Used Review: 2003 Aprilia Caponord EVT1000 – Persuasive and Pugnacious

The 2003 Aprilia Caponord is hooning along at 70kph, the front Metzler Tourance hunting though a greasy emulsification of talcum dust to which nature has added water, and logging trucks have stirred. Picking up the Caponord from Carter Motorsports I’d made all the usual utterances, “It looks to have an 80% road bias, so we’ll…

Feel My Fear…

Neil! Love the video intro on the R1!!! Has a nice “Top Gear” feel to the production. You must be a bit nervous that you’ve now set a new bar for content…us readers will now be hungry for video segments to accompany all features!! Ha ha…seriously nicely done! Best, – Steve, http://www.sundaymorningrides.com It’s the “set…

2007 Yamaha R1 Road Impression: TNT Wrapped in a Teddy Bear

It’s late February. It’s Vancouver.  It snowed briefly this morning.  By late afternoon the temperature “warms” to 5C (41F) allowing for the return of our 2007 Yamaha R1 tester to Pacific Yamaha.  For eight days the weather’s been oscillating from warmish sunny days to pure cold wet misery.  On those latter days riding has been about…

First Day of R1 Road Testing

I spent today being the most irritating rider in the world, as I stepped up and down through the ’07 R1’s throttle in 500RPM increments testing roll on and hard acceleration from various points. It was quite engrossing and I can only imagine what traffic was thinking as I plodded along, then suddenly took off…

First Day… Again

It’s my first day back. I’ve returned to OneWheelDrive.Net full time, and it’s got me giggling. Last time I tried this it was a push, this time if feels right, and more importantly it feels busy. I’ve more media proposals than I can possibly write stacked up, we’re in the final stages of arranging a…

Return to the Lost Coast

It is September 2003, and the chugging of my new VTEC VFR’s ABS, normally so subtle and elegant as to be unnoticed in all but the direst of conditions, gives me notice that we have taken a wrong turn. I stand up on the pegs, advice given to me by a former BMW stunt rider…

Southwest Motorrad Grand Opening: No Small Ambitions

Kelowna, Jan. 23rd, 2007 – Ambient glow spills out from bellow two massive spot-lit BMW Motorrad banners making the entrance to SouthWest Motorrad more LA scene than Kelowna motorcycle shop.  Most grand openings cause only the merest of ripples in the news pool, but this is Canada’s newest and largest BMW motorcycle dealership, and at…

On Karma, the Vancouver Show and 2007’s Editorial Schedule

Riding a frosty West Saanich Road to work this morning my thoughts slide, like our long-term loaner Multistrada’s rear tire, toward the concept of karma.  You see, last week Monday I worked late, only to find that the parkade had locked up tight at 8pm with my car securely inside.  I ended up begging a…

Farewell Buttah

We’re on the cusp of the 2007 spring season, with many of us poised to open our checkbooks and sign on the dotted lines for the latest objects of our affection.  It’s only fitting then that freelance motorcycle journalist John Flores, of http://www.twowheelsgood.us, joins us in saying goodbye to a long-time companion…

Ride Impression: Triumph’s Tiger 1050 – Pussy Galore-ious

There is an Indian proverb, “Do not blame God for having created the tiger, but thank him for not having given it wings.” That’s because the tiger is a super or apex predator sitting at the top-end of the food, chain secure, unchallenged and feared. Triumph’s outgoing Tiger 955i, however, was nothing of the sort. The new Tiger 1050 has no such issues though…

Alpinestars SMX Gore-Tex Boots – Meh

  When Alpinestars offered up of any of their boot line for testers I went for the SMX.  Why? I could have gone with their flasher GP inspired offerings, but one word, “Gore-Tex”, drug my eye across their web page.  A thin layer of this magical material sold me on the SMX from the get…

Passing the Race

I was given the opportunity to race a Multistrada 1000 in the upcoming Ducati Cup here in Canada, and I’ve surprised myself by passing on this opportunity. Undoubtedly, it would be fun. It would make a great series of articles, but as much as I dream I’m not a racer.