There are no details further available from Indian Motorcycle, so we can only speculate about the new models.
Renegade name
A Renegade is “a person who deserts and betrays an organisation, country, or set of principles”, so it could be a whole new model.
Jeep has a Renegade model, so maybe the Indian Renegade will have similar all-road capabilities like a trendy scrambler.
Or perhaps it’s a smaller capacity bike for young rebels.
That would fit into our Learner-Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS) and be a huge leg up for Indian Motorcycle Australia as the learner sector continues to thrive in a slow market.
However, they already have the base model, S and S Race-Replica.
This week Indian Motorcycle announced a $1000 increase in price on the S race replica which now includes the titanium Akrapovic exhaust as standard.
FTR 1200 S Race Replica with Akrapovic exhaust and the former standard pipe
Ride away prices for the FTR 1200 are now:
FTR 1200 (Thunder Black) from $19,995;
FTR 1200 S (Indian Motorcycle Red over Steel Gray, Titanium Metallic over Thunder Black Pearl) from $22,995;
FTR 1200 S Race-Replica from $24,995.
Raven name
Meanwhile, we believe the Raven could be a blacked version of the FTR 1200.
Indian already uses “Dark Horse” for blacked-out versions of their Chief, Springfield and Roadmaster models.
2018 Indian Springfield Dark Horse
However, Raven could be a useful name to differentiate blacked-out versions of their FTR 1200 street tracker and Scout models from their cruisers/tourers.
Either way, it looks like being another big year for Indian Motorcycle which last year recorded 8.7% sales growth.
This was the highest growth rate of any motorcycle companies in Australia and one of only three to record any growth.
In 1967, a plumber doing renovations of an apartment building outside Chicago tore down a brick wall and found what would prove to be a baffling mystery to vintage motorcycle enthusiasts.
It was a one-of-a-kind motorcycle bearing 1917 plates and the name “Traub”.
The building’s elderly owner admitted that his son had stolen the bike before going off to WWI, never to return.
But where the bike came from and who made it remains unknown to this day.
Currently residing in the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, the Traub is considered by many to not only be the rarest motorcycle in their collection, but in the world.
Ekins was on set of the 1980 movie, The Blues Brothers, at the time.
The Traub was later sold to collector and restorer, Richard Morris, who then sold it to Wheels Through Time Museum curator, Dale Walksler, in 1990.
It has been on permanent display in the museum collection ever since.
Traub a regular rider
Dale on the Traub
Don’t think this unique motorcycle is merely a museum piece though. Dale rides the Traub fairly regularly.
When asked about the engine components, he enthusiastically replied: “Everything inside the engine is just magnificent. The pistons are handmade, and have gap-less cast iron rings, the engineering and machining being simply years ahead of their time.”
When comparing other top motorcycle makes and models of the era, the Traub has no equal.
“Comprised of a sand-cast, hand-built, 80 cubic-inch ‘side-valve’ engine, the machine has the ability to reach speeds in excess of 85mph (136km/h) with ease,” Dale says.
Aside from its few off-the-shelf components, the Traub has many unique handmade features. The three-speed transmission is thought to be one of the first of its kind and the rear brake, a dual-acting system that employs a single cam that is responsible for pushing an internal set of shoes, while pulling an external set, has never been seen on any other American motorcycle.
“For a machine to have such advanced features, unparalleled by other motorcycles of the same era, is truly outstanding,” Dale says.
“It’s my opinion that The Traub was an attempt at a new breed of motorcycle. But how on earth could a machine have been produced in such great form, with capabilities that far exceed that of any comparable machine, without the knowledge of the rest of the motorcycle industry during that time?”
Traub hunt
The hunt for the Traub’s elusive origin hasn’t stopped.
“While we may never know why the machine was placed behind that wall, we do hope to one day find out more about its history and the genius that created it,” Dale says.
Ducati finished 2018 with the highest number of safety recalls and starts 2019 with recalls for the Monster 821 (above), Monster 1200 and SuperSport.
We announced that these two Ducati recalls were coming last year. However, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has only now posted the official notice.
Their notice says there is “a potential problem with the gear shift lever due to an error in the manufacturing process”.
“The interference fit between the lever tip pin and the gear shift lever may not perform, in rare cases, may cause the pin to come out, increasing the risk of a crash,” the notice says.
“This may cause serious injury to riders and other road users.”
2019 Ducati SuperSport in Titanium Grey
Ducati recalls
Ducati Australia will contact owners to notify them of the recall and request them to contact their nearest authorised Ducati dealer to arrange an appointment.
