Metric Maniacs is proud to announce that we are now a dealer of Woodcraft Technologies racing parts and accessories. For over 20 years, Woodcraft has designed and manufactured race-specific parts and accessories that are second-to-none in performance and quality. Woodcraft offers dozens of products for most late-model sportbikes, including rearsets, clipons, engine covers, frame sliders, axle sliders, hand guards, toe guards, tire warmers, stands, race bodywork, and more.

We will be working diligently to add all the awesome Woodcraft products to our online catalog, but, in the meantime, you can contact us directly and let us know what parts we can help you order and install.

Want to really earn the title of “metric maniac”? Now you can. Just get a DynoTune nitrous kit installed on your bike. Add an instant 20, 30, 40, or even 80 horsepower to your fuel-injected motorcycle without the downtime or expense of motor work, turbos, or other performance enhancements. The DynoTune systems are designed to work on any fuel-injected motorcycle (carb setups are also available).

There are options for single, double, large/small bottle setups. Each kit integrates with your horn or starter button for a clean, stealthy install.

Each year, during Laconia Bike Week, the Mount Washington Auto Road opens for motorcycles only for two full days. This year those dates are June 11 and June 14. For $17 (plus $9 for adult passengers or $7 for kids) motorcyclists can experience a thrilling ascent and descent of the mountain following the narrow, winding, mostly-paved road to the summit. Once you reach the top, there’s not much on the East coast that can compare with the views. The Conway area has lots of great places to eat, Laconia Bike Week is a short ride away, and route 16 North from the mountain is an epic ride in its own right.

Ride to Work Day was inspired by “Work to Ride – Ride to Work” marketing materials created between 1989 and 1991 by the Aero Design and Manufacturing Company, a Minnesota based manufacturer of motorcycle riders clothing. In 1992 these items inspired motorcycle magazine editor Fred Rau to write an editorial calling for a national ride to work day.

The first annual Ride to Work Day event was proposed in Road Rider magazine (now titled Motorcycle Consumer News) in the May 1992 issue. This is an excerpt from that “Ride to Work” editorial: “You may remember several months ago when Bob Carpenter, commenting in his “Two Up” column, mentioned how neat he thought it would be if there was one day a year when everyone who owned a motorcycle used it to ride to work. That comment was prompted by a T-shirt produced by Aerostich RiderWear that simply said, ‘Work To Ride, Ride To Work.’ Everyone seemed to think that a national “Ride To Work day was one heck of a good idea.”

After a recent discussion with a friend who’s taking a trip and looking to rent a sportbike, the most apropos email arrived. Part of this email was a section about “Twisted Road”. It’s billed as the “AirBnB” of motorcycles. Motorcycle owners can list their bike as available for rent and potential renters can search for and book available bikes for the location and dates they need. Rates are variable, but most seemed to be in the $100-125 per day.

The Isle of Man TT gets underway in earnest on Monday. This interview offers a telling and frank view of arguably the best rider in the sport today…and possibly ever, Michael Dunlop.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jun/01/michael-dunlop-interview-tt-race-isle-of-man

Although its southern origin lies just south of Farmington, NH, the part of state route 153 that is most interesting starts in Wakefield and runs up to Conway. This 36-mile stretch of road essentially connects two motorcycle destinations; Iron Tails Saloon and the Kancamagus Highway. It is also a destination in its own right, providing tight, technical turns, elevation changes, and just a few open sections.

There are some, small, town centers and lakeside recreation areas along this route, so it’s important to watch for traffic, pedestrians, and possible “imperial entanglements”. This is especially true on summer weekends. During the week, or outside of tourist season, you can pretty much have your run of the place. School release does mean buses, so avoid it during that time period (2-3pm, generally). Things usually don’t get busy until you reach the Conway area.

For sportbike riders doing “sport touring” (aka, long road trips), it may not make sense to pack a majority of these items just from a sheer volume/weight perspective, but it’s still a great checklist to use as a starting point for planning.

https://www.motosport.com/blog/motorcycle-packing-list-for-long-distance-riding

Just a quick oil change for this repeat customer. Thanks for your business!

We know what this machine has been “up” to.

Two new Dunlop Q3’s and a new EK chain. This baby is ready to roll!

Less than a month remains until the most epic motorcycle race in the world kicks off (it’s June 2nd, if you don’t already know). The starting line-up has just been released. Aside from the obvious gap left by the missing John McGuinness, it’s a veritable who’s who of road racing. Take a look and see where your favorite racer will be starting.

https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/news-and-views/racing/isle-of-man-tt/news/2018-isle-of-man-tt-start-list-confirmed

Route 160 is a thirty-one mile stretch of winding road in southwestern Maine. In two discernible stretches that split the road approximately in half, it connects Limerick and Denmark. The great news for motorcyclists is that the entire length of this interesting ride is generally low in traffic. The upper half, from Kezar Falls to Denmark, was nicely paved back in late 2016. It is smooth, winding, with lots of elevation changes. The lower half can be somewhat bumpy, especially during early spring, when frost heaves can get downright treacherous. That, unfortunately, can be said for nearly every road in Maine!