Blog.GuidoEbert.com

Aprilia RSV4 Accumulates Accolades

2010-03-13T02:48:00Z

The Aprilia RSV4, available in "R" and “Factory” versions, has already been elected as the Best Sportbike of 2010 by motorcycle magazines in 12 countries: Motorrad (Germany), Motorcycling (Spain), Journal Motion (France), Motoplus (Holland), Töff (Switzerland), Motorevija (Croatia), Motor Revü (Hungary), Motocykl (Czech Republic), Motocykl (Poland), Univers Motion (Romania), Motorcycling (Brazil) and In Motion (Italy).

RSV4 R, $15,999 RSV4 Factory, $20,999

BMW’s S 1000 RR Video Makes History

2010-03-13T00:57:00Z

BMW says its S 1000 RR Dinner Table video - then one I posted a link to on Monday - has become the company's most successful clip ever featured on YouTube. It has attracted more than 1,492,000 viewers.

Earlier this month the video was awarded in the “Web and Mobile” category at the Spotlight International Advertising Film Festival in Mannheim, Germany.

Planning to Use Powerlet for My Rides

2010-03-13T00:37:00Z

I’m planning multiple 1,000-plus-mile two-wheeler trips during the next few months. Preparation has begun, and I’ve found that I need an easy-to-mount power source for the electronics that now are so much a part of our lives.

One solution: using Powerlet’s line-up of power outlets, cables and electrical devices that are engineered to work together and offer simple plug & play operation.

Powerlet products allow powersports enthusiasts to enjoy any modern electronic device – cell phones, GPS, MP3 players, radar detectors and the latest generation of iPhone/iTouch – while using their motorcycle, scooter, snowmobile, ATV, utility vehicle or personal watercraft.

Among the products I’m looking at:

Basic LuggageElectrix Tankbag & Saddlebag Power Kit (PTB-004, MSRP: $59.95), ideal for powering my cell phone or laptop. The connector can be installed into tankbags, top cases (tourpacks) or saddlebags, with power coming from a SAE battery lead, a Powerlet outlet or from a battery charger SAE lead.

12V Powerlet SocketKit - 48" Harness (PKT-042-48, MSRP $42.95), designed for reaching from my bike’s under-the-seat battery to a front panel where a plug could serve as a power source for heated clothing, my GPS unit or radar detector.

Radar Detector or GPSPowerMount (MSRP: $59.95-$99.95), which uses either RAM or Techmount components to mount and power an Escort, Valentine One or Bell RX65 radar detector, or a variety of Garmin GPS units.

Founded in 2001, Powerlet now is a subsidiary of Coliant Corporation of Warren, Mich.

"Our product line was inspired by personal experience and the realization that there were no worthwhile options for clean, reliable on-board power for cell phones, stereos and GPS devices," says Powerlet founder Adam Bonislawaski. "Before we came on to the scene, riders would bust out the black tape and wire strippers and cut into their bike's fragile wiring to tie-in a cheap cigar lighter to power their devices. With Powerlet, those days are a thing of the past."

Learn more about Powerlet products HERE.

ANSI Approves Standard for SxS Vehicles

2010-03-12T18:25:00Z

The Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA) says it obtained approval by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for the first standard in the world for recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs), also known as UTVs and side-by-sides, on March 5, 2010, setting an initial benchmark for vehicle design, configuration and performance.

The ROHVA, a not-for-profit association sponsored by Arctic Cat, BRP, Polaris and Yamaha, says it worked for 26 months to develop the ANSI standard, "analyzing and debating the complex issues and competing objectives associated with this unique class of vehicles."

One thing the ROHVA didn’t include in the press release announcing ANSI’s acceptance of the standard: the standard itself.

Read my previous post about the subject HERE.

The 2011 Rhino 700 FI Auto 4x4 Sport Edition is an example of a ROV.

Clean Snowmobile Challenge Begins March 15

2010-03-12T16:36:00Z

The SAE International Clean Snowmobile Challenge (CSC) starts March 15 at Michigan Technological University’s Keweenaw Research Center in Calumet, Mich.

The CSC is an engineering design competition that challenges engineering students to reengineer existing snowmobiles to reduce emissions and noise. Split into two categories – Internal Combustion (IC) Engines and Zero Emissions – the modified snowmobiles will compete in a variety of events including emissions, noise, fuel economy/endurance, acceleration, handling, static display, cold start and design.

Organizers say the intent of the IC competition is to develop a snowmobile that is acceptable for use in environmentally sensitive areas such as our National Parks or other pristine areas. The modified snowmobiles are expected to be cost-effective, quiet, and emit significantly less unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide than current production snowmobiles, without significantly increasing oxides of nitrogen emissions. Minimum performance expectations are that the IC sleds go 100 miles without refueling and can attain a trail speed of 45 miles per hour on a smooth trail. Additionally, they should be able to traverse 500 feet in 12 seconds or less.

