Motorcycle Views Newsletter

Motorcycle Views Newsletter for 10/07/2018

By Walter F. Kern

Motorcycle Views Newsletter

Vol. 12, No. 8, October 7, 2018

Articles of Interest on Motorcycle Views:

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1. Recent Additions to the Motorcycle Views Website:

Honda Recalls 2018 CRF250L Motorcycles. The Wiring Harness May Have Been Inappropriately Installed, Potentially Resulting In Damage To the Wiring Harness and Affecting the Operation Of Safety Components Such As the Exterior Lighting, Horn, and Instrument Panel.
Fuel Helmets Recalls 2015-2017 Open Face Motorcycle Helmets. These Helmets May Not Adequately Protect the Wearer's Head In the Event Of an Impact.
Kawasaki Recalls 2018 Ninja H2 SX SE (ZXT02BJ) Motorcycles. The Pin For the Center Stand Spring May Have Been Improperly Welded, and May Shift Or Fall Off Resulting In the Spring Detaching and the Center Stand Dropping To the Ground.
Akoury Recalls AK AK88S Motorcycle Helmets. These Helmets May Not Adequately Protect the Wearer In the Event Of a Head Impact During a Motorcycle Crash.
Polaris Recalls 2017-2019 Slingshot S, SL, GT LE, and SLR Motorcycles. In the Event Of a Crash, the Seatbelt Retractor On the Side Opposite Of the Impact May Separate, Preventing the Seatbelt From Locking.
Honda Recalls Honda Genuine Accessory Centerstand Kit For 2016-2018 Africa Twin Motorcycles. The Circlip Can Break Allowing the Centerstand To Detach.
H&H Sports Protection Recalls VCAN V531 Motorcycle Helmets Since They May Not Stay Secured To the Rider's Head In the Event Of a Crash
Alta electric motorcycles were added to the website.
Alta Recalls 2018-2019 Redshift MXR and 2019 Redshift EXR Electric Motorcycles. The Software For the Throttle Control May Fault If the Throttle Is Rolled Forward Past the Closed Position, Possibly Resulting In a Motorcycle Stall.
Ducati Recalls 2018 Panigale V4, Panigale 959, Panigale 1299 FE, and Hypermotard Motorcycles Since the Friction Material On the Rear Brake Pads May Detach From the Backing Plate.
Yamaha Recalls 2018 MT-07J, MT-07JC, XSR700J, and XSR700JC Motorcycles For Loose Chain Guard.
MV Agusta Recalls 2018 Brutale 800 Dragster RC, F3 800RC, and F3 800 Motorcycles For a Fork Axle Carrier That May Have Damaged Threads.
Suzuki Recalls 2018 DR-Z400S and DR-Z400SM Motorcycles For Brake Lights That May Not Illuminate.
BMW Recalls 2017-2018 G310R and 2018 G310GS Motorcycles For a Damaged Side Stand.
Indian Recalls 2017-2018 Scout, Scout 60, and Scout Bobber Motorcycles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) May Have Air Left In the System After the Assembly Process.

2. No More Ads!:

You may have noticed that I have stripped my website of Google advertisements and have replaced them with ads for my six books and four Audible audiobooks.

I've had various complaints with Google over the years beginning with an algorithm change a few years ago that resulted in an immediate 40% downward change in their payments to me. That was the difference from my pages appearing on the first two pages of Google results before the change to appearing on the 10th or much lower pages after the change, thereby making my site disappear for all intents and purposes. After that, my payments continued a downward spiral toward zero.

Also, there has been a push toward providing more user safety while on websites. That has resulted in the need to use SSL certificates to insure that user data is protected. I have almost no user data to protect, but I would have to provide it anyway at great cost to me. I have added these SSL certificates and I have shut off all user inputs and submissions to my site. Basically, I have a library-like website of information that will change only when I choose to change it. I think you might be able to see the handwriting on the wall. Since I'm now 80 years old, I might choose to close the site. But, I might choose to absorb the costs of running the site and continue to provide a service to the motorcycling community.

For the time being, I choose to continue on.

3. Mobile Issues:

If you have attempted to reach the Motorcycle Views website from a smartphone, you may be blocked with various dire warnings that may scare you away. Do not believe these warnings. They are there because of various problems associated with making websites safe and secure. One way to do this is to require all webmasters to buy SSL certificates that are small data files that digitally bind a cryptographic key to an organization's details. When installed on a web server, it activates the padlock and the https protocol and allows secure connections from a web server to a browser. I have these but the mobile implementation I'm using from my mobile provider is not working.

