Angelle Sampey and Harley-Davidson Back on Top at Indy
By Wayfarer | | General Posts
What about Police Traffic Stop Reform Part 2
By Bandit | | General Posts
Editor’s Note: Last week, in Part 1, we discussed ideas for traffic stop reform. This week we delve into some of the thornier issues for reform from the NMA perspective.
Recently, Berkeley, California’s city council passed an ordinance to remove police officers out of the traffic enforcement equation. After the requisite planning and community input, the council is expecting the city’s Department of Transportation to pick up that responsibility as early as next year. It will be an interesting “experiment” to watch. Berkeley will be the first US city to try this with traffic enforcement. City council members in Cambridge, Massachusetts, have also begun the discussion of letting unarmed city employees make traffic stops.
According to FBI data, the majority of routine traffic stops are not dangerous for officers. In 2019, only six officers were killed during traffic stops. No one knows if putting people in the field that don’t carry guns will deescalate confrontations that can occur during traffic stops and accident investigations. Would racial profiling be curbed with a different kind of “officer?” Would these new kinds of enforcement personnel feel safe without the protection of a badge and gun? Would a bias against drivers due to a city’s Vision Zero program become the norm? There are many more questions than answers.
Across the country in New York City, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalezannounced his office would create a new Street Safety Bureau to beef up the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad. He also plans to work with lawmakers to create bills to combat “vehicular violence.” Upon creation, a prosecutor from the DA’s office would go to every fatal crash, day or night. Gonzalez says that prosecutors will be able to determine earlier whether a case is criminal (for motorists) or not.
Other reformers have gone further and called for a nongovernmental safety agency or nonprofit entity to handle traffic accident investigations. The agency would handle taking reports, performing accident reconstruction, directing traffic at the scene, and testifying in court if necessary.
Would supplementing or even replacing some police department functions such as traffic enforcement and accident investigations be feasible? If officers are not used in either scenario, city and state officials might be encouraged to turn all traffic enforcement and accident issues into civil instead of criminal cases.
Civil court, of course, is vastly different than criminal court. The accused loses several due process rights. The concept of innocence or guilt is essentially foreign to civil court. The ticket recipient would be found responsible or not responsible, with the constraints of the civil court making it more challenging to achieve the latter. Moving all traffic matters to a civil court system would encourage, to a greater degree, some cities and states to run ticket mills.
Automated Traffic Enforcement, Street Surveillance, and Big Data
Automating traffic enforcement with devices such as red-light, speed, and distracted driving cameras coupled with facial recognition and license plate readers would be among the worst of police reform outcomes for motorists.
Constitutional rights would be routinely violated, and having Big Brother watching every move we make is the sort of society none of us want America to become. Ironically, cameras and surveillance will not make the streets safer in the long run.
Jay Beeber of Safer Streets LA recently had this to say about increasing automated camera enforcement:
“Advocates argue that they will eliminate the need for police interaction, and so are more “equitable.” However, to be effective in that regard and negate the potential negative effects of lowering the speed limit, you’d have to place them primarily in lower-income neighborhoods with large populations of people of color. This leads to the problem that automated enforcement issues orders of magnitude more tickets than police officers. So now you’ve created an economic burden in communities that are least likely to be able to afford it. And this is especially true in places like California where ticket prices are exorbitant.”
As cities become ‘smart,’ connected data will help municipalities operate with more cold efficiency, including opening the door for more surveillance of their citizenry. Facial recognition has already been banned in several US cities—Boston is the latest.
Use of Police Drones or Robots during Traffic Stops
The use of Robocops and flying drones for traffic stops is overkill. Many technology companies are pushing this idea that police officers at the time of a stop, could utilize a flying drone or walking robot. The police officer would never have to interact with the driver, but talk through the drone/robot interface and even issue a ticket by drone or robot. Flying police drones will likely be used in traffic enforcement (like small airplanes) and traffic accident reconstruction.
Sounds like a sci-fi movie depicting a dystopian future.
Determining what kind of policing we want in our community should be part of the democratic process. As free citizens, we need to have our voices heard so that decisions are measured and appropriate.
