The gold adjusters allow finite...
The gold adjusters allow finite tweaking for the lever position while on the fly. The pivot point helps keep the lever from snapping off in a spill—instead it simply "folds" in either direction.
Justin Fivella: Associate Editor
Miles: 1200
Mods: Rizoma levers and Proguard system
Price: $219 each (levers) $115 each (Proguard)
Contact: www.rizoma.comLiving in Los Angeles means great weather, killer beaches, lots of lovely ladies and plenty of traffic. The traffic’s so bad you have to plan your day avoiding it, and oftentimes you guess wrong and you’re stuck. I’ve gone as little as a mile in an hour; my Chevrolegs would have taken me further, quicker.
With traffic controlling most people’s every move it’s no wonder so many people are riding motorcycles. But riding in these conditions can be difficult, and I have at least one close call every day. Think about that for a second. Once a day I have a moment where I have to swerve, brake or accelerate to avoid an accident, and most of the time the culprit is a driver yapping away on a cell phone.
But commuting complaints aside, I’ve found the Ninja 1000 to be a willing partner to beat the urban gridlock. The monster torque makes shooting for gaps a cinch and the upright ergos go a long way in helping to survey the road ahead. I will say that while the wide, tall clip-ons make for an ideal riding position, they can hinder forward motion during tight situations. I guess that’s just a California-only complaint though.
So with a few too many close calls around LA I decided some lever and hand protection would be my first mods. A call to the Italian firm Rizoma netted me some killer bar-end guards and a pair of matching levers.
The Rizoma billet levers are not only adjustable, but are top-notch in fit and finish, not to mention the exclusivity of rarely seeing another set. Along with the new levers came the Proguard system that’s basically a bar-end that also serves as hand guards and lever protectors. At first I thought they might look funky, but once installed they gave the big Ninja a dash of streetfighter style. They also happen to work well, as the first ride home had an SUV mirror glance the Proguard instead of my brake lever, which made an otherwise oh shit encounter more of just another obstacle in my way.
Next month I’m going to hit the road on a long haul and really get to know this bike. Then I’ll address a few aesthetic nitpicks before getting down and dirty with suspension, brake and motor upgrades.
Next month: A ride across California in one day.