DARK & POWERFUL STREET GLIDE ST, ROAD GLIDE ST ADD PUNCH TO 2022 HARLEY-DAVIDSON TOURING LINE MILWAUKEE, WI (January 26, 2022) – Harley-Davidson elevates bagger performance and brings the purposeful style of the championship winning Screamin’ Eagle® Factory race bikes to the street with the introduction of the Street Glide® ST and Road Glide® ST models. Both models combine the power of the Milwaukee-Eight® 117 V-Twin engine with new dark-and-bronze finishes. Harley-Davidson Grand American Touring models take riders beyond the horizon with the comfort and convenience that makes the journey spectacular. Milwaukee-Eight 117 The Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-Twin engine offers the most displacement and torque available from a factory-installed, regular-production Harley-Davidson® powertrain. With 117 cubic inches of displacement, the Milwaukee-Eight 117 with precision oil/air cooling produces up to 127 lb. ft. of torque at 3750 RPM, power riders can feel on the street with every twist of the throttle. The engine features a high-performance camshaft, a high-flow intake, and high-performance exhaust tuned to maximize engine performance while maintaining 50-state compliance and producing a stirring tone. Dealer-installed Screamin’ Eagle® Performance Parts Stage Upgrades from Harley-Davidson® Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories are available to boost engine performance even further. Street Glide ST Model Meet the new breed of speed from Harley-Davidson – hot rod bagger performance for the rider who wants to strafe corners in comfort. The Street Glide ST model pairs the muscular Milwaukee-Eight 117 powertrain with new dark-and-bronze finishes. The iconic Harley-Davidson batwing fairing features a splitstream vent to limit head buffeting and a low-profile dark windshield. A low-profile tank console with side fuel fill and low-profile engine guard adds custom style and differentiation from other Touring models. With the purposeful stance of the Screamin Eagle® Factory race bike, the Street Glide ST model is drenched in black – front end, controls, powertrain, and exhaust. The only bright bits are pushrod tubes and tappet covers, and machined cylinder fins. Matte Dark Bronze finish on the Prodigy cast aluminum wheels, the color band on the lower rocker box, timer cover medallion, intake medallion, and the classic script tank graphic provide subtle contrast to dark finishes. There are two paint options – Vivid Black or Gunship Gray. The front fender is trimmed for a sporty profile and lighter look and standard-length saddlebags replace the extended bags on Street Glide® Special model. A Heavy Breather intake with forward-facing exposed air cleaner element reinforces performance-first styling, while the new solo seat gives the Street Glide ST a lean and aggressive look. Emulsion-technology rear shock absorbers feature a single knob to hydraulically adjust pre-load for optimal ride and control. The 49mm forks with dual bending valve suspension technology deliver linear damping characteristics for a smooth ride. Reflex™ linked Brembo® brakes with ABS are standard. Other features include the Boom!™ Box GTS infotainment system with color touch screen, two fairing-mount speakers and hidden radio antenna. Electronic cruise control holds a steady speed for comfort on long rides. A Daymaker® LED headlamp pushes out an impressive punch with a bright-white beam that lights up the road. Smart Security System with proximity-based, hands-free security fob offers peace of mind. Road Glide ST Model The sleek Road Glide ST model projects the attitude of the Screamin’ Eagle® Factory championship winning race bike and backs it up with the street-scorching power of the Milwaukee-Eight 117 powertrain. Undiminished rider comfort and the shark nose fixed fairing appeals to a rider who wants to make quick work of the open road. The distinctive and aerodynamic shark nose Road Glide fairing features triple splitstream venting to limit head buffeting. The fairing is topped with a low-profile dark windshield and holds dual Daymaker® LED headlamps that push out an impressive punch with a bright-white beam that lights up the road. A low-profile engine guard and tank console combine to give the Road Glide ST trim lines. A new solo seat exposes the rear fender and adds a purposeful attitude along with standard-length saddlebags and a trimmed front fender. The blacked-out front end, controls, powertrain and exhaust contrast with bright pushrod tubes and tappet covers, and machined cylinder fins. Further contrast is provided by a Matte Dark Bronze finish on the cast aluminum Prodigy custom wheels, the color band on the lower rocker box, timer cover medallion, intake medallion, and the classic script tank graphic. There are two paint options – Vivid Black or Gunship Gray. A Heavy Breather intake with forward-facing exposed air cleaner element reinforces performance-first styling. Emulsion-technology rear shock absorbers feature a single knob to hydraulically adjust pre-load for optimal ride and control. The 49mm forks with dual bending valve suspension technology deliver linear damping characteristics for a smooth ride. Reflex™ linked Brembo® brakes with ABS are standard. The Road Glide ST is equipped with the Boom!™ Box GTS infotainment system with color touch screen, two fairing-mount speakers and hidden radio antenna. Electronic cruise control holds a steady speed for comfort on long rides. Smart Security System with proximity-based, hands-free security fob offers peace of mind. Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements by Harley-Davidson Offered as an option for the Street Glide ST and Road Glide ST models, Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements by Harley-Davidson is a collection of technologies designed to assist the rider in maintaining the rider’s intended path through a curve. This technology package provides the following enhancements:

