No silver bullet in sight for Enfield hit by sliding volume
By Wayfarer | | General Posts
The Eicher Motors stock fell 30 per cent in the past year.
The Bullet, it appears, is just not firing on all cylinders at the moment.
Royal Enfield (RE) sales are rather soft, and state-wise volume statistics furnished by industry body SIAM show that the bike that defines panache for motorcycle enthusiasts in India is riding through a rather rough patch. Eight states that make up three of every five RE bikes sold locally have reported deceleration.
Maharashtra and Karnataka together account for 13 per cent of RE volumes, and these two states have seen a drop in 6-7 quarters of the past nine.
Kerala, the largest market of RE, has witnessed volume drops of 13 per cent and 23 per cent in the September and December quarters, respectively. The September decline is attributed to floods. But declines in the December quarter have put the lens on underlying demand.
Industry volume growth of twowheelers in south India was 9.5 per cent in the first nine months, up from 5.6 per cent in the previous year. However, RE’s sales volume growth in the Southern states has been underwhelming.
The RE management has given production guidance of 8.7-8.8 lakh units for the current fiscal year. However, it is unlikely to be met. Average monthly run-rate of RE in the first 11months of FY19 stood at 69,569 units. To achieve the stated guidance, the company needs to produce 1.04 lakh vehicles in March. This appears to be quite a daunting task given the weak demand cycle.
The Street is factoring in volume growth of 10 per cent for FY20, which could be trimmed due to about 3 per cent growth in FY19. The Eicher Motors stock fell 30 per cent in the past year following constant negative surprises on the volume front. The stock is trading at 21 times FY20 earnings, compared with the long-term average of 30 times.Motorcycles and Motorcycling in the USSR
By Wayfarer | | General Posts
Motorcycles and Motorcycling in the USSR from 1939: A Social and Technical History
Hardcover – April 16, 2019 – available for Pre-Order on Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com//dp/1787113140/
Motorcycles and Motorcycling in the USSR from 1939 provides the first accessible English language account of motorcycles in the Soviet Union. Concentrating on the wartime and postwar period until 1990, prior to the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, it covers the motorcycles produced, and looks at the way in which they were used at home and exported abroad.
Chapters cover wartime, models produced, the social character of Soviet era motorcycling, and wide-ranging sport. With planned rather than market-led production based around copies of pre-war German BMW and DKW models, the industry churned out hundreds of thousands of utilitarian and rugged machines that were very different from the more fashion-orientated machines produced in the West.
These motorcycles went under the place names of the producing factories: Ishevsk, Kovrov, Moskva, Minsk and, of course, the large flat twins produced in Irbit and Kiev under the Ural and Dnepr names. With a strong emphasis on Soviet era illustrations, the book provides an insight into a life, based on idealism and ideology that has now passed.
Photographs and images, many of them from private family collections, show Soviet bikes as well as popular imports Jawa from Czechoslovakia, and Pannonia from Hungary.
Hardcover: 128 pages
Publisher: Veloce Publishing
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-1787113145
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Colin Turbett got his first motorcycle at age 15 and has owned, built, and cried over mostly British bikes ever since. He currently looks after a 1949 BSA Gold Star, as well as a modern bike. Colin spent a long career in social work in the West of Scotland through which he was a successful textbook author. In recent years motorcycle trips to Eastern Europe have triggered an interest in the utilitarian machines produced there during the Communist years. He has always been interested in the history of the Soviet Union, and this book brings several of his passions together.
Video Podcast: Life Lessons from Racing the Dakar Rally
By Wayfarer | | General Posts
TMFF Talk – Racing Dakar
55 minutes – Free to watch
Lawrence Hacking has been a motorcycle racer since 1971, he has raced the 21-day long 2001 Paris Dakar Rally and was the first ever Canadian to complete the toughest off-road race on earth. Since then, Lawrence has written a book “To Dakar and Back” and manages Overland Adventure Rally held each year in Ontario, Canada.
Christophe Barriere-Varju started racing motocross at the age of 14 and lifelong motocross racer, he has competed in the Dakar Rally 4 times, twice in Africa and twice in South America. His last Dakar Rally race has been captured in 10x Award Winning Film, Dream Racer — the timeless story true to all of us, one’s pursuit of lifelong dreams, whatever those dreams might be.
Lawrence and Christophe were interviewed by Toronto Motorcycle Film Festival Director, Caius Tenche in a fascinating 55-min video interview.
This interview is for all of you wondering what it takes, and what it feels like — to race the almighty Dakar Rally, and how this event can alter the course of one person’s life.