Whatever happens with police reforms, traffic stops are a significant part of the problem and also need to be part of the solution.
Honda E and Fireblade take centre stage at prestigious Red Dot Design Museum
By Wayfarer | | General Posts
Honda’s next-generation electric car, the Honda e, and CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP superbike have been inducted into the historic Red Dot Design Museum, one of the world’s most significant exhibitions of contemporary design. The Honda e also takes centre stage in the special “Milestones in Contemporary Design” exhibition, as one of the 76 best products of 2020 and a current marker in international product design.
Honda’s highly acclaimed Honda e compact electric vehicle was recently awarded the ‘Red Dot: Best of the Best 2020’ award for ground-breaking product design. This is the highest honour in the internationally renowned Red Dot Award: Product Design and is reserved for the best products in each category. The Honda e also received the Red Dot 2020 accolade in the meta-category ‘Smart Products’, whilst the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP was awarded a Red Dot for outstanding design in the motorcycle category.#
Both vehicles are an essential part of the 2020/21 special exhibition in the internationally renowned Red Dot Design Museum, Essen, Germany.
Peter Zec, CEO and founder of the Red Dot Design Award said: “The Honda e is not just a car – it is much more. The Honda e was awarded the Red Dot: Best of the Best because the jury was amazed by the car at first sight. There was no doubt it was worthy of the award from the beginning.
Honda is facing the challenges [of urban mobility] through fantastic research and development work to find the right solution for the future. I think the Honda e stands for a kind of paradigm shift: we are not just talking about e-mobility, we are talking about new solutions in the digital world and Honda e fits perfectly into this scenery. It connects your home with mobility, it is a real smart product and it goes far beyond our imagination. I don’t know any other car that can achieve this at the moment.”
From the unique concave black panels and signature front and rear LED light combinations, to the clean lines and flush features that optimise aerodynamic efficiency and refinement, the Honda e reimagines the identity of a small Honda for the next era of urban mobility. Further emphasising the car’s exacting design philosophy is a Side Camera Mirror System that replaces conventional side view mirrors – a first in the compact segment.
Makoto Iwaki, the Executive Creative Director for Honda e, added: “Honda e was designed to create a new relationship between people, society and the car, whilst incorporating Honda’s future vision. We will continue to do our best to realise the vision through Honda Design. I’m delighted to receive this prestigious award, and at the same time extremally proud that it’s in the Red Dot Design Museum for the world to appreciate and enjoy. Thank you to everyone, thank you very much.”
The new Honda e is the brand’s first production battery electric vehicle for the European market. The model is a key part of Honda’s commitment to see all its car model ranges in Europe electrified by 2022.
The CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, which won the Red Dot 2020 award in the motorcycle category, is the latest two-wheeled machine to carry the legendary Fireblade nameplate. The new 2020 model was developed under the tagline ‘Born to Race’, with an unwavering focus on circuit performance and a radical new design.
The Red Dot judges put the superbike through its paces over several days to test its performance, in addition to assessing its functionality and design.
Peter Zec commented: “If I’m thinking about Honda, the first thing that comes to mind is motorbikes. The Fireblade deserves the Red Dot because the jury liked it very much – and we have really crazy judges that challenged the bike, including a professional racing bike rider. It’s not just good design – it has perfect performance too, which is the main reason why it received the Red Dot.”
In its assessment, the judging panel commended the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP for its racing-inspired design, well balanced lines and aerodynamic styling. Judges also praised the fun experience it delivered and outstanding performance when tested. Its minimalist frontal area, aggressively angled side fairings and extended lower fairings – plus a variety of apertures, slits and air-channelling shapes – combine to create a best-in-class drag coefficient. Aerodynamic ‘winglets’ as used on Honda’s MotoGP RC213V racing bike combine eye-catching form with uncompromising function, hugely increasing downforce and stability for ultimate control of the most powerful inline four-cylinder engine Honda has ever made.
Satoshi Kawawa, General Manager, Motorcycle Design Division, added: “The CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP was developed to win races in any category – from club racing to international competition. Its design and styling are led by that philosophy – with every part and every detail designed with speed, performance and aerodynamic efficiency in mind. We’re honoured that it has been recognised with such a prestigious award.”
