Ten Best Motorcycle Museums
SEE A COMPREHENSIVE TOP TEN LIST OF MOTORCYCLE MUSEUMS – Click Here Join the Cantina today for more exclusive feature articles, news, tech and fun.
Ten Best Motorcycle Museums Read More »
Texas Bikers Stop VFW’s No MC Colors Policy
from https://www.motorcycleprofilingproject.com/ The National Council of Clubs, representing the interests of motorcycle clubs and thousands of their members in every state in America, is both concerned and appalled at recent reports of Veterans organizations, including some VFW, American Legion, and Eagles posts, among others, denying access to individuals expressing membership in motorcycle clubs. So what’s the solution? The Texas Council of Clubs & Independents recent campaign in response to a policy of discrimination announced by the state VFW serves as an example of a successful strategy for others facing similar acts of discrimination by private Veterans organizations in their states. Texas VFW General Orders of discrimination Dated October 2019, the Department of Texas VFW sent General Orders to all VFW Posts throughout the state outlining a new written policy which includes a provision excluding all 1% MC members, employing gang labeling, from VFW events and property. The TCOC&I quickly became aware of the General Orders through local VFW posts in numerous areas of the state and immediately began a campaign responding to the new policy of discrimination. Motorcycle clubs have a long history of having events at VFW posts, many motorcyclists are members, and relationships are strong in many places in Texas, as they are throughout America. TCOC&I uses social media to apply pressure Representatives of the TCOC&I began spreading the VFW letter through social media channels. Thousands in Texas and across the country became aware. On October 9th, a direct response from the TCOC&I in the form of a formal letter was sent to the Texas VFW outlining the community’s request that the policy be reversed. The TCOC&I emphasized the historical ties between the MC community and VFW’s throughout Texas. 38% of the club community are Veterans, more than five times the national average. MC meetings, benefits, and social
Texas Bikers Stop VFW’s No MC Colors Policy Read More »
Harley-Davidson beats forecasts as international sales rebound
by Rachit Vats, Ankit Ajmera from https://www.reuters.com (Reuters) – Harley-Davidson Inc (HOG.N) beat expectations for profit on Tuesday and stuck to its full-year shipment forecast, allaying fears of another major hit from European import tariffs and a further slump in sales in its main U.S. market. Shares of the company rose as much as 8.8% to $40.36, as it posted the first rise in international sales in a year during the third quarter and a 3.6% dip in U.S. retail motorcycle sales – the smallest decline in nearly three years. Profits continued to sink – by 24% – but the results offered some hope that one of the biggest names in motorcycles was finally beginning to arrest a slide in global sales that it has been fighting for years. Sales in the world’s biggest motorcycle markets in Asia, which Harley has targeted with smaller bikes that go against its traditional profile, rose 8.7% in the quarter and are up about 1.6% this year overall. The company plans to source half of its revenue from overseas by 2027 and international retail sales rose 2.7% to 23,619 motorcycle in the quarter. While worldwide shipments fell 5.8% to 45,837 motorcycles, they topped analysts’ estimates by over 1,000 motorcycles, and the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based company stuck to its 2019 shipment target of 212,000 to 217,000 bikes. “As we look to the remainder of 2019, we are encouraged by the momentum of retail sales trends through the first nine months of this year but also recognize substantial headwinds that we continue to face,” Chief Financial Officer John Olin said. The company is also cutting spending and said it now expects 2019 capital expenses of $205 million to $225 million, about $20 million less than its previous estimates. Excluding items, the company earned 70 cents per share,
Harley-Davidson beats forecasts as international sales rebound Read More »
Honda at 40: Company, original employee grew together
By Jim Weiker from The Columbus Dispatch at https://www.cantonrep.com When Honda celebrated its 40th anniversary in Ohio this week, the milestone carried special meaning for employee Neil Vining. Vining was 22 in 1979 when he landed a job at a new motorcycle factory Honda was opening in Marysville. Today, Vining is a chief engineer at Honda. He is one of two employees still at Honda who were there when Honda of America opened its first U.S. operation in Ohio. Vining’s journey with Honda is an illustration of the company’s journey. Like many Americans, Vining didn’t know what to expect from the company. By the 1970s, Japanese cars and motorcycles were well-established among consumers, but not among employees. Vining worked at Tecumseh’s Marion factory but was weary of the laid-off, back-to-work cycle of the plant. (Tecumseh closed the factory in 1984.) He was curious about Honda, which he had followed in the newspaper since the manufacturer announced in October 1977 that it would build a factory in Ohio. “Every week I watched the paper looking for that final notice about when I could send my application,” said Vining, who had bought his first Honda motorcycle when he was 16. In March, 1979, he had his chance and interviewed for a position, not knowing what to expect. After all, there was no track record of Japanese automotive manufacturers in the U.S. “Remember that the Japanese automotive industry was initially considered a curiosity. They made econoboxes no one wanted,” said Giorgio Rizzoni, director of the Center for Automotive Research at Ohio State University. “Then they became real competitors to Detroit. For a long time, there was quite a bit of resentment in regard to Japanese automakers in the U.S. But Honda managed this transition in an extremely elegant way.” Three months after he
