Suzuki is conducting a safety recall of 210,228 GSX motorcycles. The recall is due to faulty master cylinders which are causing “decreased stopping performance”.
The bikes affected by the recall are:
GSX-R600. Years 2004-2013
GSX-R750. Years 2004-2013
GSX-R1000. Years 2005-2013
Suzuki Motors of America states it will notify owners of the problem beginning “next month”. If I owned one of these I think I would call the dealer before my stopping performance is decreased to much. 😉
I was disappointed after watching Top Gear (USA) at Sturgis last night. It started out quite strong with the guys on scooters and completing challenges to move up to bigger bikes. But it went down hill from there.
Rutledge wrecked his scooter, on purpose it appeared to me, to lose the first challenge (this is a guy that claims to have two bikes in his garage). He would later go on to drop a Street Glide twice. The guys who won the challenge (Adam & Tanner) began riding Yamaha 250’s but also began wearing full face helmets. From this point forward there were times I was not sure that they were on the bikes, I got the feeling that “stunt doubles” were used.
The next challenge was to ride three members of a band (I forget the name) across town to the Buffalo Chip. Adam ducked out and got a side car, Tanner stopped at a bikini bike wash and Rut stopped to allow his passenger to get water and cigarettes. It was here that the most contrived moment of the series let alone the show occurred. Rut accidentally knocked down two bikes.
First, I am not sure he even touched the bike to cause it to fall into the second bike. Second, the bikes looked like 1980’s dual purpose motorcycles that might not even run. Third, no one prevented him and his passenger from leaving, I have been at rallies where this has happened, folks do not let you leave until the owners of the other bikes arrive.
OH, and of course Tanner won the overall contest and got to race a car against a motorcycle.
Overall, I think this is the worst episode of Top Gear (USA) ever. I love the show as a whole and watch it every week but this one just sucked.
165 Pound Motocross Bike
How about this for a “THE FUTURE IS NOW” motorcycle… A carbon fiber frame (which is also the tank), carbon fiber swing arm (which is also part of the exhaust), carbon fiber rims and carbon fiber body work. As if that was not enough there is this; titanium expansion chamber, titanium axel and nut, and the shock springs are titanium as well.
The bike uses a KTM engine and weighs only 165 pounds (75 Kilos). The bike is a freestyle motocross bike collaboration between Unit (an action sports innovator) and Triple Eight Race Engineering. The goal was, of course, to reduce weight but also to develop an experimental bike for the freestyle MX world so don’t look for it on the dealer floors, yet.
You can read a much more detailed report on the bike at the TransWorld Motocross website.
It’s all fun and games until the elk gets an attitude!
Kinda like the eailer post where a wolf chased a motorcycle!
Video
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Posted: October 22, 2013 in Motorcycle news, Motorcycle Rides
Tags: chase motorcyle, couple, elk, Harley, Harley Davidson, HD, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, video
This week on Top Gear the boys go to Sturgis. History Channel describes this episode as:
“The Top Gear hosts embark on a two-wheel road trip through South Dakota to the world’s largest automotive event, the annual Sturgis Bike Week. Starting out on scooters and needing to pass challenges to progress to the bigger bikes they’ll need to ride to fit in at the rally, the hosts go through hell as they close in on Sturgis. The winner will race a super-charged Ariel Atom against a 200 mph sports bike, while the loser will have to take part in a stunt, courtesy of HISTORY channel’s newest series, American Daredevils.”
While a lot of folks do not care for this version of the famous BBC show, I enjoy it. The biggest issue I have with the show is that Tanner (the professional racer) always wins the contest to drive the hot cars. Come on, I want to see one of the other guys wreck a $200,000 car!
Not sure what is going on with the Fox News website but this is the second motorcycle related posting in the last few weeks. Whatever is going on… Keep it up. Any time we get positive motorcycle news on major sites is a good day!
This article is a safe riding reminder from a Connecticut State Police
Motorcycle Patrol Officer, and can be viewed here
Café Racer TV
This TV show has been around for a while and its fourth season is set to start on the 6th of November. It is presented on the Velocity Channel (part of the Discovery Network).
As the name implies Café Racer covers the bikes, builders and life style of the Café Bike scene. I have watch the show for the last two years and it is enjoyable. My favorite show was the one where they connected the café bike scene to pin-up girls!
