New Harley Davidson Motorcycle Bike VR1000 in Tradeshow 2009 (Video)

New Harley Davidson Motorcycle Bike VR1000 in Tradeshow 2009

This is definitely not your average Harley-Davidson, or even one that shares any parts with the usual Milwaukee iron. The VR1000 is a V-twin, it's made in America, but there the resemblance ends. This half orange, half black apparition is built solely for the racetrack: Any resemblance with any other form of Harley-Davidson motorcycles begins and ends with the name on the fairing.

Made in America was the theme for the Harley factory's first built-from-scratch roadracer, the VR1000. Harley's road-racing department put the bike together using a list of American parts suppliers, some with no motorcycle experience, using no existing Harley motorcycle parts.

Safety and certification of ECE 22.05 Testing

Safety and certification of ECE 22.05 Testing

It is recommended to replace the helmet at least every 5 years or if it was involved in a crash or after a violent impact. Even if the helmet doesn't seem to have suffered, the energy absorbed during an impact has undoubtedly transformed the EPS form (expanded polystyrene inner liner) making it useless. High quality motorcycle helmets have to comply with approved international standards defining the minimum safety levels. For use throughout Europe helmets need to meet the regulation ECE 22.05. Lazer helmets meet this standard, and mostly our own quality and safety criteria go beyond it. Lazer helmets also satisfy other international standards.

Each year thousands of helmets are tested and destroyed by certified labs (10 helmets for every 3200 manufactured) in order to guarantee Lazer helmets are safe, comfortable and of high quality.

Lazer sends an arbitrary set of helmets from the production chain to the certification body. During 24 hours these helmets are subjected to extreme conditions, some of them are placed in a fridge at – 20°, some in an oven at 50° and others are exposed to spraying for several tens of minutes with water, creating different simulation environments for helmets.

Subsequently, a series of tests is carried out in these 3 conditions (cold, heat and humidity).

ECE 22.05 certification tests

Shock absorption test

The helmet is placed on a dummy head. It is then dropped from a height of 3 meters and falls onto an anvil. Three-dimensional sensors inside the dummy head measure the acceleration transmitted to the head. 4 points on the helmet are tested one after another. The standard defines a value threshold which is not to be exceeded by the helmet.

Retention system test

A 10 kg weight attached to the helmet strap falls from3/4 meter height in order to test the retention system's resistance. The temporary elongation is measured during this dynamic test followed by the permanent elongation afterwards. Both elongations have to remain within the limits defined by the standard.

Roll-off test

A 10 kg weight attached to the front or back of the helmet is dropped from a defined height in order to measure its tendency to come off the head, either front to back or back to front.

Slipping test
The helmet is firmly pressed down against a plate representing the ground with a 2 cm edge. It is then horizontally launched at great speed against this edge in order to verify if no protruding ridge gets caught on it.

Visors test

A projectile is launched at high speed against the visor which shouldn't break. Then sand is projected under high pressure to verify the helmet's scratch resistance. For optimal vision under all circumstances, the visor's optical quality is scrupulously measured in laboratories.

New Issue of Masei Tiger Tora 820 Motorcycle Helmet 瑪星兒虎年頭盔

Top Secret - Carbon Fiber Helmet Production Details

Carbon fiber helmets are being seen more and more on the road as carbon fiber motorcycle helmets and carbon fiber bike helmets. The appeal is, of course, the light weight and strength of the material.

Especially for road bikers and cyclists, weight is a huge concern. So, the more carbon fiber on a bike or setup; the better. That means that if a carbon fiber helmet is within the budget, it's a must have item.

Helmets, made out of an advanced Carbon Fiber Composite Weave, are extremely lightweight and durable. It can weigh around 2.0-2.5 pounds and 1/2 pound less than your usual helmet. Each carbon helmet comes with accessories for the specific weather, and will cost you US$200 each on the market.

Well, the carbon fiber helmets are difficult to manufacture and requires a high investment. Why it costs so much? Each day, one mold and one machine can only produce 20-25 units, which means each month one machine can only output around 700 carbon helmets.

I have seen some so-called carbon helmets sold online for US$20-40! God! They are fake! only put carbon pattern over ABS plastics.

I inspected one of helmet production lines in Taiwan last week and taped this rarest and the most precious moment for motorcycle fans.

Air-Brushing Helmet in Mass Production manually...

Rare video!!! I took it last year in one of the obsolete Chongqing Helmet suppliers... Old-Fashioned way to air brush the helmet. Well, nowadays, big brands all use automation system to air-brush. Very hard to see this air-brush video in reality.

Rare!! Helmet Mountain for recycling!!

SUZUKI GSR400/GSR400 in Tokyo Motorcycle Bike Show 2009

check out this Masei Chrome Helmet !!

Funny & Weird Masei Helmet Fashion Pattern.

