Vega Recalls XTS Motorcycle Helmets for Impact Attenuation Requirements Non-Conformance

Vega Helmet Corporation (Vega) is recalling certain motorcycle helmets, model XTS, sizes L, XL, and XXL manufactured from May 2011 through October 2012.

The helmets fail to conform to the impact attenuation requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218, "Motorcycle Helmets."

30,546 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls for Equipment feature for more details.

Polar Bear Grand Tour to Ireland's 32 Restaurant in Suffern, NY on December 30, 2012

Check out pictures of the 10th motorcycle run of the 2012-2013 Polar Bear Grand Tour season to Ireland's 32 Restaurant & Pub in Suffern, NY on December 30, 2012.

Motorcycle Picture of the Week - Bob

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These pictures are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Bob with his 2006 Harley-Davidson Street Bob under Men on Motorcycles. There are no Women on Motorcycles, Bikes Only, or Trikes Only this week. Send your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

Polar Bear Grand Tour to the Cool Cricket Restaurant in Fieldsboro, NJ on December 23, 2012

Check out pictures of the 9th motorcycle run of the 2012-2013 Polar Bear Grand Tour season to the Cool Cricket Restaurant in Fieldsboro, NJ on December 23, 2012.

Top 10 Motorcycle Pictures of the Year 2012

The top 10 motorcycle pictures were picked from pictures submitted to Motorcycle Views in 2012. The pictures are not ordered. They include two pictures of women on motorcycles, four pictures of men on motorcycles, and four pictures of motorcycles only.

The pictures were chosen for a variety of reasons. I looked at each picture, read each description, and picked those pictures that held my interest.

Check out the Top 10 Motorcycle Pictures for 2012.

Motorcycle Picture of the Week - Janet

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These pictures are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Janet (Mahar) Monahan on her 2008 Harley-Davidson sportster 883 under Women on Motorcycles. There are no Men on Motorcycles, Bikes Only, or Trikes Only this week. Send your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

Triumph Recalls 2013 Trophy for Tire Label Problem

Triumph Motorcycles (Triumph) is recalling certain model year 2013 Trophy motorcycles manufactured from September 5, 2012, through November 29, 2012.

These motorcycles were produced with a label bearing incorrect tire data which fails to conform to the labeling requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 120, "Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other Than Passenger Cars," and they fail to comply with the certification requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."

244 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

BMW Recalls 2012-2013 S1000RR Motorcycles for Sidestand Problem

BMW is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 S 1000 RR motorcycles manufactured September 2011, through December 2012.

Due to a manufacturing fault, the side-stand attachment bolts could start to loosen. The loosening of the side-stand bolts could cause the stand to separate from the frame of the motorcycle.

2,385 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Bombardier Recreational Products Recalls 2008-2010 Can-Am Spyder GS and RS for Fuel Vapor Canister Problem

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Can-Am Spyder GS and model year 2010 Can-AM Spyder RS vehicles.

Fuel vapors may exit the fuel vapor canister vent hose in the enclosed engine compartment.

9,600 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Bombardier Recreational Products Recalls 2008-2012 Spyder GS, RS, RT for Fuel Cap Seal

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Can-Am Spyder GS, RS, and RT series vehicles.

The fuel cap may not fit onto the fuel tank filler neck, preventing it from sealing properly.

33,700 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Polar Bear Grand Tour Run to Schoch's H-D in Snydersville, PA on December 16, 2012

Check out pictures of the 8th motorcycle run of the 2012-2013 Polar Bear Grand Tour season to Schoch's Harley-Davidson in Snydersville, PA on December 16, 2012.

2-Up Motorcycle Riders - Pictures Gallery

I've just completed a new motorcycle picture gallery called: 2-Up Motorcycle Riders - Pictures Gallery. You now have an opportunity to tell us about your motorcycle and show us both the rider and a pillion passenger as a 2-up couple. Take a look at the current gallery and then send me a picture of your own 2-up situation to be included in the new gallery. Take a look.

