THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. If you’ve been involved in any kind of accident, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.



NCOM BIKER NEWSBYTES
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)



THE IMPACT OF BREXIT ON BIKERS
It’s been two and a half years since the referendum that started Britain on its journey out of the European Union, and now time is running out and “Brexit” is due to take place on March 29, 2019 – deal or no deal. With Parliament squabbling, the prospect of a no-deal Brexit is now looking increasingly likely, and that outcome would affect many things including motorcycles.

You may have heard about the United Kingdom reverting to ‘WTO’ rules when it comes to trade, and British biker website www.visordown explains what that will mean: “The World Trade Organization (WTO) maintains an immense database that records types of products and the import duties that countries or trading blocs impose on them. At the moment we’re part of the EU, which means we can trade with other European countries without incurring any tariffs, but once we leave we’ll be outsiders, subject to the taxes they impose.”

On motorcycles under 250cc, the EU charges an 8% tariff, and on bikes over that size there’s a 6% duty. Meanwhile, motorcycle parts and accessories are taxed at 3.7% and bike tires are subject to a 4.5% import duty.

For consumers, if you’re buying a bike made in the EU — such as a BMW — there will be an extra 6% tax to be incorporated into its cost. Even a UK-based manufacturer, like Triumph, would be subject to an import duty on motorcycle parts from EU suppliers, like their Brembo brakes, so even British-made bikes are likely to become more expensive in a no-deal scenario.

Exports might be less of an immediate concern to the everyday bike buyer, but they have an impact on the motorcycle industry in Britain, and without a deal in place exported bikes would be taxed by the EU at WTO rates.

Of course, once out of the EU the UK government will need to negotiate their own trade deals not only with Europe, but with other trading partners such as Japan, the U.S. and China, but the bottom line is that there’s little prospect that a no-deal Brexit will make bikes or bike-related parts any cheaper.

In the meantime, the uncertainty of Britain’s economic future has negatively impacted motorbike sales in the UK, plummeting 17.9% in December following an overall 2.9% gain in 2018.



FEDERAL JURY DECIDES MONGOLS MUST FORFEIT LOGO
In a first-of-its-kind verdict with far-reaching legal implications, a federal jury ruled that the Mongols motorcycle club must forfeit the logo worn by its members, finding in favor of prosecutors’ novel claim that there is a direct link between the club’s crimes and its trademarked insignia.

Last month, the jury in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, Calif., found the Mongol Nation guilty of racketeering and conspiracy, classifying the group as a criminal organization, and their verdict on Friday, January 11, 2109 was the second phase of a trial that focused on forfeiture of assets in a decade-long quest by the government to dismantle the club.

The verdict will lead to the forfeiture of the group’s legal interest in the word “Mongols” and some of their patches, as well as Mongols items seized during the investigation, prosecutors said. If upheld, this will give the right to any law enforcement officer who spots a club member wearing the logo to stop him and confiscate the branded item.

The trial next moves to a third phase, in which U.S. District Judge David O. Carter will decide how the forfeiture is carried out. He declined to immediately order the logos forfeited and set a hearing next month to address possible First Amendment issues raised by the verdict, agreeing to solicit briefs from a variety of experts, including trademark attorneys, law school professors, civil rights organizations and think tanks.

The judge’s decision highlights the new legal ground being broken in the unprecedented case, which has attracted national attention and is virtually guaranteed to go before the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals and perhaps the U.S. Supreme Court.



CALIFORNIA TO BEGIN ENFORCING MODIFIED EXHAUST PENALTIES
As of January 1, 2019, a modified exhaust on an automobile or motorcycle in California, excessively loud, can no longer be cited as a correctable violation. Previously, if you were cited you had time to get it fixed in order to avoid paying the fine, but Assembly Bill AB1824 carves out an exception for exhaust noise by removing the opportunity to correct the violation and requires a citation to result in a fine only.

AB 1824, which was sponsored by the Assembly Committee on Budget and signed into law by then-Governor Jerry Brown in June of 2018, does not change existing laws pertaining to exhaust noise or sale and installation of aftermarket exhaust systems, but rather amends how excess exhaust noise violations are handled by law enforcement. Beginning this year, a vehicle cited for violating the current exhaust noise law will no longer receive what is commonly known as a “fix-it” ticket. Instead, violations will result in an immediate mandatory monetary fine.

The fine for a California traffic ticket for “a loud exhaust system” is up to $1,000 dollars.



HELMET-FREE SCOOTERS
Assembly Bill 2989, the e-scooter bill sponsored by California Assemblyman Heath Flora (R-Ripon), removes the requirement for riders of motorized (electric) standup scooters in the Golden State to wear a bicycle helmet, provided they are 18 or older. The new traffic law also prohibits riding a motorized e-scooter on highways with a speed limit greater than 25 mph, or roads with a speed limit greater than 35 mph, unless it is within a marked bikeway.

Meanwhile, Assembly Bill 3077, sponsored by then-Assemblywoman Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) provides law enforcement the ability to issue a “fix-it ticket” to anyone under 18 who doesn’t wear a helmet while on a bicycle, skateboard or skates. The newly enacted violation is correctable if the minor completes a bicycle safety course and gets a helmet that meets safety standards within 120 days of the ticket being issued.



UTAH BECOMES FIRST IN NATION TO LOWER DUI LIMIT TO .05 PERCENT
The Beehive State made history on December 30th by becoming the first state to lower its blood alcohol concentration limit (BAC) for drunken driving to .05 percent, just in time for New Year’s Eve.

Utah lowered the drunken driving BAC from .08, the national limit imposed by former President Bill Clinton in 2000, to .05, making it the nation’s strictest DUI law. Utah’s new law also says anyone who “operates a motor vehicle in a negligent manner causing the death of another” will have committed criminal homicide, which is a felony.

