Cover Story
You never know what you'll find as the Cover Story of Friction Zone. Here is a sample of Cover Stories from the last six months. If you would like to order the magazine in which an article appeared, please fill out the subscription form indicating which issue(s) you'd like to receive.
September 2010 Two Must-See Moto Exhibits in Southern California
Thanks solely to the Guggenheim Museum's glorious (and spectacularly lucrative) "Art of the Motorcycle" event in the late 1990s, the nation's museum curators have come to realize that motorcycles are both transportation and art. As a result, exhibitions of gleaming two-wheelers now appear with gratifying regularity at cultural institutions both large and small. And of course, those of us who ride are drawn to these gorgeous displays like sugar addicts to the candy store. Nothing drives up attendance at the monthly club ride like a curvy jaunt out to the latest installation of the rarest, the best, or the just plain odd motorized baubles…
August 2010 Mineral King, California
Chicken wire is an unlikely addition to most camp-out packing lists. It is not like the coffee pot (heck, yes), the sleeping bag (most definitely), or that acceptable beaujolais in a lightweight thermos (yes, please). Unlike those items, chicken wire seems about as useful a camping tool as, oh, a battery-powered blender. Sure, it might come in handy—but is it really worth the trouble of taking it along?… Download the Tankbag Tearsheet!
July 2010 Moto-Camping—You Don't Have to Suffer
In the not-too-distant past, if you wanted to go camping, your choices for gear that was well-suited to your needs were limited. Everything from sleeping bags to tents to flashlights fell into two different categories: car camping or backpacking—neither of which meshed well with the peculiar requirements of moto-campers. Practitioners of auto- or RV-based vacationing worry little about space or weight issues, while those who have to schlep it all on their back agonize over every last inch and ounce. The result is that the former ignores weight and bulk in the pursuit of comfort, while the latter does the exact opposite. Motorcyclists have been stuck somewhere in the middle. They have to balance the 'gotta haves' with the 'wanna haves,' and of course it all has to balance out on the bike so that it remains safe to ride. The result up til now has been that motorcyclists have mostly had to follow the lead of the backpacking community. To a large degree, they have had to sacrifice comfort and modern conveniences in order to maximize space and save weight…
June 2010 Exploring 395, Part 2: Lone Pine, California
Like a coffee cart at the entrance to a Manhattan skyscraper, eastern California's Lone Pine gets most of its income from those who stream by on their way to and from nearby Mt. Whitney, the tallest natural 'skyscraper' in the lower 48 states. Each year from approximately May to November, hikers and climbers flock to this small village on US 395 to pick up their wilderness permits and do a little last-minute grocery and gear shopping before heading out to climb the 14,505-foot peak that looms just west of the town. And because the 22-mile (round trip) trail that leads from the Whitney Portal parking lot up to the summit is a relatively easy hike (the truly fit can do the whole trip in one day), this mountain is one of the most climbed mountains in the nation. During the peak climbing months of July and August, upwards of 500 people can be found spread out all along that trail on a daily basis… Download the Tankbag Tearsheet!
May 2010 Exploring 395, Part 1: Bishop, California
For most of the year, the population of Bishop, California hovers at around 3,500 residents. Being that the town serves as a gateway to the rugged attractions of the eastern Sierra Nevada, a large percentage of those folks are employed in either the hospitality industry or in the public sector as managers of the vast wilderness that lies nearby. Simply put, one group farms the fish and maintains the trails, while the other provides for the needs of the visitors that flock to the area to camp, hike, and catch those fish. It is the 'circle of life,' Bishop-style… Download the Tankbag Tearsheet!
April 2010 Taos, New Mexico
As with Sedona, Arizona, there is a strong aura of ancient spirituality to Taos, New Mexico. Maybe it is because of the presence of that 1,000-year-old and continuously inhabited pueblo nearby, but even a short cruise through the area's streets and byways leaves one with an eerie feeling that this is not the first time we have visited this village. Well, you can relax because you are not having a 'Shirley MacLaine moment' and channeling your past lives (although some of the more mystical thinkers among Taos' artist-heavy population might declare otherwise). Actually, it is very likely that you have seen all these scenes before—but they have been up on the movie screen. For decades, the Taos area has been a favorite location for movie makers. Everything from the Schwarzenegger/De Vito comedy Twins to Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers and the recent No Country for Old Men have used this scenic town and its surroundings as backdrops for their stories…
Copyright © 2010 - Friction Zone
Bike Review |
Cover Story |
Discover |
From the Editor |
Lost In America |
On the Scene |
Product Review |
Quick Ride |
Road Trip |
Street Sense |
Surveys |
TechTips |
| Friction Zone is available at over 650 dealers, accessory shops, and popular motorcycle hangouts throughout the western United States. If you can't get Friction Zone at your local shop, either ask the dealer to stock it, or you can receive a year's subscription for only $30. |
| The print magazine is 10" wide by 12.5" high, color cover (133 lpi), inside pages are black and white (100 lpi). Visit our advertising information page. |