|
NEWS 2 READ! Follow our Industries news here!
 JUST GET OUT AND RIDE!
| When I show up for a doctor's appointment.
When
filling out a credit card or loan application.
When applying for/renewing a driver's license
or passport.
When applying for any kind of insurance.
When filling out
college applications.
When donating blood.
When obtaining certain prescription
drugs.
When making some debit purchases, especially if I'm out of state.
When
collecting a boarding pass for airline or train travel.
I'm sure there are more instances but
the point is, we citizens are required to prove who we are nearly every day.
Why should people
illegally in this country be exempt? For that matter, perhaps the liberals here can answer the question as to why we shouldn't
guard our borders as closely as every other country in the world does?
GO, ARIZONA!
| Did You Know? | The first Honda motorcycles were pushbikes with generator engines (for army field telephones) bolted
on. |
Publish
date: Jul 16, 2010
| A
fire Monday destroyed most of Carter Brothers’ facility in Hamilton Crossroads, Ala. The cause has
not yet been determined, reported the Troy Messenger. Carter Brothers
reportedly told the paper that it had closed its joint venture in China and was in the process of moving all manufacturing
operations back to Hamilton Crossroads. The fire started in the warehouse
and soon engulfed it. In a later report, the Troy Messenger interviewed the office manager, who said the paint and welding
shops and the office were shielded from the fire by a firewall that had been installed after a fire in 2000. The paper also
noted that there were 43 employees on the Carter Brothers payroll before the company closed for vacations on July 1. Carter Brothers CEO Jonathan Arn told the paper that no decision will be made on building back the
company until after the damage has been assessed and the cost of rebuilding determined. In an earlier interview, he had said,
“We’ll come back. Maybe across the street and maybe in a smaller way.” In
another follow-up article, the paper reported that the 160,000 sq. ft. Carter Brothers facility carries a price tag of
about $16 million.
Publish date: Jul 20, 2010
Investigators
say arson was the cause of last week’s fire that destroyed Carter Brothers Manufacturing’s warehouse in Hamilton
Crossroads, Ala. State
and federal agencies are now seeking the person or persons responsible for the crime, though there are no specific suspects,
State Fire Marshal Ed Paulk told the Troy Messenger. Paulk also said that Carter Brothers was not compliant with the fire code because it lacked sprinkler
systems. The estimated damage is between $16 and $20 million, the newspaper noted. Publish date: Jul 16, 2010
 In cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Phoenix-based Baja Motorsports
is recalling about 308,000 minibikes and go-karts. Consumers should stop using the units unless otherwise instructed, the
government says. According to the CPSC, the gas caps on these units can leak or detach from
the fuel tanks, posing a fire hazard. In addition, the throttles can stick due to an improperly positioned fuel line and throttle
cable, posing a sudden acceleration hazard.  Baja Motorsports has received at least nine reports of the gas caps leaking and detaching, including
one report of a serious burn injury to a child. The firm has also received 25 reports of stuck throttles possibly due to the
fuel line and throttle cable being improperly attached, with injuries to the face and other parts of the body reported. The units, made in China, were sold by various retailers nationwide from November 2004 through June 2010 for between
$200 and $2,000. They were also sold on the following websites: Costco.com, Amazon.com, Toysrus.com, Northerntool.com, Sears.com
and Kmart.com.  The recall involves minibikes with model numbers beginning with HT65, MB165, WR65, MB196, DB30,
WR90 and DR90. It involves go-karts with model numbers BB65, SD65, DN65 and RT65. The model number is located on the minibikes’
fenders and/or fuel tank and on the go-karts’ roll cage. They both have black plastic gas caps. The government is instructing owners to contact Baja Mototosports (www.bajamotorsports.net) for a free replacement gas cap and to schedule a free repair of the fuel line and throttle cable. The company
can be contacted at 888-863-2252 between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. Publish date: Jun 23, 2010
A vintage bike fan has discovered a piece of motorcycle history in
a garage in San Jose, Calif.: the Nelk Motor Coaster, built 1912. It is the only one of its kind. The formerly mythical coaster, made by late Williams resident Carl Nelk (1870-1946), was thought to either
not exist or to have been lost in history, according to the Daily Democrat. Now David Hartwick is writing a book about
the bike and its creator. Inventor, fabricator and designer Carl Nelk was
born in Williams to German parents in 1870. Before his death in 1946, he studied engineering at Stanford University and created
the one and only Nelk Motor Coaster in Palo Alto. The stand-up scooter has no seat and the engine is in front of the rider
above the front wheel. "My main interest is in the rare, obscure bikes
that people have forgotten about or have never heard of," Hartwick says. "Finding the Nelk Motor Coaster is like
finding a missing link in the motorcycle industry. I couldn't believe what I was looking at when I found it.” 9 07 2010
- July 8, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) - The
following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop
using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer
product. Name of Product: Suzuki QuadSport ATVs Units:
About 1,355 Distributors: American Suzuki Motor Corp., of Brea,
California; Montgomery Motors, Ltd., of Honolulu, Hawaii; Suzuki del Caribe Inc., of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico Hazard: The flame arrester screen can become detached from its mounting ring, preventing the throttle
valve from returning to the idle position when the throttle lever is released and causing the rider to lose control of the
ATV. This poses a serious hazard of injury or death. Incidents/Injuries: American
Suzuki has received two reports of flame arrester screens detaching from the mounting ring. No injuries have been reported. Description: This recall involves all Suzuki 2009 model year LT-Z400K9 (QuadSport Z400) and LT-Z400ZK9
(QuadSport Z400 Special Edition) ATVs. “QuadSport Z400″ or “QuadSport Z400Z” is written on the sides
and left front fender of the ATV. “Suzuki” is written on the sides of the ATV. Sold
at: Suzuki ATV dealers nationwide from September 2008 through June 2010 for between $6,500 and $6,700. Manufactured in: Japan Remedy: Consumers should
stop using these vehicles immediately and contact a local Suzuki ATV dealer to schedule an appointment for a free repair.
Consumers with recalled ATVs are being sent a notice directly from Suzuki. Consumer
Contact: For more information, consumers can contact Suzuki at (800) 444-5077 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. PT
Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.suzukicycles.com CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly
related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable
risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC
is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard.
The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products – such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters,
and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with
consumer products over the past 30 years. 7 07 2010
TORRANCE, CA – July 6, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) –
American Honda announces today that Kevin Windham will be added to the Honda Red Bull Racing team in place of Davi Millsaps.
Millsaps was injured during the Budds Creek, MD, AMA Motocross race on June 19, and the timing of his return is still to be
determined.  At 32 years of age, Windham enjoyed one of his strongest seasons ever during the 2010 Supercross series, finishing
the year in the runner-up spot. He climbed the podium eight times, and posted two consecutive race wins in Seattle and Salt
Lake City.“I’m really excited about this opportunity to fill in for Davi until
he’s healthy and ready to race again,” said Windham. “As I said earlier this year, I had no intentions of
racing the full Motocross season, but it will be great to get back on the bike and fill in for a few races. I want to thank
my GEICO Powersports Honda team for supporting me in this effort, and of course Honda Red Bull Racing for giving me this opportunity
to team with Andrew Short and Ashley Fiolek. This should be a lot of fun.” Windham will
begin racing in round seven held at the Spring Creek event on July 17 in Millville, MN, and stay on board until Millsaps recovers
from his injuries and returns to the Honda Red Bull Racing team. 11 07 2010
IRVINE, CA – July 10, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) –
Editors from top motorcycle publications test ride the new 2011 Kawasaki KX250F with fuel injection at Budd’s Creek,
MD. For 2011, the goal was an even faster and more ridable KX250F. The big news is the addition
of Digital Fuel Injection (DFI) that not only helps produce stunning – and more useable – power, but also makes
tuning a much easier proposition.
The simple and highly efficient
DFI system incorporates a compact and lightweight Electronic Control Unit (ECU), a 43mm throttle body, a lightweight aluminum
fuel pump and an ultra-fine atomizing injector. You’ll find more significant changes
farther downstream, such as higher compression – now 13.5:1 vs. 13.2:1 – via a modified cylinder and changes to
the top of the exclusive Bridged-Box Bottom piston. Transmission and final-drive ratios have
been altered slightly to match the engine’s newfound response, and a modified shifting mechanism allows you to access
those speeds more easily and smoothly. The 2011 Kawasaki KX250F chassis has been massaged
every bit as thoroughly as the engine, with Kawasaki’s new Separate Function Fork (SFF) leading the list of changes.
Unlike a conventional fork design, where each fork leg handles both springing and damping, the SFF separates spring and damping
functions for improved performance, 25 percent less friction, lower weight and easier adjustability. The right leg accommodates the spring side of the equation, incorporating a larger main spring/rod assembly than
traditional forks, plus a small amount of oil for lubrication. Spring preload is now adjustable via a blue-anodized adjuster
on the right leg’s cap. The left leg handles damping duty, with only its cartridge damper assembly and fork oil inside
the tube. Kawasaki also offers a comprehensive contingency program for amateur and professional
riders who place well at designated events.
National Motorcycle Museum Expands, Opens in New
Location
Several years of exhibition planning and programming, along with architectural changes
to a larger 36,000-square-foot space help better present motorcycle history at the new National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa,
Iowa. Originally opened in Sturgis, S.D., in 1989 with about 60 motorcycles and memorabilia on display, the museum relocated
to Anamosa in 2001, and the collection has grown to over 275 motorcycles. In addition, other objects such as toys, artwork,
trophies and apparel offer one of the most comprehensive historical representations of motorcycling history in America. "We wanted to take the Museum to a new level. We needed more space for bikes, toys and art, better lighting
and more active ways to tell the stories of motorcycling," says John Parham, president of the Board of Directors of the
National Motorcycle Museum. The museum has also recently received a grant from the State Historical
Society of Iowa to restore, reconstruct and historically interpret a 1920s steel modular Shell gas station this summer. The
museum website will trace this project and other additions. Plan your trip online at www.nationalmcmuseum.org. Publish date: Jul 5, 2010
Source: Dealernews
- Kawasaki is recalling certain 2010 Z1000 models. The potential number of units affected is
1,161.
Under severe riding conditions, the left front brake hose may contact the front brake rotor during extremely heavy
application of the front brake. This can cause brake fluid to leak. Dealers will inspect
the front brake hose and replace it if required. In addition, the front brake hose position will be adjusted to prevent contact
with the brake rotor. The recall is expected to begin this month. The NHTSA campaign ID number is 10V303000. Publish date: Jul 2, 2010
 Motion Pro’s Tire Changing Stand and Tank Holder not only holds and protects an air tank,
but supports the tire being serviced. It works best with 5- to 10-gallon air tanks 14.5 to 24.5 inches in length and 9 to
12.75 inches in diameter. The powder-coated steel device can be used with or without an air tank installed. Suggested retail
is $124.99. Publish date: Jul 6, 2010
Kawasaki Heavy Industries announced last month that it will be launching the sportbike in Japan on Aug. 1. The
bike has a diamond-shaped steel frame chassis, and is powered by a 399cc liquid-cooled, four-valve DOHC parallel twin. It's
fuel-injected and has a three-way catalyzer. The 400R is also equipped with subthrottle valves
to improve intake air. Just as with the Ninja 650R, a short silencer is located under the
engine. Braking is accomplished via dual 300mm petal disks in front and a single 220mm petal
disk in back. The Ninja 400R's LCD instrument panel is equipped with a digital speedometer,
digital bar-style tachometer, fuel gauge, clock and odometer/trip-meter. According to Kawasaki Canada, the bike makes 43 hp at 9,500 rpm and 27 ft.-lbs. of torque at 7,500 rpm. The bike will be priced at $7,499
and come in both lime green and metallic black. No word on whether Canadian dealers will eventually
get the naked version of the bike, the ER-4n. Publish date: Jul 6, 2010
- The economy may be recovering
in some areas, but so far the recovery is a no-show in Kenosha, Wis., a powersports dealer there says.
“It’s not any better
than it was last year,” Ken Maynor, who with his wife, Kelly, owns Shoreline Motorsports, told the Kenosha News. “I don’t really see anything, any improvement in the economy.” The dealership sells Kawi and
Triumph bikes, as well as ATVs and PWC. Maynor says even more advertising hasn’t stopped the slide to half
the sales of 2008. To move machines and clear inventory, he’s offering deals. He cited a recent sale of a
$10,200 bike: the manufacturer offered a $1,800 rebate and Maynor cut his price by $1,400, making the sale price of $7,000,
a more than 30 percent reduction. He’s selling very close to cost, he says, and has cut back on orders. Triumph
is faring the best among his stock, partly because dealerships are more sparse. The pure toys are selling the least. Even
the closings of competitors, Ace Powersports and Racine Motor Sports haven’t helped Shoreline. But Maynor is optimistic.
“We feel we’ve hit bottom, and we’re starting to see the turn,” he says.
Publish
date: Jul 1, 2010
The
EPA has withdrawn its approval for the import and sale of up to 200,000 Chinese dirtbikes and ATVs. Four U.S. distributors,
the agency suspects, submitted tailpipe emission information that was either falsified or incomplete. The EPA issued
the certificates in 2006 and 2007 to Hensim USA (City of Industry, Calif.), Loncin USA (Hayward, Calif.), Peace Industry Group
(Norcross, Ga.) and Seaseng (Pomona, Calif.). According an agency press release, the companies are the U.S. counterparts of four of China’s largest off-road manufacturers: Chongqing Hensim Group Co.,
Chongqing Longting Power Equipment Co., Zhejiang Peace Industry and Trade Co., and Zhejiang Chisheng Industry and Trading
Co. The certificates were issued based on applications compiled by the U.S.-based companies’ consultant,
MotorScience Enterprise, which the EPA believes intentionally submitted false or incomplete emissions information. The
California Air Resources Board, which issued executive orders similar to EPA’s certificates of conformity, has also
voided its executive orders covering the same vehicles sold in California. A complete list of the models can be
found at http://epa.gov/otaq/recveh.htm. Consumers who own a model that was covered by these voided certificates are not responsible and can continue to use their
vehicle. This is the first time the EPA has voided certificates of conformity for these types of vehicles and only
the second time the agency has done so for any type of vehicle. The EPA is considering an enforcement action under the Clean
Air Act, which could lead to significant financial penalties against the businesses that manufactured or imported the units.
All vehicles imported or manufactured in the U.S. are required to have certificates of conformity, which are issued
by the EPA. To obtain a certificate, a manufacturer or importer submits an application describing the vehicle and its emission
control system, and provides emissions data that demonstrates that the vehicle will meet federal emission standards for certain
pollutants, including nitrogen oxides and total hydrocarbons. Publish date: Jun 23, 2010
BMW
is recalling certain ’07-’09 R 1200 and K 1200 motorcycles manufactured from August 2006 through May 2009. The
potential number of units affected is 15,532. Due to the current routing of the front brake lines, road vibrations
could cause strained brake lines to split and leak. If this goes unnoticed and the brake fluid reservoir runs empty, the front
brakes could fail. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install for free new brake lines containing a sleeve
along a portion of the lines. The recall is expected to begin in July. The NHTSA campaign ID number is 10V276000.
The exact models affected are the '07-'08 K 1200 GT; the '07-'09 R 1200 GS, R 1200 GS Adventure, R 1200 R and R 1200 RT; and
the '07 R 1200 ST. BMW is also recalling certain ’05-’07 R 1200 GS Adventure bikes manufactured from
Dec. 7, 2005, through Sept. 26, 2007. The fuel tank front attachment bolts can work loose, allowing the bolts to come into
contact with the fork leg if the handlebar is turned a significant amount. This could limit the travel range of the handlebars,
which could affect handling and maneuverability. BMW has not yet provided NHTSA with a remedy plan or a notification schedule.
The campaign ID number is 10V275000. Only yesterday, NHTSA announced that BMW was recalling certain F 650 GS, F
800 GS and other models due to faulty drivetrains.
Ben Spies attacks for a decisive 3rd place finish at Silverstone!
After 9 career
races in the premiere Moto GP class, Ben Spies, aboard his Monster Yamaha Tech3 YZR-M1 decisively takes his debut podium,
a 3rd place at Silverstone.
RICHMOND, CA - June 24, 2010 - (Motor Sports Newswire) - In front
of 70,123 race fans, Ben Spies started Sunday's race from the second row of the grid, in 7th place. On lap 17, Ben was able
to pass Randy Depuniet and his Team LCR Honda for 4th place. An amazing last lap pass through Abbey Corner on fellow American
rider Nicky Hayden put Ben within site of his first podium. Ben was then able to defend his position through the last few
turns and come away with the podium!
This also is the second race that the Monster Yamaha Tech3
Team has used LeoVince GP Silencer, a newly designed titanium silencer and external sleeve that is 20% lighter than the previous
model.
Publish date: Jun 10, 2010  Givi’s Monokey V46 top trunks are designed with smoked lenses and dark trim so that they don’t detract from
your vehicle. The trunks can hold two full-face helmets. Accessories available include a backrest, top rack, brake light and
inner bag. Publish
date: Jun 9, 2010
From Zero Gravity comes a new line of windscreens for the 2009 and 2010 Kawasaki Ninja 650R. The three styles include
a stock replacement SR series that comes in different colors, the Double Bubble, which has a stepped profile, and the Sport
Touring, which is 2 inches taller than stock. Publish date: Jun 17, 2010
In response to stronger-than-expected
worldwide demand for its new fuel-injected product line, Royal Enfield Motors announces a capital investment
plan to increase capacity and expand capabilities at its primary production facility. The expansion plan will nearly
double Royal Enfield’s production with progressive increases in capacity over the next three years, allowing the brand
to continue to keep pace with the sales of its new model line. The plan  forecasts unit production growth from Royal Enfield’s 2010 unit volume of 52,000 to as much as 70,000 units for 2011,
followed by up to 90,000 units for 2012 and finally 100,000 units or more for 2013. Production at Royal Enfield
has already been running at full capacity for over a year. The expansion plan also provides capital for the progressive
development of Royal Enfield’s production capabilities, including a modern paint studio, die and tooling upgrades, aesthetic
and sheet metal refinements and an even sharper focus on new model development. “Royal Enfield has made a
strong commitment to meeting international demand and responding to the needs and expectations its growing customer base.
