Can't say I know these guys buy I have met them a time or two.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Want To Sell A Million Motorcycles? 2 Million? More?
The answer is really simple. Bring back small displacement, simple motorcycles like this 1973 Honda SL 100 Street/Trail that is currently listed on Craigslist for $1200. Build them in singles and twins from 100cc to 650cc and KISS (Keep Them Simple, Stupid!)
It may well be that the 2013 Honda CRF250L shown below is a better motorcycle with advanced technology but it is butt ugly, gaudy and covered in gobs of cheap looking plastic. And so what if it's faster on the dirt, if you want to sell lots of motorcycles you need to convince potential riders that motorcycles are needed to ride to work, to school, to the store and to all the other things people do in their cars. I don't know about the rest of you but since I bought it my Toyota Tercel has never been on the dirt and if I can help it will never be.
As for why Honda no longer makes motorcycles like the SL 100... I'm thinking Honda started making cars around the early 1970s and saw some of their own motorcycles as possible competition to their emerging car sales. Same goes for companies like BMW and Suzuki who also make both motorcycles and cars. Even Yamaha, while they don't make any cars of their own, they do make engines for Ford and Toyota.
As for why companies like Harley-Davidson, Triumph, Kawasaki and others don't build a practical commuter motorcycle... Not even one... They're just a bunch of dumb ass gear heads stuck in the 20th Century from huffing too many gas fumes. Or not.
It may well be that the 2013 Honda CRF250L shown below is a better motorcycle with advanced technology but it is butt ugly, gaudy and covered in gobs of cheap looking plastic. And so what if it's faster on the dirt, if you want to sell lots of motorcycles you need to convince potential riders that motorcycles are needed to ride to work, to school, to the store and to all the other things people do in their cars. I don't know about the rest of you but since I bought it my Toyota Tercel has never been on the dirt and if I can help it will never be.
As for why Honda no longer makes motorcycles like the SL 100... I'm thinking Honda started making cars around the early 1970s and saw some of their own motorcycles as possible competition to their emerging car sales. Same goes for companies like BMW and Suzuki who also make both motorcycles and cars. Even Yamaha, while they don't make any cars of their own, they do make engines for Ford and Toyota.
As for why companies like Harley-Davidson, Triumph, Kawasaki and others don't build a practical commuter motorcycle... Not even one... They're just a bunch of dumb ass gear heads stuck in the 20th Century from huffing too many gas fumes. Or not.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Why You Stop Behind The Line
Think about this the next time you get the urge to creep up while waiting at that traffic light.
I know I will.
I know I will.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Motorcycles With A Story
It's a new way, real motorcycles, real products made locally in North Carolina and real people combined with fiction coming soon at Wackemall.com. The story is already unfolding, the shop is real and the products will be soon. It's taken a lifetime to put it all together and there's still a lot to do but in the next few hours the story will begin to be told and in the next few months the products will be sold. Or, we'll fail again but we'll never give up trying.
Monday, December 24, 2012
If You Know Me
You just might be a character in my newest book, When I Were A Motorcycle. You can find out why by clicking here and please don't forget to check out our sponsors.
My partner, Wooley has a leading roll. He just doesn't know it yet.
My partner, Wooley has a leading roll. He just doesn't know it yet.
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