After numerous requests, Scorpion Sports has imported a small number of race suits. These suits are 100% race-inspired, and feature the over-the-boot style like Valentino Rossi wears. The Scorpion Hurricane Race Suit has many features:

•1.2-1.4mm premium grade full-grain leather.
•Perforated leather at the front and back for superior ventilation.
•Schoeller stretch kevlar panels to optimize flexibility.
•Exo-Tec CE approved armor at elbows, shoulders, knee and hips.
•Double leather in high impact areas.
•Unique over-the-boot design featuring diamond-stitched leather.
•Upper back hump reduces wind drag while adding impact protection.
•Internal back protector compartment includes a Temper Foam pad.
•Flex leather panes at upper back, rear waist, and upper knees.
•YKK Semi-auto lock zippers at cuff and calf sliders.
•Replaceable PU compound knee sliders.
•Washable vented mesh liner.
•US sizes 38-50

They are selling for 899.95, and will be available in March. If this is something you think you may want, I will HIGHLY suggest you get on on order now.

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Michelin has done it again! Michelin’s Pilot Power 2CT was revolutionary, but now they’ve upped their game with the Power Pure. The Power Pure is not replacing the 2CT, but adding to their lineup. The Pure is an improvement of the 2CT in key performance areas like wet grip, dry grip, and stability.

Race-like Reflexes

* Provides ultimate cornering confidence and handling precision
* Revolutionary Light Tire Technology: a pair of Michelin Power Pure tires is more than 2 pounds lighter than comparable high-performance tires
* Improved in all key performance areas vs. Michelin Pilot Power 2CT tires

Hold the Road

* All-new 2CT tread formulation for phenomenal grip
* Aggressive, longitudinal tread grooves optimize wet performance

Exceptionally fun ride! Superb wet and dry grip, handling, cornering stability, and feedback

Want a pair? They are on sale at Superbike Toy Store for as low as 256.95 a set! To find your set, click here.

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Increased peripheral view: The RX-Q uses the same wider-eyeport SAI faceshield as the unequaled Corsair-V race helmet.

Smaller hand-formed shell: Created by hand, Arai’s RX-Q helmet is smaller and more aerodynamic than the Quantum2.

Wind tunnel developed: The RX-Q utilizes a uniquely sculpted lower hyper-ridge to maintain stability at high speed.

Shape: Intermediate oval shape similar to the Arai Corsair V and Vector models.

Increased ventilation: The new RX-Q has further developed their ventilation system to perform better at “road” speeds, not “race” speed.

Designed for everyday road riding in mind, I think the RX-Q will serve most riders very well. It doesn’t have the super tight fit like many race helmets, but has all the features. Arai’s RX-Q helmet starts at an affordable 544.95 for solid collors to 674.95 for multi colored helmets.

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Even with the horrible economy, I find it comforting that people still ride and race. We have customers that are buying 1500.00USD racing suits and 1000.00USD exhaust systems for their motorcycles. While people are still finding ways to buy motorcycle gear and apparel, the way they buy and the expectations they have have changed dramatically. The resultant change is what I call “WalMart-ism.”

Shopping at WalMart is stressful for me. All the people in the way (GRRRR). I walk like I race; I have somewhere to go, get out of my way! I still go there though, because they have the best prices and an outstanding selection of general goods. I buy groceries, trash bags, and tupperware there; all of which are generic in nature and do not require specialized knowledge. If I buy a ladder at WalMart, I could take it home use it for my one project and return it without question (assuming I didn’t beat it up).

The ability to buy at the lowest possible price, have the ability to return it without question and have a huge selection of product is incredible. The ability to do these things has somehow been ingrained in our minds to be the norm for all retails; this is “WalMart-ism.”

If a person wants to buy a helmet and goes to WalMart to get a Bell helmet; that’s cool. But what if you have a question about that helmet? Does the clerk in sporting goods know anything about helmets, or are they reading off the packaging? Hell, I CAN READ TOO! If you need to know something specific about a product, you need a specialist. There are a lot of professional people in the motorcycle industry that can ensure you get the correct product for what you’re doing. Unfortunately, expertise does not come with the lowest price tag, unquestioned returns, or unlimited selection at your finger tips.

