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News

Nine out of ten councils don’t plan to extend parking bay sizes

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Fewer than 1-in-10 UK councils (8.2%) have plans to extend the dimensions of their parking bays, even supposing automobiles are getting greater – that’s based on information completely obtained by Autocar. 

Data from a Freedom of Information request reveals drivers of bigger automobiles will discover it more and more onerous to park their automobile with out risking punishment if the present pattern of rising automobile dimensions continues. 

Analysing how the sizes of a few of the UK’s hottest fashions have modified since 2018, Autocar in contrast the sizes of a pattern of 27 automobiles offered within the UK. It discovered that they had elevated in size by a median of 97.6mm (3.8 inches). 

The automobile within the pattern which has grown probably the most is the Peugeot 208, which is sort of 580mm (22.8in) longer than it was in 2018. 

The BMW 7 Series has grown practically a foot longer, which means it’s too lengthy for the overwhelming majority of parking areas within the UK.

Standard off-street parking bays measure 2.40 metres broad by 4.80 metres lengthy, and 7 out of the highest 10 best-selling automobile manufacturers within the UK final 12 months produce automobiles that exceed this size.

To make issues worse, 5 UK councils already impose most size restrictions on autos, placing the drivers of many big-selling fashions vulnerable to receiving fines when utilizing council-run amenities. 

Of the 287 councils that responded to Autocar’s request, 1.7% expressly ban automobiles exceeding a selected size, starting from as little as 5.00 metres as much as 5.35 metres. 

That means fashions together with the Tesla Model X, Mercedes S Class and Range Rover are unparkable in council-run amenities in Wokingham, South Hams, and Broadland and South Norfolk.

Since 2018, Autocar discovered that councils have issued greater than 357,000 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for automobiles parked exterior marked bays since 2018, raking in additional than £8m over this era.

News

Newey to complete RB17 hypercar earlier than leaving Red Bull

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Asked if the RB17 was step one in the direction of Red Bull changing into a totally fledged street automotive producer, Horner mentioned: “It’s the start of a journey. It’s an interesting starting point for us. You can never say ‘never’, but certainly this is a halo project for us.”

As probably the most modern F1 designer of his technology, one with 10 constructor championship titles throughout three groups to his title, Newey launched varied novelties to the game.

Asked if the RB17 will characteristic Newey specialities akin to a ‘blown diffuser’, Gray mentioned: “We internally generally confer with [the RB17] as ‘Adrian’s biggest hits’. There’s a variety of issues that individuals will recognise… He’s continually innovated on [this] automobile and he’s concerned in just about each side of design and engineering.

“Everyone looks at Adrian as an aerodynamicist by trade, but he’s also involved in everything from wheels, tyres, suspension, brakes, all the way through to engine.”

In a subsequent interview Newey expanded on the listing, telling Autocar, “It will be a skirted car, so flexible skirts – because we can – and clearly large ground effect tunnels, active suspension as it could be driven on circuits that aren’t as smooth as [F1 tracks] and we’re trying to avoid having very stiff suspension.“It will also have exhaust blowing, all the tricks that we’ve learned [in F1], in other words.”

News

Honda e:Ny1 set to be renamed at upcoming facelift

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Honda is altering the naming of its electric cars after prospects discovered the e:N badging too troublesome to pronounce.

The Japanese model unveiled the brand new naming system on the Beijing motor show, beginning with the Ye P7 large SUV that can go on sale in China later this yr.

Honda UK imports its sole EV, the e:Ny1 small SUV, from China, the place the e:N naming conference comes from, and the identify can be modified when the automotive is facelifted, a supply near Honda mentioned.

“Customers in China just can’t pronounce it,” the supply instructed Autocar.

The replace, anticipated subsequent yr, will even incorporate a few of the design options of the P7, together with the illuminated Honda badge, the supply mentioned.

In China, Honda makes use of both the e:NS1 or e:NP1 name for its small electrical SUV, relying on whether or not the automotive is made by its three way partnership with Dongfeng or that with GAC, whereas in Europe it makes use of e:Ny1.

Under the brand new naming scheme, Honda in China has stored the P and S letters relying on which three way partnership builds the automotive, which means it may in Europe rename the automotive the Y1.

Keeping the Y factor would additionally keep away from awkward conversions with McLaren or Audi if utilizing the P1 or S1 identify.

Audi has been very protecting of its naming system, final yr forcing Chinese EV maker Nio to vary the identify of its ES6 and ES8 SUVs on the idea that they sounded an excessive amount of like S6 and S8.

The new P7/S7 is the primary of Honda’s new Ye Series vehicles, primarily based on a newly developed EV-specific platform. Honda has mentioned it can launch a complete of 10 new EVs in China by 2027.

The separate EV branding is a part of a method by Honda in China to maneuver its model upmarket within the change to electrical in an effort to raised compete amid a brutal worth battle. 

The change to the brand new naming and design language got here too late for the brand new e:NS2 mid-size hatchback, which has simply gone on sale in China at ¥159,800 (£17,700) – a worth so low-cost that Honda loses the equal of £5500 per automotive, the supply mentioned. 

The e:NS2, which may doubtlessly comply with the e:Ny1 to Europe, has a 68.8kWh battery pack for a CLTC vary of 339 miles.

Honda sells the e:Ny1 within the UK from £39,995, though it has been giving heavy reductions (presently £3000, with finance at simply 1.9% APR) in an effort to hit its ZEV mandate goal for 2024.

News

Official: Adrian Newey to depart Red Bull

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Red Bull Racing design guru Adrian Newey, whose vehicles have dominated Formula 1 for many years, will go away the squad within the first quarter of subsequent yr – and he’ll spend his remaining months with the agency ending its deliberate RB17 hypercar.

The 65-year-old joined the power drinks large’s Formula 1 squad in 2006 and has been instrumental in its rise to turning into one of many sport’s main outfits. During his 19 years with Red Bull, the squad has claimed seven drivers’ championships, six constructors’ titles and 117 victories.

Newey is not immediately employed as a part of the Red Bull Racing operation however has been chief know-how officer of the Red Bull Technology Group, and since 2014 his transient has been widened to incorporate different initiatives outdoors of F1. That job shift was, partially, to fend off a serious push for Newey’s providers from Ferrari.

As a part of his Red Bull Technology Group position, Newey was concerned within the improvement of the Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar and has since begun work on Red Bull’s first hypercar, named the RB17. That automobile, resulting from be revealed this yr, is a 1250bhp V8 delicate hybrid with a claimed £5 million value and is designed primarily for track-day use.

In a launch asserting Newey’s departure, Red Bull Racing stated he would “step back” from his F1 duties to “focus on final development and delivery” of the RB17 and he’ll “remain involved in and committed to this exciting project until its completion”.

In an announcement, Newey stated it had been “a great honour to have played a key role” in Red Bull’s F1 success, however he added: “I feel now is an opportune moment to hand that baton over to others and to seek new challenges for myself.”

Since becoming a member of Red Bull, Newey has designed a string of title winners for Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. His 2023 automobile is probably the most dominant in F1 historical past. Before becoming a member of the squad, he beforehand designed F1 race and title winners for Williams and McLaren.

Team boss Christian Horner stated: “When Adrian joined Red Bull, he was already a superstar designer. Two decades later, he leaves as a true legend.” Horner added that the RB17 will “be a fitting testament and legacy to his time with us.”

German title Auto Motor und Sport first revealed Newey’s plans to depart Red Bull final week, which the BBC has subsequently reported to be linked to the controversial state of affairs surrounding misconduct allegations in opposition to Horner. Earlier this yr, an investigation cleared Horner of any wrongdoing, though the complainant has since appealed that call.

The state of affairs with Horner is claimed to have sparked an influence wrestle inside Red Bull that has left Newey sad.

Subsequent reviews earlier than Newey’s departure recommend that latest negotiations have targeted on the size of his ‘gardening go away’, though it’s unclear if Newey will pursue one other job or just selected to retire from F1 and give attention to different initiatives and pursuits.

