The Handbuilt Show has become a must-attend event every year in Austin, Texas, during the MotoGP race weekend. It now rivals the One Motorcycle Show in terms of the quality and quantity of exhibitors as well as for the events that surround the show itself. This year there was a Superhooligan race the day after a raucous kickoff party, and on Sunday a documentary screening of Oil in the Blood by Gareth Roberts.
Although the hoopla surrounding the show has expanded, the bikes still remain the focal point. And as we did with this year’s One Show, at Handbuilt we also managed to select some favorites. See what really stood out among the crowd below.
Public support for learner riders to first have L-plate car driving experience for one year has been rejected by South Australian riding group Ride to Review.
Tim Kelly of Ride to Review has rejected an ABC Adelaide Facebook poll which found 72% public support for the plan.
He says “no specific evaluation of the measure has yet been undertaken”.
“RTR believe improved rider education and training are the key areas to be development in order to produce safer riders,” he says.
Licensing laws
The only other state with similar licensing laws is Queensland where learner riders must have held a provisional, P1, P2 or open car licence for a year. South Australia’s suggestion is that riders must only have a learner plate for a year.
It runs contrary to practices in countries such as Italy where 15-year-olds can first ride a two-wheeler up to 50cc before getting a car or motorcycle licence.
Proponents say it gives young motorists more road awareness and makes them more aware of motorcyclists on the road when they get old enough to obtain a licence.
On the other hand, modern cars are so safe with crash cells, stability control and various driver aids and warnings that they may give young drivers a false sense of invincibility.
It may also lead drivers to ignore vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists who pose no danger to them, leading to SMIDSY crashes.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) motorcycle spokesman Rhys Griffiths says tougher licensing laws across the nation have put the motorcycle industry under “more pressure than we’ve ever had in the past”.
He says the tougher licensing laws have dramatically increased the price of obtaining a motorcycle licence and may have led to an increase in unlicensed riding.
Fatal statistics
National statistics from 1995 to 2019 show a steady decrease in fatalities among under 30-year-old riders from 562 in the five-year period from 1995 to ’99 to 312 from 2015 to ’19.
Over the past five years, under 30s have not had the largest number of fatalities, being overtaken for the first time by over 50s with 323 deaths.
This could be the result of tougher licensing laws.
However, it could also be due to the fact that the number of young riders getting licenses has declined while the number of returned riders has increased.
The statistical trends are similar in all states including Queensland and South Australia where under-30s fatalities have halved since 1995.
Licence review
RTR has rejected plans to require car L-plates before getting a bike licence
The South Australian review of the Graduated Licensing System was undertaken by the University of Adelaide’s Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR).
The 15 key recommendations included increasing rider age to reduce the crashes involving 16- and 17-year-old riders and reducing crashes involving motorcyclists holding a learner permit or R-Date licence class.
Under the recommendations, pre-learner and learner age would be lifted from 16 to 18 and unrestricted licence from 20 to 21 and six months.
Other recommendations include displaying correct plates, restricting pillions, mandatory carriage of licence, a night curfew, zero blood alcohol, a lower demerit point threshold for disqualification, no mobile phones and hi-vis vests for novices as in Victoria.
A total of 1553 participants responded to the consultation, while key road safety stakeholders, motorcycling industry representatives and other interested parties provided feedback through formal submissions.
There’s no law against it. No one will stop you at the state line and ask your business—why you’re 1,000 miles from where you were at dawn. They won’t go looking into your bloodshot and bleary eyes for answers to what you’re running from. Not yet.
The bike was a gift. There’s no other way to say it, belonging as it did to a friend who found himself staring down cruel days with no time for an old R100. “Ride the hell out of it,” he said. I’d have to in order to make up the time I lost. There were the wildfires that ran me off some of the best roads in Washington; a voltage regulator in the Dales; a rotor, diode board, and battery in Portland; the clutch-adjustment bolt I nearly lost somewhere on I-84; and the goddamned hailstorm outside Salt Lake that turned the highway into a terrifying and cold river of slush.
