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RoadRUNNER November/December 2009
Shamrock Tour
Jackson, Tennessee – Shamrock Tour®
In 1925, the Grand Ole Opry began riding the crackle of amplitude modulation (AM radio) into the foothills around Nashville. Not far west, in Memphis, the blues had long before cast its spell across the Mississippi Delta. But in the early 1950s, where the periphery of Appalachia finally merges with the fertile plains of Old Man River, the seeds of rock...
National Tours
Reader Ride - New Hampshire
At anytime during riding season, the Cheshire County Loop offers an excellent day's ride for any motorcyclist. In the spring, when life is bursting forth, the earthy smells awaken a sense of adventure. On a quiet summer day, the tree-canopied roadways tease with dappled sunshine, and the ponds and lakes glint and reflect the sky above. And then autumn...
PART I: Ohio River Scenic Byway – Cairo, IL to Maysville, KY
Our time on the Ohio River Scenic Byway is a journey that starts at river’s end and flows almost a thousand miles upstream to its beginning, passing through an ever-changing landscape of people, history, scenery, and events....
The Central Sierra Nevada and Yosemite
In 1986, CBS created a mini-series that parodied the overwrought primetime soap-opera melodramas of the decade (“Dallas”, “Dynasty”, “Falcon Crest”). In this series, titled “Fresno”, the California city was lampooned for its civic pride, especially its status as the 64th largest city in the US and the distinction of being the “Raisin...
South Central Missouri’s Alphabet Roads
My Honda VFR’s odometer spins past 30,000 as I enter the Missouri River town of Boonville. Over the years, I have ridden some of what I thought were the Show-Me State’s finest back roads. However, these roads were mostly confined to Missouri‘s extreme southern border, where it butts up against the Arkansas hill country. Jumping off the main line,...
International Destinations
East Africa
We are in Cape Town, South Africa, our bikes parked behind us. Bathed in the pink glow of the evening sun, our bodies weary and worn, we have ridden 24,000 miles through 11 African countries. We walk over the sand down to the water’s edge, where the cool green waves of the Atlantic lap against our bare feet. A moment to savor – feels so good to...
Riding Impressions
2010 Triumph Thunderbird
Triumph revives an iconic name from its past to launch its heavy-middleweight cruiser....
2010 Harley-Davidson Lineup
Battling a tough recession, Harley-Davidson unveiled its new lineup in Denver recently with some exciting changes. Bill Davidson, Vice President of Core Customer Marketing, said, “This ambitious new motorcycle launch reaches to our riders with the incredible passion that Harley-Davidson has inspired for more than a century. We are thrilled to offer...
2009 Aprilia SL750 Shiver
Italian motorcycles are cool, that’s hard to deny. Their sound, style, and performance have long tempted enthusiasts with an undeniable aura of exclusivity. And while riders around the globe have long coveted these qualities, the experience has traditionally come at a price. But in Aprilia’s new Shiver, a not so shocking sticker is now a legitimate...
2009 Yamaha TMAX 500
Right after a rider on a black-and-orange, big-twin cruiser scoffed at the bike I was on, we both took off from the traffic light onto the highway, his blaring, straight exhaust pipes no doubt saving many lives as we whisked ahead. Only much to his mortification, the TMAX scooter was in the lead once we attained the speed limit and I backed off....
Chronicles
Vespa World Days 2009 in Zell am See, Austria
Imagine standing 7,772 feet above sea level in the midst of snow-covered mountains. The air is crisp, fresh, and completely free of the incessant buzz of insects found in the warmer valleys below. All except for wasps, that is....
2009 BRP Can-Am Spyder Roadster Owner's Event
In late June, BRP Can-Am Spyder owners from all over North America rode to Los Angeles for the "Ryde to the Red Carpet." This second annual Spyder owner's event celebrated the Spyder roadster's role in the movie Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen, and up to 220 Spyder roadsters and 410 owners and passengers came to the affair and zipped around the...