Terry Hershner Rides Zero S Electric Motorcycle on 3000 Mile Trip in 5 Days

Terry Hershner decided he wanted to take a motorcycle ride from Orlando, FL to Los Angeles, CA. That's a 3000 mile journey. However, he wanted to take the trip riding a Zero S electric motorcycle. These bikes don't go very far between charges and a charge can take 8 hours. Terry wanted to make the trip in 5 days. Do the math and this looks to be impossible. Terry had a plan to do it with modified charging methods. Take a look at an article with a video by gas2.org's Susanna Schick. Most of your questions will be answered.

Take a look

Motorcycle Picture of the Week - Smitty and the Mouse

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These pictures are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Smitty and the Mouse on their 2001 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide under Men on Motorcycles. There are no Women on Motorcycles, Bikes Only, or Trikes Only this week. Send your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

Polar Bear Grand Tour to the CABIN in Howell, NJ on December 9, 2012

Check out pictures of the 7th motorcycle run of the 2012-2013 Polar Bear Grand Tour season to the CABIN (Annual Toy Run) in Howell, NJ on December 9, 2012.

BMW Recalls 2013 C600 Sport Maxi-Scooter for Front Side Trim Defect

BMW is recalling certain model year 2013 C600 Sport Maxi-Scooters manufactured August 7, 2012, through November 20, 2012.

The fasteners on the front side trim panels may have insufficient strength to retain the panels at high speeds.

266 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

A Bad Day on a Motorcycle

Here's a video that shows what can happen when you have a bad day on a motorcycle or you don't have a lot of experience. Take a look.

Motorcycle Picture of the Week - HDBABE

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These pictures are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See HDBABE with her 2005 Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 under Women on Motorcycles. There are no Men on Motorcycles, Bikes Only, or Trikes Only this week. Send your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

Polar Bear Grand Tour Run to Montgomeryville, PA on December 2, 2012

Check out pictures of the 6th motorcycle run of the 2012-2013 Polar Bear Grand Tour season to Montgomeryville Cycle in Montgomeryville, PA on December 2, 2012.

Motorcyclists: Watch Out for Left Turners and Be Prepared

I have Google Alerts set to capture most media accounts of fatal motorcycle accidents. So, I see many "left-turner" crashes involving motorcyclists. It makes me want to scream that the majority of riders don't know about left turn accidents or choose to ignore them. I've written about these accidents for the better part of 12 years. I feature "10 Ways to Be Safe on a Motorcycle" on every page of my website. I've written about it in my new Kindle book. I just saw another tragic story about a rider who liked to live on the edge. These stories tend to lock into helmets and proper riding attire as possible ways to prevent accidents. Helmet laws are also discussed heavily. Back and forth discussions among riders and non-riders often ensue in the comments after stories. However, nothing seems to stop the continuing carnage of similar accidents that go on and on across the country. Maybe nothing can stop this senseless loss of life. But, maybe, just maybe we can collectively stop one or two of these accidents by reading the following story and telling a rider friend or two. Can't hurt. Here's an excerpt:

"It was 82 degrees with low humidity and light wind the day Scott Pohl died. This is significant because a motorcycle was not Scott’s primary transportation. He usually drove his pickup to work. Scott’s shift for most of his six-day week started at 4:30 p.m. But on Fridays and Saturdays he’d start at 7 p.m., which is also significant. It is why he was headed east on North Territorial Road in Salem Township at 6:32 p.m. on the second day of summer, approaching an SUV driver who never saw him coming." -- John Counts, AnnArbor.com

Read more.

See also:

• Uneasy Riders: Serious injury rates higher for unhelmeted motorcyclists, but records don't tell all
  
  
• Uneasy Riders: Search how Michigan motorcyclists with and without helmets fared in accidents
  
  

Motorcycle Picture of the Week - Sarah

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These pictures are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Sarah with her 2009 Harley-Davidson Sportster Nightster under Women on Motorcycles. There are no Men on Motorcycles, Bikes Only, or Trikes Only this week. Send your picture in. We are showing an encore picture this week to encourage women to submit a picture of themselves with their bike. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.