Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores) – a leader in a range of specialized mental health treatment and services in Canada - has joined hands with BMW Motorcycle Owners of America, Movember and Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) to create an inclusive and meaningful space for motorcycle riders struggling with the ups and downs of mental health challenges, and connect them with one another over their common passion for riding. Given the unprecedented and uncertain times we all are going through due to the pandemic, it is all the more important and necessary to strengthen our social connections to deal with everyday challenges and stressors.

For this purpose, Ontario Shores is conducting a mental health help-seeking survey to better understand (1) your potential mental health needs, (2) facilitators and barriers to help-seeking and, (3) strategies for supporting your help-seeking behavior and sense of social connectedness. They invite all BMW MOA members to participate the survey.

The survey is entirely voluntary and you can skip any questions you don’t want to respond to. Your responses will remain completely confidential. If you wish to participate in the survey, all you have to do is log on to your BMWMOA account and complete the survey by clicking on the survey link, surveymonkey.com/r/PMCNXD6.

As an appreciation for your time, you will have the option of participating in a random drawing for a BMWMOA Pursuit Three-Layer Jacket. This prize is made possible by funding provided by Movember and the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride.

If you have any questions/concerns regarding the survey, please feel free to contact Sayani Paul. Ontario Shores will be updating the BMW MOA community from time to time as the study progresses. Keep an eye on your BMW Owners News and the BMW MOA website for some exciting updates.

We who follow the industry know BMW has been drawing back from U.S. trade shows in recent years. At last year’s AIMExpo in Columbus, Ohio, BMW sent just four bikes, and three of them were GSes. The fourth was the R 18 Concept, and it was absolutely glorious, set off from the rest of the floor by a rustic yet dazzling booth complete with velvet ropes meant to keep grubby fingers off the beautiful metal-flake paint.

When it comes to the Progressive International Motorcycle Show series every winter, BMW has been steadily drawing down its presence, and while they might send a few bikes and some personnel to the Long Beach or New York shows, in the 2019-20 IMS season, they were no-shows everywhere else. A few local dealers bought booth space here and there, but BMW themselves did nothing organized.

Motorcycle fans were understandably upset about that development, but it’s hard to say BMW’s decision is wrong. The motorcycle industry continues to suffer from the 2008-09 sales plunge, and even though sales are gradually rising for many manufacturers (including BMW, though not in the USA), they have not recovered to the level of the heady days before the Great Recession. This means money continues to be tight as manufacturers have to do more with the same (or less) funding. With consumers constantly demanding more power, more technology and more models, motorcycle manufacturers face the unenviable decision of trying to trim any expenses they can.

Enter the BMW R 18. There are plenty of people wondering what BMW is doing with this bike, what market they’re going after and why, and maybe more importantly, why now? Harley-Davidson is bleeding sales like a gut-shot bank robber, and though Indian keeps posting solid numbers every year, they’re not getting double-digit sales increases over and over and over. Eventually Indian will reach their saturation point and stop taking additional sales from Harley.

Perhaps the most ironic and amusing thing about these three manufacturers coming up with new bikes is how they are emulating each other. BMW’s R 18 is an air-cooled heavy cruiser like nearly everything in the Harley and Indian lineups. Harley’s Pan America is a big-bore adventure bike aimed squarely at taking a chunk of R 1250 GS market share. Indian’s FTR 1200 is a bare-bones standard not unlike — outside of styling cues — the R 1250 R.

Normally, BMW would wait for the worldwide attention at EICMA to debut the production version of the R 18, relying on hype and the international motorcycle press to do the heavy lifting of promoting the bike for them. Instead, BMW chose to launch the bike seven months ahead of EICMA, then bow out of EICMA entirely.

It would be negligent not to mention the role of the COVID-19 pandemic in BMW’s decision. As of this [update to the original article], motorcycle manufacturers all over the world (even in India, where most of the world’s motorbikes are made) are just starting to emerge from being shut down. Some said the shutdowns would last two weeks, others refused to offer any sort of timeline on when they might reopen. Harley furloughed nearly its entire manufacturing staff, preserving their healthcare benefits, thankfully, and Polaris (Indian’s parent) shut down its U.S. plants nearly across the board. The virus is pounding Brazil; BMW’s plant there halted operations after the government closed the country to all land and air travel. BMW’s plants in Europe and India shut down for more than their predicted minimum of two weeks, and though nobody knew for sure, manufacturing remained shuttered for all of April and most, if not all of May as various regions attempted to control the spread of this deadly disease.

BMW could likely have been discussing pulling out of EICMA before the pandemic; these decisions are not made hastily nor capriciously. The best evidence of this is a YouTube series called “A Bavarian Soulstory.” BMW released the first of the nine Soulstory videos in September 2019, laying the groundwork for the production R 18’s eventual debut. The Soulstory series follows Tommy Kerns from a hotel in Munich to the launch in South Africa, building hype and revealing tiny details all along the way.

The thing is, Kerns isn’t a motorcycle industry guy. He’s a menswear consultant. His shop, Butterscotch, sells clothing and cool stuff for those we might refer to as hipsters. Their aesthetic clearly rolls along on two wheels, and Kerns certainly has deep knowledge of bikes, his love for motorcycles obvious throughout the videos. From skintight tapered-leg jeans to painfully retro helmets, there isn’t much on the website that isn't cooler and more hip than most of us have ever been in our lives.

Choosing Kerns for this video series was, in a word, brilliant. This above all other things is a clear indication BMW Motorrad is looking to move beyond their established market and start capturing new motorcycle buyers. Kerns has credibility among an entire generation of possible (or even probable) motorcycle owners who are not already jaded by or committed to any one brand, and BMW was smart to engage him to build hype for the R 18.
 

Starting the push away from motorcycle trade shows with the R 18 is equally brilliant. The Soulstory series of videos are incredibly well done; be sure to check out BMW Motorrad’s YouTube channel to see them all (one is embedded above). A video like each one of those in the series could cost upwards of $100,000, so it’s not beyond the realm of reason to think BMW dropped $1 million on producing those videos. Between paying for booth space, covering employee expenses for the better part of two weeks (salary, food and lodging for setup, the week of the show, breakdown and transportation to and from Milan) EICMA could well cost as much or more. Yet the EICMA experience is, by its very nature, limited to those fortunate enough to be able to attend the show. The Bavarian Soulstory videos will live on the internet forever, creating visibility for years and vastly improving BMW’s return on investment for the money spent creating them. Plus, they capture Kerns at his influencer height. He will always be that young, that good-looking, that cool, that excited about the R 18, and BMW captured the lightning in a bottle.

When it comes to the R 18 itself, BMW isn’t creating an all-new category of cruisers; they’re adding the R 18 to the Heritage lineup. Until now, all the Heritage bikes have been variations on the R nineT. The modularity of the 9T series speaks volumes to the bike’s adaptability. There used to be a time when a single BMW motorcycle could be all things to all riders. Take the R 75/5 or R 90/6, for example. Go to any gathering of BMW or vintage motorcycles and you can see examples of those two bikes especially decked out for any and every possible use—café racers, open road touring, off road thrashing, around town posing, coffee fetching—you name it, those bikes can do it. They were the German versions of the Universal Japanese Motorcycle so many of us loved in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s. In my mind, the primary functional difference between a 1978 Honda CB750 I used to own and a 1976 BMW R 90/6 I’d like to own is the number of carburetors I need to synch during routine maintenance.

The R nineT has a similar aesthetic and world of possibilities. BMW has simply done much of the work for riders interested in a plain bike, a race bike, a scrambler, a vintage-looking bike with all the modern accoutrements—you name it, there’s a 9T for you out there. The R 18 is coming out of the gate in a similar fashion, and BMW has already swung for the fences.

Go online and visit BMW’s Build Your Own motorcycle site and select the R 18. Note the starting price of $17,495 (any color you want as long as it’s black) and check out the Premium Package (+$1,450). That’s how you get hill start control, headlight upgrades, reverse assist. Add $225 to get an anti-theft alarm, lockable fuel filler cap and heated grips. Don’t forget the non-negotiable $695 delivery/processing/assembly cost they leave off the list price but mandate you pay for every new bike. Your list price then is $19,865, entirely reasonable for a bike like the R 18 and comparable to other basic heavy cruisers like the Indian Chief Dark Horse ($18,499) or a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 ($20,599). Of course, the Japanese versions of these bikes cost thousands less, but they also carry less panache in the market.

More important than the packages you can get is the already extensive list of parts available to customize an individual R 18. Seats, mirrors, mufflers, clutch and brake reservoir covers, cylinder head covers, chrome parts, wheels, windshields and more. In other words, if you don’t want your R 18 to stay stock, there’s no reason for it to do so. If you want a bobber, BMW has you covered. If you want a chrome-blinged bike, you’re good. If you want every surface on the bike to match, BMW has made it easy for you to do so. I’m sure it won’t be long until substantial saddlebags are available; right now, all you can get is some cool-looking but small (16 liters each) squared-off panniers. There are rumors and accompanying spy

When it comes to power, it may appear at first blush BMW skimped in this area. BMW claims 91 horsepower at 4,750 rpm and 116 foot-pounds of torque at 3,000 rpm as the bike’s max ratings at the crank, so figure 10 percent less on each spec on the street. Compare this to the S 1000 RR (205 hp at 13,000 rpm) or the K 1600 GT (160 hp at 7,750 rpm) and the R 18 comes up woefully short. If these are the numbers dissuading you from R 18 ownership, you’re making the wrong comparisons.