• Cornering Electronically Linked Brakes
• Cornering-ABS
• Cornering-Traction Control with modes
• Drag Torque Slip Control
• Vehicle Hold Control
• Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS)

Harley-Davidson stands for the timeless pursuit of adventure and freedom for the soul. Go to H-D.com to learn more about the complete line of 2022 Harley-Davidson motorcycles, gear, accessories and more.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON CVO MOTORCYCLES REPRESENT PINNACLE OF STYLE AND DESIGN

MILWAUKEE, WI (January 26, 2022) – Advanced technology, exclusive components and obsessive attention to detail distinguish four new 2022 motorcycle models from Harley-Davidson® Custom Vehicle Operations™ (CVO™). Limited-production, super-premium CVO motorcycles represent the pinnacle of forward-looking style, design and craftsmanship from Harley-Davidson, the world’s most-desirable motorcycle brand.

CVO models for 2022 include the CVO™ Road Glide® Limited, the CVO™ Street Glide®, the CVO™ Road Glide® and the CVO™ Tri Glide®. Each model offers exclusive paint colors and designs executed to a level of intricate quality and hand-crafted detail that is unmatched in the motorcycle and automotive categories.

“Gunslinger is our partner in custom paint that’s been that’s been adding incredible artisanal techniques to our CVO arsenal and family for a long time now, and they’re inspiring us to push the limits, so we try to do the same thing with them,” said Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson Vice President of Design. “When most manufacturers are at the limits of a robot, Gunslinger can go in there with an artist who has the ability to brush by hand and deliver the sharpest pinstripe possible. That hand applied technique allows for very intricate two-tones, three-tones, airbrush drop shadows, and really transcends the ‘expected’ by delivering a truly custom look.”

Each CVO model is also equipped with Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine, plus the complete technology suite of Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements and the advanced Boom!™ Box GTS infotainment system equipped with high-performance Harley-Davidson® Audio powered by Rockford Fosgate®.

Milwaukee-Eight® 117 High-Performance Engine

The Milwaukee-Eight® 117 V-Twin engine in each CVO model delivers the most factory-installed torque and displacement available in a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

• 117 cubic inches displacement
• 126 ft. lbs. of torque at 3750 RPM (CVO Road Glide, CVO Street Glide) for strong performance the rider will feel with every twist of the throttle
• 125 ft. lbs. of torque at 3,500 RPM (CVO Road Glide Limited, CVO Tri Glide) for strong performance the rider will feel with every twist of the throttle
• High-performance camshaft is matched to displacement and air flow to maximize performance
• High-performance intake flows more air into the engine to boost performance and gives the motorcycle added hot rod presence
• High-performance exhaust is tuned to maximize engine performance while maintaining 50-state regulatory compliance and producing a stirring tone

