SITE FOR SORE EYES
Thanks to the tireless efforts of art director and Chief Yamaha Scuffer Jon Jensen, our website is getting happily updated on a regular basis with select content from these pages. Be sure to check it out so you can catch up on back issues. There will be a quiz. www.citybike.com

CORRECTIVE ACTION
We here at News ,Clues are not collectively the Pope and are therefore fallible. In December’s News, Clues, we misspelled author/motojourno/poet Ed Milich’s website telling you where to buy his most-excellent book of moto-related poetry. The correct address is www.moebiuspalindrome.com. We also owe him an apology for missing his reading of his latest book, but not to worry: go to his site for a schedule of upcoming appearances, and also where to read his book, which is funny, moving, strange and overall a great read. In fact, it may contain the best poem about desmodromic valve adjustment in Western Literature, and that’s saying something. The offending copy editor has been taken out and shot.

TASTY GUZZI
Moto Guzzis have always been sort of known as one of the more stodgy Italian brands, but it doesn’t have to be that way. For a surprisingly small amount of dough, customizers Ghezzi-Brian (“Ghezzi” make sense, but “Brian?”) make some sweet-looking kit for new and old Guzzis. This gem is the Sport Monza, which transforms the basic V11 model into a superbike replica. The complete kit includes bodywork, subframes, seat, aluminum tank, lights, belly pan, new suspension, radial-mount Brembo calipers (of course!), forged wheels and the motor upgrades, including exhaust, to reach 108 hp. The bodywork kit is 5240 Euros, about $7700. in real money. Find out more at www.ghezzi-brian.com
VICTORY SPORTBIKE?
We all weep for the death of Buell, but there are still other American motorcycle manufacturers with the muscle and know-how to make a sportbike, or at least a sporty bike. Moto-designer and master speculator Oberdan Bezzi thinks Victory should take a stab at putting their 106-inch “Freedom” V-Twin into a roadster chassis, and this would be the likely result. Looks good to us: that 50-degree, sohc, four-valve, air-cooled Twin looks nice hung in a minimalist twin-spar frame, and the inverted front end—festooned with racing Brembo four-piston radial-mount brake calipers—looks even better. The bodywork is reminiscent of the Fischer V-Twin sportbike (www.fischer1.com), and why not? After all, Dan Fischer’s company may be the sole surviving American sportbike maker.

An email to a Victory insider quickly crushed any fleeting joy this illustration brought, although he did have some interesting things to say. “The CORE concept is the closest thing to a naked, café-racer or standard. If your readers would like to see that bike built, Victory would love to hear it.” Send email to Victory’s team at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and copy us: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it : we like to hear your feedback too.
However, a sportbike or roadster from Victory seems pretty much out of the question: “As you know, the V 106/6 is built as a cruiser engine so it is heavy, built for torque, low-revving (compared to sportier poweplants) and features a very stiff crankcase to aid in rigidity--that’s a good thing, but a lower-revving Twin with a fairly heavy motor for a sportier bike would likely have a tepid reception from the consumer, no matter how cool it looked.” Why not design a new powerplant? “Building a new engine is a huge undertaking and very costly. Also, just look at the volumes in the market--what sells? How many Honda 919s do you see as you travel across the USA? Kawasaki Z1000s? Any standard bikes? “Classless” bikes sell to classy people for sure, but they are not volume players in the market.”
Still, it’s always fun to dream.

TALF-RED E NEWMAN?
The struggling Goliath that is Harley-Davidson took another spoonful of government-aid elixir on November 23rd. A group of investors are using $562 million in TALF—which stands for Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility if that helps you at all—funding to underwrite a huge bond deal. The bond terms vary between one and three years and are backed by the Federal program.
H-D’s flagging profits have been further diminished by the blows dealt to HDFS, Harley’s financing arm, which has been hit hard by the recession and has already borrowed money at high interest rates from private investors. TALF makes H-D bonds attractive because the funds are backed by the Federal Reserve bank, funds with very low interest rates. That money should be used to finance motorcycle purchases and hopefully, spur the Motor Company into solid black ink again.
In other H-D news, subsidiary MV Agusta—up for sale—will be brokered by Italian investment firm BNP Paribas. Despite the exotic-bike maker’s new model releases, it’s still hemorrhaging money (it lost $52 million and only reported sales of $43 million). When it does sell, it’ll probably go for a lot less money than the $109 million H-D paid for it in July 2008.
If that’s not enough trouble for big H-D, there’s also a humungous recall out for 111,000 2009-2010 Touring models, including the hot-rod CVOs and trikes. Seems the fuel-tank mount may deform in a crash, possibly rupturing the fuel tank and making crispy critters of unlucky H-D faithful. H-D, stand-up company it is, will fix the problem, no problem. If you believe you may have an affected model, call you local H-D dealer (have your VIN handy) or call Harley’s hotline: 414/343-4056.
ERIK’S NEW NICHE
Speaking of Buell, it turns out that the mystery rider spotted on what was probably a Buell 1125RR streetbike prototype (News, Clues Dec.) may have been Erik Buell himself, according to Roadracing World. Joy-riding isn’t all he’s doing: he’s also set up Erik Buell Racing, based in East Troy (home of the Buell factory). The new company will build race-only 1125R motorcycles as well as supply parts and other services for racers. Will this lead to limited-production streetbikes? We hope so.
News, Clues also heard a rumor that Erik was negotiating with BRP (which builds the intriguing Can-Am Spyder three-wheeler) about the Canadian company building Buell sportbikes. Bombardier didn’t say it wasn’t—neither did it say it was, just that “BRP does not disclose any future product or business plans.” So coy, those Canadians.

