Aldo Scribante will be the scene for some exciting motorcycle action when the Monocle Series of Motorcycle Magic heads to the Bay this weekend. Featuring several racing classes, the event is suited to motorcycle enthusiasts of all ages, skill levels as well as bike manufacturers. The event, which is the second of an eight-round series hosted around the country, hopes to attract a similar field to that of the opening round at Redstar Raceway in Mpumalanga that drew more than 150 riders across the various classes. One of the competing classes is the 300cc group aimed at young riders with a basic skill level and a love for track days, PE Classic Bike Racing’s Lucille Elliot said. The 600cc and 1000cc classes will be open to all adrenaline junkies looking to test their limits on the tricky Scribante circuit. The Classics class, which will feature bikes manufactured between 1975 and 1989, will welcome restored gems for lovers of the older machines. The Battle of the Twins class will feature a host of Italian manufactured motorcycles and promises lots of horsepower. The series was first established by a group of BOTTS riders who go by the name of Rebel Racing. “They are all dedicated motorcycle enthusiasts who provide the opportunity for local motorcycle riders of all skill levels to come to the track and enjoy some racing,” Elliottt said. “They pride themselves on providing a safe environment where people from all walks of life can enjoy racing in harmony,” she added. Elliott encouraged track lovers from across the Bay to come out and support the event, be it in a racing or spectating capacity. More information can be found on the event website www.motorcycleracingseries.co.za or on the Aldo Scribante Facebook page.

Harley-Davidson may be charging toward an electric future with its battery-powered Livewire, but it hasn’t forgotten its heritage.

One of The Motor Company’s latest models is a special edition of the Road Glide touring bike that features the brand’s historic, red white and blue No. 1 logo. According to Harley-Davidson, the logo was originally designed to celebrate the 1969 AMA Grand National Championship for flat track racing and later adopted the stars and stripes motif.

It became a big part of the company’s brand image in the 1970s, appearing on several bikes and accessories. It’s being offered on the Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-Twin-powered Road Glide with blue/white and red/white paint jobs.

According to Ride Apart, Harley-Davidson will build no more than 750 in each color at $29,699 each, which is $2,400 more than a base black Road Glide, as it comes off of a year when sales across the lineup declined 5.2 percent.

Road Glide Special Harley-Davidson Goes American With New Color Schemes

If you would like your V-twin Road Glide Special Harley-Davidson to scream “I love America” more than other motorcycle, than you are in luck because Harley has announced two more limited edition red white and blue color schemes.

Probably because Harley had great success with the special paint option unveiled last month (the yellow base coat with a black eagle painted on the fuel tank), the big brains of the company thought that some new two-tone color scheme will raise their sales even further.

The options available are: billiard red base with stone washed white accents or billiard blue base with the same stone washed white addition. Basically, it’s like getting the United States of America flag printed on the motorcycle. The base colors chosen for this scheme are nice and classic.

However, the main highlight of the special edition paint is the fact that the number 1 was been drawn on the fuel tank, besides the American flag theme. This implies that Harley-Davidson is the number one American bike manufacturer, how very humble of them!

Also, the saddlebags are painted in the same base color of the motorcycle and have a not-so-subtle white stripe drawn on the base, with the Harley-Davidson logo written on it.

These limited edition special color schemes are a nice addition to the classic full black/grey/brown/red lineup, as some people really enjoy their bikes being more unique than the everyday models you normally see on the street. This option will only be available for the Road Glide Special model of the Harley-Davidson motorcycles lineup. So if you want to get the American flag on a Road King or a Softail Harley Davidson, you will need to go to a custom painting shop.

Choosing one of these color schemes will add up to $2,400 (€2,148) to the base price of $27,299 (€24,460). Pricing is thus a bit high, but because only a few hundred of each scheme will be available to buy, it is factory-made and comes with a warranty, we’d say it is reasonably priced.

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Earlier this week, Indian announced that it will participate at Baikal Mile Ice Speed Festival with the Appaloosa v2.0. The motorcycle maker only provided one photo of the racing machine, but it has now revealed more details about the collaboration and looks of the model.

The Baikal Mile Ice Festival is a drag-race focused event, in order to see which manufacturer can produce the fastest motorcycle that can run in harsh winter conditions with low temperatures and dodgy terrain.

