Ready For Action
READY FOR ACTION
ROUNDUP
Christini AWD 450 Military Edition
WITH THE U.S. NAVY SEALS AND Army Special Forces in mind, Christini has developed the new AWD 450 Military Edition, a special model with several modifications designed to make it an effective tactical tool in reconnaissance and combat situations.
In addition to the extra traction provided by its unique all-wheel-drive system, the ME, which is powered by a liquid-cooled, 450cc, four-stroke Single, features an anti-stall Rekluse z-Start Pro automatic clutch, tires fitted with no-flat foam inserts, a luggage rack, upgraded electrical and cooling systems, extra protection for vulnerable components, a toolkit, GPS navigation and a 3.6-gallon fuel tank.
Christini (www.christini. com) says the U.S. military has been testing its bikes for four years, and has found the awd ME to be “about 30 percent” less fatiguing than competitors from Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha. More
significant, Navy’s SEAL Team 2 has been using MEs in Afghanistan for more than a year, and the Army is considering the bike as part of an “integrated base defense mobility package” in which soldiers would patrol the perimeter of a camp on the ME. —BC
UP To Honda, for helping people get to know how their motorcycles work by publishing the completely rewritten Common Service Manual. The $49.95 book now incorporates information on newer technologies such as DCT transmissions, pneumatic forks, throttle-by-wire and Combined ABS, while maintaining the excellent sections on older stuff like carburetors and ignition points. The strength of the work is its broad scope, presenting not just specifics on how to fix things but also the fundamental operation and theory behind all the systems that make motorcycles operate in top form. Add to this a wonderful clarity of writing and illustration and you get one of the great motorcycle-related works, a must-have for people seeking improved understanding of their machine. Get yours from a Honda dealer or order directly from Helm Inc. (www.helminc. com, 888/292-5393).
DOWN To convention, for keeping motorcycle helmets looking much the same for decades. Now, though, Bell has tossed convention aside and created the Rogue ($249.95), a new cruiser helmet that looks like it’s straight out of “Mad Max” or “The Road Warrior.” A removable muzzle that clips into place supplies the DOTapproved, three-quarter lid with a heavy dose of attitude, while also offering the wearer some protection against the elements and debris. Kudos to Bell for trying something different, even if the Rogue— which is available in four colors—isn’t exactly your style. For more information, visit www.bellhelmets.com.
