Sources : AMD , IDN , FT , Reuters , PSB , MPN , BDN , MCN , AP , Bloomberg , MSNW , Electrek , electricmotorcycles . news , RideApart . com , Motor1 . com , Cycle World , motorbikewriter . com
NEWS
BRIEFS
Not before time , and with kudos maximus to Yamaha , the FIM Women ' s Circuit Racing World Championship ( WorldWCR ) launches its inaugural season in 2024 with 24 riders using identical high-torque 689 cc Yamaha YZF-R7s as a ' spec ' bike . There will be six rounds in 2024 , starting at the legendary Misano circuit in Italy ( Emilia-Romagna , June 14-16 ). After stops in the UK , Portugal , Hungary and Cremona , Italy , the series will finish with a Prometeon Spanish Round at the Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto , on October 18-20 . Described as a " pioneering single-make series exclusively for aspiring female riders ," it is a " a bold step towards inclusivity , offering emerging talent an equal footing with the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship ." Addressing disparities , " it opens doors to benefits on and off the track . As a dedicated space for women in professional racing , the WorldWCR breaks stereotypes , increases representation , and inspires the next generation ." Cool . Grow the sport , grow the sport , grow the sport , ka ching ; www . worldsbk . com
In a move that smacks of desperation and militates directly against the stated advantages of getting LiveWire production out of Milwaukee and away from Harley ' s conventional platforms , LiveWire operations are being moved to , yes , you guessed it - Milwaukee ! The LiveWire team will be relocated to the historic Juneau Avenue site , which has been mostly vacant since the pandemic and where production ceased in 1973 . The switch means trying to move staff to Wisconsin from its present Mountain View , CA . ' laboratory '. " We expect the consolidation of our operations in Milwaukee at Harley-Davidson ' s historic headquarters at Juneau Avenue to bring synergies and efficiencies , as well as a closer connection to our heritage ," Karim Donnez , LiveWire CEO . H-D CEO Jochen Zeitz was rather more cleareyed about the decision , stating that the relocation would reduce LiveWire ' s costs . The electric motorcycle spin-off brand ' s revenue fell 39 % in Q1 , even though it sold a few more bikes . Zeitz says it will cut about 10 % of the headcount and 15 % of the cost related to employees . LiveWire has about 230 employees in the U . S . The move should reduce operating losses by about $ 10m this year . LiveWire sold 117 bikes in the first quarter of 2024 , up from 63 in the same period of 2023 , despite which operating losses were $ 29m .
Nimbus Brand Making a Comeback After More Than 60 Years By Ben Purvis
The Nimbus name isn ' t likely to be familiar to most motorcyclists , but in Denmark there ' s a strong following for the brand - the only motorcycle manufacturer to have emerged from the country . Between 1919 and 1960 , Nimbus sold high-quality bikes powered by inline four-cylinder engines , mounted longitudinally in their frames rather like an Excelsior Henderson or Indian four . The company was part of Fisker and Nielson , a vacuum cleaner maker that lives on today
" Danish name returning on electric cruiser "
under the Nilfisk name , and which has now licensed the Nimbus brand to Claus Clausen to be used on a new electric motorcycle . The last Nimbus bike was the Type C , manufactured from 1934 to 1959 , and the new machine takes its inspiration from that machine . Called the Type E , it uses a faux hardtail frame - there ' s actually a swingarm hidden between
Available for men and women , the new Harley-Davidson airbag equipped Smart Vest " combines comfort and style with advanced airbag protection to offer riders peace of mind . " Powered by proven D-Air from Dainese Technology , Smart Vest deploys instantly in the event of a collision on the chest and central back area to add potential impact absorption ." A series of sensors monitor what ’ s happening around the rider more than 1,000 times per second and constantly process the data in real time . It is designed to deploy immediately on impact in the event of a collision with objects , with other vehicles or in a rearend collision event . The airbag covers the chest and central area of the back and form-seals with the rider ’ s helmet . The system is powered by a rechargeable battery with up to 26 hours of life and is charged with a common USB plug . the rear frame hoops and a monoshock tucked underneath the single rider ' s seat - and fills the center of the chassis with a large battery pack and electronics unit where the engine would normally sit . An electric motor sits concentrically with the swingarm pivot , ensuring that the tension on the belt final drive is consistent throughout the suspension ' s travel . The company launched a share offering in July 2023 to raise funds for the Type E project as well as an electrically-assisted bicycle that is simultaneously under development . The aim is to raise between 8 and 10
H-D Offering Dainese D-Air Equipped ' Smart Vest '
Features include a black , heavyweight cowhide leather-perforated shell for cooling airflow and stretch side panels , handwarmer pockets and Black Carbon reflective material . The vest may be worn under or over a riding jacket . An indicator light on the left chest reports the status of the jacket . The vest vibrates to indicate that it is ready and is activated when it senses the vibration of a running
million Danish Krone (€ 1.07m to € 1.34m ), believed to be enough to get the bicycle into production and to finance building and testing a prototype of the Type E motorcycle during the summer of 2024 . If all goes to schedule , the bike will then be officially unveiled in late 2024 , with production targeted for 2025 . At the moment , Nimbus hasn ' t revealed any technical details of the motorcycle project , so it ' s impossible to guess at its performance or pricing , but the appearance of the machine suggests it ' s aimed at the higher end of the electric motorcycle market .
motorcycle engine or speed exceeds 6.2 mph ( 10 kph ) - the vest will not deploy away from a running motorcycle .
26 AFTERMARKET MOTO DESIGN - JUNE 2024