Motorcycles

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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Harley-Davidson Is Google’s Most Searched Motorcycle Brand in 83 Countries

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by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com The above title is perhaps the obvious statement of the week. One really doesn’t need statistics to know that Harley-Davidson is an Internet phenomenon: if we don’t know it for sure, it’s something most us feel in our guts. But it’s nice to get some confirmation from time to time. Born in 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Harley has grown into the most successful motorcycle brand ever. And by successful we don’t necessarily mean the one that sells the most, but the one most people and custom shops on this planet think/dream of. As of 2017, Harley makes around 240,000 motorcycles each year – most remain stock, but a great deal of them go down the aftermarket part as well. Many other Harleys come to be from unofficial garages, who make custom rides and try to gain some attention by using Harley parts and slapping the name on the builds. And the Internet loves them all. According to research conducted by Australian insurance company Budget Direct, Harley-Davidson is the most-searched motorcycle manufacturer in many parts of the world. How much so? Well, our world is divided into roughly 195 countries, and Harley is at the top of the search engine’s list in 83 of them. And we mean the bigger ones, not some forgotten island-state. You can check out the map available in the photo gallery for details. All the regions you see there in orange are ruled by Harley searches, from the U.S. to the Far East, and from Northern Europe to the southernmost point of Australia. There are other names on the list as well. In some places, people like Ducati or Honda more, so they use Google to search for those. Others go for Kawasaki or Royal Enfield, and there are even some

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Royal Enfield To Launch Classic Electric In 2023

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by Arun Prakash from https://www.rushlane.com Royal Enfield is looking to strengthen its position by expanding its portfolio both in domestic as well as overseas markets Royal Enfield recently launched its cruiser motorcycle Meteor 350 after a long and arduous wait. The bike had been highly anticipated for almost a year now and since its launch has mostly received positive responses from different quarters. However, Royal Enfield will not be limiting itself with this launch. The Chennai-based bikemaker is looking to expand its portfolio – both domestic and international – by introducing as many 28 new models, in the next seven years. Starting with the Meteor 350, which was recently launched, the next bike planned for launch is the new gen Classic 350 in next quarter. This is expected to be followed by new gen Bullet 350, Electra 350, Cruiser 650, Himalayan 650, Classic Electric etc. Royal Enfield Future Plans Speaking to PTI on Royal Enfield’s future plans, CEO Vinod K Dasari said that the company has got a product plan for the next seven years or so. He added that the brand is looking to launch a new product every quarter which means that at least 28 new bikes will be launched in the next seven years. This is to strengthen its position in the domestic as well as international markets. Royal Enfield recently set up a new manufacturing facility in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires which became the company’s first overseas production base outside India. The company is also looking to set up a new manufacturing facility in Thailand in the next 6-12 months followed by one in Brazil in the future. He further goes on to add that all these new motorcycles will play in the mid-segment, i.e., 250cc-750cc displacement. Dasari did not divulge any details regarding

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Cambridge Harley dealership serves celebrity client Jason Momoa

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by Krista Simpson from https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/ A Hollywood heavyweight was able to enjoy some bikes from a Harley-Davidson dealership in Cambridge last week. Jason Momoa is a star on both big and small screens, and also a fan of the open road. His love for motorcycles led him to Blackbridge Harley-Davidson. “Jason has been part of the Harley-Davidson family for quite a while now, he’s worked very closely with the motor company with some of their projects,” Erin Mitchell, with the dealership said. “It’s a pleasure to share his enthusiasm for riding.” The dealership delivered some new electric LiveWires to Momoa and his crew. The actor of “Aquaman” and “Game of Thrones” is currently filming the second season of “See” in Toronto. “It was just fortunate, a happy accident I guess,” Mitchell said. “They noticed we were open and that we had bikes for rent.” The dealership posted about the LiveWire drop-off on social media. Mitchell said Momoa showed off his bike collection and was a gracious host. “It’s always really easy to speak to any of our customers and guests who are enthusiastic about the brand,” Mitchell said. “There’s lots to talk about, there’s always your last ride, where you want to go next, what you plan on doing with your bike next and having fun on it.” The experience isn’t just for celebrities. Anyone can come to the dealership and try out the bike. “(It’s) 105 horsepower, zero to 100 in less than three seconds,” Erik Emin, who is also with the dealership, said. “It’s quite an impressive machine.” Emin described the LiveWire as something you have to experience to truly appreciate it. The latest models of all the motorcycles at the dealership are available to rent. “Whether it’s a day, 24 hours, or multi-days during the week or

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Top Ten Motorcycle Road Trip Safety Tips for Beginners

