Kyle Keast sits at #1 in Pro-Am Lights and Pro-Am Open categories after rounds 1 & 2 of Arenacross held in Penticton at the South Okanagan Event Centre.

We caught up to Keast during warm-up for a couple of quick question:

Question:  Indoors or outdoors?
Answer:  I’m more of an outdoor guy but I’ve been starting to get into the indoor stuff more lately.

Question:  I hear indoors is more technical and you’re not going as fast.  Is that how you have to wrap your head around this?
Answer:  Ya, it’s a short race, only 15 laps and starts are everything.  You get a good start, stay up and stay consistent.

Apparently his strategy worked!

Catch rounds 3 & 4 in Chilliwack at the Heritage Park January 20 and 21, 2011.

Click here to download .pdf of MotorcyGalz November 18 Trimph Street Triple

At the EICMA in Milan recently, Honda announced the latest model to join their lineup in Europe. The NC700S (sport standard) and the NC700X (adventure style).

The Canadian models will come with manual, 6 speed transmission and will arrive on showroom floors in the summer of 2012.

An all new 670 cc parallel twin engine with the cylinders canted forward about 62 degrees. It has a 270 degree crank that Honda says will give you a v-twin feel and offers low rpm torque.

The two models share a common chassis. Fuel tank is 14.1 litres and is accessed below the rider’s seat giving the rider a low centre of gravity. In the place of the traditional fuel tank space is a cargo space large enough to store a helmet or pack a laptop and other essential business stools for your daily commute.

The official launch will take place in December at the Toronto Motorcycle Show and we will bring you all the details as they come available.

Snowmobile Licence and Registration

Before you operate your snowmobile in British Columbia, it must the registered with ICBC. ICBC will issue an owner’s certificate and two numbered owner’s decals. The decals must be displayed on either side of the cowl of the snow machine or in another conspicuous place on each side. The owner’s certificate must be carried when the snowmobile is being operated and produced on the demand of an enforcement officer.

If you bring your snowmobile into BC as a visitor for winter recreation, you are exempt from having to register it with ICBC if it is properly registered in your home province or state and you are not using it in BC for more than 30 days. If your home province or state does not require you to register your snowmobile, you must obtain a special permit from the director of the Fish and Wildlife Branch for a period not exceeding 30 days.

If you intend to cross a highway or operate your snowmobile in a parking lot, you must also obtain both an operation permit from the police having jurisdiction in the area of operation and licence and insurance from ICBC. A restricted licence plate will be issued to be displayed on the machine in addition to the registration decals.

Snowmobile rental agencies must register snow machines before they are rented to customers. A duplicate of this rental dealer’s certificate must be carried and produced to an enforcement officer in the same manner as an owner’s certificate.

The author is a retired constable with many years of traffic enforcement experience. To comment of learn more, please visit www.drivesmartbc.ca.

Constable Tim Schewe (Retired)
DriveSmartBC – Home of Behind the Wheel

http://www.drivesmartbc.ca

Twitter: @DriveSmartBC

Just got off the phone with Nanette Jacques, Show Manager for the Vancouver Motorcycle Show 2012.  Looks like another incredible show in the works.   Can’t reveal all the deets yet…but here’s a little teaser about the January 19-22nd show!

Vancouver Motorcycle Show Tease 1

Vancouver Motorcycle Show Tease 2

MotorcyGalz will be there with bells on and ready to check out everything that’s new for 2012!

That’s right! It’s garage party season again and Kane’s Harley-Davidson in Kelowna is expecting some 200 women to descend on their premises this Friday (November 18) from 6 to 9 p.m.

This Friday is full of fun just for the ladies.

Photo booth, wine, tatoos, hair, make-up, fashion show, reflexology, airbrushing, fortune teller, candles and pole athletics (yes take a spin and strengthen those muscles – lol), jewellery, shopping and rider education. Too  much fun!

Do a bit of christmas shopping for the rider in your life, win some prizes and relax.

Even though it is a ladies night, don’t forget that it is Movember and the guys at Kane’s are trying to raise money for prostate cancer – including Crash – resident pooch – so bring a donation and support the boys.

Click here to download .pdf of MotorcyGalz November 11 2012 Victory Highball

At the EICMA Milan bike show this week Triumph unveiled two new models for their 2012 line-up.

The 2012 Triumph Tiger Explorer adventure model with 1215cc (Marissa loved the TigerXC 800) – and the 2012 Speed Triple R 1050 cc  (Jasmin was all over the Street Triple R 675).

