Matt Le Blanc says electric bikes ‘the future’

“This is definitely the future,” says Matt Le Blanc in the latest Top Gear video where he and motoring journalist Chris Harris ride electric dirt bikes through a forest looking for Big Foot.

It’s a great endorsement for electric motorcycles; at least for riding off-roading.

However, the only problem is they are riding Alta Redshifts which no are longer made.

The American company ceased operations in October 2018.

Alta Redshift MXR Harley-Davidson electric motorcycles EV doomed matt
Alta Redshift MXR

This was despite the fact Alta received $US17m in funding in 2017 from Tesla supporters and had a six-month partnership with Harley-Davidson which ended in mid-2018.

The former Friends star probably puts his finger on why the company failed: “It’s a little pricey for a dirt bike; 12 grand (about $A16,600).”

Interestingly, Harley has announced that their electric LiveWire arrives this year at almost $US30,000 and Australia next year at more than $40,000.

Harley electric LiveWire matt
LiveWire

Does Matt stunt?

The other interesting point about the video is Matt’s wheelie and riding skills on the orange bike.

One cynic comments on the YouTube video: “Matt looks skinnier when he wheelies.”Matt Le Blanc wheelies electric Alta

Maybe they had some stunt doubles, but the actor is no stranger to motorcycles, having been a fan since he was a kid.

Apparently his father, Paul, upset Matt when he gave away a $15,000 bike to a relative.

The American actor joined Top Gear in 2016 when Top Gear was reformatted in the wake of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond leaving the BBC show.

When asked by BBC Top Gear Magazine for his favourite drive, he said: “Going through the Alps on a motorcycle with my wife on the back on our honeymoon. We only crashed once, so all in all it was a great ride.”

While we cannot confirm Matt does his own stunts, another person comments on the video: “I recall reading somewhere that Matt used to race mx so it’s probably him doing the wheelies.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Reg Pridmore’s CLASS Motorcycle School 2nd Annual All-Women’s CLASS

Reg Pridmore's All-Women CLASS will be held Monday, April 8, at Streets of Willow. Photo by Jenny Smith.
Reg Pridmore’s All-Women CLASS will be held Monday, April 8, at Streets of Willow. Photo by Jenny Smith.

After a successful first ever all-women’s CLASS last year, Reg Pridmore’s CLASS Motorcycle School has announced a date for its second women’s trackday: Monday, April 8, at Streets of Willow in Rosamond, California (about 1. 5 hours north of Los Angeles).

“What CLASS offers to street riders is so much more than just a track day,” explains Reg’s wife and CLASS Instructor Gigi Pridmore. “We want to help you to actually become a better rider! It’s a fun and friendly atmosphere and whether you’re a trackday regular or new to the track experience, we promise to make you feel right at home and have an absolute blast! One of our goals is to get more women who might feel a little shy about taking their street bike onto the track out to ride and learn with us. There’s lots of great instruction but there’s also a ton of track time, so lots of time to practice and improve with every lap. It’s a no pressure setting, we just want the women to have a really good time and go away having made new friends, with a lot more skill and feeling a lot more confident on their motorcycle. Our team is fantastic when it comes to teaching riders of either gender, and the low ego format of CLASS blends perfectly to help women of all ages and varied experience levels to be the best they can be.”

The price for the full day of instruction and track time is $295, and if you register before February 1 the price is only $250. Space can be reserved with a deposit of $150, with the balance due in early March.

You can also rent one of the CLASS Honda CBR500s; see website for details.

To learn more, call (805) 933-9936 or visit classrides.com.

Source: RiderMagazine.com

Dakar 2019: The Marathon Begins…

The first Marathon Stage has been completed for Dakar 2019.

Begin Press Release: 


SS4, The Marathon Begins…

America Finally Gets the Victory They’ve Been Waiting for at Dakar 2019

In Peru, they call it “fesh-fesh.” A term, unbeknownst to them, the racers were becoming quite familiar with. Maybe they thought they’d seen the last of it. But fesh-fesh, or silt to the rest of us, ruled the start of Special Stage Four. Like riding in Moon dust. Traversing the mountains of Mars. The route today was otherworldly.

