by Fraser Addecott from https://www.mirror.co.uk/ Check out all the latest machinery, plus a whole lot more, at the capital’s big bike fest The post-Christmas winter months are probably not most bikers’ favourite time of the year – seeming cold, wet and miserable. One bright spot on the horizon, however, is the ever-popular London Motorcycle Show. This annual extravaganza continues to go from strength to strength and the 2020 edition looks like being no exception. Alongside the latest machines from the world’s leading manufacturers, visitors will be able to see explosive live-action racing, rare classic machines, biking celebrities and a UK-exclusive celebration of iconic racer Barry Sheene. All the new models from AJS, BMW, CCM, CF Moto, Ducati, Ecooter, Honda, Husqvarna, Indian, Kawasaki, KTM, Mutt Motorcycles, MV Agusta, Royal Enfield, Suzuki, Triumph, Yamaha and Zero will be on show. Nine of Sheene’s legendary race machines (including his two title-winning bikes) are being flown in from Australia specially for the show. And teammate Steve Parrish and Suzuki chief technician during Sheene’s winning years will be onstage sharing insight and anecdotes. Race fans will be kept enthralled with a completely revamped Michelin Thunderdrome live-action event once again taking over the centre of the show. The free races will see the world’s fastest road racer Peter Hickman going head-to-head with fellow Isle of Man TT competitors John McGuinness, Michael Rutter and James Hillier. Visitors can purchase a VIP paddock pass, which allows them access to the racing stars and an unbeatable view of the action. Alongside that, the Classic TT will officially be launched at the show, while, in between races, John McGuinness will be found propping up the bar at his own pub. The 23-time Isle of Man TT winner will be pulling pints and sharing tales from his incredible career with punters throughout the weekend. Statistics show 41% of riders are wearing helmets that are more than five years old and beyond the manufacturer’s service life. Anyone who brings their old helmet to the show will receive a free gift and the opportunity to purchase a replacement at a bargain price. Those wanting to take part should sign up beforehand at helmetamnesty.com. Motorcyclists looking to escape on an adventure this year will find plenty of inspiration in the Adventure Zone and Bonhams will be bringing rare and exotic machines from the legendary Italian manufacturer Giancarlo Morbidelli collection. The show is on February 14-16, at ExCel, East London. For information and reduced-price early-bird tickets, visit mcnmotorcycleshow.com.

We’ve all heard the stories of how Harley-Davidson began life in 1903 in a Milwaukee woodshed on the site of what is now the headquarters of Miller Brewing Company. But with motorcycle production set to jump from around 1000 units in 1909 to nearly 30,000 by 1920, the Motor Company’s industrial digs had to change, and in a big way.

That ‘big way’ ended up being the legendary Juneau Avenue headquarters, which stands proudly today as a testament to Harley’s history and industrial fortitude over the last 117 years. Actual motorcycle production ceased at the site back in 1973, but the Juneau Ave. headquarters remains the nerve center of the company to this day.

A recently discovered cache of photographs and architectural drawings – including plans for the original Juneau Ave. facility – are part of a gotta-see exhibit called ‘Building a Milwaukee Icon’ that opened earlier this month at the Harley-Davison Museum. Since getting there might present a bit of a challenge to most of you, we wanted to share a few of the fascinating photos from the exhibit to give you a feel for what was happening on the ground 110 years ago at the corner of Juneau Ave. and 37th Street. Enjoy!

A walk through the Harley-Davidson Museum is a walk through the history of America. With an unrivaled collection of Harley-Davidson motorcycles and memorabilia, a 20-acre, park-like campus, and a calendar full of activities, the H-D Museum is one of Milwaukee’s top tourist destinations for visitors from around the globe. A visit to the H-D Museum is an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime. Make your plans to visit the Harley-Davidson Museum at H-DMuseum.com.

East Liverpool Citizens against Traffic Cameras is a group that has been trying to get a “ban on red-light cameras” measure on the local ballot for a few years. In 2017, City Auditor Marilyn Bosco blocked the group’s proposed referendum by refusing to certify it even though there were enough valid signatures on the petition. This is a common tactic by local municipalities who don’t want voter-initiated referendums. East Liverpool, with a population of just 10,700, collected $1 million from its ticket cameras in 2018.

County Judge C. Ashley Pike then ordered the auditor to certify the measure. More city court filings ensued, and finally, in August 2019, Bosco certified the group’s anti-camera petition with a caveat—she had the right to revoke the certification if the state Court of Appeals rejected Judge Pike’s ruling. The state court quickly rejected the city’s argument. State law does not allow a city auditor to revoke a certified petition.