Cornerspin™
Dirt bike experience makes you a better street rider, period. Spinning wheels, sideway slides, and gravel gremlins that so often cause panic on the pavement are par for the course for an off-road pilot....
1975 CB 400/Four, Honda's Giant Killer
And so, she said, “I’m thinking I’ll follow as much of old Route 66 as I can from Illinois to L.A. After that, I’ll head up the Coastal Highway, visit some friends in Portland, and then follow the Lewis and Clark Trail back home. I’m telling my parents that I’m taking the Honda. They don’t need to know that it’s the 400/Four, not the...
Product Reviews
Willie and Max Revolution Series Saddlebag
When we received Triumph's impressive Thunderbird cruiser, it had no luggage. That's fine for the boulevard types, but we tend to aim for strips a few states over. Fortunately, the folks at Willie and Max provided a quick fix for our storage dilemma. The Revolution Series Saddlebags are designed with cruising machines in mind and their latest styles...
Marsee Teardrop Tankbag
Marsee's 12-Liter Teardrop Tankbag is easily installed via a four-strap setup that features the Quick Release Mono Buckle Mounting System, and when combined with the bag's non-slip, non-abrasive bottom, attaches quite securely. Though every bike is different, the variable length ties are simple to adjust and mount cleanly to frame points beneath the...
Scootology Scootcup
While we do our fair share of scootering at RoadRUNNER, motorcycles remain our primary focus. Maybe that's why we didn't quite know what to make of the Scootology's Scootcup when it first arrived. Though a nifty design, this neoprene drink holder attachment for the glove box of a scooter didn't really pique our interest at first. But as the mercury...
GoPro Motorsports HERO Wide
"You ought to be in pictures." And with GoPro's HERO camera that proposition is almost easier done than said. This super small, lightweight video-and-still camera can give you the necessary raw footage to create a moving tribute of your next ride. Measuring in at 1.75 x 2.3 x 1.25 inches, the HERO, when outfitted with the optional 2GB SD card, is capable...
Speed and Strength Hell 'n' Back Jacket
The first thing that comes to mind, after testing this jacket, is there are a lot of great ideas. They include a hydration system, excellent airflow, thermoplastic external shoulder protectors, dual stage "kinetic cuff" adjuster, and removable sleeves. The hydration system is a must in an adventure jacket nowadays. The Hell 'n' Back has it installed...
Draggin' Jeans Women's Modern Fit Jeans
For all the ladies who don't like the traditional, high-waisted women's cut, our thanks to Draggin' Jeans apparel makers for recognizing that many of us prefer to wear jeans on our hips and not up around our chests. And in this regard, Draggin' Jeans scores big and deserves some appreciation.This particular item they refer to as a "modern mid-rise...
Held Tamaso Jacket and Sakai Pants
The Tamaso jacket is the right choice for hot weather riding. Lots of mesh material in the front, back, and around the arms ensure ample airflow. It also comes with soft CE protectors in the shoulders and elbows, and hard CE protectors are optional. The jacket features four well-placed outer pockets and two inner ones. I like the general fit and feel...
Gerbing's Microwire™
When it was determined that a new generation of heated clothing was needed for the military's Special-Ops units, the suits with the gold-laden epaulets went straight to the experts: Gerbing's. These road warriors from the Pacific Northwest have been keeping motorcyclists and outdoorsmen toasty warm for years, but the technology employed was still shy...
NEXX X30 Viper Modular Helmet
Seven-year-old Portuguese helmet manufacturer, NEXX, has delivered a futuristically styled DOT approved helmet which fuses flip-up function with full-face safety. The visor and chin vent component functions like a modular helmet, but the homologated chin bar remains in place. The helmet's weight, noise, and aerodynamics all feel closer to a full-face...
Buyers' Guide
Deltran - Battery Tender® 2-Bank Charger Deltran Battery Tender® offers a 2-Bank Charger that is not only two individual Battery Tenders® in one, but extremely lightweight (only three lbs)! The Battery Tender® 2-Bank Charger is great for anyone with more than one battery that needs to be fully charged and maintained. Instead of switching...
