• Links
• H-D is in the black
• Motorcycle Sales Numbers
• Sena’s new SMH5
• Pre-Order at Spoiled Biker
• Ducati’s new Dealership Experience
• Opening music
• No Way, by Kunk

• Links
• The Tiger Explorer gets a price
• Tiny Triumphs are coming
• Water cooled Guzzi coming to production?
• Is Victory building the ugliest motorcycle in the history of motorcycles?
• The 2013 rumor mill starts with Ducati
• Federally mandated helmet use?
• Links from Gary Budzien
• Potosi Brewing
• New Glarus Brewing
• The Grumpy Troll Brewery
• Mindoro Cut (video)
• Opening music
• No Way, by Kunk

We hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year holiday and we’d love to hear feedback from your Christmas holiday – how many of your holiday shopping wish list items made it into your stockings? Also, we would love to hear what people have planned for the Spring time and beyond in terms of bike trips, bike shopping, bike repairs or upgrades, etc. Anyone going to be breaking in new gear or trying out some new farkles for 2012?

Let us know: feedback@thepacepodcast.com

Merry Christmas!!! Today the guys put down the egg nog (mixed with bourbon, right?) and talk turkey… er… bikes and stuff. It’s their gift to you. Yule love it. Stay present for the whole show. Not to put too fine a poinsettia on things, but the guys wrap up the news, and shepherd the information, while you pine away, waiting to greet the riding season. Jolly & Merry and stuff…

Goodness, that’s just awful.

Anyway, after the news, the guys are dashing into feedback, blitzen their way to the end, then turn off the recorders and enjoy a silent night.

Ugh… horrible. Just terrible.

Links:

• The AMA weighs in on the NTSB cell phone ban proposal
• http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/2/11810/Motorcycle-Article/AMA-Comments-on-NTSB-Cell-Phone-Ban.aspx
• Husqvarna Strada 650 (concept)
• http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/827/11770/Motorcycle-Article/Husqvarna-Strada-650-Concept-First-Look.aspx
• Harley Building smaller bikes…?
• http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/12/us-manufacturing-summit-harley-idUSTRE7BB25Q20111212

Feedback:

• Thomas Williams – followup on lemon-law bike
• Craig Sheppard – NC law to protect riders
• http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H113v3.pdf
• Mike Rode – Commuter blog, and Freeze Out pant liner review
• http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/BBS/viewtopic.php?t=11790
• Colin Magnusson – Returning rider, bike upgrade, touring ‘round the world
• http://thepacepodcast.com/archives/132
• Kevin Carver – Looking for opinions on the Rocket 3
• Christian Aasland – beer tours!

Brewery information from Christian…
Of course, you can make your destinations breweries. For example, Russian River Brewery in Santa Rosa, California is one of them, with a Travelodge nearby you’ll be able to sample some of the most incredible Belgian’s in the world. Having been to Belgium a few times, that’s saying a lot. Plus you’re in northern California .. the best place in the world to ride a motorcycle.

Another great place in northern Cali is the Eel River brewing company in Fortuna. There are hotels and a campground walking distance. But the best part is that this is where you can launch to some of the best roads in the country – 36, 96, 299, etc or down the coast on 101 to the Avenue of Giants, then to Hwy 1 and Ft. Bragg. There are some incredible roads in this area. We tend to stay in Fortuna a couple nights in a row so we can ditch the luggage and ride loops unencumbered.

Montreal has Dieu De Ciel, and I seem to recall they offer lodging too. But this is all about the beer, and these guys have made some of the best quadrupel I’ve tasted.

Deschutes Brewing Co. in Bend, Oregon is a great stop before or after crossing the desert. Stay at the Old St Francis School too, which is walking distance from the brewpub, and they brew their own as well.

New Glarus, in New Glarus, Wisconsin is near some excellent roads in a swiss village knockoff (note that the Glarner Stube is where you sample the beer and eat german food). Or the Great Dane Brewing Co. in Madison, Wisconsin.

It seems we didn’t scare Joanne off the first time. That’s right, she came back and we’re glad that she did. This week it’s all about EICMA, Leo Vince, Spidi, Italy and Cycle World.

Photos courtesy of Joanne Donn

Spidi's air bag collar

This is the pic that Joanne sent us during the show

Style Your Life

• Links
• The Gear Chic
• The Gear Chic on Facebook
• The Leo Vince Gallery
• Spidi Galley
• The Gear Chic on Twitter
• Cycle World Italian Adventure
• Cycle World Magazine
• EICMA
• Leo Vinci
• Spidi
• Suomy
• Motobi
• Opening music by KunK

This week we interview Joanne from The Gear Chic website and blog. Joanne is your personal shopper, reviewer and gear expert. She works at a dealership, she rides – a lot – and is also an MSF instructor. When she’s not doing those things, she’s investigating, reviewing, testing and discussing riding gear. Pay attention, folks… She’s got some excellent information and advice.

Stay tuned after the interview for some feedback, and we learn that – like zombies – the C10 just won’t die, or go away. Listener Jason Farley wants some information on riding up to Alaska. Oh, and BRAINNNSSSS!!!

Check out Joanne’s site at http://gearchic.com/about/

You can also find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GearChic, Twitter at http://twitter.com/GearChic or on her new Help Line at 415-857-GEAR.

