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Try This with your Road Glide
Published November 29, 2009 | 
Kain Saul has converted a Harley-Davidson Xr1200 to Dirt use–including a heavily modified suspension–taken it out into the Australian countryside…and done a back-flip on it.
Pretty cool.
And, yes, I do know that Chuck Carothers did the same stunt in Czechoslovakia. Or the Czech Republic, or whatever the hell it’s called now. But he didn’t stick his landing and got thrown off the bike.
FAIL!
New WordPress Themes
Published November 28, 2009 | Once again, I’ve whipped up some new WordPress themes for motorcycle blogs. As always, these themes are free, though I would ask that you not remove the backlink to my business website way down on the bottom. This time, the themes are all model specific. As always, simply click on the screenshot image to download the zip file containing the theme.
Fireblade WordPress Theme
This theme’s colors are predominantly red and gray, with a stylized pic of a CBR1000RR as the header image.
Big Green Screenshot
Kawasaki’s traditional color is green. A very bright, irritating green. But some people seem to like it so here it is, with the ZX-10R as the header.
R1 Screenshot
This one is very blue. It’s headed by a detail shot of a Yamaha R1.
All of the other wordpress themes I’ve created can be seen here.
BMW S1000RR: Training Aid
Published November 27, 2009 | Well, I have to say this is interetesting: Keith Code’s Sportbike/track/racing school has dumped the Ninja in favor of brand new BMW S1000RRs as the training sportbike for their racing courses.
“We are proud to offer our students training on this spectacular motorcycle,” his website proclaims (highlighting the last two words in red), and he’s not the only one to praise the Beemer; hyperbolic raves have been flowing from bike journos since the German bike’s recent introduction at the Portimao circuit in Portugal. Roadracing World says Keith has “no hard feelings” towards Kawasaki, which reportedly discontinued their sponsorship as a cost cutting measure.
It’s been interesting to see the powerfully positive reviews of the BMW S1000RR in the motorcycling press. And now, having gotten Kieth Code on their side–undoubtedly with valuable consideration changing hands–BMW has a powerful ally in California with Kieth Code using their bikes fore Superbike Training.
Naturally, I would be willing to provide a completely unbiased report on superbike training with the S1000RR…if Mr. Code would invite me up for a training session.
Hint, hint.
Times Are Tough All Over
Published November 27, 2009 | The US isn’t the only place where motorcycle sales have been dismal this year. ACEM, the Motorcycle Industry Association in Europe, is reporting that, as of September, year-over-year motorcycle sales in Europe are down by 27%. Here’s the ugly, ugly chart:
ACEM Sales 2002-2009 (September)
That’s definitely not the sales results graph you want to see.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Published November 26, 2009 | I hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday. And remember, motorcycle riding is definitely contra-indicated after eating large amounts of turkey. Triptophan comas are a killer, second only to excessive consumption of alcohol!
Ram Mounts Arrive
Published November 24, 2009 | Last week, I ordered some Ram-Mount devices to mount my GPS and iPod/XM Inno devices to my FJR. Previously, I used the cheap, jury-rig method of zip-tying some mounts to the handlebars. But, the Ram-Mount stuff arrived this afternoon, so now I’m stylin’. Click on the photos for hi-res (15 Megapixel) images.
Devices set up on the Ram-Mounts
The nice thing about the Ram-Mount mountings is that they are really adjustable, so you can move things around so that you get a clear view of everything. The mount and device holders have rubber-coated aluminum balls, conected to a 4″ armature that tightens on both balls with a large wing nut. When you tighten the nut, it locks the mount and device in solidly.
Ram Mount for TomTom One XL-S
This mount affixes to the top of the brake reservoir, with the ball in the center of the mount. They also have a reservoir mount with the ball sticking off to the side, if you prefer that. The mount comes with three different sets of torx screws of varying lengths, so they can fit pretty much any bike’s reservoir screws. There are 6 screw holes, so you can mount them on either two-hole reservoirs like the FJR, of a four-hole reservoir on other bikes.