In 1983, Utah was the first state to lower its blood alcohol limit from 0.10 to 0.08 for impaired driving. It would take nearly two decades for every state to follow suit, but as they did, the nation’s rate of alcohol-related traffic deaths dropped 10%. Now, Utah is pioneering the move to lower it once again.

Utah State Representative Norm Thurston (R-Provo) sponsored the bill at the request of the National Transportation Safety Board, which has been urging states to lower DUI limits to 0.05 since 2013.

The American Beverage Institute says the new lower limit targets social drinkers and calls the law an “attack on the restaurant and hospitality industries,” claiming nearly 70% of alcohol-related fatalities in the U.S. are caused by drivers with a much higher BAC of 0.15 and above.



SCIENCE PROVES THAT RIDING A MOTORCYCLE IS GOOD FOR YOU
Motorcyclists have always said there’s no better prescription for stress than riding a bike, and now a study from the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, at the University of California, Los Angeles, seems to confirm that.

The recent study, funded by Harley-Davidson Inc., demonstrated potential mental and physical benefits of riding, including decreased levels of cortisol, a hormonal marker of stress.

Three UCLA researchers studied more than 50 motorcycle riders in tests that recorded their brain activity and hormone levels before, during and after riding a bike, driving a car and resting. The bike ride resulted in a 28% decrease in biomarkers of stress, according to the researchers.

On average, riding a motorcycle for 20 minutes increased participants’ heart rates by 11% and adrenaline levels by 27%, similar to light exercise, as well as their focus and alertness.

Harley-Davidson says the study’s findings validate what it’s known for more than a century: that riding is good for your mental health.

This means the next time you are sitting at your computer feeling sluggish or that you get home after a long a stressful day, the answer to getting back on track or relieving some of the tension could be to simply go out for a ride…doctor’s orders!



DO SELF-DRIVING CARS ‘SEE’ MOTORCYCLES?
Lane-splitting is an accepted maneuver by motorcyclists all over the world, but in America it is only practiced by riders in the Golden State. California-based Tesla, whose cars are well represented on California highways, seems to be aware of motorcyclists’ unique filtering capabilities there and has been working to ensure their Autopilot systems detect the presence of a lane-sharing rider in traffic.

However, YouTuber Scott Kubo recently posted a video to test the functionality of motorcycle detection while lane-splitting, and apparently detecting an approaching motorcycle seems to be hit and miss in Version 9 of Tesla’s neural net Autopilot software. It’s clear from the clip that the system confuses motorcycles with cars at times, and can even miss a motorcycle entirely if the motorcycle is moving at a good clip. It’s tough to determine how useful this detection would be in its current state in real-world application.

In the YouTube clip Kubo explains that the current 360° camera system (2.0 and 2.5) can process 200 frames per second (or 200fps) spread across the eight cameras positioned around his Tesla car. So, each camera has an equivalent frame rate of 25fps — a decent digital SLR camera can have over 100fps and an iPhone can shoot at up to 240fps. It might be that the current system just doesn’t have a high enough frame to capture fast moving motorcycles.

Self-driving cars are still a burgeoning field of technology with some bugs to work out, and Tesla warns that Autopilot should not be used without some sort of human interaction, but would you want to be rolling up behind a robotic car knowing that an inattentive driver may not be quick enough to take over the manual controls if they “didn’t see the motorcycle”?



DRIVERLESS CAR KILLS ROBOTIC PEDESTRIAN
In what some are labeling “Robot-on-Robot” crime, an autonomous self-driving Tesla car struck and “killed” a robot roaming down the middle of the roadway in a hit-and-run accident during the recent consumer electronics show in Las Vegas.

Many mainstream news agencies worldwide reported the incident as legitimately newsworthy, though it is generally believed to be an over-the-top PR stunt staged by Russian robotics company Promobot ahead of the CES.

Stay tuned to NCOM Biker Newbytes for “real news”, nothing FAKE, as we have provided bikers with reliable, timely, relevant motorcycle news for over a quarter century!



DUTCH POLICE CALL ON PARLIAMENT TO QUICKLY BAN OUTLAW BIKER GANGS
Dutch authorities want Parliament to speed up a legislative proposal that will allow the Justice Minister to immediately ban “outlaw motorcycle gangs” emerging in the Netherlands, said police chief Pim Miltenburg, in charge of the motorcycle gang file at the police.

Currently, banning an outlaw motorcycle club is a lengthy job in the Netherlands. A court must decide whether the ‘gang’ is acting in conflict with public order. “The disadvantage of this type of procedure is that we can not arrange it in a short period of time, but it takes months or years before it is completed”, Miltenburg told NLTimes.nl.

The police say they would prefer if the Minister of Justice and Security can ban a motorcycle gang immediately, with a judge testing the ban afterwards.

So far Dutch courts banned two well-known motorcycle clubs, Satudarah and Bandidos. The Public Prosecutor also stated plans to get the Hells Angels and No Surrender banned sometime this year, adding that some two thousand people in the Netherlands now belong to an outlaw motorcycle gang.



~ Max Nordau (1849 – 1923) Hungarian physician, author and social critic

NEW BIKERNET AND Bikernet Blog Programs

 

 

 

Keith R. Ball
1-310-528-9258
KRB@Bikernet.com

CLIMATE DEBATE CONFIRMED—We confirmed our answers. Okay, let’s see if we can make the Climate Debate simple:

Alarmist: Watch out for Global Warming!
Facts: Oops, sorry it’s not warming but actually cooling slightly. And no, we are not going to face an ice age tomorrow because of something man made.

Alarmist: CO2 is destroying the planet!
Facts: Oops, it’s not. CO2 levels are the lowest they’ve been in centuries. Every plant on the earth needs CO2.

Alarmist: Most of the CO2 comes from mobile sources like cars and trucks!
Facts: Oops, sorry, maybe less than 10 percent. Cows produce more than 50 percent.

Alarmist: The seas are rising!
Facts: Oops, sorry, centuries ago they rose 10 inches a century. Now they are rising only 7 inches every 100 years.

