A Californian rider has been awarded a $US21.5m (about $A31.5m) payout for injuries suffered when a Kia Optima illegally left the carpool lane and jettisoned his bike across three lanes into a truck.
The fiery crash in February 2018 left rider Matthew Rada with “catastrophic” injuries that ended his career as a graphic artist.
GoPro video from another rider was used as evidence in the LA Court.
The verdict against the driver and his employer may yet be appealed.
However, it dwarfs a payout earlier this year to a North Carolina Harley rider.
He was awarded $US4m (almost $A6m) after a crash with a driver who failed to yield right-of-way.
The 29-year-old rider was travelling about 15mph (about 24km/h) when he was struck by a vehicle that accelerated away from a stop sign without seeing the motorcycle.
America is renowned for its excessive compensation payouts, mainly due to high medical costs.
According to a study by US Jury Verdict Research, theaverage motorcycle accident verdict is about $A560,000 and the median verdict award just over $US70,000.
Crash payout
In Australia, payouts for motor vehicle crashes are a lot less and rarely over $1m.
Compensation can be determined by a number of factors.
They include physical and mental injuries, the rider’s age, hospital expenses, on-going medical costs, pain and suffering, motorcycle damage and loss of earnings.
Harley-Davidson Australia have recalled 363 trikes over an issue where a rear brake could suddenly activate.
The official recall notice, issued through theAustralian Competition and Consumer Commission, says it affects the 2019-20 CVO Tri Glide, Tri Glide Ultra and Freewheeler. (VINs of affected vehicles listed at the end of this article.)
“The electro-hydraulic control unit (EHCU) software may respond incorrectly to a faulty rear wheel speed signal by activating one of the rear brakes,” the ACCC notice says.
“Unintended brake activation may increase the risk of an accident or injury to the vehicle occupants and other road users.”
Owners should contact their nearest Harley-Davidson Australia dealer “immediately to schedule a safety recall service to install new software, free of charge”.
2020 Harley-Davidson CVO Tri-glide
2019 recalls
This is the third recall for Harley-Davidson this year following an issue with aftermarket saddlebags falling off and Street models developing rust on the brakes.
With just a few weeks to go in 2019, there have been 24 recalls of motorcycles plus two accessories (the Harley bags and a Honda Monkey bike rack).
The most recalls this year was six for Yamaha; followed by 4 for BMW; Harley, Honda, Suzuki and Triumph on three (if you count the aftermarket accessories for Harley and Honda); and one each for Kawasaki, Indian, Piaggio and KTM.
That compares with the previous year where Ducati had 6;Indian, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, KTM, Triumph 3; BMW, Harley, Husqvarna, Moto Guzzi 2, Aprilia and MV Augusta one each.
Even though manufacturers and importers usually contact owners when a recall is issued, the bike may have been sold privately to a rider unknown to the company.
Therefore, Motorbike Writer publishes all motorcycle and scooter recalls as a service to all riders.
If you believe there is an endemic problem with your bike that should be recalled, contact the ACCC on 1300 302 502.
To check whether your motorcycle has been recalled, click on these sites:
A fantastic display of affection shown for Carlin Dunne and his foundation.
Begin press release:
The New York motorcycle community gathered last week to show their generous support for the Carlin Dunne Foundation and to commemorate the Ducati racer’s legacy with a charity auction. The event, organized by Ducati North America in partnership with Canoe Studios NYC, featured a silent auction and a display of helmets from Carlin’s career. The auction ended with more than $60,000 being raised for the Carlin Dunne Foundation.
Guests who attended the Manhattan event on December 5 were able to share memories of Dunne during an evening of comradery which featured a retrospective of Dunne’s career given by Ducati North America CEO Jason Chinnock. During the silent auction, unique items were dontated from partners at Bell Helmets, Alpinestars, Cardo Systems, Yeti and Spider Grips. Personal signed items were donated by former World Champions Wayne Rainey, Kenny Roberts and Eddie Lawson, among others with all proceeds going to The Carlin Dunne Foundation.
The Carlin Dunne Foundation was established this summer after the passing of Dunne. The foundation was created with the help of proceeds from the auction of the #005 Panigale V4 916 25th Anniversario, and the charity was built with one vision and two objectives: First, the foundation focuses on helping athletes diagnosed with, or at risk for, CTE, Concussion Syndrome, and Traumatic Brain Injury. Secondly, the foundation is dedicated to providing mentorship programs for up-and-coming riders while developing a network focused on providing tools necessary to succeed, including programs geared to help rookies navigate the racing business and hone their skills in the extreme sports arena.
