Tag Archives: News

News

EBR back in fourth incarnation

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The Lazarus of motorcycle companies, EBR, has risen once again, but only in limited edition high-performance machines.

In its the fourth incarnation, EBR (Erik Buell Racing) will be hand-built at Grand Rapids, Michigan by new owner Bill Melvin. He took over when EBR went into liquidation in June 2017.

Roller-coaster history

It’s been a roller-coaster ride for motorcycle innovator and former Harley-Davidson engineer Erik Buell.

Erik Buell and MotorBikeWriter predictions ebr
MBW with Erik Buell in happier times

He started making sports bikes with Harley engines in Wisconsin in 1983.

His bikes included a number of innovations such as underlying exhausts, perimeter brake discs, fuel in the frame and oil in the swingarm.

Harley bought his company in 2003 and continued making Buell bikes until the GFC hit in 2009 when Buell was axed.

Erik reopened for business as EBR in 2010, first with race bikes, then 1190RX and 1190SX road bikes.

Despite some racing success, sales were slow and they stopped production in 2015 and was bought out in 2016 by Liquid Asset Partners.

They kept high-volume production going until early 2017.

Since then, they have only produced parts for its bikes.

EBR still alive

Now Bill is keeping the iconic brand alive with specialised and performance builds of the 1190RX in his warehouse.

So far they have built just three, but they plan to continue to build to order.

Bright spark

While Erik has nothing to do now with Bill’s venture, he is still involved in motorcycles.

Erik this year joined forces with F-X Terny of Vanguard Motorcycles and Frédéric Vasseur, founder of electric Formula E race car company Spark Racing Technology.

Together they have formed VanguardSpark to initially make two electric motorcycle models with four patents pending.

There has been no further news since the announcement in April 2018.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Police warn of flooded roads and crocs

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Police have issued a warning to motorists not to cross flooded roads and even to be on the lookout for crocs.

And they don’t mean those Crocs shoes or crocodile-skin motorcycle seats!

Heavy rain and flash flooding are expected on the Queensland and northern NSW coasts in the next couple of days.

Police and emergency services have reiterated their call: “If it’s flooded, forget it”.

Riders are particularly vulnerable to being swept away in fast-flowing creek crossings.

Police say they will fine motorists hundreds of dollars for negligent driving if they attempt to cross flood waters and get stuck, requiring rescue.

Crocs warning

But there is also a unique problem for riders in Far North Queensland … crocs!

With North Queensland well-known ‘croc country’ police near Tully came across a crocodile sitting near the middle of the road last night. Officer’s fortunately were able to avoid the animal however with heavy rains still falling from ex-tropical cyclone Owen wildlife can be expected to be displaced and may wander onto roadways.

If you think hitting a roo is a problem, try tangling with a croc!

Water crossings

Water crossings

Water crossings can be enormous fun, but it’s just not worth it when the water crossing is flooded.

You may have crossed this particular crossing before and think that the water is just a little higher than normal. However, there could be a sink hole underneath and you could lose your bike and then be swept away in the fast-running waters.

Flooded water is unpredictable. Is the level still rising, how fast is the water flowing, is it flowing at different rates in different parts of the crossing, is a sudden surge of more water on its way, what objects have been washed down and are now submerged underneath such as barbed wire?

There are too many unknowns.

Don’t be that idiot that goes playing in flooded waters and ends up losing their bike, forcing emergency services personnel to risk their lives trying to save you.

That was my mistake

Water crossings

One of my water crossing failures was in a low-flooded causeway. I was riding a big Yamaha Super Tenere through on the clear wheel tracks but the water was flowing faster where there was a gap in the weeds upstream.

Even though it was a low level and the bike substantial, the water velocity was enough to push my front wheel slightly off track, into the slime and down I went.

I was lucky not to be swept off the causeway into the fast-running creek.

It was a stupid thing to do and I acknowledge that.

water crossings flooded

After the storms have passed and the skies turn blue, there will be an enormous temptation this weekend to go out and play in the waters.

However, flood waters can take a lot of time to subside, so remain vigilant and cautious.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

US Senate votes against rider profiling

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While Australian states are ramping up their anti-association laws that profile riders as potential outlaws, the US Senate has unanimously passed a motorcyclist anti-profiling resolution.

This follows an American Motorcyclist Association survey finding that half of American motorcyclists say they have been profiled by police pulling them over.

There is no such survey in Australia, but anecdotal evidence shows that riders have been pulled over for licence and bike checks by police.

They say only riders have been pulled over while cars and other vehicles are allowed to pass.

