Our WERA Champ Rusy

Revolution Engine

The Revolution Engine

From out of Hunter's past came an opportunity to enter the revolution engine in the
Create the Future Design Competition - Transportation Categtory. Aside from designing comfort into motorcycles, Ken is into trying to help clean up the planet. This engine design is part of his solution to pollution. Check out the contest and his engine if you're interested in this sort of thing.

Thanks, from the FlatBars Crew

Lanesplitting

It's legal in California. How many drivers of automobiles know that? How many understand why? Chet Patterson's film starts the conversation. Go to echet.com to download Lanesplitting
and share it.

Bicycle Phil's Mexico Cross Country Rally

Hi All,

I rode my KLR to Bishop, CA, on Tuesday to see Phil's
new KTM, and to watch him start his excellent
adventure to attmept to race the orange wonder from
Bishop to the dunes of Mexico.

As near as I can tell, Phil has been hanging out with
an intimidating crowd of Dakar-obsessed
fast-and-furious dirt bike racers. They are true
belivers, and they are out to recruit you, too.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

From Team Rally Pan America's website:
"Cross country rallies, unlike many other forms of
off-road racing, involve a lot of mental training.
You need to know how to manage your bike and body and
learn to navigate using only a roadbook and compass
heading.

"We run private training events for competitors
preparing for international rallies (as well as those
who want a 'taste' of what it's like!), where you will
learn from experienced racers all about navigating,
and keeping your head (and yourself) in the race."

Note they do not elaborate on what happens when you
fail to keep yourself "in the race" ...

There were about ten of these dirt bike beserkers at
the campsite at Bishop when I got there. Phil was off
riding his new KTM with Dave & Jen, the people who
helped Ethan with his KLR at the Sheetiron this year.
So, I was on my own.

These are the guys Phil is assocaiting with: One guy
had a bone sticking out from his shoulder from a
recent dislocation from a dirt-bike crash. Oh yes, he
was there to ride. Another had a cast on his hand from
hitting a cow in the dark down in Baja. On a dirt
bike. Killed the cow, got up, and kept riding, blood
from his broken nose filling his goggles. There was a
crew there with a custom H-D powered V-rod Dakar
side-hack, with three monster truck wheels and a rear
sprocket the size of a garbage can lid. There was a
Dakar finisher on his XR650, and the guy leading the
SCORE Baja points.

They were all very friendly. It was scary. They
offrered me a ride on the side-hack as the monkey. I
said "no sir" and prayed Phil would be back soon to
protect me ...

Phil soon returned, and everything was good. His new
bike is cool and the handle bars are festooned with
expensive navigation bits, and an extra gas tank under
the fancy aftermarket seat. New tires. Tow rope zip
tied to fork. Extra tube strapped to front
fender.Fanny pack full of tools. Camel Back. GPS.
Buttons. Switches.

I won't even get into the support trucks.

These guys are ready for anything, and ready to roll,
race, crash, get up, and do it again.

I'm pleased to say: Phil took off on Wednesday, did a
40 mile liason, raced 100 miles, climbed killer hills,
and came home in FOURTH PLACE! Woo-hoo!

He says he crashed, too.

Oh yeah, he got up and kept racing.

The EMT he went to last night said it looks like his
shoulder isn't broken.

"Ibuprophin and ice, and I'm off at 6 am on Thursday
for a 300 mile stage", sez Phil. And cook for everyone
when he's done racing for the day.

Repeat till you get to Mexico.

It's epic AND heroic.

Phil's bike looked great with Mickey's puppy-wing
sticker prominently displayed on the front number
plate.

See you in the parking lot,
-- John

Waterproof Grips Are Here

Good news for everyone who has been holding out for waterproof grips. They are here now.

Hunter Design Group is immediately converting to a new shape-conforming water-proof foam grip cover. All future Hunter FlatBars will be shipped with the new waterproof grip installed. They are the same thickness, made of skinned, closed cell EPDM (black rubbery stuff) that can stand up to sunlight without degradation. There will be no price changes.

FlatBar shows this season

I've been busy since May. It looks like I'll be staying busy.
If you'd like to see us, we will be exhibiting FlatBars at:
Stop by and chat. I'll give all investors a free FlatBars hat.

'Return Of the Wild One' Rally (Hollister,Ca) July 6-8
US Grand Prix (Laguna Seca, Monterey, Ca) July 20-22
Bay Area Bike Bash (Plesanton Fairgrounds) August 11-12
AMA World SuperBike (Laguna Seca, Monterey, Ca) Sept 15-16
Street Vibrations (Reno, Nevada) Sept 19-23
*Bike Fest (Las Vegas) Sept 27-30 *(Maybe)
Grand National Motorcycle Show (Cow Palace, So. SF) Oct 13-14
Cycle World International Motorcycle Show (San Mateo fairgrounds) Nov 16-18
CW IMS (Long Beach convention center) Dec 7-9
CW IMS (New York City) Dec 28-30
SF Rod, Custom and Motorcycle Show (Cow Palace, So. SF) January 12-14
CW IMS (Chicago) Feb 8-10
CW Dealer Show (Indianaplois) Feb (Closed to the public)

AMA Pro Race Teams with race grade (billet 6061-T6 aluminum) Hunter FlatBars:
Hunter Yamaha, Boz Brothers / Factory Team Yamaha**, Erion / Factory Team Honda
Yoshimura / Factory Team Suzuki, Fast by Feracci / Factory Team MV
Monster / Factory Team Kawasaki, Attack Kawasaki, Hooters Suzuki*
Leo Vince Racing, Ducati Corse, Rockwall Honda, Matsushima Suzuki
Jordan Suzuki, Net Moto/Repsol

Privateer Racers / AFM / WERA / MC Touring:
SFMC Race Team**, Wade Boyd Racing*, Parkhurst Racing*, Hardigan Racing
Velarde Racing, Ricci Motorsports, No Factory Support Racing*
Top Shelf MC Racing & Tours**, Pashnit MC Tours**

How 'bout that!!