We get phone calls all the time asking for highly technical infomation. Information like “What type of material is used to stitch an Arlen Ness race suit?” or “What is the difference between CE Level one and CE Level two armor?” I’m cool with those questions, and enjoy searching-out accurate and relevant answers. Getting those answers takes time, and time is valuable though.

Keep this in mind the next time you bend somebody’s ear for an hour and then buy from someone else because of a 15.00 price difference. We want to help, but we also want to be in business in a year.

With my Saturday morning rant over, I want to thank all of my customers and friends for being so loyal! 2010 is just around the corner and there are some positive things to look forward to. Keep your chins up, rubber on the ground, and create some good “mojo” in your life!

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As far as the performance itself, an open bath cartridge is constantly blending tiny air bubbles into the oil and a loss of damping force results over the course of a race. More air equals more fade. Also, there is a noticeable change in damping force as the fluid warms. All damping units used in motorcycle roadracing are velocity dependent. That means they have to be moving in order to create any damping force. Each time the wheel stops moving and has to go the opposite direction, it has no damping force. If the wheel doesnt move far enough to build damping force before it is stopped again and asked to move in the opposite direction, it can spend a fair amount of time with very little, if any force at all controlling the wheel. The biggest drawback to an open bath cartridge is the cavitation that results over sharp bumps, ripple bumps, and braking zone stutter bumps. Since the oil is not under any pressure, it is very easy for a sharp bump to move the wheel at a speed that the damping unit cannot react to. When this happens, an internal vacuum in the cartridge forms creating havoc for wheel control, which results in a loss of traction. Gas-charged damping units are assembled, bled free of air, and then pressurized. They become a sealed environment that contamination cannot enter. Since the oil is under pressure, it doesnt foam, and cavitation is completely eliminated. As a result, damping force remains consistent over the course of a race.

The result in performance are tremendous. Since pressurized damping units offer more instantaneous damping force, greater wheel control gives the rider dramatically improved feedback from the tire. Since cavitation over bumps is eliminated, most riders are shocked to find that the bumps are gone not just diminished gone. All of these factors combine to improve rider confidence and control. This beyond question, lowers lap time.

Features
• Bolts Directly into a Stock Inverted Motorcycle Fork Casting
• AMA, WERA, ASRA/CCS Legal
• Sealed and Pressurized to Reduce Contamination from Conventional Fork Systems
• High Quality Springs Included, Matched to your Weight
• Developed in cooperation with Traxxion Dynamics, and has many of the characteristics of the AK-20 Gas Cartridge Kit.

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Snell’s non-profit organization dedicated to setting the highest achievable standards possible for helmets in America. The group relies upon a board of directors comprised of top medical experts in head trauma and helmet technology to help set testing standards set by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Helmets are not required to pass Snell standards, but persistent marketing and market support have made Snell standards widely accepted. Almost every premium helmet sold in America is Snell-rated.

Motorcycle crash helmets were first adopted in England in the Early 1940s. When a research study showed that more than 90 percent of motorcycle fatalities were caused by head injuries, riders began to wear military helmets for protection. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, companies began manufacturing crude motorcycle-specific helmets.

The Snell organization was founded in the 1950’s, and came about because of a tragedy. Pete Snell was killed by head injuries when his race car rolled over on the track in California on August 6, 1956. One of his friends, Dr. George Snively, had been doing research on the effectiveness of safety helmets. He and several others felt that could improve the standards of helmet manufacturing in America.  After Snell’s death, Snively and several others founded the Snell Memorial Foundation to just that. Its first set of standards was published in 1959, and Snell slowly grew to the prominence it enjoys today as the world’s premier helmet safety standard.

Every five years or so, Snell comes out with updated standards for helmet manufacturers. The standards are developed in conjunction with the input from the manufacturers, and each manufacturer has to submit helmets to Snell for testing at their facility in North Highlands, California. If the helmets pass, it receives a Snell rating.

In recent years, things have become a bit more complex for Snell. For one, the Snell M2005 rating met the U.S. government-mandated DOT standards but was not compliant with the European standard (catchily named ECE 22-05).

The reason for this is not really related to how much impact the helmet can absorb. The distinction between Snell, DOT, and ECE 22-05 standards is in how the helmets are tested. Snell uses different presumed head weights than ECE 22-05 standards to test all sizes of the helmet.

