree.
See, smell, and feel the subtle changes
between the seasons. Off-roading forces
an appreciation and respect for the natural
world that our increasingly insulated
“virtual” lifestyles separate us from.
Fix it yourself
Modern dirt bikes are extremely durable
and reliable vehicles but they take a Desert
Storm of pounding. Learning pre and
post-ride bike maintenance and basic
trailside repair skills will save you from
becoming a mountain lion meal when your
bike breaks in the boonies. Most repairs
are quite simple. Shop classes died along
with manufacturing jobs in the Bay Area,
so we’ll teach you the basics of mechanical
repairs in future articles.
Become a better street rider
All of the above will improve your ability
to handle a street bike…’nuf said. So guess
what? Explaining why you want to ride also
helps you understand what it takes to ride.
Remember, there is always someone who
is faster and more experienced than you,
so learn from them. Within your ability,
follow a better rider for a few hours, observe
and practice their techniques. Read all
the magazines and websites you can find.
Ask questions at your local riding area and
motorcycle shop. Then pass along what
you’ve learned to other riders.
Dirtbike riding isn’t about spinning the rear
wheel and making noise. Learn the most
efficient, least destructive ways to cover
ground. Maintain your bike so it never fails
you. Alternate between thoughtful sessions
where you practice a single technique, and
fun rides where you let your mind and body
work instinctively. And always look way
ahead. You’ll progress faster and enjoy the
dirty world of motorcycling.
Next month: Building your exoskeleton.
Graduating from dirt biking on a Schwinn 10-speed to
his first real motorcycle (a Husqvarna 360), Bill Klein
has been trail riding and racing since the early ‘70s. He
still rides every weekend…and falls down regularly.
By Steven L. Thompson
In the fall on 1971, I decided I needed
a reliable four-stroke racebike to
replace my seizure-prone Shepherd-
Kawasaki 350cc GP racer to compete in
British roadracing while I was stationed in
England with the Air Force. I finally settled
on the Norton “Yellow Peril,” the limitedseries
750cc Commando
Production Racer, and my
partner and I found what
seemed to be the last new
one in England at the Gus
Kuhn Norton dealership in
Clapham, London. After I sold
my GP bike, we collected the
Norton and looked forward
to racing it together in the ’72
season. The ultimate goal was
for me to ride the PR in the
Production class at the ’72 TT.
Didn’t work out that way. The
Norton suffered almost as
many mechanical problems as
my two-stroke, and I crashed
it, which didn’t help. I took it
home to the States and sold
it in ’73, thinking my goal of
racing in the 750 Production
class in the TT was never to
be achieved. Subsequently, I
bought it back, thinking that it
was not only beautiful but also
significant to me as the last
racing bike I rode. But in 1987,
I rode a new Suzuki GSX-R750
in the F1 and Prod 750 TTs in the Isle of
Man, the Suzuki doing what I’d bought the
Norton to do all those years before—and
the Suz did it brilliantly. Though the Suzuki
was wildly successful as a production racer
in its own right and as a street sportbike,
and though it became a legend itself, it
seems not to have garnered the collector
appeal that the Norton has.
Behind this disparity in how the two
production racers are perceived by
collectors lie many cultural factors, some
of which I agree with, and some I don’t.
Among those is Britbike-obsession, which I
happen never to have embraced. The main
reason I never got bitten by the Britbike
bug was that at the age when most guys
were forming their personal preferences in
motorcycle style, I was racing, and British
Twins of all sorts were proven to be much
less competitive than the engines from
what used to be called, derisively, “Japan,
Inc.” In this vein, the Norton’s engine was
described perfectly by my friend John
L. Stein, who, in writing a story about
it for the July, 1992 issue of Sports Cars
International pointed out that, “although
narrow, simple, and light, the powerful
Commando engine was born with a lit
fuse,” thanks in part to its lack of a center
bearing for the crankshaft. Ironically, soon
after John came to visit and ride my bike, I
needed to clear out my garage and had to be
ruthless about it. That meant that both the
Norton and the Suzuki had to go, and I sold
both factory production racers with regret.
Dude, Where’s my Gixxer?
The Norton is now owned by Jamie Waters
(it can be seen on his website: jamiewaters.
com) and I don’t know what happened to
the Suzuki. It wasn’t until I wrote the recent
Isle of Man TT story for Cycle World that I
felt again the affection I had for that bike,
so radical in its time, so splendidly crafted,
so well suited to the ideal of a sporting
motorcycle that one could race easily and
reliably right out of the box—the ideal
behind the Norton too.
John Stein summarized the experiences I
had with the two proddy racers perfectly
when he ended his story thus: “Like most
sport motorcycles, the Norton rewards the
senses as it offends the sensibilities. This is
really the essence of the Production Racer,
right here. The conflicts between low-speed
discomfort and high-speed bliss, between
vibration and silkiness, and between power
and reliability,
serve to
underscore
everything
that was
right—and
wrong—with
one of the best
British sport
bikes ever
made. In the
end, of course,
it wasn’t
Japan, Inc.
that crushed
the spine
of Norton-
Villiers. It was
motorcyclists.
They didn’t want conflict after all. They
wanted to ride.”
And I wanted to ride to win. Which is
why to me, though I love the way the
Norton looks and always will, the Suzuki
is a brilliant combination of engineering
and style, and I find I want it back in my
garage. Or at least to see it in real life one
more time.
So here’s where this tale gets interactive.
In 1992, I sold the Suzuki to Steve Schaub,
owner of Gilroy Motorcycle Center, and
Steve sold it to a buyer whom, he said,
understood its history. I hope so. And I
hope whoever owns it now also knows its
history, but I know that old racebikes—
especially Japanese production racers—
tend to get heavily modified and/or turned
into café racers and crashed, then sold off in
bits or parked in the back of the garage.
Whatever the fate of the CW/Thompson
Isle of Man TT 1987 GSX-R750, I hope
someone can help me find it again.
Disabled as I am, I won’t be able to ride it,
even if it’s rideable and not in bits. But if
you know where it is, or who owns it, please
email CityBike: info@citybike.com.
The Norton’s story isn’t over—and neither
is the Suzuki’s. I hope.
November 2012 | 16 | CityBike.com
November 2012 | 17 | CityBike.com

maynard HERSHON
Three weeks ago I met a guy on the
bicycle path, both of us on our
bicycles. He was wearing a BMW
motorcycle club t-shirt. We pedaled along
and chatted, two motorcyclists on pedal
bikes. He graciously invited me to attend
his club’s monthly meeting—the very next
night. I went to the meeting, liked what I
saw and sent in our dues.
Tamar and I on our ZRX did our first
Saturday BMW club ride that weekend. I’d
say there were 25 bikes, almost all ridden
solo. They were primarily BMWs as you’d
figure, but there were other brands: a
Harley or two, two Kawasakis and a sweet
old Moto Guzzi. Everyone at the pre-ride
breakfast was welcoming and nice.
During the informal pre-ride meeting our
leader announced that we were to have
a new rider with us. As it turned out, she
was a veteran rider’s wife who had in the
past sat on the back of his bike. She did
fine and finished the ride, not that we saw
much of her.
I slotted in at the back of the front group,
maybe eight or 10 bikes behind the lead
rider. They rode a bit faster than we’d
expected from a BMW club. The riders
didn’t look particularly fast. I’d say they
looked about the way you’d predict:
Cordura all around, leather on the Guzzi
LeMans guy.
I maintained a consistent gap
diagonally behind the rider ahead.
The group rode in a staggered
formation—most of the time. Now
and then someone excited about his bike’s
accelerative potential would wick it up.
He’d leapfrog us in a rush of gear whine,
tire howl and valve clatter.
We couldn’t decide
what purpose was
served thereby
beyond the flexing
of somewhat
powerful German
muscles. We were all going the same place
after all, aiming to arrive at the same time.
At no point did I stretch our own bike’s Asian
muscles; when Replicato Rossi jetted by on
his R12RT we would adjust our position in
the line and try not to wonder why.
