Motorcycles

All-New Rebel 1100 Cruiser from Honda

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by Sabrina Giacomini from https://www.rideapart.com Not all new motorcycle rumors are true, especially when you’re Honda and you run your own rumor mill. Sometimes, however, despite all the noise, some of those rumors turn out to be real and we get nice surprises like this shiny new 2021 Honda Rebel 1100. We’ve been talking about a possible Rebel 1100 since March, 2020, when the folks at Young Machine published a render of an upscaled Rebel 500 armed with the Africa Twin’s new 1100 engine. The bike ultimately showed up in a patent in October which seemed to confirm the rumor. It became more a matter of “when” rather than “if”. Well, folks, the “when” is November 24. Honda pulled the cover off its all-new buffed up Rebel, equipped, as expected with a retuned version of the CRF1100L’s 1,084cc, 270-degree, Unicam, parallel-twin. Also, like the Africa, the Rebel 1100 is equipped with a ride-by-wire throttle that allows the cruiser to feature three riding modes (Standard, Sport, and Rain) and is offered with a choice of a six-speed gearbox or a DCT. At the front, the cruiser chassis is mounted to a 43mm telescopic fork while the back is support by a pair of Showa shocks with piggyback reservoirs. The 18-inch front wheel is equipped with a 330mm disc with a four-piston caliper while the 16-inch rear wheel gets its stopping power from a single 256mm disc. The bike also features ABS at both wheels and Honda Selectable Torque Control with wheelie control. A 3.6-gallon fuel tank sits on top of the chassis (versus 2.96 gallons for the Rebel 500 for comparison) and the bike weighs in at a total of 487 pounds for the manual trim level and at 509 pounds with the DCT. Pricing for the new 2021 Honda Rebel […]

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NCOM Biker Newsbytes for November 2020

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Chinese Harley-Davidson, Status of old motorcycles in Europe, Trade War and Tariffs on motorcycles and its parts, Off-Road Bikes on the Street and more. Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish National Coalition of Motorcyclists (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 NCOM news on Bikernet. Join the Cantina – Subscribe Today https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

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Harley-Davidson Knucklehead Project Brings Back the Cool of Pre-1950s Bikes

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by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com Very few bike makers out there (and by extension car makers) are innovative enough to give birth to new families of engines that inspire generations. Harley-Davidson is one of those that are, as its powerplants were at times as famous as the bike models assembled in Milwaukee. Say the word Knucklehead, and the mind immediately links that to Harley. And it has done so since 1936, when the engine came into the world. Named so after the shape of valve covers, Knucklehead has come to stand for the type of motorcycles that were made in Milwaukee from 1936 to 1947, when the Panhead engine replace it. The name is still very much alive because bikes powered by this type of hardware are still a craze in the custom bike industry. And you know that to be true when guys like Andreas Bergerforth, the main man of Thunderbike, a German custom shop specializing in Harleys, has one built for himself. Put together close to a decade ago, the Knucklehead Project, as the garage calls this build, has all the traits of a bike of its age. Not only does it stay true to a wartime-era two-wheeler when it comes to shape and tech, but it also brings with it enough patina and beat-down stance to speak volumes about its lineage. We’re told that for this bike to be brought back in shape, the original had to be dismantled “up to the last screw” and only then, after some love and care, put back together – there’s no mention on whether some of the hardware had to be replaced with new one. Because this bike was built for in-house use, Thunderbike makes no mention of cost, but the Germans do say similar builds snatched back in 2012,

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Harley-Davidson Doesn’t Give Bikes Girl Names, Here’s Stella Nonetheless

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by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com Historically speaking, the name Harley-Davidson has generally been associated with males. That’s because, for one, it is mostly males that ride them, and second, because we can’t really remember a Harley bike wearing a girl name. But the naming policy that led to bikes being christened Iron, Street Bob (or the same Bob, only Fat), or Road King does not apply to the custom industry. It is there and only there where you can find, for instance, a Breakout called Stella. The build by this name is the work of German custom shop Thunderbike, a regular on this scene for the past 20 years. Although the bikes the Germans make are at times incredible, the way in which they name the finished projects is sketchy to say the least. Probably knowing that, their latest customer asked for the customized Breakout he ordered to be called Stella, after his daughter. Inspired by an older build of the garage called Mitch, Stella has been customized in the usual Thunderbike way, with a big focus on six main elements: fender, saddle, tank, wheels, fork and air ride. Sporting an air ride suspension kit that allows for up to 10 cm height adjustment, Stella rides on custom wheels, sized 21 and 23 inches, and wrapped in Avon tires. It looks different from stock Breakouts not only because of the above modifications, but also thanks to a host of others. The aluminum tank and rear fender were welded by hand, there’s a special and short Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde exhaust system on one side, and a leather saddle made to match the looks of the build. You can have a look at all the parts used on this latest build from Thunderbike at this link. Don’t expect to get