Police 'safety campaign’ unfair on riders cops road safety crash accident may blitz unlicensed senate
Police recently pulled over riders on the Gold Coast hinterland

Some have been riding cruisers and wearing similar gear to the so-called outlaw gangs or bikies, but others have been riding bikes such as adventurers, tourers and sports machines.

Laws, such as Queensland’s ludicrously named Vicious Lawless Associates Disestablishment or “VLAD” Act of 2013, are allowing police extra powers to harass riders.

(VLAD was replaced in 2016 by the Serious and Organised Crime Legislation Amendment Bill with the less evil-sounding acronym, SOCLAB, but only slightly watered-down police powers.)

Many other states have also ramped up their anti-association laws in order to put more pressure on perceived criminal activity in motorcycle clubs.

As recently as September, Tasmania planned laws that include a ban on outlaw motorcycle gang “colours”.

The Victorian Motorcycle Riders Association believes this vilification of riders is yet another nail in the coffin for motorcycling.

US Senate voteBikie clothing senate

The unanimous Senate vote “urges state law enforcement officials to condemn motorcyclist profiling in their policies and training materials”.

It is a surprise given the Senate is dominated by Republicans, although it does not have any force in law.

The resolution would also have to be passed in Congress where it could have a lot of support.

After all, in 2015, Congress banned federal highway funding of motorcycle-only checkpoints.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Is KTM really interested in buying Ducati?

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The latest rumour about the sale of Ducati is that Austrian manufacturer KTM may be interested in buying the iconic Italian brand.

It comes from one interview with KTM CEO Stefan Pierer in German magazine Speedweek where he expresses he is interested in Ducati.

Reports across the world now say KTM will be a likely bidder for the company.

That’s an understandable conclusion since Pierer Industries AG, a company controlled by Stefan, did buy Husaberg and Husqvarna.

KTM factory in Mattighofen spokes Ducati logo sale interested
KTM factory in Mattighofen

But what did Stefan really say?

Ducati is the Ferrari of the motorcycle industry. Of course, having such a brand in our group would be interesting. It is not a question of price, but it is about the topic: When does everyone realise the situation they are in.

It’s a bit of a stretch to go from someone expressing he would be interested in ownership to actually getting the wallet out.

Although, Stefan does suggest his wallet is fat enough and price is not an issue.

As for the “situation”, he is probably referring to the global slump in motorcycle sales. Perhaps he suggests more brand mergers to make companies more economically viable.

Interested partiesMuddy DucatiDucati logo sale interested

But is Ducati even up for sale?

Three years ago, VW hinted it may sell Ducati to help recoup multi-billion-dollar emissions scandal debts.

Since then, the debt has escalated even further. However, VW has continued to make record profits and ameliorated a lot of the debt.

At one stage, VW went so far as to accept informal bids on Ducati.

Several companies were interested and some even offered bids.

They included: Indian automotive giant Eicher Motors which owns Royal Enfield; American motorcycle and powered recreational vehicle company Polaris Industries; investment firm Bain Capital; private equity fund PAI; the Italian Benetton family through former Ducati owner Investindustrial; and even Harley-Davidson.

Then VW withdrew their unofficial sale offer.

Since then, Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali and VW board members have issued conflicting statements about whether the company is up for sale.

Meanwhile, Ducati has recorded eight consecutive years of record sales growth and looks set for its ninth.

It certainly would be a worthwhile investment.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Competition, News

World champion Malkiewicz remains unsigned entering 2019

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Miscommunication leaves MXD title-holder without support for next season.

Image: Foremost Media.

Recently-crowned 125cc junior motocross world champion and reigning Pirelli MX Nationals MXD title-holder Bailey Malkiewicz has failed to secure a deal at this stage of the 2019 silly season, despite establishing himself as one the most well-credentialed rising stars in the sport.

Following a stellar campaign at WBR Yamaha in the official MXD team, 17-year-old Malkiewicz has indicated that a miscommunication between he and Yamaha Motor Australia management led to him being out of a ride for next season.

“At the moment I don’t have anything, but the plan is to stay in Australia for one more year and race MX2,” Malkiewicz revealed to MotoOnline.com.au. “After a bit of miscommunication between riders and teams, they [Yamaha] filled up their spots and didn’t have anything for me – they lost me and put on another rider. It’s alright, I’ll just have to find somewhere else.

“I was thinking of going to Europe to race next year and I think Yamaha thought I was already doing that, so that’s one of the reasons why they signed a rider before anything happened. I think I’ll just stay here for another year and head over to Europe in 2020.