Did the race go by quickly, or was it just Ricky? The Fast Guys were certainly still fast among motorcyclists, but even the second speediest rider of the day, 2018 Dakar Winner Matthias Walkner (#1), came in a whopping 6 minutes and 19 seconds after Brabec (#15).

dakar 2019

“I needed it. Yesterday was tough on me and I lost a lot of time. Today I really, really needed to push with the marathon night and motocross start tomorrow. It kind of helps me because tomorrow I can…have the stage under my control and finish where I want. With the motocross start it makes it easy to manage. That’s my plan for tomorrow and I’m really happy with today and getting the stage win as well as making up a bit of time… My body is still 100%, the bike is still 100%.” – Brabec #15, HRC Factory Team, USA

A huge win not only in Part One of the Marathon stage, but as the now overall leader in the General Classification for bikes. It’s not only a victory for himself and HRC, but for America who’s watching anxiously. No pressure.

“Ricky is executing a really good Dakar thus this far.” Said HRC’s team official Johnny Campbell. “Yesterday, was really tough with the fog and mental stress of opening the stage. Today was a good day to attack, take back some minutes. Tomorrow [Friday, January 11th], they will have the second part of the marathon stage, starting with a mass start in a line. If Ricky maintains his consistency tomorrow, that will help for the final stages.”

A lot of the same faces smile back at you when you scroll through today’s standings on the event site – Price (#3), Van Beveren (#4), Sunderland (#14), Goncalves (#2). But it’s the rookies, the grass roots guys, the men and women who prove all you need to dare the Dakar Rally – besides a small fortune – are heart and will… And maybe a couple of loose screws.

New to rally, but not motorsports, Andrew Short (#29) seems to be the most consistent racer out of the bunch. Not swaying too far in or out of the Top Ten, in this special, he clinched 12th place. Short has managed to keep a steady pace throughout the event, showing the world that his key to success so far is repetition. Fan favorite Laia Sanz (#17) is at this point a Dakar veteran, sitting at the 20th position by the time she reached Moquegua. Her regular presence with the Elite 20 continues to inspire followers of all types to go for what may appear to some as impossible. Rookie Skyler Howes (#73) has been posting impressive times all week, bringing himself from the back of the pack into a seat next to the factory riders, if not contention for the podium. He took 23rd in SS4 which puts him only two spots behind Sanz in the General Classification.

Of the remaining Americans, Garrett Poucher (#71) having had an incredible comeback during Special Stage Three, jumping 92 positions into 28th, settled for a humbler 56th place this Thursday afternoon. Although if you asked the unrelentingly upbeat rider about his day, he’ll throw you a thumbs up, and look almost too ready to jump back on the saddle. An underrated competitor thus far, Nathan Rafferty (#104) has been quietly climbing the ranks every day, without any real setbacks, leaping to the 64th starting position for the morning’s “motocross” sendoff – a nostalgic ode to the origins of this 41-year-old event. Motorbikes and quads will depart from Moquegua while the four-wheeled iterations of machine will embark from further south outside of Tacna. Each group will begin in a line across a wide open plain, literally battling head to head for the most favorable positions.

It’s safe to say, viewers are excited to see their chosen teams meet on equal terms, if only for one round. Casey Currie (#343) will represent the US in his Side-By-Side, 9th in order.

Oddly, a few names are missing from SS4’s standings in Autos, specifically the Americans. Although they haven’t been noted as withdrawals, yet, Blade Hildebrand and Bill Conger #367, who were in 27th as of this morning, aren’t anywhere to be seen. Likewise, Cole Potts and co-pilot Max Eddy #346 would have left from 56th today, but no notes have been recorded on Dakar’s continually updated website. Hopefully, this mystery will be solved when the two cars pull up to the lineup in the A.M.

