Hey guys! KTM’s model line-up for 2010 will include this revised 690 Duke R which features a 7bhp power increase along with more mid-range torque. This new machine’s first appearance was scheduled for the Milan show next month, but we got some pictures for you!

Along with revised suspension and graphics, the power and torque upgrades are credentials for the new 690 Duke’s ‘R’ tag. These adjustments underline the fact that this machine is a serious middleweight animal.

Like the standard 690 Duke on which the R-model is based, the riding position is upright and comfortable. A slight lean to the bars sets you into an ‘attack’ riding position where either shoulder can be dipped into a corner. This is enough to make light work of the fantastic back roads around the Bay Area.

A big factor behind the Duke 690 R’s accomplished ride is its revised suspension. The WP forks have slightly softer springs than on previous models, but revised damping rates give them a supple action that provides all-telling feedback. The rear shock, meanwhile, retains the spring from the 654cc Duke.

KTM’s prowess at building strong, single-cylinder engines also comes to the fore with the Duke 690 R’s new motor. A 7bhp power boost for a 600cc supersport would be considered great, on a single, it’s close to incredible.

Careful development of fuelling and ignition maps led KTM to fitting a pre-determined three-way power-selector switch (hidden but accessible through the frame tubes). In ‘Standard’ mode the engine is so tractable in the lower revs it makes town work lurch-free. But tease the tach past 4500rpm and the engine snaps forward and keeps driving until just short of the 8000rpm redline. In ‘sport’ mode the KTM offers a more aggressive power delivery that gives the full snappy terrier effect. The third mode position, incidentally, is effectively a fun dampener, for wet or slippery conditions or novice riders.

Too bad we don’t have access to our old KTM 620 staffer, or else the shoot out would have been extraordinary! Stay tuned guys!

THE SPECIFICATIONS*
KTM 690 Duke R
Engine: Liquid-cooled 690cc single cylinder
Power (claimed): 71.4bhp
Torque (claimed): 50ftlb
Weight: 148kg (dry)
Seat height: 865mm
Fuel capacity: 13.5 liters
* Pre-production figures, subject to confirmation.

Check out KTM Boards for more KTM fun!

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Hey folks, this is Tony from Inline Performance Magazine again with an update on my Husky longtermer. The guys over at SME sent us yet another cool set of their rear axle sliders for my Husky SM610.

The cool thing about these sliders is that they replace the rear axle blocks which is one of the strongest mounting points on the bike. They also match the front sliders I installed a while back. If you take a spill, there won’t be a need to replace that swingarm! The set of front and rear Supermoto Axle Sliders is designed to protect your bike’s vital organs- as well as your axle nuts and fork bottoms.

And as the front set, all spacers and axle nuts are CNC machined from 6061 aluminum and anodized in your choice of Gold, Silver, Red, Black, Blue and Orange. The sliders are made from black Delrin and CNC machined. Everything is made and assembled in California using domestic materials. These retail for $44.95. Replaceable sliders are available: two pieces for $12.95 or four for $24.95.

Be sure to check them out here!

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What’s up people? The good folks at SME sent us a set of front axle sliders for the Husky today. Check them out!

All spacers and axle nuts are CNC machined from 6061 aluminum and anodized in your choice of Gold, Silver, Red, Black, Blue and Orange (for KTM). Stainless steel rods are machined in house for a tight fit. The sliders are made from Black Delrin and CNC machined. Everything is made and assembled in California using domestic materials. These retail for $44.95. Replaceable sliders are available: two pieces for $12.95 or four for $24.95.

Stay tuned guys! They also sent us a pair for the rear. Check back soon!

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What’s up people? Finally, after years, I am finally making another modification to the Husky. It really wasn’t my fault. Alex was riding it during the Motard Shootout, when the amber lens suddenly fell off. No dropping, no crashing. It just fell off. Unfortunately, before we could retrieve it, it was shattered by another bike.

Not bad, right? Gives the Husky an updated look. See you guys next time!