DRIVE-THROUGH BURGLARY
Here’s a novel way to break and enter: steal a car and just drive through the front door. In the early morning hours of December 6th, a stolen Jeep Cherokee smashed through the front doors of McGuire Harley-Davidson in Walnut Creek. According to Ryan McGuire, “two males dressed in all black stole a large quantity of brand-new Harley-Davidson jackets and vests. They also damaged a lot of our property in the process. We are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the robbery. Help us catch these scumbags.”
If you see any suspicious-looking H-D apparel deals on Craigslist...well, more than usual, please call Mike McGuire at 925/945-6500 or the Walnut Creek Police: 925/943-5844.

IMS HITS SAN MATEO
From contributor and BMW newsletter On The Level Editor Will Guyan:
Once a year the fort is nailed shut for the brave trek to The Big City, the opposite pole from the woods where I live with bikes, tools and woman. Life is grand, but the urge to return to the San Mateo International Motorcycle Show (IMS) yearly is salmon-like. After a three-hour traverse, I arrive and finally make it into the motorcycle-filled arena.
And there before me is the entire spectacle: bikes, vendors, food courts, a few nicely styled umbrella girls and just about everything you’d want. The throng seemed a tad thinner this year.
Back to the show. In my focused world, what stood out were the BMW S1000RR, the remarkable Honda VFR1200 and the precisely engineered YZF450 (did you get to examine the “cutaway” for a few minutes?). Ducati always presents a splendid showing, this year with a faux workshop vignette replete with a testastretta engine on a stand. The Hypermotard 796 was on the spinning dais of moto-lust, under lights for under $10,000, but I’m unhindered in my search for such a machine with full Öhlins for a few thou more. But the one we all hoped to see was the missing Multistrada 1200 (see it at Hattar Moto this Friday and Saturday the 18th and 19th—ed.).
The Honda VFR1200F is a beauty, in yards-deep crimson paint, but early press says it’s heavy and doesn’t transition readily, especially at low speeds. The $15,999 (base model) price and weight are an issue, as is fuel range, and there are several other machines that’ll be mighty compelling for the VFR shopper to consider, like BMW’s  K1300GT the  Multistrada and the much cheaper Triumph Sprint. We’ll hear lots more soon.

Kawasaki’s take on motorcycle design continues to remind me of a Klingon Desoto dealership, as some of the design cues are extra-terrestrial. The Z1000 is back! (See our riding impression this issue—ed.) You can’t deny the bang for the buck power of these bikes, however. Kawasaki Heavy Industries is indeed a heavy hitter in the market. Suzuki had a smaller display with little fanfare, but some really cool Yoshimura cocktail tables, and their usual popular models. The fact that the display areas went for 50 large was an amazing eye opener, and tells the story of why KTM, Aprilia and Triumph weren’t there. This is a hard-hit economy, and manufacturers are circling their wagons. BMW was represented by the Norcal dealer group, since the only actual factory representations in the U.S. will be Long Beach and New York City.
There was one privateer outfit that caught my eye, San Francisco’s own unique Double Dog Moto, who have created a very nicely engineered entire tail section for the Ducati superbikes that saves eleven pounds normally sitting high up over the wheel, and a stainless, minimalist exhaust that saves another 10 pounds and adds 10 ponies. Very nice presentation and very much race-oriented. I expect we’ll see these racing mechanical engineers at Infineon very soon. Get more info at  www.doubledogmoto.com.
The rest of the show was the spectacle we look forward to each year–luggage, batteries, tires, shocks, specialty custom items, helmets, gear, deals, pretty girls flogging sexy machinery, carnival food, the Woman’s Center where gear and bikes are discussed/tried on for the first time at this show, three-wheelers in several brands, electric bikes, scooters a-plenty, Ducati Freestyle Team stunts, fashions shows, and way more.
All the ride home, I was tortured by the vision of tearing around Sears Point on the S1000RR at full throttle, saved electronically from my animal, ham-fisted throttle inputs, flying around on the 180-pony superbike.

