The Governor's Highway Safety Administration reports that there were over 4,700 motorcycle accident fatalities in 2009, noting the first time in 12 years that the number of fatalities has declined. In Colorado, the number of deaths decreased as well, down over 10 percent from the 2008 high of 98.
A recent report by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) states that there are nearly 175,000 registered motorcycles in the state. With more and more motorcyclist on the road, it is important for riders and drivers of other vehicles alike to take notice and help the number of accidents and fatalities continue the downward trend.
Staying Safe
Though experts recommend wearing proper protective gear while riding, including gloves, eye protection and a jacket, perhaps the best way to protect yourself is to wear a properly fitting helmet. In Colorado, the CDOT statistics note that two-thirds of those killed in motorcycle accidents during 2009 were not wearing helmets. Nationally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) estimates that wearing a helmet can reduce motorcycle accident fatalities by up to 37 percent.
Though lack of head protection is a major factor in motorcycle related deaths, the use of helmets by riders has been consistently on the rise. The NHTSA estimates that in 2009, 67 percent of riders were wearing a helmet, up from 48 percent in 2005.
The other major contributing factor in motorcycle fatalities is the use of alcohol. As with the operation of any motor vehicle, you should avoid using alcohol if you plan on riding. The CDOT reports that 40 percent of all motorcycle accident deaths involved alcohol use by the operator last year, up 6 percent from 2008.
Increasing Awareness for Drivers of Cars and Other Vehicles
The insurance company Allstate has released a list of motorcycle safety tips for drivers of motor vehicles to keep in mind when sharing the road with motorcycles. The tips note that the main reason motorcyclists crash is because drivers of cars and other vehicles do not see them. Because motorcycles are smaller, they can easily disappear in blind spots and be closer in mirrors than they appear.
Giving motorcyclists enough room is also emphasized by Allstate. Bikers will often slow down by downshifting instead of using their brakes, meaning that drivers behind motorcycles may not see brakes lights as the rider slows down. Also, it is difficult for bikers to slow down or stop quickly on wet roads. Allowing more following distance in wet or slippery conditions can help save lives.
The company notes that 80 percent of motorcycle accidents will result in death or some form of injury, as riders lack the protection of a car and its safety devices like airbags and seat belts. It is important for all riders and drivers to be more aware and safely share the road during the peak riding season.
The 2011 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R ABS: World's Ultimate Sporting Motorcycle
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It’s hard to imagine a more advanced or more capable sportbike than the completely new and totally redesigned Kawasaki Ninja® ZX™-10R. After all, it packs the very latest in sport bike technology, much of it right off the MotoGP circuit, including the most advanced traction-control system in production bike history.
But the ZX-10R has an even smarter sibling – the 2011 Ninja ZX-10R ABS.
At first glance, anti-lock braking might seem a touch out of place on a purebred sportbike. This system was designed from the start to provide maximum on-track performance. And when you consider the many safety- and control-oriented benefits provided by the amazing electronic and hardware technology available today, it begins to make a lot of sense.
Think of it: You’re charging into a hairpin during a track day. It’s late in the afternoon, you’re tired, and your front tire is shagged from a day of hard-core knee-dragging. But instead of tucking as you squeeze the front brake lever, your front tire chirps briefly and the KIBS system intervenes until traction returns – allowing you to arc gracefully into the corner, a little wiser and a lot more intact physically that you might have been riding a non-ABS motorcycle. On the street, anti-lock’s benefits are even easier to realize.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
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Contrary to what some might presume, Suzuki is not going out of business. The Japanese firm is still fully committed to producing industry-leading motorcycles and ATVs. To prove this it is offering updated Suzuki GSX-R600 and GSX-R750 sportbikes for 2011. Both of these bikes along with Suzuki’s other popular street bikes including the GSX-R1000 and Hayabusa will all be offered for sale in the U.S. as 2011 models.
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Based on the appearance of the two new Gixxers one could assume that the ’11 bikes are basically the same machine with updated bodywork. This can’t be further from the truth as both bikes utilize a entirely new chassis and updated engine, ergonomics, and of course styling. As of right now, Suzuki has yet to release any official specs on the bikes but here is what we know after seeing both machines at Suzuki’s dealer meeting this past weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A Six-Cylinder Motorcycle?
BMW Rolls Out the K1600 GT
* October 5, 2010
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It’s official — BMW is putting car engines in motorcycles. Well, sort of.