Consumer response to the new model line in the United States and elsewhere has been remarkably strong and it’s very
encouraging to know that Royal Enfield will be ready as the market continues to grow,” said Kevin Mahoney, president
of Royal Enfield USA. Royal Enfield first introduced its G5 and C5 model lines in the United States in 2009. The
new model lines pair Royal Enfield’s famous retro aesthetic with the brand’s robust and reliable new unit construction
engine. Strong enthusiasm from consumers and industry press has created unprecedented demand for Royal Enfield in the United
States and around the world. Royal Enfield USA is operated by Minnesota-based Classic Motorworks under exclusive license from Royal Enfield Motors, headquartered in Chennai, India. Royal Enfield motorcycles are available
in the United States through a growing nationwide network of dealers Publish date: Jun 10, 2010
Harley-Davidson
would consider opening plants overseas to serve those markets if it looked like the best option on the balance sheet, CEO
Keith Wandell says. Wandell told the Milwaukee Business Journal in an interview published today that the company would consider manufacturing motorcycles overseas for foreign markets. The
Motor Co. would continue domestic production for motorcycles sold in the United States, Wandell says, but if there is sufficient
demand in overseas markets the company would “seriously consider” setting up foreign manufacturing facilities.
“We would produce bikes in other countries for certain regions,” he told the newspaper. The company
already has an assembly plant in a free-trade zone in Brazil. “The tariff issue is a big deal for us,”
Wandell says. The company has told unions its ancestral home in Wisconsin that it would consider leaving the community
or even the state if it could not squeeze $54 million out of its manufacturing costs at the Tomahawk and Menomenee plants.
That touched off a flurry of inquiries from municipalities all over the country. Publish date: Jun 10, 2010
Market
rumors are circulating that ailing Harley-Davidson may be a takeover target for private equity firms. The rumor has been bubbling
up since Mar. 16, according to The Street. That day there were rumors that private equity firm KKR might be interested in buying the Motor Co., which caused
a flurry of trading activity in H-D shares. The Street attributes the unsubstantiated, leveraged buyout
rumors to growing business and Federal Reserve confidence in a U.S. economic recovery. Meanwhile, options traders
were busy Thursday speculating whether the stock would again sink below $25 a share, and a UBS Securities equity analyst lowered
her price target on the shares to $28.80 from $32. Analyst Robin Farley maintained a neutral rating, saying in
a note to investors that the Motor Co.'s U.S. retail sales at dealers declined around 15 percent year-over-year in May against
an industry decline of around 11 percent. Even though the company's quarter-to-date sales decline of 7 percent is brighter
than the first quarter's year-over-year decline of 24 percent, "it also signifies that the worst may not be over"
for Harley's dealer-level sales, Farley wrote. H-D shares, which trade under the symbol HOG, have had a wild ride
since their peak in the $70 range in late 2006, to a closing low $8.33 a share Feb. 24, 2009. The shares recently reached
$35.49 April 23 of this year, but have settled back into the mid-20s. The stock traded up $1.14 Thursday to close at $27.32,
but lost 20 cents in after-hours trading. That volatility may be why the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission dubbed HOG one of the first five stocks on the New York Stock Exchange to get the new “circuit breaker” mechanism
designed to avoid another “flash crash” in the markets like the one that happened May 6. All of the major markets
will implement the system, most by next week. The failsafe will temporarily halt trading in any S&P 500 stock
if it drops 10 percent or more in five minutes’ time. NEW YORK, NY – June 10, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Shares of Harley-Davidson ( HOG) have edged up amid rumors that private equity firms are eying the company as a takeover target. The stock has risen 1.5% to $26.57. According to StreetAccount, this rumor has resurfaced numerous
times in the past, including on Mar. 16. On that day, there were rumors that private equity firm KKR might be interested in buying the outfit, causing a spike in Harley stock. Such unsubstantiated, leveraged
buyout rumors have been attributed to growing confidence among businesses in a U.S. economic recovery. This week, the confidence was no doubt bolstered by reassuring comments from Fed chairman Ben Bernanke. COLUMBIA, SC – June 8, 2010 (Motor Sports Newswire) – Bikers coming to Myrtle Beach
for annual rallies can once again ride their motorcycles without helmets or eyewear. The South Carolina Supreme
Court unanimously ruled Tuesday that the city cannot mandate the protective gear in the absence of a state law. The Myrtle
Beach city  council adopted the ordinance in 2008 after years of complaints from residents about noise, lewd behavior and congestion along
the 60-mile Grand Strand, and the helmet ban had an almost immediate effect: rallies saw double-digit percentage drops in
attendance last spring. Individual cities each making distinctive rules on helmets and eyewear would lead to chaos
for motorcycle riders, the justices ruled. “Local authorities might enact ordinances imposing additional and
even conflicting equipment requirements,” wrote Justice Costa Pleicones. “Such burdens would unduly limit a citizen’s
freedom of movement throughout the state.” Calls to Myrtle Beach officials and lawyers who sued the city seeking
to overturn the ordinance were not immediately returned Tuesday. The city council adopted the ordinance unanimously.
There are two major rallies: the Harley-Davidson rally in the spring attracts mostly white riders, while bikers at the Atlantic
Beach Bikefest during Memorial Day weekend are mostly black. Biker rallies have been going on in Myrtle Beach for
decades, but the events have grown rapidly over the last 20 years. The helmet ban had carried a $100 fine. Michael
Norman, an Atlanta biker who’s been ticketed for not wearing a helmet at Myrtle Beach, welcomed the court’s decision.
But he said the city is no longer the favored destination it once was. “They don’t really like the bike
rallies anymore,” he said. “They’re not as friendly. They’re not as geared toward welcoming visitors.” SOURCE:
The Associated Press 8 06 2010
RENO, NV – June 8, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – BRP brings Can-Am
DNA to the side-by-side market by introducing the 2011 Can-Am Commander™ line-up. The five model line-up with two engine
options delivers on the Can-Am promise of cutting-edge design, meaningful innovation and a focus on convenience, maximum value
and more usability for the consumer. This very unique side-by-side family has been designed to bring a new level
of power, handling and user-focused features to the industry. Power comes from two engine options: a powerful Rotax 800 V-Twin
EFI engine, and now a Rotax 1000 V-Twin EFI engine. This gives the Commander the most power and best fuel efficiency in the
industry. For example, the Commander 1000 is 39 percent more fuel efficient than its class competitor. “BRP continues to set the pace in product innovations. Capitalizing on the Can-Am brand growth momentum,
we are entering in a new business segment with the Commander, which completes our product offering for on and off-road customers,”
said José Boisjoli, president and chief executive officer. The Can-Am Commander line reflects BRP’s
commitment to offering the side-by-side customer a machine that does not force the rider to compromise performance for functionality.
Innovative features like the Dual-Level cargo box, TTI rear suspension, anti-dive front-end geometry and more, throttle-by-wire
through its Intelligent Throttle Control (iTC™) system, a 2-inch diameter rollover protection system (ROPS-approved),
the most fuel capacity in the industry (38 liters or 10 gallons); and the most cockpit storage of any other side-by-side.
Combined with the most powerful and fuel-efficient engines in the industry, this means the Can-Am Commander is immediately
the vehicle of choice for the side-by-side customer. “When we started to design the vehicle, we were determined
to offer consumers a vehicle that would meet our Can-Am brand promise of delivering an exceptional riding experience. This
focus on the customer also means our dealer network will have a vehicle that will raise industry standards and re-shape market
dynamics as we know them today,” added Boisjoli. The entire Can-Am Commander line consists of the following
models: Commander 800, Commander 800 XT, Commander 1000, Commander 1000 XT and Commander 1000 X. With its XT and X packages,
BRP, through its Can-Am brand continues the tradition of bringing unprecedented value through its factory-built packages. BRP
also previewed its 2011 Can-Am Commander accessories line-up and off-road riding collections with a large assortment of the
most sought-after accessories developed simultaneously with the new vehicles. The 50 accessories currently available offer
total integration in form and function as well as the best riding experience. Those who are interested in a demo
ride of the Can-Am Commander line of side-by-side vehicles will be able to do so on the Can-Am Ride Says It All Tour. For
more information on the tour and a list of tour stop locations, please visit www.trycan-am.com. With the addition of the Can-Am Commander line of side-by-side vehicles, BRP is poised to address just about any
need for the passionate off-road enthusiast and for consumers looking for more from the side-by-side experience. For details
on the complete 2011 Can-Am off-road line-up and more information on each specific model, visit www.can-am.brp.com. Arctic Cat to begin manufacturing snowmobile engines in its St. Cloud facility
after 2014 model year MINNEAPOLIS, MN – June 10, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire)
– Arctic Cat Inc. (NASDAQ: ACAT) today announced that it has entered into an agreement to transition its snowmobile engine manufacturing from Suzuki Motor
Corporation. Arctic  Cat will begin manufacturing some of its own snowmobile engines in St. Cloud, Minn., after the 2014 model year. Currently,
Suzuki supplies all engines for Arctic Cat’s snowmobiles. Suzuki will continue to supply the company with engine parts
to service existing engines after the 2014 model year. Commented Arctic Cat’s chairman and chief executive
officer Christopher A. Twomey: “Suzuki has been an outstanding engine supply partner for more than 25 years and remains
a significant shareholder in Arctic Cat. However, we are changing our engine strategy in order to gain more control over our
products, and enhance our ability to meet regulatory and performance requirements. This also will enable us to better utilize
our current engine manufacturing capacity, resulting in potentially better costs.” Twomey added: “Our
St. Cloud engine facility has been a great addition for the company since we began manufacturing our ATV engines there in
2007.” The 56,000-square- foot plant is located on 15 acres and currently employees 41 people. At this time,
the company plans to use existing plant capacity and personnel during the transition. Arctic Cat expects snowmobile engine
production to begin in St. Cloud in fiscal 2015. 10 06 2010
WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ – June 8, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Husqvarna
has a banner crop of bikes set for the 2011 model year. Beginning with the launch of the amazing 2011 TE630 and SMS630 models
earlier this spring, Husqvarna has come out swinging again with the all-new 2011 WR150. Think of this 2-stroke buzz saw as
a BMX bike on steroids! Based on the highly successful WR125 model that has served to introduce a whole generation of young
riders to the legendary Italian marque, the WR150 continues to prove good things come in small packages.  Over the years Husqvarna’s WR125 has developed a near cult-like following for its unbelievable performance
and reliability. In fact, Husqvarna engineers working in conjunction with importers and race teams from around the world determined
that the only thing that could make the WR125 even better was more torque and response. Mission accomplished as the upgrade
to a 144cc displacement is the ideal solution. However, the WR150 gets more than the motor punched up! In addition
to expanding the engine capacity, further refinements taken from the 2010 WR125 include a redesigned chromoly trellis frame
with improved geometry, beefier engine mounts and reinforcements in key areas in the chassis to handle bigger displacement
powerplant. “The 2011 WR150 is an impressive package any way you measure it,” notes Husqvarna Motorcycles NA president
Mark Brady. “It makes for an ideal complement at the other end of the model line spectrum to its TE630 and SMS630 siblings.” Above
and beyond the bigger engine and refined chassis, the WR150 is fitted with superior suspension components: 50mm Kayaba forks
matched to a Sachs remote reservoir rear shock. Husqvarna’s highlights also include IPD (in-mold plastic decoration)
graphics technology and the updated headlight/rear taillight assemblies that came on the 2010 WR125 are featured as well. “With
three hot new models already on U.S. shores, the 2011 model year is shaping up to be a break-out year for Husqvarna,”
concludes Brady. “We are looking forward to the return to dominance in the off-road motorcycle scene here in America.” MSRP:
$6499 13 06 2010
By Brent Burkey Harley’s new ways of manufacturing are piloted
with special run of 2010 motorcycles at the York plant. YORK, PA – June 13, 2010 – (Motor
Sports Newswire) – Clayton Brunner has been a bitter Harley-Davidson worker, by his own admission, although he’s
also glad to still have a job.  Events over the past year or so, from staff cuts to the new contract, led to his unrest. But the
10-year Harley union employee is now a team lead on the new Trike line, which celebrated its first motorcycles made this week
with a special 2010 run of Tri Glide vehicles for Shriners of North America. Previously, the rear part of the Trikes,
or three-wheeled motorcycles, was made by a company in South Dakota. Local Harley General Manager Ed Magee said
in a statement that “being able to bring full assembly in-house is a testament to the hard work of our employees to
make York more flexible, sustainable and cost-effective.” The line is a pilot for the way Harley plans to
eventually make all its local motorcycles, and comes as one part of a local restructuring designed to keep the company operating
here. Brunner volunteered for his position, after jokes about pursuing the position with a fellow employee segued
into serious consideration. Leads are union employees who help other employees troubleshoot problems in certain
areas of production, similar to how a traditional supervisor might. The system is an empowerment movement of the
local workforce to find better ways to make bikes called the Harley Continuous Improvement system. And today, he
and other employees on the line are getting results and praise by superiors – even though Brunner also doesn’t
expect to have a job at Harley by the end of the year. Cutting the workforce roughly in half is part of restructuring. Instead
of the more traditional setup of assembly line processes snaking throughout the factory building, Trikes ride short distances
from station to station on little orange carts. Every step in the process is bar-coded during testing processes,
tracked and timed for evaluation. The steps are based on a workflow plan developed by employees and advisers in a meeting
room upstairs from the factory floor. Once workers run through the steps, they see how things actually worked and
make changes. Some diagrams resemble football plays, showing who and what goes where and at what times in the process. The
best plays are compact, with little wasted energy around the bike. The goal is to produce the best quality motorcycle
with the least amount of waste of any kind, from time to scrap, said Michael DiMauro, spokesman for the local plants. Doing
so means union workers now need to tell management, including general manager Ed Magee, what they need to do the job right,
DiMauro said. Then, management needs to hold up its end of the bargain. The roughly 30 employees on the Trike line
are part of two pilots currently under way at the local operations. The other is in a frame welding operation. Joel Palmateer,
titled work group advisor, has a position that is transitioning to more of a big-picture supervisor role, as team leads take
over more minute-by-minute duties. He also was admittedly hesitant about the new production program when it began.
He said employees are working hard to make things happen. What’s surprised another team lead is the mountain
of paperwork that comes with the job, said the bandana-clad Terry Smith, sitting in the white-walled war room with others
involved in a recent day’s analysis. Smith said there are layers upon layers of details to consider, and new
ideas really aren’t just tried out. They have to be proved out before they can be put in practice. Brunner
agreed. And for him, his job is also about combating negativity — his own in recent times. Brunner
was a welder before job reductions and the union seniority pecking order removed him from that job, landing him on the assembly
line. He’s also associated the company with the contract negotiations, which led to concessions for workers. Now,
his work as a team lead is his way of building something positive, helping to put in place something for other union workers
to build from once he’s gone. With his seniority, he probably has at most until the end of the year before
he is cut from the company. Everyone involved deserves the credit for the Trike successes, Brunner said. For
years, many employees had wanted to be a part of the solution for Harley, and now hopefully it continues, he said. And
after seeing how things have worked out, he thinks more companies should try it. It adds ownership by workers to what they
are doing. But, Brunner said, not everyone is sold on the new system yet, and the transition process could still
go either way. Paul Cover, vice president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local
175, worked in previous Trike operations when he was elected to union leadership. The success so quick in the process
has surprised him, and the big turning points have been when employees actually see management taking their suggestions seriously. In
the more than 20 years he’s been with the company, management told workers what to do. Proof of the new flow
is in the bottom line. Cover said there was always a bottleneck in the old Trike process that bogged down production.
But today, the production employees have figured out how to make three more Trikes a day. Series of firsts The
special run of 2010 Trikes, or three-wheeled motorcycles, that rolled off the Harley-Davidson line in the past week or so
are a series of firsts for York Vehicle Operations. - They are first Trikes to be made totally in York.
Previously,
the rear ends were made by a subcontractor in South Dakota. - They are first motorcycles made under the new work
system locally.
It’s based on the system Toyota has made famous in the manufacturing world, with constant
analysis of workflow and encouraging employees basically to speak up when needed for the sake of a better product. - And,
they are also the first motorcycles made totally under the new system anywhere in Harley-Davidson’s company.