The annual Red Dot Award: Product Design honours excellence in product design from international businesses. The winning products are chosen by a judging panel comprised of 40 international experts who test, evaluate and discuss each entry. The Red Dot Design museum hosts the world’s largest exhibition of contemporary design in the former boiler house of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Zollverein, which was once a coal mine complex.
In June, two new special exhibitions, “Milestones in Contemporary Design” and “Design on Stage”, present this year’s winning products of the Red Dot Award: Product Design, including the Honda e and CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP. All exhibits have extraordinary design qualities and represent the Red Dot winners of 2020.
‘I don’t want to die, but I don’t want to be cooped up all my life either’: South Dakota motorcycle rally draws thousands
By Wayfarer | | General Posts
by Stephen Groves from https://www.adn.com
STURGIS, S.D. — Thousands of bikers poured into the small South Dakota city of Sturgis on Friday as the 80th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally rumbled to life despite fears it could lead to a massive coronavirus outbreak.
The rally could become one of the largest public gatherings since the pandemic began, with organizers expecting 250,000 people from all over the country to make their way through Sturgis during the 10-day event. That would be roughly half the number of previous years, but local residents — and a few bikers — worry that the crowds could create a “super-spreader” event.
Many who rode their bikes into Sturgis on Friday expressed defiance at the rules and restrictions that have marked life in many locales during the pandemic. People rode from across the country to a state that offered a reprieve from coronavirus restrictions, as South Dakota has no special limits on indoor crowds, no mask mandates and a governor who is eager to welcome visitors and the money they bring.
“Screw COVID,” read the design on one T-shirt being hawked. “I went to Sturgis.”
Bikers rumbled past hundreds of tents filled with motorcycle gear, T-shirts and food. Harley Davidson motorcycles were everywhere but masks were almost nowhere to be seen, with an Associated Press reporter counting fewer than 10 in a crowd of thousands over a period of several hours.
For Stephen Sample, who rode his Harley from Arizona, the event was a break from the routine of the last several months, when he’s been mostly homebound or wearing a mask when he went to work as a surveyor.
“I don’t want to die, but I don’t want to be cooped up all my life either,” he said.
Still, Sample, who is 66, feared what could happen if he caught COVID-19 at the rally. He said he was trying to avoid indoor bars and venues, where he felt the risk of infection was greater. But on the opening day of the rally, he said he ate breakfast at an indoor diner.
As Sample weighed the risks of navigating the crowds, the same thrill-seeking that attracted him to riding motorcycles seemed to win out.
“I think we’re all willing to take a chance,” he said.
Republican Gov. Kristi Noem has taken a largely hands-off approach to the pandemic, avoiding a mask mandate and preaching personal responsibility. She supported holding the Sturgis rally, pointing out that no virus outbreak was documented from the several thousand people who turned out to see President Donald Trump and fireworks at Mount Rushmore last month.
Daily virus cases have been trending upward in South Dakota, but the seven-day average is still only around 84, with fewer than two deaths per day.
The rally attracted crowds of retirees and people in age ranges considered to be at higher risk from the coronavirus. But for many who see the rally as an annual pilgrimage, the camaraderie and atmosphere couldn’t be missed.
“I fell in love with the rally. I love the sound of the bikes,” said Bill Sudkamp, who was making his 20th consecutive rally appearance.
He and his wife, who declined to give their ages but said they were at elevated risk for COVID-19, were among the handful of people seen wearing masks in downtown Sturgis, a community of about 7,000 that’s roughly 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Rapid City. They were also planning to avoid bars. Sudkamp felt it was inevitable that infections would spread in the packed bars and concert venues.
“It looked like South Dakota was plateauing mostly,” Sudkamp said. “It will be interesting to see what it looks like in two weeks.”
Marsha Schmid, who owns the Side Hack Saloon in Sturgis, was trying to keep her bar and restaurant from becoming a virus hot spot by spacing out indoor tables and offering plenty of hand sanitizer. She also scaled back the number of bands hired for the rally, hoping the crowds would stay thin but still spend the cash that keeps her business viable for the rest of the year.
She pointed out that many of her employees depend on the rally and the tips they can make.
