by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com When it comes to the number of modifications made to models year-over-year, the motorcycle industry is by far more dynamic than the auto one. Almost every bike model of any maker suffers changes year-on-year, and that means that regardless of the size and scope of these changes, motorcycles always look fresh. On the other side of the spectrum, the number of new models born into the industry is far lower compared to their four-wheeled counterparts. New bikes come to be at a much slower pace, and that means excitement is very high when they do. Last week the Brits from Triumph got us all hyped as they previewed the future Trident, (a model wearing this name started being made by Triumph back in the 1990s), one that should usher in the new design era over in Hinckley. Show in a pure-white design prototype form at the London Design Museum, the new Trident is supposed to be according to the bike maker “an all new contemporary take on Triumph style & attitude,” featuring a minimalistic form over a proven triple engine, a type of powerplant that powers, among others, the Street Triple. What you see in the gallery above is just a prototype, completed at the end of four years of hard work. The actual production version Trident will surface in early 2021. For now, the bike maker did not go into the technical specifics of the motorcycle, leaving us guessing as to what exactly it will be all about. But even with this complete lack of information (all that’s been said on the Trident can be found in the press release section below), we’re guessing the engineers working in the Japanese motorcycle industry are pretty troubled by this. ‘’The Trident design prototype marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Triumph, where the brief was all about fun, from the look to the ride,” said in a statement Steve Sargent. Triumph Chief Product Officer. “With its pure minimalist form, clean lines, Triumph design DNA and more than a hint of our Speed Triple’s muscular poise, this gives the first exciting glimpse at the full Trident story to come. Ultimately our aim was to bring a new take on character and style, alongside the accessible easy handling and quality Triumph is known for – at a price that’s really competitive.”  

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

Back in early 2020, Harley-Davidson announced the introduction of the Screamin’ Eagle 131, a V-Twin described as “the biggest, most powerful street-compliant engine Harley-Davidson has ever created.”

At a time of its introduction, the engine was advertised as being made specifically for Touring bikes manufactured starting with 2017. Now the Milwaukee bike maker announced the powerplant should work just as good and is available on select Softail models.

More specifically, the bolt-in 131 is the perfect replacement for the Milwaukee-Eight engine fitted from the factory on 2018-later model Harley-Davidson Softail motorcycles.

“Our adrenaline-seeking riders asked for thrilling power and torque with reliability,” said in a statement Harley-Davidson Product Manager James Crean. “The Screamin’ Eagle 131 Crate Engine delivers exactly that. Developed by the Screamin’ Eagle performance team and factory-assembled at Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations to ensure the highest quality standards, this high-performance engine is genuine Harley-Davidson.”

When the engine was introduced, Harley advertised an output of 121 hp and 131 ft-lb of torque at the rear wheel when paired with Screamin’ Eagle Street Cannon mufflers, but in the Softail configuration we’re told the powerplant would churn out 124 hp and 135 ft-lb of torque, also when combined with Street Cannon mufflers.

The numbers were achieved by matching the 4.5-inch stroke of the Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine with new 4.31-inch bore cylinders and fitting high-lift camshaft, high-performance cam bearing, high-compression forged pistons, a 64mm throttle body and intake manifold, and high-flow fuel injectors.

Harley offers the engine through authorized dealers and comes in two finish treatments, Black and Chrome or Black and Gloss Black. Making sure everyone know what V-Twin your bike is packing is 131 Stage IV badging on the cylinder heads and timer cover.

Harley sells the crate engine from $6,195 for the oil cooled variant and $6,395 for the Twin-cooled one. Depending on the bike it is intended for, there might be need for a new oil pump or clutch plate kit.

by Cristian Curmei from https://www.autoevolution.com

Electric vehicles are probably going to be the way of the future. Everyone seems to be getting in on the action, no matter what history of manufacturing they may have had. From automobile to motorcycle manufacturers, companies like GM, Lamborghini, Honda, and even Harley-Davidson are starting to apply their accumulative knowledge of mechanics, design, and production into EVs.

