I came across the C-1 from Lit Motors in an article by Donna Sturgess over on Innovation Excellence that made me wonder, will this be an invention or an innovation?
As you may know my definition of innovation stresses that a new offering must transform the useful seeds on invention into solutions valued above every existing alternative. An there are lots of existing alternatives in this space including: (Read the rest of the story)
Easter has come and gone, and flowers are blooming in different parts of Canada. Spring and warm sunshine bring people from their houses where they’ve hibernated for the winter. People stroll, talk and smile, and motorcyclists abound on our roadways. Extra caution is required by all road users is required to keep riders safe.
Since the inception of the motor-vehicle, these two & three wheeled vehicles have vied for road space. For some, these vehicles provide an alternative to the bigger expenses associated with cars. Motorcycles are smaller, faster, more fuel efficient and the initial capital outlay can by considerably less than a car. For others, the joy of driving a motorcycle is simply the exuberance of riding. It provides a sense of inexplicable freedom that otherwise eludes them.
Yet, the dangers of riding a motorcycle are much higher than those associated with cars. In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that “per vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists are about 35 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a traffic crash.”1 In other words, if involved in a crash or collision, the rider is at a much greater risk of death or injury.
What are some of the steps that other motorists can take to ensure that motorcyclists are noticed when they drive. First, always signal and shoulder check when making any lateral move. Because of their small size, it is easy for motorcycles to sneak into your blind spots. And only by shoulder checking will you spot these smaller vehicles. Be more vigilant when scanning intersections. Many motorcyclists are killed or injured when proceeding through an intersection and another vehicle turns left in front of them, therefore, it is imperative to scan more thoroughly before executing the turn.
For the rider, there are a number of ways to protect yourself and ensure that your ride is safe. The American Automobile Association provides the following tips to ensure that motorcyclists are seen:
More Police Depts Using Victory MotorcyclesBut how great does a bike have to be for a rider to trust it with his life? That raises a bike’s expectations up several notches, doesn’t it?
Law enforcement agency motor patrols from across North America trust their careers and lives to their bikes all day every day, and a rapidly growing number of law enforcement agencies are selecting Victory Motorcycles such as the Cross Country, Cross Roads and Victory Vision for their motor fleets.
Police departments in cities such as Tyler, TX, Plant City, FL, Lexana, KS, Redmond, OR, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and several others have switched to Victory Police Motorcycles for their motor patrols because every Victory model provides The Victory EDGE – the Victory advantage in areas such as power, handling, reliability, storage and comfort.
Crossbow motorcycle, an all electric motorcycle that doesn’t require its rider to wear a helmet. Yes, no helmet, no itchy hair. This is an extreme all weather electric motorbike that features a canopy cover like a shield to protect its rider from any danger, it offers the next level of safety for motorcyclists. This automatic canopy has been beautifully designed based on the riding position, in this way, the rider’s legs are still free to maintain stability and have full control at low speeds, and at the same time, maximizing aerodynamics for high speed engagement.
The sporty look of Crossbow motorcycle makes it perfect for the racetrack or country roads or even cruising the urban city areas. The canopy also comes with a windscreen wiper for better riding vision in rainy days.
Designer : Phil Pauley
I’ve always thought that the stock Triumph Scrambler has lots of potential for an edgier vibe. And Jim Good of Ohio was obviously thinking along the same lines when he set to work on his 2008 model bike.
He’s given the 865cc engine a power boost with a Wiseco 904 kit and K&N filters, and attached a low-slung D&D Thruxton TT exhaust system. He’s also upgraded the suspension with Progressive components, with new fork springs and 970 Series piggyback shocks. The tidy-looking back end is thanks to a British Customs fender delete kit, and the rearsets are from LSL.
The look of Jim’s bike is dominated by the tires, though. They’re Continental TKC 80s, a well-regarded dual-sport tire fitted as original equipment to some BMW GS bikes and the KTM 690 Enduro R. The new rubber is attached to lovely Excel rims: 19” at the front, and 17” at the back.
The finishing touches come from classy Oury grips, JMF mirrors and bars, and a subtle paint job from 8up Kustoms. It’s not a huge deviation from the stock Scrambler, but doesn’t it look good?
Via The Bullitt. Images courtesy of Zac Fisher.
Read more: http://www.bikeexif.com/triumph-scrambler-custom#ixzz1phCnDYvr
Arizona Bike Week
http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2012/03/20/arizona-bike-week/
With gas prices pushing $5 per gallon in some parts of the country, there’s lots of talk about plug-in electric and hybrid cars. The high-end Tesla Roadster, the Nissan Leaf, and the Chevy Volt have all been covered (and promoted) pretty extensively.
But what if the future belongs instead to the electric motorcycle? A new report by Pike Research, a clean technology consulting firm, predicts that the number of electric motorcycles and scooters will skyrocket from 17 million today to 138 million by 2017. And not all of that growth will come from China. The report predicts that electric motorcycles, in particular, will be popular in North America.
Dave Hurst, a senior analyst at Pike, explained the benefits of electric motorcycles and scooters in a press release, saying, “They are relatively low cost to own, do not take a lot of space, and are easy to maintain, therefore making them attractive for city dwellers.” And, unlike an electric car, you could conceivably charge an electric scooter in your back yard. Don’t want to wait six years? The Sora, a new electric bike being developed by Lito Green Motion, looks incredibly fun. At $43,000, it’s anything but “low cost,” but we’re assuming prices come down by 2017.
http://www.good.is/post/brace-yourself-for-138-million-electric-motorcycles/
One of the many benefits of living in the beautiful state of Arizona 
