Tag Archives: Motorbike news

Motorcycle News, News

French close fest, USA rally still on

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While a motorcycle festival in France has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the world’s biggest motorcycle rally in the USA will go ahead next week despite almost 1000 Americans dying every day.

Wheels and Waves

Even a week ago, the Wheels & Waves event at the Biarritz Lighthouse in France, was a goer and Hedon helmets even launched a limited-edition Wheels & Waves 2020 open-face Hedonist helmet worth $A711.

Hedonist helmet
Hedon Wheels and Waves helmet

However, the festival which had already been postponed from June to 3-6 September 2020 has now been further postponed to June 2021 for their 10th event.

“The intensification of the situation has made it impossible for us to continue to prepare the ‘Hors Serie’ (out of series) edition as we imagined it at the beginning of June,” officials say.

“And even if we were to bring the project to fruition, where would the pleasure be in coming together without the spontaneity, coolness, craziness and freedom?

“What is the point in holding an event based on exchange and sharing at a time when everywhere we go, we have to keep our distance?”

In France, only a handful of deaths from coronavirus are recorded daily, with 184k confirmed cases, 81,311 recovered and 30,223 deaths so far.

Sturgis Motorcycle RallySturgis rally motorcycle rally usa

Main Street at the 2014 Sturgis rally

In the USA, about 1000 Americans die every day from the virus. There have been more than 4.4m cases in the USA and a total of more than 152,000 deaths so far.

Yet in the land of freedom and litigation, the 80th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally will go ahead from 7-16 August 2020.

This is despite 62% of the 7000 people who live in Sturgis, South Dakota, voting last month against holding the famous rally, the biggest tourist event in the state.

It seems that vote was overturned by threats of litigation from a gift wholesaler based in nearby Rapid City.

The rally has attracted about half a million people in recent years with a record of 2015 of 739,000.

Authorities still expect several hundred thousand to attend the rally.

That’s hundreds of thousands of people from all over the USA and perhaps from many other countries coming to the small rural town.

There they could spread or pick up the virus, then take it back to their home state or country.

Rally organisers and city officials say they will have various “modifications” for health reasons which you can hear about in this video from Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen.

The Black Hills Motorcycle Film Festival which was to be part of the rally will now be held online from 14-16 August for free! Click here for details.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Harley-Davidson to pull out of markets

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Harley-Davidson is expected to pull out of some Asian and Latin American markets as part off a “Rewire” strategy to streamline operations to meet a global drop in demand.

Reporting on its second-quarter results, CEO John Zeitz announced a five-part Rewire strategy, of which pulling out some markets was a key point.

Market pull-out

Harley sales in the past quarter were down 26.6% in the USA, -30.3% in Canada, -29.8% in Europe, -51% and Asia-Pacific -10.2%. The latter includes Australia where sales were down 10.7% while road bike sales were only down 12.7%.

Obviously some Latin American markets will be top priority for the axe, but there are also some underperforming markets in Asia as well.

Jochen says his global market strategy would be “more focused”.

“Major changes include concentrating efforts on the highest priority markets, primarily North America, with the U.S. and Canada, Europe and parts of Asia Pacific, and structuring in a way that shifts resources and marketing into the regions for maximum impact in line with our future strategy,” he says.

“Our new global business structure better aligns our investments with their potential.

“Going forward, we plan to concentrate our efforts on approximately 50 markets, representing the vast majority of our volume and growth potential.

“We’re evaluating plans to exit international markets, where volumes and profitability do not support continued investment.”

Australian marketHarley-Davidson HOG rally Uluru motorcycles Australia Day defend pull

I doubt Australia and New Zealand will be cut from their strategy.

Australia has been a particularly healthy market for the company for several years, although it has slumped in the past year.

However, there has been a shift in executive management duties to the Singapore head office.

“We’ve streamlined our regional offices and created the freedom within a clearly defined framework for countries to make decisions to drive their business,” Jochen says.

“These in-market teams will be more agile and better equipped to understand consumer needs, provide focused attention to dealers and respond more quickly to local market conditions. We also plan to optimise our dealer network to provide an improved and integrated customer experience.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Harley-Davidson and Indian sales flop

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America’s two major motorcycle companies have reported a flop in motorcycle sales for the second quarter.

