2013 Honda Gold Wing F6B

Okay Honda, you have my attention!  My friend Jeff shared a link to the Motorcyclist Magazine web site for the new 2013 Honda Gold Wing F6B and from first looks, all I can say is wow! 

Honda Gold Wing F6B

 Honda Gold Wing F6B Deluxe

 Check out the Honda promotional video for the 2013 Honda Gold Wing F6B!



I look forward to finding out more about the Gold Wing F6B!  Additional information regarding the new 2013 Honda Gold Wing F6B is available at Honda Powersports.

Buell 1190RS - Demo Ride

Check out this 18 minute demo ride of the EBR 1190RS at the Oschersleben Motosport Arena in Germany.  The circuit "is a 3.667 kilometres (2.28 mi) long race track with a width of 11–13 meters and elevation changes of 23 metres. The circuit is located in Oschersleben, Börde (approximately 30 km from Magdeburg), Germany. Its fairly flat contours create a smooth, fast circuit" (source: Wikipedia) as demonstrated in the demo ride.



This video has me thinking that I should have a GoPro Motosports camera to shoot my own videos!

CBR 1000RR

Last week, my good friend Luc purchased a new sport bike...a 2008 Honda CBR 1000RR!  He texted me last week to let me know about the purchase and we had a great laugh because we couldn't figure out who was more excited, me or Luc!  I was finally able to get over to see the bike and what a treat, the machine is absolutely mint!

 CBR 1000RR

Luc and I had a great chat about the bike and agreed that we needed to get out for a ride, even if it meant freezing our butts off!  Today, the weather cleared and we were able to get out for a ride on the sport bikes.  We decided to do the Gagetown Ferry - Young's Cove - Jemseg route; a ride that we have done many times and never get tired of!  Great day of riding and congrats Luc on the new ride!

1125R & CBR 1000RR at Gagetown Ferry

Bikes at Covered Bridge Tourist Information Centre

Grand Lake

"Buell"igan or Hooligan?

Luc & his CBR 1000RR

The 2012 riding season has been a great one...until next time, ride safe!

2012 Fall Ride

Fall is here, the leaves have turned colors and soon it will be time to put my motorcycles away for the winter.  Today, my friend Luc and I hit the road for a fall ride through the Grand Lake area and the Miramichi River Valley.  The colors were spectacular and the weather was good (cold weather riding gear required). The 260km loop was just right for this time of year.

Grand Lake - Miramichi River Loop

A highlight of today's ride was a stop along the Miramichi River at the McNamee-Priceville Footbridge. 

Miramichi River

Luc had never been to the renowned Miramichi River footbridge, so we took a trek across the bridge.

McNamee-Priceville Footbridge

Priceville side of Footbridge

Luc on the Bridge

I hope that I can get another ride or two in before I put the motorcycles away for the winter, but that will depend on the weather.  With my work schedule, my riding is pretty much restricted to weekends...keeping my fingers crossed!

Keep your right hand cranked and ride safe!

Go Hellcat Customs!

***UPDATE: September 9th, 2012 - Jase and the team from Hellcat Customs set a new 

"Land Speed Record" at Bonneville, CONGRATULATIONS Team Hellcat!***

Several months back I wrote a blog post about two of my Twitter friends, Jase & Kel and their goal to raise money for a "Land Speed Record" on a Turbo-charged Sportster! 

Hellcat Customs Turbo-charged Sporty with Sidecar

Photos: Courtesy of Kelly Rogers
 

With the support of many of their friends, they met their fundraising goal and are now at the Bonneville Salt Flats to attempt to set a Land Speed Record on a Turbo-charged Sportster with a sidecar...how cool is that!  Jase and his team at Hellcat Customs built the machine and it's time to set that record!  I can only imagine how excited that Jase and Kel are!  Heck, I am thousands of miles from Bonneville and I am excited for them...I can hardly wait for the online updates!

I am sure that Jase will have the same feeling as Burt Munro's character in the World's Fastest Indian when Burt says "You live more in five minutes on a bike like this going flat out than some people live in a lifetime."

So here's to Jase and Kel, go kick some ass and set a new Land Speed Record!

New Tires

Well, it was time to add new tires to my 2009 Buell 1125R!  I really liked the stock Pirelli Corsa III's, but the rear had flat spotted and it was time to replace. 

I was pleased to get 8500km out of Corsa III's and with the performance that they gave me.  I am not an overly aggressive rider, but I found the Pirelli's stuck very well to the road...almost like riding on rails.

Before deciding on what to purchase, I went to the 1125R Superbike Board at Bad Weather Bikers and asked for suggestions. As expected, the feedback that I received was mixed and everyone had an opinion...that's the beauty of online forums.  Since there did not seem to be consensus, I embarked further with my own research based on my riding style.  As mentioned, I am not an overly aggressive rider and I do not ride the 1125R on the track...that's not to say that I don't enjoy the twisties and the opportunity to crank the throttle!  Most of my riding is street/highway, so a dual compound tire is what I was looking for, something with decent grip and good wear.   Two tires came to the forefront for me, the Michelin Pilot Road 2 and the Michelin Pilot Road 3. Reviews at Web Bike World and Visor Down swayed me in the direction of the Pilot Road 3.

I searched online and checked with local dealers and found the best price at the local Yamaha dealer, almost 30% lower than any other price I could find.  The service manager at the Yamaha dealer happens to be my neighbor, so we worked out the final pricing and an installation time.  He knows how fussy I am about my bikes, so I was confident that the dealership could handle the job with a little direction from me.

To assist the Yamaha dealer, I wrote a wheel removal/installation guide for a 2009 Buell 1125R.  I consulted with the Bad Weather Bikers 1125R Superbike Board and my Twitter friend Jase at Hellcat Customs prior to putting the guide together. I also watched JDugger's YouTube videos on 1125R wheel removal...check out my 1125R Wheel Removal/Installation Guide.  Upon arrival at the Yamaha dealer, I asked to speak to the technician who would be working on my 1125R.  I provided the technician with the guide and went through it with him.  Two hours later, my new tires were installed and the 1125R was good to go!

Pilot Road 3 Rear

 Pilot Road 3 Front

Since the installation, I have put approximately 300km on the Pilot Road 3's.  So far they feel good, but I have to put a few more miles on them before I am as confident on the bike as I was with the Corsa III's.  Stay tuned for a follow up report!  Until next time, ride safe!

2012 Superbike Shootout - Cycle World

Check out Cycle World's 2012 Superbike Shootout video!  The EBR 1190RS holds its own against the best in the world!  Way to go Erik Buell & the team at EBR! Anxiously waiting for the release of RX, SX & AX from EBR!