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What up! This week I got to ride the Husqvarna 610SM in our motard shootout. Look out for the full spread in our first annual print issue out last this year/ early next year! First off, let me say that this was my first time on this bike, as well as any sort of motard, ever! And I loved it!!! The riding style is totally different that what I am used to with sportbikes, but after about an hour or so, I was becoming quite comfortable with it. I tried to hang off a bit and the bike is so light it felt like it wanted to fall right over! After a while I started pushing it down under me into the corners and it responded well. This was a bit unusual for me to get used to, but once I did, it was a blast. I even tried to put my foot down like the motard guys, and while it definitely made me more confident, I don’t recommend you try it on the street, especially without the proper boots!

The Husky was also a very forgiving bike for me. Even though I had no clue how to ride it, the bike never asked too much of me and was always very responsive. The brakes are simply incredible, and that’s all I can say. It would be more than easy to do one finger stoppies. And since the suspension is basically dirt bike suspension, it give you a plush ride over all the cracks and bumps San Francisco streets are known for. I don’t know how I could live in the city and not ride a bike like this!

It had enough torque to pull me around, but this bike as well as most others, are made without the large rider in mind. It would need the rear shock re-done, and it would have to add a bit of power i.e. engine work to be able to pull my fat butt around better, but this bike is still pure joy. The only gripe I would have is the 2×4 plank of a seat. I know it’s a dirt bike and they are all like this. But my rear end is larger than most, and if I had this bike, I would be looking for some sort of aftermarket seats, especially for the urban streets. I will be looking to put one in my garage in the time to come! See you next time!

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Since my Duke is still out of commission, I’ll document my trip in this section till it is up and running again.

It’s been four years now, since I’ve been back to my country of origin, the Czech Republic. A country better remembered for it’s beer and women than its achievements in motorcycle culture. Although I didn’t have the resources at hand to have my own set of wheels, I took the time out of my adventures to check in on the pace of contemporary bohemian riding culture.

Initially, I had checked in with my grandfather about a motorcycle he had kept in his basement. A Jawa 175. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of getting to know these eastern European classics, Jawa’s are very simple, utilitarian motorcycles that were produced in mass and distributed throughout most of eastern Europe. Their popularity was supported by mainly communist countries up until the collapse of the Soviet Union. I can best describe the brand as the Eastern Bloc equivelant to India’s Royal Enfields.

Tragically, my grandfather’s bike was having starting issues, which we deduced to be timing related and getting parts for these things is a nightmare. I suppose it will have to be a project for another day. I had to make do without spinning any tires on my own. But the more I toured around on loose road winding between rolling green hills of the country side, I knew I would have to come back here with an engine that deserved to peel back off the asphalt.

I was duly  informed by my immediate family that the posted speed limit was 50k an hour (roughly 30 MPH) and recently the police were issued 1400cc Kawasaki’s, and they were happy to enforce it. Technically, all tickets issued are not kept on file and can be paid on the spot: 1000kr the equivalent of 50USD. That’s all? I was in agony.

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If you are a student from City College of San Francisco Evan’s Campus (current home of my trusty KTM), vote for me in the upcoming elections and join my mad campaign against the deluge of political inaction. Vote for the Motor Party because, “We do it faster.”

My path towards the Presidency has been fostered by the Al Franken’s view point, “Why not me?” campaign platform as it has become evident to me that the interests of City College at Evan’s Campus has fallen by the way side of both the greater administration and the student community, as there has been almost zero interest to fill in the political office by anyone else. For inexplicable reasons, beyond the fact that there is no one to get in my way, I have taken it upon myself to get politically involved for the first time in my life. My plan is to march past the teeth of this lame animal and straight into the guts of its circumstance.

There seems to be some sort of history that has scared away those who were once involved in the process. I’ve been informed
that this might be a losing battle, as the system has been spun into so much red tape that actions at times seems impossible. My advantage is rooted in the fact that I have nothing to lose. This a zero sum game and I plan to take it for a ride.

I’ve got momentum from the folks in the motorcycle cage. I am inspired by the spirit of Hunter’s “Freak Power” campaign for sheriff in ’72. I believe there is a lot of good Evan’s can do with the skill set it teaches. We can fix an engine, build a house and wire it together, weld bridges and hammer out a destiny. The task at hand is to take action and the only way to stop the velocity is to get in my way.

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With the way the weather has been lately (i.e. rainy shit), I put away the bike and took the time to stop by the Moscone Center on Sunday to visit my friend and fellow blogger Evan Miller to catch the tail end of the Wondercon: the semi famous, comic-book, sci-fi and fantasy convention. For those of you who don’t me well enough, you should know that I am an absurdist geek.