Alarmist: We can blame every storm and quirky weather pattern on man.
Facts: Oops, sorry. The weather has been much worse before man came along. If it wasn’t for climate change Earth wouldn’t exist. Nothing to do with man.

Alarmist: All the scientists agree, man is the bad guy.
Facts: Oops sorry. They made that up so they can control every aspect of your life. Watch out. Actually, because of man we are safer and healthier than ever before.

We asked the boss of the Climate debate, Marc Morano, to check our assumptions and he made one correction.

Thanks. Very well said. Only one correction: “CO2 levels are the lowest they’ve been in centuries.”

It should read lower now than the entire past history of the Earth.

— Marc Morano
202-536-5052
Morano@ClimateDepot.com

Join your local or a national motorcycle rights group and ride free forever. We aren’t the bad guys.

And if you’re up for it, read Marc’s book for the entire scam exposed.—Bandit

We followed the news: Nitro Circus and Indian Motorcycle, America’s first motorcycle company, announced that Travis Pastrana will be jumping an Indian Scout FTR750 when he looks to pay tribute to Evel Knievel, the founding father of motorcycle stunts, and surpass America’s most iconic daredevil. “Evel Live”, an unprecedented three-hour live event premiering Sunday, July 8th at 8PM ET/ 5PM PT on HISTORY in partnership with Nitro Circus.

We will see Travis Pastrana attempt three of Knievel’s most famed jumps on the Scout FTR750, including jumping the length of 52+ crushed cars, 16 Greyhound busses, and the ill-fated Caesars Palace fountain jump that left Knievel grasping for his life.

If successful, Pastrana will be the first individual to complete all three jumps in one three-hour timespan and on a motorcycle similar to those Evel used.

The Indian Scout FTR750 is a flat track racing motorcycle designed to push the boundaries of speed and redefine control with two wheels firmly on the ground. Rewinding time, you find the motorcycles Evel jumped were designed for similar purposes. However, neither were intended for jumping.

“It was extremely important to use a motorcycle similar to the ones Evel jumped. The Indian Scout FTR 750 is just that, a modern-day evolution of the flat track motorcycles of the past,” said Pastrana. “It has the power I need and handles well, but I’m only going to have a few days to get comfortable on it, not to mention I’ve never jumped a V-twin before. I’ve got my work cut out, but we’re used to going big at Nitro Circus, so we’ll make it happen.”

The Indian Scout FTR750 is far different from the lightweight motocross bikes you would typically find Travis Pastrana jumping. The engine of the FTR750 features a powerful 750cc 53-degree V-Twin and utilizes 43mm conventional front suspension with an adjustable Ohlin’s mono-shock on the rear.

Introduced in the American Flat Track racing series in 2017, the Indian Scout FTR750 secured 14 victories along with the manufacturer’s and rider’s championship in its first year of competition. So, they reached out to Roland Sands from Roland Sands Design, who is an experienced racer and amazing builder and an Indian fan to dial in these bikes for this historical event.

“We stayed with the stock forks but Jimmy Wood dialed them in for jumping with stiffer springs and a re valve,” said Roland. “We replaced the rear shock with a reteach shock that had an inch more travel, which on a bike with only three inches of total rear wheel travel made a big difference. We had to make a few changes during testing as we bent some swingarms after bottoming we found the limit and further stiffened the shocks.”

If you watched the History Channel show, you know the wild outcome.

“Dirt bikes have far more travel, up to 14 inches,” said Roland Sands. “The Scout has, I think, 4 inches of travel in the front. With a bike that weighs over 100 lbs more than a dirt bike with far less suspension it makes for a dangerous combination if it’s not set-up right. The margin for error is thin even when you have it set up perfect. Mistakes were not an option.”

LAS VEGAS (Sunday – July 8, 2018) – Sunday night, in front of an estimated 25,000 fans watching in-person from Las Vegas and more tuning in live on television across North America, action sports superstar Travis Pastrana celebrated Evel Knievel during the unprecedented HISTORY live event, “Evel Live.” Produced in partnership with Nitro Circus, “Evel Live” saw Pastrana pay homage to Knievel’s legacy as he set out to recreate three of the American legend’s most iconic jumps.

Pastrana pushed the limits even further though, breaking Knievel’s famous car and Greyhound bus jump records before completing the epic Caesars Palace fountain jump that left Knievel grasping for his life 50 years ago. Shortly after Pastrana took a celebratory dive into the Caesars Palace fountains to cap off the night, #EvelLive trended at #1 on Twitter.

“I’m thrilled to have had this opportunity to honor Evel Knievel, whose guts and showmanship created the foundation for action sports,” Travis Pastrana said afterwards. “Evel pushed himself and flew further on a motorcycle than anyone thought possible. So with this modern day tribute we wanted to bridge generations.”

In just three hours and under the pressure of a live TV broadcast, Pastrana first topped Knievel’s 1973 jump over 50 crushed cars by soaring more than 143 feet in the air over 52 vehicles.

Then he surpassed Knievel’s 1975 jump over 14 buses, flying nearly four stories high and covering a jaw-dropping 192 feet to clear 16 modern-day Greyhound buses.

“We gusseted the swingarms,” said Roland, “where we had some failures. The frames stayed Indian factory stock.”

Afterwards the first two jumps, Pastrana took to the streets with a police escort to ride to the Caesars Palace jump site. Fans quickly lined Las Vegas Boulevard, exchanging high-fives with Pastrana from taxis and the side of the road as anticipation for the finale built. The motorcade quickly closed The Strip.

Then Pastrana faced the Caesars Palace fountain jump that nearly took Knievel’s life a half-century ago after his infamous crash. As if that wasn’t daunting enough, given the expansion of Caesars Palace since Knievel’s ill-fated attempt, Pastrana had only a 200-foot run-in to accelerate to the 70-mph speed necessary to clear the fountain.

