[KPaulCook]

Great Point Sparky: Re: ABC News reports on motorcycles

Excellent point. A point a tried to make when I criticized the Buell Firebolt (specifically Harley needs to spend money to give it a decent engine) The Gray Pony Tailed brotherhood cannot propel Harley's growth forever. H-D requires the support of Gen X and Echo (Baby Boomer children). The Gen X crowd are into modern stuff i.e. highly modified Honda Civics etc. It is highly unlikely that Harley's current product line (including to VRod) appeals to the next generation of motorcycle buyers. Harley better use some of that money selling antiques to modernize their product line. VRod is a start but they need to go farther faster. Don't think Harley is safe from market pressures.

 

[KPaulCook]

Great Point Sparky: Re: ABC News reports on motorcycles

doubtful you look me up then OK

 

[KPaulCook]

The truth about my Harley thing, my mom the biker chick

OK the truth is my mother was a biker chick back in the 70s and I was conceived on the back of a Sportster (not a 1200 but the lowly 883). While she was pregnant she abducted by Aliens in Yuma Arizona. Ever since then she and I have hated Harleys. I think E.T. is a Ducati/BMW/Kawasaki/Triumph lover ok and he zapped both of us with something.

 

[KPaulCook]

Music to my ears Sparky

You da man.!!! Go Sparky Go.

 

[KPaulCook]

Here on the west coast the reason for owning SUVs is more comical. It snows once every 2 years in Seattle. There is little off road access anymore (lots of tree huggers here). Most serious boaters use a marina. Having grown up in Colorado when I hear someone here in Seattle say they need it to get to the slopes or the snow I laugh In my opinion most SUVs in Seattle are bought by women drivers who want to sit up high and intimidate other drivers i.e. a passive agressive thing Most rununs I have when I am on my bike are with women in SUVs. Market stats in Seattle back up my claim that women are the big buyers of SUVs here. I really wish there was a big tax on these things so we would use less foreign oil and young boys wouldn't have to go die for it 4000 miles from home. OOps i am sounding like BLM

 

[KPaulCook]

4 letters say it all

ZX-9R Good for big guys, fast, comfrontable, good wind protection, cheap, reliable, My ZX-6R has the same traits but is physically smaller and I am 6 ft. 200 lbs. See latest Sport Rider issue or http://www.motorcycledaily.com/03june02kawasaki2002zx9r.html

Oh by the way we really appreciate your service to our great country.

 

[KPaulCook]

BLM stands for Bitter Little Man

alias Burns the Editor in Chief used to have a column in Motorcyclist called Bitter Little Man so I call him BLM for short.

 

[KPaulCook]

SUVs per car ratio is at epidemic proportions in Seattle

Right on Grover. I grew up in mountains Colorado most of us survived OK with Rear Wheel drive cars and 2 WD pickups. When I moved back to Colorado after I living in Seattle for a time the SUV craze had taken off. Funny most of the time I would see at least one SUV in the ditch on I-70 west of Denver when heading up to Vail. In my opinion, AWD vans and Subarus are the best for hard packed conditions but most of the time the very capable Colorado Hiway department makes things passable for most cars.

Now I am back in Seattle where we have more SUVs per captia than anywhere. Trouble is it snows every 2 years. And the snow level in the mountians makes it so most mountian passes are dry or rain wet. Of course the Washington version of a pass and Colorado version are quite different. The Colorado pass is at least 5000 ft higher, longer, more curves and tons more snow. Also the Colorado Highway Department and State Patrol are real pros compared to the WA.

 

[KPaulCook]

Re: The HD general manager sums up

LOL good one.

 

[KPaulCook]

Re: 4 letters say it all

Thats what I said 5 characters say it all

You make great points about your VFR and suprised it fits so well. I though the ZX-9 might be a little bigger boned. However, I think my next bike will be a VFR with hard bags. Everyone that I know that has one just loves it and the used ones don't stay around the dealers too long (fetching good money) too. Do you have ABS? I am thinking about getting ABS since I live in rainy Seattle and I try to commute on my bike every day. So far on my ZX-6R I had a couple skids but mostly cause I was following to close

 

[KPaulCook]

You are so right. My wife threatened to kick me out once and the first thing I thought about was where am I going to park my bike and no way am I selling it. I done flying, skiing, rock climbing but nothing comes close to motorcycles. I only wish I could started sooner.

 

[KPaulCook]

B.S. on the Harley thing

I commute 34 miles a day on I-5 and my count is a little different 2 harleys, a Buell and very old Honda that looked like it had been abused. Last week the sun was out and all the Gray Pony Tailed Brothers were wearing their worthless skull caps without any protective gear (no jackets). Those Harley guys are too proud to ask for help or take it when offered. As I came out of the office a guy was standing by his new Road King. I asked if he needed help i.e. like a jump or something. He said no? I then asked if there was something wrong with the bike he said no. A friend of mine said latter the guys wife came with a van to pick it up. Go look at any site that allows riders to review their own bike. Or go check out any owners group. The point is the Japaneese bikes are superior in reliability than any H-D or Bueel. I think Harley's quality (like Detroits) is getting worse because they don't fear Japan as once they did. Don't worry they will feel the fear once the Brotherhood fad thing wears off and Japan gets its confidence (economy) back.

 

[KPaulCook]

Your agrument doesn't hold all the oil leaking from your Harley

If cost was an issue they (younger buyers)would all buy Sportsers which cost less than the average 600 sportbike or SV650 etc. No the reason is that Harleys look old and nostaglic. Most young bikers I see who don't ride sport bikes have Ducati Monsters and other standards. They are not into old 50s looking bikes period and never will be. Mark my words when you old guys are 60 the most popular bike will not be a Harley. Most likely it will be a Honda.

 

[KPaulCook]

This is the best argument/analysis I have seen so far. Women for some reason love Harleys. Maybe its the throbbing V-Twin betwen the....

Harleys have lots of chrome and no go. A chick is not going think a BMW tourer or a Ducati is cool unless she rides. By the way I have seen a lot of women sport bike riders. So maybe when they learn to ride they are impressed with all show no go thing

 

[KPaulCook]

I think you are a lot smarter than you think. Very insightful post. You are right on all three points. I would change 1 slightly to focus on Buell as the racing arm and concentrate on at least one class in AMA that they have to race against the Japanese bikes.



Yep you are right in 5 years I should sell my Harley stock unless they do at least 2 out of the 3 things you suggested.

 

[KPaulCook]

Forget cruisers they are on there way out. Strictly a baby boomer thing. H-D should focus on making more V-Rod inspired stuff like a H-D Monster like standard with a V-Rod engine.

 

[KPaulCook]

Like I said small cruisers are on their way out.

Your point was H-D should make more small girly cruisers. I think the Japanese have the segment pegged its low markup anyway. Monsters wannabes and power naked bike standards are going to the next wave.

 

[KPaulCook]

In America we call it ass. Your response to my challenge of your idea (small cruiser thing) was so so farsical he he.