The Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index (PSI) use a patent-pending mystery shoppers methodology to score sales success of dealers of major motorcycle brands. On different criteria regarding the sales process motorcycle dealer performance vary considerably, but overall they do a better job than in 2013 with 12 of 17 motorcycle brands achieving higher scores. Ducati […]
Archive for the 'Builders' Category
Satisfaction Index. US Dealers Doing A Better Job At Selling Motorcycles.
Published by May 7th, 2014 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Italy Biker Fest International. May 15-18, 2014
Published by May 7th, 2014 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.For my European readers. Biker Fest International is the largest open-air biker event for motorcycles in Italy and one of one the most famous in Europe. The event will be the 28th edition in the seaside resort of Lignano Sabbiadoro on the North Adriatic Sea (the city can sleep 250,000 people). The 2 most important […]
Keino Cycles Building Yamaha Inline-4 Concept Project
Published by May 5th, 2014 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Yamaha Motor Europe has teamed up with custom motorcycle builder Keinosuke “Keino” Sasaki for a unique project to create a concept motorcycle to showcase the Sports Heritage vision from Yamaha. The joint project will see Keino creating the concept bike using an inline-4 engine taken from the Yamaha XJR1300. The build is taking place right […]
Buffalo Chip 1st Annual Top Builder Online Competition
Published by May 4th, 2014 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.If you want to earn recognition and media exposure for your custom building job, get bragging rights as a top builder and win prizes like an invitation to Sturgis, cash and industry perks, the Buffalo Chip offers you a new opportunity you should consider. To get votes, just enter your bike with a good picture […]
Get Noticed With New Electra Glo LED Saddlebag Lights From Harley-Davidson
Published by May 2nd, 2014 in Builders, Editorial and Electrical.Motorcycle lights. You can go smaller for looks or bigger to command more attention from following vehicles. These new Electra Glo™ LED Saddlebag Run/Brake/Turn Lamp (Red or Smoke Lens, $209.95) are for 2014 Harley-Davidson® Touring motorcycles. They feature bright, fast-acting LED lamps that glow red when the ignition is on, and intensify when the turn […]
Motorcycle Of The Past. 1956 Maserati 160 T4 Type L
Published by May 2nd, 2014 in Builders and Editorial.Produced in small numbers between the years of 1953 and 1961. All Maserati motorcycles was as graceful and beautiful as the cars of the same heritage. Shot by Doug Mitchel
Dealer Registration Opens for 2014 American International Motorcycle Expo AIMExpo
Published by May 2nd, 2014 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Marketplace Events Motorcycle Group has announced that dealer registration for the 2014 American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) is now open through the event’s newly re-launched website. Dealer attendance at AIMExpo is free for qualifying trade professionals. To go directly to dealer registration, visit www.AIMExpoRegNow.com. Again this year, powersports retailers have exclusive opportunities to improve their […]
The Forgotten Harley-Davidson MX-250 Motocrosser
Published by May 1st, 2014 in Builders and Editorial.Even Harley-Davidson doesn’t talk very much about it. The history of the MX-250 is very confusing because it involves not only Harley – at that time under the control of AMF – but also Aermacci bought later by Cagiva. In 1975/1976, Harley-Davidson built a few MX-250 motocross prototypes (it seems less than 90) distributed via […]
Roland Sands Design New Products Video
Published by May 1st, 2014 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Harley Street Models Arriving At US Dealerships. Available For New Rider Training.
Published by April 30th, 2014 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Last November, when Harley-Davidson blew the covers off its two brand new Street 750 and Street 500 models, I mentioned that they would probably join the previously called Harley Riders Edge Course program, now named Harley’s Riding Academy New Rider Course. It’s happening right now, replacing the Buell Blast as the small and easy machine for […]
Brough Superior SS100 From George Brough Sold For $425,000 (£253,500)
Published by April 30th, 2014 in Builders, Editorial and Events.The star lot of the sale at the annual Bonhams Stafford Sale of Pioneer, Vintage, and Collectors’ Motorcycles & Memorabilia www.bonhams.com on April 27, 2014 was ex-George Brough Brough Superior SS100 sold for US$ 425,000 (£253,500). Estimate was US$ 235,000-302,000(£140,000-180,000) Registered in 1939, the motorcycle was campaigned by George Brough himself in the London-Edinburgh Trial […]
Harley-Davidson Recalls Some 2013-2014 Breakout Motorcycles
Published by April 30th, 2014 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Inc. (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Breakout and CVO Breakout motorcycles manufactured March 20, 2012, through March 10, 2014. 9102 models are affected. Suspension variances may affect the gas tank mounting angle causing the fuel level sensor to read inaccurately.
#BikerLive To Premiere May 12 On Discovery Channel
Published by April 29th, 2014 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Videos.In each US region, 3 motorcycle shops are given 5 weeks and a $15,000 budget to build a custom bike. Viewers have 1 hour to tweet their preferred one. One shop wins, per region, per week. A sneak peek at this newDiscovery TV Show to debut May 12, 10/9C.