Universal Ram-Mount for devices
I got a universal device holder because I switch out my iPod and my XM Inno unit. This is a handlebar mount which fits–barely–on the AE model of the FJR. The shift unit hogs up a lot of space that is empty on the A-model FJR’s. Despite that, I managed to get the handlebar mount properly seated.
You may notice that my Inno is all banged up. That’s because I didn’t properly secure on the old jury-rigged mount I replaced this evening. On my way home, I zommed off from a light–and left the Inno behind. It got pretty scratched and banged up, but, miraculously, no one drove over it and crushed it, and it still works fine. I think. I won’t really know until I try to listen to live programming with it tomorrow. But the recorded stuff I had on it played fine all the way home.
Wiring runs through the handlebar cable harness
The glove box on the FJR is just big enough to hold the 12-volt power plugs. I got the Radio Shack car plug that splits the power cord into two 12-volt car plugs, and the YomTom and Inno are plugged into those and stored in the glove box. The power cables run out of the glove box, through the cable harnesses on the triple tree, then up to the devices. The power cords are small enough so that I can close and lock the glove box…which is full to the brim now with car plugs and extra cable.
Fortunately, when you turn the FJR off, it cuts power to the 12-volt car plug on the glove box, so I don’t have to open it, drag out 12 feet of cord and unplug it.
Tomorrow morning, I’ll get to test the mounts out on the road. So far, though, they seem about 1,000% better than zip-tying universal car accessory mounts to the handlebars.
No 2010 Suzukis in the US
Published November 21, 2009 | Hell for Leather is reporting that Suzuki will not be importing any of their 2010 model motorcycles to the USA. Due to the slowness of US motorcycle sales, Suzuki has seen their sales decline to 434k motorcycles for the first three quarters of this year, compared to 772k last year.
So, until the current inventory has been absorbed by buyers, no new bikes will hitting the US from Suzuki.
Free Erik? Done.
Published November 20, 2009 | As of this afternoon, Harley Davidson announced that Erik Buell has left the MoCo, and is opening a race shop. His new venture, Erik Buell Racing LLC, will specialize in creating race-use only 1125r motorcycles under a lciense from Harley-Davidson.
As such, he will no longer be an employee of Harley-Davidson, and will once again be directly involved in the motorcycle racing world.
The fascinating question is whether or not this is just a stop-gap venture to take up his time until February 2011, when his no-compete contract with H-D expires, and he is free to join up with another motorcycle company to begin building bikes for the rest of us again.
The full press release from Harley-Davidson is below the fold.
Pass the Popcorn
Published November 18, 2009 | The big difference between current MotoGP and WSB racing is that MotoGP racing is limited to 800cc bikes, while World Superbike runs literbikes. The reason for the MotoGP switch to 800cc bikes was that the literbikes were just too powerful and dangerous…or some such nonsense…for MotoGP racing.
Well, a few weeks ago, Dorna MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta said on Spanish TV that he wants MotoGP to return to literbikes for the 2012 season. Which means essentially that MotoGP and WSB would more or less be conducting the same races.
Well, this put WSB boss Paolo Flammini’s panties in a wad. he doesn’t like the idea one bit, and he’s said so to the Italian motorcycling news web site GPOne.com (in Italian). He also says,
I repeat what I said earlier: we have had assurances from the FIM President Vito Ippolito that this regulation would not be approved…We are ready to take whatever action is necessary to defend the contract we have with the FIM, which, let us not forget, also covers the 600cc class based on production bikes.
So, Ezpeleta says he wants literbikes, and Flammini says he can’t have them.
I expect someone is going to be deeply disappointed, but only after some hideously interminable court proceedings in Barcelona, Rome, and/or Brussels.
KTM Slashes Prices
Published November 18, 2009 | For the 2010 model year, KTM announced a while ago that they would undertake a “strategic price realignment” to make their bikes more competitive in the US marketplace. That’s probably a wise move, considering that KTMs, while nice bikes, have always been very pricey. But the announcement didn’t give us much of an idea of what “strategic price realignment” meant to the Austrians. Now we know.