I wanted to run, crank on the throttle, and cover the miles I was due; to get something clear between me and that BMW: We aren’t the sitting-around kind. Somewhere between Evanston and Cheyenne, it clicked, the airhead finding its groove near 90, those goofy cylinders out in the wind, and the sky wide and blue for the first time since I left the coast. We were taking the country in gulps, at last.
It’s a miserable way to ride, hunkered down over low bars with no windscreen, passing the same semis time and time again, their wash catching the panniers and shaking the bike. But by the time I stopped outside Lincoln, we’d made better than 750 miles since dawn.
I wasn’t gunning for a piece of paper with my name on it or a patch on my coat. I wanted 1,000 miles under me in one long day because I needed to know we could do it. That we could push back against inevitability, against the ever-growing chorus of aches in my back, the entropy in the machine beneath me, and a world intent on saving everyone from themselves. That there are still places and things that will give you enough rope to hang yourself.
The last 20 miles were the worst. I caught a dark, brawling Missouri thunderstorm, the drops like hornets through my gloves, and the lightning so close, I could hear it sizzle over the clatter of that dauntless engine. I’d made my 1,000 and kept riding through the dark farmland and the rain, on to a clean, dry bed a lifetime from where I woke up.
One rider has died and another serious injured in allegedly single-vehicle motorcycle crashes in Brisbane over the past couple of days.
In the first incident, a 26-year-old Cornubia man died in a crash on Lytton Rd, Bulimba, at 5.30am yesterday (19 April 2019).
Police say it was a single-vehicle crash, although they have not yet concluded their investigations and are still calling for witnesses and dash cam vision.
In the second incident, police say a 47-year-old male rider from Kingston sustained life-threatening-injuries “following reports a motorcycle had left the Kingston Road and crashed”.
Again, police have not finished their investigations and are calling for witnesses and dash cam evidence.
Our condolences to the family and friends of the first rider and our best wishes for a speedy recovery for the second rider.
Single-vehicle crashes
The police allegations that these are single-vehicle motorcycle crashes are a concern.
It raises the spectre that the riders were at fault. Such assertions should not be made until investigations are completed.
Other vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians or a stray animal could have caused the crashes.
Claiming they are single-vehicle crashes only confirms in the minds of the public that riders have a death wish and do not deserve their respect and consideration.
These are dangerous assertions that jeopardise the safety of all riders.
In fact, the statistics show that more motorcycle fatalities are in multi-vehicle crashes.
“I think there is a view that riders are more likely to be at fault in accidents involving motorcycles and that speed is the common factor,” Steve says.
“We see this in single-vehicle accidents involving a motorcycle, where the rider is automatically deemed to be at fault.
“This ignores factors such as road condition, line markings, recent roadworks, lack of signage.”
Witnesses sought
If you have information for police on either of these incidents, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.
In the rider fatality, quote this reference number QP1900767388 and in the second incident, quote QP1900775488.
IMS Discover The Ride reveals positive data from moto-curious participants.
Begin Press Release:
Recent Motorcycle Survey Finds an Astonishingly High Number of Youth Plan to Start Riding
New Data From IMS’ Discover the Ride Initiative Reveals a Hopeful Future for the Motorcycle Industry
Santa Monica, Calif. (April 19, 2019) – The Progressive® International Motorcycle Shows® (IMS), the industry leader for connecting powersports’ top brands with enthusiasts and buyers, today announced data gathered from survey feedback provided by participants of IMS’ Discover The Ride initiative, which found that 81 percent of currently non-motorcycle-licensed consumers who experienced the thrill of two-wheels on the program’s New Rider Course plan to get their motorcycle license. Of those non-licensed riders, 64 percent were under the age of 35. The combined findings suggest there is a high percent of youth interested in joining the motorcycle industry.
Discover the Ride, which launched during the 2018/2019 IMS tour and has since hit seven major cities throughout the nation as well as the 2019 Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Auto Show, is the only approachable motorcycling experience designed to give non-motorcycle-licensed consumers the experience of riding in a safe and controlled environment. The interactive program, which includes the New Rider Course, The Kids Zone, educational seminars within New To 2, and a dyno and wheelie experience, was specifically designed to introduce riding motorcycles to consumers of all ages in an effort to counteract the industry’s high barriers of entry.
