Tag Archives: motorcycles

Riders divided over coronavirus tracing app

Freedom-loving motorcycle riders appear evenly divided about the planned coronavirus tracing app with slightly more than half saying they would download it.

The result comes from our quick online survey which attracted 228 respondents, 98% of which were in Australia.

Divided results

Our survey found 51% say they will download the app to help the health authorities trace people with COVID-19 and alert those who have had contact with them.

However, those who will download the app are also divided with 29% saying they would download it regardless.

The remainder ticked “maybe”.

When asked what conditions they would require before downloading, they were divided between fewer travel restrictions (82%) and privacy assurances (63%). Other inducements attracted negligible responses.

The result appears good news for the government which says it needs 40% take-up rate to be effective.

If more than half of the freedom-loving motorcycle riders in our survey say they will download the app, then the government may be on course to reach their desired take-up rate.

But they may need to offer assurances on privacy and may need to offer the inducement of fewer travel restrictions.

There has been talk that if the app doesn’t reach 40%, the government would make it mandatory, but Prime Minister Scott Morrison appears to have quashed that notion.

Some of the other comments by respondents who said yes or maybe to downloading the app include: ability to remove the app; anonymity; time limited and displaying where infected individuals live

TraceTogether app

The app will be based on the Singapore TraceTogether app that has only had a 20% take-up rate.

Since the app development has not yet been completed, there are no details about how ours will vary from the Singapore app and how privacy would be protected.

For example, the Singapore app uses Bluetooth only, but there is talk that the Australian version will also use GPS tracking.

Facebook comments

Interestingly, the comments on our Facebook posts about the app had a substantially different result to our online poll.

Our two Facebook posts reached 4800 of our 20,000+ Facebook followers and attracted only 37 likes.

Of the 160+ comments, about 80% were against downloading the app, citing concerns about privacy and a government conspiracy.

Critics of Facebook may suggest this is an example of how social media attracts a skew of negative comments and conspiracy theorists.

Please note: This poll sampled n=223 Australian respondents which may not be representative of the wider Australian population at large.

If you would like the raw data from our survey, please send me an email and I will forward it to you.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Should COVID-19 fines link to income?

Should the COVID-19 related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) or on-the-spot fines be linked to your income as speeding fines are in some countries?

After all, a motorcyclist on a $15,000 bike who goes for a leisure ride risks copping the same on-the-spot fine under the Health Act as a rich driver in an expensive supercar.

The issue surfaced today when NSW Police issued a $1000 PIN to the driver of a McLaren 650S worth about $440,000.

This is how Police Media reported the incident:

Just after midnight, officers from Kings Cross Police Area Command stopped a McLaren 650S travelling on Ward Avenue, Potts Point. The driver, a 43-year-old Fairfield man, told officers he was driving to Woolloomooloo to get petrol. After being warned, he informed officers driving is a form of exercise. The man and his 60-year-old passenger were each issued a $1000 PIN. The driver allegedly told police “do what you want mate, I don’t care. This $1000 fine won’t hurt with my $15 million.

Australia’s COVID-19 fines appear to be among the highest in the world, starting at $1000 in NSW.

In Italy, where more than 23,000 have died from coronavirus, the fine for disobeying a stay-at-home order is €200 (about $A340).

Consequently tens of thousands have copped fines.

That could be one of the reasons the spread is so rampant in Italy.

Linking these fines to income could be the answer.

Speeding fines linked to incomespeed camera radar speeding fines rich rich

Similarly, Australia’s speeding fines are among the highest in the world.

According to British website GoCompare, Australians rank sixth in the world with the highest fines and 10th in relation to their average wage.

Ours is supposed to be an egalitarian and fair society, but how can it be fair for a motorist on a low wage to pay the same fine as a millionaire?

The average Aussie speeding fine for 21km/h over the limit is $401. South Australia leads with $771 fine, followed by NSW ($472), Queensland ($435), Western Australia ($400), Victoria ($332) and Tasmania ($163).

Top 10 fines for speeding 20km/h+

  1. Norway $1028
  2. Iceland $750
  3. Estonia $626
  4. United Kingdom $595
  5. Sweden $412
  6. Australia $401
  7. Switzerland $362
  8. Israel $282
  9. Netherlands $278
  10. Canada $275

Rich cop higher fines cops speed speeding radar fast speed camera licence rich

Several countries, such as Britain, Finland and Switzerland, have a system where speeding fines are linked to their wages.

