Tuesday December 22, 2009
Okay, so let's say you like motorcycles. A lot. It could even be said that you love 'em with a passion. But imagine being so infatuated with bikes that you steal them, ride them, then sell their parts and live off the income, only to feed the circle of theft. Oh, and you happen to be a 24 year-old female.
As reported by The Times of India, Harsha Patel "always keeps her hair short and never rides pillion," indulging in said crime habits thanks in part to duplicate keys which help her make off with the motorcycles. The story indicates her "fascination" with bikes fueled her transgressions, and that she'd already been caught twice before.
Stranger than fiction, eh?
Source: The Times of India
Photo © Angelo Cavalli / Getty Images
Monday December 21, 2009
One of the things I love about this blog are reader comments. And as we approach the end of the decade, I think of 2009 as a year when your opinions were louder and sharper than ever... and I mean that in a good way.
With that in mind, I've compiled a list of the Ten Most Controversial Motorcycles of 2009*.
Check it out, and let me know (politely) if you think there's anything I missed by leaving a comment here, or by using this handy form.
Related:
* A note from Harley-Davidson validly pointed out that the CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide is in its fifth iteration, and continually sells through its allotment. I rarely change article content once it has posted, but after some reflection I swapped out the CVO with the Harley V-Rod, since both bikes were the target of controversy but the V-Rod was arguably less popular.
Photo montage © Basem Wasef
Friday December 18, 2009
Call it the ride that never happened: the sequel to 2007's John Travolta/Tim Allen/Martin Lawrence/William H. Macy surprise hit
Wild Hogs has been scrapped.
The sequel was to feature the same actors, incorporating a plotline in which the guys take Dudley (Macy's character) out for one last ride before he marries Maggie (played by Marisa Tomei.) According to Daily Variety, "... the understanding in the community is that getting a production start on a Mouse House film will be a huge challenge if it doesn't squarely fit the Disney family branded model."
Last year I asked if you would watch a theoretical Wild Hogs 2, and 78 percent of you said, "Absolutely!" How about now?
Source: Bikes in the Fast Lane, Daily Variety
Related:
Photo montage © Basem Wasef
Thursday December 17, 2009
Motorcycle manufacturers are trying harder than ever to please customers according to J.D. Powers, and the result is higher quality bikes and happier owners. "The result of this increased competition is that the quality and performance of bikes is at an all-time high," Powers' Todd Markusic explains, "and dealers are paying much more attention to their customers' sales and service experiences."
The survey reports that average problems per 100 vehicles is down 26 to 126, and each of the study's five criteria-- product, quality, cost of ownership, sales, and service-- have improved, with sales and service showing the biggest improvements.
The study is in its twelfth year, and fielded responses from nearly 8,000 owners between August and October 2009, focusing on 2009 model year bikes.
Source: J.D. Power and Associates
Related:
Photo © Getty Images News