Razlan: “For the Malaysian Grand Prix, having the team was fantastic. The crowd came in droves to support not only the event but our team, and working together with PETRONAS has been very effective both for us and for Malaysia. Getting over 100,000 people on Sunday was amazing, and to see so many of them wearing team merchandise makes me very proud. Although the results weren’t what we were hoping for, to start from pole and finish inside the top five was great. Maybe we can do better next year in the race, but in general we’ve given the young kids in Malaysia something to aspire to. They can now see that the dream of being a MotoGP rider can be reality if you work hard.”
Mike Di Meglio (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS MotoE™ Team rider): “I am very happy to be able to continue one more year in Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS. 2019 has been a year of ups and downs. We started very well, but the falls in Misano slowed our progression and limited our chances of fighting for the title. MotoE are very short races in a very short championship, so there is no room for error. This first year has been one of learning and we have acquired experience that will be very useful for us to fight again for the title. In addition, I am sure that both the bikes and the tyres will evolve for next year and it will be very interesting to be able to live it in the first person.”
Today an official recall was issued for Harley-Davidson Trike models sold in Australia from March 12, 2018 through to November 5, 2019.
There are 363 trikes affected by this safety issue that relates to possible faulty brake application by the electronically controlled EHCU, that might stem from a faulty rear wheel speed signal.
The CVO Tri Glide, Tri Glide Ultra and Freewheeler are all affected and owners should contact Harley-Davidson to have the fault rectified at their earliest convenience.
Recall Notice
Details
PRA No.
2019/18001
Date published
10 Dec 2019
Campaign Number
0175
Harley-Davidson Trike Models
CVO Tri Glide (FLHTCUTGSE)
Tri Glide Ultra (FLHTCUTG)
Freewheeler (FLRT)
Model Years
2019-2020
Affected Vehicles
363
What are the defects?
The electro-hydraulic control unit (EHCU) software may respond incorrectly to a faulty rear wheel speed signal by activating one of the rear brakes.
What are the hazards?
Unintended brake activation may increase the risk of an accident or injury to the vehicle occupants and other road users.
What should consumers do?
Affected consumers should contact their nearest Harley-Davidson Australia dealer immediately to schedule a safety recall service to install new software, free of charge.
Many riders like to get into the holiday spirit by wearing Santa, elf, Elmo or reindeer novelty helmet covers.
However, they could be a safety hazard, they may void your insurance and some police say they may be illegal.
Safety aspects of novelty covers
While novelty helmet covers may be fun and potentially protect your helmet from dust, scratches and chips, they could also be a safety hazard.
They can come loose and obscure your vision or become a choking hazard, especially at high speeds.
Most suppliers recommend they not be worn on the highway, but only at city speeds.
Since most are only worn in charity parades, speed should not be an issue.
But be aware that they can reduce ventilation which would make them stiflingly hot on a summer’s day in a slow-moving toy run procession.
They may also suppress important surrounding noises such as emergency sirens or the sound of screeching tyres.
Legal aspects of novelty covers
While we cannot find any legal reference in the Australian Road Rules to these novelty covers, police can still issue a ticket if they believe it is an offence.
So we contacted them for their interpretation of the road rules.
VicPol say it is “not possible to provide a blanket yes or no answer to your query, as it must be assessed on an individual basis”.
They suggest the following points could impact on the compliance:
The correct fitment is highly unlikely as the covers are “one size fits all’ and not manufactured for specific brand / model helmets.
The cover has the potential to impede vision through the visor when fitted or whilst travelling.
The cover may prevent the rider from securing the helmet correctly through the helmet buckle.
The cover has the potential to move / fall off at speed.
Queensland and South Australia police say novelty helmet covers are legal:
Novelty helmet covers are not illegal, as long as the rider is wearing a motorcycle helmet that complies with Australian standards and is securely fastened. Riders will need to ensure that the novelty cover does not obscure their vision.
WA Police did not respond, but the Western Australia Road Safety Commission says riders are already vulnerable road users and “wearing gear that might potentially make it harder for riders to spot other road users would not improve this situation”.
ACT Police say they would “take action against the user of the helmet cover if it contributed to an incident or collision (for example, if the cover impeded the vision of a rider)”.
