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With the cold , hard realities of life cast adrift from the European Union starting to become apparent , the United Kingdom has abandoned the new , post-Brexit UKCA ( United Kingdom Conformity Assessed ) mark . The scheme was intended to reduce complexity and cost for vendors selling on the UK market , allowing their products to diverge from EU standards - namely become poorer quality . But it turns out the scheme was actually increasing complexity and cost and was starting to reduce consumer choice . Brands had been starting to decide that the extra overhead of additional new UK standards , for a diminishing market , would not likely result in an acceptable ROI . Therefore , the British Conservative government , the same one that thought commercial isolation was a " good thing " in the first place , has now surrendered to the embrace of Johnny Foreigners ' nasty rules and abandoned the UKCA scheme .
Kawasaki has shown what is slated to be to be the world ' s first production sports bike powered by hydrogen . Tests with the Ninja H2 HySE rideready prototype are due to start in 2024 . Created as part of the Kawasaki , Yamaha , Suzuki , Honda and Toyota ' HySE ' consortium effort , it was unveiled at its " Group Vision 2030 " conference in Japan in December . Based on its existing H2 model , rear panniers hold extra hydrogen canisters with the 999 cc super-charged inline-four designed to be very similar to a conventional gas engine - complete with direct injection .
The 2023 Isle of Man TT was a resounding success , though it still lags the highest record attendance seen in 2019 . The IOM Government ' s Department for Enterprise has revealed findings of a survey ( the first since 2019 ) that show overall visitor numbers for the period down by an estimated -6.3 % on the 2019 attendance at 43,272 . At 46,174 , that 2019 figure had been the highest figure recorded since surveys of this type began at + 4 % over 2018 . Average spends per visitor in 2013 was approx . $ 1,000 , which though an increase on a per head basis , represented an actual overall revenue decline from the event for the island ' s economy at approx . $ 48m . The average length of stay was down at 6.09 nights , with 79.2 % staying in paid accommodation ( 32 % camping ); there was a 30.6 % increase in those traveling to the island by air , with 90.7 % of all visitors from the UK and Ireland and 50-64-year-olds the largest age group at 38.3 % ( 18.9 % were aged 65 and older , with just 20.2 % below the age of 30 ).
Custom Chrome Europe - ' Bolt On And Ride ' Program Back After Four-Year Absence
Custom Chrome Europe celebrated 25 years in business in 2023 . During that time , and born out of the widespread ' kit bike ' phenomena that swept the parts and accessory community from the mid-1990s , CCE ' s ' Bolt On And Ride ' concept ( 2009-2020 ) was always a more " considered " and " convincing " proposition . Rather than complete builds , they were a selection of custom builds designed by leading European custom bike builders . The ' Bolt On And Ride ' concept had been immediately popular , providing an easy access pathway for riders to be able to enjoy and share in the design ideas of many of the European market ' s leading customizers . So , fast forward four years , and the Custombike Show at Bad Salzuflen in Germany in December 2023 ( and subsequently Motor Bike Expo at Verona , Italy , in January 2024 ) saw CCE dive back into those waters and bring back an all-new iteration of the concept to market . The presentations featured three designs and platforms by German customizers Rick ’ s Motorcycles , Bike Farm Melle and former World Champion custom bike builders Thunderbike , the latest custom parts available from CCE , Rick ’ s Motorcycles ' FXRT-style fairing for M- 8 Softails and numerous new Rick ’ s ' Clubstyle ' parts showcased on their Low Rider ST . Rick ' s prior contributions to the BOAR program had included ' Black Bob ' ( 2013 ) and ' Moccarica ' ( 2018 ). Thunderbike had previously built no
Bike Farm Melle , also established as Indian Melle has customized a 2023 Indian Scout " Bobber " for a more " Bobber spirited " Scout rolling on TTS " Fat Spoke " wheels and V-Performance exhaust system .
In 2024 , Rick ' s Motorcycles will celebrate 30 years in business - and this radical " Clubstyle " " Bolt On And Ride " bike is another " Clubstyle " themed radical rider , featuring Rick ' s own FXRT / RP fairing , brand new and super-solid risers and triple-trees and many new Rick ' s parts that are new to the Custom Chrome Europe catalog .
less that nine BOAR customs , from the first Street Bob and Fat Boy in 2009 to CCE ' s " Custom Chrome 50th Anniversary " tribute in January 2020 .
Bike Farm Melle had one prior design in the BOAR program - ' Fisherman ' s Chop ' from 2014 . Bike Farm Melle , also now established
24 AFTERMARKET MOTO DESIGN - FEBRUARY 2024 www . AMDmag . com