At one point the leader and his two closest
followers passed three cars in a no-passing
zone. We noted with alarm that the driver
of the front-most car was flashing his
intention to turn left, across the lane the
bikes were using for their illegal pass.
At no point after the pre-ride chat was
any attention or consideration given the
new rider. Our pace and the eagerness of
Two Clubs
the leaders to pass made it impossible or
unlikely that she could keep the group in
sight. Had we decided as a policy to leave
her far behind, we could not have done a
more effective job.
I saw that the club ride was an every-manfor-himself
kind of deal. I thought about how
frequently today we see that style in action -
and not just on group motorcycle rides.
I admit I have no clear idea of how to keep
a large group together on busy, curving
highways with frequent yellow no-passing
lines. Still, I thought there must be a better
way than I experienced that Saturday.
I’ve done several rides in recent years
with Harley riders. In my experience they
look out for one
another and ride
smoothly, the group
flowing down the
road—even during
passing maneuvers.
It’s a pleasure riding with the bros. You are
seldom surprised. You can actually relax.
Imagine: I was riding with the BMW club
and missing a bunch of chaps-and-fingerlessgloves
bikers. Maybe I should think about
buying an American motorcycle.
Maybe not.
The next weekend, Tamar and I found
ourselves at a fuel stop in a tiny town,
undecided about our route. There were
several couples in motorcycle gear there
too. I asked them where they were headed
and their destination sounded good to me.
We asked if we might tag along.
We’ll sit at the back, I said. And we did, for
35 or 40 miles, to lunch at a Mexican cafe
with the four couples, longtime members
of a Gold Wing club in a town north of
Denver. Again, super-nice people who’d
worked together and known one another
for years. Ridden together everywhere.
So it was four Wings and our ZRX, looking
tiny by comparison. As we rode it occurred
to me that we never passed anyone. We
rode at the speed of the car in front of us,
often slightly or significantly below the
posted limit.
Riding that way gave me a creepy feeling.
There was always someone in a car
immediately behind me itching to pass but
faced with five motorcycles staggered in
front of him, using as much space on the
road as two semi-trailer trucks.
Worse, the rider at the front seemed to
favor the passing lane when one was
available. We’d be at the bottom of a grade.
The four Wings would move left into the
passing lane, past the Stay Right Except
When Passing signs, and merely ride there,
not passing anyone. I stayed in the righthand
lane and did not lose ground.
I wanted to shake my head but didn’t dare
get caught doing it.
Drivers behind us must have been furious
or at least curious, wondering what the four
bikes were doing there, violating the law
and driving etiquette. Four powerful, sixcylinder
motorcycles in a lane expressly for
passing, and no one opened the throttle.
It was clear to us that the way the four
Wingers rode that day was the way they
always ride. We stayed with them until our
routes diverged. Everyone waved goodbye.
But Tamar and I were relieved when we
separated from the four friendly couples.
Finally we could ride at the speed of traffic
or a little faster. We didn’t feel the hot
breath of some over-caffeinated cager on
the backs of our necks.
Weekend traffic on these Rocky Mountain
foothills roads is heavy. Passing is often
difficult or prohibited. Many drivers are
exasperated and insanely aggressive. But
weekends are when most of us can ride.
And we enjoy riding in groups with friends
and birds-of-a-feather. Does anyone know
how to make this work?
I’d enjoy hearing from you: info@citybike.com.
ed HERTFELDER
They say Bill Chapuin, the Six Days
of Michigan ramrod, was born
grouchy, but this is not true. Bill
was born a normal, happy child and did
not become grouchy until the midwife
smacked him to make him cry, and if she
hadn’t been holding his ankles Bill would
have kicked her in the eye. The nicest thing
I can say about Bill the Grouch is that he
doesn’t move his lips
a whole lot when he
reads.
When Bill asked me
(again) to drive one
of his support trucks
I agreed, provided we
could park it in a field
at the campground
instead of threading
it between like the Advanced Driving
Exhibitions we performed last year.
Need wood for a campfire?
Just follow the support truck!
Most multi-day trail rides provide support
vehicles, usually dinky little overstuffed
vans. The Six Days of Michigan runs two
monster diesel rigs with room to transport
your tent, a propane barbeque grill, a
55-gallon cooler, all the clothes you own,
silverware and dinner candles. Feel like
skipping a day or need more time to repair
your motorcycle? Just throw it in the back
of the truck and tie it down. The SDM
issues permanent riding numbers which
gives you a pretty good indication of how
many SDMs a rider has under his belt. My
number is 100. Some low-number riders
are showing up with gearboxes on wheels,
coffin size and heavy as hell.
This numbering system makes it easier to
weed out the idiots who make noise after
midnight.
Need wood for
a campfire?
Just follow the
support truck!
The Monkey
Butt 720
event fee and a little more for MDNR Land
Use and Monitoring fees or whatever the
hell they are. I know buffet breakfast and
dinners are delivered at the campgrounds.
Heck, we pay quite a bit for dual-sport
rides that appear to have been laid out
with a motor home. At the SDM for a few
bucks more we get real trails, meals, a
campground and a truck to haul our gear
around and sweep crews that sweep. And
even grouchy old Bill cared enough to send
experienced riders to find a lost newcomer
before they went to bed that night. One
evening he asked me and a fellow who
called himself a traveling chaplain to
go out to find a fellow who never passed
checkpoint number
one. After a fourhour
search we found
him—standing in the
shower line at the KOA
campground.
The chaplain and I had
carved our way from
the start out to the
first check location,
and every possible side trail we could
find, looking for either the rider or his
abandoned Honda Transalp and came
up dry every time. When we asked him
just where he was all day he said he saw
somewhere that the local fire department
was holding a singles-only dance
somewhere close by and he really likes to
dance!
To no one’s surprise, the inexperienced
trail rider left the next morning.
To everyone’s surprise Bill Chapin
refunded his money and got a promise from
the dancer that he would never come back
to Michigan, ever.
Scott Summers was a speaker that night
and his seriousness and extreme accuracy
when answering questions reminded me of
what I had read of Charles Lindbergh when
he was Summer’s age.
Oh yeah, Mark Hyde had an assistant
driver named Bob I only mention this
because Bob said he would send me five
dollars if I mentioned his name in my
column.
And I guess I should mention that Bill the
grouch looked the other way the second
time I asked him to pay me the six dollars
I spent to get his gear truck across the big
Mackinac Bridge.
For a copy of Ed’s latest book, 80.4 Finish Check,
send $29.95 with suggested inscription to Ed
Hertfelder, PO Box 17564, Tucson, AZ 85731.
Also now available on Amazon.com!
ADVERTISING
it works!
Contact CityBike to place a
classified or business
advertisement and reach
thousands of Bay Area
motorcycle enthusiasts.
info@citybike.com
415-282-2790
Send us $14.99 + $5 for
shipping and we’ll send you
a shirt... really! Email us:
info@citybike.com or mail a
check. Let us know your
shirt size (S-XXL) and
shipping address*
City Bike Magazine
PO Box 10659
Oakland, CA 94610
info@citybike.com
* if your primary business model revolves around
recycling of paper, unwanted appliances, or beverage
containers, this shirt might not be right for you.
The organization behind the SDM is first
rate, the trails are beyond first rate, and you
know they’ve got it together when the entry
list includes five ISDE gold medal winners
plus professional amateur trail riders like
Jack Rainey from New Jersey. The normally
separate single-track and dual-sport trails
combine quite often and I heard more than
one out of shape dual-sport rider say, “Then
I passed Burleson on an uphill….”
Sure he did, but only because Burleson
stopped to swap motorcycles with someone
who wanted to try the new Honda XR650L
he was testing.
Usually when you read of big-bore names
like Burleson you think big bucks, as in
the Colorado 500. This is not the case at
the SDM where, this year, you pay a $250
November 2012 | 18 | CityBike.com
November 2012 | 19 | CityBike.com

Tankslapper
Marketplace
We Moved!!!
MOJOTOWN !
to the heart of downtown san rafael
Free Parking
Behind OUR SHOP
off D St.
