From stories celebrating women motorcyclists to a government banning full-face helmets to OnlyFans taking a not-so-X-rated approach to marketing, the latest motorcycle news kept life interesting (as it always does!). 

Here’s what resonated over the past week.

Effie Hotchkiss Story Celebrates Women’s Day

Cycle World revamped and republished one of its popular history pieces to celebrate International Women's Day March 8.

In 1915, amid the women's suffrage movement, Effie and Avis Hotchkiss took a groundbreaking journey that would etch their names into motorcycling history. Riding a 1915 Harley-Davidson F-11 with a sidecar, this mother-daughter duo set off from Brooklyn, New York, to San Francisco, becoming the first women to cross the US on a motorcycle. 

Think for a moment of America’s transportation infrastructure back then—it was rough, to say the least. This presented many challenges, from navigating horrendous road conditions without proper tires to weathering extreme weather and wildlife encounters.

This remarkable journey was not just about exploration; it was a statement of independence and capability at a time when women were fighting for their right to vote. 

Effie and Avis Hotchkiss were pioneers, laying the groundwork for future generations of female riders, including notable figures like Della Crewe, the Van Buren sisters, and Bessie Stringfield. Their stories of courage and adventure challenged societal norms and paved the way for a future where nearly one in five riders are women, a significant increase from just a decade ago.

For more, check out Cycle World’s story here. 

Consumer Sentiment Forecast for 2024

Motorcycle & Powersports News posted something interesting that goes against what many financial analysts say. In a landscape where economic uncertainties loom large, a recent survey conducted by Cycle Trader reveals a surprisingly optimistic outlook among powersports enthusiasts. 

Despite ongoing concerns about high costs and financial pressures, a significant 67% of potential buyers believe the economy will improve or remain stable, with a determined 53% stating these conditions won't deter their purchasing decisions. The reports say 65% are eyeing a new ride by summer, ready to navigate the acquisition swiftly, with cash payments favored by 62%, though nearly 40% are still considering financing options.

Phillip Billups, vice president at Trader Interactive, offers insights into the survey, predicting a challenging yet hopeful 2024 for the powersports market. Despite expected revenue dips and high interest rates, there's potential for growth in service revenue and backend products. Billups underscores the importance of strategic dealer operations, including reinsurance reassessment, to thrive among these challenges. 

He also highlights a stabilization in inventory levels, a silver lining for the market, though cautions about the potential impact of inflated prices and high auto loan rejection rates on consumer demand.

Want more? Check out the latest article from Motorcycle & Powersports News. 

City in the Philippines Bans Full-Face Helmets

Debates are endless when motorcycle helmet laws are mentioned. Most are for them, others downright against them. 

But have you ever heard of a government banning the use of a helmet? 

This is exactly what happened recently when the city of San Carlos in the Philippines implemented a ban on the use of full-face motorcycle helmets. The reasoning is not so much focused on motorcycle safety but crime. 

This decision, directed by the local government and enforced by Mayor Renato Gustilo, aims to curb crimes perpetrated by individuals concealing their identity with full-face helmets. 

Riders within the city are now required to wear open-face helmets, which, while intended to enhance public safety, paradoxically pose questions about the compromise to rider safety it represents.

The executive order specifies that the ban applies strictly "within the city proper," allowing riders to don full-face helmets once exiting the city boundaries towards other areas. Enforcement of this new rule is carried out at various checkpoints throughout the city, where law enforcement officials are authorized to request the removal of helmets, bonnets, or masks.

Compounding the city's unconventional approach to motorcycle safety, a new speed limit of 40km/h (approximately 25mph) has also been established within the city limits, further underscoring San Carlos's unique regulatory stance on motorcycle riding.

This regulation in San Carlos mirrors other distinctive motorcycle laws around the globe, such as Spain's ban on jet helmets and the mandatory use of gloves for riders, highlighting a global diversity in motorcycle safety and crime prevention strategies.

For more, read Visordown’s coverage here. 

Cornering Techniques 

Whether you wear a helmet or not, knowing how to properly corner is essential for your safety. 

I’ve trained with many racing and road-focused schools, and everyone’s technique is different. However, a few are standard procedures, which Motorcycle.com recently outlined in its latest “How to” article. 

This article by John L. Stein discusses the following essential techniques of cornering:

• Brake Before the Bend: Start simple. Complete your braking before entering the turn. This foundational skill sets the stage for more advanced techniques like trail braking, which you can explore once comfortable with the basics.
• Smoothness: Smooth actions with handlebars, throttle, and brakes ensure stability and control. This smoothness helps maintain balance, ensuring a steady ride and making your cornering line easier to maintain.
• Moderate Your Speed: Fast is fun, but safety is paramount. Reasonable speed ensures your safety and that of others.
• Look Through the Turn: Your destination is where your gaze takes you. Looking ahead through turns helps you assess and navigate them more effectively, preparing you for varying turn radii.
• A Cornering Trick: Use the road lines to gauge the turn's radius. Diverging lines suggest an increasing radius; constant gaps indicate a constant radius; and converging lines warn of a decreasing radius.
• Choose Your Apex Wisely: For safety, favor a late apex by approaching from the lane's outside. This strategy offers a better view of potential hazards and keeps you well within your lane through the turn.
• Study the Surface: Never underestimate road conditions. Always look for obstacles or changes in the road surface that could affect your ride.

Want more? Read Motorcycle.com’s Proper Cornering Technique blog. 

OnlyFans Sponsors Ducati HSBK Warhorse Team

You won’t be renting race bikes on Twisted Road, but plenty of Ducati Panigale V4s and V2s are available across the country.

But they likely won’t be the not-so-Ducati blue color scheme found on the OnlyFans Racing Warhorse Ducati team in MotoAmerica. 

Yes, I said OnlyFans, which is looking to expand beyond x-rated content to sports and fitness. 

The team unveiled their new lead sponsor, along with the V4Rs that riders Josh Herrin and Loris Baz will pilot during the 2024 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, during a team launch earlier this month at Mount Airy Casino in the Poconos. 

I attended the event, which Greg White of FOX Sports hosted and featured the legendary Eraldo Ferracci, and wrote a piece for Roadracing World.

With renewed focus, improved machinery, and the dynamic duo of Herrin and Baz, the OnlyFans Racing Warhorse Ducati team is primed for another exciting season. They aim to recapture the Superbike honors for Ducati, a feat eagerly anticipated since Troy Corser's championship win 30 years ago. As the season approaches, all eyes will be on the distinctive pale blue livery, signaling a new era for Ducati in MotoAmerica.

Herrin also competed in the 2024 Daytona 200, winning his third title and second straight on the Ducati Panigale V2. Congrats to Josh and his team!

For more, check out the Roadracing World coverage here. 

Stay tuned for more twists and turns in the world of motorcycle news. Every week brings its own set of surprises, innovations, and heated debates, keeping the throttle on life interesting.