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Six Ways to Sunday project reaches its final discipline for racing

By General Posts

The Garage Fridge saves the day
by Kyle Smith from Hagerty.com

The garage fridge is not a tool. It does not actively assist in the completion of a project. If anything, the cooler in the corner often conspires to defeat productivity. For me, recently, it did just the opposite.

Taking the one motorcycle out to compete in cross country, motocross, flat track, road racing, trials, and finally on ice requires a lot of time in the garage.

So much that I was getting burnt out. Luckily this final conversion only required three items: studded tires, over fenders, and a tether kill-switch.

Simple, right? I thought so, too.

CLICK HERE To Read Kyle’s adventure in Racing at 6 Different AMA Race Categories

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Royal Enfield Successfully Completes Quest For The South Pole

By General Posts

90° SOUTH – Quest For The Pole is a success! Two riders successfully trekked across Antarctica to the South Pole on Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycles.

90° SOUTH – QUEST FOR THE POLE, first-of-its-kind expedition on Royal Enfield Himalayans, commemorates 120 years of adventure and exploration on motorcycles.

Milwaukee, WI (Wednesday, December 22, 2021) – Royal Enfield, the world’s oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production since 1901, has tested the endurance of man and machine time and again, and last week, it made history once again by successfully completing the 90° SOUTH Expedition, the quest for the South Pole on the Royal Enfield Himalayan. This extraordinary endeavor is a tribute to the brand’s 120-year commitment to pure motorcycling, and to the courage and resilience of countless riders and explorers who have made history on two wheels.

On December 16, 2021, two riders Santhosh Vijay Kumar and Dean Coxson reached the geographic South Pole in 15 days, making the ambitious attempt a reality.

The team arrived at Novo in Antarctica from Cape Town for four days of acclimatization, loading of supplies, checking equipment and the motorcycles. From Novo, the team covered an overland distance of 3200 km (1988 miles) over the next 9 days braving extreme weather conditions with temperatures between -30° to -25°C (-22° to -13°F) and wind speed of 60 km/h (37 mph), towards Ross Ice Shelf.

The Royal Enfield Himalayans and crew arrived at the geographic South Pole on December 16, 2021. (The team is in communication via satellite phone, hence the low-resolution image.)

The Ross Ice Shelf was the designated start point for the riders, however, an unexpected blizzard forced the team to alter their course. Instead of starting the ride from 86 South, the team started the 400-km (250-mile) ride from 87 degrees South. Despite a few initial roadblocks and a slight detour, the expedition team completed the quest by reaching the South Pole on December 16, 2021.

For this expedition, two Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycles were modified in-house, with functional upgrades to be able to navigate snow and ice, and function under extreme conditions in Antarctica. The motorcycles were ridden on a compacted snow track from the Ross Ice Shelf to the South Pole, to reduce motorcycle drag and limit emissions to an absolute minimum. Royal Enfield is consciously ensuring no footprint is left behind by the expedition team except wheel tracks that will be quickly lost to snow drift. In line with our #LeaveEveryPlaceBetter initiative, the team is ensuring all waste including human waste is brought back for appropriate disposal.

The team is currently heading towards the western part of Antarctica, Union Glacier, from where they will fly out to Punta Arenas, Chile.

Minimal changes were made to the 90° SOUTH Royal Enfield Himalayans; smaller countershaft sprockets (15- to 13-tooth) increase low-end torque and stronger alternators enable the team to run heated gear.

About Royal Enfield
The oldest motorcycle company in continuous production in the world, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901.

Studded tires, a tubeless setup and low tire pressure will only do so much–riding in snow is no easy task.

Royal Enfield North America (RENA) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is developing a growing network of more than 140 dealers in North America, including the contiguous U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.

RENA currently offers the all-new Meteor 350, Himalayan and the 650 Twins (INT 650 and Continental GT 650) motorcycles, along with a range of Genuine Motorcycle Accessories and apparel.

For more information on Royal Enfield North America, visit www.RoyalEnfield.com/us/en/, www.Instagram.com/RoyalEnfield_NA, www.Facebook.com/RoyalEnfieldNorthAmerica.

Royal Enfield to lead motorcycle expedition to the South pole

By General Posts

by Shakti Nath Jha from https://www.financialexpress.com

Royal Enfield to lead motorcycle expedition to the South pole as a tribute to its 120 years journey

Royal Enfield has announced that the company will lead a first-of-its-kind motorcycle expedition that will attempt to reach the South pole. The expedition is being undertaken as a tribute to the 120 years journey of Royal Enfield.

Royal Enfield is the world’s oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production since 1901. For 120 years, Royal Enfield has remained the preserver of the legacy of building simple, authentic classic motorcycles that are engaging and fun to ride. Riding through time and tough terrain, the company has emerged victorious in rides that have tested the endurance of man and machine, while remaining relevant and desirable through the ages.

