Motorcycle Technology News

Take action now: Help stop the ban on youth model OHVs

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) has effectively banned the sale of youth off-highway vehicles (OHVs) as of Feb. 10, 2009. The AMA is calling for action now to help reverse the potentially devastating effect this could have on the sport of OHV recreation.

Here are some quick links to ways you can help reverse this decision:

• Contact your representatives in Congress by using the Take Action button in the Issues and Legislation section of this website.
• Write the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) directly to encourage them to exclude youth model OHVs here.
• Read the AMA press release on this issue here.
• Read the AMA's comments to the CPSC here.
• Click here to download a PDF version of the CPSIA.
• Regarding the use of motorcycles purchased prior to Feb. 10, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) has compiled a list of prohibited acts in the CPSIA. Neither riding a previously purchased motorcycle nor promoting a race that includes those motorcycles is included on that list. Download the list from the CRS here.

See below for a sample letter to cut, paste, edit and submit to the CPSC:

Acting Chairman Nancy Nord

Commissioner Thomas Moore

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

4330 East-West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814



RE: Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act



Dear Chairman Nord and Commissioner Moore: 



My family is heavily involved in youth motorized recreation, and I’m extremely concerned with the devastating affects that the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) is having on our sport.    



Because some youth-model off-highway motorcycles and ATVs are intended primarily for use by children ages 12 and younger, these vehicles are subject to the lead content limits specified in the CPSIA. According to motorcycle and ATV industry sources, most motorcycle and ATV components are compliant with the CPSIA’s lead limits, but some components unavoidably contain small quantities of lead in excess of the CPSIA’s limits. However, the nature and location of these components suggests a very minimal exposure risk.

Although the CPSC published proposed procedures for seeking exclusion from the lead limits, there was no practical way for manufacturers and distributors of ATVs and off-highway motorcycles to seek and obtain exclusions prior to the Feb. 10 effective date for the new requirements. Thus, my motorcycle dealer can no longer sell certain youth-model machines or the parts that I need to maintain my family’s youth machines.

I fear that if this issue is not addressed immediately, irreparable harm will be done to the powersports industry. Many of the small dealers and suppliers are already struggling with an unfavorable economy and will not survive the loss of their youth vehicle and parts sales.

Furthermore, it is of utmost importance that young riders only ride appropriately sized machines. To suddenly eliminate the availability of all ATVs and motorcycles designed for riders ages 12 and under will likely cause some consumers to purchase vehicles that are physically too large for young riders.   



In summary, the unreasonable and rushed implementation of the CPSIA is unwarranted and unnecessarily harmful to my family’s recreation, and may negatively affect youth motorcycle and ATV safety. 


I respectfully request that you grant the manufacturers’ and distributers’ petitions for emergency relief and temporary exclusion from the lead limits of the CPSIA. 



Sincerely,

[signed]

Recovery package could spark Harley-Davidson stimulus

The Business Journal of Milwaukee

Harley-Davidson Inc. could reap some benefits of the two-year, $789 billion economic recovery and stimulus deal reached between the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate earlier this week.

The stimulus package includes an expansion of a tax credit for people buying new cars and light-duty trucks to also include buyers of motorcycles. The change occurred as a result of an effort by Wisconsin Sens. Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold, both Democrats, along with senators from Missouri and Pennsylvania, where Harley-Davidson has plants.

Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HOG) announced in late January that it plans to cut 1,100 jobs over two years — including 645 in the Milwaukee area — and close facilities in Wisconsin. The heavyweight motorcycle manufacturer is cutting its work force to reduce production levels to match an expected decline in demand for its motorcycles in 2009.

“Like other struggling businesses, sluggish sales have led to job losses in the motorcycle industry and the dealerships that depend on it," Kohl said in a press release. "We should do all we can to help Harley-Davidson weather this poor economy so they can boost sales and retain jobs, and we hope this provision in the economic recovery package will move us in that direction."

Expansion of the tax credit should attract more motorcycle buyers, Feingold said in the joint press release with Kohl.

“This effort to make it easier for consumers to purchase motorcycles as well as cars should help lead to more Harley sales and more Wisconsin jobs," Feingold said.

The economic recovery and stimulus package could be approved by Congress as early as Friday before being signed by President Barack Obama.

How much stress can a Suzuki GSX-R1000 motorcycle frame take?

Posted by Armand Rossetti
Thursday, February 12, 2009 4:23 PM EST

In January 2009, Suzuki recalled 26,082 GSX-R1000 (GSX) motorcycles manufactured in 2005 and 2006. Reportedly, the fractures are occurring behind and below the steering neck of the GSX-R1000 K5 or K6 frame.

