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Motorcycle News, News

Energica Teams Up with Cellularline and Alascom for Voice-Activation Tech

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Energica has been working with two other Italian brands on a new way for riders to interact with their motorcycles – using voice-enabled functions on the bike. 

According to motorradonline.de, the CTO (Chief Technology Officer or Technical Director) at Energica, Giampiero Testoni: 

“Thanks to this innovative communication system, the driver will be able to find information about his vehicle easily and without distraction while driving: Alascom uses artificial intelligence to guide you To create voice assistants that improve the motorcyclist’s driving experience, with intuitive voice commands that aim to manage and control the essential functions of the motorcycle.”

Energica-Ego

When it comes to voice-controlled interfaces, the technology itself isn’t new. Voice-activated commands have been in plenty of automobiles for years. However, this technology has not been found in motorcycles with the exception of Honda’s RoadSync equipped bikes.

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In theory, this technology will be very useful for setting up trips or checking maintenance intervals. I’m not sure how practical it would be while whizzing down the highway at 60mph if compared to changing the song on your voice-activated Bluetooth device. 

Voice-activation will certainly be more convenient instead of scrolling through menus while in transit. Actions like “Energica, enable rain mode” would save you from having to pull over and run through complex systems found on brand new motorcycles.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

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Motorcycle theft plummets in pandemic

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Rates of motorcycle theft in Australia took a welcome 16.7% drop during the pandemic lockdown last year.

Thefts dropped from 9680 to 8059 in 2020 which was the biggest decrease in the two decades since the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council began collecting statistics.

This is largely due to the COVID lockdown and riders being unable to ride their bikes, so they were locked away in garages.

However, your motorcycle is not even safe in a locked garage. Check this tip to secure your motorcycle in your garage.

The 2020 motorcycle theft trend reflects a drop in all motor vehicle thefts across the nation of 15%.

Profit-motivated theft by professionals where the bikes are usually not recovered dropped 12.1% from 4633 to 4072, which was the biggest decrease in any category of vehicles.

But it appears the lockdown had an even bigger impact on short-term theft for joy rides or to use vehicles for other crimes where bikes are later recovered with these thefts down 21% from 5047 to 3987.

The trend varied across the nation with the biggest drop in numbers in Western Australia.

Surprisingly, Victoria recorded the lowest drop in thefts despite the fact that it suffered the longest periods of lockdown.

2019 2020 % change
Thefts
% of thefts 
 Thefts
% of thefts 
ACT 126 93 -26.2% 
NSW 2,142 1,911 -10.8% 
NT 97 61 -37.1% 
QLD 2,010 1,693 -15.8% 
SA 824 696 -15.5% 
TAS 192 148 -22.9% 
VIC 2,122 1,915 -9.8% 
WA 2,167 1,542 -28.8% 
AUS 9,680 100.0 8,059 100.0 -16.7% 

Once again, South East Queensland was the hot-spot for thefts, which could be why insurance premiums are so high.

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Of the top 10 Local Government Areas where motorcycle thefts occurred, SEQ had the top two spots and four in the top 10.

State or Territory LGA 2019 2020 % change
QLD Brisbane (City) 526 511 -2.9% 
QLD Gold Coast (City) 283 229 -19.1% 
VIC Melbourne (City) 250 210 -16.0% 
QLD Moreton Bay (Regional Council) 184 144 -21.7% 
NSW Sydney (City) 149 132 -11.4% 
NSW Newcastle (City) 130 125 -3.8% 
QLD Logan (City) 200 121 -39.5% 
NSW Blacktown (City) 120 111 -7.5% 
VIC Moreland (City) 107 109 1.9% 
WA Cockburn (City) 171 103 -39.8% 

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

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Motorbikes help pregnant African women

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We love hearing about how motorcycles are not only a great recreational pursuit and as commuters, but also for a range of other practical and humanitarian uses.

For example, we have published articles about how they are used for couriering blood and other samples such as coronavirus testing by Blood Bikes Australia volunteers.

Blood Bikes Australia Peter Davis
Blood Bikes Australia founder Peter Davis

We even published an article about how motorcycles are useful in combatting ebola in Africa.

Rokon scout motorcycle being used in the fight against ebola
Rokon Scout motorcycles being used in the fight against ebola

Now we can report that motorcycle ambulances are being used in rural Africa to help reduce the maternal mortality rate.

Swedish multinational technology company Semcon has partnered with Eezer Initiativet to develop the motorcycle ambulances and make it easier for pregnant women and new mothers to get to hospitals.

Motorcycle ambulance in Africa
Motorcycle ambulances

In the African countryside, the nearest hospital can be a long way away, and getting there often means travelling through rough terrain. 

