Protect My Car Reviews, Cost, Coverage, & Service (2021)

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Protect My Car Review

In Our Opinion:

Protect My Car reviews indicate this company has a positive reputation for customer service, various maintenance plan options, and fair rates for extended car warranties.

Industry Standing

Coverage

Affordability

Customer Service

Pros

Oil changes and tire rotations included

Warranty and maintenance combo plans available

Long payment terms

Options for older vehicles

Cons

Not available in AK, CA, HI, MO, OK, or WA

Not available for vehicles older than 10 years

4.5

Best Maintenance Benefits

Protect My Car has underwritten extended car warranty plans for over 16 years. The provider is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, but administers vehicle service contracts in almost every state, and Protect My Car reviews are generally positive.

Below, we’ll take a close look at the extended service contract provider’s coverage, average costs, claims process, and customer service. To find the right plan for your vehicle, we suggest getting a quote from Protect My Car, as well as from a few of the best extended car warranty companies.

 

Best Maintenance Benefits

Get Quote (888) 430-0227 Its Ambassador Maintenance Plan guarantees 25-50% off repairs, plus covered oil changes

 

Protect My Car Highlights

Protect My Car is known for having some of the best maintenance benefits for extended auto warranty coverage. We rate this provider 4.5 out of a possible 5.0 stars, putting Protect My Car in third place alongside CarShield and autopom!.

Protect My Car extended warranties are available in every state other than Alaska, California, Hawaii, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Washington.

If you’re looking for a provider with good customer service and comprehensive coverage at affordable rates, Protect My Car might be a good fit for you. The Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX review found that both companies perform very well with customers.

Protect My Car Coverage

Protect My Car offers customers three coverage plans for peace of mind: Supreme, Select, and Driveline. Low-mileage vehicles qualify for the Supreme plan, the most inclusive of the three warranty plans. Owners of high-mileage or older cars should consider the Select or Driveline plan.

Here’s a breakdown of coverage for each plan:

Details	Driveline Plan	Select Plan	Supreme Plan
Best Plan For:	New or low-mileage vehicles	Vehicles over 50,000 miles that don’t qualify for Supreme coverage	Vehicles 4 to 10 years old with over 80,000 miles
Comparable Type of Coverage	Bumper-to-bumper warranty	Highest level of stated-component coverage	Powertrain coverage
Maximum Length of Coverage	5 years/100,000 miles	Varies	5 years/125,000 miles
Engine	?	?	?
Transmission	?	?	?
Drive Axle	?	?	?
Differential Assembly	?	?	?
Cooling System	?	?	?
Air Conditioning and Heating	?	?	?
Electrical	?	?	?
Timing Chain	?	?	?
Front and Rear Suspension		?	?
Select Brake System Components		?	?
Turbo Charger			?
Navigation			Varies

 

You can also find sample contracts online, which bodes well for the company’s transparency. 

Additional Benefits

Benefits that come with every Protect My Car extended warranty include:

• Tire rotations
• Free oil changes
• 24/7 roadside assistance
• Rental car reimbursement
• Towing to a licensed repair facility

Protect My Car offers above-average benefits and a 30-day money-back guarantee for customers who wish to cancel policies. 

Warranty & Maintenance Combination Plans

Protect My Car also has Ambassador Maintenance Plans that provide vehicle service coverage to cars no longer eligible for a traditional extended warranty. Ambassador Plans come in three levels of coverage: Ambassador Platinum, Ambassador Elite, and Ambassador Pro. According to Protect My Car reviews, these plans are one of the reasons why many drivers prefer the provider for maintenance.

Ambassador Platinum: Covers most major components of your car after a 25% deductible and includes roadside assistance.

Ambassador Elite: Covers most major components of your car after a 50% deductible and includes roadside assistance.

Ambassador Pro: Covers most major components of your car after a 50% deductible, but leaves off roadside assistance.

The plans cover most car essentials, however, none cover navigation systems. Ambassador Platinum and Ambassador Elite both come with roadside assistance, but the Ambassador Pro plan does not.

Some benefits to all Ambassador policies by Protect My Car include:

• Flat tire service
• Lockout services
• Rental car reimbursement
• Free oil changes and tire rotations
• Guaranteed 25 to 50% off repairs

Ambassador Plan Exclusions

These benefits are impressive, but the Ambassador Policy does not cover every auto repair. Some items that the Ambassador plan won’t cover include:

• Rotors
• Brake pads
• Spark plugs
• Wear and tear items

Protect My Car includes tire rotations and oil changes in its extended warranty plans – a rare bonus.

