Tag Archives: motorcycles

News

Watch as Volvo driver blasts by rider

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This video of a Volvo driver blasting through a rider’s buffer zone to undertake traffic on a multi-lane road is a good example of how frustrated motorists are a danger to riders.

Canberra rider Alistaire Foard was riding home on his 2018 Yamaha MT-07, on Gungahlin Drive, when the incident happened.

The video shows he is doing a responsible and cautious job of owning his lane yet leaving a buffer from the right lane, keeping a safe distance from vehicles in front and frequently checking his mirrors.

But no amount of defensive riding could have prepared him for the Volvo driver’s tailgating and dangerous undertaking manoeuvre.

It was probably caused by the driver’s frustration with discourteous right-lane traffic that didn’t move to the left.

Volvo incident

“The Volvo came up very fast in the right lane behind the red hatchback,” Alistaire says.

“The right lane started to slow down and then he came in behind me quite close as seen in the rear vision mirror.

“We were in an 80km/h zone in traffic but it was flowing quite well.

“I slowed after the Volvo came in behind me because the red hatchback also put their indicator on to merge but I guess I was too close for them to do so.

“The Volvo dropped back a little and came past in the right hand lane when there was a gap but he left it a bit late in my opinion and had to cut in front of me very close.

“I didn’t see any indicator on the Volvo when he passed and actually thought he would stay in the right lane because the gap between myself and the green car was closing as the traffic sped back up to 80km/h.”

Volvo
Alistaire’s Yamaha

Alistaire was lucky he was not knocked off the road.

The dangerous passing manoeuvre was to no avail, anyway, as Alistaire caught up with the Volvo at the next set of red lights.

It could have escalated into road rage, but Alistaire kept a cool head.

“We exchanged some dirty looks, but nothing else,” he says.

“I thought his driving was really aggressive, especially considering the time of day and traffic flow.”

Cautious rider

Alistaire says he is “a little hesitant” on a motorbike these days as he wrote off his 2014 Ducati Monster 659 in November and needed surgery on a badly broken wrist.

“So I tend to stick to the left lane and keep a decent gap to the vehicle in front,” he says.

“I am not saying I am a perfect rider but his driving was unnecessary and dangerous.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Steps You Should Take If You Get into A Motorcycle Accident

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(Article contributed by West Coast Trial Lawyers, LA)

One of the best experiences that a person could possibly have is riding on a motorcycle. It offers a sense of freedom and mobility that can’t quite be matched by any other type of vehicle. Think about it, unlike with a car or a train, there isn’t really anything that’s separating you and the outside world. Motorcycles also have the advantage of being able to reach thrilling high speeds unlike other modes of transportation such as bicycles and mopeds. 

Yes, motorcycles can offer you a world of excitement, but the one thing that they have in common with other types of vehicles is that accidents do happen. As with any driver, an accident can be a terrifying and stressful situation that no one really wants to deal with. As with any kind of adverse situation, however, it is important that you know how to handle yourself if you are ever in an accident. 

Get to Safety

In the immediate aftermath of the accident, the first order of business should not be to call a motorcycle injury lawyer or accident attorney but to get yourself out the roadway and traffic so that no further harm will come to you. The most important thing at this moment is to make sure that your situation doesn’t become any worse by risking even more injury than what has probably already occurred. You can handle all of the legal matters once you’re safe and have handled everything at the scene.

Things to look out for as you are moving to safety are gas leaking vehicles, cars or other objects on fire, anything that has been damaged during the accident, and roadside drop-offs and cliffs.

Check to See If You or Anyone Else Has Been Injured

Next, you should check to see if you or the other involved party has been injured. Even if it appears that you and everyone else is fine, you should still call 911 and have them look you over anyway as certain injuries may not make themselves apparent at that moment. It is crucial that you keep in mind that just because you were the one who called the paramedics that you will not automatically be held responsible. 

Call the Local Law Enforcement to Report the Accident

This step can be considered optional in the sense that sometimes the police aren’t immediately contacted in the case of accidents (motorcycle or otherwise). Even if any issues that arise are minimal (such as minor injury and very little property damage) the police may be needed to take down details of what happened and to help decide if a motorcycle accident attorney should be contacted immediately.

