Motorcycle Recall: August 2019 BMW, Harley Davidson, Moto Guzzi, Aprilia and Helmets

Posted: August 30, 2019 in Motorcycle, motorcycle safety
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recall

Be aware that this motorcycle recall list is for the United States, there is no way I could cover the entire world. But in the world of global manufacturing, if a motorcycle is being recalled in one country there is a good chance it is under recall in others. Also, this should not be considered a definitive list, check for yourself if you have any questions.

If you are US based use the NHTSA website http://www.safercar.gov. Enter your VIN number to see if your motorcycle is affected by the recall.

If you are based in Europe use the Safety Gate website to locate recalls that may impact you. 

 *****

Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC

SUMMARY:

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019 C 400 X, 2018-2020 G 310 GS, and 2017-2020 G 310 R scooters and motorcycles. The front and rear brake caliper pistons may corrode, possibly causing the piston to stick or drag in the caliper bore.

CONSEQUENCE:

A sticking or dragging brake could affect braking performance, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy:

BMW will notify owners and dealers will replace the fort and rear brake calipers free of charge.  The recall is expected to begin October 4, 2019.  Owners may contact BMW service at 1-800-525-7417.

*****

Manufacturer: Harley-Davidson Motor Company

SUMMARY:

Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain Touring and CVO Touring motorcycles, including 2017-2019 FLHTCU, FLHTCUL, FLHTK ANV, FLHTKL, FLTRU, FLHTK, and 2016-2019 FLHTKSE, FLHTKSE ANV, and FLTRUSE models equipped with a Harley-Davidson Detachable Tour-Pak Luggage Conversion Kit (Part numbers 53000291, 53000291A, and 53000567). The kit did not include replacement rear red reflectors for the ones that are eliminated by installing this kit. As such, these motorcycles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”

CONSEQUENCE:

Without the rear red reflectors, the motorcycle has reduced visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:

Harley-Davidson has notified owners, and dealers will install the replacement reflectors, free of charge. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson’s number for this recall is 0629.

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Manufacturer: Piaggio Group Americas. Inc.

SUMMARY:

Piaggio Group Americas. Inc. (Piaggio) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Moto Guzzi Audace 1400 and Eldorado 1400, 2017-2018 Moto Guzzi California 1400, 2017 Moto Guzzi MGX 21 Bagger, 2013-2014 Aprilia Mana 850, 2014-2016 Aprilia Dorsoduro 750, 2018-2019 Aprilia Dorsoduro 900, and 2018 Aprilia Shiver 900 motorcycles. Due to a problem with the front brake master cylinder, the front brakes may drag or apply, causing the motorcycle to unexpectedly slow down or stop completely without activating the rear brake light.

CONSEQUENCE:

Unexpectedly slowing down or stopping while driving with no warning to following traffic can increase the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:

Piaggio will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the front brake master cylinder free of charge. The recall began August 16, 2019. Owners may contact Piaggio customer service at 1-212-380-4433. Piaggio’s number for this recall is PA2ZZQ1904.

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Manufacturer: Darsan Trading Co.

SUMMARY:

Darsan Trading Co. (Darsan), dba as Helmet City, is recalling certain HCI 100 matt black motorcycle helmets in size XL. These helmets may not adequately protect the wearer in the event of a head impact during a motorcycle crash. Additionally, the helmets do not list the month and year of manufacturer. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 218, “Motorcycle Helmets.”

CONSEQUENCE:

A helmet that does not adequately protect the wearer from an impact can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

REMEDY:

HCI will notify owners, and will provide replacement helmets or give the consumer a credit for a replacement helmet, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in August 2019. Owners may contact Helmet City customer service at 1-888-550-3731.

Ride On, Ride Safe

Most Dangerous States to Ride a Motorcycle

Posted: August 19, 2019 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news, motorcycle safety
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safety 1

I ran across this list of dangerous states to ride motorcycles quite by accident. I was looking for something about riding in Virginia and up this popped on page 2 of the search results. The article was published in May 2019.

Interesting to say the least. Based on 2017 data QuoteWizard used the following methodology:

“We looked at 2017 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fatality figures in each state and compared it with 2017 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) motorcycle registration data to find which states had the highest rate of fatalities per registered motorcycle. Below is a ranking of all 50 states, with 1 being the highest rate of fatalities and 50 being the lowest.”