Custom Yamaha XS650 By Thrive Motorcycles
Published by April 28th, 2014 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.You hear a lot about the major manufacturers setting foot in Asia, today’s most promising motorcycle market. But almost nothing about the local custom builders. And there quite a few working their magic in this part of the world. If the occidental media didn’t yet notice their work it’s because the vast majority of them […]
How Warren Buffett Helped Save Harley-Davidson
Published by April 26th, 2014 in Builders, Editorial and Events.I re-publish an interesting article by Elizabeth G. Olson, an editor at Fortune Magazine regarding the way Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway kept Harley-Davidson financing operation afloat 5 years ago. A business deal struck in 2008 between the two renowned Midwestern entities — Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA), in Omaha, and Harley-Davidson — infused $303 million into […]
Want To Legally Boost The Grunt Of Your Harley Dyna Low Rider?
Published by April 25th, 2014 in Builders, Customs and Exhaust.You can legally boost the grunt of your 2014 Dyna Low Rider with Screamin’ Eagle® Nightstick 2-into-1 Slip-On Muffler (P/N 64900243 Chrome, $299.95; P/N 64900242 Jet Black $329.95) from Harley-Davidson. Designed specifically to fit the new Low Rider model, the high-flow design of this tunable, diffusion-disc muffler produces plenty of low-end grunt for traffic-light take-offs […]
Exclusive. BIKERLIVE. A New Biker Build-Off Series Coming Soon On The Discovery Channel.
Published by April 24th, 2014 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.All those who loved (and are missing) the original biker build-off series should be happy to hear from me that the Discovery Channel will soon air new episodes of motorcycle build-off competitions. Named BIKERLIVE, the TV show got a slightly different format. During each episode, viewers will get a close-up look at the building of […]
Polaris Reports Record First Quarter 2014 Results. Motorcycle Sales Up 52%
Published by April 23rd, 2014 in Builders and Editorial.Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE:PII) this morning reported record first quarter net income of $80.9 million, or $1.19 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. By comparison, 2013 first quarter net income was $75.5 million, or $1.07 per diluted share. Net sales for the first quarter 2014 totaled $888.3 million, which represents an […]
Ride With A Cold One Ready In A New Harley-Davidson Saddlebag Cooler
Published by April 23rd, 2014 in Accessories, Builders, Customs and Editorial.There will always be a cold one ready at the end of the ride with the new Saddlebag Cooler (P/N 90200991, $69.95) from Harley-Davidson® Genuine Motor Parts and Accessories. Fully lined and insulated, this soft-side zippered cooler is shaped to drop right into the hard saddlebags of 1993-later model Harley-Davidson touring models. Beverages stay cold […]
Will You Rethink What You Thought About The Ural Sidecar?
Published by April 23rd, 2014 in Builders, Editorial and Events.I rode one Ural sidecar a couple of years ago. My impression was: loud, shaking more than quite a bit, requiring effort to activate the rear drum brakes, uncomfortable position and seating and getting scary when reaching 70 mph… Still, many liked it the way it was. Are they bikers passionate about military history or […]
Youngsters Prefer Under 1000 CC Retro Styled Custom Motorcycles
Published by April 21st, 2014 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Are urban motorcycles, factory or custom, with a number of cc’s under 1000 the new rage among youngsters, both male and female? Waiting for the Harley Street 750 to debut in the US before this second quarter of 2014 ends, many young builders around the world have no difficulty in finding clients going the bespoke […]
Bringing Back To Life Antique Motorcycles. The Keating Wheel Company.
Published by April 20th, 2014 in Builders, Editorial and Videos.Happy Easter Weekend To All Bikers
Published by April 19th, 2014 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.And if you are more interested by the bike than by the Bunny, know that this Bagger is part of the “Bolt-On And Ride” motorcycle series built with custom parts out of the catalog of Custom Chrome Europe. It was built by Harley Factory Frankfurt dealership. (yes, the front wheel is a reasonable size 26”) […]
Viking Concept V-Twin By Fisker Unveiled
Published by April 18th, 2014 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Yesterday, at the “Top Marques Brands” show in Monaco, a Danish custom motorcycle manufacturing company that I didn’t know and called Lauge Jensen, unveiled the Viking Concept bike featured here. It is a collaboration between industrialist Anders Kirk Johansen (whose family invented LEGO™) and designer Henrik Fisker who has been a chief designer both at […]
Parker Brothers Move Shop To Port Canaveral, Florida. Hope To Become A Tourists Attraction…
Published by April 17th, 2014 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.The Parker Brothers who specialize in movie and television cars and motorcycles are moving their operations from Melbourne, Florida to Port Canaveral, FL hoping their shop will become a new attraction to locals and cruise passengers. Local residents and tourists will be able to come into the shop to see a display of 10 to […]
