CycleChaos

KTM Recall

budlight — Wed, 23 May 2007 19:59:35 +0000

Off-Road Motorcycles Recalled Due to Fuel Leak

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Off-Road Motorcycles

Units: About 20,000

Distributor: KTM North America Inc., of Amherst, Ohio

Hazard: The seal around the fuel tank can loosen allowing fuel to leak, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: KTM has received 5,114 reports of leaking fuel tanks. CPSC has received one report of a minor chemical burn due to fuel coming into contact with a consumer’s skin.

Description: This recall involves KTM off-road motorcycles. KTM is printed on the side of the orange and black motorcycles along with the model. Model numbers included in the recall are:

Model Year 2005: 250SX-F

Model Year 2006: 200XC, 200XC-W, 250XC-W, 250SX-F, 250XCF-W, 300XC, 300XC-W, 400EXC-G, 450XC-G, 450EXC-G, and 525EXC-G

Model Year 2007: 125SX, 144SX, 250SX, 250SX-F, 450SX-F, 505SX-F, 200XC, 250XC, 300XC, 450XC, 200XCW, 250XCW, 300XCW, 400XCW, 450XCW, 525XCW, 250XC-F, and 250XCF-W

Sold at: KTM dealers nationwide from November 2004 through April 2007 for between $5,400 and $7,800.

Manufactured in: Austria

Remedy: Consumers should stop using these vehicles immediately and contact their local KTM dealer to schedule an appointment for a free repair. Consumers with the recalled vehicles are being sent direct notices from KTM.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact KTM at (888) 985-6090 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.ktmnorthamerica.com

To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including a picture of the recalled product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07194.html

Different Opinions

budlight — Tue, 15 May 2007 21:19:29 +0000

A lot of times in the Motorcycling world there are very opinions on debates such as: How to break in your bike properly, Synthetic vs. Non-synthetic, How much Power bikes should have?, What grade of motor oil to use? and so on. Some of these debates may never be able to be proved empirically for all cycles, but it is important to keep an open mind. I recently read a speech by Michael Crichton entitled “Aliens cause Global Warming“, in which he shows time and time again that even some of the world’s most famous scientists (Crichton refers to them as Media Savvy) can be wrong time and time again. Crichton say “Whenever you hear the consensus of scientists agrees on something or other, reach for your wallet, because you’re being had.” which reflects his comparing modern science to politics as what scientific agendas get pushed are the ones that the media focuses on. While the mainstream media doesn’t really focus that much on the motorcycling world (except to portray them as death traps), there have been many widespread rumors that always seem to be one-sided. Where are the differing opinions? Where are the scientific dyno tests? Motorcyclist magazine is finally starting to differentiate their compiled dyno results by which dyno machine they were run on, and this is the kind of stuff that the motorcycling world needs. On our Wiki I want to try to avoid consensus just for the sake of consensus. I think that is one of the major things that is killing one other wiki we all know of. I leave you with this second quote from Michael Crichton who by the way is one of my favorite authors.

“Historically, the claim of consensus has been the first refuge of scoundrels; it is a way to avoid debate by claiming that the matter is already settled.” - Michael Crichton

Daily Motorcycle Blog roundup May 13, 2007

budlight — Sun, 13 May 2007 21:00:51 +0000

Ama News has another update about motorcycle awareness month, highlighting various ideas sent in by readers.
Bikes in the fast lane has several updates including the BMW computer adaptor and cell phone adaptor to allow you to program your BMW’s electronic bus and read data via USB or Bluetooth. Looks really interesting, Suzuki just started rolling out a system such as this (although they don’t do bluetooth). Right now with Suzuki it is pretty much a dealer only tool but it’ll be interesting to see if these things pretty much become standard or what. Mike also has a post about a space age motorcycle (not really sure if its justa prop or a real scooter) but it’s definitely different. Also another interesting post covers the UK based OnTrak System which is another bike tracking gps that sends the transmitters current location via sms message to the phone you called it from. These are definitely good things and hopefully someday a manufacturer will include such a system stock.
Helmet Hair covers the Mototuneusa breakin method of breaking in your bike. Now if I were rebuilding my bike every weekend and racing it, I might just do try out what MotoMan suggests. As it is I can’t really see a huge benefit as this isn’t a scientific test with controlled conditions. I don’t doubt that getting hard on it every now and then helps though. I’m positive the manufacturers have many reasons for the way they suggest to break it in, and I’m sure some of them are also legal reasons. Also I’m not really sure that it is as simple as the piston ring seal simply needing to be forced up against the cylinder walls. I’d like to see more scientific tests into this though.