Store Hours
Mon - Sat 10-6
Ph. 415.457.6656
1417 4th Street, San Rafael, Ca 94901
WHAT’S THE STORY,
MAYNARD?
Maynard,
Okay. You raised my curiosity. Your friend
Glenn takes his GS to a dealer in Idaho
because it was time for a service and he
needed a tire (“Still Riding,” October
2012). He figured his bill would be $400
but they said it was $1800, so he paid and
quit riding. Umm, are we missing a detail
or two here? As Paul Harvey used to say,
and now it’s time “for the REST of the
story!”
Major WWWobble|
San Mateo
That’s the story, I’m afraid. I talked to Glenn while
I was visiting Silver City, and I talked with him
again after I sent him the piece. The store, an actual
BMW dealer, had a terrible reputation while it
stayed in business and has left a bad odor since it
closed.
If you have a guess why that experience soured
Glenn on powered two-wheelers, I’d like to hear it.
My hunch was that he felt he could trust a BMW
store to take care of a traveling BMW rider, and his
trust was betrayed.
On the other hand, Glenn is such a dedicated
bicyclist, perhaps he felt that the travel he did on
the motorcycle should have been bicycle travel. I
can’t tell. I have a bicycling friend who feels guilty
when he enjoys his Miata in local events. Might be
something like that.
Darron Spohn image of Mars lofting his front wheel at T-Hill’s Cyclone turn, 2012.
Thanks a ton for writing. If I had a definitive
answer, I’ll tell you. He rode all over the country...
and then just quit.
Best Regards,
Maynard
MR. SUNSHINE
Dear CityBike,
Kudos to Mr. Sunshine, AKA Editor Ets-
Hokin. His version of his favorite road
snack: Skaggs Spring Rolls (“Moto Guzzi
Stelvio,” October 2012) was right on. I rode
my ancient 650 V-Strom from Durango,
Colorado out to the coast via the most
orgasmic road in America—Highway
36—in August. Riding Highway 1 was
sweet, but didn’t compare to the twisties
on Skaggs Springs. Unfortunately, camping
on that road wasn’t an option, with privateproperty/no
trespassing signs everywhere,
but the ride generated more smiles than
any comedy club I’ve been to.
Thanks,
Dana Hodge
Durango, CO
TAG-TEAM CHALLENGER
Dear CityBike Editor,
Seems only fair that Allen Slaughter and
Kim Clark should be tag teaming the on
Tankslapper page. I’ve been knocked off
Highway 1 by both of them at one time or
another...
Actually I’m writing to thank you for
including my story in the July issue
(“Becoming 761”). I’ve been sending stories
to your P.O. box since that day after Brian
Halton walked up to me from across the
parking lot at the Cow Palace in 1985 to
hand me this very selfsame offering. Brian
always said “Shorter... shorter.” And you
give me almost a whole page. God is great.
Of minor importance but grave import I
will note that the picture of me wheelying
over the Cyclone at Thunderhill was taken
by Darron Spohn, who can be found at
lightcraftsman.com. Dito takes mighty
fine pictures too... I have bought many. If
you publish another one of my stories I
will use his pictures next time... Or Werner
Erhards, which even makes me look faster.
Cheers,
Peter Mars
(not Allen Slaughter or Kim Clark)
Serving the
Bay Area’s
motorcycle
needs
since 1988
Award-Winning Customs
Full Service Department
Paint • Parts
Fabrication
Insurance Work
All Makes Welcome
56 Hamilton Drive #A • Novato, CA 94949
415.382.6662 • CustomDesignStudios.com
CustomDesignStudio@SBCGlobal.net
FREE!
ADMISSION & RIDE OUT
Sacramento Drive-In – Sacramento, CA
JANUARY 13, MAY 19, 2013
(800) 762-9785 • WWW.TOPPINGEVENTS.COM
• Valve Seat & Guide Replacement • Race Prep •
• Porting • Polishing •
Cylinder Head
Specialists
In Business Since 1978
All Makes
All Models
All Years
ENGINE DYNAMICS, LLC
Phone 707-763-7519
Fax 707-763-3759
www.enginedynamics.com
• Flow Bench Testing • Competition Valve Jobs •
2040 Petaluma Blvd. N.Petaluma, CA 94952
Fabulous
Graphic Design
& Illustration
I’m Alan Lapp, a 25-year veteran designer
& illustrator. I run a small business called
Level Five Graphics here in Oakland.
I can help your business to produce great
design for your print work: advertisements,
marketing materials, brochutres, business
cards, letterhead, direct mail, packaging,
annual reports, periodicals, or any other
print job. Just call to discuss your project.
What can Level Five do for you today?
510-295-7707
www.levelfive.com
November 2012 | 20 | CityBike.com
November 2012 | 21 | CityBike.com

November 2012 | 22 | CityBike.com
November 2012 | 23 | CityBike.com
Reach thousands of Northern California motorcyclists. Just $15 for 25 words, 25¢
each additional word. Photos add $25. Industry classifieds are a higher price. Free
25-word listing for stolen bikes. Deadline is the 3 rd of each month. Just fill out the
form, or copy and send it with your check, payable to CityBike PO Box 10659,
Oakland CA, 94610
Name:
Address:
City: State: Zip:
e-mail:
CityBike Classifieds
CLASSIFIEDS
CLUBS
Antique Motorcycle Club of America
Yerba Buena Chapter of the
Antique Motorcycle Club of America
Motorcycle Enthusiasts dedicated to the preservation,
restoration, and operation of antique motorcycles.
To join or view more information about our club, visit us at
www.yerbabuenaamca.org
Ride with other local sport bike riders in the Bay Area.
• Mostly sport bikes
• Routes go to ALL parts of the bay area and focus on the
“twisty’s”
• We set a quick pace and newbies may get left behind ;)
• Group riding experience is highly recommended, as is
proper riding gear
• We also do track days, drag races, motorcycle camping,
and attend motorcycle racing events
http://www.meetup.com/BayAreaMotoGroup/
BSA Owners Club
The BSA Owners’ Club of Northern California was formed to
promote the preservation and enjoyment of the motorcycles
produced by the Birmingham Small Arms Company in
England. Founded in 1985, the Club now has over 500
members, and has produced the monthly newsletter, The
Bulletin, since the Club’s inception. Rides and activities are
scheduled each month in addition to two major activities:
The Clubman’s All British Weekend in the spring, and the
Northern California All British Ride in the fall. Membership
is open to all BSA enthusiasts.
For more information: www.bsaocnc.org
The Classic Japanese Motorcycle Club is dedicated to the
celebration and preservation of the Classic and Vintage
Japanese motorcycle. We have rides, meets, shows, swaps and
can help you find and sell parts, bikes and motorcycle-related
services. Members make the club function!
www.CJMC.org.
Exciting women-only motorcycle group in the SF Bay Area.
For more info visit www.curveunit.com
The Ducati Vintage Club was founded to assist vintage
Ducati MC (1987 and older) owners with information and
resources to preserve, resurrect and bring these MC’s back to
the road! Owners and enthusiasts are welcome to join. We meet
once monthly at the Ducati Bike Night event and we sponsor
the annual European Motorcycle Show and Swap held in March
at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, the La Ducati Day
Concorso held in LaHonda each October and more.
Visit us at www.ducativintageclub.com
Homoto is a queer and queer-friendly motorcycle club based
in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our rides are sport-focused with
an emphasis on safety and camaraderie.
For more info: http://www.homoto.us
sanfrancisco@homoto.us
sanjose@homoto.us
The Northern California Norton Owners’ Club (NCNOC) is
dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of the Norton
motorcycle. Membership is open to all British Motorcycle
enthusiasts and is currently $25 per year, you can join
online. Our monthly rides, meetings and tech session and
events are open to all members and guests see our web site
calendar at www.nortonclub.com.
Now celebrating our 40th year!