2010 KTM RC8
First up is theKTM RC8, the base-model superbike with the 1190cc V-Twin engine. The price for this bike has been slashed by $3,000, with a new MSRP of $16,498.
The RC8′s 1148cc V-Twin mill pumps out 155HP at 10,000RPM and 88.5 lb-ft of torque at 8,000RPM. Without fuel, the ready-to-race weight is 405 lbs.
2010 KTM RC8 R
But, maybe you’re one of those lusty, gusty fellows who needs a bit more power. If so, the RC8 R, with it’s 170HP , 1195cc V-Twin, and upgraded components, has also been priced significantly lower, at 19,998. They’ve got red Bull and Akraprovic special edition models, at slightly north of $23k, but the R model is now superbike ready, at a bit less of a superbike price.
All of the other KTM models, including the popular–but agonizingly ugly–990 Adventure also see similar price cuts.
2010 KTM 990 Adventure
Aaaaaugh! My eyes! My eyes! The pain!
I’m sure uglier motorcycles have been seen out on the road. But not by reliable observers.
I hear it’s quite popular among the well-to-do adventure biker set, though.
Buell: Sadness, Anger and Rumors
Published November 16, 2009 | For a motorcycle brand with such a relatively small group of owners, Buell Motorcycles evoke fierce loyalty. So, H-D’s decision to kill the brand hasn’t been well received.
As an expression of that displeasure, Hell For Leather Magazine is offering special T-shirts, for both men and women.
"Free Eric Buell" T-Shirt
That’s the anger. Now comes the sadness. Hell For Leather also has this picture, taken of a dumpster outside Buell’s East Troy factory.
Not all of the baby turtles make it to the ocean.
And now, finally, we come to the rumors.
I got a call this evening from a fellow who related a rumor that, just prior to the decision to eliminate Buell Motorcycles, Harley-Davidson had gotten an offer–or, at least, the proposal to make an offer–from Bombardier (the parent company of Victory Motorcycles and Can-Am Spyders) to purchase the Buell Division from H-D.
Now, nobody else I know has mentioned this, but I did find a mention of this rumor, or, rather, a similar one, at Motorcycle Daily:
There are of course rumors about Erik Buell traveling to Canada to meet with Bombardier (makers of the Can-Am Spyder). The font of this rumor, a guy posting on a chopper forum, claims a reliable source, but his credibility is undermined, as he lists his hometown as “Bonertown” in his profile.
So, I can definitely confirm that there is a rumor about Buell and Bombardier, for all the good that does you. Unfortunately, that’s all I can confirm about Bombardier. Unless Chopper-Boy from Bonertown has really good sources, it’s probably just an internet rumor, so you shouldn’t get your hopes up about Erik Buell applying for Landed Immigrant status in Montreal.
I can say this, however: I do know that there are a couple of people outside Milwaukee who are very interested in talking to Erik Buell about…ummm…pursuing new challenges. As soon as his 15-month non-compete agreement with H-D expires, of course.
And, for right now, that’s all I have to say about that.
UPDATE: What was I thinking? Victory’s parent company is Polaris, not Bombardier.
2010 Moto Guzzi Norge GT 8V
Published November 15, 2009 | Moto Guzzi has announced the newest generation of their Norge sport-tourer, the Norge 8V. New for 2010 is a new 1200cc L-twin with 4 valves per cylinder, as well as a redesigned fairing for better heat management and weather protection, and some more comfort features.
The Italian Eagle’s press release describes the new generation of the Norge in glowing terms, but that’s all PR stuff, so, if you want to read it, it’s below the fold.
There are few spoecs available yet, but MG claims 83lb-ft of torque at 5,800RPM, and “more than 100HPin power, all at a maximum rpm nearly that of an automobile”, whatever that means. The gearbox has six speeds, and seat height is 31.5 inches.