The UK has introduced a system where fines for excessive speeding have increased to 150% of their weekly income. It is capped at £1000 ($A1770), or £2500 ($A4435) if caught on a motorway.

After all, they argue that a rich pro footballer, celebrity or wealthy aristocrat would not be deterred by the average UK speeding fine of £188 ($A333).

Meanwhile, the UK has retained their minimum speeding fine of £100 ($A177) and motorists can chose to reduce that further by attending a speed awareness course.

Switzerland and Finland are much tougher on their rich speeders.

Finland uses a “day fine” system of half the offender’s daily disposable income with the percentage increasing according to their speed over the limit.

In 2002, former Nokia director Anssi Vanjoki copped a $A190,000 fine for riding his motorcycle 75km/h in a 50km/h zone.

But that’s not the world record speeding fine which was handed out in Switzerland in 2010 to a Swedish motorist caught driving at 290km/h.

He was fined 3600 Swiss francs per day for 300 days which worked out to almost $A1.5m.

Click here for our tips on riding in Europe.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Honda patents aerodynamic tail

Honda has filed an application for a patent for an aerodynamic tail that looks a little like those spoilers we see on “sully sic” fast fours and 1970s supercars.

Winglets have been added to the front of MotoGP bikes over the past couple of years to address aerodynamic issues.

Now Honda is looking to add some aerodynamic assistance to the rear of the bike.Honda aerodynamic rear end

Aerodynamic tail

Ducati’s Panigale V4 has a similar aerodynamic trail.

Corbin motorcycle seatsDucati Panigale V4

However, Honda’s patent features a removable tail-pack, where you can store small items such as your phone or wallet. That seems to indicate it’s not been designed specifically for race use.

It also appears to have movable wings which could be deployed at high speed for stability and under heavy braking to keep the rear wheel on the ground.

They could be deployed automatically or with a manual switch on the handlebar.

It would match the active aerodynamic winglets Honda has also applied to patent.

Honda patents active aero directActive winglets patent

Aerodynamic issues

Now don’t laugh. Aerodynamic issues are more prevalent in motorcycles than cars.

The most aerodynamically “slippery” motorcycle is the Suzuki Hayabusa which has a drag coefficient (cD) of about 0.55 to 0.60.

Hayabusa GSX1300Hayabusa

Drag coefficient is the ratio of drag on the body moving through the air to the product of the velocity and the surface area of the body.

Even a Mazda6 sedan has a much better cD of 0.26.

Racing engineer Jeromy Moore says it is difficult for motorcycles to match a car’s aerodynamics, because they are too short.

“With aero, it will be hard to get a bike’s cD down as it is quite short so the air has to deflect at larger angles to go around and rejoin,” he says.

Honda patents

This is one of a blitz of patent applications by Honda over the past couple of years.

Some are quite weird and impractical, but others may actually make it to market.

We suspect Honda is just trying to dominate intellectual property on motorcycle inventions, rather than planning to put them all into production.

The patents include:

Forks Goldwing patentGoldwing forks patent

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Rider dies in crash with power pole

A 49-year-old male rider has died after hitting a power pole in a Brisbane bayside suburb about 7.45pm yesterday (18 April 2020).

The rider was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash in Nathan Street, Brighton.

His 36-year-old female pillion was transported to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Forensic Crash investigators are appealing for any witnesses or anyone who may have dash cam vision to contact police.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.

Quote this reference number: QP2000785065 within the online suspicious activity form.

Our sincere condolences to the rider’s family and friends and our best wishes to his pillion for a full and speedy recovery.

Power poles and roadside hazardsRemove dangerous roadside hazards

This follows a death in Townsville last week where a rider hit roadside tree.

Roadside hazards such as trees, barriers and power poles are a particular danger for riders.

A 2017 United Nations report recommends roadside hazards be removed as they are a proven cause of serious motorcycle crash injuries and deaths.

The 108-page World Health Organisation “Powered two- and three-wheeler safety” report says a motorcycle crash with a fixed roadside hazard is 15 times more likely to be fatal than a crash on the ground with no physical contact with a fixed hazard.

They also increase the severity of injuries in such crashes, it says.

Another Australian and New Zealand study presented at the 2015 Australasian Road Safety Conference concluded that almost all roadside objects are hazardous to PTW users.

Click here to find out why we publish motorcycle crash reports.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Witnesses sought for truck and bike crash

Witnesses are being sought to a collision between a truck and motorcycle at East Ipswich on Thursday (16 April 2020) that left the female rider with serious head injuries.

