Just an observation or 2
in [Motorcycles]
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From: ? on 17 Jul 2010 14:42 On Jul 17, 11:21 am, Twaddle <nowayjo...(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Nobody but a non-riding wimp like you would think that a little > inclement weather is going to discourage a determined biker If the weather is so bad that a rider has to wear electrically-heated clothing or a rainsuit, that rider either can't afford to own a car or he's crazy. Furthermore, there are weather conditions around here that would make it suicidal for me to go for a motorcycle ride. I'm referring to the dense tule fog that sits on the central valley in the morning for weeks at a time. Drivers of cars and trucks cannot see where they are going, but they're still in a hurry...
From: don (Calgary) on 17 Jul 2010 15:29 On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 10:04:26 -0700 (PDT), saddlebag <saddlebag(a)aol.com> wrote: >On Jul 16, 8:04�pm, "don (Calgary)" <hd.f...(a)telus.net> wrote: >> On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:14:14 -0700 (PDT), BryanUT >> >> <nestl...(a)comcast.net> wrote: >> >So this is my 5th year at the U. In previous years the motorcycle >> >spots were mostly full, all kinds of bikes and scooters. �This year >> >they are mostly empty. �Yeah we had a cold wet spring but now the >> >weather is perfect (ok, a bit warm at 101f in the afternoon). �I have >> >no explanation. >> >> >And hardly anyone waves anymore. Yeah there are fewer bikes out on my >> >weekend jaunts, but the waves are still way down. �Again no >> >explanation. >> >> >Has anyone else noticed this in their neck of the woods? >> >> Not at all. I've covered about 15k kms so far this season and I was >> thinking I am seeing more bikes on the road and meeting more riders. >> Out of the 40 or so people I work with we have two new riders this >> year. We have several new members in our riding club and more >> involvement from existing members. >> >> And even a scooter rider waved back at me today. <g> > >I do see more of those, not really noticing a big difference in the >number of bikes on the road, but sales must be slowing. Harleys used >to have sold signs on them as they rolled them off the truck, now many >of their bikes have been listed at the local shops since spring. I >spoke to a GoldWing rider recently who told me Honda stopped >production for a year due to slow sales. My local dealer seems to be >sitting on most of his inventory too. In fact, he has a lovely little >bumble bee T-Max scooter that's been sitting on his floor the last two >years that I'd love to take out and spank a bit. Not sure I want to >own it though. Apparently, the sport scooter market is kinda small. There's no doubt new motorcycle sales in general are slow. I suspect the same could be said for recreational vehicles, atv's, boats, snowmobiles etc. I know people who are buying new or new to them bikes though. So some are moving. I don't see a glut of inventory on the showroom floors. I mentioned the ridiculously low price on the Venture at Blackfoot Motorcycles. It is the only Venture they have in stock so the low price is not due to excessive inventory. At Kanes I was looking at a new 2009 Softail Custom. Very nice looking bike. I think the price was MSRP. It was certainly no bargain. Once again it was the only one Kanes had. What these dealers are committed to is another matter. As for scooters I think they are the coolest commuter around. I work downtown, smack dab in the middle of the business core and I see lots of scooters used as commuters. I think they are great. That said I agree the sport scooter or power scooter market would be pretty small.
From: BrianNZ on 17 Jul 2010 17:39 ? wrote: > On Jul 17, 11:21 am, Twaddle <nowayjo...(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> Nobody but a non-riding wimp like you would think that a little >> inclement weather is going to discourage a determined biker > > If the weather is so bad that a rider has to wear electrically-heated > clothing or a rainsuit, that rider either can't afford to own a car or > he's crazy. LOL....classic cager mentality! "I'm too scared to do that, so they must be crazy!" Google the "Brass Monkey" rally...... > > Furthermore, there are weather conditions around here that would make > it suicidal for me to go for a motorcycle ride. > > I'm referring to the dense tule fog that sits on the central valley in > the morning for weeks at a time. > > Drivers of cars and trucks cannot see where they are going, but > they're still in a hurry...
From: Beav on 17 Jul 2010 18:35 "BrianNZ" <brian(a)itnz.co.nz> wrote in message news:4c4229ac(a)news.orcon.net.nz... > ? wrote: >> On Jul 17, 11:21 am, Twaddle <nowayjo...(a)gmail.com> wrote: >>> Nobody but a non-riding wimp like you would think that a little >>> inclement weather is going to discourage a determined biker >> >> If the weather is so bad that a rider has to wear electrically-heated >> clothing or a rainsuit, that rider either can't afford to own a car or >> he's crazy. > > > LOL....classic cager mentality! > "I'm too scared to do that, so they must be crazy!" > > Google the "Brass Monkey" rally...... Or the Elephant Rally. Or any number of others. -- Beav
From: Beav on 17 Jul 2010 18:36
"S'mee" <stevenkeith2(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message news:28742fc1-20ee-4db6-86be-47057685a7ab(a)n19g2000prf.googlegroups.com... > On Jul 16, 5:14 pm, BryanUT <nestl...(a)comcast.net> wrote: >> So this is my 5th year at the U. In previous years the motorcycle >> spots were mostly full, all kinds of bikes and scooters. This year >> they are mostly empty. Yeah we had a cold wet spring but now the >> weather is perfect (ok, a bit warm at 101f in the afternoon). I have >> no explanation. >> >> And hardly anyone waves anymore. Yeah there are fewer bikes out on my >> weekend jaunts, but the waves are still way down. Again no >> explanation. >> >> Has anyone else noticed this in their neck of the woods? > > Nope...seems like there are a few more. Kinda wish the idiots would > wear proper gear though...no helmets and no proper gear of ANY KIND is > not a smart thing to do. Probably not, but it's their choice. When the weather allows, I'll ride without leathers although I still have to wear a lid no matter how hot or cold it gets. -- Beav |