End of Season Motorcycle Recalls

photo by janjochemo

BMW, Triumph and Ducati have issued recalls for a number of their newer motorcycles. For BWM, the G650X Challenge, Moto and Country models are affected. For Triumph, it's the Rocket III, Rocket III Classic and Rocket III Classic Touring models. Rounding out the group, the Hypermotard 1100 is Ducati's sole contribution. As usual, no Japanese bikes, and surprisingly, no American bikes, were mentioned.

Ottawa Citizen article

The Great Race 2008 Spans Canada

photo courtesy GreatRace.com

The Great Race 2008, a centennial re-enactment of the 1908 Greatest Auto Race from New York to Paris, will include 12 Canadian cities between Ottawa and Vancouver over two weeks. The event will span 65 days total, cover almost 35,000 kms and include a range of cars in the field of 30 from the classics of days gone by to modern hybrids. The sole motorcycle entry, so far, is a 2007 Buell Ulysses running on E85.

Canada.com article

Trail Bikes Modified for Street Use Prohibited

photo by hawker665

The modification of offroad motorcycles for on-road use has been prohibited by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Mods would normally include lights, mirrors, tires and such. The Ontario Federation of Trail Riders is, understandably, miffed by this targeted decision that prevents an offroad rider from travelling from one trail to another via a provincial road.

OFTR Information

Loud Pipes Impede Lives

photo by Dominic's pics

Vancouver Councilor Lorne Mayencourt has introduced a private member's bill called the Motorcycle Noise Control Act in an effort to restrict the volume to 85 decibels in a 60 km/h zone or less. Following on his predecessor's work on restricting noisy leaf blowers, Mayencourt aims to reduce the disturbance in urban areas where people are concentrated.

Ottawa Citizen article

Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame Inductees

photo by Scott Jones

A whole slew of people will be inducted into the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame on October 27th, 2007 in Toronto, Ontario, including Yvon Duhamel, father of champion roadracer Miguel who will also be in attendance. Other inductees include Bernie Nicholson, Helmut Clasen, Bob Williams and Michelle Duff who was interviewed (right click and "save as") on CBC Radio's Sounds Like Canada.

Driving.ca article
RoadRacingWorld.com article

Oldtimers Army Stunters Reunite

photo by fortinbras

The Canadian Armed Forces Motorcycle Display Team from the 1960's met for a reunion at CFB Kingston to reminisce about their glory days, never to be relived again. The men, now some 40 years older, were the 2-wheeled equivalent of the airborn Snowbirds today, entertaining crowds en mass with death-defying showmanship.

Kingston Whig Standard article

Father and Son Complete Epic Journey

photo by some San Francisco bystander

Roland and Ernest Giles of Labrador City, NFLD, traveled to the four corners of North America on a grand tour aboard twin BMW R1200GS Adventure bikes. Although their daily average was low, racking up 31,000 kms in 71 days, it was no small feat just for the length of time involved.

The Packet article

What Goes Around, Comes Around

photo by Lottery Monkey

The Old School Motorcycle Company, located in Vancouver, BC, has launched a new website and a new bike. You've got to hand it to them - while most other bike manufacturers are undergoing R&D on cutting edge technology and designs, they've build a brand new bike based on pre-WWII antiquity.

Auto Channel article

NB High Speed Chases Need To Slow Down

photo by freefotouk

A coroner's inquest has suggested that high speed chases by police in New Brunswick need to be slowed down following the death of a motorcyclist. The rider hasn't been linked to the chase definitively, but the chase exceeded 200 kph at times and there are discrepancies as to the colour of the bike. The local police also couldn't adequately communicate with the RCMP because they each operate on different radio frequencies. As such, it was also recommended that the airwaves be standardized.

CBC Article

Links to Provincial Motorcycle Licensing Bureaus in Canada

Transport Canada

The Canada Safety Council's Motorcycle Training Program

British Columbia

Alberta

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

Ontario

Québec

New Brunswick

Nova Scotia

Prince Edward Island

Newfoundland

Yukon Territory

Northwest Territories

Nunavut

The MSF's Motorcycle Operator Manual (pdf)

Can-Am Spyder Rolls Forward

On September 14, the first Can-Am Spyder for the 2008 model year was produced in Valcourt, Quebec. And it's set for Jay Leno's personal collection. The Canadian "bike" made by Bombardier sports 2 wheels up front and one in the rear. When it first arrived in the press it garnered much attention, but that's waned somewhat since then. Now that the actual production bikes are ready to be picked up by the long list of eager buyers, it will be interesting to see if that hoopla was justified. As the Baby Boomer generation of motorcyclists age, the Spyder is one of a number of rides that will fit the bill for people who won't be as strong or sure-footed as they once might have been. The inherent stability coupled with good power and handling should aid the Spyder in it's domination over the sidecar and trike markets.

Motorcycle USA article

The Cavalry Donates A Monument To Soldiers

Photo by Macspite

A monument for Canadian soldiers serving in Afghanistan was given to the town of Hanna, Alberta by the 3rd CAV Motorcycle Unit Western Formation and has finally been mounted in place at a ceremony attended by the mayor, veterans, family and the RCMP. The donating unit is comprised of past and present Canadian Armed Forces members who ride motorcycles.

CAV Website