The German company has long been known for building cars with smooth, satisfying six-cylinder engines. Now it is building a motorcycle with six cylinders called the K1600. The company plans to unveil the new machine at this week’s Intermot motorcycle show in Cologne, Germany, which is like the bike world’s version of the Geneva auto show.
While not unprecedented, bikes with so many cylinders are rare. And for BMW, the new 160-horsepower model seems to mark its commitment to the power war that has taken over the two-wheel segment lately.
The new model is a touring bike, the type for which BMW is arguably best known. So it is
Suzuki Motorcycles announced today it is reducing the price on its entry-level standard bike, the GZ250, to $2999, lowering its current MSRP by $1000. With this move, Suzuki provides a gateway into motorcycle riding during lean economic times.
The GZ250 combines cruiser motorcycle styling cues with a 249cc single-cylinder engine. The little single has twin-valves and a single overhead cam that Suzuki claims provides “good acceleration” while still being fuel efficient. A single Mikuni 32mm carburetor feeds Suzuki’s Twin Dome Combustion Chamber with each twist of the throttle.
Suzuki GZ250
Suzuki realizes times are tough, so it lopped off a grand from its entry-level cruiser, the GZ250, which now lists $2999.
Cruiser credentials come from raised bars above a healthy 3.4-gallon tank, tire-hugging fenders and a two-piece seat. Chrome finish on its cylinder head covers, horn housing, tank emblems, and rear fender suspension struts are sweet touches for a bike that rings in at three-grand. It even has a list of Genuine Suzuki Accessories to tailor it even more to rider’s personal preferences.
“Whether you’re cruising or commuting, the GZ250 is a great motorcycle ready to take on the open road with smooth power delivery, superior handling and classic cruiser styling in an easy-to-operate size,” claims Suzuki’s official press release.
World’s fastest motorcycle to be on display at Concours d’Elegance
PICKERINGTON, OH – October 21, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – It’s a 20-foot-long, twin-engined, fully streamlined blue bullet that recently set the outright motorcycle land speed record of more than 376 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. And now it’s coming to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Concours d’Elegance in Las Vegas, Saturday, Nov. 20, as part of the AMA Legends & Champions Weekend at the Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa.
The impressive Top 1 Oil Ack Attack streamliner, built by designer Mike Akatiff and piloted by racer Rocky Robinson, eclipsed the previous record by 8 mph in September, notching a two-way average speed on the table-flat Salt Flats of 376.363 mph. With motive force coming from a pair of turbocharged and intercooled Suzuki Hayabusa motors, the motorcycle is a one-of-a-kind engineering marvel that few get to see up close.
Spectators at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Concours d’Elegance, however, can appreciate this machine along with dozens of other rare and impeccably restored motorcycles that represent the finest examples of their breeds in the country.
The Concours takes place on day two of the AMA Legends & Champions Weekend at the Red Rock, which features the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday evening, Nov. 19, and the AMA Racing Championship Banquet, presented by World of Powersports on Saturday, Nov. 20. Akatiff and Robinson will be honored for their accomplishment at the noontime racing awards gala.
“Land-speed racing is the stuff of which legends are made, so it’s just amazing to have the machine that just set the outright world’s record on display at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Concours d’Elegance,” said Tom White, who is coordinating the gathering of world-class motorcycles. “To think that people will be able to stand just a few feet from a machine that went, at one point in the run, more than half the speed of sound — that’s just incredible! A chance like this doesn’t come along very often.”
“We’re happy to be a part of the weekend and the Concours,” said Akatiff, who has twice held the motorcycle land-speed record before regaining it a third time in September. “We get a real kick out of seeing all the Hall of Famers and the other motorcycles, and we hope people enjoy seeing our motorcycle, as well.”
Entry to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Concours d’Elegance, which starts at 9:30 a.m., is granted with a $10 donation to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. Anyone holding a ticket to either the Friday Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony or the Saturday AMA Racing Championship Banquet, presented by World of Powersports, can attend the Concours at no additional charge. In addition, an autograph-signing sessin will take place during the Concours starting 10 a.m., featuring 2011 inductees and a number of other notable Hall of Famers.
Tickets to the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony are $89, which includes dinner. Tickets to the AMA Racing Championship Banquet, presented by World of Powersports, are $69 per person and also include a meal. Special packages are also available. In addition, guests at either or both banquets receive a special Red Rock room rate of just $90 a night, a $150 discount off the normal rate. Banquet tickets, reservations and additional event information can be found at AmericanMotorcyclist.com/LegendsAndChampions.