According to Triumph’s new e-zine – the Spirit – the Tiger Explorer boasts an all new 1215cc, three cylinder engine (135 HP and 89 ft. lbs torque) with high-capacity 950W generator designed to run all the accessories (heated hand grips, heated rider and passenger seats, heated clothing when plugged in and fog lamps), switchable ABS (like the Tiger XC), cruise control and traction control.

One new feature is the ‘Ride by Wire’ electronic throttle which is said to offer greater accuracy than the traditional cable-based systems. The electronic system is also being said to aid in fuel economy and offer light throttle feel.

Visit www.triumphadventure.com and enter for a chance to win an adventure ride on the new Explorer from Spain to Morocco and back.

As for the new Speed Triple R, it still  has the legendary 1050 cc three cyclinder engine and boasts high level OHLINS front and rear suspension (“cutting edge in terms of road bikes”).

Details of the new Speed Triple R – a new smoother gearbox, brembo brakes (we love brembo brakes but they usually indicate that the bike can easily kick your ass if you don’t know its potential – F1 race cars use Brembo brakes – keep that in mind), 43mm front forks, five spoked aluminum wheels 1.7 kg lighter than the standard ST, incredible agility, and you can imagine, a whole lot of high speed fun.

Visit www.triumph-motorcycles.ca for complete details.

Click here to download .pdf MotorcyGalz November 4 Peart

PRESS RELEASE FROM LIZ JANSEN – AUTHOR.

Women increasingly discovering motorcycles as freedom machines
Fifty women share stories of empowerment, adventure and self-discovery in new book

Orangeville, Ontario, November 1, 2011 – In an age where businesses around the world are recognizing the economic value of empowered women, the cast of Women, Motorcycles and the Road to Empowerment have long-discovered the personal value in taking control of their own destiny. In her soon-to-be released book, author Liz Jansen speaks not only from personal experience, but brings messages from forty-nine women for whom motorcycles have become a literal and figurative means to freedom.

“The empowerment of women is smart economics. In fact, studies show that investments in women yield large social and economic returns,”  says Robert B. Zoellick, president of the World Bank Group. Jansen sees this as a call to action.  “This statement sends a strong message to women in our society to wake up, appreciate their own worth and take charge.”

Powerful people are usually defined by status, accomplishments, titles or accumulation of material possessions. These illusions can cause us to lose sight of our own power and who we are. The book illustrates how pushing our limits:

• Offers ingredients such as adventure, community, freedom and independence, which satisfy our soul and reacquaint us with our power.
• Highlights fears that prevent us from becoming all we can be because of notions based on cultural training, opinions of others, physical requirements and fear of failure.
• Brings unimaginable rewards in all areas of our life when we accept, embrace and move beyond our limits.

Not only are women riding on trips across the country, their machines are taking them on a return to their authentic self. “While motorcycling is their vehicle of transformation for,” says Jansen, “you don’t need to be a rider to understand the wisdom they impart.”

“As significant as this is,” she continues, “It’s only the beginning. Not only does one’s personal growth become exponential, the positive ripple effect is enormous. When one realizes the potential for positive change, it gets really exciting!”

Through fifty stories of adventure and self-discovery, from a cross-section of women with varied interests and experience levels, this book is evidence of just how powerful this movement is.

Women, Motorcycles and the Road to Empowerment
ISBN 978-0-9877583-0-9
List $19.95 Cdn/US
Trade soft cover 272 pages
Trillium Wordworks

- ### -

Release dates:

• Nov. 1 – Preorders can be placed through http://www.lizjansen.com/book
• Nov. 18 – Progressive International Motorcycle Show in San Mateo, CA where Jansen will be presenting on the Learning Curves stage.
• December 1 – Available in print and ebook through all major bookstores and online stores
• December 9 – Official Canadian launch at the Toronto Motorcycle Show’s Ladies night.

About the Author:

Liz Jansen is an entrepreneur, adventurer, writer – and rider extraordinaire who loves riding across the country. She creates experiences that instill a sense of adventure, freedom and community while traveling the transformative road to personal and professional leadership. Liz has worked with individuals and organizations in both private and public sectors.

To learn more about Women, Motorcycles and the Road to Empowerment, to receive a review copy or to book the author for an interview or speaking engagement, visit www.lizjansen.com Books will also be available through Amazon or your favorite bookstore.

Ok ladies, for those of you that don’t like facial hair, this is your favourite (blech) time of year. MOVEMBER!

Harley-Davidson, for the month of November, has come up with a limited edition T-shirt in support.

All you dudes get the month to be free, and not shave (and ladies, why don’t we all join them this month and not   shave our legs, underarms, etc. – come on let’s been supportive not to mention save some cash – LOL).

