Also new this year, at Americade’s social headquarters, Fort William Henry Resort, are multiple stunt shows by former world trials champion Tommi Ahvala, and a Pig Roast n’ Hoedown on the lakeview lawn. Demo teams from over a dozen motorcycle manufacturers (BMW, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Polaris, Yamaha and more) will again be on hand there, to give Americaders the opportunity to try out their latest bikes. The tradeshows at the Lake George Forum, and Million Dollar Beach will feature many new vendors as part of the 250 who will exhibit there.

Lake George Village Mayor Blais, who was Mayor when the event started 30 years ago, says, “the community and I love having Americade here because thousands of close friendships have been formed between Americaders and local residents. Some have moved with their families here. Naturally, the business community is delighted because this event is a massive boost to the local economy. We’d love to host Americaders for 30 more years.”

Americade Founder Bill Dutcher notes, “I can well recall when I pitched a crazy idea to the Mayor back in 1981, about organizing a large motorcycle rally in his community. He’d previously been the Chief of Police and there’d been some local ‘issues’ with rowdy bikers a decade earlier: bar fights, etc. After listening to what I proposed, he met with other community leaders and decided to give it a chance. Their confidence in our plans has been a success for all concerned, and as a result 30 years later, nearly a million motorcycling visitors have experienced the beauty of the Lake George region.”

Rider will once again host the Opening Celebration Dinner (5:00-7:00pm) and Carnival (6:30-8:30pm) on Monday, June 4, where Road Test Editor Greg Drevenstedt will be handing out dozens of door prizes. Drevenstedt will also be a Featured Speaker on Tuesday, June 5 at 8:00pm, talking about “Lessons Learned from Crashes, Countries & Cover Stories.”

For more information, visit www.americade.com

It was cold. Colder than a banker’s heart. Colder than a letter from your ex-wife’s lawyer—I mean it was cold! I was riding to the south rim of the Grand Canyon, it was March, and patches of ice glittered beside the road. The sun was setting, the elevation was around 7,000 feet and it was probably the coldest I’ve ever been on a motorcycle. Right then all I could do was hang tough and hope to reach Grand Canyon Village before my hands stopped working. Man, what I would have given for the electric blanket off my bed right about then!

Well, that’s not such a ridiculous idea, as we riders can do essentially that anytime, and with ease, with today’s heated motorcycle clothing. Be it a vest, jacket liner, pant liner or gloves, heated gear will add a great deal to your cold-weather riding experience, and could even be a life-saver.

How it Works

The electric clothing in our test is powered by the motorcycle’s battery and charging system, which provide an endless supply of electrons so long as the charging system is up to snuff. On the road at cruising speeds the charging system of most modern motorcycles should provide sufficient watts to power at least two electric garments. If in doubt, ask your dealer or consult your owner’s manual.

An electric vest or jacket liner should be worn over your shirt, but under a sweatshirt or sweater to keep it closer to your skin. To utilize these garments you will need to install the battery connector that is provided with them. Remove the positive and negative bolts from your battery posts, slip the leads from the battery connector (the fused wire goes to the positive post) over them and bolt them down; that part stays connected to the battery. Now plug one end of the wiring harness provided into your electric garment, and the other into the battery connector. Some wiring harnesses simply have an on/off switch, but the more sophisticated will offer a heat controller, which I strongly recommend as some garments can become too warm.

Aerostich Airvantage Electric Vest

Aerostich Kanetsu Airvantage Quic2 Electric Vest

($227; Zip-on Sleeves $75 additional)

In standard mode the Airvantage came up to heat in about a minute, and applies it all around the chest and back. Made of Windstopper nylon it appears to be a standard vest…till you open the zipper in the chest area to expose the inflation tube. Just three puffs inflated the vest to the point it took up the empty space between my shirt and jacket, and the difference was dramatic. I relate it to the difference between a shower and a bath—with the vest inflated it seemed I was immersed in heat rather than having it run over me, and it truly was much more effective. The vest is also reversible, but turned inside-out the heat level was much lower. Our Airvantage came with a lighted on/off switch, but by using it inflated or not, or reversed, it presents three distinct heat ranges. Aero­stich also offers an in-line thermostat ($70), and a panel-mounted version (for $80).

Aerostich Windstopper Quic2 Electric Vest

Aerostich Kanetsu Windstopper Quic2 Electric Vest

($187; Zip-on Sleeves $75 additional)

Aerostich’s Windstopper vest has a longer trunk length to cover more area and a thinner collar so it doesn’t bunch up, and its shell is waterproof. For packing, the entire vest can be folded into itself and this little package can be zipped up and tossed in your luggage. As electric torso wear goes it’s the simple and basic version that has no sleeves (they’re optional), pockets or temperature controller, just a lighted on/off switch.