OMC
The Oakland Motorcycle Club is the fourth-oldest club in
the nation and celebrated 100 years of continuous operation
in 2007. The OMC is dedicated to supporting the sport
of motorcycle riding. We are a diverse group of male and
female riders with a wide variety of motorcycles, including
street, dirt, and dualsport bikes. We sponsor and organize
the following annual events to which all riders are invited:
Sheetiron 300 Dualsport, held in May; Three Bridge Poker
Run, held in July; Jackhammer Enduro, held in October.
Regular club meetings are held every Wednesday at 8:00
p.m. Guests are welcome. 742 – 45th Avenue, Oakland.
(510) 534-6222. www.oaklandmc.org.
San Francisco Motorcycle Club
San Francisco Motorcycle Club, Inc., established 1904, is
the second oldest motorcycle club in the country!
Our business meetings are Thursday nights at 8:30pm, and
guests are always welcome. Our clubhouse is filled with
motorcycling history from the last century, a pool table,
foosball and pinball games, and people who currently
enjoy motorcycles, dirt riding, racing, touring, riding and
wrenching. Check our website for events such as club rides,
socials and events, and come visit us, no matter what bike
you ride!
San Francisco Motorcycle Clubhouse is located at
2194 Folsom St, @ 18th St in San Francisco.
www.sf-mc.org
415-863-1930
DEALERS
Dudley Perkins Harley
Davidson
2007 FLHX Black cherry , Stock #U00642. 16,350 miles.
Pipes, H-D custom grips and pegs. $16,900 - OTD
2007 FLSTN Deluxe Vivid Black, Stock #U59453.
25,801 miles. $10,995 + fees Comes with one year
extended warranty.
2006 FLSTC Green/Black two tone, Stock #U62264.
18,050 miles. $10,495 + fees. Comes with one years
extended warranty
2011 FLHTCU Vivid Black, Stock #U63148. 17,823 miles.
under warranty until 5/2013. $20,000 - OTD
2006 FXSTI Vivid Black, Stock #C84626, 7,557 miles,
Detachable backrest, bags and windshield. $12,750 - OTD
2006 VRSCSE V-Rod Yellow/Platinum, Stock #C7526A.
8,669 miles. Clean screaming eagle V-rod. 14,500 + Fees
1994 FLSTN Birch White/Silver Stock #C30883 8626
miles real clean with chromed out motor thunder header
$14,299 - OTD
2012 XL1200N Midnit /bril silver Stock #U18753 1475
miles hard leather bags, pipes, air cleaner, Quarter fairing
$10,795 + Fees
2011 XL1200C Orange/ vivid black Stock #C26498 535
miles super clean with detachable wind shield $10,995
+ Fees
2002 limited edition fxdwg3 Navy Pearl Stock #C50432
8869 miles very clean with T-bars and 103” motor $16,500
- OTD
2004 FLHRC road king Real red stock #U14256 16927
miles clean bike with Corbin seat , pipes & air cleaner
$11,495 + Fees
2007 XL1200C Sportster black Stock# U5715B 9460
miles clean bike with slip on pipes. $7,495 + Fees
2004 FXDWG Wide Glide silver stock# C06538 4600
miles clean bike with pipes, air cleaner & windshield
$9,999 + Fees
2011 FLHTC black stock# U68121 18,800 miles very
clean classic $18,495 – OTD
2007 FLHTC red/blk pearl Stock# U04106 51020 miles
has brand new re-man motor with one year warranty on
motor, thunder header, detachable tour pak.
2010 FLSTFB bronze stock# C25627 15958 miles very
clean with windshield , back rest. Engine guard & custom
Harley limited edition paint set. $17,395 – OTD
2005 XLH1200R yellow pearl C17472 12154 miles clean
bike with slip on pipes, air cleaner, windshield, luggage rack
& garmin navigation. $6,500 + Fees
2010 FXDWG blk with flames stock# U17485 2185 miles
super clean with custom pin striping, Vance & Hines pipes,
SE air cleaner & remap. $13,395 + Fees
2005 VRSCSE V-ROD two tone blue stock # 75216 18723
miles with wind shield, bub pipes, back rest $13,995 +
Fees
1999 FLSTF brown Stock #13104 48025 miles clean
with backrest, saddle bags, wind shield & mustang seat.
$8,900 - OTD
2001 FXSTD DEUCE blue/silver stock# 27768 7335
miles has pipes, air cleaner & tach. $8,999 + Fees
J&M Motorsports
1931 Old Middlefield Way
#201
Mountain View
www.jm-ms.com
650-386-1440
Good-used-motorcycle/Fair-price specialists—Sportbikes,
Cruisers, & Dirt Bikes
We are a licensed operation run by two brothers who love
motorcycles and specialize in newer, low-mile, affordable
bikes that are worth owning. We have in-house financing
and a wide variety of bikes all in one place.
Looking for your first bike? Your 10th? Come by and see
why people like us: Easy to deal with and we really enjoy our
work. J&M is not a giant dealership. When you call or visit,
you’re talking directly with the owner.
Come by and take a look! Open Tues-Sat - Closed Sunday
We buy (nice) used bikes. Trade-ins and consignments are
almost always welcome.
$3,995 On Sale! 1980 BMW R65 7,942 Actual Miles
$5,995 2002 BMW R1150R 11,407 miles
$15,595 2009 BMW R12000GSA 12,071 miles
$3,995 2010 Vespa S150 537 Original miles
$8,495 2006 Aprilia RSV1000R Factory 13,509 miles
$2,295 2003 YZ250 Yamaha 2-stroke Low Hours
$5,495 2006 FZ6 Yamaha 3,052 miles
$4,495 2007 Yamaha Vstar650 Custom 2,862 miles
$4,695 2002 Yamaha XV1700 Warrior 14,293 miles
$2,795 2005 Suzuki GZ250 13,775 miles
$4,995 2007 Suzuki DRZ400SM 6,421 miles
$3,795 On Sale! 2006 Suzuki DRZ400S 7,176 miles
$5,295 2005 Suzuki SV650S 4,652 miles
$5,495 2005 Suzuki SV650S 2,754 miles
$5,495 2005 Suzuki SV650S 6,271 miles
$4,895 On Sale! 2009 Suzuki AN650 Burgman 12,993
miles
$8,495 2009 Suzuki GSXR600 1,059 miles
$8,495 2009 Suzuki GSXR750 11,179 miles
$995 2003 Kawasaki KX60
$5,995 2009 Kawasaki EX650R Ninja 2,457 miles
Warranty
$5,995 2007 Kawasaki EX650R Ninja 241 actual miles
$3,995 2010 Kawasaki EX250R Ninja 5,768 miles
$7,295 2009 Kawasaki ZX6R Ninja Monster 4,990 miles
$3,495 2001 Kawasaki ZX9R Ninja 10,683 miles
$1,495 2006 Honda CHF50 Metropolitian 2,188 miles
$3,495 2004 Honda Shadow VT600C VLX600 6,489
miles
$2,995 2006 Honda CRF450R
$7,495 2007 Honda CBR600RR 7,704 miles
$8,495 2009 Honda CBR600RR 2,752 miles
$9,695 2011 Honda CBR600RR 772 Original miles
$18,995 On Sale! 2003 Ford F250 7.3L XLT PowerStroke
170,954 miles
Mission Motorcycles
6232 Mission Street Daly City, CA 94014
(650) 992-1234 www.missionmotorcycles.com
1st Saturday of the month is BROWN BAG SATURDAY!
Get it in the bag and get 15% OFF! Any Parts or
Accessories in stock are 15% off the marked price! One bag
per customer, so get as much stuff as you can and Have Fun
while Saving Money!
Our factory-trained technicians in our Service Department
have decades of experience. Rely on us to keep your bike,
ATV, scooter or generator in tip top condition whether it’s
for regular scheduled maintenance, crash repairs, or for any
accessory installation you may be thinking about. We will
check your tire pressures for free.
Thinking about selling your bike? Still owe the bank for it?
Or have the title in hand? Bring it to Mission Motorcycles
and let us do all the work for you. No hassles with Craigslist
flakes or lowballers.