Sit back, and enjoy great life insights and personal stories from these two racers whose lives changed course after racing the world’s toughest motorsport race, the Dakar Rally as privateers.
An Interview with Lawrence Hacking, Dakar Rally Racer
Interview excerpt:
DR. How did it feel racing that last stage on Lac Rose and crossing the same podium as these legends?
LH. That day was a highlight of my life, it was January 21, 2001, we rode from the hotel on a liaison to the beach where the special stage started. Hubert Auriol made an emotional speech, we the riders talked while we waited. That moment was what I worked an entire year for and crossing over the podium was pure euphoria. That feeling is so addictive and so difficult to achieve that the quest to relive that feeling is life changing. You start dreaming about ways to recapture that feeling and it is nearly impossible. It is almost dangerous.
DR. Ok, time to reflect now…what would you tell or recommend to anyone wanting to race the almighty race?
Many think in their own mind they have what it takes but soon find out they don’t. It is a hard pill to swallow. In the Dakar there is no hiding in the shadows, everyone in the World is watching how you perform under the most difficult conditions, you have to be prepared to accept whatever happens. One of the most important things to remember is that it is far less difficult to live with 2 or 3 weeks of extreme hardship than a lifetime of disappointment.
Some of the most inspirational films are available on Dream Racer TV.
Our films serve a purpose that go beyond entertainment — they are truly inspirational, show ordinary people can achieve extraordinary feats – and inspire others to achieve their own dreams and life aspirations.
To watch some of these amazing films, please visit Dream Racer TV at https://ondemand.dreamracer.tv
H-D 2019 Electra Glide Standard new model announcement
By Wayfarer | | General Posts
Harley-Davidson ELECTRA GLIDE STANDARD delivers an elemental Touring experience powered by the Milwaukee-Eight engine
MILWAUKEE (Mar. 4, 2019) –Powered by the muscular Milwaukee-Eight™ 107 engine, the new Electra Glide Standard is a “Dressed down Dresser” that provides a raw, fundamental riding experience inspired by Harley-Davidson’s Grand American Touring roots.
Designed for the traditional touring customer, the Electra Glide Standard is for the rider seeking to disconnect from all the noise of the day-to-day through riding. No screens, simply a motorcycle that provides and heightens the experience of the journey. This fundamental experience is a key element in the design and engineering of the Electra Glide Standard.
The Electra Glide Standard features essential Harley-Davidson styling elements such as the iconic batwing fairing, chrome trim, standard saddle bags, and cast aluminum wheels. Chrome accents are added in high-impact design areas and complemented by polished rocker, cam and derby covers and select blacked out components – a blend of traditional elements and modern trends.
“To express the stripped-back essence of the Electra Glide Standard we focused on finishes that were simple, timeless, and fundamental to the Harley-Davidson’s touring line. Chrome was added to key components and complimented by polished and blacked out parts, said Harley-Davidson’s Vice President of Styling & Design Brad Richards. “The rocker, cam, and derby covers are finished with chrome to emphasize the V-Twin shape of the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine. In addition, they add a dose of nostalgia that draws a through-line all the way back to the first Electra Glide.”
To provide a raw touring motorcycle experience without riding compromises, the Electra Glide Standard features all the latest ride and handling technology of Harley-Davidson’s Touring line such as standard electronic cruise control, hand-adjustable emulsion-technology rear shock absorbers, 49mm front forks with Showa dual bending valve suspension, and Brembo brakes with optional Reflex Linked and ABS features.
A central part of the riding experience, and a highlight of the Electra Glide Standard, is its Milwaukee Eight 107 cu. in. V-twin engine that features sleek, modern styling that respects the heritage of previous Harley-Davidson big twin engines.
In the Electra Glide Standard, the Milwaukee Eight provides the performance and riding benefits that riders the world over regard and appreciate with quick throttle response, plenty of passing power, and the iconic Harley-Davidson big twin sound.
The Electra Glide Standard is a showcase of an aspect of Harley-Davidson’s More Roads promise to continue to lead the heavyweight Touring segment with compelling products that inspire more riders to fully engage in the sport of motorcycling.
The Electra Glide Standard model is offered in Vivid Black with an M.S.R.P. of $18,999*
* Prices listed are the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices for base models. Options such as color are available at additional cost. Prices exclude tax, title, licensing, registration fees, destination charges, added accessories, and additional dealer charges, if any, and are subject to change. Harley-Davidson reimburses dealers for performing manufacturer-specified pre-delivery inspection and setup tasks. Dealer prices may vary.
About Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has fulfilled dreams of personal freedom by leading the innovation of two-wheeled mobility. The company offers an expanding range of leading-edge, distinctive and customizable motorcycles and brings the brand to life through Harley-Davidson riding experiences and exceptional motorcycle parts, accessories, riding gear and apparel. Learn more about how Harley-Davidson is Building the Next Generation of Riders at www.harley-davidson.com.
Rebirth of a Shovelhead, Part III
By Wayfarer | | General Posts
Prepping for the Charlotte ER Show
By Stealth with photos by the magnificent Vicki
The magnificent Stealth wrote this one week before the wild Easyriders Bike Show in Charlotte, NC. This show was always one of the best in the Easyriders annual series of shows. It consistently brought out the best in customs from the Easter seaboard. Mike faced stiff competition and a dire deadline to finish this restoration on time. Hang on!
Rebirth of a Shovelhead, Part III
By Bikernet Contributor Stealth | | General Posts
EDITOR’S NOTE: The magnificent Stealth wrote this one week before the wild Easyriders Bike Show in Charlotte, NC. This show was always one of the best in the Easyriders annual series of shows. It consistently brought out the best in customs from the Easter seaboard. Mike faced stiff competition and a dire deadline to finish this restoration on time. Hang on!
As I write this, we are a week away from the EASYRIDERS INVITATIONAL BIKE SHOW here in Charlotte.
All we are waiting on is Barnett clutch cable. We should have it in the next day or two. I am running GMA hand controls and the clutch lever takes a late model eyelet style cable, so we called Barnett and had one made with an eyelet for the clutch lever and the early style on the other end. Barnett has always been a GREAT company to work with.
My wife had a very cool sign made for the show, really nice. The old girl now has a name, “GLORY DAYS!”
More about that later. I decided to run a two into one pipe, Fishtail extension, with stock style header pipes.
Changed my mind on the seat, ended up going with a LePera bare bones solo set. It is low and clean and melts into the lines of the bike.
The rear end of the bike is really clean, with smooth fender struts, chrome sprocket, mirror finish rotor, chrome swing arm and a 16-inch rear wheel with white wall tire.
The engine is sharp, classic Shovelhead and detailed. It cleaned up better than I thought it would. All new chrome hardware, new inner and outer primary covers.
Normally where the horn would mount between the cylinders is a modified handlebar clamp cover. It houses the starter button and hiding behind it is the starter relay, very clean and very cool! This was Dean’s idea. Dean is the top wrench at Hollywood’s cycles.
The frame got welds cleaned and gloss powder coating and now it is as slick as a fat baby’s ass! The front end got a new headlight and new mirror finished brake rotor and a lot of polishing.
People keep asking me did I use all original parts? No, I did not ever intend to from the start. It is a restoration, but it is a custom restoration.
As we come to the end of this project there is still anticipation to roll her into the ER show It has been a long road but a fun road. I could not have asked for two better guys to work with, Jay the owner of HOLLYWOOD’S CYCLES and DEAN one of the top wrenches in this area. I appreciate all their efforts and last but not least my wife Vicki for putting up with all of my BS!
Back to the name GLORY DAYS, see this old girl is a 1982 model. Well, I had an ‘82 Shovelhead back in 1985. Yeah, I bought it used. It was my first BIG TWIN, 1340 cc, 80-incher.
I worked at IBM back then and I worked 2nd shift. I would get off at 11:30 p.m. and I got to the parking lot as fast as I could to take off on an adventure on Friday nights. I can’t go into all the details but let’s just say I had a lot of fun.
Yeah they were my “GLORY DAYS!”
As far as if I win an award at the EASYRIDERS show, it would be nice, but if I don’t so be it, I have already won, seeing this bike has brought back a lot of memories of my “GLORY DAYS” and no award could do that.
DON’T LET THE GLORY DAYS PASS YOU BY!!!!
Until next time, keep building!
An Eye on Recent Motorist Rights Court Cases
By Wayfarer | | General Posts
FROM National Motorists Association https://www.motorists.org
Motorist rights cases have made news and even history recently. There have been so many as of late, we are dedicating two separate newsletters to provide some insight on the legal rulings that are affecting drivers around the country.
This week’s newsletter focuses on recent rulings and pending US Supreme Court and federal court cases. Part 2 next week will outline state court decisions.
TheNewspaper.com, featured prominently in these two newsletters, is a great supplement to the NMA’s Motorists.org site for the latest news and opinions on the politics of driving.