Those who surely won’t be starting the race tomorrow, and were noticeably absent in today’s special, will be Robby Gordon and teammate Kellon Walch (#316), whom chose to pull out of the race for reasons which sound more like gossip than fact. Some assume it was due to car issues the team had experienced during Special Stage Three, but in a quote offered by Gordon himself, the truer cause for abandoning ship might have more to do with frustration:

“With the rule limitation they have on our car we had to remain at half throttle and play the speed control game. It’s very disappointing they have this rule on us. It wasn’t so bad yesterday as it only hurt us a little bit, but I wasn’t prepared for this today. We got passed by some pretty slow cars doing 50 mph faster than we were, and there’s nothing we could do about it.”

It can’t be said enough: Dakar is full of surprises. The moment you become comfortable with one prediction, an incident or a player spins your expectations in a whole different direction. Maybe that’s why we can’t get enough of it. Competitors, assistants, media and enthusiasts alike binge through news coverage, social pages and tv spots likes junkies on a rally bender. Why? Because no drug gets your heart pumping quite like adrenaline.

KEY POINTS:

Ø Rankings of Americans

BIKE

1st Ricky Brabec #15 – 03h 40’ 30”; 1st in the General Classification

12th Andrew Short #29 – 03h 59’ 21”; 11th in the General Classification

23rd Skyler Howes #73 – 04h 10’ 30”; 22nd in the General Classification

56th Garrett Poucher #71 – 05h 09’ 49”; 66th in the General Classification

64th Nathan Rafferty #104 – 05h 33’ 20”; 70th in the General Classification

CAR

TBD Blade Hildebrand, Bill Conger #367 –h –’ –”; TBD in the General Classification

TBD Cole Potts, Max Eddy #346 –h –’ –”; TBD in the General Classification

Withdrawn: Kellon Walch #316

SIDE-BY-SIDE

9th Casey Currie #343 – 05h 17’ 50”; 9th in the General Classification

Ø Top Ten Stage Finishers in Motorcycles

1st Ricky Brabec #15 – 03h 40’ 30”; 1st in the General Classification

2nd Matthias Walkner #1 – 03h 46’ 49”; 7th in the General Classification

3rd Toby Price #3 – 03h 47’ 37”; 3rd in the General Classification

4th Adrien Van Beveren #4 – 03h 53’ 59”; 5th in the General Classification

5th Sam Sunderland #14 – 03h 54’ 05”; 4th in the General Classification

6th Paulo Goncalves #2 – 03h 54’ 06”; 8th in the General Classification

7th Stefan Svitko #11 – 03h 54’ 40”; 10th in the General Classification

8th Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo #10 – 03h 55’ 03”; 15th in the General Classification

9th Kevin Benavides #47 – 03h 56’ 10”; 6th in the General Classification

10th Lorenzo Santolino #63 – 03h 57’ 32”; 13th in the General Classification

UPDATE:

“10:50a.m. (Local Time) Correction: Gordon’s alive!

Contrary to the announcement made earlier following a clerical error, Robby Gordon’s racing hopes are still alive and his UTV Textron is on the special!”

The post Dakar 2019: The Marathon Begins… appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.

Sand used to treat melting Oxley Highway

Riders have been alarmed to find sand over a section of the Oxley Highway where hot weather has caused the asphalt to melt and become slippery.

The Roads and Maritime Services was alerted to the problem last week and said they would inspect the surface this week.

“Sand was placed on the Oxley Highway to address soft pavement issues following extreme weather conditions and to improve traction,” an RMS spokesperson says.

“Excess sand is now being removed and a reduced speed of 60km/h is in place until further work is completed on the pavement surface.

“LiveTraffic will be updated to alert riders to the potential hazard at the location.”Oxley Highway sand

Local rider Ken Healey reported the sand on the Port Macquarie Road Riders Facebook page.

It has been placed over melting tar on the road about 25km west of Gingers Creek not far past the 80km/h zone.

He says there are warning signs in place but was critical of the thick sand left behind.Oxley Highway sand

RMS says “:further surface treatment is required”.

“Roads and Maritime Services is working with Walcha Council to carry out this work in the coming weeks, taking into account appropriate weather conditions required for this treatment,” the spokesperson says.

The molten tar lines are “right on the line your bike is going to take”, Ken says.

These photographs were taken when the temperature was 31C.