Snowmobiles in the Zero Emissions category must be zero-emissions by default. Therefore, no test or points will be given for emissions. Instead, range and draw bar performance will be measured. Innovation will also be judged in this category.

Fourteen teams are registered to participate in the internal combustion portion of the event; five are set to test their skills at zero emissions.

The University of Wisconsin at Madison took first place in both the IC category and the Zero Emissions category at the 2009 SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge.

Photo: KRC/MTU

Brainerd Intl. Raceway to Offer ‘All Bike Weekend’

2010-03-12T04:17:00Z

Fans of motorcycle competition in the Midwest should mark their calendars now to set aside July 16-18 for Brainerd International Raceway’s All Bike Weekend – an event featuring motorcycle drag racing as well as motorcycle road racing courtesy of the Central Roadracing Association (CRA).

One ticket gets you into both events. You can choose to spend your time at one event or go back and forth between the two tracks. As always, camping also will be available.

Click HERE for more information about BIR.

Vintage Cycle Auction Coming to the Twin Cities

2010-03-12T04:12:00Z

MidAmerica Auctions plans to hold its next vintage motorcycle auction May 7-8 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Minn.

MidAmerica conducts auctions in cities across the United States. Other upcoming auctions are scheduled for June12 at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, N.Y.;  and August 13-14 at Pebble Beach RetroAuto in Calif.

Visit the company’s website for further information.

MIC Election Results for 2010 Board of Directors and Officers

2010-03-11T17:55:00Z

The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) today announced election results for the 2010 MIC Board of Directors. In one of the closest MIC elections ever, and up against Parts Unlimited's Greg Blackwell, Tucker Rocky's Steve Johnson and long-time industry scribe Robin Hartfiel, Eric Anderson, president of VROOM Network, LLC, was re-elected to an aftermarket/allied trades director seat.

Earlier in the election process, Larry Little, senior VP, chief brand officer of Cycle World, representing aftermarket/allied trades members, and Mark Blackwell, VP-Motorcycles of Polaris Industries, representing motorcycle manufacturer /distributor members, were also re-elected to the board.

MIC membership voted by mail and electronic ballot and the results were tabulated by Hall & Jones, CPA.

The remaining three previously elected directors will serve the second year of their two-year term that expires in February 2011: Don Emde, owner/president, Don Emde Productions, Inc.; Frank Esposito, president, Kendon Industries, Inc.; and Sarah Schilke, director of marketing services, Moto Niche Marketing International.

These board members join the six directors appointed by the motorcycle manufacturer/distributor members who pay market share dues: Ray Blank, senior VP, Motorcycle Division, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.; Steve Bortolamedi, senior communications manager, American Suzuki Motor Corp.; Jon-Erik Burleson, president, KTM North America, Inc.; Roger Hagie, director, Public Affairs, Kawasaki Motors Corp., USA; Paolo Timoni, president and CEO, Piaggio Group Americas, Inc.; and Mike Schmitt, division manager, Yamaha Motor Corp., USA.

In February 2010, at the MIC's members-only annual meeting held in conjunction with the Dealer Expo in Indianapolis, the MIC board of directors re-elected the current officers to serve for 2010: Larry Little, chairman; Roger Hagie, vice chairman; and Eric Anderson, secretary/treasurer. Tim Buche was elected president and CEO. Buche has served as MIC president since 1996.

Fox Shox Plans Rebound in 2010

2010-03-11T16:50:00Z

Suspension specialist Fox Factory Holding Corp. (Fox Racing Shox) had sales of $121.5 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009, down 7.7 percent compared to sales in 2008. However, the company ended the year with a 62 percent increase in back orders, an indication that sales are to rebound in 2010.

Based in Watsonville, Calif., Fox sells its suspension components to more than 200 OEM companies doing business with motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, mountain bikes, off-road cars and trucks and military applications.

Colorado-based Compass Holding Group acquired a controlling interest in Fox in January 2008 for $80.4 million and currently owns 75.5 percent of the company. Compass’ other companies make printed circuit boards, furniture, medical devices and provide staffing services.

Compass says Fox ended 2009 with approximately $24.1 million in firm backlog orders, up 62 percent from $14.9 million at the end of 2008.

Fox Racing Shox was founded by Bob Fox in the mid 1970s. He and his brother Geoff were inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in December 2009. Geoff Fox launched the popular Fox Racing apparel company (now operating as Fox Head, Inc.).

