http://www.the-signal.com/news/article/4657/

Reading about motorcycle accidents that could have been prevented with just a little bit of skill-building practice is frustrating. Anytime someone is a beginner at something – especially something that requires technical skill – a course is never a bad idea. Some people don’t want to take the time, and many newbies think there is all there is to know; even if they know absolutely nothing.

With a short amount of research a person can find weekend-long (15 hours is the usual timeframe) classes taught by instructors who have years of riding experience under their prospective belts. Their job is to give tips and tricks that a newbie may not necessarily think about and to provide basic instruction on balance, reaction, counter-steering, quick-thinking and countless other helpful skills. These classes are in places like school parking lots or other large asphalted areas that give students room to maneuver around pylons, learn about navigating unsafe road conditions, etc.

The CMSP (as well as other training programs) has at least 100 different locations throughout the state at which to take these basic classes, and there are also longer, more intensive courses that a person can learn and practice all necessary skills. Practice makes perfect!

http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/model_eval/200810sportcity.pdf

Despite reports coming to the public’s attention that motorcycles and scooters produce significant carbon emissions for their size, sales are increasing. Scooters are known to be affordable when it comes to gas mileage. With the volatile prices of fuel in the U.S. the Aprilia Sportcity 250 is right up there with gasoline-affordable two-wheelers – it averages 67 miles to the gallon. The exciting thing is that the Sportcity has electronic fuel injection to clean up its emissions. Tooling around town on one of these babies can ease your conscience and the burden on your wallet.

Like the majority of scooters, the Sportcity does better on the surface streets than the highway. This report says that 60 mph is about all it can handle before it starts to lose power. However, with traffic congestion, a person doesn’t often have the opportunity to go much faster than that anyway.

The Aprilia is owned by the Piaggio Group, an Italian manufacturer of scooters and motorcycles that was started in the late 1800s in Pontadera, Italy (near Pisa). Piaggio pretty much has the scooter market cornered; they own the Piaggio, Vespa, Aprilia, Derbi (Canada) and Scarabeo (Europe) lines of scooters as well as Moto Guzzi motorcycles.

Charity events - not just bingo in the town square anymore. There is a charity event for every person with every interest. Just think…How many people, really, would be interested in attending an event called “Leather Meets Lace at the Playboy Mansion?” Like pulling teeth to fill that event to capacity, eh! Motorcycles, scantily clad women, maybe a celebrity sighting…

Gene Simmons, for example…Who would ever think that he might be at the Playboy Mansion for any reason, right? Heh heh. Whenever people think of philanthropy I am not sure if Gene Simmons is the first name that comes up, but good for him giving back to the community! He’s got the right idea. If you like motorcycles and you have a chance to spend the evening at Hugh’s Place, why not make it for a good cause…in this case Generation Rescue (the kick-ass Jenny McCarthy vs. Autism organization).

http://www.loveride.org/index.htm

Upwards of 25,000 motorcyclists will converge on Glendale, CA on October 26, 2008 for the 25th version of the “Love Ride 25.” Once again Jay Leno will be the Grand Marshall for the annual fundraiser, concert and all around good time. Though more widely known for being a talk show host and (professional) comedian Jay Leno has been a motorcycle junkie for much longer. Not only riding, but restoring and tinkering with all kinds of two-wheeled machines have been part of Leno’s life since he was a kid. Leno owns practically innumerable two and four-wheeled vehicles as well as many other flights of fancy.

Easy Rider Peter Fonda has been named Honorary Grand Marshall along with scary Terminator II, Robert Patrick. Since the Love Ride’s roots are near Hollywood it has always been a star-studded event. So much so that this event has helped bring motorcycling out from society’s seedy underbelly and into the mainstream. However, those of you who want to keep your kids in helmets on their vehicles, keep them away from expected guest William Shatner. Shatner is a longtime eschewer of helmet laws and was in the news last year after crashing – wearing nothing but shorts, a t-shirt and flip-flops – no gear for him! Talk about an easy rider.

Longtime President of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America (and current president of the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group), Pete Gagan is an author (The Legend of Fireball Fleming), antique motorcycle enthusiast, tinkerer, and historian of sorts.