By using ambulance wagons towed behind motorcycles, more women can get access to care and maternal mortality can be reduced. 

Twenty-five ambulance wagons are being tested in Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Somalia, Chad and Burkina Faso. 

The long-term goal is to have 3,000 wagons in place around Africa by 2030.

Motorcycle paramedics

“It’s been amazing to work for such a good cause. We’ve been working across office boundaries at Semcon and it’s been a really rewarding project,” says Kristina Svahnström, Human Factors Specialist at Semcon, who participated in the project.

Semcon helped to develop the concept using a design to protect the patient from rain and road dust, a towing solution to prevent the wagon from overturning, and a new wagon for a mobile clinic that can be driven out to villages and markets.

­“It’s been extremely gratifying to work with Semcon and develop a great and sustainable product. We are committed to really trying to understand the users and to creating a design that is easy to use, with the longest service life possible,” says Lars Klingsbo, coordinator at Eezer.

Lars hopes they can extend the ambulance wagons throughout Africa.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

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Honda, Yamaha, KTM, Piaggo Sign Letter of Intent for Swappable Battery Consortium

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Honda, Yamaha, KTM, and Piaggio have all signed a letter of intent to stage a swappable electric battery consortium for EV motorcycles and lighter EV’s. 

Together, they will collaborate on batteries that can be swapped amongst each of their EV lineups. This will make it possible to use a universal battery across all models. This initiative will take some time before coming to the streets however the letter of intent is a huge step in the right direction. 

Yamaha EC-05 Concept

From the press release: ‘The aim of the Consortium will, therefore, be to define the standardized technical specifications of the swappable battery system for vehicles belonging to the L-category; mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles. By working closely with interested stakeholders and national, European and international standardization bodies, the founding members of the Consortium will be involved in the creation of international technical standards.’

Honda Managing Officer of Motorcycle Operations Noriake Abe said:

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“The worldwide electrification effort to reduce CO2 on a global scale is accelerating, especially in Europe. For the widespread adoption of electric motorcycles, problems such as travel distance and charging times need to be addressed, and swappable batteries are a promising solution. Considering customer convenience, standardization of swappable batteries and wide adoption of battery systems is vital, which is why the four-member manufacturers agreed to form the Consortium.
Honda views improving the customers’ usage environment as an area to explore cooperation with other manufacturers while bringing better products and services to customers through competition. Honda will work hard on both fronts to be the ‘chosen’ manufacturer for customer mobility.”

Activity on the new consortium will begin in May 2021, while invitations have been extended to other manufactures to join in on the initiative. Once this initiative is live and available to the consumer, it will mean huge benefits for all EV owners. It will mean less time charging and more time traveling – since you will be able to simply swap your battery and go. This concept isn’t anything new but with major players in manufacturing stepping up means it will be a matter of time before it becomes reality. 

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

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CFMoto sweetens deal on learner bike

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CFMOTO Australia has added a free dress-up kit for their learner-approved 300SR sportsbike and extended last year’s three-year warranty across all their bikes until the end of May 2021.

All CFMoto bikes until the end of 2020 receive the extended warranty, up from the standard two-year factory unlimited km warranty.

We are not sure why CFMoto would need to include this dress-up kit when the bike is so attractive, cheap and the market is so buoyant.

But who are we to look a gift horse in the mouth!

The 300SR dress-up kit includes alloy goodies valued at $699 and includes:

The fun 292.4cc sports bike already has race replica decals, aggressive styling, light weight, upside-down forks and clip-on handlebars.

And despite it only having 21.4kW of power at a screaming 8750 revs, it is a delight to flick around the city streets and up into your favourite twisting mountain road.

This is the first fully faired bike from the Chinese manufacturer and one of several firsts for the company in coming months. Other firsts are a range of 700cc bikes, a 1250cc adventure bike and even an electric range.

CFMoto is imported to Australia by Mojo Motorcycles who have kept prices competitively low on all their bikes and the 300SAR is no exception at $5790, ride away with a three-year warranty.

The main rivals to the 300SR are the Honda CBR300R at $5749, KTM RC390 ($5995), Suzuki GSX250R ($5790) and Yamaha YZF-R3 ($6299).

It comes in Nebula Black or the standout Turquoise Blue with race replica decals.

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Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

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Recall: 2016-2018 Ducati XDiavel Side Stand Issue

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There has officially been a recall announcement made by Ducati North America on two of the XDiavel trim levels because of a side stand related issue.

According to the NHTSA, only two percent of the 1,601 bikes involved in the recall should be impacted by this issue. The target models of this recall are the 2016-2018 Ducati XDiavel S and STD models.