The US Supreme Court (SCOTUS)
Last week’s unanimous decision that curtails excessive government fines and property seizures has provided further impetus for one of the NMA’s primary lobbying initiatives: civil asset forfeiture (CAF) reform. The decision received broad bipartisan praise. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote in the ruling that the excessive fines clause is a fundamental restriction that applies to the states under the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. While the SCOTUS decision is monumental, the fight is far from over. Some states still allow the seizure of property from citizens — motorists are prime targets — who have never been charged with a crime. Our work for reform at the federal and state levels continues in earnest.
Additionally, SCOTUS accepted a case in January that will decide whether an unconscious drunk person has given implied consent for a blood draw to determine alcohol level. The case might resolve an important constitutional question: Can state legislatures obviate the warrant requirement by “deeming” that citizens can consent to Fourth Amendment searches without explicitly expressing that consent?
Federal Appeals Court Cases
Judges for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in late January that a person driving a registered vehicle on a public road is not “reasonably suspicious.” Federal authorities appealed a motion to suppress evidence obtained from a border patrol traffic stop in Freer, Texas. The driver turned onto a public road that happened to bypass a checkpoint 50 miles inland from the Mexican border. The U.S. government has declared anything within 100 miles to be under Border Patrol jurisdiction. The Court ruled that turning onto a road that is “known” for smuggling in a truck registered to an individual is not enough to support reasonable suspicion. If it were, then virtually anyone driving within 100 miles from the border could automatically be deemed suspicious.
In December, judges in the Eighth Circuit US Court of Appeals ruled that it is appropriate for officers to use force to ram a driver with an expired registration sticker off the road. The driver sued the Arkansas state trooper for using excessive force and a US District Judge agreed with the plaintiff that the officer was out of line. She felt that at the time the trooper turned on his lights to make the stop, she could not reasonably do so on the shoulder which was unlit, dark and narrow. She continued to drive 20 mph under the speed limit for 42 seconds to find a safer spot, but after she passed an exit the trooper used a precision immobilization technique (PIT) maneuver to push her vehicle into a ditch. She and her young daughter were both injured. The Appeals Court sent the case back to the same district judge who now must determine if the lawsuit can proceed on the basis of malicious intent.
In early February, the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that police do not need a reason to place American citizens on a ‘Suspicious Person’ list. Judge Milan Smith wrote, “Tips and leads required only ‘mere suspicion,’ a lower standard than the reasonable suspicion required for criminal intelligence data and is up to the discretion of law enforcement and other government officials. This case is chilling in the sense that the government can put anyone on the list for not much more than a whim.
The Ninth Circuit US Court of Appeals ruled in January that police cannot demand ID from car or truck passengers without a reasonable suspicion of a crime. The judges agreed that in this Arizona case, the US Supreme Court ruling in Rodriquez v. US, which prohibits police from prolonging a traffic stop by asking unrelated questions, established precedent.
In January, the Eleventh Circuit US Court of Appeals upheld a traffic stop over a fast blinker. Apparently, driving with a turn signal that flashes “too fast” is potentially a criminal act in Georgia. The blinker was actually working properly; the Georgia Code does not stipulate how fast a turn signal should blink, only that all equipment be kept in “good working condition.” The appellate panel suggested that the plaintiff’s blinker was not in compliance because it was in working condition, just not “good” working condition. American jurisprudence at its best.
Check out Part 2 next week when we showcase recent state cases that could impact motorists.
The National Motorists Association is a membership-based organization dedicated to protecting the rights of the motoring public.
Motorcycle Profiling is Official Daytona PD Policy
By Wayfarer | | General Posts
Video footage obtained by the MPP from the North Florida Council of Clubs confirms that motorcycle profiling is not only widespread in Daytona Beach, but it is also official law enforcement policy. In the words of Daytona PD Chief Craig Capri, “If you wear your colors [in Daytona Beach], you’re going to get stopped.” This official policy is unconstitutional and exposes the entire Daytona PD to civil liability. This video evidence also justifies a cost-free legislative solution in the form of a simple prohibition against motorcycle profiling combined with relief for victims.
Chief Capri’s Statement Proves Unconstitutional Practices Are Policy
Without any other evidence, Chief Capri’s Statement alone proves that the Daytona PD profiles motorcycle club members as a matter of policy. This official policy irrefutably violates the 1st, 4th, and 14th Amendments to the US Constitution.
Federal courts have confirmed that motorcycle club colors are protected by the 1st Amendment. To punish an individual through seizure in the form of a profiling stop anyone “who wears the insignia of [a 1% motorcycle club], without regard to or knowledge of that individual’s specific intent to engage in the alleged violent activities committed by other members, is antithetical to the basic principles enshrined in the First Amendment and repugnant to the fundamental doctrine of personal guilt that is a hallmark of American jurisprudence. see Coles v. Carlini 162 F.Supp.3d 380 (2015)
Chief Capri’s statement also violates the 14th Amendment because it represents Selective Enforcement of the law. Capri’s statement proves that the strategy to use traffic stops as a way to punish those exercising their rights of expression and association is premeditated and selective. In terms of the 4th Amendment, any minor traffic pretext used to stop a club member in Daytona Beach should be presumed invalid.