It’s certainly a pretty bike–all the MGs are–but at 100HP, it’s the least sporty of the sport-tourers. And, of course, here in the US, dealer network support is even sparser than BMW’s.
ATK & S&T Deal: Update
Published November 15, 2009 | ATK CEO Frank White has sent me the following email in regards to the deal that ATK has made to sell American-assembled motorcycles from S&T:
Buon Giorno from EICMA Italy (Motorcycle Show)
One of our Harley Dealers is a regular to your site and suggested I make some comments to the recent posts to set the record straight. I normally avoid BLOG’s however, what the heck, your site seems quite good and your information is factual.
A comment on ATK taking the place of Buell on some BLOGs.
We are NOT working through the H-D Dealer network under the endorsement or support of the Harley Davidson Motor Company in any way. This is stated on the press release.
We are NOT going to be making products in the same market niche/segment that Erik Buell was making. Erik is a Maverick in innovation and development in his part of the industry and we would be fools to try and step in. Obviously with H-D pulling the plug has created a vacuum of opportunity in the network that want American Branded products.
Some of our Dealers sent me the gut wrenching U Tube link with Erik and I feel for the guy. We’ve been in business basically the same amount of time and this is NOT an easy business.
Our focus is going to be attracting an all new and much younger customer into Harley shops with a diverse quality platform of products. (Like Scion is to Toyota) We also want to get more people in the motorcycle world like the industry did so well in the 70′s… This should be interesting
Feel free to post this.
Ciao
Frank White
ATK Motorcycles
In my previous post, I did append the press release, which does say that this is a deal that Harley knows about, but does not endorse. I also stated:
It’s a bit of a coup for Harley dealerships, and possibly for Harley-Davidson itself–as well. They will–or at least selected dealers will–have access to new lines of motorcycles to bring in younger customers. This is especially true if the ATK dirt bikes can also make an appearance on dealer showrooms.
Let me clarify what I meant here. To the extent that new, younger riders are drawn into Harley dealerships, The MoCo will, if this deal operates successfully, eventually have access to these new dealership customers when they begin looking for large displacement motorcycles. I did not intend to imply that this was part of any strategy on the part of Harley-Davidson. This is something at will operate purely at the dealer level with some select dealers, and any advantages that accrue to the Motor Company will be more or less incidental.
And, of course, implying that HD itself was part of this would imply that HD actually had a strategy. Which, after the MV Agusta deal and the closing down of Buell, is a pretty questionable implication.
Buon Giorno from EICMA Italy (Motorcycle Show)
One of our Harley Dealers is a regular to your site and suggested I make some comments to the recent posts to set the record straight. I normally avoid BLOG’s however, what the heck, your site seems quite good and your information is factual.
A comment on ATK taking the place of Buell on some BLOGs..
We are NOT working through the H-D Dealer network under the endorsement or support of the Harley Davidson Motor Company in any way. This is stated on the press release.
We are NOT going to be making products in the same market niche/segment that Erik Buell was making. Erik is a Maverick in innovation and development in his part of the industry and we would be fools to try and step in. Obviously with H-D pulling the plug has created a vacuum of opportunity in the network that want American Branded products.
Some of our Dealers sent me the gut wrenching U Tube link with Erik and I feel for the guy. We’ve been in business basically the same amount of time and this is NOT an easy business.
Our focus is going to be attracting an all new and much younger customer into Harley shops with a diverse quality platform of products. (Like Scion is to Toyota) We also want to get more people in the motorcycle world like the industry did so well in the 70′s… This should be interesting.
Feel free to post this.
Ciao
Frank White
ATK Motorcycles
S&T and ATK Get Inside the Harley Dealer Network
Published November 12, 2009 | Practically no one saw this coming, or were even in the ballpark of predicting it, and I’m interested to see what the motorcycle press will make of it, since I’m sure that some of them, like me, have been aware of this for at least several weeks now, although the news has been embargoed, so no one could report on it.
As of today, the embargo has been lifted, and we are now free to speak about it.