“You’ve got people coming from all over the world,” she said. “I just hope they are being responsible and if they don’t feel good, they stay away.”
Several locals said they would spend the rally hunkered down at home. Carol Fellner stocked up on groceries and planned to stay away from any gatherings. Her husband suffers from bouts of pneumonia and kidney problems, and COVID-19 would be a “death sentence” for him, she said.
Fellner felt that the risk of an outbreak would be felt long after the bikers leave. The city plans to mass test residents to try to detect and halt outbreaks, but the area’s largest hospital system is already burdened with the influx of tourists and bikers who inevitably need hospital care during this time.
Sample was aware his trip to the rally could end in the hospital, which seemed to weigh on him.
“This is a major experiment,” he said. “It could be a major mistake.”
No masks required as 250,000 expected at 10-day Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Here’s what to know.
By Wayfarer | | General Posts
by Joel Shannon from https://news.yahoo.com
One of the largest events since the beginning of the pandemic has begun in South Dakota: More than 250,000 people are expected at the iconic Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
That’s scaled down from previous years, where about half-a-million people have descended on the city of about 7,000 for an event that has developed a reputation as an anything-goes festival.
While the 80-year tradition isn’t as raucous as it once was, festivalgoers will be largely free of social distancing restrictions common elsewhere in the country during this year’s 10-day festival.
Bikers flocking to the small town from around the country won’t face quarantining requirements if they are from a coronavirus hot spot.
And masks? They’re encouraged – not required.
So far, few people are heeding that encouragement, according to an Associated Press reporter at the event.
Many who rode their bikes into Sturgis on Friday expressed defiance at the rules and restrictions that have marked life in much of the world during the pandemic.
“Screw COVID,” read the design on one T-shirt being hawked. “I went to Sturgis.”
Local officials have made efforts to scale down the event, but some expect restriction-weary bikers to flock to Sturgis in large numbers.
“It’s the biggest single event that’s going on in the United States that didn’t get canceled,” said Rod Woodruff, who operates the largest campground and concert venue that lies outside the bounds of the city.
“A lot of people think it’s going to be bigger than ever.”
In addition to normal concerns about crime, many locals are worried the huge crowds and lack of social distancing rules will lead to an unmanageable outbreak of COVID-19.
What is Sturgis?
The rally may be known for rowdy, drunken and naked shenanigans, but in recent years longtime attendees complain it has lost its edge.
First-time visitors might be excused for thinking the rally isn’t much more than an excuse to create one of the world’s largest open-air shopping malls. There’s usually corporate sponsorships, licensed T-shirt vendors, insurance companies and lawyers.
Most attendees in recent years are professionals with too much to lose if they get arrested. The top three professions at Sturgis are doctors, lawyers and accountants, city officials have said in previous years.
That’s translated to big money for the local economy. Last year, the rally brought in about $1.3 million in tax revenue for South Dakota, according to the state Department of Revenue.
Is the event risky during a pandemic?
While outdoor events are widely believed to be lower risk than indoor ones, the unprecedented size of the gathering is prompting serious concerns.
“You’re just adding fuel to a fire,” epidemiologist Dr. John Brownstein, told ABC News. “South Dakota is already experiencing increases in transmission. COVID is not under control in South Dakota; it’s just not.”
Among Brownstein’s worries: That attendees could become infected at the event and spread it across the nation as they return home – and that the rural health care system doesn’t have the ability to handle a possible local surge in cases.
Many locals seem to share in the concern. When asked earlier this year whether the iconic motorcycle rally should be held, their answer was an overwhelming “no.”
More than half of the community expressed their feelings in a survey. A sizable majority of 62% asked city officials to postpone the rally.
Several steps have been taken to reduce risk, local media reports: The Community Center will not be hosting vendors inside as in the past, according to NewsCenter 1. And Sturgis High School will not offer shower services nor host the annual pancake breakfast as in the past.
Mayor Mark Carstensen on Thursday told CNN the city is setting up sanitation stations and giving out masks, although they aren’t mandated.
Why are local leaders allowing the event to go on?