“It is concerning to police that the manufacturers openly identify significant risks to the user of the product on their website,” they say.
Bah humbug
Since most riders wear novelty helmets as part of a fund-raising or at least fun-raising ride, it would be a particularly belligerent Scrooge cop who fined a rider over a helmet cover!
Speaking of Scrooges: If you crash while wearing a novelty helmet cover, your insurance company may use it as an excuse to void your policy.
For the Ducatisti tragic who has everything, how about this collection of Ducati racing memorabilia from MotoGP and World Superbikes that is now on sale.
The first load of limited-edition gear includes crankshafts, camshafts, pistons and con-rods with more being added over time.
Each item of memorabilia comes in a smartly styled plexiglass display case together with a certificate of authenticity, a technical description and info on the relative rider and world championship season.
DU 2019-11-14 MEMORABILIA
All are personally certified by Ducati Corse boss Gigi Dall’Igna and Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali who was recently announced as the as the new President of the Italian Motor Valley Association. Motor Valley is the area of Italy that includes most of the auto makers, 15 auto museums and several race and testing tracks.
Claudio with a Panigale V4 R
Unfortunately, Ducati memorabilia items can only be purchased at the Ducati Store in Borgo Panigale, Bologna, and at selected Ducati dealerships.
However, from next year you can order online at www.ducati.com.
A Canadian company is working on battery technology that will recharge an electric motorcycle in about five minutes without reducing battery life.
The discovery by GBatteries is a potential boost for electric motorcycles and other vehicles as recharging time, not range anxiety, is the biggest hurdle.
Harley-Davidson claims its LiveWire electric motorcycle can be recharged to 80% in about 30minutes using DC fast chargers.
LIveWires on DC fast chargers
Recharge in minutes
However, this process degrades the battery, shortening its life.
Now GBatteries has discovered a process where micro pulses of power will charge batteries quickly without any degradation.
They have filed for 45 patent applications, with 10 patents granted and 28 pending.
“Our mission is to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, by eliminating the final barrier of charge time and enabling electric vehicles to charge as fast as it takes to fill a tank of gas,” the company says.
“One hour isn’t what we call fast. We’re pioneering technology that will enable electric vehicles to charge as fast as it takes to fill a tank of gas.”
How it works
GBatteries isn’t developing new materials or changing battery chemistry. Instead it is working on new software and hardware.
Their ChargeSense software uses artificial intelligence to create a complex series of small charging pulses and learn about the state of the battery as it charges to avoid degeneration and overheating.
Fast charger causes a fire in the Energica garage housing MotoE race bikes
The author flogging a 2020 Arch KRGT-1 along the Angeles Forest Highway. Photos by Alessio Barbanti/Arnaud Puig/ARCH Motorcycle.
I’m going to be brutally honest. I showed up in Pasadena, where Rider Magazine was being given the opportunity to ride the new Arch KRGT-1, with low expectations. That’s probably not fair, but it’s the truth. I’m jaded and cynical. I’ve ridden a lot of bikes, sat through a lot of technical presentations and talked to a lot of engineers and designers. There’s so much that goes into building a motorcycle from the ground up — one that not only looks good but functions well — that frankly I didn’t expect what I saw as a movie star’s pet project would amount to much of anything. (Keanu Reeves is a co-founder of Arch Motorcycle, along with designer and builder Gard Hollinger.)
Well, I was wrong.
Arch invited us to ride its KRGT-1 for a reason: they wanted it to get the regular treatment, a complete shakedown from a respected industry magazine. Still, Arch is a small company that hand-builds each machine to order, so I’d be surprised if Gard, Keanu and the rest of the crew didn’t harbor at least a little emotional attachment to the bike and our opinion of it. After all, they’ve invested years of blood, sweat, tears and time — in Gard and Keanu’s case, more than a decade — into the KRGT-1. And a couple of skeptical moto-journalists were getting ready to thrash two of the precious machines on one of the most famous (and locally notorious) stretches of curvaceous road in the LA area: the Angeles Crest Highway.
At the Arch Motorcycle factory in Hawthorne, near Los Angeles, we got to see (and sit on) the bike that eventually became the KRGT-1: a 2005 Harley Dyna. The only remaining original part is the engine.
