We all know the name, and most are familiar with the story of Erik Buell. From his first days as an AMA racer and engineer for Harley-Davidson, to the early days of the Buell Motorcycle Company where he began building his own race bikes, Erik Buell has always been a force in the motorcycle industry. With last year’s announcement by Harley-Davidson that it would be cutting the Buell line many of us were left wondering, what will become of the father of the American sportbike?
Speculation that Erik Buell would once again reemerge was quickly answered with the news of Harley-Davidsons inclusion of a non-compete clause in the separation. Erik’s answer was to focus on racing, and another of his lifelong passions, music. With the severing of ties with Harley-Davidson a new company was formed allowing Buell enthusiasts to still have an outlet, Erik Buell Racing.
The new company currently manufactures 3 models of track only race bikes, the 1125R DSB, 1125RR ASB, and the 1190RR. Three machines for the racer in all of us, but none are street legal. So what about those of us who love the innovation and engineering advancements of Erik Buell’s designs and do not ride the track? Our time is almost here.
There has been speculation for months that the guys over in the shop at EBR may be working on a street version of the 1190RR. Speculation fueled by a marketing campaign through Erik’s record label, Rat Pak Records, promoting the 1190RS through apparel sales. The release of the teaser video of the 1190RS only helped to fan the flames.
Recent interviews published on the record labels website finally answer the year long question of will Erik Buell make a comeback in the street bike world. The long awaited answer, yes. According to the site there is not a specific release date yet for the 1190RS but plans are for spring of 2011. We should also expect to see more pre-production footage as spring comes closer. As for how this all affects the non-compete clause, we will all have to see how that plays out, there are several unconfirmed rumors that the clause is either set to expire or that it has been or will soon be dropped.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Las Vegas Harley-Davidson helps host Christmas dinner for homeless
Saturday, 18 December 2010 | Written by Asia | Print | E-mail
While not as eye-catching as a toy run with thousands of motorcycles, the spirit of big-hearted bikers continues in this holiday season with Las Vegas Harley-Davidson.
The Harley-Davidson dealership is teaming up with Broken Chains Ministry once again for their annual Christmas dinner for the homeless. They will begin serving food at 10:00 a.m. on Christmas day in the Las Vegas Harley-Davidson dealership's parking lot.
"Last year's Christmas dinner was a huge success," said Randy Compton, Las Vegas Harley-Davidson Event Coordinator. "Over 300 of our cities homeless people were served food here at our dealership and over 200 volunteers came out to help. This year promises to be even bigger, with more than 500 homeless people expected to be in attendance."
The Broken Chains Ministry has come a long, long way in helping the less fortunate," Compton added. "It's a great organization that reaches out and helps so many in our community. We're thrilled to be working together with Broken Chains again this year to make Christmas bright for some of Las Vegas' needy families."
Saturday, 18 December 2010 | Written by Asia | Print | E-mail
While not as eye-catching as a toy run with thousands of motorcycles, the spirit of big-hearted bikers continues in this holiday season with Las Vegas Harley-Davidson.
The Harley-Davidson dealership is teaming up with Broken Chains Ministry once again for their annual Christmas dinner for the homeless. They will begin serving food at 10:00 a.m. on Christmas day in the Las Vegas Harley-Davidson dealership's parking lot.
"Last year's Christmas dinner was a huge success," said Randy Compton, Las Vegas Harley-Davidson Event Coordinator. "Over 300 of our cities homeless people were served food here at our dealership and over 200 volunteers came out to help. This year promises to be even bigger, with more than 500 homeless people expected to be in attendance."
The Broken Chains Ministry has come a long, long way in helping the less fortunate," Compton added. "It's a great organization that reaches out and helps so many in our community. We're thrilled to be working together with Broken Chains again this year to make Christmas bright for some of Las Vegas' needy families."
Motorcycles are about more than just renegades
By William Klatt
Posted: 09/06/2010 07:04:30 AM PDT
Motorcycles have been around since the late 1800s - if you count the first steam-powered models invented by the Germans.
