Mark Bayer's Motorcycle News Resource Pages

WHAT'S NEW IN THE WORLD OF MOTORCYCLE'S! LOCAL EVENTS ARE LISTED ON PAGE TWO!

INDEX:

Home Page[1] ; "Motorcycle news" site links an a few other interesting links;

Pages [2] ; Regional events listings and local clubs and businesses;

page [3] & [4] ; Motorcycle development pages;

page [5] ; Associated groups link page;

After researching the pages on this site, there are dozens of more great site links on: www.vcme.9f.com (make sure and check out the vcme resource page)

Our newest site is www.markbayersvintagehonda.9f.com and www.markbayersmotorcyclehistory.9f.com

Also check the "resource" page on the www.hondaenthusiasts.9f.com site (pg. six)!

Indian Motorcycles: www.markbayerindian.9f.com

The field of motorcycling is going through a renaissance today. New makers, resurrected historic names, and current manufacturers are creating some really exciting bikes. I thoroughly enjoy the sport and want to help those interested in keeping up with what's new. Make sure and go to page four to view local & regional events.

I have made a few notes of my own but have also placed some of the best links to motorcycle "news" resources:

2011 NEWS:

(I) It is rumored that most 2013 Harley Davidson motorcycles will use a new "liquid cooled" version of the current V-twin engine. The radiator will be made in Japan as are the current shocks, forks and many of the electrical parts! When more information is available, I will post it.

(II) Harley Davidson is planning on building an Indian (India) motorcycle designed by several different companies including having Harley input as well. The bikes will be in the 500-750cc range and sold in India which has become a huge market. Check page three (3) for a picture!

(III) April 19, 2011 Polaris Industries, builder of the Victory motorcycle, purchased the Indian Motorcycle Company. This latest version of the Indian was built at a new factory located close to Kings Mountain, North Carolina. The current factory will be closed and the motorcycles will be built at an existing Polaris factory in Iowa. After Indian closed it's doors in 1953, the name was passed to various companies ending in 1999 with the Gilroy version Indian (Gilroy, california). A U.K. company (Stellican & Novator Inc.) purchased the Indian name in 2006 and completly re-engineered the line of motorcycles. Indian has had a long and varied history which I hope to cover in the near future. www.indianmotorcycle.com

(IV) Check out page four to see pictures of the 2012 Goldwing! Also check out the new Honda CB1100 pictured at the bottom of this page.

(V) The new Norton 961 SE, a modernized retro bike will be marketed in the US in 2012. Check out the bike on www.nortonmotorcycles.com A US distributor has been selected and plans are being made to get the factory completed so new bikes can be built! More information is contained in the article to the right! We were told that bikes would be sold in 2009, 2010, 2011 and now 2012! The distributor is a California Triumph dealer who has started taking down payments on 60 Nortons which will be sold in the US in 2012. The number of available bikes has recently risen but the new figures have not been disclosed. He requires that $3,000 be placed down on bikes which will be priced at $16,995, $17,995, and $19.995. The remaining amount will be due upon arrival. Norton claims the new 961's will be shipped in May of 2012. Sign up on his web page: www.southbaytriumph.com

(VI) New motorcycle sales in the US hit an all time high in 2004(since the early 1970's). Every year since that time, there has been around a 10 to 12% drop till 2010. Honda claims a 28+% increase up till July of 2010. During 2011, sales jumped early in the year (nearly 7%) but are currently around 1.7%.

US Japanese motorcycle sales during 2009 were down an average of 41% with Triumph (British)being only 30% down (up in the UK 29%), Harley Davidson down 27% (Harley states that they experienced a 53% drop in the 4th. qtr.), and BMW(Germany), down the least, at 22%. It might be noted that sales in some countries were down at least 50% and as much as 60% or more. Harley Davidson states that their sales are down an additional 15.2% in the first 6 months of 2010.

2009 bikes sold (US only) 2010 (US only)

Honda 196,179 units 201,000 (est.)

Yamaha 161,640 units 183,000 (est.)

Suzuki 163,865 units 167,000 (est.)

Harley Davidson 223,023 units (worldwide) 200,000 (sales est.worldwide; HD sales numbers are down but corporate profits are up) HD sales again drop in 2010 by around -13%.

Kawasaki 123,146 units 113,000 (est.)

Triumph 49,000 estimated(2010) units worldwide Estimated US sales are in the 12,000-14,000 unit range with a 10% worldwide increase in 2008 and another 1+% increase in 2009. Triumph claims further increases in 2010 now closing the gap on 50,000 bikes annually. Triumph has been especially strong in non US markets. Triumph has been rated as one of the most reliable motorcycles, has one of the lowest depreciation rates, and has strong brand loyalty. Triumph sales were up around 9% in 2010.

BMW 101,000 units worldwide down less than 10% (11-12,000 in US) BMW sales in the US are estimated to be in the 12,000+ range. BMW states that worldwide sales are still over 100,000 units. BMW is moving strongly into the sport bike market, time will tell if sales in that segment become significant. BMW has strong brand loyalty and a high rate of return customers.

Victory sales have been down over 35% in 2010.

So far during 2011, Honda had seen a drop in sales of around 12%, Suzuki a 20% sales increase, Yamaha a 20% decrease in sales, and Kawasaki a 3% decrease in sales. Ducati has been the big winner with a huge increase of nearly 65% but total sales numbers are still small (5,250 units). Harley Davidson has seen modest increases though they have not yet published figures, and Triumph has also continued to show smaller but steady increases. In the end, the Japaneese manufacturers (except Suzuki) will be the greatest loosers with other european brands gaining the most.

The Norton is another name which seems to return over and over again! Read below:

The original Norton motorcycle was built from 1902 till 1975. Financial problems have led to the bike's demise several times. From 1902 till 1953 the name stood on it's own, then was sold to AMC (Associated Motorcycles), a British group. AMC also marketed AJS, Matchless and several other less known brands. AMC became Norton-Villiars, then Norton-Villiars-Triumph, then was gone. In the late 1980's the name returned as a Wankel engined bike but was not a big success. In 1999 Kenny Dreer, an American, bought the rights to the name and developed a beautiful version of the Commando. Note the picture below. He never produced a production bike. Within the last year, a British business man has purchased back the name and has continued the development. Stuart Garner hopes to offer a bike for sale in 2010. Three models are to be offered with the same 961cc twin. There will be the Commando, the Commando Sport, and the Commando Cafe Racer. From what I can guess, the US price would be in the $16,000 range. I don't know how many of the 200 to be produced will come to the US.