This idea emerged from some Russians that thought if their country is not suited for tarmac racing, they managed to make a replacement of the salt lake (ahem, Bonneville Slat Flats) with an ice lake. This event had such a great success in 2019, so they decided to make an even better 2nd event with more racing and side action, like ice-drifting, motocross stunts, and many extra shows.

The IndianxWorkhorse racing team traveled a long way to reach the Baikal Lake in Russia to race at the 2nd edition of the Baikal Mile. Even Brice Hennebert, the Appaloosa creator said that “I can’t believe we are actually here. What an amazing place. I am so pleased to finally reveal the new Appaloosa after weeks of hard work to get here. I can’t wait to see Sebastien blast down the 1-mile strip.” 

The qualifying runs were done on 27 February. Although problems appeared with the quick-shifter due to vibrations, they canceled the system in order to race. Also, winter studs were lost during the runs from the back wheel and destroyed the blades behind the wheel. Still, with all these mechanical problems, the team qualified for both 1/8 mile and 1 mile races.

Although the race has ended, no official results are yet available, either on the Baikal Mile official site or on the social media, but you can follow the IndianxWorkhorse trip and photos at hashtag #indianxworkhorse.

It’s finally here! Once again, Monster Energy teams up with UNKNOWN Industries crew for their second and highly anticipated video feature: ‘The UNKNOWN Ride 2’ follows Nick Leonetti, Buddy Suttle, Kade Gates, Seth Brisson, Wheelie Pig and Arizonan wheelie prodigy Tallboy Tee smashing the streets through the Sonoran Desert of Tucson, Arizona on their iconic Harley’s.

Presented by Monster Energy and produced by Lurk Creative in partnership with UNKNOWN Industries, ‘The UNKNOWN Ride 2’ is live on YouTube as a full-length feature. Follow the link to see the highly anticipated thirteen-minute action video that has the motorcycle world buzzing.

The new release is the official sequel to 2016’s mini action flick ‘The UNKNOWN Ride’ that was shot in Oakland, California, and has garnered over 2.7 million views on YouTube to date. Four years later, the crew is back, upping the ante with a potent blend of high-octane bike action, next level cinematography, scenic Arizona vistas, and a special appearance by the Monster Energy Girls.

“This is probably one of the sickest films we have ever made! I’m so fortunate to be creating high-production content with some of my closest friends like Nick and Buddy. The Unknown crew came through and raised the bar, putting their unique riding skills on full display. Tucson’s year-round sunshine and the scenic desert landscape provided the perfect backdrop for another true classic,” said Ash Hodges aka Dirt Shark, who directed and produced the new film. “The Unknown Ride was a Bay Area classic and I didn’t know how to back that one up. Luckily, the City of Tucson and Pima County gave us the key to the City and let us create another video banger. We really focused on stepping up the production value and cinematography on this one to compete with the original Unknown Ride piece. Helicopters, a dedicated camera vehicle, and raw audio set up on each bike really helped elevate our game. This one really came together!”

Ride along as ‘The UNKNOWN Ride 2’ crew rips through the streets of Tucson and out into the Sonoran Desert in search of missing rider ‘Wheelie Pig.’ See the Unknown riders drift their Harley’s through iconic Tucson locations, including Tallboys Bar, and wheelie down the infamous Miracle Mile. Also watch the crew burn rubber and lurk through the desert landscapes passing spectacular cacti, including the giant saguaro, a symbol of the American Southwest.

Filmed in 4K high-definition, the action cycles through night and day as the UNKNOWN’s crew burn out, slide, and 12 o’clock wheelie over the hot Arizona concrete past the city’s signature neon lights.

The short film premiered last night in a special free-to-attend event presented by Monster Energy at Mystic Theatre in the Unknown’s hometown of Petaluma, California. Those in attendance were treated to a concert with Mickey Avalon, and a special appearance from Monster Energy’s freestyle motocross riders Axell Hodges and Jeremy Stenberg who have cameos in the piece.

The first 200 guests, comprised of both Bay Area and Sonoma County hardcore enthusiasts received a special long sleeve commemorative T-shirt designed for the premiere event by Ash Hodges.