“It is important for the motorcycle industry to recognize there is a deep pool of potential riders, especially within the younger generation, as Discover the Ride’s data suggests,” said Tracy Harris, Senior Vice President, Powersports, Informa. “Discover the Ride does a fantastic job providing a quick and accessible opportunity for non-riders to experience the rush of two wheels. The program additionally takes the next step in converting non-riders by providing continued education and resources to those interested through New to 2, a series of online videos and live presentations educating new riders on the world of motorcycling, and guidance from Total Control Training who provides tailored information on where one can pursue obtaining their motorcycle license.”
The Discover the Ride feedback, provided by non-motorcycle-licensed participants, was contributed by over 2,000 consumers spanning Long Beach, New York, Dallas, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Washington D.C., and Chicago. In addition to its presence at each stop of the 2018/2019 IMS tour, Discover the Ride’s feature at the DFW Auto Show resulted in a comprehensive dataset pulling from both industry and non-industry consumers.
Additional key highlights from the Discover the Ride survey feedback are as follows:
Across the seven IMS tour stops throughout the nation and the DFW Auto Show, over 6,800 consumers participated in Discover the Ride.
47 percent of all non-motorcycle-licensed Discover the Ride and New Rider Course participants were female.
More than 2,340 kids rode StaCyc bikes in The Kids Zone.
“The motorcycle industry has struggled with Millennials and Gen X’ers not entering the market at the same rate as baby boomers are aging out,” said Robert Pandya, Team Manager, Discover the Ride. “Thus, it is critical for the future of motorcycling that current industry leaders come together to bring approachable opportunities for the next generation, as well as underserved demographics, to experience and get on board with riding. As the nation’s largest consumer motorcycle tour, IMS is currently leading that effort with Discover the Ride.”
IMS is dedicated to increasing new ridership; as a follow-up to the onsite Discover the Ride initiative, IMS will be reaching out to the non-motorcycle-licensed riders interested in obtaining their license to further provide the tools they need to start their journey.
The 8-city tour will launch across the U.S. and Canada from May through June.
Begin press release:
Royal Enfield, the leader in the global middleweight motorcycle segment, will begin shipping the highly anticipated and all-new INT 650 and Continental GT 650 Twins this month to all U.S. and Canadian dealers. The MSRP for the Twins starts at $5,799 and includes standard ABS, a three-year unlimited-mile warranty and roadside assistance.
The first twin-cylinder motorcycles to be produced by Royal Enfield since 1970 — the motorcycles are the first created for the global market leveraging Royal Enfield’s world-class product development and manufacturing capabilities — are built for real-world riding with sufficient power to navigate city traffic or cruise effortlessly on the open road. The offerings will inspire confidence in new riders and satisfy the performance expectations of experienced riders.
INT 650:
Reminiscent of the street-scrambler-style motorcycle that emerged in California in the ’60s with a teardrop tank, dual seat and high, braced handlebars for a comfortable and commanding riding position. Starting MSRP $5,799 (U.S. pricing)
Continental GT 650:
Offers a more committed riding position and features a twin seat, sculpted fuel tank, rear-set footrests and race-style, clip-on handlebars for an optimum blend of steering feel and comfort with no compromise. Starting MSRP $5,999 (U.S. pricing)
Colors will be released in phases throughout the year. The first colors available will include Orange Crush and Silver Spectre for the INT 650, and Ice Queen for the Continental GT 650.
The Twins will also feature a full range of genuine motorcycle accessories and apparel.
In an effort to support the retail availability of the Twins, Royal Enfield North America is hosting a tour across North America starting in May. The tour will include demo/test rides for the Twins and other Royal Enfield motorcycles. Each city launch event will feature live music, artist murals, food and exciting giveaways.
Launch tour locations and dates:
May 11: Miami, Florida — Miami Supercar Rooms
May 18: Summit Point, West Virginia — Summit Point Motorsports Park
June 1: Milwaukee, Wisconsin — Boone and Crockett
June 8: Acton, Ontario, Canada — Town Takeover
June 15: Denver, Colorado — META Headquarters
June 22: Monterey, California — Laguna Seca Raceway
June 29: Brea, California — SoCal Motorcycles
June 30: San Diego, California — Royal Enfield of San Diego
Additional dealer dates will be added throughout the summer.