Out on the road the Windstopper delivers warmth, but with its 45 watts not as much as some others here that have double the power and will have you reaching for the controller or on/off switch when they become too hot. If you want electric heat on a budget, to keep it small and simple, and a product that won’t likely strain your charging system the Kanetsu Windstopper is a good choice.

www.aerostich.com

Firstgear Men's Warm and Safe Heated Jacket and Liner

FIRSTGEAR

Firstgear Men’s Warm and Safe Heated Jacket Liner ($199.95) and Wireless Dual Temp Controller ($139.95)

This jacket liner has a polyester shell with nylon lining and also includes a pair of handwarmer pockets. The liner is also pre-wired for electric gloves, should you choose to add them (you should). The high neck is also provided with heat, and overall this 90-watt unit puts out a lot of comfort that will have you cozy in no time.

Rather than having to deal with bulky and intrusive wires, Firstgear’s Wireless Dual Temp Controller is a nice alternative. It can hang off your wrist or belt by a tether, and to get started you only have to synch it to the jacket controller, which is easy. Now it will wirelessly control two separate garments (such as the liner and gloves) with precision. Together they make a nice team that will precisely control where the heat goes, and how much there is.

Firstgear Men's Warm and Safe Heated Pant Liner

Firstgear Men’s Warm and Safe Heated Pant Liner ($189.99)

These pant liners are easy to slide on as they’re made of Spandex fabric, which is relatively light and slippery, then they cinch up around your middle with a pair of side drawstrings. Separate versions are available for men and women (do they make my butt look fat?), so the fit should be more precise than with unisex versions. They also include integrated sock plugs should you suffer from cold tootsies.

The Pant Liner did not offer as much heat as the Jacket Liner, and the specs reveal that it only puts out about 35 watts to the thighs, knees and upper seat. But that’s OK, as generally if you can keep your torso warm, your legs will require much less heat. If you tend to ride long distances in the cold they will add welcome warmth, but would be your third choice behind a jacket liner and gloves.

Firstgear Men’s Heated Rider Gloves ($129.95)

While heated grips are a plus, the advantage of heated gloves is that they also provide heat to the backs of the hands. The Firstgear Men’s Heated Rider Gloves are made of Grade-A, top-grain, drum-dyed cowhide leather with a polyester lining and inner PVC wire. Turn on the wireless controller and 15 watts of heat radiates from each glove within about 20 seconds, and runs along the fingers and the backs of the hands with no hot spots. The gloves are provided with an Agrotex “waterproof, breathable” liner, which is indeed breathable, but I did not test them for water resistance.

The gloves were size large, as I ordered, but with the heating elements installed were now a very tight fit. The heating performance of the gloves was first-rate, but I would suggest that you order one size larger than normal to compensate for the heating elements.

www.firstgear-usa.com

Gerbing's Heated Jacket Liner

GERBING’S HEATED CLOTHING

Gerbing’s Heated Jacket Liner ($199.95)

Gerbing’s Jacket Liner includes full sleeves and Thinsulate insulation so it is a bit bulkier than other garments here, but it is also warmer. It features Gerbing’s “Microwire” technology that utilizes essentially a webbing of thin wires rather than more widely spaced individual thicker wires, and is thus able to place them closer together for a more even heat all over the body. The 77-watt Jacket Liner became so warm that I strongly recommend the purchase of the Temperature Controller with it, which allows the wearer to dial in a very precise level of heat.

Think of it as a lighter jacket you wear under your riding jacket, and custom sizing is available at no extra charge. It’s also appropriate for walking around town when you don’t want to wear your full gear, and has a pair of handwarmer pockets.

Gerbing’s G3 Heated Gloves ($139.95) with Dual Portable Temperature Controller ($99.95)

The G3 gloves are made of soft leather, feature a gel palm for vibration isolation, and now the palms are heated for additional comfort. They connect to plugs stashed in the sleeves of the Jacket Liner, or can be purchased separately with their own wiring harness. Though not waterproof in and of themselves, the gloves may be treated with waterproofing materials for added versatility. They’re flexible, properly sized, and with the Temp Controller the 27 watts of heat can be dialed in precisely.

