Cycle World Long-Term Update

CYCLE WORLD Long-Term Update

HARLEY WIDE GLIDE Divine Dyna

AFTER LANGUISHING FOR MOST OF the winter in Editor-at-Large Peter Egan's garage, our long-term Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide is back at CW's Newport Beach, California, editorial offices. Rather than ride the bike-and battle freezing temperatures-we paid Federal Moving $441.66 to ship it cross-country. Our Dyna Wide Glide arrived in fine order, but its ignition key and stylish Auburn Leather saddlebags were inexplicably missing. Repeated phone calls to the trucking firm regarding their whereabouts have been in vain.

Since its return, our long-term H-D has undergone several modifications. In addition to a free-flowing Mikuni HSR42 carburetor ($395), our Dyna Wide Glide

wears a Cobra slash-cut Boulevard exhaust ($250). Though beautifully crafted, the lightly baffled exhaust is too loud. Around town, short-shifting is a must. What’s more, the most rearward muffler contacts the axle nut, creating a smallbut-noticeable ding in the pipe. Other recent additions include a pair of chrome reduced-reach control levers ($55) and a sport windshield ($125) from HarleyDavidson’s parts catalog. In the future, the Dyna Wide Glide’s suspension will also be addressed.

Harley-Davidson of Westminster, California, completed the 7500-mile service, at a cost of $88.42 ($18.95 in parts). So far, maintenance costs total $173.55. Aside from a warrantied starter, there have been no repairs.

$12,550

KAWASAKI ZX-9R Less is more

KAWASAKI'S l24-HORSEPOWER ZX-9R is the latest addition to the Cycle World long-term test fleet. As noted in our “Rocket Rides” comparison (CW, May 1994), the 899cc ZX-9R is comfortable enough and smooth enough to pull sport-touring duty, powerful enough to ripple pavement, and poised enough to circulate around a racetrack within a halfsecond of the acknowledged class hot-shot, Honda’s CBR900RR.

For the racetrack portion of our comparison, we replaced the ZX’s original equipment Bridgestone Battlax radiais with race-compound versions of the same tire. Now, some 2500 miles later, the well-worn BT-50s are to be exchanged for a set of Continental Radial 2000s ($260). Also on order is an SS100B swingarm stand ($139) and matching swingarm spools ($16 per pair) from Works Stand in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Like the company’s FS200A front stand (CW, October ’93), the SS100B is made from eighth-inchwall square-aluminum tubing with steel axles and a gray powder-coat finish. As the ZX-9R does not come with a centerstand, the Works Stand parts should ease cleaning and maintenance chores.

Over the past 3010 miles, a coil wire has popped loose, and testers have criticized the Kawasaki’s off-idle carburetion and notchy gearbox. Otherwise, our green-white-and-purple ZX-9R is proving itself a very capable-and superbly potent-newcomer.

$9299

HONDA CBR1000F Big-bore bargain

DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR, HONDA'S CBR1000 may be the best Open-class sportbike on the market. With its smooth power delivery, well-damped suspension and rational ergonomics, the big CBR is both versatile and, relative to its competition, affordable.

Since its last update (CW, March 1994), our long-term CBR1000 has amassed almost 3000 miles, for a total of 9445. Champion Motorcycles in Costa Mesa, California, performed the 8000-mile service at a cost of $86.77 ($38.50 for parts). Excluding tires, the CBR has collected $176.10 in maintenance charges, with $164 in repairs (fork seal and battery).

After 5245 miles, the front Pirelli Match Radial is worn out. Conversely, the rear tire, also a Pirelli Match radial, still has plenty of life. Honda admits that CBR 1000s are hard on front tires (most likely due to the bike’s relatively steep steering geometry and overall weight), but 4200 miles from the stock Dunlop D202 and only 1045 more from the harder-compound Pirelli is distressing. Besides the wear concerns, the Match radiais increased the CBR’s tendency to wobble under deceleration (only apparent with little or no pressure on the handlebars). As a hopeful fix, we’ve ordered a set of Pirelli’s new Dragon sport radiais ($326), which, reportedly, were developed with the CBR’s handling characteristics in mind.

$7499