A manufacturing defect with the sealant material in the battery may allow water to penetrate the battery and contact the cells. Water penetration into the battery may lead to corrosion of the cells, possibly resulting in a rapid temperature increase and off-gassing of the cells' electrolyte which may cause a burn to the rider.
128 units are affected.
Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.
"Some background: In a recent interview, a top Harley-Davidson executive told Reuters that in 2012, for the first time in years, the average buyer of the company's bikes was not a baby boomer. For a brand defined by the emergence and, lately, the aging of the post-World War II cohort of consumers, that's a big deal — proof that the 110-year-old company is gaining traction with a new generation of riders. Yet its top global marketing guru, Mark-Hans Richer, continues to insist it's no big deal — even though investors have long wondered how Harley would survive as baby boomers, who embraced its bikes as totems of rebellion in the 1960s and 1970s and drove its growth in the ensuing decades, rode off into the sunset." -- James B. Kelleher, Of ReutersRead more.
Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These pictures are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Tammy (literally) on her 2011 Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide under Women on Motorcycles. There are no Trikes Only, Men on Motorcycles, or Bikes Only this week. Send your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.
Here is a picture taken in 1938 of my father, Walter Kern, with me, his first son. I haven't written much about my dad but he had a very technical life. He started out by leaving home at the age of 17 to drive in a Model T Ford to California from Indiana with a friend. He got homesick and returned to Indiana and then to Illinois. Along the way, he worked for Westinghouse, became an inventor, ran his own automobile repair shop, and ran his own radio repair shop. He worked on special projects for a military contractor in World War 2. He never got beyond the fifth grade in school. But he could do anything technical and was often asked to devise prototypes for military products that none of the engineers could figure out how to do. He was pleased that I decided to study electrical engineering and became the first person in his family to become a graduate engineer. He knew cars. When I took up motorcycling in 1989, he said he didn't know anything about motorcycles. He didn't try to lead me in any particular career direction but supported me quietly. The only opposition I ever got from him was when I wanted to learn to drive a car. I was forced to take a school sponsored driver education course to get my license. I found out on his death bed that he lost his first wife in a crash caused by two escaping criminals who smashed into his car containing him and his pregnant wife. I didn't even know he had been previously married. But, he was a gentle man mostly who provided a stable home environment with my mother and my sister and brother. I guess we all have stories to tell about our dads. I have barely scratched the surface here. But on this Father's Day 2013 on the 105th anniversary of his birth, I heap just a bit of praise on him and hope that in some small measure you will think of your own dad and remember all that he brought to your life. -- Walter Kern
"In business since the 1970s, the Spare Parts Company in Philadelphia is a destination for owners of vintage bikes. The spot caught the eye of Cinema Mercantile, a crew of filmmakers who crafted this short portrait of the shop and its owner, Roland Sotello. 'When customers bring their bikes in,' Sotello explains, 'it's almost like dealing with a pet. A lot of people don't realize what's wrong with their bikes, so if you really give them a good assessment they sort of feel more comfortable that you ... care what's going on.'" -- Kasia Cieplak-Mayr von Baldegg, theatlantic.comBe sure to read the complete article and especially view the 4-minute video at the beginning.
"In the past decade the U.S. has spent $45 billion on armored vehicles designed to protect troops against the roadside bombs which cost the enemy next to nothing to build and emplace. It seems counter-intuitive, but some experts think a safer and more effective way to take on the bad guys might be to ditch the heavy armor in favor of a lighter, faster mode of transport. Many say that in places like Afghanistan, motorcycles would be a cheaper, safer and more effective vehicle for operations than the slow-moving armored personnel carriers preferred by the U.S. military." -- Seth Robson, Stars and StripesRead more.
"Electric motorcycles just went from practical to tactical with the Zero MMX, the first all-electric bike developed specifically for the U.S. Special Operation Forces." -- Damon Lavrinc, Wired.comRead more.
I used to do this when I still had a day job in New Jersey. Unfortunately, I didn't see any more bikes on the road than I did on any other day. Your experience may differ. Leave any comments you have regarding your experiences on Ride to Work Day either below or on Facebook.