Honda at 40: Company, original employee grew together Read More »
Dying Man’s Final Request Fulfilled By 200 Roaring V-Twins
200 strangers give dying man a rousing sendoff. To many who ride, motorcycles are far more than a means of transportation. Bikes are a culture, an identity, and a way of life. Even after health issues or old age force some riders to call it quits, that passion never diminishes. Recently, as one terminally ill life-long biker prepared to say goodbye to this world, he decided his final wish was to hear the roar of an American V-Twin one last time. 61-year-old Indiana resident and cruiser enthusiast Jon Stanley—who’d previously been diagnosed with brain and lung cancer—was on his last leg, and his family sadly knew it. Stanley had recently bought himself a Harley Softail, though after taking it out on only a handful of occasions, the progression of his illness forced him to park it for good. Even though he could no longer ride, Stanley nonetheless relayed to his family that he just wanted to hear a motorcycle through his window. Stanley’s brother-in-law reached out to a local South Bend rider named David Thompson, via Facebook, explaining Stanley’s situation and request. Not only did Thompson oblige, but he took it one step further, putting out a call to action on social media, asking other bikers in the region to join in. Just 12 hours after David was initially contacted, he and some 200 other riders were on their way to Stanley’s home. Once there Stanley—a longtime ABATE member and military vet—was treated to his final wish, as more than a collective quarter-million CC’s of America V-Twin sang out. With the assistance of his family, Stanley was carried outside and helped into a sidecar, where he sat and enjoyed the bellow of a big-bore twin for the last time. Stanley finally succumbed to his battle with cancer later that same
Dying Man’s Final Request Fulfilled By 200 Roaring V-Twins Read More »
Sam & Dave’s “Soul Man” Inducted Into National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sam & Dave’s 1967 hit single “Soul Man”; the classic radio western “Gunsmoke”; Ritchie Valens’ groundbreaking 1958 sensation “La Bamba”; the revolutionary 1968 Broadway musical “Hair”; and Neil Diamond’s 1969 “Sweet Caroline,” which became a popular sports anthem, are the newest recordings inducted into the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress. Isaac Hayes, the “Soul Man” song’s creator, found the inspiration for the song that’s become an anthem in the turmoil of the civil rights movement of the 1960s. The dynamic vocal duo of Sam & Dave (Sam Moore and David Prater) recorded it with Hayes and Porter producing, backed by Stax Records regulars Booker T. and the M.G.’s and the Mar-Keys’ horns. “Soul Man” is instantly recognizable by its first few notes, with its distinctive horn lines and guitarist Steve Cropper’s trademark sliding sixths. The engine that powers “Soul Man” is Donald “Duck” Dunn’s infectious, ebullient bassline. “The National Recording Registry honors the music that enriches our souls, the voices that tell our stories and the sounds that mirror our lives” said Hayden. “The influence of recorded sound over its nearly 160-year history has been profound and technology has increased its reach and significance exponentially. The Library of Congress and its many collaborators are working to preserve these sounds and moments in time, which reflect our past, present and future.” More information on the National Recording Registry can be found at www.loc.gov/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/about-this-program/. The new recordings to the National Recording Registry bring the total number of titles on the registry to 525, a small part of the Library’s vast recorded-sound collection of nearly 3 million items. The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library. About The Legendary Soul Man™ Sam Moore: https://sammoore.net/ The first 20-plus years of Sam Moore’s sensational career began by lending
Women on Trikes: “Wild and Crazy” True Stories