Car review

Used Renault Twizy 2012-2021 evaluate

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A reasonably typical seatbelt, two pedals, two indicator stalks and a wholly regular steering wheel characterise a driving setting that may make the Renault Twizy really feel fairly acquainted.

This can be true have been it not for the central driving place and for the truth that – even with the non-obligatory scissor doorways of our check automobile lowered – the cockpit by no means feels remotely enclosed.

A excessive driving place makes for good all-round visibility. But most testers agreed that they felt as in the event that they have been driving on the Twizy moderately than driving in it. It’s an impression underlined by the air speeding into the cabin the place typical home windows would possibly in any other case be, and on a cold day at cruising speeds it makes you conscious about the shortage of any cabin heating.

The Twizy gives its driver as a lot room as any supermini. Its controls are simple to make use of and the digital speedometer, journey pc and battery meter are clear. 

The inside plastics are hardy sufficient and simple to wipe clear – necessary provided that there’s no solution to shield them from rain and street grime – however they do really feel low cost, reminding you extra of the cubbies and fittings on a mass-market bike than these of a up to date automobile. 

Ironically, a giant bike would possibly provide extra storage than the Twizy. The principal cubby – a 31-litre field behind the rear seat – is fiddly to open and difficult to entry and would barely accommodate a small purchasing bag.

Although it might be a a lot safer and extra energy-efficient technique of getting across the metropolis, the Twizy barely appears to supply any extra practicality than a giant scooter. 

On the gear entrance, the usual Twizy acquired disc brakes, an digital engine immobiliser, regenerative braking, day-time-running lights, and a driver’s airbag included, whereas Expression trim added a digital drive and speedo show, a lockable rear cupboard space and heated windscreen.

The range-topping Dynamique mannequin gained flooring mats, alloy wheels and a selection of 14 color collections, whereas these wanting to make use of their Twizy as a industrial automobile can achieve this with the Cargo mannequin, which eliminated the rear seat and changed it with further cupboard space.

Technology

Why Russia Still Uses Armored Military Trains Today

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Russia’s war in Ukraine has confirmed expensive in males and materiel, with purported tank losses close to 3,000 alone. Therefore, it comes as no shock that Russia would use what it already has, together with armored trains. These trains are completely fitted to the well-established railways that run all through the nation, together with these from the Luhansk area all the way down to Crimea. Two Russian armored trains that noticed service in Ukraine, the Baikal and the Amur, beforehand served within the Southern Military District as of 2015. They have been dusted off after relative inactivity to move automobiles and personnel, and to restore broken railways. In August 2016, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu used these similar trains in operations associated to the Donbas War.

Russia deployed two extra high-tech armored trains to Ukraine theater known as the Yenisei in 2022 and the Volga in 2023. These trains are manned by Railway Troops, who, in keeping with the TASS information company, have been the “first in the zone of a special operation in Ukraine to launch drones for surveillance without stopping the train.” These trains are outfitted with heavy 20 mm metal armor and an assortment of weaponry and missiles together with 23 mm anti-aircraft weapons, machine weapons, anti-tank missiles and smoke grenades, and might be configured as wanted.

Desktops

Will Apple Release A New M3 Or M4 Mac Mini In 2024? Here’s What We Know

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Just just like the earlier iterations of the M collection processors, the M4 technology can even spawn a number of variations for various kind components and workflow calls for. At the second, Apple is alleged to be nearing ultimate work on at the very least three variations of the M4 household. The baseline mannequin is codenamed Donan, whereas mid-tier fashions – supposedly the Pro and Max trims – are being developed beneath the Brava moniker. The strongest configuration that can probably arrive beneath the M4 Ultra branding, is internally going by the title Hidra.

As far because the upcoming Mac Mini goes, it will likely be launched in two variations. The entry-level machine will come armed with the baseline M4 variant aka Donan. There can even be extra highly effective trim on the desk that attracts energy from the Brava mannequin probably packing extra CPU and GPU cores. If Apple’s existing line-up is any indication, this configuration will likely be fitted with an M4 Pro processor.