Gather Information

Once you have contacted the police, they will proceed to write their police report and will be used as documentation to provide details for your case. To further ensure that you are able to properly prove your innocence in this matter and secure any potential compensation, you should gather information. This gathering of evidence should include you doing the following:

  • Speak to anyone who may have witnessed the accident which can include passengers and other drivers. Be sure to also talk to the attending law enforcement official
  • Photos of the scene (which should only be done if there is no further risk of you being injured or causing any further damage to property. Make sure that you take pictures of any surrounding street signs as well)
  • Contact information, which can be names, phone numbers or even email addresses of all witnesses
  • The VIN (vehicle identification number) of any cars that were involved
  • The badge number and name of the police officer at the scene
  • The number of the police report
  •  The name insurance company name and their contact information from all other parties involved

Gathering all of this information will really help you out in the long run when it comes time to contact your insurance provider or when speaking to a motorcycle personal injury attorney as you will be able to provide them with information to help you with your case.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Once you are able to find the time after the accident, you should contact your insurance company and tell them what happened. As stated previously, all of the information that you have collected will help your insurance provider help you to collect your compensation. 

Make sure that you have had any injuries that you may have sustained looked over by a doctor and that a mechanic has checked out your motorcycle before letting your insurer know about these issues. That way, you don’t run the risk of underestimating any compensation that you may be able to receive. 

Do Not Take Any Blame On Yourself

Under no circumstances should you claim responsibility for what happened. You should follow this advice regardless of whether you’re speaking to any law enforcement official or your insurance company. This is to avoid your claim being denied and to keep away blame for anything that wasn’t your fault.

Keep your statements limited to what happened and if you have a motorcycle accident attorney helping you-you can ask them for further assistance with handling your case.

Contact An Attorney

Up until this point, You’ve only received small nudges from this article in regards to calling a motorcycle injury lawyer. In all honesty, it really is to your benefit to contact one to secure your financial and legal future in the aftermath of the accident.

A motorcycle accident attorney will be able to assist you if you have any of the other parties involved decide to wrongly accuse you of causing the accident. If any medical complications arise that you can’t afford, you can look into a motorcycle personal injury attorney.

Do As Your Doctor Says

The final thing that you should do (if you have been injured in your accident, that is) is to follow your doctor’s directions to the letter. Not only will this help you quickly heal from your injuries but it will lessen the number of permanent damages on your body. Be sure that you follow his directions to the letter and always follow up on their instructions.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Is an electric Triumph around the corner?

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Triumph Motorcycles is surveying customers with an email asking if they’ve ridden an electric motorcycle and whether the British company should make an electric Triumph.

It’s not the first time Triumph has surveyed its customers about an electric bike. They launched a short online survey as far back as 2012.

The new email survey asks questions such as:

  • Have you ever ridden an electric motorcycle?
  • How do you rate the experience on a scale of 1-10?
  • Do you own an electric motorcycle?
  • What might prevent you from buying an electric motorcycle?
  • How would you feel about felt Triumph building an electric motorcycle?

Electric TriumphElectric Triumph

It comes as no surprise that Triumph is considering an electric motorcycle at some stage.

All manufacturers must be considering adding an electric model to their fleet. It’s inevitable.

It’s refreshing that Triumph is asking their customers what they want before jumping in at the deep end and building one – although we expect they have already been doing some development work.

However, the questions they should be asking their supporters are:

  • How much would you be prepared to pay for an electric Triumph?
  • What is the minimum range you would require?
  • How soon should we launch an electric motorcycle?
  • What is the maximum charging time you would be prepared to put up with?

Harley’s error

Harley electric LiveWire Harley and Indian announce 2018 sales results Electric Triumph
LiveWire

The last thing they would want to do is follow Harley-Davidson’s example with their electric LiveWire.

It is now open for pre-orders with delivery in North America and Europe in August this year and Australia next year.

We’re not sure how many orders Harley have received, but we suspect they will be minimal.

Why? Because the price is extraordinarily high and the range too low.

At almost $US30,000 (more than $A40,000), it would be the second most expensive motorcycle in their fleet, yet it has only about 180km of range. There are no details yet about charging times.

It’s a huge miss by Harley when there are already similar electric motorcycles that cost less than half its price with almost double the range.

Triumph last year was voted the most satisfying brand by Australian customers.

Is it any wonder when they consider their customers first before making the same mistake as Harley!

But since they have been surveying customers since 2012, we don’t expect they will jump into electric motorcycles too soon!