With International Women’s Day on 8th March, we would like to showcase two stories from Women on Trikes series. Read how Susan and Nerolie got into triking and why they are living the dream with Trikes. https://www.touroztrikes.com.au https://www.rewaco.com Susan – “Wild and crazy and it felt a little bit rebellious” A surprise and spontaneous ride to high school on the back of a friends new Trike while living in a small country town in New Zealand, was the very moment I knew I wanted one. It was love at first ride, I was hooked. At the time I was not old enough to have a car licence, but I will never forget how it felt to be on the back of the Trike. It was cool and it was different, lots of people had two-wheeler bikes, but this chopped up, backyard, custom made Trike was the real deal, it was wild and crazy and felt a little bit rebellious. I moved back to Australia a few years later, and I never really saw many trikes. Every so often I would look around to buy one, but they were hard to find and never quite what I was looking for. Most trikes were motorbike conversions but I wanted a long-raked style trike with a low centre of gravity but also one that would not spend more time in the garage being pulled apart and repaired. I’m not a mechanic, I just wanted to ride. Life got in the way of my dream – kids, family, work all took priority for many years, and a trike was not something I could afford and it was not practical. How would I fit a baby seat to a trike? In my early forties, the internet had made looking for a trike a lot easier,
Women on Trikes: “Wild and Crazy” True Stories Read More »
The 2019 Ducati Model lineup arriving to American Dealerships
Season Opening Events Taking Place March 22 – 24 at Showrooms Nationwide Mountain View, Calif. (February 22, 2019) – Ducati North America is celebrating the warm riding weather just around the bend by bringing its national Season Opening to participating dealerships March 22 – 24. The annual event offers Ducati owners and new fans their first opportunity to experience the Italian brand’s new line of motorcycles in person, which includes 10 new models for 2019, built for every riding level and encompassing all the Ducati worlds, ranging from Racetrack, Travel, Lifestyle and Scrambler, to Sport & Fun. For details, motorcyclists – or anyone interested in learning how to ride – can sign up here to learn more about the 2019 bikes or can locate their nearest Ducati dealership online at: https://www.ducati.com/us/en/dealers One relevant addition to the 2019 Ducati stable is the all-new Diavel 1260, the first significantly new Diavel since its debut in 2010, with a new 1262 cc engine and muscular styling – making it a completely new motorcycle. It’s perfect for experiencing summer winds along the coast, refreshing spring breezes down winding mountain roads or cruising with style down the backroads of America. Power and technology mix in the new Diavel 1260 to create the most advanced Diavel to date and, with low monthly payments, financing for the Diavel 1260 can be priced starting as low as $265.95 per month. Sign up here to learn more about the new Diavel 1260: https://contact.ducati.com/ww/en/season-opening-2019/light/s Also, existing 2018 models can be available with APR as low as 0% through Ducati Premier Financing, or with special offers on Ducati Apparel and Ducati Accessories. For more information, clients should contact their nearest Ducati dealership. Ducati 2019 Season Opening Motorcycles Scrambler Icon [As Low As $118.17 Per Month] – The Scrambler brand was launched
The 2019 Ducati Model lineup arriving to American Dealerships Read More »
Biker Culture – “A Poetry in Motion”
Biker Culture – “A Poetry in Motion” by Ujjwal Dey Diane Wakoski describes biker life as “… just being so joyfully alive/ Just letting the blood take its own course/ In intact vessels/ In veins…/ – the motorcyclist riding along the highway/ Independent/ Alone”. Shirley Dent says, “There is precise science in the recklessness of both riding a bike and writing a poem. A good Biker Poet is taking life on, in all its mad, fast-paced complexity, and turning out something that is precise, clear, true.” Lucinda Williams describes, “The perfect man? A poet on a motorcycle. You know, the kind who lives on the edge, the free spirit. But he’s also gotta have the soul of a poet and a brilliant mind. So, you know, good luck.” Read the adventure of biker life here on Bikernet. Join us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/bikernetbiker/
Biker Culture – “A Poetry in Motion” Read More »
GEX Motor Engines for Trikes
A Popular Volkswagen Engine has become the Heart of Trikes Everywhere. Join the rear of a Volkswagen with the front of a motorcycle, cover it with a sleek body the color of rancid plums or electric blue, chrome the motor, put wide tires on the rear and VOILA, you have a trike. Ready to roar, the trike is fast, lightweight and very fuel efficient. The trike motor can be designed to push 2 or 3 times the weight of the trike itself. It has been called the perfect medium between the car and the bike. There is nothing like riding in the wind on the winged wheels of a motorcycle or trike. At GEX, trike motor sales have become a fast growing segment of the business. The most popular trike motor that we sell is the 1776. It is the perfect combination of performance and reliability. Coming in at about 95 hp with dual carbs, it is the ideal trike motor. For those looking for serious performance, then consider the 2110 cc trike motor. This is a stroked motor with the same diameter piston and cylinder as the 1776 and is about 120 hp. Either of these motors chromed out, with dual carbs and exhaust can be a beautiful addition to the rear of your trike. Let us help you design the motor of your choice to ride into the wind…… READ OUR GEX ENGINE FEATURE HERE…
GEX Motor Engines for Trikes Read More »