But it wasn't until 1901 that the first American motorcycle, the Indian, was born, followed in 1903 by the Harley-Davidson.
A few years later, the American Excelsior and Henderson surfaced, but during the worldwide depression, those companies folded and became history.
During the early years, Indian motorcycles outsold Harley-Davidsons 3-to-1 because of their performance on the racetrack. Both companies produced their machines for the military in World War I. During World War II, Harley-Davidson produced more than 85,000 motorcycles for the Army.
American GIs experienced the lighter, faster, easier-to-handle European cycles and when they came back home they stripped their bikes to get the same results, or at least close, as the European bikes. Thus, the word "chopper" originated in motorcycle lingo.
In 1947, during a motorcycle rally in Hollister, bikers tore up the town and created a bad image for cyclists for years to come. After rounds in the local pubs, the renegade riders went bananas burning rubber, knocking over signs and racing up and down sidewalks and main streets.
In 1949, Harley-Davidson made sensational improvements with its new hydro-glide fork, airflow fenders and fast-action brakes. People stopped to look in awe at the showy, sleek, beautiful lines of the machine - the Madonna of her
Advertisement
day.
I bought my first Harley-Davidson in 1949 for $982. It turned out to be a classic. In mint condition on today's market, my Harley would be worth well over $40,000. Hindsight is always 20/20.
The crack of the throttle, the roar of the cast-aluminum open-flow muffler and the might of the power plant, my Harley could run off and hide from the older Harleys and Indian Chiefs. With this power and performance, I felt like the Big Kahuna of the highway.
Throughout my biking days, I rode in rain, sleet, mud, fog, loose gravel, high winds, blistering heat and snow-packed highways. I outraced a streamliner and outran a tornado in Kansas. These incidents were all for the love of Harley. Looking back at all my hare-brained escapades, I often wonder if I was playing with a full deck.
Milwaukee, Wis., situated on beautiful Lake Michigan and home of Harley-Davidson, is a splendid place for bikers to splash the summer away. Every summer evening, 40 or 50 Harleys lined up along Bradford Beach, while girls who love motorcycles came out of the barn in droves to ride the two-wheelers.
Motorcycling is a clean, fun-loving sport and adventurous lifestyle. After 38 years, and when legislators passed the California helmet law, I gave up riding. The lure of the open road beckoned no more.
In the early 1950s, American Indian Motorcycle Co. filed for bankruptcy. British motorcycles, the Triumph, Norton and the BSA captured the American market until the end of the decade. The British Vincent Black-Shadow scooted by anything on the highway at 125 mph.
In 1960, Honda Motorcycle Co. of Japan stormed the American motorcycle market with unsurpassable modern technology. Other Japanese companies, Yamaha and Kawasaki, soon followed. British motorcycles lost ground, and by the end of the 1960 Harley-Davidson's future was uncertain.
By 1989, Japanese racing bikes reached 150 mph. The Japanese Yamaha attained speeds of 180 mph to be considered the best bike of the decade. The big four Japanese manufacturers - Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki - dominated the motorcycle industry.
During the mid-1980s, Harley-Davidson introduced its new sportster bike. With its vintage look and new evolution engines in other Harley models, the company was successful at selling numerous bikes in the '80s and '90s. It was second only to Honda, which sold 10 million bikes by the end of the century. Harley-Davidson became known as the Rolls-Royce of motorcycles.
Many motorcycles have personalities and are designed for different events - racing, endurance, hill climbing, motocross, jumpers, tourers and luxury. In the past 35 years motorcycle manufacturers have upgraded motorcycles with acceleration, disc brakes, electric starters, liquid cooling and exhaust systems. The results are power, style and performance.
The golden age of motorcycling arrived in the past 20 years. Doctors, dentists, lawyers, married couples and females are riding for the thrills, enjoyment and feeling of freedom. Motorcyclists of today are a far cry from the renegade bikers of yesteryear.
William Klatt is a 25-year San Pedro resident and a retired businessman.
