Polaris is Expanding - Buys into Brammo!

Brammo Empulse RR

Surely, you have already read this, but the news is still encouraging for the motorcycle industry and thus it must be brought to the attention of those involved in it. Polaris most recently took over the new Indian - which seems to be going well at this early stage - and now they have bought a minority share in Brammo. They do make a good bike, in my opinion, and seem to be walking a solid line with the business operations as well. Brammo, based here in Oregon, is on the path to real industry relevancy; soon, no one will laugh at electric motorcycles.

So, without further crap from me, here is the press release:
http://tinyurl.com/697mqj6

Brammo Releases Empulse to the World

Wow, Brammo had something working in the background for some time now. After interviewing one Brian Wismann, I knew something was up but not how big it would be. Cycle World has already managed to lay hands on the machine and has a piece on the beast. This is the new Empulse, and it comes in three different power versions...and, it is lovely. If you are an avid motorcyclist, you need to check this out now!

http://tinyurl.com/293y7a2

Brammo to Work With Jackie Chan & AMA Supercross Toronto Results

Jackie Chan's company JCAM Advanced Mobility Company Ltd., based in Hong Kong, has signed up to distribute the Brammo electric motorcycles in Hong Kong and Singapore. The deal is certainly a solid one as Jackie Chan has the star power to really bring in the customers. Plus, both Hong Kong and Singapore are perfect locations for electric motorcycle ownership - both have very little land area and rather tight roads and streets (in HK, you could probably ride the Brammo from one side of the island to the other three times without needing to charge it!) plus they are both very congested and polluted. They should sell very well there...too bad they didn't hire me for the job!

http://tinyurl.com/yamj6xp

The AMA Supercross event in Toronto was broadcast on TV this weekend and it was a great race. Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto turned in an impressive performance and took the win - putting him even closer to Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey, who still holds the points lead and finished third in Toronto behind Red Bull Honda's Trey Canard. For the details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/y8pm4ov

More Afternoon Moto News - MotoCzysz eDD & NZ Superbike Championship

MotoCzysz has now announced that they will be selling a race version of their E1pc powertrain, the Electric D1g1tal Drive (eDD). The eDD will allow teams to purchase a ready to roll power solution for an electric racing motorcycle. The price is a bit steep, but not as bad as you may think. If you have any interest in starting an electric race team, let me know! I will be glad to join and help out; the MotoCzysz shop is only blocks from where I live...You really do want to read this, so please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yhczc2f

The fourth round of the New Zealand Superbike Championship was held this past Sunday. The 125GP Championship was decided and Alistair Hoogenboezem took the 2010 title. Andrew Stroud still leads the Superbike class, with Robbie Bugden in second. Nick Cole barely holds on to the lead in the Supersport 600 class, as he is only 2.5 points ahead of James Smith. The next and final round is about a month away and will be held at Hampton Downs from 27 to 28 March 2010. For the details, take the link...

http://tinyurl.com/yf9ca4q

Friday Afternoon Moto News - MotoCzysz Returns to Isle of Man & Noriyuki Haga

MotoCzysz is not worried about the Isle of Man issue between the TTXGP series and the local TT Zero race. In fact, they simply want to race their new 2010 E1pc electric motorcycle in the event this summer. The bike is 90% new, according to Michael Czysz, and is anything but a tame and quiet motorcycle. They are going for the 100 mph top speed prize as well as the win. For all the details, please take the link.


http://tinyurl.com/yhrsuex

Noriyuki Haga has now said that he thinks 2010 will be his toughest year yet in World Superbike. That is because he has a slew of former champions and several national champions now in the series as his competitors. Plus, he has many of the same tough adversaries from 2009. Haga has his work cut out for him...the man deserves a Championship!

http://tinyurl.com/ye3ch8u

Friday and Looking for Suzuki GSX-Rs & Vesrah Suzuki Leaving!

MotorcycleUSA is looking for several Suzuki models for a 25 year celebration of the GSX-R motorcycle model line. They are, specifically searching for pre-2008 model years and you should be in SoCal or Medford, Oregon (I am not making that up). Just check the link...I wish I could go and watch...and ride!

http://tinyurl.com/ygll5mx

Eight championships in 9 years with three perfect seasons and 76 race wins. Vesrah Suzuki is withdrawing from WERA National Endurance Series. They only say that they are "...looking forward to a new challenge..." They are an modern institution in the series and have had a huge number of great racers on their team - take the link to catch the list as I simply do not have enough room. I truly hope that they are moving into some other motorcycle racing discipline - they will be missed.