Snell-approved helmets are widely viewed as a safer choice as they typically use more liner material to absorb shock, Snell M2005-approved helmets do not meet ECE 22-05 standards due to the different head weights used in the European test standard. ECE 22-05 is a legally mandated standard, which meant that European riders who prefer a Snell-approved helmet couldn’t use one on the street.

The Snell M2010 test standards now test helmets using head weights that are the same as the European standard. While this should mean Snell M2010-approved helmets are compliant with ECE 22-05, this may not be the case. Ed Becker from Snell stated that the new Snell M2010-approved helmets should pass ECE 22-05 standards, but Bret Milan from Shoei said that their company still builds two different lines of helmets in order to satisfy Snell M2010 and ECE 22-05 standards.

That’s all regulation wrangling that doesn’t mean much to American riders. In order to meet the new M2010 standards, manufacturers had to change their small-sized in order to pass. Small and extra-small helmets now use different lining material which provides slightly more cushion in a fall. This mean that riders with slightly small noggins who wear Snell M2010-approved helmets will have slightly improved crash protection.

The new standard also required some companies to redesign the shell sizes of the small and very large helmets. This means that new helmets that meet M2010 may have a newly designed shell which should result in better-fitting helmets.

The protection provided by large and medium helmets that meet M2010 is minimally changed from M2005.

In the end, the new standard is not such a radical change that you need to urge all of your customers to toss their Snell M2005 helmets into the trash. Nor should you fire sale M2005-approved helmets.

Snell M2005 helmets caught some fire in a 2005 article in Motorcyclists magazine entitled, “Blowing the Lid Off.” The magazine tested helmets and found that some of the lower priced non-Snell-approved buckets were marginally better at impact reduction than more expensive Snell-approved models. The article generated considerable discussion, and Snell took issue with it (you can read the article and responses at the Motorcyclist website).

“You will definitely be getting a softer impact with these M2010 helmets. The big question has always been what’s this going to mean in terms of injury risk,” Becker said.

Our litigious society plays a role in what official representatives can and can’t say. While new helmets may incorporate innovations that improve safety, company reps often aren’t even allowed to discuss them for fear of implying that the old helmets were somehow deficient.

In the end, the new Snell regulations provide a slightly improved impact reduction that is most significant to people with small and extra small heads. Becker stated flatly that dealer shouldn’t be afraid to sell the Snell M2005 helmets on their shelves. He said that the difference between that and the new M2010 are subtle, and that both are tremendously safe.

The Bottom Line

Don’t feel the need to trash your M2005-approved helmets, as the impact resistance of Snell 2010-approved helmets improved only subtly over Snell M2005.

Medium- and large-sized Snell M2005 helmets are virtually identical in impact energy reduction to Snell M2010-approved helmets of that size.

Small and extra-small helmets that are Snell M2010-approved may be slightly better at reducing impact energy and, due to redesigned shells, may fit better than Snell M2005-approved helmets.

Getting a quality helmet that fits comfortably is more important than whether or not they have M2005- or M2010-approved models.

For more information about Snell approved helmets, visit Superbike Toy Store.com

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The Power One Commercial is a really nice tire for the aggressive street rider, or even mid-pack club racer. I run mid-pack myself and am absolutely satisfied with the Commercial version on the race track. The first time I used the Power One’s, I did a trackday on the Friday before the race weekend and got six good sessions. The next day I got four practice sessions on this one set of tires. That’s especially notable as this track is VERY abrasive (Palm Beach International Raceway). The Commercial Power One’s are all 3 ply and multi-compound front AND rears. The Commercial version only comes in a single dual compound version. They are similar to the Power Race Medium, in that they are medium in the center and soft on the edges.

While the Power One Commercial tires are fairly straight-forward and simple, the Power One Competition tires have several different compounds and even shapes of tire.

FRONT TIRES:
All the Competition Power One DOT 17″ fronts are multi-compound and run 30psi cold.  There are three fronts to choose from: A, B, and V. The A and the B are SLIGHTLY more rounded but IS triangulated. The Power One “V”, the most triangulated or pointed of the 3 tires. A and B are slightly less triangulated than the old C front but apparently nearly exact same height. According to Michelin, the A and B would be the most popular tires and are 5 ply tires.

