News and notes from the auto industry

A new Outlander, Nissan honoured for safety features, Kia offers a new ‘life utility vehicle,’ Ford‘s new Bronco goes modular

News and notes from the auto industryWith spring just around the corner, automotive updates, news releases and new vehicle launches are coming thick and fast. Here are a few that have come my way: Mitsubishi has just released its 2022 Outlander. Here’s how the manufacturer describes it: “Based on the product concept ‘I-Fu-Do-Do,’ which means authentic and majestic in Japanese, the…

Indian Motorcycle reborn, again

Polaris now has control of the classic name and is manufacturing a seven-model lineup. There are dealers across Canada

Indian Motorcycle reborn, againNo other motorcycle name has had as storied and controversial a history as Indian. After a dizzying number of bankruptcies, owner changes and legal wrangling, Indian Motorcycle has been re-established. This time it’s under the umbrella of Polaris Inc., which purchased the company in 2011. Polaris manufactured the now-discontinued Victory line of motorcycles, and still…

Toyota turns heads – and tight corners – with i-Road

Part motorcycle and part automobile, the three-wheeled vehicle is innovative and provocative. But will it ever be allowed in Canada?

Toyota turns heads – and tight corners – with i-RoadThere’s no shortage of alternate forms of personal transportation these days. Manufacturers from every corner of the industrial sector are on a never-ending quest to come up with a workable alternative to the automobile as we know it. They come in all shapes and sizes, from battery-powered skateboards, to hover boards, to the remarkable but…

Harley-Davidson moving with the times

Changes are definitely in the wind, starting with the all-electric LiveWire sport bike. Shifting rider demographics are at the heart of the changes

Harley-Davidson moving with the timesWhen we think of Harley-Davidson, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? That unmistakable rumble that drives some people to distraction but is music to the ears of hard-core enthusiasts. It’s the company’s trademark and biggest source of controversy. It’s funny then that the all-electric Harley LiveWire is front and centre on the company’s…

Want your motorcycle ready to go in the spring?

Here are the essential steps you need to take now to ensure that your bike is in top shape after the snow melts

Want your motorcycle ready to go in the spring?The sun is shining and the weather has never been lovelier (in my part of the country). Nonetheless, it’s time to start thinking about storing your bike for the winter. And by that I don’t mean putting it up on the kick stand, stashing it in a corner of the garage and just forgetting about…

Still riding, but with more caution all the time

Motorcycle riders in Canada are at least 15 times more likely to be involved in a crash than automobile drivers

Still riding, but with more caution all the timeIn my home province – B.C. – the attorney general recently announced that July of this year was one of the worst on record for motorcycle fatalities: 18 deaths in one month, the highest number in decades. To put this into some kind of perspective, in 2017 there were 30 motorcycle deaths in total for…

Harley-Davidson announces massive product, retail overhaul

As its traditional customer base ages, Harley is shifting its focus to providing electric motorcycles and small-displacement and lighter machines

Harley-Davidson announces massive product, retail overhaulVenerable U.S. motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson today unveiled what it is calling the most ambitious product and customer service overall in the company’s history. As its traditional customer base of boomers age and hang up their riding boots, Harley is dramatically shifting its focus by providing electric motorcycles, small-displacement and lighter machines and announcing plans to…

Born to be mild: Bikers gather in Port Dover, Ont.

Nearly 200,000 people are expected to descend upon Port Dover to celebrate the biker lifestyle and the machines they ride

Born to be mild: Bikers gather in Port Dover, Ont.On Friday the 13th, the Lake Erie town of Port Dover, Ont., (population 6,100) will welcome an estimated 200,000 motorcyclists and spectators to its annual celebration of two-wheeled freedom. The event is a tradition that started on Nov. 13, 1981, at the former Commercial Hotel, now known as Angelo’s, by Chris Simons and a few dozen…

Loud pipes on motorcycles save lives

Loud motorcycles can be annoying, that’s understood. But they only disrupt your quietude for a second or two, and we’re talking about safety here.

Loud pipes on motorcycles save livesAs we approach high summer and peak motorcycle riding season, it’s time to ask the eternal question: Do loud pipes save lives? Depends who you talk to, of course. Some folks consider any two-wheeled transport not human-powered to be too loud, while others view sound restrictions as a direct assault on their personal freedom. According…

Motorcycle madness: what you can do to stay safe on two wheels

Be aware all the time. As soon as you start believing in your own excellence, a farmer will back his tractor out of a field, some dolt will pull out of a driveway without looking, or something will fall off that truck in front of you and you’re in deep trouble.

Motorcycle madness: what you can do to stay safe on two wheelsAlthough I drive at least 100 new cars a year, I also ride motorcycles. In fact, I’ve been riding since 1965. And as far as safety goes, things are worse than ever for bikers. We’re getting killed or injured in increasing numbers every year. The circumstances run the full gamut of riding situations and motorcycle…