We publish these notices in case owners have sold the bike privately and Ducati Australia is unaware of the current owners.
Authorised Ducati dealers will inspect the gear shift lever and if necessary, the component will be replaced free of charge.
To check if your bike is affected, click on the model below and check your Vehicle Identification Number:
Ducati had the most recalls of any manufacturer in 2018 with six, four of which were for the Panigale V4 in its first year of production.
Even though manufacturers and importers contact owners when a recall is issued, the bike may have been sold privately to a rider unknown to the company.
Therefore, Motorbike Writer publishes all motorcycle recalls as a service to all riders.
If you believe there is an endemic problem with your bike that should be recalled, contact the ACCC on 1300 302 502.
To check whether your motorcycle has been recalled, click on these sites:
Riders have been warned about fake motorcycle parts after New Delhi Police arrested four people selling the counterfeit products with the names of three prominent motorcycle companies.
Delhi Police police have not officially revealed the names of the motorcycle companies nor the specific parts.
Is it the 300th case of copyright infringement listed in New Delhi since 2016, resulting in 308 arrests.
Nationwide Research Group director Craig Douglas warns that the counterfeit parts could have found their way to Australia and other countries.
“There is a market for these cheaper parts and we have many buyers unaware of the background or history of parts sold through what look like official Aust based selling sites,” he says.
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and Nationwide Research Group have regularly warned motorists to be on the lookout for fake parts.
Basically, if the price is too good to believe, it’s probably a fake.
Fake parts could cause your motorcycle damage, make it unsafe and, in a crash, may void your warranty and/or insurance.
How to identify a counterfeit part
“These counterfeit parts parts are normally offered just a little bit cheaper than if purchased from a legitimate outlet so as to convince the buyers that they are genuine, albeit from a discount seller,” Craig says.
“There are many ways to offer these parts and the savvy buyer tends to surf the internet for cheaper parts thinking they are still real as they look genuine, have packaging that looks official, are sold by what appears to be legitimate sellers and are not too cheap to make it seem to be fake.
“If buyers see parts to be available they tend to think they are authorised or approved as they were not stopped at the border. And this is no different to auto parts or running shoes.
“As long as there is a market someone will look to exploit these options and the unaware public will always be a willing buyers if money can be saved and turn a blind eye to the dodgy sellers background.
“And remember sometimes these auto parts are purchased by the trusted local mechanic so the ultimate owner has no idea where they really came from and thinks the parts were sourced from a genuine seller.”
Genuine is best
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Vehicles promotes genuine parts through their Genuine Is Best program.
They urge all motorists to use genuine parts in regular maintenance and repairs.
They also warn about buying over the internet.
The program says the only way a motorist can guarantee supply of genuine parts is by buying them through the vehicle maker’s authorised supply chain.
“Use anything else and you may be taking a risk.” their website warns.
But Australia will be at least another year or more behind. Harley-Davidson Australia won’t introduce the LiveWire, predicted to cost more than $40,000, until 2020. Zero Motorcycles pulled the plug on Australia in 2017 with no hint of a return just yet.
Big battle
Harley LiveWire
Other motorcycle manufacturers have electric models in the pipeline and there is a myriad of startup electric motorcycle companies.
However, the focus this year will be on the big battle between Harley and Zero.
Harley is one of the biggest road bike manufacturers in the world and Zero is the biggest electric motorcycle company.
LiveWire V SR/F
The LiveWire is clearly aimed at the top end of the market with premium components and a price tag to match.
Zero’s new naked bike will be launched on February 25, 2019.
Even though it’s called the SR/F which sounds like a version of the SR model, Zero’s recent teaser Tweet says it is “an entirely new platform”.
“More than a new model, SR/F is an entirely new platform. The SR/F provides an effortlessly powerful experience in the naked street bike category,” Zero Tweeted.
It was accompanied by the above teaser photo of the LED headlight.
When Zero pulled the plug on Australian imports, their fleet ( Zero S, SR, DS, DSR, FX and FXS) ranged in price from $18,000 to $25,000 on the road.
2017 Zero motorcycles
Undoubtedly the SR/F will cost a lot less than the Harley LiveWire which will be available for sale in North America and Europe in the third quarter of this year for $US29,799 ($A41,699) plus on-road costs.
That is about the same price Americans pay for a top-of-the-line Ultra Limited tourer with luggage, infotainment and all the bells and whistles. (In Australia, an Ultra Limited costs $A40,995 ride away.)
Expensive electrics
That’s still not as much as the world’s fastest electric motorcycle, the 351km/h Lightning Motorcycle LS-218 at $US38,888 (about $A51,150).