Pastrana also had to contend with stifling heat reaching 102 degrees and, just before the event, potential thunderstorms.

“Dirt bike weights vary anywhere from 220 to 250 pounds,” said Roland. “The FTR he jumped weighed a little over 350. Evel’s bike would have weighed about the same as the FTR.”

Even in ideal conditions and if he hit his speed marks perfectly, Pastrana would land with just a few feet to spare.

“The 2-into-1 pipe was the right pipe for the mapping and acceleration we were looking for,” said Roland. “The bike never had to sustain high speeds, but it had to accelerate like a beast to get Travis up to speed on the fountain jump. The run up was short-short and the bike isn’t a drag bike, it drops off pretty hard out of the gate until it gets the revs up, then it’s a beast.”

But, after arcing over the fountains, Pastrana touched safely down on the landing ramp to the roaring crowd and a flash of pyrotechnics.

“We’re proud to of been apart of the project,” said Roland. “It really felt like a defining moment for motorcycling and for Travis and as a result of the success a great moment for us as well. There was a lot riding on the jumps, primarily the life of my friend (Travis) who we sent over those gaps. It was a huge relief when it was over. Anything can happen and sometimes does, so we were ecstatic it all happened like it was supposed to.”

This electrifying event paid tribute to Evel Knievel in every possible detail. From Pastrana riding a Indian Scout FTR750, a modern day evolution of the flat track motorcycles of the past — and very different from the modern-day dirt bikes Pastrana usually rides – to the white leather suit and helmet decked out in American stars and stripes just like Knievel’s classic livery, these specifics illuminate how much Knievel achieved and the impact he has had on generations of fans.

“The moto cross seat we did with Saddlemen was really neat,” said Roland. “The TT foot controls, which make the foot controls the same on both sides (they are staggered for flat track) were seriously helpful, if your not riding a flat track. All the mods were to make Travis comfortable. They wouldn’t be mods you would make for riding around in a circle. Outside the paint job by Airtrix which would look good on just about anything.”

Spiegler brake lines

“The wheels are the exact wheels you can purchase from RSD for flat track racing,” said Roland. “They are the same wheels that came on the FTR with no modifications outside of the TT front brake set up. Normally a flat track bike has no front brakes.”

Paint by Airtrix

THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. If you’ve been involved in any kind of accident, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

NCOM BIKER NEWSBYTES
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

FEDERAL AGENCY SEEKS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON NEW MOTORCYCLES IN THE U.S.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended that all new motorcycles built for road use in the U.S. have anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control as standard equipment. The federal safety agency says that ABS has been required on passenger cars since 2000, and electronic stability control has been required since the 2012 model year, but the technology has lagged for motorcycles and requiring it would save lives.

The NTSB voted unanimously 5-0 during their September 11 open board meeting to make the recommendations to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which has authority to impose regulations.

NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) determined that anti-lock brakes could reduce motorcycle fatalities by 31%. “That is a sizeable safety benefit that the U.S. is leaving on the table, leaving on the pavement, actually,” he told the Associated Press (AP).

Eric Emery, the NTSB’s Safety Research Division chief, said anti-lock brakes would allow riders to use maximum braking force without fear of the wheels locking up and skidding, improving the chances of keeping control of bikes in an emergency.

Anti-lock brakes are currently standard on 8.9% of U.S. motorcycles and are optional on 13.3%. Anti-lock brakes were required in Europe starting in 2016 on motorcycles with engines larger than 125 CC, agency officials said. Other countries are discussing or requiring it, including Australia, Japan, China and Brazil.

NTSB ISSUES NEW RECOMMENDATIONS TO “IMPROVE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY”
Safety issues surrounding the causes of motorcycle crashes, and the prevention of crashes through better integration of motorcycles in crash warning and prevention systems and the use of advanced braking and stability control systems, were the subject of a National Transportation Safety Board meeting conducted Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018 in Washington, D.C.

During the public hearing, staff from the Office of Research and Engineering and the Office of Highway Safety presented findings and recommendations from the “2016 Motorcycle Crash Causation Study” on select risk factors associated with the causes of motorcycle crashes, which were adopted unanimously by the five-member board.

Among 10 recommendations included in the report, “Select Risk Factors Associated with Causes of Motorcycle Crashes,” are calls for all new on-road motorcycles sold in the United States to be equipped with antilock braking systems and that the federal government establish performance standards for electronic stability control on motorcycles sold in the U.S.

Additionally, the report recommends that motorcycles be fully incorporated in the development of technology for on-board crash prevention and vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure systems.

It also calls for further study and strategies regarding alcohol and drug use on rider crash risk, and to evaluate the effectiveness of motorcycle licensing procedures.

The NTSB does not typically investigate motorcycle crashes, but it conducted a motorcycle safety forum in 2006 and issued recommendations as a result. It has been more than 10 years since the NTSB has issued new recommendations “to help reduce motorcycle crashes and improve safety.”

ENDING CARB
The Trump Administration has announced plans to revoke a special waiver that currently allows California to regulate vehicle tailpipe emissions differently than what the federal government mandates, which would eliminate California’s more stringent greenhouse gas standards imposed under CARB (California Air Resources Board).

CARB’s stricter smog standards have been adopted in thirteen states and the District of Columbia, representing nearly 40% of the nation’s new vehicle sales.

SIKH HELMET EXEMPTION GRANTED IN ONTARIO ON RELIGIOUS GROUNDS
This winter, Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation says Sikh riders will be exempt from the province’s mandatory motorcycle helmet law due to the wearing of turbans. The possibility of an exemption has been a contentious topic for years throughout Canada, with some arguing that it would pose a safety risk, but now Premier Doug Ford says he will make the change in recognition of Sikh motorcycle riders’ civil rights and religious expression.

