My Turn: Motorcycles are about more than just renegades

Garrett Lee wrote:

YERY, VERY NICE!!! I choose not to ride due to the risks. That others enjoy themselves that much should be sinful. Being a virgin, I took pleasure reading of his fond memories with a twinge of jealous want. God's other toy...guns. I think I'm in the mood to go polish mine. Excuse me if I do.

Hello, the time will come,
when all brave men are needed.
And all our courageous women too.

The Time is Now!

To Garrett Lee and Arnie wrote:

<quoted text>
Hello, the time will come,
when all brave men are needed.
And all our courageous women too.

Do you think we can convince Bogert of that too?

Karg wrote:

The Time is Now!
<quoted text>

Brummie wrote:

Looking for the name of the used British Motorcycle store in San Pedro. Has a few BSA's and
rumored the original owners ashes are in one of the sealed gas tanks.
A link would be appreciated.

They are located on the corner of 17th street and Pacific ave. The name slips my mind too not sure of spelling but try Centuries? google it

Boxhead wrote:

<quoted text>
They are located on the corner of 17th street and Pacific ave. The name slips my mind too not sure of spelling but try Centuries? google it

Brummie already has the address, but here is an interesting story, look for Cindy on page 46.

Re: The Harbortown Bobber
http://www.quickthrottle.com/DigitalMagazines...

To Boxhead wrote:

<quoted text>
Brummie already has the address, but here is an interesting story, look for Cindy on page 46.
Re: The Harbortown Bobber
http://www.quickthrottle.com/DigitalMagazines...

Thanks the name was clearly shown "Century"

Do you remember the cycle shoe on North Gaffey I think the name was Hockies??? I heard they raced across the street in the 50's. There was a dude who had some kind of physical disorder, a twisted body about 5ft. tall, he rode his motor all over Pedro he was a hell of a rider.

Dang too much CHIT I meant cycle SHOP

And don't forget, Cindy is still very active.
But why be surpresed,
she's the daughter of "Wild Bill"!

Boxhead wrote:

<quoted text>
Thanks the name was clearly shown "Century"

Renegade biker concept is sooooooo yesterday. Today I went to my workplace for a few moments. I parked at the E.R. motorcycles only parking spot next to the E.R. tech's motorcycle. One of the doc's was walking by and stopped to admire my bike and new loud pipes, his bike is a Valkerie. At any one day there are 5-6 bikes lined up of employees who ride more often to work. I hoped to show theone of the physical therapy people my bike is she was there-usually she rides and I didn't see her bike. So I left. Went to town to shop for groceries. Stopped near the police dept in the evening, the off-duty police officer got on his aftermarket mufflered bagger and rode off to home. When the fire dept had a benefit for a member with an illness-they had a ride. The Fire dept was loaded with their own bikes. The non-riding people are living in the REALLY old days when a few motorcyclists went by un-noticed because they were too bust gawking and trembling at the motorcycle gang members acting up again.
When car, and especially sports car and 4WD trucks advertise-what do they emphasize? Freedom and rule breaking. expectation breaking-renegade behavior. That's THEIR allure. "Renegade" can be good, as in our Founding Fathers and Mothers, or they can be bad, like a criminal or "Rebel without a cause." As mtorcycles increase, and they are-people will get over it. They are losing the interest already as an unusual thing to be on the road-not many second looks.

"When car, and especially sports car and 4WD trucks advertise-what do they emphasize? Freedom and rule breaking" said our reader. It's "expectation breaking-renegade behavior. That's THEIR allure."

Sure, why not, it's sooo exciting.
And in contrast to other pastimes,
it's legal too.