NEW BIKE SPECIALS
2012 Super Tenere Demo Rides! Please call to schedule
a ride (650) 992-1234. This is the ultimate adventure
touring bike with power modes, traction control, and ABS!
Come and see what all the excitement is about! $1000 OFF!
Save on 2012 Zero Electric Motorcycle S and DS
with “Freedom of Choice” promotions. Imagine where you
can go with up to 114 mile range and a top speed over 80
mph. Plug in and get charged with a standard household
outlet. Street models are eligible for the $900 CA Clean Air
Vehicle Rebate. Call for a Demo Ride and mention Citybike.
650-992-1234
2011 ZERO Electric Motorcycles Factory Authorized
Clearance savings available here at Mission Motorcycles.
Get Plugged In! The MX (Motocross) model is $3500.00
OFF!!! The S (Street) and DS (Dual Sport) are $4000.00
OFF!!! Plus, select ZERO Motorcycles qualify for a $900
CA Clean Air Vehicle Rebate! Call (650) 992-1234 for a
Demo Ride.
TIME TO GET DIRTY! Wide selection of new and used
motocross and trail bikes in stock now! 4-Strokes and
2-Strokes! It’s time to ride. Get your kids or significant
other riding! Easy to ride and fun for all.
2011 Honda CRF50 and CRF70 $250.00 OFF!!! Get
your kids riding with an automatic , 3-Speed, Mini Dirt Bike!
Training wheels available.
2012 CRF150R Big Wheel ON SALE NOW!!! Excellent
motorcross bike for teens or smaller adults.
2013 Scooters have arrived! Come down and check out
the new fuel-injected Metropolitan 50, re- designed Vino 50
and freeway legal PCX150!
2012 Honda Gold Wing in Black! Tour the country
in style and comfort with a Gold Wing! This bike has
everything but the airbag: ABS, Navigation, XM Ready,
and Comfort Package! This bike also has Reverse and is
$1000.00 OFF!!! Stock # H2995
2012 Demo Yamaha FJR1300 in blue and on Sale!
$1500.00 OFF! What a fantastic sport touring motorcycle!
This bike is fun, handles like a dream and has great styling!
It also has heated grips, an automatically adjustable
windscreen, saddlebags and two seat height options stock!
Y2732
2012 KLX250S in red! Only $4,999! This is a super fun
bike for the city and off road! It has great suspension and
comfortable riding position! K1404
2011 Kawasaki ZX-6R In Black for $9,499! New
Supersport Motorcycle! This bike has fully adjustable front
and rear suspension, excellent handling, and cornering
capabilities. K
2011 Yamaha FZ1 $9,999 Silver. Want a comfortable
ride, but don’t want to give up sport performance and
handling? This is the ride for you. Stock # Y2683
2010 Honda Sabre Candy Red and on sale! All stock with
a custom look. Arrive in style everywhere you go with this
super sleek cruiser that gets all the attention! H2935
2009 Honda CBR1000ABS in Red Spectacular engine
performance with solid, confidence inspiring, handling.
Feels like a 600cc in the tight turns, yet open the throttle
and feel the acceleration of a liter class bike. $1000.00
OFF!!!! Stock # H2898
2009 Yamaha V Star 650 Custom $6,090 Blue Flame.
Perfect for the freeway or getting around town. Easy to
handle and big value for the price. Stock # Y2640
2009 Honda CRF230M Street-Legal Supermoto!
Zip around town on this maneuverable, light weight
motorcycle! H3034
PRE-OWNED VEHICLES
2010 Honda Fury in Burgundy Want a Chopper? You
gotta come check out this all stock, factory 1300cc
chopper. $8,699 with only 5,805 miles. Stock # U1174
2009 Suzuki GSXR750 in blue/white with 8,929 miles!
Great for the city and track this supersport 750 has power
modes! Great condition and comes with rear seat cowl and
rear seat. Only $8,799 Stock # U1173
2008 Suzuki GSXR750 in Orange/Black - GO GIANTS!!!
Excellent condition with 9806 miles! Comes with rear seat
cowl and rear seat. $8,299 Stock # U1169
2008 Honda CBR1000RR Black with full graphics kit and
only 2,261 miles!!!! Excellent condition! $8,888 Stock
# C487
2008 Honda CBR600RR Silver/Black 15,520 miles and
only $6,999 Ride on with your comfortable 600 Supersport!
Comes with Two Brothers carbon fiber exhaust and frame
sliders. Stock # U1166
2008 Yamaha Vino 125 Only $1,799 in Blue! Bop around
town on this cute, euro styled scooter! Easy to Park! Stock
# U1172
2007 Yamaha YZFR1 in Blue! $7,599 Let’s go to the
Track! This bike comes with frame sliders and Akrapovic
pipes. Stock # C484
2007 Kawasaki KLX110 $1,699 Take your kids riding with
this three speed dirt bike. Easy to ride, just twist and go.
Very low hours. Stock # C466
2006 Yamaha R6S in Black $6,099 Get out and ride on
this beautiful R6! This bike has Pirelli Rosso II Tires, Frame
Sliders, Akrapovic Slip-on exhaust and more! Only 11,512
miles!
2005 Triumph Thruxton in Silver/Black Come in and
check out this beautiful 900cc motorcycle with its classic
styling! Only $4,499 with 3,524 miles! Stock # U1175
2003 Kawasaki KLX400 Let’s get Dirty! Need a low seat
height? Looking for inexpensive fun? This is the 400 for
you! Only $2,699 Stock # C475
2003 Honda XR650R Are you ready for some off road
enduro Racing? This bike is setup for you! It has a big
gas tank, skid plate, and fully adjustable suspension! Only
$2,799 Stock # C480
2002 Yamaha Warrior in Purple DRAG BIKE! Engine
built by Patrick Racing and has never been to the drag strip!
It has a Racing transmission, GA power commander and
“will do 10 seconds on the quarter mile.” This bike looks
great with its chrome wheels (250 rear tire), chrome swing
arm, custom paint and a Corbin ostrich seat! This bike is a
steal for $12,999! Stock # C481
1988 Honda Elite 250 Get going in the city and down
the Freeway with this classic Honda scooter! Only 10,265
miles and still going strong! $1,799 Stock # U1167
Prices do not include government fees, dealer freight/
setup fees (new vehicles only), taxes, dealer document
preparation charges or any finance charges (if applicable).
Final actual sales prices will vary depending on options or
accessories selected.
Check out and compare our bikes online at
www.missionmotocycles.com!
Ride On Motorcycles
707-647-RIDE (7433) Ride-On-Motorcycles.com
1416 Sonoma Blvd
Vallejo CA 94590
Steve@Ride-On-Motorcycles.com
David@Ride-On-Motorcycles.com
Welcome to Ride-On-Motorcycles!
Our friendly associates will help you find the Motorcycle you want at a
price you can afford. Our years of experience and commitment to quality
have earned us loyal customers throughout the Ride-On-Motorcycles
metro area. Women riders are always welcome and yes, we listen to what
you want.
We are an Authorized Dealer for Cleveland CycleWerks offering brand new
quality, affordable production motorcycles. The Misfit is a full suspension
“Café” styled bike that can fit 2 passengers comfortably. The Heist is a
“Bobber” styled bike that will turn heads with lots of cool features.
Our experienced buyers select only the best values from trade-ins,
overstocked inventory and private party purchases. We stand by every
motorcycle we sell. Due to our low overhead, we can pass incredible
savings along to you.
We specialize in satisfying all our customers’ needs with your powersports
purchase. From what you want and keeping within your budget, we will walk
you through the entire process. We promise a hassle-free experience! Every
motorcycle we sell gets a service and has passed a comprehensive 38 point
inspection performed by our knowledgeable staff.
One-stop shopping!
We sell and service most makes and models. Including Harley-Davidson,
Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki to mention a few.
Trades are always welcome. We’ll buy your bike or take it on
consignment.
Warranties soon to be on the menu.
Parts & Accessories in stock.
We offer financing through multiple sources to qualified applicants.
Discounted no-obligation insurance quotes available for your scooter!
