by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com It may not look like it to some, but the build we have in the gallery below was once a Harley-Davidson Heritage. Severe modifications transformed it into this, a lowrider-style motorcycle aptly called El Jefe. Despite its name, this motorcycle is not of Mexican origin. The build belongs to a German custom bike maker named Thunderbike, and wears the El Jefe name in honor of the lowrider motorcycles whose roots can be traced back to the “Mexican immigrant quarters of Los Angeles in the 60s.” “Since the TV series Sons of Anarchy at the latest, Central Europeans have been familiar with the pompous design of lowrider bikes,” says Thunedrbike, adding that a “brand new Milwaukee Eight Heritage has been chosen as the basis for this” in contrast with what else is out there in this segment. The Heritage was chosen as a base for the build because the geometry of the bike gives it “good rideability and can be steered through all corners with ease,” harnessing well the torque of the 114ci Milwaukee Eight. But other than that, El Jefe is far from its former self. Wearing a special and unique paint work, the bike has tons of custom parts, including the fenders, air ride suspension, and of course the massive 23- and 18-inch wheels (front and rear). The stretched look of the bike was achieved by fitting a new triple tree that has 6 degrees of additional rake, which also helped lower the headlight even closer to the front wheel. Aside from these modifications, there is a whole list of other custom parts that make El Jefe stand out in the crowd, ranging from the otherwise insignificant license plate to the hand grips and exhaust. We are not being told who the bike was made for, but as most other Thunderbike builds, this too is a one-off.  

by Pradeep Shah from https://www.financialexpress.com

The Ducati Panigale V4 Superleggera, which is no less than an engineering marvel is all set to hit the production lines. Here is what makes it so much special!

More than stunning looks and breathtaking visuals, Ducatis are about blistering performance! The company keeps coming out with new and better products and believes in answering the prayers of the speed enthusiasts and high-end bike lovers. Now, very recently, Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali has confirmed that the Panigale V4 Superleggera that happens to be company’s most powerful production motorcycle is all set to hit the production line. He also confirmed that the last pre-production model of the upcoming Panigale V4 Superleggera will be reaching Nardo soon to go through the final quality check. Now digging into the details of the Ducati Panigale V4 Superleggera, the bike gets power from a 998cc, Desmosedici Stradale V4 engine that is good for producing a staggering 224hp of power along with a peak torque of 115Nm. When fitted with an Akrapovic exhaust (track only), the power output sees a rise to 234hp.

The bike has an incredible power to weight ratio, 1.41bhp/kg to be precise, which is all thanks to its low dry weight of just 152 kg. The upcoming Ducati Panigale V4 Superleggera also gets MotoGP derived winglets that have been integrated into the fairing and these help in providing a downforce of 50kg at speeds of around 270kmph. Being an ultra-exclusive model, only 500 units of the Ducati Panigale V4 Superleggera will be made and a few of those should make their way to India as well.

Coming to the pricing, well, the Panigale V4 Superleggera clearly is not everyone’s cup of tea due to its astonishing price tag. In order to be precise, this one costs USD 100,000 in the global markets that translates into Rs 71 lakh as per the Indian currency, considering the current exchange rates. So, while a few lucky ones among you can still think of buying this engineering marvel, I think that a bedroom poster of the Panigale V4 Superleggera should be good enough for me as I can clearly hear the voice of my bank balance that is laughing shamelessly at me!

by Sabrina Giacomini from https://www.rideapart.com

At the end of 2019, the new No Time to Die James Bond movie trailer dropped and showed the famous British secret agent involved in a traditional motorcycle chase in the saddle of a Triumph Scrambler 1200. The House of Hinckley later confirmed its partnership with the franchise, adding that both the Scrambler 1200 and the new Tiger 900 were featured in the upcoming movie.

We had a hunch some sort of special edition would ensue but when the movie set to be released in April 2020 was delayed to November due to the pandemic, we thought Triumph would put the model on the backburner and synchronize the launch with the movie’s release. It looks like the company didn’t want to wait that long.

We heard whispers of a Bond-inspired Triumph Scrambler 1200 a few weeks ago when our colleagues over at OmniMoto shared leaked pictures of the bike. Though the pictures looked pretty legit, Triumph remained tight-lipped about the collaboration. Until now.

The firm has now formally introduced the new Scrambler 1200 Bond Edition, based on the top-of-the-line Scrambler XE. The model features a blacked-out livery (shall we say, tuxedo black?) complete with a slew of “007” and “Bond Edition” badging.