Ipswich Police say that about 10.45am a white truck and a red motorcycle were travelling towards Ipswich on King Edward Parade, opposite Riverheart Parklands, when they collided.

The female rider, a 68-year-old North Ipswich woman, sustained a fractured skull, as well as internal bleeding and broken bones. She remains in hospital in a stable condition.

The truck driver, a 52-year-old man from New Beith, was not injured.witnesses

Investigators would like to speak to witnesses to the crash, or anyone who may have relevant dashcam footage.

Police say the occupants of two vehicles in the area at the time of the crash, may have witnessed the incident.

Officers wish to talk to the driver and passenger of a grey sedan or a white utility (similar to the one in the photo below) travelling behind the truck.witnesses

Anyone with information is urged to contact police (details below).

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.

Quote this reference number: QP2000767350 within the online suspicious activity form.

We wish the rider a full and swift recovery from her injuries.

WA crash

WA Police are also seeking witnesses to a crash in which a 51-year-old motorcyclist died yesterday afternoon (Saturday 18 April 2020).

The accident happened about 1pm at the intersection of Kargotich and Rowley Roads, Oakford.

It is believed the Harley-Davidson rider was travelling north when collided with an oncoming Toyota Rav4.

He was rushed to Armadale Hospital for treatment where he died shortly after.

Investigators would like to speak to anyone who saw the crash, has dash camera footage of the crash, or had seen the motorcycle just prior to the crash.

The driver of the Rav4 was not injured.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800333000 or make a report online at crimestopperswa.com.au.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Lego adds Ducati Panigale V4 R model

Ducati has joined Harley-Davidson and BMW as the only motorcycle companies with Lego models.

Lego Ducati Panigale V4 RBig boys’ toys!

The Lego Ducati Panigale V4 R is the first Lego motorcycle model to include a gearbox.

It sits 32cm long, 16cm high and 8cm wide and will be available for €59.99 (about $A102) from June – possibly a bit too late to keep you occupied during the pandemic lockdown!

It joins the Harley Fat Boy ($A159.99) and BMW R 1200 GS ($A104) in the Lego world.

Todd's complete Lego bikesLego Harley and BMW

The Lego Duc is made up of 646 pieces which should take some time to put together.Lego Ducati Panigale V4 R

It will be available in Ducati dealerships and the Ducati Online Shop, as well as in Lego stores, retailers and online.

Toy maker Meccano has also joined the action with its licensed and generic motorcycle kits featuring the Ducati Monster 1200S and GP Desmo.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Honda patents telescopic side stand

Honda’s blitz on motorcycle patent applications continues with the latest a telescopic side stand.

Instead of a solid, sprung stand you flick out to prop up the motorcycle, this stand is like a telescopic camera tripod.

We can understand the need to make side stands more secure from flicking back and allowing the bike to fall.

Harley-Davidson resolved this years ago with a locking side stand.

Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycleClever locking Harley side stand

Telescopic stand

Honda’s telescopic sand plan is revolutionary, but we’re not sure it is any more secure than current solid, sprung stands.

It also seems complex to deploy as you have push it down and rotate it backwards.

To retract the stand the rider has to push the base forwards, releasing a peg from a slot so a spring retracts the tubes.

We have complained in the past about flimsy side stands and the lack of centre stands on modern motorcycles.

This hardly seems to address either issue.

Honda patents

This is one of a blitz of patent applications by Honda over the past couple of years.

Some are quite weird and impractical, but others may actually make it to market.

We suspect Honda is just trying to dominate intellectual property on motorcycle inventions, rather than planning to put them all into production.

The patents include:

Forks Goldwing patentGoldwing forks patent

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Council anti-motorcycle bias slammed

A UK council’s claims that “motorcyclists are a danger to themselves” and “environmentally unsound, not sustainable, and contribute to air pollution” have been slammed as extreme anti-motorcycle bias.

The anti-motorcycle claims are made in the Oxfordshire County Council’s proposals for its Local Transport and Connectivity Plan.

The British Motorcyclists Federation and Oxfordshire councillor John Broad have complained about the “sweeping and not justified comments” as extreme anti-motorcycle bias.

The inflammatory comments are:

  • “Statistical evidence suggests motorcyclists are a danger to themselves”; and
  • “Motorbikes are mostly still using fossil fuels to run, meaning they are environmentally unsound, not sustainable, and contribute to air pollution”.