Below are the 5 worst and 5 best states to ride motorcycles. You can find the entire list here!

5 Worst                                                 5 Best

Mississippi                                           Montana

Texas                                                 South Dakota

South Carolina                                     Alaska

Florida                                                New Hampshire

Arizona                                                Minnesota

The 5 best also look among the top coldest too…… humm

 

Ride on, Ride safe

5 Motorcycle Things from the Interwebz!!

Posted: August 9, 2019 in custom motorcycle, Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news
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If you go to Sturges look up the Indian motorcycle with a sidecar BBQ grill built in. Read more here!

Stealing motorcycles from a blind man?!?  Read more here!

New Indian motorcycles and new Indian powerplant!  Read more here!

Monster Energy Supercross Cup.  3 tracks in one!?!  Read more here!

The man who killed 7 motorcyclist was high!  Read more here!

 

Motorcycle Recall: July 2019….. There are none!

Posted: July 28, 2019 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news, motorcycle safety
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recall

For the first time since I have been doing the recall lists, there were no recalls! As of July 28 (I try to post recalls on the 28th of each month) everything is good!        But….

Be aware that this motorcycle recall list is for the United States, there is no way I could cover the entire world. But in the world of global manufacturing, if a motorcycle is being recalled in one country there is a good chance it is under recall in others. Also, this should not be considered a definitive list, check for yourself if you have any questions.

If you are US based use the NHTSA website http://www.safercar.gov. Enter your VIN number to see if your motorcycle is affected by the recall.

If you are based in Europe use the Safety Gate website to locate recalls that may impact you.

Motorcycle Test Ride: Harley Davidson FXDR

Posted: July 19, 2019 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle Rides, Product Reviews
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I was recently able to test ride the 2019 Harley Davidson FXDR.  While the styling of this motorcycle does not work for me the performance was ridiculous!

Yes, I know that I am not the target demo for this motorcycle and that is great thing!  Harley has stated that they were going to produce 100 new models in the next 10 years.  The FXDR is one of those new models and the styling is, I think, aimed at folks that don’t ride Harley Davidson and are under 30 years old.  Nothing wrong with that.

Harley states that the 114 cubic inch (18,68cc) Milwaukee V-Twin, the heart of the FXDR, produces 119-foot pounds of torque. Although Harley does not state it officially the FXDR reportedly produced 100 HP. It gets over 40 miles to a gallon with a 4.4-gallon tank.

OK, Acceleration was ….. HOLY KRAP!!!!!!…. The gearing can’t be the standard Harley Softail setup as it was a monster off the line.  While I did not time it officially my calibrated ass would say a sub 3 second 0-60 MPH. If it was in the 2.5-2.7 range I would not be surprised.

Shifting from 1st to 2nd gear with a heavy twist and the motorcycle wants to rip itself from your hands!  Three disc brakes (the front has 4 pistons each) do a great job of taming this beast!

Handling was an area that I thought was going to be poor at best.  With a 240 rear tire I expected to be stood up on any tight turns.  Well, it is not a street bike but, it handles much better than I expected and better then it should.  The route I took for the test ride did not have a lot of twists and turns but it did have a traffic circle with pretty much zero traffic.

With stated lean angles of over 32 degrees for both sides I can attest that even with that big rear tire you can take it all the way down.  With no traffic I rode around the traffic circle getting lower and faster with each pass until I scrapped the left peg.  I did not feel unsteady at any time!

If I was under 30 and looking at power cruisers, I would consider this motorcycle.  Until I realized one thing, no passengers allowed!  Come-on, really, if you are aiming a men under 30 of course they want a spot for the girlfriend, geez.  I would have to replace the tiny trunk with a seat cushion to make it viable.

I am not going to give it a star rating as this motorcycle is way out of my “likes”.  The styling is just not for me, the performance is to much for me (as a daily bike) so it would not be fair.  As I noted above I am not the target of the Harley Davidson FXDR.

Unboxing & Review of the Harley Davidson BOOM Audio Headset

Posted: July 12, 2019 in Motorcycle, Product Reviews
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The headset that came with my 2014 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic had a short that made it useless.  Because I could no longer hear her, my wife bought me the new “Harley Davidson BOOM Audio Music & Communications Headset”.  Hummm was it realy for me?