This
is the new work structure that Harley said it needed during the potential relocation talk last year, and it will eventually
be rolled out across the company’s York County hub. Also of interest –York County chainsaw artist about
Harley carving: ‘I had an inspiration for the bike and America’. 8 06 2010
COSTA MESA, CA – June 8, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) - - Jesse
James to Sell 1936 Ford Custom Five Window Coupe at No Reserve
- First Time James has Consigned Vehicle From His Personal
Collection
- Hot Rod Is Feature Car at the Inaugural Automotive Lifestyle Event
Jesse James of West
Coast Choppers fame will sell his 1936 Ford Custom Five Window Coupe at No Reserve during the Inaugural 2010 Barrett-Jackson Orange County Auction. This is the first time that James has consigned a vehicle from his personal collection at Barrett-Jackson. The
hot rod will be one of the feature cars at the automotive lifestyle event, June 25-27 at the OC Fair and Event Center, which
will be broadcast live by SPEED TV in high definition. “We’re pleased that Jesse chose to show off the talents of West Coast Choppers by consigning the car
at Barrett-Jackson,” said Craig Jackson, CEO of Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction. ”Our event is a perfect place for a vehicle of that caliber to
cross the auction block because it will be appreciated by enthusiasts and collectors alike who will all want to view this
interesting piece of history.” James’ 1936 Ford Custom Five Window Coupe (Lot #382) has a three-speed automatic transmission and a 350 engine. The stunning purple custom paint was by Burnt Carlson from
Hot Rods by Boyd while the interior features custom air brushing on the dash. The custom metal work was performed by
masters at West Coast Choppers, which includes the chopped, smoothed, custom Nash truck grill. The vehicle, which is James’s
personal ride also features 1936 Bugatti taillights. “My ’36 Ford is a prime example of West Coast Choppers
craftsmanship and Long Beach Style,” said James, motorcycle shot caller. ”I chose Barrett-Jackson because
they are the benchmark for automotive trends. The fact is if a car sells at Barrett-Jackson, cars just like this will start
selling all around the world.” The car has appeared in various publications including books, magazines and
TV shows. It was featured in an Auto Zone commercial alongside James. The vehicle was also made into a die cast
model and a large model will be included with the car at the auction. “Barrett-Jackson was among the first
auction companies to champion custom and restored hot rods in the collector car market,” said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “Jesse’s vehicle is the perfect example of a classic car being crafted and transformed
by a master in the industry. It is definitely a car to watch for at the auction.” This will be the first Barrett-Jackson automotive lifestyle event in Southern California with a road rally, cruise-in and other activities being planned in the
area before three days of the collector car auction in Costa Mesa, Calif. The event will encompass the OC Fair &
Event Center grounds and also include sponsor promotions and displays, vendors, exhibitors, interactive demonstrations, parties
and other festivities with hundreds of vehicles crossing the block. In the Barrett-Jackson tradition, the Orange County event
will feature several highlights for enthusiasts worldwide who are unable to attend the auction, such as live online bidding
and 18 hours of live, high-definition TV coverage from SPEED Publish date: Jun 21, 2010
 BMW is recalling certain ’08-’09 F 650 GS and F 800 GS models manufactured from Sept. 27,
2007, through March 30, 2009. The company is also recalling ’07-’08 G 650 Xcountry, Xchallenge and Xmoto models
manufacturered from Nov. 29, 2006, through May 19, 2008. The drive chains of the F650 GS and F800 GS may not have
been produced to specification. As a result, over time the chain could break. If the broken chain becomes trapped between
the rear wheel and the frame, the rear wheel could lock up. Regarding the G 650 models, over time the roll gear
pin’s mounting attachment could break. If it does, fragments of the attachment could become trapped between the drive
chain and the rear sprocket, possibly causing the rear wheel to lock up. BMW has not yet provided NHTSA with a remedy
plan or a notification schedule. The NHTSA campaign ID numbers are 10V273000 for the G 650 models and 10V274000
for the F 650 and F800. Interested in having recall information e-mailed to you immediately as it becomes available?
NHTSA offers recall alerts via e-mail and RSS. Follow this link to sign up. 18 06 2010
National President, Other Leaders and Members Charged with
Racketeering, Attempted Murder and other Violent Crimes RICHMOND, VA –
June 15, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – The National President and 26 other members and associates of the American
Outlaw Association (Outlaws) motorcycle gang have been indicted by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia.
The 12-count indictment – which was returned on June 10, 2010, but unsealed today – charges that the men participated
in a criminal enterprise that engaged in a wide range of crimes, including attempted murder, kidnapping, assault, robbery,
extortion, witness intimidation, narcotics distribution, illegal gambling and weapons violations. Neil H. MacBride,
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Rich Marianos, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement today after the indictment
was unsealed and the defendants were placed in custody. “Today’s arrests of the national president and
leadership of the American Outlaws Association mark another aggressive attempt by the Department of Justice to dismantle what
the indictment alleges to be a gang whose entire environment revolves around violence,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “This
is another example of what ATF does best,” said Acting SAC Rich Marianos. “Our agents work day in and day out
with our law enforcement partners fighting violent crime so our citizens can feel safer in their communities and homes.” The
indictment alleges that the Outlaws motorcycle gang is a highly organized criminal enterprise with a defined, multi-level
chain of command, which is overseen by Jack Rosga, aka Milwaukee Jack, 53, Milwaukee, Wis., who served as the Outlaws National
President. Leaders and members in multiple states are charged in the indictment, including Wisconsin, Maine, Montana, North
Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina and Virginia. Under Rosga’s leadership, the enterprise is alleged to have engaged
in violent racketeering activities with the intent to expand its influence and control various parts of the country against
rival motorcycle gangs, particularly the Hell’s Angels. According to the indictment, the Outlaws planned multiple
acts of violence against rival motorcycle gangs, including shows of force at the Cycle Expo in 2006, Dinwiddie Racetrack in
2008, Cockades Bar in 2009, Daytona Bike Week in 2009, and the Easyrider Bike Expo in 2010. The indictment alleges that in
the Cockades Bar show of force, members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club joined the Outlaws in the assault against rival gangs. The
indictment states that in October 2009, Rosga allegedly directed members of the Outlaws to retaliate against the Hell’s
Angels for their attack on two Outlaws members, which resulted in the alleged attempted murder of a Hell’s Angels member
in Canaan, Maine. The victim was seriously injured from gunshot wounds. Following Outlaw tradition, the two Outlaw members
who carried out the attack allegedly received new patches indicating they had performed a violent act on behalf of the Outlaws. In
November 2008, Outlaws members are charged in the indictment of assaulting a black male at the Hard Times Cafe in Fredericksburg,
Va., for no other reason but his race, and then intimidating witnesses and instructing fellow Outlaws members to lie to obstruct
law enforcement’s investigation of the assault. The indictment also includes allegations of the Outlaws regularly
distributing and using narcotics, engaging in illegal gambling activities, and the regular use of firearms and other dangers
weapons. If convicted, the defendants face years in prison. A fact sheet outlining the possible penalties for each
count contained in the indictment is attached. The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives’ Washington Field Division; the FBI’s Washington Field Office; the Virginia State Police;
the Chesterfield County Police Department; and numerous law enforcement partners throughout the country. The prosecution is
being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter Duffey and Dennis Fitzpatrick and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Kaplan
on behalf of the United States. Those charged in the indictment include: - Jack Rosga,
aka “Milwaukee Jack,” 53, serves as the National Boss of the Outlaws organization and is also a member of the
Gold Region, Milwaukee Wisconsin Chapter.
- Joseph Allman, 46, is an Outlaws member in the Red region
and holds a position in the Maine Chapter, previously serving as President and Enforcer.
- John Banthem,
aka “Bull,” 46, is an Outlaws member in Montana and is the president of a new prospect chapter in Montana.
- Thomas
Benvie, aka “Taz,” 41, is an Outlaws member in the Red region and currently serves as President of the
Maine Chapter.
- William Davey, aka “Rebel,” 46, is an Outlaws member in the Copper Region
and was formerly the Chapter Enforcer in the Ashville, North Carolina.
- Mark Jason Fiel, aka “Jason,”
37, is a former Outlaws member in the Copper Region and a former leader in the Manassas/Shenandoah Valley Chapter.
- Mark
Steven Fiel, aka “Snuff,” 59, is an Outlaws member in the Copper Region and serves as President of the
Manassas/Shenandoah Valley Chapter.
- Chris Gagner, 37, is an Outlaws member in the Copper Region
and serves as the President and Treasurer of the Asheville, North Carolina Chapter.
- Harold Herndon,
aka “Lil’ Dave,” 48, is an Outlaws member and is currently the Copper Region Vice President and member of
the Lexington, North Carolina Chapter.
- Mark Lester, aka “Ivan,” 55, is an Outlaws member
in the Knoxville, Tennessee Chapter and is served as the Boss of the Grey Region until early 2010.
- Brett
Longendyke, 32, is an Outlaws member in the Copper Region and serves as the Manassas/Shenandoah Valley Chapter Enforcer.
- David Lowry, aka “Little David,” 49, is an Outlaws member and currently the Copper Region
Boss and member of the Charlotte Chapter.
- Michael Mariaca, aka “M & M,” 50, is an
Outlaws member and serves as the President of the Rock Hill, South Carolina Chapter and Copper Region Enforcer.
- Thomas
Mayne, aka “Tomcat,” 59, is an Outlaws member in the Red Region and serves as the regional treasurer.
Mayne formerly served as the Red Region Enforcer.
- Harry Rhyne McCall, 53, is an Outlaws member in
the Copper Region, Lexington, North Carolina Chapter.
- Michael Pedini, aka “Madman,”
39, is an Outlaws member in the Red Region and a former Enforcer in the Northern Maine Chapter.
- Thomas Petrini,
aka “Jo Jo,” 48, is a former Outlaws member in the Copper Region, Manassas/Shenandoah Valley Chapter.
- Michael
Smith, 51, is an Outlaws member in the Copper Region and serves as the President of the Hickory, North Carolina Chapter.
- Mark Spradling, aka “Lytnin,” 52, is an Outlaws member and serves as Treasurer of the
Copper Region.
- Christopher Timbers, aka “Alibi,” 37, is an Outlaws member in the Manassas/Shenandoah
Valley Chapter of the Copper Region.
- James Townsend, aka “Vern,” 44, is an Outlaws member
and President of the Lexington, North Carolina Chapter.
- Leslie Werth, aka “Les,” 47,
is an Outlaws member and currently is the Vice President of the Rock Hill, South Carolina Chapter. Werth served as the Copper
Region Boss until October 17, 2009.
- Brian McDermott, 50, is an Outlaws member of the Copper Region’s
Hickory, North Carolina chapter.
- Charles Love, aka “Chuck” and “Rebar,”
49, is a member of the Pagans Motorcycle Club from Amelia, Va.
- William Powell, aka “Torch,”
49, is a member of the Pagans Motorcycle Club from Lynchburg, Va.
- Charles Barlow, aka “Chuck,”
43, is a member of the Pagans Motorcycle Club from Chesterfield, Va.
- Dennis Haldermann, aka “Chew
Chew,” 45, is a member of the Pagans Motorcycle Club from Chesterfield, Va.
The charges contained in
the indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 16 06 2010
MONTGOMERY, NY – June 16, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) - Authorities
say a roofer working at “American Chopper” co-star Paul Teutul (TUH’-tul) Jr.’s new motorcycle business
fell through a hole and died. Police in Orange County say the Middletown roofing company employee stepped backward
into a hole that had been cut in the roof and fell 40 feet Tuesday morning. They say the 26-year-old man from Beacon, whose
name hasn’t been released, died at the scene in Montgomery, 60 miles north of New York City. Teutul is leasing
space in the building to open his own motorcycle shop. He and his father, Paul Sr., had a falling out but plan to go head-to-head
this fall when the cable TV series resumes. Neither Paul Teutul Jr. nor other cast members were at the building
when the accident happened. 19 06 2010
By Chip Brian June 18, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – When Harley-Davidson
(NYSE: HOG) reported earnings 59 days ago on April 20, 2010, analysts, on average, expected the company to report earnings of $0.23
on sales of $1 billion. The company actually reported EPS of $0.43 on sales of $1.2 billion, beating EPS estimates by $0.20 and beating revenues estimates
by $180 million. Since the company’s report, share of Harley-Davidson have fallen from $35.17 to $26.81, representing
a loss of 23.77% in the past 59 days. SmarTrend is bearish on shares of Harley-Davidson and our subscribers were
alerted to Sell on May 05, 2010 at $31.71. The stock has fallen 15.5% since the alert was issued. 18 06 2010
June 17, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – The ranks of electric racing motorcycle
builders has just expanded by one. The Italian company, CRP Racing, which initially launched the eCRP 1.0 back in January,
couldn’t leave well enough alone and has now trotted out the new and improved eCRP1.2. Like its name implies, the new
machine is an incremental evolution of the original. It features a more refined fairing, a larger 7.4 kWh battery, Marzocchi
“upside down” forks up front and in the rear, the big red emergency shut off button has been moved from the top
of the tail stock to the underside. Like the original, it uses twin Agni 95 DC motors to motivate the rear wheel, though the
changes give it a slightly higher top speed of 200 kilometers per hour (124.3 miles per hour). The 1.2 made its debut at the Castelletto circuit in Northern Italy where it got a little workout by champion rider
Roberto Locatelli who had this to say about the ride: It was a terrific experience, at first I have
not a clear idea of what it would have meant to me riding the eCRP. I have done 5 laps and I would never stop to be honest.
I would keep on running at full throttle for all day. I look forward to ride again eCRP. It is great fun, speed and pure adrenaline
on two wheels!
We may have to wait until September to see it running under competition conditions,
though. The TTXGP Italia season, where we expect it will be entered, has just been re-configured with the first contest being
held on the 5th of September. If you’d like to buy one for yourself, the price tag reads €40,000 ($49,460 at today’s
exchange rate). If that’s more than you care to bite off, €18,000 ($22,280) is enough to lease one for the entire
season or you can pay €5,000 ($6,189) for a single race. 3
03 2010 By LYDA LONGA DAYTONA BEACH, FL – March 2,2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – The county’s motorcycle theft
task force netted two Georgia chiropractors riding stolen motorcycles near Main Street in Bike Week’s first such arrests
of the event, officials said.  The suspects — David Nudelman, 31 and David Hershkowitz, 35 — looked uneasy when members of the county’s
Motorcycle Anti-Theft Task Force approached them as they patrolled Main Street after 5 p.m. Monday, said Brandon Haught, Volusia
County sheriff’s spokesman.When police noticed
the vehicle identification numbers on the Kawasaki ZX-10 and the Yamaha R-1 seemed altered, they ran the numbers and discovered
that both bikes had been reported stolen out of Georgia — the Kawasaki in January, the Yamaha in 2008, Haught said. The suspects denied they knew anything about the motorcycles being stolen,
Haught said. Nudelman said he had bought both bikes, but could not remember when and where because it had been a long time
ago. Hershkowitz meanwhile, was listed as a witness in the Yamaha theft, according to information dug out by the Task
Force, Haught said. In addition, it was also learned
that Hershkowitz is a friend of the Yamaha’s owner, Haught said. The chiropractors were charged with grand theft auto and possession of a vehicle with an altered ID number. The men
both posted $5,000 bail this morning and were out of the Volusia County Branch Jail. lyda.longa @news-jrnl.com SOURCE: Daytona Beach News-Journal As a rule Motor Sports Newswire doesn’t run this type of
story. However, when I read this, it just had to share it with you. I specifically love the part
where the one dumb ass is listed as a witness to the theft and a friend of the former owner. Can you say insurance fraud?
The mugshots are just the icing on the cake. If you’d like to share your thoughts regarding this matter, we’d love to hear from you.
Thanks for indulging me.
 |  |  | AMA Urges You to Meet Rep. Tom PetriDear james, Representative
Tom Petri is hosting a series of town hall meetings in your area and wants to hear from you. If you want to help protect youth
riding, this is an opportunity you don't want to miss. Your Representative is currently not a cosponsor of H.R. 1587, a bill
that would exempt youth-sized motorcycles and ATVs from the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008. The
riding community needs to let their Representatives know that we are concerned about this law, and that we want youth-model
motorcycles and ATVs excluded from the CPSIA. Our youth riders need your help to let our lawmakers know how we feel. |
|
Topic:
Town Hall Official: Rep. Thomas Petri (R-WI 6th) When: 07/06/2010 Starts: 09:30 AM Until: 10:30 AM Where: Ixonia Town Hall W1195 Marietta Avenue Ixonia, WI 53036 Topic: Town Hall Official:
Rep. Thomas Petri (R-WI 6th) When: 07/06/2010 Starts: 02:00 PM Until: 03:00 PM Where: City Hall City
Council Chambers 15 South School Street Mayville, WI 53050 Topic: Town Hall Official: Rep.
Thomas Petri (R-WI 6th) When: 07/09/2010 Starts: 10:00 AM Until: 11:00 AM Where: City Hall Council
Chambers 205 South Webster Avenue Omro, WI 54963 Topic: Town Hall Official: Rep. Thomas
Petri (R-WI 6th) When: 07/09/2010 Starts: 01:30 PM Until: 02:30 PM Where: Community Center 500
Division Street Wild Rose, WI 54984 Topic: Town Hall Official: Rep. Thomas Petri (R-WI 6th) When: 07/07/2010 Starts: 09:30 AM Until: 10:30 AM Where: Community Center Combined Hall 280 Garfield
Street North Fond du Lac, WI 54937 Topic: Town Hall Official: Rep. Thomas Petri (R-WI 6th) When: 07/07/2010 Starts: 01:00 PM Until: 02:00 PM Where: Village Hall Community Center 913 South
Wisconsin Drive Howards Grove, WI 53083 Topic: Town Hall Official: Rep. Thomas Petri (R-WI 6th)
When: 07/07/2010 Starts: 03:30 PM Until: 04:30 PM Where: Hilbert Community Center 45 North 5th
Street Hilbert, WI 54129 Topic: Town Hall Official: Rep. Thomas Petri (R-WI 6th) When:
07/08/2010 Starts: 09:00 AM Until: 10:00 AM Where: Buchanan Town Hall N178 County Road N Appleton,
WI 54915 Topic: Town Hall Official: Rep. Thomas Petri (R-WI 6th) When: 07/08/2010 Starts:
02:00 PM Until: 03:00 PM Where: Vets Club 314 West Main Street Mishicot, WI 54228 Topic:
Town Hall Official: Rep. Thomas Petri (R-WI 6th) When: 07/12/2010 Starts: 11:00 AM Until: 12:00 PM Where: Village Hall 507 West Lake Street Friendship, WI 53934 Topic: Town Hall Official:
Rep. Thomas Petri (R-WI 6th) When: 07/12/2010 Starts: 04:30 PM Until: 05:30 PM Where: Community Center
City Council Chambers-Back of Fire Station 431 West Main Street Princeton, WI 54968 Topic:
Town Hall Official: Rep. Thomas Petri (R-WI 6th) When: 07/12/2010 Starts: 02:30 PM Until: 03:30 PM Where: Community Center 400 Church Street Endeavor, WI 53930 | Did You Know? | Princess Anne and George Harrison have both owned custom-painted Arai helmets. |
Oil wells in the Bakken
Formation have been drilled since 2000 in Montana . In 2007 oil production averaged 53K barrels/ day and continues to
today. Drilling in N. Dakota began in 2006 and there are currently about 500 oil wells producing 7.4KK barrels/day. Read
on with amazment!
