Motus MST

The North American motorcycle market is enormous, and every manufacturer in the world understands that. Japanese and European manufacturers are all vying for a top spot in the market. But the USA has only one real major manufacturer, Harley-Davidson, and some other smaller ones, like Indian and Victory, that compete in Harley’s dominant position, that of the cruiser market.

Although the US has smaller sportsbike builders, none have arrived on the scene to compete directly with the Hondas, Yamahas, Suzukis, Ducatis, Aprilias and BMWs of this world. That is until this month.

During the Daytona BikeWeek, the new Motus MST was unveiled officially. Still in prototype phase, the MST is a “comfortable” sportsbike made for touring. The motorcycle was designed from the ground up, and sports a lively V4 1650 cc engine, using direct injection technology. This means that the motorcycle will be fast, and the ride smooth. Good performance and low vibes are essential for touring. Some 161 horsepower, 25% less emission and 10% more power than comparable bikes are impressive numbers. But what’s more important in an era of higher and higher gas prices, is that fuel consumption will be low.

 But is the US sportstouring market big enough for their own US based manufacturer, especially considering that the majority of motorcycles sold are cruisers?

The answer would be a hesitant YES. North America is geographically vast, with miles and miles of roads. Riding them on a cruiser is fun, but if you’ve got to go a long distance, riding on a cruiser is not that comfortable. Riding a fully dressed motorcycle like the Honda Goldwing or BMW K1600 GTL is obviously one nice way, but at a very high cost.

Enter the Motus MST. In the tradition of (amongst other) the Ducati ST or Moto-Guzzi Norge, the Motus is made to ride in comfort, but with a high performance. The bike should be able to eat up miles and miles of asphalt, and once you hit the twisties, pure fun.

Add to that a design that makes maintenance a breeze, the bike should sell well. Throw into the hat the fact that people feel it’s their patriotic duty to buy national products, the bike once it’s on sale next year could do very well. There is enough space in the crowded marketplace for an American built sportsbike, particularly in North America.

The biggest question will be the price. But to be successful, Motus will need to sell a lot to keep the price reasonable. And to do that, they will need to compete in Europe. And that is a totally different story.

 For more info:  Motus

Since we’re riding less and less, it severely impacts biker events. Take last week’s Daytona Beach Bike Week. This mega event attracts thousands and thousands of bikers from all over the USA, and even from abroad.

But first of all we’re still in a recession, so money is scarce, but you also need to get there. It’s okay if you live in Florida, or Georgia, or any state close by. But if you live in New York, or heaven forbid, California, the journey is just too expensive.

The shopkeepers, restaurants and hotels have been counting their revenue, and it doesn’t look good. Bikers who attend these kind of venues tend to spend money when they are there. Not only lodging and food, but also clothing, or often they buy discounted riding gear like motorcycle helmets, motorcycle leathers, leather chaps, etc. This year, revenue for shops has dropped 20 to 40%! Though hotel bookings are normal, maybe even a bit higher, this is because reservations were made well in advance. When the reservations were made, there wasn’t any real fuel crisis. And since the bikers had paid in advance, they went there anyway, but to save money, they didn’t spend any on souvenirs. Those that hadn’t booked a hotel or camping, just didn’t go. In fact, this year saw more Europeans thanks to a lower dollar.

The Daytona Speedway also saw a significant drop in visitors. According to the organizers, they had 20% less visitors. Fewer bikers, and those that did show up for Bike Week didn’t spend the money on the races.

Obviously events such as Bike Week will not disappear. They’ll continue, since it is a main event, and still brings in much needed money. They can always hope for next year. Or maybe the Biketoberfest.

In the mean time, the biggest yard stick will be Sturgis. Many Harley Davidson fans are so loyal to the event, they would probably mortgage their house before missing Sturgis. Let’s hope it’s only a small glitch, and next year things are back to normal.