But this one isn’t about those big brand guys. This one’s about a little shop down south in Aussie land named Ed Motorcycles. Before we go any further, allow me to explain why it’s always best to work with a small production shop. Limitless. Yup just one word. Because production isn’t large, these shops can push the limits on their vehicles in terms of road regulations, and attention to detail remains quite high. With this in mind, continue reading.

She’s been named Concept Z. I know, a bit uninspired, but don’t fold your hand just yet, she’s a beast! This might undoubtably be the strongest electric motorcycles from a mom and pop shop. Look. I’m just gonna lay it out flat. She has a top speed of 93 miles per hour (150kph). Even the new Kuberg hits half that. How she does it, we’ll get into in a minute.

As with most other EVs, her acceleration and torque curves are near linear and give it an undisclosed 0-60 time that’s considered one of the fastest in the world. How she does this is due to a motor and controller that regulates how power is distributed and when. The motor is an air-cooled, radial flux, interior magnet brushless motor that comes with minimal maintenance level.

The brain behind the power is operated by a Sevcon Gen 4 775amp controller. This little device offers the rear axle a power of 850 Nm of torque and 52 kw.

Now think about this for a second. You go out with your buddies on a Saturday ride, and you show up on this rudimentary stallion. You all gather round and get ready to hit the streets. Everyone’s revving their engines, while you wait in silence.

Everyone leaves the parking lot and you’re the last one out. You accelerate and hear nothing more than the wind under your helmet. In under 30 seconds, you’ve reached the front of the line like a ninja heading for the lead ronin. No one heard you coming, everyone saw you go. Until that point you didn’t get much attention. But now, everyone is asking you what’s under the hood.

And you tell them all that she’s electric. With blah blah and a 99V lithium-ion battery. On the front she’s got a 4-piston 298mm disc brake, and a single piston 220mm disc on the rear.

Suspension is taken care of by a huge 43mm front telescopic fork and huge rear coil over shock. This should take care of any bumps in your road, but also offers as much traction and handling as possible. If this isn’t enough for you, take into consideration the direct drive train of 5.4:1.

The aesthetic design however is classically simple, sharp and fully functional, with a chain-driven functionality. Why put anything else on it?

by Pradeep Shah from https://www.financialexpress.com

Harley-Davidson 338R which will be the American bike maker’s most affordable motorcycle has been snapped very recently. However, the same may or may not be launched in India for a number of reasons. Read to know!

Harley-Davidson’s highly-awaited bike that will be its most affordable offering might soon be a reality. A spy image of the said motorcycle has recently emerged on the web, image courtesy Bennetts. According to the picture, the said model will be called the Harley-Davidson 338R. The upcoming Haley-Davidson 338R will be based on the Benelli platform and is being made by Qianjiang (QJ). If you remember the sketches of the most affordable Harley-Davidson that flooded the internet in 2019, well, if you look closely, you will find many similarities with that design. The said Harley-Davidson 338R will share most of its cycle parts including brakes, frame, suspension and wheels with the 302S.

Coming to the powertrain, the engine on the HD 338R will be sourced from Benelli with a larger bore and stroke. The power output and specs of this motorcycle are currently a mystery, however, we believe that the power should be in the region of 40hp. The said model is meant to go on sale in China and some of the Asian markets but India launch remains uncertain for a number of reasons. With the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the American bike maker announced a new strategy called ‘Rewire’ under which job cuts and reducing the number of future products by 30 percent are being implemented.

That said, it is not clear at the moment if the said most affordable Harley-Davidson 338R will be able to see the light of the day or not! Moreover, there have been rumours about Harley-Davidson shutting down its production facility in India and hence, its products will now might arrive through the CBU route. That said, if the 338R comes here via the same route, it might lose its price benefit to a certain extent. If such a situation arises in the future, the company might very well axe the HD 338R launch plans. More details on the upcoming Harley-Davidson 338R expected to reveal soon, so keep watching this space for all the action!

