Mark Zimmerman
Technical Editor
Favorite Books
Motorcycle Design and Technology by Gaetano Cocco
Not a light read, but if you have the patience to wade through it, you'll be capable of building your own motorcycle.
Sport Bike Performance Handbook by Kevin Cameron
Yes he works for the competition, and yes this book is about sportbikes, but it's the best book on building high performance motorcycles since Phil Irving wrote Tuning for Speed.
Favorite Riding Gear
Gerbing Heated clothing
I live in Connecticut. I ride year round. I participate in the Midnight Run. What more needs to be said?
Shoei Multitec
I've got a Shoei head and I wear glasses. Wearing a full face helmet is a hassle and this isn't.
Favorite Tool
Carbmate Electronic carburetor Synch tool
This thing works like a charm and takes all the tedium out of synchronizing carbs and throttle bodies.
Favorite Tool Tires
Avon AM 26 Road Rider
Reasonably priced, long wearing and sticky (in a manner of speaking) they fit a lot of older standards and cruisers and they're the best tire I've found for all around use on bikes like the Triumph Bonneville and Scrambler.
Honorable mentions
Since I did a long diatribe on the value of pocket tools in the Tech Section, these didn't make the main article, but they would be my top two if I had it all to do all over again. Vice grips- a pair of vice grips will replace a busted shift lever, hold an axle in place and even tighten a loose bolt. You can even perform dentistry. CruzTOOLs Outbacker-Why? Because it'll get you home. That and the vice grips are you ever really need to carry.