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Harley-Davidson to Start Teaching 500 People How to Ride Motorcycles for Free

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by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com The world’s best-known motorcycle company, Harley-Davidson, is not exactly enjoying its best of times. It’s been a rough run for the bike maker these past few years, and chances are the trend will continue to manifest itself in the near future as well. But Harley had it rough before, and somehow always managed to pull through. In an attempt to get people’s minds of things, now that the winter holidays are approaching, Harley announced it is giving away 500 classes to its Riding Academy (each worth around $250). They are intended for people who have never ridden a motorcycle before, but only if they’re nominated by family or friends. More to the point, from now and until the last day of the year, Harley is asking people to nominate someone they think deserves to enjoy the class for free. All you have to do to let the company know who that person is is to upload a photo of your favorite Harley-Davidson motorcycle on either Instagram or Twitter, and tag the non-rider while also including #GiftOfRiding and #Giveaway in your post. Aside from the free class, each randomly selected winner will receive a $200 Harley-Davidson gift card to be used for riding gear. Another gift card worth $100 goes to the ones who made the winning nominations. “The thrill of riding with your best friend and reconnecting over a shared adventure is the gift that will always keep giving,” said Theo Keetell, Vice President of Marketing, Harley-Davidson. “From backroads to coastal highways, motorcycle riding offers open-air exploration to free your soul and sense of adventure.” This is not the first time Harley has done something for its riding programs this year. Back in July, it announced the Learn to Ride initiative which allows for personal

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New Triumph Tiger 850 Sport

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Triumph Motorcycles Announces New Bike ACCESSIBLE ROAD-FOCUSED ADVENTURE VERSATILITY New from Triumph Motorcycles, the perfect combination of dedicated 850 Tiger triple engine set-up, and tailor-made high specification equipment and technology, for intuitive and all-day easy riding capability. Developed from the latest generation Tiger platform, with all of the dynamic poise and agile handling that the Tiger is known for, combined with a new ‘tailor-made’ performance and specification set-up, designed to deliver even more manageable, accessible and intuitive road-focused adventure riding capability. ALL OF THE LATEST GENERATION TIGER’S: Thrilling, accessible triple engine character and responsive performance, with innovative T-Plane triple crank. Benchmark-setting agile and dynamic handling. Commanding poise and style. 2-year unlimited mileage warranty and class-leading 10,000 miles service interval TAILOR-MADE FOR MORE MANAGEABLE AND ACCESSIBLE RIDING CAPABILITY: Dedicated 850 triple engine setup. Unique engine power and torque. Peak power of 84 HP (85PS) @ 8,500rpm,and peak torque of 60.5 lbft (82Nm) @ 6,500rpm. With all the advantages of a Triumph triple, with the perfect combination of responsive power and torque low down, and across the rev range, tuned for an even more accessible and manageable delivery. High specification equipment and technology fitted as standard. Including: Brembo Stylema brakes, with twin 320mm discs. Marzocchi upside-down cartridge forks and gas-pressurized, preload-adjustable RSU. 5” TFT instruments. Road and Rain riding modes, with dedicated throttle and traction control maps. All LED lighting Slip & Assist clutch Adjustable screen ABS and Switchable Traction Control  Two exciting new contemporary Tiger 850 Sport graphic schemes, with a category-leading level of premium finish and detailing. 60+ Genuine Triumph Accessories, for capability, style and security, including luggage. The most accessibly priced Tiger in the line-up, at just $11,995 DEDICATED 850 TRIPLE ENGINE SET-UP The new Tiger 850 Sport shares the same innovative T-plane crank as the latest generation Tiger

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Hot New BMW Roadster Motorcycles Coming

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by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com There are presently four roadster motorcycles in BMW Motorrad’s lineup for the U.S. market: the R 1250 R, the S 1000 R, the F 900 R, and the G 310 R. As of later this week, that number will grow, as the Bavarians are getting ready to present two new models in the range. The announcement was made with just a couple of days left before the unveiling is set to take place. The Germans will be showing the two new bikes on their Youtube and Facebook channels on Thursday, November 19, starting at 4.00 pm CEST. We are also promised “exciting guests,” but more importantly the launch of the configurator for the two new models as soon as the presentation concludes. Naturally, we’ll be covering the story as soon as the info and photos for the bikes are released, so check back here for more later in the week. Despite all the things going on in the world, BMW has been very active in 2020 on the motorcycle front, a sign that in the coming years it will focus more on this industry. The biggest reveal of the year for the Germans was the R 18, the first entry in the cruiser segment since the R1200 RC (and a direct jab at Harley-Davidson), but also a bike powered by the “most powerful 2-cylinder boxer engine ever used in motorcycle series production.” More recently, we’ve been given a preview at the bike maker’s plans for the electrified scooter segment, with the presentation of the near-production version of the Concept Link. Called Definition CE 04, the electric two-wheeler is supposed to revolutionize the segment through a series of technological advancements, including the use of the largest display in the scooter world, a 10.25-inch unit. Given how

