United States – Global – The American Motorcyclists Association (AMA) is asking, “What’s the beef with motorcycles?” as they report that a US federal agency are attempting to tack a 100 percent or higher tariff on motorcycles made in Europe – along with other products - as part of a trade battle over hormones in U.S. beef. Naturally the American Motorcyclist Association opposes the proposed tariff, “Because trade disputes residing within the boundaries of the agricultural industry should not be solved with trade sanctions levied against non-agricultural … [Read more...]
SKIDBIKE – “It’s About Grip Not Slip”
United States - Popping up in our news feed recently, are reports of the technological and practical motorcycling training aid – the SKIDBIKE™ described as a “Disruptive Training Technology”, revolutionising the rider learning process. The people at SKIDBIKE™ say that it, “Is the safest technology ever offered in the history of motorised 2‐wheel training. Many accidents that occur on training ranges across the globe daily can be prevented or eliminated with SKIDBIKE. Not only does it make motorcycle training safer, but also reduces the required time commitment for student … [Read more...]
HD – Not as Clean as a Washed Potato – Potato
United States - While the “motorcycle community”, from riders organisation, riders, motorcycle industry, even ourselves at Motorcycle Minds, talk up the congestion busting qualities of motorcycles and the environmentally sustainable qualities of Powered Two Wheelers (PTWs), one motorcycle manufacturer has been caught up in an emissions scandal. Reminiscent of a recent scandal in which diesel engines exceeded official emissions, the group of companies known collectively as Harley-Davidson has been required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. … [Read more...]
The Good Rider
United States – Part 2: Balancing and Steering I started this series with the idea that a “good rider” is more than someone who can go fast on the track, and I suggested a list of characteristics that I think would define my ideal “good rider.” My list started with: A good rider is a motorcyclist who is skillful in control of a wide variety of motorcycles. Of course, different machines balance, accelerate, corner, and stop differently. I hope you haven’t developed a bigotry that prevents you from appreciating motorcycles that have more than two wheels. We’ll get to … [Read more...]
Excuse Me – Motorcycles are NOT Dangerous
United States - This past weekend I was at an outdoor event with one of my sons. The motorcycles were out in full force, as riding season had just begun for the majority of riders here in the Northland. As we both turned to admire a pack of bikes going by, I noticed another boy about my son's age standing with his father also looking on attentively with wide eyes. I'm sure many of us did when we were kids. What happened next didn’t surprise me but after nearly 33 years of riding, it still bothers me as much as when I first heard it myself. The father said, (in part I … [Read more...]
