4 - 2020 - Road Dirt

Month: April 2020

Ducati, Others Prep To Reopen Motorcycle Production

Posted by Rob Brooks | Apr 27, 2020 | Industry & Racing |

Ducati Motorcycles in Italy has announced a graduated reopening of production this week, as workers begin returning to the factory. The company plans to slowly return to pre-COVID levels of manufacturing in the coming weeks, according to a report in Italian media site OmniMoto. After suspension of all operations back on March 13, Ducati has announced the reopening of operations at the Borgo Panigale plant, specifically on the facility’s workshop and engine assembly lines while following strict health protocols.

Motorcycle Market Malady

Posted by Rob Brooks | Apr 22, 2020 | Industry & Racing |

Deep in the global COVID pandemic, and amidst a nearly ten-year decline in sales, the motorcycle industry has continued to take a beating here in 2020. If automotive sales have declined, motorcycle sales have ridden off a cliff. Global sales have plummeted worldwide, in every category, in every country, for every manufacturer.

Riding In Captivity

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Apr 17, 2020 | Ride Life |

Motorcycling in the COVID Crisis It’s a beautiful day in the Apocalypse. Spring is emerging,...

The Sense of Speed

Posted by Phil Gauthier | Apr 16, 2020 | Ride Life |

I was 11 years old the first time I rode a motorized two wheeled vehicle. A buddy rolled up on his Tecumseh powered mini-bike. Nothing but an engine, seat, throttle, brake lever and a pipe welded to the down tubes for pegs – no clutch or tranny.

Above The Ton

Posted by Rob Brooks | Apr 11, 2020 | Industry & Racing, Ride Life, Rides & Roads |

Sport bikes are exhilarating to ride, for their cornering abilities, lean angle capability, instantly available raw power, head-snapping acceleration, and of course, high speeds.
None of which should ever be fully exploited on the street.

Electric Soul

Posted by Rob Brooks | Apr 3, 2020 | Bikes & Gear |

I must admit a certain reluctance to involve myself in motorcycling’s growing “fringe”, the electric bike. I’m an “ICE” guy (internal combustion engine), and still love everything about a rumbling, vibrating, exhaust-smoking motorcycle that I have to clutch, shift, feed fuel, and wrench on to keep running. I’ve been disinterested in the many varied electric/eclectic battery-powered startups over the past 20 years, admittedly including Zero. “Not a true, traditional motorcycle,” I would scoff…