Zero Motorcycles, the forward-thinking brand that has defined the category of electric motorcycles, has officially launched the highly-anticipated Zero SR/S. The all-new SR/S will feature a sleek full fairing design and revised ergonomics for elevated comfort and functionality. It will offer riders a refined riding experience packed with industry-leading power, connection and control with new, elevated design.

• Design: Inspired by cutting edge aerospace design, the new fairing design of Zero’s SR/S is rooted in aerodynamics and provides a 13 percent improvement in efficiency and range versus its award-winning sibling, the SR/F. Lower foot position and higher handlebars provide a more upright and relaxed riding position that even extends to two-up riding, giving passengers the ride of their life with matching lower pegs and a larger seating area.
• Power: With 140 ft-lbs of torque and 110 horsepower, the new SR/S boasts class-leading performance and efficiency from a ZF 75-10 motor and 14.4kWh lithium-ion battery. On a single charge, the bike can delive up to a 201-mile city range with the addition of Zero’s Power Tank. Zero’s Rapid Charge System allows for up to three independent charging modules, with the ability to charge from 0 to 95 percent in just one hour.
• Control: Zero’s intelligent Cypher III operating system unleashes the full capabilities of Bosch’s stability control system (MSC), resulting in best-in-class straight-line ABS and cornering brake control, traction control and drag torque control. Additionally, an arsenal of ride modes allow riders to customize performance through Zero’s intuitive next-generation app and dash interface.
• Connection: The SR/S is among the first commercially available connected motorcycles on the market, giving riders the ability to monitor the bike in four main areas: Bike Status and Alerts, Charging, Ride Data Sharing, and System Upgrades and Updates.

The premium model with 6 kW Rapid Charger, heated hand grips and aluminum bar ends starts at $21,995 USD. The standard model with 3 kW Rapid Charger starts at $19,995 USD. Zero’s Power Tank, available beginning March 1 for an additional $2,895, adds 3.6 kWh to the SR/S for extended city range of 201 miles. Both premium and standard models are available in Skyline Silver and Cerulian Blue colorways.   The SR/S, along with Zero’s entire 2020 model line of electric motorcycles, is also eligible for a 10 percent federal tax credit for plug-in vehicles, up to a $2,500 maximum. Financing is available through Freedom Road and Syncrony.     –Natalie  

How to Restore Norton Commando

by Chris Rooke Written in a friendly and accessible manner by an enthusiast of many years, this book provides a thorough and detailed restoration guide for the Norton Commando, complete with step-by-step instructions, and hundreds of colour photos. This is the third motorcycle restoration guide from Chris Rooke whose previous works have been a massive hit with mechanics, enthusiasts and restorers throughout the world. PRICE: £37.50 UK • $50 US • $65 CAN SKU: V5394 FORMAT: Paperback • 20.7x27cm • 224 pages • 820 pictures The growth of Superbikes & Superbike racing 1970-1988 Slow Burn by Bob Guntrip The Beginnings of Superbike Racing Slow Burn tells how the big names of the motorcycle industry used Superbike racing to test their street bike designs. The book features the biggest riders: Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan, Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz and Eddie Lawson, who started out on big, unruly superbikes, and learned how to powerslide their way around the world’s toughest tracks. PRICE: £25 UK • $35 USA • $46 CAN SKU: V5316 FORMAT: Hardback • 22.5×15.2cm • 256 pages • 102 colour pictures

Hey Guys,

I’m excited to announce my 2020 Motorcycle Tours and Retreats. Scroll down for details and itineraries.

• Peru (June)
• The English Coast (August)
• The Blue Ridge Mountains (September)

Peru Adventure Tour June 5-17

Round trip from Arequipa, we will cover 965 miles in 11 days.  Arrive in Arequipa June 4th for a day to acclimatize. We fly out the afternoon of the 17th so you will be home June 18th.

Please feel free to message me for details or any questions. Full range of GS motorcycles available if you book early.  The itinerary is attached and the price includes all hotels, attractions, guide, support truck, photography and motorcycle rental. Highlights:

• Aguada Blanca National Reserve
• Colca Canyon and Chivay
• Lake Langui Layo, Sicuani
• Ollantaytambo, Sacred Valley of the Incas, Pisac
• Machu Picchu
• Cusco, Puno, Lake Titicaca
• Moquegua, Hogar Belen Orphanage

DOWNLOAD TOUR DETAILS AND PRICING HERE

Future of the historic bike brand’s 70 staff remains uncertain whilst buyer is sought

By Tom Pegden, Business Live UK

Production has stopped at the Norton Motorcycles factory – but it is understood there have not been any redundancies as yet.