Here's an interesting read, important and
verifiable information :
About 6 months ago, the writer was watching a news program on oil and
one of the
Forbes Bros. was the guest. The host said to Forbes, "I am going to
ask you a direct question and I would like a
direct answer; how much oil
does the U.S. have in the ground?" Forbes did not miss a beat, he said, "more
than all the Middle East put together." Please read below.
The U. S. Geological Service issued a report
in April 2008 that only
scientists and oil men knew was coming, but man was it big. It was a
revised report (hadn't
been updated since 1995) on how much oil was in
this area of the western 2/3 of North Dakota , western South Dakota ,
and extreme
eastern Montana ..... check THIS out:  http://bakkenshale.net/bakkenshalemap.html
The Bakken is the largest domestic oil discovery
since Alaska 's Prudhoe
Bay, and has the potential to eliminate all American dependence on foreign
oil. The Energy
Information Administration (EIA) estimates it at 503 billion
barrels. Even if just 10% of the oil is recoverable... at
$107 a barrel,
we're looking at a resource base worth more than $5..3 trillion.
"When I first briefed
legislators on this, you could practically see
their jaws hit the floor. They had no idea.." says Terry Johnson,
the Montana
Legislature's financial analyst.
"This sizable find is now the highest-producing onshore
oil field found
in the past 56 years," reports The Pittsburgh Post Gazette. It's a
formation known as the Williston
Basin , but is more commonly referred to as the
'Bakken.' It stretches from Northern Montana, through North Dakota and
into Canada .. For years, U. S. oil exploration has been considered a dead
end. Even the 'Big Oil' companies gave up
searching for major oil wells
decades ago. However, a recent technological breakthrough has opened up
the Bakken's
massive reserves.... and we now have access of up to 500
billion barrels. And because this is light, sweet oil, those
billions of barrels
will cost Americans just $16 PER BARREL!
That's enough crude to fully fuel the American
economy for 2041 years
straight. And if THAT didn't throw you on the floor, then this next one
should - because
it's from 2006!
U. S. Oil Discovery- Largest Reserve in the World
Stansberry Report Online - 4/20/2006
Hidden 1,000 feet beneath the surface of the Rocky Mountains lies the
largest untapped oil reserve in the world.
It is more than 2 TRILLION
barrels. On August 8, 2005 President Bush mandated its extraction. In
three and a half
years of high oil prices none has been extracted. With this
motherload of oil why are we still fighting over off-shore
drilling?
They reported this stunning news: We have more oil inside our borders,
than all the other proven
reserves on earth. Here are the official estimates:
- 8-times as much oil as Saudi Arabia
- 18-times
as much oil as Iraq
- 21-times as much oil as Kuwait
- 22-times as much oil as Iran
- 500-times
as much oil as Yemen
- and it's all right here in the Western United States .
HOW can this BE? HOW can
we NOT BE extracting this? Because the
environmentalists and others have blocked all efforts to help America
become
independent of foreign oil! Again, we are letting a small group of
people dictate our lives and our economy.....WHY?
James Bartis, lead researcher with the study says we've got more oil in
this very compact area than the entire
Middle East -more than 2 TRILLION
barrels untapped. That's more than all the proven oil reserves of crude oil in
the
world today, reports The Denver Post.
Don't think 'OPEC' will drop its price - even with this find? Think
again!
It's all about the competitive marketplace, - it has to. Think OPEC just
might be funding the environmentalists?
Got your attention yet? Now, while you're thinking about it, do this:
Pass this along. If you don't take
a little time to do this, then you
should stifle yourself the next time you complain about gas prices - by
doing
NOTHING, you forfeit your right to complain.
--------
Now I just wonder what would happen in this country
if every one of you
sent this to every one in your address book.
|
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7 04
2010 25 03 2010 MX Sports Pro Racing Announces Postponement
of Round 2
of Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship MORGANTOWN,
WV – March 25, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – MX Sports Pro Racing announced today the postponement of
the Glen Helen round of the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, citing contractual differences with the promoter
of the San Bernardino, Calif., facility. The second-round event, which was originally scheduled for Glen Helen Raceway on
May 29, is now being slated for September 11. “This was a difficult decision, but ultimately, we
simply were not able to come to contractual terms with Glen Helen Raceway,” said Davey Coombs, Vice President of MX
Sports Pro Racing. “By moving the date to September 11, we will have time to find a suitable venue. Riders, teams and
fans are making travel plans now and we want them to feel secure that we will have an exceptional venue ready in Southern
California. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this change.” MX Sports Pro Racing does
not intend to fill the date of May 29 and will opt to leave the remaining series dates intact, giving competitors and teams
Memorial Day weekend off. Details for the September 11 event will be announced soon. The revised 2010 Lucas
Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship Schedule: - May 22, Hangtown Classic, Sacramento, Calif.
- Jun
5, Freestone Raceway, Wortham, Texas
- Jun 12, High Point Raceway, Mt. Morris, Pa.
- Jun 19,
Budds Creek Motocross, Mechanicsville, Md.
- Jun 26, Thunder Valley Motocross, Lakewood, Colo.
- Jul
3, RedBud, Buchanan, Mich.
- Jul 17, Spring Creek Motocross, Millville, Minn.
- Jul 24, Washougal
MX Park, Washougal, Wash.
- Aug 14, Unadilla, New Berlin, N.Y.
- Aug 28, Moto-X 338, Southwick,
Mass.
- Sept 4, Steel City Raceway, Delmont, Pa.
- Sep 11, TBA, Calif.
Fans that have purchased advanced tickets or camping passes to this event should contact Glen
Helen at www.glenhelen.com. Please stay tuned to www.allisports.com for updates and additional information on the series. For more information about the 2010 Lucas Oil
AMA Pro Motocross Championship, please contact media coordinator Brandon Short via email at brandon@mxsports.com or by telephone at (949) 365-5750. 27 03 2010 STURGIS, SD – March 22, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) –
Rowdy Chipsters and hardcore rockers won’t want to miss this. Orianthi, the music industry’s most talked about
guitar sensation, is scheduled to play the Legendary Buffalo Chip on Tuesday, August 10, during Sturgis Rally Week 2010.
With her cascading blonde locks and cherry red electric guitar, the 24-year-old prodigy combines sex appeal and natural talent
to create a show-stopping musical experience.  Most recognizable as the fierce and sassy guitarist in Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” documentary concert-film,
Orianthi Panagaris was chosen amongst a wide selection of qualified contenders as the lead guitarist for his “This Is
It” tour. When offered the gig in Jackson’s band, Orianthi joined a prestigious line of guitar players including
Eddie Van Halen, Santana, Slash, Steve Stevens, Jennifer Batten and Larry Carlton.In addition she has
also opened for industry great, Steve Vai, backed up celebrated country crooner, Carrie Underwood, traded solos with the legendary
Carlos Santana and has jammed with music moguls Prince and ZZ Top. Her journey began at the age six when
Orianthi picked up one of her father’s guitars in her hometown of Adelaide, Australia. Teaching herself, she learned
guitar from watching Santana videos. She later got the opportunity to meet him when he came to Adelaide. The two had a sound
check jam that resulted in an invitation to join him on stage. Inspired by the distinctive, hard-edged sounds of Whitesnake,
Van Halen and Def Leppard she has been turning heads ever since. While audiences consider her look and
stage presence striking, industry legend Carlos Santana insists that it’s her talent that separates her from the pack.
“She’s at a level now where … all of us are going to be cheering for her because it’s not cute anymore.
It’s seriously ass whooping. She can chop it up. I don’t know if I’m going to be doing this for …how
long…well if I’m going to pass the baton to someone, she would be my first choice.” Known
for rocking it out and shredding it up, Orianthi is notorious for her killer riffs and anthemic rock tracks. As nimble fingers
with nails painted black tirelessly assault the frets of the guitar that she lovingly refers to as “Pepper”, Orianthi
is proving to the world that she is clearly the next big thing in rock and roll. Orianthi joins Kid Rock,
ZZ Top, Jason Aldean, Disturbed, Tesla, The Doobie Brothers, Dave Mason and Williams & Ree for the phenomenal Buffalo
Chip 2010 Sturgis Rally Week lineup. More information and reservations are available at www.buffaloChip.com or by calling 605-347-9000. 26 03 2010 Total bill: $129 million in added economic
costs to Michigan citizens DEARBORN, MI – March 23, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire)
– AAA Michigan strongly opposes legislation that will be considered by the House Committee on Regulatory Reform in Lansing
tomorrow which would allow motorcyclists to ride without a helmet on the state’s roadways. The legislation will
increase motorcycle fatalities and injuries and would increase costs for all motorists, AAA Michigan reports. Every
year, challengers of Michigan’s mandatory motorcycle helmet law try to get the law repealed without regard for the common
good. A 2005 AAA study found nearly 90 percent of AAA Michigan members opposed a repeal of the state’s
mandatory motorcycle helmet law, which has served Michigan well for more than 36 years. A repeal of the
motorcycle helmet law will result in at least 30 additional motorcycle fatalities each year, along with 127 more incapacitating
injuries and $129 million in added economic costs to Michigan citizens. This
is based on the experience of other states where similar measures have been enacted. As evidenced by increased medical costs passed on to taxpayers, motorcycle deaths and long-term
catastrophic injuries are on the rise. Motorcycle crashes account for a disproportionate share of money
paid out of the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA), a fund which is supported by a surcharge on every auto insurance
policy in Michigan. Although motorcyclists represent 1.9 percent of the assessments paid into the MCCA, they account
for 5 percent of all money paid out and 7 percent of all claims reported. Since its inception in 1978, MCCA has reimbursed
member insurers more than $321 million for 712 motorcycle injury claims exceeding the threshold. According
to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2007, 5,154 motorcyclists were killed – a 7 percent
increase over the 4,837 motorcyclists killed in 2006. In Michigan, 127 motorcyclists were killed and another 3,462 were
injured in motorcycle crashes in 2008. The number of motorcycle crashes in the state rose from 3,723 in 2007 to 3,969
in 2008. NHTSA estimates that helmets saved 1,784 motorcyclists’ lives in 2007, and that 800 more
could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets. AAA Michigan urges legislators to keep Michigan’s
mandatory motorcycle helmet law, and encourages residents to contact their local legislators on this important issue.
To contact your local legislator, go to: SOURCE: AAA Michigan 14 03 2010 Ken Boyko and Alpinestars push fund towards finish line, Bob
and Geoff Fox take it across while RIDERS F1RST pushes it past $110,000! March,
12, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – On Friday, March 5th, Brad and Lori Lackey received an e-mail from recently
inducted AMA Hall Of Famer Geoff Fox saying that he, along with his brother Bob, would fund the remaining $15,000 needed for
a very special project. to reach $100,000 challenge to the industry Last  November, Bob “Hurricane” Hannah issued a $100,000 challenge to the industry to fund a special needs van for
injured motocross legend Danny “Magoo” Chandler. But even before the news that the donation from the Fox clan
had pushed the project to its goal had sunk in, David Bailey and Russ Koza from RIDERS F1RST and ONE Industries added an additional
$10,000 for a grand total of $110,000. “Wow is all I can say right now,” said Brad Lackey, America’s
First Motocross World Champion, and van fund project leader Brad Lackey. “They way people have responded to this challenge
and all the other donations we received makes me very proud to be part of the motorcycle industry.” The challenge
was started by 7-Time National Motocross and Supercross Champion Bob Hannah at the 2009 Monsters of Motocross presented by Lucas Oil event last Halloween as he made the first $5,000
donation. A growing list of industry people meeting Hannah’s challenge was promoted each week in a series of advertisements
donated by Cycle News. Each week, new names were added, including pioneers and new champions of the motocross market and other
generous fans of Magoo. “It’s awesome that so many fine folks and companies found a way to help make
this happen for our friend Magoo,” said Hannah. “I look forward to seeing Danny at the races in his new rig. Maybe
he’ll take me for a hot lap,” Hannah joked. “The van turned out great!” adds Lackey. “It is
so cool, I think I need one of these rigs for myself.” These funds will now be used to purchase and outfit
a new special needs Sprinter van for Danny Magoo Chandler winner of all four motos of the 1982 Motocross and Trophee des Nations.
The van will be outfitted with the newest living equipment and gear to allow Danny to be on the road teaching his riding and
safety clinics around the country. The goal is to have the vehicle ready by the Hangtown Motocross National in late May. Although
Hannah’s challenge has been met, there is still funds needed to help pay for insurance, maintenance and other costs
related to the vehicle. Also, ongoing signage and branding opportunities on the van will be available for interested companies
who would like to associate their brand with Danny Magoo Chandler and his safety clinics. Thanks to all who answered the challenge:
Terri & Bob “Hurricane” Hannah
Terry Knott
Robin & Bob Fox
Bruce Lockwood
Glen Helen Raceway Park
Cheryl & Mark “The
Bomber” Barnett
Linda & “Jammin’ Jimmy” Weinert
Todd Huffman & Don Hoffman, PDM
TV
Jason Lawrence
Tom Reese/Springfield Armory
Hi-Torque Publications
Travis Pastrana
Ace Burt/Professional
Contract Services
Ken Boyko/Cobra Engineering
Geoff & Josie Fox
Alpinestars/Gabriele Mazzarolo
RIDERS
F1RST/ONE Industries/David Bailey 11 03 2010 ROCHESTER, MN – March 11, 2010 – (Motor
Sports Newswire) - Mayo Clinic researchers today presented findings about significant instances of hospitalization and
surgery following motocross injuries to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ 2010 Annual Meeting. The
presentation is based on a December 2009 article entitled “Motocross Morbidity: Economic Cost and Injury Distribution
in Children,” published in the December 2009  Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. The retrospective study of 299 cases revealed nearly one-half of the patients required hospitalization, and an additional
one-third required surgery. “When reviewing these cases, we saw very high levels of hospitalization and surgery,
and we believe this is just the tip of the iceberg when looking at motocross-related injuries,” says Amy McIntosh, M.D., Mayo Clinic Department of Orthopedic Surgery. “In a situation where half of the patients are hospitalized and another third require surgical intervention, we know
we have a problem on our hands. We need to learn more about this issue — to find out how many motocross athletes are
suffering injury, why they are being injured, and what we can do to prevent the injuries.” Motocross is an
organized sport that is growing in popularity nationwide. The study reviewed patients 17 years old or younger with injuries
sustained while using off-road, two-wheeled motorcycles. The investigators reviewed type, severity and mechanism of injury
as well as charges billed for medical care. Both recreational and competitive motocross activities were included. Of the 299
cases reviewed, hospital admission was required in 141 instances, 20 patients required intensive care unit admission, and
surgery was performed in 91 cases. The average medical bill for these patients was $14,947. “When football
or hockey players suffer multiple losses of consciousness, there are ‘return to play’ guidelines in place. We
don’t yet see that in motocross,” says Dr. McIntosh. “As more people, including kids, become involved with
motocross, it’s important for families to understand how to properly use safety equipment, and to understand the significant
medical care costs if an injury occurs. We’re not discouraging people from participating in motocross, but we want participants
and families to do what they can to avoid injury,” she adds. The researchers will next conduct a prospective
study 12 03 2010 March 8, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Winter is over and spring
break got a lot of bikers down to Florida to celebrate this all with the Bike Week as well as the traditional Daytona Supercross. Daytona
Supercross was always the last resort for good action images, because this one is not ran by the same image restrictive organisation
as the rest of the SX races are. Hence, all the real good shooters were looking forward to that race every year and so was
I. Daytona was the last real SX left to get ‘THE SHOT’. This year a mandatory media meeting before the
race put an end to that era, pretty much forcing all the amateur photo rules onto photo professionals, which results in having
pro photo work look like amateur work.Only a few spots were assigned to shoot from, the rest was off limits and shooters not
obeying these will get kicked out and never are allowed to come back. Some photographers had just been in too dangerous places. While
saying all the bad things the great-action-shot-terminator aka, field marshall was looking always at me, and I agree, that
he had darn good reasons for that from the past. I always say we only last for 80-100 years, but a great photo lasts
forever! Lets go for it. All right, that was a joke but the issue is still alive. The organisations do kill the
sport with not getting out images which tell the amazing excitement SX and MX does have! Why bother doing to these events
if they look boring, right? Fellow shooter Kinney Jones asked the right questions during that meeting: ” Are
these new rules coming from the same people who ruined road racing too?” and almost was asked to leave after that. True,
I understand this is America with lots of starving lawyers and the organisations do to have to protect themselves from a non
professional trying to sue them for their own stupidity. The solution is on the road. You can only legally hit the
highway if you have a driver license and proof of insurance. Do the same here, let only pros in with insurance, which real
pros do have and let us do our work. If killing ourselves is part of it, so it is. (Makes great action too). It will leave
the non pro shooters out of the track and Darwon-eleminate the stupid ones after a few good rounds. Beside this
all, the rules do not make sense nor do they protect the guys who do not know too much about the sport. See this
shot above from Milsaps crashing and almost taking a shooter out, who WAS following the rules and shot from an approved position,
but he was not a MX pro, who do know what to look and hear for. FELD, AMA and whoever is listening: Change these
rules and help us show what the sport is really about! No shooters have been killed in 25 years of SX, but how many CNN shooters
do? Nobody is holding them back. Publish date: Mar 22, 2010
It's no secret that business has been down across the industry, but especially among new heavyweights.
