More Morning Moto News - Aprilia Recall, Honda Racing & CPSIA + MIC

The recall for the 2010 Aprilia RSV-4 has been updated. The North American side of this issue now has the RSV-4 engines on hand and the replacement should be complete in the next two to three weeks. That's good news for all the owners; at least they will get them done in time for summer!

http://tinyurl.com/yz7ocz5

Honda has now put out a press release detailing their factory racing efforts for the entire spectrum of motorcycle racing. They talk about MotoGP, WSBK, BSB, Moto2, etc. So, take the link and grab the racing update from Big Red.

http://tinyurl.com/yg7xb7b

The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) in the US managed to deliver some 4000 signatures from experts, who work in the motorcycle industry and some who specialize in safety, to the US Congress yesterday. The petition calls for there to be an exclusion from the CPSIA bill for youth-oriented motorcycles and ATVs. It's really a simple idea and Congress should act on it soon. We do need your help, though, so please read the linked article and contact your legislators today!

http://tinyurl.com/ybar88k

And, More Morning Moto News - Paolo Flammini & CPSIA Changes

At the Infront Motor Sports annual pre-season World Superbike press meeting, CEO Paolo Flammini pointed out some key points of this year's series. He even tried to predict the outcome of the series slight based on the exit of Ben Spies. Flammini even covered the new schedule and the change to the British round of the series - from Donington to Silverstone. It was a good event and it excited us for the year to come in racing.


http://tinyurl.com/yb76ymh

The news keeps getting bigger and it is apparently not attracting enough attention, so they keep pushing it up higher and higher - and we should be very glad for this! This is the movement to make a change to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) to exempt youth motorcycle and ATVs from that new law. The CPSC, as we all know, has delayed action, but Congress needs to get something done quick before we end up with no options for our children who want to ride. If you have not done it yet, contact your Congressional representative now and ask them to help.

http://tinyurl.com/yeapnl3

MCN Motorcycle Show Update, Trails Videos and Tasmanian Riders

The Carole Nash MCN Motorcycle Show will take place at the ExCel in London during 4 - 7 February 2010. Get your tickets now! Or, try to win them through the various means available all over the U.K. Anyway, we have an update which includes all of the changes to date for the event. For all information on the show, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yh33abh

From our friends (and helpers) at the AMA, we have a selection of Public Land Advocacy Videos produced by the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC). The videos are meant to help local organizations and individuals keep the trails open in their part of the country. The videos help with everything from organizing against closures, to how to lay out a plan to keep the trails open and even clean. For more information, please take the link. If you ride off-road in the US, this is for you!

http://tinyurl.com/yjxrdu4

A pair of motorcycle racers from Launceston in Tasmania will be representing their island in the annual Phillip Island Classic to be held this weekend. They will be riding a 1966 250cc Bultaco Metralla, a 1972 TR3 350cc Yamaha, and an old Suzuki 500c.c. GP bike in the event. Please take the link and learn more about these very brave souls...

http://tinyurl.com/ykmy5ve

http://tinyurl.com/ykmy5ve

Friday Evening News from the Moto World - AMA and Safety

The American Motorcyclist Association has announced the class distinctions and dates for the brand-new 2010 AMA Racing Vintage National Dirt Track Championship Series. This will hopefully be a very successful series throughout the US. The only limitation may be that all of the dates are in the East with the exception of two rounds in Texas. There is good reason for it to head to California or at least team up with the West Coast Flat Track Series to host events. It is very tempting to get out there and join in the fun!

http://tinyurl.com/yjp8qbs

Some people still do not get it - helmets save lives. I have seen racers high-side and land on their head and then walk away - on their own power - because the helmet did its job. I need no more evidence. Riding a motorcycle without a helmet is not accepting your risk. Even if you are the best rider in the entire planet Earth, you cannot control the actions of the cagers sharing the road around you. So, this new study has shown that fatalities have gone up in the seven years since Texas repealed its mandatory helmet laws. D'oh! Of course...the good news is that overall fatalities were likely down in 2009 - but that is simply due to fewer people riding due to the economy and the fact that Americans still consider motorcycles to be 'recreational vehicles.' No helmet = Organ donor

http://tinyurl.com/y9joplj

Thursday Evening Is Here and So Is More Moto News

A North Carolina law firm, Hardison & Cochran, has joined with a nationwide motorcycle safety promotion and education program known as the Road Guardians, a project of Accident Scene Management Inc. (ASMI). The Road Guardians promote motorcycle safety through many avenues including the road and online. The partnership will increase the reach of the Road Guardians program, which we all hope will continue to do very well at what they do.

