SSB Tested: Superlifts.com ML-1000 Bike Lift
Oh, my aching knees ... After years of crawling around on the floor here at the Super Streetbike race annex, I proclaimed enough to be enough and started shopping for a genuine bike lift. Even though our shop floor meets federal cleanliness guidelines for food-processing plants, it's still just a concrete floor and no place a decent mechanic should have to work. After researching the available products on the market, I finally settled on the ML-1000 from Superlifts.com. With an overall length of 100 inches and a width of 24 inches, it is a bit larger than some models on the market, giving you more usable workspace, and it raises to a maximum height of 31 inches to save your knees. Plus, it has a capacity of 1000 pounds, so hoisting even your old man's Gold Wing or little sister's Harley will not be a problem. Made from steel (an optional diamond-plate version is also available), the professional-grade ML-1000 weighs in at a solid 400 pounds and is built to last--as you might expect from a company known for heavy-duty auto lifts. And it works: After you boost your job up to eye level, once-dreaded maintenance tasks such as oil changes and wheel swaps become almost pleasurable. If you do a lot of your own work, you owe it to yourself to invest in a lift such as this. At $595, including the front wheel clamp and the entrance ramp (but not including the 100-psi-minimum air compressor necessary to power the lift or shipping costs), the ML-1000 is not as expensive as you might think. Your knees will thank you. www.superlifts.com
--Don Smith
Head Hunters
Two of the freshest helmet designs we've seen so far this season come from an unexpected source: KBC Helmets. The angry-looking Assassin ($250) is based on the VR-2 model (the same helmet five-time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin wears on the racetrack) and features a tri-composite Aramid/epoxy shell for lighter weight and reduced overall dimensions for improved aerodynamic stability. The suggestively styled Airborne ($190) is based on the less-expensive Force S helmet platform, which uses a polycarbonate shell equipped with the same "Ultra-Quick" tool-free visor removal system as the VR-2's. www.kbc-helmet.com
GP Star Jackets
Trust us: You haven't seen anything on the street like the latest line of leather jackets available from North Hollywood's GP Star. Edgy offerings such as the Speed Mary, Stripper and Vengeance are anything but politically correct, which means these jackets are the perfect choice for making a statement whether strafing the Santa Monica Mountains or cruising the Sunset Strip. Don't let the fashion-first designs fool you, though--these jackets are legitimate protective gear, too, featuring a riding-specific cut, 1.3mm premium cowhide, removable elbow/shoulder/back armor and top-quality YKK zippers. Available in men's and women's sizes, GP Star jackets are equally at home pimpin' on the bike or hanging in the VIP room at the club. www.gpstar.net
A CBR 'Busa Beater?
Finding a turnkey turbo kit for any Honda sportbike can be challenging--for whatever reason, not many hyper-sport tuners pay attention to Big Red's bikes. Fortunately for Honda CBR1000RR owners, Sarasota, Florida's Fast Forward Motorwerks (FFM) now offers a complete bolt-on turbo kit said to produce a reliable, streetable 245 rear-wheel horsepower and eight-second, 160-plus-mph quarter-mile times. Developed on the dyno and tested on the street (reportedly 3000 trouble-free test miles and counting), the $5495 FFM kit consists of a dual ball-bearing turbo with a pre-set internal wastegate, an FFM header with a "Quick Spool" collector, an in-tank fuel supply assembly and a proprietary fuel management unit, a composite-fiber reinforced airbox/plenum and all the hardware and fittings necessary for installation. Include your waist measurement when you order and Fast Forward says it will also send you a three-pack of fresh underwear--according to its test rider, you'll need them. www.fastforwardmotorwerks.com
Peak Performance
Here's a fresh take on the wildly popular Wave-type brake rotors, brought to you by German manufacturer ABM and now available Stateside through Spiegler Brake Systems. Dubbed the Peak, this brake rotor is offered in either semi- or full-floating versions with a unique, 10-point billet-aluminum carrier for extra rigidity. The carrier is anodized in a titanium color, and the outer rotor is made from stainless steel, held together with hard-anodized buttons. Available for most modern sportbikes, front rotors are priced at $310 and rears run $159. www.spieglerusa.com