“The road was re-surfaced here about two years ago,” says Ken who organised the Save the Oxley petition and rally to retain the highway speed limits..

“Clearly it is not lasting and extremely dangerous.”

He says he and another rider had a front-tyre slip out on the molten tar.

Melting moments

A similar melting incident was encountered last summer on Mt Glorious Rd west of Brisbane.

One rider crashed in the molten tar and the road was subsequently resurfaced.

Melting tar claims first crash victim Mt Glorious costly engineers events steal reservations bitumen
Bike crashes into armco on molten bitumen

Melting road surfaces have also been encountered on recent roadworks on the mountain section of the Oxley Highway.

“It is already getting slippery on the new surface that is only a few weeks old, on the bottom half of the mountain,” Ken says.

“It will be ripped to bits by the end of summer and even more dangerous.

Oxley roadworks

The RMS told us last week it is “investing in the safety of Oxley Highway with a significant package of work recently implemented along the corridor”.

Roads and Maritime undertook resealing work in November and December on the Oxley Highway between Toms Creek and 85 kilometres west of Wauchope, which includes work in the mountain section.

“This reseal was comprised of a spray seal mix of bitumen and aggregate,” the spokesperson says.

“It is acknowledged motorbike riders frequently use the Oxley Highway for recreational purposes.

“Riders need to take safety precautions at all times while riding and this includes being aware of the road environment, particularly during extreme temperatures at this time of year – which can affect road surfaces.”

Save the Oxley organiser Ken Healey on his BMW K 1300 R - Motorcycle Friendly Town (Photo: Keoghs Vision Photography) siege flawed temporary repairs
Save the Oxley organiser Ken Healey on his BMW K 1300 R (Photo: Keoghs Vision Photography)

From Sunday (January 13, 2019) there will be lane closures at Spencers Cutting for roadworks on a 1.2km section of the highway.

To reduce impact on traffic, work will be carried out between 6pm and 6am from Sunday and is expected to be complete by Friday 25 January, weather permitting.

Traffic control and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h will be in place.

For the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.

More complaints

This is not the first time riders have complained about roadworks on the Oxley Highway.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special on tour

Aussies love a good motorcycle tour so it’s no wonder the Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special is our top-selling tourer.

I’ve been riding one for the past month in South East Queensland. In that time, I’ve done all sorts of riding from short trips to the shops just 800m away to riding several hundred kilometres across bumpy backroads and gravel.

This is no adventure tourer, but it is quite surprising how well this bike will tour in varied conditions.

And at the end of the day, I can get off feeling fresh, thanks to the comfortable ergonomics and that deep-dish saddle.

I’ve ridden the Street Glide on many occasions in the past few years plus the latest blacked-out Special model in the most horrendous typhoon conditions in the States.

2019 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special review top
Sloshing around in a US typhoon

So I have now compiled five top reasons to try the Street Glide Special.

1 Milwaukee Eight engineHere's why Harley's Street Glide Special is our top tourer

Ever since Harley introduced the Milwaukee Eight engine a couple of years ago, I’ve been a big fan.

The Touring range for 2019 now all come with the 114 cubic-inch Milwaukee Eight engine with a whopping 163Nm of torque.

No initial thump on start-up, more torque than a truck and quite smooth for a big V-twin.

Together with the finessed transmission with a new slipper clutch (Drag-torque Slip Control System), it’s Harley’s most sophisticated drivetrain yet.

2 Infotainment

2019 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special review

Tourers love plenty of tech and entertainment to soothe away the long, boring highway miles.

The 2019 Touring modelsnow get the new BOOM! Box GTS infotainment system with extra functionality.

It has a TFT display with edge-to-edge Gorilla Glass designed to minimise reflection and optimised for touch sensitivity even with gloves and in the wet.

You can also control it all from the handlebar toggle switches.

Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide Limited Road Glide Boom Box rain wet infotainment audio techno street glide secial

By the way, you can also pay an extra $300 (approx) to fit a wireless interface module installed which that adds Apple CarPlay compatibility.

It basically makes many of your iPhone apps available on the screen.