Now, to commemorate 120 years of building the pure motorcycling culture, Royal Enfield will mark 2021 with an ambitious attempt to push the boundaries of motorcycling possibilities.

The company will undertake a motorcycling expedition on the Royal Enfield Himalayan, to attempt to reach the geographic South Pole, from the Ross Ice Shelf via the Leverett Glacier. 90-degree South – Quest for the Pole is conceptualized as a tribute to the brand’s commitment to pure motorcycling, and to the courage and resilience of innumerable riders and explorers who have made history with their motorcycling journeys.

The 90-degree South will be an ambitious attempt of Royal Enfield to go where no motorcycle has ever gone before.

This unique expedition will begin from Cape Town, South Africa, on 26 November 2021, and will attempt to reach the geographic South Pole, from the Ross Ice Shelf, via the Leverett Glacier, to the Amundsen-Scott Pole station. Two Royal Enfield riders, namely Santhosh Vijay Kumar, Lead – Rides & Community, Royal Enfield, and Dean Coxson, Senior Engineer- Product Development, Royal Enfield, will take part in this 39-day expedition traversing Antarctica on a 770 km ride from Ross Ice Shelf to the South Pole. It will be conducted in close partnership with Arctic Trucks and on two purpose-built Royal Enfield Himalayans.

For this expedition, two Royal Enfield Himalayans have been modified in-house, with functional upgrades to be able to navigate snow and ice to ably function under extreme conditions in Antarctica. For greater torque at the rear wheel, the main drive sprocket of the Himalayan has been changed from a 15-teeth unit to a 13-teeth unit. Also, the motorcycle gets a tubeless wheel setup with studded tyres that allows the tyres to run at very low pressures, and to increase floatation on soft snow, while also providing adequate traction on hard ice.

The Himalayan was tested for this arduous and treacherous journey at the Langjokull glacier in Iceland, with an intention to mirror the conditions in Antarctica.

Speaking about the milestone year for Royal Enfield and the expedition attempt, Siddhartha Lal, Managing Director of Eicher Motors Ltd, said, “120 years is a long legacy for the brand, and we are very happy to have made it count. Over these years, we have created and nurtured a thriving culture of riding and exploration around the world. This pursuit of exploration has been a quintessential part of our DNA, and 90° South is another chapter in our series of extraordinary, epic motorcycling rides. In the past, rides like Himalayan Odyssey have paved the way for motorcycling adventure in the Himalayas and an epic expedition like this to the South Pole will further inspire people to become adventurers again. A test of endurance and perseverance for man and machine, this expedition is the first of its kind attempt to traverse the 770km long route to the South Pole on a motorcycle.”

New Zealand Hoar Run 2021

By General Posts

by Graeme Lowen

My fears of there being ice over the pass were unfounded and the road was dry. It was the stop at Tarras that provide us with chilly clues. I got talking to a lady who drove from Tekapo in the morning. She told us that the first club group ran into dense hoar frost and thick fog all the way from Tekapo to the Ohau turnoff. The guys who left 20 minutes later missed most of it.

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Should Motorcycles Be Illegal On The Road In Winter?

By General Posts

by Sabrina Giacomini from https://www.rideapart.com

Why do countries have laws about this anyway?

Did you know that there are places in the world with laws that keep motorcycles off the roads in the winter? One we’ve covered in the past (and that you’ve likely heard of) is the Canadian province of Quebec. The law isn’t specific to motorcycles but states that all road vehicles must be fitted with proper, homologated, winter-rated tires between December 1 and March 15.

This isn’t exactly forbidding motorcyclists from taking their bikes out, of course. The most devoted riders out there who don’t mind pocketing the additional expense are allowed to ride in the winter months should their bike wear proper rubbers. That could be about to change, however, as the province has apparently been considering making the use of a motorcycle altogether illegal during winter.

Similarly, in Italy, the law states that vehicles must have proper winter tires or carry snow chains between November 15 and April 15, according to Motociclismo. The good news is that there is such a thing as snow chains for motorcycles, you just have to be ready to carry the extra weight. Where things get a little icy, however, is when the roads are covered with snow and/or ice, in which case motorcycles and scooters are forbidden to circulate.

Of course, these decisions are made locally in the name of safety and there’s nothing wrong with making sure people have the right tools to face the winter season but why do car rules apply to motorcycles? I can’t help and wonder: should we be riding in the winter (where allowed) at all.

Before anyone gets offended and takes out their freedom flag, the simple answer to that question in my opinion is yes. If only because most of us pay for insurance and licensing year-round, I don’t think the way we use our motorcycles should be limited by the season, or else the DMV and insurance companies should get with the program and quote accordingly.