http://tinyurl.com/ydrbv5u

This next one was going to be a link directly to the AMA website, but the blog post linked below actually sums things up much better - and it has direct links for the AMA. This is the 2010 AMA Motocross Rider Classifications for the 2010 AMA Amateur Motocross Season. Plus, there are some rule explanations regarding the classification.

http://tinyurl.com/ye63qnd

http://tinyurl.com/yayeenf - Direct AMA link

We also have another way to take action towards reforming the CPSIA to keep the CPSC from eliminating youth motorcycles and ATVs. Go there, read it, and take action!

http://tinyurl.com/ybvc5h9

Nice AGV Backmarker at Road Racer X Magazine

I had to post this one because it is a really good article. There are some misses, sure, but not much. Mark Gardiner writes a good piece which includes the things he is "thankful for." It is great that he mentions the AMA's efforts in trying to raise awareness of the distracted driver issue, which cannot be mentioned enough anywhere - and a really good reason that the electric motorcycle industry is doing so well now. The short bit about getting his US Green Card and the Department of Homeland Security was interesting, but I think he actually left out the more absurd parts of his experience. On this Thanksgiving Day (in the US), remember that there are some things which all of us are actually grateful for in this life.

http://tinyurl.com/yfgupqb

Important Legislation Action: AMA Urging Congress to Safeguard Youth Access To Off-Highway Vehicles

This is, of course, is about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and its restrictions on lead. Please contact your legislators and ask them to support language in the fiscal year 2010 Financial Services appropriations bill or the Omnibus Appropriations bill which will exempt off-road motorcycles from the CPSIA lead requirements. The fact is that no kid will be chewing on the battery terminals or the Schrader valve on their wheels. And, if they do not get vehicles their size, they will likely use something which is much too large for their age. So, think about safety and help get this language written into law!

http://tinyurl.com/y8n6rya

Try this link for Action: http://americanmotorcyclist.com/legisltn/rapidresponse.asp

Motorcycles Get Greener in the the USA for 2010

In 2010 the EPA's standards for emissions from motorcycles becomes more strict. The new rules apply to all street-going motorcycles, some off-road bikes and some scooters. It all depends on their size and how they are to be used. The good part of all of this is that the motorcycle industry gets even more environmentally benign, which is not a bad thing for us. Additionally, we have lost no power or performance due to this. Take the link and learn more...

http://tinyurl.com/ygbtr4k

News Briefs from American Motorcyclist Association

Looking for information on various political issues surrounding motorcycling? Well, the AMA will always have you covered there as that is one of their primary missions. But, if you are interested in looking into threats to our riding rights, please take the link and at least briefly review each section and see if you can take action on any potentially harmful legislation. A majority of this deals with off-road motorcycles.

http://tinyurl.com/yzr2hxb

NOHVCC Makes Webinar Series Available Again

The National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council is making their webinar series available again. Its propose is to help local off-highway riders gain the skills and knowledge they need to keep trails open where they live. Starting 9 November 2009 and into December, users will be able to view the webinars on two separate occasions - just in case you miss one. This program is very useful for anyone involved in working for access to their local off-road riding areas. So, if you are, head on over and learn how you can help!

http://tinyurl.com/ybpdm39 - Forum post only...

A Truly Well-Made Motorcycle Safety Video with Mick Doohan

This comes from Down Under (actually Down Down Under as it is out of South Australia) and stars Mick Doohan and some stunning crashes from MotoGP in recent years. The editing is quality and it has a good air of professionalism. If only they could translate those here in the US. I think everyone would enjoy the message and maybe even cringe a little. Enjoy the vid and check out the website; it is one of the better ones out there.

http://tinyurl.com/yanubva

Brammo Pushes for Broader Support from US Government for EV Manufacturers

Brammo's CEO, Craig Bramscher, met with government officials and Congress members at the Clean Energy Economy Forum hosted by The White House. Their chief complaint is that most of the funding destined for electric vehicle manufacturers ends up in four-wheeled projects - very little ends up in the electric motorcycle industry. The House has already provided and amendment which would help, but the Senate has yet to do the same. The 'Shocking Barack' trip was sponsored by Brammo and managed to get some attention on the subject...let's hope that the multinational corporations (who run our government) let the little guys get their hands on the funds they can use for everyone's benefit!

http://tinyurl.com/yzbqm7v

"Shocking Barack" Brammo Ride from Detroit to D.C. Successful

The two dedicated Enertia riders, David Schiff and Brian Wismann, made their historic journey from Detroit to Washington D.C. to parallel the same trip taken by automotive CEOs when they asked for their bailout from the US government. Well, these guys are not asking for a bailout, they just want US policies to be put in place which encourage people to purchase these sleek electric motorcycles. They did a damn good job and I only wish that I could have joined them - I believe in this future too!

