Saxon Motorcycles

‘We rode Vespas for about four years because we thought we could get around riding on Scooters without getting any tickets. He confessed that he didn’t want to make Easy Rider initially. His favorite pastime? Painting - Harley-Davidson Japan is converting its domestic dealerships for the Buell bikes which it discontinued at the end of October, into service centers that will repair the motorcycles. Harley-Davidson is legally mandated to offer repair parts for seven years but says it plans to continue parts repair services for the next 10 years. By continuing to service Buell bikes, Harley-Davidson hopes to hold down any negative impact on its brand image – Wimmer Custom Cycle has recently decided to end their distribution relationship with Drag Specialties. Lee Wimmer, President of Wimmer Custom Cycle stated, “Now, more than ever, the consumer is shopping for the best price and we have found that having a distribution price level makes the MSRP too high”.

All motorcycles will be on display in the secured area at Bruce Rossmeyer Harley Davidson, 1637 US Highway 1, Ormond Beach, Florida 32174. The auctio as I understand it (received conflicting info). On each motorcycle there will be its normal retail selling price. When the sale begins at 9 am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 20th-22nd, 2009, buyers will have an hour to inspect the bikes. Then at 10 am whoever is sitting on the bike when the posted price is slashed will have the first right to purchase the motorcycle at the proposed price. Prices will be slashed one time and one time only to the rock bottom price. To incite you to make the trip to Ormond Beach 2 Harleys will be priced at $88.00 (not a typo). The customer gets the best price up-front, without any haggling or wasted time. The dealer gets to reduce his inventory very fast!

Inventory will include over 300 used motorcycles, including Road Kings, Electra-Glides, Fat Boys, Dyna’s, Heritage Classics, Ultra Classics, Softails, Harley Davidson and other makes and models, even Customs, Kawasakis and Vespas. Financing will also be available, but you need to get pre-approved. For more info, call: 800-642-3464. And if this liquidation doesn’t work as well as expected, like the one of 2 weekends ago? What do you think may happen to Rossmeyer’s Enterprises?

The Indian Larry Issue, “Five Long Years” will be packed full of special content that has for the most part never been seen before. Their will be commentary from people out of Larry’s past that haven’t been heard from, stories of his life that haven’t been shared and additional industry insights into the man they called the Chopper Shaman. This issue will become available at the beginning of 2010 through an exclusive national deal with Barnes & Nobel stores and through a regional south deal with Books A Million. For more information on advertising in this issue or for advanced copy sales go to Cycle Source.

Showcasing the custom parts that you sell on a custom bike is efficient marketing strategy if the bike is extremely cool. Independent Custom Builders do it very well. Few large part distributors do as well, except when one of their in-house collaborators is also a talented builder. Rich Fulk, Custom Chrome’s Product Line Manager, knows quite a few things about mixing and matching the custom parts that he sells to make a factory bike look like a true custom. And since he also got the design and fabrication/assembly abilities he built this very “fast, black and furious” 2009 Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide featuring the “Custom Chrome New Dark products”. For the fast and furious parts of the equation ‘La Muerta Negra’ was modified with an S&S 106″ kit, some Zippers Cams and Thundermax ECM. For the dark part, Rich used the complete line of the ‘King Knurl’ accessories from Revolution and made this FXD-I rolls on RevTech® Midnight Series. Looks to me like the Milwaukee factory should sell it! Inspired and ready to do your own? All these parts and more are available in the CCI Catalog Update that you can see by jumping to Custom Chrome.

In a statement he made to the Daytona News Journal I noticed that Mike Watts made 2 mistakes by stating 1- “That we hope to change the way people buy used motorcycles”. Really? I think it’s all the way around. It’s consumers who changed the way businesses sell their ware. Rossmeyer’s, like others,  just try to adapt. Never heard of eBay? 2- “That their website(s) have 1 million of hits”. Who cares the number of hits? A hit is not a visit to a website but the number of graphics & pictures downloaded when you open any internet page. If you open a page with 40 graphics or images, it’s 41 hits (one hit for the page + 40 hits for the images). But still only 1 visitor. Multiply by the number of pages visited by the same person and you have a ton of hits for still only 1 visit. Mike, the only important thing is the number of unique visitors, the number of pages visuted and the time spent on each page. Among other things, the reason why the first online auction was not a success is because of poor announcement and poor internet traffic for a company the size of Rossmeyer’s (I checked). It’s  what Rossmeyer’s should work on first. Rossmeyer’s Harley-Davidson.

And don’t worry too much about  such a beast powering your bike. Viper included a proprietary engine vibration damping system that the company claims gives the Diamondback a much smoother ride than other V-Twins with many less cubic inches. Noteworthy to mention are the carbon fiber body (total weight is 610 lbs.), an on-the-fly adjustable air ride suspension system, an adjustable seat (down to 24″), easy adjustable foot controls, all LED’s lights, a sporty inverted adjustable front end, 6-speed transmission, hydraulic clutch, a 21″ front and 18″ 260/40-18 rear wheel/tire setup. Wheelbase is 71″ on a frame with a 34-degree rake (5-degree triple tree). For now the Diamondback is sold through selective Dealers and is not exported. Viper Motorcycle Company.