Exposure To Civil Liability
Motorcycle profiling as a matter of policy implicates the entire Daytona PD at an organizational level. Independent of individual officers and incidents, each profiling stop exposes the Daytona PD as an entity to civil liability. Chief Capri is the highest authority at the Daytona PD and clearly articulates a policy of discrimination and Selective Enforcement. 42 U.S.C. Section 1983 provides:
“Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress.“
An Epidemic In Florida
The National Motorcycle Profiling Survey validates the Florida’s profiling epidemic. The 2018 NMPS lists Florida as one of the top motorcycle profiling concerns in America. According to the 2018 NMPS, 65% of Florida survey participants reported being the victims of motorcycle profiling at least once since 2012. These survey statistics are 99% reliable with less than a 2% margin of error. (See NMPS Executive Summary 2018).
Despite promises, Daytona PD has failed to address motorcycle profiling
There is a long history and pattern of evidence establishing that motorcycle profiling is engrained in the Daytona Beach PD. And the Daytona PD has made empty promises when caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
While attending the 2017 Biketoberfest rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, members of the Iron Horsemen Motorcycle Club (IHMC) were the target of blatant profiling and discrimination at the hands of the Daytona Beach PD. The incident, caught on videotape as a result of quick thinking, is irrefutable. The impact on civil liberties motivated the combined efforts of the North Florida Council of Clubs, the National Council of Clubs, and the Motorcycle Profiling Project to immediately respond with a formal complaint and public record requests. These inquiries, based on the video, sparked an investigation into the actions of the officers involved and a review of Daytona PD policies regarding motorcycle clubs, said a source inside of Chief Craig Capri’s office. As a result of the State Attorney’s inquiry, a curriculum was supposed to be constructed and all Daytona PD officers were to be re- trained relating to motorcycle profiling.
Unfortunately, almost 2 years later, motorcycle profiling is alive and well in Daytona Beach. As articulated, motorcycle profiling is still official policy.
A Legislative Solution
Motorcycle profiling is a legitimate national policy discussion. In December, the US Senate unanimously approved S.Res.154 which directs all states to follow the lead of Washington State and Maryland by legislatively addressing and condemning the practice of motorcycle profiling. A prohibition combined with injunctive and actual relief for victims is a simple solution with no fiscal impact. A legislative prohibition would immediately increase exposure to the issue therefore reducing incidents of profiling.
The post Motorcycle Profiling is Official Daytona PD Policy appeared first on Motorcycle Profiling Project.
Threesome Report: Trikes News, Autocycle Adventures, Side-Car Views
By Wayfarer | | General Posts
War Veteran Navy Seal’s custom Trike with a wheelchair in the back, New York delivery trike, Gas powered Dirt trike from Stanford University, Gotcha mobility e-trike, Australia Postmen get e-Trikes for their postage rounds.
Wayfarer reports on the three-wheeled industry boom
Incredible Custom Trike gets a War Veteran back on the road
T3 – A Delivery Trike Is Coming
Comanche gas / electric recumbent trike
Gotcha Unveils Electric Trike for mobility
Australian Postmen bikes to make way for e-trikes
Send me your Trike News, Autocycle Adventures and Side-Car Views – photos most welcome – always at your service at wayfarer@bikernet.com get featured on Bikernet.com
READ IT IN THE CANTINA – CLICK HERE
www.Bikernet.com
Threesome Report: Trikes News, Autocycle Adventures, Side-Car Views
By Ujjwal Dey | | General Posts
Jim Schombs a Navy Seal had a stroke in 2001. The war veteran believed his motorcycle riding days were over. Then he talked to some older veterans he met who had disabilities. The elder veterans told him about Trikes – a motorcycle with one front wheel and two rear wheels which were safer and a lot more fun to ride for bigger adventures on the road.
Thanks to Haus of Trikes & Bikes in Fort Myers, Jim Schombs now is doing the thing he loves the most: Ride a Harley-Davidson.
https://hausoftrikesandbikes.com/Dealer-Info/News
Sales consultant Mike Tinneny knew Schombs’ disabilities were obstacles to riding but also knew how to make it work with a custom built Trike.