“Indian Motorcycle is excited to announce the FTR 1200 and FTR 1200 S will begin arriving in dealers in the U.S. and Canada in mid-May. All factory accessories, including the Tracker, Sport, Rally and Tour Collections, will also be available as motorcycles arrive in dealerships.”
For a refresher on what those Collections consist of, hop over here.
Vigil was originally going to race the Baja 1000 with the Scrambler 1200, but a training injury forced him to withdraw. Fully healed, now he’s ready to tackle Mexico.
Begin press release:
Triumph Motorcycles are excited to confirm their return to the off-road endurance racing world with accomplished stunt rider and racer Ernie Vigil piloting the groundbreaking all-new Scrambler 1200 XE at this year’s NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally.
Vigil is one of Triumph’s official factory riders, an experienced off-road racer, and was very likely the first person to have completed the Mexican 1000 on board a Triumph Tiger 800.
Now fully recovered and fit for action following an injury suffered during training in October 2018, Ernie has spent the last three weeks in Southern California with the race-ready Scrambler 1200 completing his final preparations for this grueling challenge.
Ernie’s Scrambler 1200 XE is in near-standard condition, with only the addition of a desert racing seat, lights, grips and extreme profile sand tires. Topping off the race-spec features, there is also a unique off-road racing scheme with Triumph’s signature black and white paint and graphics.
The Scrambler 1200 XE is an all-new benchmark-setting motorcycle that represents a first for dual-purpose capability and modern custom style. This beautiful 1,200cc scrambler delivers a category-redefining level of performance, specification and finish, fused with Triumph’s iconic scrambler DNA and all the multi-surface capability of a genuine adventure motorcycle.
The NORRA Mexican 1000 is an incredible off-road racing event that covers more than 1,000 miles of Mexico’s rugged Baja peninsula, with riders tackling rocks, quicksand, unpredictable 1,000bhp racing trucks and the unforgiving desert landscape. If you want to compete in extreme endurance races on a motorcycle, the Mexican 1000 is one of the biggest. The original 1,000-mile route (which is where it gets its name) kicked off in 1967. This year’s race begins in Ensenada, Mexico, and while the route changes year-to-year and the overall distance varies, the race is always around 1,000 miles and broken up into multiple stages, each providing unique challenges. It promises to be a grueling test for both motorcycle and rider.
The Mexican 1000 is run on the same arduous course as the legendary Baja 1000, the same hallowed terrain that made the Triumph Scrambler name famous in the 1960s. Hence, this will be a bit of a homecoming for the Triumph Scrambler, back to prove its meddle to a new generation of riding enthusiasts. Ernie, who was selected for both his experience and his incredible commitment to this project, recognizes the formidable challenge that lies in front of him. He’s now been in full training for months and says that he and the Scrambler 1200 XE are ready.
Ernie Vigil said:“After nine months of training, the injury, and over 6,000 off-road miles in the saddle, I’m excited to be getting to the final stage of prep for one of the most challenging off-road races you can do. I literally can’t wait to get to that starting line and fire the Scrambler up! The bike has been performing amazingly well and I’m raring to go.”
Paul Stroud, Triumph’s Chief Commercial Officer said:“Everyone at Triumph is rooting for Ernie, his commitment to returning to race fitness following his injury has been amazing and we just can’t wait to see the Scrambler 1200 in action. Baja desert racing has played such a big part in the history of scrambling and it was the spark that kicked off of our whole iconic Scrambler line-up.
KTM has built a dedicated space to honor and showcase its extensive history, with a nod toward the future.
Begin press release:
Four weeks before the official opening, the impressive and impossible to miss KTM Motohall is already in magnificent form. The completely newly built showcase of the leading European motorcycle manufacturer is cosmopolitan and ready to launch its fantastic new KTM brand experience, geared not only at motorcycle enthusiasts.
The KTM Motohall in Mattighofen will celebrate its official opening on May 11 and 12. Alongside an extraordinary program of fringe events, the entire exhibition and brand experience, built on a 10,000-m² site, is open to all visitors.
