industry

Going electric could help revive the motorcycle industry

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by Peter Valdes-Dapena from https://edition.cnn.com/ Motorcycle sales, particularly in the United States, have been struggling ever since the Great Recession. As older riders lose interest, or simply become unable to ride any longer, the younger generation hasn’t been showing the same kind of enthusiasm. But the industry is hoping that electric motorcycles — with a quieter, simpler experience — might be the key to attracting new riders. For one thing, electric motorcycles are easier to ride. With an electric motor, there’s no need to shift gears. To experienced riders, that’s no big deal, but most Americans today have become accustomed to automatic transmissions and don’t know how to shift gears. “It’s just a lot easier learning curve,” said Susan Carpenter, a writer and radio host specializing in motorcycles. “You just hop on and twist the throttle. If you can balance, you can go.” Another benefit is that electric motorcycles are much less noisy than gasoline-powered motorcycles. To many veteran riders, the roar of the engine is part of the excitement. But a lot of other people would prefer to enjoy their surroundings much more peacefully. The bikes also don’t have hot engines and exhaust pipes that can become burn hazards, especially when parked around kids. Electric motorcycles also qualify for federal and state tax credits, similar to those for electric cars, although in smaller amounts. There are tradeoffs, of course. Electric motorcycles have the same disadvantages as electric cars, namely cost and range. Motorcycles can only accommodate small batteries so they have a lot less range than gas-powered bikes. And that range diminishes greatly during high-speed highway riding because the bike’s electric motor has to compensate for increased wind resistance pressing against the rider’s not-so-aerodynamic body. Hoping to get the attention of a new generation of riders, Harley-Davidson introduced the […]

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Royal Enfield 250cc motorcycle to be called Hunter ?

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by Nithyanandh Karuppaswamy from https://www.rushlane.com/ It is no secret that Royal Enfield is working on a whole new range of next generation motorcycles. Recent reports suggest that the retro-classic specialist is planning to tap into new audience bases. The Chennai-based two wheeler maker is reportedly working on variant extensions to specifically target women and youth. The recent trademark application by Royal Enfield adds gravity to these claims. The trademark ‘Royal Enfield Hunter’ has been filed by the company and this could be used as a nameplate for one of the new products. It is too early to speculate on the body style or displacement class of the new thumper in question but if we were to wager, we would put our money on a youthful variant off the new J modular platform which will also underpin the next generation Bullet, Classic and Thunderbird families. The 2020 Royal Enfield Classic and Thunderbird prototypes have been testing extensively in public, giving us a fair idea on what sort of hardware to expect. The motorcycles receive all new engine, improved frame and continue to employ conventional suspension arrangement (telescopic front fork and gas-charged twin rear shock absorbers). While the bodywork retains the RE identity, every panel seems to be reprofiled subtly to impart a fresh appeal. Needless to say, the new RE range will feature BS-6 compliant engines. The company is not likely to deviate drastically from the existing displacement classes but considering that the engines are all-new, expect some slight differences in the numbers. Fuel injection will be standard across the range and outputs are expected to increase considerably. Off course, most models will have dual-channel ABS as standard while low-cost variants could settle for single-channel units. Royal Enfield will start its BS-6 campaign by updating the 650 Twins (Interceptor and Continental

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The Consummate Bikernet Weekly News for December 12, 2019

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Hey, Knowledge, understanding, the Way, and technology: They are all flying at us fast. Hell, I don’t know where to start. Awhile back I mentioned business owners and their constant challenges, from the government, technology, competition and the market. Those challenges are more daunting than ever before and more beneficial in many respects. Personal life is also being bombarded with new and beneficial challenges. I was hit with a hot handful of thought-provoking opportunities and philosophies this week. CLICK HERE TO READ THE WEEKLY NEWS Join the Cantina today CLICK AND JOIN BANDIT’S CANTINA—It’s where we have stashed 24 years of content, bike features, Bonneville Racing Builds, wild stories and girlfriends. –Bandit

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AMA News and Notes December 2019

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National and Regional News WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Transportation Safety Board called on federal regulators Nov. 19 to create a review process before allowing automated test vehicles to operate on public roads, based upon the agency’s investigation of a fatal collision between an Uber automated test vehicle and a pedestrian on March 18, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. The NTSB said the Uber Technologies Inc. division’s “inadequate safety culture” contributed to the fatal crash. the 2017 Volvo XC90 was equipped with a proprietary developmental automated driving system. The vehicle’s factory-installed forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking systems were deactivated during the operation of the automated system. The NTSB said the operator of the Volvo was “visually distracted throughout the trip by a personal cell phone.” The AMA believes that thorough testing of automated vehicles should be performed before they are permitted on public roadways, where they can endanger the lives of motorcyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced companion bills to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard by reducing the harmful environmental effects of the corn ethanol mandate and advancing biofuels that they say reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The GREENER Fuels Act (Growing Renewable Energy through Existing and New Environmentally Responsible Fuels Act) would phase out the corn ethanol mandate and immediately reduce the amount of ethanol in fuel by as much as 1 billion gallons by capping the amount of ethanol that can be blended into conventional gasoline at 9.7 percent. The AMA, the National Wildlife Federation and the Sierra Club support the bill. The AMA objects to increased amounts of ethanol in the nation’s fuel supply, because none of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and ATVs in use in America is certified by

