While there’s a lot going on in the U.S. right now that may be cause for concern, one bright spot is that motorcycle theft isn’t a big deal.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau in the U.S. noted that motorcycle theft is down. According to the numbers represented in the study, Motorcycle News pointed out that you have a 0.45 percent chance of having your bike stolen in the U.S. In the UK, however, you have a 2.3 percent chance.
Things in Australia look even better. We reported on the fact that motorcycle thefts in Australia dropped during the pandemic. In the past fiscal year, only 9,021 motorcycles were stolen. The most recent number for total motorcycles registered in Australia that I can find comes from a 2011 study. It said that there were about 680,000 motorcycles registered in Australia. 2011 is a while ago, but if it’s close to accurate today, that would mean there’s about a 0.01 percent chance that an Aussie would have his bike stolen in any given year.
It’s interesting to think about, and suggests that motorcycle theft isn’t much of a problem for both U.S. and Australian riders. 2020 does have some good news after all.
Brisbane rider Daniele Milazzo grew up watching the Dakar Rally on SBS TV and always dreamt of owning one of the victorious BMW race bikes.
Instead of trying to find an ex-race bike, Daniele set about totally rebuilding a 1983 BMW R 80 ST and customising it into a G/S version.
“It’s not a full rally replica, but more of a comfort off-road tourer,” Daniele says.
BMW Motorrad built the R 80 G/S from 1980 to 1987 and won the famous Europe-to-Africa Dakar Rally in 1981,1983–1985 with the R 80.
After the rally organisers reduce the engine capacity limits because of the dangers of the powerful high-speed machines, BMW won again in 1999 and 2000 with an F 650 model.
Daniele, a 44-year-old digital designer, has been riding since 2000 on everything from a Vespa to a BMW R 1200 GS.
“I chose this bike because growing up I remember vividly the Sahara Dakars,” he says.
“The adventure you could sense in those early races.”
So why an R 80 ST?
“One day I met Ron Van de Weil, a very experience mechanic, and after talking to him, we embarked on the journey of improving what is a solid machine and restoring what needs to be fixed.
“The bike has been rebuilt from the ground up. It’s a comfortable adventure bike. Meticulously put together.”
We think it looks pretty cool!
If you have a special custom bike you would like to share with us, click here to send an email.
The latest blatant ripoff of motorcycle design by the Chinese is a Moto S450RR which looks very much like BMW’s S 1000 RR and even features a version of the famous Bavarian marque’s blue roundel logo.
It is not the first nor the last ripoff of successful motorcycle and car models by the Chinese who are making headlines for intellectual property and data theft almost daily.
In fact, It’s not the first BMW ripoff, either.
Last year we reported on a BMW G 310 GS ripoff, called an Everest Kaiyue 400X.
They claim the global market is flooded with replicas of their classic scooters from China, India and Thailand.
The Chinese seem immune to international trade laws that bind other countries.
We all know the Chinese make cheap copies of well-known brands and many of us probably have a Gucci belt made of plastic in a sweatshop in China
However, the Chinese have also made a lot of copies of bigger and more expensive products such as cars.
Some of the cars Chinese manufacturers have copied include the Range Rover Evoque, Smart ForTwo, Hummer, Porsche Cayman, Audi A6, Jeep Cherokee, BMW X1, Rolls-Royce Phantom and MINI Cooper.
Several car manufacturers tried to stop them copying their cars, but failed in an obstructive and partisan legal system, so they formed alliances with Chinese companies to make their products for the local market.
Honda and Yamaha have also tried to fight Chinese manufacturers in the courts over breach of copyright, but it is a long process as there are hundreds of knockoff manufacturers.
So, like the car makers, Honda has formed an allegiance with one of the knockoff Chinese companies to make their bikes for the local market.
Images for this article sourced from MotoSaigon.vn
A collection of more than 20 classic BMW motorcycles, representing eight decades of the Bavarian machines, will hit the auction block this weekend in Switzerland.
The Bonhams auction returns to Bonmont Golf and Country Club in Cheserex, Switzerland on Sunday 20 September 2020.
The Bonmont auction features classic and modern vehicles, but the highlights will be two exceptionally rare and sought after 1920s BMWs.
A 1927 BMW R42 is estimated to fetch up to $US53,000 while a 1928 R57, one of only 1006 produced, is estimated to reach as much as $US85,000.
Post-war motorcycles offered include a 1976 BMW R90S (up to $20,000) and a 1982 example of the BMW R80G/S (up to $US15,500), the ‘gentleman’s green laner’ model which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
Also featured in The Bonmont Sale is a 1977 Honda CB500 Swiss police motorcycle (up to $US16,500) which served in the cantons of Frebourg and then Solthurn, estimate.