Ready to see what all of the hype’s about? See for yourself as the thirteen-minute-long, ‘The UNKNOWN Ride 2’ is available to watch now, free online on YouTube.

Also make sure to follow the social media hashtag #UnknownRide2 for athlete stories and behind-the-scenes looks at this high-octane video production and launch event.

Media representatives can click on the following link to download video and photo assets surrounding the launch of ‘The UNKNOWN Ride 2’ video presented by Monster Energy and produced by Lurk Creative featuring the UNKNOWN Industries team.

Also visit www.monsterenergy.com and follow Monster Energy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter for exclusive updates on our team of moto athletes.

RYAN J. FARRICK — May 3, 2018

Since 2006, five motorcyclists have been killed by unexpected blowouts on Harley-Davidson D402 tires. According to the Center for Investigative Reporting’s Reveal, another 22 bikers were injured by the same Dunlop brand of tubes, manufactured and sold by Goodyear.

“All of a sudden, the tire just let go – there was no warning, no nothing,” said Steven Morris, an experienced motorcyclist from Cape Coral, FL. He and his wife, Patricia, were heading further down the coast to celebrate their 26^th wedding anniversary when the D402 tire on their Harley popped.

“It all happened so fast,” said the 59-year old man and owner of a motorcycle and car repair shop. “It took my life away from me. She was my life.”

The blowout, which occurred back in 2008, caused Steven Morris to lose control of his motorcycle. Traveling at highway speeds along Interstate 20, the jolt sent Morris and his wife careening between lanes before the vehicle finally flipped.

Nearly all of the five deaths and 22 injuries prompted lawsuits. Goodyear settled in eight cases, coming out on top only twice.

An additional three suits are still pending in court.

The scope and frequency of the blowouts, writes Reveal, has experts concerned. Joan Cranbrook, former administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, says regulators need to act.

“Absolutely, five deaths and 22 injuries from the same tire on motorcycles made for Harley-Davidson is a significant number and warrants an immediate investigation by NHTSA,” said Cranbrook.

But Goodyear maintained its Dunlop line-up and D402 treads are perfectly safe – even after being confronted with Reveal’s investigative analysis.

“We take all incidents involving our products very seriously,” wrote Goodyear spokeswoman Laura Duda in an e-mail to Reveal. “Every incident is unique, and each claim is thoroughly examined and analyzed.”

“In the case of Dunlop D402 motorcycle tires, there are no defects related to motor vehicle safety,” she continued. “In fact, most motorcycle tire issues are the result of underinflation, overloading or damage from road hazards.”

Reveal insists that deaths and manufacturing defects are no irregular occurrences at Goodyear. The publication points out that several of the company’s plants were under-staffed, plagued by leaky roofs and intense production quotas.

Among the experts who testified in favor of D402 plaintiffs is Michigan tire expert William Woehrle.

“They negligently let defective tires go out the door,” said Woehrle, who’s served as a paid expert witness in a dozen lawsuits involving the brand’s blowouts. “They have had a systemic problem with manufacturing Dunlop D402 motorcycle tires.”

Goodyear is no stranger to criticism and litigation.

In 2012, the company settled another suit related to its Dunlop 250 Radial tires. Similar to Steven and Patricia Morris’s tragic accident, a married couple riding through rural Texas on a 2003 Honda Goldwing had their rear tire suddenly blow out. They too lost control of their motorcycle, veering toward the road shoulder before the vehicle violently turned over.

After both parties reached a confidential settlement, Goodyear indirectly addressed allegations of negligence, saying in a statement that, “Dunlop has made millions of motorcycle tires (that) have provided consumers with satisfactory performance for millions and millions of miles.”

Sources

Fatal motorcycle tire blowouts not enough to prompt Goodyear recall

Goodyear settles lawsuit over failed motorcycle tire

Goodyear statement: ‘We fell short’ on safety at plants

MVA Report (Morris)

Editor’s Note: This is from 2018 and came from the Legal Reader. Does anyone know if this issue was resolved?–Bandit

Following a tough fiscal 2019 where U.S. Harley-Davidson motorcycle sales were the lowest in at least 16 years, the Milwaukee manufacturer announced Feb. 28 that Matthew Levatich stepped down as president and CEO. Current Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HOG) board member Jochen Zeitz will serve as acting president and CEO.