The court ruling allowed East Liverpool residents to vote on the initiative November 5, 2019. If voters agreed to the ban, future city councils would be prohibited from installing ticket cameras without the prior consent of the people. They did so overwhelmingly. Seventy-two percent of East Liverpool voters rejected the city’s use of speed and red-light cameras.

Still, officials didn’t want to give up photo ticket revenue. Just prior to election day, the city convinced Columbiana County Common Pleas Judge Scott Washam to temporarily block the public from learning the results of the vote. Its lawyers asked the judge to permanently enjoin the measure’s votes from being counted and certified by the board of elections.

In late November, Judge Washam rejected the city of East Liverpool’s attemptto invalidate the public vote on technical grounds, and the votes were counted. East Liverpool joins Ohio voters in Ashtabula, Cleveland, Chillicothe, Heath, Garfield Heights, Maple Heights, South Euclid, and Steubenville in rejecting the use of ticket cameras.

Nationwide, citizens in 39 cities have voted to prohibit the use of photo enforcement when given the opportunity.

Congratulations to the East Liverpool Citizens against Traffic Cameras on a successful, hard-fought effort! Local groups like this play a key role in combating the scourge of automated ticketing programs.

Beginning January 13^th, the ATE Racket Report blog name will change to Ticket Cam Alert USA. We encourage you to read this blog every Monday to learn what is happening with photo enforcement around the United States and in Canada.  Also, if you are conducting a fight on the local level, we encourage you to check out the NMA Facebook Page Ticket Cam Alert USA and participate in the related Ticket Cam USA Discussion Group. 

Join the NMA Today!

Support the NMA and the NMA Foundation

Ride along with your fur baby safely and in style.

Some dogs love the way life looks (well, smells) from the back of a bike. But you can’t just grab your motorcycle carrier, whistle for your pup and hit the road. You’ve got to ensure his style and safety are on point before saddling up.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE ON BIKERNET.

Join the Cantina today – Subscribe Now

RIDING FREE FROM DC: Your Weekly Biker Bulletin from Inside the Beltway Your Motorcycle Riders Foundation team in Washington, D.C. is pleased to provide our members with the latest information and updates on issues that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. Count on your MRF to keep you informed about a range of matters that are critical to the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle. Published weekly when the U.S. Congress is in session.

2020 Outlook With 2020 now officially underway, Congress has returned to Washington D.C. after a three-week break. The 2nd session of the 116th Congress opened formally on Wednesday, January 7th and will run through the end of 2020. In January 2021, a new Congress will be sworn in and any legislation that was not passed in the previous two years must be reintroduced. Therefore, the MRF D.C. team is committed to a full-court press to pass our legislative priorities this year. It goes without saying that D.C. is a town built on politics, and a presidential election year only amplifies that. One of the most obvious ways that an election year and specifically a presidential election year impacts Congress is the calendar. Politicians up for reelection want to spend more time back home shaking hands and kissing babies and less time in Washington D.C. In 2020 the House of Representatives is scheduled to be in session for only 112 days. The Senate is planning on spending slightly more time in D.C. with a scheduled workload of 142 days. This compressed schedule means that we at the MRF need to make the most of our opportunities to educate lawmakers, advocate for our priorities and most importantly, demonstrate the strength of our movement. First and foremost, Bikers Inside the Beltway is a fantastic opportunity for MRF members to meet with lawmakers. Nothing gets the halls of Congress buzzing like the sight and sound of hundreds of bikers pulling up to the U.S. Capitol. Make sure to mark your calendar for May 19th and join us for a critical day of lobbying in D.C. Secondly, over the next few weeks, you will be receiving calls to action on different pieces of legislation Congress will be dealing with this year. Answering a call to action is the easiest way to reach a Congressional office and let them know that you care about motorcycle issues. Please keep your eyes peeled as we roll these out leading up to Bikers Inside the Beltway. Your participation is critical to demonstrating just how many motorcyclists care about these issues. Finally, since Congress wants to spend their time at home, you should have no problem seeing them at parades, picnics and other civic events throughout the year. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself, tell them you are a rider and ask them to support our priorities. This year presents motorcyclists with both challenges and opportunities for our community. We in D.C. are excited to navigate the next 12 months and deliver victories for our membership. We are immensely proud to represent you every day here in Washington and to “Ride with the Leaders.” Happy New Year, let’s get to work!  Regulatory News – DOT Releases AV Guidance 4.0 In conjunction with the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao released Ensuring American Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies: Automated Vehicles 4.0’ (AV 4.0). The current guidance takes the approach of showing the unity of the Administration and other government agencies about looking towards the future of autonomous vehicles. The current guidance has not changed the hands-off approach of the DOT on AV regulations, and we at the MRF will continue to engage with Congress on the importance of meaningful AV legislation.  The House and Senate continue to work together on draft legislation and we will let you know when it is introduced.  You can read AV 4.0 in its entirety here: (AV 4.0)

About Motorcycle Riders Foundation The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond.