The Bonhams Bonmont Sale will be held on Sunday 20 September starting at 2pm (CEST).
It will be a traditional live auction, with an auctioneer at the rostrum and bids will be accepted from clients in the room (respecting social distancing and all local COVID guidelines), with limited public admission by prior appointment.
Are you a William Shatner fan and a fan of Harley-Davidson’s new LiveWire electric motorcycle? Then you really should consider this auction.
Chicago Harley-Davidson will be auctioning off Shatner’s Yellow Fuse LiveWire. It will feature an autographed tank. Shatner is best known for his acting, specifically for his roles in Star Trek and Boston Legal, but he’s also an author, producer, director, screenwriter, singer, and motorcyclist.
He decided to auction off his own LiveWire at Chicago Harley-Davidson. It’s unclear why he wants to auction off the bike, but he did say the following in a press release: “This is my very own bike. I hope you love it as much as I do.”
My guess is that he doesn’t like it enough to keep it and would like to get it out of his garage so he can buy something else.
Anyway, the LiveWire is an impressive machine. My colleague Jim Pruner at Web Bike World rode one for a review recently and called the bike misunderstood and underestimated.
The main criticism many have of the LiveWire is its price. The bike has a $30,000 price tag in the U.S. It’s a lot of money for the range and performance, and I can’t imagine Shatner’s bike will be cheap either. For more information, check out Windy City Motorcycle Company.
According to our previous reporting, the LiveWire will come available in Australia in September of this year. It’s already available in other markets.
The October 2020 issue of Cycle World magazine will be its last print issue ever. The publication is moving to a digital-only platform. This news should come as little surprise as fewer and fewer motorcycle publications go to print.
Motorcyclist, Cycle World’s sister publication, made this move in May of 2019, so the writing was on the wall for Cycle World.
However, the end of the print publication is only part of the story. Cycle World and Motorcyclist were owned by Bonnier Corporation. Bonnier sold its powersports publications to Octane, a powersports finance company.
“Our goal for this acquisition is to ensure that unbiased product reviews, rigorous and objective testing, and informed storytelling will continue to be available to powersports enthusiasts,” said Jason Guss, CEO of Octane. “When combined with Octane’s financing platform and dealership partners, consumers will soon be able to go directly from researching their dream vehicle to owning it, in a fast, seamless process.”
Octane said it will continue to invest in the publications to make them even better than they were before. Much of the staff at these publications will stay the same, though I’m sure there will be some changing of things as the transition occurs.
Many people see Bonnier’s stewardship of these publications and others as a major failure. The company bought Cycle World, Motorcyclist, and several other motorcycle publications and cut print issues and killed off publications that many said were still viable publications. Earlier this year, Bonnier tried to sell off all its powersports publications and even hired a firm to help it do that.
The move by Octane to buy the publications make sense from a business standpoint. The company is in the business of selling motorcycles, and that means all those old reviews that Cycle World and Motorcyclist published still have value to the company.
This could be a new way for large publications to exist. The antiquated advertiser and subscriber model is a tough one to do well in 2020, and Octane has an incentive to put out great content through these publications and make a killing on the back of that content through motorcycle financing.
It’s a smart move, and one that should see Motorcyclist and Cycle World continue on for years to come.
Motorcycles, scooters, and mopeds are an ideal alternative to public transport as people social distance during the pandemic, says Australia’s first world motorcycle champion Wayne Gardner.
In a second YouTube video to promote a “Better Deal for Riders” petition, Wayne says social distancing is now part of our lifestyle and powered two-wheelers are the answer as well as “fun”.
>He urges riders to sign the Two Wheel Action Group’s petition calling for a better deal for riders that includes free tolls and parking, and lower rego and insurance.
Click here if you would like to sign the petition that will go to appropriate state and federal ministers. Or use this QR Code.
It calls for a raft of concessions to get Australia moving on a more convenient form of transport than public transport which is being shunned by the public with genuine fears of Coronavirus infection.
Key points:
Lower the cost of powered two-wheel registration and compulsory third party insurance ($50 – 50cc, $100 – LAMS, $200 – Open standardise across all states);
50cc scooters, mopeds, and equivalent electric bikes able to be ridden on a car license Australia-wide;
Incentives for commuters to buy electric-powered bikes through green fund rebates (as per current solar rebates) and no stamp duty charges;
National exemption from motorway, bridge and tunnel toll charges; and
Free parking and footpath parking, except in public thoroughfares and walkways.
TWAG spokesman and retired industry veteran Stuart Strickland says it’s not enough, but it’s a “good start”.
“There more than one million motorcycle license holders in Australia, so it is reasonable to assume they will sign if they are presented with the petition,” he says.