Compare the R 18 not to BMW’s rocket ships, but to heavy cruisers made by Harley-Davidson and Indian, because these are the bikes the R 18 is competing with, not the inline four or six found elsewhere in the lineup. The engines the R 18 compares favorably to are Harley’s Fat Bob (82 hp at 4,660 rpm, 111 ft-lbs at 2,260 rpm) and Indian’s 111 cubic inch V-twin powering its heavy cruisers (84 hp, 110 ft-lbs). Note these HD and Indian numbers are where the tire meets the ground, not at an unloaded crank able to give unencumbered readings like with the R 18. The math of thousands of motorcycles of this style shows a consistent 10 percent loss between the crank and the street once a drivetrain, whether it is belt, chain or shaft, is introduced along with a wheel, a tire and all the other unsprung weight involved in keeping the back of a motorcycle up off the ground and moving you forward. Indian’s new (for 2020) 116 CI traditional V-twin will up their specs a little, but not enough to take their bikes into another class compared to the R 18 and Harley’s 114 Milwaukee Eight-equipped motorcycles.

I’ve mentioned in these pages in previous months the inevitable comparison of the R 18 to the R 1200 C and CL/CLC, which were similarly “underpowered” for their day yet compared favorably to contemporary cruisers, so I’m not going to beat that horse here. The thing many detractors neglect is the near cult-like loyalty to those cruisers shown by their owners and those who seek them out.

If nothing else is clear at this point, it’s that BMW Motorrad hasn’t given up on the cruiser market, so don’t make the mistake thinking the R 18 is yet another feeble attempt at gaining a foothold on the American motorcycle market. BMW is of course hoping to sell a lot of R 18s in the U.S., but the market they’re going after is younger riders eager for a bike they can easily customize to their taste and with growing amounts of disposable income and the desire to use it. Another market they no doubt hope to tap into is riders who love the Western aesthetic of the cruiser, but don’t want to actually buy an American bike, whether it be for economic reasons or their own senses of patriotism.

What is of no doubt is BMW’s warning shot across the bow of the massive cruise ship that is the power sports trade show. BMW has shown they can build hype and excitement without ever putting a production bike in a booth and what’s more, they can do it while fully controlling the schedule and the release of information and leveraging the power of the internet and social media in doing it. For all of those who are focused only on the retro looks of the R 18, they are missing the real point of this new motorcycle from BMW Motorrad, which is at least in part to prove BMW’s innovations aren’t only in the realm of the physical vehicles they build and continue to sell to an eager public.

Not all bikes are the same. Insurance isn’t all the same, either. Choosing proper motorcycle insurance is more than just choosing between comp and collision or liability-only. Here are four questions to ask yourself about coverages and options before you switch to a new policy or renew your current one.

1) What is your health insurance like?

An odd question? Not really, given the big changes we’ve all experienced in the last few years with health care. If you have a high-deductible policy, and need an x-ray or go to urgent care, you’ll likely pay out-of-pocket.

Medical payments coverage (often called “Med Pay”) might be worth considering. The typical $500 limit should be enough to cover smaller medical bills and it does not cost much to bump up to a higher limit. 

While you’re at it, you might want to consider uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) protection, too. That covers larger medical costs as well as repairs or bike replacement — if you’re left with the bill from an at-fault driver without sufficient insurance.

2) Are you into longer road trips?

Whether it’s that bucket-list ride to Sturgis, or just a long-weekend cruise, you’ll want to consider:

• Rental coverage – If you can’t ride your bike due to physical damage, your trip isn’t over. This endorsement covers the cost of a rental to finish the trip or get you home.
• Travel loss reimbursement – This could cover your room, dinner, and a ride-share after an accident.
• Towing and emergency assistance – Coverage for the reimbursement of some of these costs, too.
• Trailer coverage – Separate coverage can be added for damage to your bike trailer.

3) Does your wingman have a fuzzy face?

No, we don’t mean your uncle Earl. Coverage for injury to your dog or cat is a newer option you can add.

4) Do you ride year-round?

In much of the country, riding is a seasonal sport. It’s tempting to save a few bucks by canceling your policy when you put your bike under wraps for the winter. But it can still be stolen, vandalized, or damaged. Consider year-round coverage for your bike.

The good news is you can ride covered with motorcycle insurance from American Modern® insurance, the official insurance partner of the BMW MOA. It’s the perfect partnership. You love to ride and American modern loves offering specialty coverage to people who love to ride.

American Modern does motorcycle coverage right. From non-expiring replacement cost coverage to $3,000 in accessory coverage, they can show you all the reasons why their insurance fits your bike as perfectly as you do. Call 1-888-564-4535 for a quote or go to amig.com/bmwmoa.

As always, coverage is subject to policy terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, underwriting review and approval, and may not be available for all risks or in all states. Rates and discounts vary, are determined by many factors, and are subject to change. Policies are written by one of the licensed insurers of American Modern Insurance Group, Inc., including American Modern Home Insurance Company d/b/a in CA as American Modern Insurance Company (Lic. No. 2222-8).

Markus Reiterberger in action in the 2019 Qatar round. Tom Sykes is the other half of BMW's official factory WSBK race team. Photo courtesy of BMW Motorrad.

The United States is left out of this year's action, as are Thailand and the Czech Republic, all of which hosted races in recent seasons.

• 24-25 Feb: Final pre-season testing for WSBK & WSSP at Phillip Island
• Round 1: 28 Feb-1 Mar, Phillip Island, Australia
• Round 2: 13-15 Mar, Losail Int'l Circuit, Qatar
• Round 3: 27-29 Mar: Circuito de Jerez, Spain
• Round 4: 17-19 Apr: TT Circuit Assen, Netherlands
• Round 5: 8-10 May: Autodromo Ferrari di Imola, Italy
• Round 6: 22-24 May: Motorland Aragón, Spain
• Round 7: 12-14 Jun: Misano World Circuit Simonelli, Italy
• Round 8: 3-5 Jul: Donington Park, UK
• Round 9: 31 Jul-2 Aug: Motosport Arena Oschersleben, Germany
• Round 10: 4-6 Sep: Autodromo Int'l do Algarve, Portugal
• Round 11: 18-20 Sep: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain (debut event!)
• Round 12: 25-27 Sep: Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, France
• Round 13: 9-11 Oct: Circuito San Juan Villicum, Argentina

The Quail Motorcycle Gathering, a prominent west coast event near Monterey, California, is an annual assemblage of some of the most incredible motorcycles in the world. The bikes are parked on a perfect golfing green, and access for fans and photographers is unparalleled. Think Barber Museum, outside and on the green grass of May.

This year’s event celebrated 50 years of the iconic Honda CB750, the 100th Anniversary of the Brough Superior, and “Off-Road Wonders Through the 1990s.” Of course, BMW machines were very well represented, including an incredible Rennsport RS 54 machine with fuel injection! There are maybe three on the planet.

This year’s event showcased more than 300 historic and classic motorcycles as well as selected, interesting vendors around the green, including Keanu Reeves’ built to order, ARCH motorcycles. Additionally, event entry always includes a gourmet luncheon feast, along with myriad activities for casual observers and die-hard motorcycle fans.

Important anniversaries in motorcycling honored in 2019 included 50 years of the first production motorcycle to be called a "Superbike," the 1969 Honda CB750, and 100 years of the legendary English Brough Superior. The Quail celebrated these anniversaries with exhibitions on the field, alongside many rare and beautiful historic off-road machines of interest to many of us who began our riding careers on "Off Road Wonders" from Japan and Europe.

Each class highlighted exemplary motorcycles, including six world-class examples of the ground-breaking Honda CB750 manufactured between 1969 and 1977, as well as a wide variety of historic off-road motorcycles, including the iconic 1972 Husqvarna 400 CR, the 1989 Honda XRV650 Africa Twin Marathon, several showroom perfect Bultacos, and many more.

Malcolm Smith, multiple International Six Days Trials gold medal winner and On Any Sunday star, along with motorcycle racing legend Mert Lawwill, were featured guests, as was Cycle World’s beloved tale-spinner Peter Egan, whose stories have entertained our generation for decades. The close proximity to museum quality machinery and seldom seen rarities the Quail Motorcycle Gathering offers is unparalleled, and the event includes an opportunity for a day ride along some superb roads, like California’s Highway One through Big Sur and Carmel Valley.