I enjoy this show and my DVR is already set to record.
Well this was the first day of the fall that I needed chaps for a motorcycle ride. Pulling out at 7:45 AM the temp was 45F, cool before I began moving. My wife had to work today so I followed her to her favorite breakfast stop Chick-fil-a.
Shenandoah River
After eating our breakfast she went to work and I began my ride. With my destination of Winchester Motosports set I had no particular route in mind, so I decided to take “River Road”, County road 606, which I picked up at its intersection with VA Route 7. This road follows the Shenandoah River for about 10 miles. The views are picturesque now but in a few weeks when the leaves reach their peak color it will be spectacular!
When 606 leaves the river (and changes names several time) you weave through backcountry Virginia until you reach the intersection of US Route 50 and 606. I was tempted to turn around and ride 606 again but I moved on towards the Royal Enfield dealership.
As I mentioned a few posts ago I found Winchester Motosports when I looked at the new Royal Enfield Continental GT website. I thought it would be neat and visit the store and check out the bikes they had on hand.
When I arrived I meet Ed and the owner Carl. Turns out that Winchester Motosports is not only a Royal Enfield dealer but is also a Moto Guzzi dealer. They are also one of the largest motorcycle consignment resellers in Northern Virginia. They were also, at one time, dealers in Victory and Triumph bikes.
Carl is a very gregarious guy who, you can easily tell, absolutely loves what he does. His knowledge of the bikes he sells (or sold) is immense. I really enjoyed my conversations with Ed and Carl! If you are interested in Enfield’s, Moto Guzzi or a used bike of any kind I would consider Winchester Motosports as a first stop. 
After ogling the bikes for a bit it was time to start for home as the weatherman said that rain was coming in the afternoon. Weaving through more back roads, I ended up on US 340 and then hoped on VA Route 9. About an hour or so later I was back in Leesburg. Round, trip I put on 125 miles on a pleasant, but cool, fall day.
There was one big negative on today’s ride. I dropped by phone and now the screen is krap and the pictures are not right. Nearly all the photos on this site have been taken with my Nokia 928 phone. I have been very happy with this phone and camera.
Really?????
I can see Sugarloaf Mountain from my home. I was told that the entire mountain is a park and that we should go and check it out. Well today I did and was GREATLY disappointed. Motorcycles are not allowed in the park!
I noticed the administration building across the street from the entrance and decided to find out why I was prohibited from entering the park. I spoke with a member of the board of directors (Stronghold Incorporated) and he stated that the entire board a voted to exclude motorcycles due to noise. In particular the “whiney” noise of some bikes. He pointed to my HD Ultra Limited and said that those were mostly ok but it was impractical to exclude some but not others.
The noise, he said, interfered with the numerous weddings and social events held on the mountain and at the mansions located on the park (the mansions are quite impressive. That they had received many complaints from the attendees of the parties and weddings and it was not practical to bar bikes on the certain days and not others.
As our conversation ended he stated that if I wanted to go into the park that it would be ok. I declined the offer on principle.
I have always had a desire for a Café Racer. As a kid I want to get a Honda CB350 and convert it to a Café bike. Never happened, but it has always been in the back of my head. I have been tempted to convert the wife’s Harley Sportster into a Café Bike but she is not very keen on the idea. But if she upgrades ………
Royal Enfield Continental GT
A friend of mine sent me a link to the new Royal Enfield Continental GT. This is a good looking modern Café bike. According to the literature, its 535cc engine produces 30 horsepower, not sure if that will get you to “A Ton” (100MPH) but it would be fun to find out.
Looking about the internet for pricing, I think the bike may be a bit pricey. I get the impression that it will be around $7000 dollars, about the cost of a Harley Davidson Sportster. But, you would not have to convert the GT as you would the Harley. But, I doubt the resell value is anywhere near comparable between the Royal Enfield and the Harley Davidson. But, which would be cooler to tool about on? Both work for me.
Alas, I cannot justify another bike in the garage nor can I afford one (I do not start to work until Monday). Turns out that there is a Royal Enfield Dealer near my home, Winchester MotoSports I might just ride over and check out what they have. The Continental is not scheduled for release until late November but they may have other bikes in stock.
I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!! 