“The electronic technology of the 2020 Africa Twin is amazingly capable, and Honda’s new Multi-Information Display simulator enables customers to more easily get the most out of their machines,” said Chris Cox, manager of Experiential Marketing & PR at American Honda. “We encourage customers—whether they already own an Africa Twin or are in the market for a new adventure bike—to give the tool a try.”
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com
News 4 Feb 2020
Section: Competition
International line-up headlined by Australian and X Game gold medalist McNeil.
Image: Supplied.
Following a successful Australian debut at the 2019 Superloop Adelaide 500, the Moto X Step Up competition will return for the 2020 edition on 20-23 February.
An international rider line-up will be headlined by Australia’s own Jarryd McNeil and Corey Creed alongside X Games gold medalist and American Colby Raha.
McNeil, the reigning four-time Moto X Step Up X Games gold medallist, took out the inaugural Adelaide 500 Moto Step Up crown in 2019 and is looking forward to returning to Adelaide to defend his title.
“It was awesome to win the first-ever Moto X Step Up competition in Australia at last year’s Superloop Adelaide 500,” McNeil commented. “It’s cool to see so many Aussie fans at the event, embracing Moto X Step Up and cheering us on.
“This year the field is just as competitive, if not more, with a number of international riders. I’m looking forward to the challenge that it brings and trying to retain my title.”
The Moto X Step Up will again be positioned near the centralised concert precinct, adding to the atmosphere for all event goers.
Superloop Adelaide 500 general manager Alistair MacDonald added: “Last year was a huge success with the Moto X Step Up bringing an exciting off-track attraction to the event.
“We’re looking forward to seeing some of the world’s best riders, including Australia’s own Jarryd McNeil, Corey Creed and Robbie Marshall compete against a number of international riders.”
Adding to the list of riders is Robbie Marshall, Filip Podmol, and Massimo Bianconcini.
Source: MotoOnline.com.au
News 4 Feb 2020
Section: Competition
Yamaha-mounted challenger ninth at the fifth round of Supercross.
Image: Octopi Media.
Australian Aaron Tanti put in an impressive performance during Saturday night’s fifth round of Monster Energy Supercross in Oakland, storming to a career-best top 10 in the 250SX West category.
The Yamaha-mounted contender has continually progressed in his first American supercross campaign, with Oakland marking his best outing from five appearances.
Qualifying in 14th, the New South Welshman went onto transfer directly to the main event by finishing seventh in the opening 250SX heat race, granting him 13th gate-pick for the 16-lap final. It was a strong encounter for Tanti, who eventually charged his way to ninth across the finish line.
Fellow Australian Jay Wilson (Yamaha) also continued his string of respectable results, claiming 16th inside the RingCentral Coliseum. Compatriot Luke Clout (Penrite Honda Racing) was another Australian to earn a season-best result of fifth, while Joel Wightman (Honda) missed out on a transfer spot in the premier class after finishing ninth in the 450SX lCQ.
Monster Energy Supercross heads to Petco Park in San Diego this Saturday night for round six of the 17-stop series.
Source: MotoOnline.com.au
In addition to being the spec MotoAmerica tire for another three seasons, Dunlop is stepping up and providing a MotoAmerica rider a chance to wildcard in either Moto2 or Moto3 at year’s end.
Begin press release:
MotoAmerica has announced that Dunlop will again be the tire of choice for the MotoAmerica Series for the next three years with the high-performance tire manufacturer about to embark on a sixth straight season as the official tire supplier of the AMA Superbike Series in 2020. Additionally, Dunlop will also provide a lucky MotoAmerica rider the opportunity to take part in an FIM CEV Repsol Series round on a Moto2 or Moto3 bike in the Spanish Championship.
“We’re thrilled to announce that Dunlop will again be our spec tire for all five of the MotoAmerica classes,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “Dunlop has been with us since we started MotoAmerica in 2015 and this new three-year agreement shows that our relationship continues to get stronger. We strive to continue getting faster and it’s evident with our ever-improving lap times that Dunlop wants the same thing. We’re happy that Dunlop uses our series as the ultimate testing platform for their tires and that research and development is ultimately passed down to the consumer. I also want to thank Dunlop for adding the Moto2/Moto3 bonus. It’s always been important to MotoAmerica to try and create opportunities for our riders to challenge themselves in other international series. This new program with Dunlop goes right along with those goals. The 2020 season promises to be our best yet and we’re pleased that Dunlop is continuing to ride and race with us.”