“We’ll see what happens – I don’t have anything on paper at the moment, so I can’t really do anything about. After getting two titles this year, I feel confident I’ll get some good support behind me for the year to come and have the best chance of getting a title in MX2.”

Malkiewicz’ departure from Yamaha means the manufacturer will lose all three of its MX Nationals championship-winning riders from 2018, with three-time MX1 champion Dean Ferris heading to the US and MX2 victor Wilson Todd tipped to be joining the factory-backed DPH Motorsport Husqvarna.

The number 47’s former MXD-based team WBR Yamaha announced its line-up for 2019 earlier this week, confirming Queenslander Jack Kukas and New Zealand’s Maximus Purvis will make up its under 19s efforts in the new year. Serco Yamaha and Yamalube Yamaha Racing have also formally confirmed their two-rider squads for next season.


Source: MotoOnline.com.au

Competition, News

AORC Junior Coaching Days set for 2019 return

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Funds raised to benefit 2019 Australian International Six Days Enduro squad.

Image: John Pearson.

Motorcycling Australia (MA) has confirmed its Junior Coaching Days will make a welcomed return as part of the 2019 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC).

All AORC Junior Coaching Days are for juniors aged 12-16 years, with all proceeds going toward funding the 2019 FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) team who will head off to Portugal in November.

Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland will play host to a full day of coaching by some of AORC’s most elite riders, including members from the victorious 2018 ISDE World Trophy team and Women’s World Trophy team, where all entered junior riders will gain invaluable knowledge and guidance from the likes of Daniel Sanders (Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team), Daniel Milner (KTM Enduro Racing Team), and Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha).

Each elite rider will teach the AORC juniors the correct riding technique, provide information on the art of the racing line, race preparation, plus other valuable aspects such as fitness and nutrition, bike set-up. Priced from $200, more information can found at www.aorc.org.au.

2019 AORC Coaching Days calendar:
Saturday, 19 January – Yarra Valley, Victoria (Daniel Sanders, Andy Wilksch)
Sunday, 20 January – Lang Lang, Victoria (Daniel Milner, Lyndon Snodgrass)
Saturday, 9 February – Stroud, New South Wales (Joshua Green, Jessica Gardiner)
Saturday, 23 February – Gympie, Queensland (Jemma Wilson, Fraser Higlett)


Source: MotoOnline.com.au

Competition, News

Suzuki Hayabusa to remain available in Australia

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Suzuki to continue production of iconic model despite cease of sale in Europe.

Image: Supplied.

Following news this week that Suzuki’s European distributors will not continue to sell the Hayabusa model, Suzuki Motorcycles Australia has now clarified the iconic sportsbike will remain in dealerships throughout the country, with 2019 colourways due to be introduced in the new year.

The decision to not sell the current generation Haybusa in Europe comes due to the motorcycle not currently meeting emission controls, however Suzuki Motor Corporation will maintain manufacturing of the bike.

The 2018 iteration of the Suzuki Hayabusa is currently available in Australian dealerships in two colours at a special run out price of $19,450 ride away with 12 months registration and is backed by Suzuki’s 24-month unlimited kilometre warranty.

For further information, interested customers should visit their nearest authorised Suzuki motorcycle dealer, or visit www.suzukimotorcycles.com.au.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Motorcycle News, News

The Hayabusa Aint Dead Yet! Sorta

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The Hayabusa may be dead in Europe, but it’s still coming to the US for 2019.

Begin press release:

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) has confirmed that U.S. market production of the Hayabusa sport motorcycle continues uninterrupted. Production of European specification Hayabusa models has been discontinued due to Euro 4 emission regulations. This situation, and resulting media reports, may have caused confusion and misunderstand among U.S. consumers, media, and dealers.

Commenting on the status of the iconic sports motorcycle, Kerry Graeber, Suzuki’s Vice President, MC/ATV Sales and Marketing, said the following, “From its inception 20 years ago, the iconic Hayabusa motorcycle has been a visually- and technologically-stunning representation of Suzuki’s commitment to motorcycle performance. Literally tens of thousands of riders have owned this beloved model and it continues to be sought after even today. GT riders, drag racers, and customizers worldwide are obsessively devoted to the Hayabusa and we are looking forward to continuing its legacy. Suzuki Motor Corporation’s commitment to this model means a new generation of motorcyclists can experience the unmatched performance and style that the Hayabusa is known for globally.”

The post The Hayabusa Ain’t Dead Yet! Sorta… appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.