CVO™ Motorcycle Technology

Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements by Harley-Davidson is a collection of technology designed to enhance rider confidence during unexpected situations or poor road conditions, and is a standard feature on each 2022 CVO model. Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements are designed to match motorcycle performance to available traction during acceleration, deceleration and braking, in a straight line or while in a turn. The systems are electronic and utilize the latest chassis control, electronic brake control and powertrain technology. Elements of Cornering Riding Safety Enhancements include Cornering Enhanced Electronic Linked Braking (C-ELB), Cornering Enhanced Antilock Braking System (C-ABS), Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System (C-TCS), Drag-Torque Slip Control System (DSCS), Vehicle Hold Control (VHC), and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Harley-Davidson® Audio powered by Rockford Fosgate® This rider-focused, high-performance motorcycle audio is an exclusive standard feature on each 2022 Harley-Davidson CVO model. Harley-Davidson and Rockford Fosgate collaborated to create all-new components for an advanced, high-performance audio system that pushes the bounds of technology, featuring speakers and amplifiers designed specifically for Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Go to Harley-Davidson® Audio powered by Rockford Fosgate for complete details. Rockford Fosgate is a registered trademark of Rockford Corp.

Daymaker® Adaptive LED Headlamp The 2022 CVO Street Glide model is equipped with a Daymaker Adaptive LED Headlamp, the most-advanced headlamp system ever developed for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Patented sensors and electronics integrated into the headlamp control 12 additional LED lights that activate based on the lean of the bike to project light into corners to illuminate areas of the road that may be unlit by traditional LED headlamps.

Wireless Headset Each 2022 CVO motorcycle is shipped with a Boom!™ Audio 30K Bluetooth® Helmet Headset, which connects via Bluetooth® interface with the Boom! Box GTS infotainment system and eliminates fussing with cords. The headset features Mesh Intercom™ Network protocol that automatically connects to a near limitless number of riders while in public mode – no more lost group connections when someone goes out of range – and can connect with up to 16 riders in private mode at a range of up to 5 miles (8.05km). This headset also fulfills the Apple CarPlay microphone requirement for the Boom!™ Box GTS.

CVO Street Glide Model

A super-premium hot rod bagger for the rider who rolls loud and proud. The classic silhouette of the batwing fairing topped with jaw-dropping paint and finish details, premium audio and the pavement-peeling power of the Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine make this one outrageous bike.

• NEW Decorative insert finishes and scorched chrome powertrain covers (with Blue Steel paint option)
• Harley-Davidson Audio powered by Rockford Fosgate Stage II for super-premium sound
• Heated Kahuna™ Collection hand grips match Kahuna Collection shifter pegs, brake pedal cover, muffler end caps, and rider and passenger pegs
• Daymaker Adaptive LED headlamp
• Fugitive custom wheels with gloss black and contrast chrome, all gloss black, or Blue Steel and contrast scorched chrome finish, depending on paint option
• Low-profile console with CVO light
• Screamin’ Eagle® Heavy Breather intake for improved air flow and bold hot-rod style
• NEW Paint Options
  • Hightail Yellow Pearl/Black Hole with Lightning Silver Two-Tone and Bright Chrome finishes
  • Envious Green with Black Hole Fade with Flame Pattern and Gloss Black finishes
  • Blue Steel solid color and Scorched Chrome finishes

CVO Road Glide Model

For the rider who runs out front and never looks back. The CVO Road Glide model offers menacing style behind its distinctive dual LED headlamps and frame-mounted shark nose fairing, and the unrelenting performance of the Milwaukee-Eight 117 powertrain. Powerhouse audio, an exclusive 21-inch front wheel, fabulous custom paint and extraordinary attention to detail complete this very desirable bike.

