Inside News

Sportster Revolution

In arguably the most significant change in the history of its Sportster lineup, Harley-Davidson has introduced the 2021 Sportster S. Built around the Revolution Max 1250T liquid-cooled 60-degree V-twin that debuted earlier this year in the Pan America, the Sportster’s powerplant has been retuned to provide additional torque at low rpm. In an effort to keep the bike’s overall weight down, the engine is incorporated as a stressed member of the frame.

Premium components include fully adjustable Showa suspension (43 mm inverted front fork and rear shock with hydraulic preload adjustment) as well as Brembo brakes. The Sportster S also features selectable ride modes (Sport, Road and Rain) which are programmed to provide optimal settings for the bike’s power delivery, engine braking and lean sensitive ABS and traction control. Riders will also have the ability to create their own custom ride mode.

Instrumentation on the Sportster S is provided with a Bluetooth-equipped four-inch round LCD display, which is compatible with the Harley-Davidson app. Lighting is all LED including a Daymaker LED headlight.

Colour options for the 2021 Sportster S are Vivid Black, Stone Washed White Pearl and Midnight Crimson. Available accessories include a mid-control conversion kit, detachable windshield, tailbag, solo seat and a pillion kit.

The 2021 Sportster S is scheduled to arrive on showroom floors in the fall with an MSRP of $17,999. For more information visit www.harley-davidson.com/ca. IM

The 2021 Harley-Davidson Sportster S arrives in dealerships this fall.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON CANADA

Correction

In the June / July 2021 issue of Inside Motorcycles we noted that the windshield on the 2021 Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX was not adjustable. As pointed out by the team from Canadian Kawasaki Motors, the windshield is in fact adjustable. – Ed.

Yamaha Unveils 2022 Off-road Lineup

Yamaha has rolled out their 2022 lineups of two-stroke and four-stroke off-road motorcycles highlighted by an all-new YZ125. The first major update to their 125 cc motocrosser in over 15 years is centred around a new liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that has been designed with mid- and high-rpm performance in mind. Fully-adjustable KYB fork and rear shock, redesigned brake rotors and a revised six-speed transmission combine with improved rider ergonomics to create the latest iteration of the YZ125. MSRP for the 2022 YZ125 is $8,199.

In addition to the 125, the two-stroke lineup is expanded for 2022 with the addition of the new YZ85LW (large wheel). Based on the proven YZ85, the large wheel version The all-new Yamaha YZ125. features a 19-inch front wheel and a 16-inch rear wheel. MSRP for the YZ85 is $6,499 and PHOTO COURTESY OF YAMAHA MOTOR CANADA $6,699 for the YZ85LW model. On the four-stroke side, both the YZ250F and YZ450F motocross machines receive significant updates for 2022 including new suspension settings, lightweight rear hub, updated rear wheel and new graphics. Both models can also be purchased with the Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Edition graphics package. MSRP for the 2022 YZ250F is $9,999 and $11,099 for the YZ450F. The YZ250FX cross-country racer also gains improvements for 2022 with a number of features drawn from the YZ250F, including updated brake systems designed to enhance feel while also providing better heat dissipation. A new high capacity muffler has been added for 2022 with a goal of improving high-rpm performance. MSRP for the 2022 YZ250FX is $10,099. Visit www.yamaha-motor.ca for details on Yamaha’s complete 2022 off-road lineup. IM CHECKERED BACKGROUND FLAG

KTM is taking their LC8c engine lineup to the next level with the introduction of the all-new, track-only RC 8C. Drawing on the same 899 cc, DOHC, eight-valve parallel-twin found in the KTM 890 Duke R, the limited-production RC 8C features carbon-Kevlar reinforced bodywork inspired by the company’s RC16 MotoGP race bike. A 25CrMo4 steel tubular frame, fully-adjustable WP Apex Pro suspension components, Brembo race-spec equipment and lightweight Dymag wheels with Pirelli SC1 slicks ensure the RC 8C is ready for the track. An Aim MXS 1.2 race dashboard and data logger with integrated GPS is included for data collection. A five-inch TFT display, with integrated data recording, provides information to the rider.

Canadian MSRP for the 2022 RC 8C is $43,999. The RC 8C is currently available for pre-order at www.ktm.com/en-ca/rc-8c.html The racetrack-ready 2022 KTM RC 8C.

In addition to owning one of 100 units produced, 25 customers will have PHOTO COURTESY OF KTM CANADA the opportunity to attend a private RC 8C racetrack experience at Circuito de Jerez with KTM Factory Racing’s Mika Kallio and Dani Pedrosa in October 2021. Purchasers of this event option will also receive the KTM RC 8C Racetrack Package which includes an extra set of Dymag wheels, an extra set of front and rear brake discs, paddock stands, tire warmers and a KTM race carpet. IM

Triumph Heads Off-Road

Triumph Motorcycles has announced their intention to tackle the world of off-road racing with the planned introduction of new competition-ready MX and enduro lineups and a commitment to expanding the Triumph factory race program to include these disciplines. This latest endeavour includes the introduction of two new members of the Triumph team with motocross legend Ricky Carmichael and former EnduroGP and International Six Day Enduro champion Ivan Cervantes.