AMA: http://tinyurl.com/y9l4h6a

AP: http://tinyurl.com/y8q3xs2

Ashland Daily Tidings: http://tinyurl.com/yke3uyv

Two Riders Want to 'Shock Barack' by Riding Brammo Enertia Motorcycles to DC

The two men, Brian Wismann and Dave Schiff, have decided to ride Brammo's Enerita motorcycles from Detroit to Washington D.C. to meet with the president. They don't have an appointment, but are asking for help from anyone who knows President Barack Obama or is close to him and can arrange for them to meet him. The mission is to show that the electric motorcycle industry is doing well on its own and should be supported - unlike the US auto industry, which had to be bailed out by the US government...

http://tinyurl.com/yj8h3ss

P.S. If you can help, please take the link and get their contact info at the bottom.

AMA Advocates for National Motorcycle Noise Standards

This has been a long time coming - in many ways. The motorcycle noise issue is an old one and should have been properly addressed years ago. Instead, those of us within the law - still a little loud, but perfectly legal - are getting a bad rap due to the few motorcyclists out there who let their exhaust sound like it's announcing the Second Coming of Christ or something. Please, fellow riders keep your bikes quiet so that the government doesn't do to us what Denver did to its citizens - in Denver, Colorado, your motorcycle must possess the stock exhaust system to be legal. Yeah, it's a dumb law, but the people who run open pipes (like I once did but will never again) are responsible for it. Look, we are a minority even compared to those 'import tuner' people with their dropped and hopped four-wheel cages. That is why they can go after us, we don't have the numbers. So, put a muffler on it before we get kicked off the streets altogether!

http://tinyurl.com/yjnbmsw

I am completely with the AMA on this issue; loud pipes erode rights.

P.S. The 'loud pipes save lives' adage is an urban myth; many studies have been done on this and there is not one single, tiny piece of evidence that a loud motorcycle is safer than a quiet one. You would have to completely ignore physics to believe that fact. Your exhaust points to the rear, so the only people who hear you really well when you are riding are the ones right behind your loud ass.

Zero Motorcycles Now Have Canadian and US Safety Standards and EPA Certification

This is a significant milestone for the electric motorcycle company. Zero has managed to be the first of its kind to receive all three certifications from those agencies. This allows Zero Motorcycles to take advantage of major government incentives which are earmarked for 'alternative vehicles.' The Zero S and DS achieve an equivalent of 455 MPG and generate zero grams of CO2 per mile! Wow, can't wait to buy one!

http://tinyurl.com/yhjzd48

Another View of the New American Motorcyclist Association, Part 3

And, we have a part 3 now. This one deals with the odd membership number situation - how many members are there now? No one is saying at this point. Next, he delves into the AMA Board of Directors and how to run for the office...it's not easy.

http://tinyurl.com/yd7vou6

Another View of the New American Motorcyclist Association, Part 2

Yesterday we read Part 1 of this series\blog post and I was impressed with its depth and fact checking. Today, we hear more about what really happened in the past between NASCAR and the AMA. And, most importantly, we look back on the real career of Ed Youngblood during his time working - and leading - the AMA. Really, if you are interested in the politics of our sport (I know, unfortunate, but 'man is a political animal') and the group which represents us in all forms of US Government matters - whether a member or not - you owe it to yourself to read this...

http://tinyurl.com/yebxwvn

About Time! Federal Highway Administration Begins Major Study into Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

It has been planned for several years now - and it was announced by the American Motorcyclist Association more than two years ago when they first started asking for funding. The US government had asked that half of the money come from the motorcycle industry and associated groups; this was done early last year. Then, they had to have some test studies to examine the methods to be used for the overall program. Well, finally we will get the study we have been asking for since the Hurt Report was released over 25 years ago!

http://tinyurl.com/ydyjpab

http://tinyurl.com/ydaxsp3

Even more: http://tinyurl.com/yjtgdus

And, More: http://tinyurl.com/yggswnk

Late Here Too - AMA Attends US Department of Transportation Distracted Driver Summit

You can watch a live telecast of the event on the DOT blog about the summit (just take the link below) today - 30 September and tomorrow, 1 October 2009. So, at least you can catch one day's worth of information. The US certainly needs to address this soon - it is like open warfare on the streets around here.

http://tinyurl.com/yd4nlke