But Harley-Davidson’s woes run deeper than just the recent recession, according to Richard D'Aveni, professor of strategic
management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and author of Beating the Commodity Trap. In an article
for Forbes magazine, D’Aveni says the company could have seen at least part of its troubles coming. “The long
straight highway has had a few hidden potholes, and in those potholes commoditization has lurked in the guise of both cheaper
Japanese competitors like Honda and sexy upstarts at the top end like Big Dog,” he writes. D’Aveni
says H-D ran into two of three forces that have led to commoditization in more than 30 industries he’s studied. They
are: Deterioration – cheap competition eating your market share
Proliferation – “when companies develop
new combinations of price and unique benefits to attack part of an existing market”
Escalation – when competitors
like Victory offer similar or better benefits at a better price. D’Aveni posits that H-D opened the door
for Japanese competitors in the ‘70s by resting on its laurels. After a management buyout in 1981, the company turned
around by markeing its rebel image. “This made the Japanese rivals' advantage in reliability less important
as an inducement to purchase and value motorcycles. Rebels care more for role models than reliability,” he writes. He
found that “in 2002 Harley customers were willing to pay on average 38% more for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle than for
a similarly equipped bike from one of the big four Japanese companies.” But about that time, it crashed into
proliferation, with competition from Victory, and smaller (albeit now struggling or even defunct) brands like Big Dog and
American Ironhorse. At the same time, women were more likely to choose smaller, less intimidating and less expensive Japanese
bikes. “Harley was leaving money on the table compared with its American rivals because its service, level
of customization and image weren't as good as theirs,” he writes, and by 2003, “Harley still had the largest share
of the market (just under 50%), but the fact that Harley dealers were discounting to maintain their sales disguised the bigger
problem. They were, in essence, buying market share with lower prices.” Publish date: Mar 22, 2010
 Guinness World Records has accepted Leslie Porterfield, owner of High Five Cycles in Dallas, as the
Fastest Woman in the World on a Motorcycle. According to a press release issued by Foremost Insurance Group (which
sponsors Porterfield, a Foremost independent agent), motocross rider and stunt woman Marcia Holley previously held the title
for more than 30 years. Her record of 229.361 mph was set with a single-engine streamliner motorcycle in 1978. Guinness
is recognizing Porterfield’s 232.522 mph, set in the 2008 BUB Speed Trials at the Bonneville Salt Flats on a 2002 2000cc
turbo-charged Suzuki Hayabusa. “I couldn’t believe it when they called,” Porterfield stated. “It
takes a while after filing the paperwork with the FIM [International Federation of Motorcycling] to get the record certificate,
and then with Guinness. This has been going on for a while, and when they called, I was just thrilled.” Foremost
says Porterfield first set the Bonneville Salt Flats on fire in 2008 by recording an overall land speed record of 232.5 mph
in the 2000cc modified class, the fastest record of any woman on two wheels. After that, she was honored as the
AMA Female Rider of the Year in 2008, was featured in the Discovery Channel documentary Speed Capital of the World: Bonneville
and toured the world as a public speaker — all while owning and running her dealership. Most recently, Porterfield
was a featured speaker at the Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows and the 22nd Annual AMA Motorcycle Hall
of Fame Breakfast. While her crew begins prepping for the next round of speed trials, which begin in May in El Mirage,
Calif., Porterfield is taking some time to focus on StandUp for Kids, a nonprofit organization that assists homeless children
in America. In June, Porterfield and StandUp for Kids will raffle off a Honda CBR1000RR, with all proceeds going to the charity. After
that it’s back to Bonneville, back to BUB and back to the hunt for her next accomplishment. “I don’t just
want to be the fastest woman in the world,” Porterfield told Foremost. “I want to be the fastest person in the
world. That’s what’s next.” |
The storied Bajaj scooter line of India is coming to an end. The factory will close
later this month, a casualty not of the global recession, but of increasing prosperity in India. "People have
more money to spend today," Pradeep Tyagi, a used cycle dealer, told the Associated Press. "No one wants to spend that money on a scooter." Although more than a third of the population lives
on less than $1 a day, Western-style advertising and easy credit have led to an increasing consumerism. And the middle class
is estimated to be 50 million strong. The humble scooter is relegated to the entry level for people who aspire
to owning motorcycles or, even better, cars. A low-end used motorcycle costs $350; a decent used scooter costs less than half
that. Bajaj had a 30-year history of ushering Indians into the modern era. At one point, according to AP, the best-selling
Bajaj model, the Chetak, was selling 100,000 units per month. The waiting list could last a decade and desperate buyers would
pay huge premiums above the list price to get one. For a time, Bajaj was the world's largest scooter manufacturer. Now,
as the population turns to more powerful machines, so is the OEM. While the latest scooter, the Kristal, sells for
about $750, the popular Pulsar motorcycle costs nearly $2,000. Still, motorcycle sales reached almost 220,000 in December,
an 86 percent year-on-year increase. Despite the shifting consumer preference, Bajaj scooters won’t disappear
soon. Their reputation for dependability and being easy to repair, coupled with the lower-income masses of Indians, ensure
they will be on the road for years to come. Publish date: Mar 23, 2010
Online registration for Harley-Davidson’s
May 22-23 event in Milwaukee celebrating International Women Riders Month is now open. To register, visit the events section
of h-d.com/womenriders.Women riders from all over the world will gather for the weekend, which will feature demo rides and other activities
at the H-D Museum. Highlighting the event will be a group ride on Saturday that will end at a Downtown Street Party with live music, food, a
beer garden, and more. There will also be a Chapter Challenge, with awards for the club with the most women registered for
the event, and also for most members registered overall. Harley-Davidson invites riders of all types and brands
of motorcycles. There will be activities for nonriders, too, like the Harley-Davidson Experience motorcycle simulator. The
$35 registration fee includes: - A commemorative charm for the event
- Free admission to the H-D Museum
- Participation in the Milwaukee group ride
- Participation in the Wisconsin Products Passport Ride
- Local
merchant discounts
5 03 2010 WILMINGTON, DE – March 5,2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – As a part of their new
Powersports line, Mishimoto has developed a dirt bike radiator for the Honda CRF250R/CRF250X. Upgrade your stock Honda CRF250R/CRF250X
radiator with a Mishimoto Aluminum Dirt Bike Radiator to receive 30% greater cooling efficiency. All Mishimoto Powersports
Radiators are made with aircraft  quality brazed aluminum and are precision tig welded for extreme durability. The Honda CRF250R/CRF250X dirt bike radiator
is designed as a direct OEM fit to ensure smooth installation. Mishimoto has developed both left and right side radiators. Mishimoto
Aluminum Radiators deliver excellent performance and a lifetime of efficient cooling for your bike. Mishimoto guarantees superior
performance and quality with an unmatched lifetime warranty on all parts. *Note – Left Side and Right Side
are Sold Individually! HONDA CRF250 R/X ALUMINUM DIRT BIKE RADIATOR, 2004-2009, Left Side
Model: MMDB-CRF250-04L
MSRP: $200.00 HONDA CRF250 R/X ALUMINUM DIRT BIKE RADIATOR, 2004-2009, Right Side
Model: MMDB-CRF250-04R
MSRP: $200.00 7 03 2010 BENTON, IL – March 1, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – BRP
hit the 75,000 unit milestone at its sport boat manufacturing facility in Benton Illinois as the 21-foot 2010 Sea-Doo 210
Challenger SE rolled off the line on February 11. In operation since 1996, there are currently 362 dedicated and
passionate people who work in the facility. The 398 264 square foot (37,000 square metres) building was recently upgraded
with energy efficient HIF lighting systems and has a host of lean manufacturing tools. With an array of semi-automated computer
controlled fiberglass processes and automotive style assembly lines, the Benton site is a paramount manufacturing facility. “Despite our investments made in Benton and across all BRP sites, a company is only as good as its employees.
Our people are empowered through a teamwork management approach that allows for continuous improvement generated at the plant
floor level”, said Alain Villemure, vice president, general manager, Vehicle Development and Manufacturing Operations
(VDMO). “Our employees show an unrelenting commitment to safety, quality, and customer satisfaction. They are
truly the best at what they do and are a credit to themselves and to BRP”, he concluded. BRP’s marine
product portfolio is built on a long-standing history of innovative technologies and superior performance positioning the
company as the industry leader in jet drive propulsion systems and EPA approved two-stroke engines. Sea-Doo watercraft and
sport boats rank number one in the world while BRP’s award winning Evinrude E-TEC outboard engines continue to gain
momentum capitalizing on more than one hundred years of history and customer satisfaction worldwide. Bombardier
Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), a privately-held company, is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution
and marketing of motorised recreational vehicles. Its portfolio of brands and products includes: Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles,
Sea Doo watercraft and sport boats, Evinrude and Johnson outboard engines, direct injection technologies such as E-TEC, Can-Am
all-terrain vehicles and roadsters, as well as Rotax engines and karts. With manufacturing facilities on three continents,
BRP products are distributed in more than 80 countries. Ace Motorcycle Rare Drawings
from 1919 Found in Dumpster!In 1919, at the end of the World
War One, a significant set of drawings was created. They would be lost for the next 90 years, until discovered in a trash
bin; it seemed their fate was to end up in a land fill. Instead, they will be sold at the Mid-America Auction, which will
be held at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas on January 10th 2009. Las
Vegas, NV (PRWEB) December 23, 2008 -- In 1919, at the end of the World War One, a significant
set of drawings was created. They would be lost for the next 90 years, until discovered in a trash bin; it seemed their fate
was to end up in a land fill. Instead, they will be sold at the Mid-America Auction, which will be held at the South Point
Hotel in Las Vegas on January 10th 2009. | The Ace Four: the
finest thing on two wheels! |
| After spending much of my adult life looking for this type of treasure, it was overwhelming to find what represents
the finest work of the most renowned designer in American motorcycle history. And to think they were headed for a landfill;
when I found them, I had goose bumps for a week. |
During the World
War I era, a number of early manufacturers went out of business or were bought up by stronger companies. William Henderson,
who is still considered America's most creative motorcycle designer, sold his company to a German immigrant, Ignatius Schwinn,
who started making bicycles in Chicago in 1895. The Henderson had a fine reputation as being America's most luxurious, elegant,
and expensive four cylinder motorcycle. Schwinn felt he had taken ownership of the "best of the best" and added
it to his Excelsior Line. Despite signing a non-compete clause, Henderson was unhappy and soon began plans for a finer and
even more elegant replacement, the ACE. Henderson would call it
"The Ace Four: the finest thing on two wheels!" He began drawing the plans for his elegant new ACE and searching
for investors to help finance the new factory. As soon as his non-compete expired production began. Money would eventually
run out, and while searching for the finances needed to complete his machine, production was moved, and even discontinued
a couple of times. One tragic cold day, Dec. 11th 1922, Henderson
was test riding the new Ace and was struck by a car and killed. Within weeks his assistant, Arthur Lemon, completed the final
drawings, and then sold the rights to Indian Motorcycle Co., America's largest manufacturer. Indian produced the bike as the
Ace, then Indian Ace, and finally as their own brand, the Indian Four. During the 1930s, it went on to become America's only
luxury motorcycle, akin to a Duesenberg or Cord. The original drawings,
numbering approximately 400 pieces, disappeared from view. Lost in the files of the massive Indian Company, the Henderson
Ace drawings were assumed to have been destroyed in 1953, when Indian went out of business. Astonishingly, the new owner,
Bill Melvin, found the drawings as they were being placed in a dumpster and headed for a land fill. They had sat under layers
of dust in a warehouse for years. Bill Melvin says "After spending much of my adult life looking for this type of treasure,
it was overwhelming to find what represents the finest work of the most renowned designer in American motorcycle history.
And to think they were headed for a landfill; when I found them, I had goose bumps for a week." The drawings are each signed and dated by William Henderson and Arthur Lemon; they were
done on a cloth material and are in beautiful condition. They still rest in the old envelopes from the Indian factory They
have added significance in that many of Henderson's inventions are still in use in today's machines. |
15 02 2010 By PAUL MIDLER February 9, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – China and Japan are each going through their own unique quality
crises. In China, officials are hunting for 170 tons of contaminated milk powder that is still on shelves more than a year
after the melamine scandal was first exposed. And in Japan, discussions are focused on all that has gone wrong with its automotive
industry after Toyota’s recent recalls. But a closer look at the two scandals shows how far apart the countries are
in their approach to quality—and how much China stands to learn from Japan. China’s quality challenge has
at times been compared to Japan’s efforts in the 1950s and 1960s to transcend a bad reputation for manufacturing low-quality
goods. At that time Japan also suffered tragic industrial disasters, like the mercury poisoning in Minamata that left 1,000
people dead. But Japan’s leading companies have since been able to establish strong reputations for quality. Although
the automotive recalls currently underway are extensive, design errors and electronic malfunctions are in a different league
from China’s instances of willful product manipulation, especially when that manipulation has involved artful efforts
at circumventing third-party controls. In China, operators display an incredible willingness to place public safety
at risk in exchange for only the smallest gains in profit. The dairy industry’s 2008 scandal is instructive. The trouble
started when dairy farmers began adulterating milk with water, prompting dairy companies to test protein levels. Milk suppliers
next discovered they could trick laboratory equipment into believing protein concentrations were higher by adding a toxic,
chemical compound—melamine. Over time, more of the chemical was added, along with more water, and no one knows how little
real milk was in the final product by the time scandal broke. We only know the end result: six babies died, 300,000 were sickened
and over 50,000 were hospitalized, causing untold grief to Chinese families. The melamine scandal is by far the most
disturbing of all the quality crises China has faced in recent years. It was not just the amount of suffering endured, but
the fact that the contamination was an open secret shared by possibly hundreds of individuals at dozens of companies. While
some people involved in the 2008 scandal might have been able to claim that they didn’t know melamine could do so much
harm, those caught using melamine more recently cannot possibly plead ignorance. Making matters worse has been the government’s
wrongheaded response. Beijing reacted to this year’s melamine scandal with a heavy-handed cover-up. Chinese journalists
have been warned not to report details surrounding milk cases. Parents of children sickened by melamine-tainted products who
have attempted to organize themselves to protest or seek compensation risk being sent to jail for “social disruption.”
China’s state-directed legal system has failed to provide justice to victims. The government meted out severe
punishment to only a small number of perpetrators engaged in the distribution and production of poisoned milk—two were
executed—and a far greater number were let off the hook. China’s response to past scandals has been to protect
industry with a government shield, so no one should be surprised when fraud recurs in such an environment. The melamine
case illustrates the dangers of Chinese manufacturers’ pathological focus on short-term profitability. Accidents can
happen in almost any production process, but melamine did not coincidentally make its way into milk. China’s obsession
with thrift is a virtue often carried to a fault. Police have noted that the current melamine scandal was made possible by
the many tons of melamine that remained from the 2008 scandal. Some distributors chose to repackage the tainted powder and
put it on store shelves. They couldn’t stand the thought of throwing away so much milk powder, even if it was dangerously
contaminated, and even if it meant running the risk of being punished for it.
Japan’s reputation for high quality in recent decades owes much to W. Edwards Deming, the father of “total
quality management.” Were he around today, Deming would remind us that negative reinforcement mechanisms are no way
to improve quality standards. Quality must be seen as something positive, it must be seen as something that drives long-term
growth. It must be a goal shared by all stakeholders. As it stands today, a small number of unscrupulous actors in China threaten
to ruin the export opportunity for many.
When he arrived in Japan in the 1950s, one of Deming’s goals was to drive fear out of manufacturing processes.
Workers ought to have an open line of communication with management. There must be an opportunity to report incidences and
concerns from the factory floor. Partly thanks to the work of Deming, Japan is today an economy that places a high value on
the pursuit of quality for its own sake, and that vision has helped Japan to become an innovator in a wide variety of manufacturing
sectors. In China, workers are too afraid to report even the most obvious production errors or the most egregious cases
of unethical misconduct. Working with many factories, I have seen line operators reluctant to report anything at all. Managers
ignore issues that might cause embarrassment. Everyone involved is making a risk calculation, determining that staying silent
reduces the likelihood of trouble, at least in the short run. Where workers ought to speak up, the inclination is to look
the other way instead. One of China’s problems is that efforts to improve quality are focused on the finished
product only. Every time a scandal erupts, the answer has been to test more of the finished product. This after-the-fact approach
is no match for an emphasis on continual, systemic improvement. As Deming suggested, “we should work on our process,
not the outcome of our processes.” China should not take Japan’s recent stumble as an opportunity to gloat.
Japan’s quality problems are unfortunate, but they are an aberration not representative of the manufacturing industry
there. Now more than ever, China should be looking to its easterly neighbor as an example of how its own economy can adopt
a philosophy of quality and product development that is the envy of the world. Mr. Midler is author of “Poorly
Made in China” (Wiley, 2009). SOURCE: The Wall Street Journal Honda Offers Big Bonus to Champion CBR Racers American Honda is offering a $35,000 bonus to any Honda CBR1000RR-mounted rider that wins the Superbike Class at the eight-race
WERA Michelin National Challenge Series. WERA's new Superbike Class has replaced its Formula 1 Class. "With
the rules for the new WERA Superbike Class mirroring the World Superbike rules, we had hopes that it would generate some interest,"
says WERA owner and president Evelyne Clarke. "Obviously, American Honda likes what we are doing, and our riders become
the beneficiary. We could not have asked for a better scenario." In other positive news for WERA, it has signed
an agreement with Avacado Studios to have three of its racing series broadcast on Avacado's motorsport websites, www.MotoConnect.net and www.MotoConnect.tv. Avacado will broadcast races in WERA's Bridgestone National Endurance Series, Michelin National Challenge Series,
and Pirelli Sportsman Series five days post-race. The races will be broadcast in High Definition and will feature racing action
and interviews. The first round of the National Challenge Series will take place March 12-14 at Roebling Road Raceway
in Faulkvile, Ga.