Many fine examples of European bikes on display included several R 69Ses featured in Dover white, pale blue and green, red, and the usual lustrous black. BMW restorers Tim Stafford and Scottie Sharpe brought some of the finest Bavarian examples ever seen on this side of the pond and Captain Jack Wells, well known to many of us as a BMW single-cylinder expert, brought his beautiful Brough Superior sidecar rig from Lake City, Florida. Seeing this many Broughs together on the green was itself epic. These machines are valued well beyond anything Lawrence of Arabia may have considered. He, of course, met his Waterloo on his Brough Superior, number 7, and was a firm believer in the marque.

If you love historic bikes and enjoy superb, natural surroundings, consider placing The Quail on your bucket list. And don’t forget John Steinbeck’s Depression era haunt at Cannery Row nearby and the always entertaining wild sea otters playing on the water right below your al fresco dinner table. Save the date, May 16, 2020. Maybe I’ll see you there.

For more information, visit quaillodgeevents.com. See more of Stephen's photos by visiting the MOA's Flickr site.

While this is quite obviously a BMW-oriented website, the big news was not from BMW Motorrad. They were there, but demos of their autonomous R 1250 GS motorcycle took the pillion seat to the debut of Harley-Davidson's production Livewire electric motorcycle. Wrapping up the big motorcycle builders in attendance was Ducati, showing off the Connected Vehicle to Everything (ConVeX) system they've been developing with partners Audi, Ericsson, Qualcomm and the Technical University of Kaiserslautern. (Audi is Ducati's direct parent; both are owned by Volkswagen.)

Harley-Davidson Livewire electric motorcycle; MSRP $29,799 and available for order now with delivery in August 2019 expected.

The Livewire's orange and black color scheme ("Orange Fuse") surprised exactly nobody, but the neon yellow version ("Yellow Fuse") certainly drew some raised eyebrows. (Don't worry, you can also get it in plain "Vivid Black" if you like.) Internet chatter exploded with discussions about the first street motorcycle from a major manufacturer, with many decrying the $29,799 base price as unrealistic and out of reach. Those comments were quickly followed by criticism of the Livewire's stated 110-mile range and 110-mile-per-hour top speed. (Note: A top-of-the-line, fully-kitted-out Zero DSR with maxed-out battery capacity (132-mile combined use range) plus the Power Tank (adds range) and quick charger (cuts time to full charge to under 4 hours) costs just under $20,000, but you can easily get a FSX with the same trim level for half the cost of a Livewire.)

Harley wowed the crowed gathered in the Panasonic booth with their virtual reality (VR) experience based around the Livewire, and while tons of information still has yet to get out about the much-anticipated electric motorcycle, there are some specs available.

• 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds
• 110 MPH top speed
• Estimated 110 mile range (mixed city + highway riding)
• MSRP $29,799
• Charge from empty to full on household 120V outlet (Level 1 charging) takes nearly 9 hours. Time for Level 2 charging (240V connection, like your clothes dryer) is the same time frame.
• DC Fast Charge (Level 3) from empty to full takes about 34 minutes - Harley's claim is 192 miles of range in 60 minutes. However, installing a Level 3 charging system at your home (if it's even allowed) or business could cost you as much as $8,000 (parts + labor). (One might assume some H-D dealerships would install Level 3 chargers, but we'll see!)
• "The world's most connected motorcycle experience" thanks to cellular telematics (whatever THOSE are) from Panasonic (hence why H-D was in Panasonic's booth at CES). No subscription fee for "H-D Connect" in the first year of ownership, and no clue what the subscription cost beyond that will be. ("Without the subscription that is required to maintain a cellular service, owners will not be able to take advantage of any of the remote status and security features." Harley swears the bike will work if it has low cell signal.
• Fully adjustable Showa suspension - traditional fork and rear monoshock setup
• 180 (rear) and 120 (front) Michelin Scorcher Sport tires are standard
• Customizable 4.3-inch full color liquid crystal touchscreen dash
• Can be ordered now at your local Harley dealer
• First deliveries expected in August 2019

The mere existence of an electric motorcycle that actually LOOKS like a badass street bike is exciting. It remains to be seen if the reality of the Livewire will live up to the public's expectations - or Harley's hopes for sales. There are a lot of motorcycles you can buy with 30 grand - like two Indian FTR 1200s, three Can-Am Ryker 900s, four Kawasaki Ninja 650s or six BMW G 310 Rs!

BMW's "self-riding" R 1250 GS debuted back in September to great hue and cry - "The robots win!" "When motorcycles don't need us, will we still need them!?" - so it wasn't a huge surprise to see its computerized shenanigans at CES this year.

BMW swears they're not trying to introduce robot overlords to humanity.

In case you missed the hype over the debut, BMW Motorrad swears they're using the robot bike only as a "test bed for advanced rider-assistance systems." Yeah, and the T-1000 just wants to protect me! Still, it's amazing technology and seeing a motorcycle coming to a controlled stop without a rider atop it is a humbling experience that really lets you reflect on your place in the world.

Wireless communications are all around us, so it shouldn't be a surprise that now includes motorcycles - and it should be even less surprising that motorcycle-related wireless technology should show up at CES. What is a surprise, though, is that it's coming from Ducati. Sure, the Duc Dukes are known for great bike-related racing technology and those beautiful single-sided swing arms, but those desmodromic engines are a throwback that hides the company's geekier side.

Ducati calls their wireless vehicle connectivity scheme "Safety Road Map 2025" and it starts with expanding the use of cornering ABS to cover more models and ends somewhere beyond motorcycles having forward- and rearward-looking radar systems on board, which we might see as early as next year. A Multistrada 1200 with Ducati's C-V2X ("Vehicle 2 Everything") system onboard went up against two Audis, a Q7 SUV and an A4 sedan for a demonstration that showed off capabilities that prevent a C-V2X-equipped car from violating a similarly-equipped motorcycle's right-of-way and the infamous and deadly "but I didn't see a motorcycle" left-turn collision.

Qualcomm illustration

Most motorcyclists might not think of the Consumer Electronics Show as something they should pay attention to, but as motorcycles become more and more technologically advanced, it may well be the place manufacturers debut new motorcycles in the future. CES is put on by the Consumer Technology Association and the next one takes place from 7-10 January 2020 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Some seek the warmth and optimism that color can provide and for the enlightened camper we now offer the moonscape Atacama.

Redverz Gear, innovator of the industry’s original motorcycle tent, has expanded its color palette to include a moonscape model of the most popular motorcycle tent on earth. With a new façade on a proven design, Redverz seeks to appeal to campers’ lighter side. The impeccable Atacama design remains unchanged delivering 3-person capacity, room for cots and lengthwise sleeping. The spacious and secure garage accommodates adventure and cruiser motorbikes and functions as a lounge, workshop and changing room. With every critical design standard crushed and thousands of customers satisfied, the design team at Redverz decided to have a little fun with color.

“Atacama tents beat the wind and rain every time. Our design has been steadily perfected over the years and we have really reached a point where I wouldn’t change a thing,” said owner Kevin Muggleton, “well, except maybe color.”

About Redverz Gear
By focusing on the comfort, safety and functionality of its designs, Redverz Gear is able to offer a better way of camping and a unique adventure travel tent that is a secure, practical and spacious home away from home for travelers and their motorbikes. The tent comes from 20 years of overland and adventure motorcycle travel experience. Redverz Gear is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. More information visit the Redverz website or on Facebook.

“We have been relentlessly committed to enhancing our users’ joy of riding, ever since pioneering the Motorcycle Bluetooth category back in 2004. This partnership is yet another powerful example of the innovation behind that ongoing commitment,” said Dr. Abraham Glezerman – Cardo’s founder and CEO. “Much like Cardo, JBL has led its industry, always on the forefront of passion, quality and innovation. JBL and its world-class audio solutions will allow us to bring our customers a new standard of sound for the best riding experience possible.”

After interviewing thousands of riders over the course of 15 years, Cardo Systems discovered that collectively, the three things riders are most passionate about when looking for a communication device are performance, ease-of-use and sound quality. Cardo reinvented performance by introducing the next generation Dynamic Mesh Communication platform, improved ease-of-use with industry-first one-step natural voice commands and now breaks a new key  barrier: premium audio. As the world’s No. 1 sound company, JBL is the ideal strategic partner to take Cardo Systems to the next level.

“JBL sound powers life’s most epic moments – and we’re excited to elevate the motorcycle riding experience through our world-class audio,” said Dave Rogers, President, Consumer Audio, HARMAN. “Partnering with Cardo Systems on this line of new products is a perfect way to bring premium sound to the motorcycle community.”

You can find more information about Cardo Systems at www.cardosystems.com. Also visit us and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Part 1

Part 2

They've also got a blog page for each episode featuring a transcript for anybody that wants to read up or refer back to the details. PART 1 - PART 2.

Dr. Markus Schramm (55) has been with the BMW Group since 1991 and is currently responsible for corporate and product strategy planning. He has previously held several management roles in Sales, Aftersales, Strategy, Planning and controlling. Schramm is a passionate motorcyclist and marathon runner.