You can also use Siri to tell the system what to do. No need to use your hands at all!

Not that Siri would have reacted to any of my “colourful” verbal commands as I steered the Street Glide Special through the maelstrom around me.

3 Back in black Here's why Harley's Street Glide Special is our top tourer

Black never went away, but the blacked-out Special models give the bikes a new menacing stance on the road.

There is hardly any chrome on the bike.

It’s black around the headlight, engine guard, forks, handlebars, controls, mirrors, indicators, tank console, engine covers, air cleaner cover, mufflers and exhaust shields.

4 Top suspendersHere's why Harley's Street Glide Special is our top tourer

It doesn’t glide along the road, it carves its way through the road and startle many riders on smaller and more nimble bikes.

I rode it over several tight and twisty mountain passes and kept pace with many other riders on sportier machinery.

The suspension upgrades include Showa Dual-Bending Valve forks with bigger pistons for improved damping.

It makes the front end more compliant, taking away that jackhammer affect through the grips, yet retaining a sharp and light steering feel.

It’s a big and heavy touring bike, but it still has the ability to change direction in a corner without upsetting the ship.

At the back, Harley has moved from air shocks to emulsion shocks with 15-30% more preload adjustment using a single hand-adjustable knob behind the left pannier.

5 Cooler rideHere's why Harley's Street Glide Special is our top tourer

Despite riding a big, faired cruiser in Queensland’s summer heat, the new Street Glide Special is a whole lot cooler these days.

Harley has advanced the ignition, dropped the rear header down from the exhaust port and moved the catalytic converter rearwards.

This makes it cooler for the rider.

However, it still gets hot in slow traffic and your pillion’s right leg cops a lot of the hot air that has been moved backwards.

Harley-Davdison FLHXS Street Glide Special tech specs2019 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special review

Price $A38,750 ($NZ42,750)
Engine Milwaukee-Eight 114 (1868cc)
Torque 163Nm
Transmission 6-Speed Cruise Drive
Length 2425mm
Seat 690mm
Fuel tank 22.7 litres
Dry weight 362kg
Wheels Black, Talon Cast Aluminium
Tyres front 130/60B19 61H
Tyres rear 180/55B18 80H

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Husqvarna to release FC 450 Rockstar Edition in Australia

Pricing still to be determined for premier class model.

2019 husqvarna factory edition

Image: Supplied.

Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia will make a number of 2019 FC 450 Rockstar Editions available this April, the manufacturer has confirmed.

Replicating the advanced engine technology used by the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team in their championship-winning machines, the FC 450 Rockstar Edition for 2019 features a new CP forged box-in-box piston and a new Pankl conrod.

Providing reduced friction, the new piston and conrod ensure the SOHC engine continues to offer the highest level of performance and reliability available in the market today. The all-new machine features FMF Racing’s Factory 4.1 RCT silencer – the new exhaust system has a blue anodised titanium body and a carbon end cap.

In addition, it offers a shorter overall length that makes it less susceptible to damage. Moving the silencer closer to the engine also aids mass centralisation.

Made from high-grade aluminium, the all-new CNC-machined triple clamps feature optimally tuned steering stem stiffness as well as perfect alignment of the fork tubes for highly responsive and smooth fork action. Maximum gains in handling are provided by easy offset adjustment between 20 or 22 mm.

The list of upgrades is completed with a new set of anodised D.I.D DirtStar rims and anodised machined hubs. Offering maximum weight savings, this premium-quality combination ensures maximum strength and reduced weight.

Tailored to the needs of every aspiring motocross racer, the bike boasts a carbon fibre reinforced engine protector and a mechanical hole-shot device as standard. Pricing is still to be determined, while more information can be found at www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com/au.


Source: MotoOnline.com.au

KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition due for 2019 Australian arrival

April delivery anticipated for limited edition dirt bike.

2019 ktm factory edition australia

Image: Supplied.

KTM Australia has confirmed a limited number of 450 SX-F Factory Editions will be available in Australia this year, with an anticipated arrival due for April as local pricing is still to be determined.

