New Ideas
NEW IDEAS
Fox Footwear
Get in shape! Motocross apparel-maker Fox is keeping with its reputation as an “action-sports” company by developing a new line of high-performance footwear. Priced from $60 to $100, these kicks are designed to meet the demands of champion athletes, such as James “Bubba” Stewart. Choose from nine styles and multiple colors.
Fox Racing, Inc., 18400 Sutter Blvd., Morgan Hill, CA 95037; 877/225-9990; www.foxfootwear.com
Avon Viper Sport
What’s new about the Viper Sport? A better question might be, what isn’t new? Avon claims the new, lighter jointless-belt radial warms up quicker, grips better, is more stable at high speeds and disperses water more readily. It is available in popular sizes, with prices starting at $130 for fronts, $180 for rears. For fast road and track use, the Viper Supersport features a softer Race C compound.
Avon Tires North America, P.O. Box 5112, Lynnwood, WA 98036; 800/624-7470; www.avonmotorcycle.com
Pro Circuit X Clutch Cover
Honda’s CRF450X holds less than one quart of oil, which is why inadvertently punching a hole in the stock magnesium case cover can be catastrophic. What you need is Pro Circuit’s X Clutch Cover. Precision machined from aircraft-quality, 6061 T-6 aluminum, it offers more protection and improved heat dissipation. Cost is $150.
Pro Circuit Racing, 2771 Wardlow Rd., Corona, CA 92882; 951/738-8050; www.procircuit.com
Durfee Girder Fork
Back in the Seventies, a Durfee girder fork was a custombike must-have. For its recent reintroduction, the original styling has been retained, while performance and quality have been improved through the use of modern materials and manufacturing techniques. Standard configuration incorporates a brake tab on the left side for use with the company's tour-piston front brake caliper and 11.5-inch disc. Pricing starts at $1995.
Durfee Enterprises, Inc., P.O. Box 506, Amity, OR 97101; 503/472-9196; www.durfeegirder.com
Cyclesignals Speed Lites
Turnsignals need not be dimly lit, dull-looking plastic stalks. Available in Alien, Fulcrum, High Dollar, Lightning or Tribal (shown) designs, LED Speed Lites are brighter and weigh less than conventional indicators, plus rubberized material can be hand-formed to fit the contours of any sportbike fairing for a seamless appearance. Instructions and wiring supplied with each $65 kit. Complete the look with Plate Lites, which do away with your license-plate bolts and can be wired to function as brake lights, turnsignals or running lights.
Cyclegraphics, Inc., P.O. Box 80916, Austin, TX 78708; 800/914-2008; www.cyclegraphics.com
Sportz X-Treme Pac
Roughing it just got easier, thanks to the $230 Sportz XTreme Pac. This compact, self-contained setup comprises a two-person, rain-fly-equipped tent, two Holofil sleeping bags and two lightweight aluminum campstools, all of which fits in a convenient carrying case that straps to the rear rack or passenger seat of any full-size motorcycle. A slightly smaller version, the $220 Sportz Pac, is also available.
Napier Enterprises, 4 Nihan Dr. #3, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada L2N 1L1; 800/567-2434; www.napierenterprises.com
Team Kawasaki Leathers
That Kawasaki offers a leather roadracing suit in team colors through its accessory division comes as no surprise. After all it's a likely track-day getup for any ZX-6R or ZX-l0R owner. That the one-piece, CE-armored, knee-slider-equipped design is produced by famed Japanese apparel-maker Kushitani and that it retails for the bargain sum of $1200 is, however, equivalent to man landing on the moon! Okay, the suit is made in Korea, not Japan, and the leather is a half-step off the usual, buttery-soft feel of the premium stuff, though the thickness and durability are identical. Same goes for the 3-D patterning, perforations and stitching. Kushitani is also supplying Kawasaki with leather and nylon-mesh jackets and leather gloves.
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., P.O. Box 25252, Santa Ana, CA 92799; 949/460-5688; www.kawasaki.com