From this video it seems like Pete is someone whose hobby has become a way of life. His passion for the two-wheeled vehicle is shared with viewers through storytelling and contagious enthusiasm. Gagan has definitely done his homework; historical stories of steam technology and life-and-death drama are all covered in this fantastic showing of Roper’s 1896 Steam Powered Motorcycle.

This walk through turn-or-the-century motorcycle history is truly compelling.

Whether you are a sport bike, V-Rod, or vespa person, the 2009s are now on the market and ready to be drooled over. Every inch needs to be looked over - components, parts, colors, style - every inch. What is new and what is different? And what’s new that makes you want to sell you purebred puppy for a down payment!

For instance the changes to the 2009 Ducati Monster - it is next-to-identical in style to the Monster 696 and has 1100DS engine borrowed from the Ducati Hypermotard. Great time to compare and contrast (our English professors would be proud), and a great time to have that garage sale and bring your change to Coinstar.

http://wot.motortrend.com/6298868/motorsports/motorcycle-and-automobile-world-land-speed-records-broken-at-bonneville/index.html

On September 26, 2008, the awesome “ACK Attack” motorcycle streamliner set a new land-speed record in a private meet out at the Bonneville Speed Flats in Nevada. The 350.885mph record was beat by 10.029 seconds. Doesn’t seem like much, but just think of something traveling 350 mph for an additional 10 seconds – it’s a looooong time. The new record was set at 360.913 mph, pending ruling by the governing body of the FIM.

Owner and designer Mike Akatiff and his ACK Attack team had broken the speed record two years before (only to be beat two days later, but still).

Both records (for the car class and the motorcycle class) were broken out at Bonneville. The Burkland Streamliner (built in 1996 by Tom Burkland and the Burkland family) was the record-breaker in the car class.

That same record-breaking car (and driver) had a near-death experience when the parachute didn’t deploy as it hurled toward the end of the track. When referring to some close calls that happened at the raceway including the parachute’s non-deployment, Scott Evans says, “The weekend wasn’t without hiccups.” I’ll SAY!

Now that we know that they can go that fast, the question is…How much faster can they go?

Dan Zelinsky has once again put his steam powered motorcycle on display at San Francisco’s Musée Mécanique. Though it is unlikely that the motorcycle is coin-operated like most of its Musée counterparts.

Originally obtained through a smart trade by his father, Edward Zelinsky, the machine was built by Niles Gillenwaters, an expert machinist who lived in Sacramento in the early 1900s. The one on display is the only steam motorcycle built in 1912 by Gillenwaters.

Most steam powered motorcycles were being built at the turn of the last century. Trains and cars were prolific, but there were plenty of inventors working on plans for tricycles and motorcycles - anything an engine could be attached to.

Steam engines are more fuel efficient and create almost no emissions. Since the combustion is external, the steam powered engine lasts for ages longer and is much quieter than its internal combustion engine counterpart. If only a person didn’t have to carry water, steam oil and fuel it might be a viable option for today’s green consciousness.

By today’s standards these contraptions are not very time efficient, but at the time a motorcycle powered by steam could go 15 mph and could go for about and hour without a refill. Think about it this way: If all you had was your feet or a carriage, and all you wanted to do was get a loaf of bread, a container of milk, and a stick of butter, the steam powered motorcycle would be quite welcome.

http://www.museemechanique.org/about.html

The U.S. Transportation Department reported a decrease of nearly 4%, from 2006 to 2007, in the number of motor vehicle accident deaths today.  Unfortunately, more motorcyclists died last year than have in a single year since the start of the government’s statistics in 1975.  There were a total of 5,154 motorcycle deaths last year.

From the L.A. Times:

Tim Buche, president of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, said that several factors may be at work. “First of all, we really ask car drivers to look out for us and respect our rights in the traffic mix,” he said. “We are more vulnerable and it’s important for them to give us our space.”

Buche also said that too many motorcyclists are still not taking safety courses and cited federal statistics showing that speeding was a factor in 27% of motorcycle deaths and drunk riding a factor in 16% of fatal crashes. He also pointed to the fact that as gas prices have climbed in the last year, many people are returning to riding without updating their skills — and are finding traffic has changed in recent years, with more high-profile vehicles on the road.

So brothers and sisters, please remember to wear your helmets when you’re riding –