Funny & Weird Masei Helmet Fashion Pattern, but I love it.
See their coming releases on Feb 2010. I am still working on them now.

Honda Valkyrie in Motorshow 2009

Honda Valkyrie in Hong Kong Bike Show

The Honda Valkyrie is a motorcycle that was manufactured by Honda, from model years 1997–2003. It was designated GL1500C in the US market and F6C in other markets.

The Valkyrie engine is a 1520 cc horizontally-opposed six cylinder liquid cooled boxer engine transplanted from Honda's Goldwing model. This was unusual since most "cruiser" style motorcycles were based on a V-twin engine design similar to the engine of a Harley-Davidson. In its transplant from the Goldwing, the most notable engine changes were the camshaft and the change to six individual 28 mm carburetors, one for each cylinder. These changes were made to increase power and torque. These changes also gave the engine a little more character by giving it a unique sound.

The Valkyrie was offered with a reverse gear in Japan. The Valkyrie was made in the U.S.A. at the Honda motorcycle plant in Marysville, Ohio.

EICMA Milan Motorcycle Show 2009 Video by Luu

EICMA Milan Motorcycle Show 2009 Video by Luu

Let's begin with the across the hall fun at the EICMA International Bicycle and Motorcycle Exhibition which took place this past weekend. Although the organizers have proclaimed the bicycle show a success, with 45,000 visitors, many of the same visitors have noted that the bicycle portion continues to shrink and is now housed in only one pavilion. Not even all the most significant manufacturers attend anymore.

BMW DELTABOX R1200 EICMA MOTORCYCLE 2009 Video

There are some BMW R1200GS riders who never venture offroad but who take full benefit of its excellent touring abilities. Those riders may be tempted by BMW's dedicated tourer, the R1200RT.

• lighter (wet: 25kg, 11%) (1)
• better power:weight ratio (wet: 2.5%) (1)
• more chuckable so more fun!
• wider handlebars make steering easier
• better ground clearance
• offroad ability
• cheaper

Free Helmet Shock Absorption Test for you & your helmet

We have a Helmet Shock Absorption Testing Machine located in China for designing helmet and cost us around US$100,000 from Taiwan. Please see the video for this Shock Absorption Test. When manufacturing a batch or a certain amount of helmets, we need randomly to take one helmet for testing and give data details together with the shipment.

We are willing to test your helmet and give you data for free. If interested, email me about this.

Sorry... I am quite Busy this month

Sorry... I am quite Busy this month for trips around tradeshows and also a hot retailing season of this year. After few weeks, I will gather and organize those milan motorshow details & udpates in December.

The Hottest Item in Milan Motorshow - Ducati Streetfighter 1098

The hot news from Ducati at the Milan Show was the unveiling of its Streetfighter, a conceptually innovative hot-rod that mixes a strong dose of 1098 Superbike power with a monster style and stance.

The Ducati Streetfighter is intended to set the benchmark for a new generation. The engine is a specifically tuned version of the 1098, delivering a claimed 155 horsepower and 85 foot-pounds of torque at, oddly enough, the same 9500 rpm. Claimed dry weight is 374 pounds for the standard model.

The chassis uses the same 34mm-gauge steel-tube frame of the 1098, but the rest is new. Marking a meaningful evolution in Ducati's chassis philosophy, wheelbase was stretched more than 1.5 inches to span 58 inches. The extra length came mostly from the longer single-sided swingarm, while the rest was derived from steering angle, kicked out to 25.7 degrees from the 24.5 degrees of the 1098, to produce a 4.5-inch trail.

The 1198 is also new for 2009. The 1098 replacement shares its 106mm bore and 67.9mm stroke with the 1098R, now known as the 1098R Troy Bayliss Edition (limited to 500 examples worldwide). The 1198 sports 43.5mm intake and 35.3mm exhaust valves, throttle bodies that retain the previous model's elliptical configuration, now enlarged to a corresponding 63.9mm circular diameter, and a 12.7:1 compression ratio.

Masei Helmet show-off in Motorcycle Show

Masei 803 Flip-Up Chrome Helmet with fancy skull graphics comes with a wired but cool motorcycle bike in Motorcycle Tradeshow Just Today! During this weeks, motor cycle tradeshows are going-on in Italy and Hong Kong at the same time. My staff in will get updated soon in Milan Italy soon.

A handsome model posted with that Masei Helmet in the show.

Eicma Milan - Motorcycle Show 2009 Nov

The Milan Show starts from this Tuesday, 10 November 2009 to Sunday, 15 November 2009
There are three best motorshows in the world. They are Indianapolis, Canton, and Eicma.