On a serious note, for all those guys out there that can raise $100 during Movember – you will earn an entry form to win a 2012 HD Nightrod Special.

Kane’s Harley-Davidson in Kelowna is hosting a bash at the end of the month for all entrants and fundraisers where you will get shaved to celebrate a hairy month!

What’s Movember? Well, each year, November (Movember) is encourages Canadian dudes to not shave and grow moustaches and get sponsored to raise funds for prostate cancer.

November 1st, register at www.movember.com with a clean-shaven face. For the rest of the month join other “Mo Bros” as they groom, trim, and wax their way into the annuals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, “Mo Sistas” help raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.

Registered fundraisers receive one ballot entry for every $100 for a random draw of a 2012 VRSCDX Night Rod Special Motorcycle.
In Kelowna, join Kane’s Team ( https://www.movember.com/ca/register/details/team_id/210422) or visit Kane’s Team Site ( http://ca.movember.com/mospace/1353452/)

Congratulations Terry Poirier and the staff of Kelowna Yamaha for great service!

Click here to download Book the Bus to the Bike Show with Bentley poster .pdf

Well there is nothing wrong with planning! Once our bikes go to bed for the winter, the only thing keeping us going through those cold months is the Vancouver Motorcycle Show where we can spend time wandering a gigantic garage full of bikes!

Maybe your significant other has other plans so they can ride the bus with you and do a little side trip to IKEA and then join you on the way home.

Looking for that unique gift to give to friends this coming holiday season? Give them the gift of your time by inviting them to ride with you on the bus to Abbotsford, and take in the Vancouver Motorcycle Show.

No winter driving, no stress, ride the bus, watch some bike movies, hang with like minded people, stroll the show, get back on the bus, have a nap and your home.

Tickets are $60 and you can contact liz@bentleymotorrad.com or call 778-755-5540.

We’ll see you at the show!

Click here to download .pdf of MotorcyGalz October 21

Early bird tickets for the Great Canadian Bike Rally go on sale this Friday!

www.greatcanadianbikerally.com

We have it on great authority that the Great Canadian Bike Rally is going ahead for 2012…and early bird tickets could be available on the website as early as tomorrow!

Have a listen to GCBR Event Coordinator Mike Fairfield and Marissa from MotorcyGalz having a chat and getting to some great hints about what 2012 has in store for you!

Great Canadian Bike Rally 2012 Part 1

Great Canadian Bike Rally 2012 Part 2

Great Canadian Bike Rally 2012 Part 3

www.greatcanadianbikerally.com

Near the end of riding season last year, Marissa, Kathy and I were out with our photographer Tim Swanky to get some new shots of us on our bikes.  We had a fabulous day in the mountains and got some great shots that we posted back in October or November 2010.  We really had just a few weeks left in the season and found a beautiful sunny day to get this shoot done.  All went well, we got some great pictures and as we were wrapping up, Tim and I decided to go back to Kathy’s for a bite to eat.  Now we were in her neighbourhood and had already been by her house earlier that day…so I’d already been down the driveway but I wasn’t going to make it down a second time.  Kath lives in the hills and has a dirt/gravel/rock driveway that even in a car I find steep.  We’re talking fall here, so the pine needles were coming down too.  So the first time I head down the driveway on the bike, I’m crawling and I’m nervous because I sense it’s going to be tough…but I make it…phew.  After the shoot, I try for the second time…but I don’t make it.

One second I’m on the bike…the next second I’m on the ground, on my right side and the bike’s down too.  Ouch.  Pretty sure I cracked a rib in the process…but worse for me at the time was the damage to my beautiful candy lime green Kawi.  I broke off the right mirror, scratched the crap out of the side panels, broke the plastic in two places and bent the brake pedal a bit.  WAAAAA!

Big lesson for me, that no one had told me up until that point, DON”T grab your front brake when you’re going downhill on gravel.  Wish I’d have known that one a lot sooner.

I got the mirror fixed right away and decided to wait on getting the panels replaced because I was quoted $500 and needed to save my pennies.  I figured I’d keep the bike for another season and ride it as is, then fix it when I went to sell it sometime before my extended warranty ended.

Oh and another time I’d put a scratch in my gas tank because I’d put my tank bag on the ground and the magnets picked up a rock, then when I dragged my tank bag off one day the rock left it’s mark.

So mid-summer this year, I rode my bike to a radio broadcast that I was doing at a body shop in Kelowna.  Jeff and Mike own Maxum Autobody and Jeff is a big fan of riding.  At last count I think he’s got 4 bikes.  Jeff took one look at my gas tank scratch and said he’d fix it for me.  A few minutes later, he brought my bike back without the foot long scratch and I was blown away.  That’s when he told me he could fix the rest of the scratches, dents and breaks too.  Yippee!