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Guard brings order to scooter parking

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What would you think if you came back to your parked motorbike or scooter after work today and found a guard had been lined them up tightly to save space like this?

It may free up more parking spaces in our CBDs, but most riders would be horrified anyone had touched their precious possession.

Guard praised

However, the work of one Indonesian school security guard has been praised on social media.

Guard Pak Slamet has been lining up students’ and teachers’ scooters to save space since 2000 when he started working at the Banten school near Jakarta.

Scooters parking guard
Pak and his orderly scooters

He re-parks the scooters close together so he can squeeze more scooters into the small parking space.

Pak takes so much pride in his work that he even lines them up in matching colours and models.

Either that, or he has a severe case of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder).

School student Tyara Tweeted a video showing Pak’s parking prowess which has now gone viral. (Click on the blue arrow to watch the video.)

“My school’s security guard often parks [Honda] Beat motorcycles in such orderly rows like these, because a lot of students at my school ride Beat. Sometimes not only Beat, he also puts Vespa or big bikes in rows like these,” her Tweet says.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

MotoGP, News

Triumph Daytona 765 a street-legal Moto2

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Triumph looks set to replace the Daytona 675 they axed in 2017 with a Daytona 765 powered by a version of their control engine for the Moto2 class.

Ever since Triumph was announced as the Moto2 engine supplier in 2017 for the 2019-21 seasons, it has been expected the new engine would power a Daytona replacement.

Now British website Motorcyclenews.com has posted spy images of the Daytona 765 in Spain, so it looks like a street-legal model is about to leave the pits for some hot street action.

There are no technical details yet for the street-legal version, but it is likely to come in several specifications.

Triumph Daytona 765
High-spec Daytona 765 with a Speed Triple on a Spanish racetrack (All spy images of the Daytona 765 are from British website Motorcyclenews.com)

Wailing 765

Listen to the race engine wail in this video.

The three-cylinder Moto2 race engine is believed to have 97kW of power and meet the coming Euro 5 emissions standards.

It is derived from the 90kW 765cc Street Triple but with more than 80 new parts.

Triumph Daytona 765 Moto2
Moto2 racer and Street Triple

They include an increased bore and stroke, new crank, pistons, titanium valves, stiffer valve springs and Nikasil-plated aluminium barrels.

The race bike also has a taller first gear ratio, a tunable slipper clutch, a new sump and an ECU developed by Magneti Marelli who supply the MotoGP control unit.

Triumph Daytona 765
All spy images of the Daytona 765 are from British website Motorcyclenews.com

Daytona 765 tech

We’re not sure how much of this tech will make it into the street-legal version.

However, there is talk that it will have traction control, several engine modes, cornering ABS and a quickshifter with autoblipper to match wheel and engine speeds on downshifts and make you sound like you know what you’re doing!

The bike is expected to weigh in at about 180kg.

All spy images of the Daytona 765 are from British website Motorcyclenews.com
All spy images of the Daytona 765 are from British website Motorcyclenews.com

Moto2

Moto2 replaced the 250cc two-stroke GP class in 2010.

It has since been powered by Honda’s 600cc  four-cylinder engine.

When the MotoGP season starts on March 10 in Qatar, there will be a healthy field of 32 riders in the Moto2 category.

Triumph’s Daytona 675R engines have powered super sports wins at the Isle of Man TT, Daytona 200 and British Supersports Championships in 2014 and 2015.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Silent auction for dumped motorbikes

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“Someone’s trash could be your treasure,” Wagga Wagga says on its Facebook page about a silent auction for a bunch of rusted motorcycle parts.

And they very well could be, even though they look like rusted waste. To some collectors they could be just what they need to finish a resto.

According to council, the large range of vintage motorbike frames and parts were dumped at the Gregadoo Waste Management Centre.

They include some manufactured by AJS, BSA and Ariel.

“If this has got you revved up, then head to the Tip Shop from Friday 8 February to Sunday 10 February between 8am to 4pm,” the post says.Silent auction for dumped motorbikes

Silent auction

They will be offered for sale in what’s called a silent auction.

Silent auctions are held without an auctioneer. People usually place their bids on sheets of paper or online instead.

In this case, offers will be received in sealed envelopes at the Tip Shop, 132 Ashfords Rd, Gregadoo, from Monday.Silent auction for dumped motorbikes

Anyone not in Wagga can phone (02) 6926 9166 to discuss other bid arrangements.

