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So you recently started riding a sport bike and wonder - How do I get fast like the guys I see around in the canyons? Well, even though I can’t claim to be the fastest rider out there, I am definitely above average and started out just like you.

So, what does it take?
Well, first of all if you just started riding, get Keith Code’s book “A twist of the wrist” - both part 1 and 2. You will probably say - why the hell would I read a book about riding instead of going out and doing it - well, I can pretty much guarantee it will help. I don’t want to do a book report here, but in

WOW!  The only down side is that the rider is Biaggi - the premier asshat on two wheels.  Still, Aprilia in second place on the superpole after a seven year vanishing act!  Are you kidding me? 

Hmmm…I have taken a break from WSBK with the exception of watching Noriyuki Haga.  With Aprilia back in the game, and me being one of those Aprilia guys, I may just have to become a fan again.

Check it:

World Superbike Phillip Island Superpole

1. Ben Spies (Yamaha) 1’31’069
2. Max Biaggi (Aprilia) 1’31.402
3. Jonathan Rea (Honda) 1’31.596
4. Jakub Smrz (Ducati) 1’31.600
5. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) 1’31.837
6. Leon Haslam (Honda) 1’32.112
7. Carlos Checa (Honda) 1’32.537
8. Regis Laconi (Ducati) 1’32.649
9. Shinya Nakano (Aprilia) 1’31.843
10. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda)1’31.860
11. Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) 1’31.867
12.

Hehehe…I just found this in my “drafts” section.  Still worth seeing even though its old now.  Those damn fat fingers!

Wow

Nothing else needs to be said.

It takes a lot more cognitive awareness to navigate a motorcycle down the road than a four or more wheeled vehicle, or cage, as we like to call them. I have been riding my 2003 V-Star 1100 motorcycle almost a year now. I have noticed some of my motorcycling cautiousness has rubbed off on my cage driving. This is a good thing.

When I am in my cage, at a minimum I tend to keep a better watch out for motorcyclists on the road. I am always taking my time to double-check my mirrors and physically turning my head to check blind spots and the lane next to me before I change lanes. Cagers have no grasp of just how rapidly

Well, after 6 months I finally got my front brake problems solved on my ‘06 Breva 1100.

During the “discovery” phase: I noticed pulsing when I used the front brake. I never felt this when the bike was new, but by around 2000 miles on the clock it started becoming noticable. At this moment, at about 5000 miles, it’s obvious and disconcerting, eroding all my faith in the brakes. The pulsing isn’t felt at the lever, only at the front wheel. And it’s definitely speed sensitive, reducing in frequency as the bike slows. The stock rotors are made by Brembo (usually considered near the top of the heap).

During the “analysis” phase: I every test I could think of to determine the problem. I

In a rare moment of boredom, I glanced up and read the marquee at my local parts emporium. The owner is known for a good sense of humor, and this is just further proof.

I had to read it 3 times before I relized the 2-for-1 deal, was no deal at all. Hey, these are tough economic times and marketing can compensate, right? I’ve heard there’s one born every minute; I wonder how many this ad suckered?

Rhino

I have been chasing a coolant consumption problem for the last month or two on my ‘06 YZ450.  It started with my bike overheating.  I needed to replace my water pump seal because the coolant was leaking out of the weep hole.  I did so and upgraded to the impeller and water pump cover to the Boyesen high flow versions.

Anyway, I was concerned that the overheating of the engine warped the head and blew the head gasket.  This would then be the source of the coolant loss - coolant going into the cylinder from the FUBAR head gasket and being blown out of the exhaust.

The bottom line is that I created my own problem by topping off my radiator before

I mounted some new rubber on my dirt bike this weekend, and without getting into details, it was done at a buddy’s house.  I actually left the bike there or a week or so as I worked on it.  I also spooned a new rear knobby and some radiator work to boot.

This past Saturday, I spooned on the new front tire and reinstalled the wheel.  I got the bike back to my house and noticed that the front brake lever felt strangely spongy, but I let it go.  Sunday morning when I went to load the bike on the trailer to go for a ride, I heard a noise from the front wheel. 

Bottom line is that the wheel spacers were

I got an email from a local riding buddy bitching at me for not caling him to go riding.  He’s right - I completely forgot to call for this morning’s ride and I feel like an ass.  He is the proud owner of my former ‘05 YZ250 two-smoke.

Anyway, at the bottom of the email was a sentence that made me laugh out loud as I sat by myself.

“There’s a nice pic attached of what happens in 3rd gear on the pipe coming out of the whoops. Almost looks purposeful but in reality I pooped a little.” - Britt

If you think you’ve ridden a dirtbike in every conceivable terrain, but have never turned a wheel on slickrock, you’re missing a seriously amazing experience. The Slickrock Trail just outside of Moab, Utah is a mecca for mountain bikers from all over the world. But what most folks don’t know about the trail is that it was originally established by dirtbikers. And to this day, remains unrestricted to motorized two-wheeled vehicles, much to the dismay of some of the pedal-pushing enthusiasts. We were here first bros!

The Slickrock Trail is a 12 mile loop composed of mostly petrified sand dunes. Don’t let the term “slick” fool you, the traction is amazing! 99% of