Opening music No Way, by Kunk

As reported on UltimateMotorcycling.com, the MIC Tire Guide is available as a free downloadable PDF, or you can order packets of the booklet to hand out at your club events, shop, etc.

This is it folks. We’ve done our best to save you from another Christmas filled with bad sweaters, socks and handkerchiefs. Actually, we do have socks on the list but they’re really good socks. Anyway, we’ve done our part. Now it’s up to you to figure out how to get this episode on to the smart phones and iPods that belong to your friends and family.

• Gift Ideas
• Domke DSLR Camera Insert
• Domke Wraps
• LED Headlamp
• Pelican Memory Card Case
• PitBull Rear Stand
• Cocoon Grid-It Organizer
• Electric Travel Shaver
• Touch Screen Compatible Gloves
• Flash to Pass garage door opener
• Chain press tool
• Thermal / Fleece Jacket or vest
• Tour Master Journey Fleece
• Joe Rocket Fleece Vest
• FREEZE-OUT Zipped Gilet
• Quick-dry socks
• Bungee nets
• Amazon Kindle
• SPOT Connect for smart phones
• Gift Ideas from Listeners!
• Allan Lessard
• LED Flashlight
• Chris recommends the MiniMag Light
• Swiss Army Knife
• Magazine Sub
• Scott Bolton
• Fastest
• Ben Spies: Taking it to the next level
• Jon DelVecchio
• streetSkills
• Ed Day
• MG Moto Hanger
• David Marzilli
• Evap Fuel Nozzel Tool
• Jason Farley
• Powerlet rapidFIRe Glove Liners
• Gary Budzien wants a Bluetooth headset with better battery life and better speakers then his Scala
• We recommend the Sena SMH-10
• Ron Leonard
• Waterproof wallet from Coghlans
• Mike Collins is looking for a water proof backpack
• James recomends a coated roll-top bag like those from Ortlieb or SealLine
• Opening music by KunK

Thanks, Jamie. Really appreciate the pictures and the write up. Much appreciated!

Nuda 900 @ Perth

Nuda 900 @ Perth

Nuda 900 @ Perth

Nuda 900 @ Perth

Nuda 900 @ Perth

Nuda 900 @ Perth

Nuda 900 @ Perth

Nuda 900 @ Perth

Lots of news from Milan, a little from Pennsylvania and a whole heapin’ healpin’ of e-mail.

• Links
• PA outlaws texting while driving
• Shoei replaces the Multitec with the Neotec
• CRP debuts an electric street bike prototype
• Kawasaki Versys 1000
• Honda NC700S and NC700X
• Honda updates the VFR1200F
• BMW’s Maxi-Scoots
• Bilt Demon Modular Helmet
• Opening music by KunK

Excellent pic, Brett. Thanks so much!

Brett Byers' KLR 650

This week the guys are talking with listener, friend, and all around great guy – despite the orange scooter – Ryan Hettenbach. Ryan rode along for some of the Pace Podcast Barber Museum trip in September, and recalls some of his impressions riding with a group, as well as riding longer days and longer miles on the scooter.

Ryan also talks about his preparations for next year’s Scooter Cannonball Run, running from East to West in 8 days.

After talking with Ryan, the guys try to discern: is it live or Memore… er… Is it a motorcycle or a scooter? We’re talking about the Aprilia SRV800; it’s got a frame-mounted engine, chain drive, scooter body styling and ergonomics, an auto trans, sport-sized tires. What is it?

Links:

Our apologies, but we just couldn’t make a show happen this week. Please tune in next week for a whole new show.

In the meantime, enjoy this great ride report video from Jeff Katzer.

Details of the ride report can be found at http://jeffkatzer.wordpress.com

http://youtu.be/slinuyI7-gU

We open things up with a first hand impression of Delaware’s MSF program this week. After that we talk Kawasaki, Kawasaki and more Kawasaki. Then we wrap it all up with nice little email shaped bow. Ready for delivery.

• Kawi Links
• 2012 Ninja 1000 gets ABS in the states
• 2012 Ninja 650
• Versys 1000
• Opening music by KunK

This one is all about the official Pace Motorcycle Podcast road trip to The Barber Motorsports Museum. Including a dead battery, other electrical problems, a flat tire, a bus full of prisoners, a whole bunch of police officers, piles of pine mulch and some locals that might have been a little too helpful. Oh, and aliens. Yep, they were probably aliens.

Opening music by KunK

We’re on the road this week. The Pace is headed to the Barber Motorsports Museum just out side of Birmingham AL. We’re taking 2 weeks off to accommodate the trip but there is lots of activity on line. You can follow along on the official Facebook event page for the trip, the show’s Facebook page, Jeff and Todd’s MotoTour 2010 page and possibly, my Twitter feed. I’m not sure about that last one yet. I missed the start of the trip for personal reasons but I hope to catch up with the crew on the road early this week.

Look for a brand new episode on October 2nd.

This week we open with the unexpected ways in which a new seat can change a bike and Chris’ quest for gauges. We’ll move on to some new headlight tech from BMW, new model news from MV and Indian and Husky sets up some new shops. Then we wrap it all up with some new email from you guys.