Cost of Protect My Car Coverage Plans

Our research team found that Supreme coverage from Protect My Car costs about $58 to $96 a month for four years of coverage. There is also sometimes a down payment for activating coverage, ranging from $50 to $100. 

Flexible payment plans are available and break up the overall pricing of Protect My Car extended warranties into somewhere between 36 and 48 different installments.

Based on our research, extended car warranty coverage costs about $636 per year of coverage, but monthly payments can vary significantly. Protect My Car quotes we received were higher than average compared to other providers.

All Protect My Car plans come with a $100 deductible, which is the price you’ll pay the repair shop when you bring your car in for a covered repair. The company will then cover the rest of your repair costs.

Protect My Car Quotes & Claims

To get a quote from Protect My Car, call 888-430-0227 or head to the quote tool at the bottom of this article. Protect My Car also has an online quote tool that can get you in touch with a customer service representative.

When you need to file a claim, Protect My Car reviews suggest that it can be pretty difficult to get coverage approved. This is somewhat concerning, since the entire point of an extended warranty is to protect your vehicle in times of trouble.

Call roadside assistance if you need a tow or other mechanical work that can be conducted roadside. After that, take your car to a licensed repair facility of your choice, which will reach out to the provider for payment. Protect My Car reviews show that mechanics have had trouble getting in touch with the company, though.

Protect My Car Reviews

Despite having been in business for over 16 years, Protect My Car reviews don’t reflect the company’s long history. Protect My Car is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), though it does have an A+ rating. Protect My Car has over 600 customer reviews on the BBB, rating the company an average of 4.56 stars. The provider also boasts a 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot.

Positive Protect My Car Reviews

Positive Protect My Car reviews on the BBB detail the company’s knowledgeable customer service representatives and great coverage options.

“I have really enjoyed the service I have received from Protect My Car. They have been prompt and respectful, and really helpful when I need them. They have also made it so easy for the mechanic to get paid without delay.” – Jesse via Trustpilot

“Quality customer service as well as reasonable coverage and claim approval process. I have saved approximately $500 on repairs in the last two years, as well as a heightened peace of mind.” – Chethan Lai via Google Reviews

Negative Protect My Car Reviews

Negative Protect My Car reviews detail trouble getting coverage for car repairs under warranty, difficulty getting a prorated refund upon cancellation, and complaints by mechanics having trouble getting claims approved.

“I have been dealing with this company for 7 years, and every time I have my car repaired, they find an excuse to deny the claim. They are nearly impossible to get on the phone, and when you finally do, invariably they disconnect you.” – Dave L via BBB

“Not worth the price or the frustration. There is no communication or follow-up with the dealership or the customer. Every time you call, you’re placed on hold for half an hour before they disconnect you. Out of my $5,000 bill, they covered less than $1,000.” – City Island Physical Therapy via Google Reviews

A mix of positive and negative customer reviews is to be expected with any extended car warranty company. Protect My Car reviews are largely positive and speak to an above-average customer service experience.

Conclusion: Maintenance Coverage May Be Worth The Extra Cost

Protect My Car offers comprehensive extended warranty coverage at average prices. However, your plan includes oil changes and tire rotations, which are rarely included in vehicle service contracts. These perks may be what increases the overall cost of coverage.

Protect My Car reviews largely favor the business and point toward the company’s positive business practices and excellent customer service reputation.

We recommend getting quotes from Protect My Car and other reputable extended car warranty companies. This way, you can compare quotes to make sure you’re paying the best rates for the most comprehensive coverage. Drivers looking for the best extended car warranty protection should also check out our Endurance warranty review, CARCHEX review, and CarShield review.

Featured Extended Warranty Companies

We reviewed the industry’s top extended auto warranty providers, and here are our featured picks. 

Best Overall	Best for Used Cars	Low-Cost Plans
Endurance	CARCHEX	Select Auto Protect
Get Quote	Get Quote	Get Quote
(866) 990-3410	(866) 950-7122	(860) 294-4933

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Protect My Car legit?

Yes, Protect My Car reviews reveal that the company is a reputable provider backed by high BBB and Trustpilot customer reviews. In our extended car warranty review, we gave Protect My Car 4.5 stars overall.