Apple’s launch schedule has been fairly unpredictable currently, but when Bloomberg’s reporting is something to go by, the Mac Mini refresh ought to arrive later this yr or the following. There is little readability about different upgrades, but when we have been to take an informed guess primarily based on the trade requirements, a leap to Bluetooth v5.4 and Wi-Fi 7 will not be out of character. As far as design goes, there is not any purpose to count on any main refinements.

Tools

Makita’s Staple Gun: Everything You Need To Know Before You Buy

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Makita’s 18V LXT Crown Stapler has a user-friendly design that makes it straightforward to function, even if you happen to’re a newbie. Weighing simply 5.3 lb. and that includes a compact construct and a rubberized smooth grip deal with, you should use this device for a very long time with out experiencing the fatigue you’d with heavier and bigger energy instruments. It has loads of helpful options, just like the window on the journal that tells you when you must load extra staples. The staple gun additionally has a depth management knob that may come in useful if you wish to change the driving depth to swimsuit the thickness of the fabric you are utilizing. Additionally, the journal is fabricated from sturdy machined aluminum that makes it straightforward to load staples and ensures clean feeding of the staples with none jams.

When utilizing any energy device, security is essential. Makita is aware of this and has integrated its STAR Protection Computer Controls know-how into the 18V LXT Crown Stapler. This technology, which is exclusive to Makita, protects towards overheating and overloading, enhancing the device’s security whether or not it is plugged in or in use. Furthermore, though this crown stapler is battery-operated, Makita has added a fan to its Rapid Optimum Charger to regulate the temperature of the battery, permitting for quicker and extra environment friendly charging. The device additionally has a three-year restricted guarantee, so must you uncover any manufacturing defects down the road, you possibly can have the device changed or repaired.

Smartphones

How To Remove The Background Of Your Photos On Android

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Julia Neroznak/Getty Images

Since the mixing of cameras into cellular gadgets, it has turn into second nature to take photographs along with your cellphone as a substitute of the usual devoted digicam. It’s merely extra handy, particularly for 2 causes. One, you’ve got your gadget with you virtually 24/7, making capturing the second as straightforward as grabbing a cellphone out of your bag. Plus, built-in cameras on cellular gadgets are getting an increasing number of superior by the minute, so getting high-quality photos with simply your cellphone is already a given.

But on high of snapping nice photographs, cell phones are additionally greater than able to modifying them immediately. No extra transferring to your laptop or shopping for an costly desktop photograph editor app. This is usually a lifesaver, notably for easy duties like eradicating the background of your photographs, say for an ID image or advertising and marketing materials. Sure, you may at all times take away the background of your photographs on Windows, Mac, and another desktop, but it surely’s extra sensible to do this on the go. Many of the perfect Android telephones can already do that, just like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Google Pixel 8 Pro. But, in case you have a cellphone that does not, or if you wish to attempt completely different instruments, listed below are six methods to erase your photographs’ background on Android.

Use Microsoft Designer

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Microsoft Designer is a free graphic design app that helps you create AI-generated photos and designs in your social media posts, birthday greetings, and different wants. While it is an AI image generator at its core, it additionally options different photograph modifying instruments like a picture background remover. Here’s learn how to use this instrument to erase the background in your photographs on Android:

  1. Download the beta app of Microsoft Designer from the Google Play Store.
  2. Enter your Microsoft account e-mail and password to register. If you do not have an account but, press “Create one now” to take action.
  3. On the app’s dwelling web page, scroll all the way down to the Edit with AI part.
  4. Select Remove Background.
  5. Give Microsoft Designer entry to your photographs and media.
  6. Find the photograph you wish to take away the background of.
  7. Tap on Remove Background. The AI will then analyze your picture and mechanically erase what it thinks is the background.
  8. To add extra aptitude to your background-less photograph, choose the pen icon on the underside left. You can then add media, textual content, or graphics to your picture by tapping on the corresponding choices. You can even choose “Ideas” to see graphic designs you may wish to create along with your photograph. To obtain the edited image, press the share icon within the higher proper and choose Save.
  9. If you are proud of the preliminary outcome and need not edit the picture additional, choose Share > Save. You can even choose to share the photograph through your favourite social media apps.

