Spotlight
This section describes the Spotlight articles from previous issues. If you would like to order the magazine in which an article appeared, please fill out the subscription form by checking the "Back Issue" box and indicating the appropriate month.
August 2008 Victory Motorcycles Celebrates its Tenth Year
In June of 1997, Al Unser Jr. rode a motorcycle into the Planet Hollywood at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. By doing so, the race car driver not only unveiled a new motorcycle model, he also introduced the world to a new American motorcycle manufacturer—Victory Motorcycles. This new face on the scene enjoyed success from the outset as that first model, the V92C, earned accolades such as 1998's "Best Cruiser" title from Cycle World magazine and the 1999 "Cruiser of the Year" award from the finicky folks at Motorcycle Cruiser magazine. Over the intervening decade, Victory has continued to rack up awards and sales as they have expanded their line-up to include a dozen models—including that ’Äòwhy think outside the box when you can blow the box up' touring bike, the Victory Vision…
June 2008 The GG Quad(ster)—More Fun than A Lamborghini
Wherever he goes, Keith Smith draws a crowd. Like a rock star or a presidential candidate, heads routinely swivel as he drives down the street; when he stops, people immediately gather to stare, take photos, and pepper him with questions. However, none of this attention is focused upon him personally. Instead, it is all directed at who, or more appropriately what, he is with'…
May 2008 Back in the USA—Benelli Motorcycles
The year was 1911; the place was the Italian town of Pesaro on the Adriatic coast, and Mama Benelli had a problem. She had six sons and, as she was a widow, the family had no way to support itself. In an attempt to provide her boys with both a steady income and job security, she sank all of the family's capital into a new business venture: the Benelli Garage. Although this undertaking was strictly a bike and car repair shop at the outset, by 1920 the Benelli boys had built their first engine—a single cylinder, two-stroke 75cc model that fit easily into a bicycle frame. Within a year, they had taken the next logical step and built a complete motorcycle powered by their by-now 98cc engine. Benelli Motorcycles was now officially in business…
April 2008 2008 Brammo Enertia—the First Zero Emissions Production Motorcycle
When Craig Bramscher founded Brammo Motorsports in 2002, his goal was to "change the way America looks at transportation." To that end, he hired former Formula One composites director Philip Henderson and Grand-Am Rolex Series sports car designer Brian Wismann, and the team set to designing the world's first zero emissions production motorcycle. Dubbed the Enertia (www.enertiabike.com), their revolutionary machine would be aimed squarely at the urban market. After all, Brammo's own research suggested that it is urban males, 25 to 34 years old, who are most interested in this type of innovative transportation…
February 2008 Annual Women-Only Track Day
For a good many years now, the motorcycle industry has been courting the ever-growing market segment of women riders by building bikes that are more accessible to smaller frames as well as gear that fits the female form. This focus upon a relatively new demographic has in turned spawned the rise of some outstanding groups and fine institutions aimed at helping women to become better and safer riders…
January 2008 2007 International Bicycle and Motorcycle Exposition—Milan, Italy
One of the first things the American motorcyclist notices upon arriving in Milan for the 65th Annual International Bicycle and Motorcycle Exposition (IMBE), is that motorcycles and scooters are everywhere. Unlike back home where drivers far outnumber riders, in Europe the situation is exactly the opposite. Obviously most Europeans view motorcycles far differently than we do here in the Untied States…
Copyright © 2009 - Friction Zone
| 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. |