Articles by Nick Goddard
With no electricity, riding through lower Manhattan
Intrepid contributor Nick Goddard embarks on a journey through lower Manhattan on his cub. No power, no traffic lights, no cops. But plenty of crazy cab drivers, utility trucks and dangers. - Ed. Manhattan’s power outage hit traffic lights below the 30...
02 November 2012
A brief conversation with Michael Czysz
Last week, I went over the 2012 Motoczysz E1pc with Michael Czysz himself. I met him in Boston at the launch of SolidWorks 2013, which is the latest version of the software that Motoczysz uses to design their bikes and spent a few minutes talking design and aerodynamics. Here's that conversation. Update: full, 40-minute audio interview added. MotoCzysz uses SolidWorks for an astounding range o...
16 September 2012
News
How to shoot pedestrians with your motorcycle
Just over a month ago, there was much fanfare about two bikers in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, who incited riots with their motorcycles’ exhausts and who were eventually charged with terrorism. It is worth mentioning that San Luis Potosi has been hit with drug violence, and that its residents were already on edge. Still, terrorism? Juan Ramon Munguia and Enrique Trevino Rivera were leaving work o...
22 May 2012
Why real dirt bike boots prevent face scars
I’ve had these fantastic Sidis on my desk for a while now, but living in New York, don’t have access to any dirtbikes or any nearby dirt. That’s a pity, because the Crossfire SRS boots are made in Italy, allow your ankle to articulate, are famously comfortable and do an excellent job of protecting your bones. Too bad I wasn't wearing them when I crashed a dirt bike a while back. Here's what ...
23 April 2012
News
Bomb planted by motorcyclists kills Iranian nuclear scientist
Tensions escalated between Iran, Israel, and the US on Wednesday after two assailants on a motorcycle rode by Iranian nuclear scientist Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan and planted a magnetic bomb on his car. As the motorcyclists roared away, the bomb detonated and killed Roshan. According to US intelligence sources—who deny being involved in the blast—Israel is routinely killing key persons in the Ira...
13 January 2012
Riding through Hurricane Irene
The stage was set for biblical floods: even the city itself thought New York had only a day left to live. Bridge tolls were suspended, the Staten Island Ferry was docked and all subways and busses had been relocated to higher ground or inside tunnels. Sunday’s 8:30 AM high tide would coincide with the eye of Hurricane Irene and Mayor Bloomberg had issued a mandatory evacuation of flood zones. N...
29 August 2011
Riding NY in the snow
It seems silly to spend evenings daydreaming about the adventures to be had riding around the world on an R1 or GS — through thunderstorms, deserts and swamps — before hopping on the subway in the morning because it’s too cold or rainy to ride. If I only ride in the sun, am I a real motorcyclist? Wednesday morning, I woke up to a snowstorm. I take the subway when it's pouring or if I'm reall...
28 January 2011
News
Driving Peru's Mototaxis
Meet Peru's transportation oddity, the Mototaxi, a Honda 125 or 150 city bike--or more likely a Chinese copy of one--with two wheels and a couch stuck on where the swingarm should be. Never has something with so little power looked so cool to so many. > Eighteen-year-olds in Mototaxis run the streets in Peru. Fares are settled before the ride; a 5 kilometer trip might cost 3 Sols (about $1).
10 December 2009