Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/637230
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 7 FEBRUARY 2016 42 Motorcycles ONE of the ways to beat the traffic in big cities everywhere is to own a motorbike and make your way past those cars stuck in traffic jams. In cities like Bangkok you can even take a motorbike taxi, hop on behind the driver and make your way through the traffic congestion in a fraction of the time it would take a normal taxi. Malta has become like one small traffic congested city. With complaints about the alarming state of the road traffic prob- lems, coupled with complaints of commuters of what's be- come quite a pathetic attempt at a public transport system, motorbike ownership has its attractions. The government is also concerned with the state of affairs and is considering ways of easing the traffic problem. In the 2016 budget, for instance, the government introduced a number of measures in an attempt to start relieving the problem. In theory one would need to shift a proportion of those people currently using privately owned vehicles to other modes of transport. These could be the use of the public transport services on land and at sea or the use of two-wheeled vehicles such as motorbikes and bicy- cles. This would not only assist in hastening the flow of traffic but also contribute to cleaner air. As a policy the government waived the need for a separate licence to drive a motorbike with engines up to 125cc. Anyone with a driving licence can drive these kind of motorbikes, subject to undergoing a 10 hour training course. Among the measures in the 2016 budget, the road licence fees for these motorbikes has been reduced to €10 and the registration tax for electric motorcycles was removed. However, motorbike owners are justifiably concerned about safety on the roads. A number of them have been injured and even lost their lives on the roads. Unfortunately car drivers have little respect for those rid- ing two wheelers. The road au- thorities need to embark on an education campaign for drivers to allow space for motorcycle and bicycle drivers and keep an eye out for these vehicles which may be overtaking them. The sale of motorcycles and bicycles is on the rise in the country. With the incentives being offered these sales are expected to increase and this is good news to everyone living on this congested island. If the government is actively promoting the use of two wheel vehicles to ease traffic conges- tions, it must also, at the same time, improve safety for these drivers. During his budget speech, the Minister of Finance said that Transport Malta would be launching a campaign focus- ing on road safety, specifically in regard to motorcycle users' safety. That is not enough, however. Road authorities also need to plan now for increased use of two-wheeled vehicles and redesign the flow of traffic on our road systems to accommo- date their use and provide their users a safer road environment. The location of manhole covers, junction design, fuel spills, use of bus lanes and basic road maintenance programmes all have a direct effect on the safety of motorcycle users. Road designers are not known to take the needs of motorcycle and bicycle users in consid- eration. This needs to change quickly. The higher use of these vehicles is not the whole solu- tion to traffic problems but it can certainly be an important part of the solution and we need to invest in these improvements. It's a responsibility that just can't be shrugged off. Low Rider S and CVP Pro Street Breakout are Harley-Davidson's latest models HARLEY-DAVIDSON® is adding up two new models to the already impressive 2016 line-up. The Low Rider S is the most-powerful regular-production Dyna Harley- Davidson has ever offered with customer-inspired styling that is raw and dark. The CVO Pro Street Breakout with its drag-racer influence pairs Harley-Davidson's incredible cruiser performance with the pres- tige that only a Harley-Davidson CVO motorcycle can offer. In addition to these exciting new models, Harley-Davidson® is offering new Parts, Accessories and General Merchandise to give customers more options to per- sonalize these new models. Powered by the Screamin' Eagle® Twin Cam 110™ engine, the Low Rider S model joins the recently released Fat Boy® S and Softail Slim® S models as the third member of Harley- Davidson's S Series cruiser lineup, bikes designed to deliver maximum performance with styl- ing inspired by global custom motorcycle culture. Upgraded suspension and brakes complete the performance package of a motorcycle that's stripped down and ready for action. Those essential elements begin with the powertrain. The Scream- in' Eagle Twin Cam 110 engine is a powerhouse V-Twin and the largest-displacement engine Harley-Davidson installs at the factory. Equipped with a Scream- in' Eagle® Heavy Breather performance intake and Fat Bob- style 2-into-2 exhaust, this engine pounds out 115 foot pounds of peak torque at 3500 rpm – 13 percent more power than the standard Low Rider model. A heavy-duty clutch delivers that power to a 6-speed Cruise Drive® transmission. Cruise control ena- bled by electronic throttle control is standard equipment. The entire powertrain and exhaust is finished in a combination of gloss black and wrinkle black powdercoat. The Low Rider S model is equipped to be as maneuverable as it is powerful. Premium Ride nitrogen gas-charged emulsion shocks and a Premium Ride cartridge fork deliver exceptional handling and comfort. Front and rear suspension components react quickly to small bumps and keep the tyres in contact with the road surface for confident, control- led handling and braking perform- ance. Triple disc brakes with dual floating front rotors are equipped with standard Anti-Lock Braking System. A new solo seat, flat drag bar on 5.5-inch-tall risers and mid-mount controls put the rider in an aggressive hands-up position square over the pegs. Seat height remains low, at 26.6 inches. The rider views the road over a distinctive speed screen that gives the Low Rider S motorcycle instant identity on road. The solo seat and chopped rear fender keep the rear end unclut- tered. Because no other colour makes a statement like black, the Low Rider S is offered only with Vivid Black on the sheet metal. Other black finishes maintain the dark theme from the forks to the console to the rear fender struts. The single exception: new Mag- num Gold lightweight cast-alumi- num wheels, a finish inspired by the gold-tone magnesium wheels used on race cars in the 1960s. A gold tank badge pays homage to the 1977 XLCR Café Racer model. The 2016 CVO™ Pro Street Breakout® motorcycle is a limited- production model that intro- duces a new, darker look utilizing cutting-edge finishes and textures applied with an obsessive eye to design and detail. Steeped in drag-racing attitude, the CVO Pro Street combines high-intensity performance with a long, mus- cular look that's pure American street machine. Scorched Chrome, a second new finish debuting on the CVO Pro Street Breakout, plates the Aggressor custom wheels. Restyled derby and timing covers have a new, mechanical look. Sheet metal is finished in solid Starfire Black or two-tone White Gold Pearl/Starfire Black, each with a single hand-applied graphic stripe flowing along the tank and rear fender to reinforce the per- formance theme of the CVO Pro Street Breakout. That performance is delivered by the Screamin' Eagle® Twin Cam 110B™, the most-potent Harley-Davidson production air-cooled engine. To extract maximum performance the Motorbikes could ease traffic problems