We've been hearing about Dainese's airbag suit for years (and watched MotoGP riders like Jorge Lorenzo crash test them at the world's race circuits.) But here's where the rubber finally meets U.S. roads: after a decade of development, American consumers can now get their hands on a D-air system.
D-air uses a GPS sensor, three gyroscopes, three accelerometers and a gas charger to detonate the collar-mounted airbag seen here (somewhat) discreetly beneath a full leather racing suit, unlike earlier versions which used an external airbag. D-air responds in 15 milliseconds, and the bag fills with air in 30 milliseconds-- literally quicker than the blink of an eye, offering protection to the shoulder and collarbones, as well as shock absorption to the neck and upper chest region. The D-air full leather suit is priced at $3,999, or $4,999 for a custom fit.
The D-air's only real competitor is the Alpinestars Tech Air system, which is currently available in Europe with a 6,000 price tag-- roughly $7,800 at today's currency rates. Tech Air uses a dual charge system which deploys two airbags in 45 milliseconds and offers 5 seconds of protection; roughly a minute after the bag deflates, a second dose of airbag protection is offered again to crash happy riders*. Alpinestars hopes to bring Tech Air to the U.S. by summer, 2012, though that timeframe is still tentative.
Sure as eggs is eggs, skeptics will criticize bike-related airbag systems. But riders who've been slapped with hefty medical and rehabilitation bills following a wreck might take a different attitude towards gear that could help avoid painful injuries and keep them riding.
Related:
* Both Dainese's and Alpinestars' systems require servicing after deployment-- Dainese offers one airbag protection "event," Alpinestars offers two.Diagram © Dainese; click to enlarge
Dainese D-air Airbag Suit Comes to Market-- Pricey, But Cheaper Than a Hospital Bill originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 at 16:43:34.
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Sometimes a bike's color-- like "Suede Nuclear Sunset," seen here-- says all you need to know about its personality.
Continuing their tradition of stripped-down, custom style rides (like the High-Ball), the just-announced 2013 Victory Judge gets a 106 cubic inch (1,731cc) air-cooled mill that pumps 113 ft-lbs of torque and 97 horsepower, mated to an overdriven six speed 'box. Seat height is a reasonable 25.9 inches, and details include drag bars, blacked-out components, and tall 90-series Dunlop Elite II tires with raised white lettering.
Best thing about the big-bore Judge? Its price*, which starts at $13,999 in Gloss Black, and jumps to $14,399 for Sunset Red and-- yes, Suede Nuclear Sunset.
* Add $250 for California bikesPhoto © Victory; click for 2012 Victory Buyer's Guide
2013 Victory Judge: Fat Tires, Funny Colors, Low Price originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Saturday, January 21st, 2012 at 15:19:33.
Motorcycle genres have been a blurry topic for some time now, thanks to sport-adventure-supermoto-touring-kitchen-sink hybrids, and Honda's just-announced 2012 NC700X pulls previously distinct bike categories even further apart.
With long suspension travel, a low center of gravity, a tank-mounted storage compartment and an available dual-clutch transmission, the new NC700X packs a genre-busting combination of features and characteristics.
Considering the (far pricier) DN-01 didn't exactly set showrooms on fire, will Honda's newest offerings turn the tide for unusual bikes?
Check out our Guided Tour of the 2012 Honda NC700X, and decide for yourself.
Photo © HondaClick for article
Introducing the 2012 Honda NC700X: What You Need to Know About This $6,999 Oddball originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Friday, January 20th, 2012 at 10:33:11.
Ah, the freedom of the open road... except, of course, when you cross state lines and need to adapt to various helmet laws, eye protection regulation, rules on riding two abreast, and highway speed limits. And don't let this seemingly simple, color-guided map fool you-- each state has its own stipulations regarding age, experience level, and equipment.
To simplify your planning-- whether to a neighboring state for a quick cruise, or across the country for one of America's finest roads-- take a look at Road Rules: Helmet and Touring Laws by State.
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Harley-Davidson Ride Atlas of North America
Map © IIHS; Click for our State-by-State Guide to Motorcycle Helmet and Touring Laws
Road Rules! A State-by-State Guide to Motorcycle Helmet and Touring Laws originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Monday, January 16th, 2012 at 04:09:05.
Got a run-down Hog that needs a new mill?
Harley-Davidson's engine remanufacturing service-- which already accepts 1984-current Evolution 1340, Twin Cam 88, Twin Cam 88B, and Twin Cam 95 lumps-- has been expanded to include the Twin Cam 96, Twin Cam 103, and 2003-2006 CVO Twin Cam 103 engines. All 1999 and later engines can also be equipped with a street legal Screamin' Eagle Big Bore Stage 1 EFI kit.
The program works like magic: drop your bike off at an authorized Harley dealership, and techs will remove the motor and ship it to H-D HQs, where it's disassembled, inspected, and remanufactured or replaced "if parts are worn beyond their service limits." The engine gets repainted or refinished in black, silver polish, silver and chrome, or black and chrome according to customer wishes, and the EPA-approved updates retain the mill's original VIN.
