Latest Posts:
Asphalt & Rubber
Tag

safety

Browsing
News

NHTSA Sends Cease and Desist to Helmet Manufacturer

By 10 Comments

How many recalls does it take before the NHTSA tells you to get out of the motorcycle helmet business? Well if you’re Advanced Carbon Composites, the answer is five – five motorcycle helmet recalls in a row. For a company that warns buyers away from buying inferior products from China and India, Advanced Carbon Composites (ACC) has had a number of problems with its EXT series (all four of them) of motorcycle helmets, including the helmets failing to meet the basic DOT safety guidelines, which finally lead to the ACC ceasing to produce motorcycle helmets at the behest of the NHTSA.

Keep Reading
By
News

Mandatory Anti-Lock Brakes on Motorcycles?

By 18 Comments

The NHTSA is considering whether anti-locking braking systems (ABS) should become a mandatory component to new motorcycles on American roads. ABS has certainly become an increasingly prevalent optional feature on street bikes, with sportbikes just recently catching onto the trend.

Honda first released the VFR Interceptor with ABS back in 2002, and both BMW and Honda released bikes with optional ABS this year. We’ve also seen other safety features from cars finding their way into motorcycles, with integrated airbags in leather suits, and bikes offering rear-wheel traction control systems.

To us, this seems like a logical extension of existing technology into motorcycles, but for the NHTSA this is more serious issue of climbing motorcycle crashes, as both more riders take to the streets, and new riders join the motorcycling ranks.

Keep Reading
By
Bikes

Kawasaki 1400GTR to Have Night Vision

By 2 Comments

According to Gizmag, the Kawasaki 1400GTR is set to get night vision in 2010. A feature we can already see in the auto industry being used by BMW and Mercedes-Benz, the night vision will operate as both an obstacle detection aid, and also a vision enhancement while riding at night. This comes as an addition to the variable valve timing, tire pressure sensors, and keyless ignition that already come on the 2009 model that exemplifies 1400GTR as a technology proving ground for Kawasaki, much like how the VFR is for Honda.

Keep Reading
By
News

Missouri State Legislature Considers Repealing Mandatory Helmet Law

By 1 Comment

dsc00314

The Missouri State legislature has passed a bill that, if signed, would repeal the state’s mandatory helmet regulation, thus allowing riders over the age of 21 who are traveling on city roads, to do so without a helmet. The passage of this bill is naturally divisive, with advocates of individual liberties and safety experts squarely on opposite sides of the table. Should personal liberty advocates win this debate, the bill would make Missouri 1 of 28 states with such a helmet law on the books.

Keep Reading
By
Banter

Kevin Schwantz Speaks to US Troops About Safety

By No Comments

kevin-schwantz-old-school

For the second time in recent months, the US Government is having a major motorcycle racer talk to US servicemen about safely operating motorcycles. A few months ago it was , and today it is Kevin Schwantz, the 500cc GP World Champion, who will speak at a number of road safety seminars.

 

Trying to find a common theme with his subjects, Schwantz refers to his races as battles (rightfully so), but emphasises there is a time and a place for riding fast:

“They were battles fought on the racetrack. It may look intense but it’s actually a very controlled environment. And that’s nothing like the battles our brave service personnel are fighting. For the military sportbike riders we’re talking about today, the real battleground is right here at home – on the streets.”

Back in October, CNN ran an interesting story about how motorcycle related deaths have killed more Marines in the past 12 months than enemy fire in Iraq. Similarly, the US Navy is finding a similar rise in motorcycle accidents by military personnel. In 2008, 25 Marines died on motorcycles, compare that to the 22 killed in hostile action in Iraq. Pentagon sources say a rising trend started in 2004, when seven Marines died on bikes.

Source: Visordown

Keep Reading
By
Banter

Nicky Hayden Promotes Safe Riding for the Armed Forces

By 3 Comments

n497018_img_7234-largeoriginal

Back in October,  about how motorcycle related deaths have killed more Marines in the past 12 months than enemy fire in Iraq. Similarly, the US Navy is finding a similar rise in motorcycle accidents by military personnel. Taking this cause to heart, Nicky Hayden has decided to help the American Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) promote safe riding to U.S. armed forces personnel.

The 2006 MotoGP title winner participated in a photo shoot to promote the safety campaign at the Los Alamitos air base in Southern California. The pictures and video from the photo shoot will be used in all U.S. armed forces bases here in the States, and in military installations across the globe.

n497018_img_7234-largeoriginal.jpg
n497019_img_7105-largeoriginal.jpg
n497020_img_7092-largeoriginal.jpg
n497022_img_7238-largeoriginal.jpg

Source: Two Wheels Blog

Keep Reading
By
News

Suzuki GSX-R1000 Safety Improvement Campaign

By No Comments

suzuki-gsxr-wheelie

Suzuki has initiated a safety improvement campaign, which is not a recall…but kinda really is totally a lot like one…sorta. A safety improvement is not conducted under the United States Safety Act,  but is carried out when a manufacturer voluntarily modifies or replaces a vehicle already out on the road. This one is in regards to a potential frame problem with the 2005 and 2006 GSX-R1000, which means it affects over 26,000 motorcycles.

The safety improvement is being conducted because cracking or breakage of the bike’s frame can occur in certain extreme situations where unusually high stress is placed on the frame. Repeated hard landings from hazardous maneuvers such as extreme or extended wheelies or other stunts may generate sufficient stress to cause this problem. If the frame becomes broken during extreme use, a crash could occur.

Gixxer 1000 owners should take their bike down to the local Suzuki dealer for an inspection for cracks. If no cracks are found, a frame reinforcement brace will be attached to the frame using bolts and epoxy adhesive. Should cracks be found during the inspection, the frame will be replaced with a new frame that has the reinforcement brace installed. The campaign began on January 21, 2009. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-714-572-1490.

There’s a certain irony to this article that we can’t quite place our finger on…

Source:

Keep Reading
By
News

Recall on Buell XB12XP & XB12XT

By 1 Comment

Buell has issued a recall on some of its 2008 & 2009 XB12XP and XB12XT motorcycles, citing problems with the windshield mounting nuts. The exact models affected are the: 2008-2009 XB12XT & 2009 XB12XP.

Apparently the windshields may become dislodged and allow the windshield to either strike or distract the rider while the vehicle is being ridden at a high speed. This could result in a crash, which could cause injury or death to the rider. This is only affecting 624 bikes out on the road, but a windshield to the head is not to be taken to lightly.

Affected bikes will have to brought into the shop where dealers will remove the windshield’s two rubber mounted nuts and install two new fastener assemblies.

The recall is expected to begin on or about October 27, 2008. Owners may contact Buell at 1-414-342-4080. The NHTSA Campaign Number is 08V538000.

Source: The Kneeslider

Unfortunately the recall on the headlight has yet to occur.

Keep Reading
By