• NEW decorative insert finishes and scorched chrome powertrain covers (with Blue Steel paint option)
• Harley-Davidson Audio powered by Rockford Fosgate Stage II for super-premium sound
• Road Glide fairing features splitstream venting to limit head buffeting; Dual Daymaker LED headlamps push out an impressive punch with a bright-white beam that lights up the road; all other lighting is LED
• Exclusive Combo 21-inch front / 18-inch rear wheel
  • Features a cast-aluminum rim and laced spokes for a look that is both rugged and very exclusive/custom
  • Enables TPMS (tire pressure monitoring systems) on a laced wheel
  • This is the only 21-inch front wheel offered on a H-D® Touring model; suspension is re-tuned for no compromise in handling and braking performance; adds to custom-bagger look and CVO™ model exclusivity
  • Low-profile console with CVO light
  • Heated Kahuna Collection hand grips match Kahuna shifter pegs, brake pedal cover, muffler end caps, and rider and passenger pegs
  • Fang Front Spoiler is dramatic lower bodywork and a custom styling feature
  • Screamin’ Eagle Heavy Breather intake for improved air flow and bold hot-rod style
• NEW Paint Options
  • Wicked Orange Pearl/Black Hole with Lightning Silver Two-Tone and Bright Chrome finishes
  • Envious Green with Black Hole Fade with Flame Pattern and Gloss Black finishes
  • Blue Steel Solid Color and Scorched Chrome finishes

CVO Road Glide Limited Model

For the rider who leads, alone or with a partner on board. The CVO Road Glide Limited model is loaded with luxury and long-haul comfort, head-turning style and power that always satisfies. Premium audio, heated seats and grips, and the precise handling of the aerodynamic Road Glide model fixed fairing make this motorcycle the ultimate Harley-Davison Touring machine.

• NEW decorative insert finishes
• NEW Harley-Davidson Audio powered by Rockford Fosgate Stage I for premium sound
• Twin-Cooled™ Milwaukee-Eight® 117 powertrain maintains power and performance in the most-challenging conditions
• Road Glide model fairing features splitstream venting to limit head buffeting; Dual Daymaker LED headlamps push out an impressive punch with a bright-white beam that lights up the road; all other lighting is LED
• Heated seat with dual-zone rider/passenger control for added comfort in cool weather
• Heated Kahuna Collection hand grips match shifter pegs, brake pedal cover, muffler end caps, and rider / passenger boards
• Tomahawk™ custom wheels
• NEW Paint Options
  • Wicked Orange Pearl/Black Hole with Lightning Silver Two-Tone and Bright Chrome finishes
  • Hightail Yellow Pearl/Black Hole with Lightning Silver Two-Tone and Bright Chrome finishes
  • Dante’s Red with Dante’s Black Sunglo Fade Flame Pattern and Gloss Black finishes

CVO Tri Glide Model

This super-premium trike delivers distinctive style, powerful performance and long-haul touring capability plus the added confidence of a third wheel. The CVO Tri Glide is loaded with premium audio, luxurious comfort features and an astounding finish and attention to detail, on a chassis designed from the wheels up as a trike.

• NEW Harley-Davidson Audio powered by Rockford Fosgate Stage I for premium sound
• NEW Decorative Insert Finishes
• Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight 117 powertrain maintains power and performance in the most-challenging conditions
• Tomahawk Contrast Cut cast aluminum wheels front and rear maintain cohesive styling
• Heated Kahuna Collection hand grips match shifter pegs, brake pedal cover, muffler end caps, and rider and passenger boards
• Heated seat with dual-zone rider/passenger control for added comfort in cool weather
• All LED Lighting: Headlamp, fog lamps, tail/brake lamps and signals
• NEW Paint Option
  • Dante’s Red with Dante’s Black Sunglo Fade Flame Pattern and Bright Chrome finishes

Harley-Davidson stands for the timeless pursuit of adventure and freedom for the soul. Go to H-D.com to learn more about the complete line of 2022 Harley-Davidson motorcycles, gear, accessories and more.

Industry & Legislative Motorcycle News from USA and the world

Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish with photos from the Bob T. Collection

National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) News provides updates on motorcycle industry, market, legislation, rights of bikers, motorcyclists in USA, and motorcycle news from around the world.

ABOUT AIM / NCOM: The National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) is a nationwide motorcyclists rights organization serving over 2,000 NCOM Member Groups throughout the United States, with all services fully-funded through Aid to Injured Motorcyclist (AIM) Attorneys available in each state who donate a portion of their legal fees from motorcycle accidents back into the NCOM Network of Biker Services (www.ON-A-BIKE.com / 800-ON-A-BIKE).