Harley-Davidson reported a 27% decline in sales to 52,700 and a $0.87 billion flop in revenue.

Sales were down 26.6% in the USA, -30.3% in Canada, -29.8% in Europe, -51% and Asia-Pacific -10.2%. The latter includes Australia where sales were down 10.7%.

Meanwhile, Polaris Industries says motorcycle sales (which includes Indian Motorcycle and the three-wheeler Slingshot) were down $141.3m or -28% with profit down from $23m in the same quarter last year to $4m.

In Australia, sales were up an impressive 40.2% while the road bike market was down 4.2%.

Flop turnaround

Both companies report a turnaround in sales in June as riders came out of lockdown keen to hit the road.

Polaris CEO Scott Wine says they overcame a “near complete shutdown of both our dealers and the US economy early in the quarter to capitalise on unprecedented retail demand for our off-road vehicles and motorcycles through May, June and now July”.

He says the new liquid-cooled Challenger model helped buoy sales.

Indian Challenger flop
Challenger

Both companies shut down production for about a month and inventory is now scarce.

However, Polaris plans to ramp up production while Harley has notably decided to keep a lid on production to make their bikes more exclusive and to avoid discounting.

Harley strategies

Jochen Zeitz with LiveWire rewire shares
Jochen Zeitz with the electric LiveWire

With Harley experiencing a sales flop in the first half of the year of -28% from 121,00 to 93,200, CEO Jochen Zeitz has outlined a streamlining of production as part of his Rewire strategy.

The five main strategies are:

  1. Reorganisation of the company structure and a new marketing strategy toward freedom, led by Hollywood action star and Harley fan Jason Momoa;
  2. Cuts in model lines and 2021 models delayed from September to early 2021 (click here to read more);
  3. More emphasis on merchandise and bike accessories;
  4. Pulling out of some international markets (click here to read more); and
  5. Cutbacks on production to promote exclusivity and avoid discounting.

“A total rewire is necessary to make Harley-Davidson a high-performance company,” Jochen says.

“Building on our strong brand legacy, we are reinvigorating our core profit driving business – powered by our strongest dealers, most exciting products and careful inventory management, while focusing on the most important opportunities for future expansion.”

He says the company will build on their “strong brand legacy” with a shift in marketing to “the brand, heritage and great product”.

“The first brand building approach will be shown in the social media campaign directed by Jason Momoa, celebrating the shared journey and unrelenting spirit of our Harley-Davidson Community during these challenging times, and strengthening the positivity and freedom we all find in riding motorcycles,” he says.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Why You Should Prefer Getting a Motorcycle Over a Car

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(Sponsored post)

Bikes and cars both have their benefits. Not that cars are any less useful, this article focuses more on promoting motorcycles. We have discussed why you should prefer to get a motorcycle instead of a car. Car is more useful when it’s snowing or raining; otherwise, bikes have much more benefits to offer. While you shouldn’t say no to a giveaway offer to win a car, bike lovers would even sell that car to get a new bike. Here is are the reasons behind their enthusiasm.

Get a Better Mileage

A bike gives a lot better mileage compared to a car. Depending on the bike, you can get even four times more mileage. This saves a significant amount of money on gas, especially if you have to travel regularly. Two people can easily go anywhere on a bike at the same cost. You don’t need a car unless you are three or more people going to the same place. Then why pay for the gas of those three people when you are traveling alone?

Easily Beat the Traffic

Bikes don’t get stuck in traffic. They can easily find a way between cars in a traffic jam. This helps you beat heavy traffic and reach your destination always before time. Time is money and riding a bike saves you time. Even if there isn’t much traffic, you can reach your destination before a car without speeding.

Riding a Bike is More Fun

It is understandable that you can’t go to the office on a bike in extreme weather conditions. But how often do you get extreme weather? Think about enjoying the pleasant weather that is always here. You get to feel the breeze and your surrounding on a bike. This makes bike riding way much more fun than sitting in a comfortable seat with no contact to the outside world. A car may be more comfortable, but people also travel thousands of miles on motorcycles.