On Jan. 21, 2019 Schombs received his new customized 2009 Harley Davidson Heritage trike.
“It gave me a good piece of life back and quality of life back that I thought I wouldn’t find again,” he said.
Without Haus of Trikes & Bikes – one of the largest combined trike and bike dealers in Florida – Schombs may not have been able to reclaim his passion.
“Once you ride a motorcycle, you will never get that out of your blood,” Tinneny said. “It’s a true addiction. Motorcycle enthusiasts will always have that itch, even if they don’t ride for years.”
“I’ve never seen someone so excited to get on his motorcycle,” Tinneny noted.
The stroke of Schombs meant he lost control over most of the left side of his body, including his leg and hand. He would not be able to shift gears on a motorcycle or even a trike. On most motorcycles, the clutch and shifter are on the left side of the bike, the side of Schombs’ body that was affected by the stroke.
“We had to use a centrifugal clutch so he didn’t have to use his hand for shifting gears,” Tinneny said. “Furthermore we added a drag racing shifter, which just uses finger buttons to shift up or down without using your left foot.”
The hardest obstacle to overcome was finding a clean looking way to get into neutral gear, he said, since the shifter is made to race and not fall into neutral.
“To make it work, we changed the barrel in the transmission,” Tinneny said, explaining that, “A normal transmission is set to first gear, neutral, second, third, etc. “We customized it so it starts at neutral then first, second, third, etc.”
To accommodate the wheelchair in the back, the trike is made by Motor Trike. It has an air ride suspension to make up for the additional weight.
Tinneny says he’s done plenty of bikes for veterans in the past, but Schombs’ was one-of-a-kind, “since his needs were very specific.”
He said everything just had to be changed, adding, “It’s a complete custom.”
“We nailed it on the first shot, too,” Tinneny said.
“When you walk up to it you think, ‘Oh, it’s just a Harley trike,’ but the more you look it at it you notice it’s a completely customized trike.”
Manfred Glanzner, owner of Haus of Trikes & Bikes, said in a news release, “I am very proud of our team. We were able to think out of the box and provide a trike, which I believe, will make Jim very happy. Giving back to a veteran who served our country for over 20 years, is the least we can do.”
And it meant a lot to Schombs, too. Tinneny said he would call every few days to check on his trike.
“When he saw it put together, he was on it. He didn’t want to get off it.”
And he still doesn’t.
After Schombs got his new trike, he started out riding in his neighborhood, a two-mile loop. Then he began riding short distances to the store or to see friends. Then he did what he called “further outs” around Cape Coral.
So far, his longest ride has been 25 miles, but Schombs tries to build up his endurance and ride every day.
“Once you ride,” he said. “It’s really special. Like having a really nice car you love that you lost in an accident or something, and you just can’t find the same car again.”
No this is not a rebirth of the Harley-Davison Servi-Car of the 1930s.
The T3 which is a tricked-out tricycle with heavy-duty suspension systems could soon become an option for delivering groceries to New Yorkers.
The T3 is a tricycle built for grown-ups, and it is not for recreation but for hauling.
Weighing at 150 pounds, it has an aluminum frame that sits on three small but durable bicycle tires with a heavy-duty suspension system in front. The suspension is meant for all-terrain vehicles supposed to navigate New York city’s innumerable potholes. It can haul up to three times its weight which means nearly a quarter-ton of cargo. A single click on the handlebar unleashes a power-boost from an electric-hub in the rear wheel to take it uphill.
The “T” stands for “trike,” is a prototype of an urban delivery vehicle from Upcycles which is a Brooklyn start-up founded in 2017. The purpose is to create a greener and more flexible alternative to trucks for delivering everything from groceries to office supplies. The the company built two earlier prototypes. This third incarnation labelled T3 is considered a bicycle under city law. It can travel on and fit within the city’s growing network of bike lanes and park on the sidewalk instead of parking in the street.
Upcycles has attracted the attention and support of Urban-X, a Brooklyn-based incubator program for city-focused start-ups created by the Mini car company. They have invested $60,000. Upcycle’s initial funding of $600,000 came from one of its founders philanthropist Joshua P. Rechnitz.
Two earlier versions were both made from steel and hence far more heavier — requiring more effort to pedal, especially uphill. T3 was designed from the start to be lighter and more easily and cheaply manufactured. Components of the trike include an electric hub motor for the rear wheel, a chain-drive system, suspension system and on-board computer.
“In the next year we are going from a prototype toward production vehicles, building and producing small batches from our shop — it will be about getting them into the hands of our test users,” said Nick Wong, an Upcycles founder member.