By William Klatt
Posted: 09/06/2010 07:04:30 AM PDT
Motorcycles have been around since the late 1800s - if you count the first steam-powered models invented by the Germans.
But it wasn't until 1901 that the first American motorcycle, the Indian, was born, followed in 1903 by the Harley-Davidson.
A few years later, the American Excelsior and Henderson surfaced, but during the worldwide depression, those companies folded and became history.
During the early years, Indian motorcycles outsold Harley-Davidsons 3-to-1 because of their performance on the racetrack. Both companies produced their machines for the military in World War I. During World War II, Harley-Davidson produced more than 85,000 motorcycles for the Army.
American GIs experienced the lighter, faster, easier-to-handle European cycles and when they came back home they stripped their bikes to get the same results, or at least close, as the European bikes. Thus, the word "chopper" originated in motorcycle lingo.
In 1947, during a motorcycle rally in Hollister, bikers tore up the town and created a bad image for cyclists for years to come. After rounds in the local pubs, the renegade riders went bananas burning rubber, knocking over signs and racing up and down sidewalks and main streets.
In 1949, Harley-Davidson made sensational improvements with its new hydro-glide fork, airflow fenders and fast-action brakes. People stopped to look in awe at the showy, sleek, beautiful lines of the machine - the Madonna of her
Advertisement
day.
I bought my first Harley-Davidson in 1949 for $982. It turned out to be a classic. In mint condition on today's market, my Harley would be worth well over $40,000. Hindsight is always 20/20.
The crack of the throttle, the roar of the cast-aluminum open-flow muffler and the might of the power plant, my Harley could run off and hide from the older Harleys and Indian Chiefs. With this power and performance, I felt like the Big Kahuna of the highway.
Throughout my biking days, I rode in rain, sleet, mud, fog, loose gravel, high winds, blistering heat and snow-packed highways. I outraced a streamliner and outran a tornado in Kansas. These incidents were all for the love of Harley. Looking back at all my hare-brained escapades, I often wonder if I was playing with a full deck.
Milwaukee, Wis., situated on beautiful Lake Michigan and home of Harley-Davidson, is a splendid place for bikers to splash the summer away. Every summer evening, 40 or 50 Harleys lined up along Bradford Beach, while girls who love motorcycles came out of the barn in droves to ride the two-wheelers.
Motorcycling is a clean, fun-loving sport and adventurous lifestyle. After 38 years, and when legislators passed the California helmet law, I gave up riding. The lure of the open road beckoned no more.
In the early 1950s, American Indian Motorcycle Co. filed for bankruptcy. British motorcycles, the Triumph, Norton and the BSA captured the American market until the end of the decade. The British Vincent Black-Shadow scooted by anything on the highway at 125 mph.
In 1960, Honda Motorcycle Co. of Japan stormed the American motorcycle market with unsurpassable modern technology. Other Japanese companies, Yamaha and Kawasaki, soon followed. British motorcycles lost ground, and by the end of the 1960 Harley-Davidson's future was uncertain.
By 1989, Japanese racing bikes reached 150 mph. The Japanese Yamaha attained speeds of 180 mph to be considered the best bike of the decade. The big four Japanese manufacturers - Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki - dominated the motorcycle industry.
During the mid-1980s, Harley-Davidson introduced its new sportster bike. With its vintage look and new evolution engines in other Harley models, the company was successful at selling numerous bikes in the '80s and '90s. It was second only to Honda, which sold 10 million bikes by the end of the century. Harley-Davidson became known as the Rolls-Royce of motorcycles.
Many motorcycles have personalities and are designed for different events - racing, endurance, hill climbing, motocross, jumpers, tourers and luxury. In the past 35 years motorcycle manufacturers have upgraded motorcycles with acceleration, disc brakes, electric starters, liquid cooling and exhaust systems. The results are power, style and performance.
The golden age of motorcycling arrived in the past 20 years. Doctors, dentists, lawyers, married couples and females are riding for the thrills, enjoyment and feeling of freedom. Motorcyclists of today are a far cry from the renegade bikers of yesteryear.