The latest 2019 model forms the base of the machines that will be raced by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Marvin Musquin and Cooper Webb in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, and features a selection of components and styling cues from the factory outfit.

Encompassing the latest motocross technology, and developed with the highest out-of-the-box race performance in mind, the KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition boasts an orange frame, factory seat with Selle Dalla Valle logo, and exclusive 2019 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing graphics that are all complemented by various engine upgrades and improved suspension settings.

With racing at the heart of KTM, this model is the sharpest weapon in the toughest racing arenas, and the 2019 Factory Edition provides performance-enhancing features such as a Akrapovic slip-on silencer, orange anodised factory triple clamps, factory wheels with D.I.D Dirt Star rims, a factory start for the fork and a composite skid plate.

In addition, the bike has a semi-floating front disc, front brake disc guard, and an orange rear sprocket. For more information on the unique model, visit www.ktm.com/au.


Source: MotoOnline.com.au

Calendar revealed for 2019 Cross-Country Rallies World Championship

Four round series shapes up for upcoming season.

Image: Supplied.

The FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship calendar has been revealed for 2019, confirming four rallies will take place between March and October.

The series will kick off with the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in the United Arab Emirates on 30 March-4 April, before heading to Russia, Mongolia and China for the Silk Way Rally on 6-16 July.

The championship will recommence in Chile on 1-7 September for the Atacama Rally, followed by the season-finale Rally du Maroc in Morocco, pencilled in for 3-9 October.

In 2018, Australian Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) emerged victorious to lift the crown, adding to his list of achievements that include winning the Dakar Rally in 2016.

2019 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship calendar:
Rd1 – 30 March-4 April – Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, United Arab Emirates
Rd2 – 6-16 July – Silk Way Rally, Russia-Mongolia-China
Rd3 – 1-7 September – Atacama Rally, Chile
Rd4 – 3-9 October – Rally du Maroc, Morocco


Source: MotoOnline.com.au

Superbike return commences for Halliday with Morgan Park outing

Supersport champion reacquaints himself with premier class machine.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Reigning Australian Supersport champion Cru Halliday has commenced his return to the Superbike class with Yamaha Racing Team, sampling the YZF-R1M at Morgan Park this week for the first time in 14 months.

Completing 76 laps, the New South Welshman spent his time at the 2.967-kilometre Queensland venue reacquainting himself with the larger capacity machine, marking his first time out on track since appearing at Phillip Island’s ASBK finale in October 2018.

“It was a bit of a different experience and I haven’t ridden since Phillip Island in October last year,” Halliday explained to CycleOnline.com.au. “I haven’t ridden a superbike for 14 months now as well. It was at Morgan Park, which is a very physical track, and it’s hard to exactly say how I felt – I was excited and nervous at the same time.

“For me, I have an expectation to be quick on a superbike, but at the same time, I haven’t been on one for a long time. The first couple of laps were a bit of a shock – I sort of forgot how fast a superbike is. I was only there for one day, so it took a bit of time get used to it. It was good eye-opener, and I was glad to be on the bike before the first official test in February.”

Halliday revealed he slimmed down for his dominant campaign aboard the 600 last year, with his laps at Morgan Park reaffirming he’ll need to adjust his training regime in order to regain lost muscle, a crucial physical aspect of piloting the premier class motorcycle.

“For the 600 last year, I stripped five kilos and I’m still at that weight at the moment – it’s the lightest I’ve ever been,” he continued. “I did 76 laps yesterday, and that’s fair bit around Morgan Park in one day – I was definitely feeling it. I’m going to introduce more weight training and motocross riding now before round one to build myself up into race form. The superbike is a lot heavier than the 600, and it take a lot more muscle to throw it around.”

“I’m pretty confident I can put it up there this year. I don’t think the 600 knocked me back a peg, I think it opened my eyes up and actually matured me as a rider. I learned to race a lot smarter, and I don’t go into testing now chasing times – I go into a test looking at everything that’s wrong and where I can improve.”

The opening round of the Australian Superbike Championship is scheduled for 21-24 February at Phillip Island in Victoria, running in conjunction with the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) opener.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

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