My title sounds a little inflammatory, but that seems to be the road some governing bodies are taking and we should prove them wrong. I’ve never tried winter riding—yet—but it’s something I’ll eventually check off my to-do list and I’m curious to read what you guys have to say about all of this.

So, no, I don’t think winter riding should be illegal in the winter, but, I also think we could be better prepared for it. Some of you will likely still disagree with me but hear me out. You know how you can find courses to perfect your winter driving abilities, learn to control skids, and safely avoid obstacles in the snow? I think there should be the same for motorcycles.

Most winter-riding tips you’ll find out there recommend that you avoid heading out when there’s snow. The challenge with that is that there’s always going to be a risk that, even if the roads are clear in your area, they won’t be elsewhere so, really, we should be ready for that rather than try to avoid it. The same goes with the “don’t go riding if it’s snowing” rule—it might not be snowing where you are but it might be where you’re heading.

When I say winter riding, I’m not saying “head out in a blizzard and go do skids”—I mean, you can if you want, but it’s not something I recommend—but in winter, road conditions can be tricky to gauge. I’d rather be ready for the worst-case scenario. Plus, I’m always going to perceive honing my skills on more challenging surfaces and terrains as a bonus, whether it’s in a car or on a bike. Moreso on a motorcycle considering the risky and vulnerable nature of the beast.

The only problem is that, as far as I can tell, based on my research, there doesn’t seem to be any riding schools that offer a winter or snow program. Some racing schools might have ice-specific programs which is a potential option to consider. Feel free to share if you know of any.

I also get the feeling that motorcycle snow tires are a bit of a gimmick rather than actually useful. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a strong believer in winter tires when it comes to cars but I fail to see their motorcycle counterpart offering as many advantages.

Sure, they have tread patterns and compounds that are better suited for winter. However, I’m not convinced that they make as big a difference as governments expect because of the physics of riding. If they were so relevant, wouldn’t more companies make them?

To be fair, I’ve never tried a motorcycle snow tire myself and wasn’t able to find any comparative information from someone who has. If you tried them, do feel free to share your experience with me and tell me that I’m wrong (or not) about this. In the meantime, I remain convinced that learning to handle a bike in bad conditions is a better time and money investment—one that can be useful even when the snow melts away.

I even see an advantage in winter riding. Think about this: if more bikes are on the roads year-round, we could expect drivers to become more accustomed to their presence, which could hopefully result in safer roads. That’s probably a little oversimplified and I have no scientific proof of this. However, considering car drivers consistently “forget” how to adapt their driving to snowy conditions every year, it’s not hard to imagine that they also lose the habit of watching for motorcycles when they’re off the road six months out of twelve.

Should winter riding courses be made mandatory were they to become a thing? That’s another yes on my part, at least in any areas dealing with snowy winters. However, considering riding courses, in general, aren’t a prerequisite to getting your motorcycle license, I don’t foresee that becoming a thing either.

Ultimately, the way I see it, bikes shouldn’t become illegal in the winter. Governments like Quebec considering crossing the line toward illegality is overkill and unnecessary. Especially when you ask people for a lot of money to license their bikes for only eight months. We, as riders, just need to be smart about it, be prepared for it, and if possible, have access to better tools to achieve that. Encourage training rather than discourage use, no? I could see some of those ice racers find new vocations in dealing with us non initiated.

Harley-Davidson Hits the Slopes with Street Rod Snow Bikes

By General Posts

by Jason Marker from https://www.rideapart.com

Harley-Davidson and Suicide Machine Company built a pair of extremely rad Street Rod-based snow bikes for the X Games.

What do you get when you cross a Street Rod 750, a snow track kit, and the know-how of a couple of ace fabricators? Well, you get a pair of killer Street Rod-based snow bikes like these two beauties right here. Now, I hear you. I hear you asking, “But Jason, why?” The short answer is, “Why not?” The long answer is that the X-Games are coming up and Harley wants to go play in the snow with the cool kids.

A week or so ago, we told you about Harley’s new Snow Hill Climb event at the 2018 X Games out in Aspen, CO. Apparently that wasn’t the only thing The Motor Company had up its sleeve for the event, as I found out earlier this week when I got to talk with Scott Beck, Harley-Davidson’s director of marketing. Along with the customized Sportsters taking part in the hill climb, Harley hired known hooligans and all-around cool guys Aaron and Shaun Guardado from Suicide Machine Company to build the Street Rod Snow Bikes to haul athletes around between events. That’s… that’s pretty rad, Harley.