William Klatt is a 25-year San Pedro resident and a retired businessman.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
By Terry Ward
Forbes
updated 12/14/2010 10:22:41 AM ET 2010-12-14T15:22:41
Every motorcycle rider loves the feel of the open road. But too few take the blacktop further than a couple hours from home.
The world is full of bike-friendly locations — spots with big curves, little to no traffic and boundless adventure. Motorcycle tourism can be a great way to indulge your riding habit and see some of the most beautiful places on the planet.
Slideshow: Amazing motorcycle trips
For riding terrain that's far removed from a western sensibility, you could tackle the steep mountain passes, winding roads and Hmong hill tribe villages of north Vietnam — an exotic wonderland for motorcyclists.
"I'd always been curious about Vietnam and its people," says Charles Drummond, a retired marketing executive from Walla Walla, Wash., who toured North Vietnam in late 2007 with Offroad Vietnam, a motorcycle tour company in Hanoi.
During the 10-day trip, Drummond departed Hanoi with a small group of riders and headed north, close to the Chinese border, on a circuitous route that led up steep mountain passes terraced with ride paddies. "The trip was a challenge as far as my riding skills, but I survived," Drummond says. "It was delightfully grueling ... We rode for four to five hours a day and there were mountain passes of ten and 12,000 feet. Homestays along the way made the trip even more rewarding.
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Elsewhere in Asia, visit the land of the former Maharajas with a tour through Rajasthan, India. Join a tour group or depart solo from Delhi and head southeast: The riding terrain is fairly flat and low-key, but summertime ventures should be avoided as high temperatures threaten to melt your tires to the asphalt.
Or make the end of the world your mission, and ride through Argentina and Chile to the Tierra del Fuego. Seventeen-day forays with California-based Admo-Tours cover 2,734 miles, with a late-model BMW bike as your chariot from the town of Osorno, Chile, to Argentina's Atlantic coast. Ferry across the Straits of Magellan to Tierra del Fuego, and get back on your bike to catch the Pan American highway and cruise onward to Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city.
Halfway across the world you can ride a Ducati in the revered motorbike's homeland. Italy is notorious for its fanatic drivers, but you'll avoid the motorway entirely as you leave Pisa behind and head for lonely country roads in the Chianti region, and the rolling hills of the Tuscan and Umbrian countryside.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
What do you make of the Ducati Diavel?
By Andy Downes -
New bikes
24 November 2010 13:21
Ducati has opened an online comment forum for the new and opinion-dividing Diavel musclebike which Ducati hopes can take near superbike performance and handling to the cruiser market.
The forum is open to anyone who has something to say about the new bike – good or bad.
Full information about the bike confirms 162bhp, 207kg kerbweight for the more expensive Diavel Carbon model, ABS, traction control, different riding modes, a 240 section rear tyre and two versions; a standard one and the range-topping Carbon model.
The Diavel is a new take on the market sector defined by the Yamaha V-Max and the Harley-Davidson V-Rod although Ducati has been at pains to say the performance of the Diavel will destroy both of them in terms of braking and handling and it’s much lighter.
Despite being aimed at the sports cruiser market the Diavel is packing all of the latest Ducati technology.
By Andy Downes -
New bikes
24 November 2010 13:21
Ducati has opened an online comment forum for the new and opinion-dividing Diavel musclebike which Ducati hopes can take near superbike performance and handling to the cruiser market.
The forum is open to anyone who has something to say about the new bike – good or bad.
Full information about the bike confirms 162bhp, 207kg kerbweight for the more expensive Diavel Carbon model, ABS, traction control, different riding modes, a 240 section rear tyre and two versions; a standard one and the range-topping Carbon model.
The Diavel is a new take on the market sector defined by the Yamaha V-Max and the Harley-Davidson V-Rod although Ducati has been at pains to say the performance of the Diavel will destroy both of them in terms of braking and handling and it’s much lighter.
Despite being aimed at the sports cruiser market the Diavel is packing all of the latest Ducati technology.
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