Concrete blocks are reported to have been placed at the entrances to bike headquarters in Castle Donington, Leicestershire, while administrators continue to look for a potential buyer.

It is understood shop floor workers there had continued completing bikes even after the administrators from accounting firm BDO were called in on January 29.

There were believed to be around 70 people working at the business at the time.

Norton owner Stuart Garner is also understood to have been working with the administrators within the business until at least a few days ago.

It is understood that “four or five Aston Martins and a couple of Range Rovers” used by Mr Garner, were taken away from him as part of the assets of the business.

It comes as Labour MP Meg Hillier, who chairs Parliament’s public accounts committee, called for an investigation into the millions of pounds of government funding that had gone into the business in recent years…

NEW DELHI: In a move that will benefit Harley-Davidson, India has proposed a new tariff classification for motorcycles with cylinder capacity exceeding 1,600 cc, imports of which will be taxed in single digits. The plan is part of ongoing trade talks with the US.

India had previously reduced the duty on completely built units (CBUs) of motorcycles of all engine capacities to 50% from 100%.

The bikes are a sore point with US. President Donald Trump, who has cited duties on Harley-Davidson in his trade-related criticism of India, will be visiting this month.

“The issue of Harley-Davidson is already resolved. We will reduce the duty on the bikes above 1,600 cc to a single digit,” said an official aware of the development, adding that India will create a new HS code for such bikes.

India currently classifies motorcycles as those with engine capacities of 75 cc, 250 cc, 500 cc and 800 cc or above.

Every traded product is categorized under an HSN code (harmonised system of nomenclature) — the global systematic classification of goods. In the April-December period, India imported $20.63 million of motorcycles with cylinder capacity above 800 cc.

Trump, who is scheduled to visit India on February 24-25, had last year termed the 50% tariffs on such bikes, even after they were slashed from 100%, as “unacceptable”.

Separately, India has also sought a reduction in the H-1B visa fee as part of ongoing trade negotiations with the US. Washington has proposed doubling the cost of such visas to $3,000-4,000. Officials said India has pushed for a reduction in this cost.

There’s a very unusual dual book-signing adventure coming up on the 22nd of February at the legendary AutoBooks in Burbank…

 

These are two books that honestly could not be more different if they tried … but two books that both are filled, cover-to-cover, with the sort of passion and historic detail makes each of them uniquely great reads. And, on Saturday, February 22nd the authors of both books will be on hand in Burbank at the famous bookstore to discuss and personalize copies of their respective books … Alphabetically they are:“The Last Shelby Cobra  My Times With Carroll Shelby”  and  “The Speed Kings  The Rise and Fall of Motordrome Racing”

Chris and Don will be on hand to sign their books. Be there, be there, be there.–Bandit

With exhibitors inside and outside Music City Center, there is something for the whole family. Explore products from every major firearm and accessory manufacturer, book the hunt of a lifetime in the outfitter section, and view priceless collections of firearms. Attend special music events and political forums, and spend time with fellow Second Amendment friends and supporters from across the country.

Make sure you visit all the displays and see all of your favorite exhibitors! Be sure to visit Walk of Fame Park for the NRA Country sound stage and more exhibits. Additional exhibits are found on Level 1 and in the Davidson Ballroom. With acres of guns and gear, celebrate freedom with us all weekend long!

A powerhouse lineup of political speakers. The 2A women’s event of the year. A Saturday night celebration like no other. Top country music artists. Fabulous breakfasts, luncheons and dinners. There truly is something for everyone to experience.
NRA-ILA Leadership Forum and Charlie Daniels tickets on sale Thursday, 2-20-20 at 10am EST

• 
• By THOMAS P. CALDWELL, The Laconia Daily Sun

CONCORD — The House Transportation Committee on Wednesday forwarded House Bill 1621 — which would have required helmets for those operating motorcycles and similar vehicles — to the full House with a recommendation of “inexpedient to legislate,” which typically means the proposal is dead.

During a Feb. 4 hearing on the bill, 259 people signed up to speak against the bill, while only four planned to support it. Not everyone ended up speaking, but opponents dominated the three-hour hearing.

Rep. Charlie St. Clair, D-Laconia, who serves on the House Transportation Committee as well as acting as director of the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association, said there was a lot of discussion before the panel voted, 16-4, to give it a thumbs-down on Wednesday.