However, there will be no picking through the scraps as it’s an all-or-nothing auction.

Buy the entire collection or forget it; the lot goes to the highest offer.

The silent auction opens on Monday.

If you are after some classic motorcycles in running order, check out this Shannons auction with several bikes offered at no reserve.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Wire trap offender faces jail time

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The offender who strung wire at neck height across a Queensland forestry trail to “trap” riders faces a three-year jail sentence if caught.

Gympie trail rider Ben Bird, 25, says he could have been decapitated if he was riding any faster when he hit the wire in Amamoor State Forest earlier this week.

Luckily Ben was only travelling about 15km/h when he hit the wire trap.

Man trap wire
Ben’s neck scars

“Normally in that spot of the track it’s a flat straight. I could be going up to 60 to 70km/h there,” he says.

“The wire had been tied in a slip knot so when you hit it, it pulls tighter.”

Man trap wire
Ben with the wire used in the trap

Man trap offence

The offender who set the wire “man trap” could face up to three years in jail.

Queensland Police are investigating with the Department of Environment and Science as the offence took place in a state forest.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Environment and Science says they take public safety matters in national parks and state forests “extremely seriously”.

“Rangers work closely with QPS to patrol national parks and any instances of dangerous and illegal behaviour will be dealt with,” she says.

“It is an offence under the Forestry Regulations to do something that interferes with the health and safety of a person.”

It is also an offence under the Criminal Code 1899 – Section 327, namely “setting mantraps”, with a maximum sentence of three years.

Police are appealing for anyone with information on the offence to contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24 hours a day.

Riders vulnerable

Motorcyclists have long been vulnerable to “man traps” such as rope or wire strung across a road, and oil or tacks strewn on the road surface.

Sometimes it is done by misguided and angry residents trying to slow down or deter riders in their area.

The last time we heard of a similar incident was in December 2015 when a Perth rider hit a rope strung across a forest trail.

rope burn trap
Lawson bears the scars of the rope trap

Lawson Mills, 19, believed it was set by “skylarking teenagers”.

Luckily the rope was not tied off at both ends, although he still suffered severe rope burns on the neck.

Other cases involve a Sunshine Coast farmer throwing oil on a road to stop speeding riders and tacks deliberately thrown on a Brisbane road shoulder to puncture the tyres of riders. (Edge or shoulder filtering is legal in Queensland only.)

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Why don’t medics rush to crashed riders?

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If you’ve ever been a witness at a motorcycle crash scene you may have noticed that medics (ambulance officers and paramedics) do not seem to be in any rush.

I was at the scene of a crash on Abercrombie Rd near Obern, NSW, and several riders were anxious and expressed concern because the first responders did not seem to be in any hurry.

Some other riders have also complained that nurses and hospital staff are sometimes flippant about injured riders who “drain their resources”. Read about the concerns of a safety expert.

It’s not because medics believe all motorcyclists have a death wish and don’t deserve immediate attention.

There are several very good reasons for the calm and almost painstakingly slow attitude of first responders at a crash scene.

Most American cop shows depict medics rushing to a crash scene, but that is not how it is in real life.Ambulance ride paramedic crash accident medics

Why medics don’t rush:

  • A rushing paramedic could trip and hurt themselves and/or break vital medical equipment;
  • It can lead to making the wrong decision in a highly stressful situation;
  • The sight of a rushing medic can create panic not only in the crash victims, but also bystanders;
  • It can cause the victim’s pulse to beat faster, expelling more blood than is necessary and leading to other conditions such as heart attack; and
  • It can cause bystanders to make rash decisions such as stepping out in front of passing traffic.

If you are ever at a motorcycle accident scene, the best advice is to stay clam, keep others calm and let the professionals do their job.

Click here to find out what you should do after a minor motorcycle crash.

Road safety crash accident motorcycle scam

First Bike on the Scene

Michael Beak from First Bike on the Scene crash scene training says he believes that if he rushes at a crash scene “people could think things are a lot worse than they may be” .

“One of our first priorities is to bring calm to chaos,” he says.

“Some of my more experienced colleagues and I even like to crack jokes with patients (where appropriate of course) and some think we are not talking it seriously,” he says.