In August, Touratech-AG entered into a financial reorganization using the German insolvency laws to protect the company from creditors. The process is similar to a Chapter 11 reorganization in the USA. As a part of this effort, production has been streamlined and the product range narrowed to improve output. The company also required an investor to help settle debts with creditors and provide the working capital needed for future operations.

There was interest from investors around the globe and a competitive bidding process was carried out over the last few months under the guidance of a team of consultants and the court appointed Administrator, Dr. Dirk Pehl from Schultze & Braun. Following this process, German company, Happich GmbH rose to the top and signed an agreement to become the sole investor in Touratech-AG beginning 1 January 2018.

Happich GmbH plans to continue the current business model and keep most of the existing employees at Touratech-AG. The company also plans to retain the global importer network that represents the brand in some 45 countries.

The team at Touratech-USA is happy to hear this news. “Our biggest challenge the last few years has been trying to get enough Touratech product to satisfy customer demand,” said Touratech-USA CEO, Paul Guillien. “With the additional working capital and manufacturing expertise being brought in by Happich, the future for our customers will be much brighter.”

In addition to financial support, Happich GmbH brings expertise in manufacturing and supply chain management. They will also contribute experienced management to ensure the company regains a healthy position to satisfy the growth in demand for its products.

Happich GmbH is based in Wuppertal, Germany and is a designer and manufacturer of products and components for commercial automotive and specialty vehicles. The company is owned by Pelzer Swiss Holding AG.

“Touratech complements our previous product portfolio perfectly,“ explains Managing Director, Marc Pelzer. “I am looking forward to this new task.“

This change comes about after careful consideration of the U.S. retail marketplace and is expected to increase brand awareness, as well as enhance Shoei’s longstanding position within the motorcycle industry.

"The addition of another U.S. distributor will open up new opportunities for Shoei to expand. We cannot rely on our superior helmets to sell themselves. We must also align ourselves with key distribution channels to ensure that our premium helmets are represented to the appropriate level throughout the U.S. We look forward to this new partnership with MTA and believe their sales force will represent Shoei well.” - Mr. Kenichiro Ishida - President of SHOEI CO., LTD. Japan

"This has to be one of the proudest moments in MTA's history. We have been working very hard to add quality brands to our portfolio and Shoei has to be the crown jewel. The MTA dealers and their customers are the real winners here, and we look forward to being able to fulfill their Shoei needs along with our other fine products." – Mr. Greg Blackwell – President of MTA Distributing Inc. U.S.

According to the press release on Friday, the company's employees were informed by the provisional insolvency administrator as well as by the Executive Board about the insolvency and current status at a company meeting. Wages and salaries were paid. Dirk Pehl will use the phase of provisional insolvency to gain an overview of the economic situation of the company and to examine restructuring options.

"Touratech already devised initial principles for a restructuring concept with its consultants before the application for insolvency," says Pehl after an initial survey. "The first thing we need to do is to implement the restructuring that has begun and to develop opportunities to put the company on a healthy financial and economic footing so as to preserve the location and jobs as much as possible," said the insolvency administrator.

The reason for the insolvency is the late implementation of the new building, which Touratech deemed necessary due to increased demand, the press release states. The associated difficulties with logistics and production as well as the considerable production and supply losses led eventually to insolvency.

The new three-building logistics center houses a modern warehouse, picking facility, workshop, administration offices, the Touratech shop and bistro, as well as the sales, marketing and product management offices previously housed in the former Tennishalle. It was put into operation in August 2016 after a six-and-a-half-month construction period, and was inaugurated at the end of October 2016 with a large ceremony, attended by District Administrator Sven Hinterseh and Mayor Martin Ragg.

The company invested more than ten million euros (11.8 million US dollars) in the new building on the Dauchinger Straße with an area of about 20,000 square meters, which was built at an angle to the existing Touratech site in Niedereschach. According to the firm's statement, existing jobs should be secured and new jobs created.

Paul Guillien, CEO of Touratech-USA, released the following statement in a press release:

Touratech-AG (German Operations) has retained consulting firm Schultze & Braun to assist with a financial reorganization of the company. The fast growth in the adventure motorcycle segment and the company's expansion to meet this demand has resulted in the need for a re-organization to ensure a healthy future. Under the advisement of Schultze & Braun, Touratech AG will be using the German bankruptcy rules to re-organize the assets and liabilities of the business to provide a stable foundation that will allow the company to continue serving the parts and accessories segment of adventure touring motorcycle market.

Touratech-USA, the US importer, is an independently owned US company and is in good financial condition and will not be impacted by the restructuring in Germany.

Over the last three decades, Touratech has become the leading brand in adventure motorcycling with a catalog featuring thousands of products which are available in nearly 100 counties. The company is well known for its quality products, innovative ideas and travel inspiration. Motorcycle parts production will continue uninterrupted.

Whether you are preparing for a weekend trip or the motorcycle ride of a lifetime, Touratech will continue to be your dedicated resource for motorcycle accessories, gear and apparel. The company will use the opportunity to focus on the core parts and accessory part of its business while continuing to inspire its customers to explore the world on two-wheels. Touratech-USA will continue it's regular operations and events in the US as it has in the past.

Story translated from an article on Suedkurier.de. Touratech-USA's press release added after initial publication.

Ducati will launch six new models in India in 2017: Monster 797, Monster 1200, Multstrada 950, Scrambler Cafe, Scrambler Desert Sled, and SuperSport.

Ducati Monster 797, photo from CoolThings.com.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON

Harley-Davidson is testing Australian markets to see if there's any excitement over what could be its first-even debt issue outside the USA. HD has meetings set up with financial experts in Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore before the end of March to discuss possible corporate bond issues.

JP Morgan Executive Director Craig Dreyer arranged the meetings and said, "Harley certainly have a view to expand their investor base in both the debt and equity sides of the business in the region. Asia is going to be a more important debt market next year and in five years time, so gaining a greater degree of exposure to investors here will help internationalize their investor base. Harley ticks a lot of boxes; so far the investor interest in the meetings we've set up has been very high."

Harley-Davidson is currently rated A3 by Moody's and A- Stable by Standard & Poor's.

KAWASAKI

Indonesia is in for a treat - Kawasaki's brand-new Z900. The Z9 replaced the Z800 and sports a new 948cc inline-four engine derived from the Z1000, plus a slipper clutch and a six-speed transmission.

Kawasaki Z900, photo from Motorcycle Consumer News.

SUZUKI

Suzuki's Indian subsidiary launched Bharat Stage IV-compliant two-wheelers, the Lets scooter and the Hayate EP motorcycle. Suzuki's New Access 125 and all variants of the GSXR series available in India already meet BSIV emissions standards.

Satoshi Uchida, Managing Director, SMIPL, said, "We are pleased to announce that all our products across segments are now updated and come only with BSIV-compliant engines. The new Lets is testimony to our endeavors in bringing to India the most eco-friendly riding solutions in line with the government regulations. We are confident that our products will retain a strong foothold in their respective segments."

2016 Suzuki Hayate EP, photo from IBNLive India.

The promotion invites motorcycle enthusiasts across the country to share photos or videos that illustrate their love for motorcycling on Instagram.  The contest closes on March 12; participants should follow these steps to enter:

1. Follow @MichelinMotorcycle on Instagram
2. Post a unique photo or video on Instagram that captures your passion for motorcycling
3. Include in the caption @MichelinMotorcycle and the hashtag #MichelinOnMyMoto

The posts will be hosted on the campaign’s site (www.bit.ly/MICHELINgotoCOTA), where the public can vote for their favorites. The top 100 entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges. Then the top 10 posts will be deemed semi-finalists and their content will be shared on the @CircuitofTheAmericas Instagram account. The post that gets the most likes by March 24 will be awarded the grand prize. The top three photos that garner the most support will each receive a set of Michelin motorcycle tires.

As a global sponsor of MotoGP, Michelin will coordinate travel to Austin and lodging for the winner and a guest on April 22, 2017, with admission to the practice sessions at the track, a Grid Walk before the race and prime seating on the main grandstand during the race on April 23, 2017.

For terms and conditions, and to vote for your favorite post, visit www.bit.ly/MICHELINgotoCOTA.

Day 3 at the AIMExpo is the first of two days on which consumers are allowed into the convention center. It's the day for the highest level of foot traffic and it's the longest day as well, running from 9 in the morning until 7 at night.

It was a great day for BMW Motorrad, who saw lines starting before 8 am for the day's demo rides. BMW brought 21 bikes to the outdoor portion of the AIMExpo, and if you've never experienced the BMW Motorrad Demo Truck, you owe it to yourself to check it out if it ever gets near your neighborhood. The test rides were booked by noon and they unfortunately had to turn away interested riders the rest of the day.

The test ride loop was about 11 miles, mostly right turns, and they ran the bikes in three groups, each with its own leader. A final sweep rider brought the total number of bikes up to 25, and the whole round trip took about 20 minutes.

There was a roll call and general safety briefing before each ride, and each segment leader gave another briefing before riders mounted their bikes just to go over the various controls and expectations for the ride.