CLICK HERE To Read the latest NCOM News on Bikernet.com

CLICK Here to Subscribe to our Free Weekly Newsletter

Restore Bonneville hopes new data will speed salt flat replenishment

The ongoing pursuit to preserve the Bonneville Salt Flats has scored another victory and SEMA, along with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Utah Geological Survey (UGS), and Intrepid Potash Inc. marked more progress in restoring the area’s precious salt.

A new well installed in the summer of 2021, along with equipment that will collect data on evaporation, will inform the preservation and replenishment of the salt flats as the Restore Bonneville program kicks off.

CLICK HERE To Read about the unique Salt Flats – it’s lot more than a speed test ground

CLICK HERE To Buy the Book – visit the 5-Ball Racing Shop

With techs from the V-twin Visionary, Sawicki Exhaust, and Legends Suspension

My grandson, Frank Ball Jr. and I made the run to Sturgis with a Kendon two-bike trailer, our 1928 Shovelhead and the 5-Ball Racing Crazy Horse powered mascot bike. Both quirky, flat-side tank bikes. We jammed out and rode around the rally and had a blast.

CLICK HERE To Read this Photo Feature Article and the Tech used

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The ongoing pursuit to preserve the Bonneville Salt Flats has scored another victory and SEMA, along with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Utah Geological Survey (UGS), and Intrepid Potash Inc. marked more progress in restoring the area’s precious salt. A new well installed in the summer of 2021, along with equipment that will collect data on evaporation, will inform the preservation and replenishment of the salt flats as the Restore Bonneville program kicks off.

The Bonneville Salt Flats are a must-see natural wonder, even if you aren’t a land speed racing fan. The vast white landscape and environments of its kind are incredibly rare. Located just east of the Nevada/Utah border town of Wendover, the salt flats are the bottom of an ancient lake. The hard flat surface that forms each year after the rains makes for a fantastic racing surface, something land speed racers have taken advantage of for more than 100 years. The first Speed Week was held there in 1949.

While the salt flats are still quite vast, they have shrunk to 1/3 their former size and the salt thickness has diminished due to several factors, forcing land speed racers to move and shorten their courses over the years. The BLM cites several reasons for the shrinking salt, including shifts in rain and climate, but one very visible change that has taken place is the removal of potash from the salt, for use as fertilizer. The potash mining began in the early 1900s and went seemingly unchecked into the 1960s when ditches were dug to collect brine from the salt flats north of Interstate 80, near the land speed racing course. Intrepid Potash Inc. now leases land south of Interstate 80 and has been pumping processed brine back to the salt flats since 1997.

The new well and measuring equipment are some of the first actions completed by Restore Bonneville, a joint venture between BLM and DNR that will be operated by Intrepid Potash Inc. with the aim to better focus restoration practices and regrow the salt flats. With a better understanding of the environment, Restore Bonneville can learn how to best manage the pumping of brine and increase the volume returned to the salt flats.

The bulk of funding for the venture will come from federal and state appropriations but Save the Salt, a 501(c)(3) organization, has also been a big help in preserving Bonneville for future racers. Visit their site for more information if you’d like to help out.

With 2021 in the rearview, New Year 2022 has hit the ground running in several states considering pro- and anti-biker laws, including some helmet legislation, profiling, noise, motorcycle safety, lane splitting, bike parking and lighting issues.

Freedom of Choice on helmet use is on the docket in some of the 18 states that still mandate riders to wear them, such as Massachusetts (H3524 & S2328: helmet standards), Nebraska (LB581) and West Virginia (HB2711 / SB127), while New York seeks to study the efficacy of helmets (A1107) and Alabama’s legislature will consider requiring reflective headgear (SB65).

Lane splitting has been a hot topic lately, and Massachusetts (H3513 & S2315), Virginia (HB838) and Washington (HB1106 / SB5622 & HB1254) hope to join California, Montana, Utah & Hawaii in allowing motorcycles to bypass slow moving vehicles in heavy traffic situations.