The change, if it goes forward, will see the province of Ontario fall in line with Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba, where exemptions are already in place. Helmet exemptions in other provinces have also proven to be controversial, with safety being a sticking point for some.

In Alberta, the exemption went into effect April 12, and the insurance industry is taking a wait-and-see approach to the exemption, with insurance providers unsure if the new risks would translate to higher insurance premiums for Albertans.

EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLE SALES ON THE RISE
As a tariff-burdened American motorcycle industry struggles, the European market boasted a 7.2% growth in nearly all its two-wheeled sectors in the first half of this year.

In an industry that supports 156,000 employees throughout Europe, it’s good news that the overall two-wheeled sector continues to gain traction. Within the first 6 months of 2018, new motorcycle ownership across Europe increased by almost 42,000 over the same period in 2017– from 526,889 to 564,851.

Antonio Perlot, Secretary General of the European motorcycle industry association ACEM, said: “Our latest registration figures for the EU show, once again, the importance of two- and three-wheeled vehicles as a solution to the mobility needs of people, particularly in large urban areas that suffer from congestion problems.”

“The latest increase in sales, particularly in the motorcycle segment, is a very positive development. Newer and more environmentally friendly vehicles are being added to the European vehicle fleet, which according to our estimations is now close to 36 million units.”

SELF-RIDING MOTORCYCLES BEING DEVELOPED
BMW Motorrad recently demonstrated a completely autonomous motorcycle at their testing facility in the south of France, when an R-1200 GS independently drove off, accelerated, circled a winding test track and automatically slowed down to a stop, dropping neatly onto its kickstand.

BMW says it is “by no means aiming for a completely independent motorbike,” but the technology is being developed to further improve safety systems, especially those around riding dynamics – how a bike behaves in certain situations on the road and how it can help the rider in an emergency situation,” according to a Motorrad spokesperson.

The autonomous bike is also a testbed for V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) communication and digital networking.

So in the future, when your Smart Bike is plugged into the sensors and networked information sources that will be here soon, it will be able to step in and prevent a much wider range of accidents…with data from a self-driving car in a blind turn ahead of you, your bike will ‘know’ that a possible impact is ahead and warn you to take action.

Plus, a very advanced set of safety algorithms may be able to step in when riders make errors of their own — like panic-braking mid-curve or not leaning over enough to get round a tight corner. If your bike knows exactly where it is, what’s around it, and what it’s doing, it can predict a situation and take over — leaning the bike farther, reducing engine torque, applying some rear brake, etc.

So why are BMW and other bike firms working on smart, autonomous, self-riding ‘robot bikes’?

Because self-driving cars and smart highways are coming — sooner than you think, and whether we like it or not — and there’s currently little regard being paid to the needs of motorcycling, and how it will fit into the infrastructure of the future; so if the manufacturers don’t provide an answer to ‘how will bikes become safer and work with other autonomous vehicles’, no-one else will.

FEMALE BIKERS UNITE IN WORLDWIDE RELAY
As the name implies, the Women Riders World Relay aims to unite lady bikers with one aim; passing a baton around the world on two wheels, across even the most remote of locations.

WRWR, as it’s now known, was formed at the end of August by Hayley Bell from Warrington, England, in an attempt to wake the motorcycling industry up to the sheer number of female riders on the road. “I want to unite women riders globally, do something that’s never been done before, and to show the industry the force behind the market that is so blindly overlooked,” the 27-year old said.

Hayley set up the WRWR Facebook page just weeks ago and has already gathered more than 5,700 members, from as far afield as Pakistan, Bangladesh and South Africa. Australia is by far the most heavily represented country on the page, followed by the U.K.

Hayley aims to have got at least 17,000 women bikers on board by December 2018, with a plan to launch the world relay in Spring 2019.

BATTERY BUYERS IN ENGLAND COULD FACE CHARGES
Laws in the U.K. regarding motorcycle batteries have changed to help counter terrorism. A new law states that anyone purchasing a dry motorcycle battery with a separate acid pack will now require a valid Explosives, Precursors and Poisons (EPP) license.

The ruling, effective July 1, 2018, means that anyone purchasing a battery of this kind without the correct license could be charged with a criminal offence and comes as part of a larger British counter terrorism initiative. Battery acid packs contain sulfuric acid, which could be used as a precursor to the production of explosives.

The change in the law is expected to have huge implications for the motorcycle battery market, with many retailers already deciding to end the sale of dry batteries in their stores and online.

NCOM BOARD MEETING AND REGION V SEMINAR
The Board of Directors of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) will meet on November 10, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee, in conjunction with the Region V Meeting of NCOM Member Groups from Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee (NCOM Region V).

Following the conclusion of NCOM business in an open board meeting, attendees will gather from throughout the Southeastern region to discuss motorcycling matters unique to or occurring in their states.

This is a FREE event and all motorcyclists are invited to attend on Saturday, Nov 10, 10am-6pm at the Radisson Hotel Nashville Airport, 1112 Airport Center drive, Nashville TN 37214 tel:615-889-9090, or contact NCOM at (800) ON-A-BIKE for additional information.

RIDER BUSTED AFTER COPS VIEW 120MPH FOOTAGE ON SEIZED HELMET-CAM
He came to police attention after rear-ending a taxi in Southampton, England, leaving his female passenger with minor injuries. Officers seized his helmet-mounted GoPro as part of their investigation into dangerous driving charges; on which they found footage of him riding at 120mph along a major highway just four days earlier, as well as 105mph on another busy thoroughfare.

The footage was shown during a two-day trial, and the 19-year old motorcyclist was found guilty of two counts of dangerous driving and sentenced to 50 hours of unpaid community service, and he was also disqualified from driving for 15 months, after which he will have to pass an extended re-test before he is allowed back on the road.

~ John Stuart Mill (1806-1873), philosopher and economist

This is a synopsis from the NTSB’s report and does not include the Board’s rationale for the conclusions and safety recommendations. NTSB staff is currently making final revisions to the report from which the attached conclusions and safety recommendations have been extracted.