The Dual Portable Temperature Controller plugs into up to two garments and allows the rider to control the temperature of each precisely and simultaneously, with separate controls. It plugs into the Jacket Liner at one end, the battery hookup at the other and is highly recommended.

www.gerbing.com

Powerlet Rapid Fire Heated Jacket Liner and Wireless Dual Temp Controller

POWERLET

Powerlet Rapid Fire Heated Jacket Liner ($249.95)

and Wireless Dual Temp Controller ($139.95)

This full-sleeve jacket liner offers a breast pocket, a large rear pocket and a heated collar. You’ll feel the heat from its Far Infrared technology with Carbon Nanocore filaments within about 20 seconds, which produces a full, oozing heat—possibly more than you’ll want. If your bike’s charging system is marginal and cannot handle its full 105-Watt draw, you can disconnect a couple internal wires so it will draw only 60 watts—and of course produce less heat.

The Wireless Dual Temp Controller (available for less as a package price) is the same as that used by Firstgear and synchs easily to the main wired hookup; it can be stashed wherever is handy to precisely dial in the amount of heat of two separate products simultaneously. I utilized it on the Jacket Liner and another brand of heated gloves (hookups come standard with the Jacket Liner) and they worked flawlessly.

www.powerlet.com

Tour Master Synergy 2.0 Heated Vest Liner with Collar

TOUR MASTER

Tour Master Synergy 2.0 Heated Vest Liner with Collar ($179.99)

With a Taslan shell and 100 grams of Polyfil insulation the Synergy 2.0 offers a bit of warmth in and of itself. It includes a pair of zippered handwarmer pockets, and the collar zips to right up under the chin. The collar is heated, too.

The heat is provided by a series of steel fiber heating elements, and the vest includes a “Powerlead” dual thermostat that allows for the use of additional heated gear. Turning up the thermostat brought up tangible heat within seconds, and turning it down was likewise as effective. According to the literature it has a temperature sensor that regulates the maximum and minimum temperatures, and indeed it can become quite warm without being too hot.

Here is your basic heated vest, functional but not fancy, and with the dual thermostat included it sells for a very comfortable price.

www.tourmaster.com

BMW C 650 GT (left) and C 600 Sport (right)

Having shown its Concept C scooter at the Milan Show in late 2010, few were surprised when BMW unveiled its C 600 Sport and C 650 GT maxi scooters the following year. Both models are powered by a 647cc parallel twin said to generate 60 horsepower and 49 lb-ft of torque. If they have the same engine, why is one called a 600 and the other a 650? It’s all about perception. For a sport scooter, BMW believes a 600 is seen as the upper limit, anything larger perceived as too heavy, especially since the C 600 Sport’s primary competition will be the 499cc Yamaha Tmax. The C 650 GT, on the other hand, will go head-to-head with the Suzuki Burgman 650 (638cc) and Honda Silver Wing (582cc), and BMW hopes its higher displacement will be seen as an advantage.

The four-valve, DOHC, fuel-injected, counterbalanced engine is laid down nearly flat to keep the center of gravity low. Power is transferred to the rear wheel through a directly integrated CVT. A diecast aluminum housing connects the tubular steel bridge frame to the cast aluminum single-sided swingarm. Both wheels are 15 inches in diameter, and triple disc brakes with linked ABS are standard. Other standard equipment includes an onboard computer and a parking brake engaged automatically via the sidestand.

With aggressive styling, the C 600 Sport has a 31.8-inch-high seat and a manually adjustable windscreen. Its FlexCase uses a flap under the seat to enlarge the storage space when the scooter is parked. With styling reminiscent of the K 1600, the C 650 GT has a larger seat with a rider backrest, 30.7-inch seat height, higher handlebar, passenger floorboards, a larger, electrically adjustable windscreen, and 2.1 cubic feet of underseat storage space.

BMW has confirmed that both scooters will be coming to the U.S., though a delivery date in 2012 and pricing have not been set.

For an old-school look, the Hard-Ball rolls on black spoked wheels (18-inch front, 16-rear) shod with blackwall Dunlop Elite tires, but its triple-disc brakes with standard ABS are fully modern binders. Baggers picked up where choppers left off, and the Hard-Ball’s top-loading, locking hard saddlebags hold 21 gallons’ worth of loot.

The Hard-Ball will be available in dealerships in February 2012 for $18,999 (add $250 for California).

I recently rode the RS (sporty) and RT (touring) Spyders for the first time on a 120-mile loop in the mountains and desert north of Los Angeles, and they get a big thumbs-up from this two-wheeled fanatic. The result of studying and combining the desires of sport motorcyclists and convertible sports car drivers, Spyders come in two basic flavors. The RS models are lighter, sportier and have more aggressive steering. For long-distance and two-up riding, the RTs have 41 gallons of onboard storage, an adjustable electric windscreen, cruise control and heated grips. Four RT packages (standard RT, RT Audio & Convenience, RT-S and RT Limited) range from luxurious to over-the-top luxurious. I put about 50 miles on the RT Limited (an optional trailer is available!) and found it has a well-cushioned seat with excellent lumbar support and offers great wind protection at the touch of a button.