HogTech Peder Johansson and Andreas Jarledal tested Hogtech`s frames on a grueling 45.000 km (30.000 miles) around the world.  They are TÜV approved in Germany to meet the highest standard of welding and strength and a certificate of approval comes with every frame. Custom Chrome Europe is offering the frame featured here in 2 versions. The popular “Northern Spirit” rigid frame with the classic sweden style geometry (3” up-stretch in front tubes, 46° rake. I80/200 rear tire/ with a rear tail section ½” shorter than stock rigid frames. Weighting only 21 kg. The second option is having a „Custom Northern Spirit“ frame built to specifications, with rakes ranging from 30 to 50°, down tube stretch 0-4’’, rear tail length from stock to + 2’’ and wide end tire options of 245 and 260. Custom Chrome Europe (picture HRF. CCE General Manager Andreas Scholz, CCE Marketing Manager Axel Scherer with HogTech Peder Johansson and Andreas Jarledal).

Zippers Performance offers a kit to help you turn your “Sleepy” 96 Inch engine Into a 103 Incher. New cylinders are supplied on an exchange basis, are precision bored and honed on torque plates from 3-3/4″ to 3-7/8″ and fitted with forged pistons. Red Shift cams and adjustable pushrods let the engine breathe for a substantial increase in useable torque and horsepower. A complete top end and cam change gasket set included. Two versions are available. One for lighter FX-style bikes (Dynas® and Softails®), and one for heavier Touring applications. Only $1,029.95 with exchange cylinders. Expert installation of this kit is available at Zipper’s facility in Elkridge, Maryland. Transportation of your motorcycle to and from Zipper’s can be arranged if desired. Please contact Zipper’s Performance Products for details

But Harley has decided to use this technique as the core of their new marketing push. Of course, it includes non only big screen movies but also TV series, documentaries and video games. According to Harley marketing department, 15 to 20 million individuals in the US would have the desire to buy a motorcycle. In parallel to this strategy, Harley-Davidson is perfectly aware that they need to communicate to younger people under 35 and to have culturally-relevant messages to women , African Americans and Hispanics. For example the domestic Hispanic market is very fast-growing, four times the rate of the general population. For the younger generation SMS (phone text messages) is an excellent medium for marketing and mobile subscribers are interested and receptive to reading offers on their phones. As a matter of fact text messaging has increased 60 percent year-over-year (source Mobile Marketing Association).

So, from now expect Harley products and messages to pop up where you never saw them before, to see Harley reducing or abandoning classic media exposure in print magazines where there are no new readers to convince to ride their bikes and to leave radio that the young generation is not listeing to. Expect to see more and more the brand and its bikes showing up on audio/video digital media (movies, series, documentaries, web, blogs, social networks, smart phones, games), etc. And these new techniques will come not only from the factory but also directly from its dealers. Something new and fresh from Harley-Davidson. It was time that they realize that demographics have radically changed that there is a media revolution going on since 20 years and that audiences have shifted to brand new communication means. I applaud this new “push marketing” strategy. It should have been started years ago, but it’s not too late. Harley-Davidson (picture Cyril Huze).

BMW engineers had to conceive the smallest ever six-cylinder and as far as I understand it was done by a combination of a square bore with a longer stroke ratio and reducing the gaps between cylinders, making the engine only slightly bigger than the big 4-cylinders. The bike uses an alloy frame with Duo-Lever and Para-Lever suspensions and six-piston Brembo brakes. Back to the lines, the Concept 6 is beautifully UN-BMW motorcycle by the finesse of its bodywork and mechanical details. Just look at the handlebars and instrument cluster conceived to give you almost as much information as the most recent BMW cars would give you, even on a tap what is your torque at any given moment! Now the question is will BMW Motorrad mass produce such a sexy bike. Cafe Racers need a filiation. BMW Motorrad.

So, follow the deadlines you must meet to show your custom work . Pomona, CA January 9-10, Sacramento, CA January 16-17, Charlotte, NC January 23-24 (a very big one),  Knoxville, TN February 6, Columbus, OH (Invitational where the top winner for the year will be crowned) February 12, 13, 14. More info/registration by calling 800-962-9857.

When they arrive at your doorstep they’re ready to bolt on with hubs, bearings, and rotors completely installed and ready go.  The package includes a 21 x 3.5” front wheel, two matching Front Rotors with Billet Centers, and an 18 x 4.25” Rear Wheel for all models up to 2008, or an 18 x 5.5” Rear Wheel for 2009 and later Models. ABS brakes are no problem as Pro-One provides the proper hub and bearing applications for ABS bikes. The front tire will be a 120/70-21 Avon, while the rear tire will be either a 150/70-18 or 180/55-18 depending on your application.  Packages for Softails and other popular models are also available at factory-direct savings.  Choose between chrome, black with machined accents or totally blacked out.  For more information, give them a call toll-free at 800-884-4173. Or visit Pro-One.

