Inhaltsverzeichnis für July 2017 in Cycle World

Honda suggests that small dualsport bikes will spend most of their life on the pavement. And maybe that’s true; they do make for fantastic daily commuters. That doesn’t mean their riders don’t still dream of big adventures and dusty trails though. Dreams of rally flash through their mind at every glimpse of rolling hills to nowhere. Introduced alongside the updated 2017 CRF250L, Honda’s new CRF250L Rally intends to make that dream feel even more real. More attainable, even. Similar to the standard CRF250L, the Rally has a host of changes over Honda’s previous-generation smalldisplacement dual-sport. Most significant is a 2mm increase in throttle body size (from 36mm to 38mm), which is meant to improve throttle response and increase power in the low- to mid-rpm range. An exhaust with larger header…

“Holy hell.” “Sweet geezes, my shins are on fire.” Although I was straddling the Fuller Moto custom Motus when Brian Case, designer of Motus motorcycles, reached over and hit the start button, I wasn’t ready. The exhaust system on this beast is a pair of 2into1 headers that barely reach the firewall. The firewall was my legs. I’d buy this custom but there’s only one of it, and it’s not for sale. Bryan Fuller built it at Fuller Moto. It’s nuts. It’s a loaded gun. This bike is owned by John Bennett of Sacramento. Bennett had a bit of an unplanned get off from his Motus, so he decided it was time to customize it some more but this time with purpose. Before I ramble on with hyperbole, some facts.…

2017 Harley-Davidson Street Rod vs 2017 Yamaha FZ-07 You can count the number of bumps on Highway 74 with one hand. And found one. I know that because I’m behind him when our FZ-07 meets the ledging edge of that ball-size blemish in the road then tries valiantly to buck him from the saddle. Confidence peaks from behind the bars of the noticeably more composed Street Rod; I tuck in, roll the throttle back, and set after him. He regroups and wins the race to the top. But I’m close enough to feel good about it. Really close, really good. If you’re wondering what brought us here, to a beautifully twisting section of asphalt on what appears to be two distinctly different motorcycles, you’re not alone. I, and almost anyone…

Kevin Schwantz’s road to becoming a legend began with leaving the US at age 21 to race in Europe. American Damian Jigalov is following the steps of his hero but with a difference: Jigalov is just 13 years old and 5 feet tall. At 77 pounds, he has to carry the maximum ballast required in the Italian championship, struggling to keep the pace on tracks that are completely new to him. Why is an American teenager with roadracing aspirations racing so far from home? He is 100 percent focused on making his dream of racing for a world championship come true. But he is too young to race in MotoAmerica on a national level. And with US roadracing primarily production-motorcycle based, many feel that Americans are at a disadvantage vis-à-vis…

1 AIR TIME Fixing a roadside flat gets you nowhere without a means of inflating the tire. The Dynaplug Micro Pro Inflator ($59.99) is compact, weighs just 7 ounces, and is said to inflate a 150/70-17 rear tire from zero to 36 psi in five minutes. Multiple power connectors, an exten sion cord, pencil pressure gauge, and nylon pouch are all included as part of the kit. _ (530) 345-8000 dynaplug.com 2 TRAIL TOW While packing a tow strap is not a new idea, it’s certainly a very good one when riding off road. The Moose Racing Trail Strap ($12.95) is 12 feet long and made of durable 600-denier nylon web with open and looped ends. Expressly intended for motorcycles and ATVs, it folds into a sturdy carrying pouch with provisions for…

2017 Harley-Davidson Street Bob vs. 2017 Indian Scout vs. 2017 Triumph Bonneville Bobber There’s something beautiful about the simpler things in life. Maybe it’s because they offer respite from the rest of our complex world, or maybe it’s just because being lazy feels nice. But the older I get the more I learn to love the simple things and the way they clear the clutter from moments of my life. It was in that spirit that, when a weekend freed up unexpectedly, I reached out to the fellas about a little cruise to the desert. My fellow editor Bradley Adams was quick to join, as was my friend Aaron Guardado, and we talked Preston Burroughs into coming along to shoot some pictures in return for as many tacos as he…

