New Brand Of Motorcycle: April 2009

KTM Recalls 2009 690 Duke and 690 SMC for Fork Cracks

KTM is recalling certain 2009 690 Duke and 690 SMC motorcycles.

During use, the front forks could develop cracks; this could result in the possibility of the front fork inner tube separating from the axle clamp. The cause of the defect involves improper heat treatment of the front fork inner tubes by the manufacturer.

237 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Jonway Recalls 2008 Sunny Scooters for Brake Line Retainer Defect

Jonway is recalling certain 2008 Sunny motorcycles.

The scooters were intended to be built with rubber hydraulic brake line that is routed through a retainer to prevent front tire contact. However, in some cases, the retainer may not have been installed during scooter assembly. If the retainer is missing, the front tire may rub through the brake line.

180 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Jonway Recalls 2008 YY150T-12 and YY50QT-21A Scooters for Fuel Filter Leakage

Jonway is recalling certain 2008 YY150T-12 and YY50QT-21A scooters.

The scooters were built with 2 piece, inline, fuel filters that may begin leaking where the two pieces join.

5000 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Gravel Roads-High-tech Motorcycle.

Once in a while you will have the fortune, or misfortune, depending on how you look at it to travel down a gravel road with your motorcycle.
Gravel and street motorcycles are not that compatible but with a little common sense they can be navigated with ease.
Sometimes the only access to your destination is by gravel roads and you will not want to bypass it just because of a little gravel.
The best way to stay upright on a gravel road is to slow down take an ultra light grasp of the bars and let the front end of the motorcycle do its thing.
The loose stones on the road will jerk the front tire around and the worst thing you want to do is jerk back or try to man handle the steering. Usually you can follow in the tire tracks of the cars where the loose stones have been pushed to the side and all that is left is the packed base. It is when the tire tracks cross where you will ride over loose stones and your front tire will skip from side to side and this is where the loose hands on the steering comes in, let the front tire jump around a bit and it will correct itself.
Gravel road graders usually grade the road by bring the gravel, kicked off to the side, back to the middle of the road to form a crown. So riding close to the ditch will keep you out of the really loose stuff and some times all that is left on the sides is hard pack.
At any rate if you are out riding around with no destination try a little patch of gravel riding to practise just in case you find out that you have to challenge a gravel road some day.

Kawasaki Recalls 2008-2009 KLE650 for Saddlebag Problem

Kawasaki is recalling certain aftermarket accessory saddle bags sold for use exclusively for 2008 and 2009 Kawasaki KLE650 (Versys) motorcycles.

Installation of the accessory saddlebags covers up the rear side reflex reflectors which fails to conform to the lighting requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

546 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Jose

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Jose A. Miranda with his 2005 Honda Shadow Aero VT750. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.