Sources:

http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2011/03/14/bike-week-ends-results-mixed.html

http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2011/march/218193/Fewer-bikers-mean-fewer-dollars-spent-at-Bike-Week

The sunlight warm on my face, the dry wind blowing through my hair, the clock turns back and I feel 40 again. The sun casting cloud shadows on the prairie to my right, teasing me, urging me to kick the bike in the ass and race them, but I don’t. Tried that years ago, they always win. I laugh at them, and they race away, disappearing over the hills ahead. A herd of antelope suddenly appear on my left, loping along inside the fence line, I wave, but they don’t wave back, suddenly veering off down a dry grassy coulee, and disappearing from sight. The good rich smell of hot engine oil comes and goes with the breeze, the Harley has settled into a steady rhythm and the deep throated exhaust mutters along behind me. I haven’t seen another vehicle in about an hour. the last one a truck load of young girls, giggling and daring each other to wave at the biker. In my leathers, and behind the shades and dew rag, and from a distance, I probably look a bit exotic. Boy, would they be disappointed! But now, its just me and the ribbon of road, stretching out ahead of me, winding through the hills and out of sight. Beckoning and promising adventure, somewhere up ahead. Just the way you like it when you want to be alone for a while with your thoughts and just enjoy being alive.

I’ll cruise down, arcing to the South to pick up I-90 West, with a pause for the cause and a cold drink at Vivian. Maybe talk to some other bikers. On a bike, you’re never without new friends when you want them. Eager to swap stories, talk about weather ahead, and enjoy being part of a family, ever ready to stop and help a fellow biker, or share a beer and a laugh about the things we’ve all seen and done on the road. If you’re ever in trouble, call a cop. But if you’re ever in real trouble, call a biker.

I’ll pass through the Buffalo Grasslands and Rapid City, then on up to Sturgis which is just starting to wake up with the Rally just a few weeks away. Then over to Deadwood before picking up 14 to roll through the curves down through Spearfish Canyon to the Spearfish Canyon Lodge for a relaxing late supper. Spearfish Canyon, a spiritual place where God himself must ride a motorcycle on warm Summer days, with the soft, fragrant scent of pine everywhere and the gurgle and splash of Spearfish Creek to keep him, and all the bikers who come here, company.

I take a deep breath, its really good to be here, on the bike headed West. Suddenly, I hear a familiar voice, calling to me. I blink and the prairie fades away. “Hey, I said, are you alright?” Its, Boo, down below me, as I stand on a ladder, propped against the side of the house. My hands are sunk to the wrists in foul smelling glop in the storm gutter. I blink and look down at her. “I said, are you okay? You’ve been standing there motionless for almost ten minutes, just staring straight ahead. I thought you’d had a stroke. Jeez, you scared the crap out of me, you dopey old bastard!”

I clear my throat and drag more glop out of the gutter, tossing it into the bucket tied to my ladder. “No, I’m okay, I was just thinking about something and got caught up in it.” I can sit down with a home brew and tell her about it later. She’ll understand. She’s a biker, like me. She’s rolled the curves through Spearfish Canyon, smelling those pines, and has sat in the warm sunlight, with her feet in the cold, clear water of the creek on many occasions. I’ll finish my task, and then maybe open that homebrew and clean the bike, and maybe the dream will come back and I’ll make the Lodge by early evening, to sit and have a bite to eat and a cold beer before heading to my room and a nice soft bed.

Some people ask me, “Aren’t you scared, riding a motorcycle around like that?” No, I’m not. But the plain and simple truth of it is that what scares me, what really scares the living hell out of me, is what happens when I can’t ride a motorcycle around like that anymore.

What did Frost say? I have miles to go before I sleep.
Author: Jim Fleming (Jafrum.com Customer)

Metropolis 2010 Theme. Picture Courtesy from Burning Man

Tickets for Burning Man are now on sale. Online ticket sales end August 27th, and Box Office sales end September 2nd. Learn how to not get scammed if you’re buying a ticket from a third party, or selling your ticket.

While there have been motorcycles that have sold for a lot more, over $600,000, those were usually collectors items and sold for so much due to their uniqueness. Bikes such as the 1915 Cyclone sold for $520,000 at auction. More recently the Vincent Black Lightning was put up for auction and was expected to sell for over $600,000. The bikes are basically works of art and one of a kind. The bikes on this list, however, aren’t one of a kind. They are production bikes that anyone can purchase if they have enough money.

When it comes to the top 3 most expensive production motorcycles there seems to be general agreement to what they are: Ecosse Titanium Series, Dodge Tomahawk, and the MTT Turbine Superbike. While there are some who say that the Dodge Tomahawk is not actually a motorcycle due to it’s unique four wheel design, there are also many people who argue that the overall design is still that of a motorcycle, regardless of the way the wheels are configured. It doesn’t matter which school of thought you belong to, it’s still a really cool looking vehicle!