http://tinyurl.com/yj72qeh

Thursday Afternoon Moto News - ASBK, Yamaha and a Bar

Well, it seems that Motorcycling Australia has axed the Superstock B race from the 27 - 29 February 2010 Phillip Island round of the Australian Superbike Championship. Originally, apparently, organizer International Entertainment Group had said that B riders could compete in the Superbike class (for their own separate podium) as the A riders will, but no more. It seems that B, C and D riders will compete together for the remainder of the 2010 season.

http://tinyurl.com/yefj7yt

Now we head off to my (wish it weren't true) hometown metro area, Portland, Oregon. Kelly's Olympian Bar & Diner has been in business wince 1902 (as the Olympian Saloon way back, which was named for Washington's Olympia Brewing Company) and is full of some of the coolest motorcycle-related decor you can imagine. If you are in the area and a motorcycling fan, this is a place for you!

http://tinyurl.com/ybsrrqu

On to a classic machine which may bring back memories from your own riding past. The Yamaha TT500 was made from 1976 until 1981 (at least that was the last year it was imported to the US) and was an impressive machine. It is still considered a lightweight and fun ride and has legions of fans worldwide. It is indeed a very cool looking bike, so go and learn more about it.

http://tinyurl.com/ydmbzc9

A beautiful 1953 Laverda 75 Sport is up next. It was photographed by renowned Australian photographer Phil Aynsley. This bike was made just five years after Francesco Laverda decided to build this machine. It is an impressive piece of work and would look best in my garage!

http://tinyurl.com/yd7dysn

Tuesday Afternoon Moto Design News - Custom Builds, New Wheels and More

A well-to-do kid helps out his family business, moves to a new town and then sets about pursuing his dream. It does help that he had the backing of his parents, but his ideas are good. Tony Johns opened Motorcycles of Bend in 2006. He lets customers purchase their bikes in parts and then assembles them in his shop. It is the only shop of its kind in the Oregon city of Bend. Check it out...

http://tinyurl.com/yehhb82

Along the same lines, but with a more environmental bent, is a new design from Lawless Motorcycles. It is a hybrid motorcycle which allows the rider to switch from full electric to gas-power as needed or wanted. This is the bike which Orange County Choppers was building with help from Schneider Electric. It will be revealed on national television later this week. For more information, take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/ye34vuj

http://tinyurl.com/yk322fb

Next on this list is another air-powered motorcycle design. This one is from Matthew Perez, a Mechanical Operations Technician for the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, and he calls it the AirHead. It will do about 20 miles and the air is contained in four standard SCUBA tanks.

http://tinyurl.com/yzuogxd

Now there is yet another new creation from the tire geniuses at Michelin. They have two versions called the Active Wheel and Motor Wheel. The Motor Wheel contains one motor which is used for propulsion, and the Active Wheel has two motors, one for propulsion and one for suspension. So far, both Peugeot and Renault are testing with it currently. Of course, the interesting aspect of this to us is the motorcycle designed by Keegan McClain of Lafayette, LA. Take a look to see the future of transport.

http://tinyurl.com/yz9equ4

MotoCzysz May Make MotoGP Bid Again!

With the rule changes coming from the MotoGP Championship management - the move to a 1000c.c. engine size - Michael Czysz is in a perfect position to make another attempt at MotoGP racing. His engine for the 'on-hold' C1 is already very close to the new rules and he certainly has the desire to get into the series. So, can it be far away? I sure hope not - I wish him the best of luck (if thye hired me, I could do much more!)! I will continue to follow this as it develops.

http://tinyurl.com/yamqrj9

The question does remain, though, as to where the E1pc will be once they start back into MotoGP.

http://tinyurl.com/ydxjnwq

Riding Men Book Tour Running Around the Left Coast

The Riding Men are Mark Gardiner and Ed Milich - and the left coast is the West Coast, just so you know. They will begin their tour in San Francisco on 11 December 2009 and will continue north through Portland and Seattle, Washington. They are both promoting new books - which we should all read - and will be signing copies for waiting fans. Don't miss it, I won't!

http://tinyurl.com/ybfb9b8

A Fate From an Adventure - Brammo Across the USA

Nathan Abbott wanted to take a ride - and he was already an adventurer of some note - on a Brammo electric motorcycle from Oregon to his home in Georgia. However, though he had a very lucky life up to this point, that luck ran out (as so many people's luck does once they get to Oregon) in Roseburg, Oregon, where he was struck from behind by a young person driving an Audi. He is in the hospital now and doing better, but he has a very long recovery ahead of him. Take the link, please, and see to it that he gets some help.

http://tinyurl.com/ylapynb

Tecate 500 Runner-up William Ray “Bill” Halbert Passes Away...