Our History:
Ride-On-Motorcycles was founded by two motorcycle enthusiasts and
riding buddies, David and Steve in 2009. Both David and Steve spent time
together at Harley-Davidson of Vallejo until the Dealership sold in 2008,
the new owners let the management team go so David and Steve partnered
up to start a new shop offering a wide variety of brands in a warm friendly
family environment.
About Steve
Steve is known in the motorcycle community as “Hollywood” Steve, a
handle that was given to him over a decade ago by riding friends that would
patiently wait for him as he got ready to leave on rides. In his younger years
Steve was influenced by the movie “Easy Rider”. After seeing the flick he
purchased his first motorcycle the very next day. Steve has been an avid
rider now for more than 40 years.
Steve held many positions in every department of a leading Northern
California Harley-Davidson dealership. As Sales Manager he learned
the value of offering quality motorcycles at a fair price. As Business/
Finance Manager it was important that the financing and warranties were
of the best value. The purchase experience needs to be hassle free and a
pleasure. He knows that the success of the business is a total commitment
to satisfy every customer’s need while fulfilling their dreams to ride at
Ride-On-Motorcycles.
About David
David’s entry into the motorcycle industry was more from necessity than
pleasure. Seemed like a good career choice. David began working in
the industry in 1981 and purchased his first motorcycle to commute to
work that year. His work experience includes managerial duties in parts
and accessory, purchasing and sales of motorcycles, and servicing
motorcycles. His passion for riding grew for 20 years before finally
heightening in 2007 with Steve and David’s first road trip together, the
epic ride to Daytona Beach for Bike Week. This was the foundation for
the passion that has grown ever sense. David’s primary goal at this point
in his career is to carry the message to others regarding the joys of the
motorcycle world.
NEW BIKES
12028 $3195+++ 2012 Cleveland CycleWerks Heist
250 Black 5 mi VIN-000931 Bobber
PRE-OWNED BIKES
12007 $7995 2005 Ducati MULTISTRADA Red 43443mi
VIN-011036 1000 S DS (05640)
12013 $3495 1996 Honda ST1100 Red 37668mi
VIN-600018 Sport Tourer (52310)
12015 $6995 2005 Ducati MULTISTRADA Red 9975mi
VIN-009498 1000DS (05630)
12022C $11495 2005 Harley-Davidson FLHRI Red
55906mi VIN-709755 Fire Fighter Special Road King
(00590)
12024C $6595 1988 Harley-Davidson FLHTC Black
65220 mi VIN-505226 Electra Glide Classic (00640)
12034C $6495 2006 Yamaha R-6 Blue 5758 mi VIN-
002820 600cc (00060)
12035C $9995 2004 Harley-Davidson FLSTF Red 14264
mi VIN-031793 Fat Boy (59990)
12036 $2995 1986 Honda VT 1100 C Blk/Slv 17751 mi
VIN-104259 Shadow (00510)
12039 $1295 1980 Suzuki GS550L Blue 35817 mi
VIN-709827 Limited (00500)
12047 $2995 1993 Suzuki GSXR 750 Blue/White 9517 mi
VIN-101781 750 cc (00310)
12048 $4795 2008 Suzuki DR 650 SE Black/White 3345
mi VIN-101835 Dual Sport (00720)
12051 $2795 2001 Honda VT750C Black 77306 mi
VIN-500141 Shadow (00610)
12052C $3695 2001 Harley-Davidson XL 883 Purple
8983 mi VIN-157430 Hugger (05120)
12053 $4495 2004 Suzuki GSXR 600 Yellow 17940 mi
VIN-110884 600 cc (00130)
12054 $5995 2005 Suzuki GSXR 1000 Yellow/Black
17251 mi VIN-101253 1000 cc (00430)
12055 $2495 2004 Suzuki GZ 250 Black 12558 mi
VIN-100395 250 cc (00900)
12056 $4495 2002 Yamaha YZF-R1 Silver 23329 mi
VIN-001215 1000 cc (05130)
12057 $4495 2007 Suzuki C 50(VL800) Red/Black
11865 mi VIN-109841 800 cc (05720)
12058 $9495 2005 Harley Davidson FXSTI Blue 17968
mi VIN-027970 1203 cc (00466)
12059 $5395 2000 Buell S3-T Purple 30547 mi
VIN-020036 1203 cc (05415)
12060C $7995 1999 Harley Davidson FXSTC Red 13580
mi VIN-050895 1203 cc (01260)
COMING SOON
10205 $2995 1996 Kawasaki VN 1500-D1 Black XXXXX
mi VIN- XXXXXX Vulcan Classic (00210)
12025 $2995 2003 Kawasaki VN750A Red/Grey 24428
mi VIN-548843 Vulcan (05900)
NFS
11011 $5000 2008 Buell Blast Custom Blue 1178 mi
VIN-000351 496cc (55810)
SF MOTO
275 8th Street at the corner of Folsom
San Francisco - 415 255 3132
www.sfmoto.com
We are sf moto. Located on 8th and Folsom in the SOMA
(South of Market) area of San Francisco,we serve the bay
area with new SYM scooters and recent used motorcycles.
We sell Triumph, Ducati, Yamaha, Kawasaki, BMW,Suzuki
and other brands.
Here you will find anything from Street bike to cruiser and dual
sport bikes. All our vehicles have been thoroughly gone through.
Our used motorcycles come with our own 60 day warranty.
SERVICE DEPARTMENT:
The service department is open from Tuesday throuhg
Saturday from 8:00am until 6:00pm. Direct service phone
line: 415-861-7196
SALES DEPARTMENT:
- We buy used motorcycles and scooters. We can also help
you sell your ride with our no cost consignment program.
- Bring your bike, title (or loan statement), owners handbook
and keys.
- It’s OK if you still have a loan on your bike we can still take
care of you.
- We will provide the safest way for you to get cash for your
motorcycle or scooter. It only takes about 20 - 25 minutes.
