Category: Random

1. What’s Happening in the Electric Scooter and Motorcycle Market?

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 22nd Mar 2021

   What’s Happening in the Electric Scooter and Motorcycle Market?

   Elon Musk has a personal aversion to motorcycles. He tells a story of a “nearly fatal” accident which has put him off the transport. Tesla’s main focus, and where they’ve made their name, has been four-wheel cars. The technology they’ve developed in their pursuit of excellent electric vehicles means it probably wouldn’t take much for them to eventually be a significant name in the electric scooter and motorcycle market should they decide to enter into it. For now, though, there are other people making up the landscape.  

   Investors

   One motivation for the development of electric two-wheelers is transport within cities. With many global cities looking to pedestrianise centres and reduce air pollution, electric scooters and bikes are attracting the interest of start-ups and businesses like Uber. There’s long-term interest in the development of this technology should cities and nations opt to fundamentally change transportation normalcy then it should pay off. It’s the natural tide-change which businesses seek to push or benefit from. The same happens in every industry. One example would be online casinos. Investors went in early online casinos and online casinos invested in helpful technology. It’s an industry which began to pop up in the 1990s with the advent of the internet and grew well but steadily. 

   It seems that Lime, who Uber have invested in and to whom they sold their intellectual property to develop the technology, are interested in the electric scooters, especially, and their function as a rental transport.

   For the electric motorcycle, there’s a middling demand. Yes, there is obviously scope for them to be used as a primary vehicle, one which commuters use or people use to go to the shops, etc. Despite this type of transport receiving criticism and scepticism for how far they can take, they will, in general, always get the rider far enough. Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman proved that. However, primarily, motorcyclists use them for joy. They are a hobby, as much as anything. They are part of an identity. Electric motorcycles do not have the turn of speed nor the music of a fossil-fuel powered one. This is one area which might need some creative marketing beyond the obvious turn towards environmental concerns. 

   Manufacturers

   As for those actually making the scooters and bikes, Harley Davidson, Honda, and Yamaha take the majority of the market share. These are household names. Indeed, Harley Davidson’s image as a chopper offers an interesting contrast to the above image of riding for joy. Their products, though, are expensive. It’s roughly $30,000 for one of their electric motorcycles. This is out the price range for a lot of customers. Honda and Yamaha, with KTM and Piaggio, are looking to standardise equipment and technology, including swappable batteries, to help consumers and the market.

   This is where the market currently has its issue. Everything, so far, is too expensive for the manufacturers to consider mass-producing vehicles and there’s not quite the fully developed need for them quite yet, but it will likely all be available and recognisable soon.

    

   article supplied

2. Touratech 2021 catalogue

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 15th Mar 2021

   Just in time for the season, Touratech presents the 2021 catalogue. The opulently equipped work presents a huge selection of products from the areas of motorbike accessories, rider equipment and suspension for adventure bikes.
   
   „New ideas for motorbikes“ - This slogan is also the programme in the 31st year of Touratech‘s company history. The over 800-page 2021 catalogue opens up a fascinating world full of products for adventures to the motorbike traveller.
   There is a huge range of parts for the current shooting stars among the adventure bikes, such as the Yamaha Ténéré 700 or the KTM 790 Adventure, as well as for the perennial favourites of the scene, above all the BMW R 1250 GS and the Honda Africa Twin. The new Tiger 900 models from Triumph and newcomers like the KTM 890 Adventure are also in the catalogue. The F series from BMW, numerous KTM models and proven adventure bikes of various types are also included.
   Touratech‘s product range includes aluminium luggage systems from the ZEGA line, soft luggage, protectors, seats, windshields, suspension components, rider equipment and numerous accessories that open up new horizons for adventure bikers on and off the road.
   Many innovations around the popular Compañero touring suit, the Aventuro helmet line or the Destino boot portfolio can be found in the catalogue, such as the Evo version of the popular Destino Touring boot with the new HDry membrane.
   The completely new Compañero Rambler touring suit, made of three-layer laminate, once again sets standards in terms of ventilation and safety. With its new ventilation concept, the successor to the popular Compañero Boreal offers all-season riders a completely new level of comfort.
   Complemented by fresh designs of the Aventuro Traveller or Aventuro Carbon 2 helmet models, Touratech will again offer the entire range of equipment for the demanding touring rider from 2021.
   There are also a number of innovations in the field of technical equipment. The newly developed Defensa hand protector system ensures the best protection for the handlebar armatures in every crash and will be available in various versions from spring 2021.
   New products around the Waterproof Extreme soft luggage system round off the luggage portfolio and are the prelude to a firework of innovations that will be launched in 2021.
   The absolute innovation Touratech Connect opens the way to digital adventure. The combination of hardware and app allows a huge wealth of vehicle data to be displayed on the smartphone. Whether lean angle, number of bends, braking power or acceleration performance - users have all the data on their mobile phone.
   The product range of the in-house suspension division Touratech Suspension has been further expanded. High-end shock absorbers, fork cartridges, replacement springs and steering dampers are now available in different versions for even more motorbike models. In the new web shop, the enormous variety of products is clearly presented.
   