Upgraded brake pad with mechanical bonding for off-road use handles extreme heat

Leading motorcycle brake pad manufacturer, SBS Friction, now introduces an upgrade of their RSI compound with an indestructible mechanical bonding

The upgraded RSI compound has been tested for several years and is developed with professional MX-GP rider Shaun Simpson: “Braking is also quite an important part of riding. I like to be in touch with the brakes and I ride a bit on the rear brakes, so it puts a lot of pressure into the system and the heat is just unbelievable. SBS has managed to handle this perfectly and I feel great on track using the upgraded RSI.”

The RSI product range is a performance upgrade choice of MX-GP World Championship, MX-GP and MX2 teams and riders. It is a sintered compound formulated for high thermal stability, powerful and predictable fade-free performance

CSO Christel Munk Pedersen, SBS explains: “The upgraded SBS off-road compound is dedicated to riders who ride professionally or in dry conditions” and she continues “This upgrade is part of our commitment to going towards 100% NRS Safe in our whole product program. The NUCAP Retention System (NRS) is the most advanced mechanical attachment technology with a zero-failure rate – just where we want to be”.

NUCAP CEO Montu Khokhar comments: “The braking environment demands components that are capable of standing up to its violent vibration as well as incredible heating and cooling fluctuations. NRS Safe attachment is a mechanism that does not fail.”

The SBS Off-Road program also includes the SI compound for hobby use and the PSI for ATV/UTVs.

Contact information: SBS Friction A/S | Kuopiovej 11 | DK-5700 Svendborg | @sbsbrakes | #sbsbrakes | CSO Christel Munk Pedersen | cmp@sbs.dk | +45 20 63 41 33

 

We blasted to the Badlands for the Rally. We shipped Dr. Hamster’s new 1950 Pandemic project. I installed one of our cool 5-Ball Dayrolls, but we needed tools. We ended up ordering two Cruz tool kits, one for the Pandemic and one for his 1981 Evo bagger.

They were very similar, and we had a tough time deciding which one to use on which bike. We ultimately went for the one with the proper sized sparkplug socked for the Pandemic. So, for the bagger we went with the RoadTech Teardrop tool kit specifically designed for Harley-Davidsons.

RoadTech Teardrop Tool Kit for Harley-Davidson

Description

A clever zipper pouch keeps tools organized while fitting into the tear-drop box on a Softtail. The kit includes top-grade combination wrenches, an adjustable wrench, locking pliers, tire gauge, hex & torx keys, 6-in-1 screwdriver, spark plug socket and a mini ratchet and socket set.

Kit Includes

Combination Wrenches: 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, & 10mm
Mini 1/4-inch drive ratchet with 2-inch extension

1/4 Drive Sockets: 3/8, 7/16, 1/2′, 10mm
Hex Keys: 1/8, 5/32, 3/16, 1/4, 5/16?
Star Keys: T25, T27, T40
6-in-1 Screwdriver
5/8? spark plug socket
8? Adjustable Wrench
Locking pliers
Spark plug gap gauge

Electrical Tape
Cable Ties (5 pcs.)
Mechanics Wire
Tire Pressure Gauge
Shop Towel

A tremendous amount of thought goes into the selection of tools right down to Duct tape, bailing wire and tie-wraps. When you’re out on the road and something gets loose or damaged, you need the shit to keep you up and going.

This pouch is designed to fit in old stock tool boxes or in leather or fiberglass saddlebags.

RoadTech H3 Tool Kit for Harley Davidson

Description

A complete travel tool kit solution for Harley Davidson motorcycles, the CruzTOOLS Roadtech H3 includes top-grade combination wrenches, an adjustable wrench, locking pliers, tire gauge, hex & star keys, 6 in 1 screwdriver and a mini ratchet and socket set. Exactly what you need for roadside repairs & adjustments and organized with a heavy-duty roll-up pouch.