Expect a two week turnaround for your like-new engine, which will carry a 12-month limited warranty once it's back in your eager hands; pricing ranges from $2,495 for a silver and polished 1340 Evolution to $4,195 for a silver and chrome CVO Twin Cam 103B.
Source: Harley-Davidson Reman
* All 1999-06 Twin Cam Engines except '06 Dyna models will be upgraded with Screamin' Eagle® Hydraulic Cam Chain Tensioner and Oil Pump KitPhoto © Harley-Davidson; click to enlarge
Harley Spruces Tired Twins originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Sunday, January 15th, 2012 at 23:46:24.
"Your motorcycle is a baby-velociraptor not a robot," instructs author and enthusiast Christopher Allen. "And it's not going to tell you when it's hungry. It's just going to bite you in the ass."
The quote comes from a digital essay entitled "The Ultimate Badass Gentleman's Guide to Motorcycling (mind techniques for staying alive)", and the seven-chapter discourse includes headings like "Be Absolutely Unrelational" and "Know Your Machine." The "Badass" part of the title refers to Allen's casual, guy-to-guy tone, while the "staying alive" portion encourages stoic attitudes, basic safety stuff, and the concept of maintaining a simple set of personal limits.
At only 1,431 words (I've written longer motorcycle reviews), Allen's piece is more like a little pamphlet than a book (in fact, he refers to it exactly as such.) And though Allen's voice comes through in his writing, it doesn't delve particularly deep into its internal philosophy; this is more a series of anecdotal pointers than an outright road map for riding.
The bad news? Those accustomed to free online content might be surprised to find that unless you're an Amazon Prime and Kindle owner, it'll cost you to download this guide. The good news? It'll only lighten your pocket by 99 cents.
Source: Amazon
Photo © Christopher Allen
The Ultimate Badass Gentleman's Guide to Motorcycling originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Wednesday, January 11th, 2012 at 05:01:23.
We talk a lot about making your bike and gear more visible on the road, but not much about the road itself.
And while government agencies usually decide how tax dollars can optimize road safety through lighting, signage, and reflective markings, a safety organization called Parents of Road Victims took a different tack by working with design studio Indianen to illuminate one of Belgium's darkest road corners.
Their solution? Stringing five thousand recycled Christmas lights along a rural corner in time for the notoriously accident-prone night of New Year's Eve.
While it was a relatively small feat (and not without an element of self-promotion), the lights are also a reminder that there's more to highway safety than high beams and bright gear.
Source: The Safest New Year
Photo © OVK; click for site
How Recycling 5,000 Christmas Lights Made a Dark Road Less Dangerous originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Tuesday, January 10th, 2012 at 20:43:34.
All... okay, many of us know that wearing bright and reflective gear is one way to avoid getting plowed off the road by oblivious drivers, but France will soon be enforcing legal measures to ensure that motorcyclists are seen.
According to a new rule in their highway code that takes effect January 1, 2013, riders and passengers aboard any bike bigger than 125cc will be required to wear at least 150 square centimeters (each) of reflective fabric on their upper bodies-- and according to British motorcycle activists Riders Are Voters, France already requires reflective stickers on helmets.
I'll personally admit to not always following my own advice when it comes to visibility-- after all, black leather looks so much cooler looking than hi-vis orange, doesn't it?-- but I'd like to hear your thoughts: Do you think France has a right to impose clothing restrictions on its riders, and should the U.S. follow suit?
Source: MCN, Riders Are Voters, via Facebook
Photo © Harley-Davidson; click to enlarge
France Takes Motorcycle Visibility So Seriously, They Make it Illegal Not to be Noticed originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Monday, January 9th, 2012 at 16:59:11.
Proving that life always looks better in slo-mo, this tasty Red Bull vid features supercross star James Stewart showing off his otherworldly dirt riding techniques.
"The best thing I can do," says Stewart, "is to innovate and push my own self to a new level where it actually scares me."
And yet, the dude makes it look incredibly easy...
Source: Red Bull/YouTube
Photo © Red Bull; click for video
James Stewart Explains Motocross at 1,000 Frames Per Second originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Friday, January 6th, 2012 at 15:12:24.
Have you ever wished you could blast a cochlea-piercing cannon of sound at drivers who don't see you coming?
You've probably heard of riders installing truck horns onto their bikes, but electrical engineer Peter Olt twists that paradigm with a product he calls the Banshee Horn. Citing thirty years of close calls on motorcycles, Olt designed a system that augments your puny off-the-shelf honker with an ear-bleeding, 135-decibel scream accompanied by flashing high-beams-- helping you get seen, as well as heard.
Banshee works only when you hold the horn longer than a half-second, ensuring you don't wake the dead when a full alarm isn't called for. The system installs in about an hour, and is available for a $69 pledge at Kickstarter. Nifty, eh?
Source: Kickstarter.com
Photo © Peter Olt
New Moto Gadget Fulfills Your Deepest Decibel Desires originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Friday, January 6th, 2012 at 03:14:41.