News
Tuesday, 10 April, 2018 by Alan Hearnshaw
Reading time: 2 minutes.
I’m sure many of you have seen the T-Rex by Campagna Motors. For those recently coming out from under the rock, the T-Rex is a futuristic-looking three-wheeler with some impressive performance specifications.
They have now announced that Campagna Motors have teamed up with Zero motorcycles to produce an all-electric version which I would guess, inevitably, will become known as the “E-Rex”.
The prototype is to be unveiled next week at the Montreal EV Show. They are already working on a more advanced prototype, which could be ready by the end of the summer.
André Morissette, president of Campagna Motors said: “Thanks to the hard work of our dedicated team and partners, the T-REX has become the benchmark for three-wheeled performance. Our collaboration with Zero Motorcycles brings a whole new level of innovation and originality to this already exhilarating platform.”
Zero Motorcycles, already a tour-de-force in the electric motorcycle field have been working with other companies recently to help adopt their powertrain technologies.
Zero Motorcycle’s Director of Business Development Jim Callahan commented on the partnership with Campagna Motors: “We’re excited that Campagna selected our industry-leading powertrain technology to develop their electric T-REX. Zero’s electric powertrain is an ideal solution for the ultimate three-wheeled experience. This vehicle is an absolute thrill to drive.”
The current T-Rex, with its 160 BHP BMW engine, and weighing in at 1.157 lbs, boasts some impressive performance specifications, such as a 0-60 MPH time of 3.9 seconds. Inevitably, the battery pack is going to add significant weight, but it will be interesting to see the performance and driving (riding?) characteristics given by the prodigious torque of an electric drivetrain.
I, for one, am excited about the future of electric motorcycles, and this seems an ideal venture to explore the possibilities of an electric motor in an already exciting vehicle. Watch this space…
Thursday, 29 March, 2018 by Alan Hearnshaw
Reading time: 2 minutes.
There’s an interesting project live on KickStarter right now. It is designed to be your guardian angel in the unfortunate event that your get-off leaves you unable to call for help.
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Thursday, 15 March, 2018 by Alan Hearnshaw
Reading time: 2 minutes.
Following on from Motorcycle Awareness Day, which was held on the 11th of this month at the Ace Cafe, London, the London Fire Brigade launched a new initiative and training scheme to help riders deal with a crash on two wheels.
What is Biker Down?
Biker Down! is a free nationwide scheme that was devised to provide the tools to help bikers if they’re involved in a crash.
The scheme is in partnership with London Ambulance Service, Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police.
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Thursday, 8 March, 2018 by Alan Hearnshaw
Reading time: 8 minutes.
Take a look at the blog. Notice anything different? I bet not. Yet, I have spent the last month or so working feverishly to completely alter the way Motorcycle Mastery is produced.
This is going to be a short departure from scooter-related material, and it’s going to be just slightly technical. However, I thought my readers may like to take a look into the world of producing blogs, and some of the technical issues involved.
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Thursday, 8 March, 2018 by Alan Hearnshaw
Reading time: 2 minutes.
It should come as no surprise that a site dedicated to motorcycle safety would be in favour of helmet use. One of the often-cited arguments against them (together with freedom of choice and limit of vision), however, is that they offer no protection against Cervical Spine Injury, or CSI. Some claim that they even exacerbate this problem.
A team of researchers in Wisconsin recently set about investigating these claims. They reviewed the charts of 1,061 patients who had been injured in motorcycle crashes and treated at a single Level 1 trauma center in Wisconsin between January, 2010, and January, 2015.
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Tuesday, 27 February, 2018 by Alan Hearnshaw
Reading time: 5 minutes.
Come on, let’s admit it. Us bikers can be a bit old-fashioned, resistant to change, leery of new concepts.
I’ve heard it all so many times:
“Automatics? Pfft. Not a real bike.”
“ABS? Not for me. I like to be in control.”
“Traction control? As long as I can disable it.”
“Electric bikes? Ugh. Just get a Prius.”
Well, if any of that sounds like you, you may wish to turn away now, and work out some frustration by kick-starting your 500cc thumper (don’t forget to turn on the fuel tap, and give a tug on that manual choke). For I’m going to make a bit of a bold prediction here: I think we’re going to see an uptick in three-wheeled motorcycles.
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Thursday, 22 February, 2018 by Alan Hearnshaw
Reading time: 2 minutes.
Can you hear me? I said: CAN YOU HEAR ME?
I must admit to being on the wrong side of the fence with this particular issue. I never use earplugs when riding, and never have. It’s not because I have anything against them. I just never think about it.
I may have to rethink this after having looked over the unsettling figures that came out of a study recently conducted in Germany.
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Tuesday, 20 February, 2018 by Alan Hearnshaw
Reading time: 1 minutes.
You may remember from last week that we told you about the classic Triumph Thunderbird that was stolen in Bristol, England, then cruelly torched live online when the ranson demand was not met.
I’m pleased to tell you that an arrest has been made in direct connection with this theft. An 18 year-old has been arrested, and subsequently released while enquiries continue.
The theft—and susbsequent vandalism—outraged the biker community across the country, especially because of the brazen way that the youths taunted the police online, and even “tagged” the owner on Instagram so that he would see his bike being torched. They had given the owner one day to come up with a £1,000 ransom, before setting light to the bike in a field.
After a public outcry at the rash of motorcycle thefts in the area, the police stepped up their investigations under “Operation Buell”, and subsequently made arrests in the case. At least four other arrests have been made.
We havent heard any news on the condition of the 1951 Triumph, but the owner has it back, and hopes to restore it to its former glory.
Monday, 19 February, 2018 by Alan Hearnshaw
Reading time: 2 minutes.
Yamaha is hoping to change the face of police motorcycling in the US with its introduction of a specially-designed version of their popular sport-tourer, the FJR1300.
Dubbed the FJR1300P, this version has been built for police duty. Starting with the base bike (which, we have to say, is no slouch in itself) they beefed up the power and added lots of those bolt-on goodies which our boys in blue love so much.
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Saturday, 17 February, 2018 by Alan Hearnshaw
Reading time: 1 minutes.
A special edition Triumph Bonneville, previously owned by Brad Pitt, will go under the auctioneer’s hammer this weekend. It is being auctioned at the MCN (Motorcycle News) London Motorcycle Show.
The bike was given to Brad Pitt as a birthday present by the producer of “Ocean’s Eleven”, Jerry Weintaub, and was only used once by its previous owner.
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