Kit Includes

Combination Wrenches: 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, & 10mm
Mini 1/4-inch drive ratchet with 2-inch extension
1/4 Drive Sockets: 3/8, 7/16, 1/2′, 10mm
Hex Keys: 1/8, 5/32, 3/16, 1/4, 5/16
Star Keys: T25, T27, T40
6-in-1 Screwdriver

5/8 spark plug socket
8-inch Adjustable Wrench
Locking pliers
Spark plug gap gauge
Duct Tape

Cable Ties (5 pcs.)
Mechanics Wire
Threadlocker
Tire Pressure Gauge

We carefully pulled this tool roll apart piece by piece and placed the tools in the exterior compartment of the Bandit’s Dayroll and the pocket. The tool pouch can be opened and available anytime and anyplace when we need tools. There are two benefits here.

The Cruz tool kit provides almost anything you need to handle any operation on the Pandemic Panhead. I’d bet we could tear the bike down with what we have. And the Bandit’s Day Roll allows access without digging in bags or losing tools alongside the road. The Dayroll is designed as the ultimate tool carrier, plus the end pockets are big enough for your lighters, chap stick, locks and spare keys. And it was designed to carry an extra scarf and shirt for the evening, plus night glasses and a .38 for rough neighborhoods or protests.

–Bandit

Sources

Cruz Tools
www.CruzTools.com

by Pann Rethea from https://www.phnompenhpost.com

At a small motorcycle repair shop about a half-hour drive outside of Phnom Penh on National Road 1, passersby can’t help but stop and take a look at what’s for sale.

But it’s not motorbike parts they’re interested in, it’s the works of metal art formed by fusing scraps and old tools.

Metal creatures made from bike chains, spokes and discarded shocks beckon people over to take a selfie and chat with the artists, low-income repairmen who turned to artwork after their wages took a hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“During the pandemic, many people have been facing financial problems, especially blue-collar workers,” 36-year-old Kang Sothea, the founder of the small collection of repairmen-artists, tells The Post.

“The team of motorcycle repairmen whom I’ve supplied motorcycle engine oil to are losing their income. Less people come for engine oil changes, so they can no longer afford to stock the products I’m selling.”

Because the repairmen have fewer jobs to fill, they often have time to chat about their mundane lives and crack jokes to cheer themselves up during hard times.

It was during one of these laidback chats that Sothea noticed a pile of discarded motorbike parts which the repairmen intended to sell to a junk collector for petty cash.

Sothea says: “I often noticed them stockpiling old rusty parts of motorcycles in the back of their workshop. The chain, sprocket-wheel, suspension, steel mudguards, nuts and screws sparked an idea [in me] to turn them into something interesting that can be sold.

Seeing different old parts of motorcycles triggered my imagination. I could see them turning into metal animals for decoration.”

Having worked in engine oil distribution for three years, Sothea has become close to repairmen in different places.

These strong friendships paved the way for serious discussions to make the dream art project happen and there was a hope that it could generate additional income.

“After we met and talked about this project many times, we all brainstormed about what kind of artwork could be formed by using these old motorcycle parts and rusty tools,” Sothea says.

In June, the junk artists officially formed their team under the name ‘Silapak Daek OMA’.

Sothea says: “We now have eight members who are all motorcycle repairmen from three shop locations. Some of them are located in Kien Svay district, Kandal province, on National Road 1, some in Kandal’s Lvea Em district and some are near Kuor Srov Roundabout in Dangkor district of Phnom Penh.”

Sothea admits their artwork has some flaws as the team starts to build its technical art knowledge.

“When we first tried to make a small metal scorpion from the motorcycle chain, it took us the whole day to get the right shape we were satisfied with,” he says.

Um Seiha is one of the more active members of Silapak Daek OMA.

“I was very excited to pick up something new. We’re all raw and blank pages in art, but we work in solidarity. We are good teammates, and we learn from each other.

“Every week, we come to learn from each other about how to improve our metal scrap artworks, then we’ll decide what animal or thing we should make,” he says.