By James Taylor, Epoch Times

Modest global warming has resulted in fewer Idaho climate extremes and has brought significant additional benefits, a review of Idaho climate data reveals. The climate data should reassure Idaho legislators who have expressed concern about local impacts of asserted climate change.

Presented by Motorcycle Cannonball and Legends Motorcycle Museum

Sturgis, SD-January 8, 2020-

 

Starting from the shores of the Canadian border and ending at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys, the 2019 Cross Country Chase inaugural run was nothing short of incredible as 69 vintage riders made their way across 8 states in a mere 10 days. The fall run of machines manufactured from 1930 to 1948 held the imagination of riders around the world as the group of adventurists traveled along a carefully choreographed course through the quiet byways of American’s secondary roads.

 

Chase rules dictated that a rider had to accomplish the demands of the 2,368 miles on their own, independent of any support crews, which meant everything a pilot needed had to be carried on their own machine. From tools, clothes and gear to spare gas and oil, riders became a single cell of self-reliance as they covered the miles through adverse weather and intense conditions. And they had the time of their lives!

 

Since the inaugural run’s completion this past September, promoters Jason and LeeAnn Sims have been inundated by one question: “Will there be another Cross Country Chase?”

After careful consideration and great deliberation, the Sims, along with their partners at Legends Motorcycle Museum, are ready to announce that there will be another Chase and you can bet it will be an adventure of extraordinary challenge! The second CCC is to be held in September of 2021!

 

Just like the first run, it will be a challenge of man and machine against the miles and the elements. Men and women competitors from around the world are invited to sign up for the mailing list as information and details are released over the course of the next year, so sign up NOW! Once registration is open to the public in the late fall of 2020, the first 100 entrants who meet the basic requirements will be chosen to compete in the 2021 Cross Country Chase. The crew is currently laying out an all-new route and determining the vintage of the machines allowed to compete. Preparations to exceed the thrill of the inaugural run are well underway.

 

Meanwhile, do not miss any of the info that is shared on the website! Sign up, stay informed and be sure to secure your place at the starting line of the 2021 Cross Country Chase!

www.themotorcyclechase.com

 

According to a University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) study, electric scooter-related injuries in the US jumped 222 per cent between 2014 and 2018, with over 39,000 people injuring themselves.

San Francisco: E-scooters may have become popular as more people are becoming aware of its benefits and convenience, but there has been a major surge in incidents of injuries related to scooters, particularly among young adults in the US.

According to a University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) study, electric scooter-related injuries in the US jumped 222 per cent between 2014 and 2018, with over 39,000 people injuring themselves.

The number of hospital admissions soared by 365 per cent to a total of nearly 3,300, according to the UCSF study.

“E-scooters are a fast and convenient form of transportation and help to lessen traffic congestion, especially in dense, high-traffic areas,” Benjamin N. Breyer, MD, a UCSF Health urologist and corresponding author, said in a statement.

The rise in the spate of such incidents was also due to the lack of helmets; almost a third of injuries involved some kind of head trauma.

Nearly a third of the patients suffered head trauma — more than twice the rate of head injuries to bicyclists.

About a third of the e-scooter injuries were to women, and people between the ages of 18 and 34 were the most often injured for the first time in 2018.

“But we’re very concerned about the significant increase in injuries and hospital admissions that we documented, particularly during the last year, and especially with young people, where the proportion of hospital admissions increased 354 per cent,” Breyer added.

The UCSF team had previously looked at bicycle injuries using the same data set and found scooter riders had a higher proportion of head injuries, which was also identified in this study.

Motorised scooters have become more ubiquitous in the last few years, particularly within the US’ biggest cities and suburbs, health officials and medical experts across the country grew increasingly alarmed by the number of fractures, dislocations and head injuries appearing in trauma centres.

Regulatory oversight is largely absent about where people can ride scooters and whether helmets are mandatory: Previous research showed that only a fraction of injured e-scooter riders (ranging from 2 per cent to about 5 per cent) wore helmets when they were hurt.

by Chris Best from https://www.wkrg.com

The future of riding, may not be riding at all, but flying. That’s if you can afford it. French auto-maker “Lazarus” is showing off its new “motorcycle” that is more about wings than wheels.

It’s called “La Moto Volante”…sounds fancy right? But it just translates to “flying motorcycle.” Four turbines boost the bike from the ground to the sky…talk about getting in the wind. Downside is it will only fly for about 10 minutes at a time…oh and there’s the price tag.

The company will only be making five of them…and they are $560 thousand dollars each. So although the dream of flying motorcycles may be coming true…It will remain a dream for virtually everyone on the planet.