Use this Canva workaround

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The BG Remover instrument is certainly one of everybody’s well-loved features on Canva. Unfortunately, it is locked behind a subscription, so solely Pro customers get to get pleasure from it. If you favor to not shell out $15 a month simply to erase the background in your photos, there’s really a hidden workaround you are able to do to get a free model of the background remover instrument nonetheless inside Canva. Simply comply with these steps:

  1. Download Canva from the Play Store.
  2. Open the app.
  3. Sign in along with your Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Clever, or e-mail account.
  4. Tap the hamburger icon on the higher left to open the menu.
  5. Go to Apps > Apps.
  6. Search for “background eraser.”
  7. Tap the primary outcome (one with the goat picture).
  8. Press Use in new design.
  9. Select your required measurement from the predefined choices or enter a customized measurement.
  10. In the Background Eraser panel on the left, faucet Choose file.
  11. Upload your picture.
  12. Hit Remove background to proceed.

After the background is eliminated, your edited photograph will mechanically be pasted on the clean canvas. Adjust the scale by dragging the corners and sides of the picture. You can even mess around with Canva’s different useful modifying instruments, comparable to filters, results, sensible crop, and components (e.g., stickers, photographs, graphics).

Adobe Creative Cloud may also help

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If you employ Photoshop, Lightroom, or another Adobe merchandise, you then’re in all probability already conversant in Creative Cloud. It’s a one-stop store for all issues Adobe, offering you with quick access to browse and obtain apps, view your cloud information, and uncover complete tutorials on learn how to use Adobe’s suite of instruments. But on high of this, Creative Cloud comes full with easy photograph modifying options too, certainly one of which is a background remover. Follow these steps to erase your picture’s background on Creative Cloud:

  1. Get Adobe Creative Cloud from the Play Store.
  2. Launch the app.
  3. Under Quick actions on the Home tab, faucet on Remove background.
  4. Choose the photograph it is advisable edit out of your native storage.
  5. Press Upload to proceed. Your picture shall be uploaded to Creative Cloud, and the background elimination course of will begin mechanically. While that is ongoing, you may see a progress indicator circling the cloud icon within the top-right nook of the display.
  6. Once the modifying is full, press Review on the notification that pops up. This will open the edited picture. If, nonetheless, you by accident closed the notification, you may nonetheless entry the edited photograph by tapping on the cloud icon on the high.
  7. To save the photograph to your native storage, merely hit Save.

CapCut isn’t just for movies

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CapCut is everybody’s go-to app for making and modifying TikTook movies, YouTube reels, and different short-form video content material, but it surely’s additionally surprisingly helpful for modifying photos. To use CapCut to take away the background of your photographs, this is what it is advisable do:

  1. Install CapCut in your Android gadget if you have not already.
  2. Open the app.
  3. Go to the Edit tab.
  4. Press Expand on the high of the display to view extra modifying instruments.
  5. Tap Remove background from the choices.
  6. Pick the photograph you wish to edit.
  7. Hit Edit on the underside proper of the display. CapCut will then spotlight the objects it should retain with a inexperienced overlay.
  8. To get a greater view of the chosen objects, long-press the preview icon on the bottom-right of the picture. This will present you the photograph with out the background.
  9. If CapCut missed marking some spots you favor to incorporate within the picture, press Quick choose on the backside. Adjust the comb measurement and spotlight the specified areas. Long-press the preview icon once more to test whether or not you’ve got chosen all of the supposed areas.
  10. If CapCut selects some objects you do not wish to be included within the remaining picture, press Eraser. Change the comb measurement to get an correct choice earlier than clearing the undesirable areas. Long-press the preview icon to confirm any areas you may need missed.
  11. (Optional) Tap Edit extra to open CapCut’s photograph editor, the place you may add a stable coloration background to your photograph, apply stickers, and alter the picture measurement.
  12. Once you are proud of the output, hit Export on the high to avoid wasting the picture to your gadget.