So far they have created metal tarantulas, scorpions, spiders, centipedes, dragonflies, dragons, grasshoppers, mosquitoes and king prawns. Four of their pieces were purchased and now resided in restaurants and coffee shops.

Sothea says: “When people purchase our artwork, we feel really rewarded. It’s a sign of appreciation and acknowledgement that we can grow our hobby into a skill. We keep learning and taking inspiration. We ask the experts and do online research.”

Curious onlookers who stop to observe their work motivates the group to keep moving forward.

“Despite the challenge as self-taught artists who learn from practice and continuous experience, our team spirit is still going strong. None of us has ever attended an art class. We try to learn from YouTube and Google for basic techniques. Without the help of an art instructor, our work is entirely based on our imagination and raw skills,” Sothea says.

After we finished welding a few metal animals, we displayed them outside the repair shop. There have been people coming to look and give us compliments. People we don’t know pass by and their attention is caught by our artwork. They said they really like the artwork and this encourages us to strive even further.”

After three months of endless trial and error, the team can now create pieces faster, and they’re already planning bigger projects.

Sothea says: “While we are able to create many kinds of metal animals from scraps, we’re also planning to build a bigger-sized robot and Iron Man.

“We’re studying a little more about the complex body ratio of the big structure. This time, we will also seek advice from a professional artist. We will consult with more experts to make the body and face of Iron Man look realistic.”

Sothea is also in talks with some business venues, shops, hotels and resorts which may be interested in his work.

“Some people express their interest to buy metal artwork for decoration. Some resorts might need the whole collection to display so that they can attract more visitors,” he says.

Besides selling his artworks to help the livelihood of his team, Sothea is also hoping his work can be displayed at public places for educational purposes.

“For instance, I’m dreaming of putting metal mosquitoes in Wat Botum park. Silapak OMA can help alert people about the dangers of mosquito-borne diseases, especially during rainy season,” he says.

Silapak Daek OMA can be reached by telephone at 015556742 or 017257635.

from https://www.cbc.ca

For 41 years, Goulet Motosports a gathering place for bikers, non-bikers alike

An iconic motorcycle shop in Hawkesbury, Ont., has reached the end of the road after a ride that spanned more than four decades.

Goulet Motosports, a Harley Davidson dealership, will close Oct. 31.

“It is with nostalgia that I write this but also with pride to have had the chance to lead a retailer that has grown so much in our small town,” store owner Sophie Goulet wrote in a French post on the company’s Facebook page on Thursday.

“What a wild and exciting ride it has been, meeting wonderful people, attending meetings, travelling to many cities and much more.”

Goulet, who took ownership of the family business from her parents in 2001, said the decision to close wasn’t linked to the performance of the dealership, but is the result of weak regional demand for motorcycles.

The news sent shock waves through the small town around 95 kilometres east of Ottawa and beyond. Hundreds of people responded to the Goulet’s Facebook post, with many expressing their sadness and sharing stories of visiting the store.

Yves Charlebois, who has been working at the dealership for eight of its more than 40 years, said it served as a gathering place for bikers and non-bikers alike.

“Just to think about that, the fact that … this place is going to be empty and nothing in it and no customers and no bikers coming in town, I just can’t get my head over it,” he said. “It’s much more than a dealership.”

Goulet Motosports is well-established in the community, sponsoring community events such as the Hawkesbury Bike Fest, which brings together Harley enthusiasts from far and wide.

The dealership also raises money for local institutions, such as the Hawkesbury General Hospital.

Other local business owners are concerned the loss the dealership may have an economic impact on tourism.

“Our terrace on the weekend is always full. Because of [the dealership] closing, we’re gonna lose a lot,” said Marie-Êve Côté, restaurant manager at the Moonshine BBQ Smokehouse.

