Stupidest motorcyclist?
February 4, 2007
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This pretty much explains itself, some people just don’t learn from their first mistakes…
via: http://superbikeblog.blogspot.com/2007/02/and-idiot-of-month-award-goes-to.html
Most expensive Motorcycle Wreck?
February 3, 2007
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Well not really a wreck, but this definitely a contender for the most expensive parking lot drop. This video (although of course, in typical youtube fashion re-dubbed with some ridiculous music) shows a Honda NR750 being crashed. I can’t imagine what this bike is even worth these days.
Fischer MRX
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So this is quite unusual news, it appears Fischer Motor Company is a legit American motorcycle company, that may actually have a chance. It is a Maryland based company created by Dan Fischer. He uses Hyosung engines, but everyone has to start somewhere. If Fisher wants to have any chance of succeeding he might want to lower the price even below $8K though. I don’t see any reason for most established dealers to want to carry him at this price point, and we all know that a dealer network is what will make or break a company like this.
Read more at: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/firstrides/122_0612_2006_fischer_mrx/
Honda Canada to create generic stores
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Honda Canada is starting to move to combined retail stores where cars, motorcycles, and weedeaters are all sold under one roof. Doug Klassen at Forty Years on Two Wheels comments on this matter expertly. It has always seemed to me that car dealers always want to be motorcycle dealers, but can never quite pull it off, people expect two different things in cars and motorcycles. Cars are a necessity, where a motorcycle is a luxury, but more than just that, a hobby, a passion, a culture. I would expect Honda out of all the motorcycle manufacturers to understand this. I mean it seemed that at one point they had the psychology of selling motorcycles down to an art. What happened? I’m all for corporations making decisions to increase sales, but at what cost? I hope this doesn’t come stateside. Arctic Cat is currently making a similar move with their selling four wheelers at Bass Pro shops, which end up all being worked on by a real Arctic Cat dealer. I’m very surprised at this move by Honda, as I had always thought in the U.S. Honda Motorcycles tried to distance themselves from the car company. I have seen them often tied in with the power equipment arm, but never seemed to think that any harm.
Harley Strike Shuts down production
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In York, Pennsylvania. a strike has shut down Harley-Davidson Inc.’s largest manufacturing plant, and is said to have directly shut down the Softtail and touring lines for the time being. The strike has caused over 2800 workers to be directly affected with many more expected in a cascade up Harley’s supply chain. This is the first strike for Harley in over 16 years. Friday night Harley put up concrete barriers at the all entrances to the factory in response to over 50 workers all members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 175 picketing outside. The union plans to have 50 workers picketing at all time.
The reason for the strike seems to be most vocally about a two tear wage system which Harley had hoped to put in place, paying new workers less. Nevin Bechtel said “We’ll still keep building first-rate bikes, but when the second-rate people take over, what are we going to build then? Second-rate bikes,”. It seems the new contract that HD proposed wanted to pay new workers $18.25/hr, where current new workers were making $20.78. Now, I don’t know if there are any kinds of proficiency tests, or what HD’s hiring requirements are, but that seems like a decent pay rate for the kind of work I would expect it to be. I mean sure I can totally sympathize with them not wanting to pay brand new employees that much, in my opinion they should pay it on merit, but what do I know? I would think it would be better for the union to fight for a higher increase after the first year, and that way the company could decide who was worth keeping. Other provisions of the new contract call for the union to contribute toward health insurance coverage, where they currently pay no premium, and the doubling of HDs 401(k) contributions. Hopefully this all gets resolved very quickly, and doesn’t end up hurting the company and in effect its employees in the long run.
sources:
Isle of Man TT Organizers say this years event will be one of the best ever
February 2, 2007
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The Isle of Man TT is one of the most prestigious and longest lasting motorcycle races. It has been an annual event since 1907. However, Paul Phillips, one of the events organizers, thinks that this will be one of the best years ever. Paul says that they have been building up infrastructure, and that even though they had slow downs in 2003 and 2004, the past two years have been very successful. All four major Japanese manufacturers will be participating at the event. The following is a list of riders and their affiliations:
- Michael Rutter: Kawasaki
- Steve Plater: AIM Yamaha
- John McGuiness: HM Plant Honda and Padgett’s Honda
- Ian Hutchinson: Honda
- Guy Martin: Honda
- Cameron Donald: Honda
- Ian Lougher: Honda
- Martin Finnegan: Honda
- Raymond Porter: Kawasaki
- Bruce Anstey: TAS Suzuki
- Adrian Archibald: TAS Suzuki
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/6326461.stm
