News

Quietest police pursuit in history

Leave a comment

A San Francisco police officer riding an electric Zero Motorcycle recently pulled over a driver in an electric Tesla Model 3 in what must have been the quietest police pursuit of all time.

Zero posted an image of the historic moment on their Facebook page, but it may not be the last time this happens.

Police departments in Europe, the United States, Hong Kong and Canada are now using electric motorcycles and scooters from BMW, Zero Motorcycles and other companies.

The Californian-based Zero has developed a DS Police motorcycle specifically for police and security agencies.

Fresno State University Police on Zero Motorcycles pursuit
Fresno State University Police on Zero Motorcycles

They claim it is specifically useful to police because of its reliability, low maintenance, battery range and capacity, manoeuvrability, light weight chassis, economic feasibility and low environmental impact.

Zero Motorcycles global sales Vice President John Lloyd says they designed and engineered the police line-up “based on feedback directly from patrol officers regarding their needs and responsibilities”.

Stealth pursuit

But the biggest advantage for the cops is the quiet running of an electric vehicle that allows police to sneak up on criminals!

Some police departments have also found they can use them inside large shopping malls because there are no emissions.

So if they get into a Blues Brothers-style chase through a mall, bike cops can follow the criminals.

Zero in Australia

But don’t expect to be pulled up by a silent cop in Australia any time soon.

Australian police evaluated the DS Police motorcycle, but then Zero pulled the plug on our market in 2017 citing unfavourable exchange rates and taxes.

Zero DS electric motorcycle pursuit
Zero DS electric police motorcycle

Zero DS Police Motorcycle come with pursuit emergency lighting and sirens, safety components and specially designed luggage compartments to carry gear, patrol items and emergency medical equipment.

The civilian model DS can be fitted with some of the police accessories, such as Givi top box, panniers and screen. Other accessories include heated seat and grips and a power socket, although all those limit the range of the bike.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Riders invited to Ulysses Road Safety Forum

Leave a comment

Riders will be able to get expert safe-riding tips, legal advice and guidance on safety gear from three of the top experts in these fields at the Ulysses Club The Road Safety Forum.

Ulysses road safety chairman Dave Wright says the expert presenters are Tim Conboy of Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, Kenn Beer of Safe System Solutions and Dr Liz De Rome of Deakin University and Motocap, the world’s first rating system for motorcycle clothing protection.

Testing motorcycle in the thermal chamber (from left) research assistant Liz Taylor, volunteer rider Dr Greg Peoples, Liz de Rome and Nigel Taylor. rating forum
Liz de Rome (second right) monitors motorcycle gear testing

“This will be an informative forum and, as I know these presenters personally, also a very entertaining couple of hours, “ Dave says.

The forum is open to Ulysses Club members and the general public who attend the Annual Rally Open Day on Thursday February 28, 2019, at the Mornington Racecourse, Victoria.

Forum cost is $15 for adults, children 5-16 years $5, under five years free. 

Road Safety Forum experts

“Tim will be giving us all the latest of our legal rights as motorcycle riders and what they have been fighting for on our behalf,” Dave says. 

He provided the following details on Kenn and Liz. 

Kenn is a specialist road safety engineer and accredited trainer with 18 years of experience in road safety in Australia, the USA, Asia and New Zealand.

During his time at VicRoads, Kenn held a variety of positions including Senior Road Safety Engineer, Motorcycle Safety Coordinator, Team Leader Road Safety Projects and Manager Program Development.

Kenn is recognised as a world leader in motorcycle safety infrastructure and has had roles advising the Australian, New Zealand, Philippines and Colorado Governments on the subject.

While at VicRoads Kenn spent years managing the Motorcycle Safety Infrastructure Program. In this time, over $25 million were invested in Victoria on infrastructure improvements to specifically reduce road trauma for motorcycle riders. 

Kenn is a licensed rider, accredited trainer, assessor and Senior Road Safety Auditor. In 2017, Kenn led a team that won a Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for the Making Roads Motorcycle Friendly training package.

Dr Liz de Rome has worked in motorcycle safety research and strategic planning for almost 20 years. Liz developed the first Australian motorcycle safety strategic plan for the Motorcycle Council of NSW including their unique website to provide riders with evidence-based information about motorcycle safety.

Her Gear Study was a world-first cohort study of motorcycle crashes to investigate the effectiveness of motorcycle protective clothing. Her results established strong benefits in injury protection but also exposed high levels of failure with many garments found to be not fit for purpose.

Liz has been a long-time advocate for a star rating scheme for motorcycle protective clothing and has led and now manages the Australian and New Zealand Motorcycle Clothing Assessment Program – MotoCAP. Her other work includes the Good Gear Guide and the development of Victoria’s new motorcyclists’ graduated education and licensing scheme (M-GLS).

Liz is Senior Research Fellow, Motorcycle Safety at Deakin University in the Institute for Frontier Materials. She is a member of the National and State Executives of the Australasian College of Road Safety and the US Transportation Research Board sub-committee on Motorcycles and Mopeds.

forum

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

MotoGP, Motorcycle News, News

Putra tops testing ahead of Nishimura and Matsuyama

Leave a comment

Putting in an impressive performance, Putra topped the overall combined times by nearly half a second from his nearest competitor, Japanese rider Sho Nishimura, and was consistently one of the quickest. Nishimura also impressed to take P2 overall, but he was only 0.016 ahead of compatriot Takuma Matsuyama as the gap tightened behind Putra. Tatchakorn Buasri was fourth quickest and a further two tenths in arrears as veterans dominated the top, but the first rookie impressively locked out the top five: Herjun Firdaus. The Indonesian newcomer had compatriot and veteran Afridza Munandar for close company, however, with less than half a tenth separating the countrymen.

Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here

News

Witnesses sought for two rider fatalities

Leave a comment

It’s been a horror start to the year for motorcycle fatalities in Victoria with 12 riders now dead after two more crashes today(Sunday, February 10, 2019).

Latrobe Highway Patrol officers are appealing for a witness to come forward after a fatal motorcycle collision in Mirboo North this morning.

Police are also investigating a motorcycle crash that claimed the life of a man in Buckland this afternoon.

First fatality

In the first incident, police believed a motorcycle was travelling north-east on the Strzelecki Highway when it collided with the rear of a red Mitsubishi sedan waiting to turn into Darlimurla Road about 10.50am.

The driver of the Mitsubishi was not injured and stopped to assist at the scene.

It is believed the motorcycle then collided with a white Toyota 4WD which was travelling in the opposite direction.

The female driver and her male passenger were not injured and also assisted at the scene.

The male rider, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision and are hoping to speak to a man who stopped at the scene and was driving a white 4WD northbound on Strzelecki Highway.

The Strzelecki Highway was expected to remain closed between Mirboo North and Thorpdale for some time.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or who has dash cam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

Second fatality

In the second of the rider fatalities, police say the motorcycle was travelling along Buckland Valley Road when the rider left the road and crashed into an embankment about 1pm.

The rider, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene.

Anyone with dash-cam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased riders.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Watch as Volvo driver blasts by rider

Leave a comment

This video of a Volvo driver blasting through a rider’s buffer zone to undertake traffic on a multi-lane road is a good example of how frustrated motorists are a danger to riders.

Canberra rider Alistaire Foard was riding home on his 2018 Yamaha MT-07, on Gungahlin Drive, when the incident happened.

The video shows he is doing a responsible and cautious job of owning his lane yet leaving a buffer from the right lane, keeping a safe distance from vehicles in front and frequently checking his mirrors.

But no amount of defensive riding could have prepared him for the Volvo driver’s tailgating and dangerous undertaking manoeuvre.

It was probably caused by the driver’s frustration with discourteous right-lane traffic that didn’t move to the left.

Volvo incident

“The Volvo came up very fast in the right lane behind the red hatchback,” Alistaire says.

“The right lane started to slow down and then he came in behind me quite close as seen in the rear vision mirror.

“We were in an 80km/h zone in traffic but it was flowing quite well.

“I slowed after the Volvo came in behind me because the red hatchback also put their indicator on to merge but I guess I was too close for them to do so.

“The Volvo dropped back a little and came past in the right hand lane when there was a gap but he left it a bit late in my opinion and had to cut in front of me very close.

“I didn’t see any indicator on the Volvo when he passed and actually thought he would stay in the right lane because the gap between myself and the green car was closing as the traffic sped back up to 80km/h.”

Volvo
Alistaire’s Yamaha

Alistaire was lucky he was not knocked off the road.

The dangerous passing manoeuvre was to no avail, anyway, as Alistaire caught up with the Volvo at the next set of red lights.

It could have escalated into road rage, but Alistaire kept a cool head.

“We exchanged some dirty looks, but nothing else,” he says.

“I thought his driving was really aggressive, especially considering the time of day and traffic flow.”

Cautious rider

Alistaire says he is “a little hesitant” on a motorbike these days as he wrote off his 2014 Ducati Monster 659 in November and needed surgery on a badly broken wrist.

“So I tend to stick to the left lane and keep a decent gap to the vehicle in front,” he says.

“I am not saying I am a perfect rider but his driving was unnecessary and dangerous.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Competition, News

Webb clinches Minneapolis supercross victory

Leave a comment

Forkner opens 250SX East championship with top honours.

Image: Supplied.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Cooper Webb has earned his third main event victory of the season at Minneapolis’ sixth round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross and FIM World Championship.

The number two put on a stellar display, recording a three-second win over Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen, who was able to regain the points in the process – he leads Webb by one point.

Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was third ahead of premier class rookie Joey Savatgy (Monster Energy Kawasaki) and Justin Brayton (Smarttop Bull Frog Spas Honda), while former points leader Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki) was sixth followed by Australia’s Chad Reed (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing) in Seventh.

Austin Forkner (Pro Circuit Monster Energy Kawasaki) opened the 250SX East championship with top honours, taking a convincing six-second victory over TLD Red Bull KTM’s Jordon Smith.

Monster Energy Yamalube Star Racing Yamaha’s Justin Cooper closed out the podium in third, followed by Alex Martin (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing) and Chase Sexton (Geico Honda). The AMA Supercross series heads to Arlington in Texas next weekend for round seven.

Detailed results


Source: MotoOnline.com.au

MotoGP, Motorcycle News, News

MotoGP™ mobile game crowns the 2018 Fan World Champion

Leave a comment

The 2018 season demonstrated the popularity of the sport with over 250 million races completed and 30 million hours of gameplay invested by players from around the world. Demand for the MotoGP™ Racing app is strongest in Asia where motorcycles are a way of life. Countries such as India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam are home to the most avid MotoGP fans while countries such as Spain, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom lead the way in Europe.

Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here

Bringing you the Best Motorcycle News from Around the Web!