How much does Protect My Car cost?

Extended car warranty prices depend on your vehicle make, mileage, and age. Based on our research, Protect My Car’s Supreme Plan costs about $58 to $96 a month for four years of coverage. Compared to other car warranty providers, Protect My Car’s costs are about average.

How does Protect My Car work?

Protect My Car offers standard extended car warranties as well as maintenance-warranty combination plans. If a mechanical breakdown occurs, Protect My Car covers the repair bill. You’re only responsible for a deductible and the cost of the contract. If you’ve opted for one of Protect My Car’s combination plans, routine maintenance services are also covered.

Original article: Protect My Car Reviews, Cost, Coverage, & Service (2021)

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Tasty throwback: A beefy XJR1300 from Unikat

The Yamaha XJR1300 is a relic from a bygone age, and we say that with a tinge of regret. It’s a big, brutal muscle bike that unfortunately has no place in today’s highly regulated market.

The hefty, air-cooled inline four still has an ardent fan base in Europe though, despite the engine being a rejigged version of the unit that powered the mid-80s FJ1100. And one of those fans is a Polish rider called Tomek, who commissioned Unikat to build the very solid café racer we’re looking at here.

“Tomek contacted us more than a year ago,” says shop founder Grzegorz Korczak. “He set the level of expectations high: he’s an experienced rider, and owns machines like a Kawasaki Ninja H2.”

This 1999 XJR1300 is not Tomek’s first foray into customizing either, so the design became a collaborative effort with Grzegorz and the Unikat crew in Wrocław. “Tomek had a lot of references, and the design process took some time. He also wanted all of the parts to be top shelf, with no compromise in the design.”

Grzegorz suggested a minimalistic look, and Tomek was happy. Fortunately, he was also happy to wait six months for the wheels to be built in Italy: a man who understands that good things take time.


In this case, the mechanical and custom work took around 400 hours, with another hundred hours assigned to design work, plus subcontractor and project management.


Unikat have refreshed the 16v dohc, 1251cc engine, which in stock form pumped out just under a hundred horsepower. The mods include everything from new piston rings to rebuilt cylinder heads, plus a Stage 3 Dynojet jet kit for the four rebuilt Mikuni carbs.

The intake end is now graced with K&N filters, and there’s a new 4-into-2 exhaust with handmade mufflers and dB killers. Most drivetrain wearables were replaced as well, including the clutch, and power now hits the back wheel via a D.I.D ‘ZVM-X’ black chain.

The suspension gets a huge upgrade, with the complete front end from a Yamaha YZF-R1—including the brakes, which have been treated to EBC parts and a Magura master cylinder.

The shocks were custom-built to Unikat’s spec by Bitubo, and the whole shebang rides on 17-inch Kineo tubeless rims, 3.50 at the front and 6.00 at the back. They’re shod with Pirelli’s super-sticky Diablo Supercorsa SC V3 tires—essentially street-legal track rubber.

Unikat whipped out the grinder and welding gear for the back end, fabricating up a simple but effective new rear loop. The classic humped café-style seat is upholstered in Alcantara, the electrics have been relocated to under the seat, and there’s an LED brake light embedded in the back of the subframe.

The electrics are now juiced by a tiny lithium-ion battery tucked in by the swingarm, which is wired up to discreet LED turn signals, switchgear and a Motoscope speedo from Motogadget. LEDs are at work in the Highsider headlamp and the custom license plate holder too.

The Polish company Womet-Tech supplied a smart fuel tank cap, classy rearsets adapted from a model designed for the R1, plus sporty clip-on bars—which Unikat have finished off with leather grips stitched with blue thread to match the finish on the Kineo wheels.

Touches of the same blue appear on the fuel tank and front fender, but this machine is overwhelmingly black. All the hard parts have been soda blasted, glass blasted, sand blasted or chemically cleaned—and then powder coated, anodized or black galvanized. 




The XJR1300 is a supremely satisfying ride in stock form, with a wall of torque that eventually pushes the factory suspension beyond its limits. Unikat have fixed all the flaws, and added a little extra oomph and a lot more style.

“Giving an impression of the ride goes beyond my writing skills,” says Grzegorz. “The bike is lighter—it feels like it’s around 80 kilos less. And the power raises the wheel at the twist of the wrist.”