Here's an official press release about this event from the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA).
Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These pictures are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Edward Hoblin's 1976 Honda CB750 under Bikes Only. There are no Trikes Only, Men on Motorcycles, or Women on Motorcycles this week. Send your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.
If the attachment bolts loosen, the luggage rack could separate from the scooter and become a road hazard for drivers of other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
195 units are affected.
Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.
If the fuel tank leaks, the unexpected fuel loss may lead to an engine stall while riding, increasing the risk of a crash. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may also result in a fire.
513 units are affected.
Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.
"CRASHLIGHT(R), a revolutionary built-in safety crash detection technology automatically detects a motorcycle accident and notifies the riders pre-set contacts of their geographical location via SMS text message, phone call and email. The rider never needs to ride alone. Now friends and family can have peace of mind knowing they will be connected when things go wrong." -- marketwatch.com
Also, take a look at the product at this website.
Sign me up!
"Daniel Kim may well become the Steve Jobs of personal transportation. Not that he'll ever tell you that. The soft-spoken 33-year-old founder of Lit Motors is far too polite for such braggadocio. But the fact of the matter is, Kim – who, like Jobs, dropped out of Oregon's Reed College – is barreling down an iconoclastic highway whose destination is a revolution in the way humans move about." -- Marco della Cava, usatoday.comRead more.
"My friends point out that the time I spend on my motorcycle is inherently much more dangerous than the time they spend in their cars. I agree. That being said, I am by no means a risk junkie. And, I don't expect those who don't enjoy the pastime will ever understand why I enjoy it so much. I do think the attitude my friends and I take to the road when we ride could be meaningful to a small-business owner and how he or she thinks about risk." -- Ty Kiisel, for DeseretNews.com
For my own take on risk, read my article, An Element of Risk - In Life and On Motorcycles.
Also take a look at my article, 10 Ways to Be Safe on a Motorcycle.
In addition, look at my 25 Motorcycle How-To articles to learn techniques to become a better rider and keep you even safer. Read more.
Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These pictures are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Rob Roth's 1958 Harley-Davidson Sportster under Bikes Only. There are no Trikes Only, Men on Motorcycles, or Women on Motorcycles this week. Send your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.
Without the guide, the cables may move freely and become trapped in the steering stop, impeding the steering operation and affecting the driver's ability to control the motorcycle, increasing the risk of a crash.
652 units are affected.
Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.
Take a look at the story and a video of the telecast.
"The average medical claim from a motorcycle crash rose by more than one-fifth last year in Michigan after the state stopped requiring all riders to wear helmets, according to an insurance industry study. Across the nation, motorcyclists opposed to mandatory helmet use have been chipping away at state helmet laws for years while crash deaths have been on the rise." -- Joan Lowy, Huffingtonpost.comRead the complete article.
My book, 50 MORE Wild Motorcycle Tales, has been released on Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle editions. Many readers have indicated that they wanted more motorcycle stories similar to those contained in my previous book, 50 Wild Motorcycle Tales. This new book gives 50 MORE Wild Motorcycle Tales for your reading enjoyment. Audiobook and CD editions are in the works.
My book, Normal Secrets, has been released on Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle editions. This memoir is a departure from the motorcycle themes of my first four books. I grew up in Normal, Illinois but didn't find out there were family secrets that had been kept from me until after my dad died. I tell you how I uncovered all the secrets. Perhaps your family might be keeping secrets from you, too. This memoir will soon also be available in an Audible edition. If you like secrets, I know you'll enjoy reading Normal Secrets.
My book, Motorcycle Kick-Starts, has been released on Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle editions. This book gives a condensed view of motorcycling for new and returning riders. It contains an introduction to motorcycling followed by motorcycle stories interleaved with important How-Tos and Tips. This book will soon also be available in an Audible edition. I know you'll enjoy Motorcycle Kick-Starts.
My book, 50 Wild Motorcycle Tales, has been released on Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle editions. These 50 motorcycle stories were written by actual motorcyclists relating their adventures as they traveled. I wrote five of the stories. This book will soon also be available in an Audible edition. I know you'll enjoy 50 Wild Motorcycle Tales.
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