Cr Broad says motorcycles are not part of the problem, but part of the solution to traffic and pollution concerns, especially with the coming wave of electric motorcycles.

Anti-motorcycle bias

Melbourne's Elizabeth St motorcycle district discussion paperMelbourne’s Elizabeth St motorcycle district (File photo)

Victorian motorcyclist advocate and Motorcycle Safety Consultant John Nelson says anti-motorcycle bias is not exclusive to the UK county council.

“We have a similar situation here with our City of Melbourne and the footpath parking issue,” he says.

“Also our Elizabeth St motorcycle retail precinct has all but collapsed. Many bike shops have moved to the suburbs or just closed down.

(Yamaha City is the latest to leave, heading for Port Melbourne.)

The City of Melbourne has planned a pedestrian and cyclist heaven without the consideration for the 110 year history of the precinct.”

Elizabeth St biasElizabeth St history

John is working with the council to recognise the history and erect a memorial with work due to start in 2023.

“By then, I expect to have a final presentation of the recognition/information piece to recognise the precinct for its heritage and contribution to the motorcycle community and our culture,” he says.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Rider, 26, dies after hitting tree

A 26-year-old male rider has died after hitting a tree just after midnight last night (17 April 2020) in Ainstree Avenue, Townsville.

Queensland Police say the man was taken to Townsville University Hospital in a critical condition but sadly died a short time later.

Forensic Crash investigators are appealing for any witnesses or anyone who may have dash cam vision to contact police.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.

It follows a tragic 24 hours on NSW roads with a rider dying late Wednesday after hitting a truck in Port Macquarie and another hitting a police car after being spotted on the wrong side of the road with the lights off about 2.30am on Thursday at Tuggerah Lakes.

The latter incident will be investigated by an independent review and information provided to the Coroner.

Anyone with information about these NSW incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au

Our sincere condolences to the riders’ families and friends.

Click here to find out why we report motorcycle crashes.

We sincerely hope the late-night riders were not getting their riding fix after frustration with the current travel restrictions.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Will you download coronavirus tracking app?

If it meant pandemic travel restrictions could be eased, would you download the Federal Government’s coming TraceTogether coronavirus tracking phone app?

We want your opinion, so please take part in our poll at the end of this article. Results will be released next week.

Click here for the results of our pandemic attitudes survey.

TraceTogether App

The TraceTogether opt-in app is expected to be rolled out in the next two weeks.

It uses GPS tracking and Bluetooth technology to record contact with people, even if you do not know them.

The app would identify and trace people who tested positive for coronavirus and alert people who spent more than 15 minutes in close proximity to an infected person.

Other details are not yet available on the app, but some apps overseas alert people when they are entering a coronavirus hotspot.

The app requires a 40% take-up rate to be effective. It will be similar to the TraceTogether app used in Singapore (below) where the take-up rate has only been 20%.

Tracking app

Now, Australians and riders, in particular, love their freedom and have historically rebelled against civil liberties infringements, such as the current Draconian Personal Infringement Notices (PINs) or on-the-spot fines.

So we don’t expect we would have a higher take-up rate than Singapore where the app has anonymous ID.

If the government wants 40% of Australians to download the app, then they should consider offering inducements.

They could include the freeing-up of travel restrictions.

If that’s the case, we would like to see motorcyclists allowed to ride solo for leisure, so long as they observe other rules such as social distancing, personal hygiene, staying within state borders and no overnight trips.

If the authorities were worried about too many app users heading out for a ride, fishing, surfing, etc, maybe they could send out an alert to a certain percentage of users on particular days saying they are allowed out.

Then, if they were intercepted by police, they would have proof that they are legally allowed out of home detention.

Some European countries have a similar system to restrict travel into the CBD during peak hours based on the last number in their number plate.

X2 phone mountClick here to buy an X2 charging phone mount

Orwellian dystopia

It all sounds like some Dystopian Hollywood blockbuster film, but these are unusual times and perhaps it is time to start thinking along these lines.

The alternative is staying home, losing your job, getting depressed, drinking too much, etc.

Our concern is that the current Orwellian measures and extra police powers will not be rolled back when the pandemic ends.

However, surely with an app, you can simply opt out again and regain your freedoms and civil liberties.

Several countries are working on or have introduced similar apps.

Most are very intrusive.

However, Germany is working on an app with a rolling ID code that changes frequently to protect your privacy but still allow tracking.

Coronavirus tracking app poll

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com