Dunlop will provide a MotoAmerica rider with the unique Moto2/Moto3 opportunity in 2020 with the rider selected based on input from both Dunlop and MotoAmerica. The lucky rider will get the chance to compete in one race in Spain with what is basically a full package, including transportation from Wednesday to Sunday of the event, along with lodging and meals, required track fees, tickets/passes, motorcycle, fuel, full-spec engine and tires for the practice sessions and race. More information will be forthcoming.
“At Dunlop, we love to race, and we know that racing helps us make better tires for the street,” said Dunlop Vice President Mike Buckley. “Our relationship with MotoAmerica continues to reap benefits for both parties and we’re proud to be the spec tire again for the 2020 season. The MotoAmerica Series gives us the opportunity to test our tires in five classes of racing and on a variety of different motorcycles. What we continue to learn from the racetrack proves to be invaluable on many levels. Adding the CEV Repsol Series opportunity to a MotoAmerica rider will give them a great chance to show their talents in that series and it will also be fun for MotoAmerica fans to follow his/her progress in Spain.”
2020 MotoAmerica Series
April 3-5 Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas
April 17-19 Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia
May 1-3 Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Virginia
May 29-31 Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
June 26-28 The Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, Washington
July 10-12
August 7-9 Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, Pennsylvania
August 21-23 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Indiana
September 11-13 New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, New Jersey
September 18-20 Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama
The post Dunlop Will Provide A MotoAmerica Racer A Moto2 or Moto3 Ride At The End Of The Year appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.
Ewan McGregor admits he ran out of “juice” a couple of times on his Long Way Up trip on Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycles and even hitched rides with cars by hanging on to the B pillar.
The admissions came in an interview on the American Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
McGregor and his “Long Way” partner, Charley Boorman, completed their trip from Tiera Del Fuego in September to LA in December on specially modified Harley LiveWires.
The LiveWire is now available in the US for $US29,799 (about $A44,500) and will be on sale in Australia late this year.
The third instalment in their Long Way TV series is expected to be released some time in 2020.
So McGregor is spruiking about it on TV and we expect to see more of the same in coming months.
In the interview, he explains that they chose electric motorcycles because they “wanted to be part of that new wave of transportation”.
“It proved to be amazing and quite tricky at the same time,” McGregor tells Fallon.
“Charging is the issue. There’s no real infrastructure for charging in Patagonia, for instance.
“We’d just knock on people’s doors and ask if we could plug them in.
“They usually do let us. We’d camp in their garden and we’d plug in.”
However, he said charging two bikes at the same time would sometimes blew the houses’s fuses, so they would charge one at a time.
“People were so generous and lovely about it,” he says.
“We’d ride all morning and then if we stopped to look around the town we’d find somewhere to plug in at a restaurant or a cafe or something.”
Charley and Ewan on electric Harleys
According to Harley, LiveWire range is about 150km on the highway and about 235km in the city.
So, what did they do when they ran out of “juice”, Fallon asked?
“Hope for a hill,” McGregor replies.
“I got towed a couple of times. I was the only one that ran out.
“Charley never ran out of juice and he’ll tell you it’s ’cause he’s a better rider than me and it may well be the case.
“But I ran out a couple of times, so I’d just hold on to a car.”
Ewan and Charley pack their LiveWire electric bikes
He explains how this stunt was performed and we assume it was at slow speed and could have been using one of the back-up vehicles.
“If you open the back windows and the front of the car you could get your arm around a pillar and you just muscle along like that for a while,” he explains.
Ewan says the first time he saw this done was in New York when he was about 21 or 22 riding in a yellow cab.
“A Harley-Davidson guy — a Hells Angels guy — who’d run out of gas or his bike was broken down clattered into the side of the cab, grabbed hold of the pillar and he shouted the address of the Hells Angels clubhouse to the driver who just took him there and didn’t ask any questions; just drove there like that.
“I think the Hells Angels owe me $5.26.”
Not sure if we believe that, but it’s a great story.
And it sounds like Long Way Up will also be another great series.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Harley-Davidson releases it’s 30th anniversary Fat Boy and gives details on the new CVO Road Glide.
Begin Press Release:
The Limited-Production Fat Boy 114 with Special Styling Will Be Serialized
MILWAUKEE (February 3, 2020) – Harley-Davidson celebrates an icon with the introduction of the Fat Boy® 30th Anniversary motorcycle. Cloaked in dark finishes with bronze highlights and powered by a blacked-out Milwaukee-Eight® 114 engine, production of the 30th Anniversary Fat Boy will be limited to 2,500 examples, each serialized with a number plate affixed to the fuel tank console.