So if a picture is worth a thousand words…then here are the before the after shots of my bike…

Now keep in mind, the before pictures are indoors with my 12 megapixel camera.  The after pictures are outdoors with my 5 megapixel iPhone.  So we’re not exactly comparing apples to apples with the quality of the pictures.  You have to admit though…nice job on fixing the broken parts and scratches!

So if you’re searching for body and paint work, Jeff loves custom stuff and he loves bikes…and he’s a great guy too!

Jeff Brown & Mike Ross

Maxum Autobody, 1050 Railway Avenue, Kelowna BC, 1-250-869-1838

Maxum Autobody Rocks!

Marissa: Pulling up along side traffic at the stop lights, the man driving the truck  next to me spent a great deal of time checking out the bike and trying to figure out what manufacturer made it. The amount of chrome on this Honda and the sleek pulled back drag bars and elongated tank give this bike the look of a custom cruiser. Taking off from the lights, you can’t help feel like you are a badass on a custom cruiser. Honda designed this bike with all riders in mind. With a low 26.5 inch seat, the bike is appealing to the smaller riders but the angle of the seat and the forward controls allow the taller rider to stretch out a bit and maintain the same amount of comfort.

For 2012 the bike comes in the blue you see in the model that we rode with a totally chromed out 1312cc V-Twin engine but if you choose the powder black colour, everything is powder coated black with just a hint of chrome, including  your wheels. The low ground clearance paired with a trail of 3.6 inches gives the bike that chopper look yet I didn’t feel any issues when it came to steering. The bike was smooth and my reach was never over extended turning corners.

Jasmin:  Kelowna Honda Powerhouse held their demo days recently with 10 styles of bikes for all the riders to choose from, including this 2010 Honda Fury 1300.

This was my first experience on a chopper style bike and overall I’d say it was pretty fun.  This bike turns head like crazy…not sure if it’s the colour, the style or the fact a girl was riding this Honda Fury 1300.  The first thing I notice on take-off was I couldn’t find the pegs.  Being mainly a sportbike rider, it’s my habit to put my legs back.  Have ridden several advertures lately, I’ve gotten used to putting my legs straight down but on the Fury, it’s a full reach forward.  Thankfully I’ve got long legs.  I did notice right away that my inner knee kept hitting the air box, which made for a bit of an issue for my ride.

This bike is Ultra Blue Metallic really stands out on the road so others seeing you isn’t much of a problem.  They’ll hear you too but not in a way that irritates people.  Of course the 1300 v-twin offers truckloads of power and with the lower seat position at 26.7 inches, you’ll have no problem kicking back for a longer Sunday cruise.  I didn’t have a super long ride but one thing I did notice on getting off was I could feel the pressure in my upper arms from the reach of the steering.  My thought was that this is a guys bike, set up to complement a man’s wider shoulders but as the chick on the highway on the beautiful blue, heavily chromed bike, for a few minutes, I felt kinda cool.

Click here to download .pdf of MotorcyGalz September 30 Conga

WWWEEEEEEEEEE!

I love this bike!  Completely knocked my socks off and I had a very difficult time giving it back.  The Triumph Street Triple R 675 is a similar riding style to my personal bike, so when I first hopped on I thought, I recognize this…but there’s where most of the comparisons ended.

First off…the seat has a little tilt forward, which is a good thing when you crank the throttle…because if you’re wearing slippery pants…you’re going off the back end.  It’s a standard sport seating, a little more upright, a slightly longer leg stretch but you’ll want to feel like hunkering down over the tank when you’re riding.  This is a very light weight, easy to maneuver standard style sport-bike with no front fairing, so no extra weight when it comes to turning tight corners, changing lanes or avoiding hazards.

There was no front windshield on this particular demo bike but I really didn’t feel much push while I was riding initially.  Perhaps that was because I was taking it easy at first.  I did notice my upper body rattling around a bit more on the second 1/2 of the ride when I picked up the pace.

I know you might think it’s only a 675 but trust me when I say this bike is a rocket ship.  No worries getting power out of this engine.  Perhaps because it feels like such a maneuverable bike, it’s very easy to get to 100k is what seems like the blink of an eye.    The weight under you feels like a simple 250cc but because of the light weight feel of the bike you’ll be gearing up quickly.

One thing I did notice was the dual exhaust under the seat…heats your backside up pretty quickly…which is fine on a cooler spring or fall day but might make you a little warm in the middle of summer.