Getting a small fleet of the trikes on the street and putting them to work would help grow awareness of T3 delivery trike as per Mr. Wong. This seems like obvious marketing strategy on busy streets of New York with its many delivery on the roads.
T3 is still legally classified as a bicycle and can be parked in and go places trucks cannot since it is not a fully an electric vehicle. Its compact dimensions allow it to fit through standard commercial doorframes for deliveries as well as between anti-terrorism bollards that have been placed on dedicated bike paths of the modern urban landscape.
European cities have introduced restrictions on truck freight deliveries in urban areas. That has in turn helped foster interest in all sorts of human-powered “cargo cycles” leading to many start-ups in the automotive sector. The innovations are seen in personal types of heavy-duty two-wheel bicycles to different models of trikes and even four-wheeled quads.
There is constant innovation in Logistics and urban transport especially with e-commerce, drones, Uber, self-driving vehicles and electric vehicles gaining popularity (and investment) on a global scale.
In South East Asia two-wheeled taxis are common. Now Cargo Bikes present a whole new world of transport which was in the past only seen as humourous Asian memes on the internet where Asian motorcycles were seen transporting bulk goods in a very risky manner.
See our Bikernet.com Article “TWO-WHEELED TRUCKS” from October 2006
https://www.bikernet.com/pages/TwoWheeled_Trucks.aspx
“To some extent we are seeing a return to the way things used to be done and are continuing to be done now in the developing world,” Ms. Alsion Conway an associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at The City College of New York said. “After all, we’ve had bike couriers forever.”
Comanche gas/electric recumbent trike
A new dirt trike is made for adventure. Stanford University aerospace engineering graduate Dak Steiert created the Comanche – a gas or electric-powered recumbent trike that fits in the back of a hatchback or SUV – ready to be transported to adventure sport locations for fun and frolic to begin. Or you could just ride it on the mean streets where you live.
Four versions of the Comanche are hoped for – gas and electric off-road models, along with gas and electric street-legal moped models.
Compared to traditional motorbikes, the planned four are claimed to be more easily transported and offers greater stability. There are a set of outrigger wheels in the back, to keep the trikes from tipping over. They are better cargo-carrying capacity via an optional package that includes dual rear boxes and a rack.
The gas off-road model features a 6.5-hp engine that takes it to a top speed of 45 mph (72 km/h) although optional upgrades to beefier engines boost that figure, maxing out with a 450cc engine that delivers about 70 mph (112 km/h). The electric off-road version, on the other hand, has a 5-kilowatt motor powered by a 24-Ah battery pack. It also tops out at 45 mph, and has a claimed range of 70 miles (112 km) per 5 to 8-hour charge.
The two off-road models have 11 inches of rear suspension travel, with 8 inches of front suspension available as an upgrade. For really serious obstacle-climbing, there’s also a 14-inch independent front suspension option.
The gas moped model has a 50cc engine that puts out roughly 1.5 hp, while the electric moped has a 3-kilowatt motor and a 14-Ah battery pack, delivering a range of about 40 miles (64 km) per charge. In order to stay street-legal, both versions are limited to a top speed of approximately 20 to 25 mph (32 to 40 km/h). And no, they don’t have pedals.
The Comanche is currently the subject of an Indiegogo campaign:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/comanche-electric-gas-3-wheel-moped-dirt-bike#/
There are a number of packages available, with pledges for full vehicles starting at US$2,475 for the base gas off-road or moped models (planned retail $2,975), $4,275 for the base electric off-road (retail $4,950) and $3,650 for the electric moped (retail $4,175).
Gotcha Unveils Electric Trike
Gotcha is known for its bike, scooter, and ride share e-mobility products and now has announced it will add a new three-wheeled electric trike to its portfolio of assets. With this product launch, the company will be the first in the shared mobility industry to offer e-trikes to the public and the only shared e-mobility provider with four distinct products for first/last-mile transportation, all operated through one integrated app.
The Gotcha Trike is an approachable, easy-to-use shared mobility product. The three wheels, state-of-the-art stability reinforcement technology, and a robust kickstand mean it’s more accessible and stable than a two-wheeled motorcycle.
Gotcha Trike goes up to 25 mph and can continuously operate up to 40 miles on a single battery charge. This capability allows riders to traverse significantly longer distances as compared to a scooter or bike.
Gotcha plans to begin adding e-trikes to existing and new systems later this spring.
Gotcha will be hitting the road with its newest mobility product on a 979-mile trek through the Charleston S.C. – the trike will be helmed by none other than the company’s CEO and founder, Sean Flood. Beginning in Tallahassee where the company was founded 10 years ago, Sean Flood will journey on the e-trike for seven days across five states, completing the trek in Austin, TX during the renowned SXSW festival.