Batman had a motorcycle, Iron Man is the ultimate mechanic, and it breaks my heart that at present, the technology required for the Speeder Bike in Star Wars doesn’t exist. But I’ll tell you one thing, every time I suit up to go for a spin, I feel like a real-live superhero.

Cons are great because it allows a forum of like minded people to come together and talk about the things they are passionate about, without getting that glazed look in their eyes if you mention super obscure trivia regarding the life and times of Phil Ken Sebben or the virtues of Miskatonic University (Both in fact, fictitious).

It was great when I came across the Morpheus Protypes guys promoting their 3D print rendering service for concept development, because I have never had the proper opportunity to have an in depth discussion about a particular idea I have for the KTM.

Since my bike is rare, and finding replacement plastics is next to impossible, I’ve been trying to figure a way to be able to manufacture replacements on my own. These kind of body modification projects can be so complicated. Establishing a starting point without a formal background in product design had seemed impossible up until this point. Shawn Zindroski was representing Morpheus and he took the time to explain that I could feasibly take the existing fairings on my bike and map the specifications using a 3D scanner into a program called SolidWorks. Once the specs are recorded, you can store the file on a computer and when the time comes, simply plug the data into one of their printers and simply print out a new set.

At this time, the technology is still pretty new and pricey. But the prospect of being able to store the information of certain motorcycle specs on file and access detailed files on your own is fantastically futuristic. I’m going to do some more research and maybe take some classes for 3D mapping. Since I want to make a new set of plastics or even some nice carbon fiber ones for the Duke, I think I may be one step closer to the evolution of motorcycle development.

Until then, beam me up Scotty.

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As the Japanese sports bike movement took hold in the late 80′s, the lines of motorcycle evolution began to clearly delineate in production. The boxy fairings from the past were phased out for streamline aerodynamics. Carburetion was replaced for modern efficient fuel injection systems, and as engineer focus turned to fine-tuning performance engines, Japanese and Italian bike manufacturers stepped up with some of the finest examples of the what we could define as modern-day “Super Bikes.”

The Super-Moto is a complete bastardization of this mechanical movement. Truly a hooligan in all respects to the contemporary trends of the 90′s, the origins of the super-motard seem to have come full circle only recently as Ducati, Aprilia, BMW have released a series of motorcycles based on a concept that KTM had pioneered as early as 1993.

My KTM Duke, was my humble introduction to this genre of motorcycle culture, and turned me into a hooligan the moment I kick over the single piston engine.

Loud and crude, I break the quiet San Francisco nights. It can’t be helped. The Duke has a spirit that kicks hard as it pulls you across the city. A throaty, low-pitch exhaust note compliments it’s aggressive nature to a key. The vibrations are strong enough to shake the fillings from your molars. The the adjustable WP shocks catch the patch work terrain of poorly maintained streets with grace. When 4 piston Brembo brakes bite into the front disks, the bike can endo on a dime.

This super bike as transformed me from a modest motorcyclist into a torque junkie, always on the look out for a bigger fix. I’m truly honored that the Inline Performance team has asked me to contribute. I’m looking forward to sharing my experience of taking on the elegant, refined form of a Triumph Street Triple in juxtaposition to my KTM Duke; the Bastard Hooligan of Super Biking.

Godspeed.

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What’s going on guys? If you own a 2005 or 2006 Suzuki Gsxr1000, I’ve got some important news for you! Alex just received a safety recall letter from Suzuki regarding these bikes.

Apparently, Suzuki has received reports of cracking or breakage of the motorcycle frame in certain extreme situations where unusually high stress is placed on the frame, such as front end collisions.

There have also been reports of breakage and cracking of the frame behind and below the steering neck when the motorcycle is subjected to repeated hard landings from hazardous maneuvers such as extreme or extended wheelies or other stunts.

While ordinary operation of the motorcycle does not create a risk, Suzuki has voluntarily decided to conduct this safety recall.

So bring in your Gsxr1000 to your dealership and they will inspect and install a frame brace to reinforce the frame. The appearance, performance and handling of the bike will remain unchanged.