- Sign up on our mail list to get NEW INVENTORY
NOTIFICATIONS in our weekly e mail newsletter at
www.sfmoto.com
WE HAVE THE FASTEST ROTATING SELECTION
IN SAN FRANCISCO:
2007 Aprilia RSV 1000R Bol D’Or, 15921 miles, red/
lavender, $8995
2009 Genuine Buddy 125 scooter, 989 miles, black, $2495
2003 Honda 919, 8858 miles, matte gunmetal, $5995
2005 Honda 919, 14103 miles, black, $5995
2011 Honda CBR250R, 30 miles, black, $3995
2006 Honda CBR600F4, 12453 miles, yellow, $6495
2007 Honda CBR600RR, 8078 miles, blue/silver, $7695
2007 Honda CBR600RR, 9689 miles, blue/silver, $7995
2005 Honda CBR600RR, 5355 miles, silver, $6495
2004 Honda CBR600RR, 103 miles, black, $5995
2007 Honda CBR600RR, 5238 miles, blue/silver, $7495
2008 Honda CBR600RR, 8897 miles, orange/black, $7495
2002 Honda CBR900RR 954, 12152 miles, red, $5495
2007 Honda Elite scooter, 2262 miles, silver, $1595
1989 Honda Hawk NT650, 53332 miles, red, $3995
2009 Honda Rebel 250, 14117 miles, black, $2995
2006 Honda Shadow VLX VT650, 38827 miles, red, $2995
2007 Honda Shadow VT750, 10960 miles, Black, $5495
2012 Hyosung Comet R250, Black, NEW, $4095
2009 Kawasaki KLR650, 2555 miles, Blue, $4995
2009 Kawasaki, KLX250, 4280 miles, black, $4295
2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250, 2475 miles, red, $3995
2009 Kawasaki Ninja ER-6N, 6082 miles, blue, $5895
2009 Kawasaki Ninja ER-6N, 13985 miles, blue, $5695
2011 Kawasaki Vulcan 900, 3684 miles, black, $7995
2010 Kawasaki Vulcan 900, 656 miles, blue, $6995
2007 Kymco People S250, 64 miles, Black, $2495
2007 Kymco Xciting 250, 411 miles, black, $2695
2005 MV Agusta Brutale, 17679 miles, silver/red $6495
2009 Suzuki GSXR 750, 3393 miles, blue/white, $8995
2011 Suzuki GSXR 750, 1351 miles, black, $9895
2009 Suzuki GZ250, 3272 miles, black, $2995
2008 Suzuki SV650, 7529 miles, blue, $5995
2009 Suzuki V-Strom 650, 13332 miles, black, $6995
2009 SYM Citycom 300i scooter, NEW, blue, $3995
2009 SYM Citycom 300i scooter, NEW, red, $3995
2012 SYM Fiddle II 125cc scooter, NEW, white, $2295
2012 SYM Fiddle II 125cc scooter, NEW, beige, $2295
2012 SYM Fiddle II 125cc scooter, NEW, baby blue,
$2295
2012 SYM Fiddle II 125cc scooter, NEW, red, $2295
2012 SYM Fiddle II 125cc scooter, NEW, black, $2295
2012 SYM Wolf Classic 150cc, NEW, white, $2995
2012 SYM Wolf Classic 150cc, NEW, black, $2995
2012 SYM Wolf Classic 150cc, NEW, red/white, $2995
2012 SYM Wolf Classic 150cc, NEW, red, $2995
2012 SYM Wolf Classic 150cc, NEW, green, $2995
2012 SYM Symba 101cc scooter, NEW, baby blue/
white, $2349
2012 SYM Symba 101cc scooter, NEW, red/white,
$2349
2012 SYM Symba 101cc scooter, NEW, black/white,
$2349
2012 SYM HD200 EVO scooter, NEW, matte black,
$3495
2012 SYM HD200 EVO scooter, NEW, black, $3495
2012 SYM HD200 EVO scooter, NEW, yellow, $3495
2012 SYM HD200 EVO scooter, NEW, orange, $3495
2012 SYM HD200 EVO scooter, NEW, red, $3495
2009 Triumph Bonneville, 7324 miles, white, $7195
2010 Triumph Tiger 1050 SE ABS, 5693 miles, black,
$10995
2010 Yamaha YZF-R6, 6450 miles, black, $8495
2003 Yamaha YZF-R6, 27179 miles, blue, $4995
2008 Yamaha YZF-R6, 1271 miles, yellow, $8495
2007 Yamaha Vino 125 scooter, 171 miles, silver, $2195
2006 Yamaha Vino 125 scooter, 4324 miles, blue,
$2195
2009 Yamaha Zuma 125 scooter, 111 miles, black,
$2895
2009 Yamaha Zuma 125 scooter, 28 miles, blue, $2995
USED MOTORCYCLES:
Scorpa trials motorcycle (French) Brand-new, zero miles
2005 model. 70cc 4-stroke, only 80 pounds. 3-speed
transmission. Call for details. $2000. 415/781-3432.
1952 BSA ZB 500cc - $3000
1965 Duca(ti?) Condor 350cc - $2500
1966 BSA Thunderbolt 650cc - $3000
1972 BSA B50 TR 500cc - $3000
1973 HD Sprint Aermacchi - $3000
Old Ed Meagor
San Rafael
415-457-5423
Honda 90 Trail bike
Yellow color – Low Miles.
$985 OBO
510-387-2624 or 510-893-4821
Honda cbr1000rr. Showroom condition.less than 100
miles! Must sell asking 11690.00. Title in hand. Extras
included. Rae.SJSU@gmail.com
Magazine collection - Cycle/Cycle World $800
Motorcycle Magazine Collection for sale. Cycle, Cycle
World from ‘60s to ‘90s. Also have Motorcyclist, Dirtbike,
others, $800/all. Email: frisbeedad@aol.com
2003 Suzuki SV1000S, silver. One original owner, still
on first set of tires! Just 3000 miles, like new. Other items
available. $4500. Ask for Otto: tthrnndz@yahoo.com
1999 Yamaha R1, blue, 4.6K miles, Öhlins, Race Tech,
Graves rearsets, V&H slip-on: $3950. Also, ‘97 Aprilia
RS250 & ‘99 R6 track bikes: prices negotiable. 408/343-
0381/921-9689.
Yamaha with Sidecar - 650 Yamaha-Velorex / Leading
link forks / Color Matched Paint / Rack / Many spares
included. $3400 - PETE - 415-269-1364
RIDING SCHOOLS
Doc Wong
Riding Clinics
PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT
Come to the FREE monthly Doc Wong Riding Clinics.
www.docwong.com
Eighteen years, 40,000 riders!
Learn Dirt Bikes
Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) dirt bike classes at
Carnegie State Park, Tracy, CA.
Loaner motorcycles available.
www.learndirtbikes.com 925-240-7937
PARTS AND SERVICE
ADDICTION MOTORS
Thank you for a wonderful year, San Francisco Bay
Area! On September 15th, we celebrated our first full
year in business and we are honored to have been given
the chance to share our common passion with you. We
look forward to seeing what happens next year - thanks,
Bay Area!
Addiction Motors is proud to introduce a brand new
service: Wrench It Yourself!
DIY Motorcycle Maintenance
Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday @ Addiction Motors
4052 Watts St, Emeryville
(510) 394-2WIY
Reserve your lift now: addictionmotors.com/wiy
Help us welcome our newest technician,
Pete Trevesian!
Addiction Motors is a full service motorcycle repair
cooperative in Emeryville, CA. We services most makes
and models of American, Japanese and European
motorcycles.
ADVANCED CYCLE
SERVICE
*Motorcycle Service and Repair*
• Tires • Service •Insurance estimates
Monthly bike storage available
Come check us out
1135 Old Bayshore Hwy
San Jose, CA 95112
(408) 299-0508
jim@advcyles.com — www.advcycles.com
DUCATI SUZUKI KAWASAKI YAMAHA
AMERICAN CUSTOM
MOTORCYCLE PARTS
Large Parts Inventory for American V-Twins
Full service on all American-made bikes
Machine Shop & Welding
925-689-9801
2395 H Monument Blvd, Concord
Bavarian Cycle Works
EXPERT Service & Repair
Bavarian Cycle Works specializes in new and vintage BMW,
modern TRIUMPH and select motorcycle models. Our
staff includes a Master Certified Technician and personnel
each with over 25 years experience. Nearly all scheduled
motorcycle maintenance can be completed within a one day
turnaround time. All bikes kept securely indoors, day and
night. Come see us!
CPT Cycles
354 Bel Marin Keys Blvd Suite F
Novato, CA 94949
415-755-8283
www.cptcycles.com
Mon-Fri 9am-6pm - Saturday by appointment only.
**June special….No labor charge on oil and filter
changes**
Custom Design Studios
Mind-Blowing Custom Paint Since 1988
Visit Our Showroom!
V-Twin Service, Repair, Parts, & Fabrication.
Harley Factory Trained Tech.
Cycle Salvage –
Hayward
Cycle Salvage Hayward = Full Service.
People are surprised to find out that we’re more than just a
salvage yard.
• Full Service - All makes: We have 3 lifts and 3 full-time
mechanics!
• Tire installation (even if you bought tires elsewhere)
•Plastic Welding (fairings)
•Oil Changes
•New Tires
We buy used/wrecked bikes
Helmets, jackets, leathers, gloves, and all other apparel
Fair prices and easy to deal with.
Used parts -> broke yours? Call us!
Cycle Salvage Hayward
510-886-2328
21065 Foothill Blvd.
DNA Motor Lab, LLC
DNA specializes in affordable scooter/motorcycle repair
(including Chinese) in the SF Bay Area. We provide services
on-site or pickup.
510-473-7349
www.dnamotorlab.com
FRISCO VINTAGE
Vespa Service &
Repair
2-stroke shifty only. 30 years experience. Great rates.