Here is a little more information on each of our top 3 most expensive motorcycle contenders:

1) If you’ve got an extra $550,000 just burning a hole in your pocket you might want to check out the Dodge Tomahawk. This very limited production bike (so far only 10 have been made) is not street legal and may not even be a motorcycle, you can decide that for yourself. But it is a very unique looking bike and it is fast. This will definitely be one of those things that is more status symbol than mode of transportation.

Dodge Tomahawk

Here are the vitals for the Tomahawk:

V 10 4 stroke, 500 hp @ 5600 RPM, 525.5 ft lbs of torque @ 4200RPM, liquid cooled, 2 speed gearbox, maximum RPM 6000, Total weight 1,500 lbs., 3″ ground clearance, 76″ wheel base, monocoque central engined stressed member frame, double disc front and rear brakes, top speed 300 MPH, 0 – 62 in 2.5 seconds, 3.25 fuel tank capacity.

2) If you have a more modest budget, say around $275,000 you can pick up your very own Ecosse Titanium Series. While almost 300 grand may seem like a lot of money for a motorcycle, you’ll be glad to know that they’ll also throw in a custom made titanium watch with every purchase! The production will be limited to 10 so you’d better hurry. This motorcycle was dreamed up by American Donald Atchison and is the first bike to sport an all titanium frame.

Ecosse Titanium

Here’s all the information you need to know before you run out and pick one up:

The engine is an Ecosse/Engenuity Racing 2150 cc polished Billet aluminum 45 degree American twin-cam V-Twin, 210 ft./lbs of torque, 6 speed close ration transmission with final overdrive gear, all titanium frame, ISR custom radial braking system, 440 lbs., 60.5″ wheelbase, 12 adjustable position foot peg, with rider specific adjusted suspension when you pick up your bike.

3) And if you have more common sense than money, the MTT Turbine Superbike might be just the ticket. Priced at ‘only’ $185,000 it’s the budget friendly option of the top three. The worlds only turbine powered motorcycle has been featured often in the media and most memorably in the movie “Torque”. The Superbike holds two Guinness World Records.

MTT Turbine Superbike

Here’s all you need to know about the Superbike:

Rolls Royce Allison 250 series gas turbine engine, 320 hp @ 52,000 RPM, 425 ft/lbs. of torque @ 2,000 RPM, 2 speed automatic transmission, aluminum alloy frame, 500 lbs, carbon fiber fairings, custom colors available, diesel and kerosene fuels, 8.5 gal fuel capacity, 1.5 gal reserve tank capacity, 17″ carbon fiber wheels, 68″ wheel base, 3×320 mm floating system 4 piston caliper brakes, rear mounted camera with LCD color monitor in dash.

So there you have it, your next years Birthday Wish List! Not many of us will ever be able to afford any of these bikes, but they’re still fun to look at and marvel at. And who knows, maybe some day you’ll win the lottery and if you do you’ll know just what you want to buy with your money!

One sure fire way to lower the cost of motorcycle insurance is to remove coverage. Just like with auto insurance policies, motorcycle insurance policies vary when it comes to what they cover. Basic motorcycle insurance policies cover any damage that you and/or your motorcycle causes to someone else’s property. This is known as liability insurance and is the minimum insurance required by most state laws. Policies that cover theft (comprehensive) and damage to your motorcycle (collision) are much more expensive than liability insurance and will add to the expense of the policy.

Another way to reduce the monthly premium associated with your motorcycle insurance policy is to take a rider’s safety course. This will demonstrate to the insurance company that you have the necessary skills to ride safely, thus reducing the risk of loss. The more classes you can take to improve your riding skills, the better off you’ll be. On the flip side of this, keeping down the number of moving violations you have in both your car and on your motorcycle will also help prove that you are a responsible rider and will help reduce your premium by earning you a safe driver discount.

Insuring multiple vehicles with one insurer, or having more than one policy with a particular company will usually result in a multiple policy discount that you can take advantage of and reduce your monthly insurance bill. Many insurers will be able to offer multiple products including motorcycle insurance, homeowner’s insurance, auto insurance and more.

No matter what kind of bike you ride, having the proper insurance policy is a must. If you are unsure about what different coverages mean or what coverage you need, speak with an experienced insurance agent. These professionals are always ready to help you with all of your insurance needs and will make sure that you have the type of coverage you need and can afford.

Women Rider's Month

In an industry geared typically toward men, women riders are stepping out of the background and taking their place as the fastest growing segment on the motorcycle scene. Blazing past stereotypes of the typical biker babe, the industry is quickly catching on.