It won’t be as fast as Tomek’s supercharged Ninja H2, but in the old school entertainment stakes, we reckon this XJR will give Kawasaki’s tech-laden spaceship a run for its money. And that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?

Unikat Motorworks | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Grzegorz Korczak

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2022 Audi e-tron S & e-tron S Sportback: Three Motors, Torque Vectoring & More Aggressive Styling

The 2022 Audi e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback are arriving at U.S. dealerships promising more of everything. Whereas a standard e-tron SUV and e-tron Sportback have two electric motors, the e-tron S has three: two in the back, one in the front. Three electric motors are suitable for power and torque output, but the new e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback have torque vectoring for a safer and sportier ride.

2022 Audi e-tron S & e-tron Sportback S

Let’s begin with the juicy bits. The e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback are identical vehicles underneath, although the latter has a swoopy, coupe-like roofline. Both come with three electric motors for a combined output of 429 horsepower and 596 lb-ft. of torque. But in boost mode, the motors can churn out 496 horsepower and 718 lb-ft. of torque momentarily, allowing you to rush from zero to 60 mph in a scant 4.3 seconds.

The electric motors sip juice from a 95 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, enough to deliver 208 miles (e-tron S) and 212 miles (e-tron S Sportback) of driving range. Dual charging ports are standard along with a 9.6 kW AC Level 2 charger, but the e-tron S supports up to 150 kW DC fast-charging to replenish the batteries from five to 80 percent in under 30 minutes.

Electric Quattro AWD With Torque Vectoring

The 2022 Audi e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback feature electric quattro AWD with front and rear torque vectoring. In everyday driving, the e-tron S is rear-wheel drive and is motivated by dual electric motors.  However, those two motors operate independently and can spin faster or slower depending on existing driving conditions. And in Dynamic mode, the electric quattro system allows the driver to execute controlled drifts on a closed course.

But when the going gets rough, the single front electric motor comes to life to offer more push and an innovative brake-based torque vectoring system. According to Audi, the system activates in milliseconds to provide more driving confidence in inclement weather or challenging terrain. Keeping everything tidy is a standard adaptive air suspension, 20-inch wheels with all-season tires (larger and wider alloys are available), and six-piston front brake calipers with massive 15.7-inch brake discs.

Sportier Styling

Audi claims its newest e-tron S models are the first to feature wider bodywork than the standard non-S variants. It now has 0.9-inch wider front fenders and updated front and rear bumpers. Also available is Audi’s Digital Matrix LED headlights with 1.3-million pixels to project five special welcome and exit lighting animations. Other features like on-road lane markers and dipping light beams are also possible, but only if stringent and outdated U.S. regulations allow such features to be “unlocked.”

2022 Audi e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback. Both vehicles are manufactured in a certified carbon-neutral plant in Brussels, Belgium. Photo: Audi of America.

Posh Interior

As expected, the 2022 Audi e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback have immaculate interiors and a bevy of advanced features. Both vehicles come standard with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (Audi virtual cockpit) and dual-screen MMI displays, including a 10.1-inch upper and 8.6-inch lower central display screen. Also standard are diamond-stitched Valcona leather sport seats, 3D satellite navigation, predictive traffic light information, a top view camera, and an integrated toll module.

Safety Features

On the safety front, the e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback have traffic sign recognition, active lane assist, active turn assist, adaptive cruise control, Audi pre-sense front, and an Audi phonebox with a signal booster.  

Audi Warranty & Maintenance

The Audi e-tron SUV has a five-year/50,000-mile limited warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty, although Audi has yet to announce if the same guarantees apply to its newest e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback. Depending on how much you drive, it might be worth investing in additional warranty coverage. This comprehensive guide will shed light on the Audi extended warranty.

2022 Audi e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback: Pricing & Availability

The 2022 Audi e-tron S has base prices at $84,800 (Premium Plus) and $89,800 (Prestige). Meanwhile, the e-tron S Sportback starts at $87,400 (Premium Plus) and $92,400 (Prestige). Prices do not include $1,095 destination fees and up to $7,500 in federal tax credits. The first deliveries are arriving later this year.

When it comes to getting the best price on any new Audi, we trust Rydeshopper, a free and neutral third-party search site* that lets you see dealer inventory in your area. Rydeshopper will help you compare prices and see which dealers are offering the best discounts and incentives.

