The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has learned that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted last Friday, April 17, 2009, on the issue of banning sales of youth ATVs and motorcycles because of lead levels. The CPSC voted to keep the ban in place; however, they did issue a two-year stay of enforcement of the ban. This stay of enforcement will allow manufacturers and retailers of youth ATVs and motorcycles to continue building and selling these items. It also gives the industry two years to comply with the new law and if, for some reason, it is technologically infeasible to manufacture a certain part with less lead than allowed by law, the industry will have a chance to make an argument to the CSPC…. Details
Archive for the ‘Motorcycle’ Category
The Zero S electric motorcycle is impressive, but be careful with the throttle–it accelerates superfast from a standing start–and keep in mind that it weighs only 225 pounds.
Those are the initial observations of this first-time rider, who took the street model made by Santa Cruz, Calif.-based Zero Motorcycles out for a spin.
It’s an odd feeling to twist the throttle and feel the powerful acceleration (62.5 pound-feet of torque) and still hear no sound except a slight clanking from the chain, not yet lubricated on this pre-production vehicle. Making tight turns is a little tricky, as there’s no clutch (and no gears). But once you get used to it, it’s just like an ordinary street motorcycle.
That’s the point. In contrast with Zero’s earlier off-road model Zero X, which is not intended for road use, Zero S is made for daily use, such as commuting or …Â Details
Many riders consider the 50’s and 60’s as the golden age of motorcycling, But many of those great bikes ended up in a wad by the side of the road, as their powerful new engines overwhelmed the crappy suspensions of the time.
Enterprising (read: broke) riders cut repair costs by transforming their wrecks themselves. Removing battered fairings. Replacing lights and windscreens with anything handy. Painting the results with a brush. And out of these garage laboratories — cue the thunder and lightning — naked bikes were born: sport bike engines and chassis, flat or clip-on handlebars, virtually no fairing or bodywork.
Eventually, nakeds became so popular they were legitimized. Honda built the … Details