“But personally if I were a patient and the para was cracking jokes with me it would reassure me I’m not about to die.”First Bike on the Scene Australia paramedic Michael Beak

Michael is an Army Reserve Combat Paramedic of 10 years, operational paramedic for 25 years, has been teaching first aid for almost 30 years and is a Public Information Officer with the Rural Fire Service. He’s also a VFR750F rider!

“My advice to any first-care provider is to be slow and methodical,” he says.

“I apply the old saying ‘slow is smooth and smooth is fast’. It works for riding motorcycles and it works for attending a crash scene.”

Michael says it is a common misbelief that paramedics attend traumatic cases every shift.

“So sometimes when they arrive on scene and appear to be slow off the mark, they may be just taking a breath, having a ‘mental cigarette’, taking in the scene and working out the best plan of attack before just blundering in,” he says.

“To the observer, it may appear that we are not rushing to crashed riders, but we are doing a rapid scene size-up on arrival.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Massive MV Agusta collection for sale

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One of the largest known collections of MV Agusta motorcycles will go up for auction on Saturday (February 9, 2019), including nearly every production model since 1945.

Almost 100 motorcycles and even scooters from an unnamed Italian family will go under the hammer at the Retromobile Show in Paris.

Retromobile says the bikes, which include production models, factory prototypes and racers, could sell for as little as €3000 (about $A4800) to much as €250,000 ($400,000).MV Agusta

Many of the bikes were built by MV legendary Agusta racing manager Arturo Magni.

The family collection was started by the current owner’s uncle.

He worked in the family’s MV Agusta garage and raced the bikes in the Giro d’Italia and the Milan-Tarento races.

He bought the bikes when they were worth very little and had to rent a disused factory near Monaco to store the collection.

Most of the bikes were restored by ex-MV Agusta mechanics with no thought to the cost.

All are in running condition and have certificates of conformity issued by the MV Agusta museum.

If you’re interested in something a little closer to home, check out this Shannons auction in March including several classic bikes with no reserve.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

High Tech Motorcycle Accessories That Every Rider Must Have

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(Sponsored tech post)

Every day, new technology is introduced to motorcycle gadgets to improve the riding experience and make it safer. More and more of the modern bikes have heated seats/grips, tire pressure monitors, rearview cameras, and more. Today, you can find some high tech accessories that will help you deal with discomfort, inconvenience, and weather. Even if you prefer the traditional route, there are several high tech gadgets that can elevate your experience. Below are some of the high-tech gadgets you can get to pimp up your ride.

1 Helmet Sound System

If you ride your bike regularly or for long distances, you’re likely to feel dull at times. Well, this can change with a helmet sound system which lets you listen to music and communicate. You can pick phone calls, connect with other riders via intercom, and follow GPS navigation using the helmet audio systems.  When buying this gadget, look out for multi-device capability, sound quality, durability, battery life, and volume controls.

2 Motorcycle GPS Navigator

It’s never an option to use your smartphone for navigation while riding a bike unless you’re willing to stop and get off the road every time. That’s why you need a motorcycle GPS unit. A motorcycle GPS makes it easy for you to navigate while you focus on the road. In addition, the system offers extra features such as hands-free calling, streaming music, and alerts.

3 Rearview Camera

A rearview camera helps you to easily see what’s behind you, adding safety and convenience to your ride. Rearview cameras for motorcycles give you a rear vision that your rear mirrors can’t. The mini camera is usually placed on the bumper of your bike, giving you a perfect view of your rear. When buying a review camera, look out for key features like waterproof, night vision, and viewable angle.

4 Motorcycle Jacket Airbag

The motorcycle jacket airbag works in a more or less similar manner as the airbags in a car. When the system deploys the airbag, the air cushion inflates to protect the most vulnerable body parts such as shoulders, elbows, and the spine. You can use an airbag vest which can also serve as a reflective vest or get an airbag jacket. Modern airbags strike a balance between comfort, safety, and good looks.

5 Brake Free Helmet Light

The normal brake lights on your motorcycle work just fine. However, they are mounted low on your motorbike and are not easily noticeable in traffic. Brake Free Helmet Light mounts a smart brake light on the back of your helmet, making it easier for motorists to see you. It detects when you’re slowing down and responds accordingly to regular braking, engine braking, and emergency braking. It attaches to almost any helmet using a magnetic mount and uses LED lights that make it visible both day and night. It is a smart brake because it needs no wired installation or connected apps. The gadget is weather resistant and stays lit all the time, only becoming brighter when you brake.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com