New Ideas
NEW IDEAS
MZ Charly
Gas and go? Try charge and go. Powered by an emissions-free 750-watt Bosch electric motor, German bike-maker MZ’s sporty sit-down features a folding handlebar and solo seat for easy transport by car or truck. Top speed for the dual-drum-braked, fat-tired, headand taillight-equipped two-wheeler is a claimed 15 mph. Recharging the removable, 45-pound battery pack takes 4 to 6 hours using the supplied household-plug-in-compatible cabling coiled within the molded plastic bodywork. Pick up one in blue, red or silver for $1100. Motorrad of North America, 771 Fentress Blvd. #22, Daytona Beach, FL \ 32114; 888/225-6680; www.motorradna.com
Lava Towels
"How many times do you have to be told? Don’t wash your filthy hands in the kitchen sink!” If this scenario sounds familiar, listen up: Lava Heavy-Duty Hand Cleaner Towels will get your digits clean without water. Sold in handy resealable 10-packs ($3) and 50-count tubs ($10), the pre-soaked, anti-bacterial disposables remove adhesives, grease, oil, paint and tar, and are gentle on sensitive skin. Heck, they may even save your marriage! WD-40 Company, P.O. Box 80607, San Diego, CA 92138; 800/448-9340; www.wd40.com
Kawasaki ZLR Jacket
Four-time 500cc World Champion Eddie Lawson won the 1981 and ’82 AMA Superbike and 250cc Grand Prix titles on factory Kawasakis, all the while wearing leathers virtually identical in appearanee to the new ZLR jacket. Biggest difference? The competition-weight, green-and-white zip-up is rolling in contemporary features, such as elbow and shoulder armor, pop-up and zippered vents and velcro waist cinches. Available in XS-XXL sizes, the ZLR retails for $330Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA, 9950 Jeronimo Rd., Irvine, CA 92618, 949/770-0400; www.buykawasaki.com
AFAM Flex System Handlebar
"Attention tower, this is Flight 362 requesting permission to land..." If big-air leaps are cause for pause, maybe you need a handlebar that's more touchdownfriendly. Available in a variety of popular motocross bends, AFAM's $90Flex System mates a leaf-spring-style crosspiece to a 5mm-thick, shot-peened alu minum bar for lateral stiffness and bump-absorbing give. Happy landings... AFAM USA, 5953 Engineer Dr., Huntington Beach, CA 92649; 800/290-9040; www.afamusa.com
Bibler Tripod Bivy
Ah, solitude. Just you, your bike and the stars. All made possible with Bibler's Tri pod Bivy. The compact three-pole tent offers more head and foot room than tradi tional solo setups, minimizing dreaded "bivouac claustrophobia." Manufactured from Teflon-laminated rip-stop nylon, the greenor yellow-colored shell protects against the elements, yet breathes. Of course, privacy can be pricey: At $325, the Tripod Bivy retails for about the same as lower-end multi-person tents. Hey, quality isn't cheap. Black Diamond Equipment Ltd., 2084 East 3900 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84124; 801/278-5533; www.biblertents.com
Metzeler ME330 and ME550
News flash: Metzeler to discontinue popular bias-ply MEl, ME33 and ME55! What to do, non-radial runners? Opt for the new-generation ME330 front and ME550 rear, that's what. Using the same multi-radius technology found on the high-perform ance, semi-slick Rennsport radials ensures a broader contact patch and increased traction, while the polygon-shaped center groove aids stability. Suggested retail prices start at $113 per tire for both front and rear applications. Metzeler Motorcycle Tire North America, 300 North Pottstown Pike #280, Exton, PA 19341; 610/524-2190; www.metzeler.com
Asterisk Cell Knee Brace
IF YOU'VE TWEAKED YOUR KNEE racing motocross, you probably wear a big ol' brace, which was no doubt prescribed by a doctor and paid for by insurance following a long. painful rehabilitation period. Too bad you weren't wearing a brace at the time of the injury, right? Well, that's the idea behind the new Asterisk Cell Knee Protection System. Sold through motorcycle shops for $549 a pair (or $305 each), the injectionmolded, carbon-fiber frames Oblique Axial-Free Motion Hinge allows natural extension and flexion of the joint, all the while providing a secure, noslip fit via its quick-release Lace-Liner Buckle System. What's more, the Cell comes in standardized S-XL sizes and doesn't require a doctor's signature. Think of it as preventive medicine. Asterisk, 19762 Paullng, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610; 80014592999; www.asterisk.com