“Thirty-five years ago I was just a guy who loved engineering and loved motocross – and was lucky enough to find a way to combine them into a career and a business,” Bob Fox said during the AMA Hall of Fame induction ceremony. “I was just doing what I loved.”

Freddie Spencer’s World Championship Bikes 4 Sale

2010-03-11T15:58:00Z

Unbelievable - Freddie Spencer’s 1983 Honda NS500 World Championship bike and 1985 Honda NSR250 World Championship bike are for sale.

Spencer won the 1983 500cc World Championship aboard the NS500 and won the 1985 250cc World Championship aboard the NSR250.

Although located in the U.S., the bikes are being sold by exotic motorcycle outlet RMD Motors in Tsukuba City, Japan. Both bikes were built by Honda Racing Corp. (HRC). There are duplicates of each model, but both are housed in the Honda Museum in Japan.

Spencer rode this particular NS500 at Monza, Anderstop and Imola. As for the NSR250: “This is the actual bike I wrapped up the 250 championship with a fourth place finish at Silverstone,” Spencer says. “Four out of my seven wins were on this bike that legendary ’85 season.”

The bikes are to be sold as a pair only. Learn more HERE.

BMW Experiences Sales Increase

2010-03-10T15:09:00Z

BMW delivered 5,485 motorcycles worldwide in February, up 24.6 percent compared to deliveries of 4,401 units in Feb. 2009.

The OEM delivered 9,299 motorcycles during the first two months of the year, up 14.4 percent compared to 8,132 units during the same two-month period last year.

BMW says the revised R 1200 GS, R 1200 GS Adventure and R1200 RT, as well as the S 1000 RR, contributed to the growth.

U.K. Trumps U.S. in Cycle Safety Advertising

2010-03-09T20:31:00Z

Hey, Motorcycle Industry Council – representative of major motorcycle manufacturers in the U.S. – what about offering TV ad time like THIS?

Yamaha Builds 9 Million Outboard Motors

2010-03-09T15:16:00Z

Yamaha’s cumulative production of outboard boat motors has reached the 9 million-unit mark.

Yamaha outboard motors are manufactured at two factories in Japan and at MBK Industrie in France.

The OEM’s outboard motor production began in 1960 with its first outboard model, the P7 (7 hp), and total production reached the milestone of 5 million units in March 1996. Total production reached 8 million units in October 2006. The next million units of production to reach the 9 million mark were achieved in the three years and four months since.

Outboard motors make up more than 90 percent of the marine engines manufactured by Yamaha.  The company’s 4-stroke lineup ranges from 2 to 350 hp and its 2-strokes range from 2 to 300 hp.

Honda to Open Second Cycle Plant in India

2010-03-09T14:45:00Z

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (Pvt.) Ltd. (HMSI), Honda’s motorcycle production and sales subsidiary in India, plans to build a second motorcycle production plant in India to meet increasing demand in the country’s rapidly growing motorcycle market.

The new facility is scheduled to become operational in the latter half of 2011 with annual production capacity of 600,000 units. Further, HMSI is expanding annual production capacity of its existing plant from the current 1.25 million units to 1.55 million units, with a further expansion to 1.6 million units already scheduled for next year. As a result, HMSI’s total annual production capacity will be 2.2 million units when the second plant becomes operational.

India represents the world’s second largest motorcycle market behind only China, and industry-wide motorcycle sales in India for 2009 reached 8.78 million units, up 19 percent compared to 2008. The 100-110cc market segment accounts for approximately 50 percent of the total motorcycle market.

Founded in 1999, HMSI operates through 725 dealerships.

ATVs 'Still Growing' in Deutschland

2010-03-08T23:54:00Z

Earlier today I posted a piece about Germany’s two-wheeler industry seeking the assistance of lawmakers. Evidently, judging by a response from Immo Dubies of Germany’s ATV&Quad magazine, the same isn’t true for the all-terrain vehicle sector.

“ATVs are a very tiny niche and a very young one as well,” Dubies says. “Sales (in 2009) decreased less than 10 percent – most of this concerned Chinese producers who have increasing problems: They are not any longer able to offer their cheap prices so they're losing market share.

“Sales of premium brands were stable. One reason for this: The market is (so) young that the demand is still growing – especially in terms of utility applications. So I don’t worry about our niche.”

Listening Arctic Cat, BRP, Honda, Kawasaki, KYMCO, Polaris, Suzuki and Yamaha?

Most ATVs are street-legal in Germany. Dealers often display one or two modified units on the showfloor. Modifications tend to include suspensions that are lower and stiffer than stock, as well as large alloy wheels wrapped with low-profile tires.