The final report and pertinent safety recommendation letters will be distributed to recommendation recipients as soon as possible. The attached information is subject to further review and editing to reflect changes adopted during the Board meeting.

Executive Summary

Motorcyclists—motorcycle riders and their passengers—have the highest risk of fatal injury among all motor vehicle users. In 2016, 5,286 motorcyclists died in traffic crashes in the United States (NCSA 2018). Per mile traveled, motorcyclist fatalities occurred nearly 28 times more frequently than passenger vehicle occupant fatalities in traffic crashes (NCSA 2018).

Like accidents across all modes of transportation, motorcycle crashes are complex events that can be influenced by multiple human, vehicle, and environmental factors. However, because motorcycles afford riders less protection, the likelihood of injuries and fatalities in a crash is much greater.

In this safety report, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) assesses select risk factors associated with the causes of motorcycle crashes in the United States and makes recommendations for improving motorcycle crash prevention.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provided the data analyzed in this report from its 2016 Motorcycle Crash Causation Study (MCCS). The MCCS represents the most recent data available for studying motorcycle crashes and risk factors in the United States since the US Department of Transportation published its comprehensive Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures report in 1981.

The NTSB analyzed the MCCS crashes involving a motorcycle with an engine displacement that exceeded 50 cubic centimeters or a maximum design speed above 31 mph, and at least one reported injury sustained by the motorcycle rider or passenger. All crashes occurred in Orange County, California, between 2011
and 2015.

The NTSB’s research goals were to (1) identify and assess factors that contribute to motorcycle crash risk, (2) compare these factors with previous research findings about motorcycle crash risk, and (3) evaluate the need for motorcycle safety improvements.
This safety report analyzed select risk factors associated with the causes of motorcycle crashes and evaluated strategies for crash prevention.

The MCCS data were appropriate for identifying factors associated with an increase or decrease in motorcycle crash risk that warranted further evaluation. These factors were then examined as potential safety issue areas and compared to existing motorcycle safety research and publications to determine the need for safety
improvements.

Previous NTSB safety recommendations to encourage universal motorcycle helmet use and to establish a per se blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.05 grams per deciliter or lower for all drivers were not reiterated in this report. Nearly 100% of all motorcycle riders and passengers analyzed in the MCCS were wearing helmets, presumably a direct result of the universal helmet law in California. Although the use of a helmet is an important safety issue associated with the protection of motorcycle riders, injury mitigation (and therefore helmet use) was beyond this safety report’s scope and stated focus on motorcycle crash causation and crash prevention.

Concerning the role of alcohol, the BAC for the majority of the riders and passengers was either not tested or not available in the MCCS.

The NTSB identified the following motorcycle safety issues:

• Inadequate integration of motorcycles in crash warning and prevention systems
and with vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure systems. Multiple-vehicle crashes involving a motorcycle and another motor vehicle represented the majority of the crashes in the MCCS.

In many of these crashes, the other vehicle driver reported not detecting the motorcycle or that a dangerous condition existed, and the motorcycle rider reported having insufficient time to react and complete a collision avoidance
maneuver.

Vehicle-based crash warning and prevention systems on passenger vehicles and connected technologies (vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure) all have the potential to prevent crashes involving motorcycles by improving motorcycle conspicuity.

integrate motorcycles.

• Need for enhanced braking and stability control systems on motorcycles.

The reduced stability on a motorcycle compared to four-wheeled vehicles can make braking, swerving, and other collision avoidance maneuvers more complicated.

More than a third of the crashes analyzed involved a loss of control that contributed to crash causation. Running wide on curves and slide outs due to inappropriate braking were among the most common loss-of-control scenarios. More widespread availability of enhanced braking and stability control systems on motorcycles could improve safety by enhancing the effectiveness of braking, collision avoidance performance, and stability control for both novice and experienced riders.

• Limitations of the most recent data collected on motorcyclist alcohol and other drug use and motorcycle crashes in the United States. Although alcohol and other drug use is well established as a risk factor in motor vehicle collisions, more focused research is needed to understand the contribution of alcohol and other drug use as a risk
factor in motorcycle crashes and whether specific countermeasures could reduce alcohol- and other drug-related motorcycle crashes.

The MCCS attempted to collect the data needed to support such research; however, rider BAC and any indicator of the presence of drugs other than alcohol were either not tested or not available in many cases.

• Need to evaluate the effectiveness of motorcycle rider licensing procedures.
Licensing procedures are intended to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities by requiring that riders have the basic knowledge and skills to ride a motorcycle safely. However,there is widespread variation in motorcycle rider licensing procedures across the United States. Despite efforts to ensure that all riders are licensed, the greater number
of unlicensed riders involved in fatal crashes, when compared to unlicensed drivers of other motor vehicle types, has remained largely unchanged over the past decade.

There has been limited independent research on unlicensed riders or the effectiveness of motorcycle rider licensing procedures, which makes it difficult to measure the impact
these procedures are having on reducing motorcycle crashes, injuries, and fatalities.

1. Many high-risk traffic situations between motorcycles and other motor vehicles could be prevented if vehicle drivers were better able to detect and anticipate the presence of a
motorcycle when entering or crossing a road, making a turn, or changing lanes.

2. Motorcycle riders’ collision avoidance performance could be improved by extending the range of hazard detection and providing riders with more information, enhanced awareness, and more time to react to crash risks

3. Vehicle-based crash warning and prevention systems will be most effective at preventing collisions when they can reliably detect all vehicle types, including motorcycles.

4. The integration of motorcycles with connected vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure systems has been limited compared to other vehicle types.

5. Antilock braking system technology would improve motorcycle safety by enhancing the effectiveness of rider evasive actions through improved braking performance and stability.

6. Stability control systems on motorcycles could reduce single-vehicle crashes that involve loss of control and running wide on a curve and off the road, which would reduce the prevalence of motorcyclists killed or injured by impacts with roadside fixed objects.