Easy to ParkParking squeeze

One thing everyone hates about cars is parking them. You need to have sufficient space where you can turn the car and ensure you can easily open the doors. If you slightly touch anything, it will cause a dent and the paint will wear off, leaving you with extra expense of hundreds of dollars. Guess what? You never have to worry about parking a bike. You can stop anywhere on the side and lock the bike. It won’t disrupt any traffic nor get in the way of pedestrians. This again saves you time in addition to the trouble.

They are Better for Environment

Most motorcycles are a lot better for the environment compared to most cars. They drink less fuel and produce fewer pollutants. They also require less maintenance and take less space on the road for the others. Motorcycles are also easier to park at home as you don’t need the space of a full room for them. Some even park them inside their apartments.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

MV Agusta launches 5-day flash sale

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Desperate times require desperate measures and MV Agusta Australia has just launched a “5-Day Flash Sale” with discounts up to $5000.

We don’t know how sales have been going for the brand as they no longer belong to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries which collates sales figures.

However, this move seems to indicate sales have been slow.

While sales slumped in April after the coronavirus lockdown began, they picked up in May and hit record highs in June.

However, dealers are now reporting a very slow July.

Flash sale

MV Agusta importers Urban Moto Imports has now launched a 5-Day Flash Sale starting at noon today (28 July 2020).

That means dealers must be opening on Sunday morning until noon!

They are offering a discount of up to $5000 across the Brutale range and up to $4000 across selected Dragster (MY18-19) models.

The offer includes limited-edition models such as the Brutale 800 Pirelli (pictured above), Brutale 800 America and Brutale 800 RR LH44 ($2000 off). Click here for all offers.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Rider donates bike to safety advocate

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A motorcycle safety advocate who crashed his motorcycle has been gifted a Honda VFR800 as a replacement after launching a GoFundMe page to try to raise funds for a bike so he can continue his advocacy work and support his sick wife.

John Nelson, 63, says he crashed his Honda NT700V Deauville in country Victoria in June 2019 while taking a friend to pick up his new motorcycle.

John Nelson safety advocate
John’s written-off Honda

Due to his injuries and other health issues, he can no longer work.

He also could not afford comprehensive insurance and now cannot afford a replacement bike which he needs as his only form of transport.

“I need a bike to continue my advocacy work and to support my wife who is becoming very ill from complications with Type 2 Diabetes,” John says.

“My need for another bike is so that I will be able to do my thing.”

The 32-year volunteer for motorcycle safety advocacy had hoped to replace his written-off Honda by kickstarting a funding campaign.

We published an article about his plea on Monday and shortly after John (surname withheld by request) of Melbourne offered his 2014 Honda VVFR800 for free.

“I saw the article on Motorbike Writer (I check it out every day or two) and thought I’d get in touch,” he says.

“I am an Irishman that has ridden bikes for more than 40 years and Australia has been good to me.

“I wanted to give something back to my Australian mates and it looks like he has given a lotto the motorcycle community.

I have two bikes now, a Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX and my trusty VFR800.

Honda VFR800
2014 Honda VFR800

“The VFR has been well cared for over 22,000km and has rego til next February. It has new front discs/pads and Angel GT tyres that have done 3-4000km. It will need chain/sprockets soon, but that’s it. I don’t want a cent.

“I discussed this with my wife and it’s all good.

“Us bikers have got to look after each other.”

John Nelson says he was astounded at how quickly he got a response.

He plans to pick up the bike from John on Saturday.

Rider safety advocate

The former bus driver and truckie has worked with and made representations to a number of organisations, panels and committees, including:

  • Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into motorcycle safety;
  • Victoria Police;
  • VicRoads;
  • Transport Accident Commission;
  • Federal Office of Road Safety; and
  • Australian Transport Safety Board.
    John Nelson safety advocate
    John (right) with Melbourne safety experts

“I was very active in the 1990s and the 2010s, but have stepped up in the past five years,” he says.

“My resources and funding are non existent. I don’t have a computer, just an old iPhone.

“I have made a significant contribution for motorcyclists’ safety and I want to continue my work.

