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issue 02
MARCH 2019
Sprockets
Riding May Make You More Focused and Reduce Stress Motorcyclists Are Calmer and More Focused, UCLA Study Says Put down that cup of coffee and rev your engine because riding a motorbike can make you a calmer and more focused person, according to a new study. The study conducted at UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and backed by Harley-Davidson tested the brain activity and hormone levels of 42 experienced riders while they took their bikes on a 22-minute ride under normal road conditions. The researchers took saliva and urine samples before, during, and after riding as well as after the participants drove a car (a Lexus NX200) and rested. When all was said and done, it turned out nothing compares to the feeling of leaning into a curve on two wheels. While riding their bikes, participants reported that they experienced a jolt of alertness similar to drinking a cup of joe, as well as a sense of focus similar to the results of meditating. Riding also increased the riders’ heart rates by 11% and adrenaline levels by 27%, similar to a light workout. Furthermore, motorcycling decreased their cortisol levels by 28%, known as “the stress hormone” that lead to health issues when elevated. Meanwhile, driving led to an increased heart rate of just 7% and had little impact on adrenaline and cortisol levels. Don Vaughn, the neuroscientist who led the research team, said the results are clear: motorcycling is a great way to fight off stress. “The differences in participants’ neurological and physiological responses between riding and other measured activities were quite pronounced,”Vaughn said. “This could be significant for mitigating everyday stresses.” Vaughn’s colleague Mark Cohen added that the research is significant since it was done with real riders on the open road as opposed a lab. “While scientists have long studied the relationship of brain and hormone responses to attention and stress, doing so in real-life conditions such as these is rare,” Cohen said. “No lab experiment can duplicate the feelings that a motorcyclist would have on the open road.” Harley Davidson spokesperson Heather Malenshek chimed in with her company’s take – “The research findings Dr. Vaughn and his team explain what our riders have felt for the past 116 years – there’s a vitality and heightened sensory experience that comes from the freedom of riding a motorcycle,” Malenshek said. “We hope their findings inspire the next generation of riders to experience these benefits along with us.”
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2019 Indian Roadmaster Elite For the vast majority of the moto-buying public, a flagship model represents an aspirational thing: an exquisitely crafted, highly accessorized, and sumptuously styled machine that’s made to drool over and maybe get us all to think, “some day.” For manufacturers, they’re a rolling showcase for new technologies and materials, maybe a chance for a cosmetic tweak, and a way of keeping fans excited and perhaps grabbing a quick glance from the general public. When Indian first resurrected the Roadmaster name back in 2015, that was the plan. The new flagship brought all the requisite bells and whistles and sat atop Indian’s touring stable, just like its namesake from the late ’40s. For 2019, Indian is staying in the luxury touring game with the latest tweak
on its flagship, the ultra-premium 2019 Roadmaster Elite. If you want your modern touring amenities to come dressed in iconic Indian Motorcycle styling with a side of exclusive features and the latest tech from Indian, the Elite is your only option. Part of that is because not everyone can have one; there will be only 200 limited-edition Roadmaster Elites available. Although it rides on the same 65.7inch wheelbase as the Roadmaster and is propelled by the same ripping Thunder Stroke 111 engine set between two 16-inch wheels clamped by triple disc brakes and ABS, the Elite steps it up several notches in several key categories. Chief among those is an upgraded 600-watt PowerBand Audio Plus system. With that much power, you’ll probably
be out-rocking the Lincoln Navigator the next lane over; Indian says the fairing, trunk, and saddlebag speakers are all 50 percent louder than the stock system on the 2019 Roadmaster. The Elite also ups the ante with a dynamic equalizer that auto-adjusts frequencies for the best level depending on speed as well as road, wind, and engine noise. As with Indian’s Roadmaster and Chieftain models, you’ll also get the 7-inch Ride Command infotainment system with navigation, customizable info screens, and Bluetooth compatibility. The Elite has three selectable ride modes as well, so riders can toggle between Tour, Standard, and Sport modes to fit their riding preferences. Rear Cylinder Deactivation makes the scene on all the Thunder continued on PG. 03
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