A BAD WRAP Q:I just read an article by Kevin Cameron, “Should I Use Motorcycle Exhaust Wrap?” Is that statement about no wrap on titanium headers true? I have a 2006 Yamaha R6 trackbike with Sato Racing titanium full exhaust, fully wrapped with Thermo-Tec Cool-It wrap, and painted with their special protection paint. I have been running it for almost two years of trackdays and racing and have not noted any issues about it. Do you think it could be bad for the exhaust or the bike engine? I did a bit of research on the internet, but the info is not very precise. Could you give me a little backup data or advice? JULIO GARCIA CYCLEWORLD.COM A:Please listen to Kevin. He knows of what he speaks. The exhaust pipe…

GSX-R1000 TRACK CLUB SPECIAL → RALLY STATE OF MIND → ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE → CONCENTRATION Club roadracing in America was built on a foundation of 1986 Suzuki GSX-R750s. Suzuki would call it the first racer replica, and it would be hard to argue with that. As such, the bike pretty much became the ignition point for the club-racing growth in America that followed its release. The 2017 GSX-R1000 is similar in spirit. While the GSX-R1000R is a fine top-line competitor, the bike ridden here rolls into dealerships with an MSRP of $14,599, $400 cheaper than the ABS model and well under the R model’s $16,999. Money-saving moves? A Showa Big Piston Fork and more basic shock in place of the Balance Free Fork/shock and no quickshifter or auto-blip downshift (latter will…

Whether you’re riding on Ninth Street, the New Jersey Turnpike, or the local track, getting and keeping your head in the game is essential for personal safety. Like, obviously! Fortunately, just as with circuit training at the gym, you can build your ability to concentrate by adopting certain practices, both off and on the bike. Psychologist Dr. Relly Nadler, Psy.D. specializes in neuro-linguistic programming, a training process that uses behavioral “modeling” to improve personal performance. “Many athletes use breathing techniques to enhance mental focus,” Dr. Nadler explains. “For example, diaphragmatic breathing activates the parasympathetic [calming] nervous system, which quiets the sympathetic [fight or flight] nervous system. Doing this directly improves focus and concentration.” Eric Bostrom owns four AMA Road Racing and Flat Track championships and now leads the Fastrack Riders…

Normal. Status quo. Predictable. These words no longer apply to the motorcycle industry. Factories released annual model changes, pushing progress yearly, with never-ending leaps in engine or chassis design. That was progress; that was the future visible in a straight line from wherever you stood. It was going to happen. And it did. Motorcycles became incredibly fast, great handling, utterly reliable, and perfectly fit for their purpose. By the 2000s, bikes reached a new level of perfection, and therefore, perhaps, customers got bored. Sales tanked, not just from the economic collapse but also because bikes grew obsolete as a badge of independence, and young people no longer needed them. Perhaps because motorcycles no longer needed them either—a motorcycle could sit for months, but push a button, and voilà. Just like…

Kawasaki Z900 vs. Triumph Street Triple R vs. Yamaha FZ-09 When Yamaha intro duced its FZ-09 in 2014 it lent legs to an emerging supermiddleweight sport naked category. Having enjoyed stellar sales from the start, a significant component of the 847cc inline-triple’s recipe for success was the incredible performance value Yamaha offered at an astonishing $7,990. While a rising cost of living index may not fully account for the current model’s $1,000 price creep, in Yamaha’s defense it has shored up the 2017 FZ-09 with a fully adjustable fork, traction control, ABS, slipper/assist clutch, LED lights, and fresh styling. Timely updates no less as this “high” middle ground segment now sees Kawa saki and Triumph turning up the heat with new entries for 2017. Kawasaki has sharpened its focus, replacing…