J.D. Power: Motorcycle Buyers are Happier Than Ever
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
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Photo © Getty Images News
Honda Hits India with $900, 164 MPG CB Twister; U.S. Market is Spared
We got jealous when Harley's XR1200 was a Europe-only offering, and gawked when Honda's DN-01 wasn't available in the U.S. But now that both bikes can be bought stateside, they don't ooze desirability in quite the same way, do they?
That said, try not to get excited by the new Honda Twister, a sharply styled, 238 lb thumper equipped with a 110cc powerplant that yields 164 miles per gallon. A four-speed manual gearbox drives scooter-like levels of power (9 hp, to be exact) to the rear wheel, and this Lilliputian locomotion device will sell in India-- the market VW is so desperate to penetrate-- for the U.S. equivalent of $900.
A little perspective: if you doubled its price, the CB Twister would still run $2,500 less than a 2010 Kawasaki Ninja 250R. Wow. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that Honda expects to sell 220,000 of these bikes every year-- yep, nearly a quarter million units.
But don't pine for the CB Twister, since it will probably never make it to our shores. Besides, if it did, your fascination would probably fade, wouldn't it?
Source: Honda
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Photos © Honda; Click to enlarge
Yamaha Wishes a Kitschy Christmas
Bike sales are down and some brands are even dead in the water, but I thought you might appreciate how Yamaha maintains their sense of humor this holiday season.
The folks who decked out Vale in Santa garb for last year's industry Christmas card went maximum kitsch for '09, photoshopping champs Ben Spies, Valentino Rossi, and James "Bubba" Stewart into cuddly Grandma sweaters against a snowy background-- heck, they even put a furry cat into Rossi's arms.
Thankfully, Yamaha slipped a disclaimer* onto the back of the card. Whew!
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* Professional world champions with questionable fashion sense shown on closed set. Dress properly for your family portrait with bright colors, holiday cheer and tasteful graphics. Never drink eggnog and dress for your portrait - it is dangerous and illegal in 32 states. Yamaha and the fashion police encourage you to choose your wardrobe carefully and respect the studio environment and basic laws of style.
Card © Yamaha; Click to enlarge
2010 Aprilia RSV4 Factory Photo Gallery: Details, Details, Details
Bored by the current crop of literbikes cut from the typical CBR/Gixxer/R1 mold?
If so, behold the 2010 Aprilia RSV4 Factory, which-- in typical Italian form (think, Ducati)-- wears unusual details like small winglets, a strangely shaped exhaust can, and a sharp looking nose clad with air intakes. Oh, and there's that 182.5 horsepower V4 powerplant, too...
See more in this 2010 Aprilia RSV4 Factory Photo Gallery, and hold tight for a review!
Related:
- 2009 Aprilia Mana 850 Automatic Transmission Motorcycle Review
- 2008 Aprilia SportCity 250 Scooter Review
- 2008 Aprilia RXV 5.5 Street Legal Dirtbike Review
- Aprilia Continues Transformers 2 Marketing Blitz with Megan Fox, RS125, and Some Dude
Photo © Basem Wasef; Click for gallery
Legendary Race Cars is Out!
Two years ago I told you about my first coffee table book, Legendary Motorcycles, and I'm thrilled to let you know about my follow-up: Legendary Race Cars. Yep, from time to time I'm rather enthusiastic about four-wheelers-- especially when they're fast and fierce.
Legendary Race Cars tells the stories behind a few of the most notable race cars in history, including the Ford GT40s that beat Ferrari, Richard Petty's Plymouth SuperBird, and the Porsche 917 that dominated at Le Mans. I was honored to have Sir Stirling Moss write the foreword.
I discuss both books in this clip on Jay Leno's Garage, and they're available at the usual outlets like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Borders. Click here to compare prices for Legendary Motorcycles, and click here for Legendary Race Cars.
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Photos © Basem Wasef; Click for gallery
Volkswagen Buys One Fifth of Suzuki for $2.5 Billion... What's Next?
After repeatedly expressing a burning desire to purchase a bike company-- preferably a "small, valuable motorcycle manufacturer," VW head Ferdinand Piech has now gone for the gold, announcing a $2.5 billion, one fifth stake in Suzuki.
Piech is a self-professed bike junky, once stating that "I myself drive a Ducati. 180 horses and more power per kilogram weight than a 1,001-hp Bugatti." But it seems the Suzuki transaction would hit two birds with one stone: it would help Piech edge Volkswagen towards the goal of becoming the world's number one carmaker-- especially with the aided penetration of crucial emerging markets like India-- while satisfying his craving to control a motorcycle manufacturer.