May is the second annual Women Rider’s Month. Choices for women have increased dramatically; there are more resources for women rider than ever before. Leather, helmets, even gloves and other women’s gear are more than just novelty items in a quaint section of the leather shop. More and more, these resources for women riders are designed for the function and comfort for a population of serous riders.

What draws a woman into this world of roaring machines? For many, it is the same as any other rider, the freedom of the open road and the thrill of commanding a working piece of art through the dips and valleys of the highway. The world is just a little more open to the feminine side of the motorcycle world.

Intelligent and driven, these classy chicks nurture their inner divas and carve out a special niche in the biker world. While some still prefer the passenger seat, women riders are as diverse as the rides they love. Professional women and stay-at-home moms alike share the road and blaze the way for their sisters and daughters to follow in the same tracks.

This May, celebrate the women bikers who share a piece of the open road. Cheer on the pink skull caps, the curvy leather clad rider who loves the life as much as her brethren. Slide your left hand down in an enthusiastic biker wave as they blow the cobwebs out of the baffles in a cloud of dust, and pink leather.

From June 21-25, 2010, twenty Harley-Davidson Fantasy Campers will be immersed in Harley-Davidson history and culture as well as get to know Milwaukee, Harley-Davidson’s hometown for 107 years.

A sneak peek of what is planned:

•Enjoy VIP guided tours of the Harley-Davidson Museum including an in-depth look at the limited-access archives collection.
•Discover historic Harley-Davidson sites during a never-before-offered city tour of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
•Tour the access-restricted Willie G. Davidson Product Development Center (PDC), where motorcycle prototypes are engineered, styled and tested.
•Learn how Harley-Davidson V-Twin engines work from a Harley-Davidson University instructor.
•Bond with a Harley-Davidson Motor Company executive while riding through Milwaukee’s countryside.
•Experience must-do Milwaukee activities like enjoy a Brewer’s game from the exclusive Harley-Davidson Deck, and check out Summerfest from the private Harley-Davidson Roadhouse.
•Share daily meals with Harley-Davidson staff and other H-D Fantasy Campers.
•Chronicle the trip with plenty of opportunities for photos
The Harley-Davidson Fantasy Camp experience includes hotel, food, and transportation to all destinations – including motorcycles for the ride – and exclusive access to areas not available to the public for $3,000 per person.

To enroll in the Harley-Davidson Fantasy Camp, call the Harley-Davidson Museum Group Tours Coordinator at 414-287-2799. Registration deadline is May 31, 2010.

Company Background
Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight custom, cruiser and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts, accessories, riding gear and apparel, and general merchandise. For more information, visit harley-davidson.com.

Typically, enthusiasts tend to focus on the driver enjoying the thrill of curve hugging rides through open country. The feel of raw power in the throttle hypnotizes motorcyclists across the globe. But, there is one point of view not often written about. It is the view from the rear seat.

True enough, there is a scintillating thrill that shoots up the spine when that V-twin roars to life. For the rider, the experience allows for a unique view of the road. Settled comfortably against the sissy bar, feet planted securely on the foot pegs, the sky looms wide and unrestrained. The rider is free take in the beauty of the ride with a freedom not afforded the motorcycle driver.
As with any aspect of motorcycle riding, safety is the number one consideration for the driver and rider as well. How does the back seat motorcycle rider contribute to the safety of the ride? The following tips are a good place to begin..

Learn the Moves
Learn to lean with the driver on corners. If the driver veers left, the rider should veer left as well, matching the movement of the driver. Basically, the rider’s actions ought to mirror that of the driver. A sudden shift in weight throws off the balance of the bike causing the driver to struggle to keep it on the road. At a high rate of speed, a shift could be devastating.

Distractions
Keep distractions to a minimum. Riding is a solitary event. Unless there is something pressing that cannot wait, resist the urge to tap the driver on the shoulder. Chances are he will not be able to hear anyway. The tap may be distracting and cause an unfortunate jerk on the steering. It is a good idea to discuss pit stops before climbing on the back of the bike.

Group Etiquette
There is an unwritten code among bikers to keep an eye out for other riders. When riding in groups, the lead bike has a responsibility to keep an extra watch for debris and other hazards in the road. When he spots something, the universal sign for danger consists of pointing a free hand down at the road, signaling the object. As a passenger, mirror this move. This will give the riders bringing up the rear an added indication to watch out for the danger on the road.

Dig out the helmets; dust off the leather. A long ride down the open road is the perfect initiation rite to usher in the springtime. For some, the seat behind the driver is the best seat in the house.