Welcome to News Cycles, Common Tread’s roundup of what’s happening on our servers and everywhere else. Every Friday, look for a collection of news, stories, and all things moto from around the web. This week: H-D meets Silicon Valley, questioning ethanol, and testing a new $3,500 cafe racer.
Harley opening new research center in Silicon Valley
Harley-Davidson is building a R&D facility in the heart of the tech world to be staffed by a team advancing H-D’s electric models with their Product Development Center in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Read more.
Questioning the Renewable Fuel Standard: Is adding ethanol to gas worth it?
Ethanol is a controversial subject among motorcyclists, to say the least. Lemmy and Lance have written about it before, and I’ve cleaned enough carbs to have some thoughts of my own. Hey, it’s supposed to be good for the environment or something, right? According to Senator Tom Udall, “the standard that was intended to benefit the environment may well be hurting it.” Along with Representative Peter Welch, a reform proposal is in motion to revisit the purpose of alternative fuel policy in the United States.
"A Motorcycle Story": Episode 2
Nascent YouTube channel A Motorcycle Story just released their second episode. I like the concept; here’s hoping this can grow into a regular series.
Twitter user reviews motorcycle emojis, some clearly made by non-riders
Lots of social media services means lots of proprietary emojis, including the motorcycle. Some emoji designers have apparently never seen a motorcycle before. Read more.
Motus Motorcycles ceases operations effective immediately
Man, what a bummer. Motus and their mad half-a-small-block-Chevy motorcycles are no more. Will new financial backers save Motus, or is that really the end?
Roger De Coster named Motorsports Director at KTM/Husqvarna North America
Roger De Coster’s a living legend of racing and motocross. Now, KTM’s just made him head of their motorsports efforts for North America.
Rumored mill: Yamaha’s racing transmission for the street?
Originally used in their MotoGP efforts, Yamaha’s recent patent filings suggest they’ll be bringing a variation of the seamless transmission to the street. A seamless transmission helps racers maintain power to the wheels through shifts, which isn’t quite necessary for the street. Sounds like fun, though.
2018 SSR Buccaneer Cafe and Classic first ride review
Julia LaPalme rode SSR’s budget retros to see whether their $3,499 price makes the Buccaneer Classic or Cafe a good choice. Maybe, for the right rider.
Thanks for reading; that's all for this week! If you've got feedback or moto news you'd like to share, shoot an e-mail to commontread@revzilla.com. Check back for more News Cycles every Friday.