“I have a few significant achievements in this game, breaking down some barriers in recognition of the Elizabeth St bike precinct in Melbourne and lobbying for and achieving registration and licensing of motorcycles (mostly Harleys) for joy rides for the public.”

John is also a qualified Tour Guide and motorcycle tourism consultant to regional shires.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Design museum inducts Honda Fireblade SP

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Honda’s CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP superbike has been inducted into the prestigious Red Dot Design Museum in Essen, Germany.

It took centre stage along with their electric car, the Honda e, in a “Milestones in Contemporary Design” exhibition, as one of the 76 best products of 2020 and a current marker in international product design.

The CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP was awarded a Red Dot for outstanding design in the motorcycle category while the Honda e was recently awarded the highest award, the ‘Red Dot: Best of the Best 2020’ for product design.

Red Dot awards

Each year since 1955, the “Red Dot Design Award” has been assigned to the most original and worthy entries in terms of design and innovation.

A jury of 40 international design experts made their selections after evaluating more than 5500 products in a host of categories.

Winners are permitted to display a prestigious Red Dot label on their product.

There are awards in 36 categories including, furniture, watches, electronics, financial services and retail.

Red Dot awards are handed out to many of the entries, but only the cream of the crop receive a Best of the Best.

Companies use the distinction to position their brands and thus highlight their quality and design leadership around the globe.

Earlier this year Ducati Diavel won the company’s third “Best” win in the Red Dot Awards, following the successes of the 1199 Panigale in 2013 and the XDiavel S in 2016.

Fireblade SP judgementFireblade SP

Red Dot CEO Peter Zec says their judges put the superbike through its paces over several days to test its performance, in addition to assessing its functionality and design.

“The Fireblade deserves the Red Dot because the jury liked it very much – and we have really crazy judges that challenged the bike, including a professional racing bike rider,” he says.

“It’s not just good design – it has perfect performance too, which is the main reason why it received the Red Dot.”

In its assessment, the judging panel commended the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP for its racing-inspired design, well balanced lines and aerodynamic styling.

Judges also praised the fun experience it delivered and outstanding performance when tested.

Its minimalist frontal area, aggressively angled side fairings and extended lower fairings – plus a variety of apertures, slits and air-channelling shapes – combine to create a best-in-class drag coefficient.

Aerodynamic ‘winglets’ as used on Honda’s MotoGP RC213V racing bike combine eye-catching form with uncompromising function, hugely increasing downforce and stability for ultimate control of the most powerful inline four-cylinder engine Honda has ever made.

Honda e

The electric car received the highest honour as well as an award in the meta-category ‘Smart Products’.

The Honda e is a key part of Honda’s commitment to see all its car model ranges in Europe electrified by 2022.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Safety advocate seeks motorcycle funds

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A motorcycle safety advocate who crashed his motorcycle has launched a GoFundMe page to replace it so he can continue his advocacy work and support his sick wife.

John Nelson, 63, says he crashed his Honda NT700V Deauville in country Victoria in June 2019 while taking a friend to pick up his new motorcycle.

John Nelson safety advocate
John’s written-off Honda

Due to his injuries and other health issues, he can no longer work.

He also could not afford comprehensive insurance and now cannot afford a replacement bike which he needs as his only form of transport.

“I need a bike to continue my advocacy work and to support my wife who is becoming very ill from complications with Type 2 Diabetes,” John says.

“My need for another bike is so that I will be able to do my thing.

“I don’t think that 32 years as a volunteer is going to upset anyone if I ask for help to continue with my passion for motorcycling and safety.”

He hopes to replace his written-off Honda with another NT700V Deauville and has kicked off his GoFundMe campaign to raise $7000. So far he has $100 from two donors.

John Nelson safety advocate
John’s Deauville before the cxrash

Rider safety advocate

The former bus driver and truckie has worked with and made representations to a number of organisations, panels and committees, including:

  • Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into motorcycle safety;
  • Victoria Police;
  • VicRoads;
  • Transport Accident Commission;
  • Federal Office of Road Safety; and
  • Australian Transport Safety Board.
    John Nelson safety advocate
    John with Melbourne safety experts

“I was very active in the 1990s and the 2010s, but have stepped up in the past five years,” he says.