If you see one of these dire warnings, look for links such as Advanced or Details. They will lead you to links that warn you again but give you a link that will take you to my mobile site. Use these links to reach the motorcycleviews.com site. When the internal problems are finally fixed, you won't be blocked.

Also, my mobile provider has recently been acquired by another company and things are not working correctly. One day all is well, and the next day all is bad. Also, even when all is well, it will still indicate that my files and images are suspect because I reach out to another one of my sites to gather images. There is NO insecure situation but the SSL system still gives warnings. I have had to physically copy these images back to this website to eliminate the warnings. This is a daunting process so I am fixing these only when I have time.

Remember, everything is working fine on the desktop website you can access from any computer.

4. Podcast For Normal Secrets:

I had the opportunity to do a Podcast for my book, Normal Secrets . What's a Podcast? I didn't know either. It was new to me. I received an email from the producer of my audiobook for Normal Secrets . He wanted me to participate in a Podcast to promote my new Audible book, Normal Secrets . He had a person lined up to lead a discussion of my book. It would include interviewing me and my narrator. We would each supply questions for the other and would in turn provide an audio file of our answers. All these audio pieces would be combined and fit into a specific time interval into an audio file, the Podcast. Then the Podcast would be made available online and made available to a mailing list of Podcast subscribers.

This is a good opportunity for you to hear about my memoir, Normal Secrets , and to hear both the narrator and me at the same time.

Check out my Podcast .

5. Self-Riding BMW Motorcycle Video:

BMW has done it again. BMW has created a motorcycle that can operate without a rider! It appears that they have no desire to market such a thing, but their sole reasons have been to develop self-riding features that could be incorporated into their regular models to make their riders safer. These are the same kinds of safety features that currently exist or are planned in BMW automobiles.

At any rate, there are some videos out there that show this BMW self-rider motorcycle in action. Take a look .

6. My Memoir, Normal Secrets :

My memoir, Normal Secrets , is a departure from my previous four motorcycle-themed books. It covers much of my life and reveals some secrets that almost no one knows about me. In fact, many secrets I didn't even know myself until recently. You'll also find out how fate changed my course in life many times as I struggled to find out who I was, what I wanted to do, who I would love, how I came to become both a motorcyclist and a moto-journalist, and how I came to become an author in my late seventies. It's a true story that begins in the Midwest and spans more than a hundred years. The book is available on Amazon in paperback, Kindle, Audible, and CD editions.

Check out my Podcast where my Normal Secrets Audible audiobook is discussed.

Click the book cover to learn how to buy it on Amazon.com.

7. 50 MORE Wild Motorcycle Tales:

50 MORE Wild Motorcycle Tales , my latest motorcycle book, is available on Amazon in paperback, Kindle, Audible, and CD editions.

Click the cover to see the book on Amazon.

Many readers have indicated that they wanted MORE motorcycle stories similar to those contained in my previous book, 50 Wild Motorcycle Tales . This new book gives 50 MORE Wild Motorcycle Tales for your reading enjoyment. Most of the stories were submitted to Motorcycle Views by visitors to the site.

I wrote 19 of the stories. My late wife, Jane, wrote four stories that are published in the book posthumously. The other authors are motorcyclists from all walks of life. They tell their own personal stories of what happened to them as the rode their motorcycles.

You'll find humor, risk-taking, adventure, 2-up excursions, world travelers, stupid tricks on bikes, lessons learned, and hazards while riding.

I don't intend to write any additional books of motorcycle stories so these two books become a 2-volume series.

You may want to consider buying both 50 Wild Motorcycle Tales and 50 MORE Wild Motorcycle Tales to have the 2-volume set together with a total of 100 Wild Tales. Remember, each of these two books has an Audible audiobook edition. Many people enjoy listening to a book these days on a car or motorcycle trip. Why not take 100 tales along with you in this 2-volume set.

8. Audiobook Corner:

I have been pleasantly surprised at the reception of my audiobooks. I did not realize that there was such a big market out there for audiobooks. Many listeners use the Whispersync for Voice feature on Amazon to link together the audiobook and the Kindle book so they can switch back and forth between the two. In fact, if you already have the Kindle edition, you can get the Audible edition at a reduced price.