7. More focused research is required to understand the contribution of alcohol and other drug use as a risk factor in motorcycle crashes and whether specific countermeasures could reduce alcohol- and other drug-related motorcycle crashes.

8. Motorcycle licensing procedures have not been adequately evaluated for safety and effectiveness, which makes it difficult to determine if current licensing procedures are achieving reductions in motorcycle crashes, injuries, and fatalities or encouraging unlicensed riders to become fully licensed.

As a result of this safety report, the National Transportation Safety Board makes the following safety recommendations:

To the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

1. Incorporate motorcycles in the development of performance standards for passenger vehicle crash warning and prevention systems.

2. Incorporate motorcycles in the development of performance standards for connected vehicle-to-vehicle systems.

3. Work with the Federal Highway Administration to incorporate
motorcycles in the development of performance standards for connected
vehicle-to-infrastructure systems.

4. Require all new motorcycles manufactured for on-road use in the United States be equipped with antilock braking system technology.

5. Conduct or sponsor research to evaluate the effectiveness of stability control systems for motorcycles.

6. Based on the research recommended in Safety Recommendation 5, develop
and publish performance standards for stability control systems on
motorcycles, and require systems meeting those standards on all new
motorcycles manufactured for on-road use in the United States.

7. Examine the influence of alcohol and other drug use on motorcycle rider crash
risk compared to that of passenger vehicle drivers, and develop guidelines to assist states in implementing evidence-based strategies and countermeasures to more effectively address substance-impaired motorcycle rider crashes.

8. Evaluate the effectiveness of state motorcycle licensing procedures for
reducing motorcycle crashes, injuries, and fatalities among novice and
unlicensed riders; based on the results of that evaluation, update the Guidelines
for Motorcycle Operator Licensing or other guidance as appropriate.

To the Federal Highway Administration:

9. Work with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to incorporate motorcycles in the development of performance standards for connected vehicle-to-infrastructure systems.

To the Motorcycle Industry Council, the American Motorcyclist Association, and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation:

10. Inform your members about the findings of this safety report, and promote the safety benefits of advanced motorcycle antilock braking and stability control technologies.

FHWA (Federal Highway Administration). 2016. Motorcycle Crash Causation Study
(Cooperative Agreement DTFH61-06-H-00034). McLean, VA: Turner Fairbank Highway
Research Center.
Hurt, H. H., J. V. Ouellet, and D. R. Thom. 1981. Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and
Identification of Countermeasures. DOT HS-5-01160. Los Angeles, CA: University of
Southern California.
NCSA (National Center for Statistics and Analysis). 2018. Motorcycles: 2016 Data. DOT HS 812
492. Washington, DC: NHTSA.

Comments:

What about infrastructure issues?

Comment: Not so much. They seem to shift blame away from government responsibility and liability to manufacturers and end users. Rather than improvement that can be made to infrastructure, recommendations for ABS and traction control systems were made. Effectively, making motorcycling much more expensive. This applies to all on road motorcycles.

After the sudden death of his wife and a fractured relationship with his two daughters, John Moore along with his best friend Charlie Wylde, decide to ride their motorcycles from Long Island, New York to the West coast. In this modern day western, they are reminded of the beauty this country has to offer, encounter many interesting people, and unexpectedly discover something about themselves.

“Life is a ride…one mile at a time.”

Veteran Tom Berenger stars as an old widower consumed with regret seeking absolution in riding his motorcycle cross-country to confront the mistakes of his past.

The two old men on motorcycles from New York find adventure and meaning on the road as a younger Biker who lives the wild biker lifestyle on a daily basis joins their trail. Women, youth, past, the present, all the desires, expectations and regrets come together along with bar fights, guns and what if anything is missing in our lives or what could have possibly been a better alternative, better choices of the long gone past.

As some would say, Youth is wasted on the Young – or as a Biker would say – Live Free and Die Hard.

Quick, recognise which models these guys are riding and which year.

Actor Tom Berenger was honorary ride captain of the 2017 Buffalo Chip Legends Ride and guests dined at the exclusive Legends Lunch all to benefit local charities.

Most well-known for his roles in “Platoon,” “Major League,” “The Hatfield’s & McCoys,” “Inception,” “Sniper,” “Training Day” and “The Big Chill” Berenger also stars in the movie “American Dresser,” which was partially filmed at the Buffalo Chip and was set to be released soon in theaters last year.

The Ride proceeds were split with the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and dedicated for future expansion. Proceeds from the Lunch benefited the Infinite Hero Foundation and the Sgt Colton Levi Derr Foundation.

Tom Berenger and Keith David on two “dressers” – loaded touring bikes built for comfort, go on a ride from Long Island to the West Coast. While Berenger’s character is a widowed alcoholic disappointment to his grown up daughters, David’s character is his fellow trooper from Vietnam War who is going to lose his leg in his old age and decides to tag along for the ride.

Old school ridiculous biker humour includes a guy named Willie who looks at them and asks, “You guys were in Vietnam? You see any action?”

Youtube Trailer: https://youtu.be/WzXs2KnieJ8

Everybody has a past, everybody has a crutch – I recommend a motorcycle and regular visit to Bikernet.com™.

With a running time of 1:37 the movie is shot on a modest budget and not an action movie nor a philosophy lecture – just a bunch of men and women discovering themselves as they roll where the road of life takes them.

wayfarer@bikernet.com

We are living through strange times. There was a code once. It was a rough as the blades on these up-swept pipes or as tough as the ride on this rigid mounted seat.

It was a time when bikers took over for the outlaws of the west. Every night was a roll of the dice. Our bikes were much like this one stripped to the max. With as little as a few bucks in out pockets, a buck knife and a welder’s leather over an old military jacket we struck out to find excitement in the night.