Likewise, anti-biker profiling by law enforcement has been on many states’ agendas since being enacted in Washington, Maryland, Louisiana and most recently Idaho, and now New York is the first this year among many more to introduce legislation (A1747 / S3869) in hopes of preventing police from discriminating against motorcyclists in their application of the law.

By sheer numbers, Massachusetts takes the prize for the most pro-motorcycle bills introduced already this session, with 11 pieces of legislation including H3487 / S2329 to advance motorcycle safety, H3417 / S2331 relative to a motorcycle safety fund, and H3438 to clarify testing and enforcement of motorcycle sound emissions.

On the “anti-“ side of the dockets, New York is once again considering a prohibition on children under the age of 12 from riding on a motorcycle (A148), and Virginia will debate “excessive noise” (HB367 and HB632 / SB180).

The year is young, with many more issues of interest on the horizon, pro and con, that concerned riders need to track and stay on top of, and one of the best ways to do so is to join your state motorcyclists’ rights organization (SMRO) and subscribe to the monthly NCOM Biker Newsbytes by e-mailing “Subscribe” to NCOMBish@aol.com.

Since the federal Highway Bill passed Congress and was signed into law by President Biden without most of the pro-motorcycle provisions that bikers across America lobbied to include, it is now imperative that riders turn their attention toward garnering support for the stand-alone measure in the House that would help prevent anti-biker profiling.

Nearly three years ago, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a nonbinding resolution condemning the discriminatory profiling of motorcyclists by law enforcement (S. Res. 154), and now the U.S. House of Representatives is again considering a similar bipartisan measure in the 117th Congress, H. Res. 366; “Promoting awareness of motorcyclist profiling and encouraging collaboration and communication with the motorcycle community and law enforcement officials to prevent instances of profiling.”

Sponsored once again by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) along with original co-sponsors Congressman Michael Burgess (R-TX), Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and Congressman Mark Pocan (D-WI), the anti-profiling resolution was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on April 30, 2021 to thwart “the illegal use of the fact that a person rides a motorcycle or wears motorcycle related apparel as a factor in deciding to stop and question, take enforcement action, arrest, or search a person or vehicle with or without legal basis under the Constitution of the United States,” as profiling is defined in the resolution.

H.R. 366 acknowledges that “complaints surrounding motorcyclist profiling have been cited in all 50 States,” and the bipartisan resolution denotes three actionable items;

(1) promotes increased public awareness on the issue of motorcyclist profiling;

(2) encourages collaboration and communication with the motorcyclist community and law enforcement to engage in efforts to end motorcyclist profiling; and

(3) urges State law enforcement officials to include statements condemning motorcyclist profiling in written policies and training materials.

All concerned motorcyclists are encouraged to contact their Congressional Representatives at (202) 224-3121 to ask that they join with 59 other colleagues as current cosponsors of H.Res.366 and help put a stop to law enforcement unfairly targeting motorcycle riders for traffic stops, questioning and citations.

Traffic cameras that can identify excessively noisy motorcycles and vehicles are being deployed across France, with riders and drivers who flout the rules facing fines of €135 ($153USD).

The debate over the devices, which have been trialed in various countries across Europe, has run rife for some time, but the French are the first nation to initiate a wider roll-out of cameras that will flash and fine motorcycles and vehicles that exceed noise levels.

The Bruitparif-designed Meduse cameras feature microphones attached to a camera that can pick up and identify the direction of noise from the road below. Should the sound rise above a certain decibel, the camera is activated and a fine is subsequently issued.

MOTO-GP WILL NOT RACE IN COUNTRIES REQUIRING COVID QUARANTINES
When MotoGP resurfaced in October 2021, it looked like Grand Prix motorcycle racing might return to normal, packing the schedule with 21 rounds including eight outside Europe, but the Delta and Omicron variant waves caused many countries to reinstate travel restrictions — including quarantines upon arrival — forcing organizers to play musical chairs with the calendar throughout the year.