MULTI AT HATTAR
Get an up-close look at Ducati’s tasty new Multistrada 1200 at Hattar Moto in San Rafael this Friday, December 18th from 6:30 to 9:00 pm, and all day on Saturday the 19th. The nice folks there will have food, drinks, Ducati speakers, a tech overview, Ducati Performance prototype and of course the bike will be at the shop all day on display. No rides (we already asked). Check out www.hattarmoto.com or call 415/456-3345 for more info.

R.I.P., LEGEND OF THE MOTORCYCLE
From friend-of-City Bike and talented writer (with an outstanding blog that’s well worth the visit: www.vintagent.com) Paul d’Orleans (Photo: Bob Stokstad):
“A moment of silence please for the Legend of the Motorcycle Concours d’Elegance, born into this world only four years ago, the love child of Jared Zaugg and Brooke Roner, visionaries and chutzpah kids, who succeeded, after 18 months labor in creating the premier motorcycle Concours on the planet.
The question on everyone’s mind that first year was ‘can they pull it off?’ --the answer a resounding “Yes.” The best vintage, classic, custom, and racing machinery assembled from around the globe on the golf green of the Ritz-Carlton, and anyone not dulled by fumes realized something unique and special had dropped in our laps. The subsequent two events had motorcycle heroes fly to this bright light from Everywhere: World Champions (Ago, Read…), manufacturers (Bulto, Willie G…), collectors (Leno, Barber…), film stars (MacGregor, Bullock…), and ordinary enthusiasts, who frequently came away with an ‘I was having a beer and realized it was Bart Markel’ story. There was/is no event like it; it was all class and properly done, the bikes were absolutely top notch, the elbows to rub were legend themselves, and most of all, it was really, really fun. And will be sorely missed.”
TV STUNTS YOUR GROWTH
More proof that motorcycle stunting is moving from the freeways and abandoned lots and turning into a mainstream moto-sport, the XDL Championship Series announced it will produce a docudrama, Inside XDL, six 30-minute episodes about the drama and action of organized sportbike stunting. It will air on the VERSUS cable network at the end of 2010.
XDL says, that “the show will also follow key athletes and staff through the 2010 season and provide a never-before seen perspective on the championship hunt and the behind-the scenes-work that goes into building an action sport and putting on the series. The XDL Championship Series is the only national stunt riding championship, soon entering its 5th season.” You can find out more aobut XDL by going to www.xdlshow.co.

HELP DANNY “MAGOO” CHANDLER’S VAN FUND
From Scott Cox at moto-PR firm Resmarket: “On Friday, December 4th, Bob “Hurricane” Hannah was informed that Jason Lawrence wanted to be the first of the new breed of riders to join Hannah’s Challenge of raising $100,000 towards Brad Lackey’s effort in purchasing a new special-needs van for the 1982 Motocross and Trophee des Nations Champion, Danny Chandler. “I’m going to be stoked to see Danny and his new van at the races next year,” Lawrence said.
The original Challenge from Hannah was to have 20 individuals-retired or current pro riders, industry executives or individuals who have the means and can afford to donate an amount like this to accelerate “Bad Brad” Lackey’s on-going efforts to get his friend Danny “Magoo” Chandler this new special-needs van. “It’s great that Jason recognizes what Magoo has done for this sport and is stepping up in such a meaningful way,” said Bob Hannah, seven-time National Motocross and Supercross Champion. In addition to Lawrence’s donation of $5000, 12 of the 20 spots have been filled totaling $60,000.
“To have a new-school rider like Jason Lawrence be the first to step up and help us with this project is really special,” said Brad Lackey, America’s first Motocross World Champion. “Man, Jason wasn’t born until two years after Danny’s accident, so it’s great that he see’s Danny’s contributions to the sport before and after his paralyzing accident in Paris,” Lackey added.
All the donations for this challenge campaign are tax deductible.
To take the Hurricane’s challenge, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it To learn more about the Danny Chandler Van Fund or make another type of donation for the project visit: www.LegendsAndHeroesTour.org or www.BradLackey.com.