It might have been a girl or the wrong bar and a fight to see who stood tall or ducked a tequila bottle. Our bikes represented everything to us. Some of us worked only for parts and enough change to make it to the next run site in the desert, maybe Cochella Valley or Indio. Shit was crazy and the only girls around were nuts, really nuts, but we didn’t care. There were no long-term relationships.

This bike smells and looks like the past. Aki bought the engine, trans and a pink slip at a swap meet and went to work building the frame.

“This is my favorite set up, jockey shift and suicide clutch and no front brake,” said Aki. “I was shooting for simple and clean chopper. Frame was built with stainless neck, motor mounts, axle plates. Also I fabricated stainless pieces on the bike. I love the way polished stainless stands out in gloss black paint.”

“We can build your one of a kind motorcycle,” Aki said. “There are no limitations.”

He came to America a long time ago and became an American biker, building and living off his bikes. He rarely ventures home to Japan or runs in Japanese circles. He builds motorcycles and just wants to create wild shit in an Hawaiian Gardens concrete industrial park across the street from Chopper Dave.

Here’s what Aki said about his shop, “We are your Harley-Davidson (H-D) maintenance and custom repair shop. We have been in business since 2009 offering quality build, service, parts and accessories for your motorcycle needs.

NOTE FROM HARDTAIL CHOPPERS: The only stainless I’m doing now are stock Necks for $475 . Raked stainless necks $575 . 6 week wait . Have stainless axleplates for $325 . Single downtube stainless necks are 30-degree necks, and run $400 . No sidecar loops at this time. Front stainless mount $270. Rear mount $325 not machined for cross-over tube. Do all these in steel at lower costs.

–John Grant
Hardtailchoppers.com
360-750-6780
John@hardtailchoppers.com

Thanks once again for your help over the years . Anything I can do for you, let me know.
Regards and respect. Will have all three Knucklehead necks very soon, 25-28-30 degree. No price yet.

“We specialize in working on any Harley-Davidson: Evolution (Evo), Twincam, Shovelhead, Sportster, Dyna, old, new, you name it, bring it in, we can work on it!” Aki said. “Whether your bike requires an oil change, service work, or maintenance because your taking it out for the season or you’d like to make some repairs, minor custom work to full custom rebuild; give us a call!”

I took my grandson to Aki’s shop when Michael Lichter was in town for Born Free. He was blown away by Aki’s shop and old school style.

“Akis shop was very cool right off the bat, with the chopper attitude screaming out from the wall art and also the custom parts fabricated by him on his bikes,” Frankie said. “I noticed how he was a well rounded mechanic working on everything from old Pans to new Dyna’s and seemed to take a lot of pride in being independent, while also maintaining a charismatic humbleness about him while showin’ is around.

“He’s proud to be an American bike builder. I really took notice to the paint jobs he has done on most of his choppers that they stay in the same realm of cool iconic motorcycle symbolism but done in a different unique way. Also really liked how he kept a few of his custom builds low, having a little bit of a gangster vibe. Cool shop. Ride forever. FTW

“If you need an insurance estimate, we can do that too!” Said Aki and then went back to his grinder.

Owner:
AKI SAKAMOTO/HOG KILLERS

Bike Name: NEGRITA
City/State: HAWAIIAN GARDENS /CA
Builder: AKI SAKAMOTO/HOG KILLERS
Company Info: HOG KILLERS INC
Address: 21111 Juan Ave Hawaiian Gardens CA
Phone: (562)276-3427
Web site: www.hogkillers.com
E-mail: aki6636@gmail.com

Fabrication: HOG KILLERS
Manufacturing: HOG KILLERS
Welding: HOG KILLERS
Machining: HOG KILLERS

Year: 1961
Make: HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Model: FLH
Displacement: 74CI
Builder or Rebuilder: HOG KILLERS
Cases: HARLEY DAVIDSON
Case finish: Polished
Barrels: Painted
Bore: 3-7/16-inch
Pistons: HARLEY
Lower end: HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Stroke: 3-31/32-inch
Rods: HARLEY
Heads: HARLEY
Head finish: POLISHED
Valves and springs: HARLEY
Pushrods:HARLEY
Cams: ANDREWS
Lifters: HARLEY
Carburetion: S&S SUPER E
Air cleaner: VIDA

Exhaust: HOG KILLERS

Year: 1961
Make: HARLEY DAVIDSON
Gear configuration: 4-speed
Primary: OPEN
Clutch: HARLEY
Final drive: CHAIN
Kicker: HARLEY

Frame

Year: 1961
Builder: HOG KILLERS
Style or Model: RIGID
Stretch: STOCK
Rake: STOCK
Modifications: STAINLESS NECK, MOTOR MOUNTS, AXLE PLATES from Hardtail Choppers

Front End

Make: HOG KILLERS
Model: 39MM
Year: I DON’T KNOW
Length: 6-OVER
Mods: HOG KILLERS TREES

Sheet metal

Tanks: HOG KILLERS
Fenders: HOG KILLERS
Oil tank: HOG KILLERS

Paint

Base coat: BLACK
Graphics: BLACK
Type: BLACK
Frame: BLACK
Molding: BLACK

Wheels

Front

Size: 21
Make: I DON’T KNOW
Brake calipers: no front brake
Tire: AVON

Rear

Make: AVON
Size: 18-inch
Brake calipers: PM
Brake rotor: PM

Controls

Foot controls: HOG KILLERS
Finish: POLISHed

Master cylinder: PM
Brake lines: GOODRICH
Handlebar controls: HOG KILLERS
Brake Lines: GOODRICH

Shifting: HANDSHIFT

Electrical

Ignition: MAGNETO
Wiring: HOGKILLERS
Headlight: SMALL
Taillight: HEARTLAND

What’s Left?

Seat: HOGKILLERS
Gas Caps: HOGKILLERS
Handlebars: HOGKILLERS
Grips: ANDY
Pegs: HOGKILLERS