Motorcycle Cruiser

Spidi's Latest Riding Jacket And More

By Andy Cherney

February 24, 2009

Up Your Clutch
If your stock clutch is weak on the draw and ambivalent about engagement, Barnett's new spring conversion kits might just be the fix. The kit's CNC-machined 6061-T6 billet aluminum pressure plate and heavy-duty coil springs let you swap out the stock diaphragm spring and pressure plate on select Yamaha models. The maker says it'll yield a smoother, more controlled engagement without the hassle of extra modifications. The kits are designed to work in high-performance applications, too, and they're available for V-Max, Royal Star, Road Star and 1999-2006 XVS11100 V-Star models for a suggested $137.50- $165.00. Call (805) 642-9435 or visit [www.barnett clutches.com](http://www.barnett clutches.com) for details.

Evil Never Felt So Good
Though it's dubbed "Nasty," we can't spot anything really malicious about Spidi's latest riding jacket-unless you happen to think premium Italian leather is a bad thing. The dubiously dubbed item features Spidi's exclusive 0.9mm-thick "vintage leather" and is tailored in the looser American fashion-presumably to combat the overly snug fit Euros are so fond of. CE-certified shoulder and elbow guards come standard, as does a removable quilted liner. The waist is adjustable, and Spidi includes a "clip stop" to ensure a snug fit at higher speeds. Six pockets handle your cargo. The Nasty comes in black, ice (shown) and red, in M/XXL, for a suggested $580. Check www.motonation.com for details.

The Master of Faster
You may have missed the adrenaline rush of watching The World's Fastest Indian in movie theaters several months back, but now there's no excuse for not seeing it. The tale of New Zealander Burt Munro whipping his classic Indian over the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah is out on DVD. Munro's legend lives on in this entertaining bit of feel-good cinema directed by fellow Kiwi (and bike nut) Roger Donaldson, with a star turn by Sir Anthony Hopkins. The DVD also contains a bonus documentary and original footage of Munro himself. It's available for $30 from WhiteHorse Press at www.whitehorsepress.com.

Get a Leg Up
Road trips can be an ergonomic nightmare if you're locked into one position on your bike. Lindby's all-new Multibar looks to give you some options. The combined engine guard/highway peg's unique design features built-in footrests so riders can adjust their positions for better comfort en route. The footrests on the topside of the bar are made of bonded rubber so you get traction, and the high-tensile steel Multibar is engineered for specific models, which means a more precise fit. Each unit is also triple chrome plated to better complement your motorcycle's look. The Multibar retails for $269.95. For application details, visit [www.lindby custom.com](http://www.lindby custom.com) or call (714) 528-0085.

Give Me Lip
You may have spotted Laminar applications on sporting machines, but the company has recently decided to jump into the cruiser market, too. Four sizes of Universal LIPs ($79) can be purchased for larger cruiser windshields. These inverted airfoils mount to the top of your shield, aiming to diffuse turbulence for a smoother, quieter ride. Like all Laminar products, the LIPs are made from a custom-formulated acrylic that's said to yield high impact and scratch resistance, and-even better-an easy install doesn't require you to poke holes in your existing setup. Some restrictions do apply, however; for details, call (866) 540-5679 or check out www.laminarlip.com.