Just the Facts: January 2020

Just the Facts for January 2020 starts off with …not a correction, but a clarification related to last month’s piece about the brewhaha between Motorcycle Consumer News and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. I managed to find the obituary of the person who died during a BRC in Ashland, Virginia, in June 2019.

The news stays kind of grim from there, discussing the deaths of Paulo Goncalves and Edwin Straver during this year’s Dakar Rally. A lot of race fans are wondering if Dakar organizers will follow the example set by Pikes Peak race officials and ban motorcycles in the next race.

Paulo Goncalves in action during the Dakar Rally

Digging into the industry from there, it’s time to talk about 2019’s sales figures. Ducati was up (barely), as was BMW (marginally), but motorcycle sales in Japan continue to flounder.

Sometimes tables, charts and graphs can tell you stuff, like what a huge decline the motorcycle industry in Japan is undergoing. (Courtesy of JAMA)

The partnership between Triumph and Bajaj is expected to start producing actual motorcycles some time in 2020.

In racing news, Indian’s Wrecking Crew is back and intact for 2020’s American Flat Track season. Indian is also the title sponsor of a flat track season in Europe for 2020.

The PATA Yamaha World Superbike team has Toprak Razgatlioglu joining Michael van der Mark, and BMW’s WSBK team has Eugene Laverty joining Tom Sykes for what is sure to be an exciting season.

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Chasing the Horizon is sponsored by Dunlop Motorcycle Tires.

In electric news, Harley’s next electric bike should be out in 2022, while a real electric motorcycle from BMW isn’t likely until at least 2025 or ’26. Maybe the new (and still mysterious) Zero SR/S will fill in that gap.

Design drawing of Harley’s next electric motorcycle.

While you’re out there surfing the WWW, take a moment to visit our sponsors, the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America and Dunlop Motorcycle Tires. You can support Chasing the Horizon directly by joining the MOA as a digital member for just $39 a year.

Thanks for listening, and we’ll see you out there somewhere on the road – or off it! Ride safe.

PS: If you live in New Zealand or Australia, I’d like to hear from you directly and chat about my trip to visit your fine nations in 2021. Please reach out to me via email. Thank you!

Come to the MOA Rally in Great Falls, Montana, 25-27 June 2020.