The special edition package includes a 007-branded exhaust plate and side covers, a premium leather saddle with “Bond Edition” embroidered on at the back, a model-specific TFT display with special 007 “shutter” startup screen message, black anodized mudguards, grab rail, sump guard, and infills, black powder-coated swingarm and sprocket cover, an Arrow muffler with carbon fiber tips, a stainless steel headlight grilled, and black rear wheel adjusters.

As for the engine, the Bond Edition uses the same set up as the Scrambler 1200 with a 1,200cc parallel-twin producing 89 horsepower and 81 lb-ft of torque.

The new 2020 Triumph Scrambler 1200 Bond Edition retails for $18,500—a $3,100 premium over the Scrambler XE. Only 250 units will be produced and the model is available as of May 21, 2020.

Customers to Begin Receiving Highly-Anticipated Adventure Touring Motorcycle in Early June

MARIETTA, Ga. – May 22, 2020 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS) today announced the 2021 Ténéré 700 arrival for the U.S. market beginning the first week of June. Earlier this year, Yamaha connected with customers interested in making the first Ténéré 700 purchases through the company’s website and dealer network, and orders started taking place today.

While the first shipment of Ténéré 700 motorcycles are expected to sell out, additional inventory will be arriving at authorized Yamaha dealerships for purchase later this summer and fall.

Customers who ordered their Ténéré 700 motorcycles today were also given the opportunity to purchase one of two accessory packs. The Rally Pack features a skid plate, main stand, engine guard, radiator protector, chain guide, mono-seat rack and tank pad. The Tour Pack features a main stand, engine guard, side case stays and a set of side cases with locks. All accessories for the 2021 Ténéré 700 can be found at www.shopyamaha.com.

The Next Horizon is Yours
With a spirit of adventure embedded in their DNA, Yamaha Adventure bikes are rugged, tough and reliable. Each Ténéré model in the Adventure Touring segment opens up the possibilities of endless travel and enables riders to discover a feeling of utter freedom where the only limits exist within a rider’s imagination.

To find out more about the 2021 Ténéré 700, visit https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/adventure-touring/models/tenere-700.

For more information related to all Yamaha products, visit YamahaMotorsports.com.

Follow Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, through your favorite social media site:
#Yamaha #YamahaMotor #YamahaMotorUSA

• www.facebook.com/yamahamotorusa
• www.instagram.com/yamahamotorusa
• www.twitter.com/yamahamotorusa

With so many people stuck at home, we wanted to bring you a new way to visit the museum almost every day. Starting June 1st, we’re going to be sharing new and exclusive content from Wheels Through Time – the people, the stories, the machines, and of course, the history that makes this place what it is. This online event can be found on our website, Facebook, and Youtube starting on June 1st. Be sure to watch and share as we bring history to life!

www.wheelthroughtime.com/donate

We’ve had to make a lot of changes but we’re still full throttle trying to make things happen every day.  The great news is that people are turning to their bicycles right now as a great fun, safe, clean, healthy means of transportation right now.  The situation has created a boom for bicycling overall.

 

We just got the green light from the Director of Wellness Programs at L.A. Unified School District to launch the crowdfunding page for L.A. school Learn-To-Ride programs.  School may be out of session right now, but our eyes are on sunnier days, and we are committed to bringing the Kindergarten PE Program to 50 schools in the Los Angeles area.  These first 50 schools will hopefully lead to the full 500 schools in that district… and that district will lead to the next district, and the next district, until all of California’s kindergartners are being taught how to ride.  And the influence initiated with these first 50 schools won’t stop at the California border!

 

I’d love for you to share this page and ask folks to chip in to make the return to school the best it can be.  It takes time to get these programs in place even after the funding is secured, so NOW is the time to be pushing for programs that we want to have implemented and ready to rock and roll when school starts at the end of the summer.

 

Please share this link on your social if and when you can: https://support.allkidsbike.org/AKB-for-LA

Ryan McFarland

President / CEO

Strider Sports Int’l, Inc.

Rapid City, SD 57702

605-342-0266

www.StriderBikes.com

Although I have been riding motorcycles for years, it has only been in the last few years that I have really wanted a pair of Kevlar riding jeans. Two things have kept me from buying a pair; cost and sizing.

Not having a brick and mortar store that allowed me to try on a pair, kept me from ordering a pair online not knowing if they would fit or not. Now, I can tell the world about an awesome pair of Kevlar jeans made by a woman rider to help other women riders be safe and look great while doing it, at a very reasonable price.