Alvin Reyes is an Automoblog feature columnist and an expert in sports and performance cars. He studied civil aviation, aeronautics, and accountancy in his younger years and is still very much smitten to his former Lancer GSR and Galant SS. He also likes fried chicken, music, and herbal medicine.

Photos & Source: Audi of America.

*Although always free for you, Automoblog and its partners may receive a commission when you use the services provided through that link. 

Original article: 2022 Audi e-tron S & e-tron S Sportback: Three Motors, Torque Vectoring & More Aggressive Styling

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Are Car Title Loans a Smart Move?

• Car title loans are short-term loans for small amounts of money.
• Acquiring a car title loan involves giving the lender the title to your vehicle.
• Car title loans can be subject to high interest rates and fees, which can make them difficult to pay off.

Affiliate disclosure: Automoblog and its partners may be compensated when you purchase the products below.

If your bank account isn’t looking so great and you have bad credit, you may have considered a car title loan as a quick way to get cash. While they may only be relatively small amounts of money, car title loans can be risky if you don’t have a solid grip on your finances.

This article will look at how car title loans work and weigh the benefits and risks of getting one. To help consumers make informed financing decisions, our research team has also combed the industry to identify the best auto loan companies.

What Are Car Title Loans?

Unlike payday loans, which serve a similar purpose, car title loans work by putting your vehicle up as collateral. These secured loans are for small amounts of money and often need to be repaid in a short amount of time.

The Pew Charitable Trusts reports the average loan amount is $1,000. Because they’re short-term loans – with due dates commonly within 15 to 30 days – borrowers are usually expected to repay the balance in one lump sum.

How Do Car Title Loans Work?

The process for getting a car title loan is relatively simple:

1. First, you fill out an application. You then show the car, the title, and a copy of your photo ID to the lender. You may be asked for a duplicate set of car keys.
2. If the loan is approved, the car title lender exchanges the money and keeps the vehicle title. 
3. When it is time for repayment, you pay the lender a monthly fee in addition to the borrowed amount.

The monthly fee for a vehicle title loan tends to be very high interest. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the average fee is 25%, which is an annual percentage rate (APR) of about 300%. This can be costly.

For example, let’s say you take out a car title loan for $500 with a finance fee of 25%. Twenty-five percent of $500 is $125, which gets added to the final amount due. So, at the time of repayment, you would owe $625.

Applying for Car Title Loans

Borrowers can obtain car title loans online and in person. Notably absent from the application process for auto title loans is a credit check. That’s because failure to pay the loan means the lender can repossess your vehicle.

To approve you for a car title loan, most lenders will require a clear title. This means you’ve paid the vehicle off. However, some lenders may just need you to prove you have equity in the vehicle.

Why Are Car Title Loans Risky?

With a car title loan, you risk not only losing your car, but also getting locked into a cycle of debt. If you’re unable to repay the loan, the lender may let you do a “rollover.” A rollover is when a lender allows you to keep the loan money for another 30 days but ensures you will have to pay another monthly fee.

Rollovers are fairly common. In June 2019, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) polled consumers who had secured auto title loans in the previous six months. It found 83% of respondents still owed money on their loans. 

The CFPB also reported roughly 20% of borrowers experience repossession if their loans aren’t paid back in full. According to Forbes, car title lenders make most of their revenue by letting borrowers take out new loans to pay off existing ones. This cycle of small loans becoming long-term debt also ensures continued business.  

What Are the Pros & Cons of Car Title Loans?

If you’re thinking about taking out a car title loan to handle unexpected expenses, you should consider the pros and cons: 

Car Title Loan Pros	Car Title Loan Cons
No credit check means approval for borrowers with bad credit	Monthly payments can turn into long-term debt
You have access to quick cash	Your car could be repossessed
Late payments don’t impact your credit score	Interest rates are high compared to other options

Car title loans can be attractive to borrowers with poor credit since most title lenders don’t perform credit checks. Additionally, your credit score won’t take a hit if you’re late on a payment. That said, getting quick access to cash with a car title loan rarely justifies the high interest rates and potential to lose a valuable asset.  