Ducati specified that the side stand bracket could become deformed over time due to repeated use of holding the XDiavel up. Once the bracket deforms, the bike will sit on a much steeper angle when parked and in extreme circumstances, the bracket can break causing the motorcycle to fall to the ground. If the 500+lb bike were to fall, it could cause injury to anyone on or around the motorcycle. 

2018 Ducati XDiavel

The Italian-based company does not specify the actual cause for the potentially faulty bracket. It could be a design issue or it could be a quality issue, but I doubt Ducati wants to broadcast that information in either case. As of right now, there have been no injuries reported but Ducati has received multiple reports of downed XDiavels due to the side stand bracket. 

Tokyo Motor Show Yamaha Display

XDiavel owners will be receiving a notice in the mail welcoming them to have the side stand bracket replaced with a stronger one, free of charge. The official recall will begin on March 15, 2021, where XDiavel owners can reference safety recall number SRV-RCL-21-001. 

Owners who have already had the issue addressed or have incurred damages are eligible for a refund. Ducati owners who have questions, comments, or concerns are urged to contact Ducati customer service by calling 1-888-391-5446 (have your VIN on hand). As always, the NHTSA’s Safety Hotline service is available by calling 1-888-327-4236 or check www.safercar.gov for more information.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

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Brits rate GOR best motorbike road

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The Great Ocean Road along Victoria’s spectacular southern coastline has been rated the world’s most recommended motorcycle route, according to a British online insurer survey.

Confused.com consulted Adventure Biker and other motorbike enthusiasts to pick the top five most breathtaking motorbike routes and the hottest meeting points for bikers around the world.

We agree that the Great Ocean Road is simply one of the most stunning roads in all the world; our version of California’s iconic Big Sur which came in at  number three.

However, this heritage-listed road is simply too popular and you may find yourself caught behind tourists unaccustomed to driving on the left side of the road, grey nomads plodding along in Jaycos, cyclists on their own Tour de Chance and novice motorcycle riders unfamiliar with the roads. 

Even tackling this road midweek won’t guarantee a smooth run. It’s busy almost every season, almost every day.

However, there is no denying its beauty with the road rated the second-most Instagrammed road trip in the world behind the famous Route 66.

Tokyo Motor Show Yamaha Display

To find the most picturesque biker routes around the world, researchers paired up with motorbiking enthusiasts to map out the ultimate biker bucket list.

These are their most recommended routes around the world:

Great Ocean Road
Great Ocean Road
  1. The Great Ocean Road, Australia: Enjoy the beautiful landscape on this 290km-long route from buzzing Melbourne to quaint Peterborough, catching views of shoreline rainforests, limestone pinnacles and surfing beaches on the way.
  2. Cape Town Circuit, South Africa: If you prefer mountain views and desert landscapes, this 1700km-long route will take you from beautiful seaside Cape Town into the deserts of South Africa, offering great picture opportunities and a chance to see the Little Karoo Mountains.
    Big Sur Harley-Davidson touring USA America california rules dead-end route
    Big Sur
  3. Pacific Coast Highway (Big Sur), California, USA: A classic known to many, the quiet route from San Diego to San Francisco lets you soak up beautiful beach views with an unforgettable experience: crossing the all-famous Golden Gate bridge
  4. Ho Chi Minh Trail, Vietnam: This 1900km ride will take you from Hanoi to Da Lat. It boasts rocky hills, Laos’ longest bamboo bridge and winding dirt roads for the full journey
  5. Troll Ladder, Norway: While this route is only 55km long, this mountain range isn’t one for the faint-hearted. If you head over to Rauma, you can expect 11 tight hairpin bends, a nine-degree descent and incredible views from the top

The new Brit study also lists the top biker hotspots such as Harley’s Milwaukee museum, plus the UK’s biker capitals and best routes.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

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Yamaha Files for Electric Scooter Lineup Name Rights

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Yamaha has officially started the process of getting naming rights for their future electric scooter model. Rights have been filed for the name E01 which can effectively be used after May 17th, 2021, on the basis that they have no objections to using the name. 

Tokyo Motor Show Yamaha E01

The E01 name will be used for the electric scooter that Yamaha first unveiled at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. 

International Motor Shows like the Tokyo event are often the first place to see brand new concepts and production lines for major players in the Powersports industry. The prospective E01, an electric scooter that Yamaha had on display will inevitably be launched unlike the other scooter (a gas counterpart) they had on display at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. 