If you have already gotten this done, Suzuki will reimburse you for the costs. For more information, please contact the American Suzuki Motor Corporation, Motorcycle Service Department, PO Box 1100, Brea, CA 92822-1100, or call (714) 527-1490.

Be careful guys! Get this done now!

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Welcome to the new year guys! As we are still in the winter months, I’d like to continue with my post regarding proper hibernation of your bike. I’m going to jump to my Husky section for this article, because that’s what I’m riding nowadays. So, without further adieu!

Exhausts
Collector boxes on standard exhaust systems are usually made from the world’s most corrosive metal. They’re also difficult to repair and expensive to replace. After cleaning the bike (see cleaning), make sure the top of the collector box (usually directly under the engine) is completely dry and coat it with WD-40. This is worth removing the fairing for. Trust me.

Forks
After cleaning the bike, make sure that there is no moisture sitting around the fork stanchions, especially behind the mudguard where it can’t usually be seen. Water can corrode the chrome, causing pitting that can potentially rupture the fork seals.

Brake Rotors
Ever left a wet bike out for so long that the brakes needed a good knock to unstick them? If left for long enough, the pad material can eat into the disc and bond to it. Not good. Put a piece of paper or cardboard between the rotors and pads to prevent this.

Tires
Ideally both wheels would be kept off the ground by paddock stands to avoid the tires from deforming from long periods of inactivity. But if that’s not possible, place blocks of wood under the tires to prevent contact with a cold garage floor. Too much exposure to the freezing temperatures (absorbed by the concrete) can affect the performance of the rubber. If the bike’s not up on a paddock stand, try to rotate the wheels a quarter turn every three weeks and keep pressures up.

Consider a Winter Hack
No doubt the two-wheeled missile that resides in the garage was the end result of a thoroughly thought out and level-headed purchase. Despite its awesome array of performance abilities, trouging through mud covered roads in sub-zero temperatures was not part of your dreams when you signed up.

Therefore, winter is a great excuse for purchasing a beater motorcycle in slightly less than mint condition, which is usually only fit for riding in a straight line. You can use it as a winter bike without worrying about something happening to it.

Well that’s it for me! Happy winter, and ride safe!

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Hey guys! Planning on hibernating your bike this winter? I know I am tucking my R1 away! Storing a bike properly takes a lot of preparation. Read on for my top tips on how to do it right.

Storage
Ideally, the bike should be kept indoors when it is not in use. Using a bike cover can provide additional help to prevent accidental damage, make it harder for small creatures to nest, and also stops people from seeing your bike. For complete cryogenic status, companies offer bike chambers for a few hundred dollars that have filter systems to keep away moisture and dust. But that’s a bit overboard in my opinion.

Cleaning
After the last ride before storage, give the bike a really thorough cleaning, paying special attention to metal parts and linkages. Actually, you should do this after every ride anyways. Not many garages are moisture free, so manually dry the bike and coat metal parts (but not the brakes) with an anti-corrosion formula (like WD-40). Remember to grease any parts (linkages, cables, etc.) that might have been stripped of their lubricants.

Battery
The battery of an unused bike left in a cold garage will start to drain flat (yeah, Alex learned that the hard way). To avoid that, use a Battery Tender to keep the power level topped up. There’s an argument that these reduce the working life of a battery, but they are still the best option for bikes, especially those fitted with alarms. Another option is to remove the battery altogether and store it in a cardboard box, somewhere dry and out of reach.

Brake Fluid
Brake fluid attracts water. Period. As most garages suffer from a little dampness, you’ll need to re-bleed the system with fresh fluid when it’s time to ride again. And you don’t want to take chances when it comes to your brakes! Some people strap the lever close to the bar to keep air bubbles out of the brake system, but ultimately, putting undue pressure on the seals may damage them over time.

Fuel
The octane level of fuel begins to reduce after about a month, which can affect engine performance or cause pre-ignition. Leaving fuel in an unused bike can leave an enamel-like residue on the fuel system and can clog injector nozzles or carburettor needles and jets. If you are planning on storing the bike for over 3 months, use something like Silkolene Pro FST in the fuel tank for the last ride. For longer periods, I would suggest you drain the fuel tank.

Engine
For bikes stored for any great length of time, blank off the air intakes. It’s surprisingly quite common for small, furry animals to treat an airbox as their new house. Also, it will keep out insects and dust.