As I mentioned above, I had the opportunity to do a Podcast for my book, Normal Secrets . What's a Podcast? I didn't know either. It was new to me. I received an email from the producer of my audiobook for Normal Secrets . He wanted me to participate in a Podcast to promote my new Audible book, Normal Secrets . He had a person lined up to lead a discussion of my book. It would include interviewing me and my narrator. We would each supply questions for the other and would in turn provide an audio file of our answers. All these audio pieces would be combined and fit into a specific time interval into an audio file, the Podcast. Then the Podcast would be made available online and made available to a mailing list of Podcast subscribers.

This is a good opportunity for you to hear about my memoir, Normal Secrets , and to hear both the narrator and me at the same time.

Check out my Podcast .

This Podcast is also featured on the front page of my website

Currently, I have four audiobooks: 50 Wild Motorcycle Tales , 50 MORE Wild Motorcycle Tales , Normal Secrets, a memoir , and Motorcycle Kick-Starts . Click the following covers to see these audiobooks on Amazon. They make great inexpensive gifts. (They are also available on Audible and iTunes and other outlets.) Normal Secrets and 50 MORE Wild Motorcycle Tales are also available in a CD version.

Walter's Audiobooks:

9. Five Motorcycle Terms:

I am featuring five (5) of my Motorcycle Terms in each issue of the newsletter.

10. Here Are Some Popular Articles On the Motorcycle Views Site. Take a Look:

Motorcycle Salvage Yards : Where you can find motorcycle parts.
Motorcycle Seat Heights : Lists seat heights by motorcycle make.
Famous Motorcycle Movies : The great motorcycle movies are discussed.
Motorcycle Models : We give links to major motorcycle model pictures and specifications.
Motorcycle Recalls : Gives all motorcycle recalls for the last ten years by make and year.
Women on Motorcycles : These women ride their own bikes.
10 Ways to Be Safe on a Motorcycle : This article could save your life.
10 Motorcycle Myths : There are many myths about riding.

11. 2018-2019 Polar Bear Grand Tour Motorcycle Runs:

This will be our 41st season of winter riding. (It is my 28th season.) I'll be bringing you links to what happens on each weekly run so you'll have access to all the pictures and videos. Since the last Newsletter, the Polar Bear Grand Tour has completed its season and is getting ready for the new 2018-2019 season to begin on October 28, 2018. Check out the Polar Bear Grand Tour website for the upcoming season destinations and pictures from previous seasons.

The Polar Bears consist of 550 riders from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Delaware, who ride each Sunday to a different prescribed destination where they sign-in and receive points. There is, usually, a restaurant at or near the destination. It gets cold, windy, and snowy on these rides. I've been a Polar Bear member for 27 years, and I built and continue to maintain their website .

12. Newsletter Now Quarterly:

This newsletter is now issued quarterly. Expect newsletters on the first Sunday of each quarter, namely in January, April, July, and October.

13. Newsletter Archive:

I now have a Motorcycle Views Newsletter Archive to store all my newsletters. The archive gives the year, month, day, and subject for each newsletter. Each newsletter contains many links to the Motorcycle Views website. A link to the archive will also be included on the Home page of the site and on the page where users can join the newsletter list.

Visit the Motorcycle Views Newsletter Archive

14. The Motorcycle Views Website Is Also On Your Smartphone Or Tablet:

Are you relying more and more on your cellphone or tablet and less and less on your PC or MAC? Remember that all that great motorcycling information on Motorcycle Views is as near as your cellphone. It's also in a new format designed to fit your portable screen. Check us out anywhere you need motorcycle information.

15. Social Media:

See me on Facebook , Twitter , Google+ , Pinterest , and YouTube .

Thanks again for coming along for the ride in this edition of the Motorcycle Views Newsletter. -- Walter

For New Subscribers:

NEW: This newsletter is now issued quarterly . Expect newsletters on the first Sunday of each quarter, namely in January, April, July, and October.

Please understand that the Motorcycle Views Newsletter is NOT the Motorcycle Views website. The newsletter provides a few links to content on the Motorcycle Views website. Once you click a link in the newsletter, you'll be getting access to content on the Motorcycle Views site.

If you'd like to view any of our past newsletters, just go to the newsletter archives page.

Thanks for signing up for the Motorcycle Views Newsletter. Using this Newsletter, I'll keep you up-to-date with what's going on in the Motorcycle Views Blog and the Motorcycle Views Website .

See me on Facebook , Twitter , Google+ , Pinterest , and YouTube .

The Motorcycle Views Website is also on your smartphone or tablet:

Walter's Books and Audiobooks:

Click the following covers to learn more about my books and audiobooks.

Walter's Books: