Motorcycles slow much faster than cars not just on the brakes but when off the throttle and engine braking. Engine braking does not illuminate the brake light and can potentially cause an unaware motorist following to rear end you. A prototype product called VoloLights hopes to change that with a license plate application that flashes based on an accelerometer not just while braking. Would you buy one?

 Vectolabs just launched a prototype device to improve the visibility of motorcycles here:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/vololights/vololights-enhanced-motorcycle-visibility.
 
"We are an Oceanside-based company and in light of National Motorcycle Awareness Month. While this technology is launching in the motorcycle space, modules will be developed for use in fleets and automobiles as well – potentially changing the way drivers perceive brake lights forever."
 

From the April 2009 issue, Leno's Y2K jet bike has nothing on this Gixxer!

Cameraman Clink captured Tony Pandolfo's jet-powered 1992 Suzuki GSX-R1100 in afterburner mode for the issue's last page Hot Shot.

It's time to put up or shut up! If you think you have the fastest streetbike, here's your chance to compete for the title. On September 21-22, 2013, Super Streetbike and Sport Rider magazines will host the end-all competition that pits the baddest and fastest streetbikes in the country in wheel-to-wheel competition for national bragging rights. To answer the call is easy, simply email pics of your bike with a list of modifications to us at:

SSBfastest@sorc.com

The Search is open to any street-legal motorcycle available for sale in the U.S. Entries can be emailed to us at SSBfastest@sorc.com. Selections will be made by the editors of Super Streetbike and Sport Rider magazines, and the 10 finalists will be invited to the showdown held at the Continental/General Tire Proving Grounds in Uvalde, TX where the bikes will be run through five events to determine the winner.

The Event
• Scoring is based on multiple categories. The total points from all categories will decide the overall winner. Winners of each category will also be recognized. Categories include:

– 15-mile street course

– 1/4 mile dragstrip

– Dyno shootout

– Top speed challenge

– Roadrace course

• Pro riders will ride finalist bikes in order to equalize the field.
• The 15-mile simulated street course on the facility will test each bike’s “streetability”. Dead starts, stops, idling, and various obstacles will help distinguish just how much of a streetbike each contestant is. Points will be deducted for not meeting certain standards.
• Dyno shootout is self-explanatory—the most horsepower wins. However, there will be bonus points awarded for meeting certain power marks.
• The quarter-mile drag challenge is also easy to deduce. Quickest bike gets the lion’s share of the points.
• The top speed challenge will test each bike’s ability to combine horsepower with wind-cheating aerodynamics. Bonus points will be awarded for meeting specified mph goals.
• The roadrace course will be ultimate test of each bike’s performance capabilities. Thus, major points will be awarded for being quickest on this course.

Not only will there be big cash prizes and other swag awarded to the contestants, but the winner will receive a free set of awesome  BST carbon fiber wheels from event sponsor Brock’s Performance. The event will feature other activities for the finalists besides the Search For America’s Fastest Bike contest, and will be covered in all forms of media (print, web, and social) as well as be the subject of a feature video on Motor Trend’s “On Two Wheels” YouTube channel.

The Prizes

• Overall winner receives $1,500 cash, a set of BST wheels, and a Lucas Oil care package
  
• Each category winner receives $500 cash
• Speed and Strength will provide each finalist with full gear to keep (must be worn during street course competition)

NHRA Pro Stockers go four wide at Charlotte!

Lucas Oil-sponsored Hector Arana Jr. (second from top) makes up for winless 2012 season with second straight Pro Stock Motorcycle win of 2013. Arana's 6.896 bested Eddie Krawiec's 6.924 running second from bottom. Scotty Pollacheck put the Star Racing Buell in third, while Jimmy Underdahl (bottom lane) was forth on the EZ-Go Suzuki.

(NHRA photo)

 Residents of Hawaii: You are not going to want to miss the first annual Traffic Jam car and bike show this Saturday in Honolulu, HI. Music, models, and custom built rides from around the island will converge at the Aloha Towers all day and into the night on March 30. SSB will be there looking for bike features.