I heard exactly zero complaints about the test rides! Some folks griped a bit about BMW not having a presence indoors, but the rides seemed to make up for it, and the folks I talked to understood that BMW was just tapped out this week due to their big event in Los Angeles.

Because it's Florida, it started to pour rain even though it was bright and sunny outside. Naturally, the heaviest rain of the squall came just as the riders were coming in.

I was able to stick around long enough to see the next batch of demo riders head out. It was fun listening to all the riders talk about their expectations of the bikes and what they experienced on the ride.

For most of the day, I walked the floor talking to various exhibitors about what products they might have that will appeal to BMW riders. Knowing that we're both a picky bunch and ...frugal... I found some things I thought you might like to have a look at.

Jessica from Twisted Throttle shows off some aftermarket grips that are perfect for sliding right over the heating elements on most 21st century Beemers.

Mathias (right) and his coworker from Shoei show off their newest helmet, the RF-SR. Billed as an entry-level Shoei yet not an entry-level helmet in general, the solid color SRs have an MSRP of $399 and are packed with all the technology you expect from Shoei. This looks like a fantastic helmet for just about any rider.

If you buy a new helmet, you're going to want to take care of it, and that's where the Helmet Halo comes in handy. This is a made-in-the-USA product - I think the guy is from North Carolina - and it's a rugged, elastic plastic donut that you can use to protect your helmet from sitting on its opening or from getting knocked off a table or chair. It compacts nicely, but its sized well enough that you could stash it in your tank bag without rolling it up. All that and they only cost $16.

Evans makes a waterless engine coolant - it's all glycol, with zero water. The science behind it is fascinating and more than we can get into here, so maybe I'll have to write up a tech piece on this product.

Drop-in replacement stators for F 700 and 800 motorcycles from Procom/Electrosport.

Moto Machines has come up with a slick pannier system for S 1000 R and RR motorcycles.

This next thing might be overkill for most home shops at $1,100, but if you do restorations or rebuilds, it could be absolutely invaluable. It uses sound waves to clean anything - and I mean anything - that you can drop in the tank. The tank is filled with plain water and a smidge of some soap. Pro Ultrasonics makes cleaners that are big enough for a traditional dealership, but this one would be perfect for your own garage. Safe for rubber and plastic, too, according to its inventor.

Avon's new 50/50 "TrekRider" tires may appeal to somebody you know.

Scott from Simpson Helmets talks to somebody about his company's wares. Simpson is making a concerted effort to attract more motorcycle riders and has aggressive-looking helmets in the pipeline.

Debra from MotoChic shows off her Lauren bag - it converts from a backpack to a tote bag and is optimized for use by women. Debra won the first PowerLily incubator program and I'm sure we're going to see great things from her in the future.

Have you heard of Screaming Banshee? It's a 123 dB air horn compact enough to install on an S 1000 RR (or any other bike). They have even made it CAN bus compatible!

One of the coolest ideas I saw was from Shock Straps. Fred has come up with a fantastic idea that makes it so you don't have to worry about your tie-down straps working their way loose when the road gets bumpy.

Here is KLIM's ADV helmet. Beautiful quality and only $549.

The folks at Wolfman Luggage show off their dry bags on an R 1200 GS.

I never heard of Nexx helmets until today, but I dig their retro aviator looks.

Maier makes all sorts of things for all sorts of bikes, especially if you ride an adventure bike. My favorite is their rear hugger for the R 1200 GS - it's super easy to install (two screws and a few zip ties) and keeps mud off your rear shock.

MTA now owns Olympia, but don't worry - the folks who built Olympia from the ground up have stayed on to work with MTA and ensure a smooth transition and ongoing development of their products.

This is Beard. I just wanted to say that.

Nelson Rigg debuted a new set of dry bags this week - a tail bag, a set of saddlebags and saddlebag toppers. The gray bag in the middle is the saddlebag liner, which comes with the saddlebag and can be lifted right out.

As has happened at AIMExpo the last few times, the MOA Foundation draws the name of a winner in a bike raffle. This year's raffle was for the shiny golden S 1000 XR built by Twisted Throttle.

Eric (left), founder of Twisted Throttle, and Ted Moyer of the MOA discuss matters before the drawing.

Larry Little, who runs the AIMExpo, draws the winning ticket.

The winner was MOA member Brandon Wainwright of Illinois! Congratulations, Brandon, and we hope you enjoy your new bike.

I had to throw in one gratuitous photo of myself, and here I am with MotoAmerica racer Jeremy Cook and his girlfriend/pit chief Stephanie. The MOA sponsors Jeremy and we are all looking forward to another season of superbike racing in 2017.

Thanks to Magic City Cycle for providing the BMW and Ducati motorcycles that attracted many tire kickers throughout the day; these bikes were strategically placed in the booth space that would have been occupied by BMW Motorrad had they been able to make it to AIMExpo this year.

And finally...

The Sand 3 jacket - this one in a fantastic blue color - looks rugged and even though it's aimed more at the adventure rider, its feature set is such that pretty much anybody will dig this jacket. The eye-catching thing about it is the built-in mounting point for the Go Pro camera; the mounts can be used for just about anything though, including REV'IT's neck brace. The Sand 3 is more than just an update of the Sand 2, it is to some extent a rethink/redesign of the model. It also features a two-part liner, one part that's quilted for warmth and another part that's waterproof to keep you dry. Very cool jacket.

Over at the Scorpion booth, Edward Wilkinson, their director of development, gave me a demo of their new Covert helmet.

I love the true modular nature of the helmet and even though the sun visor isn't rated for impact resistance, it's a neat feature. Turns out Edward is as big a fan of science fiction as I am and he drew some inspiration for the Covert from the helmets used by the Mobile Infantry in the film Starship Troopers.

Another sci-fi influenced helmet is the EXO AT950. Picture it with a gold reflective visor and let me know if you figure out the inspiration!

Here's a bunch of other stuff I saw that is really cool and is either in shops or will be soon!

Neat new helmet from Shark with four integrated LEDs that can stay on steady (5 hrs) or blink (10 hrs) and be recharged 5,000 times.

Boots from Bates Footwear. They have long held military and law enforcement contracts are are getting into the powersports industry with boots that are sharp looking - and many of them are made in the USA.

BRAND NEW HELMETS FROM KLIM! The flip-front will retail at $599 (yes, $599); the full face and ADV will be $549 and I think I heard (I may be wrong) that the motocross helmet will be just $299. Lots of high tech wizardry here.

iXS may be new to the States, but they've been putting out great gear for years, including their newest jacket (with dual-layer liner system) and two sets of track-oriented leathers.

GIVI (pronounced with a soft 'G') USA showed off their ADV pannier system and dry bags.

I missed who makes these superhero helmets, but found them at the MotoAmerica booth.

Check out Cycle Stretch for helmet (and ball cap) bags that stretch, protect and bungee directly to your bike with built-in cords and clips. Not only that, but the bags fold, roll and store in attached pockets. Very compact and a great idea from this New York company.

Ohlins ... of course!

EVS makes sharp-looking and high-functioning neck and knee braces along with other safety gear.

Scorpion's new high-tech waxed cotton jacket and pants.

Neat alternative to big-name tool chests here with Stor-Loc. The drawers can hold up to 400 lbs (I saw a dude standing in one!) and the half-width drawers are modular. Find you're using the deep drawer more ofter? Reconfigure the drawers to put the deep drawer on top instead of on the bottom. Neat idea and not as expensive as you'd think.

Cool transparent tank protector from OneDesign - they also make covers for fuel caps and ones that prevent scratching from keys on triple clamps.

Neat retro helmet from Bell. Perfect for you Triumph, BSA and Norton riders.

MotoNation's under-clothing armor system includes these shorts, but also long pants and a variety of shirts. Great idea and well implemented.

To round things off, here's more gear from REV'IT, who I think is making some of the best stuff available these days. The boots are waterproof and have a very cool twist-to-close function that snugs the whole thing around your foot with aircraft-grade coated cables.

Don't get me wrong - I totally understand. BMW had its usual large presence at Intermot, the huge powersports trade show that takes place in Cologne (Köln), Germany every other year. BMW also held its North America dealer meetings/press event in Los Angeles, California this week - and it was a doozy.

At Intermot, BMW unveiled the R nineT Racer and Pure. In LA, they showed us the K 1600 B and tore the roof off the future of motorcycling with the amazing Next 100 concept motorcycle.

They're spent. They threw down a huge double-whammy in Cologne and LA and there just isn't anything left for Orlando. The AIMExpo staff helped BMW out by putting a DJ in the booth and staffing a soda/coffee station. There's some tables and comfy chairs, but nothing else - not even any BMW employees.

Even though the G 310 R is a very cool bike and the Scrambler is fantastic even sitting still, I have to say I'm disappointed, but I do understand. I mean, as of this writing (just before midnight), I'm seeing Facebook posts from people I know attending the BMW gala events in LA - and they're still attending the BMW gala events in LA!

