Earlier this month Honda announced the production of a new motorcycle, the 2010 VFR 1200F.  Defined as a futuristic sportbike, an automatic tranny will be be available.

Here’s a few stats.

• a light-and-compact 1237cc liquid-cooled 76-degree V-4 that pumps out “amazing levels of power”;
• throttle by wire;
• a lightweight-and-compact Unicam valvetrain allowing for significantly smaller cylinder heads;
• an optional Dual Clutch Automatic Transmission with manual mode and automatic mode with two D/S modes and paddle-style shifters;
• a slipper clutch in the manual-shift VFR1200F;
• GP technology layer-concept aero fairing for better air management and futuristic style; and
• a next-generation shaft drive system with offset pivot point and sliding constant-velocity joint for “a new level of shaft-drive performance and control.”

Specifications:

• Model: VFR1200F / VFR1200F with Dual Clutch Automatic Transmission
• Engine Type: 1237cc liquid-cooled 76-degree V-4
• Bore and Stroke: 81mm x 60mm
• Compression Ratio: 12.0:1
• Valve Train: SOHC; four valves per cylinder
• Induction: PGM-FI with automatic enrichment circuit, 44mm throttle bodies and 12-hole injectors
• Ignition: Digital transistorized with electronic advance
• Transmission: Six-speed (VFR1200F)/Six-speed automatic with two modes and manual mode (VFR1200F with Dual Clutch Automatic Transmission)
• Final Drive: Shaft
• Suspension: Front: 43mm cartridge fork with spring preload adjustability; 4.7 inches travel. Rear: Pro Arm single-side swing arm with Pro-Link single gas-charged shock with remote spring preload adjustability and rebound damping adjustability; 5.1 inches travel
• Brakes: Front: Dual full-floating 320mm discs with CBS six-piston calipers with ABS. Rear: Single 276mm disc with CBS two-piston caliper with ABS
• Tires: Front: 120/70 ZR17 radial. Rear: 190/55 ZR17 radial
• Wheelbase: 60.8 inches (1545mm)
• Rake (Caster angle): 25°30’
• Trail: 101.0mm (4.0 inches)
• Seat Height: 32.1 inches (815mm)
• Fuel Capacity: 4.9 gallons
• Color: Red
• Curb Weight: 591 lbs. (VFR1200F)/613 pounds (VFR1200F with Dual Clutch Automatic Transmission)

Honda’s Bill Savino states ““This is one of the most exciting motorcycles in Honda’s history,” The VFR1200F establishes a whole new definition of performance motorcycling, one that taps into Honda’s rich V-4 VFR heritage and extends it into the future of Honda motorcycling. The new technology within this motorcycle is flat-out amazing, and it all works together in a manner that takes the VFR1200F strides forward in how a high-end machine looks, works and feels.”

The next time you are enjoying a Sunday afternoon cruise and some young punk flies by you on his crotch rocket keep this in mind, it may not be a “young punk” riding that bike.  According to a recent online survey conducted by Sportsbikeclub.com that sport bike rider may be older than you think.  Here’s a few results of the survey.

• The average of age of a sport bike rider is 38.7.
  
• Annual household income of $60,000.
• 1/3 said they plan to purchase another bike with in the next year.
• 87.7% modify their motorcycles, 68.6% will spend more than $500 and 31% will spend more than $1000 annually on mods.
• On average, sport bike riders spend $700 annually on parts, $650 on accessories, and $475 on apparel.
  

No wonder Americans are so damn fat!  They are always eating!  On my recent road trips I have noticed an increasing number of people eating while in their vehicles, it seems almost every person I pass is cramming a Twinkie down their pie hole.  This is not healthy, and I am not only referring to a weight issue.  According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, 80% of crashes involve driver distraction, and the distractions caused by eating in our vehicles is a growing epidemic.

The NHTSA recently listed the Top 10 foods you should avoid while driving.  I can’t believe we even have a list like this, but here it is.

10.  Chocolate Bars

 9.  Soda

 8.  Jelly Donuts

 7.  Fried Chicken

 6.  Ribs and Wings

 5.  Chili Dogs

 4.  Hamburgers

 3.  Tacos

 2.  Hot Soup

 1.  Coffee.

In most of our local media outlets there are weekly reports of accidents caused by drivers who were not paying attention.  Distracted drivers are a danger to all of us who share the road with them, no matter the reason, be it a phone, applying make up, or Taco Bell!

