New Ideas
NEW IDEAS
Kushitani Mesh Jackets
Too steamy to ride, at least while togged up in your favorite leather jacket? Here's an option: Kushitani's vented summer riding wear. Made mostly of lightweight, ventilated nylon, the leather-trimmed E-2025 Mesh Riders ($240), K-2007 Paddock II ($299) and K-20 17 Full Mesh ($199) all feature tip-over-absorbing padding at the back, elbows and shoulders, plus plenty of zippered pockets. Pair `em with the Japanese apparel-maker's latest vented gloves, the K-5022 Master Mesh, K-5019 Air GPS or K-5023 Bikers Mesh II.
Kushitani, 3870 DelAmo Blvd. #507, Torrance, CA 90503; 800/741-1 725; www.kushitani.com
Wolf CDI
Plug and play! That's the concept behind the Wolf CDI. Dyno-tuned and track-tested, the "most advanced multi-curve engine-management system" provides motocrossers with two pre-programmed maps. It's like having two pipes at your disposal with the touch of a handlebar-mounted switch! Wolf CDIs come with a lifetime warranty and retail for $449. They're available for most Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki and Yamaha dirtbikes. Berg Racing plans to offer a streetbike version, too.
Berg Racing USA, 2291~/2 S. GrandAve., Santa Ana, CA 92705; 714/754-1918, www.bergracingusa.com
Shoxx Gel Soles
Big-jump landings got your feet feelin' beat up? Slide a set of Shoxx gel soles into your boots, and take the trauma out of triples. Each full-length slip-in combines a ventilated, anatomically correct foam footbed, "Micro Sorb" gel archlheel support and molded plastic insert for the perfect balance of bump absorption, comfort and feel. Four patterns cover shoe sizes 5-14. Yours for $25 per zpair.
HRP Sports, EQ. Box 190, Somersworth, NH 03878; 800/352-5525; www.hrpsports.com /
Metzeler ME880 Marathon
Grip and mileage? Absolutely, says Metzeler. Devel oped specifically for the American market for use on Honda's GL1800 Gold Wing, the German tire-maker's new "G-spec" ME880 Marathon runs so cool that durability isn't compromised by the use of a rel atively soft tread compound. What's 4 more, the cross-belted radial's higher "turn-up" and rigid bead fillers make for more precise steering and increased stability during cornering. Suggested re tail prices are $225 for the front and $243 for the rear.
Metzeler North America, 300 N. Pottstown Pike #280, Exton, PA 19341; 610/524-2190, www.us.rnetzelerrnoto.com
Ben Bostrom Lithograph
Go, Ben! If you somehow managed to attend Ducati's World Superbike test session in Mon za, Italy, earlier this year, this image of American standout Ben Bostrorn is already permanenfly etched in your memory. For the rest of us, there's Florida-based artist Michael Savage's limited-edition illustration. Each 20 x 26-inch print is hand-signed, numbered and dated by both Bostrom and Savage. Price is $70.
Savage Designs, 3992 Orchard Dr., Melbourne, FL 32940; 321/253-0766; www.savagedesigns.com
Wake up, sleepyhead~ Time to ride! What better way for a Harley-Davidson buff to greet the a.m. than with the time-honored clanging of the Motor Company's Double-Bell Alarm Clock? Manufactured by Bulova, the old-fashion-style, wind-up timepiece fea tures large numbers and an antique-metal finish. Yours for $30.
H-D Double-Bell Alarm Clock
Harley-Davidson Motor Company, 3700 WJuneau Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53201; 800/588-2743; www harley-davidson. corn
Tiforce Exhaust
Want to shave a few pounds from your `02 Yamaha YZF-R1? (After all, tipping the scales at 412 pounds dry, it's such a lump...) Hand-bent from lightweight, strong and exotic-looking titanium, the TiForce high-mount exhaust boasts model-specific CNCmachined spigots and tapered headers. Importer Orient Express claims gains of 6-10 horsepower, and no-mod installation. Noise? A max of 98 decibels with `lust the right deep, mellow sound." Suggest retail price is $1195. A "rainbow" muffler finish is a $100 option.
Orient Express, 81 Hanse Ave., Freeport, NY 11520; 800/645-652]; www.orientexpress.com
Cordesign Readyramp
I'S A RAMP! Ii's A BED extender! No, it's ReadyRamp! Created
by Cordesign, maker of various unique automotiveand motorcycte-
related accessories, the patented, 35-pound aluminum fold-out fits most compact ($250) and full-sized ($280) pickups-no mods needed. Laid out in ramp form, it'll handle two-wheelers scaling up to 1000 pounds. Mounting hardware is included.
Cordesign, 7003 Camino del Vistazo, San Clemente, CA 92673; 800/549-4620: www.readyramp.com