That means that on Day 1 this year, I was able to pay attention to all the other marques I found interesting - Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, KTM and especially Moto Guzzi.

Moto Guzzi - part of the expansive Piaggio Group (which includes Aprilia and Vespa) - debuted their take on the bagger with the MGX-21 Flying Fortress at Sturgis in August. That was a capper on a good year for Guzzi, a year in which they celebrated their 95th anniversary with a brand-new 900cc platform and two bikes based on it, the Roamer and Bobber. They added a bike to their fun V7 II line (Stornello) and put ABS and traction control on it.

The Fortress is a long, low, impressive bike. Its matte black finish all over and batwing fairing are smartly offset by red cylinder head covers and brake calipers. The performance characteristics are good and initial ride reports are positive. It's not the high-performance bagger that is the Honda Gold Wing F6B and it might not keep up with BMW's new bagger, the K 1600 B, but it has the look.

I am an unapologetic Moto Guzzi fan, and I wasn't the least bit surprised when Piaggio's PR Manager Shane Pacillo gushed over the Fortress. He rode it for a week at Sturgis and says it's every bit as much fun as it looks. He also promised more news coming from the EICMA trade show taking place in Italy later this year. (Note: More Moto Guzzi photos at the bottom of the page.)

Aprilia backed a bike in the MotoAmerica circuit, and their commitment to sport bikes continues in 2017 with improvements to the RSV4 and Tuono models, both of which were updated and debuted at Intermot.

PS One of the highlights of my day was getting to meet and chat briefly with Wayne Rainey, who is not only one of MotoAmerica's founders, but a three-time 500cc world champ and AMA Hall of Famer. I did my best to maintain my cool and not go all fan-boy on him. I did not ask "Can I get a selfie with you?" but rather spoke to him as respectfully as possible. I'm not sure he was impressed, but at least he didn't look for the nearest emergency exit.

In addition to the motorcycles, Piaggio is celebrating Vespa's 70th anniversary this year by releasing limited edition scooters - the Settantesimo and 946 Emporio Armani - but an all-new scooter as well, the Liberty. The Liberty will be available in 50 and 150cc configurations as well as a Sport variation that tops out with an MSRP of $2,999. New LED headlights are one of the features, but the impressive thing on the Liberty is ABS brakes. ABS may be expected from BMW's C 650 maxi-scooter, but we're talking about a 150cc scooter that retails for under three grand. WITH ABS.

wait for it...

Mario Di Maria, the CEO of Piaggio Group Americas, rounded out Piaggio's presentation by assuring the media reps present that the United States is an important market for Piaggio and the group is dedicated to growing its dealer base. He said that Piaggio is committed to building its investment in the USA and is excited about that prospect.

One slightly ominous statement from Di Maria could spell some difficulty for that dealer base growth - he mentioned Piaggio's "corporate identity" for standalone dealers, something which smacks to me of homogenization of the dealer base, a trend that does not find its biggest fan with me. (I understand why they do things like this, I'm just not a big fan of the practice.)

Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda all spoke at length about new and updated models, many of which saw increased horsepower and the addition of high-tech wizardry like ignition mapping modes and traction control modes that range from off to high levels of intervention.

In the Adventure Bike segment, everybody seemed to be talking about two bikes: The Suzuki V-Strom 1000 and the Honda Africa Twin. Yes, Suzuki has completely revamped the "Wee Strom" (650 V-Strom) and added a ruggedized XT version of both the 650 and 1000cc Stroms, but the standard 1000 is the one people seem to be talking about. If you're into ADV bikes and you haven't heard of the Africa Twin, it's time to crawl out from under that rock you call home and read ... well, anything ADV bike related.

One cool thing about the new Wee Strom is that Suzuki is standardizing the luggage and accessory mounting points between the 650 and the 1000 - so if you buy accessories for one, they should fit easily onto the other if you ever decide to change platforms. Suzuki also announced that the 49-state GSX-S 750 will become a 50-state model in the 2018 model year after a complete redesign that adds eight horsepower, four-mode traction control and low-RPM assist to prevent first-gear stalling.

Yamaha didn't present an ADV bike, but they did talk about the "sport heritage" segment and its flagship SCR950, a scrambler-style bike with the V-twin engine ported over from their popular Bolt cruiser. The model they had on stage with them was a custom build from Brat Style and it was optimized for off-road use with fat knobby tires and a mile-wide swath of attitude.

Yamaha's focus was more on their sportier bikes, as it should be. The YZF-R3 with ABS will cost $5,299, raising the bar in the 300cc sportbike segment and pushing the other Japanese builders to step up. The FZ-10 is their flagship sport (not supersport) bike, though they had a brand-new FZ-09 on stage.

Derek Brooks from Yamaha's product planning division talked at length baout the FZ-09, saying their target was refining the 09's "agile, torquey character." ABS is standard, as is two-mode (plus off) traction control, fully adjustable forks, a slipper clutch and a new twin LED headlight. It's MSPR of $8,999 seems low for all that performance technology, but who am I to judge.

Center stage during Yamaha's presentation was dominated by the 2017 R6, as amazing a piece of supersport technology as exists in the segment. They've included three-mode ignition mapping, six-mode (plus off) traction control, and made it easy for the owner to install an accessory quick shifter. The fuel tank is now made of aluminum to shave some weight, and the new magnesium rear subframe helps in that regard as well. Suspension is done by KYB, with a new shock out back and fully adjustable 43mm forks up front that come from the flagship R1. Also coming over from the R1 are the axles and brake rotors, calipers and master cylinders. Amazingly, the 2017 R1 will retail for $12,199.

Italian legend Benelli is back - and being manufactured in China. Though engineered and designed in Italy, they're built in the same factory in China where SSR motorcycles are made, and SSR is North America's exclusive Benelli importer. The 302R on display is derived from the TNT 300 and features a parallel twin water-cooled engine and a six-speed transmission. SSR only has 50 dealers in the US, but they're working on building that dealer base and promise a robust customer support experience when it comes to sourcing parts for their 250cc V-twin Buccaneer Café and Classic bikes.

Mel Harris, SSR's VP of Operations, called the bikes "quality, affordable product" and pointed to Benelli's success on the racetrack, saying that the SR450S could well be the first Chinese-made motorcycle to win any mainstream racing championship.

There's not much I can add about bikes from Honda and KTM that hasn't been addressed ad infinitum on the internet, so I'll leave you with some photos of those bikes for your enjoyment.

Coming in the Day 2 report: gear, gear and more gear.

The BMW Motorrad Motorsport community can celebrate an historic world championship title: at the season finale in Donington (GB), Finnish duo Pekka Päivärinta / Kirsi Kainulainen were crowned the 2016 FIM Sidecar World Champions. Kainulainen is the first ever woman to win a world title in road racing. Their 44-Racing sidecar is powered by a BMW S 1000 RR engine, and the BMW Motorrad Motorsport experts supported Päivärinta/Kainulainen with engine hardware and set-up. Together with the team, the specialists modified and set up the powerful BMW engine in order to perfectly match the special requirements of a modern sidecar.

Over the course of the season, the “Flying Finns” have been the most consistent team. They finished all nine races on the podium, including their historic win at the end of June at Pannonia-Ring (HU), when Kainulainen was the first ever woman to win a world championship race in road racing.

They arrived at the final weekend at Donington with a 23-point lead in the standings and needed only three points to secure the title. However, Päivärinta/Kainulainen once more put in a brilliant performance and raced to second place on the podium. In the final standings, they ended the season with 177 points to their name and won the title by a comfortable 18 points.

It was the first world championship title in sidecar racing for BMW since 1974, when German racers Klaus Enders and Ralf Engelhardt finished the season as world champions. BMW Motorrad dominated sidecar racing for 20 years, winning a total of 21 world championship titles between 1954 and 1974.

“Congratulations to Pekka and Kirsi for this well deserved world championship title,” said Berthold Hauser, Technical Director BMW Motorrad Motorsport. “They had a great and very consistent season. In all the races they showed the perfect combination of speed and cleverness. Last year, they were fighting for the title until the very last race and, by finishing third overall, passenger Kirsi was the first ever woman to win a world championship medal in road racing. This season they continued their streak of success in an impressive manner. The historic win in Hungary was the next step, and now to be crowned world champions is just a fantastic achievement. Congratulations also to Taylor for winning the title in the BSB Superstock class. The RR racers are displaying a great performance in the series this season, with nine wins in 11 races so far and many, many podiums. We at BMW Motorrad Motorsport are very proud to have contributed to these titles with our technical support.”

Photo by Lou Fischer.

After three mandatory license qualification runs, Thompson scorched the salt with two memorable runs over 294 and 304 mph. Thompson’s highest exit speed exceeded 313 mph, earning her the Top Speed of the Event Award and new title as the World’s Fastest Female Motorcycle Racer.

“I’ve dreamed about this since I first started racing. This never would have happened without Denis Manning and team owners, John Jans and Joe Harralson. I can’t thank them and the entire “7” Racing crew members enough for all their hard work during the competition,” said an enthusiastic Thompson.