Scott Lewis found an MP3 in Little River Canyon AL

• Links
• Vapor Dashboard
• BMW Lasers
• New Brutale 675
• Husqvarna gets more dealers
• Polaris announces 2012 Indians
• Polaris Industries
• Opening music by KunK

Let’s see here. There are a couple lawsuits, some new KTMs, motorcycles are “dirty dirty dirty dirty vehicles” and we have a heapin’ helpin’ o’ listener e-mail. Yep, that covers it.

• Dirty dirty dirty dirty links
• U.S. Senate approves exemption for kids OHVs from lead ban
• H-D catches heat in class action suit
• New KTMs
• Motorcycle pollution
• Ryca Motors
• Chris Harr’s Aprilia RSV4-R APRC
• Opening music by KunK

Moto Morini LIVES… again. A Turbo Busa hits 300 MPH, the motorcycle market is almost flat, Ducati is way, way up and Aerostich thinks you should be able to filter (so do we). Then I try to make Chris mad during the feedback segment. It didn’t work. I’ll try harder next time.

• Links
• Moto Morini is back
• 300mph on a Hayabusa
• Q2 sales are flat
• Ducati is up 61%
• Monster 1100 evo
• Aerostich on filtering
• Opening music by KunK

We have lots and lots of feedback this week including electronic controls on bikes, Chris’s scooter, my Teiz suit and an electric concept from BMW. We wonder if two discs are better then one and slide down the slippery slope that leads to helmet laws.

Oh, there’s some news too.

• Links
• BMW’s Electric Scooter
• Motorcycle Daily’s Editorial Helmet Laws
• Casey Stoner’s Elbow Drag at 1000 fps
• Price increase for the New Strom?
• New EBR Web Site
• The Honda Rebel Returns for 2012!
• Opening music by KunK

Aprilia Performance Ride Control Explained
All of the APRC systems work together to produce quicker lap times. Aprilia Launch Control gets you off the line faster; Aprilia Quick Shift lets you get up to top speed faster; Aprilia Wheelie Control lowers the front end under hard acceleration and out of bends; Aprilia Traction Control lets you explore cornering limits with 8 levels of sensitivity.

Components: front and rear wheel speed sensors; ride-by-wire with three switchable maps; joystick control; +/- buttons; instrument display; two gyroscopes (one lean, one attitude), two accelerometers (acceleration and turn); ECU; gear position sensor, throttle position sensor, pressure sensor on shift lever.

Aprilia Traction Control (ATC)
Process: The rider presses the mode button and selects the desired level (1-8, 8 being most intervention) using the + and – buttons. Each level contains a minimum and maximum slip threshold. While riding, the speeds of the front and rear wheel are constantly compared, alongside parameters for the roll angle and longitudinal acceleration. Depending on the TC level selected and upon exceeding the minimum slip threshold for that level, the Traction control system enters a control state. The APRC light flashes rapidly when ATC is limiting torque. The rider is then able to modulate slip up to a maximum threshold, a point which cannot be exceeded. As the bike becomes more upright, a higher degree of longitunal slip is allowed by the system.
The ECU reduces torque accordingly in two different ways – “partializing” throttle valves (gentle) and reducing ignition spark advance at the coils (hard). The ATC system primarily reduces torque through the throttle valves.

Effect: Rather than a severe cut to limit acceleration and reduce rider control, the ATC’s logic allows a significant degree of rider control within specified slip parameters. Even while the system is limiting torque, the rider can effectively work within a range – modulating the throttle for more slide or vice versa. The system is constantly re-evaluating, so if you’re power sliding out of a corner, the more upright the bike becomes the more slip is allowed. Maximum acceleration is achieved with a limited degree of rear tire slip, which enables the rider to more to fully exploit the bike’s performance potential safely.

Aprilia Wheelie Control (AWC)
Process: The Wheelie Control is able to determine when a wheelie begins and ends. Due to the accelerometer, AWC can actually determine when a wheelie is occurring rather than involuntarily reacting to differing wheel speeds. Wheelies are thus controlled much more smoothly. Using the mode button and + /- buttons, the rider selects AWC from one of three levels (3 being the most conservative). Acceleration data from the accelerometer and relative speed between front and rear wheel is compared to determine conditions for a “wheelie.” If a wheelie is detected, traction control is momentarily disabled and the length of the wheelie is controlled by limiting torque via ignition advance and throttle valve aperture, just like ATC. Level 1 allows longer wheelies and level 2 and 3 shorter wheelies. Even with the Wheelie control turned off, the Aprilia traction control is still active as long as the front wheel is in contact with the ground. With the wheelie control turned off, the ATC system allows a wheelie for 30 seconds and inhibits a wheelie if the roll angle exceeds 25 degrees.

Effect: Wheelies become a separate variable from TC in the ECU. This is especially useful while cornering, where front wheel lift could cause the bike to run wide, yet over-harsh correction could limit performance. Instead, the bike holds the front wheel on the ground while permitting maximum possible acceleration.