Whoa, looks like I’ve rambled on for a while. I’m going to have to sign off and complete my tips next time! Happy Holidays everyone!

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What’s up guys? Today I will be going over what you will need to show the DMV here in California in order to obtain your M1 license.

After completing the requirements, you will be issued an instruction permit to allow you to practice driving a motorcycle. You may not drive at night, on the freeway, or have any passengers with you. When you are feeling confident enough, call to DMV to schedule an appointment for the driving test. You have three chances to pass.

The following video shows what you have to do in California to pass. You don’t have to do it as fast as I did. In fact, going slower than I did will definitely help some people.

Please try and take the test on a smaller capacity bike. 250s are generally very popular. I actually found that going a bit faster allowed me the momentum to cruise through the obstacle course. I found that going slower just put me in danger of putting my foot down or tipping over.

However, to each their own. Practice during the weekends when the DMV is closed and good luck! Peace!

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My stay in the Bay was short. I will be moving to Florida where there are lots of hot spots for bikes too, so don’t worry guys I’ll still be around.

Some of the great motorcycle meets are down in South Beach, and as for great rides you’ll mostly find only scenic routes in South Florida. If you want to hit the twisties you gotta go far to the Gulf Coast side of Florida or find a good track. Currently the closest one that I live near is Moroso. Currently they are undergoing renovations to fit it for motorcycles. So soon there will be one about 20 minutes away. As for weekly track days the next closest thing is in Georgia.  I’ll miss California for its diverse roads and scenery and I don’t think anywhere else can compare.

Since Lex Racing is based in California, that means my beloved R6 is going back into their stables. Thanks for letting me borrow it though. You guys rock! Does this leave me without wheels? Heck no!

I will be establishing the second satellite IPM branch in Florida this fall! I don’t know what I’ll be rolling on yet, but you can bet it’s gonna be a hot sport 600!

Also some events that you can head out too are motorcycle rallies for great causes like breast cancer, or muscular dystrophy. There’s also Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach which is a real big bike show with all the stops.

So if your ever in Florida maybe I’ll see you around! Until then, peace! Here are some unused photos (seems like all I do are these!):

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Hey guys! So, I haven’t been able to ride for about a week, and it was making me real anxious. I needed to get my tires on the asphalt to feed my addiction. Since I needed to get my fix, I called up Alex and Justin to go out riding with me. We hit CA HWY 101 and messed around the hills of Brisbane.

Overall, I had a fun, easy ride around where I live. I just had to to give my bike a little wear and tear. No real big twisties around my area. This ride was more for the scenery, wind in your hair kinda thing. So here are some pictures before our ride.

P.S. I just realized the bikes look like a jelly sandwich…if you don’t get it, look real hard.

P.P.S. I know I look angry but its really just sun in my face.

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Hi guys! I managed to save the flushmount turn signals from my 2005 R6, hoping that it will fit this bike, and guess what? It does! Justin and I rode to Goody’s house to do the installation, but it took us so long to get the fairings off, that it got dark before we finished shooting the video. Here’s what we managed to get. Don’t worry though, you can see the final product at the end of the post!

Sorry for the unfinished video guys. Here’s is what the finished product looks like.

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So, I finally wore out my rear tire with the amount of commuting I do on the Ninja. I took the bike into Subterranean Cycles and they hooked it up with a new Pirelli Sport Demon rear tire. Nice folks there. I highly recommend you bring your bike in for service!

Now, the Sport Demons are the new conventional sporty tire for medium powered sport-touring bikes. They are lighter, and the precise handling and stable behavior in all riding conditions inspire confidence. And it is all due to the multiple radius rear tire contour. The tire also has optimized mechanical dry and wet grip without compromising mileage (i.e. the life of the tire).

Special thanks once again to the guys at Subterranean Cycles. You guys rock!

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From the beginning, I was having a really tough time touching even the toe of one foot on The 2007 R6. This is due to the fact that the seat height, 33.5 inches from the ground, is taller when compared to the 2005 version which was 32.5 inches. Even though its only an inch taller, when your 5’4″, like me, it’s makes a big difference especially with the new wider seat.