Before we get to that, though, a brief backstory. Arch Motorcycle was born from circumstances that most of us can totally relate to: a guy (Keanu Reeves) had a motorcycle (an ’05 Harley Dyna) whose character (pure Americana) he loved…but he wanted more from it, specifically in the handling department. So he asked respected builder and owner of LA County Choprods, Gard Hollinger, if he could help. The two started making changes and adjustments. Afterwards Keanu would go out and ride the bike in the twisting canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains, then he’d return with feedback and they’d go at it again. By 2012, the ’05 Dyna they’d started with had morphed into the genesis of what would eventually become the KRGT-1. All that remained of the original machine was the engine — everything else, including the frame and swingarm, had been created from scratch. “You know,” they said to each other, “we could make more of these.” And so Arch Motorcycle was born.
So here we are in Pasadena, it’s 7:30 a.m. and one of those Southern California November mornings that elicits a groan of anguished envy from most of the rest of the country. We’d been given no technical presentation or press kit. Instead we were ushered to a corner of the hotel where we were introduced to both Gard and Keanu, slurped a bit of coffee and shown to the bikes. There were three examples sitting outside, red, blue and silver, and we were given our choice for the ride. Each KRGT-1 is unique, curated by the Arch team with the client to create a motorcycle that is ergonomically and aesthetically bespoke. In short, the bike is built to fit your body as well as to look the way you want it. I wondered silently for whom these three had been built, then was provided the answer for one—the blue one was Keanu’s personal bike.
The KRGT-1’s machined billet aluminum gas tank is a work of art and science in itself. It’s a two-part design, with the steel frame’s backbone running down the middle. The two halves attach on either side, with hoses keeping the fuel level equal, and once bolted on the tank(s) are stiff enough to act as a stressed member of the frame. In between sits Arch’s proprietary downdraft induction system, shown here, developed in partnership with K&N. Photo by the author.
Despite a Harley-Davidson being the genesis of the KRGT-1, the production bike is powered by a massive 124ci (that’s 2,032cc for those of you keeping score at home) S&S mill that Arch modified with its own primary drive, powertrain and clever 45-degree downdraft intake system that does away with the unsightly air filter protruding from one side. The frame is a steel and aluminum hybrid — steel downtubes and backbone, with machined aluminum clutching the rear of the engine and arcing over the rear wheel.
This is actually the second iteration of the KRGT-1 and a direct result of Keanu and Gard’s relentless quest for improvement. Compared to the first version released in 2015, the 2020 KRGT-1 includes more than 20 major changes and 150 new components, including the swingarm, suspension, brakes, bodywork and controls.
The first thing one must understand when looking at a KRGT-1 is that nearly every metal piece you see apart from the engine itself is machined billet aluminum. That includes the sculpted two-piece gas tank, which itself requires more than 33 hours to complete and is ingeniously designed to operate as a stressed member of the frame, the massive but lightweight swingarm, the headlight cowl and the side plates that accommodate the new swingarm pivot, which is attached directly to the engine.
Each KRGT-1 contains around 150 pounds of machined billet aluminum. Very clean examples are used for customers who want a bare, polished look, while parts with even a hint of imperfect swirling will be anodized.
The second thing is that no expense was spared. When you’ve got the support of Keanu Reeves, a true moto-head who owns but one car and goes everywhere on a motorcycle — if not his KRGT-1 then often an old Norton Commando — and a master of metal in Gard Hollinger, sparing no expense is something you can and should do. Fully adjustable front and rear suspension is by Öhlins and was developed in partnership with Arch specifically for this model. A new larger-diameter 48mm fork has a special carrier at the bottom to accommodate 130mm mounts for the massive new six-piston ISR calipers (two-channel Bosch ABS is standard). Clutch and front brake assemblies are by Magura, five-spoke carbon fiber wheels are by South African company BST (Blackstone Tek), exhaust is by Yoshimura and tires are Michelin Commander IIs.
Arch Motorcycle R&D Manager Ryan Boyd (left) is the man responsible for taking each KRGT-1 from computer screen design to finished product.
Settled into the deeply scooped saddle, feet on the narrow forward controls, we gradually wicked up the pace as we climbed the mountain, holding the throttle open a bit more and bending a bit deeper with every corner. It might resemble just another custom chopper from a distance, but I was having one of those come-to-Jesus moments where one realizes that one’s prejudgment was quite wrong and one will have to explain this in a (hopefully) well-written review pitched at others likely to have the same prejudgmental opinions.