Aprilia Launch Control (ALC)
Process: Rider selects one of three levels using the mode button and +/- buttons; 1 is the fastest launch level. ATC and AWC are disabled for start, but traction and wheelie control is handled by unique programming when Launch Control is enabled. Rider holds the throttle fully open while the ECU maintains a constant 10,000rpm (levels 1 and 2) or 9,500rpm (level 3).
To launch, rider simply holds throttle open while feeding out clutch. During first phase of launch, wheelies are PREVENTED with ignition advance while a variable rev limit is applied, allowing more revs as speed increases. Once the clutch is fully engaged a limited degree of wheelie is permitted. Once the bike crosses 100mph and a gear higher than 2nd, ALC disengages and AWC and ATC automatically reengage at their previously set level.

Effect: Race starts become accessible to less-experienced riders and predictable for experts. Maximum possible acceleration is achieved thanks to wheelie control in conjunction with the Aprilia Launch Control. The ALC is the only launch control system on a production bike.

Aprilia Quick Shift
Process: Rider holds throttle wide open, doesn’t use clutch. Pressure on the gear selector is detected, triggering the system to evaluate throttle map, throttle position, gear position and acceleration – ultimately determining the speed of the shift. Torque is cut by reducing ignition advance and injection times, enabling the next gear to smoothly engage. Torque is then gradually fed back in to smooth the shift.

Effect: Upshifts are completed without closing the throttle or disengaging the clutch, making them faster and limiting RPM loss. The rider can snap home instantaneous shifts on track or smooth, easy shifts on the road.

Back after a 3-week  hiatus, due to the craziness of personal lives. The guys want to thank the listeners for hanging in there and for your patience during this break. It was completely unscheduled and unforeseen, and your continued attention to The Pace and the frequent requests for updates from us really mean a lot. Thank you!

This week, Jeff Katzer brings us another of his great ride report videos. Make sure to check it out. This guy makes a compelling video! James and Chris talk about the new V-Strom, now that Suzuki has officially released the cat from its burlap sack. New engine, new ABS, new look, same great mission. Husky gives the Super Duke and a few other hooligan bikes a real competitor for the “stupid impractical fun” category. BMW taunts us with more electronic wizardry; the question remains, is it the wave of the future, or a continued “nice to have” for the premium product space? Sena pays real attention to the market place, and offers a nice upgrade to the venerable SMH-10 headset for not a whole lot of money.

Linkeedinks:

• Jeff Katzer’s next awesome ride video!
  • http://youtu.be/7zkXMdJRxMg
• Details on the new V-Strom
  • http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/suzuki-reveals-full-details-on-the-v-strom-650-abs/
• Husky 900
  • http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/07/husqvarna-nuda-900r-the-video/
• BMW DDC
  • http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/bmw-dynamic-damping-control/#more-23254
• SMH-10 Replacement Program
  • http://www.buysenabluetooth.com/smh10/smh10-upgrade-kit.html
• Fuelly.com link
  • http://www.fuelly.com/

We won’t be gone long though. We expect to be back in business in about 3 weeks. It could be sooner, we’ll let you know if it’s going to be later.

In the mean time, if you’ve been wondering were Scott Bolton’s race updates went, well they’re over at the Bench Racers International site. Scott and I are doing an almost weekly recap of all the MotoGP and WSBK action with some other stuff thrown in every now and again. You can also find it on iTunes.

We’re also looking for questions for a new motorcycle Q&A. Here’s the idea, you send questions, I find a motorcyclist qualified to answer them and then try to talk that person in to jumping on Skype long enough to do just that. Send those questions to james@thepacepodcast.com. This could fail miserably but what the hell, let’s give it a shot.

Thanks for listening. We’ll talk to you in a few weeks.

Why, exactly would you put nitrogen in your tires? We don’t know but we do know how to zip a zipper. J.D. Power tells us that Icon helmets are just as good as Arai. There may be a new VStrom, there may be a new sporting V4 from Honda and we definitely have a load of feedback.

• Links
  • Popular Mechanics article on Nitrogen
  • Icon ties Arai for first
  • New ‘Strom?
  • New Honda v4?
  • Touch Screen Compatible Gloves
• Opening music by KunK

Hey, this is Deborah Potter towards white that dot com. This call to say thanks for the repeal of the data asset base cat. Bluetooth headset for the hell. But I’m currently off. I have to be up all are you likeabout 65 or I think a E software error approaching out of town You could hear how clear not clear that the Obviously bipolar 3 d with this not have voicemail. Unfortunately, so I have to use the laptop acall back. At, I thought I was going to you X, Alright, whether it’s possible, or how that without the kids are okay with the check part of a little quieter. But I have had explained yet. I use the daily a littlebit. Forestry, music, at. Thanks again for the step by the best we can hook up a lot a lot. Bye to you about the good work. I’ll talk to you guys later. For You.

Thanks Deborah. We hope to hear from you again.

Hi guys, I just wanted to let you know you have a very loyal listener down in Australia. My name is Paul Manson and I live on the east coast of Australia in a small rural town called Wauchope which just happens to be at the start of one of the best motorcycle roads in the country. A while back I became ill and spent a lot of time in bed so I did a seach of motorcycle podcasts and found yours. I really liked the way you made me feel I was a mate just sitting around discussing bikes while mine (1996 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic and 2009 Ducati Monster 1100S, yes it did make me laugh when at one stage you mentioned how you would liked to have ridden a new Monster, if you get down under it is here waiting for you) were down in the shed unable to be ridden.