Oh and the colour – candy apple red – SWEET!  When I got the bike home and parked it next to my candy lime green bike…it looked like Xmas in my driveway.

The Vancouver Toy Run is riding through the Lower Mainland this Sunday, October 2, 2011.

While everyone loves to ride with a stuffed toy on their bike – more and more children are suffering allergies from the cute and cuddly contents. So, the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau is requesting riders avoid the stuffed ones and instead consider educational or sports oriented gifts for the children. Also, riders are requested to keep in mind gifts for older children and teens who may have outgrown the toy phase.

The ride leaves Coquitlam Centre (2929 Barnet Hwy) at 10:00 am and proceeds along Barnett Hwy to Barnett Hwy North to Hastings where it ends at the PNE grounds. Entry fee for riders is a new child’s toy wrapped in plastic  or a monetary donation.

This is also great fun for families who can come out and set up on the side of the road to watch thousands of motorcycles ride by with Christmas toys strapped to them.

This event goes rain or shine!

What a great Fall day for the 26th Annual Salvation Army Toy Run in Honour of Greg Booth (Santa Rider for many years) who lost his battle with prostate cancer this year.

When I went to Bentley Motorrad to pick up the Triumph Tiger, let’s say I was less than thrilled. You see, I had been down with the flu all week and the last thing I wanted to do was get off the couch. I couldn’t wrap my head (as big as it was feeling) around riding.

When I got to the dealership as they were closing up shop for the weekend, I told them I was taking the bike straight home and resuming my position on said couch. Two blocks from the dealership, my body and brain seemed to forget that I was ailing and I started to chase the sunset right to the mountain peak.

Home? Who wants to go home? This bike is great! The wind in my face and the effortlessness of operation of the bike was a whole lot better than blowing my nose on the couch as I randomly scrolled through the channels every fifteen minutes only to discover that there was still nothing on.

As I wound my way uphill, the Tiger’s agility hugged the hairpins and easily flipped from side to side. Changing terrain from pavement to dirt was only visually noticeable as the handling of the bike didn’t seem to change.

There are two cats in its class – the 2011 Tiger 800 and the Tiger 800XC which is the one I had. The XC is the more rugged of the two models. The 800 is ‘designed to take you’ while the XC is ‘designed to take it’. You can get the idea.

The 799 cc liquid cooled engine is a three cyclinder and does produce some welcomed heat in those Fall temperatures from the sides where your legs hug the tank but I can’t see this being a bonus feature in 30 degree heat. On the plus side, you won’t see a rider on a  Tiger in shorts!

Inverted 45 mm front forks with 220mm of travel give the bike nice handling on those loose gravel roads and smooth sailing on the street. The ABS brakes on the bike can be turned off when you change from city to off-road terrain which is a nice feature to have as the bike will handle more like a dirt bike that way.

The bike is fully adjustable when it comes to seat height and handlebar degree. Instruments in the handlebar include LCD multi-functional display with speedometer, trip, tach, gear indicator, time, fuel gauge and switchable ABS.

It is a tall ride – 33.2 – 34 inches so I was basically standing over a bike but it is so light weighing in at 473 pounds all fluids in, that stability was not at all an issue.

As for power, this bike delivers plenty of torque in lower RPM (58 ft. lbs @ 7850 rpm) and shifting through the 6 gear transmission is so smooth it makes you think you are driving an automatic with tip-tronic like that VFR1000 from Honda.

When you gear down, the Tiger has that sound like a Volkswagen 16 valve GTI, sounds like a ping pong ball in a dryer, the muffler backfires slightly – I like the sound.

Nineteen litre (5 gallon)  fuel tank with fuel efficiency rating at 41 mpg city riding to 63 mpg highway.

I really like the fact that the Tiger has two full headlights. I am not a fan of two headlight bikes where only one is on during normal operation. For visibility to vehicles, if you have two riding lights, have them both on and the Tiger XC does.

MSRP including ABS is $11,999

Jasmin will be riding the Candy Apple Red Triumph Street Triple R and Marissa will be on the Black Triumph Tiger 800. If you see us, come check out these great bikes on loan to us from Bentley Motorrad in West Kelowna.

Dropped by Bentley Motorrad to check out mechanic Gord McMartin working away on the Dyno. Riders of all styles dropped by to check the performance of their bikes with this rare opportunity. Computer stats were recorded and bikes formally tested with owners receiving a detailed performance printout. Keep you eyes on our site for the next Dyno Day!

Click here to download .pdf of MotorcyGalz September 23 2012 HD Softtail Deluxe