 |
Friday, March 7th, 2014 |
 |
|
Posted 06:00:00 PM
Filed under Web
Author: Mike Werner | Location: Travelling |
|
It looks like summer has hit early over here this year; despite freezing mornings, afternoons are warm, if not hot. Good weather usually means less articles published, but here are a few I found that you may have missed over the last week.
Enjoy.
| Read related articles | Monday, March 3rd, 2014 - France: Cop Places Himself In Danger To Catch Speeders
Here is an example of a French cop putting his life at stake in order to catch speeders.
It's illegal and stupid. | Monday, March 3rd, 2014 - Protect Animals And Yourself With This Paint
Finnish paint group, Albedo 100, have a paint that can be sprayed on animals that will make them visible at night (horses, dogs, etc).
They are painting reindeer antlers in Finland with this product. You too can buy this product | Tuesday, March 4th, 2014 - Running An AC Device On Your Motorcycle
Sometimes you need to have a device with your on your motorcycle that does not have a 12V plug.
Like this mini personal camping oven. What to do? | Wednesday, March 5th, 2014 - Ami Powersports e-Tint Automatic Motorcycle Helmet Visor
Ami Powersports, through e-Tint, make automatic darkening visors for motorcycle helmets based on LCD technology.
Here is their latest product the Akari AX-11 insert. |
|
Technorati :Motorbikes Motorcycles Review Summary Web
|
|
Posted 02:00:00 PM
Filed under Statistics
Author: Mike Werner | Location: Travelling |
|
Fatal crashes are worldwide. Not a single country escapes these deadly accidents, not matter how good drivers have been trained, not matter how good the roads are. Accidents happen, and often are met with deadly results. But where are the deadliest places on earth to be riding your motorcycle (or car)?
The University of Michigan, Transportation Research Institute, using data from the United Nation WHO, compared death rates in countries worldwide. In their report, they actually compared it with other causes of death, and the only thing that becomes apparent from the report is that you have a bigger chance of dying of heart disease or cancer than in an accident in the USA.
On average worldwide, per 100,000 people, there are 18 fatalities caused by accidents. That's the global average. The country with the highest death rate is Namibia with 45 per 100,000. The lowest rate, 22 times lower than Namibia, is the Maldives with only 2 dead per 100,000 (though that figure is a bit displaced since the road network in the Maldives is non-existent, so low speeds and few people actually drive). For comparison, the USA's figure is 14 per 100,000 so better than the world average.
The top 10 worst countries are:
1 Namibia: 45
2 Thailand: 44
3 Iran: 38
4 Sudan: 36
5 Swaziland: 36
6 Venezuela: 35
7 Congo: 34
8 Malawi: 32
9 Dominican Republic: 32
10 Iraq: 32
The top 10 best countries are:
184 Switzerland: 5
185 Netherlands: 4
186 Antigua and Barbuda: 4
187 Tonga: 4
188 Israel: 4
189 Marshall Islands: 4
190 Fiji: 4
191 Malta: 3
192 Tajikistan: 3
193 Maldives: 2
Notice that the "good" countries are all smaller countries. Interesting...
European countries fall in the middle with the UK in 180th place with 5, Germany in 168th with 6 and France in 160th with 7.
You can read the whole list and report by clicking here  (Adobe PDF file)
|
Technorati :Accidents Motorbikes Motorcycles Statistics Study
|
|
Posted 08:00:00 AM
Filed under Entertainment Funny
Author: Mike Werner | Location: Normandy, France |
|
Why is it only humans that get to celebrate carnival? Looks like in the country made famous by their carnival, motorcycles get to share in the fun.
 © Reuters |
| |  | | Revellers, including one riding a motorcycle, celebrate Carnival at the annual block party known as "Os Cao" (The Dog) by covering themselves with mud from mangrove swamps, in Redinha, Rio Grande do Norte state in northeastern Brazil March 4, 2014. REUTERS/Nuno Guimaraes |
Via: News Yahoo & Reuters
|
Technorati :Brazil Funny Motorbikes Motorcycles Mud Carnival
|
|
Thursday, March 6th, 2014 |
|
|
Posted 06:00:00 PM
Filed under Statistics
Author: Mike Werner | Location: Normandy, France |
|
Europe as we all know is divided into many different countries, and therefore many different habits and customs. Habits that are not only visible in clothing, food and even language, but also manners; driving manners to be precise.
In a recent research conducted in 7 European countries (France, Spain Italy, Sweden, UK, Belgium, Germany), the trademark habits for each country was highlighted by their driving manners, or in many cases, the lack thereof.