Bill Halbert was a respected man in his community and in the motorcycling world in general. You may not have heard of him, but he probably has made a difference to many people over the years. He was a resident of Brookings, Oregon, and one-time owner of the Grand Prix Motorcycle shop in Lynwood, Washington. He also was both a parts manager and regional sales manager for Husqvarna Motorcycle. He even raced in AMA District 38 desert races - his favorite: Tecate Baja 500, where he finished as high as second place overall with his team. He passed away on 14 November 2009. Sad news...and so close by.

http://tinyurl.com/yl86vpg

Own Neil Young's 1993 Harley-Davidson Fatboy

Yes, that Neil Young! He rode the bike while touring with Pearl Jam in the Northwest USA. The H-D has many aftermarket additions and only 9000 miles on the clock. It did not sell during its first eBay ride, but it is up for sale again with bidding nearing US$10,000 - Buy It Now is at US$40,000. Have a look and place a bid, if you can afford it!

http://tinyurl.com/y8m6zuv

Electric Wheels Incorporated and Larry Dye - Oregon's Only All-Electric Motorcycle Dealer

Dye built his shop with an idea of selling electric motorcycles to the masses - he was a pioneer! He started the first - and only surviving - all-electric motorcycle dealership. He got the idea after visiting a theme-city in Orlando, Florida where 90% of the vehicles are electric. This gave him the idea to start his business in Salem, Oregon. It has now been over four years and he loves what he is doing! If you see him, please ask him if I can work for him!

http://tinyurl.com/yc7hq7u

Last Stop on "Tradition is Not a Business Model" is Mission Motors

I put up the first one of these a few weeks ago, but I just let it rest until the final entry so that I don't over-report on this subject. Anyway, the last stop on the Tradition is Not a Business Model is Mission Motors of San Francisco, California. You probably already know these guys as they are still holding the fastest electric motorcycle record at over 150 MPH. Their new Mission One is even in the Neiman-Marcus Christmas catalog, though it is a special one-off edition for the famous catalog. Have a read and see what we two-wheel riders will be riding in the near future!

http://tinyurl.com/yg9adzy

P.S. Plus, you can see the rest of the series here:

Brammo: http://tinyurl.com/yzr4sl5
Zero: http://tinyurl.com/yfq3s9z
MotoCzysz: http://tinyurl.com/yfurm5k

Two Riders Want to 'Shock Barack' by Riding Brammo Enertia Motorcycles to DC

The two men, Brian Wismann and Dave Schiff, have decided to ride Brammo's Enerita motorcycles from Detroit to Washington D.C. to meet with the president. They don't have an appointment, but are asking for help from anyone who knows President Barack Obama or is close to him and can arrange for them to meet him. The mission is to show that the electric motorcycle industry is doing well on its own and should be supported - unlike the US auto industry, which had to be bailed out by the US government...

http://tinyurl.com/yj8h3ss

P.S. If you can help, please take the link and get their contact info at the bottom.

Man Travels the USA, Gets to Eugene, Oregon, and His BMW is Stolen!

Perhaps he should have known better, but not many people from other states understand the level of crime in the state of Oregon. (I've only been here five years and already I have had more thefts and break-ins than I experienced in my entire life before moving here.) Ian Hintz, from Wisconsin, was traveling across the great USA only to have his BMW R1200GS stolen from downtown Eugene, Oregon last night. He had his passport, money and Social Security card in a side bag on the bike when it was taken...I wish him luck in finding his ride!

http://tinyurl.com/yf6oo28

Motorcycle Superstore Wins Oregon Entrepreneurs Network Award

The award is given out by the OEN and is known as the "OEN Growth Stage Company of the Year Award." It is given to Oregon business who “have a fully-marketable product or service, have earned a degree of market acceptance and have acquired a critical mass of customers." The award was given to CEO Don Becklin back on 24 September 2009...for more, please click the link.

http://tinyurl.com/ye4qfu6

Portland, Oregon's MotoCorsa to Donate to Local Charities

This is a great deal for riders living in Portland, Oregon. The "Riding for the Rose City" charity drive will donate US$100 for each purchase to one of five local charities which they have partnered with - and they will let you donate even more at the time of purchase. Also, they will be giving away tickets to the December "We Go to Eleven" gala 11th Anniversary Party for the dealership.

http://tinyurl.com/l9xwgh

Brammo Set to Release "Anti-Scooter" Within Next Two Months

On the heels of the Enertia electric motorcycle comes news from Oregon's Brammo will release the 'anti-scooter' within the next 60 days. The name has not actually been set, that name is what it is known as internally at the company. Have a read...

http://tinyurl.com/mjbsc3