Lane filtering now puts us at the front of the traffic light queue, so when the light changes to green we have a duty to get away quickly to avoid holding up traffic.
However, this puts us in danger of being cleaned up by motorists running yellow and/or red lights.
More red light cameras with good signage might just prevent motorists from running lights and putting us in danger.
Queensland has just added eight more intersections to its list of locations with new combined red light and speed cameras.
They not only detect motorists who disobey the red traffic light, but also those who speed through the intersection.
Statistics reveal that 11% of all serious casualties on Queensland roads occur at intersections with traffic lights.
Accidents involving motorists running red lights are usually t-bone crashes which are the most lethal, especially for riders.
During the past five years, 42 people have been killed and more than 3000 hospitalised in crashes at signalised intersections in Queensland.
Triggering traffic lights
The only problem we can see if if the lights fail don’t change for motorcycles.
Many small motorbikes don’t trigger the inductor loop in the ground.
Riders who give up waiting for the lights to change and ride through the red light can expect to cop a fine!
If these cameras are being installed at more intersections, it is vital that the authorities ensure lights detect motorcycles or install more roadside buttons like these to trigger the lights.
Speed and red light cameras
The new combined red light and speed cameras are fixed and operate 24 hours a day.
They are at the following intersections in Queensland:
Glenlyon Street, Gladstone Central at intersection with Tank Street;
Anzac Avenue Road, Kippa-Ring at intersection with Boardman Road;
Morayfield Road, Morayfield (intersection of Caboolture River Road);
Lutwyche Road, Lutwyche (intersection of Norman Avenue);
Lutwyche Road, Kedron (intersection of Kedron Park Road);
Old Cleveland Road, Coorparoo (intersection of Cavendish Road);
Smith Street, Southport (intersection of Kumbari Avenue); and
Bermuda Street, Burleigh Waters (intersection of Christine Avenue).
The combined red light and speed camera systems have advisory signs installed prior to the intersection advising motorists that a combined red light and speed camera system is operating.
For the complete list of combined speed and red light cameras in Queensland, click here.
The cafe had been ideal situated on the twisting hot mix just south of Kenilworth, but the property owner wouldn’t extend the lease.
So leasee and bike fan Peter Cusack moved to Carters Ridge, just off Skyring Rd.
His cafe sells great coffee, wholesome food, fruit and veg and has a stack of bike magazines for the patrons.
On the Mary Valley Country tourist map, it’s almost dead centre in the region, so it’s an even better spot to base yourself to explore.
And there’s plenty of great roads to ride, no matter whether you like fast, open bends, tight hairpins, hot mix, scenic back roads, formed gravel or Conondale National Park forestry trails. The area simply has everything to suit every rider’s taste and bike style.
Peter shoved the tourist map in front of me and began introducing me to roads I’d passed, but never ventured down.
On the Harley, they were a barrel of fun, challenging, bumpy, twisting and scenic.
Two great roads I’d never tried before are Moy Pocket Rd and Cooroy Belli Rd. I’ll certainly be back to do them again, although Peter warns that Moy Pocket Rd is busy with cement trucks on weekdays.
He recently did a big trip with his wife on their Triumph Tiger 1050 which suits 99% of the region’s roads.
Today, I’m on the Street Glide Special, which looks commanding and handles the winding roads surprisingly well, but would be a handful on the gravel.
Here is a list of some of the lesser-known, but superb tarmac roads in the region which the Harley handled well so they should suit just about any motorcycle: Moy Pocket Rd, Skyring Rd, Blad Knob Rd, Hovard Rd, Obi Obi Rd (up only, down section is still gravel), Reesville Rd, Postmans Track/Aherns Rd, Bellthorpe Range Rd, Eastern Mary River Rd and Lawnville Rd.
Motorcycle sales are now in a two-year slump in Australia and it’s time to ask what can be done about it.
While it’s good news in the short term for customers with bike companies likely to offer discounts and dealers ready to do dealers, it is not good for the industry and customers in the long term.
It could mean fewer models, less floor stock to choose from, no demo models and distributors for minor brands closing down.
So, we are asking you what can be done about the situation. Leave your comments in the box at the end of this article.
Official figures
The official 2018 figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries shows that sales of road and off-road motorcycles, scooters and all-terrain vehicles are down 8.7% to 95,080.
Total motorcycle, scooter, and ATV sales
This is not quite as big a drop as the massive -9.3% last year, which was the first full-year negative result since the GFC.