No2Reichwing wrote:

Renegade biker concept is sooooooo yesterday. Today I went to my workplace for a few moments. I parked at the E.R. motorcycles only parking spot next to the E.R. tech's motorcycle. One of the doc's was walking by and stopped to admire my bike and new loud pipes, his bike is a Valkerie. At any one day there are 5-6 bikes lined up of employees who ride more often to work. I hoped to show theone of the physical therapy people my bike is she was there-usually she rides and I didn't see her bike. So I left. Went to town to shop for groceries. Stopped near the police dept in the evening, the off-duty police officer got on his aftermarket mufflered bagger and rode off to home. When the fire dept had a benefit for a member with an illness-they had a ride. The Fire dept was loaded with their own bikes. The non-riding people are living in the REALLY old days when a few motorcyclists went by un-noticed because they were too bust gawking and trembling at the motorcycle gang members acting up again.
When car, and especially sports car and 4WD trucks advertise-what do they emphasize? Freedom and rule breaking. expectation breaking-renegade behavior. That's THEIR allure. "Renegade" can be good, as in our Founding Fathers and Mothers, or they can be bad, like a criminal or "Rebel without a cause." As mtorcycles increase, and they are-people will get over it. They are losing the interest already as an unusual thing to be on the road-not many second looks.

This is a very poor article indeed. The first steam motorcycles were developed in France (1868). The first American motorcycle was the Orient Aster from 1900 made by the Waltham Manufacturing company. Charles H Metz of Waltham was the first to use the world motorcycle in advertising in 1898, before the motorcycle was delivered.
In 1902 Indian was the 2nd US brand followed the next year by the Thomas Auto-Bi (3rd) and Merkel (4th). Although they claim to have started to manufacture in 1903, Harley-Davidson's No1. motorcycle as shown is actually a 1905 model. HD had no machines sold prior to 1904.
Indian was the early world sales leader, but they were very quickly surpassed by BSA, largely due to War production. BSA lead the world for a short time until the German factories took over. Germany lead the world with over 35% of the market until the war started (WWII).
After the war the first Japanese maker to start up, was Honda (who had been making piston rings prior to the war).
Honda (out of 200 makers) became no. 1 in Japan in 1958 and the world in 1961 and has remained their since.
Throughout the 50s HD had tried to get the US government to put a tariff on the UK machines which had over 60% of the USA market. They were found guilty of illegal trade practices which hastened the death of Indian in 1953. HD is still sanctioned and has recently petitioned to have those sanctions removed.
Honda setup show in California in 1959 (not 1960)
In 1984 (not 1989) Honda introduced the V65 Sabre with it's Zero to 60 time of 2.1 seconds and top speed of about 154mph.
In 1969 AMF purchased HD and started to destroy it.
Honda had reached 10 Million in sales in 1968. They reached 100 Million in 1998. They topped 200 million in 2008. Honda sales are actual sales.

Harley Davidson has never been known as the Rolls Royce of motorcycles. That was the 1930s era Brough Superior SS100 (one of the first machines that could reach 100 mph).
Honda's 1969 CB750 was the first motorcycle to be called The Superbike.

Motorcycles are being looked at in a very negative manner due to their pollution, the behavior of those who ride them, and their ever rising death rates. Harley-Davidson is a maker which buys most of the parts for their machines in Europe and Japan and pretends that they are not doing so.
They have been recently the subject of a class action law suit by their stockholders for exaggerating their sales numbers.
The newest HD engine, was designed for them by Porsche (Germany and a division of Volkswagen) probably because air cooled engines cannot meet upcoming pollution regulations.
HD is a single product company that has been known to copy other designs, has been slow to modernize and has been the most successful in their history be producing machines that appeal mostly to construction workers over 50 years of age.

The biggest problem facing HD today, is that with far more stringent lending regulation much of their former clientele can no longer get financing. Another problem, is that the brands such as Triumph (the oldest remaining brand name), Ducati, and BMW are constantly showing dramatic increases in sales of highly profitable models, which HD finds they cannot be profitable unless they reduce their workforce by 75% and get tax concessions from the state as well as state and federal aid.

HD purchases most of the items used on their motorcycles from Europe and Japan. The Honda Goldwing was always made with a far higher percentage of USA made parts than HD since it was rescued from AMF.

To RenegadeNo2 wrote:

"When car, and especially sports car and 4WD trucks advertise-what do they emphasize? Freedom and rule breaking" said our reader. It's "expectation breaking-renegade behavior. That's THEIR allure."
Sure, why not, it's sooo exciting.
And in contrast to other pastimes,
it's legal too.
<quoted text>

Makes perfect sense to advertise freedom to people who don't have it.