Nick Bloor, CEO Triumph Motorcycles Ltd., said “This marks the beginning of a new chapter for Triumph. We are 100 percent committed to making a long-lasting impact in this highly competitive and demanding world, with a single-minded ambition to deliver a winning motorcycle lineup for a whole new generation of Triumph riders.”

Timetable of the launch of these new lineups will be announced in the coming months. Stay tuned to www.triumph-motorcycles.ca for further details. IM

Motocross legend Ricky Carmichael is part of the team that will take Triumph off-road.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES

Racing vs. Winning

Isn’t the saying “Win on Sunday – sell on Monday”? You got it wrong on page 12 KTM 2022 off-road article, you said “race on Sunday – sell on Monday.” Does that imply it’s junk and you didn’t win? I’m joking I love KTMs.

Erwin Jands

Peachland, BC

Hi Erwin, thanks for your email. After reading it I was curious and looked into both the saying and its origin. You are 100 percent correct; that saying is reported to originally be coined in the 1960s by Bob Tasca Sr. of Tasca Ford in Providence, Rhode Island as “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.” The good news is that the way KTM has been performing this year, racing on Sunday is usually winning in Sunday as well. – Ed. IM

Who’s at Fault vs. Who’s Responsible

By Michel Mersereau / Rider Training Institute

Becoming a motorcyclist is a cultural process. Regardless of the sub-group you identify with, the mystique and rebellious quality surrounding the lifestyle can complicate our attitude on the street; this can quickly turn into a double-edged sword if we’re not careful. Part of the problem is that it’s difficult for riders to adopt an objective state of mind regarding their road sharing responsibilities. This doesn’t exempt drivers in any way, but many riders have trouble accepting that their increased vulnerability means accepting higher-than-average responsibility for their safety. Below is a real-world scenario to help illustrate what I’m talking about. Who’s at fault and, more to the point, who’s responsible? Beyond anything else, this scenario demonstrates that fault and responsibility are not so easily painted with the same brush. Surely Here, a left turning motorcyclist makes immediate eye contact fault lies with the negligent with the operator of a streetcar, having just stopped to disemdriver, but who is ultimatebark passengers. The operator waives the rider through to com- ly responsible? Despite the plete a turn ahead of the waiting streetcar. Despite an impaired best intentions of the transit line of sight, the motorcyclist proceeds on the operator’s invita- operator, the motorcyclist tion. Unbeknownst to the rider and the transit driver, a vehicle proceeded into a blind manhas illegally proceeded past the open doors of the streetcar. oeuvre assuming the coast was clear. Considering how tragic the outcome could have been for the rider, how little comfort would be found in knowing “It was the other guy’s fault.” Once the debris has been cleared, the insurance settlements brokered and the legal consequences doled out… riders involved in single or multi vehicle incidents are left to cope with the trauma of the experience years after the fact.

The best approach to managing ourselves on the roads is to fine-tune our attitudes towards a more holistic worldview of road sharing with a view to minimizing risk. More often than not this means checking our egos and any sense of entitlement at the door before heading out. It also means looking at your ridership as a whole package, one that’s shaped by every choice you make. Are you an aggressive driver? If so, maybe you should leave the bike at home for the morning commute. If every bit of your bike is sporting the latest “dark matte” colour scheme, are you at least wearing some hi-vis gear? Do you tend to find yourself caught unaware in vehicle blind spots on the highway? Is your riding style aggressive, hesitant or assured?

Most drivers would readily acknowledge that, as road users, motorcyclists are indeed a vulnerable bunch. Unfortunately, that goodwill can only extend so far because the majority of drivers will never appreciate what it feels like to experience that vulnerability day after day. Because of that it’s up to us to balance our expectations as general users of the road while accepting more responsibility for ourselves when we choose to ride a motorcycle. IM

A look through the August/September 2011 issue of Inside Motorcycles offers some insight into the movement of motorcycle prices over the last decade. Start with the 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 that graced the cover ten years ago and at the time carried a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $13,699. Ten years later, the 2021 Ninja 1000SX that graced the cover of the recent June/July issue of Inside Motorcycles carries an MSRP of $14,999, roughly 9.5 percent higher or approximately a one percent per year increase. Conversely the 2011 Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide that was reviewed in the August/September 2011 issue had a $35,949 MSRP compared to a $49,995 for the 2021 model, a 39 percent increase; four times the percentage increase on the Kawasaki.

A lot of ink in the August/September 2011 issue was dedicated to CSBK competition and BMW’s Brett McCormick who was well on his way to claiming the CBSK Pro Superbike championship with his fifth consecutive win coming at Atlantic Motorsport Park on August 7 of that year. While most of the names noted in the CSBK coverage ten years ago, including McCormick, are no longer actively competing, the name that stands out is Jordan Szoke who is currently chasing his 15th Pro Superbike title in the 2021 season.

The same issue saw IM travel writer Bruce Thomas recount his travels through BC as part of the 2010 WeSTOC event, attended by Honda ST owners from throughout western North America. Thomas, who would go on to organize and host the 2019 WeSTOC rally in Calgary, AB remains at his post with IM, having travelled and written about more miles in the last ten years than most people can dream of. IM