Yamaha E01 Concept

Filing for a name is just the tip of the iceberg for Yamaha. They also filed for the design and appearance aesthetics of the electric scooter to thwart anyone planning on copying Yamaha’s innovations. This will also help them for future scooter designs in case they choose to keep a uniform appearance. Similar to Yamaha’s current sportbike models like the YZF-R1 and its smaller counterpart models.

What can you expect from an electric Yamaha Scooter?

According to VisorDown, the E01 will have the same power characteristics as a 125cc gas scooter. It will offer the convenience of recharging at home along with very simple maintenance.

Maritha Keyser Cyclist rule endangers motorcyclists

Yamaha EC-05 Concept

Yamaha has also filed rights for an additional EV scooter named the EC-05, this model will have a removable battery for added convenience. More details to come on these EV’s in the near future.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

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Bike rental targets custom culture

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While most motorcycle rental companies target tourists with large-capacity touring or adventure bikes, one new company is targeting the emerging hipster custom or cafe-racer culture.

Oxford Street Garage, in Collingwood, Melbourne, has a range of customised small-capacity “carbon neutral” motorbikes for hire from $120 a day.

Most of the fleet are single-cylinder Japanese bikes and Royal Enfields.

Owner Georgia Murphy and her husband Tim Petheram (pictured) tell us they are targeting motorcycle enthusiasts and “lifestyle riders” who they describe those looking the “cool” factor, rather than just for the machine. 

“They look for a motorcycle which reflects their personality as a priority,” Georgia says.

Georgia and Tim

I suppose they mean “hipsters” who — like it or not — have been driving the second-hand market with their small-capacity cafe racer customs.

So, if you don’t have the skills, time and patience to slice and dice a bike into your own cafe racer, you can now just hire one and look the part!

“With international travel restrictions, we are seeing people look for other ways to seek adventure, particularly ones close to home,” Georgia says.

However, they will also look at expanding their range to include larger-capacity touring and adventure motorcycles in future.

“Riders rent motorbikes for more than just touring holidays,” Georgia says. 

“For example, if visiting family or friends in Melbourne, they may wish to have a bike to get around the city during their time here. Alternatively they may choose to take a day trip to Brighton and ride the coastal roads. 

“For these activities low capacity motorbikes may suffice, especially if it keeps the costs down. We also want to cater for a local market that may not be ready for the cost of buying their own motorcycle but still like to get out and ride occasionally.”

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Carbon neutral

And in a move that will enthuse Melbourne’s inner-city hipsters even more, they say all bikes are carbon neutral.

No, they’re not electric!

“It means we offset all carbon emissions made as a business (this included office costs as well as the emissions made from the rentals themselves),” Georgia says. 

“We do this by opting into programs which invest in carbon reducing projects e.g. planting trees.”

Oxford Street Garage has a drop-off and pick-up system so renters don’t have to visit their shop.

They also don’t have a limit on the number of kilometres you travel. Although we can’t see you going too far in a day on these bikes!

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

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Aussie bike travel company restarts

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Just eight months after the COVID pandemic claimed Australian bike travel company Compass Expeditions, they are restarting in 2022.

Bikes Abroad owner Brent Thomas and business partner Ben Willcox have bailed out the 13-year-old company and plan to release 2022 worldwide tour dates later this year.

When Compass Expeditions boss Mick McDonald reluctantly closed the company in June last year, he decided to fully refund all deposits for all future tours.

“We essentially ran out of money to continue the business but with these new financial partners we can go again,” Mick says.

“While some of our competitors mocked our unbusinesslike decision (to offer full refunds), we knew it was the ethical thing to do. 

“The outpouring of support was stunning; we received endless emails, texts, and phone calls with some actually in tears at the news of our demise. 

“We will never forget the words of encouragement and support that was shown to us, the Compass family, it was incredibly touching.” 

Brent and Ben have since stepped up and invested in the company to keep it going.

Mick will retain an interest in the business and continue to drive Compass Expeditions along with some of the other former staff. 

Tokyo Motor Show Yamaha Display

“We are so looking forward to once again visiting the amazing places we once rode and we look forward to catching up with Isaac, the Vic Falls Hotel gardener in Zimbabwe; Baktygul, the gracious B&B owner in Kyrgyzstan and the effervescent Otgoo, the manageress of the ger camp at Khovsguul Nuur, Mongolia,” their press statement says. 

“The list of wonderful friends, peoples and experiences is endless. 

“One thing remains certain however, despite a year of doom and gloom the world still remains an amazing place full of incredible people that will be desperate for us to return and return we will.” 

Mick says they have decided not to have a rental fleet in Australia anymore instead focusing solely on the tour side of the business so are selling everything at bargain prices on 13 March 2021.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com