Those in favor of the bill discussed the public burden of caring for those with traumatic brain injury and other conditions that may have been prevented by wearing a helmet. Others argued that people need the extra kick that a law provides to take safety measures seriously.

Yet the committee agreed that they heard “loud and clear” from constituents that it should be a matter of choice, especially in a state with the “Live Free or Die” motto. People in New Hampshire strongly believe in that freedom of choice, even if they personally choose to wear helmets.

St. Clair said he pointed out to the committee that there had been no support for similar safety measures in other areas, such as in automobiles or homes. “You can slip on ice on the sidewalk and get injured,” he said.

The economic impact that motorcycle riders provide to the state was a big part of the discussion. During the hearing, several people said having a helmet law would reduce the number of riders in New Hampshire and negatively affect revenue from the Rooms and Meals Tax, as well as hurting businesses that benefit from those visitors.

Jennifer Anderson, deputy director of the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association, had testified that all three national rallies — Laconia, Daytona, and Sturgis — agree that mandatory helmet laws decrease rally attendance…

Over the past several months, the latest Illinois red-light camera corruption case has unfolded. The 2014 Redflex bribery scandal preceded the current mess. Several company and public officials went to jail, and in 2017, Redflex paid the city of Chicago a $20 million settlement. You would have thought that the state had learned its lessons, but nope. No doubt this is due in large part to drivers taking the hit, much more than the city.

The ongoing, highly public corruption is why many citizens distrust the government. When we elect someone to public office, we expect them to uphold their oath to the people, not profit off the backs of taxpayers. Call us naïve, but democracy best works when those elected continue to have the public trust. Many honest men and women, of course, run for office and, when elected, work hard for us.

Chicago State Senator Martin Sandoval did not. In November, he resigned from his state seat because he knew what was coming. For years, he kept bills to ban red-light cameras out of the transportation committee he chaired, because he was greedy and dishonest. He raked in the bucks from SafeSpeed, an Illinois home-grown camera company.

SafeSpeed CEO Nikki Zollar has denied any wrongdoing. She stated that “We don’t pay people off.” According to the company’s website, it has contracts with more than 30 Illinois municipalities. Despite Zollar’s protestations, the company and some of its investors were large campaign contributors to Sandoval.

In January, Sandoval entered into a plea agreement in federal court for taking $250,000 in bribes and for tax evasion. He has indicated that he will cooperate with federal investigators in their ongoing investigation of additional political corruption. He told reporters he was “deeply ashamed” and faces 13 years in prison.

Sandoval made his dirty money from red-light cameras outside the Chicago area. In 2008, fewer than 90 cameras outside of Chicago generated $5.4 million. By 2018, more than 300 cameras were responsible for issuing more than $56 million in violations. Generally, cities and towns receive anywhere between 30 to 60 percent of the cash generated from citations with the camera. Companies keep the rest of the loot.

In 2017, an exhaustive Chicago Tribune investigation unveiled information that many of the Chicago suburban cameras were placed at some of the safest intersections. Due to state law, intersections on state highways had to be approved by the Illinois Department of Transportation, which had drafted a policy in 2006. Lobbyists and “an unnamed lawmaker close to red-light camera firms” helped redefine the process of how intersections were selected for cameras and that the original 2006 policy was never implemented. The Tribune found that the state’s draft criteria would have only approved cameras for three of the 184 intersections on state routes.

Study after study has shown red-light cameras increase rear-end crashes because driver’s slam on their brakes to avoid a citation. According to the IllinoisPolicy.org website, local governments are no longer talking about safety any more when it comes to these devices—officials need the money citations generate to help pay for basic services.

The city of Chicago also appears to be in the same predicament. Between January 2008 and September 2019, city of Chicago RLCs banked $672.4 million total. In 2017, the city made $54.4 million in revenue.

Motorists have been fighting back, though. The Windy City settled in 2017 a nearly $40 million class-action lawsuit that alleged the program violated due process. Also, in 2017 another lawsuit was filed that claimed Chicago’s program is unconstitutional since it fails to satisfy several state law requirements. Despite all the lawsuits and other issues with RLCs, the city just can’t quit using money from citations to balance its budget.

Bipartisan bill HB3927 is currently gaining momentum in the House. If passed, it would ban red-light cameras plus deny cities home rule power in this area.

Will elected officials have the courage to pass this legislation?

After the many scandals, this policing for profit scheme has got to go in Illinois and every other town in the US that has red-light cameras.

–National Motorists Association NMA

Join your local motorcycle rights association or the National Motorist Association, today.–Bandit