With its 30,000 square meters of expos and over 1,500 companies displaying products, the International Motorcycle Show in Milan is undoubtedly the biggest motocross exposition in the world. All brands such as Ducati, Honda, Harley Davidson, Givi, Nolan, ... , Arai, Shoei, HJC, ... and many Chinese OEM makers (one of my friend's) joining this show. I really wanted to visit there, but i am tired of flying. Also, just came back from Canton motorshow. Not fun to walk 8 hours per day and 5 days straight, because there are over 1000 outlets!

Anyway, Arai shows off their carbon helmet in the show. My partners went to their stand and took the pictures. I will get you more updates next week with more pictures.

HELMET PRODUCTION in Zhejiang China

I inspected few factories in China last week and took few shots...

What is Modular or "Flip-up" Helmets ?

A hybrid between full face and open face helmets for street use is the modular or "flip-up" helmet, also sometimes termed "convertible" or "flip-face". The word of "flip-up" is widely used, but sounds more like an American slang.

When fully assembled and closed, they resemble full face helmets by bearing a chin bar for absorbing face impacts. Its chin bar may be pivoted upwards (or, in some cases, may be removed) by a special lever to allow access to most of the face, as in an open face helmet. The rider may thus eat or drink without unfastening the chinstrap and removing the helmet.

As of 2008 there have not been significant scientific studies of modular helmets to assess how protective the pivotable or removable chin bars are. Honestly, full-face helmets are better than them in protection. An accident happened last year in Hong Kong that proven one of the "flip-up" weaknesses. When a lady had a ride with a Taiwanese Lubro "flip-up" helmet on the street, a car behind hit and striked her bike. She was pushed hard toward and her head hit on the ground. So, you know what happened? that flip-up chin part was crashed and her face was smashed and... She was alive, but that was once a beautiful lady losing her whole face. This also suggested that full face helmets was the best helmet type in all motorcycle accidents.

Truth about Carbon Helmets

Carbon Fiber Helmets are gaining popular this year in magazines, news, and even online. Some brands such as HJC and Akuma have been adveristing intensively on magazines with their special features such as coloring. Their prices are at least US$250 in store. They are unique and expensive, because not so many oem makers can produce carbon fiber helmets so far. I know only few can do it and asking for high price. But, to be honest to you, this technology is not a big deal at all.

Since 1994, carbon composites have become known for supplying a quality product. With its roots in the aerospace and automotive composites industries, many helmet makers have started designing helmets with carbon materials. Beware of "Carbon Fiber" helmets made in China. I saw some listings online selling carbon helmets for only US$30 with painted carbon patterns on appearance only. Absolutely 100% fake! The production cost of a full face helmet must go over US$100 per one unit.

I went to one of the oem makers this week and discussed with helmet engineers & technicians about carbon helmets. It costs much more to build one carbon helmet! Almost 3 times of fiber glass and only few oem makers can manufacture with raw carbon materials. I will soon examine the details of their production and testing next month and still working on building my first carbon helmet sample with color features that costed me few hundred bucks already

There are only one reason why a rider wants to buy a carbon helmet. It is very light in weight. The strength of carbon helmet is almost the same as that of fiberglass, but the weight of it is half or 3/4 of fiberglass helmet. This is more like a fashion for me so far. Soon in next few years, many brands can easily make carbon full-face or flip-up helmets.

Anyway, I am invited to attent the Feb 2010 motorbike tradeshow in Indianapolis and I will see you guys there!

Interesting Fact About Motorcycle & Helmet concerning accidents and crashes

• All the studies on this subject from U.S. and other places in the world show that riders who wear helmets crash less frequently and suffer fewer injuries and deaths if they do crash. They are less likely to suffer long-term or permanent disablement caused by head or neck injuries.
• A helmet that meets the D.O.T. standard (or Snell, even better),even a cheap motorcycle helmet, offers serious levels of protection if you crash.
• By cutting down on wind noise, helmets can actually help you hear other sounds better(not worse as some people believe). By reducing fatigue from the wind, they keep you more alert. By protecting your eyes from the wind, they allow you to see better.
• A full-face helmet can keep you from being distracted when a large insect hits your face.
• If you choose a bright-colored visible one, you will be more conspicuous in traffic, making it easier for other motorists to see and avoid you.
• Another important point to remember is that most motorcycle accidents happen on short journeys, so even if you are just going down the road for some milk, put on your helmet. Don't become a statistic!

The Best Helmet Graphics of 2009 - ICON PREDATOR

I have examined most of the famous brand helmets this year. Considering the helmet graphics itself only, I personally award "Icon Predator" for 2009. Most motorcycle dealers know that Icon helmets have been a leader in helmet graphics with frenzy cartoons, monsters, and creatures. I can imagine icon spends much of their energies and investment on their graphic designs! A Good Job!!