So here it is guys. The very first modification on my 2007 Red Yamaha R6. Vortex Racing was kind enough to send a lowering link for my baby. I’m putting a lowering link on it because of my tiny stature. Yes, I know all about how messing with the geometry of the bike will ruin it’s handling and all, but here is my reasoning: I will only be able to ride to the best of my ability when I am comfortable on the bike. And having it too high for me, is not comfortable!

The bike was originally about five and a half inches above the ground, as shown in the picture below.

Now with the lowering link installed, it is now three and a half inches off the ground.

It makes the back end of the bike look really low compared to the front. We will need to adjust the front suspension now so that the bike is balanced. After putting on the lowering link for this bike I found that I can’t lean the bike on the kickstand as much as I could before, so it stays almost upright. So, the next thing that I’m probably going to have to do is get a shorten the kickstand. Until then, (peace sign)!

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Hi guys! The folks at Lex Racing were cool enough to let me use their R6 as my Longtermer here at IPM! Thanks guys! You rock! So, without further adieu, here’s my official R6 introduction video!

Stay tuned!

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I got quite a scare today while riding on the freeway. I look down and my odometer malfunctions. Check out the video and find out what happened and how I fixed it.

Sorry for not updating you on my Kawasaki Ninja 250 recently. Check back for more updates! Peace.

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For the first time ever I hit the twisties. I did not, however, take out the R6. Yes, yes. Blasphemous, I know. Especially in my R6 section! I didn’t want to wreck my pretty bike, so I busted out with the old reliable F3.

I learned a lot from the feedback that my friends gave me. Since I had never gone on any fun roads, save the freeway, my friends and I took it slow at first going about 30 mph so that I could get a feel for the road. I also was in the middle so that I could follow the lines of the leader, and my other friend was at the rear watching how well I rode and what improvements I might need. We went back and forth on the same road a couple of times going a little faster each time. On the last lap I took the lead so they could see how well I could do without a leader to follow. I found out that without a leader, I rode slower because I wanted to be cautious. I was also scared because I also didn’t have any lines to follow, but better safe than sorry right?

So how’d I do? Well, my friends told me I did pretty well for a newbie and that made me proud. Of course I wasn’t doing expert riding, but I was riding the right way. So my max speed was probably 45 mph on a nice straight part and I always stayed in second gear. You don’t always have to stay in second gear though. As a first timer, it’s good to stay in second, so my friends say, as you get used to leaning and taking good lines, you can play with the gears. A pointer they gave me was that I was riding a bit close to the right and that I needed to ease off that side. If you throttle it on a straightaway, don’t forget to set yourself up for the next turn. Of course, lean more. Also, when you learn how to take good lines you can ride faster. He also gave some good tips that you would hear in a track class about shifting your butt when turning.

It was a great, fun, and educational ride. The only thing I wasn’t prepared for were how my hands went all tingly. With all that pressure I put on my wrists I cut off the blood circulation. Whenever we took a break I would clap my hands together to get the blood running and it would feel like I was quickly pulling a rubber band taut. My friends said that in time your body will get used to long riding. I hope to be doing more of this since summer is in full force. I’ll be sure to be equipped with a video next time to show you. So keep a lookout! Until next time, peace!

P.S. Big thanks to Tanner and Randy for taking my Redwood Road virginity. Ha ha.

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So this is the last blog ever about my Blue Baby… As for where the bike goes from here, well since the insurance people buy it off you, they usually send it off to a car/motorcycle auction to be sold off to whomever for whatever… motorcycle heaven most likely. =(

I have to say, I have definitely learned my lesson, but I will keep riding on. Not everyone is a perfect rider and so I will keep on practicing.

Que Alicia Keys “No One…” I’m gonna leave you with pictures that have never been used…

Nah, nah, nah. Nah, nah, nah. Hey, hee-ey, good bye!

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Bad news dear readers… The insurance company has declared my bike a total loss. The main areas of concern were the frame and subframe. The frame was damaged by the frame slider, and the subframe was bent by the exhaust/passenger peg. Boo Hoo

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So it’s been real educational guys, but I’ve run out of group motorcycle riding hand signals. Today’s post will be my last installment of this segment. Enjoy, and I hope you guys employ some of these signals during your rides in the future. Be safe out there. Peace.

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So here’s the moment you’ve been waiting for guys… this is the pothole that caused my demise.

Nuthin’ right?