“The petition requires serious numbers to influence changes to legislation. We haven’t sought endorsements from politicians.”
Stuart says the petition is the first “positive behaviour by anyone in the motorcycle community for a long time”.
“TWAG wants to get dialogue going on motorcycling issues and the timing is right with COVID impacting every Australian.
“Personal mobility, economics, and social distancing are best handled with small motorcycles and scooters.”
More videos will be rolled out over the next four weeks through Facebook and YouTube.
Australian smart helmet start-up Forcite is about to go on sale and has attracted major investment support.
The first batch of 1000 limited-edition carbon fibre helmets sold out at $1599 each and the MK1 helmet is now available for order at $1299 with deliveries around December after suffering production setbacks due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Now it has also attracted funding from fund manager Atlas Advisors Australia, bringing the combined post-sales funding to $1.2 million.
The money will be used to finalise production lines for a roll-out of product in Australia.
Forcite’s smart helmet is the only smart helmet to pass ECE 22.05 safety accreditation pre-testing.
Forcite Chief Executive Officer Alfred Boyadgis claims the helmet’s technology which warns of road hazards with flashing lights can reduce the number of accidents and save lives.
“Our smart helmets have a unique system that can give advanced alerts much like K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider as well as communications and camera systems integrated into one complete unit,” he says.
“We are now developing on building human-machine interfaces with top motorcycle manufacturers which we plan to exhibit at EICMA 2020.”
The MK1 helmet features Forcite’s patented RAYDAR helmet system, combining Formula 1 LED technology, audio interactivity, military-grade camera recording and a fingertip handlebar controller.
Forcite’s smart helmet is designed to deliver road alerts and visual and audio turn-by-turn navigation without a phone, enabling riders to see or predict things before they happen to avoid danger.
It also automatically records dashcam footage of multiple lanes without distracting the rider.
All the technology is incorporated into the helmet without the need for an externally mounted device.
More Investment
Alfred with early-design helmets
Forcite will open a Series A investment round later this year to scale up in European and United States markets as well as conduct further research and development into in-bike computer vision and LiDAR systems that link with the helmet.
Industry heavyweights such as Casey Potter, former head of brand for the United States helmet giant Bell will be joining to lead Forcite’s United States operations.
Executive Chairman of Atlas Advisors Australia Guy Hedley said it was a unique opportunity for investors in a $35 billion marketplace.
“Foreign investors via the Business Innovation and Investment Program are playing a critical role in supporting the Australian economy, pouring money into venture capital and seed-stage companies,” he says.
“This is helping Australian grown companies to drive innovation and create intellectual property for new market-leading products.”
Chief Executive Officer of Uniseed, Dr. Peter Devine says investing in start-ups like Forcite is positioning Australia at the forefront of disruptive technological developments including in industries like motoring.
“We are building the next generation of local companies that will go onto to become regional and global market leaders generating more employment and value opportunities for our nation,” Dr. Devine said.
Harley-Davidson will not have to pay $US3 million to retrofit or replace wood-burning household appliances with cleaner stoves to offset excess emissions.
On top of that fine, the US court also ruled that Harley had to pay for cleaner household appliances; quite a controversial decision.
Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Street Performance Tuner
And now it seems U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan agrees and has dropped the controversial $3m payment.
Back in 2016, Harley-Davidson told us customers did not have to return bikes to have the Screamin’ Eagle Pro Super engine tuners.
As part of a resolution of the issue, Harley only agreed to offer to buy back the tuners from dealerships. There was no requirement for customers to return them.
In Australia, there was no buyback and nothing to prevent their continuing sale as they are marketed and sold on the basis that they are for use only in racing or competition.
Harley does not state that the turners are legal for road use. If they are used for road use, it can affect the owner’s warranty.
BMW’s small-displacement G 310 R has been a real winner for the last couple of years, but now the company is working on some new versions of the bike.
The company’s India website recently teased the new G 310 R. You can book a motorcycle now. This is the first official teaser we’ve seen on the company’s website. BMW isn’t pushing the bike yet on its other websites yet. The Indian one is the first I’m seeing of it.
Earlier this year, the bike was spotted testing alongside the G 310 GS. So, this isn’t a huge surprise, but the details of the machine are still unclear. It should be a minor update to the model. The main changes will be focused on the engine and making it compliant with the ever-tightening emissions in India.
According to RideApart, although BMW usually launches products first in Europe, the company will launch the new G 310 R (and likely the G 310 GS) in India first and then spread it out from there to other markets. That means if you live in Europe, North America, Australia, or anywhere else for that matter, you’ll have to wait for these new small-displacement machines.
Prices and details will be available at a later date. It’s good to see BMW making progress on these. The sooner the G 310 R and G 310 GS launch in India, the sooner they will be sent around the world.
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