Businesses pressured the City Council to proceed and Sturgis officials say the rally would happen whether they wanted it or not. So they opted to try to scale it back, canceling city-hosted events and slashing advertising for the rally.
Daniel Ainslie, Sturgis’ city manager, said the city received a letter sent by attorneys for an outside business containing threats of litigation unless the rally moved forward. It suggested the city did not have the right to cancel the rally because previous court rulings found that the rally is not produced by a single organizer.
For his part, Woodruff said he felt he had little choice but to proceed with the rally. He employs hundreds of people in August and a smaller full-time staff.
“We spend money for 355 days of the year without any return on it, hoping people show up for nine days,” he said. “We’re a nine-day business.”
What are the rules in South Dakota about masks, social distancing?
Gov. Kristi Noem has taken a relaxed approach to the pandemic. Even as Republican governors in states like Texas have moved to require people to wear masks, Noem didn’t require physical distancing or masks at the July 3 celebration at Mount Rushmore, which President Donald Trump attended.
She supported holding the Sturgis rally, tweeting Thursday: “I trusted my people, they trusted me, and South Dakota is in a good spot in our fight against COVID-19. The #Sturgis motorcycle rally starts this weekend, and we’re excited for visitors to see what our great state has to offer!”
Sturgis sponsor Harley-Davidson refused to send employees to annual rally over COVID-19 fears
By Wayfarer | | General Posts
by Matthew Chapman from https://www.rawstory.com
The ten-day Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is moving forward in South Dakota despite fears from health experts that it will be a superspreader event for COVID-19.
According to The Daily Beast, even Harley-Davidson, the official motorcycle manufacturer of the Sturgis rally, is cautious about scaling up its operations at the event.
“The dangers gave pause even to a company that counts on people’s willingness to risk being pinballed around without the protection of seat belts or air bags,” reported special correspondent Michael Daly. “To have participated in the rally as it had in past years would have meant being party to recklessness of a different order even than riding a motorcycle without a helmet. If you hop on a hog without a helmet, you are endangering only yourself. But if you go about without a mask you are endangering others.”
According to the report, Harley-Davidson has declined to send any staff to the event, and is not directly vending products or holding demos as it has in previous years. “Usually, we have trucks and staff and products and demos and everything,” said a spokesperson. “This year, we aren’t doing that.”
The spokesperson added, “We made the decision to kind of support it in a different way. This year, we’re doing it in a way that supports social distancing.”
This is not the first time Harley-Davidson has been at odds with many of its customers. Two years ago, President Donald Trump picked a fight with the motorcycle brand over its decision to shift some production to Europe to avoid the trade war, and at that year’s Sturgis rally, many bikers said they were backing the president over the manufacturer of their rides.
Thunderbike Kreuzfeuer Crosses German Shapes with Harley-Davidson Power
By Wayfarer | | General Posts
by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com
It’s very hard to find a recent custom motorcycle worth talking about. That’s probably because the custom bike industry is much slower at churning out new products, and the number of garages doing stuff to/with motorcycles is much smaller than those handling cars.
So, when in the mood for some stunning custom motorcycle, the way to go is back in time. It is there you’ll probably find what you’re looking for – and proof of that is the Kreuzfeuer we have in the gallery above, coming to us from all the way back in 2005.
Kreuzfeuer (which is German for Crossfire) was built by one of the most active custom motorcycle garages in Europe, Thunderbike. It was completed so long ago that we don’t really know where it is at the moment, or whether someone is still using it as a daily ride. But it remains stunning nonetheless.
Just like a great deal of other two-wheelers made by Thunderbike, this too blends the lines of a custom (albeit mass-produced) frame called Dragster with the power of a proven Harley-Davidson engine, Thunderbike styling, and a crazy Kruse Design paint job to come result in a truly unique build.
The frame, one of the about 15 available in the garage’s portfolio at the moment, is equipped from the get-go with fuel and oil tanks, CNC machined aluminum swingarm, rear fender, rear wheel axle, bracket for engine, bracket for battery, and seat plate.
Inside it rests a Harley-Davidson Twin-Cam engine, 1,550cc in displacement and good for 88 ps. It is equipped with a Harley 5-speed gearbox and a Mikuni carburetor.