First, the press release from S&T/ATK, makes the bare bones facts available. S&T motorcycles, the Korean manufacturer of the Hyosung brand motorcycles will be working directly with ATK motorcycles, the US manufacturer of dirt bikes. Together they will produce a motorcycle that will be largely produced in Korea by Hyosung and assembled in the USA by ATK. These ATK-badged motorcycles will be smaller displacement motorcycles that will be sold in selected Harley-Davidson dealerships.
Sources close to the deal tell me that ATK may also begin selling their off-road motorcycles in some Harley dealerships as well. It is not yet entirely clear which of the ATK-badged Hyosungs will be made available to the Harley Dealers, although the new 700cc Aquila is a likely candidate.
Sources also tell me that it is possible–although exactly how possible is still unclear–for modified versions of the 250cc and 650cc cruisers and sportbikes, with new bodywork created by ATK, are candidates for those dealers who desire them, to help bring in the younger riders that Harley so desperately needs, as their current rider community is aging rapidly.
This is a coup for both ATK and S&T. ATK now has a chance to substantially increase their penetration into the Harley-Davidson dealer network. S&T has a chance to get deeper into the US Market–which has regarded their products with some suspicion due to confusing Hyosung with a Chinese, rather than South Korean company–by having their bikes branded with an American manufacturer’s badge.
It’s a bit of a coup for Harley dealerships, and possibly for Harley-Davidson itself–as well. They will–or at least selected dealers will–have access to new lines of motorcycles to bring in younger customers. This is especially true if the ATK dirt bikes can also make an appearance on dealer showrooms.
The hope is that everyone can win by making the dealerships places where a number of different product lines can be found, in order to bring in a wider, and one hopes, younger, group of riders through the door.
The full text of the press release is below the fold.
EICMA Goodies
Published November 9, 2009 | The new bikes are now being officially unveiled at the EICMA show in Milan, and it’s a nice crop so far. Ducati and MV Agusta have made the big splashes today, with MV showing off the 2010 F4, and Ducati releasing the long-awaited Multistrada, as well as the Hypermotard 1100 EVO.
Click on any of the pics below to enlarge.
2010 MV Agusta F4
Let’s start with the 2010 MV Agusta F4. MV Agusta says that they’ve updated the Tamburini design to a more modern look. If by modern, you mean “acutely angled and sort of ugly”, well, I guess they did. There’s lots of improvements under the fairing though, getting an additional 3 HP out of a 3cc smaller 998cc engine, and shedding 22lbs of dead weight. It also comes with a 8-level traction control system, a new chassis, swingarm, and 4-1 exhaust system.
2010 Ducati Multistrada
The 2010 Ducati Multistrada has a new 150HP engine pushing 417lbs down the road. The new powerplant is called the Testastretta 11° engine, and comes with a nice slipper clutch, because while a slipper clutch might not be a usual requirement for an on-road enduro bike, it should be for a Ducati.
There will be three variants of the Multistrada:
- The 1200 base model with ABS brakes,
- The 1200S with the new Ducati Electronic Suspension (DES) system and Öhlins suspension components,
- And, the 1200S Touring with all the above and hard bags.
2010 Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP
“Hypermotard” always seems like some sort of non-PC epithet you’d call a developmentally disabled dirt-biker, But the Europeans seem to disagree, so we’ll use their unflattering word for the Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO. It’s got 95HP and weighs 379lbs, which is 15.5 less than last year. There’s also an EVO SP model. It’s got an upgraded suspension, with an Öhlins setup in back and Marzocchi forks up front.
2010 Ducati 848 Dark
Finally, Ducati released a poor man’s 848, called the 848 Dark. It should retail for about $1,000 less than the base model of the 848. Nobody seems sure yet how they’ve downgraded it from the “base” model. But if you want a cheap, black Ducati 848, here you go.
Posted in Motorcycles | 
2010 Motorcycles, 848 Dark, Ducati, EICMA 2009, F4, Hypermotard 100 EVO, Multistrada 1200, MV Agusta