One of the first things I asked Beck was, “Why the X Games?” I’ll be honest, when I think Harleys I think more about lonesome highways and open roads rather than, say, snowboarding and energy drinks. Beck told me that the hill climb event and the snow bikes are all part of Harley’s efforts to attract more people to motorcycling via the power of awesomeness.

“For 115 years H-D riders from all walks of life have expressed their freedom from the seat of America’s favorite motorcycle, so it’s natural for us to continue to blaze trails – this time off the road and in the snow,” Beck told me. “We’ve raced the ice and climbed virtually every kind of hill, and the Harley-Davidson Snow Hill Climb is another way for us to grow the sport of motorcycling. We know our riders, and X Games fans and athletes alike share a passion for adrenaline and speed.”

That’s great and all, but what you guys really want to know about is the bikes themselves, right? Lucky for you I also talked to Aaron Guardado of Suicide Machine about the build to find out how these things were built and what makes them tick.

The bikes started off as bone stock XG750 Street Rods, which the brothers received from Harley just before Christmas. That kicked off a frantic search for track conversion kits, a search complicated by the fact that these things are so popular that they’re sold out just about everywhere and Christmas was in a few days. After a flurry of phone calls, they finally tracked down two Camso DTS-129 kits at a dealership in Salt Lake City, Utah, on December 23. The track conversion kits arrived at Suicide Machine’s Long Beach shop on Christmas Eve, delivered by the SLC dealer himself in his wife’s Jeep, but that was just the beginning.

If you don’t know – and I didn’t know until Aaron told me – track conversion kits like the Camso units are built specifically for dirt bikes, not street bikes. This meant that both the bike and the track unit itself would have to be modified to make the project work. The guys started by removing the Street Rods’ swingarm, rear tire, and shocks. They then fabricated a pair of struts with quick-release hardware to connect the track unit to the bikes themselves. This was complicated by the fact that the track unit was just a hair narrower than the bike, which threw off the chain allignment. With the help of a machinist friend, the Guardados built a handful of spacers and other adapters to get the drive chain aligned with the bike’s primary drive. Thankfully, since the track has its own integral suspension, they didn’t have to deal with finding a way to spring it as well as mount it.

Up front, they removed the front wheel and fender to mount the conversion kit’s ski. Using the stock Street Rod axle, forks, and triple trees and some custom machined spacers, they were able to mount the ski with much less drama than the track. It still wasn’t quite right though. See, the skis only come in white, which just wasn’t going to cut it. Since, as we all know, black is the coolest color, the guys had the skis ceracoated black. This improved not only their aesthetics, but added an additional layer of protection to keep the skis safe from any debris or obstacles lurking in the snow.

On the performance side, the Guardados chose to give the bikes a light tune and fancy-pants new clutches. Each one got a Screamin’ Eagle pro street tuner, Screamin’ Eagle intake, and Screamin’ Eagle exhaust. The latter needed a bit of fiddling to get it to fit since the stock mounts were removed when the track was installed. To improve power delivery and make these frankenbikes easier to manage, the brothers switched out the stock clutches for Radius X auto-clutches from Rekluse. These things consist of an auto-clutch assembly and a custom clutch pack and allow a rider to start, stop, and shift without ever touching the clutch lever. Aaron told me that the Rekluse clutches make the Street Rods respond to throttle input more like something with a CV transmission than a standard gearbox, therefore making them easier to control in the snow.

Once all the machining and fiddling and finessing was done, it was time for the Guardados to test their new creations. Sadly, there was no snow because, you know, California, so the bikes were just fired up on the bench and tested in the shop. Everything looked okay, so the bikes were loaded up and shipped out to Aspen for their shakedowns. Once the bikes were in the snow, they really showed off their potential. The Street Rods proved surprisingly well suited for the snow bike conversion, and with the engine tune and Rekluse clutch they powered through the drifts like they were built for it. At one point during all the screwing around in the snow serious testing, Olympic snowboarder Ben Ferguson showed up with fellow snowboarder Jack Mitrani. After oohing and aahing over the bikes for a bit, they snagged one and started towing each other through the snow while kicking up serious rooster tails. This was, without a doubt, the perfect way to test them.

During our conversation, Aaron told me that despite the stresses of building these bikes over the holidays with such a tight deadline, that he was really proud of how they came out. He felt that the project stretched the boundaries of not just the brothers’ skills as builders and fabricators, but the capabilities of the Street Rod as well.

I gotta say, these snow bikes are extremely rad. They’re such a departure from the usual Harley-based customs, and they really show off the versatility of the Street Rod platform. I mean, who ever would have thought making a Street Rod into a snow bike? If you’re going to be in Aspen this weekend, or are just enjoying the X Games from the comfort of your warm living room, keep an eye out for them zipping around the event grounds.