“My resources and funding are non existent. I don’t have a computer, just an old iPhone.

“I have made a significant contribution for motorcyclists’ safety and I want to continue my work.

“I have a few significant achievements in this game, breaking down some barriers in recognition of the Elizabeth St bike precinct in Melbourne and lobbying for and achieving registration and licensing of motorcycles (mostly Harleys) for joy rides for the public.”

John is also a qualified Tour Guide and motorcycle tourism consultant to regional shires.

Click here to help John get a replacement bike.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

What’s the best way to ship a motorcycle?

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(Sponsored post fr our North American readers)

Whether you are heading to a bike rally, fly and ride vacation, planning a move across state/country or trying to get your new or used motorcycle you purchased online, figuring out the best way to move a motorcycle from one location to the second location without actually having to ride it can be a little complex. According to a professional motorcycle transport company, there are numerous factors you should consider to make sure that your bike survives the journey in one piece.  Here are the two options which we are going to discuss, DIY or ship your motorbike professionally.

Do it yourself

This will be something you will need to consider twice about if you are moving out of state. Across state travels can be much more challenging and pose more dangers to your bike. If you don’t trust your wheels to just anyone, then DIY transport is best for you. First, you will need an automobile large enough to ship your motorbike. That automobile could be a lorry with a large bed or an SUV with a trailer attached. You may have your own trailer, or you may choose to rent one. No matter what type of vehicle you choose for your bike to ship, you should make sure that the platform is large enough to accommodate the length of the bike and should be free of any debris or boxes.

Also, you will need a slop/ramp for loading and unloading your motorcycle. While some riders may recommend making your ramp using wood etc., the secure ramps are made of iron or other solid metals and manufactured specially for shipping motorbikes or other automobiles.

You will also need a bike chock to stabilize your motorcycle on the truck or trailer bed. Chocks are specific devices that protect the motorbike’s front wheel and keep the motorcycle upright during transportation.

Lastly, you will also need strong tie-downs to protect the body of the motorcycle to prevent it from shifting side-to-side during transport. Tie-down harness should be made of sturdy material, and should also be fairly wide to better allocate the weight of the motorbike across the sides of the truck or trailer bed. Belts with attached ratcheting mechanisms are recommended to make sure that straps are tightened adequately. Shipping your motorcycle on your means that your motorbike never leaves your sight, decreasing the chance of accidental loss through negligence. But, if you have to buy costly tools or equipment’s, like a trailer or chock, if may cost as much, if not more, than professional transport.

Hire Motorcycle Transport Company

Motorcycle shipping company can offer a variety of benefits when shipping your motorbike, including individual shipping crates, enclosed transport, professional service, and specific insurance. When shipping your motor bike with an expert auto transport company, it is necessary to confirm the amount and type of insurance coverage the company provides before finalizing the deal.

If you do agree to transport professionally, you should prepare your motor cycle for the trip by removing all private items, disconnecting the motorcycle’s anti-theft system, locking handlebars, folding inside mirrors, and leaving the motorbike in neutral. If you plan on shipping your motorcycle via crate, you should drain the gas tank and remove the battery.

Regardless of your chosen specialized transport mode, you should always clean your motorcycle and photograph any dents or scratches before shipment. This way, you can provide evidence of existing damage for insurance purposes. Professional transport does not need any special tools or equipment; all crates, harnesses, and trailers are their responsibility. However, the personalized and convenient service may make shipping your bike expensive.

Ultimately, the transport mode you choose will depend on your preferences and financial plan. Whatever the way, be sure to take the correct methods to secure your bike arrives in one piece at your new location.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Rider crashes and dies in ditch

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A male rider in his 60s crashed his motorcycle into a ditch on a lonely country road north of Mebourne this afternoon and died at the scene.

Victorian Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal motorcycle crash which occurred in Hilldene about 12.25pm.

Investigators believe the motorcycle veered into a ditch at the corner of Seymour-Pyalong and Ash’s Bridge roads after the rider “lost control of the bike”.

Sadly, the rider died at the scene.

Our sincere condolences to the rider’s family and friends.

Anyone who may have seen an orange motorcycle in the area prior to the crash or who may have dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com