Cycle Worldの May 2017 の目次

When we talk about sportbikes, we’re almost always talking about motorcycles built with one goal in mind: excellence on a racetrack. Most of the sportbikes purchased, however, never see the billiardssmooth pavement or corner coping they were designed to slay. It seems as if I’m not the only one who saw this hole in the market. Ducati claims the SuperSport comes as its attempt to create the best sportbike for the street possible and that in doing so it didn’t benchmark any other bikes or see anything as a real competitor. And, after riding the thing, I actually believe them. The SuperSport mixes bits from several models in the line, at least in spirit. The motor is the 937cc Testastretta 11° engine, borrowed from the Hypermotard 939, only now with…

Kawasaki recognizes the standard bike category as one of the fastest-growing segments, with sport nakeds leading the charge. Enter the new Z900, a much lighter, clean-sheet design that not only replaces the Z800 but has taken over the flagship role from the arguably redundant Z1000. The Z900 retains use of a liquidcooled, 16-valve, DOHC inline-four with a revised bore and stroke configuration netting a category-stretching 948cc displacement. While familiar in outward appearance and dimension, the new engine castings utilize five rigid mount points, making it a stressed frame member. This change is key in the switch to a steel-tube trellis frame said to be substantially lighter than the previous cast alloy frame. This, along with a lighter aluminum swingarm and fivespoke wheels, accounts for a major ity of the claimed…

Motorcycles and protective apparel have a unique relationship. As the first gets better, so too must the second. Any disparity in growth and suddenly the sport becomes more dangerous than it needs to be. Riders can’t afford that. The sport can’t afford that. Alpinestars understands the importance of continued product development but also recognizes that, in addition to being more protective, riding apparel needs to be more comfortable, versatile, and flexible. The Track Vest 2 is the company’s attempt at expanding on an already great product while addressing those prerequisites. Designed for riders who are looking for extra protection under their suit or jacket, the Track Vest 2 pairs a CE-certified Level 2 Nucleon KR-1 back protector to a center-zip, stretch net vest with PE foam padding. There are chest…

Flyover Country. The Rust Belt. No Man’s Land. Nothing to do, nothing to see, nothing to miss. That about sums up the Midwest for the millions of Americans who don’t call it home and don’t understand why some do. These ideas aren’t wrong, but they are perhaps too simple, too easily digested, and accepted as fact. So I traveled to Ohio on purpose, as a destination, with low expectations and an open mind. It helped that I wasn’t in search of the fastest road, the most jaw-dropping scenery, or really anything that will gain acclaim on the internet or in the “real” world. I was just here to ride. Luckily, I ended up riding a motorcycle well outfitted for that simple goal. To find that machine was the reason I’m…

Parked on a Latigo Canyon overlook during the Yamaha FZ-09 press ride, looking down at the Malibu mansions high above the Pacific, I couldn’t help but remember the first time I came here. I was a wide-eyed 22-year-old astride my trusty 1979 Yamaha SR500 single, and I vividly recall thinking, “Someday I’m going to live here.” Then I found out how much those places cost. That scenario probably isn’t much different than what millennials think about today’s new motorcycles. They really, really want one… right up until they find out how much they cost. Fortunately, Yamaha has been bucking that trend lately, starting with the affordable 2014 FZ- 09. Three years later the sporty standard receives its first significant updates: ABS, traction control, LED lighting, and revised styling. To show…

American Honda has announced its return to the American roadracing scene. The news comes nearly eight years after Big Red stepped away from the paddock and follows an agreement with the Genuine Broaster Chicken Honda team, which will enter former MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 champion Jake Gagne in the Motul Superbike class on a 2017 Honda CBR1000RR SP2. When asked about the move, Mike Snyder, senior manager of motorcycle marketing at American Honda, said that, “MotoAmerica was a tough sell internally in the first year and even into the second. But I think people are starting to see that there is value in being involved, so here we are today.” Naturally, American Honda's decision came with a push from MotoAmerica partners Wayne Rainey and Chuck Aksland, who admitted to calling Snyder…

Street rides are like a chess game, wherein different threats can come from any quarter, at anytime. Let’s say you’re a king, perched up high and mighty on your new ADV. Powerful as you are, there’s still risk—risk in the form of the suddenly swerving lane-change guy heading for a freeway exit; like a bishop, he can angle across the entire chess board in one shot. The rook is a dimwitted blunderbuss tailgating and crowding everything out of its path, you included. And the exalted knight? An erratic psychopath ready to turn left in front of you. An integral part of playing chess is seeing these moves being set up ahead of time and then keeping out of reach. This means evolving your game plan on the fly and thus…