“Gotcha’s fleet of e-mobility products delivers a holistic suite of vehicles that provide viable micro-transit options for our riders,” said Sean Flood. “We want to revolutionize the way people view shared mobility. Our e-trike gives riders an alternative option that provides added stability, longer trips, and more accessibility.”
SXSW festival-goers and media members will get the first in-person look at the trike at an event on Sunday, March 10th. Guests will be able to ride e-trikes and Gotcha’s other unique e-mobility products on a test track.
In the evening, Gotcha will premiere a Trike Trek documentary that chronicles Flood’s cross-country trip the previous week. For more details on the event and to RSVP, visit Gotcha’s Facebook page. The track will also be open on Monday, March 11th from 11:00am to 4:00pm for e-trike rides.
Follow along during the Trike Trek on Gotcha’s social, @RideGotcha on Instagram and Facebook. Visit GotchaTrikeTrek.com for more information.
ABOUT GOTCHA: Gotcha is the only mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) company offering four sustainable micro-transit products—e-bikes, e-scooters, e-trikes, and 100%-electric ride share vehicles—through one proprietary, app-based platform. Gotcha empowers communities to lead happier, more productive lives through alternative forms of transportation specifically designed for each market served. Gotcha currently operates over 50 shared e-mobility systems in cities and universities across the US. For more information, visit www.ridegotcha.com , email press@ridegotcha.com or call 843.647.7342.
Australian Postmen bikes to make way for e-trikes
Postie bikes are going to make way for e-trikes as growth in parcels stamps out letter delivery. The sound of the local postie bike coming up the street will give way to the whirl of an electric trike as Australia Post rolls out its new mail delivery vehicles.
Australia Post said the new electronic delivery vehicles (eDVs) had more sun protection and carrying capacity, and would keep posties safer from swooping magpies.
Mitch Buxton, the general manager of network optimisation for Australia Post, said people would start to see more of these types of vehicles coming out to deliver to houses.
“Our postie bikes in the past have been great workhorses, but they are limited in what they can carry,” he said. “It [the wave of new trikes] means there’s a place for a postie many years into the future.”
Online shopping growth means more to carry. Australia Post estimates that the volume of parcels has grown 10 per cent per year, for the past three years. They predict that by 2020 one in every 10 items bought, will be bought online. Therefore posties needed to adapt.
“We’re not really carrying as many letters as we used to and we’re starting to see more parcels,” Mr Buxton said. “These are designed so that we park on the footpath and then service our parcels to the door.”
The trikes were trialled in Tasmania in 2017, and the first wave of the new fleet is being trialled in Rockhampton, central Queensland.
The legacy is 50 years of postie bikes. Honda C110x are the most common delivery bikes, rolled out by Australia Post in 2018. The bikes are only available to Australia Post contractors, meaning only used bikes are able to be bought by the general public.
They have a modified seat area and exhaust to typical two-stroke motorbikes, modifications experts say are in place to improve postie comfort.
Australia Post first introduced motorbikes to its delivery fleet in the 1970s, with the Honda CT90.
Along with these new e-trikes, Australia Post has also ordered a new fleet of 4,000 electric pushbikes.
The new vehicles are a world away from what Rockhampton man Michael McCabe remembers from his time as a postie in 1970. “You had to bring your own bike but you were given a Postmaster General bag, which is now called Australia Post of course,” Mr McCabe said. “I was ‘lucky’ to be given the run that went all the way from Davis Street in Allenstown all the way out to Blackall Street, over all the hills … probably 10 to 20 kilometres. “So by the time I’d done that half a posties run I’d pedalled many, many, many steep hills. “It was all pedal power back then.”
Despite the enormous physical challenge along with the climate bearing down on him, Mr McCabe has fond memories of the job. “My favourite thing were the lovely older ladies on Agnes Street who would always have a glass of cordial waiting for you when you got to the top of the hill.
“I also got to know many dogs.”
According to Australia Post, despite their health and safety benefits, e-trikes have some limitations. Speed and terrain an issue for trikes exist.
“They can’t go everywhere, they do a certain speed and can go on certain terrain,” Mr Buxton said.
“What we’re doing now is going through our entire fleet and all of our rounds and we’re making assessments and making sure that we’re introducing vehicles that are fit for purpose for those types of conditions,” he said.
THAT’S THE ROUND UP FOLKS. Send me your Trike News, Autocycle Adventures and Side-Car Views – photos most welcome – always at your service at wayfarer@bikernet.com
Ride On, Ride Free!!!