I started at episode one and just listened one after the other. As I am now up to date I thought it timely to let you know that I am a huge fan and look forward to the show every week. It’s a great format and every time I finish listening it makes me want to get out and ride. Chris the tour you did with your friends some time back had me in tears of laughter.

Currently down here I think Triumph is definitely the best value for money on the market and they have a bike for nearly every genre. I have never been into Adventure bikes but am seriously looking at the new XC 800. I think it is a great looking bike and I managed to have a sit on one recently and it felt great. Not top heavy and the seat was not too high for me at 5’9″. I am also interested in the Sprint GT and I am keen to hear if Jim eventually buys one. I am also a fan of the Daytona 675R but haven’t ridden one yet. Have a look at the rear shot of the latest 675 R and tell me if you have seen a better looking rear end! As I am due to retire in 2 years I really want to add a couple more bikes to the fleet and it will be to the Triumph dealer I will be heading. I am hoping to line up test rides on all three soon. Our dealers here are very generous and allow you to take the bikes out for a half a day as long as you book in. Cool eh?.

I have visited the US twice since 2006. In 2006 I rode US 50 from coast to coast to celebrate my 50th birthday and last year went back over for a party to celebrate 10 years of the FLH Harley Davidson Forum which I run. I found the motorcycle scene over there to be very different to here and I get the impression that it is very hard to get a test ride on a motorcycle there.

In the last 12 months I have ridden the Ducati 1198 S, the Multistrada, Monster 696, Several different Harley Davidsons, BMW K1300R, K1300S and GT, VF1200 F hahaha yep your favourite bike, plus the Triumph Bonneville T100, the Speed Triple, Street Triple and Sprint, Suzuki Boulevarde and SV650, GSX1000, Honda Fireblade also.

Anyway guys please keep up the good work and as I said I just wanted you to know that you had a fan in Australia. Bye for now……..Paul Manson.

Paul, thanks for the kind words. Largely speaking, yes, it seems to be more difficult to get test rides on motorcycles here in the US than in many other areas; this seems to be doubly so for the Japanese manufacturers. Harley-Davidson and BMW seem to the exceptions with their rather liberal test ride policies, rather than the norm.

Oddly enough, you can walk into nearly any car dealership in nearly any state or city and drive anything from a $12,000 econo-box subcompact, to a $90,000+ top end luxury sedan, and no one seems to question it. I think the fact that motorcycles are largely seen as toys rather than viable transportation is a big part of that. Even in the luxo-sport sedans and sports-car segments, they’re still seen as “just cars”. Bikes are toys.

The reasons why the “bikes as toys” mindset is bad should be obvious; they are a separate class of vehicle for licensing and insurance, they are often scrutinized differently in terms of regulation and enforcement, they are often associated with subcultures and behaviors that are outside the mainstream, and they are a lower-volume alternative vehicle with higher costs (per pound, per cubic foot, per wheel, etc., just pick a metric) than most of the mainstream cars.

Paul, I’m actually glad the difference between the US and other countries is so obvious; I rather feel like the US is in the minority on how bikes are so segregated from the mainstream. From my limited exposure to people from Europe and other areas, this fairly unique attitude towards bikes is unwarranted and has no real basis in execution. While some countries have tiered licensing, or treat motorcycles differently in terms of regulation and laws, out on the roads it seems they’re just one more machine in a sea of people going to and fro’. I hope we reach that point some day here in the US.

So… what say you, readers and listeners? Do you see the US treating bikes more or less like “just transportation” going forward, and what are your opinions on the matter? Talk back!

The on-going saga of the SV’s self consuming engine comes to a favorable end and the Sprint gets a grip. It’s not all rainbows and unicorns though, Chris has his own tale of motorcycling woe to impart this week.

It looks like Husqvarna has a promising new street bike in the pipe and Honda may have a new middleweight nudie bike (we hope!). Canada gets serious about noise, Aerostich wants to let use your smartphone with gloves on and we have lots of good stuff from listeners like you. There’s a gear review from Josh Davis, a video from Paul Jones, an audio sample from Jeff Gilbert and recommendations from Todd Lampone and Matt.

• Easy Access Links!
  • New Husky 900?
  • Honda CB700F?
  • Aerostich Touch-Screen Compatible Gloves
  • Tour Master Saber Series 2
  • Windstopper Helmet Skirt
• Opening music by KunK

Chris and I both spent this week riding bikes that belong to other people. We’ll let you know what we thought along with Motorcycle Consumer News’ opinion on Yamaha’s new FZ8. Here’s a hint. They like it a lot. Except for the lack of wind protection on a naked bike. Go figure.

We’ll wrap it up with another haepin’ helpin’ of listener feedback.

• Links
  • MCN’s review of the Yamaha FZ8
  • Bovinophobs
  • Motorcycle Daily’s article about increasing demand and limited product
  • STN’s Beginner’s Garage
• Opening music by KunK

Well, let’s see here. My bike blew up, I’m fixing it but I got a new one anyway and Chris preps his SV for it’s first overnighter. We cover some news from Polaris and BMW, wrap up our conversation on that Erik Buell interview and then get in to lots of listener feedback. Thanks guys, keep it coming.

• Links
• Polaris buys Indian and shows record sales
• BMW makes ABS standard equipment for 2012
• Lito Sora
• Speedwerks
• Opening music by KunK

That’s right folks. Real life has intruded in a big way this week. We’ll see ya next Sunday.

