Motorbike maintenance

Riding two-up with a child is controversial. Doubt this? Put a 10-year-old on the back for your next ride and count the dirty looks and unsolicited comments—often from other motorcyclists—about how “dangerous” riding is for kids. But for many parents, it’s pure pleasure. It’s an opportunity to spend time with your child and include him/her in an activity you are passionate about. And it’s still the best way to introduce new riders to the sport.

Ducati produced 1500 copies of the Desmosedici RR for use on the street: essentially GP6 MotoGP bikes with lights and horns. One rumor has it that the company lost money on every one. Another says the streetbikes helped fund the race effort. Either way, the entire run sold out in a few hours at $72,500 a pop, complete with a three-year warranty and free service, along with a rear stand, battery charger, cover and an official Ducati Corse squeegee for applying the included race-replica decals.

WRIST: Ari Henning
MSRP (2011): $4499
MILES: 819
MPG: 62
MODS: G2 Ergo quick-turn throttle

WRIST: Grant Peterson
MSRP (2012): $14,849
MILES: 1149
MPG: 42
MODS: None yet

Got A Question For Answers? Send It To mcmail@sorc.com

When you look at the fasteners on your pride-and-joy, you might wonder why a particular type was chosen. Back in the early days of Japanese motorcycles, we wondered why there were so many easily rounded-off Phillips screws. Today the standard fastener is a nut or bolt with six flats, though Phillips, Torx and Allen heads are equally common.

WRIST: Matt Samples
MSRP (2011): $16,630
MILES: 10,338
MPG: 32
MODS: Akrapovic exhaust, Dynojet Power Commander with Auto Tune

With the weather changing for the better in much of the US, and exciting new bikes like the Ducati Panigale, MV Agusta F3, Aprilia Tuono and Moto Guzzi V7 Racer scheduled to arrive in the next three months, lots of people will be looking to purchase a new helmet. And with the purchase of any new helmet, it's most important to make sure it is a high quality, full face helmet from a recognized manufacturer that fits properly (ok... and that it looks good as well). Fit is critical as recent studies by the Mayo Clinic have shown that a properly fit helmet will reduce the chance of a concussion by 42%. But how do you properly fit a helmet? (This isn't new information, but it's worth repeating.)

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The Geek
831 S. Douglas St., El Segundo, CA 90245 or e-mail srmail@sorc.com

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Modern motorcycles have many steel fasteners that thread into aluminum parts, and that is a recipe for disaster. Dissimilar metals encourage corrosion that locks the two parts together. Sadly, the cleaner and nicer your bike looks, the more likely the fastener problem is to occur.

Years ago, I owned a Datsun King Cab pickup that would carry my dirtbike and film equipment just about anywhere and get good gas mileage. Where is its equivalent today? There isn’t one. Small trucks have grown up.

Wrist: Jamie Elvidge
MSRP: $20,900
Miles: 8890
MPG: 38
Mods: Akrapovic slip-ons, BMW Motorrad saddle and tank bag, Michelin tires

Wrist: Aaron Frank
MSRP (2011): $11,999
Miles: 1690
MPG: 33
Mods: Yoshimura frame sliders, case savers, race stand stoppers, fender eliminator

What do you call an agile, open-minded, 60-horsepower twin capable of everything from 12-second quarter-mile sprints to 48-mpg commuting, and everything in between? Kawasaki calls it the Versys: a sweet deal at $6899 when it debuted in the sour economy of 2008. We called it our Motorcycle of the Year.

Wrist: Joe Neric
MSRP (2011): $10,999
Miles: 4213
MPG: 33
Mods: Beowulf radiator guard, Rizoma engine guards and mirrors, Yoshimura frame-sliders, R&G axle sliders and fender-eliminator kit

Most of us have purchased a used motorcycle at some time and gone through the following analysis: Is it clean and well cared for? Continue. Are there service records available? Continue. Is this the original owner, and are they a genteel person? Continue. Is the asking price reasonable? Continue. Test-ride it and it rides beautifully. Negotiations must begin!

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Send it to MCmail@sorc.com

Hayabusa Rear Tire Size and Profile
I’ve read on Hayabusa sites about the benefits of XXX/55 profiles over the standard 190/50. Would it really be worth the effort to change ride height for geometry and gearing? The 190/55 profile is 16mm taller (8mm on the radius) than the 190/50 Battlax BT-016 Pro. There are those claiming that using a 180/55 has other benefits: The tire’s taller, narrower profile lays down a lot more rubber when banked over, improving traction. It’s lighter, so it accelerates and stops faster. The reduced gyroscopic effect makes the bike feel lighter and flick quicker, requiring less steering effort. It’s slightly taller, increasing your top speed slightly. And it costs less. They also go on to state that as 190/55 street compounds become more available, they offer many of the same benefits. To me the difference between comparable-compound 180 and 190 sizes is mainly tire weight. I know there have been other similar questions about this, but what are the definitive pluses and minuses in reference to fork angle and geometry, ride height, the obvious gearing difference, handling gains or losses and any possible fitment interferences?
Steve Saunders
Cleveland Heights, OH

Images and information from Dunlop's press material

After an unsuccessful detour with the heretical 999, Ducati designers put things solidly back on track with the 2007 1098. Though predictably less comfortable for everyday street duty than its immediate predecessor—goodbye adjustable seat, footpegs and steering geometry—the 1099cc Testastretta Evoluzione twin is shamelessly biased toward fast, twisty roads and even faster racetracks. Still, it’s a competent if vastly overqualified commuter if you can endure hard-nosed ergonomics enforced by a long reach to the bars and a high, hard seat.

Images and information from Pirelli's press material

“My dirtbike has more power,” said Daniel, our “A” technician. He wasn’t kidding: His old Kawasaki KLX650 churned out 45 rear-wheel horsepower on our shop’s Factory Pro dynamometer. Our bone-stock Moto Guzzi V7 Classic, by comparison, made a paltry 38 horses in spite of its additional cylinder and 100cc displacement advantage. Shame is a powerful motivator. At that moment, I decided to light a fire under the little Goose’s tail feathers.

2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R