If you will be in Hawaii this weekend, specifically Honolulu, come out and support what is going to be one big showing of custom bikes and cars at the Aloha Towers, on the water.

Apart from show prizes, a tuner atmosphere and plenty of eye candy, Super Streetbike Magazine will be there looking for customs bikes to be featured in future issues of the magazine.

It's Reader's Ride Friday.....actually Monday due to some tech issues.  If you want to see your bike featured Facebook message us or email ssbmail@sorc.com with high-res images of your bike with the following:

Name:
YR/Make/Model:
Miles Done:
Mods:
Best Upgrade:
Favorite Aspect:

 2010 Suzuki Hayabusa

Name: Ryan Carr

Mods: motor bored out nitrous 360 single-sided swingarm, Andrew Caulhon custom paint, motor by Matt's Big Grudge Racing and much more

Best Upgrade: "The paint job is the best."

Favorite Aspect: "It's in Suzuki's Ultimate Hayabusa Contest right now and is getting lots of votes!"

 Model Monday is here. This week meet Macy Mortensen. Girls, do you want to be an SSB model? Submit your name, age, hometown, ethnicity and webpage (facebook, twitter, model mayhem, etc) along with high-res pics (that we have permission to post) to ssbmail@sorc.com or message us with this info on our Facebook. Label submission with "Model Monday."

Name: Macy Mortensen
Age: 20
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Ethnicity: Danish/German
Web Page: http://www.modelmayhem.com/2318527

 Model Monday is here. This week meet Stephanie Snyder. Girls, do you want to be an SSB model? Submit your name, age, hometown, ethnicity and webpage (facebook, twitter, model mayhem, etc) along with high-res pics (that we have permission to post) to ssbmail@sorc.com or message us with this info on our Facebook. Label submission with "Model Monday."

 I am looking to submit to feature as a Motorcycle girl. Here are my stats:
Name: Stephanie Snyder
Age:23
Hometown: Pittsburgh,PA
Height: 5'4"
Measurements:32-23-35

Want More Stephanie:
Instagram: Steph_M_snyder
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/OMBPSd 

Suzuki kicks off the search for the nation's best and baddest custom 'Busa, whether it's a full-on show-style build or an all-out high-performance machine. Hayabusa owners will sign up and compete online at ultimatehayabusa.com where photos of bikes can be uploaded to a user-created account on the website and then use social activity to boost attention to their entry and work towards a 5-star ranking. The better the ranking and higher number of votes a user earns, the more awareness to their bike they will gain, increasing the chance of winning.

 THE CONTEST

• Submissions phase (3/11/2013 - 5/31/2013): contestants build profiles and campaign votes to get on top of the leaderboards
• Regional Semi-Finals (6/1/2013 - 6/16/2013): consumers vote and judges will select the competition's Top 24 'Busa entries. The Top 24 Semi-Finalists will be divided by region with eight bikes from the West, East and South.
• Regional Finals (6/17/2013 - 7/7/2013): consumers vote and judges will select the Top 3 'Busas in the nation, one from each region.
• National Finals (7/8/2013 - 8/16/2013}: consumers vote and judges will select the grand prize winner and crown one 'Busa as "The Ultimate Hayabusa"

  It's Reader's Ride Friday. If you want to see your bike featured Facebook message us or email ssbmail@sorc.com with high-res images of your bike with the following:
Name:
YR/Make/Model:
Miles Done:
Mods:
Best Upgrade:
Favorite Aspect:

 2011 Yamaha FZ8
Name: Rick Mungor
Miles Done: 4530
Mods: K&N air filter, Dynojet PCV, Yoshimura R-77 exhaust, Graves block-off plates, Rizoma mirrors, Pazzo levers, Danmoto rearsets, HEL stainless steel front brake lines, Yamaha LED front signals, Motodynamic smoked integrated LED taillight, Evotech Performance radiator guard, fender eliminator, and frame sliders.
Best Upgrade: "The Yosh exhaust, it looks and sounds great."
Favorite Aspect: "It's naked!"