Suzuki's recall notice places the blame on riders who use the GSX to perform repeated hard landings after lifting the front wheel off the ground. Suzuki also reports that collisions may result in the front wheel fork assembly fracture. However, one GSX owner reported hearing of lots of broken frames right in the vacinity of the welds that hold parts of the frame together; his own GSX fractured at the weld joints.

The official Suzuki “gixer” forum features posts from GSX owners and service people. In one blog thread, a GSX service manager noted that since January 23, 3009, Suzuki has been supplying its dealerships with dye kits to check for cracks in the frame. The service manager mentioned the if a dealership should find cracks, the GSX frame would have to be replaced, and if no cracks were apparent, the dealer would have to install brace kits on the unaffected frame. Furthermore, if any dealership should decide that it must replace the entire motorcycle frame, that dealership would have to contact Suzuki and allow Suzuki to make that decision on a case by case basis.

One CSX dealership, Cernic’s Cycle World in Somerset Pennsylvania notified its affected CSX customers about the recall and provided further information. Here is the statement from Cernic’s:

“THE FRAME INSPECTION/ REPLACEMENT ARE FOR K5 AND K6 GSXR1000. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU HAVE A WARRANTY ON YOUR BIKE OR NOT. THE FRAME IS TO BE INSPECTED AND IF IT’S CRACKED OR BROKEN SUZUKI WILL REPLACE THE FRAME, IF ITS POLISHED SUZUKI WILL GET IT POLISHED OR CHROMED OR CUSTOM PAINTED.DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO THE FRAME. IF THE FRAME ISNT CRACKED OR BROKEN IT WILL REQUIRE THE FRAME BRACE KIT FROM SUZUKI. EVEN IF YOU GET A REPLACEMENT FRAME IT WILL STILL REQUIRE THE BRACE KIT. THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 2A08. IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR REQUEST THE INSPECTION TO BE DONE I CAN BE REACHED AT CERNICS CYCLEWORLD 814-443-1666 OR BRIAN@CERNICS.COM WE ARE LOCATED IN SOMERSET PA 15501. WE ARE WILLING TO PICK UP ANY CUSTOMERS UNITS THAT REQUIRE THE CAMPAIGN. BRIAN KRONEN/ SERVICE MANAGER CERNICS CYCLEWORLD.” [Emphasis added].

After reviewing all of the above, it seems curious that Suzuki is so quick to blame all CSX frame fractures on extreme rider use or front end collision, while ignoring the fact that such extreme use is not limited only to Suzuki motorcycles.

In fact, there are many aspects of routine use that stress motorcycle frames; and those forces have been well known to the motorcycle manufacturing industry for years. For quite a while, engineers have been writing scholarly papers describing the mathematics behind forces that occur during such routine motorcycle use, and two such papers have used the Suzuki GSX-R1000 as the test motorcycle; one written in 2004 and another written in 2007.

Therefore, it seems reasonable that if all existing 2005 and 2006 GSX frames (including brand new replacement frames coming from Suzuki) need bracing, GSX frame engineering specifications might need replacing.

Besides, shouldn't a vehicle this fast be limited to use on a race track?

All-New Electric Motorcycle

More Than Just Green: All-New Electric Motorcycle

(NAPSI)-Here's a truly electric concept: a dirt bike that offers performance and fun, allowing riders to enjoy themselves without disturbing nature or neighbors.

While many Americans are opting to drive motorcycles, which get better gas mileage than cars, a number of environmentally conscious consumers are going one step further-and coming up with Zero.

Now hitting the trails is the 2009 Zero X, a high-performance electric dirt bike that utilizes a proprietary lithium-ion power pack and a handmade, aircraft-grade aluminum frame to deliver surprising power and explosive acceleration. With a 23-horsepower electric motor and a total weight of 151 pounds, it can keep pace with conventional gas off-road motorcycles without the related noise and pollution problems.

Built from the ground up using the ultimate electric motorcycle technology and boasting 50 foot-pounds of torque, the Zero X is a stealthy machine that races up hills, flies over jumps and splashes through streams. And it can all be done without disturbing nature or neighbors.

New features on the Zero X make it faster, stronger and more durable for handling the most demanding terrain. Upgraded elements include the drivetrain, frame, suspension, brakes, wheels and tires.

Unencumbered by conventional thinking about how they design, manufacture and sell high-performance electric motorcycles, Zero Motorcycles is on a mission to turn heads and revolutionize the industry by combining the best aspects of a traditional motorcycle with today's most advanced technology. The result is an electric motorcycle line that's incredibly fast and environmentally friendly.

The Zero X is available for purchase online and shipping now. For more information, visit www.zeromotorcycles.com.

