Motorcycle Industry Headlines: October 2024
Motorcycle action doesn’t slow down just because it’s fall! In fact, we’re continuing with more coverage on the latest stories within the world of motorcycling. Here are some of the big headlines from Cycle Trader for October 2024.
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Rest In Peace, Davey And Michelle
The motorcycle world recently lost two more important figures from the industry.
Davey Carlson, a well-known motocross racer in Southern California during the ’70s and ’80s, passed away on September 21 in Mount Kisco, Kentucky. He had moved there three years ago to be with his daughter and grandchildren. He was 68.
Davey started as a minibike sensation in the early ’70s, then moved up to the 125 Pro class, racking up victories in a highly competitive field of racers. He could have been a future Hall of Famer but decided to leave competitive racing when he was 19 to join his father in the family business.
MotoAmerica recently released a statement that Michelle Lindsay, TOBC team principal, lost her battle with pancreatic cancer on September 18 in Falls Church, Virginia. She was 45.
Michelle was best known in motorcycle racing as the owner of TOBC Racing where she led the team to three victories in the Daytona 200 in 2015, 2017, and 2018.
California Governor Signs Law To Create New Permit Program
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed Senate Bill 708 into law, creating an off-highway competition vehicle permit program that picks up where the Red Sticker Program left off when it was ended in 2021 by the California Air Resources Board. Bill 708 passed through both houses with bipartisan support.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) oversees registration of all off-highway vehicles (OHVs) through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), except competition motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. Standard OHVs are eligible for a “Green Sticker” registration because they meet certain environmental requirements set by CARB. Green Sticker vehicles are allowed to operate on public lands open to motor vehicles all year.
However, competition OHVs often do not meet the strict environmental standards set by CARB because they are built to operate specifically for competitions. Up until 2021, Competition OHVs were eligible for a “Red Sticker” registration, which restricts these vehicles from being operated in specific areas during certain times of the year.
After the Red Sticker Program ended, there was confusion among land-management companies and sanctioned agencies as to how to identify 2022 and newer vehicle models in off-road competitions at sanctioned events held on public lands in California. The new law also restores fees that were lost with the ending of the Red Sticker Program. Those funds will go toward supporting things like trail maintenance and conservation.
KTM Debuts New Automated Manual Transmission
KTM recently introduced its highly anticipated Automated Manual Transmission (AMT), which will be available on select 2025 models. KTM has not announced which bikes the AMT will be on yet, but it is rumored they may be divulging that at the EICMA Show in Milan in early November.
According to a press release from KTM, the AMT allows riders to choose between using a manual shifting operation in M Mode—without a clutch—or a completely automated transmission in A Mode. Once the first gear is engaged, forward drive is initiated by raising the engine speed, at which point the centrifugal clutch engages and sets the motorcycle in motion.
This makes starting on a slope, pulling away, stopping, and slow-speed maneuvering much easier, particularly on bigger motorcycles. In addition, KTM claims it is impossible to stall the engine.
Both PARK and NEUTRAL positions can only be selected using the shifting paddle on the handlebar switch cube, whether the engine is running or not, with the front or rear brake needing to be applied to engage first gear.
In terms of shifting speed, the gearbox is electronically controlled via the ECU and Transmission Control Unit. Shifts are initiated by an electromechanical shift actuator, which turns the shift drum. This means shifting between gears takes 50 milliseconds which is comparable to a traditional transmission using a quickshifter.
In the M shift mode, the rider can purposefully shift gears by using the traditional gear lever on the left side of the engine or with the paddle shift on the left switch cube. This allows riders to maintain a “ready-to-race,” sporty riding feel without any compromises in speed or agility. The new AMT system also allows riders a wide range of setup configurations, with SHIFTING modes working in unison with RIDE modes, to allow for individual preferences, regardless of application.
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Keep Things Going
Just as fall doesn’t slow down with motorcycle industry news, neither should the riding season. If you’re currently on the market for a bike, Cycle Trader has the largest online selection of new and used rides to choose from, including almost every make and model you might want. Ready to get going? Let’s ride!
Barrett Baker
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