Ken Hunter
Hunter Design Group, Inc
40668 Witherspoon Terrace
Fremont, Ca 94538
holeshothunter@yahoo.com
www.hunterflatbars.com
415-786-6312

Teams with FlatBars

Teams with FlatBars as of 5/07:

SFMC Racing Team

Parkhurst Racing

Velarde Racing



NOW HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS:

Boz Brothers/factory team Yamaha

Hunter Yamaha

Erion/factory team Honda

Rockwall Honda

Yoshimura/factory team Suzuki

HOOters Suzuki

Jordan Suzuki

Matsushima Suzuki

Monster Kawasaki

Attack Kawasaki

Fast by Ferracci/team MV

Ducati Corse

LeoVince Racing

No Factory Support

Net Moto/Repsol

Ricci Motorsports

Top Shelf Racing & Moto Tours (that's their race-bikes PLUS 24 V-Storm

1000s)

Eric Schiller at Infineon

Infineon Raceway April 2007

Riding under duress

Ken's latest

Riding with your throttle hand in a cast sounds impossible, but it can be done. While doing some heavy drilling, Ken broke his hand and ended up in a cast. Undaunted, he fastened a metal hook, sized to fit snugly over the FlatBar without the grip cover, onto the palm of his cast with duct tape and industrial strength velcro. He hooked his "hook" onto the FlatBar, and was able to ride with no problem. He managed 500 miles on his Concours in two weeks. We've got the pictures to prove it.

zRants

Send Wade back to the Isle of Man

Wade Boyd, privateer racer, has been a TT racing icon at the Isle of Man for over a decade. Sign the petition to send him back.

250 miles + April Snows

This is the parking lot at the Honda shop after the ride showing only a few of the bikes.



There is always someone on a different bike, check out this one which I think was a 250cc.

Astoria check point

The Columbia river between Oregon and Washington from Astoria Oregon showing that cool bridge.

Inside the Honda shop at the rides end during the raffle. This shop has an amazing collection of vintage Hondas along with lots of other brand bikes all around the ceiling of two floors. I won a can of bike cleaner for my annual bike cleaning (whether it needs it or not).

250 miles + April Snows

These are the three pirates I rode with today (no last names to protect the innocent). On the left is Dick who rides a mean Goldwing. Dick's last bike was a 1000cc K/BMW which he sold at 314,000 miles, it was not his first bike. The other two are Dave and Diane who ride an RT1100 BMW. Dave took Diane on a long bike ride for their 16 anniversary last year. Dave is the guy I told you wore out three rear tires in 2006. Diane sniveled a little today about the cold. I think Dave needs to buy her more electric clothing. Dick lives in southern Oregon and Dave and Diane are three miles from our place.



Today we rode with Rose City motorcycle club on an AMA sanctioned ride to benefit the Oregon Kidney Foundation and the Vernonia Food bank. There were 314 riders on all sorts of bikes, lots of full dressed rigs but also some sport bikes, dual sports, some hot rod Harleys and (scary to me) Trikes .

When I left Oregon City this morning at 7 AM it was 32.9 degrees but no black ice! We left the start at Beaverton Honda and it rose to a mighty 34/35 degrees and stayed there until out first check point in the rural western Oregon coast range town of Jewel. There is a wild Elk viewing area in Jewel with several herds visible from the road. Coming into Jewel we drove through a few miles of very light snow with no accumulation on the road but it still was snowing. Leaving Jewel for the north Oregon coast town of Astoria we drove through a couple of miles of light hail. when we got to Astoria for the third check point the temp had risen to a mighty 42 degrees.

At about 126 miles we crossed a very cool and very high bridge into Washington state then turned west heading for home. It rained but was a balmy 46 degrees most of the way back to the Honda shop. The final mileage was 246.8 miles and it jumped way up to 52 degrees by the time we headed home at 5:30.

I am doing a review for a magazine on a product called Hunter Flat Bars, www.hunterflatbars.com. My hands are trashed from arthritis so I have been looking for a product to help relieve the pressure on my hands and wrists so I can enjoy my re-entry (20 year suspension) into my love of motorcycle riding.

My initial thoughts were good, they seemed to make it easier on my wrists, especially at the 125 mile mark when I normally start going down hill with pain fast. More soon as I ride a few miles.

Here are a few photos, (If I can load them) I was a little lazy with the camera today, too much teeth chattering even with a heated jacket liner and grips.

Ed

Ergonomic Motorcycle Parts - Hunter FlatBars: Updated Universal Installation Instructions