Wrist: Joe Neric
MSRP (2012): $17,579
Miles: 11,400
MPG: 38
Mods: Chrome Ear Cannon air horn, Plug-n-Play wiring harness

WRIST: Ari Henning
MSRP (2012): $15,999
MILES: 6138
MPG: 43
MODS: Gerbing’s controller, Triumph fly screen, Maxima Extra4 oil, R&G frame sliders

Throughout motorcycling’s evolution toward more sophisticated technology, one feature of the earliest motorcycles still hangs in there like a vestigial tail––the drive chain. Simple––if not downright crude––yet efficient, it’s essentially a long string of machined bearing surfaces that lives in a harsh wilderness of water, dirt, infrequent adjustment, and insufficient lubrication. Beneath its often greasy exterior lie vital clues to ensuring its survival and longevity.

Don’t wait until your chain snaps to replace it. There are several ways to track wear over a chain’s life. The easiest is by grabbing a link on the back of the rear sprocket and pulling it away from the teeth. The farther back you can pull it, the more worn the chain is. Refer to the chain manufacturer, or your bike’s manual, to see how far is too far. As a general rule, half a tooth is the tipping point.

Wrist: Marc Cook
MSRP (2012): $6999
Miles: 6984
MPG: 56
Mods: EBC brake pads, Honda Accessories luggage

You always wear a helmet, an armored jacket and pants, and gloves when you ride, so you’re ready if the worst happens. But if disaster strikes someone else, what do you do next? You could be miles from help, tending a badly injured buddy who needs medical attention, stat. Throw in traffic approaching the scene around a blind corner and you have the perfect recipe for a disaster two-fer. Knowing what to do next is the difference between a successful outcome and a day you’d like to forget.

Wrist: Aaron Frank
MSRP (2012): $13,800
Miles: 4370
MPG: 41
Mods: Two Brothers Racing full exhaust, Bazzaz self-mapper

Your new bike is out in the garage gleaming like a freshly minted penny, and you’re in the house leafing through the owner’s manual for a detailed break-in procedure. But all you find is something like, “Take it easy for the first 500 miles or so.” That’s about as useful as telling a rookie pilot, “Keep it in the air.” It’s sound advice, but sadly short on specifics. Your buddies’ suggestions range from an arcane ritual of rpm limits, mystery oils, and incantations at one extreme to “Ride it like you stole it” at the other. Again, not much help. And yet the way you break in your bike can determine whether it’s a runner or a smoker later on.

You’ve had your new bike for barely a day, and already your riding buddies are telling you what’s wrong with it. According to them, the cutting-edge suspension, brakes, exhaust, and tires are actually cheap, disposable junk that’s holding you back from fulfilling your true destiny as a canyon-carving god. You know they’re full of it, right?

Wrist: Dave Sonsky
MSRP (2012): $14,699
Miles: 4760
MPG: 36
Mods: Continental Road Attack 2 tires

Wrist: Ari Henning
MSRP (2012): $15,999
Miles: 4821
MPG: 38
Mods: Michelin Pilot Power 3 tires, Öhlins shock spring

Wrist: Marc Cook
Miles: 6567
MPG: 56
Mods: Gerbing’s controller

Wrist: Joe Neric
MSRP (2012): $17,579
Miles: 10,629
MPG: 38
Mods: Color Rite Touch-Up Pens

In the late 1990s, after years of racing two-stoke 125s and 250s, Aprilia decided to mix it up with the big boys and build a liter-size sportbike. A light, narrow V-twin powerplant was just what il dottore ordered, but not with a 90-degree cylinder angle––Ducati had already been there, done that, and fought the packaging issues that came with it. So the call went out to Rotax for a 60-degree, fuel-injected V-twin.

I have a 2008 FJR 1300 with 24,000 miles. The owner’s manual calls for repacking the swingarm-pivot bearings and the steering-head bearings at 16,000 miles. This seems very soon to be doing this. Can the bearings at these locations fail that quickly?
Frank Mowitz
Port Orange, FL

WRIST: Ari Henning
MSRP (2012): $15,999
MILES: 3855
MPG: 39
MODS: MFW Vario footpegs

WRIST: Cook
MSRP (2012): $6999
MILES: 5761
MPG: 53
MODS: Home-brew hand guards, real hand guards, tires

WRIST: Aaron Frank
MSRP (2012): $13,800
MILES: 4270
MPG: 40
MODS: HeliBar handlebars, Spider Racing grips

Despite its Japanese roots, the 1200 Bandit tackled the job of producing power in a very American way, by shoe-horning a huge engine into a middleweight-sized chassis. When it was introduced in 1997 the B12 hovered uncertainly over the line of demarcation between sportbikes and standards, but eventually came almost singlehandedly to create the upstart "hooligan" class-soon joined by Kawasaki's Lawson-esque ZRX1200R and Yamaha's R1-based FZ1. The Bandit's detuned and bored-out GSX-R1100-derived engine was cooled by both air and a large oil cooler, and had screw-and-locknut valve adjusters that even 10-thumbed owners could service. But best of all was the astonishing reserve of power that lurked within, needing only a few simple performance mods to unleash it. Even if the Bandit struggled to get far beyond 100 horsepower at the rear wheel, its torque curve was commendably tall and broad.

Comfort, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. It's all about what you like. This soft science we call ergonomics describes the bike/rider interface, and is determined by a wide range of variables starting with bike layout. High handlebars or low clip-ons; footpegs close to the seat or far away; a saddle built for three weightlifters or insufficient for a gymnast-you'll find a broad spectrum across motorcycling. They all are made to support the human body and provide a platform for control and comfort, but the almost uncountable variables of bike and rider make a perfect fit fairly rare.

Wrist: Dave Sonsky
MSRP (2012): $14,699
Miles: 4225
MPG: 36
Mods: None

I have a 2009 Yamaha R1 that has Standard, A, and B riding modes. When I bought the bike I used all the modes to see the difference in each. Now that I've had it for a while I like to ride in A mode. This seems to work best for me in everyday use. Should I use the other modes from time to time so the bike doesn't "get used to" one mode?
Jared Rutledge
Broken Arrow, OK

Wrist: Joe Neric
MSRP (2012): $17,579
Miles: 10,151
MPG: 38
Mods: Luggage rack, sissy bar, backrest pad, touring windshield, touring bag

You used to live to ride, but then life took a different turn--college, a family, a career--and you sold your bike and hung up your helmet for good. Or so you thought, because lately those old urges are coming back, and you find yourself driving out of your way to cruise slowly past motorcycle shops and gaze longingly at the bikes parked outside. We all know where this is going, don't we?

You're a good motorcycle owner, keep your battery on the proper maintenance charger, take care of your bike like a true anal-retentive, but here you are. Dead in the garage. A weekend ride quashed or at least delayed. How come? There are many reasons for battery death. Let's look at a few.