By Sergio Laurente The last (and only) time I purchased a factory new motorcycle was back in 2005, when the redesigned 2006 Yamaha YZF-R6 was set to hit the market. The pre-release reviews and over-stated 17,500 RPM redline only added to my excitement and desire to be one of the first owners in my
MV Agusta F4: The Zenith of Desire
By Dennis Dumapias (There are ‘first-world problems,’ and then there are ‘Dennis-first-world problems’…) Part of the fun in dreaming is finally having that which you hope to attain. The ultimate goal. The thing you’ve desired the most. But what happens when you achieve something sooner than you could’ve expected? What happens when you finally
Bargain Beauty: 1997 Ducati Monster M750
By Dennis Dumapias Last year I had another friend ask me to look for a motorcycle for her (…you know, I really should start a used-bike shopper service). She used to ride before we met, but it was short-lived. So while she isn’t going to be new to riding, she’s new again. And she
Is Motorcycling Actually Expensive?
By Sergio Laurente Recently, one of my non-motorcycle riding friends asked me about the purchase cost for my Harley Davidson. He guessed that it was in the $20k range and was surprised to hear I paid less than half that. After the conversation, I realized that some folks have a preconceived notion that getting
Yohoolyo Lock Review
By Talya Adams, January 2019 Hello everyone, and Happy New Year! I figured I’d start us off with a lock review since securing my motorcycle has become a big part of my life over the last year. I purchased the Yohoolyo disc lock at the end of November. As you may or may not remember,
The Power of Synchronicity
I’ve always been kind of lucky. Not “behind an armored car that lost all its money out the back” lucky, but I have had fortunate timing; in part by coincidence, and part observation. So it came to pass that Hootie II, the second iteration of my boxer twin R65, started running rough one morning. I
On Being Thrifty
Let’s face it, motorcycle gear is expensive. A protective riding jacket can cost upwards of four hundred dollars easily. A top of the line helmet can go for much more than that given the brand. With the cost of living constantly on the rise in Los Angeles, it pays to be a bit frugal. With
Value of Online Buying
I love going into motorcycle specialty stores as much as the next rider I’m sure. I also enjoy supporting local motorcycle businesses. However, sometimes as a buyer I’m doing myself a disservice by spending more money in a store, than simply researching and buying online. For example, a friend of mine purchased some really expensive
Craigslist Tips
It’s that time of year again, buying season. We’re on the cusp of summer yet again, and used motorcycles are slowly beginning to flood the market. One of the most popular sites to buy reasonably priced motor bikes is Craigslist. I personally have had good experiences both buying and selling on the website. Below, I’m
Learning to Ride Tall(ish) Bikes When You Are Short
A common topic of conversation among women who ride or would like to ride is which bikes they will be able to manage given their height, and it all comes down to seat height and practice. I am 5’3” with a 30” inseam. My very first time on a motorcycle was in my MSF
Best Motorcycle Dealerships in Southern California
Last week, I got on my soap box and ranted a bit about freight and prep. In case you missed it, the executive summary is this: grossly inflated freight-and-prep charges are the most effective and widely used tool of the dishonest motorcycle dealership. I had a case last year where a young woman was hit by
Motorcycle Freight & Prep – What You Should Pay
So you want to buy a new motorcycle, and you’ve even somehow been able to narrow down which make you want, and even which model. But how much should you pay? What’s a good deal, and what about all these markups? Many dealerships advertise, often with online ads bragging about unbeatable low low prices. Prices that
Why I love Motorcycle-Superstore.com
It’s that time of year again. The most wonderful time of year, I like to call it. Summer is finally here. I don’t know about anyone else, but when the temperature rises in SoCal, all I want to do is go for a ride. This also means I normally have to change up my riding