Langston Fans Not to Worry

2010-03-08T23:10:00Z

As most of us who were watching saw: Grant Langston suffered a serious crash aboard his J-Law Racing Yamaha YZ450F in Daytona on Saturday night that left him unconscious for two to three minutes and unable to move his legs.

Today, Grant’s sister Whitney says he is OK, but has not been cleared to race next Saturday night in Toronto.

“He has also suffered a bruised rib cage and a contusion to his right lung, causing him to cough up blood,” Whitney wrote in a note to Facebook fans. “We also think that the hard impact to his back, that caused the contusion to his lung, is the reason he was unable to move his legs at first. This is why the officials red flagged the race, he was lying on the blind landing in a high speed section and unable to move. Grant's knee is also extremely swollen. He will be going in to visit his doctor this week to see if surgery is necessary. In general, Grant is very banged-up, bruised and swollen; but our initial scare from him not moving his legs after the crash are fortunately relieved.

“On behalf of Grant and the rest of our family, we would like to thank everyone for their prayers and concerns. All the calls, texts and Facebook messages really showed Grant how truly loved he is by friends and fans alike.”

Best wishes to Langston for a speedy recovery.

Click HERE to visit Langston’s dealership website. Click HERE to watch Langston’s crash.

BMW, Yamaha Featured Videos on YouTube

2010-03-08T22:00:00Z

A couple of videos featured today on YouTube:

BMW S1000RR Clears the Table … Watch Here.

Eddie Lawson & Ben Spies Talk … Watch Here.

Germany’s Cycle Industry Seeks Political Support

2010-03-08T21:10:00Z

We here in the U.S. may think that motorized two-wheelers are more widely accepted in Europe than stateside. That’s not necessarily true, according to recent remarks made by a representative of Germany’s motorcycle industry trade association – an organization that has stepped up its lobbying efforts for a political atmosphere that supports and promotes mobility on two wheels.

As I previously reported, two-wheeler sales in Germany last year totaled 137,045 units, down 17.58 percent compared to 166,282 units in 2008.

“When red ink prevails in terms of turnover, the consequences are requirements for both political decision makers and the industry to create conditions and perspectives that stimulate a strengthening of the market,” says Reiner Brendicke, general executive manager of Germany’s motorcycle industry association, the Industrie-Verband Motorrad Deutschland (IVM).

While Germany’s auto industry received billions of Euro in support from the government in 2009, the two-wheeler industry did not.

“The IVM and its members did not call for taxpayer-funded subventions, although there were existence-threatening declines in the motorcycle industry as well, not least in business and trade,” Brendicke says. “However, as a representative of the enterprises – in most cases medium-sized businesses – and of more than 30,000 employees in the motorcycle trade in Germany, we ask for a political setting that does not (only) allow but in fact supports and promotes mobility on two wheels.”

Like Motorcyclists, Bicyclists Realize Benefits of Belts

2010-03-08T19:25:00Z

Evidently, bicycle riders and manufacturers are beginning to realize what the motorcycle industry has known for years: drive belts offer a number of benefits over chains.

The LA Times today published a story about a bicyclist who took part in the 24 Hours of Adrenaline Solo World Championship using a belt-drive bike in the event’s single-speed division.

“With dedicated chain rings required to match the studded belt, this Carbon Drive System from Gates, a leading motor-vehicle belt supplier … offers a number of benefits over the 150-year-old chain,” the Times article notes. “It’s lighter; doesn’t use grease; requires no maintenance; won’t break, stretch, rust or fall of; and, best of all, it offers a pronounced improvement in ‘engagement’ – the millisecond it takes for the bike to react to your pedaling forces.”

Learn more about Gates’ Carbon Drive System HERE.

Oklahoma State University to Study Cycle Crashes

2010-03-08T15:38:00Z

The Federal Highway Administration plans to fund a study by Oklahoma State University's Oklahoma Transportation Center to pinpoint causes of the increasing fatality rate among motorcyclists and identify prospective interventions.

Motorcyclists are considered the highest risk motorist group, accounting for 14 percent of all fatal traffic incidents in 2008. The U.S. Department of Transportation Fatality Analysis Reporting System recorded 5,290 crash deaths 96,000 injuries among motorcyclists in '08, and outlines that the traffic fatality rate for motorcycle riders has steadily increased since 1997 while other motor vehicle-related deaths declined.

Researchers plan to study commonalities among motorcycle crashes, ranging from road configurations and environmental conditions to rider experience, in assessing the reasons for the high rate of fatalities among motorcyclists.

The upcoming study is to build on the knowledge attained in earlier studies, establishing which crash causes remain of concern and which interventions undertaken in response to earlier studies have proven effective, as well as identifying new contributors to the high incidence of motorcycle crashes.