Vance & Hines Sponsors XR1200 Race Series Vance & Hines is the presenting sponsor and official race kit supplier for AMA's newest racing series, a spec-bike, five-race
championship featuring modified Harley-Davidson XR1200 motorcycles, according to a Vance & Hines release. Vance
& Hines' race kit will consist of an exhaust system, Fuelpak fuel management system, single-seat tail section and belly
pan, 17-inch front wheel with matching front fender, steering damper, oil cooler relocator, race decal package and race bodywork
(including number plate). The kit is worth $3,500. As in all AMA Pro Road Racing series, Dunlop tires and Sunoco
fuel will be used. In addition to the Vance & Hines supplied kit parts, teams will be allowed to upgrade their suspension,
hand and foot controls, brake components, and instrumentation. Each race in the XR1200 Series will feature a $5,000
purse payout, with $2,500 going to the winner, $1,000 to the runner-up and $750 for third. Fourth and fifth place finishers
will receive $500 and $250, respectively. The first race of the XR1200 Series will take place just north of H-D
headquarters at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., on June 4-6. Subsequent races will take place at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course,
Lexington, Ohio (July 16-18); Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Va. (Aug. 13-15); New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville,
N.J. (Sept. 3-5); and Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala. (Sept. 24-26). "The XR1200 has proven to be
an exciting platform for spec racing in Europe, and this class will be a perfect cost-effective platform to showcase new talent
on a national stage," Vance & Hines president Terry Vance says.
16 02 2010 MILWAUKEE, WI – February 9, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Harley-Davidson gets
the riding season off to a fast start at Daytona Bike Week 2010 with activities at a new location at Riverfront Park on Beach
Street and a larger presence at the Daytona International Speedway. The 69th Annual Daytona Bike Week 2010 renews the
long tradition of riders, enthusiasts, bikes and racing all in the sun and sand of Daytona Beach, Fla. Attracting huge crowds
of riders and motorcycle enthusiasts of all kinds from all places, Daytona Bike Week is a biker’s rite of spring not
to be missed. Harley-Davidson will welcome everyone to Daytona Bike Week 2010 at its exciting new location at Riverfront
Park on Beach Street and with an array of Harley® products and activities at Daytona International Speedway. “Daytona
Bike Week marks the start of the riding season, like New Year’s Day for motorcycle riders, and Harley-Davidson will
be there to celebrate,” said Steve Piehl, Harley-Davidson Director of Consumer Events. “Our new location at Riverfront
Park is a showcase for custom Harley motorcycles, while our spot at the Speedway gives riders a chance to test ride any of
our 70 demo bikes.” Harley-Davidson activities at the Riverfront Park on Beach Street will run from Friday, February
26 to Saturday, March 6, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Highlights include: - Harley-Davidson Parts & Accessories®
and MotorClothes® Products interactive experience: Check out the latest and greatest in customization and technology.
- Third Annual Harley-Davidson Women’s Ride (Tuesday, March 2)
- Harley-Davidson Ride-In Custom Bike Show
(Wednesday, March 3)
- V-Rod® Race Experience – Race your friends and win!
- Fit Shop customization
activities
- Tattoo competition
- Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) bike build and raffle
- Food,
beverage, music and free parking
Harley-Davidson activities at Daytona International Speedway near the Intersection
of Midway Avenue and Richard Petty Boulevard will run from Saturday, February 27, to Saturday, March 6, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Highlights include: - Harley-Davidson motorcycle demo rides
- Harley Owners Group® (H.O.G.®) pin stop:
Members get a free event pin
- H.O.G. Day, Saturday, Feb. 27: Members receive a special gift
- 2010 Harley-Davidson
interactive motorcycle display
- Fit Shop motorcycle experience – see how any Harley can be custom fit
- Food,
beverages, music and free parking
Motorcycle owners are invited to enter their Harley-Davidson motorcycles in
the Ride-In Custom Bike Show on Wednesday, March 3. Registration is only $10, and will be at Riverfront Park on Beach Street
from 9 a.m.-noon, with cash prize winners in a variety of classes. Entries are open to the general public. Harley-Davidson
motorcycle demo rides will be available at Daytona International Speedway February 27 to March 6. Riders with a valid license
and appropriate riding gear can test ride any 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. For a complete listing of Harley-Davidson
events, please visit our Web site at www.harley-davidson.com and there will be online coverage direct from Daytona at www.harley-davidson.com/daytona. Please check the on-site Harley-Davidson activities guide for additional times and locations of entertainment and other
special attractions, as well as social media Web sites like Facebook and Twitter for updates from Daytona. Harley-Davidson
Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight motorcycles and a complete line of
motorcycle parts, accessories and general merchandise. For more information, visit Harley-Davidson’s Web site at www.harley-davidson.com. #### Husqvarna Named 'Marquee of the Year' Husqvarna has been named "Marquee of the Year" for the upcoming Vintage Motorcycle Days in Lexington, Ohio, July
9-11. Event organizers cite Husqvarna's return as a present-day racing championship contender after its dominance of the '70s
and '80s.
"Arguably the most dominant off-road racing brand in the United States for a generation of racers, Husqvarna
has recently returned full force to AMA Racing national competition,'' says Tigra Tsujikawa, AMA special events and marketing
manager. "We're pleased to showcase both Husqvarna's history and the company's renewed investment in motorcycling's present
and future at this year's AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days." As part of Husqvarna's participation in AMA Vintage Motorcycle
Days, fans will be able to get up close and personal with the company's history, from its beginnings in Sweden in the early
1900s to the high-tech off-road, motocross and dual-sport bikes the company sells and races today. Ticket information
for Vintage Motorcycle Days is available at www.MidOhio.com. H-D Predicts Lower 2010 ShipmentsHarley-Davidson says it will likely ship 201,000 to 212,000
motorcycles to dealers and distributors in 2010, according to its latest quarterly report. H-D president and CEO Keith Wandell
says 2010 will "continue to be a challenging year" for the Motor Company. The drop in shipments reflects a five
to ten percent decline from 2009 figures. H-D saw fourth quarter revenue of $552 million, down 45.6 percent; revenue
from all of its key streams — new units, P&A and its MotorClothes gear — fell. The company shipped 35,938
units, down 53.1 percent from the year-ago period; revenue from P&A sales was $144.6 million, down 4.9 percent; and apparel
revenue was $66.8 million, down 3.2 percent. The company posted a fourth quarter net loss of $218.7 million, its first such
quarterly loss in 16 years. Its U.S. market share appears to have contracted during the fourth quarter of 2009, but
for the year it seems it improved. It experienced a retails sales decline of 27.9 percent in the fourth quarter while industry-wide
heavyweight motorcycle (651cc+) sales declined 20.9 percent; on the year, H-D's domestic sales fell 25.8 percent while industry-wide
sales fell 36.7 percent, according to H-D. For all of 2009, H-D reported income of $70.6 million and revenue of $4.29
billion from continuing operations; costs associated with MV Agusta and Buell Motorcycles are now considered discontinued
operations. Evinrude SAYS WHAT OTHERS FEEL: ‘We’ve given up on four-strokes’ | Leading outboard motor firm Evinrude sells at the premium performance
end of the marine market. The firm abandoned four-stroke development after discovering direct injection offered their 25-300bhp
two-strokes more power, better economy and less weight. They’re also emissions compliant to projected Euro 2010 standards.
Spokesman Mike Loach says: “There’s a place for four strokes – doing the dull jobs. They’re bloody
heavy and don’t give the power or the torque of the two-strokes. We believe two-strokes are simply better and people
who try them quickly agree”. But Loach warns that the four-stroke mafia loom large: “The misinformation that’s
spread about two-strokes goes right up to government. |
Yamaha
to Increase U.S. ATV Production Looking to increase responsiveness to market needs in a nation that has the highest demand for ATVs, Yamaha Motor Co. will
increase its U.S. ATV production by transferring capacity from Japan, according to a Yamaha release.
With the exception
of a few ATV models, virtually all of Yamaha's ATV production will be moved to Newnan, Ga., and will be overseen by its U.S.
subsidiary with headquarters also in Newnan. The move is scheduled to begin in early 2011 and be completed by 2013. Yamaha
believes the move will also "optimize manufacturing capacity and improve productivity." A Yamaha representative
could not provide an estimate of how many jobs the move will create in Newnan, though he did say it will "have a positive
impact on the local economic community." U.S.-based Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America currently
produces ATVs with 250 to 421 cc engines and will continue to manufacture golf cars, personal watercraft and SxS vehicles.
The production transfer will increase the facility's lineup to include ATVs with up to 700 cc engines. "We are
pleased to have this additional ATV production transitioning to . . . Newnan, Ga.," says Mike Martinez, Yamaha's U.S.
general manager of ATV and SxS operations. "We expect this transition to have a positive impact on the local economic
community and provide worldwide recognition for our state-of-the-art facility and its ability to produce durable and reliable
off-road vehicles." 7 02 2010 By Matt Carter “American Chopper” is getting ready to ride into the sunset. The series, which focuses on the Teutul family’s Orange County Choppers,
will air its series finale on February 11.  The show itself has been in a state of flux for much of its six seasons. It moved to TLC over two years ago after spending much if its time on the Discovery Channel, and since then a massive rift has occurred inside the star family. Paul Sr. is currently suing his son over ownership of
the motorcycle shop.
The Teutuls have appeared on numerous trade show and even guest-starred on an episode of “Jon and Kate Plus 8” last year. Are you shocked that “American Chopper” is getting the axe, or are you just happy that
it had a good run? Let me know your thoughts with a comment. SOURCE: TV Examiner 6 02 2010 JUSTICE QUESTIONS MOTIVES OF CITY’S BIKE LAW By
Adam Fogle The debate over the constitutionality of a Myrtle Beach motorcycle helmet law headed to the South Carolina supreme
Court on Wednesday. The city of Myrtle Beach legal counsel and attorneys for a group of motorcyclists cited under the
ordinance presented oral arguments before the five members of the state’s high court. In 2008, in an effort to
push annual motorcycle rallies outside of the city, Myrtle Beach officials enacted a law requiring riders to wear a helmet
in the city. But state law mandates that only those under 21 must wear head gear — everyone is free to ride without
a helmet. Tom McGrath of the Motorcycle Law Group, who is representing nearly 50 people ticketed for helmet infractions, and his fellow attorneys argued that the law that
violated the state constitution. “This is bigger than the helmet laws,” said State Rep. Thad Viers, who
is representing his brother in one of the cases. “This is what a local government can do and whether a local government
can make a law stronger and more stringent than a state law.” Justice Don Beatty questioned the motives of the
law. “I realize the issue is narrow here, but don’t pretend like we don’t know what’s going
on,” Beatty said to Myrtle Beach attorney Mike Battle. “We read. We all know why the city [passed the rally ordinances].” The
justices won’t likely rule in the case for at least a few more months. 
Signs posted on Highway 17 warning motorcyclists to wear a helmet in Myrtle Beach April 28, 2009 (AP Photo) Piaggio
USA is recalling 2010 Aprilia RSV4 Factory and RSV4 R models manufactured between July 2, 2009, and Oct. 30, 2009. The potential
number of units affected is 335. According to NHTSA, a manufacturing process used to straighten the rods to meet specifications introduced
stresses that greatly affected strength and reliability. The rods could fail, the government says. Piaggio will notify owners and replace the engines for free. The recall is expected to begin on or
about Feb. 28. Owners can contact Piaggio at 212-380-4431. The NHTSA campaign ID number is 10V029000. Interested in having recall information e-mailed to you immediately as it becomes available? NHTSA
offers recall alerts via e-mail and RSS. Follow this link to sign up
Publish date: Feb 4, 2010 The Fifth U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals has upheld a decision releasing Harley-Davidson Motor Co. and Chunky River Harley-Davidson from liability
related to a rider’s accident. The decision, recorded Feb. 3, finds that the plaintiff, Donna Rutledge, failed
to prove her accident was the result of a defect that later led to a recall. Rutledge bought her bike Dec. 13, 2006,
from Chunky River. She noticed a steering problem but continued to ride the bike, then ran off the road Dec. 29 despite good
road conditions and obedience to speed limits. She sustained serious injuries. H-D issued recall notices for that model
of bike Jan. 22 and March 15 of 2007. According to a copy of the decision posted at Leagle, “The recall informed motorcycle owners that the size and location of a voltage regulator could make contact with the
front fender of the motorcycle in certain circumstances, potentially impacting the driver's ability to steer.” But
in pretrial motions, Rutledge’s attorneys did not bring on an expert to tie the defect to her accident, or even prove
it existed on her bike. An H-D expert said it was unrelated and her bike did not have the defect. H-D’s attorneys persuaded
the court to dismiss the case, and Rutledge appealed. The Fifth Circuit court upheld the District Court’s decision,
finding that recall notices for the same model of bike were not sufficient to prove the defect that was the subject of the
recall caused the accident. The case Is Rutledge V. Harley-Davidson Motor Co., 09-60533 Publish date: Feb 2, 2010
Source: Dealernews Yamaha says that the 2011 Rhino 700 FI lineup, including
a new Sport Edition (shown), will begin arriving at dealers this summer. “Yamaha’s leading Rhino continues
to hold the top spot as the toughest, most off-road-capable and versatile, as well as the all-time best selling, SxS vehicle,”
the company said in a statement released today. The 2011 Rhino has a new steering wheel and adjustable seat belt that
Yamaha says are more comfortable. New to the Rhino line is a White Armor Sport Edition with fully adjustable piggyback
shocks, one-piece cast aluminum wheels, an injection-molded sun top, over fenders, a Baja-inspired front carry bar, and a
special graphics treatment. The Sport model also comes with dealer-installed LED tail lights, a custom shift knob and black
bed rails. Yamaha says the 700-class power plant is optimized for the Rhino with a liquid-cooled, four-valve SOHC engine
providing plenty of torque. Helping manage that power is the Yamaha Fuel Injection system. The engine has a forged piston
for durability and an aluminum cylinder body with ceramic composite coating for decreased weight, increased cooling ability
and additional wear resistance. The roller rocker arms lessen friction in the valve train, reducing wear and increasing durability
while providing improved throttle response and better overall off-road performance. Yamaha’s Ultramatic automatic
transmission system has a centrifugal clutch that allows the drive belt to remain under constant tension for better durability.
The Ultramatic system’s one-way sprag clutch provides four-wheel engine braking. The On-Command 2WD/4WD system
with differential lock gives the driver options with the push of a button. The Rhino 700 FI has 12.1 inches of ground clearance,
and its fully adjustable and fully independent front and rear dual A-arm suspension offers more than 7.3 inches of travel. Yamaha
says the Rhino has large axles and CV joints to accommodate its engine power. Front and rear A-arm guards help prevent sticks
and debris from getting to the boots, but should something find a way past the guards, the CV boot material is tough and resistant
to most impacts, Yamaha says. An automotive-style pedal controls the four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes with dual-piston
calipers. The parking brake lever is located on the center console and engages a separate disc brake located on the axle. The
Rhino 700 FI comes with a number of standard extras and creature comforts. And Yamaha offers more than 100 official and accessories
for the Rhino line. As with all previous models, the 2011 Rhino has a U.S. OSHA- and ISO 3471-compliant rollover protection
structure (ROPS). Its 12-volt accessory outlet receives a GPS device, spotlight or even a cell phone charger. The Rhino has
padded bucket seats with headrests for both driver and passenger, and a digital meter is standard on the Rhino 700 FI, providing
self-diagnostic capabilities for troubleshooting, a voltage meter for monitoring battery condition, and an hour meter function
that operates only while the engine is running. The digital LCD multi-function display meter also features a speedometer,
odometer, dual trip meter, clock, fuel gauge and gear position display. The 7.9-gallon fuel tank holds enough gas for hours
of riding. The Rhino 700 FI also comes standard with passenger grab handles and cup holders, as well as tough, rotomolded
doors to keep mud, water and trail debris out of the cab. Helping keep passengers clean and keeping cabin noise to a minimum
is the noise and dust shield located behind the seats. The tools-free air filter under the hood is another convenience. Yamaha
says it’s a snap to service, and that an optimized filter size helps the filter stay clean longer. The Rhino has
a standard 2-inch receiver and is capable of towing up to 1,212 lbs., while the cargo bed is capable of carrying 400 lbs.
The cargo bed has an assisted-dump function with tilt levers on both sides of the bed. The 2011 Yamaha Rhino will be
available in Hunter Green, Red and the Sport Edition White Armor. Yamaha launched the first Rhino in 2003. The company
claims the Rhino line continues to be a category leader today. “Combining Yamaha quality and durability, the Rhino has
received nearly every best-in-class award from the ATV and SxS world as well as hunting and farming communities because of
its ability to tackle off-road terrain while also serving many utility functions,” the company says. Last spring,
Yamaha voluntarily suspended sales of Rhino 450 and 660 models. The company offered a free repair program to owners of the units to address what the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission called “safety issues.” Yamaha reports that during the first nine months of 2009, U.S. dealers sold roughly 10,000 side-by-sides, a year-over-year decline of 63
percent. Publish
date: Feb 1, 2010 CFMoto
Powersports is recalling its V3 and V5 automatic motorcycles, model years 2005 to 2009, because they don’t
have a foot brake as required by law. The units were manufactured between Jan. 1, 2005, and Dec. 31, 2009, with a CHG
make and either a CF250T V3 or CF250T V5 model designation. The potential number of units affected is 6,405. According
to NHTSA, the units do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 123, “Motorcycle Controls and Displays.”