Motorcycle Headlines and Links May 4, 2007

budlight — Fri, 04 May 2007 12:12:05 +0000

Bikes in the Fast Lane informs us that today is Canada’s National Female “Just Ride” Day.
Helmet Hair posts an Episode of the Discovery Channel’s “Greatest ever motorcycles” (seems like it should be “greatest motorcycles ever” to me but what do I know) that covers the Harley Davidson Knucklehead. Definitely a cool youtube video to watch
AngryBob has a new editorial on whether or not lane splitting should be legal. I don’t really think it should be encouraged by traffic authorities, but I don’t think you should be able to get a ticket just for lane splitting. I think it should fall under reckless driving law. I think you’d find there would be more inexperienced riders lane splitting that ones who can make prudent decisions about whether or not it is appropriate.

Daily Motorcycle Blog roundup May 3, 2007

budlight — Thu, 03 May 2007 13:03:13 +0000

The Kneeslider covers a really slick looking ZX9R open wheel street racer. I’m not sure if the guy who made this made the fiberglass himself, but if he did he really has skill, I like how he integrated the zx9’s original headlights and ram air scoop into it.
Sport Rider has published online an article from their August 2005 issue about Suspension on the Yamaha YZF-R6.
Faster and Faster says that Aprilia may be developing a new 1200cc shiver.
Bikenut is starting a series on Motorbikes that changed the world. He plans to list twelve bikes in total. The first six that have been revealed are: Ducati 916, Kawasaki Z900, Honda Cub Scooter, Honda 750/4, BMW R80 GS, Harley Davidson V-Rod. I would say two that need to be on this list in my opinion are the GSX-R750, and possibly the Honda Interceptor 750. To be fair he should probably also pick a Yamaha some where along the line.
Crash.net reports that Ducati’s Troy Bayliss takes his second win of the season at Assen on Sunday.
The Scooter Scoop has a picture on a Two Wheeled Car by Scripps-Both called the Bi-Autogo. I think I’ve seen this before somewhere and if I remember right it actually has a gyroscope or something inside of it to balance it out.
The Beach Cruiser reports that Harley Davidson is discontinuing six models. Harley is also canceling its plans to export motorcycles to India.
Erin Baker covers the world’s first electric “super-scooter” which is being launched next week. The scooter has a range of 68 miles and a top speed of 62 miles. I think this scooter could really use some trickle down technology from the Killacycle.
Girl Bike asks is green the new pink for 2007? She points out how Kymco is offering the people 150 in green this year. Along with The Derbi GP1 Open and the Buddy 125 Italia.

Daily Motorcycle Blog roundup May 2, 2007

budlight — Wed, 02 May 2007 18:55:18 +0000

Mike Werner shows a picture of a downed television motorcycle (they have such things?) during the Boston Marathon. He also has a picture of an Egyptian man running his scooter through a sandstorm.
Kropotkin Thinks reports that there is further evidence that World 250 Champion Jorge Lorenzo might go to Yamaha for the 2008 MotoGP season. Nothing is set in stone yet though.
A Boy and His Bike shows a picture shows a picture of a group ride with other riders from sport-touring.net. He also shows off his GPS mounted with a RAM mount.
AMA News Kicks off Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
BBC News reports that Carl Fogarty’s team will return to World Superbike Racing next year after signing a deal with Agusta.
Helmet Hair has a blog post about Jack Black possibly starring in a new TV Series about a talking motorcycle “Heat Vision”. The clip at helmet hair was supposedly a 1999 pilot for Fox, but it still may end up in a movie.