Honda was the top brand with 22,735 sales, down 5.9% and a 23.9% market share. Yamaha was second with 21,145 (-1.1%, 22.2% share), Kawasaki (9376, -6.1%, 9.9% share), Suzuki (7557, -6.1% 7.9%) and Harley-Davidson (7019, -21.2%, 7.4%).
Usually the most stable category is road bikes, but they are down 9.%.
Total road bike sales
Harley-Davidson and Honda tied for leader of the road bikes pack, ahead of Yamaha and Kawasaki.
Husqvarna, Indian, Suzuki and Yamaha all had increased sales in 2018 compared with 2017.
Automotive slump
The slump is not contained to motorcycles. New vehicle sales dropped 3%, including a 14.9% drop in December.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) Chief Executive Tony Weber blames the automotive slowdown on a slowing housing market, tightening of money lending and the drought.
These effects are being felt throughout the motorcycle industry, but are particularly noticeable in Motorcycle Holdings which owns TeamMoto.
Parts of the famed and much-loved Oxley Highway are melting in recent heatwave conditions, prompting a departmental inspection to assess the dangers to motorcyclists.
Local rider Ken Healey says on the Port Macquarie Road Riders Facebook page that the road 25km west of Gingers Creek not far past the 80km/h zone is melting in the heat.
He says the lines of molten tar are “right on the line your bike is going to take”.
Photographs on this page were taken when the temperature was 31C.
“Clearly it is not lasting and extremely dangerous.”
He says he and another rider had a front-tyre slip out on the molten tar.
We contacted Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) about the melting road and they said they said it would be inspected.
“The Mid North Coast maintenance teams are inspecting the section of the Oxley Highway this week, to determine if any further work is needed to ensure the safety of road users,” a spokesperson says.
Melting moments
A similar melting incident was encountered last summer on Mt Glorious Rd west of Brisbane.
Melting road surfaces have also been encountered on recent roadworks on the mountain section of the Oxley Highway.
“It is already getting slippery on the new surface that is only a few weeks old, on the bottom half of the mountain,” Ken says.
“It will be ripped to bits by the end of summer and even more dangerous.
Oxley roadworks
The RMS says it is “investing in the safety of Oxley Highway with a significant package of work recently implemented along the corridor”.
Roads and Maritime undertook resealing work in November and December on the Oxley Highway between Toms Creek and 85 kilometres west of Wauchope, which includes work in the mountain section.
“This reseal was comprised of a spray seal mix of bitumen and aggregate,” the spokesperson says.
“It is acknowledged motorbike riders frequently use the Oxley Highway for recreational purposes.
“Riders need to take safety precautions at all times while riding and this includes being aware of the road environment, particularly during extreme temperatures at this time of year – which can affect road surfaces.”
Save the Oxley organiser Ken Healey on his BMW K 1300 R (Photo: Keoghs Vision Photography)
More complaints
This is not the first time riders have complained about roadworks on the Oxley Highway.
This record-setting BMW K 1600 GT is up for auction in Las Vegas on Australia Day (January 26, 2019) with 20% of the proceeds going to a veterans charity.
The bike belongs to Carl Reese who set records for fastest USA crossing in 38 hours, 49 minutes, in August 2015, and the longest ride in 24 hours, completing 2116.5 miles (3406km) at an average speed of 94mph in February 2017.
The Californian could have ridden even further on his mile-munching K 1600 GT (Read our review here) in the latter record. However, he had to stop after 22 hours and 52 minutes because his team ran out of available tyres. He says he could have ridden the K 1600 GT an extra 150km.
Carl is generously donating 20% of the proceeds from the sale of his K 1600 GT to the “Motorcycle Relief Project”.
The nonprofit organisation provides relief to veterans and first responders with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and other injuries. It takes PTSD sufferers on structured and professionally led, multi-day motorcycle adventure tours.
Despite the record distances, the bike only has 39,000km on the clock.
“There have been no mechanical issues to speak of,” Carl told us.
“All maintenance has been done by West Valley Cycle Sales, the oldest motorrad dealer in the USA.
“This bike is set up for anyone that wants to take a shot at any of my records. It’s in perfect working order.
“I have plans to set more records in the near future, and I need to thin out the stable to finance those attempts.”
The K 1600 GT has been upgraded with 30,000 lumens Clearwater Lights, BST Carbonfibere wheels, EarthX Lithium Battery, GPS Insight Global Tracking System, Lidar Cloaking, Russell Daylong Seat, ZTechnik windshield, AltRider Engine guards, auxiliary fuel tank and Worldwide Ceramic bearings.
The winning bidder will also receive a Guinness World Record letter of authenticity, certificate of origin and signed photograph and official BMW Motorrad t-shirt featuring the bike.
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