The units were intended to be made as scooters and therefore lack the required rear wheel foot brake. CFMoto Powersports
will notify owners, and dealers will install a foot brake for free. The recall is expected to begin on or about July 1. Owners
may contact CFMoto at 888-823-6686 Publish date: Feb 2, 2010
Piaggio
USA is recalling 2010 Aprilia RSV4 Factory and RSV4 R models manufactured between July 2, 2009, and Oct. 30, 2009.
The potential number of units affected is 335. According
to NHTSA, a manufacturing process used to straighten the rods to meet specifications introduced stresses that greatly affected
strength and reliability. The rods could fail, the government says. Piaggio will notify owners and replace the engines
for free. The recall is expected to begin on or about Feb. 28. Owners can contact Piaggio at 212-380-4431. The NHTSA campaign
ID number is 10V029000. Interested in having recall information e-mailed to you immediately as it becomes available?
NHTSA offers recall alerts via e-mail and RSS. Follow this link to sign up. 28 01 2010 SEOUL, – January 25, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Harley-Davidson Korea will
recall a total of 629 units of nine motorcycle models due to defective fuel tank systems, government officials said Sunday. The
motorcycles were manufactured between June 6, 2008 and Nov. 19 2009, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs
said. The fuel tanks may rupture and leak if stress is placed on them in an accident, the ministry said. Free repairs
will be available starting Monday at Harley-Davidson service centers across the nation, it added. 29 01 2010 BREA, CA – January 27, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – American Suzuki takes great
pride in its longstanding support of motocross racers. That support continues in the 2010 racing season with more than $2.2
million in posted contingency. These funds will be available at 300 events across the country – more than any other
manufacturer. Suzuki will pay the owner of any 2008, 2009 or 2010 RM85, RM-Z250 or RM-Z450 purchased new from a dealership
for top 5 finishes at every contingency event, and the top 10 at any of the seven major amateur national events. Those important
events include the Lake Whitney Spring National, the GNC International Finals, the NMA World Mini Grand Prix, the Mammoth
Mountain MX, the NMA Grand National Championships, the Unlimited Sports Winter Olympics and the AMA Amateur National Championships.
In addition to this generous monetary support, Suzuki will also be providing free trackside assistance at the seven amateur
nationals as well as other selected events. “American Suzuki continues to support motocross enthusiasts like no
other manufacturer. Every dollar invested in the Motocross Contingency Program is going to the core of our sport – every
local and regional racer who attends their weekly event in pursuit of victory. With the addition of the all-new, fuel-injected
RM-Z250 and our race-proven RM-Z450, Suzuki racers across America will have a head start on the competition,” stated
Brian Noah, Suzuki Motocross Support Specialist. As always, it pays to race a Suzuki. For program details, rules, registration
and more, visit www.suzukicycles.com/racing. About Suzuki: The Motorcycle/ATV Division of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, Calif.,
was founded in 1963 by Suzuki Motor Corporation. ASMC markets motorcycles and ATVs via an extensive dealer network throughout
49 states. ASMC’s parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide
manufacturer of motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, automobiles and marine engines. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it
has 120 distributors in 191 countries. 30 01 2010 by Aaron Frank EAST TROY, WI – January 29, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) –
The first sign appears a few miles away, stuck into the frozen grass alongside I-43. “Motorcycle Liquidation”
it reads, black letters on a yellow background, with an arrow pointing right. I exit at East Troy and head north toward Buell
Drive, and the soon-to-be-vacant Buell Motorcycle factory. It’s a clear, sunny, bitter-cold January morning in
Wisconsin, barely above zero. Still, a line at least 500 people long snakes single-file the length of the factory parking
lot and stretches well out onto Buell Drive, waiting for the sale to open. I recognize lots of faces—friends,
racers, former Buell employees, staff from dealerships in nearby Milwaukee, Madison and Janesville. Some are looking for good
deals on tools and shop fixtures. Some are looking for an authentic Buell souvenir. Some have no connection or affection at
all, and have just come to witness the dissolution of this proud—and occasionally puzzling—American motorcycle
brand.  The doors open at 10 am, and the mob descends on the factory’s steel and concrete carcass like vultures. “Rape
and pillage” is how one Harley-Davidson employee describes the scene. Like the sign says, EVERYTHING MUST GO NOW. Bike
lifts. Engine stands. CNC mills. Floor scrubbers. Air compressors. MAKE AN OFFER. Hundreds of rechargeable DeWalt tool batteries.
Neatly stacked plastic bins holding thousands of hand tools, priced $4 each. Office chairs: $40 for cloth, $70 for executive-grade
leather. “Look at all these computers—no wonder this company went out of business,” I overheard one attendee,
clearly ignorant of the demands of producing and selling 136,923 world-class motorcycles, say.
There were vehicles,
too. The Freightliner FL60 crew-cab that pulled Buell’s demo trailer around the country. The 2004 Ford Econoline van
that was a familiar—make that iconic—sight at racetracks around the Midwest, where it was driven by Henry Duga,
Buell Racing Manager and Buell employee #1. Even competitive-model motorcycles, including a KTM 640 Adventure and 990 Super
Duke, a BMW R 1000 RT and a roulette-green Triumph Speed Triple. One dollar bought your choice of posters—including
a signed action shot of Pascal Picotte on the Harley-Davidson VR1000 Superbike—that looked like they had just come from
some employee’s cubicle wall, complete with tack holes in the corners. Boxes of rubber bands. Bundles of zip ties. Packets
of staples. Open cans of paint. When the merchandise is gone, they’ll likely roll up the carpets and sell those, too. Deals
were few and far between, at least on the first day of this month-long sale. Trucks and bikes were priced at Blue Book value.
A tired-looking enclosed trailer, covered in Harley-Davidson graphics, was marked $2300. You can probably buy a brand-new
Craftsman box-end wrench at Sears for $4. That didn’t stop the shoppers. A large Buell dealer sign, $400, was gone in
the first sixty seconds. A $60 Firebolt airbox cover, signed in kanji by Japanese Buell fans, was also quick to sell. A friend
waited in the checkout line for over an hour to buy for a multi-meter, a few ratchets and a large roll of “Not For Production”
stickers. There were also some ghosts at this funeral. A back corner of the warehouse was roped off with caution tape,
protecting a lone forklift operator who quietly loaded crated Buell  motorcycles onto a semi. Behind another ribbon of tape sat 30-odd 1125CRs, partially disassembled. These were the last remaining
Buells, one of the last remaining Buell employees told me. Originally intended for the Brazilian market, they were now being
converted back to American-specs to be delivered to U.S. dealers. Eight air-cooled Buells, mostly Ulysses adventure-tourers
and all marked sold, sat in a fenced in cage at the back of the building. Across a dry erase board inside the cage someone
had scrawled, in blue magic marker, “Harley Davidson (sic) sucks.” Speaking of ghosts, I recognized former
Buell President and COO Jon Flickinger also walking the sale floor. After giving me a few non-answers about details surrounding
the “discontinuation” of Buell, Jon asked if I wanted to speak with Erik Buell. The headquarters of the newly
founded Erik Buell Racing remain on the Buell grounds in East Troy, in a small office and race shop adjacent to the former
factory. Erik happened to be in the office that day. Honestly, Erik was the last person I wanted to see on what I only
imagined was an emotionally charged day. This was a man who has taken incalculable risks and made untold sacrifices over the
past 27 years to build a motorcycle company from the ground up. A man whose two-wheeled legacy was largely being liquidated
at that very moment, just fifty yards away. I couldn’t imagine what he was feeling that day. Or that he’d be in
the mood for any light conversation. The meeting went pretty much as I expected. Erik was cordial, as always.
But with little to lose and no brand to protect anymore, he told me with extreme candor exactly how he felt about Buell Motorcycles’
unceremonious end. Then he went on for some minutes—many minutes, in fact—about his frustration with the motorcycle
media. Buell has had a notoriously prickly history with the motorcycle press. Some of the stories written recently, especially
those regarding Buell’s controversial Daytona Sportbike championship, have profoundly upset him, and he let me know
why and how. We also talked about his occasionally prickly history with Harley-Davidson, and also about the fate of the recently
leaked Buell Barracuda prototype. That we’ll likely never see this particular motorcycle enter production is unquestionably
heartbreaking to Buell. I have no intention of going further with any of this. It was a difficult conversation—probably
the most difficult of my career—and one that in some ways I’d like to forget. Be assured this isn’t the
last we’ve heard from Erik Buell, however. Buell is renowned for his resilience. Through his career he has faced many
obstacles, everything from racing injuries to bankruptcies to massive product recalls, and has always clawed back stronger
than ever. Though his pride might be wounded, he remains as passionate about performance motorcycles as ever, and every bit
as committed building world-class, American-made sportbikes. I can’t imagine he’ll go back to Harley-Davidson,
but he’s certainly not going away. He’s got too much unfinished business—and too many critics still to silence—to
just leave now. The Buell Motorcycle Factory Liquidation sale is happening now at the former Buell manufacturing facility
in East Troy, Wisconsin. The sale will run through February 28th or until everything is sold, whichever comes first. Details
about the sale can be found here. 29 01 2010 IRVINE, Calif. – January 26, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – The Kawasaki contingency
program is back in 2010 with unparalleled support for its Kawasaki racers. With the confidence-inspiring 2010 Kawasaki line-up,
it is a great time to go green and get paid. Not only is Kawasaki’s contingency program the most profitable in
both off-road and motocross racing to date, Kawasaki racers can take advantage of industry-leading perks. Every Kawasaki rider
has access to track-side support, the assurance of award-winning machinery, and the opportunity to take part in the dealer-racer
assist program. “Even in the current economy we are proud to offer one of the most lucrative contingency in the
sport,” said Reid Nordin, Team Green Manager. “We feel that everyone who races a Kawasaki is a member of Team
Green. Our support is second to none in the industry and we strive to see our green machines at the front of every race.” Being
part of the program is as easy as following these steps: - BUY — Purchase a new or used 2009
or 2010 U.S. model Kawasaki
- REGISTER — Online at kawasaki.com
- RACE
— Compete in any contingency paying event
- WIN — There is no claim form to file. Payments
are automatically deposited directly to a Kawasaki Contingency Card, which can be redeemed at any Kawasaki dealer and more
than 32 million MasterCard® retailers worldwide.
For class payouts and schedules, or more information and
the official rules, please visit www.kawasaki.com. At
its annual Ski-Doo dealer meeting last week in Orlando, BRP unveiled its 2011 sleds. Six of them have a new engine
option that, according to the company, sets new standards for fuel efficiency, low emissions and value.  The Advanced Combustion Efficiency (ACE) engine is the first in a family of Rotax four-stroke engines. BRP describes
it as a 600cc DOHC two-cylinder getting 29 miles per U.S. gallon for a fuel range of 310 miles. The 60 hp power
plant will be available with the following models: the MXZ TNT and Sport, Renegade Sport, Grand Touring Sport, Expedition
Sport, Tundra LT and Skandic WT. BRP will also continue to offer the Rotax 600 H.O. E-TEC engine. "BRP sees
this new engine as key to getting more people to try snowmobiling,” Bob Lumley, VP of sales and marketing for Ski-Doo/Sea-Doo,
stated in a press release. “The fuel consumption of BRP's 2011 Ski-Doo sleds equipped with the new Rotax 600 ACE engine
is up to 45 percent lower than our closest competitor. Its outstanding fuel mileage rivals most automobiles, not to mention
the fact that it is quieter than most other snowmobile engines and requires very low maintenance.” BRP expands
its two-stroke direct-injection E-TEC technology with the Rotax 800R E-TEC engine. According to the company, the engine delivers
up to 37 percent better fuel economy (19 miles per gallon) and the lowest emissions of competitive models in the same class. The
2011 Ski-Doo lineup also introduces new platforms “targeting emerging markets that are attracting new enthusiasts to
the sport.” - BRP built the new Ski-Doo Summit Freeride to “take on the most challenging terrain; backcountry
riders have no issues climbing chutes and throwing whips with this machine.”
 - The new Ski-Doo Summit S-36 suspension package offers mountain riders a narrower ski stance. Changes to the front
and rear suspension transform the deep snow handling of the Summit sled, reportedly making it easier to lean the snowmobile
while boondocking and sidehilling.
- In the utility segment, the Ski-Doo Skandic Wide Track model with LTS front suspension
moves from the REV-X to the REV-XU platform, making it nimbler and 31 lbs. lighter.
 - For recreational riders who prefer an off-trail powder experience, the Tundra X-treme model combines the deep snow
floatation of the Tundra with the power of the Rotax 600 H.O. E-TEC engine.
 "The expansion of our engine technologies and platforms has improved our performance and competitiveness dramatically
over the years," Yves Leduc, VP and GM of BRP's North American division, stated. "Our 2011 Ski-Doo lineup continues
to enhance the consumer experience while appealing to a broader audience and thus dictating the way the snowmobile industry
will go.” BRP also previewed its 2011 Ski-Doo riding gear and accessories. The company says people can choose
gear based on their riding style and needs, whether those needs be warmth, lightweight breathability, trendy snowboard-inspired
designs or long-distance touring gear.  New products include a complete boot lineup, the Vision180° helmet, an expanded windshield lineup, Tundra-specific
accessories and handlebar wind deflectors. "The 2011 Ski-Doo snowmobiles lineup and accessories provide dealers
what they need to continue to create excitement with their customers,” Rob Strauss of Rob’s Performance in Johnson
Creek, Wisc., told BRP. “When you combine the continued innovative capacity with the quality of the BRP lineup, you
have a win-win formula to go beyond customer expectations, and that will eventually allow us to reach a new breed of consumers.”
Publish
date: Mar 10, 2010
Classic Motorworks, the importer and distributor of Royal Enfield motorcycles in the U.S., today
announced the arrival of the 2010 Royal Enfield Bullet lineup. All the models will feature the company’s more modern
engine. “Today begins a very notable new model year
for Royal Enfield in the United States,” Kevin Mahoney, president of Classic Motorworks and Royal Enfield USA, stated
in a press release. The year marks the complete transition
of Royal Enfield’s production for the U.S. market to the Unit Construction Engine. Beforehand, the engine and transmission
were housed separately. Royal Enfield says it designed the new power plant to offer the traditional appeal of a classic long-stroke
“big single” engine along with modern technology for cleaner, more reliable operation with less maintenance. The
Bullet line now boasts hydraulic lifters, a closed-loop electronic fuel injection system and a three-stage catalytic converter. According to the company, 2010 Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles will begin rolling out to dealer
showrooms in most markets this month, with model availability expected to follow later this spring for the brand’s pending
dealers in California. The 2010 model line will include a
new version of the popular Bullet Military (shown). The model continues Royal Enfield’s long tradition of building mainstream
versions of its military contract motorcycles for Western consumers. Royal Enfield says it redesigned the bike to match the
postwar-inspired form factor of the brand’s new Bullet C5 model.
2010 Yamaha YZ250 Two-Stroke – Sneak Peek
or Hoax?Was there ever a bike that was more anticipated than the 2010 YZ250 two-stroke? There has been
rumors, speculation, and questions but very few real facts. Usually the “facts” are something along
the line of – “I talked to a friend that spoke to someone that works at a Yamaha dealer in New Jersey and he says…”
Unfortunately there are very few facts that can be proven or attributed to a reliable source.  This very well could be the new 2010 YZ250 two-stroke. The interesting part of this photo is
that the rims are anodized black, the wheels on the first photo release of the YZ250F were black. Coincidence or Fake? One
of our sharp-eyed readers found what seems to be a photograph of the newest member of the YZ250 lineage. But where did the
photo come from? No one knows. After a little search on Google I found a couple of more “Spy Photos” of the 2010
YZ250. But they don’t match up.  Another photo of the 2010 YZ250... or not.  This photo was photoshopped in an attempt to "guess" what the bike would look like
with new graphics. Then I found a photo of what is supposed to be a 2010 Honda CR125. This photo was admittedly
Photoshopped by the person that posted it on the Internet. It appears that there are some excellent Photoshop artists out
there in the moto world.  Photoshopped photo of the "2010 Honda CR125". Nicely done fake. Why
would someone spend so much time creating a fake new bike? You guess is as good as anyone elses. In my opinion these
fakes just confuse the issue. Come on Yamaha, let’s see a press release for the new bike! YZ125
Two-Stroke beats a field of 2010 YZ250F Yamaha’s at REM at Glen HelenThe MXA coverage of this local race was
in part because many of the magazines began testing the new 2010 motocross bikes. Racers from Motocross Action, Dirt Bike
and Dirt Rider all competed in the event switching racing back-to-back motos on the new 2010 CRF25o and YZ250F. This
enables the magazines to get feedback from racers of all skills levels in racing conditions. For the most part the
racers on the new machines won many of their classes. But there were some exceptions… In an interesting
twist, the Yamaha test department came to REM this week to get some time and feedback on the 2010 YZ250F (and also to make
sure that all the magazine test bikes were well cared for). Since there were so many Yamaha guys at the race, they decided
yo get their own class for bragging rights back at the factory on Monday morning. It didn’t work out that way. With
every Yamaha guy on a 2010 YZ250F they had a terrific intramural battle among themselves with Mitch Ulrich beating Jonathan
Belding for in-house honors. Steve Butler had a little trouble staying on the track. The hitch was that MXA test rider Billy
Musgrave was in the same race, but he elected to race a YZ125 two-stroke-he was gone in the first moto (including a holeshot).
In the second moto Billy got a last place start, but by moto’s end had passed every other Yamaha on the track.