A look back at last year's Bike Week coverage.

Super Streetbike staff will be at Daytona this year for event coverage and feature material. Meet us at Kawasaki's Bike Nite in the Daylite if you're a Kawi rider, or email us at ssbmail@sorc.com if you feel you have an outstanding ride that we should photograph.  Only a few days left so let us know soon.

We'll bring our cameras, you bring your custom Kawasaki motorcycle and show us what you got! 

Super Streetbike Magazine is sponsoring Kawasaki's Bike Nite in the Daylite on Friday, March 15, 2013 from 12 noon until 3pm. SSB staff will be there, scoping out potential feature material and judging the Best Sportbike category. So put on your Kawasaki Green and start celebrating St. Patricks Day early. Click on the flyer above for show details. The Best Sportbike wins a new iPad Mini plus a feature spot in Super Streetbike. Best Bike Overall takes home a $500 MasterCard plus a spot on the Kawasaki.com home page. Follow along on the SSB Facebook page for updates and more:

www.facebook.com/superstreetbikemag

Interested in being a model for SSB or any one of the other Source Interlink owned magazines? We will be holding an open casting call this Thursday. RSVP today.

See the flyer for full info. Although the time to RSVP for the casting has passed we may still have room for further model entries if you RSVP today!

 It's Reader's Ride Friday. If you want to see your bike featured Facebook message us or email ssbmail@sorc.com with high-res images of your bike with the following:
Name:
YR/Make/Model:
Miles Done:
Mods:
Best Upgrade:
Favorite Aspect:

2009 Suzuki GSX-R600
Owner: Cheyenee Jackson
Mods: Akrapovic full titanium exhaust, 120clockLabs SpeedoDRD calibration device, Vortex Racing (-1/2) sprockets and levers, white bar ends, Shogun frame sliders, K&N air filter, Gixxerboys 6K HID headlight kit
Best Upgrade: “My Akrapovic exhaust system. I love it! I get a lot of compliments on the way it sounds.”
Favorite Aspect: “The down-one, up-two sprocket conversion setup. I really like the way it pulls when I open the throttle.”

Back in the September 2011 issue

And now: 

We're adding a Street FX LED light kit to Amber's Ducati 848 for an upcoming Mod of the Month. Should go great with her blinged out Arai helmet!

It's Reader's Ride Friday. If you want to see your bike featured Facebook message us or email ssbmail@sorc.com with high-res images of your bike with the following:
Name:
YR/Make/Model:
Miles Done:
Mods:
Best Upgrade:
Favorite Aspect:

Owner: Cedric Brown
Model: 1986 GSX-R750
Mods: GSX-R1100 engine, Cutting Edge Motorsport swingarm, RC Components Raven 300mm tire kit, 2008 Hayabusa forks and brake components, HID 10,000k headlight kit, Garmin navigation unit, GlassnDude fiberglass fairings,Vance & Hines exhaust and ignition system, K&N air filter, Mikuni 36mm carburetors, Dyna 2000 two-step rev-limiter, rewired harness ran through the frame, SPS Chroming chrome components, powdercoated frame and swingarm
Best Upgrade: “I love the paint job. It’s just how I envisioned it.”
Favorite Aspect: “There’s nothing like customizing the old-school bikes.”

10 Questions with Professional Freestyle Sport Bike Rider Tony Carbajal
Presented by Two Brothers Racing
In-between wowing crowds at local Southern California Monster Jam events, we were able to track down Two Brothers Racing stunt rider and all-around good guy, Tony Carbajal for 10 questions about his beginnings, career and a very painful sounding crash.

 1. You've been riding motorcycles since you were a kid, but how and when did sportbike freestyle all start for you?

At 15 one of my best friends let me ride his 1996 Honda CBR 900RR. It was like I had just discovered motorcycles for the first time all over again. I didn't even have a drivers license or my first automobile but I knew a motorcycle was what I was going to get around on. At my ripe age of 16 I had saved up just enough money to buy my first beautiful Honda CBR F4i that had just been recently wrapped around a telephone poll, fixed her up and started my adventures. Wheelies were just a hobby for the first year then came small demos for local shops and competitions. Every year the events and competitions grew bigger and with lots of hard work I am fortunate enough to say that my name did too.
 