   The digital version is already available in different languages.
   German
   English
   French
   Italian
   Spanish
   
   The printed catalogue 2021/22 is available free of charge at the end of March.
   Preorder here

3. Breakout for Ben raises £159k on the road to £1million

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 5th Mar 2021

   Automotive charity, Ben, announces that its 10-day virtual active challenge, Breakout for Ben, has raised just under £159,000 - an amazing total that will help address its £1million fundraising shortfall.

4. How to Plan the Ultimate Biking Road Trip

   Posted on 10:00am Monday 22nd Feb 2021

   Biking is an excellent and exciting way to travel and really get a feel for the land and the road. You will have the freedom to go so much further than even a car can take you and will, of course, be able to enjoy the open air. Going on your first-long distance bike road trip can be an absolute dream and might be enhanced if you follow this guide.

   Improve Your Bike Gear

   If you love biking but have not yet gone on an actual road trip that lasts days, then you likely don’t have all the equipment that you will need to make your trip comfortable and exciting. A motorbike alone is not enough. You need to prepare for the elements, and that includes if your bike is suitable for long-distance. You may need to upgrade your gear before you head out.

   The best solution is to slowly start purchasing all of these items in advance.

   · Waterproof clothing

   · Spare parts and repair tools

   · Waterproof bags

   · Rain covers

   · LED flashing lights (tail lights and headlights)

   · Your camping gear (tent, sleeping bag liner, air mattress, and pillow, cooking utensils, etc.)

   · Travel electronics

   · NOAA weather radio

   · 2-way radio

   · And more

   The gear that you get will depend on the distance you intend to ride and, of course, where you intend to ride. You can save a lot on costs during the trip, for example, by camping instead of renting out a room, but at the same time, this will require special camping equipment that can pack up small (a luxury that can be quite costly). Work out how much on average both scenarios will cost to figure out how much you need to request from your chosen loan company.

   Staying Safe

   Though you can travel on your own, it is always better to travel with others. If none of your friends are interested in such a trip, then see if there are groups or organizations of people that are. These groups often organize bike road trips (both short and long-distance). It’s a great way to stay safe and make friends with people who love biking as much as you do!

   Regardless of whether you travel alone or with others, it is always important to plan checkpoints for yourself and to follow the safety tips outlined by Motorbike Writer. You can share your location with a friend or family member at home throughout your trip, or you can just check in when you reach certain checkpoints so that they know where you are. Keeping your phone and an extra battery pack on you is also a good tip to use.

   Choosing Your Route

   You can choose any road on your trip, but there are a lot of people that love biking road trips just like you, and they will have marked out top routes to take depending on your level of experience and fitness, and even fun things you can do with your partner if you’re doubling up. This is the best way to head out on your first trip. You can stay safer, see top sights in the area, and might meet a few others out there on the road. 

    

   article supplied

5. What Are Must-Have Accessories For Motorcycle Riders?

   Posted on 12:00pm Sunday 21st Feb 2021

   Motorcycling is addictive. Once you try it, chances are almost 100% you will get on it sooner or later. However, that adrenaline injection a motorcycle ride gives you sometimes blurs the fact this is not the safest activity on the world.

   Luckily, you can choose between thousands of motorcycle gadgetries and apparel that promise a safer, but also easier and cooler ride. Some of them are only nice-to-have, while you can add significant value to each of your rides if you pick the useful ones.