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The Thanksgiving 2019 Bikernet Weekly News

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Hey, Making progress is a major motivator. I like to climb out of bed thinking the day is going to be exciting. This week I solved some issues, took my 1928 Shovelhead to Larry Settle for a look-over. We organized and shipped Hugh King’s Discovery Channel biker build-off bike to the Sturgis Museum. We attempted to get two girders from Spitfire Motorcycles. We scored a few Antiques motorcycle parts from Bobby Stark’s lot. I solved a minor issue with the Salt Torpedo and we are just a couple of weeks away from our first trial runs. I roughed out another Cantina Chapter. READ THE BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS IN THE CANTINA – CLICK HERE –  Join Today

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Whacky Bikernet Weekly News for November 21, 2019

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Hey, A couple of infrastructure changes. From now on, we will post the news on the Free side of the Bikernet Iron Curtain for one week each week. We will also do the same with selected articles before slipping them into Bandit’s Cantina archives for our esteemed members. We need members, but I want the largest readership to check the news. We also need to inform the largest possible audience of the issues facing motorcycling and of happenings on Bikernet. So, what the fuck, I’m giving it a shot. Let’s hit the news. It’s going to be a good one: CLICK HERE TO READ THE BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS NOW !!! Subscribe to the Cantina for exclusive access – https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

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The Tune-up Bikernet Weekly News for November 7, 2019

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I’m going to be glad when this year is toast By Bandit, Wayfarer, Rogue, Jim Houck, Laura, the Redhead, Sam, RFR, Bob T. and the rest of the gang Okay, just relax. That’s the name of my accountant’s business. Shit is happening fast on most fronts and I’m going to Deadwood to relax and slip in the snow. There’s a side of me that wants to find a place in the Midwest, where I can chill and breathe in the home of the old west and the center of the Chopper World. Motorcycles have always been my home. I like the sound of Bandit in the Badlands. Let’s hit the news. CLICK HERE TO READ THE NEWS IN THE CANTINA Join the Cantina today

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Loud Pipes Bikernet Weekly News for October 24, 2019

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The News is Never Slow or Quiet. 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. Most recently the Smoke Out and Quick Throttle Magazine came on board. CLICK HERE TO READ THE NEWS IN THE CANTINA.

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The Big Cartel Bikenet Weekly News for October 17th, 2019

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New Technology, New Players and New Dreams for Motorcycling This is crazy, I spent three days in Austin, Texas, I saw Jesse James new shop, his projects and guns. He’s keeping the chopper faith and even restoring some of his old West Coast long choppers. His guns are amazing and he starts by forging his own steel. The guy is talented beyond belief. Folks are flying out of California by the droves and landing in the artsy Austin. I always say we need an infrastructure for a growing population. That means thinking out of the box for more folk, not just repairing the roads and bridges. Let’s hit the new. I’m still absorbing my trip, catching up and adjusting to PST. READ THE WEEKLY NEWS – CLICK HERE – JOIN THE CANTINA

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The Shifting Bikernet Weekly News for October 3, 2019

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We Are Living in the Best of Times and should Celebrate I feel a shift coming. In some respects, I hope it’s a shift in the direction of Freedom. We are actually living in the best of times. Everything on the planet has improved for the better and we need to celebrate, not control and punish. More and more I hear amazing stories about the lives of folks around me and the amazing things they accomplished. Markus Cuff played drums for Emily Lou Harris for several years. Then he started to shoot photos of bands in the ‘80s and I started to hire him to shoot tech articles for Easyriders. Since then he’s shot features for tons of magazines and for Bikernet.com ™. I’m working on the Salt Torpedo slowly trying to finish the firewall, the fire suppression unit installations, the helmet cowling and strengthen the front axle swingarm mounts. I fixed my 1969 Panhead, and the 1928 Panhead battery is toast. I’ve had two of these batteries take a shit and would like to try anti-gravity batteries, but they cost a bunch. I may try again. In the meantime, ride fast and free forever! — Keith ‘Bandit’ Ball CLICK HERE TO READ THE WEEKLY NEWS – Join the Cantina Today

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