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BSA to be reborn as electric motorcycle

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by Jasper Jolly from https://www.theguardian.com Revived company plans to start assembling motorbikes in UK as soon as next year. An Indian billionaire hopes to “resurrect the British motorbike industry” with a plan to build electric motorcycles in the UK under the venerable BSA brand. Anand Mahindra, the chairman of the Mahindra Group conglomerate, is the main backer of a plan to restart production by the BSA Company, assembling motorbikes in the Midlands as soon as the middle of 2021. The revived BSA Company will shortly begin building a research facility in Banbury to develop electric motorbike technology, before launching motorbikes with internal combustion engines closely followed by an electric battery model by the end of 2021. BSA, which stood for Birmingham Small Arms, was originally founded in 1861 to manufacture guns at Small Heath, a setting for the hit BBC drama Peaky Blinders. Its metalworking factories were later turned to bicycles and then motorcycles. By the 1950s, it was the world’s largest motorcycle maker, but it went bankrupt and ceased production in the 1970s. Anand Mahindra, who is worth $1.7bn (£1.3bn) according to Forbes magazine, said he had chosen to invest in the UK because of its history of motorcycle production. The company also received support from the UK government, which awarded the BSA Company a £4.6m grant to develop electric bikes, in the hope of creating at least 255 jobs. “The UK was the leader in bikes right from the start,” Mahindra told the Guardian. “That provenance is something that we really want to retain.” Mahindra Group is the world’s largest manufacturer of tractors and the 20th largest carmaker by sales. It owns the Reva electric car brand that produced the G-Wiz city car, and it is also the world’s biggest producer of three-wheeled electric rickshaws. Mahindra also has

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A Taste of the Motordrome Era

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by Bandit and Sam Burns Recently one of our esteemed Bikernet™ contributors sent me a batch of historic Motordrome shots, then a pile of great shots of classic racing bikes from that era. I recently wrote a screenplay, called Splintered Road, about this era around WWI and it’s being looked at in Hollywood. This year one of the racing heavyweights, and a man who has been involved in the industry all his life, Don Emde, published a magnificent book on the sport of board track racing. – Bandit The Board Track Era ran from 1908 to approximately 1929. There were dozens of tracks across America that touted high banks and were up to two and one-half miles around. The term “Board Track Racer” also referred to the similar version that was raced on dirt tracks. Originally, turns were banked at about 15°. But while this curvature may have been well-suited to the slower speeds of bicycling, it soon became obvious that banks could be steeper for motorcycles. Motordrome designers kept pushing the envelope, eventually reaching banks as steep as 60°. Speeds kept getting faster, reaching and then surpassing 100 mph. Click Here to read this Photo Feature on Bikernet Join the Cantina – Subscribe Here https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

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Elvis’ Harley expected to fetch $300k at auction

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by Chris Best from https://www.wkrg.com Elvis Presley, who died in 1977 at age 42, was also a motorcycle fan. A 1975 FLH 1200 Harley-Davidson that he liked to ride around his Graceland estate in Memphis carries a pre-sale estimate of $300,000 – $350,000 at a memorabilia auction in Los Angeles. Another of Presley’s bikes was sold for $800,000 in September 2019. But that’s just part of the auction. A gold and diamond “TCB” ring worn by Elvis Presley is expected to fetch more than $500,000. The ranges from rock guitars to a set of master tapes from the Woodstock festival. The Elvis Presley ring is described as the first in a series of rings with the TCB (Taking Care of Business) letters and lightning bolt motif that the singer adopted as his mantra in 1969 when he returned to performing concerts after focusing on movies. “It’s the quintessential Elvis jewelry piece,” said Brigitte Kruse, founder of GWS Auctions. Kruse said she thought the ring could fetch anything between $500,000 and $1 million at the 300-item auction on Nov. 28. Presley gave the ring, which has a total 2.25 carats of diamonds and which he designed himself, to his opening band singer J.D. Sumner in 1975. The most expensive lot could be a collection of master tapes from the 1969 Woodstock festival that sat in a producer’s storage locker for more than 10 years and have never been available for sale before. The 700 plus hours of tapes, independently valued at $1.6 million, include performances by Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who and dozens more artists who took part in what is seen as a cornerstone of hippie culture. Kruse said it was difficult to estimate how much the Woodstock tapes might sell for. “There’s just nothing to compare it to,”

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