The entire finished assembly rides on equally sized (diameter) custom wheels front and rear, and a red-orange-black paint job adorns most of the body of the machine.
We are not being told how much the Kreuzfeuer cost to build, but the present prices for the parts used for it point to it being worth well over 20,000 euros.
Riders begin to gather in South Dakota for 80th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
By Bandit | | General Posts
By Mallika Kallingal, Konstantin Toropin, Samira Said and Ryan Young, CNN
(CNN)Hundreds of motorcycle riders and enthusiasts are arriving in Sturgis, South Dakota, for the 80th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally despite objections from a majority of its residents.
‘A huge party’
‘Ride free, take risks’
David UHL on Sturgis Rally
By Bandit | | General Posts
We have a very rare opportunity for a few lucky collectors. As you may know, David has been doing a special piece for Sturgis each year since 2005. Many of these are sold out and most, if not all are priced at well over $2,000 on our website.
For the 80th anniversary this year, David has agreed to offer ONLY one of each of these Sturgis pieces, hand-embellished, for the special price of $2,000 framed, per piece. This will be the smaller of the two sizes of any Sturgis piece, including the 3 he did for this year’s rally. Shipping is additional.
What makes this “Collectors Edition” so special?
** David paints directly on the color print. The thickness of the paint catches the lighting and really makes these glow (we send lighting instructions with the piece). If you’ve seen a hand-embellished piece at one of our shows, you know how special these really are!
** He signs these differently than the prints in the edition. Block letters “UHL” in paint with “P” (for Paint-over) and the year below.
** He writes a letter to the owner in his calligraphy style handwriting (sample below), documenting the piece’s uniqueness.
** Each “Collector’s Edition” piece will come adorned with a special nameplate.
To reiterate, we are only offering one each in this special edition.
You may choose from any Sturgis piece from the past 16 years (including this year’s 3 pieces). Examples include:
You can view the entire collection on our website:
Sturgis Collection
Sample handwritten letter by David Uhl
We are promoting these to everyone coming into the gallery in Deadwood also, so if interested, please respond ASAP to this email or call me at 303-913-4840 to confirm your order. Thanks for your time and have a great weekend!
Best regards,
Greg Rhodes
International Sales Director
Uhl Studios
15801 W. Colfax Avenue
Golden, CO 80401
303-913-4840
Uhl Studios Website
Harley Creates Chief Digital Officer Role, Hires Former Bose Exec
By Wayfarer | | General Posts
by Dustin Wheelen from https://www.rideapart.com
Hawking Hogs in the digital age.
Many see a Harley-Davidson motorcycle as the symbol of a mid-life crisis, but for the past five years, the Motor Company has been going through its own identity crisis. From releasing the LiveWire to introducing the Pan America and the Bronx to the recent Rewire scale back plan, messaging from the brand has been mixed to say the least. Despite refocusing on cruisers and baggers, the company recently created a Chief Digital Officer position to beef up its online presence.
Harley hired former Bose Corp. executive Jagdish Krishnan to helm the initiative. Drawing from his 20 years of digital leadership at Bose, Deloitte & Touche, and Patni Computer Systems, Krishnan will prioritize building relationships with existing and new customers through the company’s digital platforms. The brand is also focused on developing its e-commerce and direct-to-consumer capabilities by further digitizing dealers. Krishnan’s digital strategy will heavily lean into customer experience not only online but also in-store.
“Harley-Davidson is all about experiences, and an enhanced digital experience is absolutely critical for us to make our GIS and digital capabilities more customer-centric,” said Krishnan’s new boss, Harley-Davidson president and CEO Jochen Zeitz. “We will take a completely different approach to applying digital technology across the company to fundamentally change how we operate and create value.”
While retro-styled cruisers and advanced technology seem antithetical, COVID-19 is only accelerating worldwide digitization. With the company recording reduced sales figures in Q2 and preparing for layoffs at the end of the calendar year, harnessing the internet as a retail tool will become more and more important.
“We need to be a high-performing team with cutting edge leadership to move us forward,” noted Zeitz. “Jagdish is exactly the right leader, and he will ensure we connect with our customers at all touch-points.”