Women and Motorcycles
Women…
Motorcycles…
Rock n Roll…
Update on Greg and his 1978 Kawasaki KZ750
In late December I wrote about my friend Greg, and a his newly acquired 1978 Kawasaki KZ 750 (read here).
Here’s an update…
Greg brought the motorcycle back to the shop to evaluate it more closely. Would this bike be a candidate for a full restoration or a dependable everyday commuter? After giving the “old girl” a thorough inspection, the decision was made to go the daily commuter route. Once that issue had been settled Greg laid out his plan of attack.
- Order a manual.
- Break the bike down, clean and inspect.
- Rebuild the carbs.
- Rebuild the brakes.
- Upgrade the electrical system.
- Decided on paint scheme.
- and on and on…
Greg is making good progress as the Kawasaki has now been disassembled and is awaiting paint. Not long ago Greg’s wife, Teresa, stopped by the shop and asked where his bike was, Greg replied, while pointing in all directions; “Here, there, and everywhere!” They both had a good laugh about that. If you have ever tackled a job like this, you know exactly what he means.
Its exciting to see the progress this project is making and I for one, am looking forward to seeing the end result!
to be continued…
Lucky Ducks
Lucky Ducks! You never know what you will see when out on the bike. Check this out…
Gadgets and Gear: TourMaster Riding Boots
In this edition of “Gadgets and Gear” I review the TourMaster Response SC Riding Boots.
Women and Motorcycles
I recently ran across this poem entitled The Beauty of a Woman, and although I am uncertain of the author I think they got it right.
The beauty of a woman
Is not in the clothes she wears,
The figure that she carries,
Or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman
Must be seen from her eyes,
Because that is the doorway to her heart,
The place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman
Is not a facial mole,
But true beauty in a woman
Is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring she lovingly gives,
The Passion that she shows.
The beauty of a woman with passing years –
only grows and grows.
A Cold Winter Ride
By early afternoon I had completed my list of Sunday responsibilities and decided to take a ride. Although 8 to 12 ” of snow remains on the ground, the city streets and county roads were clear and dry, and since it has been ten days since my arse has had any saddle time I was anxious to get started.
As I geared up, first putting on my riding pants, then my jacket, I felt like Jeremy Renner’s character; Staff Sargent William James, in the movie the Hurt Locker. James, works as a member of the the Explosive Ordinance Disposal squad and needs the assistance of two other soldiers when putting on the heavy protective suit worn when removing bombs in war torn Baghdad. I can relate! It seems the closer we get to nice riding weather, the more cumbersome my gear becomes.
I headed to the garage and the RT roared with anticipation, much like my Malamute when he realizes its time for his walk. The sound of that old boxer engine coming to life put a huge smile across my face. I rolled down the driveway and at that moment, I was the happiest man alive!
Saying So Long to February
Welcome to the last day of February 2010! This February carried with it the second largest snowfall totals on record for the Miami Valley. Not the kind of record I would be bragging about. I much prefer a record for the most consecutive days of sunshine while drinking Margaritas, or something along those lines.
Well, the coffee has finished brewing and that “bang” I just heard was the snotty nosed newspaper boy denting in my front door with the Springfield News and Sun. Have a great Sunday!
BMW Motorrad USA Opens 8 New dealerships
BMW Motorrad USA has announced the opening of eight new dealerships within the past five months to better serve new and underserved markets.
“In 2010 and beyond we will continue to identify growth opportunities for the BMW brand in markets that do not currently have a BMW motorcycle dealership by partnering with new or existing motorcycle dealers in those areas,” Todd Andersen, the company’s marketing manager, states in a press release.
The newest BMW dealerships are
- Van-Wall Powersports in Perry, Iowa;
- BMW Motorcycles of Chattanooga in Chattanooga, Tenn.;
- Bergen County BMW Motorcycles in Rochelle Park, N.J.;
- Montgomeryville Cycle Center in Hatfield, Pa.;
- BMW Motorcycles Tulsa in Tulsa, Okla.;
- BMW Motorcycles of Spokane/Westside Motorsports in Spokane, Wash.;
- BMW Motorcycles of Utah in Sandy, Utah; and
- Kissell Motor Sports in State College, Pa.
“Our dedicated dealer network was the key to our success last year,” says Andersen, citing the fact that BMW Motorrad USA outperformed the industry for the second year in a row in 2009 despite an overall motorcycle industry decline of 41 percent. “Our dealers continued to serve our customers well thanks to new products like the K1300 GT, K 1300 S, and the new S 1000 RR superbike, as well as attractive financing programs from BMW Financial Services.”
BMW says it now has 143 active dealers. In comparison, in February 2008 it had 136; last year it had 139.
2009 Sales Performance
BMW Motorrad says that worldwide, 87,306 BMW motorcycles were delivered to customers in 2009, a year-over-year drop of 14.1 percent and in line with company expectations.
BMW says that while the world market for motorcycles above 500cc was still about 1.5 million units in 2007, it shrank to about 900,000 units in 2009. This corresponds to a market drop of around 40 percent in two years. In 2009 alone, the world market declined by more than 30 percent, BMW says. The company did not cite sources for the statistics.
BMW Motorrad says that in the U.S., its third-largest market, 9,168 BMW motorcycles were registered, a drop of 22.5 percent compared to the previous year. But the company says it increased its share of the over-500cc market by 2.0 percent to 2.6 percent.
Husqvarna Motorcycles, the second motorcycle brand of the BMW Group, had worldwide sales figures of 13,052 units, a drop of 3 percent. BMW does not divulge U.S. sales, but does say they were up in 2009.
from Dealer News
My Red Front Door
Our residence was built in 1904, and mine is the eighth tribe to call it home. I love everything about the place, from the ten foot ceilings to the hardwood floors. It’s not fancy or elaborate, but rather understated and simple. I appreciate all of the character and craftsmanship associated with houses of this age, but there is one feature I cherish above all the rest; our red front door! The door is original to the house and wears the scars to prove it. Its panels are weathered and scratched from time and use. Over the years this door has faithfully protected those who have lived here and cheerfully welcomed them home. On many occasions I am asked where I reside, and being that I live on a very well known street, the only other identifier I need give is, “the house with the red door!”
Recently some friends and I were sharing stories of the places we have traveled and the beautiful sights motorcycle touring has afforded us to visit. We talked about the magnificence of the Appalachian Mountains, the vastness of the Atlantic; the fields of corn in Iowa, and the acre after acre of wheat in Kansas. We joked of the small town diners that hadn’t been remodeled in 53 years, but still whipped up the best pancakes on the planet, and the overpriced joints that cost us $19.50 for a dried up burger and a bag of stale chips. We laughed about the difficult and often hilarious encounters we experienced while camping, like trying to sleep in rain soaked clothing, or the time the wind was so strong it simply blew the tent away!
I have had the good fortune of logging thousands of miles on my motorcycle’s, some of those miles have been shared with a couple close friends, some with my wife and sons, but most have been logged alone. Yet no matter how beautiful the scenery, or important the landmark, that I have seen it is always nice to return home. Not long ago someone asked, “What is the most beautiful thing you have seen while riding on a long trip?” and without hesitation I replied; “My red front door!”
Women and Motorcycles
The legend Bessie B. Stringfield.
In the 1940s, “The Motorcycle Queen of Miami” broke down barriers for women and African American motorcyclists at the same time, completing eight solo cross-country tours and serving as a U.S. Army motorcycle dispatch rider.