Now, is this a Panigale or RSV4 or ZX-10R? No, and Arch doesn’t make such ridiculous claims. What it is: an American cruiser, distilled to its essence then fortified with top-quality components and construction techniques designed to bring out the best in performance. Despite the 240-series Michelin rear tire, the KRGT-1 leans willingly and, once there, sticks stubbornly to its line. The long wheelbase helps but so does the stiff chassis and the downright amazing suspension, which was plush yet offered good feel and matched up well with some of the best front brakes of any bike I’ve yet ridden. And with a claimed 122 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheel it pulls like a freight train down low, although it runs out of juice fairly early — remember this is a power cruiser, not a superbike.
Admittedly I was riding a bit more cautiously than normal, given this bike belonged to a certain actor, but still the KRGT-1 impressed with its seriously sporty handling. With the right pilot aboard this thing might catch an unsuspecting sport rider by surprise.
By the time we stopped midway through the ride to meet up with Keanu and Gard for a quick Q&A before continuing on, it had become clear this was a machine that had been tested and developed in the canyons and on the mountain roads of the Santa Monicas, not (flat, straight, traffic-choked) Hawthorne Boulevard. “But it also has to work on Hawthorne Boulevard,” responded Keanu matter-of-factly.
And to that end, I was a bit surprised at how docile and easy to handle the fire-breathing monster could be. In hot, stop-and-go city traffic, sure the clutch pull starts to feel a bit heavy and the S&S generates considerable heat, but throttle response is smooth and linear and the low-to-mid powerband feels flat as a pancake (I’d love to get a KRGT-1 onto the Jett Tuning dyno). Vibration from the rubber-mounted engine is readily apparent at stoplights but smoothes right out once underway. It cruises the city boulevards like, well, a cruiser should. In short, Gard, Keanu and team have actually created an American bike worthy of the often over-used term “power cruiser.”
The KRGT-1 cruises like a boss. Loping along at 1,800 rpm, give the throttle a twist in any gear, however, and hold on tight.
What makes the KRGT-1 special, however — what justifies its $85,000 out-the-door price tag — is not just its performance. It’s the fact that when you buy one you’re getting a machine that is hand-built and made specifically for you. The process is a consultation rather than a “sign here” order taking, with the new owner remaining in close partnership with the Arch team throughout the 90-day build. Since there are no dealerships, any aftersale work is coordinated with local service centers vetted by the Arch team, and in many cases the owner has the direct contact info for R&D Manager Ryan Boyd, in case questions or issues arise.
So while it’s true that the KRGT-1 is a limited-production, hand-built, expensive piece of rolling art it’s also a bike that performs better than it has any right to, and that is a direct result of the vision, passion and talent of Gard Hollinger, Keanu Reeves, Ryan Boyd and the entire Arch team. And they aren’t stopping here — next up is a naked sportbike dubbed the 1S. Here’s to hoping I get invited to ride that one too.
2020 Arch Motorcycle KRGT-1.
2020 Arch KRGT-1 Specs
Base Price: $85,000 Website:archmotorcycle.com Engine Type: Air-cooled, transverse 60-degree V-twin, DOHC, 2 valves per cyl. Displacement: 124ci (2,032cc) Bore x Stroke: 104.8 x 117.5mm Transmission: Arch proprietary 6-speed w/hydraulically-actuated dry clutch Final Drive: O-ring chain Wheelbase: 68 in. Rake/Trail: 30 degrees/5.0 in. Seat Height: 27.8 in. Claimed Dry Weight: 538 lbs. Fuel Capacity: 5 gals. MPG: NA
Keep scrolling for more pictures!
The author poses with Arch Motorcycle founders Keanu Reeves and Gard Hollinger.LED headlight includes cornering lights.Massive six-piston ISR calipers squeeze two floating 320mm discs up front, while a four-piston caliper pinches a 240mm in the rear. Bosch ABS is standard.Billet aluminum abounds, including around the old-school red dot matrix display and even the key.The hybrid steel/aluminum frame includes a new swingarm pivot built into the rear of the engine.Scooped seat is customized to fit each client.More billet aluminum: the headlight cowl.Serrated pegs offer excellent grip, which is good given the narrowness of the forward controls.Inside the Arch Motorcycle factory in the Los Angeles area.The Method 143 is a radical prototype that will give birth to Arch’s next model, the 1S.
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