There were an average of 175 motorcycle crash fatalities from 2005 to 2007. This represents a 29% increase

There were 190 motorcycle crash fatalities in Ohio in 2007. This is the highest number of annual motorcycle fatalities

OSHP troopers made 7,006 enforcement stops of motorcyclists from 2005 to 2007 (see map above). Annual

Citations for driving a motorcycle without an appropriate operator license or endorsement increased by 46% from

Although number of citations from 2005 to 2007 increased for all age groups, the increase was particularly high for

The number of motorcycle registrations increased in every Ohio county from 2005 to 2007 (12% statewide). In 37 of

The statewide number of annual motorcycle endorsements also increased by 3% from 2005-2007. The increase was

 According to The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), Japanese Motorcycle manufacturers cut production significantly beginning  2009.

Number of Motorcycles Produced
Motorcycle production in January 2009 was recorded as 87,667 units. Compared with the 114,214 units total recorded for the same month of the previous year, this is a decrease of 26,547 units or 23.2%, and production decrease on the same month of the previous year for seventeen consecutive months.

Number of Motorcycle Domestic Sales
Domestic sales (factory shipment) in January 2009 stood at 28,980 units, a decrease of 8.6% as compared with the same month of the previous year.

Many of you know I work in the auto industry, and recently “Automotive News”  reported the 2008 automobile/truck sales statistics.  Here are some winners and losers…

Winners

• Mini + 28%
• Subaru + 0.3%

The only brands to show an increase over 2007 numbers.

Losers (Top 5)

• Hummer -50.9%
• Land Rover -39.75
• Chrysler -38.3%
• Saab -34.7%
• Volvo -31.2%

10 Best Sellers in 2008

1. Ford F Series             515,513
2. Chevrolet Silverado  465,065
3. Toyota Camry           436,617
4. Honda Accord            372,789
5. Toyota Corolla           351,007
6. Honda Civic                339,289
7. Nissan Altima            269,668
8. Chevrolet Impala      265,840
9. Dodge Ram                245,840
10. Honda CR-V             197,279

Recently I ran across a unscientific survey of the 10 most popular colors for motorcycles.  Here’s the list…

1. Black
2. Red
3. Blue
4. Silver
5. Yellow
6. Gray
7. Orange
8. Green
9. White
10. Purple

All three bikes in our stable are black.  What color do you own?

While reading a forum today, I ran across this unusual story posted at CNN.com .  It states more Marines have died on motorcycles this year than on the battlefield in Iraq.

One of the things I enjoy doing after a 10 hour day, is to have a beer and read the paper.  So Tuesday night I stopped by one of my favorite establishments to do just that.  While reading USA Today, and sipping on a tall Killian’s, I caught a small newsflash from South Carolina’s AAA.   

The article stated motorcycle deaths are up 40% in South Carolina in the past 5 years, and this trend is expected to increase as more people are purchasing bikes as a way to escape rising fuel prices.  Agency head, David Parsons said there were 87 motorcycle related fatalities in 2003, and 122 deaths in 2007.  He went on to say that although motorcycles make up only 4% of registered vehicles in his state, they involve 11% of the traffic fatalities. 

Keep The Rubber Side Down!

2007 Not Great For Motorcycle Sales. 

The stuttering U.S. economy has apparently affected motorcycle sales, which decreased dramatically in December of 2007.  Weak sales in the 4th quarter have dragged down the average for the year.

Comparing December 2007 to December 2006, sales of off-road bike were down 27.7%; street bikes were down 19.7%; scooters were down 21.1% and all motorcycle categories combined were down 23.2%.  ATV sales were also off 28.3%

The poor showing in December brought the year to date sales of off-road bikes (compared to 2006) down 17.1%; street bike sales were down 4.9% and scooter sales remained unchanged.  The dual-purpose motorcycle category showed the only increase at +6.7%.

Initial reports show overall motorcycle sales (all categories) for 2007 averaged a decrease of 7.2% compared to 2006. 

BMW Motorcycles Increase Sales in 2007

 BMW Motorcycles succeeded in recording a new sales volume record in 2007.  After surpassing the 100,000 mark for the first time in the previous year, the motorcycles segment continued to grow and recorded a sales volume of 102,467 units in 2007, which is +2.4% greater than the 2006 sales total of 100,064 units.

source: web bike news

 What would you pay for a gallon of gas around the world? As you can see below, the price ranges from almost triple the US average across most of Northern Europe (due to fossil-fuel taxes and emerging carbon-cap regulation) to small fractions of the US average in many heavy-production countries (due to government subsidies for its citizens).

* All prices from November 2007, except Mexico and Venezuela in August 2007