Harley-Davidson appoint Jochen Zeitz as president and CEO

Jochen Zeitz also served as the chairman and CEO of the sporting goods company, Puma from 1993 to 2011.

Harley-Davidson board of directors have appointed Jochen Zeitz as acting president and CEO; Matthew Levatich steps down.

American bike maker, Harley-Davidson announced that the board of directors have appointed present board member, Jochen Zeitz as acting president and CEO. Matthew Levatich has stepped down from his role as the president and CEO and as a member of the board.

Speaking on his new role, Jochen Zeitz said, “The Board and Matt mutually agreed that now is the time for new leadership at Harley-Davidson. Levatich was instrumental in defining the More Roads to Harley-Davidson accelerated plan for growth, and we will look to new leadership to recharge our business. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Matt for his 26 years of service to Harley-Davidson. He has worked tirelessly to navigate the company through a period of significant industry change while ensuring the preservation of one of the most iconic brands in the world.”

Furthermore, a board committee is being formed, and the OEM will use an external search firm to find a new CEO. Levatich will be assisting the transition through the end of March. As part of this leadership change, Zeitz has also been named chairman of the Board and will remain chairman once the new CEO is appointed. The current chairman of the Board, Michael Cave will be the presiding director.

Zeitz added, “The Harley-Davidson Board and leadership team will continue to work closely together as we search for a new CEO. We have confidence that our combined leadership experience and deep understanding of Harley-Davidson will ensure an effective transition. As a passionate Board Member of Harley-Davidson, I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues and other Harley-Davidson stakeholders to advance and deliver the company’s strategy and execution during this important time.”

Zeitz has been a member of the Harley-Davidson Board of Directors since 2007 and established the company’s Brand and Sustainability Committee. “I am very fortunate to have spent many years with a company as revered as Harley-Davidson,” Levatich pointed out. “The grit and determination of the employees and dealers and their passion for bringing our brand of freedom to people around the world has always been inspiring. I am proud of what we have achieved during my time as CEO, in one of the most challenging periods in our history, and I am confident that the progress we have made on the More Roads plan will position Harley-Davidson for long-term success.”

Jochen Zeitz also served as the chairman and CEO of the sporting goods company Puma from 1993 to 2011. He was also Puma’s CFO from 1993 to 2005. Zeitz served as a director of luxury goods company, Kering (formerly PPR) from 2012 to 2016. He was a member of Kering’s Executive Committee and CEO of its Sport and Lifestyle division between 2010 and 2012. Zeitz is also a board member of the Cranemere Group and is on the Board of the ‘B Team’ which he co-founded with Sir Richard Branson.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (March 1, 2020) – Round 9 of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship made its way to Atlanta, Georgia, where Monster Energy® Kawasaki rider Eli Tomac overcame a difficult main event, putting together a strong ride to come from behind to finish fourth and hold onto the red-plate.

Eli Tomac scored his first pole position of the season by setting a blistering time of 50.294 seconds marking the eighth time in nine races a Kawasaki rider has earned the pole position in the 450SX class.

As the gate dropped on the second heat race of the night it was the No. 3 KX™450 rocketing out the gate, grabbing the holeshot and checking out from the competition. Tomac crossed the finish line with an impressive nine-second lead to take the heat race win.

In the 450SX Main Event Tomac found himself buried off the start with his work cut out for him. As he began charging forward making his way up to seventh place, his progress was quickly halted when he and another rider came together, sending Tomac back to 15th place. Tomac began his charge forward, but a small mistake caused his bike to stall, a quick press of the electric start button on the handlebar minimized the damage and from there Tomac put together an amazing performance, riding from behind to narrowly miss the podium with a fourth-place finish. Tomac heads to Daytona tied in the lead for the 450SX championship point standings with Ken Roczen.

This weekend’s race in Atlanta marked the first time in Monster Energy Supercross history that a race would be held on leap day.

“The main event didn’t go as planned, but the good news is we live to fight another day and line back up next weekend at one of my favorite tracks, Daytona. There are still positives to take away from today; we were fastest qualifier, won our heat race, and we never gave up in the main event, and battled hard all the way to the very end to salvage as many points as possible. We are going to put this race behind us and be ready to rock next week in Daytona!” – Eli Tomac

This weekend marked Round 3 of the 250SX East Coast Championship, where Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Jordon Smith bounced back to score a top-5 finish and teammate Garrett Marchbanks not far behind in seventh.