The spectacular exhibition center was created by a team of architects from Upper Austria, consisting of Hofbauer: Architect working in close collaboration with “X-Architekten”. Both the architecture and exhibition concept manage to convey the spirit of READY TO RACE very successfully: Orange Spirit as a walk-through spatial experience. The exhibition has been created by the scenography experts ATELIER BRÜCKNER: The exhibition’s architecture, graphics, lighting, media, and content all speak the same language— the language of KTM. The route guides visitors through the three exhibition levels and showcases the brand’s core values. Visitors are able to witness the complete design process from sketch to finished product firsthand with videos illustrating all the technical details. On a purpose-built sharp bend, around 70 street and off-road bikes compete in a race leading you to the highlight of the exhibition: The “Heroes of Racing”. With impressive, dynamic images, a 360° video installation celebrates the champions of racing. Last but not least, the people behind the brand share their passion for KTM and give the company a face. A rookie tour for our younger guests adds to the exhibition tour. Throughout all levels of the exhibition, children get to explore and experience the world of KTM for themselves, accompanied by a booklet that they can take home as a memento. They are part of the Orange Family too.
During the realization of this unique visitor concept all opportunities were harnessed, allowing a visit to the KTM Motohall to be a rewarding experience in every respect. In addition to the 130 underground parking spaces and a large additional car park including bus parking, there is also a separate parking lot for motorcyclists on the opposite side of the road.
A 300-m² shop, offeringeverything fans could wish for, is barrier-free and can be accessed without a ticket to the exhibition. Technical enthusiasts will love the “living” workshop situated in the basement of the KTM Motohall, where they can watch live restorations being carried out by experts. Whilst parents can have a technical chat with a pro, children from the age of six can try out new technologies such as virtual reality, 3D printers, and laser plotters in the Innovation Lab, a place where creativity knows no bounds. The “Pit Box” snack bar offers a selection of light refreshments, whilst the “Garage” restaurant in the adjacent townhouse serves a host of innovative and quality culinary delights.
General information for visitors:
KTM Motohall opening times: Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Innovation Lab opening times: Friday 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
“Garage” restaurant opening times: Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
The “Garage” and “Pit Box” will begin regular business hours on May 14, 2019.
KTM Motohall entrance fees
Adults EUR 10 (concession rate EUR 7)
Children up to 14 years: free admission
Family ticket: EUR 25
Prices for KTM Motohall guided tours (plus entrance fee)
Guided tour: EUR 5 per person
Individual tour: EUR 90 per group up to 20 people
Tickets and bookings for the guided tours can be purchased on the official website and in the KTM Motohall once the exhibition has opened.
Order an Oset 24.0 Racing electric trials motorcycle drop-shipped to your door and you get this:
three cardboard boxes. One giant, one a little bigger than a car battery, another that’s a little flat, like you ordered a pair of flip-flops. Inside is everything you need to assemble a rad little ripper of a machine.
We’re here building this bike for a very specific reason—and a fairly specific person: me. Much as I love riding in the dirt, I’m terrible at it. Specifically, I’m terrible at the high-precision, slow-speed technical riding that’s exemplified by the discipline of competitive trials. And until the arrival of the Oset, there was no sign of improvement on the horizon.
Riding in the dirt is a tall order for me these days. I’m a new dad, for a start. And I live in the geographic center of Los Angeles, one of the more famously sprawling cities on the planet. So while quick escapes to pavement are numerous, loading up a truck or a van with a dirt bike and driving three hours to a decent riding OHV area is a big ask of the family. Disappearing long enough to get good at it, or practicing my dirt bike chops in my own neighborhood? Well, that’d get me shot.
But the electric motorcycle revolution might just have my back, and the Oset 24.0 Racing might, might, be a perfect tool for sorting out some of those missing skills. If you’ve seen Motorcyclist contributor Chris Northover’s gobsmacking Storm the Embassy video on YouTube, you’ll know that these little machines can take an astonishing amount of punishment, while delivering fairly spectacular performance. All at a neighborhood-friendly decibel level. That’s no small task.
So we’re trying out an Oset 24.0. It’ll be a long-term project. The machine and I, both. We’ll challenge its performance, and my skills. And we’ll have some actual talent in the form of our own Andrew Oldar, a professional dirt bike stud and trials expert, coaching and evaluating me along the way.
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