Without any comparison it looks like just a small, innocent pothole, but when you compare it to a quarter or someone’s foot, then you actually see how massive it is. Now, I know that it was partly due to bad riding judgment on my part that caused my crash, but look at that monster!

So unfortunately the pothole caused much more damage than the eye could see. After taking it to a body shop, the insurance adjuster found out that the right side of the exhaust had been bent on impact, as well as the frame. Also, the frame slider that had caused minimum cosmetic damage actually did a number on the frame as well. As you all know, frame sliders protect plastics or the frame and since mine were mounted on the frame, when the frame sliders bent, so did the frame.

There were some other odds and ends that were messed up and it all wracked up an estimate of over $6000 in damage, which boys and girls = totaled. For those of you who don’t know, an insurance company will claim a bike totaled when the damages are equal to 75%-80% of the bike’s MSRP. So time with my baby was short but sweet. A R6 is a smooth ride, and since I’ve already had a taste for it, I’m going to keep on coming back for more. I’m not saying I won’t graduate to other bikes, but the R6 will always be my baby.

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So, welcome back! Today I am going to get into more hand signals used while riding in a group. Well, without further adieu here goes! Enjoy!

Stay tuned for my last segment!

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Recently I got into an accident because of a pothole. Miraculously, I came away from the accident without even a scratch. The accident went something like this: I was waiting at an unprotected left turn, and as soon as I found a hole in the oncoming cars I turned, but my front rim got caught a large and long pothole. As I tried to steer out of it, the bike began to go down on the left side, then somehow the bike flipped and crashed on its right side instead. And, yes there were nice cagers out there who helped me out. As for the damages on the bike, you wouldn’t even be able to tell that I was in a bad accident. Look!

The damages that are visible is a bent frame slider (that bent up into the fairings), minor scratches on the fairings themselves, minor scratches on the can, and scratches on the mirrors and handles. The major damage that I immediately saw was the right rearset so no more rear brake. This just goes to say that even at five miles per hour, your bike can get really damaged. It is a well lesson learned and even though I got away with no scratches this time I’m still going to be real cautious. Keep checking back to see what’s in store for me next. Until next time guys!

Since joining IPM, I have been doing a lot of riding within a group with the rest of the staff. They have been doing some weird stuff with their hands during rides that confused the heck out of me. So, I decided to do some research on hand signals and share them with the rest of you.

Stay tuned for more!

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Every time you see a woman riding a motorcycle or driving a race car in the media, they always must be wearing a skin tight suit, and they must have a super slow motion scene. Just watch Charlie’s Angels. Another must have during one of these scenes is the sexy music.

So, I decided, with the help of the IPM Staff, to make my own Slow Motion Video starring my sexy Yamaha R6. Special thanks to Mr. White for the music. Enjoy!

Justin was jealous that we didn’t want him to do one of these videos, and he vowed to make his own that rivals or outshines mine. Be on the look out for that! I’ll be the first one to watch!

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Just kidding! While my baby is getting serviced, I have been left without a ride. Well, the folks at Lex Racing were awesome enough to lend me one of their spare track bikes, they have yet to convert. It’s a 2007 Yamaha R6, and in my favorite color! They have begun to tune and test their bikes for next year’s racing season. I guess, I better not get too attached, as this bike is destined to be thrashed at the race track!

As you can see the 2007 R6 comes in a beautiful candy red color. Much has changed in two years since the 2005 model came out. Other than a hot new look, the new model now has fuel injection with YCC-T and the rear suspension has high and low speed dampers. When we take a look at the body we see that they’ve opted for a short exhaust can, a new design for the fairings, and what I call “chinckier” eyes and a Rudolph nose. Isn’t it appropriate considering the bike is red? Ha. The bike purrs as I ride and the throttle has a quick response, but as a girl with my stature I’m having a hard time with the seat height. Not only did they make the bike taller, but they made the seat wider so that I can barely put one foot down. The overall body modifications are bit longer, wider, and taller.

For this 2007 R6 model there isn’t much change needed because, as someone pointed out, it’s got steering, incredible front-end feedback that inspires the confidence to carry massive corner speeds, superb suspension and an all-around incredible chassis. The only change that needs to be done on this beauty is cosmetic to uniquely personalize it to your style.

I sure will be sad when it’s time to return the bike next week… ;(

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