SportBike Chic was launched in 2016 by U.S. Marine veteran and motorcycle enthusiast, LaShundra Rucker. I got a pair of the riding jeans and I absolutely LOVE them!

I am not easily impressed but I think any woman would love to have a pair of these jeans to ride in, whether you ride a sport bike or a cruiser. The jeans are a mid-rise, traditional five pocket jean design with a skinny fit. The front of the jeans have super deep pockets to keep your items safe while riding. The pants come with a strong YKK zipper and large belt loops. The denim is super soft and boasts a very attractive medium wash.

The SportBike Chic jeans weigh 11.5 ounces and are lined with 100% Kevlar® for added protection. They are made of 98% cotton and 2% elastane spandex that allows them to be flexible while riding. The Kevlar® lining begins at the waist and reaches well past the knees on the front of the jeans and covers the back of the thighs with an additional section on the outer calves.

The jeans have large cotton pockets inside with Velcro to attach the CE level 1 knee and hip armor that is included with each pair. In my opinion, the stitching on the outside of the jeans where the Kevlar® starts and ends add a very attractive detail to the jeans.

These jeans are not only AMAZING but are priced very affordable at just $117.58! The first day I wore the jeans riding my Panhead, it was 58 degrees, and I never got cold. The next time I wore them while riding my Knucklehead it was 90 degrees, and I never once got hot.

The trip on the Knuckle also included stopping at a chili supper where I spent a considerable amount of time off the bike. Both bikes have a different riding position, but the extra lip built into the rear of the jeans kept me from getting drafty in the back while also showing no skin.

The sizing is spot on as I am 5’10”, weighing 175 pounds, with a size 8 fitting perfect! If you follow the size chart and do your measurements, you can ensure a great fitting pair of jeans. A welcome feature for many women is the fact that these jeans are available in sizes 0 to 20.

I love the fact that the jeans look as good off the bike as they do on. No one thinks I am wearing motorcycle specific jeans when I am sporting these off the bike. I am in love with how they are so comfortable and non-restrictive. All of my bikes have open belt primaries, so I wear gaiters to protect my legs. With these having a skinny leg, I have no problem fitting my gaiters over them.

If you are a lady rider looking for protection, style and comfort in a riding jean, look no further. These jeans are budget friendly, well fitting, and attractive.

Check out all of SportBike Chic’s products here-http://lddy.no/g4su

–Chris Gibbany
Moto-journalist/Event host/Bike builder

H-D wants to take the old luxury goods trick of limiting availability to increase desirability and apply it to its sales model.

Harley-Davidson was in trouble before all of the coronavirus shutdowns, and things haven’t gotten a lot better in the interim. But now, as H-D’s factories in the US start to get back to work, the company has a new plan to break itself out of its longtime funk.

Part of that involves paring back operations — specifically production. The company is going to be making fewer models, with fewer available options and in fewer colors, and then it’s going to make fewer of them, according to a report published Wednesday by the Wall Street Journal.

It seems Harley’s new boss, ex-Puma exec Jochen Zeitz, wants to use this new exclusivity of models at dealers to drive sales. Think of a Ferrari dealership, right? They don’t have dozens of cars just hanging around waiting for someone to come and buy them. They have one or two examples of most models, and customers have to order a car. Harley seems wants to do the same, in hopes that limiting its bikes’ availability will increase their desirability.

That’s all well and good, but where does that leave dealers? If the factory isn’t making many bikes, that means dealers can’t expect to have stocks replenished as bikes sell — around 70% of dealers in the US won’t receive any more new bikes this year, according to Beth Truett, director of product sales for H-D.

If that sounds like a recipe for empty showrooms and possibly struggling dealers, I agree. Harley’s answer to dealer concerns over this seems to be to sell more used motorcycles. This is in contradiction to Milwaukee’s previous directives that discouraged the practice in the belief that it cannibalized sales of new bikes.

Will all of this work? Will it help to put the brakes on the downward spiral in which America’s oldest continually running motorcycle company finds itself? Or will it accelerate it, with dealers unable or unwilling to adapt to the new style of sales and all the changes that it requires?

–by Kyle Hyatt

CNET.com

Harley-Davidson’s representatives offered a statement that it does “not have plans to overhaul our dealerships to a boutiquelike model.” So that leaves a lot of questions unanswered for now, though most of those will likely be revealed in the near future as Zeitz officially rolls out his “Rewire” plan for H-D in Q2 of this year.

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