“Joe Harralson and I couldn’t be happier with these results. Valerie has the talent and drive to be the fastest motorcyclist in the world … period,” says John Jans, team owner of “7” Racing.

The four-day Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials is the premier motorcycle land speed-racing event of North America. The AMA and FIM sanctioned event offers national and world speed record opportunities. Event organizers honored Thompson and Team “7” Racing with the “Top Speed of the Event Award” while celebrating her new title.

“Valerie has quickly adjusted from racing a conventional motorcycle to driving a streamliner with twice the horsepower, she is a natural racer. More importantly, she reached our goal of exceeding 300 mph on the 3-mile short course vs. the 5-mile run-up streamliners normally require to reach top speed,” stated bike designer Manning. “Our goal is creating history by making '7' the fastest motorcycle in the world again. Valerie achieved our objective of going faster with less track, I can’t ask for more than that from any driver,” added Manning.

Thompson is an independent team owner/driver, fielding a record setting BMW S 1000 RR land speed racing bike with plans to compete in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle class in 2017. In addition to seven land speed records, she is a lifetime member of six land speed racing 200 MPH Clubs, including the prestigious Bonneville 200 MPH Club and is the first female member of the Colorado Mile.

Visit Valerie on her website, on Facebook or on Twitter.

Older siblings are often to blame for the growth and maturation of the youngest in the family. Lee Harrelson is a perfect example; he blames his older brothers for everything, including the reason he became a professional photographer, why he rides a BMW and even his deep love of music. It’s also the reason he’s served as the Entertainment Chair at every BMW MOA International Rally since 2009.

The youngest of five boys, Lee grew up like many of the babies of the family do. Parental leniency is typically greater with younger children, and sometimes a wrong path can be taken by a son or two. Maybe Lee was simply hanging around with the wrong crowd. Whatever the reason, Lee was getting into trouble away from home, which one day led to he and a couple of friends being picked up by the police.

Scared and alone, Lee believed his only option was to run away from home to avoid the anger of his parents he thought were sure to kill him. During his “bout with juvenile delinquency,” it was his oldest brother Keith, a professional photographer, who took notice and pulled Lee under his wing.

“Keith handed me a 35mm camera and a roll of black and white film and told me to go take some pictures of my friends,” Lee said.
After Keith showed Lee the magical processes of film developing and print making, Lee discovered a passion he didn’t know he had. Before long his days as a delinquent faded in his life’s rear view mirror.

Excited about the new passion he’s discovered and apparently forgetting his parents’ anger, Lee recalls when he finally went home to report his plans to become a professional photographer. Knowing how Keith was struggling to become established and probably living on peanut butter, they were not impressed.
“I’ll never forget my father’s face,” Lee said. “He looked at me and just shook his head as if to say, ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea, son.’”

Despite their initial lack of enthusiasm, they supported his dream. Lee took the first step by taking a job at a local camera store. While the job didn’t offer the creative outlet that Lee so desperately sought, it brought him to a place he could share his love of photography with coworkers and customers.

It didn’t long for Lee to recognize the five or six working pros who frequented the store and did the work that he sought. Just as Keith had done, they became not only his mentors (whose brains he picked every time they came to the store), but the photographers he approached when he took his next step. Before long, Lee left the camera store and began working as an assistant for an area fashion photographer. Despite the cleanliness of the floors being one of his job responsibilities, he was working in a photography studio and nothing else mattered.

With youthful confidence and ready to take the next step to make their marks on the world, Lee and Keith packed everything they owned and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, where they found work in a studio shooting fashion.

Lee loved the excitement of his work, the team and models he worked with and the ability to express himself creatively with a camera. Though he was living his dream shooting on the beaches of South Beach, he began to feel something was missing. His home in Birmingham, Ala., felt farther and farther away and the strong family ties binding the Harrelson family together so strongly began to tug on Lee’s heart. He missed his parents and the rest of his family. After two years in Florida, a job opening in the studio of Parisian, a Birmingham-based chain of upscale department stores, brought him home and the smile returned to his face.

Harrelson spent the next nine years traveling and creating fashion images across the country for not only Parisian, but Saks and Robinsons. Though he loved his work, the travel began to take a toll. Calling fashion a “young single man’s kind of career,” about 16 years ago Harrelson made the decision to change specialties.

His initial fear of the huge change in his business model was made easier when he secured a contract for a local grocery chain as well as several contracts with cookbook publishers. Before long, Harrelson’s client list included names like Time Inc., Wendy’s, Chesters and Southern Living. The one-time delinquent given a camera by an older brother to get him off the streets was living his dream and able to keep the promise he made to his parents so many years earlier to become just like Keith.

As is the case with photography, Lee credits his brothers for developing his interest in motorcycling. A man of many dreams and also wanting to be like his motorcycle riding older brothers Rob and Vance, Lee built his first bike using a Briggs and Stratton lawnmower engine mounted in a simple tube frame. He hung out in the garage with his brothers when they were around an snuck rides on their bikes when they weren’t.

Like his brothers, Lee progressed through a long line of motorcycles including a strange mix of Suzukis and Yamahas and even used a Honda 750 for his only means of transportation for more than two years.

Despite his success at nearly every endeavor he undertook, about 12 years ago Lee came to the frustrating conclusion that he’d never become the golfer he wanted to be. Instead of the golf course, Lee found himself spending his weekends with his brother Vance riding one of his F 650 GSes. Golf clubs relegated to a dark and dusty garage corner, the BMW bug bit Lee hard and he bought a 2004 R 1150 R and was hooked. Keeping Vance’s license plate in view while riding the curvy roads surrounding Birmingham has become Lee’s prescription to clear his head and along with Rob, the Harrelson trio has become constant traveling companions making many memorable trips around the country.

While Lee credits brother Keith for developing his love of photography and brothers Rob and Vance for his love of motorcycling, it’s his remaining brother that he blames for his love of music. With a musical palate deeply rooted in the southern rock he listened to as a kid, Lee truly enjoys all genres including blues, country and soul. “Nothing moves me more that some of the old recordings of the Staple Sisters, Wilson Pickett, Arthur Alexander and Aretha Franklin,” Lee confesses.

Back in the 1980s, Lee’s oldest brother Mark worked in the music industry. As had been the case with Keith, Vance and Rob, Mark had an energetic and enthusiastic little brother hanging around, so he did what any older brother would do – he put Lee to work. Long before Lee should have been anywhere near night clubs, Mark had Lee wrapping cords and moving amps for the bands he managed. Later, Lee helped Mark produce a show in Birmingham featuring Gregg Allman and some of the famous “Swampers” from Muscle Shoals. Looking back, Lee recalls a fun week full of rehearsals and band meals topped off by a great performance.

Few families seem as closely knit as the Harrelsons, and over time the boundaries separating Lee’s photography, motorcycling and music have become more and more blurred.

In 2009, Lee’s brother Vance was the co-chair for the BMW MOA Rally in Johnson City, Tenn., and Lee accepted the invitation to chair the entertainment committee. It’s a position he’s held ever since, leaning on the music contacts he’s made over the years to bring quality acts to the annual BMW MOA Rally.

“I have been fortunate to work on some very cool projects with some great artists with my favorite two being Paul Thorn and Gregg Allman,” Lee said. “I have recently started a film production company with five cinematographers, a sound engineer and a producer/editor. We hope to concentrate on two areas: food to pay our bills and music videos for fun.”

Harrelson says he considers himself lucky that photography has taken him places and shown him things he wouldn’t otherwise have had the opportunity to see.Friends describe Lee using phrases like “Salt of the Earth” to describe his friendly southern nature and personality that shuns the spotlight. Lee blames his mother for his personable demeanor and prides himself in always saying please and thank you and understanding that he is part of a team. He believes his portfolio represents the combined efforts of stylists, creative directors and support staff.

“It’s like a rock and roll band,” he said. “The more you work with a group, the tighter the group gets.”

After nearly a week of speculation and outrage, the folks at RevZilla broke their silence and explained that the two riding gear companies will not be merged, but will remain independent and continue doing what they do.

This is a big move for J.W. Childs, which has owned Cycle Gear for just under 13 months, having bought it from another private equity firm, Harvest Partners, in January 2015.  J.W. Childs is taking on RevZilla's outstanding debt in the deal.

Anthony Bucci, the CEO and co-founder of RevZilla - and for many riders, the face of the company, is it is Bucci who makes the many gear demo videos on the company's website - called the deal a partnership and "an exciting opportunity" and said, "We also like to think that we understand the next generation of commerce and have the vision to shape what we believe the future should be."
RevZilla founders Matt kull, Anthony Bucci and Nick Auger. Photo linked from RevZilla's website.

J.W. Childs currently owns the Kosta Browne Winery, NutraSweet, The Tile Shop and other entities; the firm formerly owned Bass Pro Shops, clothies Joseph Abboud, Murray's Discount Auto Stores, Ross University and Sunny Delight.