The Fat Boy was a perfectly outrageous name for a motorcycle that at its 1990 introduction was brilliantly bodacious.
“The Fat Boy took the look, proportions and silhouette of a 1949 Hydra-Glide motorcycle and completely modernized it for a new generation of riders,” explains Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson Vice President of Styling and Design. “Those riders appreciated our post-war design DNA but also found themselves drawn to the clean simplicity of contemporary industrial design. Each of these elements was captured in the new 2018 version of the Fat Boy model. For this 30th Anniversary model we wanted to create something very special, so we leaned into the popularity of darker finishes and a limited run/serialized strategy to make the bike truly unique and exclusive.”
Fat Boy 30th Anniversary Model
The Fat Boy 30th Anniversary motorcycle celebrates the three-decade impact of the original model with a bold reinterpretation executed in dark finishes paired with a single color option, Vivid Black. The cast-aluminum Lakester wheels are finished in Satin Black with machined highlights. The blacked-out Milwaukee-Eight 114 powertrain is finished with engine covers in gloss black and subtle bronze-tone lower rocker covers and timer cover script. The exhaust finished in a Black Onyx, a durable physical vapor deposition paint finish that reveals the underlying chrome in bright light.
A Vivid Black headlamp nacelle, handlebar and controls complete the over-all dark look that is distinctive from the regular production model. A new bronze-tone waterslide Fat Boy tank logo complements the black finish and other bronze details that set the Fat Boy 30th Anniversary apart from the regular-production model.
Based on the Harley-Davidson® Softail® platform launched in 2018, the Fat Boy motorcycle re-defines an icon with power and presence. The entire Fat Boy front end is massive and topped with an LED headlamp in a newly shaped nacelle. The Lakester disc aluminum wheels update that defining Fat Boy style point. The 160mm front tire is balanced by a signature 240mm rear tire that delivers a factory custom look.
The Softail frame and suspension combine to form a chassis that’s stiff and lightweight, for agility and performance that will exceed the expectations of the most-demanding cruiser riders. The mono-shock rear suspension preserves the signature “hard tail” lines of the Softail chassis and places a single coil-over shock absorber below the seat at the optimal angle for a smooth ride and outstanding handling. Remote hydraulic pre-load adjustment is accomplished by simply turning a knob located below the seat, making it easy to dial in the ride and handling for rider weight.
The Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-Twin engine, the most-powerful Softail powertrain option, delivers inspiring performance and classic Harley-Davidson look-sound-feel. The rigid-mounted powertrain further enhances chassis stiffness. Dual engine counter-balancers are tuned to reduce primary vibration at idle speed.
Dealer-installed Screamin’ Eagle® Performance Parts Stage Upgrades from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories are available to boost engine performance even further.
Base price for the Fat Boy 30th Anniversary model is $21,949*.
*Price listed is the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price for base model. Options are available at additional cost. Price excludes tax, title, licensing, registration fees, destination charges, added accessories, and additional dealer charges, if any, and are subject to change. Harley-Davidson reimburses dealers for performing manufacturer-specified pre-delivery inspection and setup tasks. Dealer prices may vary.
Birth of an Icon
Introduced in 1989 as a 1990 model, the original Fat Boy was designed by legendary Harley-Davidson stylists Willie G. Davidson and Louie Netz and combined a fresh, contemporary look with classic Harley-Davidson styling cues. To achieve a “milled from billet” look the bike was finished in monochromatic Fine Silver Metallic with a matching powder coated frame, and rolled on aluminum disc wheels – the rear exposed by the Softail chassis – that would become the defining characteristic of the Fat Boy model. The look was beefy for the time, from the fat front tire covered with a trimmed fender to the wide handlebar and a seven-inch headlamp in a massive chrome housing perched on a polished FL-style nacelle. Davidson designed the winged tank logo, which has been an enduring feature of the Fat Boy model.
In 1991 the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy motorcycle entered popular culture with its featured appearance in the motion picture “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” in which actor Arnold Schwarzenegger rides a Fat Boy motorcycle through Los Angeles in a dramatic chase scene. The movie was a global sensation, helping cement the Fat Boy model as an iconic representative of the Harley-Davidson brand in many markets, especially Europe.