2. What sort of modifications do you make to your stunt bike?

For me, modifications begin with performance.  After years of performing I only use products I can trust to deliver and keep my bikes looking clean. There are many to list but here are just a few.
 
- TC signature series Two Brothers Racing Full System Exhaust along with the Two Bros Juice Box Pro Fuel Controller.
- Hotbodies Racing Bodywork
- GPR Stabilizer
- Impaktech crash cages
- RSC clutch lever and sub cage
- 5th gear Sprockets
- HoHey Designs rear handbrake
- Apex MFG clip-ons
- ODI Gips
- Custom built subframe and gas tanks
- HTmoto custom seats and traction
- TC signature edition CTS rotors.
 
 

 3. What kind of bike do you ride and why?

My current machine of choice has been the 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R. I had the opportunity to work along side Kawasaki in the past and I still continue to enjoy the motorcycles that they are producing.
 
4. What's been your worst injury?

Oh Boy! Back in 2005 I flipped a stoppie at 65 mph. I had a concussion, I broke my collarbone, separated my shoulder, broke my rotator cuff in half, broke my back, bruised lung, broken wrist and a heap of road rash that had me sleeping upright and peeling sheets off myself for almost three months. I learned my lesson and take precautions that could prevent such a catastrophe from recurring.

 

5. Do you listen to music when you ride and if so, what are you rocking out to?
 
I haven't ever tried riding with headphones. The sweet sound of the revlimiter is music to my ears.
 
6. How long does it take you to learn a new trick?

It really depends on how hard the trick is. Sometimes a trick will come to mind and I can stick it on the second or third try. Harder tricks can take several weeks of practice. Perfecting a trick is what takes the most time.
 
7. What is the "holy grail" of tricks?

The holy grail of tricks are technical tricks that are usually performed forward, but are now being performed backward. Switchback circle wheelies, switchback drifting and more.
 
8. You've had the chance to perform all over the world.  What was your favorite performance?

I have had so many shows that have been epic over the years. Traveling and performing in Malaysia will always be memorable. The culture shock along with setting up and performing on a bike that I'd never ridden before was crazy.  I did six shows for 30,000 people chanting my name all in a single weekend. Traveling to such a place and having people already know who you are is a great feeling.

 

9. What are you goals for the future?
I’m 26 years old.  I plan to perform and grow my program for years to come if I can manage to stay healthy.  I want to perform for new people in new places, continue partnerships with great companies and help one another grow. I have plans to grow my brand with new products for the industry. I also plan to continue to do stunt work for film and hope to contribute a whole new skill level to that industry.
 
10. Party of Five: What four people would you like to have dinner and drinks with?

Valentino Rossi, Evil Knievel, Dale Earnhardt, the fourth seat is up for auction if you'd like a chance to bid email me at Tony@TonyStunts.com
Ok if anyone possible I would choose Evil Knievel, Valentino Rossi, Dale Earnhardt - Some of motorsports greatest! I would complete the table with Mr. Steve Jobs because his success contributed to the success of so many others.

We didn't throwback yesterday so here's a flashback to the June 2009 cover of SSB.

 It's been nearly 4 years (!) since we've had a streetfighter on the cover and it's time to break that dry spell. We're looking for a nicely modded new-model Suzuki Fighter for a possible cover shot or feature. Got something cool? Email or contact us at ssbmail@sorc.com with a few high-res pics and a spec list. Or you can post images to the Super Streetbike Facebook page.

Model Monday is here. This week meet Carissa Rosario, our Feb issue cover morel. Girls, do you want to be the next SSB cover, bike or product model? Submit your name, age, hometown, ethnicity and webpage (facebook, twitter, model mayhem, etc) along with high-res pics (that we have permission to post) to ssbmail@sorc.com or message us with this info on our Facebook. Label submission with "Model Monday."