Alternatives to Car Title Loans 

Since the data behind car title loans is less than stellar, going another route is probably a smarter financial move. Here are some alternatives to putting up your car’s title:

• Paycheck advance: If you’re in good standing with your employer, you may be able to get some of your pay early.
• Friends and family: If you want to avoid a financial institution altogether, try talking with friends and family to see if you can set up a loan agreement with a payment plan.
• Credit cards: Credit cards have set limits, and you’ll be charged interest if you don’t pay your balance off by the end of the billing period. Even so, credit cards have lower interest rates than car title loans.
• Personal loans: These installment loans can be used toward almost any financial need and are available through banks, credit unions, and online lenders. They often have repayment terms of one to five years, and their interest rates are far lower than those of auto title loans.

Top Recommendations for Auto Loans

Regardless of whether you’re financing a car or using one as collateral, it’s important to compare options to make sure you’re getting the best rate. It’s wise to always read the terms of each loan and check for potential penalties. You can also take advantage of the online prequalification many financial institutions offer.

FAQ: Car Title Loans

How much title loan can I get for my car?

According to the CFPB, the average car title loan is around $1,000. The usual loan limit is between 25% and 50% of the car’s value.

How easy is it to get a car title loan?

Getting a car title loan is fairly straightforward. The borrower fills out an application and lets the lender inspect the vehicle and its title. If the ownership of the vehicle is clear and the lender approves the application, the borrower hands the title over in exchange for a loan.

How do auto title loans work?

Car title loans are small, short-term loans subject to high interest rates. With a car title loan, a lender holds on to your vehicle’s title as collateral. If you don’t repay the loan, the lender has the right to repossess the vehicle.

Do title loans affect your credit?

Most car title loans do not require a credit check. That means a lender likely won’t report payments to credit bureaus since it can repossess the vehicle to settle the debt.

Original article: Are Car Title Loans a Smart Move?

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Speed Read, August 29 2021

We’re kicking things off with something fast this week: a race-bred BMW boxer that’s been made street legal. We’ve also got a trials-style Royal Enfield from Los Angeles, an electric speedway bike from Denmark, a folding scooter from the 60s, and rumors of a new modern classic from Kawasaki.

BMW Boxer racer by Boxer Moto These days, classic BMW cafe racers are a dime a dozen. But how about a custom-built boxer-powered race bike, loaded with top-shelf parts, that’s been made street legal? That’s more like it.

This unique machine belongs to Eiichi Tanaka in Japan, and was built by Koji Yamauchi at the BMW specialist shop, Boxer Moto. Tanaka-san first raced the bike in 1993—but at 67 years old, he’s left racing behind him. So he’s converted it for street use, turning it into one of the most over-qualified cafe racers we’ve seen.

The bike’s built around a frame from the Dutch frame maker, Bakker, featuring square aluminum sections for rigidity and lightness. The motor’s a 980 cc unit with rare Krauser four-valve heads, an Edelweiss camshaft and 39 mm FCR carbs. It makes 84 hp and 88 Nm, and sits high in the frame for extra cornering clearance.

Power’s sent to the back wheel via a Paralever final drive-slash-swingarm, hooked up to a WP Suspension shock. The wheels are 17” JB-Power Magtan units, with fully adjustable upside-down forks up front. There are modern Brembo brakes at both ends too.

Tanaka-san hasn’t revealed where the bodywork is from, but we’re loving the retro endurance racer vibe it’s giving off.

Other than the prominent taillight, the street legal accoutrements are mostly subtle. There’s a small headlight poking out the fairing, slim bar-end mirrors, and the tiniest of LED turn signals mounted at both ends. Behind the fairing is a Touratech IMO 100 R speedo—a part that’s usually used on rally bikes.

We’re willing to bet that Tanaka-san’s BMW has a million stories to tell from on the track. But it’s heartwarming to know that it’s now being let loose on the street too.

Royal Enfield Classic 500 by BAAK USA This Los Angeles shop has been open for less than a year, but BAAK have already built up an impressive portfolio. Here’s one of their latest projects: a Royal Enfield Classic 500, reimagined as a vintage trials bike. It’s a homage to the late Johnny Brittain—a celebrated English trials rider who took gold in the 1950 ISDT on a Royal Enfield, at the tender age of 18.

The main goal here was to shave weight off—both visually and physically. BAAK swapped the fuel tank for a slimmer aftermarket unit, and the steel fenders for a pair of aluminum items from their HQ in France. There’s a new seat too, wrapped in an aged brown leather.