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Being prepared for your first solo bike road trip is important By Austin from Twisted Road A road trip on a motorbike is an enjoyable experience. Being alone on an exciting trip with your mind can be really interesting and should be done at least once in a lifetime. That said, learning a few helpful tips from people who do this regularly would probably make your rides easier if you are setting out on a long-distance ride on your motorbike. Being prepared for your first solo bike road trip is important. Take into account all important aspects before you set out on the lane, whether you bring your own motorcycle or are planning to hire one. This will make the ride more fun and hassle-free. Here are the top 10 tips that you shouldn’t miss along when you are on a motorcycle road trip. Click Here to Read this Article on Bikernet. Join the Cantina – Subscribe Today. https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

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Motorcycles and motor scooters in high demand as car sales tank in Alberta

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by Helen Pike from https://www.cbc.ca Instead of sitting at home when the pandemic shuttered Alberta’s economy, some hopped on the saddle of a motorbike and hit the streets. According to statistics provided by the Motorcycle & Moped Industry Council (MMIC), sales across the province started to climb in April and May and peaked mid-summer. Year to date motorcycle sales are up 16 per cent and motor scooter sales are up 14 per cent over last year’s figures. Meanwhile, new vehicle sales are down about 26 per cent compared with January to August 2019, according to Statistics Canada. David Grummett, director of communications, said MMIC believes there was a healthy mix of new riders, returning riders and existing riders with some with vacation money burning a hole in their pockets. “There were a lot of new riders,” Grummett said “[There were people coming] back to the sport in big numbers … there were just people that wanted a new bike and maybe they weren’t going on the cruise. So they had some extra disposable cash. That seemed to be a good place to put it.” Jen Brown hadn’t been on a bike for a decade. She had taken a course and always intended to have a motorcycle of her own, but life got in the way. Until the pandemic hit. Then she found herself with extra cash usually set aside for rec-sports leagues and camping trips. So, she got a second-hand beater and, on her first solo ride, met a community of people by chance, on her first ride to Bragg Creek. ‘Everybody stepped up’ “Quite honestly, it’s what kept me sane all summer long,” Brown said. “The group became more and more eclectic, And we all sort of supported each other and helped each other out.” After that, she was

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The Salt Torpedo Bikernet Weekly News for October 29th, 2020

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It Couldn’t Be Better with News every Spectrum Hey, The weather is rapidly changing. The election is almost over and I hope everyone voted. Next week will be damn exciting. I have confidence in America and as you know, in freedom. 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 Quick Throttle Magazine came on board. Ride fast and free forever! –Bandit Click Here to read the Weekly News at Bikernet Join the Cantina – Subscribe Today https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

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2020 Biketoberfest Tropical Tattoo

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Old School Chopper Show Even with the Chinese Covid thing the Show Must Go On and Willie and his crew at Tropical Tattoo did it again. Thanks! Yes, the crowd was a tad smaller than last year, but I did not hear anyone complaining. It just made it easier to get around and in some cases get better shots of the bikes and people. Besides having a good time this event also raises money for the veterans and the proceeds go to www.veteranssupportfund.com To find out more about Tropical Tattoo go to http://www.tropicaltattoo.com/ Click Here to read this Photo Feature at Bikernet. Join the Cantina – Subscribe Today https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

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Yamaha Introduces the New 2021 MT-09 Hyper Naked

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Yamaha Introduces the New 2021 MT-09 Hyper Naked With Class-Leading Specifications Increased Torque, Decreased Weight and Radical New Looks. MARIETTA, Ga. – October 27, 2020 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, today introduced the 2021 MT-09 as the new model in the company’s Hyper Naked motorcycle segment. Featuring a torque-rich engine, decreased weight and radical new looks, the all-new MT-09 fully showcases Yamaha’s signature Master of Torque design. The Dark Side of Japan As the first decade of the 21st century was coming to an end, a group of visionary designers and engineers were working on what would become one of the iconic motorcycles in the history of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. It was to be the beginning of a whole new chapter in the history of Yamaha. The idea was to create a new kind of machine whose primary function was to inspire, excite and impress. A radically different motorcycle that would herald a new beginning, defy convention and be the catalyst for change, not just within Yamaha but also in the world of motorcycling. A bike that was designed to be ridden just for the thrill of the ride and would instill a real feeling of belonging and a clear sense of identity to a new generation of like-minded individuals. It became clear that the future of motorcycling was going to be all about the emotion, the thrill, the feeling, the excitement. The rest is history. Quick, agile and aggressively styled, the naked MT-09 instantly attracted a new breed of younger riders who loved its brutal good looks, big-torque engine and adrenaline-charged ride. With its strong emphasis on the thrill of the ride, together with a focus on premium quality, minimalist design and the use of pure technology that enhances the riding experience – The Dark Side of Japan

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