Fast Motorcycle Industry News

Daytona Biketoberfest Organizers Would Like To Extend The Rally Beyond 4 Days. The convention and visitors bureau is trying to invigorate the entire off-season because they should be no “off-season” in the Daytona Beach area where weather is always great when compared to the northern states. Biketoberfest is a very important off-season boost to retailers. The 2-county area claims 600,000 visitors during Bike Week in March and 100,000 during Biketoberfest. Room to grow… But of course, a longer Biketoberfest is still a somewhat controversial proposal because not all region residents like the extra noise.

Sturgis City Manager Daniel Ainslie Says The City Made Nearly $400,000 Off Of This Year’s Rally. At Monday night’s council meeting, Ainslie provided the 2012 Rally summary. Ainslie says vendor, sponsor and advertising revenue were all up this year. Rental property was also significantly higher this year. The city rents out space at the community center, liquor store, auditorium and on Main Street. Regarding expenses, s,anitation saw the biggest increase — up 12-percent over the previous year. The amount of garbage that is hauled away is one factor the city uses to determine annual attendance at the rally. Ainslie says this year, the city calculated that 445,700 people came to the Sturgis City, up 7% percent versus year 2011.

Zero Motorcycles Expansion Of California Facility. Zero Motorcycles was awarded a $1,815,123 grant from the California Energy Commission to quadruple its manufacturing capacity in California. Zero has been successfully designing and building electric motorcycles in California since 2006. Zero’s recently introduced 2013 model line leveraged a previous successful California Energy Commission R&D grant program, driving the development of an advanced electric vehicle powertrain. This new electric powertrain, along with other key Zero Motorcycles innovations, delivers an average Zero Motorcycle power increase of 99 percent and the world’s longest-range production electric motorcycle on the market.

Indian motorcycle makers cut production as sales plummet. With motorcycle sales declining for the first time in three and a half years caused by surging interest rates and fuel prices, two-wheeler makers in India have slashed production sharply since August to prevent a build-up of inventory.

10 Responses to “Fast Motorcycle Industry News”


  1. 1 Henry Gallo Oct 17th, 2012 at 8:57 am

    Easy prediction. Biketoberfest will be 1 week long in the next 2 years.

  2. 2 Tobby Oct 17th, 2012 at 11:02 am

    It’s becoming a moot point, as bikers started arriving last weekend. Vendors are already setting up shop.

  3. 3 Shifter Oct 17th, 2012 at 11:09 am

    It’s not a week rally until vendors can set up shop for 1 week…and until hotels raise (double) their rates for the full 7 days 🙁

  4. 4 Drake Oct 17th, 2012 at 11:12 am

    Daytona Beach is an ugly city.

  5. 5 Tom Oct 17th, 2012 at 12:22 pm

    Until they have more going on and the restaurants add to their menu like it is during bike week count me out.

  6. 6 Harl Oct 17th, 2012 at 1:35 pm

    Both Daytona and Sturgis lie about attendance but which city is uglier is d dead heat!

  7. 7 Brandon Oct 17th, 2012 at 2:28 pm

    Due to a possible non-friendly crowd, Mitt Romney has been replaced by Pail Ryan at the Daytona Band Shell rally on Friday evening!

  8. 8 FlaNativ Oct 18th, 2012 at 10:04 am

    Biketoberfest has become one big commercial lovefest for Daytona and surrounding area, it’s not about the bikes or bikers it’s all about the money they can siphon from the wallets of those that attend.
    But then Bike Week, Sturgis and so many others are the same way.
    Stay home and ride after it’s all over, I started seeing the “enthusiasts” start arriving last week and believe me it’s not pretty,more like a fashion show on wheels. Nope I’m going to my regular haunt and hide until it’s all over.

  9. 9 Blackmax Oct 18th, 2012 at 5:04 pm

    FlaNativ is about right !!!
    As much as I luv events & rallies Daytona has ALWAYS been LAST on the list
    The only 2 good things are Willie’s Tropical and Robison’s open house.
    Other than that it’s just a money grab !!!
    Plenty of other worthwile rallies and runs that don;t treat you like just a wallet

  10. 10 lugnut Oct 23rd, 2012 at 8:30 pm

    For the record, Mitt and Paul were at the rally, and it was as friendly as it gets.

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Cyril Huze