Etc.

etc.

BUELL OWNERS RETREAT

No, Erik Buell isn’t giving up the fight-he’s just inviting his customers to attend an owners retreat. On July 31 -August 1, Buell fans will assemble in rural Wisconsin for a four-day rally that includes tours of the Buell and Harley-Davidson factories, spectating at the NASB roadraces at Road America and plenty of riding. For details, call 414/642-2020.

BIMOTA QUALITY

As if anyone had any doubts about the quality of Bimota’s motorcycles, the Italian specialist manufacturer recently received quality certification under the international UNI EN ISO 9001 -94 standard. According to a press release from the company, what this means for customers is a commitment from Bimota “to satisfy the continuous requests for quality by further improving the quality of its structure and, consequently, of its products.” We can rest easy now.

BIRD BOOSTER

Pssst... Hey, all you Honda CBR1100XX super speed junkies, we’ve got your fix. In June’s “Triple X: Maximum Blackbird,” we taunted you with a report on American Turbo System’s 187-mph turbocharger kit for the XX. Well, we now have an address and phone number: ATS, 3435 Enterprise Ave. #50, Naples, FL 34104; 941/403-0198. Tell ’em CW sent ya.

TRAVEL WITH THE TEAM

Okay, so you didn’t qualify to compete in the International Six Days Enduro in Brescia, Italy. Don’t fret, you can still travel with the team as part of the Team USA Tour. The AMA, in conjunction with Central Park Travel, is offering tour packages to the August 11-25 event. Packages include round-trip airfare, a rental car and 13 nights at the Hotel Majestic, the official Team USA ISDE HQ. Prices range from $1917 to $2121, depending on point of departure, and all attendees receive a team jacket. For more information, contact Central Park Travel, 1112 Finnegan Way, Bellingham, WA 98225; 800/657-2550.

EXTRAORDINARY TOURS

Once upon a time, motorcycle tours were rare, attracting only the hardest of the hardcore. Today, twowheeled vacations cater to everyone from the casual cruiser fan looking for a Rocky Mountain High, to the dedicated desert admirer desiring a Serengeti safari. The following is a sampling of tours that are anything but run-of-the-mill; prices, accommodations and bike availability vary.

• Adventure Cycle Tours (612/4494908) in Minnesota focuses on the national parks of Wyoming and South Dakota. The company also charts a course that skirts Lake Superior.

• American Frontier Motorcycle Tours (888/TOURSHD) in New Mexico leads its Harley-Davidson-mounted clientele on day trips around the Santa Fe area.

• Classic British Motorcycle Tours (011-44-1553-630007) lives up to its name. Led by knowledgeable locals, attendees explore Jolly Olde England aboard classic Nortons, Triumphs and BSAs.

• Exploring Adventure Organization (011-39-02-2940-3136) operates south of the equator, specializing in excursions throughout South America, and especially Brazil.

• Icelandic Motorcycle Tours (011 -354-5618080) leads dual-purpose rides through Iceland, which sounds slippery until you recall that Greenland is icy, and Iceland is green.

• Royal Enfield Motors Bullet Odyssey (011-91-44-543300) gives attendees the opportunity to experience India’s Taj Mahal and the Himalayas from the saddle of a Royal Enfield Bullet.

• Tours for Africa USA (216/3276664) encourages customers to “boldly go where you’ve never gone before.” The Ohio-based company’s tours range from short stints in South Africa to the 6000-mile Trans-Africa Tour, which runs from Cape Town to Cairo.

• V.J.’s Exotic Safaris (316/2214085) also explores the Dark Continent. Operating out of Kansas, the firm puts its clients in close contact with lions and tigers, but no bears. Camels are a possibility, though.