About That Name
Only Harley-Davidson would have the confidence to name a motorcycle Fat Boy. Here’s how it happened, according to an account by Willie G. Davidson from his book “100 Years of Harley-Davidson”:
You’re probably wondering how we came up with a name like “Fat Boy,” and I’ve heard a lot of tales about this, nearly all of which are untrue. Here’s the real story: it’s tough to come up with names that will be popular on the street. We always have to ask ourselves, “What’s the street going to name this?” and work from there. We were looking for something unusual and maybe even a little irreverent, because there’s something sort of cool about poking fun at your products from time to time. To me, and to a lot of other insiders who’d seen it, the bike had a massive “fat” look. So the folks in marketing came up with the name “Fat Boy” – and the street picked it up.
The Fat Boy model received regular styling updates until 2018, when an all-new Fat Boy model was rolled out on the reinvented Softail chassis, powered by the Milwaukee-Eight engine. The current Fat Boy model turns up the volume on all of the distinctive Fat Boy cues, from the aluminum disc wheels to the massive headlamp and nacelle. The Fat Boy remains one of the most physically imposing motorcycles in the Harley-Davidson portfolio.
ROAD GLIDE® COMBINES STYLE, POWER, AND TECHNOLOGY
New CVO Road Glide Features H-D Connect and RDRS
MILWAUKEE (February 3, 2020) – The Harley-Davidson® CVO Road Glide® motorcycle returns as a mid-year addition to the 2020 portfolio of limited-production, super-premium motorcycles from the Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations program. The CVO Road Glide offers the ultimate combination of premier style, thrilling performance, and ride-enhancing technology in a Touring motorcycle for customers who only settle for the best-of-the-best.
The CVO Road Glide motorcycle joins the CVO Tri Glide®, the CVO Limited, and the CVO Street Glide® models in the 2020 collection from Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations.
Since its inception in 1999, the Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations program has created exclusive motorcycle models for the most-discerning customers, often using finishes, materials, technology and accessories that are only available on a CVO model. The Milwaukee-Eight® 117 powertrain – the most displacement and power offered factory-installed in a Harley-Davidson motorcycle – is exclusive to CVO models.
CVO Road Glide
The CVO Road Glide model is a high-performance Harley-Davidson Touring motorcycle equipped to offer the rider outstanding long-range comfort, commanding performance, and a suite of new rider-assist technologies. Base price for the 2020 CVO Road Glide model is $40,999*.
New features of the 2020 CVO Road Glide:
Connect (see below) Defensive Rider Systems (see below) Collection hand grips match Kahuna shifter pegs, brake pedal cover, muffler end caps, heated grips and rider and passenger boards. The Kahuna Collection features mirror-like chrome surfaces surrounded by rich black rubber that provides grip and traction where needed. A red Bar & Shield logo completes the look on many Kahuna Collection components. Audio 30K Bluetooth® Helmet Headset (see below). logo.Key CVO Road Glide Model features
21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels feature a split seven-spoke design that provides an open and airy look, with the spokes blending into the rim to add visual diameter. This is the only 21-inch front wheel fitment offered on a Harley-Davidson Touring model. The front suspension is re-tuned for no compromise in handling and braking performance with this larger-diameter front wheel.New CVO Motorcycle Technology
H-D Connect introduces subscription-based cellular connectivity to select Harley-Davidson motorcycles to keep riders connected to their motorcycle through their smart phone using the latest version of the Harley-Davidson® App. (See separate Technology release for full details. The H-D Connect service is not available in all markets. Market availability will vary.)
Reflex Defensive Rider Systems (RDRS): RDRS is a new collection of technology designed to match motorcycle performance to available traction during acceleration, deceleration and braking, utilizing the latest chassis control, electronic brake control and powertrain technology. (See separate Technology release for full details.)
Wireless Headset: The CVO Road Glide is shipped with a single Boom! Audio 30K Bluetooth® helmet headset designed for cordless interface with the Boom! Box GTS infotainment system. This new headset features the latest wireless communication technology – Mesh Intercom Network. The protocol automatically connects to a near limitless number of riders while in public mode to eliminate lost group connections when someone goes out of range. The headset can connect with up to 16 riders in private mode up to five miles, and enables the same functions as a wired headset (CB, phone, navigation prompts, radio and audio, with voice commands) and fulfills the Apple Carplay® microphone requirement for the Boom! Box GTS. A Quick Charge feature can provide up to five hours of additional talk time with a 20-minute charge.
Boom! Box GTS with Premium Boom! Audio: The CVO Road Glide model is equipped with a Boom! Box GTS infotainment system with four Boom! Stage II bi-amped speakers (paired in fairing and saddlebag lids), 150 watts per channel from two separate 300-watt amplifiers for 600 watts total power. The 6.5-inch color touchscreen is covered with durable Corning® Gorilla® Glass and offers low reflectivity with minimal sun washout for exceptional visibility in all situations. Additional features include advanced navigation, Apple CarPlay® compatibility, personalization options, and integration with the Harley-Davidson App. The entire system can be managed through the touch screen, the motorcycle hand controls and by voice commands.