• Episode 71 with the Buell video
• Contest
• Opening music by KunK

But, what does this have to do with motorcycles and EVs (electric vehicles), you ask? Plenty, and lots of it. While some people and companies might want to unplug from “the grid”, many vehicle enthusiasts and companies want to avoid the gas pump.

When discussing electric motorcycles you often hear people complaining of the cost (and “paying for itself”), or of the limited range, or of the apparent lack of utility, of the high cost of batteries, of not having a charging location at work, and a host of other reasons. In fact, I rather take exception to people who have a whole laundry list of reasons why they can’t buy an EV. There’s no reason to have a list. Any one reason is enough. I thought we could take a few minutes and explore some of that, maybe help myself come to an understanding of some of these complaints, and what I see as some of the answers to that, as well as sparking up some conversation on the matter.

With the clear and obvious understanding that I’m not an EV designer, I’m not an energy infrastructure expert and I’m not an economics wizard by ANYONE’S definition, I’m going to take a crack at verbalizing some of my layman’s opinions on those things. So, let’s get started.

First, we’ll start with a few assumptions. We’ll use some nice round numbers in the conversation… let’s assume a 40-mile range for our imaginary electric motorcycle, let’s assume a top and normal cruising speed of 60 MPH, thus allowing easy math (one mile per minute), and let’s use Zero Motorcycles‘ claim of “about $.48” (we’ll round that to exactly $.50) to recharge the bike for normal use. Let’s also assume a fixed cost of $4.00 per gallon of pump gas with a 200-mile range for gas bikes. For the electric bikes, let’s make the assumption that the range needs to support a round-trip commute, including a slight “out of the way” errand on the way home from work. Got all that? I know that’s a lot of information, but I’ll repeat that as we go along.

Let’s talk about some of the reasons NOT to buy an EV bike.

They cost too much. People often bring up the subject of initial cost of purchase when talking about electric or hybrid cars. This is a valid and obvious point. In late 2007 when I bought my gas powered Corolla, I really wanted to get a hybrid Prius; the idea of cutting back on gas usage and the hopes that my purchasing dollars would help bolster the EV and Hybrid market were very appealing to me. The initial cost of $24,000 – $27,000, especially compared to the $17,000 Corolla, definitely made me step back. At the time I wanted an inexpensive car that was “good on gas”, and considering that for 8 months out of the year, I’m probably doing 80% of my miles on the bike, it made more sense for me to spend less on the car. I still stand by that decision. And I’m sure that’s a similar kind of thinking that goes on when most people are considering vehicles.

With my Corolla returning a pretty consistent 28-30 MPG in real world use, and the Prius returning anywhere from 40 MPG to 70 MPG (depending on your use case and who you believe), and doing so at ~1.5X the price of the Corolla I purchased, it doesn’t take an economics genius to understand that per mile, it’s similar enough (based just on purchase price), but in cash outlay, it would take a while for the Prius to “pay for itself”. So, I chose to spend less on initial cash outlay and stick with my gas car. I feel ok about the decision.

But here’s the rub… when was the last time science, or the free market, or an industrial sub-segment (like EVs) was ever advanced by worrying about “paying for itself”? I’m going to pull an answer out of the air and say… oh… “never”. I’m guessing that people don’t buy and drive hybrids and EVs because they pay for themselves, they do so to get in on the movement, to embrace a choice and a lifestyle, and to be a part of something. Advancing the EV market is  a worthy goal. Others just like the apparent “green” nature of EVs.

I guess what I’m getting at here is, if you’re buying strictly on price (which I was when I got the Corolla), you’re never going to find yourself being attracted to purchases like EVs, hybrids and other early-adopter market segment purchases. That’s absolutely OK… there’s nothing wrong with operating in the mainstream. In fact, I would say the benefits of buying and using mainstream products FAR outweigh the negatives. So you (and perhaps I) are not the target demographic. So saying “they cost too much for me” excuses you (and me?) from having to further justify any reasons you have for not buying. One reason is enough. It’s clear many people are not going to buy it on price along. Nothing wrong with that.

They don’t have enough range for me. This complaint, and the initial cost concerns, are often competing for first place on the list of reasons not to buy an EV motorcycle. And once again, it is a very valid and reasonable concern. At our sample bike’s per-charge range of 40 miles, I would not be able to ride the EV bike to work and back. I work ~28 miles from home in a mix of highway, stop-n-start and country roads. No matter what path I take, I would still range between 24-30 miles each way, with some amount of high-speed and congested traffic. My company, as progressive as they are, does not provide ready access to EV charging in the parking lot or garage. While I’m sure I would be able to ask them to snake an extension cord out to where we riders park out motorcycles, the bottom line is that this is outside the normal use-case and it’s nothing that I can count on as normal. In short… I can’t definitely charge the bike at work. So, at 28 miles out of my 40-mile range just to go one way on my commute, I’m clearly not the target demographic. So there it is.

My friend and show partner James lives roughly 10 miles from his place of work, and his commute is almost 100% “city” type traffic; red light to red light, urban traffic and congested surface streets. At 20 miles round trip, work to home, with still almost 20 miles of available range as a buffer, he’s apparently a perfect target demographic. He has a private home just outside the city where he can charge an EV, he rides a short distance to work and during the week may run some errands on the way home. He’s well within the range of the EV and on those days when he may need to ride further, or has planned events, his EV wouldn’t be his only vehicle.