DENVER (CBS4)– The State of Colorado is reporting more than 20 cases of coronavirus linked to people who attended the week-and-a-half-long annual motorcycle event in Sturgis, South Dakota. The virus was expected to cut attendance by nearly half, but the final count put attendance for Sturgis at 462,000, down only 7.5% from the previous year.

They came by the thousands, make that the hundreds of thousands. A total of 462,000, according to South Dakota authorities. But this year there was also an unwelcome guest: COVID-19.

The State of Colorado is now asking those who attended the rally and have coronavirus symptoms to be tested immediately. Those without symptoms should be tested seven days after any suspected exposure.

–CBS Newspath

OMG, wonder how many actually got sick? Or how man other illnesses were noted in Colorado after the rally. Nuts. Freedom won. Hell, there would have been more cases if everyone stayed home. –Bandit

by Silvian Secara from https://www.autoevolution.com

In case you were wondering what the Honda CBR600 would look like as a naked bike, here’s your answer.

During the early ‘90s, the CBR600 F and F2 were a truly groundbreaking pair! Not only were these Honda’s best-selling two-wheelers at the time, they were also the Japanese manufacturer’s most innovative motorcycles to that date. In fact, let’s dive into some technical details and see what made these machines so special.

As of 1992, the legendary F2 was powered by a fierce inline-four DOHC mill. This feral four-stroke beast had a displacement of 598cc and was capable of delivering up to 100 hp at 12,000 rpm, along with 47 pound-feet (64 Nm) of torque output at 10,500 rpm. A six-speed transmission carries the engine’s power to CBR600 F2’s rear wheel through a chain final drive. Honda’s bad boy would accelerate 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) in a whopping 3.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 147 mph (236 kph).

Up front, it was supported by a pair of 41 mm (1.61 inches) adjustable forks, accompanied by a Pro-Link damper at the rear. In terms of braking, the ruthless F2 was provided with dual 276 mm (10.87 inches) discs and two-piston calipers at the front, along with a single 218 mm disc and one-piston caliper at the back. However, since the heavily customized marvel we’re going to be looking at has very little in common with the original model, we can probably skip the other details.

Wido Veldkamp founded WiMoto several years ago in Elst, a small town in The Netherlands. Besides bike customization, his workshop also specializes in manufacturing top-quality aftermarket components. As you browse their portfolio, you’ll run into a splendid project based on a 1992 Honda CBR600 F2. Out of the whole bunch, this spectacular thing must be my favorite!

After disposing of its body panels, Veldkamp’s crew built a custom subframe that was to accommodate the new saddle and modified tail section. Meanwhile, WiMoto tasked Tijger Leathers with upholstering the gorgeous seat.

Additionally, Veldkamp explains that “the CBR600 F2 had an ugly rectangular swingarm which had to go.” As a result, his team crafted a chromoly tubular swingarm with eccentric chain adjusters to match the desired appearance. The custom swingarm also offered the opportunity to install a fully adjustable Wilbers monoshock.

The following step consisted of tweaking the front forks and reducing their length, to then fit a new set of handlebars that bring about a scrambler aesthetic. This proved to be a challenging process, which demanded a great deal of structural modifications and reshaping. Nonetheless, the final result turned out to be incredibly neat.

WiMoto had the inline-four monstrosity refurbished and blessed it with an upgraded four-into-one exhaust system. Furthermore, CBR600 F2’s powerplant breathes more freely, thanks to a K&N air filter and optimized carburetors.

To top it all off, the workshop disposed of Honda’s stock lighting to make room for a full LED package, including a halo-style headlight and bullet-type turn signals. The stock wheels were retained and dressed in high-performance Heidenau K73 rubber, as well as Motomaster brake discs that improve the bike’s stopping power.

Finally, a bright orange finish covers the fuel tank and front fender, guaranteeing that WiMoto’s delicious two-wheeler will stand out on the road like an orange in a basket full of potatoes!

If you’re loving these folks’ CBR600 F2 makeover as much as I am, I’ll suggest that you head over to the firm’s Facebook page, where you’ll find some of their other masterpieces.