Tag Archives: Injury

News

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan Pre-Production Bike Tested by Itchy Boots

Itchy Boots, a moto traveler and YouTuber, recently made it to Ladakh in the northernmost part of India after a brief delay caused by an injury. While on her travels, she took the opportunity to test ride a pre-production 2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 or 452. Although the exact naming convention is still up for debate, the bike is set to be officially launched in November.

Currently, Itchy Boots hasn’t been provided with any official specifications for the bike and has agreed to withhold her full riding impressions until later in her series. However, she does share some important observations about the bike in the video.

The video provides a comprehensive look at the bike and offers more insights than the previously released teaser images. The graphic scheme on the pre-production bike is the same as the one seen in the photos and has received positive reviews. The tank design is curvier and chunkier compared to the previous Himalayan model.

The cockpit features a single large, round gauge that displays all the essential rider information. Unlike previous models, the Tripper Navigation system is now integrated into the main gauge. The navigation section takes up about two-thirds of the screen, while the rest displays speed, gear indicator, and tachometer. It’s uncertain whether the gauge is configurable to suit individual preferences.

The new Himalayan’s single-cylinder engine delivers an impressive sound. Although Itchy Boots can’t disclose the exact power, she mentions that it feels more powerful than the previous model. As someone who has extensively traveled on a first-gen Royal Enfield Himalayan, she is well-suited to test the new bike’s capabilities. She also notes that the suspension handles the weight of both herself and her luggage well on the mountain roads, including paved and off-road sections.

We eagerly await Itchy Boots’ further adventures with this bike and her real-world performance assessment. Meanwhile, enjoy the clear sound of the engine thumping away in the video.

Cars

The Risks of Quiet Electric Cars: A Danger for Pedestrians

According to the “Headphone use and pedestrian injury and death in the United States: 2004–2011” study published in Injury Prevention, Richard Lichenstein et al provide alarming information about the dangers posed by silent electric cars. During the study period, 116 pedestrians wearing headphones were killed, with over half of them being hit by trains. Shockingly, 29% of these fatalities occurred even after an audible warning was given. This highlights the need to protect individuals who are deaf, hearing impaired, blind, or visually impaired from the risks of these quiet vehicles, as failure to sense approaching cars can have fatal consequences.

Various electric cars may not be completely silent while in motion, but compared to the noisy vehicles on our roads, they are significantly quieter. Recognizing this, lawmakers came up with a brilliant and life-saving solution: Just as natural gas is infused with a foul-smelling substance called mercaptan to quickly detect potential gas leaks, electric vehicles should be equipped with intentional sounds and sensors to make them more audible.

In response, the European Union implemented legislation in July 2019 to address this issue. Known as Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of Quiet Road Transport Vehicles with Regard to their Reduced Audibility, this regulation requires electric cars in the E.U. to have an Acoustic Vehicle Alert System. As reported by New Atlas, this system produces a continuous noise of at least 56 decibels when the vehicle is traveling at 20 km/h (12 mph) or slower.