OUT OF THE WOODS?
Bad news for local dirt-riders. A story just posted to Cyclenews.com tells us that Alameda County Judge Frank Roesch ordered the closure of Carnegie State Vehicle Recreation Area (SVRA) “based on his own interpretation of the appropriate application of water quality standards.” He ordered the park closed “until State Parks files and receives approval of or a waiver for a report of waste discharge from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. This approval process could take months.”
It’s all because of a complaint filed by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance. “The group’s complaint alleged OHV activities at Carnegie SVRA are causing discharge to enter Corral Hollow Creek, which flows through the park. The creek only runs four to six weeks a year.”
Don Amador, tireless crusader for the use of public lands by off-road motorcyclists (read more on his entertaining and not-liberal-friendly blog, thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com) told Cycle News, “If the park is forced to close, more than 100,000 park visitors will be displaced. The closure will impact other OHV recreation areas, causing overcrowding and unanticipated effects from the overload. The closure will not hasten better water quality, but is just another example of the Plaintiffs grandstanding and misusing environmental law to enact a political agenda that is anti-recreation and anti-park.”
You can find out how to Fight The Man (well, actually fight some folks who are Fighting The Man but inadvertently stepping on our right to ride as well) at Amador’s blog.

TEAM RALLY PANAM HEADS FOR SOUTH AMERICA AND THE 2010 DAKAR
Photographer/City Bike Contributer Bob Stokstad reports on the latest with S.F.’s own Team Rally Pan-Am.:
“Up before dawn. Get Jonah ready for the start at 5:00 am. See him off, breakfast, pack the truck. Drive ten hours to next bivouac while Niles sleeps. Meanwhile, Jonah riding the 690, navigating deserts or dunes or wherever roll chart and compass take him. Arrive, set up tents, debrief Jonah on bike’s needs. Eat. Niles starts tearing down bike, Jonah studies tomorrow’s route book, goes to bed. Niles finishes wrenching at 3 am. Sleep. Up before dawn.....”
That was your typical 24 hours with team Rally PanAm in last year’s Dakar Rally, as described by Robb McElroy at the send-off party on December 4th at the San Francisco Motorcycle Club. The 2009 Paris-Dakar race was held in South America and that’s where rider Jonah Street, driver Robb, mechanic Niles Follin and team manager Charlie Rauseo are headed to begin another 9000-kilometer adventure on New Year’s Day in Buenos Aires. If last year’s race is any indication, the team has an excellent shot at a top-five finish and a win is within reach. Jonah was in second place overall through stage five, which he won, beating out Dakar-winners Marc Coma and Cyril Despres that day. Unfortunately he re-injured his wrist on the eighth stage and had to withdraw - but not before the international media discovered there was a new guy on the scene with the talent to upset the establishment.
The genesis of Bay Area involvement with the Paris-Dakar rally was in 2004 when Charlie Rauseo entered as a lone privateer after scraping together $40,000, the price to play back then, from a few sponsors and his life savings. He did it again the following year, but in 2006 formed the team that has been together since then and will now race in its fourth Dakar.
Sponsors are the sine qua non of competing in the Dakar, as the entry fee now is 13,500 for one rider on one bike, 14,500 for a truck and driver, and 10,000 for each additional person, like a mechanic. Oh yes, and those are Euros, thank you very much. Add the costs of the motorcycle, spare parts, support vehicles, personal transportation to Buenos Aires and you can see this isn’t a casual affair. To help cover costs, the team will be providing logistical support for four privateers in addition to Jonah. There’s support from local enthusiasts, too. If you want to help Rally PanAm, visit their web site (www.rallypanam.com) and consider joining the team’s booster club, “Riff Raff.” It’s actually quite an honor that the Bay Area motorcycle community has Riff Raff in its midst. Of the 161 motorcycle entries in the Dakar, Rally PanAm is the only U.S. team.
The Dakar is the world’s biggest off-road motorsports event, encompassing bikes, quads, cars, and trucks, and claims 2.2 billion TV viewers spread over 189 countries--plus a million on the streets to watch the start in Buenos Aires, more than the crowd that turned out for the World Cup. Until a multiple-murder in Mauritania caused the last-minute cancellation of the 2008 event and the move to South America in 2009, Paris was the starting point. The route in South American upholds the tradition of the Dakar and is an adventure rider’s dream, including seven days in Chile’s high-altitude desert--the Atacama. Nevertheless, speculation is rife about moving the race back to North Africa, but that decision will depend a lot on the political situation in a number of ‘developing’ African nation-states. In the meantime, the Argentinians and Chileans are giddy with delight to host this toughest test of man and machine. That’s a big contrast to Africa, where spectators were known for throwing trash at the riders.
If anything came across that evening in the SFMC clubhouse, it was that the team is out to win this year and that they have a measured confidence that comes from their years of experience and learned respect for the challenge ahead of them. You can follow the team’s progress on their website, or on Facebook and Twitter with on-line updates from Robb McElroy. The official Dakar website is www.dakar.com. Look for TeeVee coverage on the Versus Network.

Photos: Bob Stokstad & Robb McElroy