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta sent a clear message at a recent racing forum that MotoGP will not visit countries in 2022 that require CoViD-19 quarantines; “If they tell us that we have to be quarantined for fourteen days, the answer is clear, no, I’m not going! That’s the limit,” Ezpeleta claimed. “As for the rest, they can ask us to have vaccination certificates or the documentation that we already did last year and that is why it was important to go to the United States as a test of what can be said to the rest of the countries.”

Last year, MotoGP successfully ran events in Qatar and the United States, unfortunately the only races held outside Europe, while Japan and Australia are still requiring such measures, and Thailand is trending that direction.

 

JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE SALES HIT 23-YEAR HIGH
Prior to the Coronavirus pandemic, motorcycle enthusiasts and OEMs alike lamented the elusive Millennial buyers and declining sales, but throughout the global health crisis, motorcycles have surprisingly surged in popularity. As a result, manufacturers experienced record sales growth, with Ducati, BMW, and Energica reporting large gains in 2020 and 2021, and Japanese OEMs have similarly benefited from the increased interest and the “Big Four” (Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha) are reporting that domestic shipments hit a 23-year high in 2021 (235.755 units in-country, up 20.6%).

In addition to the sales uptick, Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha all report increased sales among younger riders.

FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH: MOTORCYCLE RACERS BLINK LESS
A recent study has found that MotoGP riders blink far less than non-racers, with one test subject going 9 minutes without blinking!

During the first round of the 2021 MotoGP season, Pramac Ducati rider Johann Zarco set a new series top-speed record of 225 mph. At that speed, riders cover 330 feet in one second. The average blink takes 0.15 seconds, so riders traveling at that top velocity are effectively blind for nearly 50 feet of track.

That sounds like a terrifying prospect to us mere mortals, but a study between LCR Honda and Italian pharmaceutical company Sifi helps explain how MotoGP riders’ eyes function in such extreme conditions. Conducted over six MotoGP seasons (2015-2021), Grand Prix riders would undergo tests prior to the race and 30 minutes following the checkered flag. The dual-test method revealed that rider reaction times and pupil performance remain in “Race Mode” for an extended period.

All racers easily exceeded the normal 4-6-second blink interval, and despite the stressful conditions, none of the subjects exhibited red, dry eyes or inflammation.

The results may be fascinating, but Sifi co-owner Carlos Chines believes this is just the beginning of a broader, long-term study.

 

Well, it’s too late to write to Santa for a saddlebag stuffer, but you can contact Airbiker to acquire their portable assistive device to pick up downed motorcycles.

No matter how your bike got to the ground, you have to pick it up somehow, and while plenty of riding instructors teach methods to help you pick up a downed bike, the moment of truth may seem much different when you eventually face it.

Plus, the bigger the bike, the more intimidating the task, and what if you have a bad back or other injury that makes it a less smart idea to manhandle your scoot?

That’s the problem that French startup Airsink wants to solve with their new product called Airbiker; a small pouch with an inflatable balloon and a few CO2 cartridges inside that gives enough boost for you to grab the handlebars and guide it back upright from a completely prone position on the ground.

NCOM CONVENTION ~ SAVE THE DATE!
Some of the finest Freedom Fighters in the motorcyclists’ rights movement will be among the hundreds of biker activists from across the country to gather for the 37th annual NCOM Convention in Nashville, Tennessee over the weekend of June 23-25, 2022 to teach, learn and share information relevant to our ongoing fight for Freedom of the Road.

This year’s NCOM Convention will address legal and legislative topics of interest to all motorcycle riders, including informative seminars, regional meetings, special interest gatherings and group discussions, capped off with the Silver Spoke Awards Banquet.

NCOM Board Chairman James “Doc” Reichenbach reminds concerned bikers to “Mark your calendars now” and check back at www.ON-A-BIKE.com for further details as they develop.

 

QUOTABLE QUOTE:

“We, too, born to freedom, and believing in freedom, are willing to fight to maintain freedom. We, and all others who believe as deeply as we do, would rather die on our feet than live on our knees.”

~ Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945), 32nd President of the United States

ABOUT AIM / NCOM: The National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) is a nationwide motorcyclists rights organization serving over 2,000 NCOM Member Groups throughout the United States, with all services fully-funded through Aid to Injured Motorcyclist (AIM) Attorneys available in each state who donate a portion of their legal fees from motorcycle accidents back into the NCOM Network of Biker Services (www.ON-A-BIKE.com / 800-ON-A-BIKE).

THE AIM / NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. If you’ve been involved in any kind of accident, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

Hang on for the Ride

The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.

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Earlier this month the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) Board of Directors (BOD) conducted the annual January meeting. The January meeting allows the BOD to review the work of the MRF over the past year and look forward to what lies ahead.

Two new members of the BOD were seated at the meeting, Eric Ross of Iowa, as a new MRF Reps Representative and Rick “Brick” Lindsay of Louisiana, as a new Sustaining State Motorcycle Rights Organization Representative. Additionally, during meetings last year, Gary Goracke of Minnesota, was added as the new Director of the State Representative Program and Andy Kelly of Pennsylvania, was added as a MRF Reps Representative. If you’d like to see a complete list of board members, with their titles and terms of service click here.

The end of 2021 and beginning of 2022 also saw the MRF renew and establish new contracts with six different vendors. JPK Services will once again provide office management and membership services, Husch Blackwell Strategies will operate our lobbying arm and Policy Engage will provide our legislative and outreach tracking tools. Additional contracts were agreed to for IT services, editing and publishing the American Biker Journal and a new dedicated social media director.

The January meeting is one of three annual meetings of the MRF BOD and is the only one held virtually. A second meeting occurs during May’s “Bikers Inside the Beltway” event in Washington, D.C. and the final meeting of the year is held during September’s “Meeting of the Minds” conference. All three meetings are open to MRF members and are great opportunities to understand how the MRF operates.

Thank you to our board members for their service to the MRF and their dedication to the rights of all motorcyclists.

About Motorcycle Riders Foundation
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders.
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ProTaper Reveals its Industry First Aluminum and Carbon Fiber Handlebar Offering Greater Strength, Lower Weight for MX Riders

Fort Worth TX — January 19, 2022 — ProTaper, the industry leader in motorcycle handlebars and controls, today announced an industry first, a revolutionary carbon fiber-reinforced, aluminum handlebar designed specifically to meet the needs of motocross riders. The ProTaper ACF Handlebar uses a revolutionary Carbon Core system to maintain strength while creating the lightest 1 1/8-inch handlebar in the industry.

The use of unidirectional, unwoven carbon fiber creates a core for the bar with a maximum longitudinal tensile strength that is twice the strength of a traditional carbon fiber weave. This carbon fiber core allows ProTaper to reduce the thickness of the strong, 7000 series aluminum alloy walls in key areas, decreasing weight by up to 20% and producing unrivaled impact absorbing flex.

In addition, the ACF Handlebar uses ProTaper’s Control+ design, which creates 220 millimeters of space, an increase of up to 40 millimeters, for mounting controls such as hydraulic clutches, ignition mapping switches and electric starters. The Control+ design creates this additional space without ergonomic changes for the rider.

“The handlebar is the most critical element in a rider’s control of the bike,” said Randy Valade, brand director for ProTaper. “This innovation in design offers greater control, greater comfort, increased ability to mount crucial controls and reduces weight by up to 20%. Riders have been seeking this advantage for years and now ProTaper will deliver it to them.”

The ACF Handlebar is available in four bends to allow rider the fit that they prefer on their motocross bike. The CR High, Carmichael, Henry/Reed and SX Race bends are available in black and retails for $139.99.

About ProTaper
Since 1991, ProTaper has led the way in premium control components. The brand delivers an exciting, innovative, and complete product line that fulfills the needs of professional racers and weekend riders alike. Through revolutionary ideas like the oversized 1⅛” handlebar and the Micro Handlebar Kit—the only control system purpose-built for youth riders, ProTaper transforms how riders experience their motorcycles. It’s no wonder that ProTaper has long list of pro and amateur athletes relying on its products to help them win races.