This predator helmet is the latest release of Icon Airframe Helmet, which is the best for most black-colored bikes. Well, as to my bike experience, black, matte black, gray, white, and silver-colored helmets are easier to sell on the markets. yellow, pink, and green ones are hardest to sell, because motorcycle bikes are hardly those colors. Anyway, it is my favorite helmet design of 2009, but the retailing price is not cheap. I know that ICON helmets are manufactured in Ningbo, China with own stuff and production lines.

FEATURES:

• All world standard, meets or exceeds the following: DOT FMVSS 218(US), ECE 22-05(EUROPE), SAI AS1698(AUSTRALIA) & SG(JAPAN), safety and testing standard.
• Fiberglass
• Wind tunnel tested and refined
• Imported

Current US Motorcycle Helmet & Bicycle Laws for Each State

State	Universal law (covers all riders)	Partial law (covers young riders or some adult riders)	Bicyclists covered by state law
Alabama	yes	no	15 and younger
Alaska	no	17 and younger	no law
Arizona	no	17 and younger	no law
Arkansas	no	20 and younger	no law
California	yes	no	17 and younger
Colorado	no	17 and younger and their passengers 17 and younger	no law
Connecticut	no	17 and younger	15 and younger
Delaware	no	18 and younger	17 and younger
District of Columbia	yes	no	15 and younger
Florida	no	20 and younger	15 and younger
Georgia	yes	no	15 and younger
Hawaii	no	17 and younger	15 and younger
Idaho	no	17 and younger	no law
Illinois	no law	no law	no law
Indiana	no	17 and younger	no law
Iowa	no law	no law	no law
Kansas	no	17 and younger	no law
Kentucky	no	20 and younger	no law
Louisiana	yes	no	11 and younger
Maine	no	17 and younger	15 and younger
Maryland	yes	no	15 and younger
Massachusetts	yes	no	1 through 16 (riding with children younger than 1 prohibited)
Michigan	yes	no	no law
Minnesota	no	17 and younger	no law
Mississippi	yes	no	no law
Missouri	yes	no	no law
Montana	no	17 and younger	no law
Nebraska	yes	no	no law
Nevada	yes	no	no law
New Hampshire	no law	no law	15 and younger
New Jersey	yes	no	16 and younger
New Mexico	no	17 and younger	17 and younger
New York	yes	no	1 through 13 (riding with children younger than 1 prohibited)
North Carolina	yes	no	15 and younger
North Dakota	no	17 and younger	no law
Ohio	no	17 and younger	no law
Oklahoma	no	17 and younger	no law
Oregon	yes	no	15 and younger
Pennsylvania	no	20 and younger	11 and younger
Rhode Island	no	20 and younger	15 and younger
South Carolina	no	20 and younger	no law
South Dakota	no	17 and younger	no law
Tennessee	yes	no	15 and younger
Texas	no	20 and younger	no law
Utah	no	17 and younger	no law
Vermont	yes	no	no law
Virginia	yes	no	no law
Washington	yes	no	no law
West Virginia	yes	no	14 and younger
Wisconsin	no	17 and younger	no law
Wyoming	no	17 and younger	no law

^~ Alaska's motorcycle helmet use law covers passengers of all ages, operators younger than 18, and operators with instructional permits.

^~ In Florida, the law requires that all riders younger than 21 years wear helmets, without exception. Those 21 years and older may ride without helmets only if they can show proof that they are covered by a medical insurance policy.

^~ In Kentucky, the law requires that all riders younger than 21 years wear helmets, without exception. Those 21 years and older may ride without helmets only if they can show proof that they are covered by a medical insurance policy. Motorcycle helmet laws in Kentucky also cover operators with instructional/learner's permits.

^~ Motorcycle helmet laws in Maine cover operators with instructional/learner's permits. Maine's motorcycle helmet use law also covers passengers 17 years and younger and passengers if their operators are required to wear a helmet.

^~ Motorcycle helmet laws in Minnesota cover operators with instructional/learner's permits.

^~ North Dakota's motorcycle helmet use law covers all passengers traveling with operators who are covered by the law.

^~ Ohio's motorcycle helmet use law covers all operators during the first year of licensure and all passengers of operators who are covered by the law.

^~ Pennsylvania's motorcycle helmet use law covers all operators during the first two years of licensure unless the operator has completed the safety course approved by PennDOT or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

^~ Rhode Island's motorcycle helmet use law covers all passengers (regardless of age) and all operators during the first year of licensure (regardless of age).

^~ Texas exempts riders 21 years or older if they can either show proof of successfully completing a motorcycle operator training and safety course or can show proof of having a medical insurance policy. A peace officer may not stop or detain a person who is the operator of or a passenger on a motorcycle for the sole purpose of determining whether the person has successfully completed the motorcycle operator training and safety course or is covered by a health insurance plan.

^~ Motorcycle helmet laws in Wisconsin cover operators with instructional/learner's permits.