Clouds arrive quickly then settle in above Phillip Island. Ominous and unsympathetic, they have the power to bring this day to an end, to dampen every inch of tarmac and force us back into the garage—test over. All I can do at this point is cross my fingers and pray that the worst of the storm is behind us Suzuki’s new GSX-R1000R—the bike I’ve flown to Australia to ride—is the light at the end of an equally ominous, near-decade-long tunnel. It’s a bike that, if successful, could push the GSX-R platform back toward the pointy end of the sporting literbike category. Or, if not, officially end what has been an incredibly successful three-decade-plus run for the legendary four-cylinder series. Just as our day hinges on those clouds playing nice, so…

It’s now two days later and I’m still sore. The infamous Adelanto Grand Prix sucked me in and spit me out. Never mind the fact that my battered, 34-yearold body can’t handle the abuse of an hour-long grand prix like it used to, but I also haven’t held a dirt bike wide open across any stretch of land—smooth or rough—for quite some time. In spite of all this, and my better judgment, when we took delivery of the highly anticipated 2017 Honda CRF450RX, I thought to myself, “What better way to test a ‘race ready’ bike than actually racing it?” A few emails later, and suddenly I was committed to reliving a race that my 16-year-old self used to lose sleep preparing for. Why sign myself up for the pain?…

Indian Motorcycles is on the proverbial warpath of late, rolling out a handful of new models in the aftermath of Polaris Industries’ plans to “wind down” its Victory Motorcycles products. First came the Roadmaster Classic, followed with the Chieftain platform getting a pair of upscale additions. Joining the base model Chieftain Dark Horse ($21,999) and Chieftain ($23,999), the Chieftain Limited ($24,499) fronts a fresh look with an “open” front fender in place of the latter’s iconic valance unit. The flare-tail fender provides added exposure and emphasis of an attractive new 19-inch-diameter 10-spoke contrastcut cast alloy wheel (replacing the original’s 16-inch hoop) and clean view of the dual 300mm floating brake rotors. A color-matched headlight bezel and two-piece leather saddle (sans studs and conchos) complete the more sleek, aggressive new look.…

1 ADV AND MORE While designed with the adventure rider in mind, the Alpinestars Highlands ($99.95) offer style and broad-use versatility. A combination of goat leather, stretch mesh, polymer knuckle, and EVA foam padding provide comfort, airflow, and protection. Microfiber on palm and touchscreen- compatible index fingertip and thumb are an added touch. • (800) 409-0903 alpinestars.com 2 WINTER WEAR Cold-weather riding shouldn’t mean subpar hand protection. Newly updated, the Cortech Scarab 2.0 ($94.99) features a HiPora three-layer breathable waterproof lining, 3M Thinsulate insulation, and fleece interior. Goatskin leather outer with abrasion-resistant molded Hitena knuckle, wrist, and finger protectors add up to a safe bet for chilling rides. • (800) 421-7247 cortech.net 3 NEO-RETRO Have a hand in the retro/ café craze. The AGV Sport Blade Leather Gloves ($59) feature…

Kawasaki Z650 vs. Suzuki SV650 vs. Yamaha FZ-07 Have a little mercy on the design teams responsible for the Kawasaki Z650, Suzuki SV650, and Yamaha FZ-07. To leave a mark on the middleweight- twins category, a bike has to be everything from new-rider friendly to sporty enough for riders with a few years under the belt. The bike has to be stylish but cost-effective (which is not to be confused with cheap), comfortable but not too relaxed. Oh, by the way, if it under-delivers in any one category, then there’s a similarly styled option right behind it that’ll gladly take over the top spot—and probably for a few less dollars. Consider failing to hit the right marks the equivalent of ushering potential customers onto the competition’s showroom floor. No pressure,…

MONSTER MOD CHAIN MAIL POPS YOSHIMURA BEST USED BIKE MONSTER ENERGY Q: After looking over schematics and part numbers, it appears that the only difference between engines on the Ducati Monster 1200 versus 1200 S is the ECU, which gives it an additional 10 hp (albeit some of this power may come from the Termignoni exhaust as well). Is the 1200S ECU able to be swapped into the base 1200, or are other modifications needed to accommodate this modification? If extremely cumbersome to switch the computer, is there an aftermarket ECU flash that would accomplish the same thing? TYLER WIEBE CYCLEWORLD.COM A: We assume you are talking about 2016 models since there was a 10-hp difference in claimed power that year but not in 2017. In any case, getting more…