Cycle Update – Harley Recalls 73,000 Bikes

Harley-Davidson Inc. is recalling 73,678 motorcycles to replace a faulty circuit breaker that could cause sudden stalling of their engines and possibly cause a crash.
The vehicles included in this recall are fuel-injected 2001 to 2003 model year Electra Glide Classics and Electra Glide Ultra Classics (models FLHTCI and FLHTCUI), 2001 model year Screamin’ Eagle Road Glides (model FLTRSEI-2) and 2001 to 2003 model year police motorcycles (models FLHPI, FLHPEI, and FLHTPI).
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration says the 40-amp main circuit breaker can open for an unexplained reason and cause an unexpected interruption of all electrical power to the motorcycle, which could cause the motorcycle to stop operating.
Harley-Davidson says owners are asked to bring their bikes to a dealer for appropriate service.
Rockefeller Center
to Host Bike Exhibit
Nearly 50 of the most significant, most desired and revolutionary bikes of the past 40 years are to be spotlighted May 19 through June 6 in New York City’s famed Rockefeller Center, a Manhattan landmark attracting an estimated 250,000 people every day.
Free to the public, the three-week exhibition is the second collaboration between the Rockefeller Center and Discover Today’s Motorcycling, a non-profit communications organization promoting two-wheeling and motorcycle safety. The first show took place in April 2002.
“This was an age of ascent for Japanese manufacturers, who changed the world of motorcycling with trend-setting engineering,” said Ty van Hooydonk, director of product communications for Discover Today’s Motorcycling. “Many of these benchmark bikes will be on display, as well as the American and European machines built in response.”
WOMEN & MOTORCYCLING
CONFERENCE SCHEDULED
The fourth Women & Motorcycling Conference will be held June 29 through July 3, 2006 in Athens, Georgia. The first three AMA Women & Motorcycling Conferences were held in 1997, 2000, and 2002. Nearly 700 women and men attended the 2002 conference.
The AMA says it is working closely with the leadership of national women’s motorcycling organizations — including Motor Maids, Twisty Sisterz, Women in the Wind, Women on Wheels, Women’s International Motorcycle Association-USA, and Women’s Motorcyclist Foundation — to plan the 2006 conference.
Visit www.womenandmotorcycling.com for more details to be announced in coming months.
JAMA Begins Motorcycle Parts Survey
The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. (JAMA) says it will begin collecting data on targeted substances present in motorcycle components.
JAMA’s four motorcycle-manufacturing members — Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha — are currently preparing for the implementation of a “Voluntary Motorcycle Recycling Program” and other initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental impact of motorcycles. As part of this overall effort, the voluntary reduction of four designated substances present in motorcycle parts — lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium and cadmium — will be pursued within a specific time frame.
A common survey format will facilitate the collection of data regarding these substances in motorcycle parts, which in turn will enable manufacturers to more effectively address the issue of reducing the environmental impact of those parts.
Information on the designated substances obtained through the distribution of this survey form will be compiled in a database and made available for individual vehicle models. Specifically, motorcycle manufacturers in cooperation with JAMA are gearing up to use this data as the basis for disclosing environmental impact-related information when marketing new models. This information will, in addition, make it possible to gauge the progress made in meeting established reduction targets for the substances concerned, thereby supporting ongoing efforts to devise more effective measures towards that end.
STT Announces Schedule
Sportbike Track Time has announced its 2004 event schedule, with venues to include Alabama, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, California, Florida, Wisconsin, Virginia, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
“We have worked hard to put together a schedule that offers variety,” says STT’s Monte Lutz.
The season started April 10-11 at Putnam Park Road Course in Mt. Meridian, Indiana, and ends Nov. 13-14 at Jennings GP in Jennings, Fla. For Pricing, Registration and additional info visit the STT web site, www.sportbiketracktime.com, or call 888/390-4020
Ridley Unveils New
Automatic Transmission
Officals at Ridley Motorcycle Company, Oklahoma City, say the company has completed development and testing of its Type II R-CVT with automatic power train.
The advanced R-CVT is said to deliver a smooth, jerk-free quick take-off, broader gear range and low fuel consumption while handling higher horsepower. The new unit will become standard equipment on all mid-year 2004 Ridley Auto-Glide models.
Founded in 1997 by Clay Ridley, Ridley Motorcycle Company’s products are distributed in over five countries. For more information, call 405/525-5400; or visit www.automaticmotorcycles.com. psb