Today's electric motorcycle is redefining transportation, with power and speed that won't disturb nature.

Jeremy Lusk dies at 24; freestyle motocross star

Nicknamed 'Pitbull' because of his tenacity on a motorcycle, Lusk is believed to be the first pro rider to have died from injuries sustained in an FMX contest.

By Pete Thomas

5:33 PM PST, February 10, 2009

Jeremy Lusk, star of a daredevil sport known as freestyle motocross and a popular action sports hero, died early Tuesday from head injuries suffered during a crash Saturday at a competition in San Jose, Costa Rica. He was 24.

Lusk, a Temecula resident, had been in a medically induced coma, with swelling of the brain, at Calderon Guardia Hospital in San Jose. A spokesman at the hospital said he suffered severe brain damage and a possible spinal cord injury.

Nicknamed "Pitbull" because of his tenacity on a motorcycle, Lusk was injured after failing to fully rotate a back-flip variation while soaring over a 100-foot jump.

He slammed headfirst into the dirt on the landing ramp's down-slope. It was reminiscent of a similar crash he endured while attempting the same trick during the 2007 X Games at the Home Depot Center in Carson, but Lusk walked away from that incident.

The trick involves extending the body away from the motorcycle and grabbing the seat as the motorcycle is upside down, then pulling back aboard as the motorcycle is righted before landing. Lusk clearly had trouble getting back on the seat, and some witnesses said swirling winds within San Jose's Ricardo Saprissa Stadium may have been a factor.

Despite the danger associated with freestyle motocross, Lusk is believed to be the first pro rider to have died from injuries suffered in an FMX contest, though several have incurred serious injuries.

Lusk, who was born San Diego in 1984 and had been riding motorcycles since he was 3, turned pro at 19. He was coming off his most successful year.

He won his first X Games gold medal in the freestyle motocross competition last summer at the Home Depot Center, and won a silver medal in the FMX best-trick contest.

Also in 2008, Lusk won two gold medals in an X Games Mexico competition; he finished third in the Dew Tour series standings, and he was never lower than fourth in a string of high-level international events.

The X-Knights competition Saturday in Costa Rica was not affiliated with the X Games.

Of Lusk, X Games General Manager Chris Stiepock said: "He was really starting to emerge as one of the premier freestyle motocross riders in the world.

"He was a great kid and a great athlete. I think he represented his sport very well. He was very passionate about what he did, and I think it's a great loss for the freestyle motocross community for sure."

Stiepock said he did not believe the increasingly risky maneuvers attempted by freestyle motocross riders have pushed the sport over the line. "I think there's a whole lot more that can be done with freestyle motocross, and we're going to continue to feature it strongly at the X Games," he said.

Lusk was on a team of star FMX riders called Metal Mulisha, founded by the sport's most iconic figure, Brian Deegan.

Deegan was in Costa Rica and unavailable for comment but released a statement through his publicist: "Jeremy motivated me to be a better person; he was my best friend. The bond of this team is one that will never be broken."

Lusk is survived by his wife, Lauren, and his parents, who were with him when he died.

Memorial services are pending. The Jeremy Lusk Trust Fund has been set up within the Athlete Recovery Fund. Donations can be made via the website athleterecoveryfund.com.

pete.thomas@latimes.com

Motorcycle shop celebrates 25 years

Steve Kasten was about 6 or 7 years old when he first assembled a motorcycle out of a shipping crate in his dad's Yamaha dealership. He started racing bikes professionally when he was about 15, and this year is celebrating 25 years in business as the owner of S-K Service in Hatley.Owning a motorcycle dealership and service shop allows Kasten to immerse himself in his passion for bikes, even though it's difficult to find time to go riding recreationally, he said.

"I look forward to getting up in the morning and going to work," said Kasten, now 45. "It's a fun business."

S-K Service, 100 Clark St. in downtown Hatley, sells used motorcycles and new bikes built by Royal Enfield, a brand introduced in England in the late 1800s and now built in India.

Kasten's father, Bill, said the used and collector markets remain strong, though he feels sorry for those trying to sell new motorcycles, particularly Harley-Davidson.

"They're suffering the most because they were selling the most," said Bill Kasten, 71, who has been selling motorcycles since the 1950s and helps his son at the shop. "It's a good market right now for old cars and old bikes. You can put it in a garage and store it, and 15 years later it's going to be worth a lot more than you bought if for."

Steve Kasten knows a bit about buying and storing rare bikes, with a collection of close to 100 machines he rarely rides. He keeps a number of the bikes in his shop just for people to look at.

"Some are brand new and have never been ridden," Bill Kasten said. "He just buys them and parks them."