I have had the new headset for about a month now and can say that it is better then the one that came with the motorcycle.  The sound quality is better and it stays in place a little better.  The new BOOM headset came with some rubbery parts that were suppose to aid in retention.  They are uncomfortable to me so I am not using them.

The sound for phone calls are good according to the people that I have called.  The GPS lady sounds good and music is good but not great.  Overall I give the new Harley Davidson Headset 4 out 5 Stars.

4 out 5 stars

Motorcycle Ride: Bikes and Breakfast

Posted: July 9, 2019 in custom motorcycle, Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle Rides
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bikes and breakfastWe recently discovered a motorcycle meetup called “Bikes and Breakfast“.  So we decided to take a ride to the nearest event to check it out.

In our area there are three events each month:

Bikes & Breakfast Virginia- second Sunday of each month at The Pub in Clifton, VA.

Bikes & Breakfast Maryland-the first and third Sunday of each month at The Watershed Cafe in Poolesville, MD.

As it was the first Sunday and Poolesville is not far away we decided to visit that one first.  From the pictures I think you get the idea that the turn at was not to bad. During our hour there over 100 motorcycles pulled in and out of the parking lot.IMG_20190707_101549346_HDR

Almost all makes and all brands were represented including 3 electric motorcycles. A Zero SR/F and DSR (both of which I recently test rode) and an EGO, I had never heard of EGO electric motorcycles.  The EGO bike was pulling out when I walked up so I did not get to check it out.

If you live in this area you should check out Bikes and Breakfast at least once.

Oh, and there is one in New York too:

Bikes & Breakfast New York-the first Sunday of each month at The 9W Market in Palisades, NY.

The DawgHouse Motorcycle Radio #522: World Super Bike Tickets FREE oh and other stuff

Posted: July 3, 2019 in Motorcycle racing, Motorcycle Rides
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ijustwant2ride.com

The DawgHouse Motorcycle Radio…The #1 Motorcycle Show in the US

Want a chance to win tickets to WBSK and MotoAmerica? Listen to the show and email Phil.

Ben Spies v. MotoAmerica…. really Ben?

Motocross from “THE WICK” …. Ken Roczen does not want to win!

MotoGP Yamaha sucks and wins at the same time!

Flat Track WOW…. now that was the best race of the weekend!

Sorrow on Pikes Peak as a rider dies.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW!!!

 

Test riding Zero motorcycles, a lot more then nothing!!!

Posted: July 2, 2019 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news, Motorcycle Rides
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I recently got to test ride a couple of Zero motorcycles. The Zero SR/F and the DSR. The Zero SR/F is their sport bike motorcycle and the DSR is more along the line of an adventure motorcycle.

Riding the SR/F first, I was impressed with the motorcycle! Fit and finish seemed spot on and the styling was better than many of the other sport bikes on the market, at least to my taste.

With torque rated at 140 and horsepower at 110 the SR/F is an awesome bike off the staring line…not that I tried anything like that.IMG_20190621_111105207_HDR

The route we took for the ride did not truly allow for an assessment of the motorcycles handling but swinging between potholes and road debris leads me to think that the SR/F might be a well handing machine. It comes with Bosch’s Motorcycle Stability Control and several modes of operation including “sport” which maximizes the performance of the motorcycle.

At 161 mile “city” range (200 with the “power tank”) and an optimal charge time of 80 minutes it seems right for the urban commuter. On my commute I would have grave range anxiety and there is no recharging station at work. It is something I would like to try although, a SR/F with saddle bags on my commute for a couple weeks would be intriguing.

On this limited test ride I give the $19K Zero SR/F motorcycle a BIG THUMBS UP!!! (can’t give it a start rating due to the limitations of the test ride)

The Zero DSR with torque rate at 116 and 70 HP rode quite comfortably on our potholed road test. I intentionally road across and trough the bumps to get a fell for the suspension of the motorcycle. I was pleasantly surprised, it is not a $20K BMW adventure bike but, it was a quite a smooth ride.

IMG_20190621_111209428_HDRThe DSR’s range is 163 city and 78 highway. Again, not something I would trust my commute on but for an afternoon of backroad travels, I would love to give it a try. Charging time for the DSR ranges from 2.5 to 12 hours depending on configuration and options.

I don’t feel I can give this motorcycle a thumbs up or down based on the limited test ride. It seems fun and agile, but I can’t tell for sure.