No job too small. In San Francisco. By Appointment.
info@friscovintage.com
Galfer Braking
Rotors, Brake lines, Pads, Street, Race, Off-road, Super-
Moto
PashnitMoto is one of the largest Galfer Braking dealers
in the USA. Colored brake lines, custom lengths, Wave
Rotors. 50 Pages of part numbers.
www.GalferBrakes.net or call 530/391-1356
Since 1956
Knucklehead
Panhead
Iron Sportster
Shovelhead
Evolution
Twin Cam
Multi Valve 450cc and up
Cyl. boring on H.D. only
21050 Mission Blvd. Hayward, 94541
(510) 581-5315
Introducing
Marin Moto Works!
Aprilia, KTM, and BMW Service and Repair
Located at 44 Harbor street, San Rafael
Open Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm
(415) 454-RIDE
MOTO GIO
Motorcycle Performance Parts, Accessories, Services.
Low price on Tires!!!
We will PRICE MATCH with any store.
Phone : 408-298-8887
1391 N. 10th St
San Jose CA 95112
Email: info@motogio.com
www.motogio.com
Please mention this ad and you will receive an additional
5% off on your purchase.
MOTO TIRE GUY
www.MotoTireGuy.com
Motorcycle Tire Services
San Francisco - Bay Area
(415) 601-2853
Order your tires online, Zero CA sales tax plus
Free UPS Ground, then have a Preferred Installer
in your local area do the installation and save!
Please visit website for details.
NORCAL CUSTOMS
408-418-3150
775 N. 10th Street San Jose, CA 95112
Specializing in Full Motorcycle Repair &
Customization
Custom paint, Powder Coating, Pin stripping, Murals &
Graphics, Gold & Silver Leafing, Chroming, Engraving,
Handlebar Upgrades,Crash bar & Fender Fabrication,
Stereo Systems, Fairing Kits, Air Ride, Lowering, Lifts,
Wheels & Tires, Scheduled Maintenance, Complete Repair
& Services, Upholstery, Hard bag installs, Neon lighting
Quality Motorcycles
235 Shoreline Hwy.
Mill Valley CA
(415) 381-5059
We’re not afraid of your old bike.
RABER’S BRITISH MOTORCYCLE PARTS AND SERVICE
We offer parts and service for Triumph, Norton, BSA, Amal, Lucas.
In-house cylinder boring, valve jobs, surfacing and much
more.
1984 Stone Ave.
San Jose, CA 95125
Phone (408)998-4495
Fax (408)998-0642
Tues-Fri 11-6, Sat 8-5
www.rabers.com
ROCKRIDGE TWO
WHEELS
Need new rubber? Rockridge Two Wheels is offering a $50
mount and balance with the purchase of two tires. Factory
techs. 40+ years experience. Full service facility.
510/594-0789
vespawalnutcreek.com
925 938 0600
rockridgetwowheels.com
510 594 0789
For all your Bay Area Vespa / Piaggio / Aprilia needs
Santa Rosa
BMW Triumph
We are an exclusive BMW and Triumph dealer in the north
bay with genuine BMW and Triumph parts
Just 60 minutes north of the Golden Gate
Call today for a service appointment 707.838.9100
SCOTTS VALLEY
MOTORCYCLE SERVICE
CENTER
ALL ASPECTS SERVICE AND REPAIR
SPECIALIZING IN AMERICAN MADE CYCLES
JUST OFF HIGHWAY 17 FROM EITHER SCOTTS VALLEY
EXIT
4865 SCOTTS VALLEY DR.
(831) 438-6300
OPEN: TUESDAY- SATURDAY 10A-5P SUNDAY NOON-5P
MOTORCYCLE TOWING
Enter these contacts into your phone now,
while you are thinking about it, so that you
will have them when you need them.
AMBROZ TOWS
24/7 Service
650, 408, and 925 area code specialist
Jump Starts • Gas Refill • Tire plugs & fills • Motorcycle
Storage
Emercency Parts Delivery • Designated Driver • Easy-Load
truck
510-385-2374
650-260-2157
www.ambroztows.com
SAN FRANCISCO AND
BEYOND: DAVE’S CYCLE
TRANSPORT
The Old Man
The Old Truck
Dave is working
Dave’s Cycle Transport
San Francisco-Bay Area and Beyond…
24 Hour Service
(415)824-3020 — www.davescycle.com
Motorcycle & ATV
Hauling
Sonoma, Marin, Napa & Mendocino Counties
24 hour Roadside Pickup
707-843-6584
Insured & Licensed
California Motor Carrier Permit
www.mcmotorcycletransport.com
mcmotorcycle@att.net
Carmichael Honda Motorsports and Capitol Yamaha
of Sacramento are looking for Motorcycle Technicians and
Service Writers.
Must be motivated, reliable, and safety minded.
Must have motorcycle experience
Send resume to: chm.cap_phil@yahoo.com
Cycle Salvage
Hayward = Now Hiring
Experienced, Honest
People.
Do you have actual experience working on motorcycles at
a shop? Do you like solving problems and working with
your hands? Consider working at our salvage business in
Hayward on just about anything that comes in - scooters
to full dressers and everything in between. We offer full
service and an alternative to dealerships for bikes new and
old, and we’re growing. Please come by with a resume
10-6pm Tues-Sat. We’d like to meet good people with
experience and a good attitude.
Accident or Injury? Call 415/999-4790 for a 24-hr. recorded
message and a copy of the free report!
WHEELS AND DEALS
ACCIDENT OR INJURY?
Call 415/999-4790 for a 24-hr. recorded message and a
copy of the FREE REPORT
EAT AT REDS JAVA HOUSE, SF.
“IT’S REALLY GOOD FOOD”
SAYS CITYBIKE MANAGEMENT.
EBAY SALES eBay sales. Specialist with vehicles, 12
years experience, and 5000+ positive feedback rating. Flat
listing rate. I can produce auctions with 20+ large format,
gorgeous, high quality pictures with my dealer account
and pro-grade camera. Dr. Hannibal Lechter reminds us
that “we covet what we see.” Let me show people what you
have and why they should pay top dollar for it! Interested
in larger lots of identifiable, good-quality motorcycle and
car parts to buy as well. imperialist1960@yahoo.com or
415/699-8760.
SELL YER STUFF IN
CITYBIKE!
Yes, you can do that—it’s easy. Easier than calling your
grandson, having him post a Craigslist ad, then ask you for
$20, which you wind up giving him because you decided to
go riding instead of going to his high school graduation and
you feel guilty. We here at CityBike understand your guilt
feelings, so we will run your ad (25 words or less, please)
‘till sold for just $15. Add $25 bucks to run a photo of your
ride so people believe you’re really selling something and
not just lonely. Subscribers get a free ad every month!
Maybe you should subscribe, eh cheapskate?
FREE HELP WANTED ADS
In our ongoing effort to support and promote local
motorcycling businesses that we rely on, all motorcycle
industry help wanted ads will be listed in the CityBike
Classifieds Section for free.
Contact us via email: info.citybike.com

ELIGIBLE MODELS: 2013 RM-Z400, RM-Z250
*The above financing program is offered by Sheffield Financial, a Division of BB&T Financial, FSB, between 9/1/2012 and 11/30/2012. Minimum Amount Financed $1500;
Maximum Amount Financed $50,000. Subject to credit approval. Approval, and any rates and terms provided are based on credit worthiness. Other financing offers are
available. Financing promotions void where prohibited. Offer available on new unused Suzuki 2013 and Prior RM-Z250 and RM-Z450 purchased from an authorized Suzuki
dealer. OFfer subject to change without notice. An example of monthly payment required on a purchase where the Amount Financed is $7,500, your Down Payment is $0
with 60 monthly payments of $125 each. ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE 0%. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®.
© American Suzuki Motor Corporation 2012
San Mateo
Suzuki
San Mateo
(650) 341-5867
Fremont Suzuki
Fremont
Mission
Motorcycles
Daly City
(650) 992-1234
(510) 661-0100
Powersports
of Vallejo
Vallejo
(707) 644-3756
East Bay
Motorsports
Hayward
(510) 889-7900
Grand Prix
Santa Clara
(408) 246-7323
Cycle West
Petaluma
707-769-5242
GP Sports
San Jose
(408) 377-8780
Contra Costa
Powersports
Concord
(925) 687-7742