The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki powerhouse combo kicked off the day by Marchbanks qualifying in fourth and Smith in sixth.

The second 250SX heat race saw the No. 54 machine of Smith once again rocket his KX™250 out of the gate, and immediately challenging for the top position. Meanwhile, teammate Marchbanks found himself buried off the start and found himself in twelfth place at the end Lap 1. Marchbanks having his work cut out for him, began slicing and dicing his way past the competition on the tight and narrow track and was able to climb up to fifth place. Smith continued to jockey for position the entire race, and with two laps to go he pulled the trigger on making a pass stick for second place.

As the gate dropped for the 250SX Main Event, both Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki riders ripped out of the gate aboard their KX250 motorcycles in the top-5 where they would both spend the vast majority of the race battling for position. Marchbanks eventually would make a pass on his teammate Smith and began going after third place, however a mistake would send Marchbanks off course causing him to reaggravate an old injury. Marchbanks did everything he could to ride through the pain finishing in seventh place. Teammate Smith rode smart and consistent crossing the finish line in fourth place.

Marchbanks currently sits fourth in the 250SX East Championship point standings with Smith close behind in fifth place.

Daytona Bike Week Launches the Nationwide Tour this Week

March 2, 2020–Santa Fe Springs CA–The Vance & Hines team hits the road this week when the company’s mobile show room and tech center rolls into Daytona Beach for its first stop in 2020, Daytona Bike Week. The tour visits ten of the country’s largest motorcycle events during its eight-month run. Housed in two custom-built, 53-foot trailers with extended exhibit space, it offers customers a sensory experience where they will see, feel and hear the exhaust, air intake and fuel management products that Vance & Hines is famous for.

One of several new features this year is each visitor’s opportunity to create a Performance and Style Upgrade Plan in consultation with one of Vance & Hines’ product experts.  The Vance & Hines Make It Yours (TM) consultation creates a personalized plan to update their bike’s look and performance.  Each upgrade recommendation is based on the rider’s motorcycle, riding style and budget. The company expects one of the most popular options to be its new Torquer 450 slip-ons, which are designed specifically to deliver great sound, style and performance to Harley-Davidson M8 Touring bikes, while being emission compliant in all 50 states.

Riders can choose to make the upgrades onsite in the tour’s tech center or may use the Vance & Hines Make It Yours (TM) consultation document to have their local motorcycle dealer do the installation.

 

“We’ve taken everything on the tour up another notch this year,” said John Potts, Vance & Hines head of sales and marketing. “All new displays to help customers better understand each of our products, the most qualified staff in the motorcycle industry and a personalized experience for every rider who visits us. We can’t wait to get on the road.”

 

The 2020 schedule takes the experience to the top motorcycle events from coast to coast, with additional stops added during the year. The current route includes these events:

• Daytona Bike Week (two locations), Daytona Beach FL
• Arizona Bike Week, Phoenix AZ
• Laughlin River Run, Laughlin NV
• Myrtle Beach Bike Week, Myrtle Beach SC
• Born Free Show, Orange County CA
• Black Hills Rally (two locations), Sturgis SD
• Delmarva Bike Week, Salisbury MD
• Street Vibrations, Reno NV
• Bikes, Blues & BBQ, Fayetteville AR
• Biketoberfest (two locations), Daytona Beach FL
• Exact locations for each tour stop can be found in the events section of the Vance & Hines web site.

Mama Tried Tickets, last chance!

Online ticket sales for the Mama Tried Motorcycle Show end this Thursday, March 5th, 2020. So…

This is your last chance to get yours now and avoid the hassle of waiting in line to buy one the day of the show!

In addition, this year you could win a 1951 Harley-Davidson WR, which is a factory production race bike. This super cool bike has the added benefits of a rebuilt engine and full restoration.

Buy a Mama Tried sticker for $20 and get your ticket for a chance to win! You do not need to be present at the drawing to win. Buy your sticker and get your drawing entry here. Online sales end Thursday!

–Tyler Malinky

Lowbrow Cycles