SOURCE: American Motorcyclist Association
__________________
Rick
Nitro Year: 2007 (1 of 113,000 sold)
Nitro Model: R/T 4X4 Stone White
CAT-BACK Exhaust, CAI, Projector Head Lamps
Fully-Equipped w/all factory options
California Scooter Company To Attempt 150cc Scooter Land Speed Record
California Scooter Company will attempt to set the 150cc land speed record on 21 November under the auspices of the Motor Scooter International Land Speed Federation. Sylvain Binau, 22, will pilot California Scooter’s land speed record bike.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Nov 05, 2010 – California Scooter Company, a motorcycle manufacturer located in La Verne, California, is building a special motorcycle to set the world’s first 150cc land speed record. The land speed record attempt will take place under the auspices of the Motor Scooter International Land Speed Federation (MILSF), the organizing body for motor-scooter-based competition. Sylvain Binau, 22, will pilot California Scooter’s land speed record bike.
The California Scooter land speed record motorcycle will use a custom frame and a modified version of the company’s standard 150cc single-cylinder 4-stroke engine. Additional custom touches include numerous streamlining features, custom paint, significant weight reduction from the bike’s already low 240-lb weight, and a modified rider position to reduce aerodynamic drag. The record attempt will occur in southern California on 21 November 2010 as part of a series of speed trials organized by MILSF.
“We entered this event to boost the public’s awareness of small displacement motorcycle capabilities,” said Steve Seidner, President and CEO of California Scooter Company. “We think these bikes are the wave of the future, and we like doing things with them that people might think a 150cc bike couldn’t do. A team of riders recently rode our bikes up and down the length of the Baja peninsula, for example, and we have a number of cool things we plan to do in the future. Our bikes get 98 miles per gallon, and we’d like to see the land speed record bike hit at least 98 miles per hour.”
California Scooter Company motorcycles take their styling cues from the Mustang motorcycle, which was manufactured in Glendale, California, from 1947 to 1962. “The original Mustangs competed in many speed trials, racing events, and other competitions, and we aim to continue that tradition,” said Seidner.
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About California Scooter Company:
California Scooter Company, based in La Verne, California, manufactures 150cc, street- legal, 50-state compliant motorcycles. California Scooter Company started delivering production motorcycles on a national basis in February 2010, and is in the process of certifying its bikes in Europe, Canada, and Australia.
__________________
Rick
Nitro Year: 2007 (1 of 113,000 sold)
Nitro Model: R/T 4X4 Stone White
CAT-BACK Exhaust, CAI, Projector Head Lamps
Fully-Equipped w/all factory options
Harley-Davidson Powers Up For Motorcycle Show Events
IMS Event Attendees Take in Motorcycles, Custom Bike Show, Demos and More
November 09, 2010
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MILWAUKEE (November 9, 2010) - Harley-Davidson will bring an exciting look, feel and attitude to the 2010-2011 Progressive International Motorcycle Shows (IMS) with a new display area and a variety of activities designed to inspire the desire to ride.
Activities at the 11 IMS events with Harley-Davidson participation include displays of 2011 motorcycles, Genuine Motor Accessories and MotorClothes® Merchandise, as well as Women's Area with bike lift demonstrations, Fit Shop interactive motorcycle for customization, racing displays and more. Show attendees can enter a sweepstakes at the Harley-Davidson display to win a Harley-Davidson® motorcycle of their choice.
IMS events with Harley-Davidson participation run from mid-November 2010 through the end of February 2011 (see detailed schedule below).
- Dallas, November 12-14 (H-D demo rides Saturday & Sunday)
- San Mateo, Calif., Nov. 19-21 (H-D demo rides Saturday & Sunday)
- Seattle, December 10-12
- Long Beach, Calif., Dec. 17-19 (H-D demo rides Saturday & Sunday)
- Detroit, January 7-9
- Washington, D.C., January 14-16
- New York City, January 21-23
- Cleveland, January 28-30
- Minneapolis, February 4-6
- Chicago, February 11-13
- Greenville, S.C., February 25-27
Electric Superbike to Challenge Gasoline-Powered Motorcycles
12/9/10
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A former Boeing engineer who turned pro superbike rider has developed an electric motorcycle and plans to compete head to head on January 9 against conventional twin-cylinder, gasoline-powered race bikes at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA.
“We expect to work hard to show the world that electric technology can achieve laptime parity with gasoline superbikes,” Chip Yates, the bike’s rider and owner of SWIGZ.com Pro Racing of Aliso Viejo, CA, says in a statement today. “We’re not going on track to make up the numbers; we’re going out to compete in order to raise our game and catch up to these gasoline guys.”
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