Melvin owns Liquid Asset Partners, which purchased EBR on 14 January 2016 for $2 million at auction. This auction, the third attempt to auction off EBR, was approved by the Walworth County (Wisc.) Circuit Court. EBR’s factory and offices were in East Troy, Wisc.; Liquid Asset Partners is located in Grand Rapids, Mich. About 130 people worked at EBR when the company went into receivership in April 2015.

Bruce Belfer, a New Jersey businessman, tried to buy EBR for $2.25 million in 2015, but missed court-ordered deadlines and was unable to close the deal.

Liquid Asset Partners’ bid of $2 million was in excess of the $1.6 million value of EBR’s manufacturing assets. When EBR went into receivership, it claimed $20.8 million in assets and $20.4 million in liabilities. The resoundingly criticized Indian company, Hero Moto-Corp, which paid $2.8 million for a 49% stake in EBR in 2013, did not publicly comment on the auction.

Liquid Asset Partners worked with Indian Motorcycle Co. before that brand was purchased by Polaris Industries; many industry insiders hailed Indian’s return in that period but held little hope for a lengthy or successful run, a prediction that proved true. LAP also handled the liquidation of the Buell factory assets in East Troy when Harley-Davidson abruptly dumped the brand in 2009.

“[EBR] bikes, out of the box, can go head-to-head with the top Italian race bikes. Our sale process will enable the proper exposure of the company and price flexibility that may better fit a new owner,” Melvin said.

An article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal indicated that LAP may seek crowdfunding as one of the methods to resurrect EBR.

Thursday and Friday are for industry professionals and media only. From a media standpoint, it gives people like me the opportunity to attend presentations from various exhibitors and learn about some exciting new products - and MOTORCYCLES - that are new to the market or coming soon.  It also gives business owners a chance to connect with dealers, manufacturers, distributors and other industry folks to talk about trends, set up meetings, discuss deals, and learn about each others' products.

Saturday and Sunday are open to the public. I believe tickets were $15 this year, though that may have involved some kind of discount - I know AMA members got a discount.  Saturday the Expo is open from 9 in the morning til 7 in the evening, a long day for exhibitors but a worthwhile one, because everybody I talked to with a booth says without their customers, they'd be nowhere.  It's open to the public again on Sunday from 10 to 5.

Between working the MOA booth, talking to members and prospective members, and ranging across the Expo floor to keep connecting with exhibitors who offer products, supplies and services of interest to BMW riders, I kind of forgot to take photos today.

I want to make it up to you, though, by directing you to the MOA's Twitter feed (www.twitter.com/bmwmoa) and the live-tweeting of the American Motorcyclist Association's Hall of Fame induction ceremony for 2015.

Start with this tweet

Bam! AMA HoF induction ceremony. @AIMExpo pic.twitter.com/YQmxbb98xz

— BMW MOA (@BMWMOA) October 18, 2015

and keep scrolling up until you finish the event with this tweet

Class of 2015. #AMAHoF15 pic.twitter.com/loOyJR5mt7

— BMW MOA (@BMWMOA) October 18, 2015

These are towering giants of motorcycling, from a guy who helped resurrect Harley-Davidson in the 1980s to a guy who was instrumental in bringing a serious road racing circuit to the United States in 2015. Their speeches were emotional and heartfelt, funny and serious, and above all, inspiring. Though there are many women in the Hall of Fame, none were inducted tonight.

In the coming months, I'll bring you information about a bunch of companies: 6D Helmets, Ted Porter's Beemer Shop, Moto Hansa, Overland International, Coach2Ride, Yuasa, iXS, Shoei, ABUS, Touratech, Bridgestone, Gear Up N Ride, Motion Pro, Held, Schuberth, Shark, Rox Speed FX, Road Wolf Design, Moto Machines, Helibars, Gerbing, Giant Loop, Arai, Venture Heat, and more.

Be well, ride hard and think safety. It's been a pleasure reporting on the AIMExpo for you.

--wes

It was a big helmet day – Shoei, Schuberth, Arai and Snell all made presentations. Only Shoei and Schuberth had new helmets to debut, though.

Shoei USA Marketing Coordinator Matthias Beier presented their race-focused X-Fourteen.  This is a pure racing helmet, designed specifically for the race track, and was developed using both a wind tunnel and feedback from superstar racers such as Marc Marquez and Bradley Smith.

The aggressive aerodynamic profile includes some neat racer-specific features, like the flaps on the back of the helmet that are interchangeable to fine-tune drag and stability characteristics for specific track and weather conditions. The X-Fourteen also features a trick 3D Max-Dry comfort liner that allows each rider to customize the fit and affords the ability to shift the angle of the head inside the helmet by up to four degrees to improve the upper field of vision when riding in extreme tucked positions.

In addition to those features, the X-Fourteen also has a new face shield design, CWR-F, which has tear-off posts and Pinlock posts built right in. The six air intakes and six exhaust vents ensure proper ventilation, and a new lower vent directs air through the chin bar to the help cool the cheek pads with fresh air.  Pricing for the X-Fourteen hasn’t been announced yet.

Ed Becker of the Snell Memorial Foundation gave a short talk at lunch time discussing a paper released at this year’s IRCOBI Conference in September; the paper is titled “Motorcycle Helmet Impact Response at Various Levels of Severity for Different Standard Certifications.” I haven’t had a chance to digest the paper yet – and you can expect an article about it when I do – but Becker summarized the paper’s findings by stating that Snell-certified helmets continue to offer better head protection than DOT-only helmets and that the Snell folks found no reason to add low velocity impact testing to any currently existing testing standard for helmets.

Schuberth opened their presentation by reminding us that the M1 open-face helmet is still around and doing quite well, sales-wise.  This was only a teaser, though, as the gem of the presentation was the new E1 adventure helmet.  The E1, priced at $829 for solid colors and $899 for graphic versions, is based on the C3 and features an adjustable peak and updated venting along with the more angular, elongated and aggressive look of traditional adventure-style helmets.  Quality is standard Schuberth, which is to say impressive and exactly what we’ve come to expect from Schuberth.  Look for new options for Schuberth helmets and possibly a redesigned website some time in November.

Arai rounded out the helmet-centered presentations, not with the debut of a new model, but with a reinforcement of the lunchtime Snell presentation and a discussion of Arai’s commitment to dealing with the reality of crashing in the world we live – and ride – in. Arai’s presenter spoke about their helmets being rounder, smoother and stronger so they deal better with the skipping, sliding, grinding and bouncing that happens in a typical motorcycle crash.

If you drive a car, chances are you’d be protected by an airbag in case of a frontal collision.  Airbag technology has been slow to reach the motorcycling world, but in the last 15 years, Helite (distributed through MaxMoto, which also distributes Remus exhaust systems) has been developing its personal airbag technology, and in the last seven years, their airbag vest has come to fruition.

The vest operates with a simple mechanical trigger that, when activated (by a lanyard attached to the rider and the motorcycle being disconnected from the rider), shoots a compressed spring into a carbon dioxide canister, which then inflates the vest in a matter of milliseconds. There are no batteries to worry about, and no intricate and expensive resetting process.  The trigger mechanism is reset with an Allen wrench, and new CO2 cartridges cost $25.

Here’s a three-minute video showing how the Helite vest works. Knut Wagner is the man doing the talking, and the guy wearing the vest is, of course, The Stig.

Rounding out the gear presentations was Bull-It Jeans, a brand owned by Covec Limited from the UK.  Covec fabric is claimed not to degrade over time like aramids (i.e. Kevlar), and if that is true, then Bull-It is probably making the longest-lasting riding jeans around. Their presenter claimed his product is as good as or better than leather and showed off not only jeans that fit adults and children, but an armored hoodie that outperforms most leather jackets by being able to withstand six seconds of hard abrasion.

Jessica Prokup of Twisted Throttle took the stage for one of the day’s more entertaining presentations. She was touting SW-Motech’s new Trax Adventure panniers, which feature one-piece robot-welded 1.5mm aluminum cases that are both dustproof and waterproof thanks to welded seams and gaskets between the lids and cases.

As Prokup went through each feature of the panniers, including available accessories such as camp tables and inner soft bags, she was gradually building a campsite. Sure, there are tie-down points on the lids that can handle full-size carabiners and 1” web straps, but don’t forget that these cases passed their five-minute test, submerged for that long under a full meter of water!  SW-Motech redesigned the lock cylinders so that the new double-sided key can be used more easily and resists jamming more effectively.  A set of two side cases, a top case and the requisite mounting hardware will cost about $1,900.

Unfortunately, BMW Motorrad did not make its scheduled 2 pm presentation, so I don’t have any BMW motorcycle or apparel news to bring you.  Maybe next time!

One of the highlights of the presentation schedule was an interview panel featuring four of the five MotoAmerica class champions from their inaugural (2015) season. The champs in attendance were Cameron Beaubier (Superbike), Jake Gagne (Superstock 1000), J.D. Beach (Supersport), and Joe Roberts (Superstock 600).  All four young men spoke eloquently on the art of racing motorcycles, and they’re sure to have more championships in their futures.