It’s
possible to race a two-stroke at the local level and be competitive. Make sure you choose the bike that you want to race,
based on your opinion and not by what everyone else is doing.  Yamaha showed up with a boatload of 2010 YZ250F's and held a special Yamaha-Only class. The
race included lots of Yamaha test riders on the new bikes. Who won the race? MXA's Billy Musgrave decided to race his YZ125
two-stroke and managed to pass everyone in the Yamaha class to take a two moto sweep. Photo by MXA
Harley-Davidson the Subject of Buyout RumorsReuters reported Tuesday that Harley-Davidson might be the target of a leveraged buyout, talk of which sent the company's
stock up nearly seven percent to $28.35. By Wednesday, the stock fell to $28.18 while its trading volume was down about 75
percent. The supposed suitor for H-D is global private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
(KKR). So far, the buyout talk is unsubstantiated; spokesmen from both KKR and H-D declined to comment on what they called
"market speculation." Financial industry insiders mostly downplayed the buyout "rumors,"
Reuters reported. "There's been a rumor a day among a lot of value names for the last
week," says Peter Zuger, a mutual fund advisor for Touchstone Mid Cap Value Fund, which owns Harley shares. "I don't
know which ones are real and which ones aren't." Due to H-D's cost cutting measures and its current depressed state,
it makes sense that a private equity buyer like KKR is interested in the motor company, he says. Zuger's company took advantage
of the speculation to pare its H-D holdings. A leveraged buyout is also known as a "hostile
takeover," where the buyer mostly uses debt to purchase another company. Assets of the purchased company can be used
as collateral to secure funding. In other H-D news, the company recently donated $1.4 million
in fixtures, tables, flooring, lighting and wall components from its shuttered Buell factory to the Milwaukee Institute of
Art & Design, according to The Business Journal of Milwaukee. Goldenvalve Inc. Owner and VP ArrestedBoth the owner and vice president
of Goldenvalve Inc., an Ontario, Calif.-based powersport importer, were arrested March 11 for illegally importing units from
China, according to the San Bernardino County Sun. Goldenvavle owner and president Kening
N. Ma was arrested along with vice president Shirley Hyunae Ji on a 70-count criminal complaint that alleges the pair profited
from false certificates of origin; counts include grand theft, possessing a false or blank vehicle registration, and money
laundering. Goldenvalve Inc. owns the Roketa brand of motorcycles, ATVs, scooters and go-karts. Scooter industry insiders believe Goldenvalve imported non EPA- and CARB-approved units from China and gave them
false certificates of origin before selling them. Bruce Rossmeyer's Pompano H-D ClosesBruce Rossmeyer's Pompano Harley-Davidson
closed Monday in response to the current economic conditions, according to a release. Rossmeyer's
Fort Lauderdale and Sunrise locations will remain open, along with his other nationwide locations. Select employees at the
Pompano dealership, which opened in 2002, will continue to work for the company at another location. According to the Orlando Sentinel, daughter Shelly Rossmeyer Pepe said the Pompano dealership had been on the market
in recent months. Officials: Importer Used Fake CARB CertificatesOne of Largest U.S. Importers of Chinese Machines Is Charged Two top executives of one of the largest importers of Chinese and
Taiwanese powersports equipment in the U.S. have been charged by California authorities with selling vehicles that did not
meet that state’s emission standards, according to the complaint obtained by Dealernews. Kening N. Ma, president and owner, and Shirley
Hyunae Ji, vice president, of Goldenvale, Inc., were charged last week in a 70-count complaint.
The complaint, filed in San Bernardino, Calif., Superior Court, charges the two executives and “another person or persons”
with selling motor vehicles that had not been certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to consumers
and dealers in California. The complaint charges
the executives with multiple felony counts of grand theft of personal property (more than $400), possession of false certificates,
and money laundering involving more than $448,000. The
complaint said that Ma had, and used, certificates known to be “false, altered, forged, and counterfeited.” According to industry estimates, Goldenvale was one of the top two
or three importers and retailers of Chinese and Taiwanese powersports equipment during the last several years. Goldenvale is a diversified importer that operates facilities in Ontario,
Calif, and Dallas, Texas. It imports several powersports machines, including ATVs, dirtbikes, scooters and karts. The powersports
units were sold online and through a network of dealers under the Roketa brand. The company also imported many other items, ranging from artwork and blankets, to
toys and cooking utensils. Specific sales figures
are not available from the closely held company, but import data and industry analysts believe that Goldenvale imported nearly
80,000 units in 2008. But that number dropped off sharply to only about 2,000 units last year as the company attempted to
deal with a large unsold inventory of machines. The
company had big years in 2006, according to industry estimates, when it retailed nearly 50,000 ATVs, and again in 2008 when
it retailed almost 50,000 scooters. Those numbers put Goldenvale in the top three importers/distributors of Chinese/Taiwanese
ATVs in 2006 and scooters in 2008. Last week’s
arrests were the result of an investigation that took several years, dating back as far as 2005, according to court records.
The investigation was a joint effort of CARB and the San Bernardino’s district attorney’s office. Daytona
Bike Week has brought plenty of riders to and through Orlando, but shop owner Allen Dixon says the recession has tanked the
custom market. "The $40,000 and $50,000 bikes are gone for now,'' Dixon. 46, told the Orlando Sentinel. "If anyone is buying, it's bikes in the $20,000 to $30,000 range, and there's very little of that right now."
Exacerbating the problem, down-on-their-luck riders are selling their prized choppers for less than what it would
cost Dixon to build one. "Most guys are trying to sell their bikes. I can't build you one for what they're selling theirs
for. I've got one in here right now — the guy probably paid $25,000 for it, and he said if I can get $10,000 for it,
sell it,” Dixon says.
First cancelled last
year due to the economy, the famous Love Ride in California will remain on hold again this year. In its place will be the
Love Ride 26 1/2 Biker’s Carnival at Glendale Harley-Davidson on Sunday, Oct. 24. Oliver Shokouh, the dealership’s
owner and Love Ride’s founder, says the full event will return in 2011. "The economy remains in flux,”
he said in a press release, “and although there are some positive signs, we want to make sure both the Love Ride and
the Love Ride Foundation are on solid ground before we continue our mission, which is to raise money for children's charities
and those less fortunate in our community. "We're excited and at the same time humbled by the response from
the community at large to bring the Love Ride back as soon as possible,” Shokouh continued. “As a stopgap this
year, our Love Ride 26 1/2 Bikers Carnival will be held at Glendale Harley on the day usually reserved for the Love Ride.
With this Biker's Carnival, we're going ‘retro.’” Shokouh's "retro" reference refers
to how the Love Ride started in 1981 and 1982 as a biker's carnival, then skipped a year before coming back as the Love Ride. Citing
slow ticket sales, vendor bookings and sponsorship, Shokouh pulled the plug on Love Ride 26 last October after a quarter-century
of consistent growth. In its 25 years, the Love Ride has raised $22 million for various charities. The ride itself
has attracted hundreds of thousands of bikers as well as celebrities such as Jay Leno, who served as the ride's official Grand
Marshal for 24 straight years. The Love Ride has featured performances from some of the biggest names in music, most recently
the Foo Fighters, who headlined the event’s Silver Anniversary in 2008. The Love Ride Foundation continues
to accept donations throughout the year through the sale of Love Ride merchandise. A Talladega County, Ala.,
jury has convicted a paranoid schitzophrenic former motorcycle mechanic of murdering the owner of the shop where he worked
in 2006. Fred Allen-Walker admitted shooting boss Gerry Harrell at Harrell's shop, Motorcycle Sports, in Oxford
on Valentine's Day 2006. But he testified that in his delusional state, he believed God had ordered him to do it for the U.S.
Marshal’s Service, according to the Daily Home newspaper. He is scheduled for sentencing in April. According to the newspaper, both sides agreed Walker
left his home in Heflin on the morning of the killing, went to see his chiropractor, then went to work. After finding out
two of Harrell’s children who also worked in the shop were out sick that day, Walker shot Harrell in the back of the
head with a 9 mm handgun in front of at least two witnesses. He then apologized, walked to his car to get a briefcase, and
called the U.S. Marshal Service in Washington, D.C. Publish date: Mar 2, 2010
The cases settled today allege that Metropolitan Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Plymouth Rock Assurance,
Pilgrim Insurance Co. and the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) used inflated motorcycle values to calculate premiums
for many of their Massachusetts customers, resulting in millions of dollars in insurance premium overcharges. The
settlements are expected to return $9 million to consumers, on the heels of settlements with three other insurers last month that are expected to return $11 million to consumers. “We are pleased that these insurance companies
will return $9 million in insurance premium overcharges to affected motorcycle owners,” said Coakley. “While we
appreciate that these companies cooperated with our investigation, it remains troubling that they systemically overcharged
their customers on such a large scale. Our office will continue to investigate other companies engaged in this type of behavior.
In order to thwart and correct practices like this, consumers and regulators need transparency and access to information in
the auto insurance rating process.” Under the terms of the settlements in Suffolk Superior Court, Metropolitan
Property & Casualty is expected to return $3.5 million, Plymouth Rock Assurance and Pilgrim Insurance together will return
$3.6 million, and USAA will return $2.3 million to policyholders. The insurance companies will also make payments
to the state totaling more than $500,000 and adopt conduct reforms. The office launched its investigation into
motorcycle rating practices in the fall of 2008 after receiving a complaint from the owners of a 1999 Harley Davidson Road
King Classic. The owners alleged that Safety had valued the bike at $20,000 in each year between 2003 and 2008, but had offered
the owners less than $11,000 to settle their claim after the motorcycle was stolen. After the owners sought a $20,000 settlement,
Safety tried to refund over $1,500 in premiums to them based on the errant $20,000 value that Safety had used to rate their
policy. Based on this complaint, the Attorney General’s Office became concerned that Safety was violating
its rating manual, which required Safety to use current motorcycle book values to calculate the premiums charged to consumers.
After finding that Safety had used inflated and un-depreciated motorcycle values to rate coverage for thousands
of its policyholders, the office expanded its review to other insurance companies. The investigation found that many auto
insurers operating in the Massachusetts marketplace had used inflated, out-of-date values for motorcycles they insured. Liberty
Mutual, which settled in January, will begin paying refunds in May; the remaining insurers are expected to send checks to
consumers in the fall. Projected average refunds to consumers are expected to be about $300; however some consumers will receive
thousands of dollars based on several factors, such as the length of their policy and the price of their motorcycle. To be
eligible for settlement funds, a consumer’s motorcycle must have been overvalued by their insurance company and the
consumer must have purchased either collision or comprehensive coverage. Tens of thousands of policies are believed to have
been affected. These cases were handled by Investigations Supervisor Arwen Thoman, Mathematician Burt Feinberg,
Economist Bryan Lincoln, and Assistant Attorney General Glenn Kaplan, all of Attorney General Coakley’s Insurance &
Financial Services Division. The original consumer complaint was handled by Mediator Rebecca Dutra also of Attorney General
Coakley’s Insurance & Financial Services Division.  Hyosung unveiled the 2010 ST7 cruiser during the Chicago stop of the International Motorcycle Shows,
and is now displaying it at the stop in Daytona.  The ST7 is a classically styled 700cc cruiser loosely based on the company’s GV650 platform. “There was
a call for a classically styled version of our popular cruiser," Brian Rose, Hyosung’s regional sales manager,
stated in a press release. "We answered it." The belt-driven, fuel-injected ST7 has front and rear disc
brakes and is powered by a liquid-cooled 678cc DOHC V-twin with eight valves. Hyosung claims a maximum torque of about 46.5
ft.-lbs. at 7,500 rpm. MSRP is $7,299. The bike will come in black, red or white. Publish
date: Mar 12, 2010
Source: Dealernews
Polaris
this week unveiled its 2011 model lineup. The company introduced 11 new snowmobiles during its dealer meeting in Las Vegas. The
PRO-RIDE chassis introduced last year is used in three new Rush models: the 800 Rush PRO-R, 600 Rush PRO-R and 600 Rush LX.
It’s also used for deep-snow adaption in the new 800 PRO-RMK 163 and 800 PRO-RMK 155. The 11 new units span
four segments: Performance, Deep Snow, Crossover and Trail Luxury. There are also updated versions of previous models. "Polaris
continues to be an industry leader because our dedication to practical innovations makes our products more useful, more fun
and more affordable for consumers," Bennett Morgan, president and COO, said in a press release. "As a company, we've
always prided ourselves on developing exemplary products that set new industry standards, something we've continued in 2011.
We fully expect the quality of these new products to further our growth and gains across all market categories." 2011
models by segment: Performance. As mentioned, the Performance segment features four new Rush models
built on the PRO-RIDE Chassis. Riders benefit, Polaris says, from outstanding shocks, the industry's only true progressive
rate rear suspension, and the 600 or 800 Cleanfire engine.  Deep Snow The line-up carrying the RMK name includes four new models. The lightweight 800 PRO-RMK 163/155
models feature the RMK Coil-Over rear suspension, stronger and stiffer chassis and Over-Engine Steering, which allows the
engine to be mounted lower for a better center of gravity. The RMK line also includes the 800 RMK Assault 155, which Polaris
says is the sport's first sled specifically designed for backcountry and freestyle riders.  Crossover: Polaris says the new 800 Switchback Assault 144 “borrows smooth-handling technology
from the Rush models and has the powerful 800 Cleanfire engine to satisfy diverse riding needs.” The new 550 Shift 136
provides riders with the 550 engine and an extended footprint for a great ride. The 600 Switchback 136 and 600 Shift 136 both
feature the 600 Cleanfire engine.  Trail Luxury: Highlighted by the new 600 Rush LX (built on the PRO-RIDE Chassis) and new 550 IQ LXT
(IQ Chassis), the 2011 Trail Luxury sleds feature premium suspensions and several two-up options. The Rider Select steering
system features adjustable handlebars.  Utility: All three models provide a wide ski stance, a powerful engine and a heavy-duty cargo rack.
The IQ models feature a heated, in-dash glove box and IQ Front Suspension. All three models have heated handgrips. Youth:
The 120 Assault has orange Assault graphics and enhanced safety features. This sled is equipped with a safety tether that
stops the engine immediately when removed from the sled, a 120 four-stroke engine, independent front suspension and underseat
storage. Pure Polaris Products and Accessories
New for 2011, Pure Polaris has partnered with
industry giants such as FXR, ToBe and Oakley to enhance its line of snow apparel. Additionally, Polaris continues
to use eVent Direct Venting Technology, a fabric the company says provides riders with “windproof, waterproof and breathable
performance beyond any other fabric on the market.” New products include Polaris FXR Helix and Backshift jackets
featuring FXR's patented liner system for climate control; ToBe Rise jacket highlighted by convenient pockets and stylish
looks to complement waterproofing and breathability; and Polaris Oakley Proven Goggles with anti-fog technology. New
snow accessories include items for Rush and RMK sleds such as two new windshield options up to 24 inches, skid plates and
exchanger guards, along with a wide selection of storage options and performance parts
 | | | AMA needs your support regarding the lead-related ban of youth
off-highway vehicles| Appropriations bill debate creates opportunity to influence lead-related ban of youth
off-highway vehicles | Take Action! | | Contact
your Representative Today! | | | On March 4, the
Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on the
proposed fiscal year 2011 Financial Services Appropriations bill. The agenda for the hearing will focus on the Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC). This hearing will provide an opportunity for Congress to address how the Consumer Product
Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008 has created a severe and unwarranted disruption to families who recreate together responsibly,
and a deleterious effect on youth amateur racing. On July 7, 2009, Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) attached an
amendment to the House fiscal year 2010 Financial Services Appropriations bill which would have prohibited the use of funds
by the CPSC for the implementation and/or enforcement of section 101(b) of the CPSIA as it relates to youth-model off-highway
motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). To see Rehberg's press release on his amendment, please click here. The
American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) applauded the Rehberg amendment, and submitted a letter of support that was placed
in the Committee Report on June 23, 2009. To see the AMA's letter of support, please click here. The AMA is hopeful and
is working with Rehberg's office to, once again, include similar language to the fiscal year 2011 Financial Services Appropriation
bill. Therefore, the AMA needs your help to let your lawmakers know how you feel about the lead-content ban
and its impact on the sale of youth-model off-highway vehicles. The quickest way to reach your Representative is to call
them. You can find contact information for your elected officials by entering your zip code at AmericanMotorcyclist.com >
Rights > Issues & Legislation. Additionally, a prewritten e-mail is available for you to immediately send to your lawmakers
by following the "Take Action" option and entering your information. For more information about ways you
can help exclude youth-model motorcycles and ATVs from the CPSIA, click here. Please contact your Representative
immediately and urge them to address your concerns with the CPSIA at the hearing! |
|
|
2010-03-02/17:26:38 Honda
Motor Co., Ltd. says it is currently developing a battery-powered electric motorcycle. The OEM says it plans to introduce
the electric cycle to the market about two years from now.
GS Yuasa Corporation and Honda recently reached an
agreement to establish a joint venture company to manufacture, sell and conduct R&D for high-performance lithium-ion batteries.
The two companies aim to establish the new company sometime around spring 2009.
The new company will be 51 percent
owned by GS Yuasa and 49 percent owned by Honda. The headquarters of the new company is planned to be located in Minami-ku,
Kyoto, and the factory is planned to be established within the property of GS Yuasa’s Osadano operation in Fukuchiyama,
Kyoto.
The new company will manufacture batteries based on EH6, the lithium-ion battery developed by GS Yuasa.
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At 32 years of age, Windham enjoyed one of his strongest seasons ever during the 2010 Supercross series, finishing
the year in the runner-up spot. He climbed the podium eight times, and posted two consecutive race wins in Seattle and Salt
Lake City.
Paolo Berlusconi, brother of Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, has purchased troubled Italian manufacturer Moto Morini
for about $3.4 million, according to the U.K.'s 
AMA Hall of Famer and powersports industry insider Don J. Brown passed away March 24 at his home in Irvine, Calif. He was
80.