Spyders don’t lean but they’re still loads of fun in the twisties if you readjust your two-wheeled mindset. The RT Limited is all-day comfy for two-up touring and has 41 gallons of onboard storage.

The Spyders bring wind-in-your-face thrills to riders who want that extra wheel, and BRP is attracting a lot of motorcyclists with them. Prices range from $16,499-$28,899.

In addition to the Harley-Davidson 110th Anniversary, the Motor Company will also celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) globally, with special activities planned during Labor Day weekend in Milwaukee in 2013. H.O.G., the official riding club of the Motor Company, boasts about one million members worldwide.

“Harley-Davidson is synonymous with adventure, passion and the experience of the open road,” said Mark-Hans Richer, Harley-Davidson Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “For this 110th celebration, our customers all around the world – with our support – are going to be taking everything to the next level and making their own history.”

Information on housing options in Milwaukee and Rome is available at www.harley-davidson.com/110. Further details about the global 110th Anniversary will be announced in the coming months.

Nearly as important as the total number of fans was the fact that nearly half of them were in the critical 18-35 age group—the up-and-coming generation of prospective customers. For young folks to become actual customers, Harley-Davidson must offer motorcycles that are cool, affordable and easy to ride. Motorcycles like the 2012 Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two, a Sportster influenced by Southern California’s ‘70s-era custom culture, and the 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail Slim, a stripped-down bobber.

With its 2.1-gallon peanut tank and bobbed fenders slathered in rich Hard Candy Big Red Flake paint and pinstripes, chrome spoked wheels shod with whitewall tires and a mini apehanger handlebar, the 2012 Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two is dripping with cool. Named after Route 72, also known as Whittier Boulevard, a legendary cruising street in East Los Angeles, the latest edition to the Sportster line is powered by a rubber-mounted, air-cooled 1,200cc Evolution V-twin, finished in gray powdercoat with a 5-speed transmission and belt final drive. With its narrow 21-inch front wheel, 26.6-inch solo seat, side-mount license plate and loads of chrome, including staggered, shorty exhausts with slash-cut mufflers, the Seventy-Two looks like it rolled out of a back alley shop, the pride and joy of an old-school customizer. Available now for $10,499 in Black Denim or Big Blue Pearl, or $11,199 in Hard Candy Big Red Flake.

2012 Harley-Davidson Softail Slim

Steering the Wayback Machine even further into the past, the 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail Slim evokes the strictly-the-basics customs of the 1940s and ‘50s. With its gloss black headlight nacelle, air cleaner cover, oil tank, wheels and cross-braced Hollywood handlebar, the Slim is cool but not flashy. Even the powertrain is powdercoated black. Chopped fenders, 23.8-inch solo seat, half-moon floorboards with retro foot control pads, side-mount license plate and narrow 16-inch blackwall tires round out the package. The throbbing heart of the Slim is a rigid-mounted, air-cooled Twin Cam 103B V-twin with a 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission and belt final drive. Spent gasses exit through chrome over-under shotgun exhausts with slash-cut mufflers. Available now for $15,499 in Vivid Black, or $15,884 in Black Denim or Ember Red Sunglo.

For more information, visit www.harley-davidson.com.

2012 Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two

2012 Harley-Davidson Softail Slim

The sun was shining. In the weeks before moving from Atlanta to Seattle, virtually everyone I talked to managed to get in at least one comment about the weather: “I hope you like the rain.”

“Wow, I heard that it rains a lot out there.”

“Aren’t you going to miss the sunshine?”

But when I started making a point to ask if they had ever actually lived in or even visited Seattle, most responded “Uh, no, but….”

I have to admit that the prospect of months of foul weather and a shortened riding season had not put the best face on the move. Living in the Atlanta area, I have become accustomed to being able to ride virtually all year ’round. But in one of those circumstances becoming increasingly common in the last decade, it was my wife who had gotten the good job offer in the Pacific Northwest, some 2,700 miles away from what had been home for me for almost 30 years, and close to 40 years for her. To do my part, I resolved to put on a happy face and make the transition to the West Coast. In the third week of October 2010, I became a new resident of Washington state and the town of Renton, a suburb about 25 miles southeast of Seattle.