Use PhotoRoom

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With over 50 million downloads and two million critiques on the Play Store, PhotoRoom is slowly changing into one of many high AI-powered photograph editors on the market. Among its fashionable options is the background remover, which is notably straightforward to make use of and accessible at no cost even to non-PRO subscribers. Here’s a fast step-by-step information on learn how to use PhotoRoom to take away the background in your photos on Android:

  1. Install PhotoRoom in your gadget.
  2. Launch PhotoRoom.
  3. On the welcome web page, press Continue.
  4. Answer the onboarding questions.
  5. When you get to the “Start from a photo” display, faucet on Select a photograph.
  6. Allow the mandatory permissions.
  7. Choose a picture out of your storage or faucet on Camera to snap a brand new photograph as a substitute. PhotoRoom will then erase its background immediately.
  8. Hit Start creating to proceed to the photograph editor.
  9. Drag the picture to your required spot on the canvas.
  10. Zoom in or out of the picture to resize it. Make positive to not overlap it with the PhotoRoom watermark to make it simpler to take away later.
  11. (Optional) Edit the picture as you please by inserting one other photograph, overlaying textual content, and including a stable coloration or photograph background.
  12. Once you are happy with the outcomes, choose Export > Save to Gallery.
  13. To take away the PhotoRoom watermark at no cost, open the picture in Google Photos. Then, go to Edit > Crop and drag the nook till you get the watermark out of the body. Finally, save the cropped photograph. Alternatively, you may simply subscribe to the PRO model of PhotoRoom to delete the watermark simply.

Try Remove Background by Pixlr

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You in all probability use, or on the very least, heard concerning the free Android photo editor app Pixlr. It’s a fantastic instrument for making collages, smoothing photographs, and including types like borders and stickers. It additionally proves helpful for eradicating the background of your photos on Android, though its background remover function really is available in a separate app: Remove Background by Pixlr. Here’s learn how to use it:

  1. Get Remove Background by Pixlr put in in your cellphone.
  2. Open the app.
  3. On the house display, choose Background.
  4. Press Allow Access to present the app permission to entry your media.
  5. Pick the photograph it is advisable erase the background of. You can batch edit as much as ten photographs.
  6. Press Select within the higher proper nook to start out the background elimination course of.
  7. If you wish to edit the thing choice:
    1. Tap on the photograph.
    2. Press Edit Cutout.
    3. Change the scale of your brush for extra precision.
    4. Select Reveal to mark areas of the photographs you wish to preserve within the remaining picture.
    5. Tap Erase to delete components of the preliminary choice. These areas shall be eliminated together with the background.
    6. To evaluate your edits, press the Preview button.
    7. Continue marking the areas till you are happy.
    8. Hit the checkmark to avoid wasting your new choice.
    9. Press the again button to return to the editor display.
  8. Crop the thing to recenter or enlarge it. Go to the Crop tab and choose your most well-liked cropped photograph from the choices.
  9. Save the picture by urgent the obtain icon within the higher proper nook and tapping Save to Photos. Alternatively, choose Share to share the picture to Facebook, Gmail, and your different apps.
Exclusives, Motorcycles

How Much HP Does The Harley-Davidson Low Rider S Have? What To Know Before You Buy

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Gone is the quirky tank-mounted gauge pod of the previous Low Rider S. Instead, Harley-Davidson gave the brand new mannequin a four-inch instrument panel mounted on the handlebar riser, and it now has a digital speedometer and an analog tachometer to make it simpler to look in any respect the required data with out taking your eyes utterly off the street forward.

Meanwhile, the mid-mounted foot pegs and moto handlebars mounted to four-inch risers allow an upright, straight-backed using stance. The new Low Rider S additionally has an inverted fork (with a triple-rate spring) and a taller rear coil-over mono shock with a 56 mm stroke that unlocks barely extra floor clearance and an elevated lean angle (about 1.2 levels extra).

The anchors encompass twin four-piston entrance and two-piston rear calipers that seize on seven-spoke floating rotors. The Harley Low Rider S additionally comes commonplace with anti-lock braking, traction management, LED excessive/low beam headlights, and an LED Zeppelin (get it?) taillight design.

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