So, urbanites and some subarbanites are the demographic. Think of whatever your closest city is; how big is it? How densely populated is it? How much of that city is ever really driven through by the average motorist? For those who live outside the city, how far do they really need to go? When I lived closer to Philadelphia and worked in town, I was about 15 miles from door to door… I used to fit right into the demographic. I bet a large and measurable percentage of urban commuters would easily be able to use an EV bike (or car!) and still have plenty of potential range available at the end of the day.

So again, if you don’t fit the demographic, there’s no reason justify not purchasing an EV. You only need one bullet item on your “no” list. That’s enough. And it’s valid.

I can’t carry everything I need on an EV bike. This may or may not be valid, but I think it would apply to bikes in general. I would say this… if you’re carrying stuff you need for work on any conventional gas motorcycle, then you can do so on an EV bike. Any argument one has in this category probably applies to ALL motorcycles, not just EVs. So… if this your reason, let’s say you probably aren’t commuting on your gas bike, either, and that pretty much ends this topic.

The batteries cost too much when they die. I hear this one a lot. It’s probably the third most common reason I hear and to my way of thinking, this is just a convenient excuse of justification, and not at all a real reason. It’s an excuse of fear and uncertainty, more than of reality. And that’s valid, too! Uncertainty about a product’s lifetime and how robust a product is can be a very valid reason for not purchasing that product. But I will say this… I’ve never bought a car or motorcycle or refrigerator based on what I feared about replacing a core, major component of that product. Have you priced out engines lately? They’re expensive, car or bike. Honestly, I think given the increasing number of hybrid and EVs on the road, if the batteries were consistently dying leaving people on the side of the road, and were having to be replaced out of warranty by taking a second or third mortgage on your house, there would be a bit of public uproar.

Personally, I wouldn’t buy a Ducati motorcycle (as my primary bike) based on the cost, complexity and short duration of the maintenance intervals, but I also wouldn’t turn one down based on the cost of replacement engines alone. Yes, batteries for EVs cost a lot of money, but I see that being an end-of-life cost of the vehicle, rather than an ongoing, periodic cost. I know some friends who have had to replace the engines in their 10- or 20- year old cars or bikes. This is unusual, but it’s also after what has usually been a very successful service life for the vehicle. In short… this is a non-issue, but again, if this is a real fear for someone, then by all means, make this your one reason not to purchase. There’s nothing wrong with relying on the robustness of over 100 years of gas power engine design and refinement. They work and they’re a well-known quantity in the market place.

I can’t charge it anywhere. Once upon a time this would have been a major reason, perhaps THE reason, not to buy an EV. But these days, most modern EVs charge right from a standard home electric circuit, from a portable converter that plugs into normal home circuits, or by standard format charging stations. Unlike, say, cell phones of a few years ago where each individual model of phone had a model-specific charger, standards and ease of use for the consumer will, and will continue to ensure that this becomes a marginalized concern. In fact, some recent news articles support the notion that EV charging stations are becoming more accepted in the mainstream. The city of Los Angeles is adding EV charging stations to many transit points and hubs, and Walgreens is adding EV charging for its customers. In addition, many federal, state and local municipalities are offering financial incentives to consumers and businesses to promote adoption of EVs.

So, while it’s true that today you can’t just plug in and charge everywhere you go, the increasing number of business centers embracing EVs combined with the current short-commute target demographic, this becomes less and less a concern. If your commute, one way, is at the limit of an EV range, and you know that charging will be an issue, by all means, stick with gas. But if your company or other local businesses support EV charging, it may be worth investigating. The day is coming when you can pull into a restaurant and plug in for an hour while you have dinner.

There are lots of other reasons to support or to be skeptical about purchasing an EV. No argument. It’s a decision that is – and should be – very involved and has many facets. So, let’s talk some numbers. Again, the context here is urban and suburban commuting.

The 2011 Zero S fully electric motorcycle sells for $9,995 and the Zero X sells for $7,450 before any federal, state or local EV incentives. Comparable gas commuter bikes might include the Honda CBR 250 R for $4000, or the Suzuki Gladius for $6,899 or the Kawasaki Ninja 650 for $7,195. Yes, it’s a given that EVs cost more when comparing performance and options, as previously discussed, but they’re not out of line in an absolute sense. Federal incentives include a tax deduction for the cost of EVs, and an immediate tax rebate of 10%. Other incentives are available.

Factoring MPG and cost per gallon is not really valid, so we’ll stick to cost per range and cost per mile. This will only include fuel, not maintenance and mechanical consumables.

The EV (Zero S), at a cost of $.50 to charge to net 40 miles, returns a per-mile cost of $.0125 per mile, or just over a penny per mile.

My SV650 returns about 50 MPG, netting me 200 miles from about 4 gallons of fuel, for a total cost of $16.00 per fill up. At 50 MPG, this nets out to about $.08 per mile.

I have no data to support any claims, positive or negative, about the environment impacts of battery construction or the gathering of the raw materials for making the batteries. The affects of gas engines on the environment are well known, and getting cleaner all the time, but are not zero-impact products.