   If you are searching for ways to elevate your motorcycling experience, then you are in the right place. Today we will split the bill – 50/50 and talk about rider and bike accessories for motorcycle riders. These must-have accessories for motorcycle riders will provide huge benefits to the overall experience and make every time you hit the road more than awesome.

   Crash Protectors
   No motorcycle rider likes to think about crashing or having an accident, but this is a highly likely scenario, especially among incautious younger riders. You want to protect yourself from injuries in the first place, but your motorcycle from damages as well. What is more, replacing hard and plastic parts break the bank, so that this may be an additional reason to get a crash protector. Even sliding along the tarmac at a low speed may cause thousands of dollar worth of damage.

   Frame sliders, swingarm spools, fork sliders, and bar ends fall into the category of crash protectors and can minimize the damage and the worry. This accessory is undoubtedly a good investment as it alleviates crashes. The crash protector takes some of the impacts on in case you drop your bike. One thing to bear in mind is that you want to get a compatible crash protector for your bike’s model, as this is not the type of one-size-fits-all motorcycle accessories. You can get a much greater benefit and protect your two-wheeled favorite for just a few bucks. 

   Phone mount

   We want to stress out phone mount as a motorcycle can come in very handy, but you should focus on the road while being in the saddle. That means this is a useful gadget, but not for texting while riding on a curvy road. However, if you are a bit of explorer and like to head off to the unfamiliar terrains, GPS would be what you exactly need.

   You certainly don’t want to roam around but follow the planned route, and the phone mount will be your handy assistant. On the other hand, you will be able to see if someone tries to contact you. In this case, you should get off the road and make the call. Combining this gadget with a

   Bluetooth headset is even greater, as it opens even more options for the rider. Yet, we will repeat that this is a great and very useful motorcycle accessory, but if the temptation of staying connected is too strong, we will give you an awesome idea in the following chapter. 

   Bluetooth helmet

   It is really hard for some of us to keep our hands off the phones. Staying in touch with the world has become addictive, but still, essential. As we already mentioned, texting is definitely not a safe idea while riding. There is no reason why you would want to put yourself in a life-threatening situation and experiment around. Yet, a Bluetooth helmet will be your handy back up.

   Helmets nowadays have built-in Bluetooth and are convenient and safe to use. It will give you the option to communicate with your fellow riders while being on the road, as you stay in touch while still keeping your hands on the motorbike.

   Any other conventional helmet will, of course, protect you from harm, but a Bluetooth helmet has a couple more awesome features besides the protective one. This means it will provide you a map replacement, safe communication with other riders, and the joy of listening to clear music. 

   Tool Kit

   Did you really think we would skip the tool kit on the list of must-have accessories for motorcycle riders? Even the bare essentials tool kit opens up great solutions for road situations. The great thing is that it won’t take much space and you can store it under the rear seat. Most of the tool kits come as small pouches or in handy roll-up cases, so you can pick whatever works best for you. Additionally, you can tailor it to your needs, and pre-pack the kit if needed.

   With time, you grow fonder with your motorcycle, and you will know what exactly makes it tick. Getting in touch with certain repairs will gradually make you of a mechanic, and that is why you need a tool kit while being on the road. This way, you will be able to perform the basic roadside repairs and maintenance. Not only you will get the job done, but this will also save some money, which is a win-win situation.

   Reflection

   Visibility of your bike drops significantly after the sun goes down. We suppose you already know how important it is to be visible on the road during the night rides. Obviously, you need something to help you perform this. Strategically placed reflection – reflective plate bolts and reflective tape will be your friend out there as it will increase nighttime visibility of your motorcycle. If you like it custom – that is not a problem as well, as you can cut out your own shapes. 

   Conclusion

   As you already know the basics of motorcycling, we wanted to present some new, cool ideas for bikers. These handy gadgets are mostly affordable, but what is more important – may save your life and improve your driving experience. You want your bike in good working order, but you want to equip yourself with a couple of accessories as well. Options are endless when it comes to must-have accessories for motorcycle riders, but it all depends how much money you are willing to spend. 
   
   The first way around a small budget for your Motorcycle touring, is to take out a small loan which will enable you to enjoy the trip, without having to save up for a long time. Read more here. 

    

    

    

   
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