Justin Fivella: Associate Editor
Miles Ridden: 2730
Modifications: Two Brothers Juice Box, BMC Race air filter

"I got a great deal on synthetic car oil so I bought some for my bike. Now the clutch is slipping and the transmission sounds louder for some reason. What's up?"

John Zamora: Associate Editor
Miles Ridden: 5900
Modifications: Basic maintenance

That trick new exhaust system you just shelled out big bucks for sounds and looks the business, but it might have actually hurt the performance. But how? Altering the amount of airflow inside a motor with mods like aftermarket exhausts and air filters can actually cause a bike to run worse if not properly tuned.

Thankfully, in these tough times there's still plenty of air to go around. Gas may be over three bucks a gallon, but nobody has worked out how to charge for air (or tax it) yet. But why, when air is all around us, does a bike need a special box for the stuff? A box full of air? It wouldn't make a very good birthday gift...

2009 Kawasaki ZX-10R

Dave Sonsky: Editor
Miles Ridden: 8200
Modifications: Rearsets

2009 Kawasaki ZX-10R
Dave Sonsky: Editor
Miles Ridden: 5,540
Modifications: Full exhaust system

A motorcycle frame is one of those parts that combines practicality and performance, mundanity and marvel. On one hand, it's a simple hunk of metal used to secure pieces like the seat, engine and the suspension. And on the other, it has to be an ideal structure: one that doesn't flex, weighs as little as possible and is accurately built with the proper geometry so things like tank slappers don't become the norm.

Justin Fivella: Associate Editor
Miles Ridden: 2,450
Modifications: Pirelli Supercorsa SP tires

I've always preferred to run the softest tires possible on the street. Don't get me wrong-I'm not running slick race tires. But, I've been known to use some race-compound rain tires on occasion.

2009 Ducati 848
John Zamora: Associate Editor
Miles Ridden: 5200
Modifications: Grips and mirror extenders

"My tires look all wavy and I think I need to get them rotated. when can I bring it in?"

Miles Ridden: 2,105
Modifications: Brake rotors

Miles Ridden: 4,200
Modifications: Tires, swingarm cover

All the latest 2009 sportbikes are truly advanced pieces of machinery, but some of the technology they use is actually pretty old-and none more so than the battery. In fact, the rechargeable battery technology used in almost all bikes (and cars) is the oldest there is: lead acid batteries were invented 150 years ago in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Plante. He discovered that sheets of lead dipped in a sulfuric acid solution generated electricity, and could be recharged over and over again.

Miles Ridden: 1924
Modifications: Slip-on exhaust

Running errands and commuting on an R6 can almost make you forget how fast it really is. Don't get me wrong, it easily cuts through traffic and nothing will touch it with enough RPM on the dial. But free of the city confines is where it really shines.

Miles Ridden: 3300
Modifications: Sprockets, frame plugs, radar detector, carbon fiber fender

Finding cheap upgrades for a Ducati isn't easy, but this month's mods turned out to be a lot of bang for the buck.

Strong>Miles Ridden: 4350
Modifications: Pirelli Supercorsa SP tires

I've heard the story a thousand times, and my reaction has always been the same. You see, a car doing a U-turn is usually quite easy to predict and therefore we can take defensive measures. This is why I was confused how riders got into these accidents. My standard barrage of questions would typically go something like: "Weren't you paying attention?" "Why didn't you swerve or brake? Don't you know how to ride?"

Miles Ridden: 3200
Modifications: Fender eliminator kit, oil and filter change

Forty years ago, if you had what passed for a sportbike back then you had to put up with some pretty basic brakes. The cutting-edge technology of the time used drums: semi-circular brake shoes mounted inside an oversized wheel hub. When you pulled the brake lever, a cable turned a cam inside the hub, pushing the shoes out onto a drum inside the hub, thus slowing the bike down. They look archaic now, but offered good stopping power, albeit with little in the way of feel or control.

"I NEED A BRAKE RESERVOIR BAND SO THE SUN DOESN'T RUIN MY BRAKE FLUID."

Miles Ridden:1648
Modification:Hotbodies undertail and Lawstcaws frame plugs

Miles Ridden:2400
Modifications:Exhaust, windscreen, seat cover, grips, bar risers

Up until now, if your bike had 'ABS' written on the side you probably weren't an SSB reader. Ever since the first anti-lock brakes appeared on a crusty old BMW K100LT tourer in 1988, they've largely been the province of dull, overweight, underpowered touring machinery. It's no surprise really, considering the characteristics of the early systems. They added a load of weight to the bike, needed a huge battery and massive alternator to provide the extra electrical power needed, and didn't actually perform all that well anyway. Over the course of the next twenty years, the systems got lighter and better, and the bikes using them also improved. But up until last year at least, nothing that could reasonably call itself a high performance bike came with ABS (though some might argue that the Honda VFR could squeak in under that description).

Justin Fivella: Associate Editor
Miles Ridden: 1,135
Modifications: Hotbodies windscreen, Graves swingarm spools

John Zamora: Associate Editor
Miles Ridden: 450
Modifications: Not yet