For example, the Spanish honk their honks a lot, the Swedes use their mobile phones while driving (using hands free sets), the Italians don't always put on their safety belt. But of the 7 countries, everyone agrees that the Swedes are the most responsible drivers, followed by Germany and the UK.
The Germans are those that drive the longest without a break, with an average of 3H43 of driving, against 2H45 for the French and Spaniards. 25% of the drivers in Belgium declare knowing that they are well over the DUi limit but still drive. Only 4% of Spaniards and 3% of Swedes admit it.
In almost all countries, except the UK, most people surveyed thought that alcohol and drug use was the biggest reason there were so many fatal accidents on the road. The British thought that the biggest reason was "inattention". But for driving on the motorways, all surveyed people stated that "excessive speed kills" before the 2nd reason of "falling asleep behind the wheel". Italy was seen as the country with the least responsible drivers, followed by Spain and then France.
It's interesting to see that each country has its own specifics. But this was all about car drivers. I wonder how different it would be for motorcycle riders.
Via: Le Parisien
|
Technorati :Europe Motorbikes Motorcycles Statistics Study
|
|
Posted 02:00:00 PM
Filed under Ads Safety Video Feeds
Author: Mike Werner | Location: Normandy, France |
|
Switzerland's Swissmoto launched a campaign to help motorcycle remember that often they are the target, or victim, in accidents. They are urging bikers to remember this, and to stay alive. The campaign is called Stayin' Alive
For that they have this cool banner, showing motorcycle handlebars mounted like trophies on the wall....:
The text read "Don"t get shot".
... and a video. Although it's in German, you'll understand it... however, the Swiss are guarding their video jealously, since you can't embed it. You'll need to head on over to their web site to see the video, sorry about that.
Click here to access the Stayin-Alive site (and see the video).
Via: Minister of Transport
|
Technorati :Ad Motorbikes Motorcycles Safety Switerland TV Video
|
|
Posted 08:00:00 AM
Filed under Entertainment
Author: Mike Werner | Location: Normandy, France |
|
There we go.... and good use of a motorcycle; use them to build barricades. Why use an expensive JCB or tractor? A motorcycle will do the job.
 © REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins |
| | | | Demonstrators pull garbage with a motorcycle to build barricades during a protest against Nicolas Maduro's government in San Cristobal, about 410 miles (660 km) southwest of Caracas, February 28, 2014. Venezuelans began a week-long national holiday on Thursday as some protests still simmered but President Nicolas Maduro's government was hoping the break will take the heat out of the nation's worst unrest for a decade. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins |
Via: News Yahoo & Reuters
|
Technorati :Motorbikes Motorcycles Protest Riots Venezuela
|
|
Wednesday, March 5th, 2014 |
|
|
Posted 06:00:00 PM
Filed under Gadgets Safety
Author: Mike Werner | Location: Normandy, France |
|
A couple of years ago I reviewed the Raleri LCD visor insert (link ). It's a great product, a visor insert that becomes dark (and clear) depending on the strength of the sun hitting the light cells. It's a great product and loved it to death until I had to get rid of the helmet. What surprised me that there wasn't that much demand for these kind of inserts despite some cops using them (link ), nor that there weren't any other manufacturers.
But I was wrong. e-Tint makes LCD based visor inserts that change their tint at the touch of a button. They are sold as Ami Powersports' Akari products. The Akari visor insert gets inserted behind the normal visor, and in contrast with the Raleri, gets a button stuck on the side of the visor (the Raleri has no button and always works, nor is there a battery since it depends on the sunlight to generate electricity).
A press on this button, and the visor goes dark. Another press, and it goes light again. But the new Akari AX-11 also has an automatic mode. No longer do you need to take your hands of the handlebar, the AX-11 will change tint automatically by means of the light cell built-in the button. Sun = dark visor. You can set the threshold when you want the shield to go dark. The change is instantaneous, so you don't have to wait.
These kind of "gadgets" are great and safe. You no longer need to worry about traffic ahead of you when entering or exiting a tunnel, going into woods, etc. The visor changes automatically. Clouds appear? The visor becomes clear. You don't even need your sunglasses, unless it's just to look cool.
The USB rechargeable battery will last 20 hours. Price: US$149.99 available in spring this year.
You can view a short video below.
Click here for more information about the Akari AX-11 (or to buy it)
|
Technorati :Gadgets Helmets Motorbikes Motorcycles Safety Sunglasses Visor
|
|
USA
Romania
Netherlands