They will start at Fort Lauderdale Harley-Davidson by a Bikers Bash benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County. One of the highlight of this year’s Biker Bash VIP event includes a drawing for a FXDWG Dyna Wide Glide donated by Bruce Rossmeyer Harley Davidson. Tickets are $20/piece or 6 for $100 with all proceeds to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County. On Friday evening, December 4 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino there will be a VIP event culminating at the South Florida President’s Council 22nd Annual Christmas Toys in the Sun Run. There will be a police-escorted ride from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino to the Admirals club Marine Academy and then along beautiful A1A to the Quarterdeck Restaurant on Las Olas. The kick-off party at the Quarterdeck will include lunch, cocktails and VIP motorcycle parking. Attendees will also have the chance to see a number of great bikes from an impressive line-up of builders. Industry giants Paul Yaffe, Eddie Trotta with Lorenzo Lamas, Rick Fairless, and Athena Ransom will have motorcycles on display at the Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse as the last stop for 2009. Also featured will be the last bike that the late Jerry Graves built before his death. Entertainment will be provided by the Purrfect Angelz and Jake and Elwood Blues Revue- the #1 Blues Brothers act in the world and the only Blues Brothers act sanctioned by the Belushi estate and Dan Aykroyd

The weekend will culminate early Sunday morning the 6th of December with the world’s longest motorcycle parade, all proceeds going to benefit the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation. Riders will meet at the Aero Toy Store for a continental breakfast then line up for a Bikers Bash police-escort to the Pompano Race Track in Pompano Beach where tens of thousands of riders will gather for the parade ending at Markham Park in Sunrise, Florida. The event cost is $10 and one unwrapped toy per person. Those arriving at Markham Park without a toy will be charged an additional $10 entry fee. However, riders will be able to purchase toys at Markham Park before entering the event. No preregistration is required unless you wish to be a VIP rider.  A VIP catered tent will provide home-base for Bikers Bash participants to park and enjoy the catered lunch, concert, vendors, bike show and much more. Info on the ride at . Info on the Bash at Biker Bash and on the run at Toys In The Sun Run

The company is putting for sale its trademark of American IronHorse, of model names (like  Slammer, Legend, Texas Chopper, Tejas and Outlaw), patents, Internet addresses, parts designs(?), customers data, etc. Streambank, the company in charge of selling these American IronHorse intangible properties expects to close the process in January 2010 or before. A total of 15,000 motorcycles would have been sold by American Ironhorse. I am sure that their owners would like to see somebody interested by such a sale. But my opinion is that the brand image is so damaged that the intellectual property is no more an asset but a huge liability. Anyone crazy enough out there?

“On Sunday, November 15, 2009 ABC will air a segment featuring Indian Motorcycle on Good Morning America Weekend. The segment was filmed Monday November 9 and highlights a 2010 Indian Chief on a ride down North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Parkway to the legendary “Tail of the Dragon”, widely considered the best motorcycling road in the United States. Ride participants included Good Morning America’s Bill Weir, Indian Motorcycle General Manger Chris Bernauer and Motorcycle historian Dale Walksler, who rode a vintage 1944 Indian Chief”. Good Morning America Weekend airs at 8:00 AM in most viewing areas”. Indian Motorcycle. For highlights from Good Morning America Weekend, jump HERE.

It will happen at the Phoenix-Hall at Mainz in Germany where CCE will feature “Bolt On And Ride” new Harley-Davidson models customized with their catalog parts. Both March 27th and 28th are Dealer Days for registered authorized CCE dealers. Only Sunday 28th is general public day. Doors open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Phoenix-Hall is located in the northern part of Mainz, Autobahn (Motorway) A 643, Ausfahrt (Exit). The latest updated show-information is available at Custom Chrome Europe. AMD Bike Show competitors can register at AMD Championship or email to Neil “Showmaster” at neil@amdchampionship.com (pictures Horst Roesler)

The advertising theme of the F4 Superbike launch is “Can Perfection Be Improved Upon?”  Engine was redone with the radial-valve, inline-four engine producing 186 horsepower, 12-horse more than the the 2009 version. Body has been completely re-designed to improve performance by lowering weight by 22 pounds.Multiple Sport and Rain engine control maps, Marelli 7BM ECU controlling eight fuel injectors, , variable-length intake manifolds and traction control. Exhaust gases exit via four square under seat outlets. Suspension is a fully adjustable inverted 50mm Marzocchi up front and a remote reservoir rear shock from Sachs. Brembo monobloc calipers clamp down on dual 320mm front discs. more at MV Agusta. http://www.mvagustausa.com/