A – 9.48lbs, 605.4mm diameter and is the softer compound, used for when ambient temps are below 68F. compounds would be 4/8/4 with the 4 (softer) would be the entire contact patch at full lean.
B – 9.48lbs, 605.4mm , slightly harder than the A, and used when temps are above 68F. compounds would be 5/8/5 with the 5 slightly firmer than the 4.
V – 9.92lbs, 606mm, however is 4 ply (not 5 like A and B), and is more triangulated almost “pointed” with a 5/8/5 compound.

REAR TIRES:
-All the180/55 are 639.5mm in diameter, 13.73lbs, are 4 ply and multi-compound (35% of edges is softer so 35%/30mid%/35%)
-The 190/55’s are 652.8mm tall. 14.77lbs, 4 ply and multi-compound.
-The “A ” tire edges of the 180 and 190’s would be a “4″ (soft) compound edge
-The “B” edges being “5″ (not as soft as 4),
-The “C” REAR will be an endurance type tire with a “6″ type edge
-ALL the middles of all the tires being a “9″ compound (hardest).

TIRE WARMERS:
As per Michelin, for COMPETITION (not street tires) put warmers at 176F for 30-40 min before use for FRONT AND REARS. DO NOT leave on for more than 90 minutes ever. If guys find something that works better please let us know.

WEAR:
when the rain sipes are gone the tires are designed to WORK BETTER! so don’t rush to change when the rain sipes are gone. The tires are designed to loose the rain sipes to become a “slick”.

These tires are absolutely terrific! If you haven’t tried them, I would suggest you at least give them a shot.

To give due credit, I must say that a significant portion of the technical data came from Greg Melka.

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As a child, I always said the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of every school day. We didn’t have some kids saying it while others sat on their lazy ass (ass that was being protected by our military). No! We all said it because we loved our country, regardless of the current mess we found ourselves in. Realistically, we did it because we were told to do so, but we didn’t have parents devaluing it, or those damn tree-huggers fighting it.

My patriotism has become quite hardened during my time in the Marine Corps, but I understand people have their own thoughts (and that’s OK). Is it so difficult though, to show appreciation to those men and women that have sacrificed to allow you the privilege of being a a slippery little turd-sucker?

It would seem the residents of our country could care less about the governmental structure of our country, and could just as well be British, French, or any other nationality. Nobody seems to care. We find any excuse not to show appreciation for our country, we mustn’t care about it.

I am at the race track fairly often. Prior to every event somebody sings the national anthem. What I see during the anthem are a lot of people talking, playing, and revving their motors. Is it so hard to stop for the two minutes it takes to show a modicum of respect for the country that provides you the freedom to do as you wish? Many of the motorcycle racers in south Florida are foreign; Colombian, Cuban, Brazilian, or whatever. I realize you may not want to be an American, but you came here for a reason. That reason is afforded to you by the American people through the American Government, which in essence is America.

While it bothers me a bit that the non-Americans ignore the National Anthem at the motorcycle racing events, the Americans that ignore it infuriate me! You sniveling little bitches, stop what you’re doing, face the flag and show some respect!

Why am I on this rant today? Well, it’s the Marine Corps birthday for one. Two is that tomorrow is Veterans’ day and I won’t be working.:) Remember, you are not necessarily supporting the war by simply acknowledging the Marines, Soldiers, Seamen, Airmen, and the Coasties sacrifices. They have been protecting your whiny little ass while you sleep from invaders for centuries!

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- Following are the three ordering round deadlines for the 2010 season:
1st ordering round deadline: 20th November 2009 ->    delivery early March 2010
2nd ordering round deadline: 12th January 2010 ->      delivery late April 2010
3rd ordering round deadline: 12thMay 2010 ->            delivery mid August 2010
- So as to let you know when each ordering round is due to begin, correspondence similar to this letter will be sent to you approximately 1 month prior to each deadline.
- All orders received prior to the ordering deadlines will be accepted. However, we cannot receive additional orders after the ordering deadline has passed.
- No cancellation of orders will be allowed once we have confirmed the orders.

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