As a point of comparison…. I have, on one other occasion, got to test ride an electric motorcycle, the Harley Davidson Live Wire prototype. Of the two Zero bikes I rode the SR/F was the closest to the Live Wire.

The Harley Live Wire is a very cool motorcycle and the Zero SR/F is a very cool motorcycle. But at $9k price difference I would lean towards the SR/F.

Special THANK YOU to Motorcycles of Dulles for hosting this test ride!!!

Ride On, Ride Safe

Motorcycle Recall: June 2019 Suzuki X2, Honda, Ducati, Indian and Helmets

Posted: June 29, 2019 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news, motorcycle safety, Uncategorized
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recall

Be aware that this motorcycle recall list is for the United States, there is no way I could cover the entire world. But in the world of global manufacturing, if a motorcycle is being recalled in one country there is a good chance it is under recall in others. Also, this should not be considered a definitive list, check for yourself if you have any questions.

If you are US based use the NHTSA website http://www.safercar.gov. Enter your VIN number to see if your motorcycle is affected by the recall.

If you are based in Europe use the Safety Gate website to locate recalls that may impact you.

*****

Manufacturer: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

SUMMARY: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2018-2019
GSX250R motorcycles. Water intrusion may corrode the rear brake light switch causing the rear brake light to fail to illuminate or remain illuminated continuously when the brake is not applied.

CONSEQUENCE: A failure of the brake light to illuminate, or continued illumination when the brakes are not being applied, can increase the risk of a crash.

REMEDY: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake stop light switch, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 28, 2019. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki’s number for this recall is 2A90.

*****

Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

SUMMARY: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 CB300R, 2018 CBR300R, 2018 CRF250L, 2018 CRF250L Rally, and 2018-2019 CMX300 motorcycles. The circlip, on the transmission’s main shaft, may detach allowing for gear misalignment.

CONSEQUENCE: A misaligned gear can shift the transmission from neutral into gear during engine start, potentially resulting in unexpected motorcycle movement or seize the transmission and rear wheel while the motorcycle is in motion. Both conditions increase the risk of crash or injury.

REMEDY: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission main shaft, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 28, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda’s number for this recall is KK3.

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Manufacturer: Ducati North America

SUMMARY: Ducati North America (Ducati) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Panigale V4, Panigale V4 S, Panigale Speciale, and 2019 Panigale R motorcycles. Excessive pressure in the fuel tank may cause fuel to spray when opening the fuel cap.

CONSEQUENCE: Fuel spray can increase the risk of injury and a fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

REMEDY: Ducati will notify owners, and dealers will update the fuel cap venting system, provide an updated page for the owner’s manual, and affix a warning label decal to the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ducati customer service at 1-888-391-5446. Ducati’s number for this recall is SRV-RCL-19-001. Note: This recall includes motorcycles that may have been previously remedied under recall 18V-238 for a similar issue.

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Manufacturer: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

SUMMARY: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Burgman 200/UH200 scooters. The rivet connections may fail and allow the movable driven face (drive plate) of the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) to break.

CONSEQUENCE: If the drive plate breaks, the scooter will lose power to the rear wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.

REMEDY: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive plate, free of charge. The recall began June 5, 2019. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-714-572-1490. Suzuki’s number for this recall is 2A89.

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Manufacturer: Indian Motorcycle Company

SUMMARY: Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2014 Chief and Chieftain motorcycles. Due to a problem within the Vehicle Control Module (VCM), all of the front lights, including the headlight, may go out while riding.

CONSEQUENCE: The loss of lighting can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of crash.

REMEDY: The remedy for this recall is still under development. Owners will be informed of the safety risk beginning in June 2019. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian’s number for this recall is I-19-02.

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Manufacturer: Strategic Sports, Ltd.

SUMMARY: Strategic Sports, Ltd. (Strategic Sports) is recalling certain Zox Sierra ST-560 helmets, sizes XS, S, M, and L. These helmets may not adequately protect the wearer in the event of a head impact during a motorcycle crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 218, “Motorcycle Helmets.”

CONSEQUENCE: Objects may penetrate the helmet during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

REMEDY: Strategic Sports has notified owners, and instructed them to return the helmet, for a full refund. The recall began April 30, 2019. Owners may contact Strategic Sports customer service at helmet.recall.info@gmail.com or 1-619-861-8110. Strategic Sports’ number for this recall is OA-218-170423.

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