For me, the bottom line is this – while I still can’t see myself spending close to $30,000 for an EV or hybrid car, the notion of spending “bike money” on an EV bike for general use is very, very attractive to me. I also believe that battery technology advancements and advancements in other areas of efficiency will net longer ranges on EV bikes, making it easier for me to slot into the target demographic. EV bikes are coming, they’re becoming more mainstream and lots of companies are making EV bikes their primary and secondary product focus. Like all things – the rule is adapt or die. Gas bikes aren’t going anywhere (at least for a long, long time), but ignoring electric bikes is akin to sticking your head in the sand. They’re not as prohibitively expensive as they once were, and they’re not as limited or limiting (for certain people) as one might think.

Check them out – they’re part of our future. Adapt or die.

This is the part where we write a little paragraph that tells you what we talked about in this weeks show. And it goes a little somethin’ like this…

Motus is making more noise, Chris got some new stuff, Leicester County in the U.K. is giving away retina burning backpacks and Chip Yeats goes really fast on an electric bike. We got a boat load of feedback from Denver Conway, David Laniuk, Ryan Hettenbach, Brian Medley, Ben Island and Mike Sandler. Thank you all.

We talked a little bit about my review of the Cycle Gear branded knock-offs of the CRG mirrors. That review was written before I moved my page to a new platform and it didn’t survive the transition very well. I’ll post those links once I get it fixed but here’s the big take away: You get what you pay for.

We also talked about what we’re going to talk about next week. We’d really like your help with that. You can find the Craftsman Experience presents Erik Buell Racing video below. What do think all of this means for EBR as it relates to street bikes?

• Links
  • New Motus Video
  • Quickstand from Aerostich
  • Sena SMH10
  • Shorty Levers (ebay Link)
  • Trackside Wheel Chock
    • Installation
  • Hi-Viz Backpacks for Free
  • Electric Speed Record
• Opening music by KunK

Episode 70: The One Glaring Design Flaw

The Ducati Diavel

We kick this week’s show off with an early review of the Teiz Commute Suit. We discover that the BPG Uno III is more then meets the eye while KTM’s Freeride gets a little closer to production. The U.K. seems to be running out of money for speed cameras, N. H. Citizens Against Loud Motorcycles (NH CALM, aren’t they clever?) runs out of rope and Fox’s Shift brand runs away from the street apparel market. Oh, remember Bajaj? It seems that they’re doing pretty well.

BPG Uno III Video

• You knew they were coming. LINKS!
  • Teiz Commute Suit
  • BPG Uno III
  • KTM Freeride
  • What? I can’t hear you!
  • The U.K. Decommissions some speed cameras
  • Shift is no longer for street riders
  • Bajaj expects big growth on top of strong sales numbers
• Opening music by KunK

So, how can you score one of these signed copies of Proficient Motorcycling? Well, one of two ways.

First, we’re looking for a newer rider to tell us your story of how you got started in motorcycling, some mistakes you might have made, some problems you might have encountered, and of course help and guidance you have received since starting out. Everyone has a beginning story, and we want to hear yours, now, as it’s happening.

Second, we’d like to hear the same kind of stuff from ‘seasoned’ riders. Tell us about how your riding and outlook, and your “toolbox of skills” have matured over the years and miles. Talk to us about how something you see happen now that you just deal with, might have been a ride stopper or bigger problem in your younger, greener years.

The best story – as judged by James and Chris – from each category will win a signed book. “Best” can be the most engaging narrative, it could be an example of the toughest learning curve, it could mean the most experience in the shortest time, or anything else. There’s no real hard definition for this. Just tell us your stories, share with the community and let’s all learn something.

The contest will run for a little over two weeks, ending on April 16, 2011. You can email your entry to feedback@thepacepodcast.com with “contest” in the subject line. Also, if you would prefer to send us an audio file that we can include in a future episode, you can send an MP3 as an attachment to the same email. Our voicemail is limited to three minutes, but if you think you can tell your story in that time, then by all means, call 484-748-0042.

We look forward to hearing from you!

This week James and Chris lament on the early death of Spring; alas, dear Spring, we hardly knew ye, or something like that. Winter is back. So there. The guys whittle away at the time by talking about the industry’s support for the various Japan relief efforts. The state of Virginia is looking at options to draw tourism to the Tazewell and Smyth areas by cleverly renaming Rt. 16 and is actually going to do so with targeting motorcycle and sport car enthusiasts. Will this blow up in all our faces…? Time will tell.

The Super Tenere from Yamaha is getting some real-world testing and the guys point us at one of the reviews. It appears to be pushing all the right buttons with at least one tester. Honda’s CBR600F-series bike is also road tested, and although not yet planned for a release in the USA, it’s still a bike worth discussing. The return of this line’s 2-decades worth of legacy is worth talking about. Honda also release pricing information for the VFR800 based CrossTour. Also a bike not planned for the USA, the pricing hits some apparent good points.

Chris talks about some disappointment with Givi, specifically about the FL521 top case rack for his SV. It sucks. The guys lay out a new contest for some signed copies of David Hough’s venerable Proficient Riding book, and they talk a bit more about the upcoming ride to Barber Motorsports planned for the third week of September. Some quick feedback and a request for the community closes out the episode.