Exclusive Milwaukee-Eight 117 Power
The largest-displacement factory-installed engine available from Harley-Davidson, the Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine (117 CID; 1923cc) is rated at 125 ft. lbs. of torque.
* Prices listed are the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices for base models. Options such as color are available at additional cost. Prices exclude tax, title, licensing, registration fees, destination charges, added accessories, and additional dealer charges, if any, and are subject to change. Harley-Davidson reimburses dealers for performing manufacturer-specified pre-delivery inspection and setup tasks. Dealer prices may vary.
The post Harley-Davidson Announces 30th Anniversary Fat Boy and New CVO Road Glide appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.
As little as a year ago, things were looking rosy, if slightly behind schedule, and we were expecting great things from the savior of the legendary British manufacturer. Just last June, our man Andrew Capone spoke with Norton boss Stuart Garner at an event in NYC, who told him Norton would soon reenter the US market:
“We’ll be in the hunt for the right kinds of dealers, ones that understand this brand and have an affinity for this segment of the market. We’ll be bringing in the 961, the V4 SS, and the 650 twins, and using select shows and Norton enthusiast club gatherings and the like to build back our customer base.”
Now it appears the wheels truly have come off as a result of many bumps in the road, including Brexit, but it’s beginning to look a lot like outright fraud on the part of its principal, Stuart Garner, and associates. Read the full story here at The Guardian.
The post What the Heck Happened to Norton? appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.
News 3 Feb 2020
Section: Competition
Final corner contact leaves Team Honda HRC rider in clear discomfort.
Image: Octopi Media.
450SX points-leader Ken Roczen has downplayed injury concerns after coming into contact with reigning champion Cooper Webb in the closing stages of Oakland’s main event on Saturday night for round five of Monster Energy Supercross.
The Team Honda HRC rider led portions of the 21-lap encounter before settling into second, however he came under attack by a hard-charging Webb on the last lap.
Red Bull KTM’s Webb squared up the final turn while pushing his way by Roczen to secure runner-up honours. The German native crossed the line in third, although was seen immediately limping from his bike with a suspected foot injury.
When questioned at the post-race press conference, Roczen brushed off concerns of anything serious, however it’s understood he’ll undergo scans this week.
“I don’t think it’s anything crazy,” Roczen stated. “My foot got stuck – I don’t know if it was in something or just from the hit or whatever – it was a bit of a stinger. It’s nothing too crazy and nothing that I’m worried about.”
Roczen holds down a three-point advantage over Oakland main event winner Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki) in the championship standings as the series heads to San Diego, California, for round six of the 17-stop series.
Source: MotoOnline.com.au
UV-resistant materials often claim to protect the cover from fading and some companies, such as Nelson-Rigg, even offer lifetime warranties (as seen with the Defender Extreme) that apply to severe color changes resulting from extensive exposure to the sun’s rays. The Defender Extreme is made of UltraMax polyester which, according to the brand, blocks “99 percent of harmful rays that could damage a vehicle’s finish, without discoloration after continuous sunlight exposure.” Further, to ensure the best resistance to fading, the yarn is colored prior to being woven rather than being piece-dyed (meaning fabric is dyed after yarn is woven together). If a cover does not offer UV protection, there is a chance the UV rays can wear down the material, weakening the fabric’s structure, and if caught on parts or sharp edges of the fairing has potential to tear. In addition to UV protection, look for high denier count and products with high tensile strength that can help improve tearing resistance. According to Nelson-Rigg’s president UltraMax polyester “is the leading material in our industry for UV protection, abrasion resistance, hydrostatic pressure (how waterproof it is), and tear resistance.”
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com
Queensland Police are seeking information about a collision in which a 29-year-old male motorcyclist suffered serious leg injuries last week.
The Forensic Crash Unit says the collision occurred about 8am on Friday (28 January 2020) at Slacks Creek.
Initial investigations reveal the rider was struck by a Hyundai Tucson on the Pacific Highway service road outside a car dealership in heavy rain.
The rider was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital with serious leg injuries.
The driver of the sedan, a 52-year-old man, was not injured in the crash.
Investigators are appealing for anyone travelling in the vicinity around the time of the crash, with dashcam footage, to contact them.
Investigations are continuing.
We wish the rider a full and speedy recovery.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.
Quote this reference number: QP2000194458
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