What will happen to the Suzuki motorcycle lineup, which includes icons like the Hayabusa and the GSX-R lineup? Presumably not much-- at least initially-- since motorcycles constitute only 16.9% of Suzuki's net sales. But the repercussions of the German/Japanese union is intriguing, to say the least... thoughts?
Source: Reuters
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Photo © Basem Wasef; Click for 2008 Suzuki Buyer's Guide
Cycle World 2009/2010 International Motorcycle Show Photo Gallery: Something Old, Something New...
The Cycle World International Motorcycle Show is a fairly telling indicator for the state of the bike business, and this year's event presents a curious double-edged sword: on one hand, the show is notably smaller than last year's, or the year before that. There are 9% fewer exhibitors this time (according to the LA Times), and no official representation from KTM, Kymco, or the Aprilia/Vespa/Moto Guzzi/Piaggio conglomerate.
But on the flip side, this year's display bikes reveal none of the malaise that has hit the market; just look at the wild-as-ever customs or ambitious production machines like the Honda VFR1200F, Ducati Multistrada 1200, and Yamaha YZF450F. The Times also reports that attendance for the first two shows was only down 3.5% this year, and that visitors are spending 20% more time there... which is consistent with my opinion that bike enthusiasts don't grow any less enthusiastic when the economy's in the crapper.
View this 2009/2010 Cycle World International Motorcycle Show Photo Gallery for future dates and highlights from the Long Beach show, and comment if you plan to check out the event this time around.
Related:
- Photo Gallery: 2008 Cycle World International Motorcycle Show
- Motorcycle Dim Sum: Sample a Kymco at Cycle World Shows
- Perusing the Wide World of Bikes at the 2007 Cycle World International Motorcycle Show
- Cycle World International Motorcycle Show Part 2: Exploring the Unorthodox
Photos © Basem Wasef; Click for gallery
Aerostich Offers Ultimate Banana Protection
GPS? Check. Saddlebags? Check. Banana Guard.... huh?
Aerostich are purveyors of fine touring accoutrement and equally fine April Fool's pranks-- remember their Remote Control Zipper Sliders, Krilion 2 glow-in-the-dark spray, and "Radical Cruiser" clothing line with "Insect deflecting carbon fiber conchos"?
This time, though, their "Banana Guard" adds a touch of the surreal to everyday motorcycling... at least I think it does, since I managed to add it to my shopping cart, but didn't have the nerve to actually try buying it. If it is indeed real, however, is there anything else a potassium-deprived touring fanatic could want for the holidays?
Source: MissAdventuring's Twitter Feed, Aerostich
Image © Aerostich; Click to enlarge
First-Ever Harley-Davidson Back Flip Performed by Kain Saul, (Another) Crazy Australian
Evel Knievel did some pretty amazing things on Harley-Davidson motorcycles, but daredevil Kain Saul recently pulled off a first-ever stunt of his own: on November 27, the Australian performed what "...is believed to be the first ever successful backflip for any fullsize street motorcycle (non-motocross or dirt bike)," according to a Harley-sourced press release.
The 40 foot backflip jump-- caught here on YouTube-- involved an XR1200 with modified suspension which weighs 257 kg (567 lbs.-- roughly 2.5 times more than his Yamaha YZ250F freestyle motocross bike.) On the flip side (pun intended), American Chuck Carothers came up a day late (literally) and a dollar short (figuratively) when he attempted to backflip an XR1200 at the FMX Gladiator Games in Prague, falling off the bike during landing, as seen here.
Incidentally, Robbie Maddison-- noted for his no-hands London Tower back flip and record-setting 322 foot, 7 1/2 inch jump-- also happens to hail from Australia, begging the question: why are these Australians so gosh darn crazy?
Related:
- Red Bull's Robbie Maddison Jumps London's Tower Bridge-- With a No-Handed Backflip!
- A New World Record for a New Year: 322 feet, 7 1/2 inches
- Like Evel Like Son: Robbie Knievel Breaks Dad's Record
- 2009 Harley-Davidson XR1200 Review
- 2009 Harley-Davidson XR1200 Photo Gallery
Image © YouTube; Click to enlarge
KYMCO People S Rental Scooter Review: How to Cover Capri on 40 Euros per Half Day
Two years ago, I resolved to test ride a KYMCO scooter at a Cycle World Motorcycle Show, and later got slapped with a hailstorm of comments regarding what some perceived to be a pre-judgmental tone in reference to the Taiwanese-built bikes.
Fast forward to late 2009, and my butt still hadn't made it onto a KYMCO machine... but lo and behold, while perusing a scooter rental shack in Capri, Italy, I found myself faced with a fleet of KYMCO People S scooters.
How did a pre-abused scooter specimen fare in my critical hands? Read my impressions in this KYMCO People S Scooter Review, and see pics in this Photo Gallery.
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Screen grab © A. Wyckoff; Click for review