The wheels were re-laced with 21F/18R aluminum rims, for better off-road handling and a wider tire selection; a set of Shinko SR241s is currently fitted. BAAK also removed the front fork covers, and have installed a pair of Shock Factory shocks at the back.

The crew also added a high-mounted single exhaust, and swapped the airbox for a pod filter. The Enfield’s original side ‘boxes’ (usually found under the seat) are gone—the right side now features an alloy side cover, and the left a leather bag that holds the electrics.

Up in the cockpit is a new machined top yoke, with a wide set of scrambler bars. There’s a new headlight out front with a Motogadget speedo higher up, and both are mounted on custom-made brackets. The ignition now sits below the tank, and there’s a pair of Highsider combo LEDs performing taillight and turn signal duties out back.

BAAK estimates a weight saving of 80-100 lbs—which is plausible when you consider the weight of the Classic 500’s OEM trim. It looks a lot sharper too, pictured here on a jaunt in and around San Francisco. [BAAK USA | Images by Viktor Radics]

Electric Speedway bike Michel Riis is a former Danish flat track champion, an ex-Yamaha designer, and co-founder of the startup electric bike company Switch. He’s also passionate about speedway racing—a sport that isn’t quite enjoying the popularity it once did.

“I have a huge love for speedway,” he tells us, “and some of my best years were at the track with my late dad. But speedway is a dying sport in most of Europe now. Tracks are closing and the sport can’t attract new riders.”

“The reason might be the complexity of combustion engines and the huge cost of maintaining them. The clubs in Denmark can’t even get enough riders to have more than one team. We are on a mission to change that.”

Michel’s plan is a clever one. Under the name Espeedway, he’s developed an electric drivetrain kit that can be retrofitted to a regular petrol-powered speedway race bike. Working with existing bikes helps to keep the costs down—especially if you’ve got an old speedway bike with a blown motor gathering dust in the shed.

But the big hook here is that Michel and his partners are targeting younger riders. The electric motor can be tuned to alter its power output or fitted to another chassis—so you can keep the same drivetrain as you move up through classes. The bike pictured here makes roughly 30 kW and 90 Nm, with enough charge for five to ten heats.

“The next generation doesn’t care about noise or smell,” he says. “All our test riders had fun and an ‘e-grin’ after racing our bikes.”

This bike’s just been raced at an official FIM youth racing camp in Germany, and Michel has aspirations of running an indoor series in Denmark in winter. Oh, and these components can be fitted to flat track bikes, too. [Espeedway on Facebook | Photos by Frederik Vohnsen]

Fuji Go Devil folding mini scooter Here’s something you don’t see every day. Manufactured in the 1960s by Fuji Industries in Japan, the Go Devil was a folding mini bike, marketed as a ‘suitcase motorcycle.’

It came with its own carry bag, and was pitched as a personal vehicle that you could take on a plane, and then unfold on the other side. That was, of course, a ridiculous notion—the Go Devil was more likely to be taken on camping trip than a flight.

Assembling the Go Devil wasn’t exactly rocket science, and could be done in about a minute. All you had to do was fold out the front bit, secure the central brace, click the handlebars into position, rotate the rear wheel into place, and attach the separate front wheel.

The scooter itself was pretty average for the time, with a 50 cc two-stroke single and a centrifugal clutch. It did have rear suspension though, which was uncommon for a minibike back then.

Like many things, the Go Devil is appreciated more now than it was then. It was reportedly not very expensive or considered particularly valuable, so there aren’t many left. Worldwide Auctioneers have two though, and will be auctioning them off soon.

Both examples seem mostly complete, but both are missing a crucial component: their front wheels. Still, it should be easy enough to find a suitable substitute, and restoring a minibike can’t be that hard… right? [More]

Is a Kawasaki Z650RS coming? Kawasaki are teasing a new retro motorcycle, and a couple of outlets are speculating that it could be the rumored Z650RS. All the Japanese marque has revealed so far is a 17 second teaser video [below]—but the open face helmets and cringe-worthy ‘Retrovolution’ tagline seem like obvious hints.

The assumption is that the Z650RS would be a redesigned Z650, just like the Z900RS is based on the Z900. And we’d be all for it—the Z650’s parallel twin motor makes a usable 67 hp, and if it looks as good as the Z900RS, but costs less, it’d be an attractive option.

Of course, we could be wrong, and Kawasaki could be brewing up something else entirely. What do you think?

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