 Name: Carissa Rosario

Hometown: Los Angeles

Website: http://carissarosario.com/

Submission Requirements:

High-Res Pics (that we have permission to post):

Name:

Age:

Hometown:

Ethnicity:

Webpage (facebook, twitter, model mayhem, etc):

Submit to: ssbmail@sorc.com or message us with this info on our SSB Facebook page. Label submission with "Model Monday."

If you saw our post on Facebook then you want to know what the 1/8th-mile E.T. was for our baseline test. We've put several hundred miles on the bike but the only mods are a Shogun slider kit, fender eliminator, and Bel Ray oil change. Everything else is mechanically stock as of this writing.

With no warm-up or even a chance to get familiar with the bike, our resident hot shoe Gaige Herrera hopped onto the Super Streetbike Magazine Long-term 636 for the first time at Irwindale Drag Strip, the only venue in the Los Angeles area that offers test-and-tune drag racing on a weekly basis. Gaige immediately launched the new bike to a 7.168-second ET at 107.38 MPH with TC in the 1 mode.  In run #2 Gaige turned off the TC and wheelied to a slightly slower 7.35.  For run #3, Gaige adjusted his overly agressive launch and, with TC off, ran a 6.92 at 108.49 MPH. With a little more seat time on the bike, we're sure that he could easily shave a little more off that time but overall, it was a very impressive first performance. We'll test the 636 again after we make some bolt-on power mods. Stay tuned.

A cool look back at how wheelies have evolved from the August 2011 issue of SSB.

And don't try sending for that K&N catalog! That's a Back In The Day look at a 1973 mail-in form for K&N products. Does anybody even use postal mail anymore? 

 Here is you chance to win a free helmet, jacket and gloves for free! The Speed and Strength Rage With The Machine Contest is here. Each qualified submission will put you in the running for not only fresh gear but a SSB and S/S branded tee.

Whether it is stunting, track riding, canyon carving, wrenching or hanging out with the crew at bike nights we want to know how you rage with your machine! Each month one submission is chosen to receive a helmet, jacket and gloves compliments of Speed and Strength. Runner's up will go away with an SSB and Speed and Strength branded tee.

To be qualified send in the following:

1. 1-3 high-res images of you doing what you love to do with or on your bike.

2. Name

3. Make/YR/Model of bike

4. 100-word explanation of how you rage with your machine (stunt, track, canyon, wrenching, bike shows, etc)

Submit to ssbmail@sorc.com or message us on Facebook with a Rage entry.

**See the attached image for an idea of what each qualified Rage With The Machine contest submission requires.

It's Reader's Ride Friday. If you want to see your bike featured Facebook message us or email ssbmail@sorc.com with high-res images of your bike with the following:
Name:
YR/Make/Model:
Miles Done:
Mods:
Best Upgrade:
Favorite Aspect:

 2010 Yamaha R6
Ashley Glover
Mods: Two Brothers VALE M-2 Black Series Slip On, ASV Shorty Levers, GPR V4 Stabilizer
Best Upgrade: “The GPR V4 Stabilizer is by far the best modI've done.”
Favorite Aspect: “The lines of the bike and the color. I fell in love at first sight and had to have it.”

Super Streetbike puts Sata's new paint guns to work starting with their newest SATAgraph4 airbrush.  

Award-winning airbrush artist Zac Yamada lays down some custom SEM Products Color Horizons paint and graphics on a Joe Rocket carbon fiber helmet for an upcoming Mod of the Month. Look for the step-by-step in the April 2013 issue.

Believe it or not, it's been almost three years since we took our first test ride on the 2010 BMW S1000RR. 

Our cover story quote in the February 2010 issue: "The motor is, no doubt, the strongest out there and probably will be for some time." We hit the nail on the head three years ago and we're ready to see what's new when BMW hands the keys over to us for a Long term test ride on the 2013 model. The question is: What mods shall we make? Post up your suggestions on the SSB Facebook page.