Said Steve, "My goal one day is to build a museum to put all the stuff in it."

Until then, he is content to spend his time fixing and selling motorcycles and racing dirt bikes at tracks all across Wisconsin.

In addition, the Kastens have begun planning their 22nd annual motorcycle swap meet, the largest and longest running event of its kind in the state. Scheduled for May 1 and 2, the swap meet is a place to find Japanese and European motorcycles and parts, with an auction of collector bikes.

S-K Service is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. To learn more about the shop or the swap meet, call 446-2225, or visit www.s-kservice.com.

Motorcycle Airbag Jackets – They could save your life!

IMPACT JACKETS - personal airbag protection jackets

IMPACT JACKETS - personal airbag protection jackets for motorcycle and horse back riders alike. After the helmet, personal airbag protection jackets may be the most important safety innovation you can wear and for a limited time, they're on sale too!.

Video Courtesy WTTG - MyFoxDC

IMPACT JACKETS, LLC is a company that's committed to making available safety equipment for both motorcycle and equestrian riders. The company takes pride in offering products that may help in the reduction of serious injuries that are becoming too common in our everyday lives.

OPERATION:

Each IMPACT JACKET comes with a landyard (already attached to the jacket) two anchoring cables and a CO2 cartridge as part of the complete airbag system. First, an anchoring cable is connected to the frame of your bike. Then, when you get on your bike, simply connect the IMPACT JACKET’s lanyard to the anchoring cable and you are ready to ride. When you get off, unhook the landyard from the anchoring cable and walk away.

If you forget to unhook yourself, don’t worry, it takes 25-35lbs of pull force to deploy the airbag system leaving enough room to minimize false inflations.

In the event of an accident, when the rider is ejected from the bike the landyard will separate from the bike activating the CO2 cartridge to instantly inflate the jacket in approximately one half second. In a crash, the IMPACT JACKET provides extra protection to the most vulnerable parts of the riders body like the front chest area, side ribs areas, and back The IMPACT JACKET also provides added support for the neck.

IMPACT JACKET are reusable after inflation, however they should be inspected by an authorized dealer for damage before reuse. The CO2 cartridge is good for one inflation only and must be replaced by an authorized dealer.

NOTE:  The IMPACT JACKET is made to be worn by adults and children 100 lbs and over.

TESTING:

The IMPACT JACKET airbag system was tested for Inflation and Impact by Intertek, the industry's leading company for automotive airbag deployment systems testing. Intertek does the airbag system testing for Ford, GM, Chrysler and Honda.

IPJ Special Limited Sale!

From Feb.5th until Feb.14th 09. Receive a 25% instant discount!! Enter the code: IPJ25 in the coupon section at the checkout to SAVE BIG!  Limited Stock Remaining!!! 

February 7, 12:51 PM

by Bruce Hosking, Boomer Biker Examiner

Where bikes go to die: Denver's motorcycle graveyard

Steele's Cycles is Denver's motorcycle graveyard (and salvage)

Like elephants, motorcycles have their common burial grounds where they go to die. Unlike elephants, parts off these dead bikes come back to keep their compatriots alive.

In Denver, the motorcycle graveyard is located just west off Santa Fe Blvd. at Union. It is called Steele's Cycles. The address is 2025 W. Union Ave.

Steele's sells a bit of everything. Their showroom holds about 80 bikes of all sorts, from cruisers to dirt bikes with a good share of sport bikes. Accessories and other parts are stored inside as well, and then there is the outside.

Outside you'll find the carcasses of hundreds of motorcycles of all makes and models. If you're looking for a frame, or a fork, or a crankcase for a particular model you can probably find it here. Just be prepared to spend some time finding it. Bikes are grouped by make but it may not be easy to recognize your model with half its parts gone.

Steele's bills itself at "Colorado's oldest and largest new and used motorcycle parts source. They also perform service and they sell new parts as well as used ones.

Long-time Steele's employee Bob Burkler observes that while the bad economy is hurting everyone, salvage is "probably a pretty good business to be in right now. Someone who might have just gone to a dealer for a new part might come here now to get that part for less." He also notes that the demand for small bikes is up a lot. Steele's sells used bikes of all sorts but does not have much in the way of scooters.

Burkler also says that Steele's is a good place for anyone with an older bike. Dealerships will tell you right out that they do not want to do service on older bikes, but that is what Steele's specializes in.

So. Looking for a headlight for that 1980 Honda CB? Need a front fender for that 1987 Virago? How about an entire motor kit for a 2002 Suzuki GSXR 600? Steele's may very well have just what you need.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Call 303-781-5339.

February 8, 1:49 PM

by Ken Bingenheimer, Denver Motorcycle Examiner