So it was a pleasant surprise that I found that—while the majority of days in Seattle in late fall are indeed overcast—the temperatures are surprisingly moderate, rain is not a daily prospect, and you even get some…sunny days.

A roadside pullout along the White River.

I am not naïve, however, and I knew that winter would be coming soon. In my first few days after moving to Seattle, I resolved to make the best of any opportunity that would allow me get on the bike. So on a sunny Sunday a week after arriving in town, I took my first day-long ride, choosing a road based simply on its close proximity to where I lived (not wanting to venture too far my first time out), and its designation as a scenic highway, indicated by red dots that lined its route on the map. The road was State Route 410, also called Mather Memorial Parkway and the Chinook Scenic Byway, which began at the cozy small town of Enumclaw, about 45 miles southeast of Seattle. The map showed only a few miles of 410 before the road ran off the paper, and I had no idea that it led into Mount Rainier National Park. It was simply a matter of luck, or maybe providence. Since I got to the road in the afternoon on an ever-shortening late fall day, I did not have time to ride it all the way to the mountain, so I returned at noon on the following Thursday (another sunny day) to ride scenic 410. This time I brought my camera.

Heading home on State Route 410 on a near-perfect autumn day.

Two-lane scenic 410 winds through Snoqualmie National Forest and into the park, and could not be a better road for two-wheeled touring if it had been planned that way. The road has its share of curves, but on this side of the mountain none of them are extreme. The combination of easy bends and long straightaways allow a good clip through miles and miles of unspoiled Pacific Northwest, on the way up to some paradigm-changing views of the mountain terrain, and make this a truly one-of-a-kind riding experience. Like so many areas in the vast western and northwestern United States, words cannot really describe, and photographs cannot capture what seems like an infinite amount of three-dimensional space. You might be able to elicit a “wow” from a photograph, but when you take in all three dimensions with your own retinas, it becomes…wow.

I have visited the western United States many times over the years, but every time I see the vastness, the sheer beauty and the majesty of a place like this, it changes me, and always for the better.

OK, so back down to earth. East of the Mississippi, gas stations, food and lodging are pretty easy to come by, and I tend to take for granted that a traveler-friendly business will be around the next bend. That is often not the case out here, something to keep in mind if you are not accustomed to touring in the western United States. Do not miss a chance to fill the bike, especially if gasoline capacity in your ride is five gallons or less, and do not assume that restaurants or lodging are readily available, either. Under­estimating the time it takes to cover a distance can also lead to some very cold and uncomfortable riding in the dark.

State Road 169 leading to Scenic 410 has excellent views as well.

The round trip from Enumclaw up to the mountain and back is about 100 miles, and after taking advantage of the photo ops on several pullouts with spectacular views of a snow-covered Mount Rainier, I passed a sign that read, “Rough Road.” It was getting later in the day, and being that it was a mountain road in the early winter months, with shorter days and the possibility of ice on the road, I thought it best to save the rough road for a springtime ride.

This was the first of several rides I had taken since moving here, and I can certainly say it was a real eye-opener for me. Having lived in the Atlanta area for my entire adult life—where the highest peak of North Georgia’s rolling hills and the gently sloping Appalachian Mountains is somewhere around 6,700 feet—looking at the stark granite-gray snow-covered giants that jut vertically out of a 4,000-foot plateau some 9,000 feet farther into the air is a real game-changer. I still need to become acclimated to the short days here, but a lack of beautiful rides with incredible roads lined by majestic mountains and pristine forest is certainly not an issue!

The views near scenic State Route 410’s highest point offer amazing views of Mount Rainier.

Having the opportunity to see Mount Rainier a few weeks before the park roads closed for the season was a real treat since several snows fell prior to the full onset of winter, allowing me to see the mountain in all its snow-covered majesty. Scenic State Route 410 alone is worth the ride, but the travel to and from the park at this time of the year (especially on a weekday afternoon) was simply exceptional.

The long, easy straightaways on State Route 410 allow opportunities for 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains and foothills, as well as other natural features such as rivers and streams that run alongside the road or under it as you go over a bridge. The occasional gentle curves are interesting enough to make the ride fun without requiring much in the way of braking and downshifting, and the lack of traffic allows speed limit transit times, getting you up to the mountain and back home in time for dinner. In short, it is an excellent ride that requires only half a day to see some of the most startlingly beautiful scenery that the area has to offer, and a perfect first ride of what I hope will be many to remember in my new home in the Pacific Northwest.

For more information, visit www.rolandsands.com

RSD Diesel Glove

RSD Mission Glove